Harpers

The Harpers, or Those Who Harp, are a semi-secret organization dedicated to preserving historical lore, maintaining the balance between nature and civilization, and defending the innocent from the forces of evil across the Realms. The Harpers involve themselves in many world-changing events that help shape the course of Faerûn's destiny. Their power and influence waxes and wanes over the years, as their order has undergone a series of collapses and reformations. Their reputation amongst the people of the Realms varies just as wildly. They are often seen as wild-eyed idealists, but also just as often seen as insufferable meddlers who can not keep their business to themselves.

“We are the Harpers. We are the Lord Protectors of the Realms, Fools, all―but 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.

Activities and Operations 

The Harpers operate either individually or in small, close-knit groups. Senior members who wield significant influence―known as spymasters―direct and aid young adventurers―known as Harper protégés―who take on quests that further the Harpers' interests. Yet other veteran Harpers live the adventuring life themselves, taking it upon themselves to complete those very quests for the betterment of Faerûn.
Special Harpers known as handlers serve as intermediaries between spymasters orchestrating events, and other members completing field work. They are more often deployed in cities and regions that are considered more perilous for an agent's safety and well-being.
Most Harper agents live some form of a double life. They go about their business for much of their day, earning an honest (or not-so-honest) living in town or in the wilds, all while closely observing the activities of others. They take careful note of gossip and local tales, and compile that information with that given to them by fellow members. They put on their best outgoing and charming personas, in order to get from others the most significant insights and information possible. Agents are of course allowed to pursue other interests outside of the organization, so long as they do not violate the Harpers' code.

“True, we must fight, it seems often enough to keep our swords and our tempers both sharp enough. Yet, know ye; all of us fight when we must, or die. Moreover, ye only hear of blades drawn and death and spells hurled, and never know of the many, many times that a quiet word or a skillful deal has turned enemies aside from each other, forced a way clear where none is before, or distracted foes from the eager task of tearing each other's throats out. That is the true Harper way: subtle and quiet, behind the shouting. Trust and wisdom, and outfoxing others is what we deal in." ” — Mirt, continuing to Shandril.

Conducting Harper business consists of scheming, subtle nudging, and more than a little manipulation. More often than not, they help guide events of the Realms rather than acting as their direct cause. Harpers tend to work as discreetly as possible, preferring the weapons of knowledge and influence, rather than those of more violent means.
So that the balance between civilization and the natural world can be maintained, the Harpers act to keep kingdoms small and minimize the destruction of animal and plant life by humans or others. To that end, they cultivate public gardens and regularly re-plant crops in the wake of war and other crises.
To preserve the knowledge of the past―and thus keep secure present and future prospects―the Harpers readily share their wealth of knowledge and lore with the common folks of the Realms, often through music, stories, and song. They never alter their performances to agree with the whims of those who hold power, but keep their works true to the tune of history. When necessary, they use their performances to convey secret messages to allies and warn them of nearby dangers. The simple alteration of a single chord or substituted phrase in a well-known folk song could instantly inform others to heed their warning.
When the threats of destruction and tyranny present themselves, the Harpers take decisive action. They move against prevalent cults and other malevolent forces that terrorize the people of the Realms. Agents protect innocent folk from monstrous beings that seek to destroy civilization, defend the weak against careless or malicious practitioners of the Art, and keep at bay the horrors of the Underdark, by sealing off passages that linked it to the surface world.

Tactics 

“Isn't that how the Harpers operate? They send one person to slip in and do a job where an army couldn't go. If the agent fails, they've lost only once. But if the agent succeeds...” — Caledan Caldorien

Whenever possible, Harpers make most of their moves outside of public view so they can not be tracked and studied and they act "behind the scenes” either in places of power or at opportune moments. They analyze power dynamics within a realm and take action when needed to prevent power imbalance or stop one faction from achieving dominance over others. These techniques are how Harpers ensure the greatest chance of success during their missions; it is on occasions when agents reveal themselves and act openly that the group commits its greatest blunders.
Known amongst their own as "weaponless Harpers", some live as spies as informants often under aliases as traveling performers. Some others act as political manipulators and information brokers, working with commoners and merchants to spread rumors in aid of the Harpers' cause. Yet others feed intelligence to their more foolhardy comrades, focusing on deception and subterfuge over steel and spell.
In order to correct economic disparities that are prevalent across the Realms, the Harpers are known to occasionally rob wealthy nobles and merchants, in order to redistribute their wealth to poorer folk. If needed, those agents take some of their ill-gotten gains for themselves, to finance future Harper operations. To further support other members, the Harpers employ a network of drop boxes, hidden caches, and safe houses, at which their agents can find communiques, supplies, or even a safe place to rest. It is believed there are at least thirty such drop-offs in the city of Waterdeep alone.
Individual Harpers agents often use the grand, boisterous Midsummer celebrations sponsored by the church of Tymora as occasions to meet with their comrades.

Structure

The Harpers as an organization is actually anything but organized. Rather, it is a confederation of individuals from contrasting cultures and backgrounds who bond over the shared goals of maintaining peace, preserving knowledge, and protecting the downtrodden. Some Harper agents work in small groups—often alongside friends and close allies—while others operate as lone operatives, who keep only informal ties with the group at large. Throughout the years the Harpers have disbanded and fallen apart several times, only to reform later in some new iteration. The Harpers' informality and lack of formal structure lends to its continuance as a true secret society. Some members take on specific roles, such as 'spymasters', 'handlers', and 'agents', but maintain no hierarchy or ranking over their fellows. It is said that nothing could be truly "official" within the Harpers; the group is poorly defined, with contradictory operational standards, no formal roster, and a public face that is inconsistent from one locale to the next.
There does remain one consistent representation of the Harpers across the Realms, however: their symbol. The Harpers' symbol comprised a silver harp and crescent moon, set upon a field of black or royal blue.

Branches

“Two roads taken to the same gate; one seen more often, the other never late.” — The bard Alither of Telflamm, regarding the two branches of the Harpers.

For much of its history, the Harpers have been separated into two branches, each of which operates on either half of Faerûn's Heartlands. The western branch of the Harpers―the Order of the Silver Moon and Harp, headquartered in Berdusk―maintains a formal hierarchy, and orchestrates far-reaching plots many months in advance of their execution. The eastern branch―known as the Senior Harpers or Harpers in the Shadows, based out of Shadowdale―prefers instead to sponsor parties of young adventurers, wielding subtle influence rather than taking direct action. Both branches strive to achieve the same goals, and regularly share intelligence with their comrades across the Realms. Beyond their operational differences, the collective members of the two branches each hold contrasting attitudes and world-views.
For a few decades, there has existed an offshoot branch of the Harpers, known as the Moonstars. This splinter sect acted separately from the two branches of the Harpers, operating in the sprawling metropolis of Waterdeep, and at times undermining the efforts of true Waterdhavian Harpers.
High Harpers The only true leadership of the Harpers is a small governing council known as the High Harpers. They are responsible for setting and planning most of the group's long-term plans and goals. Members are elected through the means of secret ballots among the other High Harpers, with the criteria of long-term service and extreme discretion in the execution of their plans.
Master Harpers While the Harpers hold no formal hierarchy, some members do enjoy the distinction of being named Master Harpers. These select few are blessed by the goddess Mystra and bestowed with divine boons associated with the Goddess of Magic and other deities that were present at the First Reformation. This term is sometimes confused with the unofficial name of the Harpers' eastern branch, the so-called Master Harpers, though usage in this manner is generally discouraged.
If a Master Harper is slain or otherwise dies with an unfinished quest or charge, they often return to the Realms as a spectral harpist. These incorporeal, undead Harpers retain the powers they held in life, serving the order as immortal guardians over the aptly named 'Harper haunts’ until their final quest is resolved.

Culture

It is said that the secretiveness of the Harpers extends beyond the organization as a whole, trickling down to its individual members and their personal lives. While often boisterous and lighthearted in public, Harpers tend not to share genuine sentiments with others–save for occasions when they are alone with their comrades. Overall, the Harpers are one of the most tolerant factions of the Realms. They accept people from all walks of life, even those with unsavory pasts, so long as they swear the Harper Code and do not violate its tenets.

Ethics

“Right, then, good Lady Shandril, I shall try to tell thee something of what it is to be a Harper. A Harper holds peaceful sharing of the lands above all other goals. By sharing, we mean all the races living in and under the land, where each prefers to live, trading together where desired and need stir them to, and respecting each other's holds and ways—without the daily bloodletting that all too often holds sway in the Realms today.” — Mirt the Moneylender, explaining the Harpers' purpose to Shandril Shessair.

The Harpers believe in the power of the individual over that of the sprawling kingdoms with laws that oppressed individual liberty. They seek to maintain balance between all things, civilization and nature, societal order and personal liberty. They consider the elven city of Myth Drannor, with its rich culture, celebration of the arts, and promotion of education to be the most ideal expression of this balance by the free peoples of the Realms. They seek among other things to spread that belief, and recreate the world in the lost city's image.
While they strive to eliminate tyranny and foster "goodness" in the Realms, not all Harpers agree on how it is defined. Despite these differences of opinion, they do share the belief that current events could only be fully understood with a comprehensive knowledge of the history that preceded them.

Attitude

Considering the vastly different backgrounds and cultures from which Harper members are drawn, each cell or individual agent maintains their own, unique outlook on how to best conduct Harper business. Generally speaking, they take care of how their actions affect the greater world. Senior members tend to act with caution and circumspection, while younger Harpers often believe it is upon them to personally make the world a better place. Yet all members are taught to uphold the virtues of dedication and comradery and honestly assess their own shortcomings. Harpers know they can only earn respect not by attaining power or holding lofty titles, but by demonstrating sound judgement and acting with integrity.
Some enemies of the Harpers accuse them of treating their more manipulative schemes as some sort of grand game, that the people they direct are mere pieces on a chess board. The Harpers demonstrate a type of altruistic arrogance, insisting that their machinations are taken for folks' own good and the overall betterment of the world.
Harper agents are determined individuals. They never quit on their missions and take however long is needed to see them to completion. If an agent is slain in the field, their comrades will never forget their sacrifice and vow to bring justice to their killer.

Harper Code

“I shall do no less.” — The response given to the Harpers' watchwords.

The code of the Harpers is a series of outwardly simple statements that are in truth exceptionally difficult to maintain in earnest. They are not written down in any book or tome, but are expressed as a series of 'watchwords' used to swear in new members, an occasion known as the ritual of recognition. In the late 15th century DR, however, the Harper code was written in a book, upon which new members would swear their oaths. They would keep a copy as reminder.
The Code of the Harpers, or the Harper Code, is as follows:

• "Harpers work against villainy and wickedness wherever they find it—but they work ever mindful of the consequences of what they do."
• "All beings should walk free of fear, with the right to live their lives as they wish."
• "The rule of law aids peace and fosters freedom, so long as the laws are just and those who enforce them lenient and understanding."
• "No extreme is good. For freedom to flourish, all must be in balance: the powers of realms, the reaches of the cities and the wilderlands into each other, and the influence of one being over another."
• "Whatever it takes, a Harper will do. Pride never rules the deeds of a true Harper."
• "Harpers can spare themselves less freedom than those they work to protect must have—but even a Harper must be free."
• "Harpers police their own. A Harper who hears the call of personal power can no longer hear the sweet song of the harp. A Harper who seizes power, and holds it above all else, is a traitor to the harp. Traitors must die, for freedom to live."
• "Without a past, no being can appreciate what they have, and where they may be going."

In summary and practice, it means to oppose tyranny and evil; to protect the oppressed; to maintain freedom, peace, and order; to support fair and just laws; and to prevent extremes and imbalances of power, wealth, influence, and opportunity. They should do whatever they must, no matter how mundane or boring; no matter how hard, uncomfortable, or demeaning; and no matter how risky or life-altering. They are expected to help one another without hesitation or concern for cost and to ask nothing in return for the work they do. They can freely disagree with or criticize each other, and are to police their own and punish treachery. Finally, they are to accumulate knowledge for the good of everyone and to record and preserve the past, for it is said that history provided the light with which a Harper could see the future ahead.
Throughout the course of history, the code of the Harpers spread beyond its members, influencing the shaping of the laws of cities across the Heartlands and the North.

I shall do no less