Tengu

The tengu was an avian humanoid creature found in Kara-Tur. It was also known as a kenku, but this name was also given to another avian race, the kenku, which may have descended from the tengu.

History
A number of flying kenkus, alongside gargoyles, were attendants to the one who waits in the Nine Hells. In the Year of the Prince, 1357 DR, when the Great Door appeared in the Hells, the gargoyles and kenkus flew through ahead of their master. The kenkus emerged first in a pit outside Waterdeep, and attacked Kyriani Agrivar, Onyx the Invincible, Parwyyd Hanifar, and Dunstanny; Onyx kept them occupied while the other dealt with the Door. One hurled a lightning spell at him. While Kyriani was separated into Cybriana and Kilili, Kilili flew amongst the kenkus. The exit of the Door was then redirected to the skies over Waterdeep, and the kenkus and gargoyles were met in battle by Vajra Valmeyjar and Timoth Eyesbright, before the City Guard and Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun arrived to defend the city. Later, when the exit of the gate was restored to its original location, the same flying creatures assaulted Cybriana, Onyx, Parwyyd Hanifar, and Dunstanny again, before they ended the threat of the Great Door and the one who waits.

Society
Quorlinn was worshiped by the kenku as a patron and creator deity.

Notable tengu
The tengu Kwi'asp was slain by Xax Chung, hero of Koje in Koryo, in the mid–14th century DR.

Background
The tengu is based on the tengu of Japanese legend. The tengu was presented in earlier editions of D&D, such as in the Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix, and later Oriental Adventures for 3rd edition, which stated it was also known as a "kenku". However, the kenku presented in Monster Manual III for 3.5 edition, and Monster Manual 2 for 4th edition is a very different creature, sharing some traits like mimicry and a crow-like appearance, but lacking wings and magic, and having a very different society. It is therefore assumed that these are two distinct types of creature. This article presents the earlier version of the tengu.

The statement on Monster Manual III page 87 and Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide page 96 that the kenkus hailed from Kara-Tur, where the tengu was originally presented and culturally fitting, suggests that the kenku descended from the tengu.