Skystrider Dragons are known for almost never leaving the air as they have no other means of defense if attacked. The main exception to this rule is when they nest in the branches of ancient trees to sleep. This airborne tendency can make raising and keeping Skystrider Dragons an extra challenge. Males have a row of poisonous spines along their backs while females have a venomous bite. Skystrider Dragons mostly prey on birds and flying insects, leading their presence to be welcomed by farmers who often leave out treats hoping to lure a group nearby.

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.

Skystrider was born and raised in a kingdom whose people have a close affiliation with horses and who are expected to provide troops on horseback when their southern neighbor requires military assistance. Though she has the courage and lively confidence of a typical rider, she's unable to sit securely upon a horse, despite her best efforts. She's exempt from the otherwise mandatory cavalry service in wartime, something she isn't disparaged for because she is a serpentine dragon who lacks the requisite limbs for horseback riding and is much better as an airborne scout. During peacetime, Skystrider surveys bogs that are dangerous to grounded folk, helping mapmakers depict accurate terrain and landmarks.