Bard's Tale Lore

Changes? Additions? Rewrite?
Comment or Cast an email >>

"Baron Harkyn..."

Index

Baron Harkyn is the possessor of a large castle located to the northwest of Skara Brae. While the whereabouts of Harkyn himself remains unknown, he left his castle well defended by four large guardians.

Harkyn may in league with Mangar, as he was not well admired in the town. He's known to own slaves, their quarters populated with Mangar Guards, and hosts legions upon legions of hired warriors in large barracks in the upper floors of his castle. Harkyn may have a military background due to this reputation, even maintaining an old, torturous royal prison cell which surely caused the painful death throes of many a pitied prisoner.

He kept in well with the priests of the town (or perhaps kept them well with some monetary incentives), by the presence of the "Temple of 100 Blessings" just beyond his castle door, behind the protection of his guardians.

Harkyn has a taste for ornate tapestries and kingly decor. His throne¹ is magnificent and set upon high. His artistic bent is only matched by his love for music, since he had his throne rigged to respond to the musically inclined, revealing a secret passageway into the heights of his domain. Anyone without musical prowess who dares sit on his throne will face an immediately hastened life span.

In addition to his love for the fine, he maintains a personal library². But not only does he collect books, Harkyn also stored a number of valuable items within his walls:

He long ago came upon a Crystal Sword which he has hidden and set guarded by a monstrous Jabberwock
He's stashed a powerful shield in a shadowy corner of his domain
Whether to his knowledge or not, an old man protects a small, yet significant artifact in his castle - a Silver Square

Most notably, however, Harkyn owned a very unique, special monument, likely as his object of worship. His prized possession, if you will, was a 15 foot tall stone statue of a warrior, missing one eye. Surrounded by spinners and magic-killing wards to deter any ill-prepared visitors, this statue was an inanimate container for the Mad God Tarjan himself.

Both Lord Garrick and the heroes who rescued Skara Brae encountered this statue, and had to face this powerful being in battle. However, it turns out that this... apparation perhaps, was only a brief taste of the evil Tarjan. After Mangar's ultimate defeat, Tarjan, revealing that he was himself never truly defeated, would later return to the realm of Skara Brae in person³, this time with a vengeance

Footnotes

 BT1 Map: Harkyn's Castle level 1
 BT1 Map: Harkyn's Castle level 2
 As the primary nemesis in Bard's Tale 3: The Thief of Fate

Lore that links here:

Berserkers Crystal Golem Harkyn's Castle

Other pages that link here:

Have any comments or suggestions or corrections to this lore entry?
Please cast an email!

Searching deeper...

Caution: Potential spoilers

Bard's Tale 1

Map texts and clues

Catacombs 3 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (16,20)
Content: "A message is scrawled on the wall in blood: Seek the Mad One's stoney self in Harkyn's domain."

Harkyn's Castle 1 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale [MAP]

Harkyn's Castle 1 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (0,19)
Content: Stairs up: Harkyn's Castle 2

Harkyn's Castle 1 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (9,0)
Content: "A wide corridor leads into Baron Harkyn's castle. Fabulous tapestries adorn the walls. The flickering torchlight casts strange shadows."

Harkyn's Castle 2 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale [MAP]

Harkyn's Castle 2 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (19,19)
Content: Portal up - Harkyn's Castle 3

Harkyn's Castle 2 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (0,19)
Content: Stairs down: Harkyn's Castle 1

Harkyn's Castle 3 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale [MAP]

Harkyn's Castle 3 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (19,19)
Content: Portal down - Harkyn's Castle 2

Harkyn's Castle 3 [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (12,5)
Content: "The legions of Baron Harkyn stand before you, recognizing you as intruders, 'Death to them!' they scream.
...99 Berserkers, 99 Berserkers, 99 Berserkers, 99 Berserkers

Skara Brae [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (4,24)
Content: Harkyn's Castle

Skara Brae [MAP] - Tales of the Unknown: The Bard's Tale

Position: (28,27)
Content: Teleport in: from Harkyn's Castle - level 3

Item Catalogue

Item: Robes (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Helm (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Leather Glvs (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Gauntlets (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mandolin (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Harp (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Flute (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mthr Sword (Location: Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, Sewers 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mthr Shield (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Mthr Chain (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Mthr Scale (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Samurai Fgn (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Bracers [6] (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Bardsword (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Fire Horn (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Lightwand (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1,)

Item: Mthr Dagger (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mthr Helm (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mthr Gloves (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mthr Axe (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mthr Mace (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Mthr Plate (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Ogre Fgn (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Lak's Lyre (Location: Sewers 3, Catacombs 1, 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Shield Ring (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Dork Ring (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Fin's Flute (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Kael's Axe (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Blood Axe (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Dayblade (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Shield Staff (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Elf Cloak (Location: Catacombs 2, 3, Harkyn's Castle 1, 2, 3)

Item: Hawkblade (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Sword (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Shield (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Dagger (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Helm (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Gloves (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Mace (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Broom (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Pureblade (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Exorwand (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Ali's Carpet (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Magic Mouth (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Luckshield (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Giant Fgn (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Chain (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Admt Scale (Location: Kylearan's Tower, Mangar's Castle 1, Harkyn's Castle 2, 3)

Item: Crystal Sword (Effect: Special: Perma-kill Crystal Golem; Retrieved from Harkyn's Castle) (Location: Harkyn's Castle 1)

Item: Silvr Square (Location: Harkyn's Castle 2)

Google deep site search

Pass your request over to the intelligent and wise Google Mouth

There may yet be unconnected mentions of your desired lore topic not yet documented or linked on the above pages. To be absolutely sure, visit the Google Mouth and heed its response! It knows all things... on this website.