Tengu The tengu was a winged avian humanoid creature found in Kara - Tur . There were two kinds of tengu : the crow tengu with a crow head and more avian characteristics ; and the humanoid tengu , with more humanoid characteristics . Description . The more avian of the two , the crow tengu bore a bird - like head and beak , similar to that of a crow . Its body was covered in feathers ; these were brightly hued , often in shades of green , red , or yellow . Feathered wings emerged from between their shoulder blades , enabling flight . The crow tengu was short , standing only 2 – 3 feet ( 61 – 91 centimeters ) tall . The humanoid tengu , meanwhile , had a human - like head and face , but its nose was unusually long . They had no furthers , but their skin was blue or red . Approximately 70 % of humanoid tengu possessed wings like the crow tengu ; these were stunted but still permitted flight . Powers . Notably , both breeds of tengu could perfectly mimic any voice that they had heard , whether speech or animal noises . The crow and humanoid tengu could both cast the " polymorph " and " shout " spells , thrice a day . In addition , the humanoid tengu could also cast " phantasmal force " thrice a day and " ghost sound " and " misdirection " as they willed , and turn invisible whenever they wished . Finally , they could cast an " ancient curse " or bestow a " reward " , one time a week . The humanoid tengu was also a natural shukenja , commanding the same spellcasting ability ; and a natural kensai , with the same combat prowess , knowledge of a single martial art and a few special maneuvers within it . Combat . Crow tengu typically wielded a katana and wakizashi in battle . Their common tactic was to cast " shout " to disorientate their foes , then swoop in to attack with their blades . Humanoid tengu most often commanded the crow tengu in battle , while they themselves stood back . They proved to be cunning and fierce warriors if threatened , however . Personality . All tengu were by nature incredibly secretive and obsessed with maintaining their privacy . They were also impulsive and unpredictable , driven by their whims , and intolerant of human kind . The crow tengu were ill - tempered and malevolent . They aimed to hurt any human who trespassed on tengu lands . The humanoid tengu were less aggressive and not as malevolent as the crow tengu , and more intelligent . They still did not like humans , and would inflict cruel pranks on them regardless . Society . Owing to the tengu ' s propensity for secrecy and privacy , outsiders knew very little of their way of life . Although solitary creatures , they were typically gathered into " flocks " , comprising up to eight adults with equal numbers of males and females , with two to eight hatchlings . A female tengu would lay one or two eggs each year . The crow tengu was somewhat more common than the humanoid , so up to three humanoid tengu usually dwelled among crow tengu flocks . The humanoid tengu had a higher status than the crow tengu . Crow tengu deferred to their rank and obeyed their orders . Tengu were diurnal creatures and had omnivorous diets . They ate mostly fruits and grains , with occasional worms , insects , fish , or small mammals . However they were especially fond of strong alcoholic drinks like sake , and could be appeased , bribed , or even befriended with copious volumes of liquor . Tengu spoke their own language , as well as the languages of animals and of the neighboring human culture . Tengu of both breeds particularly enjoyed music , especially that made by drum or flute . Many kept pet songbirds , which lived in cages hung from trees near tengu lairs . Humanoid tengu appreciated shukenja and wu jen , as well as kensai who chose to master the sword . Very rarely , a humanoid tengu could be persuaded to tutor a sword kensai in their own skills . Such mentoring took one to three months , and was a valuable experience . This could go further , however . When a tribe of tengu witnessed the 11 - year - old Muki Nobi cut the throats of bandits as they slept after slaughtering his family , they were both sympathetic to his suffering and impressed by his savagery , and invited him to train with them . For two years , he learned swordsmanship , military skills , and guerilla warfare , and grew to be a samurai and a brutal , battle - ready daimyo . Magic and items . All humanoid tengu possessed a magical fan made of brightly colored feathers that folded into a katana that could wielded in combat . When opened and fanned , however , it had three distinct powers , each of which could be used three times a day . First , the fan could blow a strong gale ( similar to a " wind breath " spell . Second , it could cast the " quick growth " spell . Finally , it had the odd ability to cause abnormal growth or shrinkage of a facial feature ; the tengu preferred to target the ears or nose . Tengu lands . Tengu could be found in temperate , subtropical , and tropical climates , in mountainous areas that were generally uninhabited yet close to settled lands . They did not build villages or permanent settlements , but constructed crude nests of sticks and weeds in forest glades , in meadows , and on the banks of ponds and streams . In Kozakura , on the island of Shinkoku , tengu were often spotted on the flanks of the mountains of Ichiyama and Meruyama , and in the ruins of korobokuru settlements . A band of five tengu laired in a hut on the lower slopes of a mountain near the village of Tosa in Miyama Province on Shinkoku . In the mid – 14th century DR , they plagued the villagers with cruel pranks , designed to public embarrass and expose secrets or personality flaws , such as arrogance , greed , or vanity , though rarely were they lethal . Tengu were also found in the neighboring realm of Wa . The dangerous wu jen Shiz - ti , ruler of Paikai in Wa , kept candles made of tengu fat in his stone temple lair . History . It was theorized that tengu were among the original inhabitants of Kara - Tur . But at the coming of humans and human civilization , the tengu were forced ever deeper into the mountains . Notable tengu . The tengu Kwi ' asp was slain by Xax Chung , hero of Koje in Koryo , in the mid – 14th century DR . A humanoid tengu " polymorph ed " into human form posed as a dai - oni or " great oni " at the Black Temple in Miyama Province in Kozakura . It conducted false rituals and exhorted its [ [ sohei ] followers to raid nearby villages for tribute . The tengu had no desire to rule , but rather committed these crimes as some kind of grand and cruel cosmic prank against the humans . In [ [ T ' u Lung ] ] , the tengu [ [ Ancheen ] ] was slain in its lair by the hero [ [ Yuga Sin ] ] , after the giant [ [ Yondak ] ] lifted a mountainside to give him access . Appendix . Background . The tengu is based on the [ [ Wikipedia : Tengu | tengu ] ] of Japanese legend . " [ [ Oriental Adventures ( 3rd edition ) | Oriental Adventures ] ] " for 3rd edition presented another version of the tengu , sharing many traits and powers but differing in others . As this tengu is presented for the Rokugan setting ( though the book suggests it is more generally applicable ) , this version of the tengu is disregarded for this article . " Oriental Adventures " also stated that the tengu is also known as a " kenku " . Two versions of the kenku have been presented throughout the history of " [ [ Dungeons & Dragons ] ] " , both valid for the " [ [ Forgotten Realms ] ] " : a [ [ kenku ( winged ) | winged kenku ] ] and a [ [ kenku | wingless kenku ] ] . These also share some traits and powers , but differ from each other and the tengu in many respects . It is unclear how the three races are related . However , [ [ Monster Manual III 3rd edition | " Monster Manual III " ( 3rd edition ) ] ] page 87 and " [ [ Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide ] ] " page 96 state that the wingless kenkus hailed from Kara - Tur , where the tengu was originally presented and culturally fitting , suggesting that the kenku descended from the tengu . This article presents the tengu of 1st - and 2nd - edition " Dungeons & Dragons " . References . [ [ Category : Tengu ] ] [ [ Category : Humanoids ] ] [ [ Category : Creatures of chaotic evil alignment ] ] [ [ Category : Creatures of chaotic neutral alignment ] ] [ [ Category : Creatures ] ]