Harpy

Harpies are a non-playable race and type of monstrosity creature in located north of the Emerald Grove in the Secluded Cove. The small group of harpies will be singing their alluring song, which have already lured in the young tiefling, Mirkon.

“

Sadistic creatures with the legs and wings of a vulture and the body of an elf. Their sweet song enchants their prey, luring them to their deaths.

„

— In-game racial description

Combat

Attacks and abilities

 Claws ()

2d6 (2~12) + Strength modifier Slashing

Lash out with deadly claws.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

 Fly ()

Fly to a target position

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Luring Song

Charm nearby creatures with a magical melody to  Lure them to you.

AoE: 25 m / 80 ft (Radius)

 Multiattack ()

2d6 (2~12) + Strength modifier Slashing

+

2d6 (2~12) + Strength modifier Slashing

Aim two attacks at a  Lured creature.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

Recharge: Per turn

 Sharp Rock ()

2d4 (2~8) + Strength modifier Bludgeoning

Throw a sizable, rugged stone.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Tactics

The truly difficult part in fighting the harpies is a combination of the terrain and their Luring Song ability. One harpy will always hang back to perform the song, forcing your party to constantly try resisting the alluring singing which will waste their turn and leave them open for attack by the other harpies. With much of the cove considered Difficult Terrain, any attempts to approach them will also be greatly slowed. Their fly ability makes it easy for them to ignore distance and terrain, with them focusing on those who are being Lured so they can multiattack them.

It is best to use ranged attacks and spell on the singing harpy to try breaking her Concentration in singing. With that freedom given, it is wise to fight back aggressively before another harpy begins singing again.

Buffing the Party with Bless before talking with Mirkon to trigger the fight will give you a better chance to resist the song. Likewise, using Gnome, Elf or Half-Elf characters who have Advantage on the saves helps a lot. Utilizing the High Ground to the left and right of where Mirkon starts can be important for some party setups.

A viable yet somewhat violent strategy to protect Mirkon during the fight is to throw or shove him away from the shoreline and the harpies. Tossing him gives him distance to avoid getting killed by the harpies' opportunity attacks as he is lured by the song.

If the player has a party member that can cast  Calm Emotions, the fight can be somewhat trivialized. Calm Emotions protects Mirkon and all party members within its casting radius from being affected by Luring Song and makes it significantly easier to deal with the harpies. (The game log will still show a saving throw being rolled, but the characters will not be affected if they fail it.) Players should be wary of preventing the Concentration of Calm Emotions's caster from being broken. If the party member casting Calm Emotions is a Cleric, they can cast Sanctuary on themselves to easily prevent their Concentration from being broken.

Players can alternatively use  Silence and keep their entire party within the silenced area. Players should be wary of preventing the Concentration of Silence's caster from being broken. If the party member casting Silence is a Cleric, they can cast Sanctuary on themselves to easily prevent their Concentration from being broken. Be warned that casting Silence over Mirkon before talking to him will immediately trigger the fight. If the player chooses to do this, it is advised that they cast Silence over both Mirkon and their entire party.

Notes

• Grants 20 experience when killed.

Gallery

• 

  A Harpy ingame.

• 

  Concept by Tan Burci

• 

  Render by Maxime Ponslet

External links

• Harpy on the Forgotten Realms Wiki