Equinoids are the strangest race of people on Takæla. All three are the same species, and breed with each other freely. The most distinguishing feature of Equinoids is the equine body. This ranges in size, for adults, from 5' to 6' at the shoulder/hip. The human half, for centaurs, can add up to 4 ½' on top of that. They get to live to be 150 to 180 years old. The wings, when they are present, are about as wide as the Equinoid is long from nose to tail. The undersides are multi-colored with the tops in earth tones. Their purpose seems to be defense. (Some bizarre, two-legged, creature is bothering you? Just unfurl your wings and flap them about menacingly, and they'll run away, right?)

Distinction between kinds of Equinoid is sort of on a priority basis, by traits; anyone with a human 'upper' is a Centaur, regardless of the presence or absence of horn or wings; any 'non-bodied' individual with wings is a Pegasus, whether horned or not; only those whose only 'trait' is a horn are Unicorns. All Equinoids can talk.

Equinoids inhabit the continent of Meltolamean (Mel'-to-la'-mee"-on) (literally 'Land of the Real People' in Southern Equinoid). The terrain here is as varied as you can find anywhere... mountains, desert, marsh, forest, grasslands. Needless to say (but i will anyway), there's a lot of variation in culture.

'City,' or Northeastern, Equinoids are very sophisticated, managing large, high-yielding farms, raising turkeys, producing tools, implements, and dinnerware, levying taxes on the same, regulating things, suing people for infringement of copyright, in short all the things other city people do. 'Country,' or Southwestern, Equinoids, on the other hand, live in tribal groups which are extended families. No difference is made as to version for rank, only duties. Tribal leader is the eldest cognizant individual. Their lifestyle is that of wandering hunter/gatherers with occasional patches of cultivation as supplement. Northeastern Equinoids are considered by outsiders to be 'civilized' because they trade with Elves, while Southwestern Equinoids are 'hicks' because they don't. (Northern and Southern are usually sufficient nomenclature.)

All Equinoids consider the 4-limbed peoples, and even the Sphynx and Gryfons, to be only half people, and terribly handicapped.

In general, as far as culture is concerned, there is no difference in social worth between one version of Equinoid and the next. However, due to differences in ability, not all types can do all jobs. Therefore, the following sections will note which version gets/doesn't get any given ability/penalty.

An average Equinoid out adventuring will be in one of the following classes: Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Ranger, Specialist Wizard, Psionic, or any of the above in twos or threes. A Centaur can also choose to be a Mage or a Thief, and gets a wider range of Specialties.

Equinoids are the only race on Takæla with more than one native language, Northern and Southern, like the nations. The two languages are very similar. Someone from one country can generally make out what it is the person from the other is saying. (In effect, make proficiency checks at Int -3) An Equinoid character should have the appropriate language as his native tongue. For secondary tongues, he can most freely choose from the other Equinoid language, Ancient, Mer, and Elven. Other choices are probably acceptable, but you need to explain them to the DM. Both sides use the Ancient alphabet.

It is fairly obvious to most scholars that a great many creatures lent their Dienay to make Equinoids, especially Centaurs and Pegasoi. This, they think, is why magical transmutation has such a hard time with these creatures. The practical upshot of which is that Centaurs and Pegasoi have a 50 percent resistance to all spells and spell-like effects based on the school of alteration, including clerical spells, and including psionic powers. This is in addition to any saving throws they might already get. Unicorns, having 'resesigenes' (whatever they are), do not have this same resistance.

Horned Equinoids have a one-in-one-hundred (1 on 1d100) chance of being poisonous. The poison secretes through the tip of the horn. It is mildly caustic on the skin (5% effectiveness), fairly caustic inside the mouth of digestive tract (20%), and most effective in raw skin, such as a wound or sore (90%). {I'LL PUT DOWN MORE WHEN I FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF POISON IT IS}

When considering wild psionic talents, Equinoids are allowed to multiply their base chance by three. They also get varying bonuses to the original base chance. Centaurs get a +1, and Unicorns and Pegasoi get a +6. If wild talent was not indicated, winged or armless Equinoid characters still get a chance at special psionics. Using the original roll, a 10 or less gives a levitational power to winged or telekinesis to armless. An 11 to a 15 gives teleportation to someone with wings and any psychokinetic power to a person with no arms.

Even though an Equinoid may have wings, he cannot fly. He is way too heavy for his wingspan. He is not even able to glide without magical or psionic aid, though he does get enough lift to gain eight points of movement when galloping. All Equinoids are incapable of climbing trees or normal ladders or other things with no room for hooves they can't see to find their own footing.

A Centaur, by virtue of having four legs, is capable of reaching speeds of 18 movement, without wings. A Pegasus or Unicorn, being lighter, is capable of hitting 24 on feet-power alone.

Centaurs are rather large and burly due to the need to support extra weight and activity in front. Therefore, this adds 1 point each to their strength and constitution. A Pegasus is not as burly, but does have wings to support, giving him an additional 1 point of constitution. This daintier structure gives Pegasoi and Unicorns an additional 1 point of dexterity. Pegasoi and Unicorns are also generally less aggressive than their 'bodied' cousins, even conciliatory, which is why they get to add 1 to their charisma.

Takælan Visitors

CloudSky is checking out her friends (and kin?) here on Takæla

This is Bellyn, she's studying Magic with the Psage Guild. She's already good enough to use Dancing Lights! (or is that Invisibility?)

MoonsFalling is here on Earth to check on conditions for a colony, and good homes for some of her relatives. Check them out at Omega's Homepage

Bob (top) and Joe appear to be checking on other prospects, namely CloudSky, Bellyn, and MoonsFalling!