The Deer Centaur: Mythological Oddity

Centaurs.

Half man, half horse yes, but the extent of the centaur doesn't just stop at horses. There are many recorded and still more recordable instances of deer, donkey, Pegasus, and many other breeds of animals that generally have four legs, but have been born into the "centaur" sub class of beasts. Just like in the standard array of deer, deer centaurs can be of various colors and have a variety of coloring on the tail. Some deer centaurs have antlers, though their facial features remain mostly humanoid in their makeup and appearance.

Deer Centaurs, or Elaphocentaur via their scientific name, are generated from Italian mythology, with the first recorded sightings around the time of the Etruscan's, the predecessors of today's Italians. Most of Italy seems to be where deer centaur evolve and originate from, though more recordable instances see the creatures migrating and growing their numbers to the northwest of Italy between the years of 1400 to 1497. Almost a hundred years of breeding and migration may give you cause to think the Elaphocentaur was a very big presence in the north-western world, but their reclusive nature gives much mystery to how large their numbers actually were.

Seeming docile by nature, Elaphocentaur seem to be on the more less-aggressive side of conflicts were regular centaurs would be involved. Think of them like cats compared to their jaguar or lynx cousins. The deer centaur hasn't been depicted in older texts of war or conflict like the regular centaur has. The latter did have a large impact on the lands of Ireland in the 1400's mainly due to the Irish's encroaching nature of the forest regions that centaurs of all breeds and evolutions call home.

Deer centaur seem to have no greedy compass, nor do they go out of their way to instigate conflicts with Humans are other races. Seeming to live in the woods as most deer do, there have been some recordable instances of deer centaurs living in villages, though these are still in the woods. Deer centaur do not seem to have any interest in migrating into cities or towns with largely human population.

Through careful study of the deer centaurs we can observe that they eat plants as some four-legged animals do, but they have been seen hunting as their human counterparts do. Hunting in packs seems to be easily done due to the deer centaurs lithe bodies, compared to a regular centaurs larger and more hard-work accustomed body. Elaphocentaur's have a diet consisting of meat and plants found through forests, as do many other types of centaur.

While reclusive in their nature the deer centaurs have been seen in forested regions and woodlands around towns and cities, though they seem to prefer to keep their distance. It is unlikely that these creatures speak a form of English, and probably have a language of their own, if at all. While other researchers and historians have attempted to make contact with the deer centaurs before, their efforts have been widely unsuccessful. Unlike the standard centaur, however, the Elaphocentaur has never been penned in a case of hostility or aggression, and it may not be in their nature at all. With the genetics of the deer this breed has been able to stick to the deep forests of the world where few people would care enough to document them. The Elaphocentaur seems better for it, at the end of the day.

As we field guide writers do, we will keep you well-informed and knowledgeable with the latest issues of the Monster Hunter's field guide. Though with the deer centaur, they shouldn't ever have reason to be on your hunting list.

-penned by the wizard and researcher Gimond the Grey, High Knowledge keeper of the University of Chicago, circa 1967.