Centaurs of the Band of Elysia

The Band of Elysia is a small, familial band of Centaurs. It is made up of Enon the warrior patriarch, Eurydia the healer matriarch, their daughters Nephyssa, Eudariadne, Diantha, and Amaranth, their sons Aristaeides and Araxys, and Eurydia's uncle, Phaetonus.

As a fairly young band, Elysia is not as populated or as well-established as most other bands. Eurydia and Enon formed the Band of Elysia when Eurydia resigned from her cohort after falling in love with Enon and longing for a more peaceful, reserved lifestyle.



Enon - Warrior Patriarch








(pronounced EE-nawn) As the Patriarch of the band, Enon is necessarily strong-willed, determined, strong, and knowledgeable. In many ways, he is a perfect exemplar of Centaur culture. He handles decisions within the band fairly and graciously, yet allows no dissent or disrespect. He is highly respected and his word is followed closely - as such, going against Enon's word will anger the band.



Eurydia - Healer Matriarch



(pronounced you-RID-ee-ah) The true heart and spirit of the band, Eurydia is hailed as one of the most skilled healers amongst all of the Centaurs. She comes from a long line of healers and augurs, some of them holding high positions of power in legions and cohorts. Although Eurydia could've risen to power, she chose a much more calm and serene way of life with her mate, Enon. She loves her band like any mother would, and watches over them with endearing wisdom and affection. She is often sought after for her skills in the art of healing, yet she hesitates to take up these offers since they could disrupt her band's peaceful lifestyle. Eurydia is unmistakable with her cascading silvery hair and her shining coat, a sign of her pure and noble heritage that she passes down to many of her children.


Phaetonus



(pronounced fie-TONE-is) Eurydia's uncle is the eldest male of the band, and therefore highly respected. He can be gruff and impatient with the youthful ways of the younger members of the band, but his rougher attitude is only a result of his many years of wisdom and experience. The healing arts of his family were passed onto him as well, but even as a skilled healer, he recognizes that Eurydia has far surpassed him in skill...but perhaps not wisdom, quite yet. He raised Eurydia as his own after his brother's death. His other nieces and nephews were all grown, but little Eurydia was only a foal when Phaetonus took her in. Years later, when Eurydia chose to form her own band with Enon and leave their cohort, Phaetonus was the only member of her family who chose to come with her. Even in his elder years, Phaetonus helps to advise and care for the Band of Elysia.


Nephyssa





Nephyssa is the eldest daughter of Enon and Eurydia and, as such, she often plays a motherly role in the band by necessity. She is well-loved by her band, but has a reputation to be more impatient and abrasive than the others. Nephyssa is used to the responsibility of providing food and shelter for her younger band-mates, but prefers others to learn from their own mistakes as opposed to holding their hands and walking them through it. Her closest siblings are Aristaeides and Diantha. She is most skilled at archery and hunting, and will protect her band with ferocity and cunning - by bow, or by spear. She has her father's darker brown hair and rich bay coat, along with his stronger stature and harder personality.


Eudariadne - Healer



(pronounced you-DAR-ee-ad-ni) As Eurydia's protege, Eudariadne has taken after her mother from her birth. She was born with the same rare, flowing white hair and silvery coat. She acquired her mother's natural affinity for healing, and has been raised since a foal to continue the tradition. Although she is young and lacks her mother's wisdom and experience, she shows extreme potential and patience. In many ways, Eudariadne is an old soul. She spends most of her time with her mother, or studying and perfecting her practice of the ancient ways. She is more elusive, intuitive, and introverted than her siblings and generally doesn't bother to socialize with anyone other than her dam Eurydia and her sister Diantha.


Aristaeides





(pronounced air-ist-EYE-a-deez) The eldest son of the Elysia is Aristaeides, a spitting image of his father. He shares Enon's long, flowing brown hair and deep bay coat. He possesses the grace, strength, and speed that is expected of his race. He is equally talented in the arts of archery and swordsmanship. He prefers spending his time training or hunting instead of socializing. In many ways, he is a model son. He never disobeys his elders and is quick to respond with "yes, sire" or "no, sire" as appropriate. Just as most Centaurs, though, he is not quick to trust strangers and hesitates to try anything new. He is bound by the ways of his people, and intends to see them passed on through the next generations.


Diantha



The youthful, beautiful Diantha has been referred to as the prettiest of all her sisters. Often, young stallions from other bands approach her to ask for her hand in marriage. Diantha has turned them all down without hesitation, simply because she refuses to leave her family. Aside from Nephyssa, who she sometimes conflicts with due to their personalities, she is the most protective of all of the band. She is mild-mannered and soft-spoken, preferring patience and reflection over action - a typical Centaur trait. Diantha is most likely to be seen caring for children - she dearly loves Araxys - and she takes the most initiative in tending the gardens, the herds, and the homestead.


Amaranth





The youngest daughter of the Band of Elysia is Amaranth, a fiery-haired, free-spirited girl with a snow-white coat. She is swift and fleet - agile in both mind and body. She is the smallest-built of her, and naturally the quickest. Ranged weapons are her preference - she favors the bow and arrow as they are the most readily available, but also likes to collect other weapons such as crossbows or even firearms which are traded into Centaur lands. Amaranth frequently ventures off from the rest of the band. she is the most "progressive" of her band, and likes to find alternatives to the traditional Centaur ways. She doesn't care much for her older siblings, especially Eudariadne and Aristaeides, and she sees them as too stuffy and traditional. Often, she encourages and influences Araxys' adventurous nature and ornery habits. At best, she is an open-minded, adventurous teenager...at worst, she is a rebel. Amaranth is the most likely to accept outsiders, but nevertheless, she remains true to her band's wishes...most of the time.


Araxys - Colt



The youngest sibling of the Elysia band is Araxys, a youthful colt who is training to be a warrior like his sire Enon and his elder brother Aristaeides. Centaur cherish their young dearly, and Araxys is precious to his band. They all play a role in helping to raise him, protect him, and teach him the ways of the Centaur. He looks up to his sire and Aristaeides as his role models, and is very close to Diantha and Amaranth. He almost always carries some trinket with him, especially musical instruments. He is energetic, youthful, carefree, and perhaps a bit too adventurous - much to the dismay of the older band members. Little Araxys often gets himself into trouble by wandering off or trying some brash new adventure. Nonetheless, he is respectful and eager to learn from his elders.



Strategy and Tactics

Centaurs tend to avoid outright confrontation and battle when possible. Diplomatic approaches are preferred. However, when angered or threatened, Centaurs are experts at enacting clever defensive strategies. They are often more agile, coordinated, and mobile than their enemies. Skirmish tactics are preferred, and Centaurs in combat are most likely to circle their opponents while pelting them with arrows and keeping them at range with their ability to trot or run while still firing. When Centaurs are drawn into melee combat, they usually charge in with spears and pole-arms and use their superior speed and weight to coordinate flanks and charges to mow down their enemies.

Bows and arrows are the most common weapon in Centaur society. They are sacred due to their connection with the Wind and the Stars. Longbows, recurve bows, and shortbows are all common, depending on the situation. Many Centaurs make their own bows by hand, and pass them down through their bands as symbols of prayer and tradition. It is said that with each shot, a Centaur prays to the Wind to strike true. Other weapons are most commonly spears, lances, javelins, axes, or curved longswords with shields. Spears and lances allow Centaurs the advantage of range, while maximizing on the momentum of their speed to pierce through anything that stands in their way. Javelins and axes are used in range and melee, particularly for skirmishing or hunting. Curved longswords or scimitars are used with shields for close-quarters combat. They allow a Centaur to defend himself while using the advantage of their height to make quick, swift slashes and thrust upwards with their scimitars. Some Centaurs strike to kill, but most would prefer disabling or incapacitating their opponents. They avoid taking life whenever possible.


Culture

Centaur culture is rooted firmly in the concepts of nature, wind, and spirit. They tend towards animism, but do not worship specific objects or spirits. Instead, they follow the Way of the Wind - a set of morals and laws determined by patterns of weather, nature, and astrology. This is not so much a religion as it is a highly respected cultural doctrine of traditions. Wind patterns, stars, and constellations play a significant role in their beliefs and way of life. They hunt, travel, pray, and -when necessary or practical - plan major life events such as births, voyages, social events, and even battles by the Way of the Wind. A common phrase amongst Centaurs is that "every arrow must eventually fly by the Way of the Wind," meaning that no matter what, every living thing will in some way be guided by fate beyond their control.

Social Structure

The very nature of Centaur social structure tends to be simplistic - not out of a lack of intelligence or individual complexity, but out of a desire to remain close to nature and maintain nurturing familial bonds.

The Centaurs do not have an all-encompassing social structure oe a singular government. Instead, they are divided up into cohorts, legions, and nomadic bands. A cohort is a group of bands with a similar mindset. Their purpose is to allow a sense of security for young Centaurs to socialize, marry, and breed with outside of their family band. They generally consist of anywhere from three to ten bands. Legions are rare, and there tends to be only a small number - most often, only one - at any given time. They may number well into thousands of individual Centaurs, and are often formed to build permanent settlements or wage war. They are made up of many groups of cohorts or dozens of allied bands, usually not for an extended period of time. However fleeting and rare the formation or survival of a legion may be, they are efficient: a blessing upon their allies, yet potentially devastating to any who stand against them.

Bands are the central unit of Centaur social structure. They may number anywhere from a few individuals to a few dozen, although a common band is around ten to twenty Centaurs, including adults and foals. Although the leading male is usually in the most visible role of leadership and decision-making, the majority of band structures are actually matriarchal, with a more subtly leading female appointing and directing the leading male.

Bands are typically comprised of small family groups - ideally a matriarch, a patriarch, and several other immediate family members including hunters, warriors, healers, and of course, foals being raised by the band. It is most common for there to be only one adult male in the band and perhaps his son(s). Some males have multiple female mates, while some are monogamous - this is the decision of the individual band. Bands are fiercely loyal, and they are an essential part of Centaur culture and society.