Neutral Man-sized Humanoid (avian) (5+ ft. tall)
Surprise normal
Armor Class 5
Hit Points 9 (HD 2; 2d8)
Move 6”; fly 18" (Class D)
Poison 14, Petrify 15, Wand 16, Breath 17, Spell 17
Special Defenses none
Magic Resistance standard
To Hit AC 0: 18
Melee 2 claws (1d4/1d4) and bite (1d6); or quarter staff (1d6)
Special Attacks back stab (x3); Hits As normal
Morale 55%
Intelligence average (8-10)
Languages Does not speak; telepathy (with other kenku within 100 ft.)
Level II
Staff, quarter. 1d6/1d6, Speed 4, Space 3, Length 6; vs. AC: 2: (-7), 3: (-5), 4: (-3), 5: (-1), 6: (+0), 7: (+0), 8: (+1), 9: (+1), 10: (+1)
Disguise. (major, 1 turn) All kenku have well developed disguise abilities and can pass for human with only a 50% chance of detection (though the length of the nose usually gives away the deception).
Thief Skills. Pick Pockets 45%, Open Locks 37%, Find Traps 35%, Move Silently 33%, Hide in Shadows 25%, Hear Noise 15%, Climb Walls 88%, Read Languages 20%
Bipedal humanoid birds with wings, clawed hands and feet, and an avian head with a sharp beak, kenku are mischievous creatures which habitually use their limited magical powers to annoy and inconvenience humans, though their intent is not usually to kill.
If a group of kenku is encountered, its members will depend on the group size. A small group will contain two creatures of 2 HD and two of 3 HD or three and two respectively; a group of 6 or 7 will contain a leader of 4 HD, two creatures of 3 HD and three or four of 2 HD while a group of 8 will contain a supreme leader of 5 HD.
Kenku over 2 HD have additional magical powers in the form of spell-like and innate abilities.
It is rumored that kenku of more than 5 HD exist with even greater magical powers. Kenku lairs so far discovered have been small underground caverns but it is believed that larger caverns, deeper underground, contain larger numbers of the beasts in a formalized social structure.
Particularly adventurous kenku have been known to their change shape power to assume the form of a god and accept offerings from credulous worshipers, and this is but one example of the bizarre uses to which kenku, and particularly the younger of the species, have put this power.
Again, these powers are sometimes put to unusual uses, but these kenku tend to be older (the innate abilities develop with age and suitable training) and less reckless in their activities.
Kenku favor kidnapping as a source of funds. They will freely give treasure but this is rarely genuine and will crumble to a valueless dust within a day. They will appear helpful to humans and will offer nonverbal advice, though this is usually carefully designed to mislead and to tempt the party into danger and/or difficulties. As a rough guide, the approximate chance of a kenku actually aiding humans is 5% although this will vary with the circumstances.
Kenku do not speak; they appear to communicate with each other on the telepathic level.
Neutral Man-sized Humanoid (avian) (5+ ft. tall)
Surprise normal
Armor Class 5
Hit Points 13 (HD 3; 3d8)
Move 6”; fly 18" (Class D)
Poison 13, Petrify 13, Wand 11, Breath 15, Spell 12
Special Defenses none
Magic Resistance standard
To Hit AC 0: 16
Melee 2 claws (1d4/1d4) and bite (1d6); or quarter staff (1d6)
Special Attacks back stab (x3); Hits As normal
Morale 60%
Intelligence average (8-10)
Languages Does not speak; telepathy (with other kenku within 100 ft.)
Level III
Staff, quarter. 1d6/1d6, Speed 4, Space 3, Length 6; vs. AC: 2: (-7), 3: (-5), 4: (-3), 5: (-1), 6: (+0), 7: (+0), 8: (+1), 9: (+1), 10: (+1)
Spell-Like Abilities* (CL 3)
1/day—magic missile
* These abilities are typical but a 3 HD kenku may have any one 1st level magic-user spell (not beginning with the word, "Wizard's").
Change Shape. (major, 5 segments) 3 hit dice and higher level kenku have the innate ability to polymorph self (as the spell) once in every 30 days; after 7 days in the polymorphed form, they must resume normal form (the kenku cannot continuously change forms it must pick one for the duration).
Disguise. (major, 1 turn) All kenku have well developed disguise abilities and can pass for human with only a 50% chance of detection (though the length of the nose usually gives away the deception).
Thief Skills. Pick Pockets 45%, Open Locks 37%, Find Traps 35%, Move Silently 33%, Hide in Shadows 25%, Hear Noise 15%, Climb Walls 88%, Read Languages 20%
Neutral Man-sized Humanoid (avian) (5+ ft. tall)
Surprise normal
Armor Class 5
Hit Points 18 (HD 4; 4d8)
Move 6”; fly 18" (Class D)
Poison 13, Petrify 13, Wand 11, Breath 15, Spell 12
Special Defenses none
Magic Resistance standard
To Hit AC 0: 15
Melee 2 claws (1d4/1d4) and bite (1d6); or katana (2d4)
Special Attacks back stab (x3); Hits As normal
Morale 65%
Intelligence average (8-10)
Languages Does not speak; telepathy (with other kenku within 100 ft.)
Level IV
Katana (two-handed). (sword, bastard) 2d4/2d8, Speed 6, Space 4,+ Length 4.5; vs. AC: 2: (+0), 3: (+0), 4: (+1), 5: (+1), 6: (+1), 7: (+1), 8: (+1), 9: (+1), 10: (+0); treat as longsword if used one-handed
Katana (one-handed). (sword, long) 1d8/1d12, Speed 5, Space 3, Length 3.5; vs. AC: 2: (-2), 3: (-1), 4: (+0), 5: (+0), 6: (+0), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+1), 10: (+2)
Spell-Like Abilities* (CL 4)
1/day—magic missile, shocking grasp
* These abilities are typical but a 4 HD kenku may have any two 1st level magic-user spells (not beginning with the word, "Wizard's").
Change Shape. (major, 5 segments) Kenku of 3 hit dice and higher level kenku have the innate ability to polymorph self (as the spell) once in every 30 days; after 7 days in the polymorphed form, they must resume normal form (the kenku cannot continuously change forms it must pick one for the duration).
Disguise. (major, 1 turn) All kenku have well developed disguise abilities and can pass for human with only a 50% chance of detection (though the length of the nose usually gives away the deception).
Invisibility. (major, 1 segment) Kenku of 4 hit dice or higher have the innate ability to turn invisible with no limitations on frequency of use or duration of effects. (Although it will be removed if they attack. See the spell, invisibility.)
Thief Skills. Pick Pockets 45%, Open Locks 37%, Find Traps 35%, Move Silently 33%, Hide in Shadows 25%, Hear Noise 15%, Climb Walls 88%, Read Languages 20%
Neutral Man-sized Humanoid (avian) (5+ ft. tall)
Surprise normal
Armor Class 5
Hit Points 22 (HD 5; 5d8)
Move 6”; fly 18" (Class D)
Poison 11, Petrify 12, Wand 11, Breath 13, Spell 12
Special Defenses none
Magic Resistance standard
To Hit AC 0: 15
Melee 2 claws (1d4/1d4) and bite (1d6); or katana (2d4)
Special Attacks back stab (x3); Hits As normal
Morale 70%
Intelligence average (8-10)
Languages Does not speak; telepathy (with other kenku within 100 ft.)
Level V
Katana (two-handed). (sword, bastard) 2d4/2d8, Speed 6, Space 4,+ Length 4.5; vs. AC: 2: (+0), 3: (+0), 4: (+1), 5: (+1), 6: (+1), 7: (+1), 8: (+1), 9: (+1), 10: (+0); treat as longsword if used one-handed
Katana (one-handed). (sword, long) 1d8/1d12, Speed 5, Space 3, Length 3.5; vs. AC: 2: (-2), 3: (-1), 4: (+0), 5: (+0), 6: (+0), 7: (+0), 8: (+0), 9: (+1), 10: (+2)
Spell-Like Abilities* (CL 5)
1/day—magic missile, mirror image, shocking grasp
* These abilities are typical but a 5 HD kenku may have any two 1st level magic-user spells and one 2nd level magic-user spell (not beginning with the word, "Wizard's"), usually mirror image or web.
Call Lightning. (major, 1 segment) Kenku of 5 hit dice or higher can call lightning (as the spell; caster level is equal to hit dice) as an innate ability if the environmental conditions are right.
Change Shape. (major, 5 segments) Kenku of 3 hit dice or higher have the innate ability to polymorph self (as the spell) once in every 30 days; after 7 days in the polymorphed form, they must resume normal form (the kenku cannot continuously change forms it must pick one for the duration).
Disguise. (major, 1 turn) All kenku have well developed disguise abilities and can pass for human with only a 50% chance of detection (though the length of the nose usually gives away the deception).
Invisibility. (major, 1 segment) Kenku of 4 hit dice or higher have the innate ability to turn invisible with no limitations on frequency of use or duration of effects. (Although it will be removed if they attack. See the spell, invisibility.)
Thief Skills. Pick Pockets 45%, Open Locks 37%, Find Traps 35%, Move Silently 33%, Hide in Shadows 25%, Hear Noise 15%, Climb Walls 88%, Read Languages 20%
Level I.
Frequency. Uncommon; In Lair 20%
Number Appearing. 2-8 (Level III. 1d4)
Environment. Temperate/sub-tropical, uninhabited/wilderness areas (plain, scrub, rough, desert, hills); Temperate/sub-tropical, inhabited and/or patrolled areas (plain, scrub, rough, desert, hills)
Treasure Type. F
Experience. Kenku. XP 46 (or 28+2 per h.p.); Kenku (3 HD). XP 159 (or 120+3 per h.p.); Kenku (4 HD). XP 312 (or 240+4 per h.p.); Kenku (5 HD). XP 430 (or 320+5 per h.p.; +75 if call lightning can be used)
