The Harp

Lore & Background

The Harp is one of the three legendary Troves, along with the Mask and the Crown, said to have been crafted by the Mother herself in the dawn of Prythian. Each Trove embodies a fundamental aspect of power, and the Harp's domain is the manipulation of time and space. Its music can freeze entire armies in place, create doorways between worlds, or unravel the threads of reality itself. The artifact is described as a beautiful, ornate harp made of pale bone and silver strings, humming with an otherworldly resonance that can be felt in the bones of those nearby.

Reader's Guide

The Harp is activated by plucking its strings, each note producing a different effect. It can freeze time for all but the wielder, create portals across vast distances or between worlds, and even alter the flow of time locally. However, its power is not without cost; using the Harp drains the wielder's energy, and prolonged or intense use can leave them weakened or unconscious. The artifact is also tied to the other Troves—when combined, their power is amplified, but this also makes them dangerous to control. The Harp cannot be destroyed by conventional means, and its true origins remain a mystery, though it is believed to be older than the Fae themselves. Only those with strong magical affinity can hope to wield it, and even then, the Harp seems to have a will of its own, sometimes resisting or corrupting its user.

Did You Know?

• It was used by the King of Hybern to open a portal to the human world, enabling his invasion.
• The Harp's strings are said to be made from the hair of a death-goddess.
• Nesta Archeron was able to use the Harp to create a temporary pocket of frozen time during the final battle.