Glasses:

The Professor considers what foes nearby might make the sound the Kenku are parroting—reptilian or ophidian, perhaps?

Nature: 21

Professor, you remember their reaction at the sight of Fang, and something clicks. Humanoids that sound like snakes? You read something about this. As you quickly excuse yourself and hunker down with your gazetteer though, you can't find any corresponding entry. Whatever these kenku fear, it's not something that the civilised world of Port Nyanzaru and beyond have heard of.
The suddenly, it clicks. One of the scholars you corresponded with during your weeks spent lecturing had mentioned something about a theory of an ancient empire, maybe as old as the dwarven civilisations you found traces of, but not of dwarves or humans, but coatls- snake like beings that built pyramids, made sacrifices to their gods and worked to become more like them in flesh. You remember telling him quite clearly that coatls are still known today and though very intelligent and wise, they don't live in the sorts of societies that the scholar described. What if he only had the wrong translation for the name though? But could there really be entire advanced societies that simply disappeared without a trace, yet somehow still manage to threaten tribes of kenku currently living here?

Glasses:

"Hmm..." says the Professor, lost in thought.  He considers carefully what the scholar said, going over the conversation in his mind, trying to recall if there was a specific object or named coatl-like creature he described.  Pulling out his magical mirror, he focuses his mind and prepares to try and show the assembled crew and kenku what he can conjure, if only he can remember a name.

History:  9

D'ye think they ken draw it? Berrus asks

Quote from NemoCaptain >>

Reng, as you talk to them, you get them repeating after you: "Enemies.", followed by the hissing sound. The plants and so on that you mentioned don't seem to have the same effect. The sound reminds you of rattlesnakes.

     "So you have enemies around here?  Are the enemies why you built the dam?" Mulligan would interject.  "How many enemies?  Something we could maybe help with or many, many enemies?"

     Mulligan doesn't consider himself a hero.  Not even an adventurer.  Not really.  Just kind of got caught up in events and found himself on a boat (Like a boss!) floating down the river.  But how big of a problem could bird people have?  Surely if their enemies were overly powerful or numerous they'd have been wiped out by now.  Mind he shows them nothing but respect and deference but... C'mon, they're cute bird people who mimic language!  It's downright adorable. 

Professor, you remember some tales of the city of Mezro, that supposedly was betrayed by one of its paladins for pomises made by the Night Serpent to bring about the reign of her children. If anything the scholar said, that could be something that you're looking for. As you focus on the mirror, you see three short sequences, flashing across the silver surface: A city in flames, and a leader with a flaming sword leading hordes of undead through open gates. An old man with the regalia of an emperor or high priest laying in bed, surrounded by advisors and medics. The desiccated and bandaged body of the same person contorting and twisting into an abomination with human torso and head, but the writhing form of a snake where its legs should be and long fangs instead of normal human teeth.

As the third image flashes, you hear all the kenku that see the mirror make the hissing and rattling sound.

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Mulligan, the kenku you speak to is looking at you a bit bewildered, before answering: "Yes." Reng, you know that the first question has a trivial answer in the jungle, there are dangers and threats everywhere. Seeing as the kenku so far seemed unfazed by the dam and the shuddering mass of plants that seems to be breathing within and on top of the dam, you figure that the second question is also answered already. Likely, the kenku before you has only a limited concept of numbers, hence their befuddlement at Mulligans question.

You also know however, that there's no clear distinction in these parts, like Mulligan suggested.  You could only guess, but for a tribe to be able to send six or more warriors here would likely mean that their entire colony would be significantly larger- likely at least two or four out hunting, three or six on guard duty. In total, between ten and twenty warriors, double that counting the womenfolk and the young. A similarly sized tribe that wanted to expand their territory would be "many, many enemies", but they would be unlikely to face them all in totality. Still didn't mean that experienced warriors from somewhere else couldn't help to turn the tide. Lastly, the question was even confusing to you, as you aren't even sure what the exact limit of this group is- there is likely a lot that they all could help with, as long as Mulligan wasn't being more specific what he means by "help", you fully understand the confusion of the kenku.

     At the same time, Mulligan is unsure what the group could do to help.  He doesn’t really know the situation the Kenku are in.., he also doesn’t know what the group can really do together.  Besides the pit, he’s not seem the members really out to the test and/or try to turn on the hurt.  Heck, his biggest fight was with an angry husband and some of his guards!  Even then Mulligan grab one last kiss from the wife, a small bag of pilfered household valuable and dropped out a window after parrying a few blades and managing to trip the lead attacker…

     Ahhhh, good times!

Glasses:

”Ah, we have finally seen the face of your foe, respected elder,” says the Professor, taking the opportunity to sketch the transformed snake-man into his journal as others continue to discuss.

Showing them the picture, he asks, “Are these monsters threatening you right now, in a nearby location we could help you with, or are they a more scattered and distant threat?”

”We have our own mission, and we were hoping to rest tonight, then portage around your dam in the morning and continue our quest, though perhaps I could convince our group of a short delay so we could help our new friends,” he concludes.

Fang stays within sight and earshot of the Kenku as they talk to Reng and Mulligan. He has the strange urge to call one of the Kenny and give them one of his orange spines to help tell them apart from the others. But this feeling passes quickly. (Fang is ready to do whatever Shae is up for doing. Either helping these bird people or pressing on towards the camp that’s in danger/needs more supplies. Do we have an idea of how far the camp/excavation is from our current location?)

Shae smiles softly when there's some forward momentum in their communication. She steps back and allows the Professor to work his talents in research. Of course she was more than willing to provide any assistance, but if anything, she was taking notes from him and the interaction with the Kenku. She'd have her notebook out, writing and sketching along. Content listening and learning, there was nothing for her to add, but she did have questions to build onto the Professors. "Do they have particular strengths? Do they have weaknesses?"

If there were any bouts of time were Shae's mind and eyes could wander, she'd take another look around their surroundings to study the Kenku's space. She'd sketch out various landscapes, architecture, landmarks, unique symbols, statues etc. And as she did, the medic always kept an eye out for any Kenku or individual trained in medicine. On the same subject, she'd scan for any useful herbs and plants, or any new uses and techniques.

Casually flipping through her notes, Shae pauses abruptly. Curious. Eyes flick up, dart around as if trying to follow strings of thoughts before she loses them. Glancing back down to her book, she holds her pen horizontally in her mouth and starts flipping back and forth through her book. Blue hues look to the Professor's notes, his mirror, he himself, then to Berrus and his gear. The woman would begin pacing as she reviewed her notes again. She'd occasionally take hold of her pen to highlight things before flipping back to make new notes and lists for her to 'dive further down the rabbit hole'.

ye caught tha scent o somethin? Berrus asks Shae watching her go through her book

Shae's nose scrunches from Berrus' words, then her brows would knit. Letting go of chewing on her lip, she'd eventually admit to him, "I believe there are some pieces of a puzzle falling into place. Some I still don't quite know where they fit... But there may be a bigger picture coming together..." She'd trail off. "I may have more research to do before I'd feel confident to present any of my theories..." There was deep thoughtfulness behind her eyes.

Berrus looks up at Shae. Whate're it be im sure yer be tha one ta figure 'it out

The Kenku elder looks at the Professor: "Hope's crew is very defensive of me? To protect, to defend" At the Professor's question, they look at you, unsure how to respond. Turning to Shae, the Kenku indicates: "Yes, I understand", but they seem to be lacking the words to describe what you're after.

     Mulligan continues doing his best to befriend the boats visitors.  He does his best to accommodate conversation between them and anyone who wishes to talk to them, show them anywhere they want to go and trying to give them a wide variety of words and phrases…

     Mulligan would start with names.  He does the classic say his name and make a show of pressing his hand to himself, then pressing his hand towards them to get their names.  He would make a show of trying to repeat their names as precisely as possible, wether it be with his mouth of through his instruments or such.  He would try to feel them out about nicknames… explains many on board could not make the same range of sounds and noises.  If they were agreeable they would eventually be dubbed Kenny, Lenny and Capaccio.

     Mulligan would teach them happy, sad, mad, danger, understood, confused.  Friend and enemy, yes and no, up and down, safe and dangerous, be quite and watch out and basic directions and other necessities he could think of.

     Mulligan would also attempt to teach a few more creative sounds and phrases.  The sad trombone, the wolf whistle, fart noises and laughter.  Several types of laughter.  As many types as he could, and doing his best to explain the differences.  
     But throughout all the teaching, he maintained focus on the befriending.  He made sure he, nor anyone else on the ship, treated them like jokes or as nothing but mimics.  If any tried Mulligan was quick to rebuke them and make them apologize…  The Kenku were fascinating, unique and fun…  but they were people first and foremost.

22 - Charisma check w/advantage…

While the kenku take in a lot of the new phrases and terms aided by Mulligan's pantomime, the kenku struggle with the names for quite a while, until Mulligan simply assigns them. They don't seem to mind and internalise the individual names, but you're not sure whether they realise that you mean them, since they don't yet seem to respond to the names when you speak to them. They also struggle with the emotions that you try to convey, their own facial features not really allowing for many of the expressions you use to try and get your meaning across. They do understand watch out and be quiet and the directions though, as that is something they use daily as well. When it comes to the creative sounds though, the kenku are easily able to imitate the sounds, but you seem to have completely lost them as to what the right context for these sounds are and despite your best efforts, crack up once or twice when they use a particularly ill-fitting sound. They give it an honest go, but you see that there's simply too much cultural context missing for them to understand the nuances of what you're trying to convey. At the same time, your efforts do get you several raised eyebrows from captain and crew alike.

This was a tale as old as time… Shae closes her book, steps forward holding it to her chest. “Shae will help protect and defend you.” She’d speak clearly, also gesturing to all his tribe. “Shae wants to learn more. To make things right. To find balance once again.”

As Mulligan makes his attempts to befriend the Kenku, Reng does her best to accommodate and play decent host, but her mind is stuck on the hissing sound.

Does she have any recollection of some creature, beyond a normal snake, that would make such a sound? She spent some time in the jungle, but not right here. Does it ring any bells?