Centaurs

Centaurs are a feudal people devoted to defending the meek and destroying monstrous creatures that threaten civilization. They live in remote wilderness settings and become territorially protective of whole geographic regions. Many Centaurs are hunters, living simply and combing the wild for inhuman interlopers. Others live in cities that closely resemble military outposts. Centaurs are generally too committed to their charge as defenders to pay much mind to politics or trade, and their city planning reflects this. A Centaur city is placed to be the first line of defense against monstrous invasion, on the fringe of civilization at best, with little regard for supply lines or trade routes.

Physically, Centaurs are powerful and intimidating. Their equine bodies give them the size advantage over most other creatures and their culture of protection and warfare gives them the skills to excel in combat. They are well suited for travel, wilderness life, and conflict. On the other hand, they are poorly suited for various aspects of life. Having a lower body that is a horse interferes with activities from ballroom dancing to climbing.

Centaurs live lives of purpose. The most honored profession of the race is that of knight protector, and even laborers or crafters consider themselves sworn to defending civilization. This resolution has benefited the fairer peoples of the world many times. Centaur hunters regularly track down and slay marauding beasts, and Centaur knights man outposts that secure the borders of civilization from subhuman threats.

This determination also has a darker side. While certainly many creatures of monstrous complexion assail all that is good and right in the world, it is also true that many foster no ill will for anyone, and there are others who are genuinely good. In their fervent dedication to protecting society, Centaurs are often blind to this reality. They dispense a version of justice based not on the acts individuals, but on race. Some Centaurs are aware of their cultural blindside, but most are not. They defend their unsolicited violence against subhuman and monstrous creatures. Common responses include, "The Bogie hadn't done anything wrong? He was going to, and I prevented that. Would you rather he killed my daughter before or after I killed him?" or "The reason your people have time for philosophy is because my people do what must be done."