The Novis Harpy

[drifter]

General

Harpies are indigenous creatures of the Novis lands. They can be found everywhere except in artic regions. They are perhaps the closest the Novis land has ever come to a humanoid like creature. Because of this, their faces and hands are seen as strange and exotic.

Novis’ own harpies evolved thousands of years ago from a fairy like ancestor. This is what makes them far less monstrous in comparison to other genre of harpy.

There are three separate subspecies of the Novis Harpy; Minorum, Mensura, and Maior. Though they are more commonly known as Lesser, Standard and Greater. All three differ in their own ways, which will be mentioned later, but all share one important trait. Their breeding.
All harpies are female. Never has there been, nor will there ever be, a male harpy. Novis harpies are asexual, having the ability of Parthenogenesis.
One harpy will have, on average, around three offspring throughout her life time. Only laying a single egg each time she chooses to reproduce. Though these creatures are asexual, their offspring are genetically not their clone. Offspring can differ greatly in comparison to its mother.
How this works is still a mystery.

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Minorum – The Lesser Harpy

Lesser harpies are essentially much smaller than their two cousins. They are perhaps the closest in relation to their fairy ancestor.
These little beings are roughly the size of a sparrow and normally live together in colonies. Most of their time is spent high in the canopy.
Their diet consists of insects and berries. Because they are so small, they fall prey to practically all things larger than themselves. More often their biggest enemies are large predatory birds.
Though they are cute and fun to play with, Lesser harpies do not make for good companions for Novis residents. Not to say that they cannot be trained for such a purpose, but it cannot be stressed enough that to do so requires a great deal of patience. Unlike their larger cousins, Minorum cannot verbally communicate with their master. Much like a bird, they will chirp and mimic speech with noise but really they do not understand.

Mensura – The Standard Harpy

Standard harpies are bigger than Lesser harpies yet smaller than Greater harpies. They are the in between.
These harpies are about the size of a pigeon and will also live in colonies. Though they too will spend time in the canopy, they are travelers. These harpies migrate all throughout Novis, for more than just the season.
Their diet is made up of mostly fruits. They have less predators to worry about than their smaller cousin, but still fall prey to anything larger than themselves.
Companion wise, these harpies are the most popular. Because they are travelers by nature, they make good partners for wandering rogues. Their communication skills are not great but they can be taught commands that help them better aid their master.
Mensura are more capable with their hands than Minorum. Though they do not have the understanding to learn to write, they are good at sewing and crafting items for their master.

Maior – The Greater Harpy

The largest of all three Novis Harpies. These harpies are the size of golden eagles.
Unlike their smaller cousins, these harpies are more solitary. Though sometimes you will see them in smaller groups, normally this is a mother and her daughters.
Their diet is made up mostly of fruit but they will on occasion eat meat. These harpies also have little fear with it comes to predators. Due to their higher intelligence, they have the ability to craft weapons to protect themselves.
As a companion, these harpies are the best. However, because of their intellect they will not partner up with just anyone. These beauties are more inclined to seek a master with power such as those who are royalty, have superb strength or intellect, and even magic users.
Greater harpies are capable of learning many languages, which makes them the easiest to communicate with. They are also the most skilled with their hands. They can write, draw, craft and even make primitive weapons for their master. These harpies can even be taught to read, though this is only to an extent.

[drifter]

All Harpies have hollow bones. They are all also extremely thin framed. Because of their small bodies, they are very quick on the wing. Minorum are thought to have the ability to go invisible. This is not the case. Because they are already so tiny, their quick movements while in flight are just simply to quick to track.

Harpies have no fur, only feathers. Yet their feathers do no cover their entire body. For the most part, feathers only appear on their arms (wings), flaring from the end of their tails, and ridging down their backs. The feathers on the back with flare and fluff when the Harpy feels they need to look bigger.
The rest of the body is made up of soft velvet like skin. There are patches all over the harpy of skin that is thicker. Almost appearing as scales. All Harpies have these bumps on their faces.

When a Harpy is born, a hatchling, they have no feathers. Their entire bodies are covered in fluff. As they age their feathers will grow in and slowly they will loose all their fluff. Mother's carry their eggs with their feet while in flight and in their arms any other time. Once hatched, the new Harpy clings to their mother's waist or back. Normally a hatchling's feet never touch the ground until their feathers come in.

Color wise, Novis Harpies come in many wide ranges. No color seems to be off limits. However, none are brightly colored. Dull colors seems the customary. Their eye color is always just a brighter version of their skin color.

Harpies are very decorative beings. They enjoy using berry juices as paint, drawing symbols all over their bodies and faces. These symbols normally only mean anything to them and them alone.
Many wear items they have crafted. Piercings in the ears, necklaces, bracelets and any other type of self crafted jewelry.
Greater Harpies are notorious at taking small gems and embedding them into their skin as permanent decoration.

Size Comparisons

Face Detail and Ear Placement
All Lesser Harpies have ears that stand straight from their heads.
Standard Harpies have ears that stick straight from the side of their heads.
Greater Harpies have ears that stick straight from the sides of their heads but appear more weighed down.

Harpy Registry

[font size="1"][b]Name:[/b] Here
[b]IMAGE[/b]
[b]Age:[/b] Hatchling | Adult | Elder
[b]Sub-Species:[/b] Minorum | Mensura | Maior
[b]Companion:[/b] Who (of your characters or another player's) are they bonded to?
[b]Username:[/b] Here[/font]

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Name: Letters (Ottawan)
IMAGE
Age: Adult
Sub-Species: Mensura
Companion: Not atm, Looking!
Username: Reylan's Imp

Name: Banshee
Plain - Warpaint
Age: Adult
Sub-Species: Maior
Companion: Viscera (if she is accepted. if not, then solo for now)
Username: Soli

[drifter]

Finally updated with some images and a bit more information

[Reylan's Imp]

Name: Letters (Ottawan)
IMAGE
Age: Adult
Companion: Not atm, Looking!
Username: Reylan's Imp


[font size="1"][b]Name:[/b] Letters (Ottawan)
[b][/b][a href="http://oi62.tinypic.com/2l9qkhx.jpg"]IMAGE[/a]
[b]Age:[/b] Adult
[b]Companion:[/b] Not atm, Looking!
[b]Username:[/b] @vessan [/font]


[drifter]

I forgot to add what subspecies the harpy is. I'll edit the registry and you can just let me know what she is and I'll add it.

I love her though! She's so pretty!

[Reylan's Imp]

Tsk tsk tsk Drifter, she is obviously a Mensura type, didn't see the ears? :x
;3

[drifter]

Wasn't thinking about it until I thought about it XD

[Soli]

Name: Banshee
Plain - Warpaint
Age: Adult
Sub-Species: Maior
Companion: Viscera (if she is accepted. if not, then solo for now)
Username: Soli

[font size="1"][b]Name:[/b] Banshee
[b][a href="http://i.imgur.com/S3XLCpq.png"]Plain[/a][/b] - [b][a href="http://i.imgur.com/zdelVic.png"]Warpaint[/a][/b]
[b]Age:[/b] Adult
[b]Sub-Species:[/b] Maior
[b]Companion:[/b] Viscera (if she is accepted. if not, then solo for now)
[b]Username:[/b] @soliloquychryseis[/font]


[Soli]

(just booping this, was my girl ok? ;; )

[drifter]

WTG Drift..
Yes Soli ^.^ She's perfect! I thought I had already added her so that's my bad.

[Soli]

Okay I just wanted to know ;u; thank you!