The Concord of Three Blades

“Trust is not required, only results.”
— Enna Baenre, upon delivering her signed copy of the Concord to the Tower of the Magisters

The War of Dragons left Waterdeep, the City of Splendors in ruins, the Well of Dragons in ash, and the boundaries between gods and mortals stretched thin. But more critically, it revealed the limitations of isolation. Each of the Three Blades had fought valiantly, yet separately, often interfering with one another, duplicating efforts, and failing to act swiftly in key moments.

It was Leosin Erlanthar, newly resurrected and anointed as the Spirit Wyrmspeaker, who first proposed what he then called a "fractured harmony." His vision was radical: cooperation between the idealists, the pragmatists, and the zealots. He believed such balance would serve as a bulwark against the unpredictable chaos of the post-War world.

The initial negotiations took place within the burnt-out halls of Blackstaff Tower, which had served as neutral ground after the Council of Waterdeep. Leosin, Enna Baenre of the Zhentarim, and Ontharr Frume of the Gauntlet presided.

“A broken sword can be reforged stronger. So too can trust. But never forget who holds the hilt.”
— Ontharr Frume, Concord debates, Year 1 AC (After Concord)

The Concord is written in three mirrored copies, each bearing the seal of one faction and housed in their respective strongholds: Harperhold beneath Waterdeep, Darkhold Castle in the western mountains, and the Citadel of Righteous Flame near Elturel.

The agreement outlines six primary tenets:

1. Mutual Non-Aggression

No Concordant faction shall raise arms against another without due cause or external mediation.

2. Intelligence Exchange

Pertinent information regarding planar threats, artifact movement, or god-touched individuals shall be shared quarterly.

3. Localized Enforcement Rights

Agents of each faction may operate within the territories of another if jointly sanctioned or in defense against known Concord-wide threats.

4. Conflict Mediation

Disputes between factions must be brought before the Triumvirate Table, a rotating council of envoys.

5. Emergency Mobilization Clause

In times of existential threat, Concordant forces may be summoned under a single banner (historically invoked only once during the Xanathar Raids).

6. Succession Protocol

In the case of leadership turnover, successors must reaffirm the Concord in writing within a season of their appointment.

“I do not expect them to like each other. I only ask they speak before they draw steel.”
— Leosin Erlanthar, High Harper and Architect of the Concord

Despite skepticism at the time of its ratification, the Concord quickly proved its worth. Within months, joint operations such as the raid on the Kolat Towers and the reclamation of Masked Lord archives showed its strategic value. For the first time in centuries, Harpers and Zhentarim shared war rooms—if not always mutual respect.

The Order of the Gauntlet, traditionally a hardline organization, faced internal unrest over the deal. Yet the victories it helped secure and the endorsement from Bahamutian clergy led to broader acceptance. However, many Order of the Gauntlet members believe they are being outmaneuvered by their more politically savvy counterparts in the Harpers and Zhentarim and many believe that they should pull out of the Concord in favor of striking a similar deal with The Lords' Alliance. These advocates are only kept at bay by Righteous Hand Ontharr Frume who genuinely trusts his friend Leosin to not manipulate his faction, and if he does to manipulate it to both of their benefits.

Zhentarim agents, particularly those under Enna Baenre’s more urbane sect in Waterdeep, used the Concord to expand influence under the guise of cooperation. This was not unexpected. As one Enclave druid wryly noted: “If you invite a snake to the fire, don’t be surprised when it coils around the logs.”

Now almost half a decade old, the Concord of Three Blades has become a foundational doctrine among city-state diplomacy. It is still fragile—tested frequently, and occasionally bent—but it endures. Its success has even inspired lesser factions to seek structured compacts, though none have matched its scale.

In the Grand Game, the Concord served as both sword and shield. While each faction pursued its own pieces of the puzzle, none did so in overt hostility. It was this balance that allowed the Hype Squad, a mixed group of agents and rogues, to operate in shadow without triggering collapse.

Some whisper that the Concord is only as strong as the bond between Leosin, Enna, and Ontharr, and that should even one fall or turn, the blades may once again cross. But for now, the realm breathes easier—watchful, but not alone.

"The commonfolk of Waterdeep should fear the day one of the Triumvirate dies. Spies, thieves, and clerics never would have come together to share secrets, even in the conditions following the war, and most only stay their blade because of the leader they respect. This can end one of two ways, an incomplete union or a disastrous divide."
- Fenrir the Gold, 1495 DR

Duly inscribed by the Librarian

Let this be the writ and word of the Three: the Harper, the Gauntlet, and the Hand that Shadows.

PREAMBLE

We, the undersigned, in recognition of the devastation wrought by the War of Dragons, and in understanding that unchecked ambition, isolationism, and the fragmentation of noble intent have endangered the Realms more than any one foe—

Do now place our names to a solemn accord of shared vision, limited trust, and necessary unity.

Let this Concord bind not hearts, but purpose. Let it hold not love, but vigilance.

So declared before gods and men, signed within the neutral walls of Blackstaff Tower.

ARTICLE I: NON-AGGRESSION

Each signatory shall refrain from violence or covert sabotage against the agents, holdings, or interests of the other signatories, save in times of declared breach or outside corruption.

Clause I-A: Accidental conflict is to be mediated within one month of incident.
Clause I-B: Repeated violations may trigger arbitration by neutral third-party, such as the Emerald Enclave or City of Waterdeep’s Masked Lords.

ARTICLE II: INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION

All signatories agree to quarterly exchanges of intelligence on:

• Planar instability
• The movement or creation of divine artifacts
• The activities of known world-ending entities, cults, or Ascendant mortals
• Factional infiltration by aberrant or extraplanar forces

Clause II-A: Emergency information (Tier Red or higher) must be shared within 7 days.
Clause II-B: False or intentionally delayed reporting is grounds for invocation of the Sheared Blade clause (see Article VI).

ARTICLE III: OPERATIVE MOVEMENT

Signatory agents may operate within another’s territory if:

• Invited by mutual envoy agreement
• Engaged in joint Concord mission
• Defending against an imminent shared threat

Clause III-A: Agents operating without sanction must identify themselves within 72 hours or risk breach-of-Concord charges.

ARTICLE IV: DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Should a disagreement arise between signatories, all parties agree to mediation via the Triumvirate Table, composed of one senior envoy from each faction.

Clause IV-A: Table sessions must occur within 10 days of invoked mediation.
Clause IV-B: Decisions of the Table are binding unless all three envoys unanimously declare a deadlock, triggering external arbitration.

ARTICLE V: EMERGENCY MOBILIZATION

Upon threat to a Concord city, planar barrier, or sovereign territory, a Call to the Three Blades may be issued.

Clause V-A: Each signatory must respond with aid proportional to capacity, unless independently imperiled.
Clause V-B: This clause was first invoked during the Xanathar Guild Retaliation, Year 1494 DR.

ARTICLE VI: SUCCESSION AND DISSOLUTION

Should leadership of any signatory change, the successor must reaffirm the Concord in writing within one season. Refusal or neglect to do so triggers a temporary suspension of privileges.

Clause VI-A: Should a signatory violate two or more Articles, the remaining two may invoke the Sheared Blade, excising the third.
Clause VI-B: The Sheared Blade is final and cannot be reversed without a second signing.

SIGNATORIES

Leosin Erlanthar, High Harper, Spirit Wyrmspeaker

“I speak for the realm unseen.”

Enna Baenre, Dread Lord of Waterdeep, Lady of the Black Network

“I sign for the city that thrives between shadow and steel.”

Ontharr Frume, Knight-Captain of the Order of the Gauntlet

“I wield the sword that guards the light.”

Witnessed by:

• Laeral Silverhand, Open Lord of Waterdeep
  
• Remallia Haventree-Dimvari, Harper Magister
  
• Knight-Vigilant Barus Deltan, Order of the Gauntlet
  
• Davil Starsong, Zhentarim Envoy

The original Concord is sealed in triune wax and stored beneath wards in Waterdeep, Elturel (rebuilt), and Darkhold.