The Clipping of the Kenku

The Kenku and Aaracokra rivalry seems to have existed forever. So much of the culture of the flightless Kenku is a response to their comparisons and resentments felt towards their winged brethren. While genetic changes from one race to another can be traced back to common ancestors adapting to their environments, like the Elves of East Midvail and the Dwarves of West Midvail coming from the Prima Apes; the Kenku’s lack of wings is not the result of evolution, it’s a curse from the Prince of Fey, Arai.

During the late Era of Order, the War for the Clansplains was still ravaging the entire northern continent and embroiling the Orc, Goblin, and Hobgoblin races in what seemed like an eternal war. At this time the Kenku were not their own race, so much as they were a large tribe within the Prime Federation of Aaracokra. The Kenku tribe made up around 53% of the population of the Prime Federation, separating themselves from the other 7 tribes by physically splitting from the others. The Prime Federation as a whole avoided the War for the Clansplains entirely with their ability to fly. Most Aaracokra tribes made nests atop the southern Clansplains mountains and the Kenku Tribe made their nests within the trees, cleverly building homes of tied vines and reeds. When Orc troops traveled too far south, the Kenku and other militaristic Aaracokra tribes within the federation would unite, engaging the Orcs from a distance. Ultimately, the Kenku tribe was not the most social or advanced within the Prime federation, but they were the most militaristically sound. A large separating factor between the Kenku tribe and the other tribes was that the Kenku rejected the efforts of the missionaries of the southern watches. While most Aaracokra worshiped Dresdar, Infernal god of Air, the Kenku turned their faith to a more physical deity.
It is said that when a group of Orcs surrounded a family of Kenku berry farmers, a horned humanoid appeared before the Orcs and asked what they were going to do. When the Orc said that they were going to kill and eat the Kenku, the creature nodded in support, but then asked what they were going to do with the farm. When the Orcs said they were going to burn the berry farm down, the creature did not like this, showing their distain by slaughtering them. The berry farmers thanked the creature, learning its name as Arai, Prince of the Feywild. Word of Arai spread through the Kenku tribe and Arai was revered as a celebrity and a living god. Arai liked the attention and would bless the Kenku when they felt like it; even aiding them in the occasional battle. Arai flirted with spreading its influence to the other Aaracokra tribes, but never bothered after learning of their devotion top Dresdar.

While the resistance against the Orc and Hobgoblin forces continued to be a success for the Aaracokra race, shady political gains were planned. Many Kenku leaders wished to expand the Kenku tribe’s territory into that of the other Aaracokra and sent assassin groups known as “ShadowWing” forces to slaughter boarder settlements in the night. After the massacres, the Kenku would move into the territories and occupy them to ‘protect’ the area from further danger.
When Arai learned of this, the Fey seemed to be unbothered, even prompting those who asked for their blessing to erect Evergreen tree statues of them. But then, years into this secret campaign, they decided to attend one of these ShadowWing missions. Arai witnessed ShadowWing soldiers do many horrible things, but what set them into fury was observing them slaughter children in their beds. Arai was overwhelmed with emotion, enraged by what they saw. Arai used their powers to restrain the ShadowWing soldiers, and dragged them with thorned vines back to the leaders of the Kenku tribe. Arai accused the Kenku of being without honor, citing that the lives of children are not theirs to take in Arai’s name. The Kenku leaders tried to talk to Arai, but the Fey silenced them, telling them that their excuses were worthless to them. Arai then said they would “take their honor” from them, and causing thousands upon thousands of flowers to grow and release enchanted pollen for months on end. Arai abandoned the Kenku, leaving them to be exposed to Arai’s flowers, now called Fall Flowers. In the coming years, the Kenku learned of Arai’s curse. Children were born with a dark feathers just like the ShadowWing soldiers, unable to speak unless they were mimicking a noise, and without any wings. The Kenku tribe rushed to prevent this loss of flight, turning to prayer to other gods, medicine, and breeding with other Aaracokra tribes, all without success. A generation after Arai’s curse, the Kenku tribe had lost their ability to fly and the Aaracokra separated themselves from the Kenku.

The Kenku grew bitter. The race as a whole abandoned faith altogether and excommunicated any who still wished to worship Arai. The Kenku became vulnerable to attacks from the Orc and Hobgoblin, with the Aaracokra refusing to help them. This event was known as the Clipping of the Kenku, but it also is considered to be the birth of the Kenku race.