The Aurum
Аурум
«Аурум» возникло в Твердынях Мрор. Уже перед началом Последней Войны и декларацией независимости дварфа- ми, несколько членов наиболее влиятельных кланов объ¬единились в тайное братство, стремящееся к увеличению своего богатства и власти. С крахом Галифара и возвы¬шением нации дварфов, члены Аурум начали распро¬странять своё влияние за пределы Гор Железные Корни. Главы Гильдий, криминальные короли, торговые принцы, знать, члены Домов Отмеченных Драконом и многие дру¬гие присоединились к тайному обществу, и постепенно Аурум стало больше, чем просто братством. Именно на почве притока свежих сил и опустошения, которое при¬несла с собой Последняя Война, и произошёл прорыв но¬вых идей, которые помогли организации обрести вторую жизнь.
Аурум скрывает свои истинные мотивы от мира. Оно объявляет, что является всего лишь обществом для бо-гатых студентов, изучающих историю; многие из его членов и в самом деле имеют внушительные личные со-брания редких исторических томов и реликвий древних цивилизаций. Много членов Аурума действительно инте¬ресуется прошлым, потому что они верят, что прошлое формирует будущее.
Организация разделена на четыре уровня, назван¬ные Конвенциями - Медная, Серебряная, Золотая, и Платиновая. Более высокий разряд предоставляет члену больший доступ к ресурсам Аурума и больший вес голоса на встречах общества. Положение определяется как лич¬ным влиянием, так и услугами, оказанными сообществу. Наследник могущественного отмеченного драконом дома сразу присоединяется к Золотой Конвенции, в то время как глава какой-нибудь незначительной гильдии начинает в Медной.
Со временем, любой член имеет шанс дослужиться до Платиновой Конвенции. Большинство членов полагает, что Платиновая Конвенция управляет делами Аурума, но на самом деле бразды правления находятся в руках группы, известной как Теневой кабинет. Теневой каби¬нет существует вне структуры Конвенций и его задача - манипуляции народами Кхорвайра. Антас ир'Солдорэк (Законно Злой мужчина дварф, аристократ 4/вор 6) воз-главляет Теневой кабинет, а также служит канцлером Платиновой Конвенции.
Аурум действует в основном своими денежными ресур¬сами, а не силовыми акциями. Его члены обмениваются знаниями, чтобы улучшить собственное благосостояние или победить общих конкурентов. Неизвестные же боль¬шинству министры Теневого кабинета, однако, полагают, что аристократия не имеет никакого будущего в становя¬щемся обществе. Из королей и королев получаются пре¬восходные номинальные главы, но в одиночку никакому дворянину никогда не хватит мудрости, чтобы управлять эффективно. Последняя Война доказывает это утверж¬дение, и лидеры Аурума намерены проследить, чтобы любые будущие войны служили только их собственным интересам. На данный момент, у них есть агенты во всех Народах и Отмеченных Драконом Домах, находя их сре¬ди честолюбивых людей с достаточным богатством и влиянием. Участники Конвенций Аурума носят по про¬стому кольцу на каждом пальце - итого всего восемь. Члены Медной Конвенции носят медные кольца, члены Серебряной Конвенции носят серебряные кольца, ну и так далее. Скорее символ статуса, чем драгоценная без¬делушка, каждое кольцо стоит всего лишь как 10 монет, сделанных из того же самого металла.
On the surface, the Aurum appears to be an exclusive society for the richest and most influential people of Khorvaire. Merchants, priests, military officers, and other luminaries gather for grand galas and salons. Beneath this gilded veneer, the members of the Aurum use their shared wealth and power to pursue their selfish goals, and a secret cabal at the heart of this fraternity dreams of global domination.
The Aurum is divided into four suborders called Concords—copper, silver, gold, and platinum, in order of ascendance. Higher rank provides a member with improved access to the resources of the Aurum and a greater voice in society meetings. The Aurum isn't a secret society, and its meeting halls can be found in most major cities. Many powerful people openly wear the eight rings—one on each finger, with the metal indicating the rank of the wearer—that label them as Aurum members. The Aurum frequently engages in acts of philanthropy, and thus some members might be celebrated by their local communities.
When members gather, they discuss shared interests, especially in history and archaeology. Aurum members often take an interest in a particular civilization or era of history; one Concordian collects relics of the Cul'sir giants of Xen'drik, while another pursues artifacts of the dragons of Argonnessen. One of the most common ways in which adventurers cross paths with the Aurum is through these collectors. Members of the Aurum often fund expeditions to exotic lands or newly discovered ruins, interested in expanding their private hoards. Occasionally a Concordian tries to acquire prized relics through less honorable means; adventurers could be employed to acquire an exotic prize from a rival through any means necessary, legal or otherwise.
All of these activities are entirely legitimate. The Aurum is a society for wealthy scholars and philanthropists. But there is a secret order that ranks higher than the Platinum Concord—an inner circle known as the Shadow Cabinet. The members of this cabal are nobles but not kings; they are powerful industrialists, but not dragonmarked barons. They are determined to become the true rulers of Khorvaire, whether by binding the current barons and monarchs to their will or by tearing down the current systems and creating something new.
In stories driven by action, the Aurum can fund expeditions to exotic lands and use magical doomsday devices to hold cities for ransom. In adventures driven by intrigue, the Aurum provides an opportunity to explore the lure of gold, and how far the characters might go in the service of an amoral patron.
The Aurum and the War The Last War gave birth to the Shadow Cabinet. The war ignited the passions of Concordians who blamed the monarchs of the Five Nations for the vast devastation and loss. It also created opportunities that never existed under the united Galifar. Many of the members of the Aurum gained influence by bankrolling one or more war efforts, or by stepping in to maintain the infrastructure while the government directed its attention to military matters. The Aurum also includes a number of powerful military officers and warlords. Some despise the nobles that drove them to war; others are furious that the war ended without a decisive victory. Either way, these can provide the Shadow Cabinet with unexpected military power.
Now, amid the war's cooling ashes, the Aurum's power is fragmented. On several occasions, investments and gambles that paid dividends in money and power to one Concordian sapped the fortune of another, because each was unknowingly working against the other's interests. Huge collections of art, historical artifacts, and precious tomes were destroyed or lost during the war, and the Aurum's leaders salivate at the thought of recovering some of those riches.
Aurum NPCs Aurum Concordians are defined by their wealth and power. When you create an Aurum NPC, consider the source of that person's wealth and how it is expressed. The dwarf Antus ir'Soldorak is chancellor of the Platinum Concord and founder of the Shadow Cabinet. He owns vast gold and silver mines in the Mror Holds and mints his own currency, and he travels in a gilded airship. Loyal Daison is a Karrnathi slumlord who has made a fortune providing low-rent (and low-quality) housing for refugees. He lost his hand in an industrial accident and had it replaced with a golden prosthetic.
Members of the Aurum become villains if their quest for greater influence, personal power, and wealth victimizes the innocent. Whether villains or allies, all Concordians wield significant political influence. They have access to minions and resources in the higher levels of society. They prefer to pursue schemes of coercion and conspiracy, putting their money and influence to work, than resort to blatant violence in any form.
Aurum NPCs d4 NPC 1 An aging dwarf—a retired general and an Aurum Concordian—collects unusual constructs, hoping to find a way to transfer his mind into a superior body. 2 An Aurum Concordian is renowned for having the finest arcane library in Khorvaire. Adventurers might help them collect more tome, but when a number of prominent wizards are murdered and their research goes missing, is the Concordian to blame? 3 A member of the Gold Concord is on the run from the Aurum after learning a terrible secret. 4 An imprisoned Concordian mobilizes a network of contacts and well-placed Aurum members in order to secure their own release. Aurum Campaign Themes It's easy to introduce the Aurum to the characters early in a campaign. Its members are public figures, sometimes eccentric but not necessarily evil. A Concordian could hire the adventurers to solve a mystery or to acquire a harmless curio. A Concordian could be tied to the party's group patron (see chapter 1)—the owner of the newspaper, a major donor to the university, or the power behind a criminal syndicate.
Alternatively, an Aurum Concordian can be a behind-the-scenes villain: low-level adventurers could clash with the Concordian's hired goons as they pursue the same treasure, or the adventurers could be trying to solve a mystery the thugs are covering up. As the campaign progresses, the characters might face higher-ranking members of the Aurum, or recurring mercenaries who are increasing in power and status at the same rate they are.
Whether they interact with the Aurum as ally or enemy, at some point the adventurers might well realize that the Concordians aren't just greedy plutocrats, but participants in an international conspiracy. The Aurum's arc in the campaign might climax with the characters learning of the Shadow Cabinet and thwarting one of its grand schemes.
Aurum Missions The Aurum Missions table suggests a variety of assignments that adventurers might be asked to undertake on behalf of the Aurum or one of its members, whether or not they're aware of their patron's affiliation.
Aurum Missions d6 Mission 1 Retrieve a journal from a ship that sailed to Xen'drik and never returned. 2 Locate the grave of a certain dragonmarked scion, and retrieve the signet buried with them. 3 Make friends with a scholar at the local university and learn their vices. 4 Recover a trove of art, artifacts, or recorded knowledge that was thought lost in a battle during the Last War. 5 Capture an officer from a rival nation's army, or convince the officer to defect, to gain access to their specialized knowledge. 6 Sabotage the negotiations between a dragonmarked house and the local government on a plan that will undermine the Aurum's status.
On the surface, the Aurum appears to be an exclusive society for the richest and most influential people of Khorvaire. Merchants, priests, military officers, and other luminaries gather for grand galas and salons. Beneath this gilded veneer, the members of the Aurum use their shared wealth and power to pursue their selfish goals, and a secret cabal at the heart of this fraternity dreams of global domination.
The Aurum is divided into four suborders called Concords—copper, silver, gold, and platinum, in order of ascendance. Higher rank provides a member with improved access to the resources of the Aurum and a greater voice in society meetings. The Aurum isn't a secret society, and its meeting halls can be found in most major cities. Many powerful people openly wear the eight rings—one on each finger, with the metal indicating the rank of the wearer—that label them as Aurum members. The Aurum frequently engages in acts of philanthropy, and thus some members might be celebrated by their local communities.
When members gather, they discuss shared interests, especially in history and archaeology. Aurum members often take an interest in a particular civilization or era of history; one Concordian collects relics of the Cul'sir giants of Xen'drik, while another pursues artifacts of the dragons of Argonnessen. One of the most common ways in which adventurers cross paths with the Aurum is through these collectors. Members of the Aurum often fund expeditions to exotic lands or newly discovered ruins, interested in expanding their private hoards. Occasionally a Concordian tries to acquire prized relics through less honorable means; adventurers could be employed to acquire an exotic prize from a rival through any means necessary, legal or otherwise.
All of these activities are entirely legitimate. The Aurum is a society for wealthy scholars and philanthropists. But there is a secret order that ranks higher than the Platinum Concord—an inner circle known as the Shadow Cabinet. The members of this cabal are nobles but not kings; they are powerful industrialists, but not dragonmarked barons. They are determined to become the true rulers of Khorvaire, whether by binding the current barons and monarchs to their will or by tearing down the current systems and creating something new.
In stories driven by action, the Aurum can fund expeditions to exotic lands and use magical doomsday devices to hold cities for ransom. In adventures driven by intrigue, the Aurum provides an opportunity to explore the lure of gold, and how far the characters might go in the service of an amoral patron.
The Aurum and the War The Last War gave birth to the Shadow Cabinet. The war ignited the passions of Concordians who blamed the monarchs of the Five Nations for the vast devastation and loss. It also created opportunities that never existed under the united Galifar. Many of the members of the Aurum gained influence by bankrolling one or more war efforts, or by stepping in to maintain the infrastructure while the government directed its attention to military matters. The Aurum also includes a number of powerful military officers and warlords. Some despise the nobles that drove them to war; others are furious that the war ended without a decisive victory. Either way, these can provide the Shadow Cabinet with unexpected military power.
Now, amid the war's cooling ashes, the Aurum's power is fragmented. On several occasions, investments and gambles that paid dividends in money and power to one Concordian sapped the fortune of another, because each was unknowingly working against the other's interests. Huge collections of art, historical artifacts, and precious tomes were destroyed or lost during the war, and the Aurum's leaders salivate at the thought of recovering some of those riches.
Aurum NPCs Aurum Concordians are defined by their wealth and power. When you create an Aurum NPC, consider the source of that person's wealth and how it is expressed. The dwarf Antus ir'Soldorak is chancellor of the Platinum Concord and founder of the Shadow Cabinet. He owns vast gold and silver mines in the Mror Holds and mints his own currency, and he travels in a gilded airship. Loyal Daison is a Karrnathi slumlord who has made a fortune providing low-rent (and low-quality) housing for refugees. He lost his hand in an industrial accident and had it replaced with a golden prosthetic.
Members of the Aurum become villains if their quest for greater influence, personal power, and wealth victimizes the innocent. Whether villains or allies, all Concordians wield significant political influence. They have access to minions and resources in the higher levels of society. They prefer to pursue schemes of coercion and conspiracy, putting their money and influence to work, than resort to blatant violence in any form.
Aurum NPCs d4 NPC 1 An aging dwarf—a retired general and an Aurum Concordian—collects unusual constructs, hoping to find a way to transfer his mind into a superior body. 2 An Aurum Concordian is renowned for having the finest arcane library in Khorvaire. Adventurers might help them collect more tome, but when a number of prominent wizards are murdered and their research goes missing, is the Concordian to blame? 3 A member of the Gold Concord is on the run from the Aurum after learning a terrible secret. 4 An imprisoned Concordian mobilizes a network of contacts and well-placed Aurum members in order to secure their own release. Aurum Campaign Themes It's easy to introduce the Aurum to the characters early in a campaign. Its members are public figures, sometimes eccentric but not necessarily evil. A Concordian could hire the adventurers to solve a mystery or to acquire a harmless curio. A Concordian could be tied to the party's group patron (see chapter 1)—the owner of the newspaper, a major donor to the university, or the power behind a criminal syndicate.
Alternatively, an Aurum Concordian can be a behind-the-scenes villain: low-level adventurers could clash with the Concordian's hired goons as they pursue the same treasure, or the adventurers could be trying to solve a mystery the thugs are covering up. As the campaign progresses, the characters might face higher-ranking members of the Aurum, or recurring mercenaries who are increasing in power and status at the same rate they are.
Whether they interact with the Aurum as ally or enemy, at some point the adventurers might well realize that the Concordians aren't just greedy plutocrats, but participants in an international conspiracy. The Aurum's arc in the campaign might climax with the characters learning of the Shadow Cabinet and thwarting one of its grand schemes.
Aurum Missions The Aurum Missions table suggests a variety of assignments that adventurers might be asked to undertake on behalf of the Aurum or one of its members, whether or not they're aware of their patron's affiliation.
Aurum Missions d6 Mission 1 Retrieve a journal from a ship that sailed to Xen'drik and never returned. 2 Locate the grave of a certain dragonmarked scion, and retrieve the signet buried with them. 3 Make friends with a scholar at the local university and learn their vices. 4 Recover a trove of art, artifacts, or recorded knowledge that was thought lost in a battle during the Last War. 5 Capture an officer from a rival nation's army, or convince the officer to defect, to gain access to their specialized knowledge. 6 Sabotage the negotiations between a dragonmarked house and the local government on a plan that will undermine the Aurum's status.
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