Tales of Tamriel
Harpy
Slot Availability: Inquire on Discord
"The hideous harpy, half-avian abomination, is shunned by all the faithful of Tava."
—The Revered Mubdaraz
Harpies are fierce, carnivorous, feminine humanoid beast-women with the wings of a bird. They are a common nuisance around the Iliac Bay area, particularly in Lainlyn, but can be found wherever there are rocky cliffs and crags suitable for their nests.
Their preferred habitats are rocky cliffs, crags, and abandoned ruins where they establish their nests, making these environments their natural dwelling places. Playing as a Harpy character would involve navigating the challenges of existing within these terrains while dealing with their inherent wildness and survival instincts.
HEIGHT LIMIT: 155-170 (Female)
LANGUAGES: Primal
Racial Traits
Natural Defenses
Harpies do not use weapons, they prefer to use their clawed hands and the talons on their feet. These natural weapons tend to be infected, dealing poison damage.
Harpies also do not wear armor, therefor they rely on their thicker hide and skin to protect them.
+3 DR
+3 MR
Harpies are nimble, lithe creatures, giving them boost to their speed and nimbleness.
+2 Agility
+1 Speed
The Flock
Harpies tend to live with their own, and are far more dangerous when travelling in numbers.
+1 Strength
+1 Endurance
When together as 3 or more Harpies.
Lore & Description
Origins:
The potential origin story for Harpies traces back to Noctyr-a, potentially inspired by the Daedric Prince Nocturnal. Riglametha festival commemorates the supposed creation of harpies. It is believed that a group of cruel Daedra worshippers in the city of Lainlyn were transformed into harpies by a magical robe around 1E 808. Some speculate that harpies possess knowledge passed down from their human fore-mothers, knowledge they might share but not without a price.
Behavior:
Harpies exist in primitive matriarchal groups and communicate through a rudimentary language that mortals can learn to understand. They tend to revere the oldest and most powerful individuals within their flock. Clan leaders of some harpy groups adorn themselves with specially dyed gryphon feathers. Communication among harpies involves shrieks, warbles, and the amplification of their voices using wattles beneath their chins. Some harpies have been known to serve hagravens.
These creatures are territorial and employ their fearsome claws in battle, which can carry infections. Additionally, they can conjure concentrated gales to attack adversaries. Elder harpies possess the ability to wield shock magic. Their silent flight overhead, combined with stealth, allows them to ambush prey. Harpies, much like birds, construct nests using rocks, branches, moss, leaves, and spittle. They lay eggs, care for their young called chicks, and feed them by regurgitating food.
Harpies maintain a ferocious reputation, often kidnapping, mating with, and killing human males. They are carnivorous scavengers with no particular preference for the freshness or type of flesh they consume. Despite this, harpies don't always antagonize mortals; some communities are ignored unless provoked. They become aggressive if their eggs are stolen but can show respect for those who aid them by returning stolen eggs or defending them from assailants.
Variations:
The Spinners of Marbruk recount tales of possibly-extinct cockatiel harpies that once inhabited cliffs northwest of the town. Inbreeding over generations has diminished the intelligence of Wrothgarian harpies, rendering them more bird-like than humanoid. Snow harpies, characterized by white plumage, thrive in cold climates.
