Kenku

Kenku
Characteristics
Alignment Usually Neutral Evil
Image Wizards.com image
Publication history
Source books Monster Manual III, Creatures of Rokugan, Fortunes and Winds, 1E Fiend Folio, Monstrous Manual, Dragon #329 (ecology of), Black Spine

Kenku (pronounced: /kɛŋˈkuː/ keng-KOO [1]or: /ˈkɛŋkuː/ KENK-oo[1]) are a fictional race of bird-like, humanoid creatures in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. They appear in multiple editions in the game's history[2][3][4] and became an official playable race in Volo's Guide to Monsters.[5] They are loosely based on tengu, spiritual beings in Japanese mythology,[6] and are most recognizable for their lack of a voice; instead of speaking themselves, they use their gift of mimicry to communicate. Jeremy Crawford, lead rules designer of the Dungeons & Dragons game, says "[they] can cleverly piece together voices and sounds they've heard to communicate."[7]

Publication history

The kenku originally appeared in the first edition of Dungeons and Dragons's Fiend Folio (1981).[2] In this sourcebook, they wielded quarterstaffs or katanas, had inherent magical abilities, and could change their appearance once a month. They were typically treated as thieves and tricksters.

The kenku next appeared in the second edition's Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),[8] and were reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[4] This sourcebook described them as humanoid birds that used their powers to annoy and inconvenience humans, with average intelligence and a secretive, thieving nature. They were also incapable of speech and communicated with birdlike squawks.

The kenku and the kenku sneak appeared in the Monster Manual III (2004).[3] The kenku was further developed in Dragon #329 (March 2005).[9] An adventure involving kenku appeared in Dungeon #120.[10]

The kenku's next appearance was in the game's fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 (2009).[11]

The kenku most recently appears in the fifth edition in the Monster Manual ,[12] the Dungeon Master's Guide (2014),[13] and as a playable race in Volo's Guide to Monsters.[5] In these sourcebooks, kenku are fleshed out with a backstory and given the ability to mimic any sound they hear, but are incapable of making sounds of their own. They are presented as wingless, avian humanoids who were cursed by an ancient god, yearn for their lost flight and roam the world as bandits and thieves.

Ecology

Physical characteristics

Kenku are commonly depicted in Dungeons & Dragons lore as short, dextrous hawk-, raven- or crow-like humanoids. In earlier editions, they possessed wings capable of flight, which were described as folding against their backs like knapsacks; in later editions, kenku lack wings, a trait that plays into their racial backstory.[3] They are described as having humanoid arms, with clawed talons in place of feet and hands; these talons are capable of grasping and performing fine motor tasks.[2][8] Kenku are typically covered in russet-brown, dark blue or black feathers and have black beaks, but have a relatively humanoid build. Though more agile than humans, they tend to be physically weaker and are more suited as rogues and thieves than fighters. They have yellow eyes in earlier editions,[8] or small black beady eyes in subsequent editions. They are light for their size due to their hollow bones. They are typically between five and seven feet in height and weigh roughly 75 pounds (32 kilograms). They often wear light, loose-fitting clothing and carry daggers or other small weapons, which they frequently conceal within their cloaks.

Unique traits

The kenku's backstory and traits are expanded upon in Volo's Guide to Monsters[5], in which it is explained: "Haunted by an ancient crime that robbed them of their wings, the kenku wander the world as vagabonds and burglars who live at the edge of human society." According to this version of kenku lore, the kenku once served a powerful, unnamed god, but were cursed by their former master for coveting his riches. As punishment, their wings, creativity and voices were taken away, making them a cursed race. Kenku can now only speak through mimicry of voices and sounds in the environment; they can never produce sounds of their own. They were also stripped of their creativity, and thus can never create original works and ideas; they are described as condemned to a life of "hopeless plagiarism."[5] Many kenku are described as longing for the ability to fly, and perform executions by throwing their condemned from towers to mock the lost skill, often while weighed down by wooden "wings."[5]

Alignment

In the first and second editions of Dungeons & Dragons, kenku are typically neutrally aligned. In the third edition, they are usually neutral evil. In the fourth edition, they are unaligned. In the fifth edition, they tend towards chaotic neutral.

Society

Kenku typically work in gangs, clans or groups called "flocks"[8] in large cities, where they gather riches through theft and robbery and thrive in the underworld of urban life. They are not particularly strong, and therefore tend to use cunning rather than force. They are described as being excellent minions, scouts and spies for stronger creatures, and often appear in Dungeons & Dragons adventures as such.[10]

Most kenku in earlier editions worship the demon prince Pazuzu, though Quorlinn is worshipped by those not so disposed toward evil. In these editions, Kenku clerics usually venerated Vecna.

  • Quorlinn is the kenku deity of trickery, disguise, and thievery. His symbol is a mask with a large false nose. Quorlinn was first detailed in the book Monster Mythology (1992), including details about his priesthood.[14] Quorlinn appears as a typical kenku wearing a black mask and fairly nondescript clothing. Quorlinn is a likable, roguish trickster. He has a tinge of malice about him at times, but he has also aided races other than his own. He spends much of his time whining about the responsibilities imposed upon him by a race he did not choose to have created in his image.

Campaign settings

Greyhawk

Kenku appeared in "The Forsaken Arch," an adventure in the Greyhawk setting featured in Dungeon #120.[10] In this adventure, kenku bandits ambushed and plundered shipments of precious pearls, and were the minions of Artimus Fisk, a covetous cultist of Pazuzu.

A group of kenku fought to possess a silver statue in "Tamara Belongs to Me," one of the adventure cards in From the Ashes (1992).[15]

In the Flanaess, kenku have been encountered from the Duchy of Berghof in the Hold of the Sea Princes, to the Gnarley Forest, to the Cairn Hills.

Forgotten Realms

Kenku appear in the Forgotten Realms setting as a race of flightless avian humanoids, described as selfish and secretive in nature. They are commonly found in human cities in southern Faerun, working as assassins, thieves, scouts and spies.[11][3]

Historical inspiration

Kenku were inspired by tengu, a mythological creature from Japanese folklore that takes the form of an avian humanoid.[6] In particular, the symbolic mask of their deity, Quorlinn, was directly inspired by the red, large-nosed masks often worn by tengu in Japanese mythology.

References

  1. 1 2 Mentzer, Frank (January 1985). "Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd". Dragon Magazine. 93: 26.
  2. 1 2 3 Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981)
  3. 1 2 3 4 Burlew, Rich, et al. Monster Manual III (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
  4. 1 2 Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Volo's guide to monsters. Mearls, Mike., Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Renton, WA. ISBN 9780786966011. OCLC 951759699.
  6. 1 2 "Get to Know the Kenku - Tribality". Tribality. 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  7. ↑ "Jeremy Crawford on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989)
  9. ↑ Cagle, Eric. "Ecology of the Kenku." Dragon #329 (Paizo Publishing, 2005)
  10. 1 2 3 Haener, Timothy J. "The Forsaken Arch." Dungeon #120. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005
  11. 1 2 Rob., Heinsoo, (2009). Dungeons & dragons. Monster manual 2 : roleplaying game supplement. Schubert, Stephen. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 9780786951017. OCLC 246886515.
  12. ↑ Monster manual. Mearls, Mike,, Crawford, Jeremy,, Perkins, Christopher, 1968-, Sims, Chris,, Thompson, Rodney,, Lee, Peter, (Fifth ed.). Renton, WA. ISBN 9780786965618. OCLC 884396605.
  13. ↑ Dungeon master's guide. Mearls, Mike,, Crawford, Jeremy,, Perkins, Christopher, 1968-, Wyatt, James, 1968-, Schwalb, Robert J.,, Thompson, Rodney, (Fifth ed.). Renton, WA. ISBN 9780786965625. OCLC 884396716.
  14. ↑ Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992)
  15. ↑ Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes, p. 42. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.