Ice Dragons are fierce predators who hunt using their extremely cold breath. The breath of an ice dragon can freeze its prey solid in seconds. The body of an ice dragon is so cold that icicles will form along its skin no matter the outside temperature.

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.

Interstadial helps humans break ships for a reasonably low price based on the weight of the vessel. She usually doesn't ask for any parts of the ship or its contents, but if she does want something, she gives a discount, and people rarely refuse, knowing she could instantly freeze them. Interstadial also sells boat parts on the side, but not from her jobs. Unbeknownst to anyone except maybe four or five dragons who interact with her very little, her territory includes a semi-exclave across the peninsula, where there's a lighthouse constructed from various ship parts. The coast, which looks east, is composed of jagged rocks which are just barely hidden by the sea, and it is subject to a visual illusion where, viewed from the east, the land looks farther away than it is. Interstadial stages the lighthouse to lure ships in to their doom so she can plunder the wrecks. Such an event is rare, and she's learned to quickly descend on survivors and eat them before taking the vessel apart.