The original “who we are” post was taken mostly from this Mystical Bestiary, with a lot of adds, asides and interjections from me. I’ll not try to replicate all those but will just give you the basic premise and a link to the original which, by the way, doesn’t stop with harpies but where you can find your favorite mythological entity. (additions in RED are comments from me)
Harpy
Appearance
Harpies, contrary to popular belief, are not a single-gender species. There aren’t only female harpies, but there are harpies of the male gender as well. Harpies look basically like human/bird hybrids, with a human face, feathers for hair, bird-like eyes, bird talon-like hands (while still shaped like a human hand), bird talons for feet, feathers on most of their bodies, bird tails sprouting from their lower backs, and bird wings sprouting from their shoulderblades. Their feathers, eyes, and talon skin differ in color between individuals.
Behavior
Harpies tend to be wary of strangers wandering into their territories, but if one wishes to make friends with them, set out a picnic and/or buffet to satisfy their hunger, or give them a new recipe so that they can make it themselves. They are very friendly once one gets to know them, and love food and cooking. Just don’t ask to compare recipes unless you want your ear talked off. Like most other races, harpies mate for life, and the female usually lays one egg at a time, though multiple births are not uncommon. Babies usually hatch after about 9 months, but are still about as helpless as newborn humans. The offspring will usually stay with their parents until they are old enough to leave the nest. (for ‘parents’, read DAD, mom is the bread-stealer)
Powers
Flight: Harpies, due to their wings, are able to fly through the air.
Enhanced agility: Harpies are able to go from one movement to another effortlessly, allowing them to effectively dodge attacks, swing from things, do backflips, and numerous other athletic, gymnastic, and martial implements with little to no effort. (they are not, however, eligible for the Olympic Games. Isn’t that ironic?)
Enhanced balance: Harpies have an extremely well-developed sense of balance, the positioning of limbs in space, center of balance, and the physical condition to use these facts.
Enhanced lung capacity: Harpies have tremendous lung capacity and are able to use oxygen much more efficiently than others while staying active.
Enhanced reflexes: Harpies have a drastically enhanced reaction speed, allowing them to dodge magical attacks, catch falling objects, and react instantaneously to what would take others more time to react.
Aerial adaptation: Harpies are adapted to living in high altitudes, allowing them to use the oxygen more efficiently, combat wind friction, and immunity to vertigo and fear of heights.
Contaminant immunity: Harpies are able to neutralize all existing detrimental contaminants in their bodies.
Sonic scream: Harpies are able to emit highly enhanced destructive and deafening screams of high amplitude. (Not to be confused with the current “Karen” scream)
Air manipulation: Harpies are able to shape and manipulate air.
Avian communication: Harpies, just like merfolk with aquatic creatures, are able to communicate telepathically with birds.
For this, and more, see the Mystical Bestiary
