Centaurs
"The first thing we noticed was the sound. Slight at first, but increasing quickly in volume until it rivaled a thunderstorm. The cowards in our ranks already fled then, before the battle had begun. Yet there was no battle to be had that day, all our lines shattered in an instant. It's a miracle I survived, much less unharmed" - account of a former soldier of Divinity of Bēlqūašdu, late 1990s
Half man, half horse, Centaurs are one of the most feared races across the Eighth Realm. Their reputation as warmongering merchants of death precedes them in most places, leading to a mostly negative image. While great hosts and hordes of centaurs are not uncommon, they are also generally short-lived, relying more on the strength of an individual than any sense of national of political loyalty. More commonly, centaurs are scattered in smaller-sized chiefdoms, still large enough to pose a threat, but not enough to be civilization-ruining as the greatest hordes have proven to be. Centaur nations are usually aggressive, and often demand tribute from those near them as insurance against their raids. Centaurs will freely raid and pillage other nations that refuse them tribute if they feel they can get away with it.
Centaur society is often mobile, with many tribes herding sheep, goats, horses, cattle, and more exotic animals. Usually individual tribes do not settle in one place for too long, which can make the borders of a centaur nation quite porous, with tribes crossing borders to let their herds graze in the best available lands. This leads to frequent conflict between neighbors as each accuses the other of trying to steal lands. This lack of a settled population has both benefits and costs. While having a large population used to living a harsh life makes for both increased quality and quantity of soldiers it also means centaurs are slow to adopt new technology, usually only learning of new innovations when facing a foe that uses them. This may be somewhat neutered for larger nations that actually posses a permanent capital populated by a sedentary population, but in general even the greatest hordes struggle with adopting the newest military innovations.
Socially, Centaurs have a very warlike and aggressive society, much like that expressed to the outer world. Contests of strength and stamina are common, and traditionally masculine activities are held in high regard. Hunting, trapping, and shooting are popular activities that provide the additional benefit of supplying food for the tribe to supplement their diet with. Centaurs also enjoy sports such as wrestling and jousting (though the latter functions somewhat differently due to them being unable to fall off their own lower body). Farming and gathering, on the other hand, are looked down upon as women's work. This is ironic because centaurs actually make very good farmers, since they do not need plow animals.
Centaurs are near-universally polygamous. The amount of wives a centaur has is usually determined by his success in battle, something that also contributes to their warlike society. A centaur that is killed may have some of his former wives granted to other centaurs, depending on their age and status. Often, such marriages are just to ensure these women have a provider, though if a widow wishes to do away with married life entirely her wish is almost always granted, and is taken as a sign she had a strong bond with her husband. One issue that arises in larger hordes is the concentration of women towards the monarch and upper classes, something that has lead to centaur hordes being prone to the issues endemic to harem-based courts. This is not usually a problem in individual tribes as the pool of women to draw from is smaller and the leadership is more likely to be replaced.
Half man, half horse, Centaurs are one of the most feared races across the Eighth Realm. Their reputation as warmongering merchants of death precedes them in most places, leading to a mostly negative image. While great hosts and hordes of centaurs are not uncommon, they are also generally short-lived, relying more on the strength of an individual than any sense of national of political loyalty. More commonly, centaurs are scattered in smaller-sized chiefdoms, still large enough to pose a threat, but not enough to be civilization-ruining as the greatest hordes have proven to be. Centaur nations are usually aggressive, and often demand tribute from those near them as insurance against their raids. Centaurs will freely raid and pillage other nations that refuse them tribute if they feel they can get away with it.
Centaur society is often mobile, with many tribes herding sheep, goats, horses, cattle, and more exotic animals. Usually individual tribes do not settle in one place for too long, which can make the borders of a centaur nation quite porous, with tribes crossing borders to let their herds graze in the best available lands. This leads to frequent conflict between neighbors as each accuses the other of trying to steal lands. This lack of a settled population has both benefits and costs. While having a large population used to living a harsh life makes for both increased quality and quantity of soldiers it also means centaurs are slow to adopt new technology, usually only learning of new innovations when facing a foe that uses them. This may be somewhat neutered for larger nations that actually posses a permanent capital populated by a sedentary population, but in general even the greatest hordes struggle with adopting the newest military innovations.
Socially, Centaurs have a very warlike and aggressive society, much like that expressed to the outer world. Contests of strength and stamina are common, and traditionally masculine activities are held in high regard. Hunting, trapping, and shooting are popular activities that provide the additional benefit of supplying food for the tribe to supplement their diet with. Centaurs also enjoy sports such as wrestling and jousting (though the latter functions somewhat differently due to them being unable to fall off their own lower body). Farming and gathering, on the other hand, are looked down upon as women's work. This is ironic because centaurs actually make very good farmers, since they do not need plow animals.
Centaurs are near-universally polygamous. The amount of wives a centaur has is usually determined by his success in battle, something that also contributes to their warlike society. A centaur that is killed may have some of his former wives granted to other centaurs, depending on their age and status. Often, such marriages are just to ensure these women have a provider, though if a widow wishes to do away with married life entirely her wish is almost always granted, and is taken as a sign she had a strong bond with her husband. One issue that arises in larger hordes is the concentration of women towards the monarch and upper classes, something that has lead to centaur hordes being prone to the issues endemic to harem-based courts. This is not usually a problem in individual tribes as the pool of women to draw from is smaller and the leadership is more likely to be replaced.
Lifespan
85 years
Average Height
8'
Related Organizations
Low
Physical Strength
High
Societal Organization
Low
Birth Rate
Average
Lifespan Classification
Average
Technological Progress
Low
Comments