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The Harpell (pronounced: /ˈhɑːrpɛlHAR-pell[5]) family was an eccentric clan of wizards who, for the most part, lived in the Ivy Mansion in Longsaddle in the Savage Frontier of northwest Faerûn.[2] Despite their eccentricity and their strange experiments, they were well known for collectively having a vast knowledge of the history and geography of the North.[6]

Organization[]

They were a kind-hearted clan, but their magic was capricious, sometimes backfiring in peculiar ways. As members of the Lords' Alliance,[2] they were firm allies of Mithral Hall, despite their unreliability as magicians.[3][7]

Scholarship[]

After the Harpells interviewed Drizzt Do'Urden about the drow in 1356 DR, they published a treatise on the drow that was distributed to notable leaders and leading wizards. This was known as the Harpell treatise or the Harkle treatise. The treatise mentioned that drow liked to eat animals that were still alive because it gave the meat a better flavor.[8]

The Ivy Mansion[]

The Ivy Mansion consisted of three main buildings: two that looked like simple farmhouses and a unique, heavily spired central house. The mansion was surrounded by a fence of magic that, while normally invisible, had been painted to look like a fence. The mansion grounds also featured an "Underbridge/Overbridge" that arched over an uphill-flowing stream—to get to the mansion, you walked upside-down on the underside of the bridge, and to leave the mansion grounds you walked on the top side.[9] There was also a stable full of strange animal creations and miniaturized mounts.[10]

Inside the Ivy Mansion was the Fuzzy Quarterstaff, a tavern and inn run by the Harpells. The main room of the tavern consisted of a circular room and a wizard conducting an invisible orchestra. Guests could order drinks from a magical green gem placed on every table; the drinks were then brought to them on magical floating blue disks.[10][11]

History[]

Around 1245 DR, the Harpells' conflict with the Talonmist family of Westbridge began when Ordrar Talonmist was killed in a spell duel by Darnthal Harpell.[12]

For generations, the Harpells gave Longsaddle more prestige in the North than its size and purpose would warrant. This tradition began with mighty Authrar Harpell, who was famous in the North for single-handedly destroying an onrushing orc horde with spells.[2]

Catti-brie, under the name of "Delly Curtie," dwelt and studied magic with the Harpells in Longsaddle from 1479 to 1482 DR. She was considered nearly family, to the point some suggested she be "ordained a Harpell."[13]

Members[]

Until the mid–14th century
Late 15th century

Appendix[]

Video Games
Referenced only
Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 11. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  3. 3.0 3.1 R.A. Salvatore (January 1989). Streams of Silver. (TSR, Inc), p. 310. ISBN 0-88038-672-X.
  4. slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 12. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  5. Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 58. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Philip Athans (2008). A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 92. ISBN 0-7869-4915-5.
  7. R.A. Salvatore (August 6, 2013). The Companions. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 312. ISBN 0-7869-6371-9.
  8. Elaine Cunningham (April 2003). Windwalker (Hardcover). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 147, 172. ISBN 0-7869-2968-5.
  9. Philip Athans (2008). A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 130. ISBN 0-7869-4915-5.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Philip Athans (2008). A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-4915-5.
  11. R.A. Salvatore (July 2005). Streams of Silver. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ??. ISBN 0-7869-1606-0.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  13. R.A. Salvatore (August 6, 2013). The Companions. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 317. ISBN 0-7869-6371-9.
  14. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 74. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  15. 15.0 15.1 R.A. Salvatore (August 1995). Siege of Darkness. (TSR, Inc), p. 156. ISBN 1-7869-0164-0.
  16. R.A. Salvatore (January 1989). Streams of Silver. (TSR, Inc), pp. 127–128. ISBN 0-88038-672-X.
  17. R.A. Salvatore (August 1995). Siege of Darkness. (TSR, Inc), p. 287. ISBN 1-7869-0164-0.
  18. R.A. Salvatore (January 1989). Streams of Silver. (TSR, Inc), p. 121. ISBN 0-88038-672-X.
  19. R.A. Salvatore (January 1989). Streams of Silver. (TSR, Inc), p. 128. ISBN 0-88038-672-X.
  20. 20.0 20.1 R.A. Salvatore (January 1989). Streams of Silver. (TSR, Inc), p. 117. ISBN 0-88038-672-X.
  21. R.A. Salvatore (January 1989). Streams of Silver. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-88038-672-X.
  22. Eric L. Boyd (September 2005). “Vampires of Waterdeep: Blood of Malar”. Dungeon #126 (Paizo Publishing, LLC) (126)., p. 66.
  23. Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
  24. Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 24. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  25. R.A. Salvatore (August 6, 2013). The Companions. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6371-9.
  26. 26.0 26.1 R.A. Salvatore (August 6, 2013). The Companions. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6371-9.
  27. 27.0 27.1 R.A. Salvatore (September 2015). Archmage (Hardcover). (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6575-4.
  28. Christopher Perkins (September 2020). Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 273–274. ISBN 978-0786966981.
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