How did you get the title Harpy-Killer?

Early in your career, shortly after the destruction of your first mercenary company, you were hired by the Duke of Dedicare to eliminate a colony of harpies on the southern edge of his lands. His explorers had found a silver deposit and he was looking to build a mine and didn’t want to lose the slaves he’d send to dig it, or work it. He’d been plenty happy when most of his explorers had gotten themselves killed and eaten (less folks to pay).

You were about twenty years old and the greatest achievements of your career were well ahead of you, but you’d risen through the ranks, before the company had been betrayed and eliminated. You’d survived and, after looting the dead had been able to purchase the weapons that would serve you in good stead for the rest of your career, but now you were seriously short on coin and your reputation was damaged, which was why you’d accepted this commission.

According to the folks you’d talked to, it was a pretty small colony, a single family, no more than twenty of the flying, female monsters. Harpies were once women, before their common ancestor had been cursed by Zephyrus, for refusing the Wind-God’s advances. As she’d said no to him, she’d and all her descendants would never say yes to anyone, ever again, but they would still ride the wind, forever. Every few years, each harpy laid an egg, and, as they were immortal, their numbers increased until they annoyed someone powerful, then they were massacred.

Monsters with the body of a woman, but the legs and wings of an eagle, harpies are dangerous more for their speed and cunning, than any special strength. Long, feather-covered legs are capped with lethal talons, capable of ripping through armor and flesh alike and their wings are powerful enough to lift both them and any prey up to the weight of their preferred (but rare) prey, small children, so about forty pounds. As they are all descendants of a single woman, they share much the same features, blonde hair and feathers, beautiful features, the sharp teeth of a predator and impressive breasts, which always fly free as clothing is well beyond their understanding. Though clever, they’re nothing more than ruthless monsters.

Strong and experienced though you were, twenty harpies were definitely beyond your capabilities, at least, all at once. So, with the commission (and your advance) in hand, you headed south to the border, keeping an eye out for allies and information…