Harpy

General Description

Probably the most humanoid of the Beastfolk races, the Harpies at a base level resemble Elves. They have feathers running from their heads down their back and upper arms and curling across their thighs and stopping at their knees, notably with very long feathers replacing their hair and producing a long fanned tail. Their arms become full bird wings from the elbow down, with their hands being attached to an extra appendage that forms the rest of the wing at the wrist. From the knees down their legs resemble that of a bird complete with talons for feet, and their hands also resemble bird talons in appearance. They also have no external earlobes, with prominent long feathers instead forming a small wing-like appendage around the ear instead. Female Harpies are also much larger and more muscular than the males, who are weak and weedy; female Harpies also outnumber males approximately 5:1.

Language

The Harpies’ native language is impossible for other races to replicate as only Harpies have vocal cords capable of producing the necessary sounds. As such there has been very little attempt to translate it as nobody other than Harpies can possibly speak it and their language has no written form. However, the Harpies are natural mimics and are surprisingly good at picking up other languages, and as a result those few Harpies living in cities will almost certainly know the local language.

Culture

They as a race are rather territorial and proud, especially those still living in the mountains. The vast majority of them tend to not wear much in the way of modern clothing, partly due to the impracticality with their physique but mainly because their culture, traditionally mountain dwelling hunters with little connection to the outside world, just doesn’t see much point as it'd slow them down in the air.

Built to Fly

The Harpies are extremely fast fliers, and incredibly agile in the air. Their bones are extremely light and hollow and their upper body muscles are extremely highly developed to allow them to fly more easily. This causes problems on the ground (their bone structure makes them rather fragile and they are very awkward when walking around) but their skill in the air more than makes up for it.

An Unexpected Source of Food

Unfertilised Harpy eggs are edible, a trait which is unique amongst oviparous sapient races. Harpies in fact frequently eat them themselves to regain some of the energy wasted laying them. They can easily be picked out amongst clutches by being far smaller than fertilised ones.

Fighting Harpies

Conventional weapons are easily effective enough. Fire will damage their feathers and render them unable to fly, and ice will make it much more difficult to keep altitude and fly effectively. This is useful as they are terrible at fighting on the ground.

+2 Dex

Default Languages: Harpy, Common, Centaur

Wings: You have a flight speed of 60ft and a walking speed of 25ft. Your wingspan means that you can’t take off unless you have 12ft of empty space around you. You cannot fly while wearing Medium or Heavy armour, and as your wings are also your arms you cannot fly with any object larger than 1lb in each hand or if the clothes you are wearing have sleeves. When you take damage while flying, make a Constitution save with a DC equal to 10 or half the damage taken, whichever is higher. If you fail the saving throw, you fall to the ground.

Hollow Bones: You are vulnerable to Bludgeoning damage.

Talons: Your talons are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal Slashing damage equal to 1d4+your Str or Dex modifier, instead of the Bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Harpy's Song: You can cast the Vicious Mockery cantrip at will using this trait. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once using this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can cast the Enthrall spell once using this trait. You regain all expended uses of this trait when you complete a long rest. Cha is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

High-Speed Flight: Your enemies have disadvantage to hit you when you are in flight, but only if you are moving.

Mimicry: You can mimic sounds you have heard, including voices. A creature that hears the sounds you make can tell they are imitations with a successful Insight check opposed by your Deception check.

Ambusher: You have advantage on attack rolls against any creature you have surprised.

SUB-RACES: Old World Harpy, New World Harpy, Western Isles Harpy. Choose one

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