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.

Erno's Purgatory is mousy and sensitive. He is awed by beauty and appalled by gore. Since he lives with his studious "veteran against ignorance" father Virgilante, he has been nagged to choose at least one intellectual pursuit. Erno's Purgatory has no true interest for any academical pursuit except for music. His entire cave is decorated with a smorgasbord of note sheets and instruments, his favorite being the lute. Much to the aggravation of his father, he is known to heartily sing with his mellifluous voice well into the night.