The Harpers

• Harper Chant (composed by Ailadrea Stars-in-mist, Bard of Neverwinter, Year of the Buckler)

—

• Storm Silverhand, Bard of Shadowdale, speaking to Shandril Shessair and Narm Tamaraith, Year of the Prince (These words are often quoted by Harpers who are asked what a Harper is or stands for, and have become well-known among minstrels throughout Faerûn.)

The Harpers usually operate in secret, alone or in small groups, traveling throughout the North and the Western Heartlands. Many members are elves, rangers, or bards. While they lack a main base of operations, Harpers are common in Berdusk (in Twilight Hall, a building complex associated with the temple of Deneir) and Shadowdale (often sheltered by Elminster or other powerful allies).

The Harpers are opposed by evil organizations such as the Cult of the Dragon, the Iron Throne, the Red Wizards, the Zhentarim, and in particular the resurgent church of Bane. Harpers identified by their enemies risk torture and death, making it essential that the Harpers protect their identities from all who might reveal their allegiance. Despite these dangers, Harpers are brave folk, facing dire perils with little more than their hearts and their hands.

Harpers have no standard equipment, although most are familiar with the use of magic items, and powerful members tend to have a large number of such items. A Harper agent might be an elf warrior in mithral full plate or a penniless human ranger in leather. Harpers spread knowledge, aid common folk in small ways, thwart the schemes of villains, and manipulate the affairs of civilized races in order to preserve their idea of balance. In addition to these active Harpers, many folk serve as their spies, give them shelter when in trouble, watch for enemies, or report unusual occurrences.

Harpers often secretly aid adventurers and other groups that promote good causes, whether this aid consists of a pointer to a friendly innkeeper in a hostile town, a traveling cleric appearing just when the group is hurt, or a surprise attack against a common foe.

The highest-ranked Harpers are called the High Harpers, and they are responsible for most of the long-term planning for the organization. The High Harpers are voted into their position by a secret ballot among the other High Harpers, with the criteria being experience, exceptional service, and discretion in implementing the Harpers' plans. Some of the High Harpers gain the favor of deities that support the Harpers, achieving special powers and status much like the Chosen of a deity.

History of the Harpers

The history of the Harpers, like the so-called “organization” itself, is a confused and shadowy thing. Down the many years since the founding of their band, Those Who Harp have attempted countless missions-some so subtle (or fatal) that they’'ve never been reported. Moreover, the Harper watchword “"Harpers keep secrets”" is actively followed; piecing together what Elminster calls "“The Hidden Tale”" is no easy thing.

The Code of the Harpers

The Code of the Harpers ideals aren'’t set down in any book, but they do form large parts of the laws of Silverymoon, Everlund, Iriaebor, Berdusk, and Neverwinter, Harpers express them through watchwords. These sayings outline a code that new Harpers swear to follow, usually after their deeds have caused the Harpers to recognize them in their own right. (When a new Harper accomplishes his first worthwhile or notable task on his own, there is often a surprise gathering of several Harpers, who toast their new companion to bolster the fledgling Harper’'s morale and suggest a few goals or missions to strive for, as well as revealing themselves as contacts.)

Here are the most important watchwords:

"•“Harpers work against villainy and wickedness wherever they find it - —but they work ever mindful of the consequences of what they do.”"

This watchword is always said to a Harper during the ritual of recognition; in answer, the Harper swears, "“I shall do no less.”" Then the Harper is asked, “"What do Harpers work toward and believe?"” The correct answer is the next watchword:

“"All beings should walk free of fear, with the right to live their lives as they wish.”"

This is the most passionate belief of the Harpers— - that every individual has the right to forge his or her own way in the world. War and open strife banish freedom instantly, and so they are to be avoided whenever possible. With that in mind, tyrants, slavers, and oppressors of all sorts are to be restrained, destroyed, weakened, or transformed so that they do as little against the freedoms of others as possible.

"“The rule of law aids peace and fosters freedom, so long as the laws are just and those who enforce them lenient and understanding.”"

In other words, Harpers aren’t anarchists. They work against rulers and their administrations only to make laws and their enforcement fair and sensible— - often spreading rumors or truths to the right ears, aiding honest soldiers and diplomats, or deceiving others into doing the right things for the wrong reasons. For this reason, Harpers work to protect the cities of Faerûn from the ravages of all who would destroy them, from raiding orcs to dragons at play. Stable, prosperous kingdoms may attract attacks from those who enjoy pillaging, but if their defenses prevail, they offer the folk who live there a happier, safer, and more peaceful existence-with the opportunity to banish need and make ever more wealth. The propensity of some Harpers to rob the rich to give to the poor (and finance their own activities) is excused by the next watchword of the Code.

"•“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.”": Harpers like many weak rulers and small territories —- kinglings likely to have too many daily concerns to pursue whims, fall into decadence, or have time to act on dreams of conquering vast lands. This is better than tyrants of great power, or realms always aggressively expanding or trying to run the affairs of other lands. Harpers work to establish checks and balances within the government of any realm, supporting nobles who stand in opposition to kings or overlords who want to sweep aside traditions, laws, and rights in the name of their own omnipotence. In rare cases where they view a ruler as good, wise, or receptive enough to respond properly to the news, Harpers have been known to reveal this to a ruler. Azoun IV Obarskyr of Cormyr is one such. He suspected as much before a Harper confirmed it. His response was to ask the Harpers what they’'d like him to do to avoid the Crown of Cormyr and Those Who Harp coming into open conflict. The other realms or city-states whose laws reflect the Code of the Harpers are places ruled or dominated by Harpers. Harpers help to maintain the balance between civilization and the wilderness whenever possible-not by aggressively stopping land-clearing, farming, and building expansion, but by replanting trees in abandoned farmsteads and fallen lands, planting hedgerows and woodlots in expanding communities (and trying to do most of the building themselves, so that they’'re in control). Most Harpers are gardeners of some sort or another, even if it'’s only a handful of plants in a window high in a city tower, or a plot in the wilderness they camp beside once or twice a season. Most— - if they survive long enough - retire to someplace where they can tend a garden. As the headstone of the fallen Harper Jhaunsyr Sunderhelm, in the heart of the Royal Gardens he built in Suzail, says: “"Why not here? I sleep in beauty and serve the highest goal any dead man can-enriching the soil, that life can flourish after I'’m gone."” Many folk have read that verse, because Jhaunsyr carved it himself, before he died, on the back of a stone bench where many courtiers pause to rest amid the flowers.

"•“Whatever it takes, a Harper will do. Pride never rules the deeds of a true Harper.”"

No task is beneath a Harper, no job too dirty or dangerous. When asked why he guarded items whose possession was dangerous, the Harper Ibn Engaruka - —who runs a shop in Port Castigliar, in Chult - —said simply, “"Any Harper would do the same.”" Harpers have been known to have to chop and burn the bodies of dead friends or loved ones, to dig through latrines or swim sewers, mutilate themselves, adopt demeaning roles as slaves, servants, and even undergo magic to age them, change their sex, or alter their abilities (with no guarantee that the changes can be reversed) —all in the name of Harper causes. This is offset by the next Harper belief.

"•“Harpers can spare themselves less freedom than those they work to protect must have—, but even a Harper must be free."

In other words, Harpers can pursue their own interests and accomplish things in their own ways, so long as their deeds and manner don’t endanger others. Harpers don’t have uniforms, petty formalities, or clearcut ranks and fussy rituals. They can dress and speak as they please. There is a strong tradition of junior Harpers scolding or criticizing their Harper seniors. This is balanced by the next watchword.

"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.”"

This is a warning that Harpers kill traitors in their midst. They also punish those who subvert Harper work (as opposed to merely failing, or resigning because of some weakness, change in heart, disaster, or prior calling-such as a noble inheriting a title or throne, a merchant being chosen master of a guild, or a priest being called to other duties by higher-ranking clergy). Harpers make sure that Harper justice is seen to be done— - as in the infamous trial of Finder Wyvernspur; it is only through such public fairness that the Harpers can win trust and support among common folk. The Harpers also ensure loyalty by sparing no effort in hunting down those who cheat them or who are traitors to the Code. They make sure that all Harpers know it; someone who cheats the Harpers and escapes can expect to be on the run for the rest of his (probably brief) life.

"•“Without a past, no being can appreciate what they have, and where they may be going."

Harpers record the stories of those who have passed before, usually by giving written accounts to the Heralds. They note dates, deeds and happenings, important beings and their ideas or sayings. They also record the legends, jokes, folktales, ballads, written works, and even plays that they see and hear in their lives and travels about Faerûn. To a Harper, written lore is as valuable as rare gems or powerful magic; destroying records is a crime.

The Cares of a Harper

Beyond the life-shaping directives of the Code, Harpers have many shared habits or approved ways of doing things. These aren’'t rules so much as they are an accepted style, which always changes with the local organization. Some of these guidelines are set down here.

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• Harpers who have Harper pins carry them unless going into situations where the discovery of their identity would endanger their mission. Harpers wear their pins openly only as a recognition-signal to other Harpers, or at Harper gatherings.

• Harpers don’t give up; they always work on unfinished missions, however much time has passed. (This has led to Harpers encountering foes years after they first started looking, and taking swift action— - a habit that has given rise to the folk saying, “"Harpers never forget."”)

• •Harpers help other Harpers without hesitation or thought of personal cost or credit. •

• Harpers do not conceal their own shortcomings or handicaps (such as disease, carried curses, and lycanthropy) from other Harpers.

• •Harpers never stop listening and looking, no matter how tired, hurt, or affected by magic or wine. An awake Harper never relaxes. (As the sage Maldeth of Calimport once put it, "“A Harper is always alert, living his life as if every hanging moment is his last. Soon enough, he’s right about that."”)

• •Harpers do not respect rank or power; Harpers do respect wisdom and good character.

• Harpers never discriminate on the basis of sex or race - —but almost always take careful note of a being'’s religion and how loyal that being is to it. Strong religious belief can be a dangerous thing, if the deity’'s nature or commandments stand opposed to Harper ends.

• •Harpers do the unexpected. Unless assuming a role so as to pass undetected by enemies, Harpers do not settle into a routine that invites easy attack or anticipation of their aims and activities.