Siren

Way back when we covered harpies, I mentioned that most of the powers ascribed to them actually belong to sirens…and now here we are 13 months later with the real thing.  

Sirens actually aren’t that much more powerful in terms of CR (5 to the harpies’ 4), so the differences are largely a matter of weaponry (harpies wield them, sirens rely on their more powerful songs and bardic powers) and style (sirens don’t stink, but are still dangerous menaces).  Speaking of which, check out Pathfinder #14: “Children of the Void” for the original two-page entry on sirens, including three very dangerous Golarion-specific examples that recall the original sirens of myth. 

To add some contrast, the sirens in the following adventure seeds are slightly less lethal, but no less troublesome.  The average chaotic neutral siren may be hunting for men rather than meat, but she’s still quite willing to lure, drown, and otherwise dispose of anyone who gets in her way…

A previously benevolent siren has begun luring sailors to smash their ships against her home reef.  A recent magical hurricane terrified the osprey-feathered bird-woman into a pact with Noyereth the Drowner, and now she joins two sea hags in offering sacrifices to the capricious nature power that sailors refer to as “Milady Boathook.”  While not a hag herself, the siren appears to have enough innate magical power to complete the sisters’ coven—unless a yet unreported fourth party is involved…

A romantic siren seeks a life mate—and with a lifespan of centuries, only an elf or half-elf will do.  Naturally, she has her heart set on young Prince Cerwytharen, and the fact that his absence from negotiations could respark the Clockwork Wars is immaterial to her.

Most sirens lair in cliffs above the shipping lanes, where they can pick and choose from likely passersby without putting themselves at risk.  Melisande lairs in her bar, the Sauntering Siren, holding court with her two mockingfey mascots while her all-female waitstaff sling drinks.  She claims to be a victim of hard times, having been driven from her home by a vicious larabay (see Isles of the Shackles).  This is true enough, but Melisande is no victim.  She uses her captivating song to ensnare patrons and loosen their purse strings, the local thieves’ guild has her on the payroll as an informant, and her ship-captain husbands end up dead on an almost comically regular basis.

—Pathfinder #14 84–85 & Pathfinder Bestiary 2 247

On the subject of harpies, it’s been a while since I pointed you to Bruce Heard’s blog, and this is an excellent excuse…