Centaurs

'Sir, sandstorm in the west!' 'That's no sandstorm, lad. That's the centaurs.' - overheard in Fort Portam

Centaurs are an unusual species, appearing to be a horse that becomes a man or elf at the neck. They exist in great, tribal herds, roaming the flat lands of Ehaes on ancestral migratory paths, hunting, gathering, and subsisting in harmony with nature. The herds will meet in regular areas every decade, where they trade resources and members - many of these meeting sites have been consistent for millennia, and tens of thousands of centaurs may arrive at these tribal gatherings, exchanging goods and stories around the campfire, brokering marriages and trade deals into the early hours of the morning. Typically, the centaur herds want little to do with the other races of the world, and are content to leave them be. Issues arise, however, if the other races block their migratory paths with construction, and the wrath of a centaur herd whose paths are blocked is the stuff of legend.

Basic Information

Ecology and Habitats

Centaurs typically inhabit flat lands, where their herds can roam, forage, and hunt freely, such as savannas and steppes.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Centaurs are omnivorous, their diets typically consisting of both heavy vegetables, such as grasses and hay, and meat. They typically do not farm, so eat only what can be foraged or hunted in their range.

Biological Cycle

Centaurs are born able to run, with the body of a foal and a toddler child. After birth, they reach maturity after around 10 years, and have a similar lifespan to that of humans, averaging around 60 years, though over 100 is not unheard of.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Facially, centaurs are most similar to humans, though they have somewhat elven pointed ears and often have larger teeth.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Centaurs have a number of traditional names that they typically draw from, usually being those of an honoured ancestor or relative. Their second name is usually related to their profession, or which tribe they hail from if they are outside their native tribe.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Centaurs speak Sylvan, a language common to those races living in the wild places, and often speak the language of the races living in the areas of their migratory range, typically Common or Elven.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Centaur culture is centered around tradition, their tribes following the traditional paths, and many of those within taking a career path traditional for their family. Those who are not content with the traditions of their herd will often join another herd at a gathering, or may leave the herds altogether to join outside society. Some may be exiled from the herds as well, and may live alone or enter outside society. As such, Centaurs are rare in the other nations of the world.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Centaur herds typically keep to themselves, living peacefully outside the towns and cities of the other races. They may trade for goods they cannot produce themselves. Issues often arise when the outside races interrupt their migratory paths, with herds stampeding over farms and through towns to follow the ancestral paths, woe betide any who try to obstruct them.

Lifespan

60 years

Average Height

7-8ft, with both the horse and human sections

Average Weight

Heavier than an average horse

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The lower half of a centaur has fur colouration similar to that found in horses of all breeds. The upper half has a range of skin tones similar to humans, and those living in colder areas are often covered in coarse, thick body hair.