Sharpbeak

"They say the lost birds have found a home, way out where the grass burns and shadows lurk in midday."

In the shadow of their cursed origins lays Sharpbeak, the new home of the Kenku. A place where the ostracized species to find peace, it lays in shadows and is hidden by the hill it is dug into. Covered in murals and art, the people once stripped of everything, slowly find themselves once more.

Demographics

Kenku have a very strict social structure based on family values. A gang, flock or settlement is considered a family in of itself. Lead by those who prove themselves worthiest (usually by a display of strength, cunning or wisdom), the rest of the flock is obedient to the leader. In large settlements they are referred to as a Chieftain, while gangs or flocks simply call them "Boss". Hatchlings are the most valuable members of the community, and are raised not only by the Mothers (any mature female who has successfully laid a clutch) but by the community itself. The structure goes as follows:

Chieftain/Boss

Hatchlings

Mothers

Elders

Thieves/Spies

Soldiers/Hunters

Juveniles

Sharpbeak adheres to this structure fiercely, and is in fact the standard display. To become a working adult, juveniles or any unproven must partake in a Rite of Passage. Until recently, this involved going to Castle Quorlinn and facing its dangers. Now, they are seeking a new means of assessing the youth.

Government

Lead by the Chieftain, currently Chieftain Par Ozachi, Sharpbeak is devote followers of their god Ashihote (Sersyl; True Bringer of the Apocalypse). The Chieftain role is passed on through a rite to prove who is the worthiest, and while that could be an offspring it is not specifically that. There is also a Healer and Lead Hunter who advise the Chieftain. The Healer resides over all magical and medical aspects of the village, and has many apprentices beneath them. The Lead Hunter resides over organizing raids, hunts, attacks and defenses, as well as resides over the fire giraffe livestock.

Defences

Dug into a hill, it is surrounded on all sides by a natural camouflage. There is a pit trap just inside to defend from invaders scaling the hill, though it is fenced off to prevent hatchlings from wandering into it. The outlying area is watched by hunters from the backs of fire giraffes with various traps rigged. The wildness of the natural landscape makes it even harder to reach the village.

Industry & Trade

Sharpbeak does not trade with others, and in fact has a strict rule against it. Instead, most of its new supplies come from kenku venturing out and stealing from other places. These valuables are often traded among themselves for services. Most personal ownership is loose, and only specific items will have importance to kenku. There's hunters, soldiers, craftsmen, and mothers all busy keeping the village alive and safe.

Infrastructure

Sharpbeak was founded fifty years ago when the Kenku were granted their voices back by Sersyl. Dug into a hill, it is surrounded on all sides by a natural camouflage. There is a pit trap just inside to defend from invaders scaling the hill, though it is fenced off to prevent hatchlings from wandering into it. The layout of the village is heavily clustered, haphazard with no clear planning. There is a pawn shop run by a shady older kenku named Ditro Val, and is the only store in the village. Along the eastern wall is the healer's hut, chieftain's house, and hunt master's quarters. By the hunt master's quarters is a gated entrance to the fire giraffe enclosure. In the center of town is a large clearing with a statue of Ashihote, the Kenku's god.

Assets

There is a pawn shop run by a shady older kenku named Ditro Val, and is the only store in the village. The giraffe enclosure on the east side of town is the heart of the village, and is guarded with zeal. Nearly as big as the entirety of Sharpbeak, the enclosure is where the fire giraffes are bred, raised and trained by the kenku. These creatures play a critical role in the history of the kenku species, and undeniably their survival.

History

Founded fifty years ago after the start of the Collapse in the shadow of Castle Quorlinn, Sharpbeak was created to be a sanctuary for the broken people known as the kenku. Having lost their voices and wings centuries ago with the shifting of their gods, as well as their creativity and minds, the kenku are trying to redefine themselves. Chieftain Tanji Ozachi created what he hoped would facilitate that redefinition. After ten years, the stars came together on () and Ashihote appeared before the kenku. In utter awe and reverence, they worshiped Ashihote who informed them of how they'd given them back their voices and minds. Tanji focused the village on currying their new god's favor, and soon the Rite of Passage came to be to assure that only those strong enough endured. In 36 PC Tanji retired and ceded the chieftain position to his son, Par. In 40 PC when the snows came, many kenku died. While Mayora has remained hot, the snow killed most crops and forced them to shift to a more aggressive hunting tactic. Raiding other settlements and caravans also increased to supplement their heightened deficit, further earning the distrust of the world.

Architecture

Mostly composed of adobe and stone, Sharpbeak is vibrant with colors and lanterns. Each home is painted once a family or individual moves into it, most particularly when a couple is married. Post the celebrations, the new couple (who mate for life) paint their new home together and gifts of flowers are given by hatchlings. Most houses depict moments of their history, at least what the kenku have reclaimed and remembered.

Geography

Sharpbeak is a dug out hill in the rolling plains of the Mayoran Savannah, with a nearby river that provides the majority of their water source. Five miles east is a steep hill just short of a mountain, where atop it rests the decaying ruins of Castle Quorlinn.

Alternative Name(s)

Kenku Village, Bird Town

Type

Village

Population

5000~

Inhabitant Demonym

Sharpbeakians