Centaurs

Centaurs are a relatively unknown and uncontacted group. They exist as some monolithic force from the west, pushing the Orcs into their migrations eastwards in centuries long past. As such, few humans maintain regular contact with them, the Orc realms acting as a buffer between the two. What few stories do exist of them tell of a cruel and barbaric people, bent on the destruction and conquest of the world that lay before them. Part horse and part humanoid, they carry beastial features and share a culture similar to the Hanish Orcs of the southwest. Living in family clans, they roam the plains, herding livestock and living a nomadic lifestyle. They worship the god Chingis, said to have once been the greatest Khan living.

History

Centaurs have a muddy and obscure history, with no real documented origins for them. They have existed for millennia, however, having been the impetus for the Orc migrations that displaced and pushed humans eastwards. Warring and fighting with the Orcs ever since, the two factions have known little peace between them. Several major Centaur invasions have been beaten back by Orc coalitions, bringing the various cultures and clans together to face a common enemy. Among themselves, Centaurs seem to be in constant competition with one another for dominance, with no real victor lasting for long. Despite all of this animosity, Centaurs also have a history of serving as mercenaries, especially employed by the Sekani in the former Comati lands.

Description

Centaurs have quadrupedal bodies, with the torso of a human jutting out the front. They tend to be very dense, with solid and stocky bodies. Long beards and hair are common, as are tattoos. Decorations tend to be bone or hammered copper or bronze, with rings, arm torcs and earrings popular. Clothing is typically fur or hide, though roughspun fabrics can also be found in smaller quantities. Many Centaurs keep pets, typically dogs, though many have also trained and domesticated giant eagles to help them hunt.

Notable Figures

Baiju, The Golden Scythe

Known mostly by his moniker of the Golden Scythe, Baiju was a great warlord in the centaur lands some centuries ago. He united the various factions and clans of the area, leading them in an assault on the Orc lands. They displaced and conquered over a wide swathe of lands, even making inroads into the Sekani territories. His reign was bloody, killing most of those who stood in his path. Those spared offered up massive amounts of tribute, placating the anger of the horde and allowing them to survive its passing. Baiju faced multiple attempts to usurp his dominion during his reign, facing down challengers in single combat. Each duel he won, he added the losers skull to his belt, adding to his terrifying reputation. Baiju was ultimately killed in an attack on the Sekani, felled in combat with one of the Orc lords. Upon his death his horde dissolved, turning on each other without a leader to unite them.

Boroldai

A capable mercenary in the region, Boroldai was raised as a slave to the Sekani. Taught his craft from a young age, he quickly showed promise as a warrior. In his various campaigns and skirmishes, he has proven to be an excellent fighter, leading a band of other centaurs in service to his various masters. He led a bid for freedom among his fellow centaur slaves, losing the cause but receiving exile for his crimes. Since then, he has hired he and his warriors out as mercenaries among the other Orc tribes in the west. There they have made a respected name for themselves, defeating practically all who stand in their way.