Kenku

Kenku are one of the least accepted civilized races, often perceived as thieves or signs of bad luck, plague, and disasters. Their bird-like appearance makes them unreadable by most humanoids, and because of this are almost never trusted. Due to the superstitions surrounding them, most kenku live away from the rest of mortalkind, or find homes among pirates and thieves guilds.

Appearance
Kenku are avian humanoids whose features strongly resemble crows. They have broad beaks and both their arms and their legs end in powerful talons. Though kenku are unable to fly, iridescent feathers cover their bodies—this plumage is usually black, though occasionally brown or blue-back. Their skin, talons, beaks, and eyes are similarly colored, and most non-kenku have great difficulty telling individuals apart. Kenku who wish to be more easily identified by other humanoids may bleach certain feathers or decorate their beaks with dyes, paint, or tiny glued ornaments. Though they are about the same height as humans, they have slight builds and tend to hunch over. A kenku’s eyes sit slightly back and to the sides of his head, giving him binocular vision with a slightly more panoramic field of view than other humanoids.

History
The kenku have no known origin. The earliest appearance of kenku was followed by the great plague.

Society
Kenku live in close-knit gangs, family groups, or clans, commonly called "murders" in which they keep to themselves. Overall, they remain secretive about their culture, which is a combination of old traditions laced with aspects scavenged from any culture they come in contact with.

Most kenku murders tend to follow a tribal structure. Tribal rules remain loose and subjective, and tribe members settle any conflicts through public arbitration. While every kenku has a voice in their society, in most settlements, kenku still defer to their revered elders for wisdom and advice.

Jinx Eater
Kenku have become popular amongst pirates, due to a belief that they can absorb bad luck. Known as jinx eaters, these kenku integrate themselves into the crews as best they can, although their position as glorified mascots keeps them from the worst depredations of life on the high seas.