Karu

Karu is a harpy who lives in the Northern Reaches of the uncharted planet Imperium. She is a rare platonic friend of Linda's.

Appearance and Powers
Harpies are clever creatures who live a primitive hunter/gatherer lifestyle. They do this because their religion demands it: nearly all harpies believe that they are the guardians of their home, the magic-infused canyon known as Euvine's Scar. In Euvine's Scar, nature magic fills the air, and flora and fauna grow wildly. The harpies possess natural affinity for Nature and Air magic, and thus, they believe that it is their responsibility to preserve order within the Scar.

Karu possesses above-average magical talent, but is known as an unfocused and clumsy caster. She is, however, among her tribe's finest hunters. Most harpies hunt with the aid of magic, but Karu is not known to cast while hunting, and instead catches her prey through surprise and cunning.

Karu is also infamous for her body, which is unlike that of most of Imperium's harpies. Her petite chest and large hips contrast the typically voluminous busts and moderate hips of her tribe, who as a result are known to both praise Karu's hunting skill yet mock her bottom-heaviness. Karu is also among a handful of harpies who bother to cover their chests.

Aside from their natural hunting prowess and ability to fly, Harpies also possess above-average sight and hearing, which contribute to their hunting talents. Karu is no exception. In addition, Harpies are often powerful enough to carry beings larger and heavier than themselves, albeit for very brief periods. Karu's legs are especially powerful, and she has earned a reputation for going after prey that is too large for most harpies. She is rumoured to possess the elastic jaw and stomach to deal with these prey as well.

Biography
Many other rumours circulate about Karu within harpy culture, but harpies as a people are quite insular, and so little about Karu is known to the outside world. She is, however, much more open than the rest of her people, and has traveled as far as the South Seas in the recent past. She is a casual friend of Linda Lam's, though neither have explained how they crossed paths. Despite these accomplishments, there are those within harpy culture who view her as strange and unnatural, though they do not share why.

According to Karu, her own life has been uneventful, but her recent wanderlust appears ready to change that. A few scholars have taken notice, and believe that Karu's coming adventures into the world at large will present an important opportunity to learn more about the reclusive harpies and their way of life.

Relationships
Karu is not known to have participated in any major relationships in her life, though she has spoken little on the subject. Some believe that, because of her friendship with Linda Lam, the two must surely be lovers of some sort, but Karu has denied such rumours, stating firmly that she and Linda are only friends and nothing more.