Kenku
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Kenku
Where aarakocra soar, the kenku follow, hopping along the ground. Cursed by the spirits to never fly again, and without their own words, they act as servants and guards to their avian elite. They serve today as an eternal reminder that divine punishment does not solely come from the gods above, and that not all punishments are fairly given.
Avian Kin
Feathered folk who resemble ravens, kenku usually stand about 4 ½ feet tall with long black beaks, their eyes shooting from side to side, always observing and recording any information. Unlike their avian brothers, no wings grow from their backs, forcing them to hop around to the best of their ability in order to travel.
The Simple Contest, an Aarakocran tale
Long ago, when the mountains of Yamasora were but fledglings, it is said that the kenku were smart and intelligent creatures, but also childish lovers of pranks. One day, an innocent spirit desired to play amongst them. Unfortunately, the god Ellion Bol decided to join as well. The spirit and the god, unknowing of each other, disguised themselves as kenku. The pranks they played on each other escalated, back and forth until the god felt so insulted that in a storm of rage he slaughtered the spirit, still in the guise of a mortal kenku. Other spirits were enraged, and it was said the sky grew red and the seas boiled that night. The storms roiled until a strange blizzard fell upon the land. The feathered folk immediately raised their wings to shield themselves. As the snow melted, so did the wings of the raven folk. Their eyes would glass over, as their minds seemed to drain away as dew in soil. Never again would the kenku have a unique thought. This was the rage of the angry spirits, a lesson to all to never invoke the wrath of the land and the sky.
Cursed Servants
Today, the kenku are conscripted by the aarakocra as construction workers, farmers, and servants. Some, unhappy with this life, have escaped to the mainland and find their own peace, often in monasteries or as wizards assistants. Their curse makes it nearly impossible for them to truly rise above their station, however they manage to integrate themselves rather well in some fields. Their keen, near perfect memory offers them excellent skills as scribes and book makers, and as lockpicks and con artists.
Kenku Adventurers
Mainly living as servants, your kenku is likely to either be an escaped slave or a kenku from the mainland. However these are not your only options. It is possible that your masters have assigned you a task, and expect you to complete it before you return to your homeland. This task is up to you, and could heavily affect your character’s story. Maybe they have failed their task and are banished, or are on this quest as an act of redemption for a crime they have committed.Kenku Names
Given that kenku can duplicate any sound, their names are drawn from a staggering variety of noises and phrases. Kenku names tend to break down into three categories that make no distinction between male and female names.
Kenku thugs, warriors, and toughs adopt noises made by weapons, such as the clang of a mace against armor or the sound made by a breaking bone. Non-kenku refer to the kenku by describing this noise. Examples of this type of name include Smasher, Clanger, Slicer, and Basher.
Kenku thieves, con artists, and burglars adopt animal noises, typically those common in urban settings. In this manner, kenku can call out to each other while those who overhear them mistake them for common animals. Non-kenku use names that refer to the sound made or the animal a kenku mimics, such as Rat Scratch, Whistler, Mouser, and Growler.
Some kenku turn their back on crime to pursue legitimate trades. These kenku adopt noises made as part of their craft. A sailor duplicates the sound of a fluttering sail, while a smith mimics the clanging of a hammer on metal. Non-kenku describe these folk by their trade sounds, such as Sail Snap, Hammerer, and Cutter.
Expert Forgery. You can duplicate other creatures' handwriting and craftwork. You have advantage on all checks made to produce forgeries or duplicates of existing objects.
Kenku Training. You are proficient in two of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Deception, Stealth, and Sleight of Hand.
Mimicry. You can mimic sounds you have heard, including voices. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are imitations with a successful Insight check opposed by your Deception check.
