The Harpers are a semi-secret organization dedicated to promoting good, preserving history (including art and music of old) and maintaining a balance between civilization and nature by keeping kingdoms small and the destruction of plant life to a minimum.[1] They consider the elven empire of Myth Drannor shortly before its fall to be the pinnacle of civilized history and strive to recreate the world in that image.[citation needed]
Those Who Harp are led by a council of seven High Harpers, who are responsible for most of the group's long-term plans and goals. High Harpers are elected through the means of secret ballots among the other High Harpers, with the criteria being long time service and extreme discretion in the implementation of their plans.[1]
History
The Harpers were first founded in 324 DR and have re-formed twice since.[2]
| This section is a stub. You can help us by expanding it. |
The Harper schism and the Moonstars
A schism formed in the group after Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun's methods were frowned upon by the other High Harpers. He was expelled from the organization in 1370 DR DR and formed a like-minded group based in Waterdeep known as the Moonstars (Tel'Teukiira in elven).[3] Khelben and Lady Arunsun (Laeral Silverhand) lead this faction of the Harpers in a much more focused effort than the High Harpers are comfortable with in their own organization, although the two groups' goals remain largely interchangeable.[4]
Quest to Seal the Onyx Tower
When Three Adventurer's went after Eldrith the Betrayer, Harper Agent Jherek took this as an opportunity to destroy the Onyx Tower. With the death of Eldrith, the Onyx Tower fell, but it rose again in Baldur's Gate under the command of vampire king MOrdoc SeLanmere. Taking a temporary alliance with the Zhentarim, the Harpers sealed the Tower with the help of five more adventurer's.
Membership
Most members are either good/neutral-aligned rangers or bards, though many wizards and druids are also their willing allies.[citation needed] Five prestige classes are tied to the Harpers including the Harper paragon, Harper mage, Harper priest, Harper agent and Master Harper. It should be noted that this wiki considers Harper agent and Harper scout to be the same prestige class in two different versions of the game (3.5 and 3rd, respectively).
Regions
The Harpers operate mainly in the North Faerûn, along the Sword Coast, the Western Heartlands and the Dalelands.[5] The group itself is extremely decentralized and the nearest thing they have to a base of operations is Twilight Hall in Berdusk. An often employed means of achieving their goals is assisting adventurers who are on quests that would further Harper interests.[1]
Waterdeep
Due to the influence of the Moonstars, the Harpers have a relatively small amount of influence within the City of Splendors. They have roughly 120 members at any time within the city's walls.[6]
Relationships
Many gods support the organization of the Harpers. Azuth, Deneir, Eldath, Lliira, Mielikki, Milil, Mystra, Oghma, Selûne, Shaundakul, Shiallia, Silvanus, Tymora and the entire Seldarine all contribute clerics to become members of the Harpers and many of these also lend divine aid to the members of the group on a regular basis. This can cause tensions between individual clerics of different faiths but never between deities or between the society as a whole and deities.[citation needed]
Powerful individuals support the Harpers, but equally powerful forces oppose them. Among these are the likes of the Dark Dagger, the Malaugrym, the Rundeen, the Eldreth Veluuthra, the Twisted Rune, the Knights of the Shield,[citation needed] the Iron Throne, the Cult of the Dragon, the Red Wizards of Thay, the Zhentarim and many of the churches of dark gods, in particular the revived church of Bane.[1] The Harpers also oppose any who would forge an empire through conquest or use the Weave without thought to the consequences.[citation needed]
Harper code
- Harpers work against villainy and wickedness wherever they find it, but they work ever mindful of the consequences of what they do.
- All beings should walk free of fear, with the right to live their lives as they wish.
- The rule of law aids peace and fosters freedom, so long as the laws are just and those who enforce them lenient and understanding.
- No extreme is good. For freedom to flourish, all must be in balance: the powers of realms, the reaches of the cities and the wilderlands into each other, and the influence of one being over another.
- Whatever it takes, a Harper will do. Pride never rules the deeds of a true Harper.
- Freedom is a multiversal right, though Harpers can spare themselves less freedom than those they work to protect when the need presents itself.
- Harpers police their own. A Harper who hears the call of personal power can no longer hear the sweet song of the harp. A Harper who seizes power, and holds it above all else, is a traitor to the harp. Traitors must die for freedom to live.
- Without a past, no being can appreciate what they have, and where they may be going.
"What it is to be a Harper"
Mirt the Moneylender explaining the Harper's purpose to Shandril:
···
"A Harper holds peaceful sharing of the lands above all other goals."
···
"By sharing, we mean all the races living in and under the land, where each prefers to live, trading together where desire and need stir them to, and respecting each other's holds and ways—without the daily bloodletting that all too often holds sway in the Realms today."
···
Notable Harpers
- Elminster
- Storm Silverhand
- Arilyn Moonblade
- Mirt the Moneylender
- Artus Cimber
- Caledan Caldorien
- Ruha
- Jaheira
- Glarasteer Rhauligan
Ex-Harpers
- Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun - expelled from the organization in 1370 DR for making secret deals with Fzoul Chembryl, the leader of the Zhentarim, over the stolen Scepter of the Sorcerer Kings. He later founded the Moonstars to better suit his needs.[4]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 274. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 275. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ slade, et al. (April 1996). The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier. Edited by James Butler. (TSR, Inc.), p. Cannot cite pages from this boxed set. See {{Cite book/The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier}} for a list of citations that may be used.. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 73. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
References
- Ed Greenwood (March 2005). Crown of Fire. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-3619-9.
- Ed Greenwood (September 1993). The Code of the Harpers. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 1-56076-644-1.