Editing Centaurs (section)

== Behavior and Culture ==

=== Personality ===
Centaurs are touchy, haughty, competitive, and they don’t accept bad manners <em>at all</em>; the slightest offense will instantly be corrected, regardless if it causes trouble for all parties involved.<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/03/03/1-03-d/ Chapter 1.03 D]</ref> Two centaurs fighting due to pride or wounded feelings is a common sight in a herd, and it makes them troublesome in a mixed-species group. If a Centaur dislikes someone, they will dress them down and humiliate them.<ref name=":3">{{VERef|10.06}}</ref>

They are honorable and they take pride in not committing shameful actions. What they regard as shameful, however, might differ from other people's view. For instance, they don't consider ambushes shameful; it is simply a good way of fighting wars. Furthermore, their commitment to the idea of honor only lasts as long as they think the <em>other</em> side is playing by the same rules. If they were to think there was just a hint of underhandedness, the need for honor would go.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/03/06/1-05-d/ Chapter 1.05 D]</ref>

They have a stigma against members of their species who cannot run.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/07/10/9-05-npr/ Chapter 9.05 NPR]</ref> For a non-Centaur to earn their respect, the ability to keep up with them on horseback is a requisite. They will gift glass beads to those who have earned that respect.<ref name=":3" />

=== Population and Lifestyle ===
Centaurs are largely endemic to Baleros, and have few societies outside of the continent. The reasons for this are their aforementioned fragility, touchiness, and dislike of water and the sea, as well as their difficulties in reproduction expanded on below.<ref name=":1" />

Centaurs are nomadic by nature. They prefer wide open plains, and dislike slowing down while travelling. They will cook while travelling by having multiple pairs of centaurs hang a cooking station between them. Almost all Centaurs will carry a long wooden claw to grab things off of the ground, called 'Centaurhands', so that they will not have to kneel or bend over to reach something.<ref name=":1" />

=== Sexuality ===
Their culture doesn’t enjoy erotica, and nor do they like reading of intimate scenes.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/02/6-04-d/ Chapter 6.04 D]</ref> This is due to their respect for females as the only gender that can give birth. They also revere mothers and are very protective of children. 

The reason for this culture stems from the complications that female Centaurs suffer at childbirth, which often results in the death of the foal, and sometimes the mother as well. Centaur mothers will at most have four children, and even then she'd be considered extremely prolific by their standards.<ref name=":1" />

Because of this this Centaurs think females shouldn’t be treated like men. As such they don’t execute female prisoners, nor do they kill them unless it’s in a battle. Pregnant mothers are treated carefully regardless of the cause.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/06/6-05-d/ Chapter 6.05 D] & [https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/09/6-06-d/ 6.06 D]</ref>

Like with [[Drakes]], Centaur society is prejudiced against homosexuality.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/10/11/7-51/ Chapter 7.51]</ref>

=== Warfare ===
Many Baleriosian Companies hate employing them due to how much care they require. Their fragility, along with the need to keep morale high and prevent disputes, makes them a high maintenance species to employ as combatants. However, their benefits can make up for their drawbacks.<ref name=":1" />

Centaurs make for excellent cavalry, and have advantages against those of other species. First, while they are heavier than horses, they are lighter than a horse and [Rider] combined, allowing them to be faster. Secondly, as they are mount and rider combined, they can react quicker and perform more complex maneuvers than a [Rider] could with their mounts. These give them a decisive edge in mobility over others.<ref name=":1" />

On slick or slippery battlefields, Centaurs will wear studed horseshoes for traction.<ref name=":2">[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/09/05/9-56/ Chapter 9.56]</ref>

Due to how hard it is to reproduce, their culture imposes restrictions on female soldiers. Thus, centaur militaries usually have a two to one ratio of males to females. A female combatant is expected to resign her commission if she gets pregnant and never return to the battlefield afterwards.<ref name=":1" />

=== Laws ===
Centaurs that are deemed troublemakers, are expelled as outcasts. Most of these outcasts die or form into groups of bandits.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/06/6-05-d/ Chapter 6.05 D]</ref>

=== Music ===
Centaurs do not practice drums, preffering to use their hooves to make a rythmic beat.<ref name=":2" />