Harpies

Basic Information

Anatomy

While standing upright and having a humanoid appearance Harpies have a digitigrade leg structure, much like many walking birds, and have wings instead of arms.

Genetics and Reproduction

Harpies are magical beings. When a clamor of harpies intends to make more they gather together on high mountain peaks and sing to one another. The music, already intertwined with space, matter, and time through magic, begins the process of gestation within the harpies present. After a period of 4 - 6 months a baby harpy is born.

Growth Rate & Stages

Young harpies grow quickly. Though they are usually capable of hunting and caring for themselves after a year, they do not reach adult size until around 5 - 8 years.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Harpies are obligate carnivores and cannot survive without a steady diet of meat. They often prefer the meat of sentient creatures, but no scientific proof exists to say they require more than animal flesh.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Harpies form small groups called clamors. These are usually made up of family members, very rarely containing members outside of their "blood" relatives due to their aggressive nature. Harpies do not follow any sort of pecking order, and are not usually considered to be matriarchal. Instead, clamors of harpies work together to hunt, sharing food and labour equally.

Facial characteristics

Harpies possess the features of a humanoid woman, though when observed at a close range the angles and bone structure seems far too sharp. Additionally, large eyes and feathers growing alongside hair give a very obvious avian appearance to them.

Average Intelligence

Though both sentient and intelligent, harpies can be fiercely territorial and aggressive. It is rare to find a clamor of harpies containing more than 10 individuals.

Civilization and Culture

History

So the story goes: When the world was young, an elf witch named Sylna got it in her head to trap one of the now dead elven gods. She sent him offerings, and letters inviting him to join her for a meal. He was amused and went to her home in the forest. Together they dined and afterward she led him to a large chair in front of the fireplace. Once he was seated she began to sing. Now Sylna was a powerful witch, and as she sang she wove magic into her music. The song put the god into a deep slumber, from which it is said he never woke. With the god asleep in her home Sylna opened his chest and took his heart. Even in those days, when gods could walk the planes in their true form, removing the heart of a god was not enough to kill it, and even asleep as he was, the god was not truly robbed of his power.

So as Sylna stood in front of her fireplace and began to eat the still beating heart of the god, she was cursed. She choked on the meat and her form was twisted. In the end she flew away on her new cursed wings and went into hiding in the mountains. Now her progeny still lure creatures to their deaths with haunting songs, steeped in the magic of Sylna.

Lifespan

50 - 70 years

Average Height

5'2" - 6'3"

Average Weight

55 - 90 lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

A harpies skin can come in as many different shades as those of humans, though feather colours are usually browns, tans, and blacks.