Monday, September 30, 2013

Harpies

No. Enc.:  1d6
Movement:  Fly 360' (120')
Armor Class:  7
Hit Dice:  3
Attacks: 1
Damage: 1d6 (talons)
Save:  L3
Morale:  7

Despite fanciful presentations of them as winged women (at least having the upper bodies of women) harpies are actually large birds of prey (wing spans as big as 10 ft and weighing 30 lbs.) with beakless faces uncannily similar to a woman's. Though not hideous in form, their faces are unnerving, somehow both soulless and over-expressive. Their mouths are filled with sharp teeth.

Harpies were either engineered by the Olympians or brought from some distant world. They use them to punish humans that have offended them in some way, though some have escaped into the wild. Though they all appear female, nothing is known of their actual sexes or whether they have any ability to reproduce.

They are very intelligent for animals, but no more than that. They can make mimic human speech in voices like old women, but are only able to repeat things they've heard.

Swoop attacks cause double damage if the target is surprised. The filth of their nests is such that their talons are terrible purveyors of infection. Anyone damaged by a harpies talons must make a saving throw versus poison. A failure means they take 1-2 points of damage a day for a duration of 1 week.

8 comments:

Gothridge Manor said...

Save vs. harpy cooties. I always thought the harpies had an interesting creation myth. I like this version and I think I'll add this into my campaign. It removes the mythology element, but it add a creepy element.

Trey said...

Thanks, Tim. Glad you like it.

The Angry Lurker said...

Definitely creepy!

Jasper Polane said...

Nice! It's a great take on them.

Trey said...

Thanks guys!

Malcadon said...

Nasty things! They are the reason why adventurers should always put on protection. Any Physician will tell you that their is no cure for the Harpies infection. ;)

Trey said...

@Malcadon - Well, It's about suppression, really.

Chris C. said...

A nice fresh version of a classic.