Kenku are a race of crow-like humanoids in Exandria.
Appearance[]
Kenku have corvine heads with a large beak and glossy black feathers, which covered their whole body except for their bird-like arms and legs. Unlike aarakocra, they lack wings. Kenku are smaller than humans, averaging only 5 feet tall and weighing only between 90 and 120 pounds.
History and society[]
During the Age of Arcanum, the kenku were once black-winged angels who served the Raven Queen as her emissaries. Their voices called across the planes of existence to the souls of the deceased, beckoning them towards the Queen's embrace.[2] In the Calamity, the kenku saved the Raven Queen from an attack by Tharizdun. In this attack they were thought to have been annihilated by the Chained Oblivion, but when Tharizdun was sealed, the kenku reemerged forever changed. They were greatly diminished, having been rendered mortal, stripped of their wings, voice, and memories of their angelic existence.[2] Tharizdun's Curse of Oblivion left them only able to mimic the sounds of other creatures.[3]
In modern times, kenku generally reside in remote areas. In Wildemount, they usually live on the far outskirts of the Dwendalian Empire. They're typically in small family units that live on their own. There isn't much of a Kenku culture. They're just small little groups that look out for themselves.[4]
Powers and abilities[]
Despite their inability to speak on their own, kenku can mimic a wide variety of sounds, including the voices of other humanoids. These imitations sound identical to their original source to all except for the most discerning ear. A kenku's affinity for mimicry also extends to their craftsmanship, being deft at creating forgeries and copies of existing objects.
Notable kenku[]
Campaign Two: The Mighty Nein[]
NPCs[]
Fan art of Kiri in the swamp, by Katy Grierson.[art 2]
- Kiri: An adolescent rescued and befriended by the Mighty Nein.
Campaign Three: Bells Hells[]
NPCs[]
- Two unnamed kenkus working for the Baneful Brood, a gangster mob in Yios. As part of a mission, Ashton Greymoore kidnapped one of them who was acting as an accountant for the group, although they would be freed by the gangsters only to be later arrested by the local sentries.[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Kenku on D&D Beyond
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 176-177.
- ↑ See "Labenda Awaits" (2x20) at 2:23:36.
- ↑ See "Labenda Awaits" (2x20) at 2:23:12.
- ↑ See "Ominous Lectures" (3x45) at 0:35:40. See also at 2:20:36.
Art:
- ↑ Depiction of a kenku, by Zoltan Boros from D&D: Monster Manual, page 194. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
- ↑ Fan art of Kiri in the swamp, by Katy Grierson (source). Used with permission.
External links[]
- Kenku on D&D Beyond
Kenku on The Forgotten Realms Wiki (note)
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