Bran Skorlsun was a well-respected member of the Harpers of the mid-to-late 14th century DR.[3] He dared to love an elven princess, Amnestria Moonflower, and was the father of Arilyn Moonblade[3] and was also a key driver in the Harper Schism that led to the creation of the Tel'Teukiira.[1] He was known as the Raven (as bran means "raven" in an ancient Moonshae language).[3]
Description[]
Bran was a tall man who had a weathered but square-jawed, healthy-looking face.[3]
Personality[]
Bran was known to be hot-headed, stubborn and unreasonable. His desire for a 'pure' Harper organization was supposedly formed during his forty years as a tracker of spies and turncloaks.[3] He generally had a grim outlook and preferred to be alone.[3]
Bran disliked magic being used on him.[3]
Abilities[]
Bran was a very strong warrior. He could hold a man aloft with only one hand but he also possessed the grace and stealth of a cat. He was highly skilled in the use of daggers, longswords, and longbows and likely other weapons too.[3]
He was an exceptional tracker. His tracking skills were matched by few in the Harpers.[3][2]
Possessions[]
Bran's arrows were all marked with ravens, his namesake.[3][4]
History[]
In his youth, Bran was an adventurer with the Company of the Claw, whose members were later slain by Elaith Craulnober.[3][5] He came to the attention of the Harpers as well and joined the organization.[3]
For several decades, Bran tracked down false and renegade Harpers, mostly in the Moonshae Islesm proving himself one of the group's most skilled trackers.[3][2] At some time during this period, Bran's efforts to keep the Harpers 'pure' led to Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun making an enemy of him[4] and the feeling was mutual.[1]
At some point, Bran met and fell in love with Princess Amnestria of Evermeet. The two had a half-elven daughter together, whom they named Arilyn Moonblade. When the elves found out about this interracial union, they were upset. Amnestria was the guardian of the elfgate power of her moonblade, which controlled a portal between Evermeet and mainland Faerûn. Her relationship was seen as a threat to the security of the island. Amnestria was banished from her home and Bran was charged with keeping the moonstone from Amnestria's moonblade, which held the key to the elfgate, safe for the rest of his life. Bran had to accept that if he was to keep to his charge then he would never be able to see his beloved again.[3][6]
Bran returned to his duties, eventually being reunited with his daughter in the Year of Maidens, 1361 DR. Bran sponsored her as a Harper and gave both Arilyn and her protector Danilo Thann a Harper pin for their help in defeating the Harper Assassin.[3][7]
The Trial of Khelben[]
In the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR, Bran discovered that the Scepter of the Sorcerer-Kings, a powerful Netherese artifact, had been stolen from the Catacombs of Ordulin, where the Harpers had hidden it for the past century. Bran reported this to the Harpers at Twilight Hall on Ches 7. Over the next two months, the Harpers investigated and by Tarsakh 15 discovered that Khelben had been the one who had stolen the artifact,[8] thirteen years previously.[9] This artifact had since ended up in the hands of the Zhentarim.[9][8] With this, Bran had finally discovered the evidence that proved Khelben a traitor.[1]
Bran was among several senior Harpers present at Twilight Hall to discuss the next course of action. Bran was one of three Harpers chosen to preside over Khelben's trial, along with Obslin Minstrelwish, Seneschal of Twilight Hall, and Belhuar Thantarth, who ran the Harper stronghold in the absence of Cylyria Dragonbreast, who was severely ill at the time. The Twilight Trio, as they came to be known, kept the proceedings from Cylyria at the urging of Obslin, who was in love with her and didn't want the stress to affect her recovery. Bran seized on every piece of evidence that showed Khelben to have acted inappropriately, while choosing to ignore most evidence that suggested otherwise. His single-mindedness spurred the Trio to accuse Khelben of corruption and conspiracy, charges which, when brought to trial, Khelben readily admitted to without remorse. Khelben and Laeral Silverhand both resigned from the Harpers, immediately returning to their home in Waterdeep.[8][1] In the aftermath, Bran was chosen to succeed Khelben as a Master Harper, leading some to suspect him of ambition and vendetta in accusing Khelben.[1]
The Harper Schism[]
Having been unable to punish Khelben for his admitted guilt, Bran and Belhuar spread the word that Khelben was a traitor to the Harpers. Within two months, all Harper holds had been warded against entry by Khelben and Laeral while Obslin continued to keep the news from Cylyria. Twilight Hall became a center for anti-traitor sentiment and investigations were made into all Harper activities. Bran's aim of keeping the Harpers 'pure' gained the support of a great many of Those Who Harp and a witch hunt began among the ranks for traitors. Cylyria, when she recovered from her illness, was powerless to stop events already in motion while Obslin and Belhuar, although having only the best intentions at heart, had been caught up in Bran's zeal like many others.[1]
The Harpers were divided. Many Harpers who weren't caught up in Bran's witch hunt continued with their lives as if nothing had happened, while the rest trusted Khelben implicitly and either took no action against him[1] or resigned too, joining his new rival organization, the Tel'Teukiira.[1]
Appendix[]
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Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfshadow. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 16, p. 239. ISBN 0-7869-1660-5.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 Ed Greenwood (September 1993). The Code of the Harpers. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 59–60. ISBN 1-56076-644-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfshadow. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 163–164. ISBN 0-7869-1660-5.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfshadow. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 174. ISBN 0-7869-1660-5.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfshadow. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 276–277. ISBN 0-7869-1660-5.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfshadow. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 208. ISBN 0-7869-1660-5.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.