Centaur

Centaurs possess the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. As a general rule, they are powerfully built and sturdy, though the herds in [The Kingdom of Cleitos] are smaller and slower than others and tend to be more magically gifted than physically. All Centaurs have a sturdy, but light skeleton to allow for consistent galloping. Despite the way they look, they cannot effectively use charging weapons such as lances because their spine bends up to accommodate their humanoid torso.
Much like a real horse, if a Centaur breaks a bone in their lower half there is a high probability that it can shatter and never heal properly, even with magic. Male Centaurs who become lamed by an injury will often commit suicide-by-monster; hunting the most dangerous monster they can learn of in the hopes that either it kills them, or they kill it and become a legend before their own death. Being a burden to the herd goes against the foundations of their society.

Female Centaurs will carry their young for up to 14 months before giving birth to a child capable of walking and supporting itself within hours. The human torso of a newborn Centaur looks like a human child of 2-4 years of age. Female Centaurs usually breed with males from other races, sometimes with transformation magic and sometimes without; regardless, the resulting children are always Centaurs themselves, albeit with human features that resemble the non-Centaur father.

Male Centaurs possess a very high libido that they direct at any race they have access to, and sometimes even relieve it on simple mares. This can result in a Centaur child being born, assuming the mare is cared for during its pregnancy, but the child will often suffer defects that prevent them from being accepted into their father's herd.

The Grace Of Psyche is insufficient to allow Centaurs to have offspring by or with non-Centaurs. Chiron, angered at the unfair advantage afforded the other races of New Atlantis, crafted a divine ritual that would become a rite of passage for his children. Chiron's Blessing is placed on each Centaur when they reach their majority and, among other things, enables them to alter the size of their bodies to be physically compatible with the other races of New Atlantis whenever the need arises.

Young Centaurs grow quickly, reaching physical maturity at around 6-8 years of age. They mature, mentally, at about the same rate as humans; so young ones aren't considered adults until they have undergone a ritual called Chiron's Blessing that is usually undertaken between the ages of 13 and 18. Some Centaurs experience a second growth period after receiving the blessing. These larger examples of the race eventually become important Clerics of Chiron, and can live for up to 800 years. There are less than a dozen Chosen of Chiron at any time, and there doesn't seem to be a bias in gender among them.

Centaurs prefer lightly wooded areas that provide protection from the elements without getting in the way of their movement, though many also make their homes on open plains that allow them to run for hours without slowing. Some also live in large cavern complexes on [The Island Of Atlantis], carrying on the legacy of the first of Chiron's children. Very few Centaurs live in "civilized" areas, and those that do tend to stay together more than most others of their race.

Centaur prefer a diet of mostly meat and fish, supplemented with grains and fruits they trade for from other races in exchange for furs that the Centaurs gather. Centaurs love wine, and brew some of the most potent alcohol in New Atlantis.

Centuars generally travel in herds that can range from fifty to two hundred individuals. Each herd is led by one chieftain, usually the strongest or wiliest male, with his authority generally being checked by the herd's cabal of druids. Some herds do not have a druidic tradition for whatever reason, and the chieftains of such villages often go to great lengths to keep things that way.

Centaurs upper bodies are indistinguishable from humans, though they tend to be rougher looking than most humans do. Centaur males often have heavy facial and body hair that is the same colour as the hair on their horse-half.

Centaurs have a human level of intelligence; but they live significantly longer, allowing them to acquire much more knowledge and wisdom than most humans could.

Centaurs' senses are relatively similar to a human's; though they are more in-touch with the world around them than the average human would be, giving them a slight edge. Cleitosian Centaurs are more in-tune with the natural world than most, and there are a larger number of druids and other natural magic users among them than other herds.

Centaurs, like Satyrs, despise the Avian Gods, the family of Isis, and any Centaur foal gifted with star magic who is born into a herd is killed by them, if not its own parents. Moon magic, while reviled, is still employed by some Centaur elders to protect their lands. A Centaur born with star magic in a non-Centaur settlement will often be abandoned by its mother to be raised by its father if if he or the locals do not allow her to leave it to the elements to die.

All Centaurs that are born in a herd are named by the herd's chieftain. Each chieftain has their own thoughts on how names should be chosen; so some herds will use local human names, while others will call them by a simpler "child" name and wait until the young one comes of age to give them an "adult" name that reflects their nature.
Centaurs born in towns, or outside of herds, are usually named according to the traditions of those around the parents.

Centaur are unique among the races of New Atlantis for universally preferring the appearance of other races to their own, at least when referencing the opposite sex.
Unattached female Centaurs will wear elegant clothing made from cotton or wool while away from their herd and style their hair like the locals in an attempt to entice men. Within their herd, they prefer to wear as little clothing as possible while still preserving what modesty they require to ward off unwanted male attention. Clothing worn for everyday use is usually made from tanned leather and hide.
Male Centaurs eschew clothing of any kind in casual interactions. They often braid their hair, and frequently have tattoos on their torsos and arms. Male Centaurs have little preference in their mates' appearance, but when given the chance they will always attempt to seduce a "civilized" female over a more rustic one, regardless of race.

Ostensibly, Centaurs do not discriminate jobs based on gender. A woman is perfectly welcome among the hunters or warriors defending their home, and wine, leathers, and pottery are just as likely to have been made by males as females in the herd. However, the leaders of a herd are always the largest and strongest men. Females will sometimes challenge the leaders for the right to rule, but almost never succeed. In addition, it is very common for females that attempt to become warriors or hunters to be pressed into contests of arms with men in the herd. Because of this, a female Centaur warrior is likely the most powerful and dangerous fighter in her herd by a large margin.
Another major role that Centaur society does not afford to females is that of Monster Hunter. Defending the herd is fine for the strong, in their eyes, but only males are permitted to actively hunt overly dangerous monsters among Centaurs. Males will often attempt to push this onto other races when they see female adventurers or soldiers.
Conversely, proper Druidic magic is not taught to males; whose violent natures leave them unsuited to wielding such powers safely.

Male Centaurs do not care for courtship or feelings, and young Centaurs are often hilarious in their haphazard attempts to woo women that they encounter. Older Centaurs will sometimes have picked up lines or tricks from observing other races succeed where they failed, but this only ever an act. Centaur men are almost completely uncaring of whether their partner actually knows them or vice versa.
Female Centaurs understand that they need to be aggressive in their flirting if they want to win a mate that is not a brutish Centaur. Young girls, especially those who grow up in a male-dominated herd, will be clumsy in their attempts to make themselves attractive; but unlike the men, they are more willing to learn and adapt the beauty ideals and courtship rituals of the races they interact with.

Regardless of gender, all Centaurs derive a great sensual pleasure from allowing their mate to ride upon them while they run at full gallop. For both sexes, the most sensual and erotic act a couple can undertake, short of actual sex, is a moonlight ride, sans clothing. The inability to do this among themselves is believed to be the reason that Centaurs often do not consider their own race to be attractive.

Male and Female Centaurs have very opposed ideas of a proper relationship, further exacerbating the incompatibility of the two genders within their own race.

Male Centaurs seek only immediate gratification; and almost never feel beholden to their current mate, nor their progeny. It is exceedingly rare for a female of another race to accept the advances of a Centaur, and they come to regret the decision either immediately, or when they are abandoned as soon as the Centaur grows bored, is distracted by a new female, or the woman falls pregnant. That the Centaur will often carry the woman back to his herd before he begins is seen as a consideration by him, the only one he would ever afford a prospective mate; while the woman involved generally sees it as a cruelty since the Centaur is under no obligation to take her back home if she then rejects him.
They consider female centaurs as the least desirable women in New Atlantis, and never actively pursue relationships with their own race; though they never say "no" to a female that approaches them. One exception to this rule is when a strong male will attempt to browbeat female hunters or warriors in his village into contests of arms. Assuming he is successful and wins the bout, he would have free access to that female for the duration of her servitude without any consequences.

Female Centaurs seek partners not just for mating, but also for rearing the resulting children. As such, if they have any chance for other options then they only ever consider male Centaurs when they are nearing the end of their fertile years, are without a true partner, and still desire more children. Minor natural magics are common among Centaur women, and many develop the ability to shape-shift into full humanoids for a least a short time in order to help them copulate with non-Centaurs.
However, if a female is required by her partner to keep up her shape-shifted form to maintain their relationship after it has initially begun then she will soon cut it off. If she has already fallen pregnant before this is realized, she will wait until the child is of-age; but will not lay with that man again. Non-Centaur mates willing to copulate with the Centaur in her natural form are often partners-for-life, and the woman will sometimes even deign to formally marry her partner if they desire; though Centaurs do not feel beholden to their spouses for long after they die, since they live so much longer than other races.
A female with a long-term mate will share almost all parts of her life with that partner, and expect the same in return. These relationships are often similar to more traditional marriages practiced by most other races. Such couples are generally good parents to their children; the number of which is entirely dependent on them. Some Centaurs bear young every couple of years for a decade or more, while others will be content with only one or two children their entire lives.

Within their herds, Centaurs eschew any technology more complicated than clay pots, wood fires, and simple shacks or a lean-to. Centaur herds with a large number of non-Centaurs will often have a central location with permanent structures built.
Cleitosian Centaurs interact with the humans of their Kingdom much more often, and are more open to innovations like glass and stonework.

The most important rule when you are a guest of Centaurs is to never accept alcohol if you can't handle it. Turning down wine, so long as you never suggest that you would not like it for any reason, is perfectly acceptable and seen as a noble gesture; accepting drink that you are unable to finish, or that leaves you belligerently drunk, however, could make you an enemy for life.
Young girls living in villages near Centaur herds are warned by their parents repeatedly to never directly say "yes" to a Centaur man no matter what question he asks, so as not to accidentally give him the wrong idea.
Similarly, it is well known that one should never accept a contest of arms with a Centaur while among their herd, as their custom is to make the loser of such a bout a servant of the winner for no less than ten years and a day; and no Centaur would issue such a challenge without being confident of victory. Despite the risk, rejecting a challenge will open one up to jeering if you are perceived to be as strong or skilled as the challenger. This only applies to duels that involve weapons, wrestling or boxing carries no such stipulations.
Calling a male Centaur a "Stallion" is an honor, and often seen as a proposition for sex. "Mare" however, or any other word for a female horse, is a dire insult to Centaur women; such that doing so will often incite a demand for restitution if done in public.

When among their own people, females are expected to wear enough to not be considered completely indecent by other races and often no more; while males never wear clothing except for armored padding, and only if a situation calls for such.
While visiting towns and villages of other races, female Centaurs will don blouses or modified dresses woven from textiles to make themselves more appealing to the men they encounter.

In Centaur society almost all disputes that can't be solved with angry shouting are fought out with fists. Such fights will even involve Centaur men and women fighting each other. Despite their size difference, the human parts of male and female Centaurs are usually similar in strength, so such fights aren't inherently one-sided. Centaur males who haven't had a mate in a while might try to up the ante in a co-ed dispute by bringing weapons into the fight, and many females will simply concede the argument to avoid the risk. Those who try their luck unfortunately represent the largest percentage of Centaur-Centaur relationships in the Kingdoms.

Centaurs will accept anyone who comes to them in peace, even some intelligent monsters, and offer them food, drink, and a night of revelry. However, this hospitality will not extend to the next night. A guest who stays past noon on the day after enjoying a party is implicitly volunteering to host a return party that night.

The most unforgivable taboo in Centaur culture is rape. Centaurs are very sexual beings, and wanton in their excess; but forcing themselves on an unwilling participant is their greatest sin. While this taboo extends to not accepting consent from an intoxicated individual, once they have begun the Centaur is free to continue until finished no matter what their partner says during the ordeal. This taboo is enforced on the Centaurs by Chiron's Blessing which strips any who violate this command of their strength and health, leaving them forever impotent and weak. Most settlements that are near the migration patterns of Centaurs are well aware of this facet of their culture, and teach their children such.

Centaurs do not get along with Aven of either variety. They see them as too weak and frail to be given a voice in society; as well as possessing an ancestral hatred of the Avian Gods who are the patron deities of the Aven.
Despite this, the most hated of monster races for Centaurs is neither the Harpies, nor the Sirens, but the Minotaur. Centaurs are the only Atlantean women that can survive giving birth to a Minotaur, so being captured is an even more grim prospect than for most. Centaurs will hunt down Minotaur tribes wherever they are found with extreme prejudice, taking any females they encounter as "milk cows."
Centaurs and Satyrs often live near each other, and enjoy a generally amicable relationship. The most common race for a female Centaur's mate to be is Satyr.