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Centaur
Centaur Art of Dragonflight
Faction/Affiliation Dragon Isles:
Maruuk Centaur, Primalists
Kalimdor:
Independent clans
Character classes Hunter, Necromancer,[1][2] Priest, Shaman, Sorcerer,[3] Warrior
Racial capital Dragon Isles:
Maruukai
Kalimdor:
Maraudon, Shok'Thokar
Racial leader(s) Dragon Isles:
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Khanam Matra Sarest
Kalimdor:
IconSmall CentaurKhan Numerous khans
Homeworld Azeroth
Area(s) Dragon Isles (Ohn'ahran Plains),
Central Kalimdor (Desolace, Northern Barrens, Thousand Needles)
Language(s) Common, Orcish
Organization(s) Tribes and clans

The centaur (sometimes pluralized as centaurs)[4][5][6][7] are a warlike humanoid race with human-like upper bodies and the lower bodies of horses. Two discrete centaur civilizations exist. The first, the Maruuk Centaur, date back to before the War of the Ancients and rule the Ohn'ahran Plains on the Dragon Isles, where they worship the wind god Ohn'ahra and hunt the wild game of the region. Although split into many different clans ruled by various khans, they share a single culture. The Maruuk's ancestors forged a pact with the green dragonflight, but were cut off from the rest of the world when the Dragon Isles were hidden after the Great Sundering.

Millennia later, a separate, more cruel and primitive centaur civilization was born on Kalimdor from the union of Zaetar and Theradras. These centaur roam the plains of Central Kalimdor (primarily Desolace and the Barrens) and are the mortal enemies of the tauren, whom they hunted for centuries until the arrival of the Horde. Although their clans have historically warred among themselves, Horde and Alliance efforts to unite the tribes against common foes have met with some success.[8]

History[]

Origins[]

Dragon Isles[]

The earliest known centaur lived on ancient Kalimdor prior to the War of the Ancients.[9] Their origin has not been explained.

Maruuk

Maruuk, co-founder of the Maruuk centaur.

When the Burning Legion invaded Azeroth, the ancient centaur clans fought and died until the hero Maruuk emerged and slaughtered the invaders. However, the other clan leaders feared Maruuk's strength and betrayed him, leading to him and his partner Teera rejecting the clans and setting out across Kalimdor in search of a new home. Many centaur were inspired by their honor and followed them, forming a new clan. Ohn'ahra, the Wild God of the Wind, guided the centaur on their journey until, after months of wandering, they reached what is now the Ohn'ahran Plains on the Dragon Isles. Maruuk died, and his people renamed themselves the Maruuk centaur in his honor.[9]

The Emerald Gardens bordering the plains were already inhabited by the green dragonflight, who were initially hostile toward their new neighbors and fought with the centaur over territory. Teera—who had taken up leadership of the Maruuk—met the dragons' leader Merithra in battle, but they soon realized that they were evenly matched and instead allied with each other against hostile proto-dragons that threatened both of their peoples. Teera and Merithra then made a pact, promising that the Maruuk and the dragons would stay out of each others' way but come to the aid of the other in times of need, a vow symbolized by the Horn of Drusahl. Afterward, the centaur hunted the plains while the dragons tended the gardens.[9][10][11] The green dragons left the Isles after the Great Sundering, leaving the Maruuk to develop their culture in isolation.[12]

It is presumed that the other centaur clans that refused to follow Maruuk to the Dragon Isles had perished.

Kalimdor[]

Theradras and Zaetar's Grave

Princess Theradras roaming the grave of Zaetar.

Millennia after the Sundering, a separate centaur civilization arose on Kalimdor[13][14] as a result of the relationship between Zaetar, son of the Wild God Cenarius, and Princess Theradras, daughter of the Elemental Lord Therazane.[15][16][17][18][19] 1,100 years BDP, tauren shaman accidentally awakened Theradras from her slumber beneath the plains of Mashan'she in western Kalimdor. She immediately drained Mashan'she's life energies to restore her power, turning the region into a barren desert later called Desolace. Zaetar emerged from the Emerald Dream to investigate this immense loss of life, but when he encountered Theradras, he fell in love with her and became her mate. From their forbidden union, the centaur of Kalimdor were born.[20] As such, the race has shared ancestry with other descendants of Cenarius[21] and have been called the "cursed cousins" of dryads.[22] The first of Zaetar and Theradras' children were Kolk, Gelk, Magra, Maraudos, and Veng, who became the first five khans.[23][24] The Cloven Hoof artifact is said to come from the time of the centaur's creation.[25]

Earth Song Gate

Centaur statuary in Maraudon.

Because of the unnaturalness of their parents' relationship, the centaur were born cursed, misshapen, and hateful.[15][17][26] Upon seeing his children, Zaetar immediately realized his sin. He tried to connect with his offspring, but the centaur saw the disgust in their father's eyes. This drove them into a blind rage, and they lashed out and murdered him. A heartbroken Theradras harshly chastised them for their actions. Realizing that they had wounded their beloved mother, the centaur begged for forgiveness and promised to always revere their late father. Theradras entombed Zaetar's spirit in her lair, which the centaur named Maraudon and would forever treat as holy ground. The centaur quickly proliferated and spread out across Kalimdor, driving the tauren of Desolace from their homes and igniting a long and dark period of war between the two races.[20] The centaur essentially had sole control of Desolace after the night elves left the region.[27]

Rivalry with the tauren[]

A male and female centaur.

For over a thousand years, the centaur and tauren were at war.[28] Tauren mythology tells of how the centaur emerged like a plague from the "black lands of the west" and pushed the tauren out of their ancestral home of Mulgore, forcing them to forever roam the plains of the Barrens as nomads.[29][30] The centaur ceaselessly terrorized central Kalimdor by raiding the settlements of other indigenous peoples,[4][31] such as the quilboar.[32] They hunted the tauren for sport and launched intermittent attacks on the latter race. This took a heavy toll on both sides, as the tauren made the centaur pay for every unprovoked attack. However, the tauren had no love for war and always opted to find a new home rather than throw their lives away whenever the horse-men appeared. As such, they lived in a constant state of upheaval, and a year of peace was always followed by a year of war.[33]

Centaur in art for Reforged

Centaur Marauders in the Barrens during the Third War.

By the Third War, the centaur were threatening to drive the tauren to extinction.[34][35][36] The tauren were saved by the arrival of the orcish Horde, as the tauren chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof and his Bloodhoof tribe befriended the Horde's Warchief Thrall. Their two peoples joined forces and their combined power crashed down on the centaur warbands, sending the horse-men limping out of the Barrens in defeat.[33] This allowed the tauren to permanently settle in Mulgore, ending their existence as nomads.[37][38] Most of the centaur retreated to their homeland of Desolace. The Horde harshly punished any centaur who defied their borders, which kept them in check for several years[28] with some exceptions: during the invasion of Durotar, the Kolkar clan enslaved an orc village in Dustwallow Marsh, while another group led by the khan Khiragg threatened the tauren in Mulgore and kidnapped Cairne's son Baine until he was rescued by Rexxar.[39]

World of Warcraft[]

WoW Icon update This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.
Quest Thwarting Kolkar Aggression TCG

Kolkar aggressors in Durotar, as depicted in the TCG.

The respite created by the Horde's defeat of the centaur didn't last long. Princess Theradras, who loved the centaur, worried that the Horde's rise to power might eventually drive them to extinction. She acted to save her children by infusing them with her power, driving their warbands to storm out of Desolace and claim new territories.[28] In Durotar, the Kolkar plotted to take over the orc lands.[40][41] In the Barrens, new leaders rallied the disorganized Kolkar and turned them into a real threat against the Horde.[5] Regthar Deathgate led Horde operations against them.[42] In the Thousand Needles, the Galak increased their attacks on tauren caravans.[43] Cliffwatcher Longhorn reported that they were more of an annoyance than a real threat, but that there were rumors of centaur clans uniting.[44]

Gelkis Village old

Centaur architecture in Desolace.

Thrall sent Horde adventurers to Desolace to handle the centaur threat. They quickly discovered that the centaur were slaughtering each other just as much as they were attacking outsiders. When they investigated further, they met Warug of the Magram clan, who told them of Theradras' recent actions and that Desolace had been corrupted. The Horde allied with the Magram—who held no loyalty to Theradras, unlike the other clans—and helped them suppress the other tribes in Desolace:[28] the Kolkar,[45] Gelkis,[46] and Maraudine.[47] The adventurers then entered Maraudon and defeated Theradras, ending the spreading corruption in Desolace and easing the centaur's violent bloodlust.[28] This also freed the captive spirit of Zaetar, but he chose to remain in Maraudon since he believed that the centaur had need of their father, despite their crimes against him.[48] With the Horde's blessing, Warug and the Magram became the rulers of the united centaur and led them to an age of tranquility. Yet none knew how long they would stay on the path of peace.[28]

Separately, an exile called the Centaur Pariah wanted adventurers to help him craft an Amulet of Union, which would make him powerful enough to unite the centaur into one great tribe and reform them into being "as our ancestors wanted us to be".[23][49]

At some point before the Cataclysm, a centaur warband attacked and burned down Camp Narache in Mulgore. The Earthen Ring rescued the camp's survivors and tried to put out the fire, but were forced to flee from the centaur after the elements refused to aid them. Soon after, the centaur were massacred by the rogue shaman Shotoa.[50]

Bloodsworn[]

Comics title This section concerns content related to the Warcraft manga or comics.
Aratas rally

Aratas rallying the centaur clans in Desolace.

In the wake of the Cataclysm, Maraudon saw the emergence of a powerful earth elemental who held Azeroth's mortal races responsible for the Cataclysm. He created a new, "pure" race of centaur called the perfect ones, free of the flaws of the "older breed", who would spread over the world and reclaim it from those who had "defiled" it. Their leader, the High Khan Aratas, united the Kolkar, Magram, Maraudine, Gelkis, and Galak tribes into a massive army in Desolace with the promise that he would usher in a new age in which the centaur would claim the lands that were rightfully theirs from the "mongrel" races and reign over Azeroth. The perfect ones discriminated against the older centaur by forbidding them from entering Maraudon and, in at least one case, trying to kill a member of the older breed who was deemed too weak to fit in Aratas' vision of a strong, "pure" race.

The centaur capitalized on the Cataclysm and began to attack Horde settlements all over Kalimdor, enslaving large numbers of orcs in the process, in order to keep the Horde distracted until Aratas could invade and destroy the Horde capitals of Thunder Bluff and Orgrimmar with slave-built siege weapons and the power of his elemental father. The Horde sent its newly-formed Garad'kra militia to counter the threat. They received help from the drifter Malgar and from the centaur outcast Dorthar, who informed them of Aratas' plans. Together they attacked Maraudon, defeated the perfect ones, and killed Aratas and his father, giving the Horde enough time to move their forces into position and break up the centaur army. Dorthar subsequently became the first centaur to join the Horde.[51]

Cataclysm[]

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.
Death to Agogridon aftermath

The three khans Shodo, Leh'Prah, and Kammah in Shok'Thokar.

After the Cataclysm, the Kolkar continued to encroach on the Horde in the Northern Barrens.[52][53] In the Thousand Needles, the Galak centaur survived the flooding of the region by moving to the Splithoof Heights, which happened to be rich in oil. The inhabitants of Fizzle & Pozzik's Speedbarge tried to trick the Galak into giving them pumping rights,[54] then resorted to taking the oil and land by force after negotiations failed.[55][56]

In Desolace, the Burning Blade cult and their demon masters pushed the Magram clan out of their home and renamed it Shok'Thokar. The Magram, in turn, defeated the Kolkar clan and took over their lands.[57] The Kolkar leader Khan Leh'Prah escaped to Karnum's Glade to ask for help from adventurers.[58] Leh'Prah had seen visions of the future and believed that centaur lands would be corrupted forever if the Burning Blade weren't stopped.[59] Through shows of force, adventurers convinced Khan Kammah of the Magram[60] and Khan Shodo of the Gelkis[61] to join forces with Leh'Prah and the Kolkar against their common enemy. Together, the three clans attacked the Burning Blade at Shok'Thokar,[62] and the three khans killed the pit lord Agogridon to win the day. Leh'Prah, Kammah, Shodo, and their clans then took up residence in the reclaimed Shok'Thokar as united "sons of Cenarion".[63][59][64]

After the Argus Campaign, Magni Bronzebeard traveled to Desolace to warn the centaur about the world-soul's distress and the emergence of Azerite.[65]

Dragonflight[]

Dragonflight This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.
Maruukai

Maruukai.

After the Dragon Isles reawakened, the Maruuk centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains—who had been isolated since the Great Sundering—became embroiled in the conflict between the dragonflights and the Primalists. Shortly after the green dragonflight and their leader Merithra returned to their Emerald Gardens, Primalists led by Koroleth attacked the area in an attempt to reach the dragons' portal to the Emerald Dream. The dragons repelled them, and the Primalists resorted to recruiting the help of the centaur of Clan Nokhud[66] and introducing them and their power-hungry khan, Balakar, to forbidden storm magic.[67] The Primalists tried to recruit at least Clan Shikaar as well, but this was unsuccessful.[68]

Adventurers traveled to the Ohn'ahran Plains and established diplomacy with the centaur so that they could cross their lands, reach the Emerald Gardens, and help Merithra and her flight empower the Emerald Oathstone.[69][70][71] They befriended the Clan Shikaar and accompanied them to Maruukai for the Khural gathering, where the clans planned to discuss the dragons' return.[72] The green flight itself sent an emissary, Gemisath, to the Khural to ask Khanam Matra Sarest to uphold her ancestor Teera's pact with the dragons by providing military aid against the Primalists.[10][73] Sarest agreed to do so, but the gathering was disrupted by Balakar Khan and the Nokhud, who revealed their alliance with the Primalists, killed Gemisath, and launched an attack on Maruukai,[74] starting off a war between them and the other clans.[75][76] This was unlike any conflict the Maruuk had seen for generations.[77] While Clan Ukhel and Clan Kaighan sided with Balakar, the other clans sided with Khanam Matra Sarest.

While Balakar marshaled his army to conquer the entirety of the Ohn'ahran Plains, Sarest planned to blow the Horn of Drusahl to answer the green dragons' call for an alliance.[76][78] However, with the Nokhud's aid, the Primalists were able to capture Ohn'ahra herself.[79] With Ohn'ahra as their captive, the Primalist and Nokhud were able to blow the horn in order to lure the green dragonflight into a trap.[80] However they failed in their objective in killing Merithra and the other centaur were able to prove they had no part in Clan Nokhud's betrayal.[81] Rallying together the green dragonflight and the centaur were able to thwart the Primalists and kill their leader, Koroleth.[82]

With Koroleth's death, Balakar retreated to his stronghold with the captive Ohn'ahra, even as he had his raiders storm across the plains to wreak havoc, [83] with the remaining Primalists in the region aiding him in his endeavors, and Clan Ukhel (one of the only centaur clans to have sided with him) using their necromantic magics to resurrect their ancestors Maruuk and Teera to serve as tools of war against their enemies. However as the centaur clashed against one another on the field, adventures struck out against Balakar's allies, defeating the Primalists, soothing the angered ancestors (who had swiftly killed the necromancer responsible for their rebirth), and ultimately invaded the stronghold, killing Balakar and freeing Ohn'ahra.

Appearance[]

WoWBlog Ohn'ahran Image 03

A female and male Maruuk centaur sparring.

A centaur appears as a creature with a horse's body and legs and with a humanoid's torso, arms, and head. Their equine lower bodies give them great speed[20] that is unmatched upon the plains,[84] while their burly humanoid torsos give them incredible physical strength.[20]

Kalimdorian centaur are considered very ugly by other races[26][85][86] and are notorious for their stench.[54][87][88][89] Bony protrusions and growths mar their every visage. They commonly adorn themselves with body paint of henna and thick dried mud, signifying their social role, rank, or the clan they hail from.[90] Many of their khans have large tusks on the sides of their mouths, and the women always wear veils covering the lower part of their face.

The centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains look somewhat more human- or elf-like with cleaner features. None of them have tusks, but some of them have a distinctly larger and heavier build, with shaggier fur and deeper voices.

Culture[]

Maruuk architecture concept

Concept art of Maruuk architecture.

The Maruuk centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains are a society of hunters, nomads, and storytellers.[91] They are a proud and territorial people who do not suffer insult lightly.[69] They are organized into many individual clans, led by chieftains known as khans. Though each clan has its own strengths and weaknesses, they share a single culture and all consider themselves Maruuk.[92] Clans rise and fall in power,[91] and it is commonplace for clans to seize territory and power from their rivals by force,[93] but they maintain relative peace among themselves and with the neighboring green dragonflight.[91] Each season, clans large and small gather in the city of Maruukai for the Khural, a time of truce and discussion during which they share resources and stories.[94] The Maruuk frequently trade with the tuskarr, with whom they share many values and hobbies.[95]

Barak Kodobane HS

Barak Kodobane, a Kalimdorian centaur, in Hearthstone.

In contrast, the centaur of Kalimdor are nomadic[96] marauders known for their brutality, savagery,[4] and cruelty.[7] According to Regthar Deathgate, most of them are "low, brutish creatures",[5] and they cannot "focus their rage" as the orcs can.[97] However, a few of them have the intelligence and vision required to lead.[5] Centaur leadership relies on a core of disciplined warriors to keep the others in line[98] and prevent them from killing each other out of jealousy, rage, and personal conflict. Their camps are often littered with important communications, but these can look more like barely-legible, angry scrawls than war plans.[87] In battle, centaur tend to use simple tactics and attack their enemies head first.[99] A great show of respect among centaur is smacking a fist on one's own chest.[100] Like the centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains, the horse-men of Kalimdor are organized into clans (or tribes) led by khans, but they are much more fractured than the Maruuk. Each clan has its own agenda,[7] and the things they share are a hatred for their progenitors, a hatred for the tauren, and an all-consuming hatred for other centaur clans.[8] The clans would be an unstoppable threat if united into a single force, but most of the time they instead bicker and war among themselves.[101][102][103] Cliffwatcher Longhorn observed that "nothing could penetrate the pure hatred [the centaur] have... even of each other".[44]

Centaur children are called "foals".[104][105] They refer to other humanoid races as "two-foot"[11][92][106] or "two-legs".[107] Maruuk centaur wear horseshoes,[108][109] and farriers are found in many of their settlements.[110][111] The Maruuk have skilled weavers who make soft and elaborate rugs and quilts from argali wool and the vivid natural dyes found in the Ohn'ahran Plains.[95]

Some Kalimdor centaur show fascination for advanced technology. When the goblin Salzhigh created a penguin squeak-toy, the centaur (who had never seen a penguin before) purchased them as idols and worshipped them at altars.[112] Warug of the Magram clan considered target dummies and other gnomish inventions to be strange and entertaining.[113]

Companions[]

Trainer Frodrum

A Shikaar hunter with an ohuna and bakar companion.

The Maruuk keep a variety of domesticated animals:

  • Bakar serve as hunting companions and guard dogs.[114]
  • Ohuna, eagles descended from Ohn'ahra herself,[11] serve as hunting companions. Their relationship to the centaur is transient and built on mutual respect: each spring, the ohuna choose a new centaur to hunt alongside, and each winter they return to their kin.[115]
  • Argali are domesticated for their milk[116] and wool.[95][117]
  • Bruffalons are domesticated for their milk.[118]
  • Musken serve as beasts of burden that pull the clans' caravan wagons.[119]
  • Thunder lizards have in rare cases been known to bond with centaur and their close allies.[120]

The Kalimdor clans use domesticated hyenas (often called "packhounds") as pets.[121][122][123]

Cuisine[]

Centaur cannibalism

Centaur roasting a dead orc as food.

The Maruuk mainly eat game meat from the various wildlife of the Ohn'ahran Plains.[106] They also eat fish,[95][124] cheese[125] and milk from argali and bruffalons,[116][118] and sweets like tarts,[126] puddings,[127] and sliced honey plum with chilled cream.[128] Centaur prefer their meat and fish roasted to the point of being charred black and drenched in so much spice that it numbs the tongue. Even foals have plenty of spice on their food. That said, the centaur of Clan Teerai can also enjoy a hearty fish stew like their Iskaara tuskarr neighbors.[105][128] Some, but not all, tuskarr dislike centaur cooking, arguing that it dishonors the fish and that eating blackened fish with so much spice is akin to "eating ash".[95]

Kalimdor's centaur hunt for meat whenever they are not at war. Excess meat is crudely dried and stored to allow them to fight for longer between hunts.[129] Unlike the Maruuk, they are also cannibals[29] who cook and eat humanoids they capture.[130][131][132] They consider orc meat to be tastier than tauren.[132]

Spirituality[]

Maruuk[]

Teerakai - shrine

A Maruuk shrine to Ohn'ahra.

The Maruuk worship the eagle spirit Ohn'ahra, the Windmother. She originally guided the Maruuk's ancestors to the Ohn'ahran Plains during the War of the Ancients, and has watched over them ever since.[92] Foals with an innate connection to Ohn'ahra leave their clans to join the mystics of Clan Ohn'ir,[104] who interpret her songs to advise the other centaur.[11] Ohn'ahra does not speak in language but instead through the winds themselves, and the Ohn'ir are trained to feel her presence and interpret her messages.[133] Windsong Rise is considered hallow ground for the Maruuk, being the place where their connection to the wind and Ohn'ahra is strongest.[134] The Maruuk make a sharp distinction between "wind magic" and "storm magic". Storms are considered an affront to Ohn'ahra's gift and her most dire omen,[133] and storm magic is therefore viewed as a sacrilege to her gift of winds.[135]

The Maruuk believe that the spirits of dead centaur live with Ohn'ahra in the sky and run alongside her on the winds.[136][137] When a mystic of Clan Ohn'ir dies, a sacred ohuna known as a Child of Ohn'ahra carries their spirit to Windsong Rise, were they may become one with the wind and sky.[138] The ancestors always walk beside their living descendants, guiding and protecting them, to the point where the Khural is considered a gathering for not only the living Maruuk, but the dead as well. The Khural begins when Clan Teerai invite the ancestors to Maruukai by giving them an offering in the form of a meal. They intentionally overchar and overspice the food to ensure that the scent is strong enough to reach the spirits in the sky.[105][137]

Maruuk tales are handed down through the generations through storytellers, a sacred role rooted in tradition. They tell these stories to pay respect to the ancestors and remind themselves of what's important.[9]

Kalimdor[]

Wicked Tunnels statue

A centaur statue in the Wicked Tunnels of Maraudon.

Among Kalimdor's centaur, the females tend to use a dark, perverted form of shamanism, while magic use among males is quite rare.[139] All Kalimdorian clans have practitioners of air magic, often called "stormers"[140] or "windchasers".[141] The Gelkis clan specializes in earth magic.[142] The centaur view the tauren's traditions of shamanism and ties to nature as weak.[33]

The centaur of Desolace consider the temple of Maraudon—the resting place of their father Zaetar—to be holy and protect it with their lives.[143] It is used as a combination of ancient centaur burial grounds, as well as a primal temple dedicated to the elemental earth. Only spirits and the most sacred priests and priestesses are allowed to enter its halls.[23] At least one centaur, Khan Shodo of the Gelkis, acknowledges the Earth Mother.[144] The Galak of the Splithoof Heights worship an air elemental, Whrrrl.[145]

The centaur claim that a white kodo is a harbinger of doom.[146]

Marriage[]

The Maruuk practice betrothal.[136][147] There are various traditions associated with marriage, but different individuals and clans seem to hold different views of them. Elder Odgerel believes that it's irrelevant if partners love each other and that it is more important to keep to tradition, which involves giving sweets to a matchmaker who will find a partner for the bachelor, an exchange of offerings between families, and many other ceremonies. Matchmaker Osila believes that true compatibility between lovers comes from seeking guidance from one of the ancestors and asking them to bless the relationship.[148] According to Ohn Arasara, tradition suggests that the centaur making the proposal should gift sweets to their intended partner's family. These sweets are then shared with the rest of the clan.[149] Tradition also dictates that the proposer should receive a blessing from both their own and their intended partner's clan before they make their proposal.[150]

Clans[]

Maruuk[]

Maruukai - center

The banners of the major Maruuk clans. From left to right: Nokhud, Teerai, Shikaar, and Ohn'ir.

The Maruuk centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains are split into many different clans, but there are four who hold the most power:[92][151]

  • Nokhud — A clan that values brute strength over all else.[67] They are the newest clan to rise to power, and the one that maintains the largest military force.[151] Led by Balakar Khan, the Nokhud allied with the Primalists and turned against the rest of the Maruuk.[74] Their capital is Nokhudon Hold in the western highlands.
  • Ohn'ir — A clan of mystics who hone a special connection to Ohn'ahra. Its members are initiated from the other clans[92][151] and are spread throughout the plains,[104] but they make their main home at the Ohn'iri Springs and other villages in the south. Led by Tigari Khan.
  • Shikaar — The strongest hunters of the Maruuk. Their camps are spread throughout the plains,[92] mainly in the eastern Shikaar Highlands. Led by Sansok Khan.
  • Teerai — A clan that upholds the traditions of the Maruuk's ancestors and guides the other centaur according to their ways. They are led by the Khanam Matra (currently Khanam Matra Sarest), who serves as the cultural khan of all Maruuk.[92][151] Their home is Teerakai in the southwestern plains.

In addition, there are various minor clans:

  • Aylaag — A small clan of nomads who travel across the plains, regularly setting up and taking down camp wherever the wind guides them.[152] Led by Hadari Khan.
  • Kaighan — A small hostile clan found at the Kaighan Camp.
  • Toghus — Formerly one of the most powerful clans, until they were defeated and replaced by Jhakan Khan of Clan Nokhud.[92]
  • Ukhel — A clan of necromancers who have sided with the Nokhud.

Kalimdor[]

Centaur banner 2

A Kalimdorian centaur banner.

The centaur of Kalimdor are split into five clans or tribes, each corresponding to one of the original five khans born of Zaetar and Theradras.[23]

In addition, a faction called the Centaur Marauders appears in the Invasion of Kalimdor campaign in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and an unnamed group appears in the Stonetalon Mountains in the mission Where Wyverns Dare.

Notable centaur[]

Maruuk[]

Name Role Clan Status Location
IconSmall CentaurBulky Male Maruuk Hero-ancestor of the Maruuk Maruuk Deceased Buried in Eternal Kurgans, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Teera The Guidemother, first matriarch of the Maruuk Maruuk Deceased Buried in Eternal Kurgans, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Khanam Matra Sarest Khanam Matra of the Maruuk Teerai Alive Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall Centaur2 Male Khansguard Akato Captain of the Khanam Matra's khansguard Teerai Alive Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall CentaurBulky Male Balakar Khan Khan of the Nokhud and ally of the Primalists Nokhud Killable Nokhudon Hold, Nokhud Offensive
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Hadari Khan Khan of the Aylaag Aylaag Alive Various, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Sansok Khan Khan of the Shikaar Shikaar Alive Timberstep Outpost and Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Ohn Seshteng Ohn'ir advisor to Clan Shikaar Ohn'ir Alive Timberstep Outpost and Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Tigari Khan Khan of the Ohn'ir Ohn'ir Alive Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
IconSmall Centaur2 Female Scout Tomul Shikaar scout Shikaar Alive Timberstep Outpost and Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains

Kalimdor[]

Name Role Clan Status Location
IconSmall CentaurKhan Kolk The First Khan Kolkar Undead Wicked Tunnels, Desolace
IconSmall CentaurKhan Gelk The Second Khan Gelkis Undead Wicked Tunnels, Desolace
IconSmall CentaurKhan Magra The Third Khan Magram Undead Foulspore Pools, Desolace
IconSmall CentaurKhan Maraudos The Fourth Khan Maraudine Undead Wicked Grotto, Maraudon
IconSmall CentaurKhan Veng The Fifth Khan Galak Undead Foulspore Cavern, Maraudon
IconSmall CentaurKhan Khan Ablinh Khan of the Galak Galak Alive Splithoof Heights, Thousand Needles
IconSmall Centaur Male Aratas High Khan and leader of the perfect ones who united the clans None Deceased Killed in Maraudon
IconSmall Centaur Male Barak Kodobane Kolkar leader in the Barrens Kolkar Killable Forgotten Pools, Northern Barrens
IconSmall CentaurKhan Khan Blizh Khan of the Galak Galak Alive Splithoof Heights, Thousand Needles
IconSmall Centaur Male Centaur Pariah Exile who wanted to unite the Desolace clans None Alive Southern Desolace
IconSmall Centaur Male Dorthar Member of the Garad'kra, first centaur to join the Horde Unknown Alive Unknown
IconSmall CentaurKhan Khan Gragtor Kolkar khan in Dustwallow Marsh during the invasion of Durotar Kolkar Deceased Killed in Dustwallow Marsh
IconSmall Centaur Male Hezrul Bloodmark Main Kolkar leader in the Barrens Kolkar Killable Lushwater Oasis, Northern Barrens
IconSmall CentaurKhan Khan Hratha Khan of the Maraudine Maraudine Deceased Formerly Valley of Spears, Desolace
IconSmall CentaurKhan Khan Kammah Khan of the Magram Magram Alive Shok'Thokar, Desolace
IconSmall Centaur Male Khiragg Leader of a warband in Mulgore during the invasion of Durotar Unknown Deceased Killed in Mulgore
IconSmall Centaur Male Warlord Krom'zar Leader of Kolkar reinforcements from Desolace to the Barrens Kolkar Killable Northern Barrens
IconSmall CentaurKhan Khan Leh'Prah Kolkar khan who united the Desolace clans after the Cataclysm Kolkar Alive Shok'Thokar, Desolace
IconSmall Centaur Male The Nameless Prophet Highest spiritual leader of any tribe Unknown Killable Zaetar's Choice, Desolace
IconSmall CentaurKhan Khan Shodo Khan of the Gelkis Gelkis Alive Shok'Thokar, Desolace
IconSmall Centaur Female Uthek the Wise Gelkis shaman and spokeswoman Gelkis Unknown Formerly Gelkis Village, Desolace
IconSmall Centaur Male Verog the Dervish Kolkar leader in the Barrens Kolkar Killable Stagnant Oasis, Northern Barrens
IconSmall Centaur Male Warug Magram leader and spokesman who united the Desolace clans Magram Unknown Formerly Magram Village, Desolace

In the RPG[]

Icon-RPG This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.
Krenka

Centaur of the Krenka tribe in the Horde Player's Guide.

Centaurs are savage and brutal, and they often take prisoners. These prisoners are usually eaten. However, rumors tell of centaurs dragging humanoids of all sorts off to become slaves, forcing them to work in hardscrabble opal mines. Opals are used to make crude trinkets or are thrown into sacrificial offerings to the spirits. Young tauren have made something of a game out of this tradition, snatching away the centaur's offerings and leaving insulting totems in their place. They must be swift, lest they be caught by the centaur, who leave their gutted remains as a warning to others who would consider doing the same.

Filthy creatures, centaurs are always followed by swarms of flies, which are attracted by the centaur's repellent odor. Centaurs have no qualms about leaving piles of dung strewn about their encampments, and no concept of privacy.

Lands of Mystery cover art

A centaur on the cover of Lands of Mystery.

Each of the five tribes in Desolace had their own unique tribal color: black, brown, green, red, and yellow. Members used the colors to mark their weapons and their faces. These colors are literally the names of centaur tribes fathered by Zaetar, but likely refer to the five main centaur tribes (Kolkar, Magram, Maraudine, Gelkis, and Galak). The Red tribe for example lived in Spearhold.[156][157][158][159]

Origin[]

Tauren vs Centaur

A centaur fighting a tauren in World of Warcraft: The RPG.

"Long, ago, the kaldorei god Cenarius bore three children, the centaur, the dryad, and the keeper of the grove. However, one son, the centaur, grew to despise his beautiful siblings, then all other creatures of the world, and challenged Cenarius. The centaur believed that he was the strongest of the three children, and that Cenarius refused to love him and instead doted on his other children.

In embracing his hatred and savagery, he struck his father in blind rage, trying to force his father to love him above all other creatures. In retort, the god cursed the centaur, stripping him of his beauty and powers, leaving him only with his hatred and anger. The centaur fled in rage, and swore a blood feud on all the creatures of the world. He reserved most of his hatred for Cenarius' favored children, and thus the night elves drew his ire as well. We tauren too drew his anger, as he was jealous of our strength and power with the world, the same power he lost.

His children carry his anger, and destroy everything they touch, bearing their father's hatred of all things of the world.[160]

Languages[]

Centaurs speak Low Common and Common. The Krenka clan speaks Krenkese and Low Common. A few centaurs learn the languages of their enemies, including Goblin, Orcish, Taur-ahe, and Zandali.[161][162] Taur-ahe is learned as a secondary language,[161] though a few centaur primarily speak Taur-ahe.[163]

RPG Notes[]

Notes and trivia[]

Centaur Rug

A rug made of centaur skin.

  • One in-universe legend inaccurately claims that Kalimdor's centaur are the bastard children of Cenarius himself.[4]
  • The tauren claim that the centaur have always existed to scourge the land,[4] even though, in truth, their history on Kalimdor only dates back 1,100 years.[20]
    • This may be retroactively referring to the original centaur peoples, from whom the Maruuk descend.
  • The centaur over-hunted giraffes for decades, but the species was saved from extinction by the tauren.[166]
  • Although centaur, tauren, and quilboar all hate each other, the three races come together to do trade at Flayers' Point in Desolace. But there is no love lost between them, and brawls erupt like clockwork every five minutes, earning the trading post the nickname "Slayers' Point".[167]
  • Members of the Horde sometimes skin centaur corpses and turn them into rugs.[168] These can be seen as decorations even in areas where centaur otherwise aren't found, such as Lower Blackrock Spire or locations in Outland like Ango'rosh Stronghold.
  • In addition to the normal tents and huts they are seen using elsewhere, many centaur settlements in Desolace formerly included imposing stone architecture. These stone structures were removed in Cataclysm (except for inside Maraudon), leaving only the tents.
  • In the Warcraft III mission The Crossing, the forces of Garithos' Elite Guard include a squad of mercenary Centaur Khans.
  • Centaur were originally planned to be a playable faction in Warcraft III.[169]
  • In the Pandaren Empire April Fools announcement for Warcraft III, the centaur were described as the mortal enemies of the pandaren.
  • The standard Maruuk centaur models use vorkai animations. The bulkier variant uses magnataur animations.
    • Unlike other races that got model updates in Dragonflight such as dryads and gnolls, the centaur model was not retroactively applied to older centaur. Centaur NPCs added before Dragonflight continue to use the original model.

Inspiration[]

Centaurs are half-man, half-horse creatures from Greek mythology, known for their wild and untamed nature.

The culture of Warcraft's centaur is loosely based on that of Eurasian steppe peoples, such as the Mongols and Huns. This is evident in their use of the title "khan", of architecture that resembles yurts, the design of their armor, and—arguably—their extensive use of archery and storm-based shamanism.

Gallery[]

References[]

 
  1. ^ Centaur Deathcaller
  2. ^ Outcast Necromancer
  3. ^ Centaur Sorcerer
  4. ^ a b c d e Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, The Creatures of Kalimdor, Centaur
  5. ^ a b c d H [16] Kolkar Leaders
  6. ^ A [35] Brutal Politics
  7. ^ a b c A [31] Centaur Bounty
  8. ^ a b Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 180
  9. ^ a b c d Storykeeper Jaru#Quotes
  10. ^ a b Gemisath#Quotes
  11. ^ a b c d N [62-65] By Broken Road
  12. ^ World of Warcraft 2022-04-19. Waking Shores and Ohn’ahran Plains Preview. YouTube. Retrieved on 2022-04-20.
  13. ^ World of Warcraft 2022-04-19. Dragonflight: Weaving a Story (03:19). YouTube. Retrieved on 2022-04-20.​ “We're gonna find out about a civilization of centaurs that predates the ones that arose on Kalimdor much later.”
  14. ^ Jackie Wiley on Twitter (2022-04-20). Retrieved on 2022-09-17.​ “@SteveDanuser mentioned a bit in the deep dive that these centaur pre-date the zaetar and theradras ones. ohn'ahra led them to the dragon isles before the sundering, and they've been there ever since! they're cut by a different cloth, and we can't wait to share more with time!”
  15. ^ a b Patch 1.2.0: New Dungeon - Maraudon
  16. ^ a b World Dungeons: Maraudon
  17. ^ a b Celebras#Quotes
  18. ^ B [51D] Corruption of Earth and Seed
  19. ^ Maraudon#Adventure Guide
  20. ^ a b c d e World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 144 - 145
  21. ^ H [29] The Sacred Flame
  22. ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, Night Elf Units, Dryad
  23. ^ a b c d Inv misc note 01 [The Pariah's Instructions]
  24. ^ N [10-30D] Princess Theradras
  25. ^ H [25] The Sacred Flame
  26. ^ a b Bloodsworn, intro
  27. ^ A [40] Reagents for Reclaimers Inc.: "Last I read, centaur pretty much owned the land after the night elves picked up and left years ago."
  28. ^ a b c d e f g World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 119
  29. ^ a b Hatred of the Centaur
  30. ^ Annual 2015
  31. ^ Game Guide: Tauren
  32. ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 179
  33. ^ a b c World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 67
  34. ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, Heroes and Villains, Cairne Bloodhoof
  35. ^ Tauren creation creation description
  36. ^ The Characters of Warcraft: Baine Bloodhoof
  37. ^ Old Hatreds - Loading screen
  38. ^ World of Warcraft: Game Manual, Races in Conflict, Tauren
  39. ^ Old Hatreds
  40. ^ H [8] Thwarting Kolkar Aggression
  41. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3, pg. 115
  42. ^ H [5-30] Deathgate's Reinforcements
  43. ^ H [25] Message to Freewind Post
  44. ^ a b Inv misc note 02 [Cliffwatcher Longhorn Report]
  45. ^ N [32] Assault on the Kolkar
  46. ^ N [37] Khan Shaka
  47. ^ a b N [42] Khan Hratha
  48. ^ N [51D] Seeds of Life
  49. ^ N [48D] The Pariah's Instructions
  50. ^ Shaman, chapter 1 - 2
  51. ^ Bloodsworn
  52. ^ H [5-30] Warchief's Command: Northern Barrens!
  53. ^ H [5-30] Kolkar Leaders
  54. ^ a b B [15-30] Negotiations
  55. ^ B [15-30] Eminent Domain
  56. ^ B [15-30] Defend the Drill
  57. ^ a b c N [10-30] Breakout!
  58. ^ N [10-30] An Introduction Is In Order
  59. ^ a b Khan Leh'Prah#Quotes
  60. ^ N [10-30] My Word is My Bond
  61. ^ N [10-30] Time For Change
  62. ^ a b c d N [10-30] Into the Fray!
  63. ^ N [10-30] Death to Agogridon
  64. ^ Khan Kammah#Quotes
  65. ^ Before the Storm, chapter 12
  66. ^ N [62-65] With the Wind at Our Backs
  67. ^ a b N [62-65] Unwelcome Outsider
  68. ^ N [62-65] Welcome at Our Fire
  69. ^ a b N [62-65] Next Steppes
  70. ^ N [62-65] Into the Plains
  71. ^ Lore Book: Ohn'ahran Plains
  72. ^ N [62-65] The Shikaar
  73. ^ N [62-65] The Emissary's Arrival
  74. ^ a b N [62-65] The Khanam Matra
  75. ^ N [62-65] The Nokhud Threat
  76. ^ a b N [62-65] Hooves of War
  77. ^ N [62-65] The Calm Before the Storm
  78. ^ Inv misc scrollrolled05a [The Khanam Matra's Message]
  79. ^ N [62-65] Oh No, Ohn'ahra!
  80. ^ N [62-65] Blowing of the Horn
  81. ^ N [62-65] Green Dragon Down
  82. ^ N [62-65] Stormbreaker
  83. ^ N [62-70G5] The Nokhud Offensive: The Wind Belongs to the Sky
  84. ^ Landfall: "The devils' speed cannot be matched upon the plains."
  85. ^ Landfall: "Those hideous creatures have the bodies of horses! Lok-tar Ogar!"
  86. ^ Bloodsworn, pg. 65
  87. ^ a b H [5-30] Flushing Out Verog
  88. ^ H [30] Alliance Relations
  89. ^ H [5-30] King of Centaur Mountain
  90. ^ World of Warcraft: Traveler, pg. 52
  91. ^ a b c Blizzard Entertainment 2022-10-13. Dragonflight: Major Factions Overview. Retrieved on 2022-10-15.
  92. ^ a b c d e f g h N [62-65] Toward the City
  93. ^ N [62-65] Clan Nokhud
  94. ^ N [62-65] Maruukai
  95. ^ a b c d e Iskaara Trader
  96. ^ Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 126
  97. ^ H [5-30] Hezrul Bloodmark
  98. ^ H [5-30] Centaur Bracers
  99. ^ Bloodsworn, pg. 13
  100. ^ World of Warcraft: Traveler, pg. 54
  101. ^ A [35] Strange Alliance
  102. ^ H [35] Khan Dez'hepah
  103. ^ Gurda Wildmane#Quotes
  104. ^ a b c Ohn Seshteng#Gossip
  105. ^ a b c N [62-65] Honoring Our Ancestors
  106. ^ a b N [62-65] For Food and Rivalry
  107. ^ Warlord Krom'zar yells: You two-legs are nothing! My children could beat you!
  108. ^ Inv crate 01 [Crate of Horseshoes]
  109. ^ N [62-65] Thieving Gorlocs
  110. ^ Farrier Roscha
  111. ^ Farrier Rondare
  112. ^ Clockwork Penguin
  113. ^ N [35] Gizmo for Warug
  114. ^ N [62-65] Release the Hounds
  115. ^ Skyhunter Pahra#Quotes
  116. ^ a b Inv drink milk 02 [Argali Milk]
  117. ^ N [62-65] If There's Wool There's a Way
  118. ^ a b Milk Cow
  119. ^ N [62-65] Making Introductions
  120. ^ Inv misc questionmark [Hoofhelper]
  121. ^ Kolkar Packhound
  122. ^ Magram Bonepaw
  123. ^ Galak Packhound
  124. ^ Basket of Dried Fish
  125. ^ Inv misc food 38 [Argali Cheese]
  126. ^ Inv cooking 80 ravenberrytart [Honey Plum Tart]
  127. ^ Inv cooking 90 bananabeefpudding [Yak Milk Pudding]
  128. ^ a b Teerai Chef
  129. ^ N [35] Stealing Supplies
  130. ^ Old Hatreds - Enlist the Tauren: "The centaur are cannibals and do not keep prisoners for long."
  131. ^ N [10-30] Get Me Out of Here!
  132. ^ a b Bloodsworn, pg. 102
  133. ^ a b N [62-65] Omens on the Wind
  134. ^ Boku#Gossip
  135. ^ N [62-65] The Ora-cull
  136. ^ a b N [62-65] The Sole Mender
  137. ^ a b Qariin Dotur
  138. ^ Tigari Khan#Gossip
  139. ^ The Old Wizard's Almanac: The Shamanic Races
  140. ^ Galak Stormer, Kolkar Stormer, Magram Stormer, Maraudine Stormer
  141. ^ Centaur Windchaser, Gelkis Windchaser, Kolkar Windchaser, Magram Windchaser, Maraudine Windchaser
  142. ^ a b N [37] Khan Jehn
  143. ^ H [42D] Shadowshard Fragments
  144. ^ H [15-30] The Wilds of Feralas
  145. ^ B [15-30] Go Blow that Horn
  146. ^ Ability mount kodo 01 [Great White Kodo]
  147. ^ Windsage Contan#Quotes
  148. ^ N [62-65] Bloodlines, Sweets, and Teerai
  149. ^ N [62-65] Shikaar Giver
  150. ^ N [62-65] After My Ohn Heart
  151. ^ a b c d N [62-65] Clans of the Plains
  152. ^ Getseng#Quotes
  153. ^ Gelkis clan#Faction description
  154. ^ H [32] The Kolkar of Desolace
  155. ^ Magram clan#Faction description
  156. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 190
  157. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 192
  158. ^ a b Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 194
  159. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 196
  160. ^ Horde Player's Guide, pg. 209
  161. ^ a b Horde Player's Guide, pg. 26
  162. ^ Horde Player's Guide, 225
  163. ^ Manual of Monsters, pg. 21
  164. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 194 - 196
  165. ^ Lands of Mystery, pg. 31
  166. ^ Giraffe Calf
  167. ^ World of Warcraft: Traveler, chapter 5
  168. ^ Kamari#Quotes
  169. ^ Game Informer 2018-11-08. GI Show – Warcraft III, Diablo Immortal, Red Dead Developer Roundtable (30:55). YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-05-10.
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