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.

Amylopectin is very good at looking busy but not so good at convincing the community leaders that she's actually busy. She finds work to do such as lining up twigs, counting rocks at the communications den, and raking and un-raking and raking the sandbox in front of the hatchling school, as part of her plan to avoid actual chores, and doing these reduces the number she's given per week. To ordinary passersby and neighbors, Amylopectin appears to be hard at work, and she's sometimes commended for her diligence, too. However, the seven dragons in charge of territory wellness and upkeep see right through her because they know everybody's schedules and duties, and they assign her chores anyway. She doesn't realize that her ploy isn't working, and they want to keep it this way so she doesn't try other ways to shirk responsibilities.