Harpy (Dungeons & Dragons)

Infobox D&D creature
name=Harpy
alignment=
type=Monstrous humanoid
subtype=
source=
first=
mythical=Harpy
based=
wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG150.jpg
OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersHtoI.html#harpy

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the harpy is a monstrous monstrous humanoid creature with the lower body, legs, and wings of a reptilian creature.

Publication history

The harpy was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The harpy was introduced to the game in its first supplement, "Greyhawk" (1975). [Gygax, Gary and Robert Kuntz. "" (TSR, 1975)] It is described as having the lower body of an eagle and the upper body of a human female.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The harpy appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), [Gygax, Gary. "Monster Manual" (TSR, 1977)] where it is described as a Have the bodies of vultures but the upper torsos and heads of women, their sweet-sounding calls cause creatures to approach the harpy who then tortures and devours them.

The harpy was detailed in a pair of articles in "Dragon" #115 (November 1986), in the "The Ecology of the Harpy: Songs of Beauty" and "The Ecology of the Harpy: Songs of Death.". [Curtis, Barbara E. "The Ecology of the Harpy: Songs of Beauty." "Dragon" #115 (TSR, 1986)] [Greenwood, Ed. "The Ecology of the Harpy: Songs of Death." "Dragon" #115 (TSR, 1986)]

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the harpy, in the "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (1977, 1981, 1983). [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by J. Eric Holmes. "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (TSR, 1977)] [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Tom Moldvay. "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (TSR, 1981)] [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Frank Mentzer. "Dungeons & Dragons Set 1: Basic Rules" (TSR, 1983)] The harpy appears as a player character class in "Top Ballista" in the "DM's booklet" (1989). The harpy was also later featured in the "Dungeons & Dragons Game" set (1991), the "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia" (1991), [Schend, Steven E., Jon Pickens, and Dori Warty (Editors). "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia" (TSR, 1991)] and the "Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game" set (1994).

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The harpy appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), [Cook, David, et al. "Monstrous Compendium Volume One" (TSR, 1989)] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). [Stewart, Doug, ed. "Monstrous Manual" (TSR, 1993)]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The harpy appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000). [Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)]

"Savage Species" (2003) presented the harpy as both a race and a playable class. [Eckelberry, David, Rich Redman, and Jennifer Clarke Wilkes. "Savage Species" (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The harpy appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003), along with the harpy archer.

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The harpy appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008). [Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)]

Description

A harpy is usually chaotic evil and usually solitary, though will sometimes take flight in small groups. A harpy's song captivates nearby creatures, causing them to walk directly into the harpy's clutches.

References