Hearthbound Concord

The Hearthbound Concord is a sovereign guild of innkeepers, brewers, and tavernmasters who uphold a single, sacred law: no blood spilled under the hearth. Across Aethertide, wherever their sigil hangs above a door, peace is expected—and enforced.

They are the quiet backbone of civilization amid chaos, wielding power not through armies or magic, but through hospitality, reputation, and whispered authority.

Purpose & Philosophy

The Concord believes that all voyagers, no matter how bloody their wake, deserve a moment of peace. Their core tenets:

  • Sanctuary is sacred

  • Every story deserves a place to be told

  • The hearth remembers

They do not take sides in wars or conflicts, but offer a neutral space for all—pirate, priest, merchant, or monarch.

Network & Reach

The Concord’s network stretches across Aethertide:

  • @Tidewatch City – Headquarters at @Leviathan's Crown , the most famous tavern in the realm

  • @Red Sail Cay @Pearlspire , @Hearthsmoke – Key waystations and sanctuaries

  • Even remote isles often host a Hearthbound Hall, marked with glowing coals and blue-ink warding runes

Every location is trained in secret rites of binding and defense.

Leadership & Structure

The Concord is governed by:

  • The Crown Flame – A symbolic and spiritual head elected by the Circle

  • The Circle of Embers – Senior innkeepers who adjudicate breaches and mentor new members

  • Hearthspeakers – Trusted envoys who negotiate for the Concord with outside powers

All members undergo a Flame Oath ritual, binding their location as a sacred site.

Justice & Enforcement

Those who break the peace under a Concord roof are:

  • Branded Ashmarked—cut off from all Concord hospitality

  • Hunted by Cinderhands, a hidden order of peacekeepers and bounty agents

  • Publicly denounced in every Concord hall, their name sung in the Ash Ballad

Even captains of the @The Black Nine hesitate to spill blood under the Concord’s gaze.

Symbols & Traditions

  • Symbol: A stylized hearthflame with a protective circle of ash

  • Colors: Warm amber, coal-black, and soft grey

  • Traditions:

    • First Ember – Every tavern lights its fire from a shared, sacred ember

    • Cask Oath – Binding agreements signed over drink, sealed by heat

    • Quiet Hours – Sacred time at dusk where no songs are sung—only stories whispered

Relations & Influence

  • Allies: Respected by the @The Tideblessed Covenant and @Skywings of the Maelstrom

  • Tolerated: The @The Free Keys Confederacy honors their neutrality—barely

  • Feared: The @The Black Nine keep their distance, knowing the Concord’s reach

  • Unknown : @Stormshroud Shogunate never met with @The Hearthbound Concord

Sayings of the Concord

“A warm hearth forgets nothing—but forgives if you let it.”

“Spill blood here, and the fire will find you.”

The Hearthbound Concord may not rule fleets or command magic—but they rule the last place anyone feels safe. And that makes them powerful indeed.