Hagraven (Skyrim)

"This Hagraven was horrifying, almost human but more an abomination of woman and creature fused together, nothing more than a husk of humanity surrendered in exchange for possession of the powers of dark magic."

- Herbane

Hagravens are aggressive humanoid creatures with bird-like features found across Skyrim. Coming in contact with one can cause brain rot, a disease that lowers the victim's Magicka.

History
Legend has it they were once witches but gave up their humanity to become Hagravens (as shown in the quest Repentance). They despise nature, and hunt down Spriggans to capture and sacrifice. The Forsworn revere them heavily, and in the book The Madmen of the Reach, it is noted that the Hagravens were in the Reach since "the beginning".

Quests

 * The Dragonborn must retrieve an engagement ring back from a named Hagraven (Moira) in A Night to Remember.
 * In the The Blessings of Nature Quest, Danica Pure-Spring sends the Dragonborn to Orphan Rock where a Hagraven holds the Nettlebane, which they used to sacrifice Spriggans.
 * During the Companions quest Blood's Honor the Dragonborn is asked to retrieve a Glenmoril Witch Head for a lycanthropy cure.
 * While looking for the old assassin in a miscellaneous quest, the Dragonborn runs into a Hagraven.
 * There's a Hagraven in Hag's End, it will teleport throughout the dungeon and summon two leveled beasts once it is chased outside of the dungeon.
 * The Dragonborn encounters two Hagravens on the second quest for the Jarl of Markarth. These Hagravens can be found in Blind Cliff Cave and are called Melka and Petra (Melka will ask you to kill Petra for the staff Eye of Melka).
 * There are two Hagravens and a Forsworn Briarheart guarding the Word Wall at the top of Lost Valley Redoubt.
 * There is a named Hagraven, Drascua, involved in the quest Pieces of the Past. Drascua is found, along with several Forsworn and a Word Wall, at Dead Crone Rock (also the location of the pommel of Mehrunes' Razor).

Trivia

 * Engaging in battle with a hagraven can be made easier by using fire resistance, as their main offensive spell is Fireball. However, many hagravens also use Frost spells such as Ice Spike, Icy Spear, and Ice Storm. They also heal themselves with Close Wounds.
 * It is also fairly easy to evade their attacks in close combat because of their lack of attack speed and accuracy,
 * Named hagravens usually have Breton names due to being related to the Forsworn who are indigenous Bretons of the Reach.
 * One of the children in Honorhall Orphanage claims that Grelod the Kind is part hagraven.

Bugs

 * Hagraven bodies may sometimes spawn when having exited a location into Skyrim.
 * If killed with Soul Tear, it may just disappear.