Centaur

Centaurs have told conflicting stories of their origins. Some say they were one of the old races that came about before the ancient, mythical, Years of Freezing and Flooding. Others claim to have been humans who loved their mounts so much, they prayed to be combined with them, and were given their desire--or horses who envied the abilities and cleverness of the humans. Still others believe that the centaurs were an experiment of the gods to combine human intelligence with equine speed and strength, or even migrants from the Feywild.
Either way, centaurs have galloped across Avasi for a long time, and feel great kinship towards both horses and humans. Centaurs have a unique religious system, worshipping a multitude of spirits both minor and major as well as the popular four gods.
They gather in herdlike, often nomadic bands or tribes, though some centaurs have settled down in a region. This lifestyle means that centaurs can be found in most parts of Avasi, except for the highest peaks.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Centaurs possess upper bodies similar to Humans, with the lower body similar to that of a small horse. This gives them a total of six limbs.

Growth Rate & Stages

Centaurs live around 60 years on average. They reach maturity at the age of 15, but most Centaur cultures require a coming-of-age trial or ceremony before a mature Centaur receives the respect of an adult. Centaurs are considered elderly by the age of 50, and those who manage to live past the average lifespan are often honored elders.

Ecology and Habitats

Centaurs, like their equine counterparts, prefer open plains and steppes. They are native to the continent of Avasi, and not many Centaurs have left there.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Centaurs, unlike the horses they are so often compared to, are omnivorous. Most centaurs hunt and gather, usually in groups, and divide any food acquired into equal portions for their tribe if possible. Some tribes have a sacred animal or plant that they refuse to hunt, and will often use it as a symbol.

Additional Information

Social Structure

As mentioned before, centaurs prefer tribal structures. However due to their (usually) nomadic nature, centaurs usually move in bands of a few dozen people. The bands that compose a tribe are expected to meet at least once a lunar month, to coordinate movement and discuss issues of importance. In times of danger, a tribe might move with all of its members for safety.
Centaurs usually have a hierarchy within their bands, and the larger tribe, based on experience, skill in bringing food and leadership abilities, or nonlethal combat to gain a position, depending on the region. Tribes are usually composed of twenty to fifty bands, but are sometimes larger, often due to higher population density in an area, a successful tribal alliance, or a combination of the two.
The larger tribes sometimes come together to form alliances, with up to 10,000 members. o One is the Herd of the Wise Rhinoceros, an alliance formed to protect against the aggression of the Audrenese dwarves. Centaurs who are not nomadic usually form their own small, independent settlements. Some centaurs have also become loyal to one of Avasi's human nations.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most regions of Avasi, excluding the World's Roof Mountains.

Civilization and Culture

Gender Ideals

Some centaur tribes have restrictive gender roles, but most of them tend to ignore it. Whoever is most qualified to lead a band or tribe will receive that position, regardless of gender.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Centaurs speak a wide variety of languages. Tribes usually don't have their own unique language, but speak a regional language used hy multiple other tribes in an area. Many centaurs also adopt languages from other races, and the majority of them can speak Nyreban, the common tongue of the Humans of Avasi.

Common Dress Code

Centaur atttire depends on climate. If they wear clothing, it is usually on their humanoid half, though some centaurs serving in imperial militaries use armor similar to a horse's barding.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

There are almost three thousand centaur tribes, each with its own traditions, though certain regions tend to be more culturally similar.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Centaurs ususlly have decent relations with the nearby human empires, but tend to have poorer ones with dwarves. This is thought to be caused by both significant cultural distinctions, hostile interactions with Audren, and general misunderstanding of the other's cultures caused by distance and different preferred terrains. This is not universal, however; and sometimes a pair, or even two larger groups, of centaur and dwarf have overcome their differences for one reason or another.

Lifespan

55-65 years

Average Height

6'5" (1.96 m), give or take four inches (10.2 cm).