The Great Savanah Centaurs
A land of unified tribes in the Savannah between The Taifas and Arrows Field that are De Facto independent though officially designated a province of The Edren Empire and is the native home of the Centaur people.
Structure
The Savannah social structure lacks much of the formal class structure we have in other nations. Here there are many tribes, groups of Centaurs whom travel in nomadic packs. They are somewhat lead by Archons or chiefs whom are usually the senior most warrior or respresentitive of the tribe, though this is to misunderstand their function, they organize, collect the opinions of and direct the tribe. Outside of being Judges for the Elders they really only hold power so long as the Tribes tolerate their leadership. Below that each master of a craft, hunters, druids, shepards, traders, and medics lead in discussions of their frield and argue to the Archon. The only true orders are sent to the tribes by Wise Elders of the Tower.
The Grass Tower, the default and only perment town in the Valley its on a year long stream allowing limited farming and some forestry. This town was initially meant to home and leave work for the most eldest and ill of the tribes, those who are seen as carrying much wisdom but unable to truly keep up with the nomadic life of the Centaurs. Specifically the Tower, which in truth is more of a small wooden castle, is home to elder archons and these are the ones who meet, discuss maters for the tribe and determine the migration of tribes and settle dispute or calls for war. The tower has grown as such into a full town of traders and full time crafts people and even a defensive fortress and underdark enterence that acts as an Embassy for the Drow and a bullwark against invaders. These Wide Elders, sometimes invite masters of other crafts, druids, and other leaders, or remove those they deem too sickly for leadership, but no one is a leader. Every day one is randomly chosen to be the keeper of the fire and all choices are made by a complicated process of slowly establishing semi-consensus and select Archons when old Archons become too old or pass, from candidates selected by the tribe via vote. Some traditions differ by tribe, but the broad strokes remain the same.
Culture
Centaur culture is rich and varied between tribes. Most Centaurs live nomadic lives and thus their arts and writings are reinforced by those limitations. Oralstory telling is highly respected and sought after and bards are respected for their lengthy cultural memory. Elders especially are respected for the length of stories they could tell. Art is found less inpottery or structures, but in dress, leather working, the pattern designs shaved both into horses and centaur fur. Tents among Centaurs can establish ones reputation by what the colors and deisgns says about you. Their culture is also protective of such oral information. Masters practice knowledge by passing it orally to their direct apprentiences, and not sharing it with cultures in total. Maps are rarely kept for Archons and druids are valued for the secret paths they keep in their heads and thus secrets are acceptable and their langague tends to build a sort of vagueness by nature. One major element of their culture mixing both is poetry specifically spoken word, is widly popular as is singing as often instruments are too encombering to take.
Public Agenda
The Centaurs public agenda is to resist foreign occupation at all costs. As well as eraticate the Knoll menece wherever it surfaces. To do this warriors are required but more than that peace and alliances must be maintained. As such they leverage trade and useful ties to the Empire to discourage militant acts and fostering good will with their lifetime allies the Taifas without becoming full protectorates.
Assets
THe Savannah has little in stable value besides shifting grasslands.
History
The Great Savanah already had Centaurs in it hundreds of years before humans first arrived, elvish writers did note the Centaurs, but the Sea Elf Empire found no value in a land without year long water ways nor the desert beyond. The First Empire would conquer the land into a protectorate early, but mostly as a way to push back the Powerful Drow Empire though they would fail to do so and the Savanah would become a battle ground between the two onto the second Empire. The first Empire would never truly attempt to colonize a reason though many forts would be built and their ruins found today.
The Second Empire however would attempt to colonize with the building of Myrinsburg as a way to extend imperial influence and push back against growing Drow Aggression. This and sensing an opportunity with the First Wine War began the First Drow War of the second Empire and the sacking and conquest of the colony. This would also be the building block of the Grass Tower's Alliance with the Drow. The Empire would reconquer it in the later part of the war somewhat, but the Drow would come to the Centaurs aid again 400 years later in the Second Drow War after a senseless imperial massacre of Centaurs. The war was a crushing Drow victory leading to ruin of Myrinesburg and much more critically also destroyed the city of Elvolis for the final time. Though the empire would draw the battle of Arrows Field into a kind of Pyrrhic-victory, this would only bring the Drow to the negotiation. The people of the Savannah would be free from then on and the Empire would forgo enforcing its claim on the free peoples there to today.
Demography and Population
Centaurs make up most of the lands native population though Knoll tribes live there in opposition to the centaurs and some rare Humans and Drow settlers, there is also a very large Orc minority that has fully integrated into the local populace of the Centaurs, even achieving Archon and Elder status in some tribes, as well as the wargs they have brought. To the north there is a wild civilization of goblins in the hills and mountains though these are usually shot on sight.
Territories
The entire savannah from the first dune to the edren fort of Arrows Field and between the first patch of Northern Jungle and the first hill of the Wine Coast.
Military
There is no real formal military within the Savannah instead people are levied up to fight as needed and any tribe can host warriors of note especially masterful mobile archer's who are known to be some of the best in the world. In the west many are trained to become powerful heavy lancers and take such training and equipment back home. Though not formal or structured into permeant armies, the Centaur warriors are exquisite from years of skirmishing and battling the Knoll tribes on the savannah and goblin raiders.
Technological Level
Centaurs follow the traditional ways they have always done, their herding techniques though not developed by scientific are unquestionably effective and oral history is passed down with impeccable quality and technique. They have little industry or smiting, but their tool work is superb and well suited to the local geography where industrialized agriculture are less so without stable rivers.
Religion
The Religion of the Centaurs are quite and diverse unlike the empire. Many worship the sister or lover gods of the Moon and Sun, or the Winter and Summer courts of the fey. many claim the grasslands will one day expand out into the desert and out past the Empire with grief if the Centaurs are ever pushed from their home. Most rights are kept secret and animism is popular with spirits of hills and rivers seen as holy. Elders lead secret rights passed onto later elders, and many festivals to many gods are held in the Grass Tower. Most involve the sacrifice of steeds and other live stock.
Druidism especially of the Shepard circles are very very common and most tribes have a druid among their clan to guide and help navigate the natural world. These druid rights are also deeply private with usually only one or two apprentices to a druid.
Foreign Relations
The center piece of the tribes of the great Savannah is their alliance with The Taifas beyond the desert. They have formed a Symbiotic connection to them. Much as the dwarves and humans separate their worlds by the beneath and above, so have the Drow and the Centaurs separated the Savannah and assisted in the people of the grassland in separating from the Edren Empire, both sides spreading much blood over the Savannah. Such has built great love between the Taifas and the Savannah, but much animosity between the Centaurs and the The Edren Empire. Centaur also deal with hordes of knolls and Goblins, but as they have no other real boarder nations they have no poor relations outside or desire as a people expansion so most of their relationships are outside are positive.
Agriculture & Industry
The Centaurs only have slight use for agriculture but instead prefer livestock and nomadic herding life. The most popular of which is the raising of fantastic steeds, the finest war horses and traveling horses are raised by centaurs for either transport of goods or for selling in exchange for luxury goods. It is said a Centaur horse is the wisest and hardiest of breeds, and are extremely prized in both the Empire and the Taifa. However most find themselves raising goats and cattle across the fields. Wild and mighty oxen and in the south the occasional rhino or even small mammoth herd can be raised by the many Centaurs for meat and trade. What little industry, mainly leather working, some pottery and Drow mental work sold for cattle and steeds.
Trade & Transport
The wealth of the region is in steeds and in the caravan trade. It is said only the Centaurs are permitted to know the secret ways to cross the desert towards the mysterious Taifas. All people who wish to trade for the valuable and secret trade of Drow goods must trust the centaur guides and peoples, with much pay, to provide them safe passage. Even many of the Drow themselves know not the way, and under pain of death the empire has failed repeatedly to force the Centaurs to tell them how to cross the desert, for they know it is their most valuable secret. Thus many brave traders wait at the gross tower to make the travel over.
Education
Traditionally the youth are taught not in any institutions but by their elders. There is a tradition of leaving your children to be apprenticed to masters of crafts based on tribes. Especially for archer's. Even the Elves claim that their ancient heroes went to Centaur to learn how to do archery on horseback and this tradition is still how they train their master archer's and craftsmen. Some however, wealthy chieftains or daring unusual travelers may seek the proper education towards the west, but those who do tend to stay.
Infrastructure
There is little to no infrastructure in the great Savannah for the grass covers even the most walk paths and the ruins of Myrinsburg shattered roads are just stark reminders of what is is to settle here.
Founding Date
593
Type
Geopolitical, Nomadic tribe
Capital
Alternative Names
The Grassland, Centaurland, the Boarderland
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Centaurs, People of the Grasslands
Government System
Tribalism
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Barter system
Currency
Uses foreign currency or livestock
Major Exports
The main export the Centaurs manage themselves is the incredibly valuable steeds they manage to train and raise for the two legged folk both within and without, however they also manage to trade lucrative obsidian and Drow metal work across the dunes to the Edren folk along with Drow spices.
Major Imports
Centaurs import small luxury goods and metal work as the peoples have very little of their own industry. Silk and ivory, comforts on the road, any good a nomadic herder might want come from Edren, yet the drow metal work, tools, obsidian crafts, are all imported from their friends underground and to the west.
Legislative Body
Wise Elders of the Tower
Judicial Body
Tribal Chiefs called Archons
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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