Harpers (Forgotten Realms)

For the magazine, see Harper's Magazine.

The Harpers are a fictional, semi-secret, organization in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the role playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The organization was created by Elminster, Finder Wyvernspur, and other powerful mortals with support from many good-aligned churches including their main goddess Mystra, who was amongst the deities who helped found the organisation. Others include Silvanus, Oghma, and Corellon Larethian. Most of the Seven Sisters, especially Storm Silverhand, are also dedicated Harpers.

Pushing for Balance as well as what is right, they oppose all evil organizations such as the Zhentarim and the Red Wizards of Thay. Many people call the Harpers meddlers, for the Harpers often interfere with local politics with the aim to stop evil influence. The Harpers recruit a variety of people, but the majority tend to be elves, rangers, and bards. Harper members are recognizable by their magically imbued silver pins, which grant magical protections.

Harpers are hated in many countries such as Thay or Tethyr for a variety of reasons. The Tethyrian government has a grudge against the Harpers for assassinating their last recognized leader, driving the country of Tethyr into a swirling chaos of civil war and assassinations. However, the Harpers were framed by another, unknown, secret organization.

In recent times there has been growing divisions between the Harpers who wished to further the cause of Balance (neutral-aligned) and those who wished to combat evil (good-aligned). A schism happened after the Harper Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun made a deal with Fzoul Chembryl, leader of the Zhentarim. He was expelled from the Harpers, and, with his wife Laeral Silverhand of the Seven Sisters, he went on to form the Harper splinter organization known as the Moonstars.

References

• Ed Greenwood, "The Code of the Harpers", 1993, ISBN 1-56076-644-1

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