College of Kenku

Although the idea of a Kenku bard is very counterintuitive for many, there are actually a number of benefits and advantages to Kenku bards. Members of this college will almost always be seen performing by playing one non-wind instrument (such as a drum or lute) while "mimic singing" another instrumental part previously practiced by the bard. This particular use of Kenku mimicry leads to combinations of instruments that is totally unique in the world of solo performance. It's not everyday you get to see a musician play a lute part while "singing" a flute part.

While deprived of innate creativity, Kenku musicians have also discovered ways of "imitating" creativity. A Kenku is limited to what sounds they can produce, having to precisely imitate sounds that they have heard. However this restriction does not directly translate musical instruments. A Kenku bard practices by continually trying to make distinct differences in the music they play, resulting in a wider palette of sounds accessible to the bard in performance. No matter how minute the difference in sound is, whether it be related to volume, tone color, or anything else, a Kenku bard will remember each and every way they have practiced each pattern on their instruments. In performance, a Kenku bard will then combine bits and pieces of all their practiced interpretations in a kind of spontaneous precision, the same way a Kenku may transition between different voices in conversation. However these transitions are seamless and form this College's unique form of "imitated" creativity. Their music is improvised, yet exact. Imitated, yet creative.

It is an extremely rare occurrence to hear a Kenku bard imitate singing, given that they have no true voice of their own. Members of this College instead prefer to rely on their own practice, feeling it's the only real way to achieve their own kind of creativity. It is also uncommon to see Kenku bards performing in groups, though occasionally some will form small "flocks" that perform together. Most often the members of the College of Kenku begin solo careers as soon as they are proficient enough in two or more instruments. The career of a Kenku bard is a journey of self discovery and improvement, driven by the desire to create their own "voice" through their own practice and performance. To members of this college, a career is as much about cultivating a sense of self identity as it is about pleasing an audience.

Kenku Performance

When you choose this College at level 3, you begin to combine your abilities as a musician with you abilities as a Kenku. Since you can mimic your practiced instruments, you always have “access” to an instrument. As long as you are playing one instrument and mimicking another, a creature may use your Bardic Inspiration die twice within 10 minutes when you spend one use of your Bardic Inspiration on that creature. For obvious reasons, you can not be playing a wind instrument to use this effect (bagpipes, horn, flute, etc.)

Restrictions Breed Creativity

At level 6, your continued musical practice has made you more adept at creatively using your mimicry in the moment.

Whenever you make a Deception or Performance check that involves your Kenku Mimicry, roll one of your Bardic Inspiration die and add it to result. For example, a level 7 Bard of this College would add a d8 roll to all Deception and Performance checks. This does not expend uses of your Bardic Inspiration.

Multitasker

At level 14 you find it easy to concentrate on multiple tasks at a time, given your vast experience in playing and mimicking multiple instruments at once.

You can maintain concentration on one additional magical effect of a Bard spell you cast. At level 18 this increases to two additional magical effects of Bard spells you cast.