These incorporeal, undead Harpers retained the powers they held in life, serving the order as immortal guardians over the aptly named 'Harper haunts'. If a Master Harper was slain or otherwise died with an unfinished quest or charge, they returned to the Realms as a spectral harpist. This term was sometimes confused with the unofficial name of the Harpers' eastern branch, the so-called Master Harpers, though usage in this manner was generally discouraged. These select few were blessed by the goddess Mystra and bestowed with divine boons associated with the Goddess of Magic and other deities that were present at the First Reformation. While the Harpers held no formal hierarchy, some members did enjoy the distinction of being named Master Harpers. Members were elected through the means of secret ballots among the other High Harpers, with the criteria of long-term service and extreme discretion in the execution of their plans. They were responsible for setting and planning most of the group's long-term plans and goals. The only true leadership of the Harpers was a small governing council known as the High Harpers. This splinter sect acted separately from the two branches of the Harpers, operating in the sprawling metropolis of Waterdeep, and at times undermining the efforts of true Waterdhavian Harpers. įor a few decades, there existed an offshoot branch of the Harpers, known as the Moonstars. Beyond their operational differences, the collective members of the two branches each held contrasting attitudes and world-views. Both branches strived to achieve the same goals, and regularly shared intelligence with their comrades across the Realms. The eastern branch―known as the Senior Harpers or Harpers in the Shadows, based out of Shadowdale―preferred instead to sponsor parties of young adventurers, wielding subtle influence rather than taking direct action. The western branch of the Harpers―the Order of the Silver Moon and Harp, headquartered in Berdusk ―maintained a formal hierarchy, and orchestrated far-reaching plots many months in advance of their execution. įor much of its history, the Harpers were separated into two branches, each of which operated on either half of Faerûn's Heartlands. The bard Alither of Telflamm, regarding the two branches of the Harpers. The Harpers' symbol comprised a silver harp and crescent moon, set upon a field of black or royal blue. There did remain one consistent representation of the Harpers across the Realms, however: their symbol. It was said that nothing could be truly "official" within the Harpers the group was poorly defined, with contradictory operational standards, no formal roster, and a public face that was inconsistent from one locale to the next. Some members took on specific roles, such as 'spymasters', 'handlers', and 'agents', but maintained no hierarchy or ranking over their fellows. The Harpers' informality and lack of formal structure lent to its continuance as true secret society. Throughout the many years it endured, the Harpers had disbanded and fallen apart several times, only to reform later in some new iteration. Some Harper agents worked in small groups-often alongside friends and close allies-while others operated as lone operatives, who kept only informal ties with the group at large. Rather, it was a confederation of individuals from contrasting cultures and backgrounds who bonded over the shared goals of maintaining peace, preserving knowledge, and protecting the downtrodden. The Harpers as an organization was actually anything but organized. 13.2.8 Organized Play & Licensed AdventuresĪ tapestry depicting Harpers, including a founding member, Elminster Aumar.
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