Page 126 - D&D - Player's Handbook

COLLEGE OF THE HERALD Longhorn: A Faerilnian flute of sophisticated make,
found only in areas with skilled artisans, as in great
Based at the great lore-house of Herald's Holdfast, cities or elven enclaves.
northwest of Silverymoon, the College of the Herald is
Shawm: A double-reed instrument similar to an oboe or
dedicated to the preservation of ancient history and leg-
a bassoon, popular with gnomes, who have developed
ends. The Heralds are charged with collecting and orga-
some bellows-powered versions.
nizing bodies of lore, which they make available to all of
Songhorn: A recorder, a simple type of flute, usually
good and peaceful intent. Established by the Harper Ali-
carved from wood.
ost Oskrunnar in 922 DR, the Heralds are allies of the
Tantan: A tambourine, a popular instrument with
Harpers but remain neutral in most conflicts, dedicated
halflings and humans south of the Dalelands.
to preserving knowledge above all else.
Thelarr: Also known as a whistlecane, a simple and
The College of the Herald is less concerned with mu-
easy-to-make wind instrument cut from a reed. They
sical performance (although it contains a considerable
are so simple, in fact, that skilled bards frequently
library of songs) and more with history, heraldry, and
make and give them away to children-to the parents'
folklore, making it a key center of learning for bards of
delight or regret.
the College of Lore, as described in the Bard College
Tocken: A hanging set of carved oval bells, usually
class feature in the Player's Handbook.
played with a pair of light wooden hammers (or open
handed). They are most common in underground
cultures, where the resonant tones can carry.
Wargong: A metal gong, traditionally made from a
shield, particularly the shield of an enemy. Both
goblins and dwarves make and play wargongs, their
sound echoing through tunnels in the Underdark.
Yarting: A southern instrument from Arnn and
Calimshan that is a Faerilnian analog to the guitar.
Numerous variations have spread across the
continent.
Zulkoon: A complex pump organ that originated with
the zulkirs of Thay, who use it in the casting of
their spells. It is considered to have a dramatic, but
sinister, sound.
THE MOONSTARS
Over a century ago, the Harpers endured a schism.
Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun was denounced by other
Harper leaders for empowering Fzoul Chembryl, then the
evil leader of the Zhentarim, with a powerful artifact. That
Khelben did so in order that Fzoul destroy a dangerous
lich mattered little. Khelben and Laeral Silverhand, his
wife, left the Harpers then, taking with them certain agents
and folding them into to a different organization, which
Khelben had been secretly working to create for some time
due to an old prophecy of the elves of Cormanthor. This
group was the Moonstars, called Tel'Teukiira in Elvish.
Although the Moonstars worked in concert at times with
the Harpers, they also worked at cross purposes, and the
Moonstars membership included many whom the Harpers
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS considered too evil, such as a vampire. The Moonstars
performed many good deeds, but their methods were
In addition to the common musical instruments listed in often more brutal and pragmatic than the Harpers'
chapter 5, "Equipment," of the Player's Handbook, bards lofty ideals allowed. When Khelben died, the Moonstars
in the Realms play the following instruments: seemed to collapse, and for many years the organization
was assumed defunct. Yet during the Sundering, Moonstar
Birdpipes: Pan pipes or satyr pipes, also known as the sleeper agents reactivated the organization on a surpris-
shalm, these are sacred to Lliira and popular with ingly massive scale, with members active in Candlekeep,
wood elf and wild elf bards. Waterdeep, and Myth Drannor. The organization has
Glaur: Short, curved horns like a cornucopia. Played since gone underground again. Their relationship to the
with valves, glaur sound like trumpets, while present-day Harpers, Laeral Silverhand, and the current
those without valves, known as gloon, have a more Blackstaff ofWaterdeep, Vajra, remains unclear.
mournful sound.
Hand Drum: A double-headed skin drum fitted with
handles along its side.

CHAPTER 4 I CLASSES