Hârnic Inquiries
Hârn stands on the crossroads of two different yet interconnected approaches to world-building: The first is generic RPG fantasy, the other is world constructing, ConWorlding. The first approach stresses danger, violence, mystery, magic, dramatic personalities and adventure, while the latter one has its focus on cultures, histories, mentalities, languages, economics and the general functioning of imagined ecosystems and societies. Both approaches pay attention to realism. In the RPG approach realism is understood as a good (combat) system, challenges based on the setting, possible NPCs and general game balance. In the ConWorld approach realism is understood as internal consistency, based on our understanding of (historical) real-world phenomena.
In the following texts, Hârn is approached as a ConWorld. The focus is on study and research of Hârnic phenomena, based on the published sources that describe Hârn, its inhabitants and their cultures. This approach accepts and arguments that Hârn is independent from our world, but still familiar enough to be described in familiar terms. While this approach is not focused on adventure gaming, I believe the following texts will give hints and tips for all who see role-playing as a method of exploring, studying and further developing interesting settings.
The following texts represent my own conclusions and visions, and are not necessarily compatible with previous approaches. Some of the texts even include intentional “canon-bashing”. (On occasions where the creators stand in mire, one doesn’t need to stand on their shoulders in order to see farther.) The texts have benefited from discussions and insights of some special and peculiar people (once) active on the HârnForum. Thank you! You know who you are. The web publishing and editing has been done by Juha Makkonen. Naturally, all lapses and misspellings are mine only.
Feedback, contra-arguments and discussions are appreciated. Enjoy!
Ilkka Leskelä, ileskela@hotmail.com
About Hârn
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How to read and interpret Hârn? (, published June 18, 2006)
I hope that after reading this article you will become more conscious of your own ways or reading and interpreting Hârn. In the best case this can lead to more transparent discussions, where people are able to see and willing to admit why they think the way they do. We do not need to agree on anything, but can still have intriguing and constructive – even intellectual – discussions. -
The Floating Island (, published June 18, 2006)
A piece of allegoric prose, a vision reflecting the undercurrents present in the Hârniac community.
Commerce and Trade
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Who eats the Chybisan surplus food? (, published May 6, 2006)
Combining the data given for cultivated acres per person in Hârnic kingdoms, it becomes evident that Chybisa is a net producer of food crops. If the Hârnic sources are read closely enough, a Chybisan peasant produces food crops about twice the amount that peasants in other “civilized” realms on Hârn. What happens with this food? Four scenarios follow. -
Pilots, merchants and the organization of trade in south-western Hârn (, published May 6, 2006)
An essay on the organization of trade in the south-western Hârn. -
Fishermen of Tharda and Lake Benath coast (, published December 8, 2006)
Lake Benath is known of its fishing industry, producing both food for the Thardan population and raw materials for the Shiran perfume industry. This article traces the size and socio-economical importance of Lake Benath fishing industry, and more generally the regional proportions of Thardans living from fishing. The results will add to the understanding and colour of the largely forgotten Lake Benath coastal Districts. -
The position of Azadmere in Hârnic mining, manufacturing and trade [PDF] (, published November 15, 2010)
"The ca 5,000 Khuzdul living in the city of Azadmere form the urbanized craftsman elite of Hârn. This is possible because of two things: precious minerals and monopolisation of skills. There is likely a third thing also: a Khuzan cartel manipulating the production in order to keep demand and thus prices high. The Khuzdul sit on gold and jewels, they are the best ones to refine and work them and let no-one else to learn their skills, and they rather sell only the amount they need to sell in order to obtain the goods they need from the wider world. [...] The position of the Khuzdul of Azadmere as both producers of the ore and producers of the refined, finished goods calls for attention. How does this affect the position of the Khuzdul in Hârnic production and trade?"
History
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History of Moleryn (, published May 6, 2006)
This treatise covers the entire history of the Moleryni, the inhabitants of the modern Moleryn and the surrounding area on the banks of the River Teb. The aim of this treatise is threefold: 1) to give a local perspective to the "global" changes in western Hârn, 2) to show that writing histories for Hârnic locales may open interesting perspectives even without maps, floor-plans, mysteries, murders and characters' stats, 3) hopefully to inspire a general interest for the study of Hârn as an alternative and challenging pre-modern setting instead of a "ready-made" fantasy game world. -
Development of Kaldor (, published May 6, 2006)
The aim of this survey is to map out the development of that region of Hârn now known as the Kingdom of Kaldor based on the data given by its fortifications. As substantial economic and political efforts, the construction of fortifications provides us with implications of what was and is going on in Kaldor, what kind of economic assets the kingdom possessed in different time periods, and how the present compares with the past. Contrary to other data, with the fortifications we do not need to extrapolate from present facts or speculate with anecdotes, nor do we have to interpolate – all the data we need is there: the dates for building, renovating and upgrading the fortifications of Kaldor have been given in splendid detail (mainly Kaldor, 1986 edition, pp. 11-18). By ordering this data chronologically, it is possible to contextualize the building projects and draw conclusions about the conditions prevailing at the time of construction. These ‘construction eras’ can in turn be compared to get a historical perspective of the overall development of Kaldor. -
An outline for the history of the Hârnic Khuzdul (, published June 23, 2006)
What happened in and around Azadmere in the two centuries following the Carnage of Kiraz? -
Kaldoric History Revisited [PDF] (, published December 15, 2009)
There have been some debates on where the new CGI modules are leading Hârn, i.e. if they are consistent with the other publications (a supposed hallmark of Hârn) and if they add meaningful content to the setting. In this article, we take a look at the Kaldoric history: We compare the old edition Kaldoric history (1986, Kaldor 1–4) to the new edition Kaldoric history (2004, Kaldor 3–7). We are approaching the data from the perspective of an internally consistent constructed world.
Military
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Thardic Army (, published September 2, 2006)
The societal structure of Tharda differs slightly from the surrounding feudal kingdoms. This has led to polemic around the model and size of Thardic army. This essay combines the numbers from Hârn material and evaluates possible models of recruitment and their plausibility. -
Yeomen and Feudal Levies [PDF] (, published April 1, 2014)
Hârnic yeomen have been often discussed as part of the military, of the feudal levy. The militaristic tendency is typical for Hârn and Hârniacs, because RPGs share a common past with wargames, and many active Hârniacs and writers of fan fiction share an interest in military matters. In this article, we will take a look at the number and role of yeomen as the basis of the feudal levy. I hope the lessons of this article can be used as a basis for future discussions on the subject.
Politics and Demographics
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Hârnic Population Patterns (, published September 3, 2006)
The sparseness of Harnic population has been often discussed, and on occasion the impact of fertility, life expectancy and survivability have been mentioned. The following calculations aim to give a comprehensive picture of these variables in a way which explains the low population numbers of Harn. -
Tharda & Tulwyn (, published September 3, 2006, updated December 8, 2006)
When speaking of the relations the Thardic Republic might have to the Tulwyn barbarians, it is crucial to understand that there is no single policy, but several. The reason for this is that there are three areas with very different kinds of present and possible confrontations. It should also be noted that while Ramala Province covers most of the home areas of the Tulwyn, the whole existence of the province beyond Fort Taztos (and indeed between Taztos and Moleryn), is at most theoretical and seasonal, much more a daydream of some long dead autarch of the League times. The area where the Thardans and the Tulwyn meet regularly lies in the north-east, in the eastern districts of the Shiran Province.
Religion
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Gnostic Interpretation of Hârnic Religion (, published September 3, 2006. Originally published in Thonahexus, n:o 7, 2006)
Introducing Gnosticism does not change the Hârnic religion very much. Instead, Gnostic interpretation gives something common to all the different churches/paths, and thus helps to bring the parts better together into one system of belief. -
Halea in Retrospect (, published June 17, 2006)
This treatise discusses Halea and her church in relation to the economical, social, cultural and religious climate of Hârn without the typical and simplistic FRPG stereotypes. Halea is removed from the position of an object of male (gamer) sexual fantasies and portrayed in the general everyday life on Hârn. The Hârnic sources (Columbia Games’ Gods of Hârn and Hârn Religion) are reread and reinterpreted in order to reconstruct Halea as a meaningful part of Hârnic religious beliefs and practices.