Centaur

This creature has the sun-bronzed upper body of a seasoned warrior and the lower body of a sleek warhorse.

Large monstrosity, neutral good

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 45 (6d10 + 12)
Speed 50 ft.

Skills Athletics +6, Perception +3, Survival +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Elvish, Sylvan
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Special Traits

• Charge: If the centaur moves at least 30 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a pike attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 10 (3d6) piercing damage.

Actions

• Multiattack: The centaur makes two attacks: one with its pike and one with its hooves or two with its longbow.
• Pike: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
• Hooves: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
• Longbow: Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Centaur Chieftain

The chieftain’s mane and hooves showed signs of long travel, the dust of the trail. But the light in his eyes was bright and the blue-feathered pike he shouldered seemed little more than a toothpick- the creature showed no sign of weariness.

Large monstrosity, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)
Hit Points 110 (17d8 + 34)
Speed 50 ft.

Saving Throws Dexterity +4, Constitution +5, Wisdom +5 Charisma +5
Skills Athletics +7, Perception +5, Survival +5
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Centaur, Common, Sylvan
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Special Traits

• Chieftain Charge. If the centaur moves at least 30 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a pike attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 14 (4d6) piercing damage.

Actions

• Multiattack. The centaur chieftain makes two attacks: one with its pike and one with its hooves or two with its longbow.
• Pike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
• Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
• Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
• Leadership (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute, the centaur chieftain can utter a special command or warning whenever a nonhostile creature that it can see within 30 feet of it makes an attack roll or a saving throw. The creature can add a d4 to its roll provided it can hear and understand the centaur chieftain. A creature can benefit from only one Leadership die at a time. This effect ends if the centaur chieftain is incapacitated.
• Rearing Strike (Recharge 5-6). The centaur chieftain rears back on its hind legs and makes a powerful stomp with its hooves. Each creature within 15 feet of the chieftain must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The attack leaves the centaur chieftain vulnerable, reducing its Armor Class by 2 until the start of its next turn.

About

Centaurs are not easily ruled. Centaur chieftains attain their status through superior strength, force of will, and a knack for sensing trouble early. All of these characteristics require frequent displays, which govern their brash, domineering approach to diplomacy.

Generous with Plunder. Centaur chieftains raid caravans, merchant carts, and small villages for fun and to win the devotion of their best warriors. The chieftains give most of the goods to the warriors as raiding is often the best way to buy centaur loyalty. Raids are especially common when a chieftain’s position in a tribe is new or unstable.

Courting Herds. Humanoids accustomed to monogamous marriages and clear, permanent partnerships are often offended by centaur courting practices. Chieftains invariably retain a small courting-herd of male and female centaurs. The size of these courting-herds is as much a mark of status as anything, though outsiders often assume the herd’s members are all wives or husbands to the chieftain. This assumption is incorrect as the honorable harem positions are more akin to squires, grooms, and ladies-in-waiting in a human or elven court-they dote upon the leader but are not necessarily lovers. The senior members of a courting-herd are often spouses to a centaur chieftain, though how to determine this is a puzzle to outsiders.

Drunken Raiding. While raiding can be honorable, centaur chieftains of both genders have an enormous appetite for alcohol and many are violent drunkards. This fuels their reputation as brawlers and impetuous raiders, though the chieftains who are less susceptible to bouts of drunkenness are highly regarded as leaders and mercenaries. Some chieftains turn to mercenary work largely to be paid in wine, beer, or other spirits.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Creature Codex. © 2018 Open Design LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Dan Dillon, Richard Green, James Haeck, Chris Harris, Jeremy Hochhalter, James Introcaso, Chris Lockey, Shawn Merwin, and Jon Sawatsky.

Centaur

They speak Sylvan and Human.

Combat

When employing a lance deals double damage when it charges, just as a rider on a mount does