It was previously believed that purple dragons were exclusively female, but this is not the case. Recent environmental shifts have revealed the existence of both genders of this breed. Female behavior is well known; they are primarily herbivores but will eat meat during mating season. On the other hand, very little is known about the behavior and habits of male purple dragons.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Tharanmar of Fallensnow's dedicated mate, the gentle Nyava has a far from gentle history. After a sudden and brutal attack by Shadow-wings, the Supernovas' cold-hearted rebel, group leader Tamira Brightwing feared a conspiracy and banned the bringing of new eggs or hatchlings into the cave, also forcing Shadow-wings to stay out of earshot of any hatchling. The next day, however, a purple egg was found abandoned outside the cave. Tamira was about to smash the egg, but the Supernovas urged her not to. She then ordered that no one was to go near it. Tharanmar of Fallensnow tended the egg by night as lovingly as if he were the father. When the egg hatched into Nyava, he bravely defended it against Tamira's wishes to kill her, with a stern look on his face that said, "You might as well kill me." Tamira eventually relented, and Nyava grew to love her savior and her clan....but she nurses a deep grudge against the leader who wished her dead.