Homebrew Winged Kenku Species Details

 

“I know that thing was not human elf nor dwarf!”

"Calm down and tell us what you saw"

"I saw into nightmares, for it was covered in a black cloak, with a white mask covering it's face, eyes hollow and sunken. But the worst part came when I looked upwards. Two huge black wings were spread behind it, beating, lifting it a few feet above the ground. I am sure that I have seen an angel of death."

— H. Duckett, Plague of Shadows

Haunted by the ancient crime that robbed them of their wings, kenku roam the world as vagabonds and burglars who live at the edge of human society. A small group became ambitious and tried to regain their races loss. In the end, they were able to regain their wings, but at an equal cost. 

Shadowy Past

Winged kenkus are derived from kenkus, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look like their wingless cousins. However, the gain of their wings has left a clear imprint on their appearance. Winged Kenkus have large wings that take many appearances, from bat wings to feathered, they can be white, red, or multicolored, but are most often black and feathered. They wear white masks that mostly look like the plague doctor's mask during the great plagues, but can cover a wide variation. and their eyes are hidden behind their mask, witch shows blank black sockets. Their skin is always hidden, they wear gloves, sleeves and cloaks to make sure no one ever gazes upon their true selves.

Specter-like and Solitary

Winged Kenku's are rarely seen together. They spend their lives alone, travelling, never staying in one place for long. Most people are afraid of them, and will never interact if they don't have to. Once every few years, a winged kenku, may find a mate, and have a child. one of the parents will raise it to maturity, and then send it out on it's own

Winged kenkus still can only mimic other sounds when speaking. However, when they have been around someone for at least a week, they can learn to speak in that person's voice without having to hear the exact words. This will end when they are away from the person for at least another week. 

They are ghostlike in some ways, as they seem distant, rarely having large reactions, or any reactions at all. They do not express much emotion, but after being around other creatures, such as humans, for extended periods of time, Winged kenkus develop very strong senses of emotion and feeling.

Winged Kenku Names

Winged Kenkus follow the same naming system as kenkus do, but some will take on a series of sounds that embodies a single emotion or thing

 

Examples: Art, Chant, Fear, Glory, Hope, Music, Nowhere, Open, Poetry, Quest, Reverence, Sorrow, Torment, Weary

Winged Kenku Traits

Winged kenkus have most of the same racial traits as kenkus, but a few different ones

Mimicry

You can perfectly mimic any sound you hear, whether it be speech, animals, or other noises It takes a successful DC 17 intelligence saving throw to determine your mimic from a real noise. After you are around a person capable of speech for at least seven days, you may speak in that person's voice, regardless if they said what you mimic. If you go seven days without being around this person at all, you lose this ability.

Proficiencies

You are proficient in medicine, as well as medicine kits. You may choose three proficiencies from Acrobatics, Stealth, Sleight of Hand, and Deception.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1, your Charisma score increases by 1, and your Dexterity score increases by two

Age

Winged kenkus reach maturity at age 12. It is unknown how long they live

Alignment

Winged kenkus tend towards neutrality, preferring not to meddle in other's affairs. However, many of them are chaotic

Size

Winged kenkus are about the same build as kenkus. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. you have a flying speed of 40 feet

Darkvision

Thanks to your plague doctor's mask, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Arcane Origin

You know the eldritch blast cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the cause fear spell as a 1st-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

You can understand most languages, but speak only using the Mimicry trait