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History

Many decades past, the Humans waged war against the Wood Elves because Humans had expanded their towns to the edges of the forests and beyond, cutting down trees to construct their houses and buildings; uprooting plant life and trees to plant farms, raise livestock and raise their families. Though this wasn't out of a sense of greed or entitlement, but out of necessity. The Wood Elves also had a necessity; to protect and maintain their ancestral home, pass on their druidic healing arts, and to preserve their basic way of life for the future. The Wood Elves held the early advantage in the inevitable war.

While Humans were adept at fighting with weapons, the Wood Elves excelled. Where the Humans would send to war their most able-bodied young men and hardened war veterans, the Wood Elves would easily outnumber their opponents sending every man and woman to war with sword & spear, bow & arrow. The elves also had a higher survival rate thanks to their shamans. The only advantage humans had was their use of horses. Humans had used mounted soldiers and archers for generations, due to the need to move fast, cover more ground, and power through enemies due to their own "average" physiques. Wood Elves, out of practicality, never used horses, preferring to rely on their own innate speed. Choosing stealth and natural cover over charging strength.

Although the humans were outmaneuvered and out-classed, they were also resilient. In an attempt to increase their numbers, they began to train their women. As the humans began to realize their advantage, they looked for a way to enhance it and make it even deadlier. The humans gathered their most skilled cavalry, whether they be man or woman, and brought them and their steeds before their mages, who proceeded to meld the two creatures into one creature built for war.

Thus, the Centaur was born.

Fighting alongside their fellow magically engineered war brethren, the Dire Wolves, the Centaur began to turn the tide of war in favor of their side. At night, as the fighting would slow, the Centaur would be welcomed back home and heralded as heroes. Bards would sing of their bravery. The fairer sex would throw itself at the returning stallions while young awe struck men would bashfully make advances towards the beautiful phillies.

The cycle of bloodbath by day, hero worship by night repeated itself with no interruptions until the end of the war came. No more drums echo'd on the mountains, or cheers and laughter filling the night air.

The humans had won.

A treaty was drawn between the elves and the humans; the humans could advance further into the woods and cut down more trees as needed for their farm lands, but may not clear the forest of trees entirely. The treaty holds to this day, and Wood Elves and Humans are friendly allies still.

But the Centaur and Dire Wolves were not as lucky. Once heralded and lauded as heroes, their usefulness ended not long after the war. During the war, the humans saw them as monsters, but as their monsters. Without an enemy, they were now just monsters.

The humans drove the Centaur and Dire Wolves way into the forests through discrimination, hatred, loathing and bitterness. Not a single arrow notched, and no sword unsheathed. Just a new cultural status quo.

Now, the Centaur and Dire Wolves still live and travel together, having formed an amazingly adept hunting society. The old hatred of the Wood Elves remains, and transgressions/wars take place regularly. Mostly out of competition for resources, but occasionally just for the thrill of the hunt. (History By: GMinotaur)