Yes, the internal anatomy of mythical creatures like centaurs, chimeras, manticores, hydras, and many other beings makes absolutely no sense.
Generally, centaurs are not portrayed as eating grass or other raw vegetation that humans are incapable of digesting. They would not have two belly buttons because they would only have one umbilical cord. Their body joins the human and equine parts simply by running the spine through the body, bending it at a near right angle (it probably has significantly more flexibility at that location) with a collection of shoulder bones attached to operate the front legs.
In short, a wizard did it.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
First of all, it's all made up and everything so ... it seems to be a more formidable version of a satyr that someone didn't think through.
The question of internal organs never occurred to me because I never tried to think my way through what was going on. There "should" be two sets of lungs, two hearts, two stomachs, lots of kidneys, two livers, ... but only one brain, one bladder, one set of reproductive organs. The intestines might begin at the bottom of the top stomach and merge into the intestines of the lower stomach.
I don't think there is any way to reconcile the problems. You just have to take it for what it is. I'm sure there are many monsters that have the same problem if we looked too close under the hood.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
It's bad enough trying to figure out some D&D humanoids and beasts without bringing monstrosities (Centaurs) into it.
How do the Aarakocra wings fit into the skeleton?
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
What I don't get is their Human intestines would have to lead into the horse part of themselves but would it go into the horses stomach or go straight out some how. But either way the it would have to go through or around their vital organs. Also if you shoot one of the centaurs hearts could it still live?
Most likely, centaurs would only have one heart and one GI system. The heart and lungs would be located in the human torso (and decidedly larger than a human's because they needed to provide for a larger body) while the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, gall bladder, and reproductive system would be in the horse part.
Now, you want a real brain-bender, try thinking about the anatomy of a beholder.
Most likely, centaurs would only have one heart and one GI system. The heart and lungs would be located in the human torso (and decidedly larger than a human's because they needed to provide for a larger body) while the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, gall bladder, and reproductive system would be in the horse part.
Ah that's smart but their throat would go have through their human body and what would fill the now empty parts of their body.
A throat that goes all the way through their human body would still be shorter than a giraffe's throat. As to what fills their body? Who knows. Because centaurs explicitly don't live on a diet of grass and leaves, they don't need a stomach or intestines that are as big as a horse's. Maybe their lungs are just that big.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Greek mythology is probably responsible for more types of D&D monsters than any other single source.
Although some, like Gorgons, have very little resemblance to their mythological origins.
Gorgons are closer to the Colchis Bulls than the Gorgons of Greek Mythology, which are now Medusas, but are more just clones of THE Medusa than the Gorgons.
Greek mythology is probably responsible for more types of D&D monsters than any other single source.
Although some, like Gorgons, have very little resemblance to their mythological origins.
[Tooltip Not Found] are closer to the Colchis Bulls than the Gorgons of Greek Mythology, which are now Medusas, but are more just clones of THE Medusa than the Gorgons.
Yeah it says in MOoT that medusas are called gorgons in the setting, which makes sense
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So you ever thought about centaur anatomy it is messed up. So I am making this for people who can clear things up or want to mess it up even more.
Edit: I changed the name from Centaurs are messed of to Monsters are messed up, as the thread has moved past centaurs
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Yes, the internal anatomy of mythical creatures like centaurs, chimeras, manticores, hydras, and many other beings makes absolutely no sense.
Generally, centaurs are not portrayed as eating grass or other raw vegetation that humans are incapable of digesting. They would not have two belly buttons because they would only have one umbilical cord. Their body joins the human and equine parts simply by running the spine through the body, bending it at a near right angle (it probably has significantly more flexibility at that location) with a collection of shoulder bones attached to operate the front legs.
In short, a wizard did it.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
First of all, it's all made up and everything so ... it seems to be a more formidable version of a satyr that someone didn't think through.
The question of internal organs never occurred to me because I never tried to think my way through what was going on. There "should" be two sets of lungs, two hearts, two stomachs, lots of kidneys, two livers, ... but only one brain, one bladder, one set of reproductive organs. The intestines might begin at the bottom of the top stomach and merge into the intestines of the lower stomach.
I don't think there is any way to reconcile the problems. You just have to take it for what it is. I'm sure there are many monsters that have the same problem if we looked too close under the hood.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
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I totally agree with you
Centaurs are actually from Greek mythology
It's bad enough trying to figure out some D&D humanoids and beasts without bringing monstrosities (Centaurs) into it.
How do the Aarakocra wings fit into the skeleton?
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
What I don't get is their Human intestines would have to lead into the horse part of themselves but would it go into the horses stomach or go straight out some how. But either way the it would have to go through or around their vital organs. Also if you shoot one of the centaurs hearts could it still live?
Black Lives Matter
Count as high as you can before Nikoli_Goodfellow Posts!
Extended Signature, The Best Paradox, We all knew it.
I participate in the Level 20 Gladiator Arena with several champions they are all in my extended signature Win Streak: 0 Total Wins: 19 Total Loses: 6
For real: if a centaur has 2 hearts and you shoot one I think it would live.
The stats for a centaur could probably be way cooler if you think about it.
Black Lives Matter
Count as high as you can before Nikoli_Goodfellow Posts!
Extended Signature, The Best Paradox, We all knew it.
I participate in the Level 20 Gladiator Arena with several champions they are all in my extended signature Win Streak: 0 Total Wins: 19 Total Loses: 6
Most likely, centaurs would only have one heart and one GI system. The heart and lungs would be located in the human torso (and decidedly larger than a human's because they needed to provide for a larger body) while the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, gall bladder, and reproductive system would be in the horse part.
Now, you want a real brain-bender, try thinking about the anatomy of a beholder.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Ah that's smart but their throat would go have through their human body and what would fill the now empty parts of their body.
Black Lives Matter
Count as high as you can before Nikoli_Goodfellow Posts!
Extended Signature, The Best Paradox, We all knew it.
I participate in the Level 20 Gladiator Arena with several champions they are all in my extended signature Win Streak: 0 Total Wins: 19 Total Loses: 6
A throat that goes all the way through their human body would still be shorter than a giraffe's throat. As to what fills their body? Who knows. Because centaurs explicitly don't live on a diet of grass and leaves, they don't need a stomach or intestines that are as big as a horse's. Maybe their lungs are just that big.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
cool i thought this would take way longer to clear things up but this was fast. Does anyone want to discuss the anatomy of anything else.
Black Lives Matter
Count as high as you can before Nikoli_Goodfellow Posts!
Extended Signature, The Best Paradox, We all knew it.
I participate in the Level 20 Gladiator Arena with several champions they are all in my extended signature Win Streak: 0 Total Wins: 19 Total Loses: 6
Beholders lol
Everyone knows that, so are harpys, dryads, medusas, Typhon, underworld cerberus
True. And sphinxes and satyrs and I think some of the other creatures from Mythic Odysseys of Theros.
Cyclopes, Pegasi, Gryphons, Minotaurs, Hippocampus, Nymphs, and many other D&D creatures.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Greek mythology is probably responsible for more types of D&D monsters than any other single source.
Although some, like Gorgons, have very little resemblance to their mythological origins.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Gorgons are closer to the Colchis Bulls than the Gorgons of Greek Mythology, which are now Medusas, but are more just clones of THE Medusa than the Gorgons.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Yeah it says in MOoT that medusas are called gorgons in the setting, which makes sense