The Aurum, a shadowy alliance of some of the wealthiest citizens of Khorvaire, uses the power of gold and platinum to increase its influence across the continent. From its headquarters in Krona Peak in the Mror Holds, this organization espouses the lawful evil point of view and keeps its true intentions highly secret.
The Aurum was born in the Mror Holds. Even before the Last War and the dwarves’ declaration of independence, various members of the powerful clans had joined together in a secret fraternity designed to increase the wealth and power of its members. With the collapse of Galifar and the rise of the dwarf nation, the members of the Aurum began to look beyond the Ironroot Mountains. Guildmasters, crime lords, merchant princes, nobles, and members of dragonmarked houses, among others, joined the secret society, and slowly it became more than a simple fraternity. Between the influx of new blood and the devastation of the Last War came a rush of new ideas, which resulted in a new sense of purpose for the cabal.
The Aurum hides its true activities from the world. It claims to be an innocent society for wealthy students of history; many of its members have impressive personal collections of rare historical tomes and relics of ancient civilizations. Many members of the Aurum truly are interested in the past, because they intend to shape the future.
The organization is divided into four levels, called concords—copper, silver, gold, and platinum. Higher rank provides a member with greater access to the resources of the Aurum and a greater voice in society meetings. Rank is based both on personal influence and services provided to the group. A powerful heir of a dragonmarked house joins the Gold Concord, while a minor guildmaster starts in the Copper Concord. In time, any member has the chance to advance to the Platinum Concord.
Most members believe that the Platinum Concord manages the affairs of the Aurum, but the true masterminds of the conspiracy form an inner circle known as the Shadow Cabinet. The Shadow Cabinet exists outside the structure of the concords and works to manipulate the nations of Khorvaire. Antus ir’Soldorak (LE male dwarf, aristocrat 4/rogue 6) chairs the Shadow Cabinet and also serves as the chancellor of the Platinum Concord.
The Aurum acts as a resource as opposed to an active force. Its members share knowledge to improve their personal fortunes or to defeat common rivals. The hidden ministers of the Shadow Cabinet, however, believe that the aristocracy has no place running society. Kings and queens make excellent figureheads, but no individual noble has the wisdom required to rule efficiently. The Last War proves this assertion, and the leaders of the Aurum intend to see to it that any future wars serve their own interests. To this end, they have been recruiting agents throughout the nations and the dragonmarked houses, targeting ambitious people with some amount of power and influence.
Aurum Concordians wear a plain ring on each finger—eight in all. Members of the Copper Concord wear copper rings, members of the Silver Concord wear silver rings, and so on. More a symbol of status than a precious bauble, each ring has the same value as 10 coins fashioned from the same kind of metal.