Kenku's [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Kenku's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DragoonDarkfire
06-17-07, 06:35 PM One of my PC's in an Eberron game wanted to be a Kenku, he had a solid back story for him so I decided I would let him. After getting his character out of the way I decided I might as well try thinking about how Kenku's fit into Eberron by giving them a back story and some more fluff.

History

Kenku's first came out of primitive states on the continent of Khorvaire. After years of seclusion in the area that is now present day Karrnath the Kenku's began to work together. They formed close family units known as Flocks and these flocks began to build great house like structures in the canopies of Karrn Wood.

Soon Flocks from around the area all gathered in a central area and from the woods the secluded Kenku's began to build an entire grand city in the center of Karrn Wood. A city that would come to be known as Grand Nest.

Once grand nest was built the Kenku's began to improve their culture. Unlike the Dahkanni war lords and dirge singers to the south the Kenku's never had strong warriors or a keen grasp of magic. But Kenku's had other attributes that had made them develop within their grand city.

Kenku's were mostly xenophobic and secular so they interacted minimally with the races and nations outside of Grand Nest. As such almost no book in Zilargo and no Dirge Singer of Darrgun will be able to tell you of Grand Nest in present day Khorvaire. Only a few Kenku know of their roots and those that do see very little practical use in the Knowledge but some Kenku bards make it a habit to learn as much of Grand Nest as possible before it's destruction.

Old Society

Kenku's in Grand Nest were not stalwart solders or prised spell casters. But they were excellent at working together and espianoge was one of their strengths.

Grand Nest was mostly made up of different flocks that had come to help build the city. Though Kenku's trusted their kind more then other races the different flocks soon found enemies among different flocks. The rules that were stated when Grand Nest was developed was that open fighting was not allowed under any circumstance, as such other methods were found.

Grand Nest became not a hub of criminals or murderers but of spies and assassins. The city gave a peaceful tone throughout it's quiet bridges that connected the buildings together but underneath it all people would die overnight from secret poisonings, daggers in the back and other shadowy tactics.

The Kenku's seemed to have developed a society all to their own. Completely untouchable due to its seclusion and secrecy. But Grand Nest and the Kenku's were defeated, not by sword or spell but by something much more powerful and dangerous.

Tyranix

Tyranix was never mentioned in any Dirge Singer Speech of battle. He will never be spoken about in grand Gatekeeper tales or myths and he was almost completely unknown of. But he was a daelkyr lord none the less and though he was unlike his kind he was just as dangerous.

Tyranix was known only by the Kenku as Quplaka or Cursed One and an apt name for him as Tyranix was a master of curses. The daelkyr lord had a power over luck and could make any turn of event to his favor. Unlike the other lords of Xoriat the daelkyr was not one to raise armies and attack and destroy all who opposed him. Though he experimented on the weak once in a while he was for the most part a planner and a thinker. He would bring down civilizations from the inside.

Tyranix loved intrigue and could see nothing but boring bloodshed in the war to the west as such he made his way to the east where he entered int Karrn Wood. Where he came into contact with Grand Nest.

Tyranix loved the city and the intrigue it presented as such he began to work his power over the city while hiding in the shadows too black for even the secretive Kenku to hide in. Tyranix fanned the flames of old rivalries and sparked new ones with "unfortunate accidents". The Flock leaders began to become more obsessed with the destruction of their enemies. It soon became an almost twisted passion of theirs to destroy any Kenku who opposed them.

In this time a few Kenkus were born with pitch black plumage. At first it was thought to be a simple trait but more and more appeared and soon it was revealed that these new black Kenku were selected by Tyranix himself. They carried a curse inside them and misfortune would follow their every step, their loved ones, friends, family and all they ever cared for would be destroyed.

Soon these Kenku were driven mad with loss and in this moment they began to come together and form a Flock known as the Karaikach or Umbral Quills. These Kenku were not just adept spies but had learned how to control the curses placed on their souls and curse others with their luck. The Umbral Qills soon began to drive the city into ruin, feeding off nothing more then the loss and madness that Tyranix had placed inside them.

Tyranix's defeat

Kenku's were secluded and the Dahakanni and Gatekeepers were too busy fighting on the western front of the war to concern themselves with the impending doom of Grand Nest. Still one glimmer of hope came to the Kenku. Spoken of in a small legend that is passed around the Kenku bards.

When the Cursed One had come and our city had fallen into civil strife and conflict, a Kenku baring black plumage like the ones chosen had come. Unlike the others he was not driven by madness and he had unusual allies with him.

Together they fought the Umbral Qills and they were the first to tell us of the Cursed One. The Black Kenku who was with them then baded the cursed one into our view. Once we saw him we knew that we could not defeat him. He had already transformed some of us from beyond what we use to be.

He was a creator of monsters and his mere visage struck a fear inside us that none of us had ever felt. Yet the Kenku baring Black Plumage fought the terrifying creature. The battle was too much for many of us and we fled the cursed Grand Nest. Leaving our once greatest achievement behind as now it was nothing more then a symbol of our failiure.

As to what had happened to the Black Kenku that fought Tyranix the legend doesn't say. But the daelkyr lord is far from dead.

Tyranix's current location

Tyranix, like his brethren, was imprisoned deep inside Karrn Wood. Though no Gatekeeper magic binds him he is forced to remain inside a large Khyber dragonshard. This dragonshard is known today as Mad Stone and with every individual the daelkyr consumes he gains more influence.

If he consumes enough he hopes to be free of his prison and continue to bring his curse to Khorvaire.

Kenku's today

Kenkus are mostly found in the urban areas of Karrnath, Korth especially. They have taken adaptation to the rise of Human nations fairly well and most do not even know of Grand Nest to this day.

Kenkus have also made a habit of traveling to any urban area where they can hide among the populace. There are great numbers of them in Fairhaven, Sharn and Q'barra. Crime and spy networks of Kenku's can be found across Khorvaire. Adventuring Kenku's are often social outcasts, living in the shadows of Humans and other nations.
__________________

Well this is all I have currently.
Rerecros
06-18-07, 11:13 PM http://boards1.wizards.com/leaving.php?destination=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040912b&page=4
Kenkus in Eberron
A network of kenku spies calling themselves the Nightswift has infiltrated various metropolitan cities across Khorvaire. The Nightswift maintains secret meeting halls (called eyries) in Zarash'ak (the Shadow Marches), the Great Crag (Droaam), Sharn and Starilaskur (Breland), Wyvernskull (Darguun), Taer Valaestas (Valenar), and Newthrone (Q'barra). Guilds of kenku thieves and assassins are equally prevalent; the largest of these is called Shadoweye's Flock, based in Starilaskur. The stately guildmaster, Shadoweye (NE female kenku rogue 8/assassin 4), has white plumage that testifies to her advanced age, and rumor is she's looking for a worthy successor.
Rechan
06-18-07, 11:19 PM Rerecros, the link you give goes to a creature called the "Cadaver Collector".
DragoonDarkfire
06-18-07, 11:49 PM http://boards1.wizards.com/leaving.php?destination=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040912b&page=4

You are aware there's absolutely NO mention of Kenku history in your post right?

:P
Rerecros
06-19-07, 12:49 AM Dammit! I think it's because I use a different operating system, can't use the search function either.
tui has a link
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=869533

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DragoonDarkfire 06-17-07, 06:35 PM	One of my PC's in an Eberron game wanted to be a Kenku, he had a solid back story for him so I decided I would let him. After getting his character out of the way I decided I might as well try thinking about how Kenku's fit into Eberron by giving them a back story and some more fluff. History Kenku's first came out of primitive states on the continent of Khorvaire. After years of seclusion in the area that is now present day Karrnath the Kenku's began to work together. They formed close family units known as Flocks and these flocks began to build great house like structures in the canopies of Karrn Wood. Soon Flocks from around the area all gathered in a central area and from the woods the secluded Kenku's began to build an entire grand city in the center of Karrn Wood. A city that would come to be known as Grand Nest. Once grand nest was built the Kenku's began to improve their culture. Unlike the Dahkanni war lords and dirge singers to the south the Kenku's never had strong warriors or a keen grasp of magic. But Kenku's had other attributes that had made them develop within their grand city. Kenku's were mostly xenophobic and secular so they interacted minimally with the races and nations outside of Grand Nest. As such almost no book in Zilargo and no Dirge Singer of Darrgun will be able to tell you of Grand Nest in present day Khorvaire. Only a few Kenku know of their roots and those that do see very little practical use in the Knowledge but some Kenku bards make it a habit to learn as much of Grand Nest as possible before it's destruction. Old Society Kenku's in Grand Nest were not stalwart solders or prised spell casters. But they were excellent at working together and espianoge was one of their strengths. Grand Nest was mostly made up of different flocks that had come to help build the city. Though Kenku's trusted their kind more then other races the different flocks soon found enemies among different flocks. The rules that were stated when Grand Nest was developed was that open fighting was not allowed under any circumstance, as such other methods were found. Grand Nest became not a hub of criminals or murderers but of spies and assassins. The city gave a peaceful tone throughout it's quiet bridges that connected the buildings together but underneath it all people would die overnight from secret poisonings, daggers in the back and other shadowy tactics. The Kenku's seemed to have developed a society all to their own. Completely untouchable due to its seclusion and secrecy. But Grand Nest and the Kenku's were defeated, not by sword or spell but by something much more powerful and dangerous. Tyranix Tyranix was never mentioned in any Dirge Singer Speech of battle. He will never be spoken about in grand Gatekeeper tales or myths and he was almost completely unknown of. But he was a daelkyr lord none the less and though he was unlike his kind he was just as dangerous. Tyranix was known only by the Kenku as Quplaka or Cursed One and an apt name for him as Tyranix was a master of curses. The daelkyr lord had a power over luck and could make any turn of event to his favor. Unlike the other lords of Xoriat the daelkyr was not one to raise armies and attack and destroy all who opposed him. Though he experimented on the weak once in a while he was for the most part a planner and a thinker. He would bring down civilizations from the inside. Tyranix loved intrigue and could see nothing but boring bloodshed in the war to the west as such he made his way to the east where he entered int Karrn Wood. Where he came into contact with Grand Nest. Tyranix loved the city and the intrigue it presented as such he began to work his power over the city while hiding in the shadows too black for even the secretive Kenku to hide in. Tyranix fanned the flames of old rivalries and sparked new ones with "unfortunate accidents". The Flock leaders began to become more obsessed with the destruction of their enemies. It soon became an almost twisted passion of theirs to destroy any Kenku who opposed them. In this time a few Kenkus were born with pitch black plumage. At first it was thought to be a simple trait but more and more appeared and soon it was revealed that these new black Kenku were selected by Tyranix himself. They carried a curse inside them and misfortune would follow their every step, their loved ones, friends, family and all they ever cared for would be destroyed. Soon these Kenku were driven mad with loss and in this moment they began to come together and form a Flock known as the Karaikach or Umbral Quills. These Kenku were not just adept spies but had learned how to control the curses placed on their souls and curse others with their luck. The Umbral Qills soon began to drive the city into ruin, feeding off nothing more then the loss and madness that Tyranix had placed inside them. Tyranix's defeat Kenku's were secluded and the Dahakanni and Gatekeepers were too busy fighting on the western front of the war to concern themselves with the impending doom of Grand Nest. Still one glimmer of hope came to the Kenku. Spoken of in a small legend that is passed around the Kenku bards. When the Cursed One had come and our city had fallen into civil strife and conflict, a Kenku baring black plumage like the ones chosen had come. Unlike the others he was not driven by madness and he had unusual allies with him. Together they fought the Umbral Qills and they were the first to tell us of the Cursed One. The Black Kenku who was with them then baded the cursed one into our view. Once we saw him we knew that we could not defeat him. He had already transformed some of us from beyond what we use to be. He was a creator of monsters and his mere visage struck a fear inside us that none of us had ever felt. Yet the Kenku baring Black Plumage fought the terrifying creature. The battle was too much for many of us and we fled the cursed Grand Nest. Leaving our once greatest achievement behind as now it was nothing more then a symbol of our failiure. As to what had happened to the Black Kenku that fought Tyranix the legend doesn't say. But the daelkyr lord is far from dead. Tyranix's current location Tyranix, like his brethren, was imprisoned deep inside Karrn Wood. Though no Gatekeeper magic binds him he is forced to remain inside a large Khyber dragonshard. This dragonshard is known today as Mad Stone and with every individual the daelkyr consumes he gains more influence. If he consumes enough he hopes to be free of his prison and continue to bring his curse to Khorvaire. Kenku's today Kenkus are mostly found in the urban areas of Karrnath, Korth especially. They have taken adaptation to the rise of Human nations fairly well and most do not even know of Grand Nest to this day. Kenkus have also made a habit of traveling to any urban area where they can hide among the populace. There are great numbers of them in Fairhaven, Sharn and Q'barra. Crime and spy networks of Kenku's can be found across Khorvaire. Adventuring Kenku's are often social outcasts, living in the shadows of Humans and other nations. __________________ Well this is all I have currently.
Rerecros 06-18-07, 11:13 PM	http://boards1.wizards.com/leaving.php?destination=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040912b&page=4 Kenkus in Eberron A network of kenku spies calling themselves the Nightswift has infiltrated various metropolitan cities across Khorvaire. The Nightswift maintains secret meeting halls (called eyries) in Zarash'ak (the Shadow Marches), the Great Crag (Droaam), Sharn and Starilaskur (Breland), Wyvernskull (Darguun), Taer Valaestas (Valenar), and Newthrone (Q'barra). Guilds of kenku thieves and assassins are equally prevalent; the largest of these is called Shadoweye's Flock, based in Starilaskur. The stately guildmaster, Shadoweye (NE female kenku rogue 8/assassin 4), has white plumage that testifies to her advanced age, and rumor is she's looking for a worthy successor.
Rechan 06-18-07, 11:19 PM	Rerecros, the link you give goes to a creature called the "Cadaver Collector".
DragoonDarkfire 06-18-07, 11:49 PM	http://boards1.wizards.com/leaving.php?destination=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040912b&page=4 You are aware there's absolutely NO mention of Kenku history in your post right? :P
Rerecros 06-19-07, 12:49 AM	Dammit! I think it's because I use a different operating system, can't use the search function either. tui has a link http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=869533