Homebrew Cervitaur Species Details

An elusive race, the Cervitaur is a rare creature sometimes found in deep primeval forests and in secluded corners of Fae. Similar to the Centaur found more commonly in settled lands, the Cervitaur embodies the merging of elven fae and elk - appearing as a slender and yet powerful creature. The are known for their grace, charm and wisdom; having spent their lives in contemplation in secluded glades.

Nature’s Cavalry

Cervitaurs have the upper bodies, down to the waist, of elves, displaying all the elven variety of skin tones and features. Their ears are pointed, but their eyes are somewhat larger and with horizontal pupils unlike those of elves. Most notable, they often bear a proud set of antlers when fully matured. Below the waist, they have the bodies of small elk, with varied coloration, from standard browns and grays to more exotic colors like pure white, deep black and purple. . Most Cervitaurs style their hair and their tails in a similar way. Summer Court Cervitaurs favor braided,fanciful and long hair styles. Winter Court Cervitaurs cut their hair in in short, spiked styles. Unaligned Cervitaurs vary.

The upper bodies of Cervitaurs are comparable to elven torsos in size, and their lower equine bodies average about 4 feet tall at the withers. Though they are smaller than a human rider mounted on a horse, they fill similar roles as cavalry warriors, messengers, outriders, and scouts when in service to a house, court or leader.

Affinity for Nature

Cervitaur have an affinity for the natural world. They can often be druids, healers, rangers and other classes that call the natural world home or draw their strength from it.

Cervitaur celebrate life and growth, and the birth of a foal is always cause for festivities. At the same time, they revere the traditions of the past, they are voices of memory and history, preserving old ways and keeping alive the legends of ancestral heroes and lore. They feel a close kinship with wild animals, perhaps because of their own elk-like bodies, and delight in the feeling of running alongside herds and packs of other beasts.

Clans and Community

Cervitaur sense the interconnectedness of the natural world. Thus, they celebrate family and community as microcosms of that greater connection. They have a strong clan identity, and are fiercely loyal to their individual communities, companions and groups they serve. 

Cervitaur Names

Cervitaur’s given names are passed down through family lines. The name bestowed on a new foal is typically the name of the most recently deceased family member of the same gender, keeping alive the memory — and, the Cervitaurs believe, some shard of the spirit — of the departed. Cervitaurs don’t use family names, but often bear a tattoo that represents their family membership. These tattoos are often added to throughout their life to include new "families" as well - guilds, clans, companies and so forth.

Male Names: Bonmod, Boruvo, Chodi, Drozan, Kozim, Milosh, Ninos, Oleksi, Orval, Radovas, Radom, Rostis, Svetyos, Tomis, Trijiro, Volim, Vlodim, Yarog

Female Names: Daiva, Dunja, Elnaya, Galisnya, Irinya, Kotyali, Lalya, Litisia, Madya, Mira, Nedja, Nikya, Ostani, Pinya, Rada, Raisya, Stasolya, Tatna, Zhendoya, Zoria

Cervitaur Traits

Your Cervitaur character has the following racial traits. These traits are also suitable for the Cervitaurs of other worlds where there are Cervitaurs of fey origin. These Cervitaurs are smaller than the non-fey Cervitaurs that roam in some realms.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Cervitaurs mature at the same rate Humans do and reach Adulthood around the age of 20. They live much longer than Humans, however, often exceeding 180 years.

Alignment

Centaurs are inclined toward neutrality. Those who join the Summer Court are more often neutral good, while those who join the Winter Court are typically chaotic neutral.

Size

Cervitaurs stand between 6 and 7 feet tall, with their equine bodies reaching about 4 feet at the withers. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

Fey

Your creature type is fey, rather than humanoid.

Charge

If you move at least 30 feet straight toward a target and then hit it with a melee weapon attack on the same turn, you can immediately follow that attack with a bonus action, making one attack against the target with your hooves.

Hooves

Your hooves are natural melee weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Equine Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push or drag.

In addition, any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your equine legs. When you make such a climb, each foot of movement costs you 4 extra feet, instead of the normal 1 extra foot.

Survivor

You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Medicine, Nature, or Survival.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan. Sylvan is widely spoken in the Winter and Summer Courts, for it is rich in vocabulary to describe natural phenomena and spiritual forces.