---
type: faction
alignment: Neutral
leader: "[[General Markus Crane]]"
---

# The Iron Concord

## Overview

The largest mercenary guild in Aethrune with 6,000+ soldiers-for-hire. Known for absolute professionalism and absolute loyalty to contract — not morality. They fight for whoever pays, and they never break a contract. Their neutrality makes them valuable to all sides and trusted by none.

## Structure

| Rank | Title | Role |
|------|-------|------|
| 1 | High General | Supreme commander — [[General Markus Crane]] |
| 2 | Commander | Leader of a company (500 soldiers) |
| 3 | Captain | Leader of a platoon (50 soldiers) |
| 4 | Banner | Leader of a squad (10 soldiers) |
| 5 | Iron | Standard mercenary |

## Notable Members

| Name | Rank | Notes |
|------|------|-------|
| [[General Markus Crane]] | High General | Pragmatic, honor-bound, secretly tired of war |
| [[Captain Vara Holt]] | Commander | Assigned to Ironheart Mine contract; conflicted about working with cultists |
| Commander Valdrek | Captain | Garrison commander in Valdris |

## Contracts

- Currently contracted by the [[Crown Concordat]] to guard the [[Ironheart Mine]] — but local commander [[Captain Vara Holt]] is receiving separate payments from the Hand of Ruin (unbeknownst to High Command).
- Secondary contracts with [[Kethra]] for naval escort (technically conflicting — a deliberate ambiguity to maximize profit).

## Goals

- Maximize profit and influence
- Maintain reputation as the most reliable mercenary force
- Avoid choosing sides in permanent ways

## The Crane's Secret

[[General Markus Crane]] is aging and weary. He has seen too many wars and knows the Hand of Ruin is manipulating the Concordat. In [[Arc 4 - Tide of Ruin]], he can be persuaded to break neutrality and join the final assault — not for gold, but because he wants the world his grandchildren inherit to still exist.