Sapphire Dragons were so named for their brilliant color, which is reminiscent of the gemstone. This breed was historically hunted for their scales; even long after, they remain distrustful of humans. Normally a Sapphire is not very aggressive, but they will defend themselves vigorously if under attack. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, with smaller portions of large insects and other invertebrates. Males woo females with vocalizations similar to bird songs. Sapphire Dragons are very loyal to their mates, and it is not unusual that they pair for life.

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.

Thereupon is an author of short stories, and she has a knack for turning mundane or seemingly mundane situations into hectic, thrilling adventures. She usually publishes a new story every four or five months. Each of her pamphlets is hand-copied. She could easily use magic or hire someone with a press to do it much faster, but she likes to physically do the copying herself, believing each piece has another kind of magic when she does so. Many buyers are happy to tip her generously for her work. Some dozen or so dragons are interested in wooing her, but she seems to only have eyes for a "frilly guide on the seaside", as she describes.