Kenkatoo

Created by PixelSword77 and Drake1604

We watched as the forest erupted in a bright shades of yellow and white. The creatures blared on their exotic instruments as they danced about and erupted in cacophunus singing. The chaos came to a close as the most decorated of the bird creatures came forward with his arms open. The feathers on his head extended into a crown as he welcomed us as guests to the flock.

-Aseir Rein, "An Exploration of the Feywild."

The Kenkatoo are the Feywild equivalent of the flightless Kenku. They delve into the wonders of music, considering their emotional enlightenment a fair trade for the flight they wold away long ago.

Trade for Talent

Long ago, the Kenkatoo were adept flyers. However, much like the Kenku of the Material Plane, they lacked creativity. Being creatures of the majestic and artistic Feywild, they longed to be included in the creative ingenuity surrounding them.

The most ambitious of the early Kenkatoo brought it upon himself to bring creativity to his kind. He struck a deal with the great Archfey, trading the beautiful wings of his kind for the gift of art, as well as the tools to share it. The Archfey accepted the trade, and graced the Kenkatoo with the talents of creation and preformance.

Since the trade, the Kenkatoo have dwelled on the ground and in the trees of the Feywild, filling the forests with beautiful displays of dance and song.

Homes of Song

Kenkatoo live in large flocks in the forests of the Feywild. Their homes are hidden in the brances of the trees, and they keep a large clearing open beneath them. This clearing is used for constant daily preformances, as well as celebrations.

The society generally revolves around individual skill and physical attractiveness. Usually, the most vibrant and creative Kenkatoo is appointed unanimously as a flock's leader. This title holds only the powers of greeting guests and organizing the schedule for each day's preformances.

The towns' centers are always filled with the sounds of beautiful art that resounds through the flock's home. This constant music soothes the beasts of the Feywild, detering them from attacking.

Singers and Playwrites

Every Kenkatoo adopts some form of art when they reach maturity. Most take on storytelling, such as song or theatre. No matter what art one chooses to follow, a Kenkatoo will devote its life to developing and sharing its skill.

The livelihood of the Kenktoo is entirely centered on the sale of prodigous works. The preformances are honorable, but are primarily used to assure the quality of a work. If the work receives positive recognition, it is copied and sold to nations of other Fey races in exchange for food and materials. The only objects produced by the Kenkatoo themselves are finely crafted instruments, made by the elders wholse talents have faded slightly, but still have understanding of the craft.

Colorful Folk

The Kenkatoo are very colorful creatures. Most have bright white feathers covering their bodies, but it is not uncommon for them to have pastel shades of any color of the rainbow.

Most notably, every Kenkatoo has a vibrantly colored plumage of feathers that folds under the outer ones. These plumes come in every color, and are always large and beautiful. In ancient times, these plumes were used as defense mechanisms to frighten predators. Now they are simply another beautiful point of pride for each Kenkatoo.

Wandering Entertainers

Most Kenkatoo never leave their flocks, choosing instead to busy themselves with creating beautiful works to bring pride and fortune to their home. A Kenkatoo adventurer is usually a cocky yet talented artist who desires to spread his work throughout the material plane. Others may be seeking higher profits for their flocks by selling their works and establishing trade with the less refined creatures found there.