What is a Centaur in Pathfinder 2e?
What is a Centaur in Pathfinder 2e? Centaurs are legendary hunters and trackers who resemble heavily muscled humans with the bodies of powerful horses from the waist down. They are typically reclusive but haughty, quick to assume that their handsome physiques and long history of cultural traditions make them superior to any two-legged folk they encounter. While stories of bloody clashes between centaurs and humanoid settlers are well known, centaurs are neither intrinsically bloodthirsty nor recklessly aggressive. Rather, they are proud and stubborn and do not take kindly to outsiders who encroach on their ancestral grounds, some of which have been ruled by centaurs for thousands of years. Against despoilers of nature who fail to heed their warnings, centaurs do not hesitate to use their finely honed hunting skills to inflict deadly wounds.
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Centaurs train with weapons as well as their heavy hooves, and the thunder of centaurs charging across the plains is often mistaken for a stampede or even an earthquake. Despite their insular nature, some centaurs form close alliances with elves, fey, gnomes, and isolated human communities. Such allies are often surprised to learn the depths of centaurs’ honor, pragmatism, and wilderness lore. Rarely, a centaur leaves its tribe to travel the wider world. Such lone centaur wanderers more easily integrate into humanoid societies, but other centaurs are quick to assume that some dishonor led to their exile and thus give such vagabonds a wide berth.
Centaurs have incredible variation in their individual size and coloration. Their upper bodies are fairly similar within a tribe and even region, but their lower bodies—like those of horses—can vary widely from parent to child. Most centaurs are at least 7 feet tall and weigh more than 2,000 pounds.
Centaurs live in groups of dozens of members, usually led by an old, powerful seer or battle-hardened warrior who has carried out many noble deeds and earned a lifetime of respect from their comrades. The revered leader guides the habits of their entire group; a wise seer might encourage the tribe to roam far from civilization to preserve the ways of its ancestors, while an aggressive warrior might foster skirmishes with nearby humanoid settlements and even rival centaur groups.
Table of Contents
The Galehoof Expedition
The Galehoof Plains, home to nomadic centaur tribes, are rumored to hide the entrance to the Windborne Caves, where treasures of old are kept. Elandra, a centaur historian, seeks adventurers to join her expedition, face the caves’ air-borne challenges, and uncover lost centaur artifacts.
The Centaur’s Constellation
Astronomers in the Starwatch Tower observe a new constellation resembling a centaur. This celestial sign is believed to herald a significant event. The tower’s head astronomer, Dr. Celest, enlists adventurers to investigate ancient observatories, decode starry prophecies, and prepare for the impending event.
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The Midnight Mirage
Travelers in the Duskmire Desert report visions of a centaur oasis, a paradise that vanishes upon approach. The mirage is believed to be the work of Lysander, a centaur illusionist seeking solitude. Adventurers are hired to find this elusive oasis, understand Lysander’s intentions.
The Centaur’s Oath
An ancient treaty between the centaurs of Grassland Reach and the neighboring kingdom is at risk. A sacred relic, the Oathstone, has been stolen. The centaur leader, Arion, seeks adventurers to track down the thief, navigate political tensions, and prevent a war between old allies.
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Adventure Ideas
The Echoing Hooves
In the town of Echo Ridge, residents are plagued by mysterious tremors. Local legends speak of a centaur herd that once roamed the land, their hooves causing the earth to sing. The elder, Maris, believes the tremors are a sign. Adventurers must uncover the connection, find the lost centaur herd, and restore harmony to the land.
The Centaur’s Maze
The Labyrinth of Luna is a shifting maze that only appears during the full moon. Rumors suggest a centaur guardian, Selene, holds a gem at the maze’s center that grants wishes. Adventurers are drawn to the challenge, navigating the maze’s enchantments, confronting Selene, and deciding the gem’s fate.
The Silvered Spear
A centaur warrior, Orion, renowned for his silvered spear, has gone missing during a patrol in the Darkwood Forest. His sister, Lyra, seeks adventurers to help locate him. The journey reveals corrupted creatures, shadowy ambushes, and a dark enchantress with a vendetta against centaur kind.
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About the Author:
Dwight Scull has been playing tabletop role-playing games (starting with Dungeons and Dragons 3.5) back in 2001. He started being a dungeon master around 2005.
He loves to play many different types of TTRPGs, including Pathfinder, GURPS, Shadowrun, Vampire: The Masquerade, Mage: The Ascension (and other White Wolf Games), Nights Black Agents, and others.
Fan of mysteries, light horror, co-op board games, true crime, sci-fi, and fantasy.
