Lirela Drumsinger Lirela Drumsinger was a human woman from the city of Procampur in the Vast . She was a bard and a member of the Harper s . History . Lirela was a daughter of a respected merchant family of Procampur . Her parents ' coster transported goods from Mulmaster in the north , by road through the Vast , and then across the Sea of Fallen Stars . Lirella was well - loved by her parents , and displayed an early music al talent . Not long after turning 12 , Lirela happily joined her father and older siblings on a trading expedition to Mulmaster , and was inspired by the itinerant bards they met on the way . However , in Mulmaster , her parents refused to accept an unfair deal that would harm both them and fellow Procampan merchants . By making this stand , they offended some powerful and dangerous people in Mulmaster , including a member of the Brotherhood of the Cloak . Therefore , the Mulmasterite merchants decided to make an example of them . On the way back , barely a day out from Mulmaster , a powerful wizard and a horde of bandits assaulted the family caravan , killing the guards by spell or blade in seconds before slaying the rest . Lirela was forced to flee , and became the caravan ' s only survivor . She had nothing more than her clothes and a small drum , a birthday gift from her father . Frightened , cold , and starving , Lirela ventured back to Mulmaster , seeking aid from her father ' s former business partners there . They had no charity for the fatherless , broke girl and turned her away . Fortunately , despite the wealth of her family , Lirela was adaptable and soon learned to put her musical talents to good use , quite literally singing for her supper . In time , she was able to gain passage on a caravan heading back to Procampur . It was a long and arduous journey , but finally she ' d returned home . But there she had another shock , as she found that all her remaining family had also been slain , leaving her the only remaining descendent . She learned who had massacred her family and why . But with no other prospects , Lirela returned to the life of a wandering bard . She journeyed all over the Vast and the eastern Moonsea , while she watched carefully for an opportunity to bring her family ' s murders to justice . Meanwhile , others were watching her : the Harpers . They provided secret assistance to Lirela as she went about her mission . At last , Lirela tracked down those responsible and dragged them to Procampur to stand trial for their crimes . She had no desire for revenge however . With that done , Lirela had the rest of her life to consider . The Harpers then made themselves known to her . They were impressed by her desire for justice rather than revenge in the face of tragedy , and offered her a place with them . Lirela accepted , and became involved in a number of Harper missions , usually fighting against the plots of evil spellcasters like those who murdered her father . Physical description . The deprivations of her youth and years spent traveling the countryside gave Lirela leathery skin and wrinkles , and after knowing starvation , she later ate plenty of good food , a habit that left her overweight . Singing in smoky inns and windy camps also roughened her voice , though she remained a talented singer . At only the age of 32 , Lirela appeared and sounded more like a woman in her fifties . In disguise , she could pass for some old washerwoman , goodwife , or grandmother with ease . Skills . Lirela was a talented musician and skilled bard . Though rough , her singing voice was rich , textured and pleasant , capable of pure notes and real emotion . She attained many of the abilities of a Master Harper . She could also fight with a rapier . Possessions . In addition to more typical adventuring gear , Lirela fought with a magical frost - bladed rapier , was protected by an " amulet of natural armor " and " bracers of armor " but wore no ordinary armor . She played music with a mandolin and a snare drum .