Homebrew Harpling Species Details

"Hello.  My name is Inigo Tchaikovsky.  You killed the music.  Prepare to die."

- the first Harpling Bard

This race inspired by art created by Georgia, @dodouxie
That art used here with permission from the artist.

To be greeted by stares and whispers, to see mistrust, fear, and lust in every eye - a potent combination indeed - this is the lot of the Harpling.  To twist the knife though, that is their pleasure.  They know that their lot is theirs because an ancient pact met an ancient curse, and resulted in their birth.  In the face of such tension and hostility, they frequently take pleasure in defying all expectations.  Some might think to hold them accountable for the sins of their forebears, but Harplings know better.

Cursed Bloodline

Harplings are derived from a mixed bloodline, an unholy mutt of a creature that combines the Infernal Bloodlines of the Teiflings and the Cursed Lineage of the Harpies - and they are frequently mistaken for a monster from one of the Lower Planes because of it.  They have large feathered wings that come in a variety of colors, from the darkest, iridescent raven black to the purest dove-white.  They have large horns on their heads that can take on any variety of shapes; some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight and tall horns like a gazelle, some spiral up and over like a goat.  They have thin tails that are densely feathered at the tip, four to five feet long, which lash or coil around their legs when they get upset or nervous, and which they can use to stabilize their flight when in the air.  Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, and every Harpling has Heterochromia of the eye - eyes which sometimes are solidly colored, and which other times have defined sclera, iris, and pupil.  Their hands are clawed, and they have hooves rather than feet at the ends of their digitigrade legs.  Their skin tones range widely, including not only the full human spectrum, but also the elvish spectrum of bronze, alabaster white/blue, greenish-copper, and deepest greys and blacks, and further still various shades of red.

Self-Reliant and Sarcastic

Harplings often make their homes along coastal cliffs that are inhospitable to anyone unable to fly, but usually these homes are still within an easy flight to a port city, town, or even just a fishing village.  They like to collect shiny baubles, valuable objects, and make themselves up to be as pretty as possible - some even going so far as getting their hooves gilded.  Naturally, such efforts need an audience now and then.  Still, Harpling homes are usually well hidden, as they know that they are generally unwelcome in the nearby settlements.

Lacking a homeland, Harplings know that they have to make their own way in the world and that they have to be strong to survive.  They are not quick to trust, though they are certainly quick to take advantage.  On the other hand, when a Harpling's companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, they learn to extend the same trust to them, and once a Harpling gives someone loyalty, they are a firm friend or ally for life.

Harpling Names

Harplings have given names and clan names, but not really gendered names.  A male is just as likely to be called Sally as a female, and some claim to have no gender at all - so what do gendered names mean to them?  At the same time, the strange culture of Harplings - that is, the coming together of Teiflings and Harpies (who were once elves before they were cursed and they haven't quite forgotten) - sees a wide variety of both the simple, the symbolic, and the beautifully complex names.  Clan names are simpler, usually reflecting the bird their wings are most like, or the dominant color.

Given Names: Amnon, Andrew, Althea, Aramil, Brunhilda, Buttercup, Chant, Evan, Fezzik, Desdemona, Georgia, Gloria, Hannah, Hope, Immeral, Inigo, Jason, Jelenneth, Joy, Kallista, Keylith, Kory, Laurence, Lia, Luke, Louis, Miralee, Mordai, Niavara, Nimeria, Noel, Orianna, Phelaia, Peren, Quarion, Rita, Rolen, Richard, Sally, Samantha, Sariel, Silaqui, Skamos, Tamara, Thamior, Theirasta, Theren, Thia, Vadania, Varis, Victor, Xanaphia, William, Wilhelmina

Clan Names: Blackwing, Bluewing, Goldenwing, Falconwing, Ravenwing, Vulturewing, Whitewing, Wrenwing

Mutual Mistrust

People tend to be suspicious of Harplings, assuming that their cursed and infernal heritages have left their marks on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. Shopkeepers keep a close eye on their goods when one enters their stores, the town watch might follow them around for a while, and demagogues blame Harplings for strange happenings. The reality, though, is that a Harpling’s bloodline doesn’t affect their personality to any great degree. Years of dealing with mistrust does leave its mark though, and they respond to it in different ways. Some choose to live up to the wicked stereotype, but others are virtuous, or have crafted themselves a suit of armor from sarcasm and humor. Most are simply very aware of how people respond to them. After dealing with this mistrust throughout youth, a Harpling often develops the ability to overcome prejudice through charm, intimidation, or to spite it with biting humor.

 

Harpling Traits

Harplings have inherited certain racial traits as a result of their Harpy and Tiefling heritages clashing.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom or Dexterity score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 2

Age

Although Harplings reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, their understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical maturity to include mental maturity.  As such, some Harplings may be considered children still when they reach 100 years old, or adults as young as 30.  Harplings can live to be as old as 750.

Alignment

Harplings do not have an innate tendency towards evil or good.  With Harplings, everything is a personal choice, valuing freedom above all - for others as well as themselves - though their independent nature inclines many towards an at least mildly chaotic alignment.

Size

Harplings are about the same size as humans, sometimes a little taller - and no, that's not including the horns or the wings.  Some Harplings are slender and built for speed, while others are stockier, capable of lifting heavy loads into the sky.  Your size is medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25ft.

Darkvision

Thanks to your heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Infernal Legacy

At 5th level, you get the spell Hellish Rebuke once per long rest.  Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.  It does not count towards your known spells.

At 10th level you can use Luring Song as a Action once per long rest, but may continue using Luring Song on subsequent turns as a Bonus Action.  Once the song is over, that's it for the day.

Luring Song is a magical melody.  Every humanoid and giant within 30ft of the Harpling must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the song ends.  The Harpling must take a bonus action on their subsequent turns to continue singing.  They can stop at any time, but may only use it once per long rest.  The song ends if the Harpling is incapacitated.

While charmed by the Harpling, a target is incapacitated and ignores the song of other Harplings, as well as the songs of harpies should any be near.  If the charmed target is more than 5ft away from the Harpling, the target must move on its turn towards the Harpling by the most direct route, trying to get within 5ft.  It doesn't avoid opportunity attacks, but before moving into damaging terrain (such as lava or a pit), and whenever it takes damage from a source other than the Harpling, the target can repeat the saving throw.  A charmed target can also repeat a saving throw at the end of each of its turns.  If the saving throw is successful, the effect ends on it.

A target that successfully saves is immune to this Harpling's song for the next 24 hours.

Languages

All Harplings can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish.  Some Harplings can also speak, read, and write Celestial or Infernal.  Those who can communicate in Celestial often enjoy introducing themselves as Youdsimars, and enjoy revealing their understanding of the Celestial language at moments that would be embarrassing to someone else.

Some Harplings also get tattoos in the Celestial script.

NB. Because Choose Infernal or Celestial is not an option offered by the Hombrew Creator, the third language option will offer all language.  Please only choose from Infernal or Celestial at this point.

Flight

Flying speed 40ft. Cannot fly if wearing Medium Armor or Heavy Armour.