4. The Harpies

The harpies are an unnatural species. Descending from humans, they are the product of gene splicing that sought to provide soldiers that were capable of flight without the need for an aircraft. The experiment was successful to some extent. They developed feathered wing-arms, crests and tails, along with eagle-like claws and lower legs, while otherwise retaining their human appearance. They have a hollow bone structure like the birds, and are fast and highly maneuverable in flight. While giving up their primary advantages, they are still quite capable of putting up a fight on foot. Their personality shift is where the human experiment failed. The harpies took to the freedom of the open skies with much the same attitude as the pirates of the great age of sail took to the open seas. While masters of the sky, they saw no need to recognize any others, including their creators, as their masters. They bred quickly, primarily due to a quirk of their creation that causes about 90% of harpies to be female and causes the males to be amazingly randy. They soon numbered in the thousands, though generally choosing to live in groups of only one or two dozens built around a male or two. Males are understandably prized and the females will protect their males unto the last full measure of their duty to the flock. They turned to a life of thievery simply for the thrill of it. Though keeping useful items such as arms and armor light enough for an airborne species, their only use for coin is for barter with other species, since they have no real economy of their own. Excess coin is often dropped upon those deemed worthy, regardless of species, in a Robin Hood manner, though some say their charity is simply a way to produce more victims worthy of robbing at a later date. They may be encountered anywhere, since freedom of the skies is freedom to roam, and they are capable of transoceanic flight if the need arises or the urge strikes them. Though appearing anywhere, they prefer to live in aviaries established in the high peaks and mountain valleys of the world. This places them in conflict with the aerosaurs for both the skies and living areas. While the earth has plenty of room now, neither species is particularly eager to share. They have no strong magic of their own, though they are learning something of the magic and technology required to influence winds, storms, and the accompanying phenomena such as lightning, thunder and (thus far) small tornadoes.