Homebrew Harpy Species Details

Sequestered in high mountains atop tall trees, harpies, evoke terror and hatred. Many believe that the entire race nothing more than vicious monsters, fiends who only wish to kill and destroy. In truth, harpies are fiercely territorial people, quick to vengeance, but just as quick to live and let live. Though some tribes have descended into barbarism, others have established alliances and relationships with civilizations.

Wing and Talon

Harpies have features of both humans and birds. From the waist up, they resemble lithe, muscular humans, save for their arms, which are covered in feathers and have thin, elongaged bones that form bird wings. Anywhere on their bodies humans have hair, harpies grow feathers. Their feathers range from soft down on their chin or torso to thick eight-inch long feathers on their wings. From below the waist, harpies resemble birds, with feathered tails, and thin lower legs that end in sharp talons.

Harpies tend to wear light clothing, if any, and abhor sleeves or anything that would restrict their ability to fly.

Sky Skirmishers

While harpies are comfortable on the ground, they truly excell in the air. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying away.

Once airborne in combat, a harpy leaves the sky with reluctance due to their natural vulernablity to bludgeoning damage and relatively limited ground mobility.

Avid Collectors

Harpies, like magpies, are drawn to shiny things, trinkets, and collectibles. Many harpy adventurers get their start because this wondering eye for things that do not belong to them gets them in trouble. However unlike the Aarakora, harpies have a strong concept of property and ownership for goods that don't trigger their avian kleptomania, for everyone in a harpy colony has to earn his or her keep. This sense of belonging applies just as much to the belongings of their allies, and stealing from close companions is considered a great violation of trust.

Harpy Names

A harpy of either gender may have one of these names: Akrah, Atak, Awn, D'vek, Eequa, Helk, Jhona, Kev'k, Orta, Ozk, Q'reh, Re'ek, Sada, Urd'kah or Zyl

Harpy Traits

As a harpy you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to fly at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing a harpy requires special consideration by your DM.

Ability Score Increase

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

Pneumatized Bones

Your bones are full of hollow air pockets that reduce your weight and density and allow you to fly. This same adaption makes those bones quite brittle. You are vulernable to bludgeoning damage.

Age

Harpies age at the same rate as humans, reaching adulthood in their late teens. They typically live 60-70 years.

Alignment

Most harpies are unaligned, but some tribes tend towards chaotic evil. Harpy adventurers can be of any alignment.

Talon Dexterity

When you are in flight, your arms are unavailble for any intricate tasks, which must be performed with your foot talons instead. You suffer no penalty when using your talons to make melee weapon attacks, perform somatic spellcasting components, or utilize simple ranged weapons. However, while flying you have disadvantage on attack rolls with martial ranged weapons, firearms, and dexterity checks made with tools.

Size

Harpies have the same range of height as humans. They have very dense, muscular arms and torsos but pneumatized bones to help them fly. They typically weigh about 100 to 150 lbs.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 50 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Talons

You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d6 slashing damage on a hit.

Languages

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