Centaur
Centaurs are a species descended from Greece, but they've spread to pretty much every corner of the planet by now. This species first came into existence in the 7th century BCE as a direct offspring from deities. They did not evolve from any other species, which makes them scientifically dubious to determine. For a long time these people were considered brutes, which is an idea that still kind of sticks around, but Centaurs, despite their somewhat large, looming, intimidating appearance, are a very nurturing and wise species. Centaurs are most popularly known for their athleticism and knowledge of astronomy.
But boy, are they difficult to make clothes for.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Centaur anatomy is quite wonky. They are, as described, half human, half horse, with a human torso where the horse's neck would be. In place of human ears, they have pointy horse ears, pointing upwards, but they are still on the side of their head. Generally their faces are somewhat warped also, their noses are long like a horse's face, but still mostly retain human shape. Centaur fingernails are very sturdy, broad and usually blackened. Both males and females usually have muscular torsos, because (traditionally) females need to cradle their heavy, heavy foal baby for breastfeeding.
Their guts are where it gets truly wonky. Their human halves are comparably emptier. The human half houses a massive, monster truck force level heart, the liver, the pancreas and organs like it. The horse half houses the lungs, the stomach, intestines, bladder, kidneys and reproductive organs. This makes them quite prone to illnesses and blood clottings, but what do you expect when you merge two completely different species together? Stability?
Biological Traits
Centaurs did not evolve from any species, they are a direct descendant of deities. The first centaur, Centaurus, mated with many Magnesian mares, out of which several more horse-like centaurs spawned. These beastly traits mellowed the more Centaurs reproduced with other species.
Another subspecies of Centaurs came into existence on the island of Cyprus, but these horned cousins' within a few generations lost most of their defining traits.
Genetics and Reproduction
Centaur females have the perk that no matter their partner, the child will always be a centaur. Satyrs or fauns, however, can pass down some of their species traits. Deer fauns have a chance of impregnating a centaur, resulting in a deer centaur child.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Centaurs are capable of eating meat but tend to not do so because of cultural traditions, as well as catching illnesses from it fairly easily.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Centaurs live in large groups, most often determined by familial ties. These groups go by the rules of elders, and put high priority in the wellbeing of said elders. Centaurs do not make much of a distinction between genders, their hierarchy revolves more around age, and physical strength. Generally, centaurs are matriarchal.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Centaurs at this point, can be encountered practically anywhere in the world. They tend to prefer open plains for habitats, and are most clustered around the Mediterranean. They are also commonly found in north Africa and north America, and are rarely ever seen in East Asia.
Average Intelligence
Sapient.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Cultus of the High Stars: A religious group whose teachings are comparable to astrology. Centaurs were among the first to name and divide the constellations, and they take the fortunes to be read from their positions very seriously. This cult worships the likeness of Chiron amongst others, andis lead by androgynous priests. There is no higher command in the cult than these priests, they merely obey the same word, and expect each other to follow it accordingly.
Beauty Ideals
Long hair, braided tails and strong physiques are considered attractive and well-groomed traits.
Gender Ideals
Both traditional genders strive for the gift of knowledge, as well as athletic talent. Most centaurs are taught several athletic feats, but javelin throwing and archery are most popular. They seem to have taken a liking to rugby recently as well.
Female centaurs especially are expected to be strong, fertile and assertive. Centaur women tend to be very stern yet loving mothers, but especially the type of mom you don't want to get into a fight with at the parent council.
Centaurs especially interested in the stars above adopt an androgynous priesthood. These are centaurs with every bit of knowledge there is about the skies, whether be astrology or astronomy. These centaurs are addressed with unique pronouns and are often gifted a new name as well. One could describe these centaurs as monks, but they still fully function in society and do not seclude themselves. They do have their own settlements where they hold meditations, sermons, councils and philosophical lessons. They merely wear special garbs, are treated entirely gender neutral and are expected to be nurturing, patient people who are eager to serve.
Courtship Ideals
Centaurs live in groups based on family ties, and as such, a centaur will often be expected to marry into another strong, prestigious centaur family, or a distant relative to strengthen familial ties within the group. Marriage in centaur societies is often just to build up wealth and social ties, and not always out of love. Nowadays arranged marriages are less common, but centaurs put in arranged marriages often aren't much bothered by it. It is perfectly acceptable to, outside of the public image of an official marriage, have an extramarital lover or two in private, for both parties involved. Marriage is often only for benefits, not for love, which centaurs consider too frivolous to build social stability around.
Two centaurs in an arranged marriages will live under the same roof, on either the groom or the bride's side, but may live entirely apart, and instead share chambers with their chosen lovers, friends, or family.
Relationship Ideals
Centaurs pride in having incredibly large and close-knit families, the elderly traditionally stay over with their children or nephews/nieces. Centaurs are monogamous.
Average Technological Level
Centaurs, before integrating with human societies, were a nomadic gatherer people, with a limited toolset beyond stone tools and ceramics. Centaurs , faring decently well in the cold and feeling not the need to cook, had an aversion towards fire for the longest time, which takes metallurgy off the table. Centaurs however, are clever, and after human contact quickly began to adept new technology from this newfound knowledge. Centaurs became quickly adept in magitech after finding how well certain minerals and metals conduct magic, and became quickly adept at creating advanced telescopes, and came to invent the first magical 'projector', which could depict the night sky on a large, polished obsidian tablet. Centaurs, with their immense physical strength and endurance, are very adept at building large, powerful stone structures, which is something they come to prefer over all other materials, even in the modern day.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Most centaurs speak Greek, purely out of respect for their ancestors.
Common Etiquette Rules
Most centaurs when in the company of humans refuse to use chairs. Not only because they are usually too large to be seated anywhere, but also because their usual height when seated tends to tower over their company, therefore they prefer to stay at a height where they will remain eye contact.
Common Dress Code
Centaurs were fully nude for most of their history, only adding cloaks and blankets to their person during cold seasons, or armor during war. When they started to integrate with human societies, though, they adopted basic dress to cover their whole bodies, just for basic decency of not having your horse anus directly in someone's face when standing in line in front of them.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Centaurs have the running tradition of being incredibly knowledgeable in the fields of astronomy. Centaurs are quite the fans of Luna marble and have built countless temples, pavilions and other structures with it.
Centaurs are very fond of tattoos. The average age of receiving a tattoo is age 15, which is the age where most centaurs are considered to have reached a level of maturity where they are expected to provide for the family. These tattoos can be of anything, but mostly include astronomical shapes, wavy shapes and small emblems symbolizing concepts important to the centaur bearing the tattoo.
See gender ideals.
Common Myths and Legends
Chiron and Centaurus are popular as ancestral gods and also count as their major historical figures. Centaurs hold a lot of respect for these figures and their image adorns ornaments in about every centaur home.
Scientific Name
Homo Equidae
Origin/Ancestry
Greece
Lifespan
About the age of a human.
Average Height
Compared to horses, relatively short! Their horse legs are only so much longer than the average human's legs. Depending on the subspecies, centaurs are either 140~220cm tall.
Average Weight
Can range from 350 to 800 kg.
Average Length
[eye emoji]
Average Physique
Centaurs possess bodily strength of a horse, but the humanoid part of their body tends to be muscular as well. Centaur mothers usually have the burliest arms in the household, due to constantly carrying their offspring around. Centaurs tend not to get too overweight.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments