The centaur was a large creature that lived in temperate forests. They could live solitary lives or live in small tribes.[3]
“
Swift and sure, that is the way of the centaur.
”
—Abryxius Bruile, centaur[7]
Contents
- 1 Description
- 2 Society
- 2.1 Languages
- 2.2 Religions
- 2.3 Relationships
- 3 Regions
- 3.1 Cormanthor
- 3.2 Evermeet
- 3.3 The High Forest
- 3.4 Other areas
- 4 Notable centaurs
- 5 Appendix
- 5.1 See Also
- 5.2 Appearances
- 5.2.1 Adventures
- 5.2.3 Comics
- 5.2.4 Card Games
- 5.3 Gallery
- 5.4 Further Reading
- 5.5 References
Description[]
A centaur had the upper body of a humanoid, and the lower body of a large horse. They stood around 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall and weighed approximately 2,100 pounds (950 kilograms).[3]
Society[]
Centaurs were a strong and proud race. Although they typically strove to find peace and balance with nature, they could act with violence when the need arose. Despite this desire for balance, centaurs had to eat a lot to fuel their large bodies and were known to overindulge, especially with wine and ale. A drunken centaur was much more prone to aggressive and violent behavior.[8]
Although some were solitary, centaurs generally lived in tribal hunter-gatherer societies. Those that felt a sense of wanderlust to explore the world made excellent companions, and occasionally would offer a ride to allies. The suggestion that they be used as a pack animal however would be met with derision.[8]
Centaurs had a strong hatred towards dracotaurs.[9]
Languages[]
Centaurs possessed their own racial language, referred to as Kentaur,[6] but also commonly spoke Elvish[1][3] and Sylvan.[1][3]
Religions[]
Skerrit the Forester, who dwelt in the House of Nature, was properly the god of the centaurs,[3][10] yet he was not worshiped by many centaurs actually living in Faerûn. Centaurs of Faerûn did not pay great heed to the gods at all, and those who did usually worshiped Silvanus, not Skerrit, or they chose one of the elven nature gods.[11] While centaurs of the Realms were not very religious, the elven deities Corellon Larethian, Erevan Ilesere, Rillifane Rallathil, and Solonor Thelandira often called on centaurs to serve as agents for their purposes.[12]
Relationships[]
They had good relations with elves, being as they were both creatures of the forest. They generally despised humans and dwarves but weren't actively hostile toward them and tolerated gnomes and halflings.[3] It was said that centaurs had a superstitious fear of dragons and giants.[8]
Regions[]
Cormanthor[]
In the 1200s DR, a plague affected the numerous centaurs in the Cormanthor forest, causing their left hind leg to become three inches (7.5 cm) shorter than the others, and, as a result, they could not easily escape from predators such as dragons. The elves and halflings of the forest refused to help, fearing that the dragons would turn on them too.[13]
Populations dwindled so only three tribes of centaurs remained in the forest, each containing around one dozen families, and they were nomadic (within the forest boundary). Their migrations followed the same route each year, spending the winter in the east Starwood. In the early spring, they moved west, around Myth Drannor, and south to the Semberholme area, where they spent the summer near Lake Sember. At the end of the summer they traveled east, stopping for the autumn in the central Starwood, before repeating the cycle.[13]
Although the centaurs followed the same trails they had created over the years, these could be difficult for others to follow because they were disguised with a hallucinatory terrain spell created by the centaur leaders' magical amulets. These amulets were donated by an unknown friendly human priest.[13]
The centaurs of the Cormanthor forest were not as friendly toward other creatures as their counterparts elsewhere. They used falcons as scouts to warn them of nearby creatures, and were likely to attack on sight with their bows. They were still respectful of their surroundings, and would protect the forest and its wildlife. They were known to enjoy pears and peaches in particular.[13]
Evermeet[]
Small bands of centaurs lived freely in both the open plains and within the forests of Evermeet. They would hunt, fish and frolic with complete peace of mind. These centaurs worshiped the Sylvan deity Skerrit and were considered by the elves to be "children of Corellon".[14]
The High Forest[]
By 1489 DR, tribes of centaurs made their home in the High Forest, in the plateaus around the Unicorn Run. At this point, the tribes had grown so much in size and population that their tribes threatened to split and move to claim new territories.[15]
Other areas[]
As of 1368 DR, centaurs inhabited the Chondalwood.[16] Some time after 1485 DR, centaurs inhabited the Far Forest, where they were protective of their territory.[17]
Notable centaurs[]
- King Gwyon Ironhoof, ruler of the centaurs on Evermeet.
- Timoth Eyesbright, a prominent adventurer.
- Wynterwas afriend of Galvin and an agent of theHarpers circa1362 DR.
- The Prancer led a group of centaurs who inhabited the northwestern edge of the Rawlinswood.[18]
- Kiros was chief of the centaurs of Bloodstone Pass in the mid–14th century DR.[18]
- Berdak, a tavern owner in Zazesspur.[19]
Appendix[]
This article is incomplete. You can help the Forgotten Realms Wiki by providing more information.
See Also[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Bloodstone Pass• The Mines of Bloodstone• The Bloodstone Wars• Under Illefarn• Dungeon #29, "Nymph's Reward"• Dungeon #61, "To Save a Forest"• The Sword of the Dales• Storm King's Thunder• The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Novels & Short Stories
Red Magic• The Radiant Dragon• War in Tethyr• Mortal Consequences• The Crimson Gold• The Gossamer Plain• Honor Among Thieves: The Road to Neverwinter
Referenced only
The Ring of Winter• Prince of Lies• The Dream Spheres
Comics
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (comic series) (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #28, #33, #34, #35, #36)• TSR Worlds Annual 1• Annual 1990• Annual: Waterdhavian Nights• Dungeons & Dragons Annual 2022
Card Games
Gallery[]
A centaur from 2nd edition.
A depiction of a centaur from the 1st edition accessory AD&D Monster Cards.
A centaur from Menzoberranzan (game)
Further Reading[]
- David "Zeb" Cook et al.(1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume One. (TSR, Inc). ISBN0-8803-8738-6.
- Matthew Schutt(November 1990). “Professional Monsters”. In Roger E. Mooreed. Dragon #163 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 80–81.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins(2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 38. ISBN978-0786965614.
- ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Stephen Schubert(May 19, 2009). Monster Manual 2 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 30–32. ISBN0786995101.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook(July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Doug Stewart(June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 41. ISBN1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ Gary Gygax(December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 14. ISBN0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thomas M. Costa(1999). “Speaking in Tongues”. In Dave Grossed. Dragon Annual #4 (TSR, Inc)(4)., p. 29.
- ↑ Skip Williams(February 2005). Races of the Wild. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 95. ISBN0-7869-3438-7.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Bill Slavicsek(1993). The Complete Book of Humanoids. (TSR, Inc), pp. 24–25. ISBN1-5607-6611-5.
- ↑ Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn Kestrel, Chris Perkins(August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 42–43. ISBN0-7869-3430-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo(June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 258. ISBN0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd(March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 10–15. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe(September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgardened. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), pp. 18–19. ISBN1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Anne Gray McCready et al.(March 1994). Elves of Evermeet. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN1-5607-6829-0.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al.(November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 862. ISBN978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ Jim Butler(1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 64. ISBN0-7869-0400-3.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al.(September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 R.A. Salvatore(1989). The Bloodstone Lands. Edited by Elizabeth T. Danforth. (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN0-88038-771-8.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend(August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Mooreed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 71. ISBN0-7869-0697-9.
