Dorsal Dragons are so named because they have large fins along their backs that can be raised and lowered at will. They use these fins to regulate body temperature; they raise them to cool off when they become overheated. The bright colors on the fins double as a means of attracting mates.

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.

Fictaea is the mate of Fictapo, the first dorsal dragon of the Mistress' clan. She is quiet, mostly talking only when she's spoken to, and to Fictapo. She usually roams the part of the clan's field where daisies grow, daisies being her favorite flower. She is very protective of eggs, even when they are not her own, and will rush at anyone or anything that tries to do harm to any egg she's around, even if she's not on her own territory. She and her mate often leave the clan's territory to travel, tending to nomadic behavior, but they always return.