Harpy

While known in all of Geargadas as Harpies, these Monsters also share a second name with another type of Monster in this world: siren. These half-bird, half-human creatures are notorious for being as beautiful as they are fearsome if provoked, and can be seen taking to the skies over the city when the weather is fair. Looking to the rooftops of the city will almost always result in a Harpy spotting as they watch over the goings on of the populace. Best to hope that they're in a fair mood, themselves, as their songs can turn particularly dangerous for anyone listening, and the magic they use can become just as sharp as their talons.

**A Harpy can be any extant bird, and can be any gender.** Keep in mind that, by nature, a Harpy is a creature of flight - a flightless bird will be considered an oddity in Geargadas and players may need to consult the mods to make sure their changes are appropriate. Purely cosmetic details like coloring and patterning can be mixed or exaggerated.

### Mandatory Changes

#### Physical

* Bird-like wings, which can be arm wings or separate limbs on the Harpy's back. Minimum size allows for gliding, but larger wings may allow them to fly.
* Talons and bird-like hands and/or feet, per player choice, as well as sharper teeth. This is all of them, not including just the canines. No other special features come with this change though.
* Pointed ears. May also include feathers, depending on the Harpy.
* Feathers covering a large portion of the Harpy's body, focused mostly on their lower body but around the back/shoulders near wings. This includes a feathered tail, used for steering, which can be any length of the player's choosing.
* Two necessities that assist in flight, in two different ways: hollow bones, as per the norm for birds, and small air sacs in addition to their natural lungs. A bird's respiratory system is far more efficient than that of a mammal's, and Harpies - despite being part mammal - inherit some of this efficiency. Thus, they have a greater lung capacity and can travel at higher altitudes without assistance.
* A more feral looking form during the full moons, which can also be triggered during high emotion situations. Feather growth increases and spreads, wings increase slightly in size, hair/feathers get more wild, and teeth and claws may elongate and become sharper. As notoriously aggressive Monsters when agitated, this aggression may increase - but regardless, a more feral mindset will also kick in for Harpies that have a harder time with their less human instincts, the ones that fight the change.

#### Mental

* A nesting instinct. Harpies prefer being higher up as opposed to being grounded, as this may leave them more exposed and vulnerable to threats. As such, they perch on buildings and in trees more often than not, and even if they're indoors it's likely that they'll find a way to move their bed into a higher location. Whether this is a nook in a wall or an overhang depends on preference.
* Nesting will vary based on breed of bird, but also takes the human side into account.

### Optional Changes

* A fully feathered, bird-like lower body with wider hips, digitigrade legs, and fully functional grasping claws that vary in appearance based on the bird in question. Legs may have additional feathers on the lower portion depending on the bird that the Harpy is based on.
* Additional digits on wings that allow for grabbing, especially in those with arm-wings.
* Additional muscle growth around the chest, shoulders, and/or back to further support their wings. This may manifest as making the Harpy in question look like they have a second set of pectorals, for example.
* Hair and/or skin changing to reflect the coloration/markings of their bird in question. This can be a complete or partial change, per player choice. Hair may also include additional feathers in it.
* Torpor in select Harpies whose species of bird may enter a torpid state during cold weather and when food is scarce. While not an actual hibernation, Harpies may find themselves incredibly lethargic and wanting to sleep as their body temperatures, respiratory functions, heartbeat, and metabolic rate lower. Extra downy feather growth for insulation in colder weather may help offset this.
* Harpies who have completed most of their changes can choose to shift into a full bird form. This shift is difficult to master if a Harpy has not accepted their Monster form (if they are still fighting against their Monster instincts and changes), and is easier to accomplish during the full moons.
* Possible psychological changes that come with their respective animals or Harpy/siren lore. How they build their nests, if they might be more inclined to swoop over people, etc. This includes a shorter temper - many Harpies are territorial and aggressive, and can become violent if provoked. The trigger for this temper varies from individual to individual, but it makes them no less dangerous if someone crosses the wrong line.

### Strengths

* **Enhanced reflexes and agility.** Some Harpies are faster than others due to breed, but they are all faster than a human. Smaller breeds of birds will frequently result in faster, more agile Harpies, where larger birds typically result in stronger but slower Harpies.
* **Built-in lie detectors.** No matter how confident the liar or complicated the lie, a Harpy will always be able to tell when they're being lied to. (This does not apply to anything that the other person is truly convinced of, so if they think they’re telling the truth, even if it isn’t actually true, even a Harpy wouldn’t be able to tell.)
* **Enhanced eyesight**, which allows them to see even the smallest detail from far away.
* **One of the following two abilities:**
	+ **Minor wind magic**, which allows for them to glide/fly more easily and to use cutting wind attacks and minor whirlwinds; **OR**
	+ **Musical enchantment through singing voice**, allowing them to charm and ensnare non-sirens (Harpies & Merrow fall under sirens). Can turn into an ear-splitting screech.

### Weaknesses

* Beaten only by Merrow, **electricity is extremely effective in subduing a Harpy**. It's often recommended that they stay indoors during storms, as lightning is a major risk for them in inclement weather. A well-placed shock runs the risk of paralyzing a Harpy, perhaps permanently if strong enough.
* **Due to the hollow nature of their bones, they're easier to break and harder to mend**. Stronger Monsters or a well thought-out attack will put them down and, possibly, keep them down.
* **Respiratory infections can spread to the abdominal cavity and bones from the lungs/air sacs of a Harpy**, although their possession of a human diaphragm makes it a little less lethal in them as opposed to their avian relatives.