Pegasai
Centaur Subspecies
Cousins of Felarya's giant centaurs, pegasai are mostly reputed to live far off the current known map. They are characterized by their especially graceful demeanor and large, feathery wings extending from either side of their equine lower half. They normally do not grow to over eighty feet in height, and colors of the hair and feathers vary greatly between individuals.
Like other centaurs, they may gallop towards prey at a thunderous rate in order to outrun and catch them- and like their cousins, possess their great stomach in their lower half. Unlike them, however, their throats have a crop, in which commonly one human-sized prey can be stored, easily seen as a bulge in the neck near the skin that will often be squirming, until the pegasai wants a snack and swallows.
Though slightly frailer than a normal centaur, having strong but hollow bones and a lighter overall body structure, pegasai do possess the ability to fly, starting at a full speed gallop, unfurling their great wings, leaping to gain lift, and taking to the air. Once on wing, they make surprisingly maneuverable predators, as well as fierce opponents; a single well-aimed kick can clobber an opponent clear out of the sky. They are said to have taken part in wars past between harpies and sphinxes, though no one's sure just what side they favored.
Pegasai are very sporting, as well as having a strong sense of honor. A disagreement between pegasai, be it over food or territory, which well extends to airspace, they will partake in the martial competition of jousting.
Lances are their ancestral weapons, blunted ones being what they use for jousts. In competition, they charge at one another on hoof- they may use wings to maneuver and gain speed, but fold them closely to their sides before passing, to avoid damaging them. The impact from the successful jouster's lance may be tremendous- unless using sharpened weapons, jousters forsake any sort of armor, massive bruising and even broken bones are not uncommon just after the first pass. A successful blow grants one point, while knocking the opponent off their hooves and on their side gives three points, and an indisputable victory. If a challenger persists, having must not been knocked to the ground, then the opponents will continue their fight in the air. Charging away from one another now, they take wing, circle above and aim to knock the other out of the air. The use of their lances are often put aside for their natural weapons- hard hooves, kicked out forcefully with intent to disable in a single blow. The first to touch the ground is considered defeated.
Disputes with other centaur species are expected to be settled with jousting as well, even if the centaur has never done it beforehand. Luckily, armor is often loaned as a handicap. Bipeds, other quadrupeds, even nagas and such will most likely be subjected to this custom as well. Harpies, however, are engaged directly in aerial combat, while sphinxes are treated like one of their own rules-wise, having a similar body structure, and thus able to partake in both first-stage ground jousting and second-stage aerial combat. Unless the opponent is a harpy, the defending pegasai will be offended if the opponent takes to the air before the initial joust, just as so if they refuse to partake in the match entirely. If the opponent disagrees with them, they are expected to at least pass once before backing down, or else should not have initially challenged them.
Pegasai can be recruited to a cause if it seems just to them, and you prove that you are worthy of their following. Under the circumstances of war, they don full armor and combat-ready war lances; both most likely wooden, with the tips of their lances tipped with stone. Later in their lives they develop wind magic which allows them to take flight more easily, and have greater control over their airspace. Though not commonly seen in the zones of the current known map, there have been reports of them being seen heading to and from some where up north.
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TL;DR:
A sporting race known for their sense of honor, pegasai are essentially centaurs with large, feathery wings extending from their lower half's sides which allow them to fly gracefully through the skies- from a galloping start, of course. They are somewhat frailer than common centaurs, and have a smaller stature. One of their particularities is a crop inside their throats, which allow them to store a snack for later. Another is their affinity for wind-based magic. Pegasai commonly compete in the martial competition of jousting, lances being their ancestral weapons. This sport is used to settle disputes among themselves and other species, the rules adapted for races of different forms. Their own kind and contesters without wings go for three passes, a hit earning one point, knocking the opponent over is three and a a win. Unless the oppent was knocked over, or else possesses no wings, they may take the competition to the sky, with the first to touch the ground losing. They face harpies directly in air combat. Newcomers are lent armor as a handicap, but are expected to at least pass in one round before resigning. Pegasai can be recruited to a cause that seems just to them, but you must first prove the worthiness of your leadership. When real battle is upon them, they don full armor and battle-ready lances. They are said to have taken part in past wars between harpies and sphinxes, though no one is sure just what side they favored. Though reputed to live far off the current known map, there have been various reports of them occasionally heading to and from some place up north...
Comments, questions, ideas, etc welcome^^
Subject: Pegasai 
Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:52 pm
