Harpers
The Harpers are a decentralized network of agents who work to promote fairness, protect the innocent, and fight injustice across Faerûn. Known for their secrecy and discretion, most Harpers operate without fanfare, relying on subtlety rather than force. In times past, they have been a reliable counterbalance to corruption and tyranny.
However, in recent years the Harpers have suffered a grave internal betrayal. Their ranks in Waterdeep were infiltrated and compromised by an insidious conspiracy known only as The Plan, orchestrated by the now-deceased High Harper Erasmus Kallor. Under his leadership, elements within the faction were quietly subverted, and a number of their agents were replaced with doppelgangers—referred to as the “Doppelharpers.”
It was not until Threestrings, a Harper agent posing as a tavern musician, discovered inconsistencies and signs of internal corruption that the rot was exposed. He turned to a trusted group of adventurers and asked for their help in uncovering the truth. With his aid, the party uncovered evidence of espionage, infiltration, and ultimately helped locate and eliminate Erasmus himself, who had taken residence beneath the desecrated Quillwright estate. In his final moments, Erasmus revealed himself to be more than a bard and spymaster—his very form had twisted into something monstrous.
Though the High Harper is dead, the damage done under his leadership runs deep. Threestrings now works quietly and relentlessly to purge the remaining corruption. He continues to hunt Doppelharpers and restore the Harper network in Waterdeep, ensuring that it may one day return to its core mission: safeguarding the innocent and striking down evil wherever it takes root.
Purpose and Function
The Harpers exist to preserve balance, protect the powerless, and expose corruption. They oppose tyrants, manipulative cabals, and any force that would abuse magic or power for personal gain. Harper agents do not seek recognition or reward; their success is often marked by the fact that no one ever knows they were involved. While traditionally focused on gathering intelligence and influencing events from the shadows, the infiltration of the Harpers has forced some of their agents—like Threestrings—to act more openly to root out internal threats.Structure and Ranks
The Harpers do not have a rigid chain of command, preferring loose cells led by senior agents known as High Harpers. These leaders are rare and usually selected through consensus among trusted operatives. Under them, agents operate independently, passing information through secure means such as paper birds, magical communication, or intermediaries. During Erasmus Kallor’s reign, this structure was used against itself, allowing the corruption to spread unchecked. Trust has been shaken, and many traditional channels of communication have been compromised or abandoned.Symbols and Methods
The Harpers traditionally use a silver harp symbol, often hidden or worked into their clothing or jewelry. In Waterdeep, encrypted documents, concealed passageways, and magically protected objects have been recovered in Harper caches throughout the Castle andSea Wards. Some operatives use enchanted lenses such as speculite spectacles or speculite monocles to reveal hidden messages or triggers only visible to Harpers. Items like silent sand, sending stones, and amulets of detection have been identified among Harper field gear. These tools are now considered suspect unless their provenance can be confirmed.
Notable Members
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