The amphibious Aranoas inhabit shallow brackish estuaries, rivers and lagoons. Being adept swimmers, they possess tough, vibrant scales that serve to protect the dragon from superficial physical harm, and double as a means to attract mates. Their large, cavernous maws are adapted to swallowing fish whole, and they have powerful limbs to propel them through the water. When mating, males and females will typically vie for the interest of the individual with the brightest scales and the largest dorsal fin. Due to this attraction, they are also prone to collecting shiny and colorful objects that they come across. With a diet primarily comprised of large freshwater or pelagic fish, they often hunt in groups to encircle schools of fish, making for an easier meal. While not very social, Aranoas will often inhabit areas in close proximity to each other should they require assistance in hunting, or to band together to ward off other species who pose a threat to their territory.

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.

Arayesa was stolen by some humans and spent his early childhood living with them. At first, life in a house was okay, but he picked up after a few years that he was seen as a shiny pet or commodity. Living in a tub wouldn't be feasible for much longer, and his imagination soon convinced him that he was going to be eaten. The humans did often eat fish, crustaceans, and other seafood, and there was a huge possibility in Arayesa's mind that he'd soon be next, before he grew too big. He successfully carried out a plan that involved nighttime, an astrolabe, two coils of rope, a brown tarp, a bucket of coal, and a really nice risensong and wound up at a coast whose name he doesn't know. Arayesa is older but not much wiser. He wasn't taught at a young age to have goals, and feeling he'll never achieve anything better than his escape as a hatchling, he has no desire to do much else but eat, sleep, and float lazily in his favorite tide pool.