Homebrew Awakened Harpy Species Details

While most Harpies are bound to the cruel divine curse that twisted the first harpy’s longing into hunger and malice, a vanishingly rare few are freed from its influence. These individuals, known as Awakened Harpies, have had the ancient curse suppressed by powerful magic or divine intervention.

Without the curse clouding their minds, an Awakened Harpy’s nature changes dramatically. The relentless sadism and predatory obsession that define most harpies fade, revealing a personality far closer to the humanoid spirit that once existed within the original elf. Though their bodies still bear the wings, talons, and sharp features of their kin, their minds are no longer ruled by cruelty or insatiable hunger.

An Awakened Harpy typically resembles a more balanced fusion of humanoid and avian traits. Their feathers may be cleaner and more vibrant than those of their feral kin, and their posture and movements carry a hint of grace rather than the hunched, predatory stance common among cursed harpies. Their eyes still possess the keen, birdlike intensity of their species, but without the hollow malice seen in most harpies.

Freed from the Curse

The lifting of the curse is rarely simple. Some Awakened Harpies are freed through powerful spells such as divine restoration or wish, while others may experience a spiritual awakening after encountering powerful celestial magic, ancient relics, or sacred places dedicated to the sky or nature. In rare legends, it is said that Aerdrie Faenya herself has taken pity on a harpy and lifted the curse placed upon the first of their kind.

However it occurs, the awakening is both a liberation and a burden. The newly freed harpy often retains memories of the monstrous impulses and cruel acts committed while under the curse’s influence. Many struggle with guilt or confusion as they come to terms with emotions they never truly experienced before: empathy, curiosity, compassion, and even remorse.

Voices of Beauty, Not Ruin

The enchanting song of a harpy remains one of its most powerful gifts, but for an Awakened Harpy, the melody is no longer solely a weapon. Their voices can still captivate listeners, but the magic within their music is often more subtle and controlled. Some Awakened Harpies use their songs to calm frightened travelers, communicate across vast distances, or perform hauntingly beautiful music that echoes across cliffs and mountains.

A few Awakened Harpies become wandering musicians, storytellers, or messengers, using their supernatural voices to connect distant communities. Others view their song as a dangerous power and learn to restrain it, fearful of harming those around them.

Outcasts Among Two Worlds

Despite their freedom from the curse, Awakened Harpies rarely find easy acceptance. To most humanoids, they still resemble the monsters responsible for countless disappearances along cliffs and lonely roads. Meanwhile, cursed harpies often view the Awakened as strange, weak, or even threatening. A harpy freed from the curse can no longer fully understand the twisted instincts that drive its kin.

As a result, Awakened Harpies frequently live solitary lives or seek refuge among unusual allies—druids, wandering adventurers, hermits, or remote sky-temples dedicated to wind and freedom.

Seekers of Identity

Freed from the curse that once defined their species, Awakened Harpies are left to determine their own place in the world. Some seek redemption for the horrors their kind has inflicted, while others simply wish to experience a life beyond endless hunger and cruelty.

For many Awakened Harpies, the sky becomes a symbol of this newfound freedom. Where cursed harpies lurk in jagged cliffs and ruins, Awakened Harpies often travel widely, exploring the vast horizons their wings were always meant to reach.

Awakened Harpy Traits

As an Awakened Harpy, you are still looked at with much disgust by the average person. Adventurers still tell tales of charmed friends being forced to walk to their dooms. While you can fly and have a great capacity for good, it will take much convincing to the average person.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Age

Harpies reach maturity at the age of 3. Cursed Harpies tend to live anywhere between 25 and 50 years on average. It has been noted that Awakened Harpies can live as long as 80 years.

Alignment

While Cursed Harpies tend to be evil, Awakened Harpies tend to be more Neutral or Good.

Size

Awakened Harpies tend to slouch less and be taller than cursed ones. You are between 5 and 6 feet tall. Your wingspan is typically between 12 and 15 feet in length. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 90 and 140 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 40 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

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 Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Carrion Tolerance

You have advantage on saving throws against poison from spoiled food.

Siren Voice

You gain proficiency in Performance.

You also have advantage on Charisma (Performance) checks involving singing.

Luring Song

Action:
Choose one creature within 30 feet that can hear you. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw:

Save DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier

On a failure:

• The creature is charmed by you until the start of your next turn

• While charmed this way, the creature’s speed becomes 0

After using this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

At 5th level, you can target two creatures.
At 11th level, you can target three creatures.
At 17th level, you can target five creatures.

 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one additional language of your choice.