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Tengu

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Tengu
Korakai, a tengu.
(Creature)

Tengu1 are an ancestry of feathered, crow-headed humanoids2 native to what is today known as the land of Kwanlai in Tian Xia.3

Appearance

Tengu are feathered, with most bearing black coats similar to crows and ravens, though brown and blue-black variants exist. Despite their bird-like appearance—and unlike the yamabushi tengus who resemble them—tengu lack wings or other natural means of flight.2 Tengu feet end in sharp raptor-like talons.3

Adventurers

A tengu who leaves their ancestral homeland feels an intense pull toward adventure, to cross vast distances, collect beautiful treasures, and brave the challenges of combat or the rolling sea. Tengu often become rogues, bards, oracles, rangers, or swashbucklers.4

History

The recent history of tengu is one of turmoil and struggle. For nearly 400 years tengu suffered as a persecuted and embattled underclass under the thumb of Imperial Lung Wa, and later many of its Successor States.5 Tengu suffered after Lung Wa's conquest of Kwanlai in 4280 AR,6 and during this era many fled to seek new lands to call home. Some took ships to the distant continents of Arcadia or Garund, while others took the harsh journey across the frozen north of the Crown of the World to Avistan. Even now, with the empire of Lung Wa gone for a century and Kwanlai an independent tengu nation, their diaspora remains large.5

Ecology

Tengu, like birds, reproduce by laying and inseminating eggs.7 However, apart from their reproduction, beaks, feathers, and taloned feet, they have humanoid traits like fingered hands with opposable thumbs, and plantigrade legs.2

According to the jorogumo, tengu are believed to possess some kind of supernatural immunity to both the spider creature's venom and their mind-twisting magic. The truth of these rumours has never been ascertained, but what is certain is that the jorogumos possess an irrepressible hatred of tengu that drives the normally subtle hunters into a near uncontrollable murderous rage.8

Culture

Disaspora tengu (known also as migrating tengu)9 culture happily assimilates aspects of foreign cultures in the same way a crow would build a nest of different materials. Tengu revere their elders, finding long-lived tengu just as qualified to lead tengu society as highly experienced tengu. They primarily live in the slums of human settlements in the Shackles and the Sodden Lands, where they take up residence in abandoned buildings or condemned warehouses. In the tengu nation of Kwanlai on the continent of Tian Xia, where the tengu are referred to as "in the roost" or "roosted",9 they maintain more and older tengu traditions, including raising their children communally in a creche.10 Most cities resemble poorly planned networks of slums. Most see them as little better than thieves and cutthroats, but tengu do not seem to mind, reveling in the attention it brings.11

Religion

Hei Feng is the patron deity of tengu.12

Jinx eater

Tengu have become popular amongst the pirates of the Inner Sea due to a long-held belief that they can absorb bad luck. Known as jinx eaters, these tengu 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. It is customary to have at least one tengu on a crew.135

Cultural groups

A tengu.

The last 400 years of struggle led many tengu to seek different lives beyond their ancestral homeland of Kwanlai. These enclaves and communities have developed into distinct cultural groups with unique beliefs and traditions. Some of the most prominent groups and subcultures include:5

  • Jinxfeather: Tengu who settled the western coast of Garund, particularly around the islands of the Shackles5
  • Kawatengu: River-dwelling folk renowned for isolationism and misanthropy, who live in secretive communities across many of the Successor States5
  • Konoha: One of the few humanoid ancestries who live amongst the yokai of the Forest of Spirits, living a simpler existence than many other tengu cultures5
  • Kwanlai: The most numerous tengu cultural group, composed of those from the tengu's ancestral homeland in modern Kwanlai and the surrounding lands14
  • Takatengu: Tengu of the mountains of Minkai who live a more ordered existence than most tengu, focused on asceticism and discipline.14

Yamabushi tengu

Winged oni known as yamabushi tengus derive their avian-inspired forms from tengu.15

References

Paizo published an article about tengu on pages 24-27 of Blood of the Beast.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. Many official sources differ on whether "tengu" has separate singular and plural forms. For example, Ancestry Guide, GM Core, and Tian Xia World Guide use "tengu" for both forms, while Monster Core uses "tengus" as the plural form. Tian Xia World Guide is the most recent, detailed, and specific source of the same canon tier, so "tengu" is used as the plural form here.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 James Jacobs, et al. “Races of the Dragon Empires” in Dragon Empires Gazetteer, 12. Paizo Inc., 2011
  3. 3.0 3.1 Saif Ansari, et al. “Introduction” in Heroes of Golarion, 3. Paizo Inc., 2019
  4. Logan Bonner, et al. “1: Ancestries and Backgrounds” in Advanced Player's Guide, 27. Paizo Inc., 2020
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Eleanor Ferron. Tengu” in Ancestry Guide, 56. Paizo Inc., 2021
  6. James Jacobs, et al. “Regions of the Dragon Empires” in Dragon Empires Gazetteer, 17. Paizo Inc., 2011
  7. James Jacobs. (November 23, 2015). Comment on "Ask James Jacobs ALL your Questions Here", Paizo Messageboards.
  8. Ron Lundeen. “Adventure Toolbox” in Assault on Hunting Lodge Seven, 83. Paizo Inc., 2020
  9. 9.0 9.1 Logan Bonner, et al. Ancestries & Backgrounds” in Player Core 2, 32. Paizo Inc., 2024
  10. Eren Ahn, et al. “Peoples” in Tian Xia Character Guide, 32. Paizo Inc., 2024
  11. James Jacobs, et al. “Chapter One: Races” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 11. Paizo Inc., 2011
  12. James Jacobs, et al. “Life in the Dragon Empires” in Dragon Empires Gazetteer, 60. Paizo Inc., 2011
  13. Mike Shel. “Threats of the Shackles” in Isles of the Shackles, 50. Paizo Inc., 2012
  14. 14.0 14.1 Eleanor Ferron. Tengu” in Ancestry Guide, 57. Paizo Inc., 2021
  15. James Jacobs & Tim Nightengale. “Bestiary” in The Brinewall Legacy, 88–89. Paizo Inc., 2011