Centaurs

Centaurs

These are inhabitants of the Great Plains and probably the most well known chimera outside of that territory. They are nomadic and travel in tribes of  a few hundred individuals. They follow and hunt large herds of buffalo and some predators that also hunt the herds. Centaurs are chimera 

Centaur

95 points

Attributes: ST +3 (Size, -10%) [27]; HT +2 [20].

Secondary Attributes: SM 2; HP +8 (Size, -10%) [15]; Per +2 [10]; Will +1 [5].

Advantages:  Acute Smell +1 [2]; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground) [20]; Extra Legs (4 legs) [5]; Hard to Kill 2 [4]; Hooves [3]; Lifting ST +8 (Size, -10%) [22]; Striking ST +8 (Lower Body only, -60%; Size, -10%) [12]; Temperature Tolerance 2 (Cold/Heat) [2].

Disadvantages: Gigantism (no free BM) [-5]; Honesty (12) [-10]; Increased Consumption 2 [-20]; Impulsiveness (12) [-10]; Overconfidence (12) [-5].

Quirks: Compulsive Carousing, Finds trappings of domesticated horses offensive [-2].

Common Traits: Broad-Minded [-1]; Charitable [-15]; Chummy [-5]; Congenial [-1]; Fit [5]; Magic Resistance [2/level]; Responsive [-1].
Note: Lower body Striking ST applies to kicks and slams, including use of a lance.

Description

Centaurs have the lower body of a horse and the upper torso of a human. They have a lot of lower body strength but this does not transfer to their upper body, though they are often stronger from heavy physical activity. Despite a lower body that appears horse like they are not herbivores, but omnivores and eat whatever a human would (just more). 

Physiology

Centaurs are omnivores and well adapted to plains life, though they can also be found in forests and cities. They have excellent endurance and are built for running, though they need to eat huge amounts in order to sustain themselves. They have two hearts, one in the torso and the other in the equine body and larger than human sized lungs with a large airsac in the main body. Like a bird they actually process oxygen when inhaling and exhaling! 75% of the incoming air is pushed to the secondary airsac and when they exhale that is pushed from the airsac into the main lungs in the torso. They also have two stomachs with the larger one in the main body working in part like a gizzard to help digest food on the move. These redundancies and adaptations make them fairly tough and able to handle injury surprisingly well.

Culture

Centaur culture is very cooperative and focused on the tribes benefit over the individuals. Their form of government is really a form of managed anarchy rather than a democracy. When members need to cooperate on a task they may pick a leader, and this usually falls to the oldest or most experienced at the task. They work hard but they also party hard. While centaurs travel in large groups, most also like some alone time and this is typically spent scouting, hunting small game, gathering materials, or working on crafts (typically leather working). They have no natural enemies and this has encouraged a certain reckless abandon.

Centaurs spend a lot of time eating and have turned this into a social activity where they combine eating with gossip and plans for the next day.

Hunting and War

Centaurs rely primarily on archery and spears for hunting and combat but also use lance and spear. Archery is hard to do on the run, so the lance and spear help with combat mobility.

Martial Style: Travelers Path

Supernatural Traits

Centaurs have no special ability with magic (often the opposite), little need of it, and a culture that doesn't encourage scholarly work. Consequently they have very few mages, and those few tend to focus on food, weather, and divination.  Advanced martial training and chi training are more common but still pretty rare due to minimal need. Every tribe will have at least one shaman and they are responsible for the health of the tribe through divination, healing and  information gathering (Including contact with other tribes), The most notable and common supernatural trait is tapping their chimeric energies.