The Island

In the middle of the Caribbean sea lies Isla de Oro, an island of about a hundred square miles (260 km^2) that has always defied the laws of nature. At first sight, it seems like a normal tropical island, but after eons of magical influences, it has countless aspects that aren't natural. Its environments range from lush jungles and flowering fields to cursed wastelands and monster-infested caverns. All of this uninhabited area is called the Wilderness for short. At the east coast, the town of Puerto Dorado lies.



Gods and Legends (3.000 BC - 1.000 AD)
Aeons ago, before history was written down and recorded, Isla de Oro was an island created and ruled by three powerful deities. Tiwran, Celos, and Leileth were the three entities that shaped the island with their magic. They regularly argued, with devastating disasters such as the Badlands and the Dead Forest as result. The beings living on the island survived as best as they could, thriving during the peaceful eras. For an unknown reason, the three deities faded away around 1.000 AD, although the marks they left still remain.

Kings and Soldiers (1522 - 1703 AD)
By 1522, most evidence of the island's magical past had faded away, and the Spanish colonised it. They swiftly discovered the wilderness was too dangerous and chose to stay near their mines and their port instead. There were frequent rumours of magical creatures and humanoid beings native to the island, but these were never confirmed. Most of the island was forgotten, and only the shorelines were truly mapped out by either Spanish or British.

Jones and Pirates (1703 - present)
After a gruesome battle, the pirates took over the island with help from Jones and turned it into a pirate sanctuary. The sea deity set to work, turning the embers of the island's magical roots back into flames. Supernatural fog sheltered the haven and time seemingly stopped as the original inhabitants returned. Slowly but surely, the island is being rediscovered, and the truth of the past is being unravelled. Regular expeditions venture into the unknown dangers.

The Abandoned Outpost
On the northwest coast of Isla de Oro, nestled up against a hill, lies the abandoned redcoat outpost. The settlement used to be a small outpost with about a hundred soldiers and a dozen or so buildings to keep control of the area, but then disaster struck. Over half of the station was swallowed whole by a mudslide, and the wreck of a pirate ship lies in the ocean about fifty yards away. Rumours say the vengeful souls of both redcoats and pirates still roam the haunted site.



The Badlands
Legend says that the southeast of the island was once a lush wetland with a thriving civilisation building between the water-filled channels before a vengeful god wiped them out. Now, all that remains is a scorching hot desert made of the same blindingly white sands of the surrounding mountains and hills. Sand crawlers scour the place, the same zombie-like humanoids as in the Dead Forest, except they're fully above the sand. Some people have claimed to see a giant golden skull amidst the desert, and adventurers are regularly drawn to the promise of those riches.



The Boneyard
Just outside the Siren Caves is the Boneyard, an ever-expanding graveyard of shipwrecks and bodies that is also home to the [of Mists]. After every kill, the Quacken and his son Eggy deposit their trophies there. The Sirens from the caves come out and scour through the wreckage, searching for new treasures. The crew of the Graveyard Galleon returns here every night just before midnight, rebuilding their ghost ship in a foul ritual only known to them and Davy Jones. Fog regularly covers the waves, and plenty of sailors have vanished in thin air.



The Dead Forest
In the midst of the vibrant jungle lies a patch of cursed, barren land. Blackened, greyed trees mar the scorched landscape, yet despite the lack of protection from the sun, it's permanently cold. Patches of quicksand surround the forest, with half-rotten hands grabbing at anyone who steps into them, dragging them below. Ghosts wander between the trees, attacking whoever dares enter their territory. Then, in the middle of it all, is Ferros the Silver-Scaled, the Guardian of the Dead Forest, a giant metallic snake that can spit acid and swallow men whole. Very few live to tell the tale of the Dead Forest.



The Hot Springs
In the north-western foothills of Mount Oro, a cave entrance is hidden between the thick jungle. The dark tunnel is about seven metres (21ft) in diameter and slopes downwards for about a hundred yards before opening into the hot springs, which are inside a large, partially submerged cavern. Bright blue water fills up the cavern, and mineral deposits line the walls. A faint scent of rotten eggs drifts up from the steaming water. It's the perfect temperature for a nice bath and a popular relaxation place for those who know how to find it.



The Jungle
The jungle is a place that many can explore but few can survive. The landscape is covered with lush vegetation, broken up by the occasional glimmering river or lake. The only area that isn't vibrant green is the cursed swath of land aptly named the Dead Forest, which is the most dangerous part of the jungle. On top of that, the vast expanse of wilderness is filled with fearsome animals, poisonous plants, and supernatural dangers, and many a pirate has tales of seeing human figures wander about. All in all, few live long enough to admire the jungle's beauty.



Mount Oro
Near the south of Isla de Oro is the towering volcano that gave birth to the island. The island permanently resides in the shadow of the snow-capped behemoth, and it is the best lighthouse or landmark a sailor can have. Travelling to it is difficult and dangerous due to the steep hills and mountains surrounding it, but the journey pales in comparison to what one finds inside. There, the spirit of the volcano rests in slumber, protected by bubbling pools of magma and hungry lava snakes. Legends say that if the spirit is awoken, the volcano will violently erupt.



The Screaming Cliffs
Beyond the Badlands, carved into the far south-western edge of Isla de Oro, are the Screaming Cliffs. The blood-chilling shrieks that are the result of sea winds whipping across the razor-sharp ivory stone scare away anything that might've lived there. It is a harsh, cold place, with little shelter and even less food and fresh water. Some say that the only life on the cliffs if the wind itself, emulating the cries of lost lovers to lure explorers into the raging waters below.



The Silent Woods
The cliffs northeast of Puerto Dorado are adorned with a vibrant forest teeming with brightly coloured flowers and alluring sweet fragrances. The most delicious fruits on the island and even the realm can be found there, along with nuts and herbs. Yet for all its natural splendour, it is so quiet you could hear a pin drop on the mossy floor. Not a single animal can be found, except for the bones hidden under fallen leaves and the scarlet drops of blood on the bright flowers. Rumour goes that the beautiful plants are carnivorous and always hungry for more flesh.



The Silver Lake
At the northern foothills of Mount Oro lies a sprawling lake named the Silver Lake for its silvery grey water. Rich in minerals from the volcanic soil, it is the perfect fertiliser, and beautiful fields of wildflowers grow around it. Pixies have made their home in the fields, playing on the banks of the lake and feeding off of the flowers. The water also feeds the Silver River, which is Puerto Dorado's freshwater supply and along which the farms lie. It's advised not to swim in the water for that reason, lest it gets dirtied.



The Siren Caves
Within the mountainous northern outcrop of the island are the Siren Caves, named after their vicious inhabitants. The labyrinthine caverns are only accessible via the water or a small, slippery path along the cliff face. Inside, the Sirens have made their home, safely storing the riches from the sailors they have drowned. Deep within the caves, the Quacken has made his lair as well, turning the large space into a radioactive lion's den. All of the caves are lined with glowing crystals and are home to bioluminescent algae, providing ample light to those foolish enough to come inside.



The Sunken Mines
Once the centre of Puerto's wealth, these formerly flourishing gold mines to the south-east of the town have been flooded for over two centuries after an unnatural tsunami caused them to collapse. Some brave and greedy souls have sought to reopen them and plunder their riches, but the Sunken Mines claim the lives of all those who pursue its bounty. They serve as a reminder of nature's true power, and a taunt to those foolish enough to be tempted by its gold-laden soil.



The Swamp
The swamp might be one of the worst places to be in Isla de Oro. The humid air is so thick one can almost cut it with a knife, and swarms of mosquitoes and other insects are ready to suck all the blood out of unsuspecting travellers. The terrain itself is dangerous as well, with thorn-filled plants, mud holes, mushrooms that emit hallucinatory fog, and murky waters that are deeper than they seem. The area is protected by the Basilisk, a large snake that turns its victims into statues with its gaze. Few make it of the place out alive.



The Treehouse
The treehouse is a spider-infested building within the wilderness that can be accessed through hatches in the floor. Though dusty from lack of use and covered in spiderwebs, several tables and pillows are scattered around the shelter. Grand windows allow for light to fall in, with makeshift awnings and curtains to keep out the rain. A pair of bookshelves are stuffed with old tomes, and a few chests of forgotten items lay discarded around the room. If curious pirates are brave enough to get past the spiders, they can claim the potential bounties in the chests.

Categories: Setting