Centaur

Description
A centaur is half horse and half man with some elvish features. They look as if a human torso with the head of an elf was stuck onto a horse where its neck and head should be. Their skin ranges from near white to dark brown through many shades of tan, and the hair of their equestrian half mimics very closely to the color of their skin. Therefore, a light skinned centaur would have a light colored hair on its equestrian half, and a dark skinned centaur would have dark hair to match it. Centaurs are generally very muscular and well toned, even with the females and non-combatant types. They range from 6’ to 7’ in height from hoof to the top of their head.

Origin
Long ago, the people of Caxtrin believed centaurs to be an abomination of nature and a product of depraved bestiality. This rather disgusting notion was later proven to be a myth as people learned that their existence on Caxtrin dates back to times before human life started. Back in times before humans walked the lands of Caxtrin, the centaurs and elves lived side by side, sometimes harmoniously and other times at each others’ throats. The centaurs believe themselves to be a product of Mother Caxtara, or as now translated to Mother Caxtrin. They believe that the planet is a living being, and that all life within it are its children that grow and prosper through evolution. They have been around through many ages and have watched other races evolve from their earlier forms of life into what they are today.

History
Throughout history, centaurs have managed to stay in the background and often remain neutral in most confrontations. When sides had to be chosen, however, they sided with the elves of the Kaltrin Forest more often than not. Their sheer brute force has helped the elves to maintain their peaceful way of life, but both races are now officially indebted to each other for eternity. Though most centaurs are still able to walk through elven lands and cities as if they were one of their kind, there are still many strictly elven sections that are off limits to them. The centaurs have the same restrictions for elves within their territories of the Kaltrin Forest, but about 100 years ago Sinnision Moongazer, the elven king of Tianna, crossed one of these boundaries and brought the two races at bitter odds with one another. The past animosity that grew within this time was lost when the Darkyns invaded the land and the two races once again fought towards a common goal. Though there are still some heated emotions that transpire between them, the elves and centaurs once again work together to save Mother Caxtara and the Kaltrin Forest that is their home.

Beliefs
Centaurs do not have a belief in any God or Goddess, but instead pray to Mother Caxtara (the planet of Caxtrin). She is considered to be their provider, mentor, and disciplinarian.

Habits
The centaurs are a very proud race, and are only really talkative or friendly toward others that they can trust with their lives. They do not believe in insulting another for any reason, and will not take insults lightly when dealt to them. Centaurs solve their problems through other means rather than shouting meaningless phrases at another. Some of their negotiating may be taken as insulting to certain people though, but centaurs have a knack of speaking what is true to their heart and mind without the tact of tiptoeing around someone’s feelings.

Abilities
Centaurs may make a Charging attack that inflicts +3 Add Dmg for every +1 used toward a Concentrated Attack if running Movement is used.

Centaurs have the ability to Split Movement during their turn so that it is possible to move, attack, and then move again. When attacking with a pass like this, the character must use a Concentrated Attack.

One other humanoid may ride on the back of a centaur, but this is only reserved for the very trusted as it is an insult to them to let anyone else use them as a mount.

Centaurs have a strong sense of pride and must make a MNT check when another makes fun of them by calling them a horse or something close to it. If this check is failed, the character must attack the verbal abuser.

When enemies attack a centaur, they have the choice of attacking either its human half or its horse body. If the horse section of a centaur is aimed for, the Critical Check is only used when determining a Critical Miss or Critical Hit. Horse barding must be worn to receive AR in this area. If the human part of the centaur is aimed for, the Critical Check is used normally, but a hit toward the Legs (Critical Check of 2 through 5) would actually hit the horse half of the body and any barding worn would be the AR against this attack. Centaurs may not wear greaves, boots, or normal pants.