The
kenku, first featured in the
Fiend Folio of original AD&D, has intrigued its share of gamers. Before the current diversity of "monster" races now available in PFRPG, this was one of those
Monster Manual or
Fiend Folio entries that players would point to and ask their DMs, "Can I play one of those?" The kenku has seen several different iterations thru D&D's different editions. PFRPG brought the tengu to players. The crow-like
tengu are a race of scavengers and survivalists, relying on thievery and swordplay to get by in a harsh and unforgiving world. The
unchained tengu (17 RP) brings a little bit of kenku into the race, adding skilled, great ally and mimicry as racial traits.
- Ability Score Traits: Tengus are fast and observant, but relatively fragile and delicate.. Wisdom +2, Dexterity +2, Constitution -2
- Type: Tengus are humanoids with the tengu subtype.
- Size: Medium
- Speed: 30’
- Languages: Begin with Common, Tengu
Offense Racial Traits:
- Natural Weapons: A tengu has a bite attack that deals 1d3 points of damage.
- Sword-trained: Tengus are trained from birth in swordplay, and as a result are automatically proficient with sword-like weapons (including bastard swords, daggers, elven curve blades, falchions, greatswords, kukris, longswords, punching daggers, rapiers, scimitars, short swords, and two-bladed swords).
Feats, Skills Racial Traits:
Misc Racial Traits
- Mimicry (Ex): A tengu can perfectly mimic familiar sounds, voices, and accents. This ability does not enable the tengu to speak languages it can't normally speak. To duplicate a specific individual's voice, a tengu makes a Bluff check; a listener familiar with the voice being imitated must succeed on an opposed Sense Motive check to discern that the voice isn't genuine.
- Great Ally (Ex): Tengus work exceptionally well with their allies. When successfully aided on a skill check or attack roll by an ally, or when aiding another, a tengu applies or gains a +4 bonus on its check or attack roll (instead of the normal +2 bonus). Furthermore, a tengu gains a +4 bonus on attack rolls against an opponent flanked by an ally (instead of the normal +2 bonus).
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| Tengu rogue by D-MAC (http://d-mac.deviantart.com/). |
Senses Racial Traits:
Alternate Racial Traits:
- Carrion Sense: Many tengus have a natural ability to sniff out carrion. While their sense of smell isn't as keen as that of other species, it is particularly attuned to the scent of injuries or death. Tengus with this racial trait have a limited scent ability, which only functions for corpses and badly wounded creatures (50% or fewer hit points). This racial trait replaces gifted linguist.
- Claw Attack: Tengus with this racial trait have learned to use their claws as natural weapons. They gain two claw attacks as primary natural attacks that deal 1d3 points of damage, and are treated as having the Improved Unarmed Strike feat for the purpose of qualifying for other feats. This racial trait replaces sword-trained.
- Deft Swords: Some tengu learn dazzling blade techniques that allow them to use their weapons to protect against combat maneuvers. They gain a +2 dodge bonus to CMD while wielding a swordlike weapon. This racial trait replaces natural weapon and sneaky.
- Exotic Weapon Training: Instead of swords, some tengus are trained in exotic weaponry. Such tengus choose a number of eastern weapons equal to 3 + their Intelligence bonus, and gain proficiency with these weapons. This racial trait replaces swordtrained.
- Glide: Some tengus can use their feathered arms and legs to glide. Tengus with this racial trait can make a DC 15 Fly check to fall safely from any height without taking falling damage, as if using feather fall. When falling safely, a tengu may make an additional DC 15 Fly check to glide, moving 5 feet laterally for every 20 feet he falls. This racial trait replaces gifted linguist.
