The Isle of Gold

The Isle of Gold is a located roughly 50 miles north of Bedegar, in the Northwind Ocean. The island remains an independent locale under control of no living creature, though the spirit of the Great Wyrm Thaynastraza still claims mastery of the isle as her ancient, immeasurable hoard. The island takes its name from the rich veins of dragongold that run through its soil and flow free as molten rivers.
The following reports are compiled from reports of the few sailors, merchants and travelers that have landed on the Isle and returned safely.

Ecology & Inhabitants

Dense jungle clings to a towering, active volcano at the center of the remote and misty island. The volcano never lies dormant, and regularly hurls smoke and cinders across the isle. The isle is permanently ensconced by a mist said to haunt the hearts of evil men and plunderers that would seek the hoard of Thaynastraza.

Uneasy is an evil heart that walks this gilded lair. Our crew had the misfortune of a stowaway onboard--a sellsword hired to part the captain's head from his shoulders--the assassin tailed us into the jungle, his presence made known only by his own scream of agony that is now seared into my memory. No sooner had the assassin drawn his blade than had the earth and stone beneath his feet had turn to liquid, molten gold. The Beserker surely watched over us that day.

Caelen Sorrowstar, First Mate of the Wavebreaker

Dragongold

Dragongold is unsurprisingly abundant on the isle, and responsible for luring countless dragons (both metallic & chromatic), raiders and wizards to the isle for its useful (and valuable) properties. So plentiful are these veins of gold, it is said, that one would be hard-pressed to strike the earth with their spade and not be rewarded with a bounty of gold.

Thaynastraza

Thaynastraza (also known simply as Thayna, the Berserker of Gold, or the Gilded Mountain) was one of only a handful of known Great Wyrms, and the only known Gold Great Wyrm. Such dragons have lived tens of centuries and, as dragons never cease to grow in size or magical strength, are generally considered godlike in their potency. In her final years Thaynastraza sought a champion that could fell her, so strongly did she crave to die in battle yet in the end, none could best her and she died of age. Her bones and scales remain where she fell amongst the molten rock of her isle's central volcano.
Even in death, Thaynastraza's power and influence is considerable. Her treasures remain protected by the bestial inhabitants of her isle, magical mists and rivers of molten gold. On rare occasion when her treasure is stolen from its rightful resting place, the Great Wyrm herself is said to regain corporeal form by sheer force of will, and for the sole purpose of ravaging these would-be pirates and reclaiming their stolen treasures.

History

Attempted Conquest of the Isle, by House Davenmour

Despite the isle's proximity to the human-dominated Province of Bedegar and the human wont of conquest, the Isle of Gold remains independent and unmolested by human colonizers, though not for lack of trying.
In the 149th year of the Second Age, Lord Teron of House Davenmour sought to elevate Bedegar to a position of economic dominance by way of conquering the Isle of Gold and making generous use of its Dragongold. Lord Davenmour gathered his army (estimated at around 4,000 men) and began the arduous process of ferrying his men to the Isle of Gold where they would begin construction of a forward siege encampment.
The Lord's ambitions were short-lived. When the first landing of soldiers laid eyes upon the isle, the sailors discovered that every ounce of iron--from the rivets and fastenings to swords and armor--had turned to solid gold. The additional weight of gold dragged seven of nine galleons to the seafloor, while the remaining two succeeded in staying afloat only by jettisoning all their arms, armor and crates of supplies. The remaining two galleons returned to Bedegar, without having set foot on the Isle of Gold, and found their Lord Teron of Davenmour violently ill. House Davenmour has since recovered from the financial blow, but the touch of gold upon a descendent of Davenmour is enough to invoke a supernatural fear, occasionally strong enough to render the nobleman physically ill.

Type

Island