what do Centaurs eat?

Rhianon · Post by **Rhianon** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 3:34 pm

I have had the occassion to RP with a Centaur, and without giving away to much ic info was struck with a situation I was not sure how to handle, I could not for the life of me figure out what a centaur would eat. Anyone out there have any clues? Is it hay and oats for the horse part because their digestive system would be like a horses? Or people food? Or something entirely different?

Glim · Post by **Glim** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:04 pm

Excerpt from Races of Faerun, page 132: Outlook, second paragraph:

Male centaurs spend almost all of their waking hours either hunting or out patrolling their lands, keeping their sharp eyes peeled for any outsiders who might be encroaching on their territory of doing the forest harm.

Excerpt from Races of Faerun, page 133: Centaur Society, first paragraph:

Centaur stallions may be hunters, but the mares actually run tribe and supplement the local food supply with cultivated produce.

Excerpt from Races of Faerun, page 133: Centaur Society, second paragraph:

Centaurs are massive creatures and they eat and drink a lot. Unfortunately, they are ntoroiously wild drunks, given to high-spirited rampages when overindulging.

These three things I found basically back up what Mystra said, centaurs eat humanoid food. They are hunters and farmers, though I doubt they would have massive crops, every home or so might have a small garden. This also shows that they make their own alcohol, so they like to drink.

There ya go,

Rhianon · Post by **Rhianon** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:26 pm

Thank you, now I have something I can use next time I am in touch with that centaur. I appreciate all your help.

Hviti · Post by **Hviti** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:56 pm

If you trust C.S. Lewis, then:

"A Centaur has a man-stomach and a horse-stomach. And of course both want breakfast. So first of all he has porridge and pavenders and kidneys and bacon and omelette an cold ham and toast and marmalade and coffee and beer. And after that he attends to the horse part of himself by grazing for an hour or so and finishing up with a hot mash, some oats, and a bag of sugar. That's why is is such a serious thing to ask a Centaur to stay for the weekend. A very serious thing indeed."

-from The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

Gwain · Post by **Gwain** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 7:52 pm

Centaurs do not eat wheat. Not in any food. Their stomachs cannot digest it and it causes them pain. I remember reading comentaries about it in greek mythology.

Rhianon · Post by **Rhianon** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:22 pm

Well then perhaps when trying to help with food stuffs for Centaurs one should give both and allow them to decide what it is they are hungry for......thank you Gwain, makes for a much more diverse RP than I had imagined.

Gidan · Post by **Gidan** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:52 am

I personally think that they would enjoy a lot of things such as lettuce and cabbage etc... and also some wine perhaps, although maybe one would like to down an ale or two. Perhaps it is more the interpritation of the player eh? My thoughts .

Gwain · Post by **Gwain** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:29 am

In literature lots of fey creatures are notorius drinkers. I could see a centaur drinking himself silly and then having trouble walking about. I once read that a centaur had to be lowered down a flight of stairs in a pulley because he had drank so much that he could not seem to get back down