A History of Harpers on Arelith

By Atticus Stratlace

INTRODUCTION

This book, a side project to my usual work on Vampires, focuses on uncovering the history of the Harper organization on Arelith and its effects upon it. I myself have been accused of being a Harper, or having Harper affiliations, several times, and I believe that if one is to be accused of something, one should really gather an understanding of that accusation. Written sources are cited, as are verbal sources where possible and permission given. Bar the first chapter, the work shall focus on the actions of Harpers upon Arelith, not away from it.

Most importantly, this work shall not reveal the identity of any living and active Harper on Arelith. All the confirmed or alleged Harpers named in this text are believed to be either dead or absent from the isle for many years. For the record, I am not a Harper, though I'm bitterly aware that is exactly the sort of thing a Harper would say.

CHAPTER I: AN OVERTURE

The first recorded Harper is, in fact, one of truly epic proportions. The now minor Deity Finder Wyvernspur is reported as once having been a member of that illustrious group. A bard of some renown and talent, he grew bitter that other bards should copy and alter his songs. Thus he created a sort of simulacrum of himself so that his songs might be sung as intended forever. The Simulacrum, Flattery Wyvernspur, was childlike and imperfect. When Flattery could not perform to Finder's standards, Finder abused him until Flattery snapped and attempted to kill Finder with a Ring of Disintegration. One of Finder's apprentices threw himself in the way of the beam and died. Flattery escaped and started a campaign of suffering against Finder and those close to him, resulting in another apprentice's death. For his crime against magic and nature, and for the social backlash against the then fledgling organization (despite Finders' attempts to cover it up), the Harpers punished Finder with imprisonment in The Citadel of White Exile and his songs and name were wiped from the Realms. Only a few Harpers, such as Elminster and "Morala of Milli" recalled them. Centuries later, Finder was released. He did many acts, mostly virtuous it must be said, culminating in his battle with the god Moander. He destroyed this god and gained his essence, becoming a minor god himself. After this action, the Harpers also pardoned him for his bravery, and his name and songs were returned to the realms.(1) One imagines they may also have pardoned him because he was now, in fact, a God. I may be being cynical there.

Other notable early Harper lore includes the creation of the Enchanted Jewellery Box, which apparently occurred after a particularly raucous and chaotic "Harper Congress" by the "High Harpers". Whilst this story may be apocryphal, and in itself is harmless, it does speak to the nature of the Harpers. A magical necklace was forged to protect the will of Harpers against interrogation and mental influence. Lore has it, however, that this necklace was not enough, and the creator still died under interrogation.

The goddess Tymora, goddess of luck and chance, is said to be a special patron to The Harpers(2), and they apparently have quite a standing in the city of Neverwinter.(3)

This is all the definitive information I could uncover about the Harpers off the isle. They are old, chaotic, powerful, and secretive. On the isle of Arelith, their presence is much the same.

CHAPTER II: DANCING TO CYRIC'S BEAT

Our first, and extensive information on the Harpers workings on Arelith comes in the early 140's from the testimony of Alastriona de Vere.(4) Perhaps the only publicly self-confessed Harper, Alastriona was put on trial for organizing the murder of a chancellor of Cordor. I shall shorten for convenience, and I shall also intersperse it with a few very prescient quotes from the source text.

Alastriona de Vere was a scout in the service of the Radiant Heart Auxiliary, as well as a member of the Harpers. She made connections with then chancellor Ruigardt and his vice, Rann McClaw and was embedded by the Harpers into Cordor. There were some other unsavoury points about Rann, that he had kept the company of an Underdark slave, Emelina, and that he was rumoured to use women as his tools. There was nothing else obliquely sinister about him, however, beyond rumour and hearsay. During this time, there was a group called the Syndicate, whom the Harpers and others suspected of trading with Underdarkers, including selling fabled elven weaponry. However, as with Rann, there was no solid proof to action upon. One of those Syndicate members was a man named Thaddeus. The Harpers knew of this activity, and had kept Alastriona informed. To quote

"The Harpers have eyes and ears everywhere, and so I know that they-" (the Syndicate "had connections – past and present-- to nearly every evil and insipid organization on the isle."

Two of those who suspected the Syndicate's activity were Roy Valiente and Qasi, ministers of health and trade, respectively. Rann seemed to want to tolerate the activity of this Syndicate within Cordor but the chancellor, Ruigardt, felt otherwise. Whilst unable legally to do much against Thaddeus himself, he tolerated, even egged on, the actions of Valiente and Qasi. Rann, by contrast, was irritated and angered by the actions of these two ministers stretching the bounds of the law. Now Rann and Ruigardt were part of the same faction, which had run for office as chancellor, but Rann was higher up in the ranks of that faction. Because of this, just a few weeks before the end of his term, Rann was able to overthrow and replace Ruigardt as chancellor. After having done this, he cleared all ministerial positions, leaving only the Cordor Guard in place. In response to this, Alastriona sought advice from the Harpers, meeting with another member. This member implored her to wait, saying "He would deal with it." Alastriona seems to view the events here as a great wrong and the start of a tyranny, and she could not wait. To quote here from the book:

"I will tell you now that the Harpers value freedom above all other things. We will do anything to protect it; anything."

Not long after, Alastriona lured Rann to his home, using her membership of the Radiant Auxillery as a means to gain his trust. There she pleaded with him to step down and put Ruigardt back into power, but he resolutely refused. This being the case, she struck him down, murdering him. She then took his body to the Assassins guild and had an assassin there, an apparent ally, mark down his death officially so that he was struck from the records as Cordor Chancellor, calling an election. (Note – nowadays the guild tends to require its members to at least be present for the death of the victim, but in those days things were, presumably, more lax. It is also unknown if the contract was put on Rann before or after the murder.) Of her actions- She says the following:

"He probably still didn't even understand how wrong he was even as I cut him down; and I did. I murdered him, a man who trusted me, to preserve the freedom of people to choose."

Rann was resurrected after the event and given a warning:

"The Harpers were watching him for any future infringements upon freedom for any further misdeeds."

In the following election, Qasi took office as Chancellor for several years. Rann, Thaddeus, and Emelina were all exiled, and Alastriona was exonerated and re-entered Cordor politics with a new position. This is where Alastrionia's story ends, nicely wrapped up in a little bow. The story caused quite a stir in the Radiant Heart when it was read out, with much debate occurring. I believe, at around the year 144, upon the conclusion of Qasi's time as chancellor and the publication of this text, Alastronia departed the isle. Certainly, I can find no record of her after the publication of this book. Her fate may yet have been darker, the reader may see later. But there is more to the tale yet.

The same year her tale was published, Freja Stillwater came into power, and her review of Cordor's exile list reveals some interesting points about the affair. In "Chancellors Freya's Exile Review" it is noted that sometime during this tumult – either after Rann took power or shortly after his assassination, there were riots in the city.(5) To quote:

"Several of Qasi's supporters were seen in the crowd, inciting them to riot while Rann tired speaking with the citizens peacefully."

The riot culminated in the death of six people, only three were raised. During the exile review, Rann, Emelina, and Thaddeus were all exonerated by the chancellor and their exile lifted. The record of the event suggests that much of the information (though not all) given for their initial exiles was shaky at best. Interestingly, the most compelling bit of recorded evidence for Thaddeus' wrongdoing comes from a curious source. During this hearing Vance Gavelle – at the time a notorious Priest of Cyric, appeared with an old writ of passage, signed by a drow matron for Thaddeus. An obvious bit of proof that Thaddues had, at least at one point, travelled the Underdark readily. A very important note here: In later documents, Vance would be accused of being a Harper himself.(17)

This makes me wonder if perhaps he was the one that Alastriona spoke to, and from whom she gained information? If so, then Alastrona may have been the puppet for a Cyrcian priest all along? Even if her concerns were legitimate (as I certainly believe they may have been), the actions of Qasi and Valiente suggest a large amount of dirty and underhanded tactics. When a person is elected to a position, they must stand for a faction, a party as it were, and that faction is important. The people vote as much for the faction as they do for the person. Rann's actions were on behalf of his faction, which the people had legally voted in, as much as they had voted in Ruigart. Whilst one can certainly be sympathetic to Alastriona’s concerns, ultimately it was she who took the choice away from the people as much as Rann did.

CHAPTER III: WIDE EYES SHUT

The events of this era certainly left an impression on Cordor politics. About ten years hence, around 153AR, Chancellor Katernin Bersk came into power. Her two periods in office were both innovative and highly controversial. Her most notable act was the introduction of the Loadstar system, a surveillance system utilizing magic orbs that Cordor still employs to this day. But she was also known for being controlling and paranoid – two attributes that do not go well with the existence of a secret society of meddlers and spies. That said, one wonders how much of the events of the prior chapter may have touched her judgment. It was during her term, quite early on, that the Harpers were named as an illegal organization.(7) To quote directly:

"LAW: HARPERS ARE CONSIDERED ENEMIES OF THE STATE -

Due to their illegitimate meddling in lawful Cordorian elections, the Harpers are here-by-banned from this city. Any known member of the chaotic group is considered persona-non-grata and will very likely be killed on sight when entering the city. The Magocracy does not accept those who sew discord and will do what it takes to ensure proper representation for all the citizens. "

Day Nine, Month 6 (Kythorn), 154 AR
Katernin Bersk."

Shortly following this proclamation, Bersk put High Inquisitor Tyros Iaret, a Banite priest, in charge of rooting out Harpers within the city. She gave him the title of High Arbiter of Cordor and placed him in charge of matters of law and judgment in the city. If he was at all successful in this task and discovered any Harpers, there are no records of it. She also made Bane one of the official gods of Cordor for a time. Bresk survived one assassination attempt in the fifth month of 154AR. Perhaps it was this act which inspired the writing of the above law. Three months after Harpers were outlawed, Katernin Bersk was assassinated.(7) A Lord "Arcleone" was blamed for her death at the time, thanks to several threats she had received from him. Whether or not this is true, however, is not recorded.

It is also unrecorded when the Harper law was revoked, certainly it wasn't amongst the immediate changes Katernin's replacement, Peram Flint, made. But revoked it eventually was, and the Harpers would not face any more open external threat for some time. Their next threat, instead, would come from within.

CHAPTER IV: DREADFUL MELODY

During the year 163, like lined up blocks falling, a series of events caused the Harper Ranks to be decimated. Worst of all – it was perhaps a downfall of their own making. My information comes mostly from piecing together three primary sources.(9, 10, 14) and an interview with one who was present at the time, a man by the name of Exordius. From these sources, a bloody picture is painted.

The story mostly revolves around a very controversial figure in Arelith History, a name that has echoed through the years: Buppi. Buppi was a nature walker, and a brief bit of research into him shows an extremely colourful history. Called hero by some, he was also at one point exiled or highly unwelcome from every settlement on the isle. He was ejected (or threatened with such) from the grove multiple times, known for losing his temper and attacking, even murdering people he disagreed with, of theft, and so on. A separate text could, and have been, written just about him. The important aspect of him for this text though is this: Buppi is, or at least was widely accused of being, a Harper.

As one who seems to have possessed a profound skill in pissing people off, it's no wonder that eventually he would upset the Harpers themselves. In this case, he upset a half-orc named Rheag. Rheag was an anarchist and a man with a colourful past. His books also litter the libraries of the isle and paint a picture of a rebellious and angry soul.(11, 12,13) Of special note is his book "The Surface Andunor" in which he compares the social and economic state of Cordor to Andunor, the overall tone is highly anti-monarchy and anti-authoritarian in any fashion. Considering that Buppi was one of the leading figures in putting Edward Cordor in power, it is not surprising that the two had extreme differences.(14) However, Rheag and Buppi shared something in common- they were, apparently, both Harpers. The reason for strife between the two is not entirely known, but I think we can read between the lines. If Buppi was one of the main players putting Edward into power, then the Harpers likely were involved in this in general. (A very brief aside, the source also mentions that this is also why Cordor ended up in Amn's pocket so deeply. If Edward's rise to power was heavily backed by Harpers, then the Harpers are also responsible for Amn's influence in Cordor too.) This could not have sat well with Rheag, who was viciously anti-monarchy and nobility. In my interview with Exordius, the man said:

"Rhaeg was doing what he normally did, which was advocating for a new political system. A lot of folks did not like this."

Presumably Buppi was one of those people, and the schism evolved between the two to such an extent that he decided to reveal Buppi’s Harper state to the entire isle. According to Exordius, this went vehemently against the creed of the Harpers. Buppi murdered Rheag in response. The Harpers appear to take secrecy very seriously. This might have ended here, but it in turn upset another Harper member, a man by the name of Jacetuhn Nerelith. A monk of some standing in Soulhaven, Jace already had a poor history with Buppi, having been in conflict with him before.(10) He responded to the death of Rheag by posting a letter blaming the Harpers, and condemning Buppi's action and naming other Harpers (Buppi, Himself, and the Archmage of the Arcane tower at the time, Mila Brown. Insinuated, in some sources, to be their ‘leader.’). I do not know quite what response he expected, but what occurred next was terrible beyond imagining.

After sending at least one taunting message, the Zhentirim targeted the Arcane Tower.(15) Mila Brown, Archmage of the Arcane Tower, a woman described as "Rough in demeanour but morally upright" (16) was killed in a massive explosion, sacrificing herself to save the rest of the Arcane Tower staff in a blast that was, to quote one source: "powerful enough to wipe out as far as Cordor, and as far north as possibly Bendir or Myon."(17) Upon the scene of that crime was a figure who would later be identified as a member of the Zhentirim's Black network.

Mila Brown's demise had further ramifications later on. A direct student of Thorimand, it has been theorized (granted by sources I do not entirely trust) that with her gone, the Twisted Rune was able to move upon the isle with the Ophelia Blackheart crisis.(18) Once more, we see ripples expanding from Harper actions. We move ahead of ourselves, though and must return back to our immediate crisis. A tenday later the Cult of the Dragon appeared at Soulhaven, demanding Jacetuhn be handed over. Jace called for aid and half the isle came to his assistance. Dozens of monks and defenders fell in the assault, and not all could be revived, finding their final rest. But the invasion was thwarted. However, but a few days later news came that Jacetuhn had been attacked and murdered in his room. No corpse was found, only a great amount of blood. The assailants had somehow teleported directly into his room. Murdered Jace and had left a rune there, which was identified as a mark of the Zhentarim. (A small, and very important note here that the primary account of the crime scene comes from scrivener Ciaran Grady. Note that name. It is important.)

The Dread Zhentarim later apprehended a man named Denny Walvish who – being no friend of Buppi, stated that he and his friend John were Harpers and that he too desired their death. Denny later rescinded and showed sorrow for his statement. But the Dread seemed to have bought into his words and left him and his companions alone. The next and perhaps most terrible event was the murder of the Bramble family. Husband, Wife, and Daughter were tortured for information on Buppi (the Zhents erroneously believing that "all halflings know each other"). When they could provide no information they were slaughtered, corpses piked, and their farm burned with the note "So Perish All Harper Allies." Buppi and others performed a divination spell upon the corpses to ascertain their fate. From clues provided by said ritual, they discerned the location of the Dread Hideout. They attacked this place and annihilated the Zhentarim there, and this seems to have concluded the crisis. (A final small note – the key report of the attack on the Dread Hideout was none other than Vance Gavelle.)

Buppi maintained throughout the whole event that he was not, nor had ever been, a Harper. Perhaps this is true? If it is not true, and he was a Harper, it paints a picture of a cut-throat, highly chaotic organization which recruits anarchists, Cyracists (or ex-Cyracists), and murderers. If he tells the truth and it is not so – then it suggests a situation where, as we shall see later, just the accusation of being a Harper can bring down the wrath of various truly vile organizations, and the deaths of dozens of innocents. I am unsure which is worse.

CHAPTER V: DRUMS - A REPRISE

The following chapters deal with more recent events, and sadly, the documentation of them is not as widespread. Sources are given when I am able, but some of the sources are within private libraries or possessed by individuals.

King Edward Cordor went on to marry Jennifer Eldren, an old and respected family with ties to Minmir and also a worshipper of Bane. Jennifer had a niece by the name of Kathryn Eldren who came to the isle some time later. She was far more obliquely pious than her aunt and became a member of the Minmir Congregation, causing some controversies in her time. In 183AR, at a charity meeting to discuss the funding of aid for the slums, a gnomish waiter brought out some wine, '87 Whaterdhavian Red, but with only one cup. With only one cup, the queen poured the wine into that and gave it to Kathryn. The queen then had two more glasses poured, one for herself and one for the Radiant Heart Delegate there, - Bryn. Katheryn, having been served first and eager to try the wine, drank first and, within a minute, vomited blood and died in the throne room. The gnome shrieked that the Queen was meant to drink first, and then proclaimed "Freedom for the Slums!" before engaging in combat with those there. The gnome was very dangerous, slaying one of the Banite attendants before being taken down. Attempts were made to raise Kathryn, but were unsuccessful. The poison seemed to be potent enough to prevent such. The gnome was captured, interrogated, and revealed to be a member of a "Harper Affiliated Group". He was then executed. No more affiliated Harpers were found. Not so long after this, probably in response, Harpers were declared an illegal organization in Cordor once more. Joining the ranks of drow, monstrous races, and undead. Of note – the study on the poison used and the report was written a familiar and important name - Ciaran Grady

CHAPTER VI: CACOPHONY

The next character in our story, and she is one of a few, is Kethra Negal. Kethra Nagel was the Minister for Culture in Cordor and a respected naval captain.(20) She was charismatic, charming, easy to talk to, dramatic, spiteful, and eventually caused discord in all circles she moved in.

Without going into the deep details of these separate cases, it is enough to state that she was unwise enough to admit to being a Harper to one respected Lord Alastair Montgomery.

Reports of her confession were supported by her ability to secure a sample of Moander's Rot cure to assist a friend, Eilli. An item she could not have procured except through illicit means. She was known to be friends with another accused Harper too. One who had apparently revealed herself to a paladin named Valasco, and a name that the reader may find very familiar. Ciaran Grade (Or rather, in the report, Ciaran Kallohan, she having later married into that second name.)

Indeed, Cordor suspected that Ciaran may have had some direct involvement in the Assassination of the Queen, and she stole some components to a prior Moander's Rot cure, but I do not believe she was ever brought to justice for such. Other circumstantial but important evidence to Kethra's identity as a Harper is recorded. Such as reports from the archives had started to go missing, texts regarding the Queen's assassination attempt, and Kethra was one of the few who had access. Kethra's fondness for the Harp, ability to make interpersonal connections, and veneration of Tymora were also points to consider. She was interviewed for six hours and told numerous lies during that, after which she was banished from Cordor. Shortly after her banishment, she suffered an assassination attempt by Azahara Sabal. Likely due to the Harper accusations.

After this Kethra moved to Guldorand, which is where my personal part in this story begins. Almost immediately, Kethra began trying to find a position in the Guldorand government or gain access to the Guldorand archives. When this did not work, she took on an extreme change in role as she took on the white robes of a novitiate to Ilmater, forswearing the drink, drugs, romance, and hedonism of her time in Cordor. She struck up a friendship with myself, and though it was tumultuous, I will confess I cared for her as if she were a sister, and was even willing to ignore the Harper accusations, though I remained concerned. Our relationship had its ups and downs, culminating in one terrible event that confirmed to me her true colours.

During this time one of the most dangerous vampires on the isle, Lucretia Valene, haunted Guldorand.(21) At this point she was an expert in disguise, and we were desperately trying to discover her real identity. After much time and coin, her name was discovered and I was able to scry her. On my first real attempt, I found her – disguised as one named Aerwyn, and with none other than Kethra herself! Talking like two old friends, Kethra was (I thought then) oblivious to the nature of her "friend." I managed to remove Kethra from the creature's presence without it being the wiser, and, in my panic and fear, told Kethra of the danger she was in.

She seemed not relieved or grateful or afraid, but mostly irritable and disappointed that her friend was actually a Vampire. I gave her strict instructions to keep secret that we knew Lucretia's name. Whilst usually I am a great proponent of sharing information, I wanted to give other information gatherers and diviners time to use it to learn as much on Lucretia as they could, before she realized her name was out, and was more careful with blocking such magics. A day later Lucretia, still in the disguise of Aerwyn, met with Kethra. They conversed, and, in that conversation, Kethra thought it best to reveal that she knew Aerwyn was a Vampire, and also that we knew her name.

Just giving out this information would have been bad enough, but there was more. Kethra agreed to go on a "final walk" out at night with Aerwyn. She came later to myself and Osric Sternenlicht, good friend and the Education Minister for Cordor, trying to get us to set up an "ambush" for Lucretia that way. It was utterly evident to me that this was a trap, and I refused to go. Osric also refused, and thus Kethra backed down. However, later on that night, as she slept in unsecured chambers in an inn, Lucretia came to her and "kidnapped" her, taking her down to the underdark and making her a slave.

Many attempts were made to free Kethra from the collar in the time that followed, but she refused all of them. She started using her contacts to spread unfounded lies about myself and others on the surface, claiming she was learning things from Lucretia. Swiftly it became apparent to me that she was always Lucretia's tool, or else she was indeed a Harper, and was using her situation to gather intelligence for them. If the latter is correct, then I hope her intel was good and plentiful, for she blinded the rest of the surface. In addition to informing Lucretia that we knew her real name, Kethra was a powerful abjurer and was able to ward the Vampire from scrying at all times. When I think of the lives her work cost, the people destroyed by that Vampire, my blood boils. When it became apparent that she did not wish to be saved, I took action – publishing across the isle her status as a slave of Lucretia, and also reminding the isle of the Harper accusations against her. Lucretia demanded that Kethra break her Harper pin, in return she would be freed.(22) Kethra did so, but did not leave the Underdark. She remained by Lucretia's side willingly, serving as her right hand. Those who witnessed it said that the two were practically lovers, and often it was difficult to tell who was manipulating who. They even shared a bedroom. However, eventually Kethra was found on the surface and captured by Cordor Authorities and publicly executed by the chancellor, Adimein Crane. However, by the blessings (or curses) of the gods, Kethra was returned to life.

Lucretia contacted Siegfried Crane, the brother of Adimein and ex-lover of Kethra's. She and Kethra persuaded Siegfried to kill Adimein in vengeance for his execution of her. Siegfried was persuaded and did so, slaying his own brother. This must have been too much for the Harpers, or perhaps just enough? Not long after this event, Kethra was kidnapped. Lucretia told me, when interrogated, that she received one last, desperate message from Kethra, an illusion, before she was apparently killed. Her body was later dropped off at the Treadstone by a Kenku, whose name shall remain out of this text. Lucretia is convinced that her killers were Harpers and, vile as she is, I cannot fault her in that deduction.

The story might end there, but for a last small note – which may be linked, or it may not. A few months later there came to the isle a new woman by the name of Madeleine Orlin. Common born, pleasant, a storyteller, she had a few similarities with Kethra, but nothing extraordinary, nothing that I noticed anyway. She did well, working in the Nomad, then running the press, and then ended up as Vice Chancellor of Cordor. During this time Lucretia was absent from the isle, for one reason or another, but eventually returned. Madeleine's reaction to the Vampire’s return was extreme apprehension and fear, as if the name was familiar to her. Shortly after this, she confessed to her lover, So-Kehur-Siakamen, that she was a Harper, and she had also once been a slave to a Vampire. A coincidence? It seems unlikely.

Kehir told others of this, but later rescinded his statements publicly. Could he have been lying? Or misunderstood? It seems odd if so. He never knew Kethra to my knowledge, and had no reason to besmirch Madeleine’s reputation. Needless to say, the relationship between him and Madeleine ended.

During this time, Cordor was having much difficulty with the slum district, with large anti-monarchy gangs causing strife and trouble in the city. A meeting was organized between Madeline and the leaders of these gangs to try and talk out the situation. However during the meeting Madeline was abruptly teleported away from her guards. She was never seen again. Attempts by various priests to contact her spirit, or bring her back, failed. The consensus was that she had been killed. Lucretia, who has taken it upon herself to record the names of the dead, seems to believe that her death was also caused by the Harpers. Why? Was it to stir up trouble between the gangs and the Monarchy? That would fit with prior Harper actions, such as the attempted assassination of the Queen, and Rheag’s anti-monarchy sentiment.

Or perhaps it was because Kethra and Madeline really were the same person (Kehir is not alone in believing this, though I do remain skeptical myself), and with her cover now publicly blown again, Madeline had to be removed? Or even slain? The truth, as with so much about Harpers, may never be known.

CHAPTER VII: LINGERING NOTES

In recent years (the publishing of this book being late 187AR), one of the things that has come 'in vogue', as it were, has been the accusation of random people of being Harpers, often on unsigned notes left in public places. Most sane people know better than to trust unsigned notes with no evidence, but a few particularly stupid people (Barasheva Deathstrike being one) have taken it upon themselves to take these notes on face value, pursuing a campaign of torture and murder over them. Depressing as it is, I expect that this new trend won’t die out any time soon. The benefit of Harper secrecy, if there ever was one, now comes with a further price- and it is not one that Harpers pay.

OUTRO

In the course of researching this, though few knew I was actually writing this book, the topic of Harpers came up a lot. A tone spoken of them was that of disdain, unease, and fear.

Fear.

In my profession as a Vampire Investigator, I poke into the dealings of Vampires. I share information on them, in the hope it shall assist in their destruction and protect others. Though I seldom use the term myself, I have been called the seminal Vampire Hunter on Arelith. Yet in all that time, I have not encountered such terror as I have when poking into Harper affairs.

"Stay out of it Atticus" people say, "Harpers are not to be messed with." I know that writing this risks my health, my reputation (I expect quite a few lies told about me after this, no doubt they will have their Agents telling people I eat babies for breakfast), and even my life, but I believe the truth must be known. And I cannot help but wonder that if the Harpers are such a Goodly organization, why is their history so bloody? One might argue that one thing all the above historical examples have in common is this – they all are examples where Harpers have made mistakes. If only in revealing their presence.

It is, we must recall, entirely possible that the majority of the Harper's activities on the isle are entirely benevolent. That the vast majority of their actions are fair and righteous. Certainly, some of the above could be argued to be for "The Greater Good."

However, if all we see are the murders, the assassinations, the thefts, the lies, the betrayals, and the executions, it is difficult to reconcile that with the image of anything but a chaotic, bloodthirsty, and power-mad cult wrapped in the trappings and excuses of "freedom fighting." To quote a friend who wished to remain nameless in this, Harpers are:

"Not as bad as Zhents, but that's like saying a Balor isn't as bad as the ooze-king."

The Zhentirum are surely the viler faction, but I wonder if the Harpers are not the more dangerous? If I should entreat any action upon the reader, it would to be wary of such groups. It is only that they should be wary of them, and avoid joining its ranks. The highly secret, unothodox, unrestrained, and unmonitored nature of this group makes it highly dangerous to everyone, friends, foes, those caught in between and even themselves. Their secrecy as it is at best brings them a terrible reputation, and at worst gets innocent people murdered.

I hope that this text, whilst it is certainly coloured with my own thoughts and opinions, at least presents a complete enough picture that the reader can draw their own conclusions. I have also provided a bibliography, so that the reader can look back on these texts, uncoloured from my perspective to that end.

Speaking of such, I should like to finish this admittedly lengthy text with one final quote. This is from a halfling named Tilly, a friend of Buppi, and is drawn from the tome: A Treatise on Buppi, Our History And Our Future. Her wise words succinctly agree with and surmise my own opinion of the Harpers, in a manner more graceful and compelling than I ever could.

"I abhor the concept of the Harpers, as I believe any organization that designates its purpose as covertly eliminating, manipulating and deceiving what it deems to be foul forces, without any pubic oversite or critique, is in fact simply extolling tyranny with the egotism afforded to those who believe themselves justified. No good deed done in the dark maintains its lustre when brought to the light."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(1) Deities: Finder Wyvernspur
(2) Deities: Tymora
(3) The City of Neverwinter
(4) Cordor Testimony: By Harper Agent Alastriona de Vere
(5) Chancellor Freja Stillwater’s Review of Cordor’s Exile List
(6) Radiant Heart Meeting Transcription, Marpenoth 144
(7) Keternin Bersk’s Chancellor Notes (books AR 153 and AR 154)
(8) Vice Chancellor Peram Flint’s Notes: AR 154-155
(9) Crisis: Dread Crisis
(10 A Tretis on Buppi- Our History And Our Future
(11) Tyranny’s Eclipse
(12) Rhaeg: To Question Reality
(13) The Surface Andunor
(14) Buppi Interviews Part 2
(15) Zhentarim and the Church of Bane AR 163
(16) Report on Iron Throne Use of The Weatherstone
(17) Crisis: Dread Crisis [Buppi]
(18) Arelith: Forth Sharran War
(19) Case File: A.R. 182 Palace & The Banites
(20) Kethra Harper Investigation Overview – Private Report
(21) Lucretia (Nymeria/Alica Doyal/Lady Shade – Edition 3 onwards. Later is better)
(22) Learned in a much later interview with Lucretia