Here are some notes on an island called Dragon's Palate; it's very close to a major city. It was part of an adventure I never did run.
A. The Island
1. Regions and Inhabitants. The Dragon's Palate is made of four main types of terrain: the rocky badlands of the southern two-thirds of the isle; the mountains called Fangheit by the natives; the verdant region north of the mountains; and the mudflats on the northern shore of the island.
Rocky Badlands are home to packs of roaming zhackals who chase down flocks of wild, flightless birds (erdlands and more distant cousins). No more than a half dozen beast-headed giants try to eke out a living here as well, although they occasionally attempt small raids on their mountain-dwelling neighbors. Other menaces, such as giant beetles (fire beetles and agony beetles), silk wyrms, and gaj may be encountered as well.
Fangheit Mountains are home to the Bone Shield tribe of desert giants who dominate the island. They herd sheep and tend orchards on the verdant plains below. Other creatures include colorful birds, rocs, and a clan of aarakocra.
The Verdant Plain remains so due to regular rain and three good-sized streams. The lush grasses and small shrubs of the area are guarded by a half-elven druid of great power. Some dangerous plants grow in wilder spots, as does esper weed. The herds of the giants and the tropical birds here are frequently menaced by giant spiders and centipedes, but by little else.
The Mud Flats are a deadly region located at the ends of the streams and come into contact with the Sea of Silt. They hide menaces such as kluzd and bogwaders.
The Sea of Silt, aside from its hazardous physical nature, is made more dangerous by the presence of siltrunners on the southern shore, and by floaters and ruktoi on the northern shore.
2. Buildings and Ruins. This area was once part of a great kingdom. Still visible in the badlands areas are the remains of stone foundations. Whether these buildings were once great fortresses, temples or town walls is now unknown. Occasionally, a traveler will find an area of ground that has collapsed into hidden tunnels beneath.
Two well-known ruins are the Watchtower Ruins of the mountains, and the Village Ruins of the eastern tip of the Dragon's Palate.
The Watchtower is actually a pair of towers that once guarded a mountain pass. One tower stands on either side of a deep, rocky gorge. The towers are linked together by a crumbling stone bridge. Passers-by report seeing lights moving about inside the towers late at night, or hearing singing and chanting. Rumor has it that the men who once guarded here wore suits entirely made of metal. Of course, such fables are discounted by sensible folk.
The village remains are of fairly recent origin. The giants of the mountains remember a time when this area was home to a rag-tag bunch of runaway slaves -- mostly dwarves and muls. Whether they packed up and moved on, or were victims of an attack of some sort is unknown. Now, the area is nothing but a jumble of stone.
The campsite and trading post on the western end of the isle is a very temporary set-up. A merchant house of Balic, run by elves, has set up shop here to see if they can make a profit selling "trinkets to the natives." They hope to trade baubles and beads for sheep, fruits and vegetables from the verdant plains of the giants. So far, their attempts have been rebuffed, although the aarakocra of the area have taken them up on an infrequent offer. Ezra comes here seldom, preferring to send associates to buy tools and news.
Ezra's Compound is the home of the ranger Ezra and his slaves. From here, they hunt and trap small birds and game for food, and raise a small herd of kank to trade to the giants or the elves. Ezra's main building is built of slabs of stone leaning against one-another; his fenced-in courtyard is nothing more than a ring of huge, half-buried boulders. The compound has its own water supply -- a deep well in the courtyard. During the night, six kanks can be found inside the stone walls of the courtyard; during the day Ezra lets them roam when accompanied by his slaves or himself.
3. Balic. About five miles due west of the campsite and trading post, across the Estuary of the Forked Tongue, is the city of Balic. Balic is the nearest city of any importance, and lies on the road to Tyr. On a calm day, when the wind doesn't kick up clouds of silt, one can barely make out the city from the merchant campsite.
Balic is built on a high, rocky bluff, and is surrounded on its inland sides by good fields of grain and orchards of olives. These areas are frequently raided by giants from the Silt Sea, and so are heavily patrolled by templar-led militia members (many of whom are slaves).
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