The Harpers of Aeriador

The Harpers of Aeriador

The Harpers of Aeriador is a bardic organization where the bards are loosely organized by the Colleges they attend or have attended. There is no specific order or requirement to attend a particular college, and bards often train at only one college during their entire lifetime. However, for the adventurous bard, there is a path to follow which leads to the highest association of bards, the bards of Magna Alumnae. 

Specifically, the Harpers are bards who follow the path of progression through each of the Seven Colleges of the Bards obtaining a Harper ranking based on which colleges they have attended. In the end, a bard can become Magna Alumnae, an alumna of all seven Bardic Colleges.

Although The Harpers are primarily a bardic organization, rangers and druids can join with the approval of the High Harpers via sponsorship by a Harper in good standing. The Harpers are firm believers in the Old Faith and the Old Lore. Rangers and Druids who do join the organization generally do so to aid the Harpers in their efforts to maintain balance, find ancient relics and artifacts, or seek out hidden or lost knowledge.

Harper Ideals

The Harpers represents a scattered network of bardic spellcasters and spies who advocate equality and covertly oppose the abuse of power. Bards, rangers, druids, and rarely wizards of good alignments are drawn to the Harpers.

Goals

• Gather information throughout Aeriador.
• Promote fairness and equality by covert means.
• Thwart tyrants and leaders, governments, and organizations that grow too powerful.
• Aid the weak, poor and oppressed.

Beliefs

• One can never have too much information or arcane knowledge.
• Too much power leads to corruption. The abuse of magic must be closely monitored.
• No one should be powerless.

Ranks within the Harpers

Watcher

This rank can be obtained at level 1 for any character joining the Harpers. 

Harpshadow

Harpshadows have shown they are aligned with the Harpers' goals and can take on more responsibility. If the Harper is a Bard, he or she will likely begin training at the Fochlucan College as a Harpshadow learning the basics of musical instruments, calligraphy, and disguise.

Brightcandle

Brightcandles have proven themselves as reliable agents, entrusted with many secrets and deserving of additional support during adventures and missions. A Harper Bard can become a Brightcandle once they have completed training at the Fochlucan College and begun their training at Mac-Fuirmidh. 

Wise Owl

Wise Owls are trusted voices within the Harpers. They are looked upon as champions and their reputation within the organization precedes them. Becoming a Wise Owl for a Bard means they have completed training at all bardic colleges except the High Colleges (Cli, Anstruth, Ollamh). A Brightcandle who has been begun training at the College of Cli becomes a Wise Owl within the Harpers.  Only the High Harpers stand higher in the organization.

High Harpers

High Harpers must be at least 15th level for a Bard, and must also be admitted to the Ollamh College for Bards. This is a capstone moment for Harper bards as they train at the Highest college and eventually graduate to Magna Alumnae. High Harpers are deeply ensconced within the leadership of the guild, and the most senior High Harpers sit on the Council, for which there are only 7 available seats. Three of the seats are filled with Magna Alumnae bards, while the remaining four seats are currently filled with senior students at Ollamh College. All decisions within the Harpers are decided up by the High Harper's Council.

News:  As of SA 1611

The Harpers of Aeriador are now extinct since about SA 1250.  Ithryn, Aerena, Iraborn, Mira, and Melina helped to create a new organization in Annun that could serve in the same capacity. That new organization is the Lark and Lantern Society.