FREQUENCY: Uncommon

FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Dungeon Level III])

FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Cold Wilderness Hills], [Cold Wilderness Plains], [Cold Wilderness Desert])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Cold Wilderness Forest])

FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Temperate Wilderness Hills], [Temperate Wilderness Plains], [Temperate Wilderness Plains])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Forest], [Temperate Wilderness Swamp])

FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Tropical Wilderness Hills], [Tropical Wilderness Desert])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Forest], [Tropical Wilderness Swamp], [Tropical Wilderness Plains])

NO. APPEARING: 2-8
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 6" / 18"
HIT DICE: 2 to 5
% IN LAIR: 20%
TREASURE TYPE: [F]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3 or 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/1-4/1-6 or by weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: [SB]
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 30%
INTELLIGENCE: Average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: M
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:
    2HD: II | 28 + 2
    3HD: III | 120 + 3
    4HD: IV | 240 + 4
    5HD: V | 420 + 5

SAVES, 2 to 4 HD: 13.12.14.16.15
SAVES, 5 HD: 11.11.12.13.13

Bipedal humanoid birds with wings,
clawed hands && feet,
and the head of a hawk w/ a sharp beak, kenku are mischievious creatures
which habitually USE their limited magical powers to annoy and inconvenience
humans, though their intent is not usu. to kill.

Every kenku has thieving abilities at the 4th level of xperience and they are <alt: every kenku has Robber (T4) abilities>
also expert fighters, usu. wielding a quarterstaff or a samurai sword. <bushi?> <katana? wakizashi?>
If unarmed they FIGHT with two claws (1-4 HP of damage each) and a vicious
bite for 1-6 HP damage.

<PP: 45%>
<OL: 37%>
<FRT: 35%>
<MS: 33%>
<HS: 25%>
<HN: 15%>
<CW: 88%>
<RL: 20%>
<alt: use Ninja abilities?>

If a group of kenku is encountered, its members will depend on the
group size. A small group will contain two creatures of 2HD and two
of 3HD or three & two respectively; a group of 6 or 7 will contain a
leader of 4HD, two creatures of 3HD and three or four of 2HD, while
a group of 8 will contain a supreme leader of 5HD.

Kenku of 3HD or more have certain magical powers. A 3HD creature
will have one first-level MU spell - often magic missile. They
also have the innate ability of shape change once in every 30 days;
after 7 days in the changed shape, they must resume normal form.
Particularly adventurous kenku have been known to USE this power to
assume the form of a god and accept offerings from credulous worshippers,
and this is but one example of the bizarre uses to which
kenku, and particularly the younger of the species, have put this power.

Kenku of 4HD have all the powers of those with 3HD plus an
additional first-level M-U spell -- usu. shocking grasp. They
also have the innate ability of [invisibility] with no limitations on frequency of
USE or duration of effects. Again, these powers are sometimes
put to unusual uses, but 4HD kenku tend to be older than the
3HD birds (the innate abilities develop with age & suitable training)
and less reckless in their activities.

Kenku with 5HD have all the powers of those with 4HD plus a
second-level MU spell -- usu. [mirror image] or [web]. They
may also [call lightning] -- an innate ability which has the same effects
as the 3rd level druidic spell.

All kenku have well-developed disguise abilities and can pass for
human with only 50% chance of detectioni (though the length of the
nose usu. gives away the deception).

Kenku favour 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 to be helpful to humans and will offer non-verbal
advice, though is usu. carefully designed to mislead & to tempt
the party into danger and/or difficulties. As a rough guide,
the approx. chance of a kenku actually aiding humans is 5%,
though this will vary with the circumstances.

Kenku do not speak; they appear to communicate with each other on
the telepathic level.

It is rumoured that kenku of more than 5HD 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 formalised social structure.

For purposes of aerial combat, they are manoeuvrability class D.
 

    by Rik Shepherd