This installment of the My First Monster Manual blog series is the Pygmy Harpy.
Environment: Mountains and Forests
Monster Type: Neutral Scavenger
Color: Dark Purple Feathers and Pink Skin
Features: Human head, Bird Body and Wings
Abilities: Flight, Strong Talons
Recommended Equipment: Shiny Objects and Reflective Surfaces
Introduction:
A Harpy is a peculiar monster, distinguished by human features combined with a bird body. The Pygmy Harpy is a small and petite species of the Harpy monster. Standing no taller than 3/4 a SBL the Pygmy Harpy has the face of a human girl and the body of a small bird. Notorious thieves, the Pygmy Harpy will steal small shiny valuables and hoard them in secret stashes around their nests. The Pygmy Harpy is capable of limited speech but is not much of a conversationalist. They are easily distracted and are quick to flight if startled or frightened.
Investigation:
Our journey out of the vale and the Nevine Forest was a steep climb up rocky mountain trails. When the trails ended, we were forced to climb. The jagged rock surface provided us with plenty of handholds; but for safety, we secured ourselves with our rope and pitons. We reached a plateau among the peaks of the Northern Augurim Mountains. What lay before us looked like a forgotten battlefield. Skeletons of armored soldiers were strewn all around us. It was impossible to tell who or what they were fighting. As we stared in confusion, astonishment, and horror, a sweet soft voice was carried on the wind. Quickly we ducked and hid behind some crags. The voice continued, unaware of our presence. We snuck ever closer to get a better look.
Observations:
“Want to be friends”, “you’re a pretty girl”, “want to play”, the voice of a young girl was saying over and over in what seemed like a one sided conversation. At a snails pace, we finally got close enough to identify the source of the voice. A small pygmy harpy stared into the shiny refection of a fallen soldier’s helmet. She was talking to herself unaware that it wasn’t another pygmy harpy. Her feathers were a dark purple and she had the face and head of a young girl. In her excitement talking to her reflection, she would hop up and down and do a little dance, bobbing her head back and forth. “Do you want a gift,” she asked her reflection.
Flying away briefly, she returned with a golden ring pilfered from one of the soldiers. She pushed the ring into the reflection only to have it bounce back and fall to the ground. The pygmy harpy paused and stared at the ring. “Oh it’s beautiful! For me?” she asked. “Thank you,” she exclaimed before turning back to her reflection and doing another happy dance. My assistant attempting to stifle a giggle knocked some rocks over the edge of the cliff. They clattered down the mountain side.
Conclusion:
Unaware if we were a predator, foe, or fiend, the pygmy harpy looked our direction for less than a second. She quickly turned back to her reflection squeaking out “fly away with me.” Grabbing the golden ring in a talon, she leapt into the air and fluttered away as quickly as she could fly. The pygmy harpy was a cute contrast to the scene before us and we couldn’t stop laughing as we made camp that night.
About:
The Pygmy Harpy is part of our “My First Monster Manual” blog series where we will feature each of the monsters we are considering for inclusion in our new children’s book. Click here to learn more info on My First Monster Manual.
Artist: Spencer Johnson – spencemonger.com
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