Forgotten Realms - Harpers and Purple Dragons

[dreaded_beast]

Can anyone give me any tips on running the Harpers and Purple Dragons in the realms?

I have a group of PCs who have just finished completing a mission with Andalara, a Harper agent from Tilverton. Impressed by the PCs, she has offered them a chance at joining the ranks of the Harpers.

Any ideas on how to develop this more and what benefits there would be to being a member of the Harpers beyond various Harper prestige classes? What would be entailed in actually joining the Harpers?

The same goes for the Purple Dragons. The PCs have also impressed a low-ranking officer of the Purple Dragons and has offered them a chance to join their ranks.

 

[Henry]

If the PC's are not the types to settle in one nation, they probably won't want to accept the offer to be a Purple Dragon - the PD's are tied to Cormyr, and rarely have missions outside of the nation, as they are equivalent of the "Home Guard." (You can change this, perhaps, but the stock info is for leadership of an army.)

The Harpers, however, are very travel-oriented. You never know where a mission will take you, and you can assume the mission will involved either infiltrating an oppressive evil organization, or recovering a bit of lost lore, or a secret of artifact guarded by someone very oppresive against knowledge, and who is evil. The Harpers have secret caches and strongholds all over the Heartlands and the rest of Faerun, and do not put together an offensive force so much as they fight as secretively as they can, so as to conserve their forces. Harping might imply anything from a simple dungeon-crawl snatch-and-grab to running diplomacy or first-contact with a Baelnorn who is a thousand years old and hasn't met anyone alive in a loooong time.

 

[Berandor]

Well, first you have to remember that the dalelands harpers are much more do-gooders than their western branch is (even after the split of Khelben's group).
Next, Harpers aren't well-liked everywhere, not even necessarily at "good" courts. They concern themselves with things that should be none of their concern, too often. It is likely that quite a few purple dragons regard harpers as better troublemakers, no more.

I think it could be very interesting to play Harpers or Purple Dragons. With Harpers, you can play up to them doing a lot of good that goes unnoticed, or unrewarded by nobility, whereas you can give Purple Dragons orders that might interfere with what the characters'd do themselves (like escorting a noble when they hear of a village under attack).

Benefits of Purple Dragons include lodging and food in most Cormish cities and villages, as well as the entitlement that goes along with being part of a generally well-liked army. On the other hand, soldiers aren't well-regarded everywhere, and conflicts might come to the characters that they really don't want to care for, but have to take care of. Purple Dragons as characters would probably mean a lot of interaction with rich merchants, nobles, intrigue, but also combat missions into the stonelands.

Benefits of being harpers is of course the friendship with a lot of good churches, druids, simple folk, and the information and respect that go along with being a member of an international organisation. Likewise, you immediately gain a lot of enemies, and you'd probably have to keep your membership a secret if you want to travel a lot; otherwise, it is possible the characters become local heroes. Harper characters would likely lead to a more rural kind of campaign, even though sneaking, information gathering and stopping evil plots are still part of the program.

Harpers = small folk, "spy work"
Purple Dragons = rich folk, "marines"

 

[Faraer]

FOR4 The Code of the Harpers is the main source on that group, and has information on how people join them and what they do.

It's rare for non-Cormytes to join the Purple Dragons.

Purple Dragons, lesser courtiers, and minor officials of the realm swear to “the Crown and the Dragon Throne” before no less than three ranking courtiers and/or the Royal Magician or a member of the Obarskyrs plus a court sage (in time of war, “battlefield oaths” are acceptable before three serving Purple Dragons and a Purple Dragon officer of the rank of ornrion or higher). Oaths are sworn when entering service, and may be re-demanded (“reconfirmed”) at any time.

 

[ruleslawyer]

FOR4 The Code of the Harpers is the main source on that group, and has information on how people join them and what they do.

I second Faraer's recommendation. Code of the Harpers is the definitive source, hands down, on the Harpers, and a good read to boot. It fully describes the various oaths, rituals, attitudes, and personalities that characterize the Harpers, and is loaded with adventure hooks and detailed descriptions of Harper strongholds and current activities. It is high quality.

I will disagree somewhat with Berandor's categorization of the Western and Eastern branches of the Harpers: The former is simply more public, centralized and directly hierarchial (answering to Cylyria, Obslin Minstrelwish, and Beluar Thantarth) than the latter, which is more independent and clandestine.

As to the Purple Dragons: I tend to agree with Henry and Faraer that this group is a poor choice for adventurers, since the duty of the Purple Dragons is to the Crown and Cormyr, and their usual sphere of operations is in Cormyr. I once gave a PC an honorary rank of "watchcaptain" (effectively, honorary swordcaptain) status in the organization for extraordinary services to the Crown (saving the fortress of High Horn from the ravages of the avatar of Bhaal), and I think you could go with an honorary rank rather than a permanent position. But the Harpers are a tailor-made choice for bold, independent, PC adventurer types.

 

[Geoff Watson]

I second Faraer's recommendation. Code of the Harpers is the definitive source, hands down, on the Harpers, and a good read to boot. It fully describes the various oaths, rituals, attitudes, and personalities that characterize the Harpers, and is loaded with adventure hooks and detailed descriptions of Harper strongholds and current activities. It is high quality.

I found it dissapointing. The spells and magic items are totally over the top. Eg: a 'Harper Pin', that every harper gets for free, is an Epic item if you use 3e magic item creation rules.
Also, the attitude that the Harpers are always right and wonderful and better than everyone else gets annoying.

Geoff.

 

[sellars]

FOR4 The Code of the Harpers is the main source on that group, and has information on how people join them and what they do.

I am certainly going to look after that! thanks for the tip!

On Topic:

In our campaign it is highly unlikely that you'd be offered a place among the Purple Dragon knights by impressing a low officier. Serving in the ranks of the Purple Dragon knights is an honour that isn't granted easily. I am talking about the prestige class here though. Just joining the military ranks should be an option. A fairly limiting option I would think, since chances are that the characters are low in rank (class level does not (entirely) correspond with level) with all the restricting backdraws.

 

[dreaded_beast]

Thanks for all the responses everyone!

In regards to the Purple Dragons, they are being offered a chance to join the ranks of the military, probably as low-ranking recruits, but with a little more lee-way allowing them to travel abroad on missions for the crown and such (read: expendable).

Do you think it is possible for a PC/NPC to be a member of both the Purple Dragons and the Harpers concurently?

I really dig all the different factions/organizations in the realms and would like my PCs to have a chance to join their ranks. I haven't figured out if my players care for such things yet though.

 

[Berandor]

A good information on Harper's and their semi-current state of affairs is also the final AD&D FR book, "Cloak & Dagger". Aside from being hands down one of the most interesting and valuable companions I have aver bought for FR, it details the events leading up to the Harper Schism.

 

[Faraer]

Do you think it is possible for a PC/NPC to be a member of both the Purple Dragons and the Harpers concurently?

Cormyr-Harper relations range from wary suspicion (regimented LG army vs informal CG rogues, plus Vangerdahast's fraught relationship with Elminster) to close cooperation (see Elminster's Daughter). The Purples demand fealty to Cormyr and the Crown, while Harper loyalties may conflict; on the other hand, there are probably a few Harper spies in the Purple Dragon ranks and maybe the War Wizards, and at least one Cormyrean Highknight (Glarasteer Rhauligan) is also a Harper. Serving both masters would take experience and wisdom, and would be almost impossible to do from scratch.

I would expose your players to these organizations and see if they're interested before opening up avenues of joining. Many people work for years as Harper friends and helpers before being offered membership; it's a very serious matter.

I wouldn't use the Harper Schism or introduce the Moonstars until the Harpers have been established in the campaign (if at all).