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Teflon
Seeker
60 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Feb 2004 : 06:49:18
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Does anyone know who found them? I was reading "The Temptations of Elminster" and it says the he was the one that founded them. Anyone know for sure?
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In any battle, the mightiest weapon is one that strikes unseen.
A Warrior or Wizard may be invincible in open battle, with their foes before them, but even they must sleep sometime, and cannot parry the knife that comes from behind.
-The life of a assassin. |
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Hymn
Senior Scribe
Sweden
514 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2004 : 12:04:50
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Well origianly the Harpers started out as a free band under no rulers command fighting evil with a base in Myth Drannor, among it founders where people like Lady Steel and a young adventurer named Elminster (gee wonder who that can bee) .
Lady Steel's common name was Dathlue Mistwinter;
she was the last living member of an old
elven family whose symbol was a silver harp
between the horns of a silver crescent moon,
surrounded by a circle of stars, on a black background.
The band of human, elven, and
half-elven warriors, mages, rangers, druids, and
even a few thieves took this badge as their own.
Since they met at twilight in hidden places deep
the Elven Court wood, guided by the sounds
a lone harper once theyíd drawn near a
known landmark, they became known as ìthe
Harpers at Twilight.î From the very start, there
were more female than male Harpers, and their
ranks included folk from all walks of life. They
shared a love of nature and freedom-and
enough inner fire to fight for such things.
I post more sooner, since I have to rush off on a meeting.
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Sauro moki kara ochiro - Even monkeys falls from trees.
The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant - Miyamoto Musashi |
Edited by - Hymn on 02 Feb 2004 12:06:14 |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2004 : 23:01:21
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| interesting 2 know this about the Harpers, i thank u |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2004 : 00:00:49
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| its the Harpers at Twilight, or the Harpers of Twilight? |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2004 : 00:46:42
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Alright, a little informations of the Harpers. First:
quote:
Originally posted by Dracandos the Spellsage:
Is it the Harpers at Twilight, or the Harpers of Twilight?
It is the Harper At Twilight, as referenced in The Code of the Harpers or The Fall of Myth Drannor. Now, onto the histry of the Harpers, here are a few pertinant excerpts from The Code of the Harpers.
quote:
Originally from The Code of the Harpers:
The roots of the Harpers of today can be found in the beginnings of Myth Drannor, when the wise ruler of the elven realm of Cormanthor realized that humans were too numerous, adaptable, persistent, and skilled to ignore or defeat. He decided that welcoming them was the best policy for the elven race.
The most experienced elven generals, in consultation with the most trusted of the human rangers and druids they#146;d invited into their realm, determined that a secret organization was needed to work for the causes of good. Not a band loyal to any ruler, for that way leads inevitably to oppression and self-interested intrigue, but a band of "friends of freedom" who could work secretly, outside laws and politics, to put down evil.
Down the years, the Harpers fought on, growing fewer at the hands of their foes-but certain watching eyes approved of what they
did. Their aims were essentially the same as those of the Harpers of today. They worked against tyrants of all races and faiths, aiding those in need and even trying to settle local feuds and grudges, to foster peace among all. Then came the dark time of Myth Drannor's fall, when tanar'ri roamed the Dragonreach lands, thrones fell, and the rule of the sword returned as desperate folk fought each other for the crumbling remnants of shattered realms.
Essentially, during the fall of Myth Drannor the Harpers At Twilight fell apart, but were eventually reformed after the fall by Elminster, Khelben, and the other surviving Harpers.
quote:
Originally from The Fall of Myth Drannor:
720 Year of the Dawn Rose
The Gathering of the Gods at the Dancing Place signals the refounding of the Harpers at the request of some elves from Elven Court. In attendance are all 15 of the Harpers at Twilight who survived the previous decade, including Lady Alais Dree, Elminster Aumar, Khelben Arunsun (once the Nameless Chosen), and Meil "Darkhunter" Araeln. The sylvan community of Elventree is founded as a site for the elves of Elven Court to continue interaction with their allied races (since Elven Court now is prohibited to the presence of non-elves) and as a trading site.
For more information see the highly informative The Code of the Harpers product, which while Second Edition in nature, is the definateive source for all things Harpers. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1272 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2004 : 00:52:22
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| Edain, is there a difference in the purpose and the goals of the Harpers and the Moonstars? I just wanna know coz I'm curious about the Moonstars since I know very little about them, only that they are founded by Khlben Blackstaff. I'm not trying to get off-topic, I just want a little comparison between the two organizations. |
"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2004 : 01:04:06
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Well, yes there is a fundimental differnce in their purpose and goals. Originally the Harpers were a very neutral group, focused more on the larger picture and are thusly more neutral, where as the modern Harpers have become very good-aligned and thus very concerned with more short-term and less important goals. The Moonstar generally seek to unify the peaoples of Faerun to fend off danger, while the Harpers work to maintain nations, states, and other things the Moonstars find more menial. A good explanation of their views from Cloak & Dagger:
quote:
Originally from Cloak & Dagger:
In truth, Harpers share most of the ideals of the group, but the Moonstars hold to some of the more archaic codes of the Harpers in Twilight. Moonstar members do not work to preserve political nations or boies, butpeople and life. They stringently look to the elven model of balancing nature and civilization. They also work to preserve lore and history (and they also stude and use it far more than either the Heralds or the Harpers).
Interesting point, in Cloak & Dagger they use the name "Harpers in Twilight" as opposed to "Harpers at Twilight", found in The Code of the Harpers and The Fall of Myth Drannor, so now I cannot say which is correct. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1272 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2004 : 04:05:40
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| So does that mean that basically the Moonstars follow a code somewhat similar to the one the old Harpers at during the time of Myth Drannor? |
"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2004 : 05:50:54
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| Yes, which makes sense as the Moonstars were founded by Khelben Arunsun, one of the original Harpers At Twilight. It was his conflicts with the current Harpers' beliefs that lead to his resignation (as it were) from the Harpers. Now he is only really active with the Moonstars, amongst which he is a top ranking member. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
Edited by - Alaundo on 05 Feb 2004 09:04:47 |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2004 : 01:48:13
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| that explained a couple of things |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 01:29:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Edain Shadowstar
Yes, which makes sense as the Moonstars were founded by Khelben Arunsun, one of the original Harpers At Twilight. It was his conflicts with the current Harpers' beliefs that lead to his resignation (as it were) from the Harpers. Now he is only really active with the Moonstars, amongst which he is a top ranking member.
Actually, Khelben was never a Harper at Twilight. Both of his parents were, however, and that's part of the reasons why Khelben's motivations for the tel'Teukiira are a bit more antiquated than modern Harpers.....
Of course, his real reasons may never become clear...because once you know how a wizard does his tricks, it's not magic any more, is it?   
Steven
Who might harp at twilight if not for a tin ear and a finer taste for halfling-brewed stouts |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2004 : 07:02:27
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Plus, part of Khelben's reasoning for founding the Moonstars is to deal with something he read about in the Prophies of Aluando. No one, not even Laeral, knows exactly what it is Khelben is worried about.
And here's an interesting part, drawn from page 25 of Cloak & Dagger (note: the more formal name of the Moonstars is Tel'Teukiira):
At least one sagely member identified an ancient prophecy in Amagal's Tome, an ancient elven text of early Cormanthor, as noting that the Tel'Teukiira "will come hidden and in many guises and faces. They dwell in shadow and speak in omens, yet they shall bring about waking dreams and save us from the Three Threats Who Wait In Darkness, the Prefects, and ourselves." None of the Tel'Teukiira can say what all this means, though many suspect Khelben knows and simply does not say.
Another interesting couple of differences between the Harpers and the Moonstars: the Harpers have only the roughest organization, while the Moonstars all answer, either directly or indirectly, to the Blackstaff.
Also, though many Moonstars are of good alignment, not all of them are. There are many neutral members (including a Rashemi Witch), and even some evil members -- which includes a crimelord and at least one vampire.
Oh, and Kyriani is a Moonstar, which is another plus. |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2286 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2018 : 17:21:15
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Seeker Teflon,
There are different "founding" times for the Harpers. There is the Twilight, a founding at the Dancing Place, The Founding (Elminster playing silly games as Gochall the Minstrel, yeah, that is a thing he did, lol), and then they basically went forward from there in a much more uniform manner.
The Twilight was in 324DR in Cormanthyr, when Lady Steel, Ruehar Oakstaff, Elminster, and Iolena Audark, and Lyari Pholont "The Shadesilk" fouded it. They wanted to oppose evil things, etc. So, they strike out, and over the years Harpers die, it sucks, and eventually we land at Flamerule 26th, 720DR which is a meeting of a lot of important people (which was a druid's grove in the High Dale in the Thundergap). Eventually some gods possessed people at the Dancing Place, talked, figured stuff out and said we need to oppose those nasty folk who want to cause strife, be cruel, etc. So, they combined to form Voltron, and focused on keeping one organization from taking over the world and causing significant harm and abridging freedoms.
Fast forward to 1022DR when after realizing that many more deaths had been occurring, the Harpers decide that they need some new folk. Elminster and Khelben are burning out, wanting to go do cool stuff, and so they find the Wanderers of Espar, led by Finder Wyvernspur. They get tricked to believe that Gocholl the Minstrel (who is Elminster in disguise) is killed after befriending them. Elminster leaves cookie crumbs to the main jerks of the Realms, and we're off to the slaughter races.
After about 100 years, the Heralds of Faerun decide that the Harpers are getting a little too.....Baney, and so they cut ties, and decide to go be cool on their own. From there, we just get different encounters, and bits of history of Harpers doing good and bad throughout the Realms, and find ourselves in the 14th century.
That's a really shortened version as I can imagine you guess, but it's a great read in the Code of the Harpers FOR4. I hightly recommend getting it. 
Best regards,
quote:
Originally posted by Teflon
Does anyone know who found them? I was reading "The Temptations of Elminster" and it says the he was the one that founded them. Anyone know for sure?
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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Founding of the Harpers?
