My hatred burns for those who harpThey work against me at every turnAnd when I hear them harp at twilightMy soul in me doth burn.

— Tuth Malgul, Doompriest High of the Sun's Shadow Shrine of Mintar, from Chants to theGlory of the Dark Sun, Year of the Serpent

Threefold Dedication

To Chris Matthews and Lisa Fain—because Elminster values nothing more than he does goodfriends 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 wemeet 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.All TSR characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.

Copyright © 1993 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in the book trade for English language products of TSR, Inc.Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors.Distributed to the book and hobby trade in the United Kingdom by TSR Ltd.

This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of thematerial or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of TSR, Inc.

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Official Game Accessory

THE CODE OF THE HARPERS

Table of Contents

Prologue 3Introduction 5The Code of the Harpers 6Harper Runes 19The History of the Harpers 20The Harpers Today 37Master Harpers 40The Senior Harpers 42Harper Heroes 53Some Selected Harpers 62The High Heralds 73Harper Allies 82Harper Haunts 85Harper Magic: Spells 100Harper Magic: Magical Items 102Foes of the Harpers 118Joining the Harpers 121Harper Ballads 123Spectral Harpist (monster entry) 127

Credits

Design: Ed GreenwoodEditing: Mike BreaultInterior Art: Scott Rosema

TSR, Inc.POB 756

Lake GenevaWI53147

U.S.A.

Production: Gaye O'KeefeCover Art: Jeff Easley

TSR Ltd.120 Church EndCherry HintonCambridge CB1 3LBUnited Kingdom

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roiogue

We are the Harpers. We are the Lord Protectors ofthe Realms. Fools, all—but the Gods look down andsmile glory upon us. Weep for us, watch for us, andhope in us. We shall not fail thee.

— Harper Chant (composed by AiladreaStars-in-mist, Bard of Neverwinter, Year of the

Buckler)

A Harper is one of a company of those with similarinterests—men, elves, and half-elves. Most bardsand many rangers in the North are Harpers. Morewomen than men are Harpers. We have no ranks,only varying degrees of personal influence. Ourbadge is a silver moon and a silver harp, upon a blackor royal blue field. Many female mages, and mostdruids, are our allies, and we are generally accountedto be good folk. A Harper is one who tolerates manyfaiths and deeds, but who works against warfare,slavery, and wanton destruction of the plants andcreatures of the land. We oppose those who wouldbuild empires by the sword or spilled blood, or whowould work Art (magic) heedless of the conse-quences.

We see the arts and lore of fallen Myth Drannoras a high point in the history of all races. We worktoward the careful preservation of history, crafts, andknowledge. We work toward that which made MythDrannor great—the happy and willing sharing oflife with all races.

We work against, and must often fight those ofevil mind: the Zhentarim; the Cult of the Dragon—that plunders the lore and art of the Realms to enrichtheir revered dracoliches; the slavers of Thay; thosewho plunder and willfully destroy tombs andlibraries everywhere; and those who would overturnpeace and unleash fire and sword across the land toraise their own thrones.

We guard folk against these, when we can. Wealso guard books and their lore, precious instrumentsand their music, and Art and its good works. Allthese things serve hands and hearts yet unborn,those who will come after us.

We seek to keep kingdoms small, busy with tradeand the problems of their people. Any ruler whogrows 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 orshiningly good. We do what we can for all and standin the way of all who threaten knowledge. Who arewe to decide who shall know or not know lore?

The gods have given us the freedom and the powerto strive amongst ourselves. They have not laiddown a strict order that compels each of us to doexactly thus and so. Who knows better than the godswhat knowledge is good or bad, and who shall haveit?

Harper bards always sing true tales of kings, asfar as truth is known. They do not, for any reward,sing falsely the grand deeds of an usurper, or falselyportray as bad the nature and deeds of his van-quished predecessor. Even if such would make goodtales and songs, a Harper cleaves to the truth. Thetruth—a thing slightly different for everyone—mustbe 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

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one falls out of such belief, he or she should leave thestruggle and our ranks.

I hope only that whether you walk with us or no,or join and then leave us thereafter, that you walkalways together, and take joy in each other's com-pany. It is through such love—or longing, when inlack of it—that much learning and celebration comesabout. It adds to the culture that we strive to saveand nurture.

Fight not always with blade or spell. The slowerways are the surer—aid freely given, friendships andtrust built. These things evil cannot abide. It shrinksaway from what it cannot destroy with fire andblade.

— 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 aHarper is or stands for, and have becomewell-known among minstrels throughout

Faeriin.)

It is my duty as a Harper to die if necessary in thetask of protecting others.

— Reisz Roudabush, Harper, to Krystin, acomrade-in-arms, shortly before dying in

Harper service, Year of the Serpent

Working for good and maintaining balance are oftenmatters of small degrees. If you wish to shape a bushyou must prune it gently, not take a scythe to it.

— Danilo Thann, speaking to Master HarperBran Skorlsun just before he was offered a

Harper pin, Year of Maidens

Harpers live—and die—to keep the Balance.

— Harper saying (anonymous)

May your harp be unstrung, your dreams die, andall your songs be unsung.

— Harper curse (origin unknown)

Had I known quite how bad a harpist I'd turn out tobe, I'd have chosen some other symbol. But by then,of course, it was too late. It almost always is.

— Elminster of Shadowdale, Address to theLords' Alliance, Year of the Turret

Listen! Ah...I hear the harp, crying for me. So sad, sosweet...I'm coming! Soon, soon. But help me up,friends. I must die on my feet, in battle, singing.Don't weep, lasses—look for me when you hear aharp at sunset, and I'll be there. Smiling. And whynot? I've done good, laughed a lot in the doing, andcan die content. Look for me at twilight, when theshades of Harpers walk.

— Naerthiiya Asuantlar, Harper, to her Harpercompanions before her death in Harper service,

Year of the Turret

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ntrocluction

What makes a Harper? Well, different folk'II tell ye alot of high and grand things, but t'me it seems theonly crucial talent—the one they all have—is theability to turn up at the wrong time in a place wherethey're neither wanted nor expected, and plungeright into whatever trouble's afoot....

— Darblin Melorinrose, Master Merchant ofNeverwinter, Year of the Leaping Dolphin

This is a book about Harpers, so if s fitting that itbegin with a story. Harken, then. The hour waslate, but the feast wore on. Lord Tharlon was nota man to cross, and the revelers were here at hisbehest. Outside, the winds of a gathering stormhowled through Westwood and whistled pastthe tall windows, but Tharlon merely ordered hisharpist to play louder.

Yawns and heavy eyelids were seen aplentyacross the hall by then, but the harpist merelybent her head in silence and did as she was bid.The Lord of Westwood ruled his village with ahaughty hand; his hatred of certain nobles ofWaterdeep for calling him "lord of the cabbagefarms" was well known. As soon as he markedher obedience, Tharlon swung away, his grandrobes rippling, and called for more wine.

The goblet, when it came, was borne by a mannot seen in the hall before. Tharlon had taken hisseat—and that saved his life. The blade thatwould have slid into his throat under cover of theproffered wine flashed for all to see. Before hisarmsmen and attendant lordlings could do morethan gasp and snatch at their blades, a suddenshrill sung note rang out from the harpist—andthe blade shattered into silvery dust in front ofTharlon's startled face.

The harpist cast her harp into the air. It playedon, strings moving by themselves, as she leapedat the assassin. He cursed and kicked the Lordof Westwood hard, driving Tharlon back intohis grand chair as he tried to stand up. Then thekiller bent to snatch another blade from hisboot—but by then the dark-eyed, firehairedharpist was upon him.

Hair stirred around her shoulders in time to

the harp's eerie music as she clamped one handaround the assassin's knife-wrist, and darted theother to his throat. Men were shouting and run-ning by then, and blades rang and flashed out allover the hall. The assassin twisted and snarled,rising to his full height—a head taller than theharpist—and trying to shake off the woman. Butsteely fingers kept his dagger low and pointed tothe floor, even as firm fingers choked the life fromhim.

He managed a thick, twisted sound as hisstruggles grew frantic. The harpist was shaken toand fro in front of the Lord's chair, but her gripdid not loosen. By the time bared blades ringedthem both around, the man's eyes glazed, and hefell limp and heavy to the stone.

The Lord of Westwood was still strugglingfor breath. "How—who—?"

His beautiful harpist snapped to the captainof the guards, "This was a Zhentarim. Cut thatring from his hand, or he may vanish. Bewareworse magic." Then she calmly turned to faceTharlon. Her floating harp played on nearby.

"Arrogant and foolish you may be," she said,"but we find you strong when you must be, andneeded." With slow fingers she drew open thefront of her bodice—and the Lord's eyes bulgedin astonishment as he saw the silver harp pen-dant winking there.

"When next you are moved to cruel pride,know that Those Who Harp are watching," sheadded softly. "And know also that we watch farbetter men than thee."

This sourcebook tells what we could learn ofthe shadowy, mysterious Harpers of Faerun.Who are they, really? Elminster says they are"folk who can't stand idly by and see the Realmsdestroyed around them—they are moved tomeddle, trying to guide the general destructioninto specific ways and ends that may enable allto see another dawn...."

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The Code of the Harpe

What's a Harper? A good question, aye—and likemost good questions, it has a lot of right answers. Asmany, in fact, as there are Harpers...and if that's toocute an observation for your liking, then you havemy condolences. A mind so closed can only find life asmall, sad cage.

— Tanthlin Starshann, Bard of Berdusk

Many definitions of the term "Harper" havebeen made down the ages. Some of them haveeven been printable.

Most folk in the Realms know what theHarpers stand for, more or less (which is aboutwhat most Harpers know), but there havealways been rumors of a secret code of laws orrules that define Harper membership andbehavior.

The truth is that there are and there aren't.(That phrase describes a lot of truths about theHarpers.) The disorganized and secretive natureof the fellowship of Those Who Harp makes ithard to define what a Harper is (and some-times, who is and who is not a Harper), andwhat Harpers do and may not do. This is handyfor Dungeon Masters trying to evade probingPC inquiries; it is normal for Harper work toinvolve deception, layers of misdirection, andlots of things that aren't what they seem.

Bearing that warning firmly in mind, who arethe Harpers, anyway?

Who Wears the Silver HarpMen and women of all ages and crafts areHarpers—as well as half-elves, elves, and a fewhalflings, gnomes, dwarves, and intelligentwoodland beings (notably swanmays, dryads,and centaurs). The first three races named arethe most numerous in the Harper ranks, andmost of these Harpers are bards or rangers. Oth-er classes are also well represented, from magesand thieves to priests. Most druids in the Northof Faerun are Harper allies rather than mem-bers, but clerics of many faiths (notably Azuth,Deneir, Eldath, Lliira, Mielikki, Milil, Mystra,

Oghma, Selune, Silvanus, Tymora, and theelven deities) wear the silver harp proudly. Insome cases this causes tension between Harpersand higher-ranking clergy—but it never seemsto cause tension between Harpers and thedeities themselves, or among deities.

Lone wolves (misfits, solitary adventurers,the disfigured, or the brilliant but unbalanced)are tolerated in the ranks of the Harpers, per-haps even encouraged. This adds many crazies(or as they're known in the Realms, "moon-wit-ted") and difficult folk to the ranks of theHarpers, but it also brings some very powerfulindividuals into the fellowship, giving themfriends and a direction in life.

The elusive, mysterious, and—for purposesof defining, describing, or fighting them—verydifficult quality of the Harpers is their lack oforganization. This has also been their strength,the flexibility that allows them to melt awaybefore a powerful foe into nothingness (com-plete lack of organized activity, sometimes formany years) instead of standing strong as a vis-ible army and being smashed by a Zhentarian(or Thayan, or Luskan, or Amnian, orScardalean, or whomever the petty tyrant maybe this season) attack.

The complete story of the Harpers may neverbe told, because it's not that sort of organiza-tion. Nothing is clear, nothing is formal—andnothing is ever finished. Wise Harpers knowthis only too well. In the absence of armedmight, it's all that's enabled them to survive as agroup, in the face of Zhentarim assassins andthe soldiers of a hundred rulers, great andsmall.

Harpers do not gather in large armies to dobattle with evil in the glorious clash of arms.Instead, more often than not, single Harperagents slip into places that have fallen under thesway of various shadows—from the halls ofkings to thieves' dens—and do all that one beingcan do to thwart the ruling evil. Not a few havegiven their lives. As the Harper Caledan put it,"Isn't that how the Harpers operate? They sendone person to slip in and do a job where an army

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