The Harpers are one of the many factions that make up the social and political dynamics of The Forgotten Realms, a region in theDungeons & Dragonsuniverse where most of the adventures are set. The recentD&Dmovie,Honor Among Thieves, features characters that are members of these factions, and players will recognize them from campaigns, books, and video games.
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One of the better-known of these groups is the Harpers, also known as Those Who Harp among the denizens of the realms. Although they do what good they can, they’re also seen as meddlesome and nosy by some, but their enemies take them seriously. The faction gets some publicity in the recentD&Dmovie with the character of Edgin Darvis, a Bard played by Chris Pine, who was a member of the Harpers until something in their association went terribly wrong, but that’s a spoiler for another time.
7The Harper Hierarchy
The Harpers are egalitarian for the most part and don’t often have leaders or hierarchies in which some members take orders from others. However, there is a governing council called the High Harpers, and they were responsible for deciding on and planning the faction’s plans and goals. Other ranks included spymasters and protegees.
As for those giving orders on the ground, this concept was virtually non-existent, although Harpers could be summoned or contacted if they were required to perform certain tasks. Gamers might remember Jahiera, a characterfrom theBaldur’s Gateserieswho was an active member of the faction, being summoned for certain quests or tasks that the party would join or not depending on their own goals and moral alignments.
6The Harper Deities
When the Harpers was founded, several deities were present to witness the momentous occasionand bless the first members. These were the Seven Gods of the Dancing Place and the blessings they gave to the first Harpers, who become known as Master Harpers, also included extra abilities related to the powers of the deities.
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Tymora and Oghma are two of these deities, granting extra luck and greater knowledge to their favorite Master Harpers. After the Time of Troubles, an event in Faerûn in which the gods walked the earth as mortals, these blessings became available to all Harpers instead of only those that had attained the rank of Master.
5The Secret Teleportation System
The Harper’s were only partly a secret society, but they still wanted to keep their activities discreet. Toavoid being seen or trackedwhile they traveled, Harpers used a secret teleportation network that was available only to them. The hubs for these networks were often hidden in big cities where they could both be hidden from strangers but found easily by friends.
This was not only a way for Harpers to travel safely but also a quick and reliable method for passing on messages or other important information. Teleportation was usually between two places in Faerûn but traveling to other locations, like the Underdark, was possible.
4The Code Of The Harpers
This isn’t a set of rules for Harpers in the game, but a book published by TSR Inc. for gamers and Dungeon Masters. Whether it’s role-play or as part of an active campaign, this is the officialD&Dresource book for all things related to the Harpers.
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Written by Ed Greenwood, the book goes into detail about every facet of Harper life, including the runes, spells, and other unique abilities only members have. Now that the Harpers have more media exposure, players will be more interested in RPing the faction or including them in their campaigns, andThe Code of the Harpershas become a more important gaming accessory.
3Just Be Good
It’s obvious that Bards would be Harpers since they’re known for their musical abilities, but the name is just an expression. The order is limited to those of Good moral alignmentsand characters of any class can join.
The nature of the organization is going to appeal to certain ones more than others. Other classes that are drawn towards the ways of Harpers also include Rangers and Druids, mostly because these players seek balance when it comes to civilization and nature.
2The Secret Runes
Harpers have devised many ingenious ways to exchange information and messages without detection. Often their performances as Bards, either in songs or stories, carry hidden messages that only other Harpers will be able to understand, hence the name of the faction. However, not all of the Harpers are so musically or performance inclined, and a secret form of writing was designed that anyone could use.
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The messages that Harpers left for each other could be simple warnings like, “bandits nearby” or “be alert of danger.” Some were intended to ease the burdens of travel, directing Harpers to food, water, and shelter on the road. Others marked where Harpers had fallen in battle or their graves.
1Harper Enemies
Harpers consider a few groups in The Forgotten Realms their bitter enemies. One of themis also a dominant factionin Faerûn, the Zhentarim, also known as the Black Network, and another group that appears more prominently in the movie, The Red Wizards of Thay.
Sofina and Dralas are the two Red Wizard characters in the movie, and just like in the games, their roles are focused on necromancy, dark magic, and working towards establishing a magocracy. Other exploits the Red Wizards are responsible for are all kinds of nefarious, including slavery, thievery, and assassinations, all mean and evil things that the Harpers stand against.
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