4d4 Harpy's Nest

Half-woman, half-monster harpies are vicious, corrupt hunters driven by their insatiable desire to eat. They prefer intelligent prey and enjoy speaking and parleying with their meals. Dwelling in the world's wild and desolate places harpies are savage and utterly without remorse. They love shiny baubles and decorate their lairs with such. The stench of death and decay hang heavily over a harpy and her nest.

Use these four lists, to add depth and flavour to a harpy’s nest.

Art Lori Krell

What’s Going On?

The harpy…

1. Is gnawing a partially decomposed leg when the PCs 1 arrive. She uses it as a (missile) weapon at the earliest opportunity.

2. Is snoring loudly. She is oblivious to the party unless they make a lot of noise.

3. Is singing softly to herself. She sings a song of 3 violence, torture and death in a soft, lilting—almost smoothing—voice.

4. Is searching through her treasure for a beloved trinket. She is in a foul mood.

Notable Lair Features

1. thick layer of slime and congealed bodily fluids covers the floor. The smell is revolting.

2. Piles of dry offal and excrement cover the ground. Dried splats of unidentifiable substances stick shards of a broken mirror to the nest’s walls.

3. Piles of rubble are heaped about the lair. Some are unstable, and the harpy tries to lure its enemies atop these piles.

4. Two mostly eaten humanoid bodies lie against one wall. The harpy’s foul-smelling excrement covers what little remains.

Harpy’s Appearance

The harpy…

1. Has beautiful red and blue plumage. She stands out from typical examples of its brethren.

2. Wears a thick leather belt weighted down with all manner of pouches. She has a strange air of civilisation about her.

3. Has a wickedly curved beak.

4. Has only one eye—an empty socket is all that remains of the other.

Treasure

1. Stained with soot and smeared on grim, this brass incense burner wobbles when stood upright.

2. Covered in dried mud and other unidentifiable things, this dirty wooden statuette of a pegasus is exquisitely detailed.

3. This small iron figurine of a stalking wolf once had tiny red garnets for eyes, but they are long gone.

4. This beautifully stained lute is in surprisingly good condition but needs tuning.

Want More?

This article is an extract from the Complete Monstrous Lair Collection which is available here for immediate download. Alternatively, check out the 4d4 Archive for more handy, flavoursome and time-saving 4d4 articles ready for immediate use in your campaign.

Design Creighton Broadhurst Art Lori Krell