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.

Finical is missing almost his entire left wing, due to a desert-related accident when he was small. His expression and odd pauses suggest he's not being truthful or there's more to this story, but no one will ask him to elaborate in case he becomes upset and starts one of his famous miffed lectures. When he leaves home to visit somewhere less familiar, he places a spell that tricks viewers into seeing an intact wing, though he must be careful not to touch anyone or clip through objects. When the spell's effect weakens after a long while or he enters a location where a magic canceler is present, other people there sometimes wonder why his wing is blinking in and out of existence. When the sight is more noticeable than that, usually those who spot the illusion are too polite to ask, or they're just plain uninterested.