Overview of the Isles (CWS)

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More than sixty islands make up the Io's Blood chain. Temperatures range from freezing arctic cold in the north to steaming tropical heat in the southern climes. Once past the island chain, the closest land masses are the giants' territory to the north and south. The dragons know little about these areas, except that frost giants live to the north and fire giants to the south. Beyond these lands, distance and inhospitable conditions separate the chain from the rest of the world. Some small, desolate islands appear in the vast stretches of ocean, but these have little or no population. Isolated, the Io's Blood isles receive only occasional visitors from the lands beyond the seas. In practical terms, Io's Blood is a world unto itself. The chain can be broken into three segments: the northern islands, the temperate zone, and the southern region. 
The northern isles (including Everwinter, Barren Isle, and Glacianta) feature a variety of arctic terrains and are home to the white, amethyst, and crystal dragon clans. The Ice Sea surrounds these islands, holding them in the grip of perpetual cold. Stark beauty contrasts with constant danger in the northern isles. Ice and snow cover the land in breathtaking shapes sculpted by relentless wind. Jagged mountains rise over glacial plains, and great falls of ice drape from splintered crags. 
In the far north, the blinding landscape makes travel especially difficult during the day. Even on the most overcast days, the barest hint of sun turns the plains of ice into painfully dazzling sheets of light. At night, the temperature drops fast and furiously. Few spots on or below the world are as cold or black as the northern Io's Blood isles after dark. Even the shine of the moon reflecting off the snow and ice barely cuts through the long, dark nights. 
But life inhabits these cold northern regions nonetheless. Tenacious plants, shrubs, and grasses cling to the frozen ground, and all manner of animals fill the plains, forests, and mountains. Monsters such as behirs, lesser basilisks, remorhazes, and ice trolls abound. Humanoids such as kobolds, ogres, ores, and the like live in the shadows of the icy peaks. Dwarves and gnomes have communities here, though most of these are associated with one of the dragon clans. A small number of barbaric humans (the descendants of the survivors of the great Dragon Slayer War) live as primitive tribesmen. Lastly, a few frost giants (associated with the tribes of the far north) wander the plains of ice in search of dragons to enslave. 
The islands of the temperate zone, bordered on the east by the Blood Sea and the west by the Coral Sea, are dominated by Exaurdon and Starshine. These two large islands combine primeval forests with verdant plains. The twin isles of Jade and Emerald guard the bay leading to All Clans Island, where the Council Aerie rests in a field of swaying grass. Nearby, the island of Fang awaits young dragons sent by the Council to test their skills against the wild creatures that inhabit its uncivilized shores. 
In the temperate climes, the seasons follow a regular cycle of change. A period of extensive growth marks the rainy spring, when the islands come alive with blooming flowers and trees, and animals emerge from the cold grip of winter to frolic in the sprouting underbrush. Spring advances to hot summer, when the air becomes thick with insects and the forest grows bright green. In the fall, as the trees begin their slide toward winter's sleep, the leaves sparkle with rainbow hues, putting on one last show before the season turns cold. Without warning, fall becomes winter. Snow spins out of the sky to blanket the forests in great heaps, and the frozen winds of the north gust across the land. Then the pattern starts again, an unending cycle of birth, growth, and death. 
In the southern region, a series of hot, dry islands separates the temperate isles from the tropical climes. Rockshore, with its sweltering badlands and broken canyons, lies to the west of Aridia and Inferno, which are known for their arid plains, parched mountains, and blazing deserts. Inferno's Tail is a wild, untamed chain of small islands stretching east of Inferno. At the far end of the Tail, an insignificant rock called Wizard's Isle lures dragons that would study arcane lore. To the southeast of Aridia, all types of monstrous reptiles make their home in the teeming deserts of Basilisk. Of the Forbidden Isle, no older dragon will speak, and young dragons that go there never return. 
For all of the hardships associated with these southern islands, many forms of life thrive here. Copper dragons dominate the badlands, sharing the region with a variety of lizards, giant scorpions and spiders, poisonous toads, and even a scattering of barbaric human nomads. The arid plains are home to the brass dragon clans as well as manticores, trolls, and wemic tribes. In the deserts, blue dragons hold sway, while brass dragons, fire beetles, dragonnes, and hatori lizards compete for space among the dunes. 
The Burning Sea-with its underwater hot springs, active volcanoes, and boiling steam vents-heats the tropical isles of this region. While merely hot near the island shores, farther out the water actually boils. Any creatures not immune to heat quickly succumb to the sizzling waves 100 miles south and west of these islands. 
Bloodtide, the half-desert, half-jungle island, is one of two huge land masses here. The other is Fireshore, an island of jungle and swamp second only to great Exaurdon Island in size. Other islands in the region include Flamestrike Isle, Storm, Lightning, and the impenetrable Oracle off Bloodtide's western coast. 
Black dragon clans inhabit the swamps and jungles of these southernmost islands, while the steaming mountains serve as home to red, emerald, and silver dragons. Sapphire clans claim the great subterranean caverns beneath the jungles. Other creatures found in these regions include dracolisks, goblins, ogres, fire toads, yuan-ti, bullywugs, lizard men, giant trolls, a small number of humans, and the occasional fire giant from beyond the Burning Sea. 
Whether southern, northern, or temperate, the Io's Blood isles call dragons their masters. Still, the reach of claws, while long, is insignificant compared to the vast amount of territory the islands occupy. Clan holdings take up little room, and their cities and towns are small pockets in a great 
wilderness. A mere score of miles from a dragonhold and the land turns hostile and remains largely unknown, even to the greatest dragons. 
In these untamed regions, monsters thrive. On islands such as Exaurdon and Fireshore, mammoth creatures roam beyond the city limits. These reptilian, humanoid, and insectoid gargantua usually avoid the cities, but smaller dragon and vassal settlements are occasionally attacked. 
Other animals and monsters live in the surrounding waters and among the varied island terrains. The encounter tables presented in the Appendix give some idea as to what types of creatures roam these islands. (Descriptions of such monsters can be found in the Monstrous Manual.) Some, but not all, of the intelligent monsters serve as vassals or are otherwise allied with the dragon clans. Those who do not bow to the dragon lords either live in hiding in the vast wilderness or are in conflict with at least one dragon clan. 
Geographically the Io's Blood isles are easily separated into northern, temperate, and southern divides. It is, however, the division of the islands into the domains of metallic, gem, and chromatic dragons that is a matter for greater interest. These sections include brief discussions of specific domains, their lords, important clan members and vassals, and relations to neighboring clans. 
==Metallic Dragon Domains==
Six gold dragon clans claim domains among the islands of Io's Blood. These clans are Baraster, Exaurdon, Justice, Resplendence, Sunblaze, and Triumph. All gold dragons in the isles belong to one of these clans. 
The silver dragons of the Io's Blood isles are divided among six clans and their domains. These clans are Brightscale, Cloudwalker, Coldwing, Fog, Pinnacle, and Summit. 
The bronze dragons of the Io's Blood chain are divided into five separate clans, with domains on the facing shores of Bloodtide and Fireshore islands. The five clans are Battlewing, Cliffwalker, Seaview, Tempest, and Waveflier. 
The copper dragons hold eight domains in the rocky hills and badlands of Io's Blood's southern isles. The clans that control these domains are Becubard, Clawstrike, Cutharn, Fastwing, Highjump, Rockclaw, Stoneproud, and Sunleap. 
The seven brass dragon clans inhabiting the Io's Blood islands are Blisterclaw, Dewfeast, Drywing, Dustspinner, Hotwind, Sandtail, and Sungazer. A selection of metallic dragon clans and their respective histories are presented in the pages that follow. The DM is encouraged to make up histories of other clans as appropriate in relation to the information detailed here. 
===Clan Exaurdon===
The largest, oldest, and most respected gold dragon clan is Exaurdon. The clan's domain stretches across a large portion of Exaurdon Isle, reaching from the north forest to the central plains and encompassing all of the land between the two coasts. 1\vo great cities sparkle as jewels in the domain's crown. The City of Gold, high in the mountains on Exaurdon's eastern shore, looks down upon All Clans Isle. This magnificent city is carved from the very mountain peaks, and layers of sparkling gold cover many of the structures. The west forest houses the city of Summer, where the elves have used magic and their knowledge of forest lore to grow a living city for their gold masters. 
Freedom and liberty abound within the borders of this domain. Clan Exaurdon grants much independence to its vassals-the most of any dragon clan. For both dragons and vassals, learning and culture are at a level unsurpassed by even other gold domains. Vassals are free to pursue their own interests, to better themselves, and to seek happiness while still serving their dragon masters. These vassals willingly work in harmony with dragons for the benefit of the domain. 
The great wyrm Magnern the Gold heads Clan Exaurdon and serves as lord of the domain. His private lair lies deep beneath the City of Gold, and his hoard is said to fill a chamber roughly half the size of the great metropolis. Magnern epitomizes the ideals of gold dragons. He believes in law and justice, often administering both personally from the Grand Audience Chamber in his public lair. He is far more concerned with his own domain than with the overall affairs of the isles. Thus, his daughter Aureen, a mature adult of considerable strength and personality (and the clan's grand lord advocate), sits on the Council of Wyrms in his stead. 
Magnern's current kindred is the powerful elf mage, Luniel Sarrenth. While Magnern actively participates in the running of the domain, many of the day-to -day details are left to Luniel. Luniel has great authority within the domain, and most of the clan members bow to his voice as though it was the voice of Magnern. 
Clan Exaurdon has no overt enemies, though many other dragon clans covet its size, wealth, influence, and power. However, the gold dragons of Clan Resplendence believe they should be the predominant members of their dragon family. This leads to heated arguments between their representative and Exaurdon's in the Council. 
Though their ancestors once worked together for the good of dragonkind, Firebrand the Red, lord of Clan Bloodtide, hates Magnern and his brood with a terrible passion. Firebrand actively votes contrary to Exaurdon's representative in the Council, and he plots other ways to bring down the great gold clan. Although none of these plots have been carried out, Firebrand's hatred and jealousy grow with each passing year. 
===Clan Sunblaze===
The relatively young Sunblaze clan of gold dragons established a domain on Sunblaze Isle only one dragon generation ago. Now ruled by Sunray the Gold, daughter of the clan's founder Sunblaze, the domain covers all of the island and the mountain chain that runs along its shore into the sea beyond. The clan was established by those gold dragons of Clan Justice who wanted more freedom than was available within the rigid confines of the Justice domain. While still lawful and good in their outlook, the dragons of Clan Sunblaze have a far broader interpretation of those concepts than does their original clan. Sunblaze is a small clan, with fewer than thirty dragons of fairly young ages. Even Sunray, the clan's lord, is only a mature adult of 324 years. 
Most clan members live in the City of the Sun, located in the isle's eastern mountain range. The city of carved rock and wood culled from the island's western forest overlooks the Blood Sea. Few vassals live within the confines of the city, as the clan's liberal interpretations of law and goodness do not extend to the lesser races. Instead, the vassals inhabit feudal villages in the mountain's shadow. 
Except for the mountain city, the handful of vassal villages, and a few isolated clan lairs, Sunblaze Isle remains as wild as it was when the clan claimed it for its domain. A sizable number of monsters and humanoid races inhabit the untamed forests and desolate mountain peaks. 
The domain's ruler, Sunray the Gold, is among the youngest dragon lords currently heading a clan and domain. She was forced to step into the role at such a young age due to the unexpected 
death of her father, Sunblaze. The ancient great wyrm fell while defending his island from invading fire giants. Though the giants were turned back, Sunblaze received grievous wounds that eventually killed him. Sunray believes that the red dragons of Clan Magma were behind the invasion or otherwise provided the giants with assistance, but she has no proof to bring before the Council. While her clan and domain remain small, she realizes that they make tempting targets for the more warlike factions of Io's Blood and its environs. Her goal is to alleviate these threats by somehow attracting more gold dragons to her clan or by solidifying relations with the clan's nearest neighbors. 
Clan Sunblaze is on good terms with the amethyst dragons of Clan Starratiel, who inhabit the northeast portion of Starshine Isle. This clan is especially interested in aiding the gold dragons against the aggressive green dragons of Starshine's Clan Verdiste. The green dragon clan covets Sunblaze's forest and sees the weak gold clan as an enemy ripe for plunder. 
===Clan Cloudwalker===
The most powerful silver dragon family, Clan Cloudwalker maintains a domain in the northern peaks of the Silver Mountains. The domain includes not only the northern mountains, but also the jungle that fills the rest of Silver Island. Cloud City extends from the rocky peaks to the permanent cloud cover that surrounds the mountaintops. Here, using powerful enchantments, the dragons have created solid structures shaped from the clouds themselves. Demihuman vassals mingle freely with their dragon masters, though they also inhabit villages in the jungle below. 
The great wyrm Agrannus leads Clan Cloudwalker. He has a cheerful disposition and a kindly heart, and the borders of his domain are open to all good creatures. Of course, those who come to live in Cloudwalker territory must contribute to the peaceful society. Those who seek to simply live off the compassionate nature of the clan are cast out once it is obvious they fail to impart some useful service to the community. This domain can be a paradise-provided a good creature or demihuman lives within the rules of its orderly society. 
Vassals hold important posts within the domain, and many find lifelong companionship with the silver dragons as friends, aides, and even mates. The elf fighter/mage Ryella, Agrannus's current kindred demihuman and mate, keeps the 
domain's daily business on track and is as loved and respected as the ancient dragon lord himself. Another important vassal is the dwarf Longbeard, whose knowledge and skill of engineering aids in the design and expansion of Cloud City. 
Though peaceful and slow to anger, Clan Cloudwalker maintains a powerful military force to combat the threats posed by their nearest neighbors. The black dragons of Clan Nightshriek, who inhabit Dark Swamp Isle, sometimes raid the nearby Silver Mountains. They do not often strike directly at the silver dragons, but they have little hesitation about going after demihumans or other vassals. 
The greatest danger to Clan Cloudwalker, and to the other dragons of the Silver Mountains, remains the red dragons of Flame Strike Isle. Clan Vermilion has grown large over the ages and desperately needs to either split the clan (which the dragon lord refuses to do) or expand its territory beyond the island. Vermilion the Fourth, lord of the clan, covets the Silver Mountains and sees their peaks as the logical place to spread. All that stands in the way are the silver dragons-and Vermilion doesn't see them as an insurmountable obstacle. 
The Council has so far been able to keep this conflict from erupting into full-scale dragon war, but a lasting solution will have to be found before too many more hatchings occur. 
===Clan Pinnacle===
Clan Pinnacle also inhabits the Silver Mountains, claiming the peaks and valleys of the two southernmost islands. The silver dragons and their vassals live in a city of cloud that stretches across both islands and constantly covers the mountains in a silvery fog. Called Pinnacle, this dragon metropolis is as wondrous as Cloud City to the north, though on a smaller scale. While the mountain tops and enchanted cloud cover bustle with activity, the valleys remain quiet and nearly deserted. Animals and a few rogue monsters live in the shadows beneath Pinnacle, but neither dragon nor demihuman vassal venture into this territory for any length of time. The clan as a whole prefers the airy citadels of stone and vapor high atop the Silver Mountains. 
There is said to be a half-dragon settlement hidden within the shadowy valleys beneath Pinnacle. Rumors persist that the lord of Clan Pinnacle, the venerable Firstclaw, knows all about the settlement and even encourages the presence of 
these crossbreeds. Talk in the Council Aerie insists that the leader of the half-dragon community is actually one of Firstclaw's progeny. Of course, none have voiced this belief within Firstclaw's presence. Because of the rumors, many half-dragons attempt to reach this mythical community. They brave the dangers of hostile clans, turbulent seas, and hungry monsters in an effort to find a place they can call home. How many actually make it-or even if the community really exists-is unknown. 
Firstclaw, dragon lord of the clan, rules the domain from a citadel of mist that floats over and around the summit of the southernmost isle. His lair extends deep into the mountain itself, though few are permitted access to his private chambers. Firstclaw and his kin spend much of their time in demihuman form, living side by side with the vassals they consider friends and companions. Other clans, especially chromatic clans, look down upon the dragons of Pinnacle because of this practice. Those dragons without the natural ability to polymorph themselves consider the desire to live in demihuman form to be a weakness. Some even see this as a mental illness, further proof of the inherent superiority of the nonmetallic dragons. 
casual visitors can rarely tell if they are dealing with a polymorphed dragon or a true demihuman in Pinnacle. Vassals share much of the workload and decision-making with their dragon masters, and the lines of authority in this clan are blurred. In fact, the administrator of the city is the gnome female Cerellen. She handles the necessary routine details so that Firstclaw and his dominates can deal with bigger plans and problems. The position of First Administrator belongs to Cerellen's family and is passed down from generation to generation. 
Clan Pinnacle maintains friendly relations with the other silver dragon domains and has a trade agreement with the clans of the Bronze Cliffs. The red dragons of Clan Vermilion raid often from their lairs on Flame Strike Isle, seeking to expand their territory into the Silver Mountains. As such, the two clans do not get along. Another major threat comes from beyond the southern waters of the Burning Sea. Fire giants strike unexpectedly from across the boiling waves, hunting for young dragons and dragon eggs. The giants have many uses for the dragons, from slave laborers to raw materials for tools, weapons, cl9thing, and spellcraft. Clan Pinnacle maintains a constant vigil against fire giant raids, and the dragons live on constant guard against losing their young to these marauders. 
===Clan Tempest===
From the city of Water's Edge that clings to the northern face of the Bronze Cliffs, Clan Tempest holds one of the largest bronze dragon domains. From the northernmost reaches of the cliffs, the clan's territory stretches over 250 miles to the south and approximately 100 miles into the jungles of Fireshore Island. Most of the dragons live within cliffside lairs, while the majority of their vassals tend jungle plantations or work the sea at the bottom of the cliffs. The domain's center of leadership operates from Water's Edge. Using both natural and constructed caverns in the cliffs to start, the city has expanded into a metropolis of aeries, platforms, and towers all jutting from the side of the cliffs and hanging over the crashing waves. 
Clan Tempest maintains a great army of both dragons and demihumans, as well as a large number of ships with which to move its vassals from island to island. None of these vessels can withstand the terrible rigors of the open seas surrounding the island chain, but all can manage the relatively calmer waters between islands. While the ships are designed as war vessels, more often they carry workers into the sea to harvest aquatic plants, seafood, and pearls for the bronze dragons. 
Whitescale, a great wyrm of considerable age, serves as lord of these bronze dragons. The dragon, named for the single scale of purest white that gleams upon his chest, sits atop his hoard facing the cliffside opening. An entourage of demihuman vassals surrounds him, tending to his needs and challenging him with riddles and other mental contests. His great size and advanced years have decreased Whitescale's level of activity. He spends almost all of his time within his lair, looking out over the sea and dealing with business matters when approached. He leaves other affairs, including Council meetings, to his three sons-the lordlings Whiteclaw, Stormwing, and Seatooth. 
Clan Tempest's army wages continuous skirmishes against the warriors of Clan Mire. The black dragons of Fireshore's northwest swamp hate the bronze dragon clan. The true cause of their battles, however, is the strip of unclaimed jungle that separates the two domains-land that both clans desire. Also, the clan often finds itself at odds with the topaz dragons of Clan Seaspray. Both clans send their vassals into the sea, where they sometimes compete for the choicest fish. 
===Clan Cutham===
The copper dragons of Clan Cutharn have only recently formed their own domain. Originally, these dragons were part of Clan Rockclaw, the oldest and most powerful of the copper dragon clans. When a complex prank against the lord of Rockclaw failed to elicit the desired response, Lord Advocate Cutharn (the perpetrator of the prank) was highly insulted. Instead of being congratulated for his grand humor and ingenuity, Cutharn was banished. The full details of the prank remain a mystery, but to this day Lord Venomtail sports bright red spots on his long, snaking tail. Cutharn, his allied dominates, and their vassals moved into the northern canyons of Rockshore Isle and declared the area a new domain. Five bloody battles and seven wars of words later, Clan Cutharn has finally received a place in the Council of Wyrms—though the peace between the two neighboring clans remains uneasy at best. 
The village of Cutharn, the largest settled portion of the domain and the location of the lord's lair, has grown up around the clan's largest mine. Primitive compared to even the small city of Cracked Peak in Rockclaw domain, let alone the major metropolises of the more powerful dragon clans, the village is an open-topped maze that surrounds the mine. The community consists of dragon lairs and vassal dwellings, but activity is geared toward the working of the mine. The ores drawn from the rocky hills, mostly silver and gold, constitute the bulk of Clan Cutharn's wealth. · 
Cutharn was a lord advocate of adult age in Rockclaw when he broke away and formed his own clan. Now the dragon lord is an old dragon with a small but stable domain under his control. He believes that his presence is required whenever the Council of Wyrms meets, so he often leaves his son Necuthus in charge of the domain. Necuthus also leads the clan's armies, for Cutharn believes a strong defense must be maintained if peace with Clan Rockclaw is to last. The dwarf Kennbred, Cutharn's kindred, oversees activities in the mines and commands the def enders of the village maze. 
To this day, Clan Rockclaw seeks to reclaim the portion of Rockshore Isle it lost to Clan Cutharn. To the copper dragons of Rockclaw, Cutharn is not a true clan at all. They are simply disobedient children who must be brought back into the family—after they have suffered the appropriate punishment for their misbehavior. Now that the Council has recognized Cutharn as a clan (despite Rockclaw's strenuous objections), Venomtail and 
his kin must be less overt in their efforts to take back the northern canyons. The dragons of Rockclaw are patient, however, and though they are bad losers, they have restraint enough to wait for the best time to make their play. 
===Clan Dewfeast===
Located in the southwest desert of Aridia Isle, the Dewfeast domain of brass dragons maintains a large village called Trade Town. Many travelers visit it on their trips to and from the northern and southern islands. The village has long been considered a neutral site, and dragons from all clans make use of its facilities during the long flights between the temperate and tropical regions. The domain also houses Brasstown, a great desert metropolis that serves as the domain's seat of leadership. Its baked-brick and heat-sculpted-sand aeries form a wondrous city of strangely shaped structures with plenty of flat surfaces where the dragons can stretch out in the sun. Some vassals live within the city, but the majority of demihumans are permitted to reside in villages scattered throughout the desert. Each demihuman village, of course, is located near where the resident vassals work, and each village is usually built around a natural oasis. 
The venerable Brazzen the Brass rules Clan Dewfeast and its domain from his lair in Brasstown. This is a huge complex of impossibly thin towers of sand, low block houses, wide sunning platforms, and hidden underground chambers. Its towers rise from the center of the city to greet the burning sun, and Brazzen can often be seen relaxing on a sun-drenched platform while conversing with his vassals or honored visitors. He enjoys talking at great length about subjects of little interest to others, though visitors quickly learn not to insult the dragon lord by spurning his conversations. Those who offend Brazzen receive the dragon lord's favorite punishment. They are buried in the sand before the lord's sunning platform with only their heads uncovered. There they are forced to spend an entire day (or sometimes more) listening to Brazzen talk. The dragon lord regularly attends the meetings of the Council of Wyrms. 
Demihuman vassals do not enjoy much freedom or authority in the brass dragon clans. Even the kindred of the leading dominates are little more than glorified servants. Dragons hold all positions of power and authority; they use demihumans and other vassal races merely as workers. 
Rumors of an underground society of demihumans who seek to improve the lot of the vassals of Clan Dewf east persist, although no evidence of actual rebellion has ever been discovered. 
Because of Trade Town, which most dragons traveling from one end of the island chain to the other use as a resting place, the clan enjoys cordial relations with almost all dragon clans-including the chromatic dragons. This suits the brass dragons perfectly, for it means more visitors and more conversations for them to engage in. The only openly hostile clan is the blue dragon Clan Lightningwing, whose domain stretches through Aridia's eastern desert. The dragons of this clan seek to expand into Dewfeast's territory, often staging raids to measure the strength and preparedness of the brass dragons. The last raid turned into a brief war, and nearly fifty vassals and six dragons from both sides were killed. This conflict is carefully monitored by the Council, which hopes to keep it from escalating into an allout battle for Aridia's deserts. Lord Lightningwing and her relatively young clan have thus far ignored the implied threats of the Council, and the raids continue. 
==Gem Dragon Domains==
Four amethyst dragon clans inhabit the northern Io's Blood islands: Corum, Majyst, Regalen, and Starratiel. 
The sapphire dragons are divided among five clans that maintain domains in the subterranean caverns of Bloodtide and Fireshore islands. These clans are Battlecry, Boldtail, Glitterwing, Phlare, and Warclaw. 
The emerald dragons hold five domains that are closely linked with the sapphire domains. These clans are Firelake, Flamestrider, Maragdus, Sharpwail, and Sonis. 
Topaz dragons control four domains held by the following clans: Deepwater, Dryair, Pazus, and Seaspray. 
Six crystal dragon clans inhabit domains in the northern islands. These clans are Coldshard, Luckwing, Moonlight, Sparkle, Starlight, and Sunlight. 
A selection of gem dragon clans and their respective histories are presented in the pages that follow. As with the metallic dragon clans, the DM is encouraged to make up histories of other gem clans as appropriate in relation to the information detailed here. 
===Clan Majyst===
The amethyst dragons of Clan Majyst control the domain located on Majyst Isle. Named for the greatly respected founder of both the clan and domain, Majyst has been one of the most influential gem clans for the last few dragon generations. The city of Clear Lake, located in the northern reaches of the island's thick forest, is carved into the rolling hills that surround a large, isolated body of water. Here, the dragon dominates come together to determine the balanced, noble course their clan strives to follow. It is a community of great learning, peaceful existence, and tremendous freedom-not only for the dragons, but for their vassals as well. 
Gemmenna, the great wyrm, rules over the domain. She sees herself as a champion of the neutral dragons, and many of the other gem clans defer to her leadership. She keeps her clan and those gem dragons loyal to her out of the typical conflicts that plague the metallic and chromatic dragon clans-provided these conflicts do not endanger the lives and lands of the neutral dragons. 
Clan Majyst has had some problems with the white dragons of Clan Frostwind, who raid the shores of Majyst from their lairs on Glacianta Isle. While the white dragons rarely attack the larger, more powerful amethyst dragons, they have no qualms about freezing vassals and taking them back to the northern isle as food. The gem clans allied with Majyst include the topaz dragons of Clan Seaspray and the crystal dragons of Clan Sparkle. 
===Clan Warclaw===
The strongest clan of sapphire dragons can be found beneath the northeast mountains of Fireshore Island. Here, deep within extensive subterranean caverns, Clan Warclaw maintains a wondrous domain of burrows, tunnels, huge caves, grottos, and hidden lairs. A gigantic open cavity at the bottom of an extinct volcano serves as the domain's center. Bottomtown receives fresh air and sunshine from the volcano's mouth. Natural and constructed caves line the cavern's walls, and here the sapphire dominates nest and bask in the presence of their lord, Phirebolt. 
Warclaw's armies of dragons, gnomes, and dwarves are among the best trained and most battle-ready of all the military forces of Io's Blood. In fact, much of the clan's focus is toward maintaining or increasing the strength of its troops. 
Gnomes fill the most coveted vassal positions in the domain, while dwarves are relegated to menial duties-both in the army and in construction, mining, and hunting details. No elf vassals can be found within the confines of the Warclaw domain. 
Clan Warclaw long ago drove away its enemies, and because of the clan's reputation the domain has been at peace for more than three dragon generations. To visit the domain, though, is to see a clan on the verge of war. Armies train and patrol constantly, as though the clan's greatest enemy was gathering on its borders. Phirebolt, a venerable sapphire of great size and strength, follows the customs of his forebears and keeps his clan in peak fighting condition. His memory is very good, and images of the great battles fought against the drow when he was very young still haunt his restless nights. He remembers how the dark elves flooded into the caverns, using magic and weapons to steal the sapphire dragons' hoards. When he became lord of the clan, he promised that no enemy would ever get that close again. His daughters Phyre and Phlame command the lair guard, two elite legions of dragons and vassals charged with protecting the inner caverns from all threats. 
Clan Warclaw has close ties with the emerald dragons of Clan Sharpwail, whose domain spreads from the upper portion of the volcano into the mountains and jungles around it. The two clans maintain trade, share news, and provide a common defense for their parallel domains. 
===Clan Maragdus===
Located among the central mountains of Bloodtide Island, the domain of Clan Maragdus is typical of other emerald dragon domains. The domain is closed to visitors, as the emerald dragons have a great fear of outsiders. Those who have legitimate business to conduct in the domain must do so within the confines of one of the border vassal towns, where visitors are tolerated, if not truly welcome. Dwarves and gnomes make up the majority of the vassals serving the emerald dragons, and even other dragons must deal with these beings as few emerald dragons ever leave the inner lairs. 
The great city of Quietfire, built on the rim of a huge volcano, overlooks a slow-bubbling lake of molten rock. Here, the emerald dragons maintain their collections of history and lore. For all their paranoia concerning outsiders, they are extremely curious about the customs and traditions of other 
clans. They know more about the rest of Io's Blood and the seas beyond than any other clan, yet few if any of these dragons will ever leave the domain to see these sights personally. 
Maragdus, the great wyrm, rules the emerald dragons of Clan Maragdus. He jealously guards his lair from even his own subjects, rarely venturing out from behind his maze of traps and alarms. Only the gnome female Greltha, his kindred, has free access to the lair. She takes care of all Maragdus's needs, including going out to meet with those the great wyrm would rather avoid. 
Maragdus's son, the young adult named Aldus, has a totally different outlook. While the typical emerald is paranoid and shy, Aldus is fun-loving and outgoing. He thrives on making new friends and satisfying his curiosity. Privately Maragdus thinks his son suffered some shock while still in the shell. When the Council of Wyrms meets, Aldus attends on behalf of Clan Maragdus. 
The emerald dragons of Clan Maragdus have a territorial treaty with the sapphire dragons of Clan Battlecry. Not that Maragdus trusts the sapphire dragons anymore than he trusts other dragons, he just doesn't fear them as much as he fears the red dragons of Clan Firetongue. This clan lives in the nearby peaks overlooking the Bloodtide desert, and its red dragons have made numerous assaults on border villages in search of treasure to add to their own hoards. Thanks to Battlecry's help, the red dragons have not moved against Quietfire City and the dominates' lairs-at least not yet. 
===Clan Deepwater===
The domain of Deepwater, located on the south-west shore of Exaurdon Isle, is home to the insular topaz dragons of Clan Deepwater. Coral City, the domain's cultural and political center, rises out of the Coral Sea, thanks to a combination of magic and careful tending. Its enchanted grottos and rocky outcroppings are designed for the maximum comfort of the topaz dragons and their vassals. Sea elf vassals care for the living coral, which local dragon-mages and priests shape with powerful spells. For all its beauty and wonder, Coral City is still home to the unfriendly topaz dragons of Clan Deepwater-which makes it an unfriendly place to visit. 
Gnomes and elves share duties as vassals to the dragons of Clan Deepwater. While sea elves live and work in the water around Coral City, their land-bound cousins fish and farm from villages on the shore. The gnome vassals actually live inside Coral City beside their ill-tempered masters, as well as in coastal and forest villages. 
Squidkiller, a very old topaz dragon, controls both the clan and domain from his underwater grotto deep below Coral City. He often leads great hunts into the surrounding sea in search of giant squid and other delicacies. He hates intruders, no matter if they are dragons or other beings, and his vassals and kin have standing orders to drive off all who enter the domain. Squidkiller believes that the Council is a waste of time, so he rarely sends a representative. Often, the spot reserved for Clan Deepwater sits empty while the rest of the Council meets to decide important issues. 
The green dragons of Clan Treesplitter occupy the southwestern forest of Exaurdon Isle, controlling the entire area except for the shores of Deep-water domain. This, of course, bothers the green dragons to no end, and they often strike at the vassal villages in hopes of driving the entire topaz clan into the sea. Squidkiller refuses to allow his domain to be threatened, so the topaz dragons remain alert for any sign of hostile green dragons. As Deepwater has not bothered to bring a complaint before the Council, Clan Treesplitter just may succeed in annexing part of the topaz dragons' territory. 
===Clan Starlight===
On the island of Everwinter, at the extreme northern edge of the Io's Blood chain, the crystal dragons of Clan Starlight live a carefree, happy existence. Coldtown dominates the plains of ice, for its forts and sculptures of snow jut high into the freezing sky. The tops of each snow tower are coated with ice to reflect the light of the sun, the moon, and especially the stars that the clan loves so well. These sparkling edifices can be seen for great distances, leading those with good intentions toward the friendly community. 
Stargazer the Old commands the crystal dragons of Clan Starlight. Sharing the common trait of irresponsibility with her crystal kin, Stargazer leaves the true running of the domain to her kindred, the elf priest Estera Icestrider. Estera consults with Stargazer on matters of great import, but she handles the everyday activities on her own. Even the dragon dominates acquiesce to Estera's leadership-though it helps that she always couches her commands in the form of strong suggestions. 
Stargazer's son, Skyrunner the Mage, represents the clan in the Council of Wyrms. In fact, Skyrunner spends most of his time in and around the Council Aerie, learning magic and other lore from the older dragons on the Council. Skyrunner believes that by gaining as much knowledge and experience as possible, he will be better able to lead his clan when the time to take charge comes. His mother disagrees. She believes that knowledge for its own sake is commendable, but leadership is best left to the vassals so that there is time enough to play. 
Clan Starlight has many enemies in the northern reaches, and very few friends close enough to aid them. Frost giants often stage swift raids from out of the Ice Sea, for they covet the crystal dragons as slaves and beasts of burden. The white dragons of Clan Iceteeth strike from Everwinter's mountains, seeking stray crystal dragons to feast upon. The dragons of Clan Starlight are also vulnerable to the monsters of the north, for these dragons are smaller and weaker than other dragon types. 
==Chromatic Dragon Domains==
The chromatic dragons can be found throughout the Io's Blood chain. From the white dragon clans that inhabit the frozen north, to the red dragons of the. sweltering south, the chromatic clans wage a subtle war for dominance as they seek to wrest control before the Council of Wyrms notices their actions. 
Five red dragon clans inhabit the southern islands: Bloodtide, Firetongue, Magma, Scorch, and Vermilion. 
The blue dragons are divided among six clans that control domains in the central islands. These are Clearsky, Jagtail, Lightningwing, Sandshaper, Sharpbolt, and Swiftclaw. 
The green dragons hold six domains in the temperate isles. The green clans are Darkcloud, Evilwood, Foulgrove, Jadress, Treesplitter, and Veriste. 
Black dragons control seven domains held by the following clans: Blackmoon, Blackwater, Boghold, Lurker, Mire, Nighthunt, and Nightshriek. 
Eight white dragon clans inhabit domains in the northern islands. These clans are Chillblood, Coldfire, Desolate, Everwinter, Frostwind, Glare, Iceteeth, and Illsnow. 
A selection of chromatic dragon clans and their respective histories are presented in the pages that follow. As with the metallic and gem dragons, the DM is encouraged to make up histories of other chromatic clans as appropriate in relation to the information detailed here. 
===Clan Bloodtide===
High in the mountains in the southeast jungles of Bloodtide Isle, the red dragons of Clan Bloodtide live in great cities of stone and molten lava. The cities, carved from the living rock by countless slaves, sit atop the three highest peaks, perched like predators waiting to pounce on passing prey. 
Malice, largest of the three cities, has huge aeries, intricately crafted cavern lairs, and rivers of lava that illuminate the wide avenues with flowing light. Firebrand, dragon lord of Clan Bloodtide, rules from this place of beauty and intense evil with a fierce, firm claw. 
Visitors to the cities of the Bloodtide domain must endure the oppressive air that hangs over each metropolis. From the looming, monolithic structures to the hordes of slaves laboring for cruel dragon taskmasters, each imposing, spirit-crushing community is a reflection of the dark nature of the red dragons. Huge clouds of steaming mist rise out of the mountain to cloak the streets, while the constant, flickering fires and dull streams of lava bathe everything in a stygian glow. The heat, already unbearable because of the tropical clime, is many times worse in the mountain cities-but the red dragons find it just to their liking. 
Firebrand the Red, a great wyrm of incredible power and size, has done much to shape the clan and its attitudes over his long reign. The predominant attitude fostered by Firebrand is an over-whelming hatred for the gold dragon clans—especially Clan Exaurdon. He believes that the gold dragons are the only legitimate threat to his domain, and the only beings capable of impeding his clan's takeover of the entire island chain. Firebrand spends much time plotting ways to safely topple the great gold dragon domains. While he has dreamed of countless ways to accomplish this goal, no single method has yet given him confidence enough to proceed. 
Everyone and everything within reach of Bloodtide's greedy claws feels threatened by the red dragon clan. The red dragons need many slaves to work their mines and build their lairs, and they don't care where they get them. Vassals of other dragon lords, monsters, and even other dragons can find themselves on the wrong end of Bloodtide's binding chains. And once the red clan takes a dragon, it disappears into the depths of the domain to labor for the rest of its long life. 
===Clan Foulgrove===
In the heart of the Emerald Forest, the green dragons of Clan Foulgrove gather to plot and scheme against the rest of the Council of Wyrms. The trees of the deep forest have succumbed to the malignant will of the green dragons. They have been warped and twisted into vile, living structures-as enslaved to the dragons as the other forest creatures. Foulgrove, their living city, spreads from the center of Emerald Isle to cover nearly 25 square miles of forest. Trees and other forest plants have been formed into extensive, growing caves for use as dragon lairs. The pain of this dark forest is evident to those sensitive enough to hear the cries, for the forest itself weeps of its oppression. To the green dragons of Foulgrove, these cries are sweet music to cherish and enjoy. 
Chlorr the Green, a venerable female dragon, lords over the domain from her lair of twisted trees and thorny bushes. She demands that every creature in the Emerald Forest bow down to her, and she takes great delight in breaking the spirit of good creatures. In addition to the demihuman tribes that serve her, she also commands a clan of vicious bugbears. The bugbears look upon Chlorr as a god, giving her the same devotion that others reserve for true deities. Chlorr also has a small tribe of drow among her servants. These dark elves serve as her taskmasters, using their own cruelty to keep the other vassals in line. 
Foulgrove's spies are everywhere, gathering information that Chlorr can use in the Council Aerie to promote her own interests. She attends the meetings personally, not trusting her kin to such an important task. While Clan Foulgrove has no particular enemies or allies, the green dragons constantly seek opportunities and weaknesses to exploit. If another clan provides an opening for Foulgrove, the green dragons will charge in. 
One interesting feature of the Emerald Forest is the Groaning Wood, a portion of the island haunted by a banshee. Even the green dragons stay away from this desolate area, for the wail of the banshee is as deadly to them as it is to other living things. Some say that the groaning spirit cries out its own pain and the pain of the perverted forest. Others believe that the spirit of the female elf was once a vassal of Clan Foulgrove who will haunt the island until all the elf slaves are set free. 
===Clan Blackmoon===
The southern swamp of Storm Island is home to the black dragons of Clan Blackmoon. Blackmoon has never been a prosperous clan. It is small in size, weak in power, and far from influential in dragon society. It has no cities, few villages, and only one mining community. There was a time when it looked like Clan Blackmoon would be absorbed by the larger, more powerful Clan Mire. No one, not even the Council, took the small clan seriously. All that, however, is about to change-at least that's what Lord Deathstream believes. 
Deathstream, an old dragon of relatively meager power, has made a secret alliance that he believes will make his clan exceedingly wealthy and strong. While he rules his domain in public, the true leader issues orders to Deathstream from a hidden underground lair. The leader behind the Blackmoon throne is Infernis, a dracolich from the time of the last Dragon War. Once a great red dragon, Inf ernis is now an undead creature with a hunger for power and a thirst for revenge. In life, Infernis ruled Clan Magma. He died at the claws of Baraster, lord of the gold dragons of Clan Baraster in the days before the invasion of the dragon slayers. Since his return, the undead dragon has been searching for dragons he could bend to his will. He finally found them in the black dragons of Clan Blackmoon. 
Few members of Deathstream's court know about Infernis. The dominates simply see their lord finally accomplishing goals and setting higher aspirations for the clan. As long as their wealth continues to increase, the dominates will go along with Deathstream's edicts-and probably would do so even if they discovered the true source of Deathstream's suddenly commanding voice. 
The first step in Infernis's ultimate plan is to gather more territory and more troops for the dragon army he seeks to build. He has decided that the Jagtail Clan will be the next to come under his influence. The blue dragons of Clan Jagtail control the desert islands off Storm's western shore. The dracolich urged Deathstream to send a small group of raiders to test the strength and determination of the blue dragons. Now he is working out the details of a full-scale invasion. 
Kuniff Dell, Deathstream's kindred gnome, knows of Infernis's presence and influence-and is terribly frightened by the undead monster. The feral gnome, who leads the rest of Blackmoon's vassals, believes that Infernis has come to destroy the laws and customs of Io's Blood society. He has been sorely tempted to reveal the existence of the dracolich to one of the clan's dominates, but he fears the wrath of both his master and Infernis.