Blusang Lindwyrms are quite different from most dragons in that they lack hind legs. In this regard, they resemble snakes, and this is evident in their movement; these lindwyrms slither along the ground, using their forelegs to lift them over rougher terrain. Blusangs are a coastal breed, preferring to live along rocky beaches and in seaside caves rather than sandy locations. They are omnivores who graze on seaweed from time to time, although their primary form of sustenance is fish.

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.

When she was young, Santamasa's father sent her to boarding school. She was not enthused about this. It wasn't until about two weeks into her stay at this seaside "school" that she learned she was apprenticed to a band of pirates led by Captain Rustmane, whose members are known to raid other vessels in boarding parties. She learned to move sails, board, and mop the floor like the rest of them, and she had the additional task of surveying the sea once she could fly. On Santamasa's 23rd birthday, she considered her "schooling" done, and looking for a less cramped existence, she left Rustmane's crew. Everything she needs in life to survive is obtained by fishing, theft, or aggressive diplomacy. She's fortunate that human law enforcement has trouble differentiating her from any other blusang lindwyrm. As a gesture of goodwill to her old band, she occasionally locates the boat and drops off supplies for them.