The Revoca Canton party (the junior
varsity team of the campaign) have found a solid, if dim-witted group
of allies out in the mythic woods in a tribe of Reverse Centaurs.
Rescuing the horseheaded humanoids a couple weeks back from the
ravages of a two-headed giant (admittedly one that the party
themselves released into the world) allowed them in time-honored
campaign tradition to “unlock” a new dumb Hill Cantons class. Big
thanks to Gus L for co-writing the class.
On the Making of Horselings
Long ago in the Land of Ostpahr dwelt
Kůň and Otokar, brothers two. Fair of head and long in leg the two
so loved horses as to eschew the company of their own wives. All morn
and to the eve, the brothers mounted and rode their corral of mares.
They mounted and rode them in the tall green waves of the steppe
grass and mounted and rode them on swelling ridges high.
Mounted...why does thou giggle so? In that day they were sedulous and
attentive and use to the practice of daily equestrian drill...
One day in the summer high First Pavol,
a trader of horseflesh, came to them with a comely named Hrebec.
Shining and black the steed stood tall in shoulder and wide in
breadth, his eyes were as two flashing rubies and his mane tassels of
purest gold.
Said the humble horse merchant: “Great and mighty
lords of the pastures, king of kings Svat the Four-Faced called on me
in my slumber and spoke to me saying that I will have his divine
favor if I make a free gift of that I hold most dear. This horse I
hold most dear, more to me than my own wife, who helpeth me not in
the mounting. I give him unto thee.”
The brothers praised Pavol for his
piety and each other for their good fortune and made ready to mount
Hrebec. But neither could allow the other to be the first to ride
the horse. Both Kůň and Otokar drew ire. Hard words came forth from
their mouths and the two drew forth their long blades. With mighty
twinned swings they were both cleaved in two.
Their life spilling
from them on the rocky soil, great and likable Radhost took pity on
the dying brothers and working deftly split Hrebec. With skillful
hands the god bound the torso and head of Kůň to the body of the
horse and Hrebec's stately head to the body of Otokar and the two
were made whole and wholly other.
And so it was that the two ancient
races, the centaurs and reverse centaurs, came to live in the world
of Zem...
Reverse Centaur
Requirements: STR 13, INT 11 or less
Prime Requisite: STR
Hit Dice: 1d10
Maximum Level: 9
Proudly sporting the heads of
horse-kind on their chiseled wide-shouldered otherwise human bodies,
stand the proud, strong (though somewhat thick) children of Otokar,
the Reverse Centaur.
Reverse Centaurs can carry on their
strong backs an abnormally large amount of gear, gaining +3 STR in
carrying weight (up to 19) in systems that use STR for encumbrance.
Reverse Centaurs move at 120' round unless they are at heavy
encumbrances. Reverse centaurs possess an innate “horse sense”
allowing them to move vegetation finding trails and hidden paths and
will always safely find way home after flight with no memory of
escape route.
RCs are sadly also prone to severe
panics and must roll 3d6 (or more if circumstance warrant) vs. INT
to avoid fleeing if an ally dies, take half hp in damage, or of
exposed to lightning to avoid stampeding in sheer terror. They make
another check after one turn of flight to return to adventure or will
wander to camp/home.
Reverse Centaurs fight and save as
fighters of the same level. Their cumbersome tops and proneness to an
affliction they call “saddle sore” leads them to only be able to
wear leather armor. They can use all weapons other than lassos, a
weapon profoundly and irrationally hated by the creatures.
Reverse Centaur Level Progression
|
Experience |
Level |
Hit Dice (1d10) |
|
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
2,300 |
2 |
2 |
|
4,600 |
3 |
3 |
|
9,200 |
4 |
4 |
|
18,400 |
5 |
5 |
|
36,800 |
6 |
6 |
|
73,600 |
7 |
7 |
|
147,200 |
8 |
8 |
|
294,400 |
9 |
9 |
