The golden leaf

If there are still adventurous or fools ready to cross the scorching marshes, it is definitely because of the Golden leaf, considered like a tree of life for most ethnicities.

The scorching marshes:

As a brief reminder, let’s say the scorching marshes are the deadliest part of the island of Cheebry. A vast land, deprived of water and completely dried, dangerous enough in itself without the presence of the red dragons who often nest there.
Only a handful of mercenaries accept to lead a caravan across that desert if paid handsomely. But none promise to keep you safe until the other side. They ask for payment in advance, of course.

The legend of the miraculous plant:

After the water stopped flowing own this land, all plants started to die. Or at least that’s what people initially thought. In the massive exodus that left the land empty, a few people reported having seen a green plant with gold leaves that shine in the sun, thriving in the middle of the ancient marshes. Soon, the talk became a rumor, and the rumor a legend. And the plant that could live where no-one and nothing could, has been believed to contain magical properties.

Travelers and adventurers:

Of course, as soon as the legend developed people tried to obtain the plant that could be sold for an amazing amount of money. And countless expeditions have been led with the objective to obtain the golden leaf. A few have said to have seen the plant from afar, too close to a dragon to approach, but no-one ever actually brought back a single golden leaf from the mashes.

Counterfeits:

Mages are always on the lookout for adventurers who pretend having successfully brought back the plant and who dare to sell a fake at an indecent price to poor souls who only want to believe. If the Mages find out the fraud, the thieves are thrown to prison and sometimes even executed to have abused of the gullibility of the people.