Harpies
Harpies are a strange race, living high in the mountains isolated from most else. In the crags and peaks above the Dwarf holds, they soar and roam, picking out mountain goats and other prey for their meals. Living in large flocks, they are selfish and predatory, fighting among themselves even more than they target others. A hated nuisance, any attempts to truly rout them from the mountains has failed due to their isolation, allowing them unreachable nests from which to launch their attacks. More beast than anything else, they have the mind of a raptor, keen hunters but with mind for little strategy beyond instinct.
Contents
History
Harpies and Dwarves have a long history, though not marked by any major battles or interactions of note. Instead, Harpies simply make for a nuisance throughout the ages, draining Dwarf resources to protect outlying villages from their predations. Since the Dragon Wars, they have flourished in the mountains, spreading further and growing freely without Dwarf opposition. The exception is in the Pessamits, where Dwarves still fight a battle to keep their peaks clear of the pests.
Description
Humanoid and yet not, Harpies are a cruel mockery of the low-lying races. Their bony legs end in sharp talons, able to rend and pierce flesh with ease. Torsos covered in a smattering of feathers sprout wide wings in place of arms. Cruel beaks erupt from their faces, the main tool they use to pick and dig at their prey. They have evolved from solitary hunters to work in packs, swirling around to target herds of goat or small groups of people. Their preferred method of hunting is to simply pick up their prey on and toss it off a mountainside, allowing the rocks far below to do the work for them. Among themselves they have an established pecking order, with the strongest among them dominating the weaker.