[Cerek]

Originally posted by Magness: Perhaps the "bad" Harpers would be very willing to "help" you. Perhaps they would be very willing to help you get to Spellhold, because they've secretly made a deal with Irenicus and aren't all that nice at all.

I'm not sure how many Forgotten Realms novels you've read, but from what I recall, the Harpers don't allow evil characters to join their ranks under any circumstances.

It is true that they have their own agenda that they pursue and they aren't shy about "using" adventurers to help achieve these goals. Because of this secretive nature, they are often viewed with a great deal of mistrust by commoners and even some adventurers (since the Harper asking for help rarely gives full details - they seem to especially "forget" to mention some of the more dire dangers that may be involved in the adventure). But they still work for the cause of "Good" more often than not. While it isn't unheard of, it most definitely is the exception to have "bad" Harpers.

Anyway, it is made very clear that the Harper "leader" in BG2 is considered a "rogue" by the rest of the group after his attempt to "dispose" of the PC.

Also, the Harpers wouldn't be likely to make a "deal" with someone like Irenicus (or anybody else for that matter). They will certainly "use" people for thier own purposes, but it would be rare for them to actually make a formal agreement or arrangement with someone like Irenicus.

Also, one other problem mentioned is the time necessary for Jaheira's plot to play out. Many players like to get to Spellhold as quickly as possible. They do just enough quests to get the $15,000gp needed for the trip and leave ALL the other quests (including most stronghold quests) until AFTER they return from rescueing their sister.

However, this could still work with the current "rogue" leader of the Harpers. He might see this as a chance to get rid of the Bhaalspawn. Once you return safely from Spellhold (MUCH to his disappointment), the rest of the Harper plot could continue as normal.