Harpy
CASSANDRA KNEW THE RISKS. SHE HAD HEARD THE stories. And yet, she couldn't help herself. The song it was so beautiful. She just had to get closer to the beautiful creature that it must be coming from.
By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late and she was never heard from again.
Humans with Wings
Harpies superficially resemble humans with talons for feet, and that have wings. It's not completely understood why, but it may be to better attract humans and the races that most resemble them.
As carnivore, if they've always preferred human meat and have therefore evolved to resemble them, or their similarity makes them attract them more successfully than other food sources is not known and is frequently up for debate.
Siren's Song
Often forgotten by scholars, but the mythological concept of the siren came in many forms. The most famous aquatic form, is known to us now as merfolk and merrow, but some were aerial as well, and these are the harpies.
Sirens, voices were often beautiful, but their intent was often considerably less so, luring many a traveler to their death. This description matches that of harpies quite nicely.
Racial Traits
The following traits are common among all harpies.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age. Harpies have been known to mature at as young as two years of age, and tend only to live up to 50 years... if something else doesn't kill them first.
Alignment. Harpies are largely independent creatures, usually refusing to even form groups larger than six members, tending them towards Chaotic alignments. In the rough wilds, harpies are prone to luring and consuming travelers, acts that frequently damn them as Evil.
Creature Type. You are a Monstrosity.
Size. Harpies are of similar height and build as humans Your size is Medium.
Speed. You have a base movement speed of 20 feet, and a flying speed of 40 feet.
Sharp Claws. You possess sharp claws, your claws 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.
Credits
Designed by d'Artagnan on DMs Guild, /u/dArtagnanDnD on reddit, or dArtagnanDnD on patreon and dArtagnanDnD on Twitter.
- Made with "GM Binder".
- Made with reference and for use with Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, created by Wizards of the Coast.
Flying Player Characters in my D&D?
Many DMs and players believe that at will flight at level 1, is horribly, horribly imbalanced and can ruin the game. Personally, I think that just means that they aren't throwing the right problems at them.
My own rules on creatures flying can be found here and this race was created with them in mind.
Harpy Siren
These harpies are known for their wonderful singing voices, so enrapturing that listeners ignore everything just to get closer.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Luring Song. As an action, you can make every creature within 120 feet of the harpy that can hear the song must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the song ends. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Charisma modifier + your Proficiency Bonus. You must take use you action on subsequent turns to continue singing. You can stop singing at any time. The song ends if you are incapacitated.
While charmed by you, a target is incapacitated and ignores the songs of other harpies. If the charmed target is more than 5 feet away from you, the target must move on its turn towards you by the most direct route. It doesn't avoid opportunity attacks, but whenever it takes damage a target can repeat the saving throw. A creature can also repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If a creature's saving throw is successful, the effect ends on it.
A target that successfully saves is immune to this your song for the next 24 hours.
The range increases to 180 feet at 6th level, 240 feet at 11th level, and 300 feet at 16th level.
Harpy Screecher
These harpies have a powerful voice, just not powerful musical talents.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Painful Shriek. As an action, you can let out a piercing scream that causes pain to all those close enough to hear. All creatures that aren't harpies within 30 feet of you must make a Constitution saving throw or take 1d8 thunder damage and be deafened for 1 round on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your Proficiency Bonus. Creatures that cannot hear are immune to this effect.
The damage increases to 2d8 at 6th level, 3d8 at 11th level, and 4d8 at 16th level.
After you use your painful shriek, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Swift Singing
Prerequisites: Harpy siren, bardic inspiration feature
Your bardic training has had some benefits to your natural singing abilities. You gain the following benefits:
- Increase your Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
- By expending one use of your bardic inspiration, you can use your luring song as a bonus action this turn.