This installment of the My First Monster Manual blog series is the Centaur.
Environment:
Monster Type: Humanoid Beast
Color: Pale Skin, Red Hair, Chestnut Roan Coat, White Footings.
Features: Humanoid Upper Body, Horse Lower Body.
Abilities: Skilled Archery, Horticulturist, Fast.
Recommended Equipment: Ability to speak Elvish or Sylvan.
Introduction:
Centaurs are a proud and noble monster that adore open space and freedom. A Centaur is easily recognized with the body and four legs of a horse and the chest, arms and head of a human. Being skilled horticulturists, Centaurs have an affinity for the earth and nature. They prefer being out in the wild compared to a life in a busy city or town. Centaurs are extremely fast across the open earth and are capable of carrying or pulling heavy burdens. Usually they’re solitary, keeping to themselves, or they live in a tight family community. Only a select few individuals of other groups are welcome in the company of a Centaur.
Investigation:
With our faces in the dirt and our shoes tied together, my assistant and I were too embarrassed to move after being the victim of a prank from the infamous Fairy Robin Marcak. “I see you’ve already met some of the regulars,” asked the familiar voice of Thomas the Moostaur who had escorted us to the Fey festival. With his large powerful hands, Thomas picked us up off the ground and stood us up. Then, he kneeled down and delicately untied our shoes. We thanked him for his assistance. “Of course little ones,” Thomas reassured us “best if you stick near me. Come, come this way. There’s someone I want you to meet.” We followed Thomas to a row of stalls each with food and drink to share with all the festival guests. We stopped in front of a large horse drawn cart, casks and bottles of wine adorned the sides and it was filled with fresh picked grapes. “This is my friend, Quincy Leafvein, and he’s been very curious to meet you two.”
Observations:
To our surprise the horse used to pull the cart wasn’t a horse at all. It was a Centaur! Atop the horse body was the large sturdy body of a human torso. A bearded face looked down at us with a kind, but skeptical, smile. Quincy was as tall as Thomas, the height of two grown men, and he was as long as a draft horse. Centaurs prefer the great outdoors and open spaces over cramped buildings or tight city streets and big crowds. Centaurs are usually distrusting of strangers and outsiders. My assistant, who spoke conversational Sylvan, the language of the Fey and nature spirits, introduced us. This surprised Quincy, whose smile broadened across his cheeks. A generous soul, Quincy shared with us each variety of grape he was growing from his last harvest. He poured us each a glass of his finest wine. Most enlightening to us, he shared with us stories of his vineyard and growing up in the vale. Young centaurs are taught to both tend the earth and draw a bow from when they first start walking. He spoke of the earth and the wind, of the sky and the sea.
Conclusion:
Quincy shared one final thing with us. There was a recent sighting of a unique dragon like monster that would make frequent visits to a field of flowers near his home. Having heard of our adventure to explore and investigate the monsters of the land, Quincy was kind enough to provide directions in the form of a note added to one of our maps. What wonderful new friends we have made at the Fey Festival. Exhausted from the day’s activities, we hung our spider silk hammocks and curled beneath our enchanted bed rolls, for a good night’s sleep.
About:
The Centaur, Quincy Leafvein, is part of our “My First Monster Manual” blog series where we will feature each of the monsters we are considering for inclusion in our new children’s book. Click here to learn more info on My First Monster Manual.
Artist: Daniel Johnson – squaredmotion.com
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