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Appendix C: The Five Factions

Many characters created in the Forgotten Realms stops the tyrant, feeds the oppressed, and asks for noth-
setting, especially those for organized D&D play, belong ing in return.
to one of five factions that have risen to prominence in the
We are the song for those who have no voice.
world of Faerûn. Each faction has its own motivations,
goals, and philosophy. Some are more heroic than others, —Remallia “Remi” Haventree
but all band together in times of trouble to address ma-
jor threats.
Order of the
Harpers Gauntlet

The clandestine network of
The Order of the Gauntlet is a
spellcasters and spies known
relatively new organization ded-
as the Harpers seeks to tip the
icated to smiting evil wherever
scales in favor of the innocent,
it lurks and without hesitation.
the weak, and the poor. Harper
Its members understands that
agents pride themselves on
evil wears many guises, playing
being incorruptible defenders
games and tricking others in
of good, and they never hesitate
order to hasten its spread. That
to aid the oppressed. Because
is why its members act on their
they prefer to work behind the
own authority, identifying threats
scenes, they are rarely noticed
and removing them before they
as they thwart tyrants, depose
can reach their full potential.
rulers, and head off any growing
Because the seeds of evil are
force that is thought to have evil
nourished in the shadows, the
intent. The faction has its finger
Order of the Gauntlet rides out to the most dangerous
on the pulse of power in the
dungeons, the darkest caverns, and the foulest pits to
Realms, and its members work tirelessly to even the odds
weed out wrongdoers. Even so, its members are keenly
for the downtrodden.
aware that the seed of evil lies within everyone, waiting
Individual Harper agents operate alone, relying on their
for a moment when it can take root in their souls. The or-
wits and the faction’s extensive information network to
der’s paladins, monks, and clerics spend long hours deep
gain an advantage over their enemies. They know that
in prayer to keep their inner eye vigilant and focused on
knowledge is power, so gathering intelligence beforehand
their own thoughts and emotions. In this way they purify
is paramount to their success. They are well informed
themselves from within before taking up their swords to
and always have access to aid, magical and otherwise.
cleanse the world.
Veteran members have secret caches of information
The Order of the Gauntlet believes that all sentient
stashed all over Faerûn, along with trusted sources sta-
beings must come forth into the light of reason and good-
tioned in every major town and city.
ness of their own volition. That is why the faction is not
The organization is always on the lookout for pow-
interested in controlling minds: it focuses only on deeds,
erful items, expressly to keep them out of the hands of
setting an example for the world in the hope of inspiring
evildoers. To this end, its agents use various guises and
and enlightening others. The order holds that faith in
identities to aid their search for carefully guarded secrets
one’s god, one’s friends, and one’s self are the best weap-
such as ancestral maps, buried cities, and mages’ keeps.
ons for combating the hordes of malice.
The bond between Harpers is strong, and the
Possessed of such devout conviction, the order’s
friendships they form are nigh unbreakable. Rarely do
members can be relied on as a source of strength
they operate in the open, but on rare occasions they must,
to themselves and others, a bright light against the
because there is no other choice. When that happens,
darkness. They are not preemptive bullies, though. A
you can be sure that a fellow Harper is watching closely,
strict code of honor allows them to strike only when
ready to dart out from the shadows and help a comrade at
evil deeds are being committed. Thus, the Order of the
a moment’s notice.
Gauntlet is constantly vigilant, using every resource at its
A Harper is first and foremost self-reliant, for once you are disposal—both magical and mundane—to tell where and
when dark deeds will occur.
autonomous, no one can tempt you into using power as a
crutch. You are sovereign unto yourself. That’s the thing about evil: it is darkness, it is shadow, it hides
Therefore, a Harper’s soul must be incorruptible. Many in your blind spot. Then, when you are distracted, it sneaks
believe themselves to be so, but power comes in many guises, in. Evil is a master of disguise—and what is the greatest dis-
and it will surely find your weakness. Of this you may be guise, you ask? Yourself. Evil will cloak itself in thoughts and
certain. Only a true Harper can pass this test and transform emotions pretending to be your own, telling you to get angry,
weakness into strength. That is why we are the hand that to be greedy and envious, to hold yourself above others.
Appendix C: The Five Factions
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