The Aurum

Patrons examine a commissioned sculpture at an upper-ward reception.

The Aurum is an association of wealthy and influential people. Its members, often called concordians, belong to ranked Concords: Copper, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The name signals access to money and connections, though the organization is broader than a single business or political platform.

Concordians meet socially, support charitable projects, and introduce one another to useful people. An invitation can bring a merchant into a room with a collector, a financier, or a prospective patron. Members have their own projects and can compete as readily as they cooperate.

Patronage and influence

An Aurum patron might fund an expedition, collect unusual objects, support a local institution, or seek help with a commercial problem. Money can turn a personal enthusiasm into a project involving scholars, contractors, and hired troubleshooters.

That patronage creates obligations. A generous offer may come with an expectation of discretion, priority, or introductions later. The visible terms of a job and the patron's reason for wanting it done are separate questions. Wealth supplies opportunities to help and opportunities to exert pressure; the Aurum contains people with different uses for both.

A different kind of power

Image source and credits, Eberron Wiki.

Aurum membership is distinct from a noble title, a government office, or membership in a dragonmarked House. A concordian's influence may rest on a business, a fortune, or personal connections rather than on an inherited mark. In a city shaped by House services, independent wealth can be valuable to people seeking room to maneuver.

Sharn's faction guide places the Aurum alongside the city's other institutions.

Sources: Keith Baker, Aurum Concordians.