Turpentine Dragons are named for the oil that covers their scales. This oil resembles turpentine in odor and is mildly toxic; it will not kill but it burns to the touch and will cause illness in anyone who ingests it. Turpentine Dragons roam in large packs, often stealing food from larger dragons, though they are able to hunt for themselves if necessary. Many other breeds consider Turpentine Dragons to be pests, so they primarily breed among themselves.

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.

Gamsol spends her free hours preening her oily scales, visiting other turpentine dragons, and drawing pictures in dirt with her spiked tail. Unlike many dragons of her species and aware of her pest status, Gamsol first asks those from which she wants food if she can have some. Should they decline, she comes by another time and steals it anyway. If she does have to obtain food by herself, she prefers to "hunt" for berries and succulent plants.