Gorefeather Harpie
Divine Curse
Long ago, an elf wandering a forest heard birdsong so pure and wholesome that she was moved to tears. Following the music, she came upon a clearing where stood a handsome elf youth who had also paused to hear the bird’s song. This was Fenmarel Mestarine, a reclusive elf god. His divine presence stole her heart as he fled, vanishing into the woods as if he was never there. Though the elf searched the woods and called for her stranger, she found no sign of his passage. Driven to despair by her longing, she begged the gods to help her. Aerdrie Faenya, elf goddess of the sky, heard the elf’s cries and was moved to her aid. She appeared as the bird whose song had entranced the outcast god, then taught that song of beauty and seduction to the elf. When her singing failed to draw Fenmarel Mestarine to her side, the elf cursed the gods, invoking a dreadful power and transforming her into the first harpy. The curse worked its magic on the elf’s spirit as well as her body, turning her desire for love into a hunger for flesh, even as her beautiful song continued to draw creatures to her deadly embrace.Harpy Song
To hear a harpy’s song is to hear music more beautiful than anything else in the world. A traveler that succumbs to the entrancing effect of that singing is compelled to blunder toward its source. A harpy sometimes charms victims before it attacks, but a more effective use of its song is to lure prey over cliffs, into bogs and quicksand, or into deadly pits. Creatures trapped or incapacitated then become easy targets for the harpy’s wrath.Sadistic Cowards
Harpies haunt bleak coastal cliffs and other places hazardous to non-flying creatures. Harpies have no interest in a fair fight, and they never attack unless they have a clear advantage. If a fight turns against a harpy, it lacks the cunning to adapt and will flee and go hungry rather than risk straight-up combat. When they attack, harpies play with their food, delighting in the “music” their victims make as they scream. A harpy takes its time dismembering a helpless foe and can spend days torturing a victim before the merciful end.Gruesome Collectors
Harpies take shiny baubles, valuable objects, and other trophies from their victims, sometimes fighting with each other for the right to claim the choicest prizes. When no valuable objects can be found, a harpy takes hair, bones, or body parts to line its nest. A harpy’s lair is usually hidden in remote ruins, where adventurers can discover valuable treasure and magic hidden beneath foul piles of offal.Gorefeather Harpie CR: 1 (200 xp)
STR
12 +1
DEX
13 +1
CON
12 +1
INT
7 -2
WIS
10 +0
CHA
13 +1
Luring Song: The harpy sings a song, and each humanoid and giant within 300 feet who can hear the song makes a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw. Creatures that succeed on a saving throw are immune to that harpy's song for the next 24 hours. Creatures that fail the saving throw are charmed until the song ends; meanwhile, they are incapacitated and must move directly toward the harpy, even through damaging terrain and opportunity attacks. Such charmed creatures ignore other harpies' songs. Each time such a charmed creature takes damage and at the end of each turn, they can repeat the saving throw. The harpy must use a bonus action on each of its subsequent turns to continue the song.
Actions
Multiattack: The harpy can make one attack with its claws and one with its club, or both attacks with its claws. Claws: Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit. Hit: 6 (2d4+1) slashing damage. Club: Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) bludgeoning damage.
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