Forgotten Realms - The Code of The Harpers.pdf - Forgotten Realms - sharkygsm

My hatred burns for those who harp

They work against me at every turn

And when I hear them harp at twilight

My soul in me doth burn.

Tuth Malgul, Doompriest High of the Suns Shadow Shrine of Mintar, from Chants to the

Glory of the Dark Sun, Year of the Serpent

Threefold Dedication

To Chris Matthews and Lisa Fainbecause Elminster values nothing more than he does good

friends and true.

To Elaine Cunningham, for the information about Arilyn and for giving us Danilo.

Also, to all who have brought the Harpers to life, in novels, in play, and in their hearts. May we

meet across a fire at twilight, somewhere in the Realms, its flames reflected back from harp-

strings as they stir.

ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, and FORGOTTEN REALMS are registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.

The TSR logo, DUNGEON MASTER, and DM are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.

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Official Game Accessory

THE CODE OF THE HARPERS

Table of Contents

Prologue ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 5

The Code of the Harpers ........................................................................................................................................... 6

Harper Runes ........................................................................................................................................................... 19

The History of the Harpers ..................................................................................................................................... 20

The Harpers Today .................................................................................................................................................. 37

Master Harpers......................................................................................................................................................... 40

The Senior Harpers .................................................................................................................................................. 42

Harper Heroes .......................................................................................................................................................... 53

Some Selected Harpers ............................................................................................................................................ 62

The High Heralds .................................................................................................................................................... 73

Harper Allies. ........................................................................................................................................................... 82

Harper Haunts ......................................................................................................................................................... 85

Harper Magic: Spells ............................................................................................................................................. 100

Harper Magic: Magical Items ............................................................................................................................... 102

Foes of the Harpers ................................................................................................................................................ 118

Joining the Harpers ................................................................................................................................................ 121

Harper Ballads ............. ... ........................................................................................................................................ 123

Spectral Harpist (monster entry) ......................................................................................................................... 127

Credits

Design: Ed Greenwood

Editing: Mike Breault

Interior Art: Scott Rosema

Production: Gaye OKeefe

Cover Art: Jeff Easley

TSR, Inc.

POB 756

Lake Geneva

WI 53147

U.S.A.

TSR Ltd.

120 Church End

Cherry Hinton

Cambridge CB1 3LB

United Kingdom

We are the Harpers. We are the Lord Protectors of

the Realms. Fools, allbut the Gods look down and

smile glory upon us. Weep for us, watch for us, and

hope in us. We shall not fail thee.

Harper Chant (composed by Ailadrea

Stars-in-mist, Bard of Neverwinter, Year of the

Buckler)

A Harper is one of a company of those with similar

interests-men, elves, and half-elves. Most bards

and many rangers in the North are Harpers. More

women than men are Harpers. We have no ranks,

only varying degrees of personal influence. Our

badge is a silver moon and a silver harp, upon a black

or royal blue field. Many female mages, and most

druids, are our allies, and we are generally accounted

to be good folk. A Harper is one who tolerates many

faiths and deeds, but who works against warfare,

slavery, and wanton destruction of the plants and

creatures of the land. We oppose those who would

build empires by the sword or spilled blood, or who

would work Art (magic) heedless of the conse-

quences.

We see the arts and lore of fallen Myth Drannor

as a high point in the history of all races. We work

toward the careful preservation of history, crafts, and

knowledge. We work toward that which made Myth

Drannor greatthe happy and willing sharing of

life with all races.

We work against, and must often fight those of

evil mind: the Zhentarim; the Cult of the Dragon

that plunders the lore and art of the Realms to enrich

their revered dracoliches; the slavers of Thay; those

who plunder and willfully destroy tombs and

libraries everywhere; and those who would overturn

peace and unleash fire and sword across the land to

raise their own thrones.

We guard folk against these, when we can. We

also guard books and their lore, precious instruments

and their music, and Art and its good works. All

these things serve hands and hearts yet unborn,

those who will come after us.

We seek to keep kingdoms small, busy with trade

and the problems of their people. Any ruler who

grows too strong and seeks to take knowledge and

power from others is a threat. More precious knowl-

edge is risked when his empire falls, as fall it must.

Only in tavern-tales are humans wholly evil or

shiningly good. We do what we can for all and stand

in the way of all who threaten knowledge. Who are

we to decide who shall know or not know lore?

The gods have given us the freedom and the power

to strive amongst ourselves. They have not laid

down a strict order that compels each of us to do

exactly thus and so. Who knows better than the gods

what knowledge is good or bad, and who shall have

it?

Harper bards always sing true tales of kings, as

far as truth is known. They do not, for any reward,

sing falsely the grand deeds of an usurper, or falsely

portray as bad the nature and deeds of his van-

quished predecessor. Even if such would make good

tales and songs, a Harper cleaves to the truth. The

truth-a thing slightly different for everyone-must

be the rock that the castle of knowledge and achieve-

ment is built upon. Strong words, eh? I feel strongly.

If you come to do so too, you will truly be Harpers. If

Prologue 3

one falls out of such belief, he or she should leave the

struggle and our ranks.

I hope only that whether you walk with us or no,

or join and then leave us thereafter, that you walk

always together, and take joy in each others com-

pany. It is through such loveor longing, when in

lack of it-that much learning and celebration comes

about. It adds to the culture that we strive to save

and nurture.

Fight not always with blade or spell. The slower

ways are the surerdid freely given, friendships and

trust built. These things evil cannot abide. It shrinks

away from what it cannot destroy with fire and

blade.

Working for good and maintaining balance are often

matters of small degrees. If you wish to shape a bush

you must prune it gently, not take a scythe to it.

Danilo Thann, speaking to Master Harper

Bran Skorlsun just before he was offered a

Harper pin, Year of Maidens

Harpers liveand dieto keep the Balance.

Harper saying (anonymous)

Storm Silverhand, Bard of Shadowdale,

speaking to Shandril Shessair and Narm Tama-

raith, 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.)

May your harp be unstrung, your dreams die, and

all your songs be unsung.

Harper curse (origin unknown)

Had I known quite how bad a harpist Id turn out to

be, Id have chosen some other symbol. But by then,

of course, it was too late. It almost always is.

It is my duty as a Harper to die if necessary in the

task of protecting others.

Elminster of Shadowdale, Address to the

Lords Alliance, Year of the Turret

Reisz Roudabush, Harper, to Krystin, a

comrade-in-arms, shortly before dying in

Harper service, Year of the Serpent

Listen! Ah...I hear the harp, crying for me. So sad, so

sweet...Im coming! Soon, soon. But help me up,

friends. I must die on my feet, in battle, singing.

Dont weep, lasses look for me when you hear a

harp at sunset, and Ill be there. Smiling. And why

not? Ive done good, laughed a lot in the doing, and

can die content. Look for me at twilight, when the

shades of Harpers walk.

Naerthiiya Asuantlar, Harper, to her Harper

companions before her death in Harper service,

Year of the Turret

4 Prologue

Forgotten Realms - The Code of The Harpers.pdf

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