Harper Cell

The Harper cell is the base unit of operation for Harpers. They consist of a gathering of talented individuals, under the direction of a Brightcandle.

Aspects Ranks: Aspects are ranked, from 0 to 5. Rank 0: 0 Investment. Rank 1: 1 Investment. Rank 2: 3 Investment. Rank 3: 10 Investment. Rank 4: 25 Investment. Rank 5: 50 Investment. Complications: The higher an Aspect is ranked, the likelier it is to cause difficulties for the cell. There is a percentage chance each month of generating a Complication from any given Aspect.

Building Aspects Each Aspect has a Downtime Action associated with it, the "Building [Aspect]" action. This is a Skill check for each of them. Success generates additional Investment for that Aspect, while failure can often erode Investment. The DC for this test is equal to 10 + (Rank x2). The results determine the change in that Aspect's Investment: Failure by 5+: lose 2 Investment Failure: lose 1 investment Success: gain 1 Investment Success by 5+: gain 2 Investment

Connections

This Aspect represents the cell's involvement with the rest of the Harper faction. This is political, but it is also ideological and even magical to some extent: a high Connections rating provides access to certain Harper secrets that those who do not adhere well to its traditions and goals cannot access.

• Building Connections: Wisdom check. May add proficiency bonus if the cell has completed a successful Harpers mission in the last month.

Rank	Description	Assistance	Cache	Cell Actions	Boons	Entanglements
0	Unconnected. Little to no connections to the rest of the Harpers. The cell does not have a Brightcandle who oversees them. 10% chance per month that Harpers launch an investigation into the group.	None	None	None	None	None
1	Minor. Very light connections; a Brightcandle oversees them, but has doubts about their adherence to Harper ideals and protocols.	Disadvantage	None	None	None	5% per month
2	Moderate. Acceptable connections, with a Brightcandle solidly invested in them. They also know a few of the non-cell Harpers in the area, or those who wander through it occasionally.	Normal	Disadvantage	None	None	10% per month
3	Notable. Solid connections, with an enthusiastic Brightcandle overseeing them. The cell is also acquainted with many of the non-cell and wandering Harpers of the region. They have also made the acquaintance of at least one other Brightcandle in their region.	Normal	Normal	1/mission	None	12% per month
4	Major. Strong connections, with a very favorable Brightcandle. They know most of the other non-cell Harpers and multiple Brightcandles in the area. The cell has been introduced and given the means to contact their Brightcandle's Wise Owl superior in the faction.	Advantage	Normal	1/mission	1 Charm	15% per month
5	Integral. Central ties to the Harpers, with a Brightcandle overseeing them. The cell know other Brightcandles, and of their cells (able to recognize them on sight, though the reverse is likely not true). They know multiple Wise Owls, and are in contact with at least one of the High Harpers.	Advantage	Advantage	2/mission	1 Charm + 1 Blessing	20% per month

Watchers

This Aspect measures the expansiveness of the cell's Watcher Network. Made up of folk who simply keep an eye out for things of interest to the Harpers, and are paid coin and favors for their attention, the Watchers are a key role in how Harpers operate. Harpers are also taught the signs, codes, and songs that they need to use to signal to any Watchers nearby that they need help. Generally, they need only perform one of these, and the Watcher will approach the Harper when they can do so covertly. They can also be the source of unwelcome entanglements, as Watchers are promised assistance in times of need.

• Building Watchers: Charisma (Persuasion or Performance) check.

Rank	Network + Cost	Rumors	Reports	Summons	Concerns
0	No Network. The cell has no informants. No cost per month.	None	None	0%	0%
1	Minor Network. A few rag-tag individuals. 1 gp/month.	1	Disadvantage	20%	5%
2	Moderate Network. A handful of keen-eyed and dedicated folk. 3 gp/month	1	Normal	25%	10%
3	Notable Network. A robust and aware collection of informants. 5 gp/month	2	Normal	30%	12%
4	Major Network. A strong collection, made up of dozens of informants. 10 gp/month.	3	Advantage	35%	15%
5	Vast Network. A large, busy network; very little of note escapes them. 20 gp/month.	5	Advantage	40%	20%

Allies

This Aspect measures the number and nature of a cell's local allies. Unlike Watchers, allies do more than simply focus on information: they lend influence and funding to the cell. Allies believe in what the Harpers do, and wish to help, although they can be a source of problems.

• Building Allies: Charisma (Persuasion or Performance) check.

Rank	Established Allies	Influence	Funding	Ally Problems
0	No Allies. The cell has no allies.	None	None	0%
1	Minor Allies. The cell has an ally of some degree of power. This is an individual. * Choose one type of check: Influence or Funding. The cell may make that type of check at Disadvantage.	None*	None*	5%
2	Moderate Allies. The cell has a few scattered allies who believe in their work. Choose up to three individuals. * Choose one type of check: Influence or Funding. The cell may make that type of check as normal.	Disadvantage*	Disadvantage*	10%
3	Notable Allies. The cell has a respectable group of allies. Choose one organization, and up to five individuals.	Normal	Normal	12%
4	Major Allies. The cell has a robust group of allies. Choose three organizations, and up to eight individuals. * Choose one type of check: Influence or Funding. The cell may make that type of check at Advantage.	Normal*	Normal*	15%
5	Numerous Allies. The cell has an impressive array of allies. Choose up to ten organizations, and as many as a dozen individuals of note.	Advantage	Advantage	20%

Allies Check

The assistance check is a simple d20 check, with a bonus equal to the cell's Alllies rank. A cell may choose the results from lower on the assistance check list if they wish. This prevents the accumulation of the Increasing Penalty point, as noted below.

• Increasing Penalty: If the test results in successful Influence or Funding of some kind, inflict a -1 penalty to subsequent Allies checks with that Ally. This is both cumulative with future rolls and remains until it goes away in one of three ways.
  • Investment Increase: When another point of Investment is added to the Allies trait, reduce the current penalty by one.
  • Giving It Time: For each month that passes that the cell does not attempt to call on Allies (i.e. does not make an Allies Check), reduce the current penalty by one.
  • Rank Increase: When the Allies rank increases or decreases, reset the penalty to 0.

Security

This Aspect stands in opposition to all the other Aspects. It indicates the degree of secrecy, security, and operational paranoia the cell maintains. Security can ensure that it is more difficult for a cell's enemies to find them, but it can also make it harder to keep the other Aspects strong: secretive cells sometimes must sacrifice outside Harper connections, robust Watcher Networks, and extensive Allies in order to keep themselves safe.

• Building Security: Intelligence check. May add proficiency bonus if proficient in Deceit or Stealth.

Rank	Security	Safehouses	Locating the Cell	Security Concerns
0	No Security. The cell has neither security nor secrecy: for all intents and purposes, they operate out in public, and nearly anyone who knows of them can find them.	0	Automatic	0%
1	Minor Security. The cell's security is scarce and only somewhat effective.	up to 2 (Rank 1 max)	Advantage	5%
2	Moderate Security. The cell takes some precautions, which tend to be of some benefit.	up to 4 (Rank 2 max)	Normal	10%
3	Notable Security. The cell's security and secrecy are solid, allowing them to operate freely and effectively.	up to 6 (Rank 3 max)	Normal	12%
4	Major Security. The cell's precautions are such that even their allies sometimes lose track of them. Other Traits cannot go above 4.	up to 8 (Rank 4 max)	Disadvantage	15%
5	Abundant Security. The cell is ghost-like in their ability to remain out of reach. Other Traits cannot go above 3.	up to 10 (Rank 5 max)	Disadvantage	20%