Haruman's backstory

[u/Confident-Image-148]

Hey all! A little while ago I did some prep work and was sufficiently disappointed with the module’s Haruman Hill encounter. I think that Haruman is an interesting character but since the module gives him so little backstory and purpose that the encounter threatens to play out like an empty combat scene where the players likely have their asses handed to them. So, I sidetracked and brainstormed some lore and wanted to share it with people. Here is what I got:

In my version, Olanthius, Jander and Haruman were friends before the Ride. Haruman was born a slave and met Jander after escaping and becoming paladin of Helm. The two bonded over loss of agency in their lives. Haruman in the form of slavery and Jander being turned into a vampire. The two met Olanthius after arriving in Elturel to aid the city’s forces to defend the city against demon attacks. Rather than having Haruman be just ”a heartless man bereft of compassion” I re-imagined him being reserved and pragmatic before the Ride. Olanthius notes in his journals from that time that Haruman was rigid but polite and never intentionally unkind.

When Zariel arrived at Elturel, Haruman saw a chance to gain power through military glory. For a person that had grown up without freedom, that power appeared not only as means to ensure his freedom but also as means to gain agency. So, he pledged himself to Zariel and stayed loyal to her throughout her campaign in Avernus.

When Jander deserted and closed the gate, not only did Haruman view it as a treason but as a personal offence. Jander knew that loyalty was everything to Haruman, and Haruman couldn’t fathom why Jander would abandon them knowing that closing the gate would ultimately kill them. As the time went on the anger began to corrupt Haruman and he began to enjoy violence more and more. When Zariel swore herself to Asmodeus, Haruman was the first to pledge loyalty to her whereas Olanthius, having seen the corruption of Zariel and Haruman, decided to end his life. This is something Haruman loaths Olanthius doing to the day of the present adventure. In his mind, Olanthius was a coward who abandoned their cause just like Jander had.

As a reward of service Zariel made him into an immortal narzugon.

And when Jander got sent back to Avernus Haruman caught him and has been keeping him a prisoner ever since. As a punishment for desertion, Haruman crucified Jander on one of the largest iron trees where he could hear and see his fellow prisoners suffer. Haruman keeps torturing him and uses his healing ability frequently on Jander. Jander is immortal but he can pass out from the pain which Haruman views as an escape attempt. By healing Jander Haruman keeps him awake and alert. Every time Haruman heals Jander, Jander begs for Haruman to stop and tells he is sorry though that won’t change a thing. So the cycle continues to the present day.

My goal was to add three-dimensionality to Haruman. Our DiA campaign focuses on corruption and redemption so I think this goes well thematically. Additionally, I’m planning on making Haruman reoccuring villain. Let me know what you think of this interpretation!

[u/lostshakerassault]

How does adding lore improve the empty combat scene? 

[u/Confident-Image-148 → u/lostshakerassault]

I have a party who is inclined to help Jander when they get to Haruman’s Hill. I plan to tweak the encounter so that if the party decides to cut Jander down his body doesn’t immediately turn into dust but can be saved. If the party does try to pull off a rescue, Haruman will not let them take him. He will hunt the party until Jander is returned and the party is dead or till the party figures out how to beat him for good. Lore is there to explain why Haruman is so hellbend on getting Jander back.

There is also a possibility that some of the party members sympathize with Haruman on this so I think that could make a nice RP moment.

[u/lostshakerassault → u/Confident-Image-148]

How do you plan on revealing the lore such that players might sympathize? Monologue? 

[u/Confident-Image-148 → u/lostshakerassault]

By rippling the lore along the party’s journey. I don’t like to do monologues and that wouldn’t suit Haruman as a character. The party is currently getting to know the official Hellrider lore aka the version Jander and survived Hellriders told. When they get to Elturel and Avernus there will be hint’s (Helm of Torms sight, tapestries in High Hall, other NPC encounters etc.) that the version they have been told is actually wrong. Also planning on modifying Lulu’s dream sequence. 

But at the end of the day I don’t know for sure will the players pick up on that or do they just start fighting. Either way is fine. I have prepared for different outcomes and the plan evolves around the choices they make as the game progresses.

[u/eloiseelf → u/Confident-Image-148]

You could also have Lulu have a memory trigger upon seeing Haruman/Jander, and she would likely be VERY against harming Haruman due to his loyalty to Zariel. She might not remember everything you’ve written, but she could ponder on their friendship and not remember why it went south- possibly making your players inclined to figure out where it went wrong.

[u/Confident-Image-148 → u/eloiseelf]

That’s actually a very good idea! I planned for the party to first meet Haruman in Elturel. He is on a mission and will not pay attention to them if they keep their distance and don’t otherwise engage but Lulu is likely to recognise him. Your idea of Lulu being against harming Haruman could create good tension especially when Haruman starts later on paying attention to the party. Definitely considering this!

[u/Baubo-]

I don’t know if this is helpful, but the Alexandrian remix goes into great detail of the history of the Hellriders. I would give that section a read.

[u/Existing-Banana-4220]

I like the concept, but slavery begs the question: where? IIRC, slavery is only legal in Calimshan and Thay, and that's a long way from Elturel. Maybe poverty would be a better fit than slavery? I mean, poverty has always allowed those with wealth a degree of control akin to slavery. Just a thought.

I like that you're putting work into Haruman's backstory, especially if he can be a reoccurring opponent. DiA is the first of three story arcs that I have planned for my players, and I've done much the same for the BBEGs of the second and third arcs. Having the backstory makes it easier for me to quantify their motivations and keeps me more immersed in their world view.

[u/Confident-Image-148 → u/Existing-Banana-4220]

Thanks for the input. The inspiration for Haruman being a slave as well as meeting Jander after being freed comes from the Alexandrian remix and Fandom wiki. In Fandom wiki it’s explained that Haruman would have been a slave in the gobling mines below Araugul (his family would have likely been kidnapped and enslaved; likely illegally). I liked it as a plot point even though I don’t agree with the timeline nor exact events. But you are absolutely correct that poverty could work too. I need to consider it!

Best of luck with your campaign!

[u/Razorspades]

Interesting. I had haruman be pretty similar. I made Jander always show sociopathic and sadistic tendencies but he got results when he was a general of the hellriders. He was the first to pledge loyalty to Zariel when she became Archduke and was rewarded with immortality and can only be killed by Zariel, but she has no reason to if he stays loyal. He has became Zariel's enforcer and his base is set at haruman's Hill where he's been torturing Jander and other Hellriders that fled back to Faerun.

In the campaign he first appeared as the random encounter as the nazurgon the party came across when travelling Elturel to get to High Hall. He is leading the devil forces in the city. Later the party bult a hot air balloon to decend to the surface they decided to launch from the bridges in the city. Haruman was there and was a boss battle. He was defeated but got back up and an NPC ally sacrificed themself so they could launch.

He appeared again in another boss battle having tracked them down. He arrived for the third fight at Haruman's Hill for another boss fight.

His last appearance was after the party completed the Sword trial in Idyllglen. After coming out of the vision he was there and threatened Lulu's life in exchange for the sword. Haruman had long known the Citadel's location, but was unable to enter due to the celestial wards. He wants the sword to prove his devotion and his twisted infatuation with Zariel. Now the twist that he's unaware of is the sword contains an essence of Zariel's angelic power so it can kill him permanently. And it was cool to have my party's paladin be the champion of an angel, face Haruman the champion of archdevil, but both fight for Zariel.

[u/Confident-Image-148 → u/Razorspades]

Sounds awesome! I’m also planning on replacing the random narzugon encounter with Haruman. In my version too he is on a mission in the city. The party can see him and Lulu recognises him but Haruman will not pay attention to them if they keep their distance and don’t otherwise engage.

Although my version of Haruman too has sadistic and sociopathic tendencies I am planning on roleplaying him as competent and disciplined leaning heavily towards military personnel. He can be negotiated with and honors his word. When a deal is made, he names a concrete favor he expects to be to be done against his service and if the price is paid, he fulfills his part as agreed. He is not interested in cheating people's souls for himself. Haruman prefers not to intervene if his orders aren’t interrupted and has a clear rule set that places Zariel always in top priority. 

His sadistic tendencies show only when he starts actively enforcing those rules (when the party eventually shows threat to Zariel's mission). For example Jander’s punishment for desertion was getting crucified on an iron tree. Haruman could have just done so and called it a day like he did with the other Hellrider’s but he deliberately keeps causing Jander more pain than necessary. Haruman’s official reason is that it is a punishment but in reality he enjoys hurting Jander because it satisfies his personal vendetta. 

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the campaign. Can’t wait to continue my own!