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THE AURUM tion and loss. It also created opportunities that never
existed under the united Galifar. Many of the members
On the surface, the Aurum appears to be an exclusive of the Aurum gained influence by bankrolling one or
society for the richest and most influential people of more war efforts, or by stepping in to maintain the infra­
Khorvaire. Merchants, priests, military officers, and structure while the government directed its attention to
other luminaries gather for grand galas and salons. Be­ military matters. The Aurum also includes a number of
neath this gilded veneer, the members of the Aurum use powerful military officers and warlords. Some despise
their shared wealth and power to pursue their selfish the nobles that drove them to war; others are furious
goals, and a secret cabal at the heart of this fraternity that the war ended without a decisive victory. Either
dreams of global domination. way, these can provide the Shadow Cabinet with unex­
The Aurum is divided into four suborders called pected military power.
Concords-copper, silver, gold, and platinum, in order Now, amid the war's cooling ashes, the Aurum's
of ascendance. Higher rank provides a member with power is fragmented. On several occasions, investments
improved access to the resources of the Aurum and and gambles that paid dividends in money and power to
a greater voice in society meetings. The Aurum isn't one Concordian sapped the fortune of another, because
a secret society, and its meeting halls can be found in each was unknowingly working against the other's inter­
most major cities. Many powerful people openly wear ests. Huge collections of art, historical artifacts, and pre­
the eight rings-one on each finger, with the metal cious tomes were destroyed or lost during the war, and
indicating the rank of the wearer-that label them as the Aurum's leaders salivate at the thought of recovering
Aurum members. The Aurum frequently engages in acts some of those riches.
of philanthropy, and thus some members might be cele­
brated by their local communities. AURUM N P C s
When members gather, they discuss shared interests,
especially in history and archaeology. Aurum members Aurum Concordians are defined by their wealth and
often take an interest in a particular civilization or era power. When you create an Aurum NPC, consider the
of history; one Concordian collects relics of the Cul' sir source of that person's wealth and how it is expressed.
The dwarf Antus ir'Soldorak is chancellor of the Plat­
giants of Xen'drik, while another pursues artifacts of
the dragons of Argonnessen. One of the most common inum Concord and founder of the Shadow Cabinet.
ways in which adventurers cross paths with the Aurum He owns vast gold and silver mines in the Mror Holds
is through these collectors. Members of the Aurum and mints his own currency, and he travels in a gilded
often fund expeditions to exotic lands or newly discov­ airship. Loyal Daison is a Karrnathi slumlord who has
ered ruins, interested in expanding their private hoards. made a fortune providing low-rent (and low-quality)
Occasionally a Concordian tries to acquire prized relics housing for refugees. He lost his hand in an industrial
through less honorable means; adventurers could be accident and had it replaced with a golden prosthetic.
employed to acquire an exotic prize from a rival through Members of the Aurum become villains if their quest
any means necessary, legal or otherwise. for greater influence, personal power, and wealth vic­
All of these activities are entirely legitimate. The timizes the innocent. Whether villains or allies, all Con­
Aurum is a society for wealthy scholars and philanthro­ cordians wield significant political influence. They have
pists. But there is a secret order that ranks higher than access to minions and resources in the higher levels of
the Platinum Concord-an inner circle known as the society. They prefer to pursue schemes of coercion and
Shadow Cabinet. The members of this cabal are nobles conspiracy, putting their money and influence to work,
but not kings; they are powerful industrialists, but not than resort to blatant violence in any form.
dragonmarked barons. They are determined to become
the true rulers of Khorvaire, whether by binding the A U R U M N P Cs
current barons and monarchs to their will or by tearing d4 NPC
down the current systems and creating something new. An aging dwarf-a retired general and an Aurum Con­
In stories driven by action, the Aurum can fund expe­ cordian-collects unusual constructs, hoping to find
ditions to exotic lands and use magical doomsday de­ a way to transfer his mind into a superior body.
vices to hold cities for ransom. In adventures driven by 2 An Au rum Concordian is renowned for having the
intrigue, the Aurum provides an opportunity to explore
the lure of gold, and how far the characters might go in finest arcane library in Khorvaire. Adventurers might
the service of an amoral patron. help them collect more tome, but when a number of
prominent wizards are murdered and their research
THE AURUM N D T H E W A R goes missing, is the Concordian to blame?
A
3 A member of the Gold Concord is on the run from the
The Last War gave birth to the Shadow Cabinet. The
war ignited the passions of Concordians who blamed Au rum after learning a terrible secret.
'
the monarchs of the Five Nations for the vast devasta- 4 An imprisoned Concordian mobilizes a network of Ii J
contacts and well-placed Aurum members in order to
secure their own release.

CHAPTER 4 I BUILDING EBERRON ADVENTURES
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