Aureus

## General Information

**CURRENT PLUTOCRAT: *n/a***

The Aureus are the richest of all the clans in terms of fine metals, mostly gold. Their capitol city, Aurum prime, is the only inside their domain. Rather than having outlying colonies or territories, they have diplomatically established a series of mines across the Valklands. This is how they preserved themselves throughout the Valkan Wars. In ancient Valklands, Aurum prime was a much larger city, and had more legend than El Dorado. It was were the rich went to get richer, the city didn't allow most people in unless they brought a fortune with them. No one knew what was in the city. The Plutocrat refused to put value on anything else besides gold and silver.

When the wars begun, many outsiders attempted to raid Aurum prime. This was their pre-clan state, when it was just a city-state. The richest of them inside of Aurum prime would serve as a funding force to protect the city and its fortune. The plutocrat attempted to recruit the assailant gangs but to no appeal. They turned on the city, raiding it and taking some of its most valuable things. Many of the stolen things would never be seen again after the Valkan wars. The Praefectus begun to invade undefended Aurum prime territory. This was when they transformed into a clan. All non-rich citizens would be forced into military service until they could gain a fortune. The Aureus military had no ranks or real structure, each rich man would command his own army on behalf of the Clan.

After the War, they paid off a few clans for some of their land. The Aureus had to maintain their wealth. They used their purchased land from the other clans as mines to continue their searches for valuable metals. The greed of the Aureus is their discipline and motivation. The only way to a good life was a fortune, Only the Richest of them all would become the clan leader, the title of Plutocrat. Many of the soldier-citizens refused to protect the mines, this led to a few mines being under a different flag. The fighting within the territory of another clan would cause the death of all who were near the mines. For this reason, the soldier-citizens would be allowed to mine but under a strict policy. That being the wealth can only be spent in Aurum prime. This is how they have functioned ever since.

## Function

The Richest get to dwell in Aurum Prime, the capitol of the Aureus clan. The richest of them is called the Plutocrat, the sovereign leader of the Aureus. This position isn't a stable one, the smartest of the rich chose to stay a part of the Court, which is made of the richest but under the Plutocrat. Whenever somebody else has a higher fortune than the current Plutocrat, they are replaced. This dynamic has led to many aggressive disputes and threats to take their armies and attack Aurum prime before. The soldier-citizens are property of a wealthy person in Aurum prime. All the gold they mine goes back to the Owner, with a cut of it getting delivered to the miner. Only two mines exist today due to the failure of this process. Many collapsed and abandoned mines can be found around the Valklands, but more especially, the Infernus territory. The soldier-citizens aren't allowed in the city, however, it is common for outsiders to be allowed inside. This is how the Rich hook the newcomers into a life of servitude in the mines to keep them in power. Although not the most stable of the Clans, it is probably one of the most interesting due to this societal dynamic.

## Culture

The Aureus rich commonly create parts of the Culture seen in Aurum Prime. The Goldsmith profession is a valued and perhaps the best of them all within the walls of Aurum Prime. They create the designs on the walls inside the city and homes of the rich. The rich throw huge parties at the chrysos palace were the plutocrat dwells. Tradition isn't typically viewed as important to the Rich. The only true interest of them is to continue building their money. The soldier-citizens are also built upon the greed. They are shown pictures of Aurum Prime from a view to motivate them to mine for their fortunes. They also throw parties in the mines, not near as luxurious as Aurum prime but they surely appreciate it more than their rich counterparts. Gold is the center of the Aureus culture. It does not rust and is seen as a sign of nobility and risk. Both soldier-citizens and the rich can agree that gold solves all the problems of their clan, therefore, becoming more valuable than any standing work force or military.