So far, I have mostly only used the legends from the HârnLores with GM information included.

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Með kveðju, Thorvald
http://www.last.fm/user/hrafnsbjarg

I've used both, HarnPlayer and the stuff in the HarnLores.

It depends on how much of the "truth" I want to use, or whether I want to use the legend as a starting point, then make up the rest on my own.

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Al Lowe
grandpoobah@harnmaster.us
“A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.”
Sigmund Freud

I have used the tale of the Bloody Tapestry as a source and basis for an adventure, but I never got to finish it.

I was in the military at the time and moved across the country.

The players were having fun though, and they were on the edge of their seats, cause they didn't know what to expect at the end.

Herger

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Its kind of neat, doing the impossible. - Eistein

I have used them as red herrings and to set the mood: the PCs are in a tavern, and the harper sings a song about, say, Chanukar, and later on the PCs encounter a set of unique footprints. Gets 'em thinking!

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Laboro diem, carpe noctem.

I think the legends are a wonderful part of HârnPlayer. I've used several of them over the years as adventure hooks, local colour, or just plain misinformation.

The Bloody Tapestry had an important function in my last campaign. The events of the Kaldoric civil war, and the growing cynicism and moral decay of Earl Meleken (the PCs' liege) were reflected in the tapestry.

The tale of Galeroth was one of the center motifs of one early campaign, as a Sindarin harper tried to find out the truth about his long-lost uncle.

I used Dergar-Annis from the story of Maradyn as a major side story in one of my campaigns. The adventurers were trapped in his/her/its realm. During their harrowing escape, they had to ally themselves with some Navehan assassins. The players were so spooked by the experience that I managed to use Dergar-Annis as a nemesis when I later ran a nightmare scenario later on.

As my players (and many characters) are familiar with the tales, sometimes the stories can take a life of their own in the campaign. Players seem to be very good at finding some kind of mythical explanation for any unexplained events, however mundane the reality from GM's point of view might be. They start hunting for hidden treasure when they see a hunched-over rider on the Genin trail near Chybisa, or suspect an appearance of prince Brant's ghost, when they hear strange things after staggering out of an Olokand inn...

By far the greatest impact of the legends in this way was when a band of brave adventurers accidentally stumbled on a young dragon's lair in the mountains of Orbaal. They managed to drive the fell creature off, and found a seemingly magical mail shirt and an archaic looking spear. The group included a would-be Jarin harper from Habe, who immediately jumped to conclusions. Of course this was the fabled spear and armour of Barrynn Albarra, he exclaimed. Somehow the other PCs were caught up in the fervour, and soon they presented the weapons as gifts to the lord of Pethwys, and urged him to take up arms against the oppressors. To make matters more serious, the player of the bard managed to roll four back-to-back CS results when he extolled the plight of Jara and composed an impromptu war anthem. The sad result of this bright idea was a half-cocked and incredibly bloody second Jarin rebellion, which ultimately saw the establishment of significant Harbaalese influence in Orbaal. The PCs ended up killing lord Weymyss and other rebel leaders to ensure at least some kind of peace settlement, when the rebellion was being crushed. All this because a young metalsmith's son spent more time listening to old songs than learning a useful craft...

zak

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skiorht

I had a big Chybissa campaign using the Lost blade of the V'hir, Gennin, The Heart that broods, and the Lens of Genin and Chandur's prision.

It seemed to work out very well.
The game broke up when the character party was taking several gems to Azedmere to be cut, one of the gems was the prison of the beast

Oh, and they killed another player for cutting a deal with Klyss (it was Gennin in the etheral realm - never attack a group of morgathian Morsindar on Morgat the 13th)

For some reason I totally glossed over the idea of an investigative (is that a word?) campaign. Would be a great excuse to include a Save'Knor priest, savorya SP, harper or scribe, merc's.... methinks this is going to be a possibility for an intro campaign. (Group is experienced and ravenous for high fantasy elements... time to deviate from the prescribed low magic world!)

That sounds very cool. Keep us posted so I can steal your ideas.

-Mark

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Putting the "Ho" in Hodiri since 1998.
The Forge: Western Martial Arts

The reason why i like these ideas is because the players im trying to convert were long time dnd players... gotta have a way to encourage selection of the less combat focused "classes".

From what i can tell, most of these players are the type that want to have the greatest impact on the success of the party... In dnd that usually meant being a proficient skull smasher. I think this would be a good approach to introducing the merits of a deadly system where Lvl 0 humans can be as scary as anything else

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So, whats the blunt aspect of a sack o' doorknobs?

I like the sound of this. Legends are great and it is sad that Harnquest does not have them (I suspect that the format of HQ would rule against publishing two or four page articles: I quess it would not be sensible to sell them).

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Never ever anything bloody ever.

Me too. I've used very few of the legends so far, though one of my players is carrying Caelnydd (poor, unsuspecting soul ). One thing. Any legend mut be written so that it could be dismissed by the GM as just that, a legend.

Neil

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Uxbridge English Dictionary:
Iconography: Filthy Byzantine pictures

Patrick, this idea is GOOD!!
I always loved the old HL articles, giving the GM first a good story for a campagne (when he decides the legend is true).
I always want to give some detail on fairies.

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Michael - visit Tales of Chybisa.com.

Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

OH, I LOVE the Harnplayer Legends... I frequently peruse them for plot ideas....

I have used the Spear of shattered sorrow in Shorkyne in my previous campaign.... turned out to be a fake but they werent to know that!

I love the tales told in ISOP3, told by a harper in a rousing tavern tale, they make the world come alive, and gave the PC's enough incentive to go hunt a demon of Agrik

I'll be using The Spear of shattered sorrow to entice the PC's to The Laranian Primate in trierzon...

Also, reading in HM2 Treasure, Holy Tomes and other treasure items seem to be a really good idea.. Get the players to go searching for lost relics of a forgotten age, books about the gods, early beliefs, etc.... instilled into what are now considered Holy Tomes..

dont forget to reward the PC's with Piety!

Keep up the good work guys.... LOve Harn...

PS: I didnt know about the HarnLore articles about the tales... What HL did they apear in? I would be tempted to investigate these and maybe make a purchase or three?

I use the Legends as local colour, disinformation and basis for adventure.

I think your "Legends of Hârn" idea is great Patrick.

/Michael