Kenku
Birdsong
Bob swayed on the barstool, gently strumming a tune on his lute. The audience had paid him well that night for songs of heroes that without his talent would otherwise be long forgotten. He surveyed the still noisy and smoky taproom and found it completely devoid of woman. Sighing, he motioned for another ale. A gold crown slid down the bar. Lavender eyes glittered from beneath a black hood from which “On me,” emanated. Bob shrugged. When he played, he drank for free anyway. The voice had sounded like Soulmeliti silk, however, so Bob sauntered in her direction.
“Evening,” he tipped his hat, nearly tripping over his lute. “How may I repay you for such a kind an generous gift.” His sway steadied now as its rhythm matched the spin of the room.
“With a tale.” Bob nodded. He still had a voice left. “You spoke of the bird people from the Lost Lands?” Again, Bob nodded, “Have you ever spoken with one?”
“Sort of,” taking a deep drink, “they send images into your mind and you understand what they are thinking. Its not like a voice in your head, although I talked out loud when I responded.”
“Did you learn any tales from them?”
“Ah,” Bob smiled, remembering the barrage of pictures, so precise in detail that every object radiated an aura of its emotions. “The tale would take a year for me to sing, yet I saw it all flash inside my mind in a mere moment.” He could feel her frown at this. She obviously did not believe him. “It was a lovely story, the history of their people, in its entirety, the progression of every thought that they shared as a community until that very moment in time.” He grinned. “Glad I don’t live there.”
“Why?”
“With stories like that, I’d never get a gig.”
Personality
Kenku are curious beings. They are believe that nothing is worth trusting until it proves itself trustworthy, and nothing is worth fearing until it proves itself worth fearing. Kenku are fascinated with the interaction of others, and often disguise themselves as members of other races in order to learn more about them. Kenku are also known for their peculiar senses of humor. They consider themselves experts of the practical joke.
Physical Description
Kenku are bipedal, humanoid birds that resemble humanoid hawks wearing human clothing. They have both arms and wings, and clawed feet like those of a bird. A Kenku’s height may range from four feet to just over five feet tall. Kenku clothing is usually simple, rudimentary un-dyed wool or leather. Usually they are garbed in robes or pants with wide belts and a cowl or cloak with a hood. Kenku themselves, however, are a riot of color. Male plumage ranges from black and grays to brilliant colors. Female Kenku are always ruddy colors such as mottled grays and browns. Kenku wings are marked with patterns of different colored feathers. Individual Kenku can be identified by their wing markings. The wings are normally folded across the back and may be mistaken for a large backpack at a distance. When opened, the wings reach a span twice the creature’s height. Kenku eyes are brilliant yellow.
Relations
The Kenku’s inability to communicate verbally, coupled with their ability to contact other races telepathically, makes them frightening to most of Tarien's populace. Wizards from other races have historically hunted Kenku for academic research. As a result, Kenku are typically shy toward other races –preferring to communicate at a distance.
Alignment
Kenku society, known as the flock, is dizzying. Thousands of thoughts are shared from one Kenku to another. This chaos causes most Kenku to lean toward the alignment of the same name. Most Kenku as kind-hearted creatures, and most tend toward good.
Kenku Lands
In the far south of Tarien, deep within Azermathia, high in the great peaks of the Shi-Loft Mountains, the Kenku flocks make their homes. Several flocks have been identified, but Kenku routinely travel between them. As everyone within the flock is in constant communication with each other, it is simple to make group decisions – assuming the flock can be corralled into a single point of view. The roosts for their flocks are typically accessible only by flight. The high propensity of magic in Kenku has led to its everyday use in the Roosts. Lighting, travel, heavy lifting, and other mundane tasks are handled by Kenku sorcerer’s making their way in the world as spellcasters for hire.
Religion
Kenku are deeply religious people, following the path of Jez'bali'dahn. A full quarter of the days in the Kenku calendar are devoted to religious observance –even if only for a few hours. Kenku priests often rank high in their government.
Language
The Kenku have no known language. They communicate directly through telepathy. They have no written language, as the collective mind of the Flock stores their combined knowledge and history. Kenku can squawk and will do so if excited.
Names
Kenku have no names among themselves. A mental picture of the Kenku is enough to identify him or her. When traveling with other humanoids, however, Kenku understand the concept of names, and if given one, will respond to it.
Adventuring
Kenku adventure for the entertainment of it. Often playing practical jokes on their companions, they occasionally wear on their nerves. Kenku love bright, shiny objects, and often collect the oddest treasures. Their skill with sorcery is unmatched, however, and for those who live for danger, they make a fantastic companion.
The differences between the way a Kenku mage manipulates the fold of magic [compared to that of a human mage] makes them unfit to educate the magi of the future. We are simply not equipped to “will” the arcane into existence with the proper gestures and incantations.
Blue Lake, the Shi-Loft Mountains
Related Organizations
Kenku Racial Traits
- Ability Scores: +2 to Charisma, +1 Wisdom. Life in the flock has caused Kenku to develop strong personalities and will
- Size: Medium.
- Speed: Kenku base speed is 20 feet.
- Flight: Kenku have fully functional wings and can fly at their normal movement rate of 30 feet, and at average maneuverability. They can also hover in place for ½ their Constitution score in minutes.
- Mental Defenses: Kenku are naturally telepathic and have learned to defend their minds. A Kenku gains one psionic mental defense (whatever those rules are).
- Silent Spellcasting: Kenku who practice magical arts need only think their verbal spell components.
- Telepathy: Kenku cannot speak verbally. Kenku can communicate telepathically at will. (Unwilling subjects are allowed a Wisdom Save, DC: 15, modified by the Kenku’s Charisma modifier.) This telepathic communication can send very basic ideas to the recipient, such as “I’m Hungry” or “Stand watch.” They can also send complicated images, such as a map of a keep, or a picture of a person, in seconds. They can also read the mind of any person that cannot defend themselves psionically. Targets of this sort of mental invasion may make a Wisdom Save, DC: 10, modified by the Kenku's Charisma modifier, to keep their thoughts to themself.
- Automatic Languages: None.
- Bonus Languages: None.