Name: Centinels
Creator: Fallow
Home Zone: Fallow's Island
Project Appearances: TBA
Species Development Thread: Species Development: Centinels

Centinels are an ungulate tauran species which originate from Fallow's Island of the Luxson Cluster.

Centinels were created by Fallow on its island. The first morph it created was the steed morph.

Found primarily in Luxson, though a significant population remains on Fallow’s Island post-Horror Plague. Low numbers in Monte, population varies in non-Luxson Cluster areas.

Though they are associated with Fallow primarily, though in the modern-day some have begun to associate them with XXI.

Centinels largely worship Fallow, with smaller groups worshipping XXI. There are a few, isolated groups of Anne and Stope worshippers but they are few and far between. Outside of the Luxson Cluster, Centinels will take up the worship of regional deities.

Unlike with some Earth ungulates, centinels are not prone to serious injury or death if any of their legs are broken- though it is incredibly inconvenient and considered one of the most serious injuries to receive.

Due to their involvement in the Luxson Horror Plague, many centinels older than 40 years old display battle injuries or require prosthetics of some kind. Centinels 20 years and older may still display injuries, but were less likely to have actively taken part in combat.

Also due to the Luxson Horror Plague and consequential mass exposure to horror during the Horror Plague, centinels native to the Luxson Cluster often show signs of mutation in their bloodlines- thankfully, centinels are more resistant to mutation than most other species, and the majority of symptoms manifest in overall strength gain, an inclination towards a more omnivorous diet and growth of sharp teeth to accommodate. Some centinels do not develop symptoms at all beyond the typical development of mood instability and hunger increase, and centinel terrors were rare. Extreme horror mutations can occur, however, and were considered some of the most deadly to emerge from the plague.

Furniture has to be developed specifically for centinels’ tauran body plans, including cushioned floor mats in lieu of chairs, larger showers with extendable showerheads, and similar goods meant to better suit their needs. Due to the centinels’ lack of thumbs, goods have to be made with their hooves (or flippers) in mind- these hooves are capable of attaching to objects made with certain materials via a form of psychic attraction, though only one material can be consciously selected at a time. Centinels are innately aware of materials they can attract, and are taught how to recognize them psychically from a young age. Most materials that a centinel can attach to can be found on Fallow’s Island, and tools geared towards specifically them are often exported from there- though compatible materials can be located all over Morbit, just in less frequent quantities. All materials that centinels can attach to are renewable, even those that appear otherwise, such as specific kinds of rocks and metals- Fallow’s Constructs are capable of producing any of these materials along with them growing naturally on the island, and in some other Morbitian locations, and culturally it is a tradition for centinels to protect, care for, and help build these constructs.

Centinels can sleep standing up, but prefer to sleep laying down if feeling safe and comfortable, and do so in large communal beds if given the space and accommodations to have them.

More traditional centinel culture values weaponry and tools, particularly that used for hunting and gathering.

While centinels do not eat meat themselves, it is customary on Fallow’s Island for them to help the carnivorous and omnivorous members keep themselves healthy and fed, and often help with hunting meat animals.

Centinels often need help grooming themselves and enlist friends, partners, and family members to help brush and clean themselves- this is considered completely socially acceptable, and a good example of bonding activity.

Education for centinels typically follows that of either the Luxson apprenticeship program or traditional Fallow’s Island community classes, with very few enrolled in private or public schooling outside of places like Monte or zones outside of the Cluster.

Centinels are highly social and prefer living in housing situations with other people. Due to this and their large size, preferred centinel housing can be rather large, and finding suitable (and affordable) housing in places outside of the Luxson Cluster can be extremely difficult.

Centinels traditionally enjoy sharing the company of friends, partners, and family, regardless of species or blood ties. Traditional entertainment is less attributed to anyone medium so much as shared experiences, and many stories aimed at centinel demographics focus on the power of friendship and group adventures.

If possible, centinels prefer access to some natural outdoor environments to run around in, though some are fine with urban environments, and are satisfied to go on regular walks along sidewalks and city streets. Centinels do not particularly enjoy being ridden outside of close companions, family members, and partners, but many will allow it in times of trouble.

A centinel’s patterns are considered personally important to them, and changing them with dyes or more permanent procedures is considered a serious decision.

Centinels are extremely capable in combat despite being herbivores due to their psychic abilities, often using carefully placed spears, blades, or in modern times, bullets, made of materials they can pull towards themselves to skewer, slice or pierce their enemies. While hovering a compatible object takes an immense amount of concentration, it is possible and allows a centinel to do damage to an opponent without touching them at all directly.

Kicks and blows from a centinel’s hooves are enough to cause a concussion and serious damage, and their teeth, while typically blunted and meant for grazing, can still cause injury.

Centinels have a tauran body plan with four legs and a humanoid upper half.

They have an unmoving, rotoscoped plaid-style pattern, typically either on the mane/tail, wool, and/or body markings.

Centinels have a wide variety of color palettes and have no limitations to what colors the can naturally have.

Their voices sound like the noises of their morph's basis.

Most centinel morphs have manes in lieu of hair. Most centinels morphs can grow facial hair, typically in the same texture of their mane or wool.

All centinel morphs have tails, though the style varies.

Their height ranges vary extremely based on morph, see individual morph details.

Centinels have skeletons, muscles, nerves, organs, and blood.

Most centinels have blunt, square teeth, while seafarer morphs have baleen instead. Herbivorous naturally, though many favor an omnivorous diet due to horror mutation. Seafarer morph centinels subsist primarily on krill.

They have high energy levels and regular physical activity is highly recommended.

Centinels often emote with their entire body, and emotions can be frequently conveyed using flicks of their ears and tails and tossing of their heads.

They have simple ears and black eyes.

Centinels lack thumbs, but they are perfectly capable of picking up most objects and tools providing they are made of a material compatible with their psychic abilities. Special (removable) horseshoes are made to help make any objects able to be held and can help function as more precise hands.

Due to their ability to attach any of their hooves to surfaces their psychic abilities are compatible with, centinels are capable of scaling even vertical surfaces so long as the material is suitable and their abilities are strong enough.

Psychic abilities can be strengthened with use, and some say that centinels are particularly powerful as scrap users.

Centinels are particularly easy to startle if in unfamiliar environments and/or tense situations.

Centinels have a lifespan of 120 years, reaching maturity at 18-20 years old.

Centinels reproduce sexually but have no sexual dimorphism. All centinels are capable of the same reproductive abilities and breast tissue is present in all members of the species to varying degrees, with no bearing on sex. Centinels have a strange reproductive process that culminates in the external formation of an egg, with no limit as to how many parents contributed. These eggs are not limited in clutch size, though it is tradition to only raise one egg max at a time per parent, to avoid any offspring being neglected.

These children are referred to as calves and hatch after a half-year incubation. Centinel calves are very wobbly on their feet and difficult to keep track of if left unattended and are prone to getting into sticky situations (sometimes literally) with their growing psychic abilities.

Centinel families are quite large and are often structured with no regard to species or blood ties, with people coming and going as needed.

Calves living in traditional communities often have many people they consider “parents” or parent-adjacent, even if not related to them by blood.

Casual and committed relationships are both valued highly by centinel culture, but polyamory tends to skew more commonly than monogamy.

Centinels are free to leave the family whenever they wish, though doing so before reaching adulthood is frowned upon without going with someone trusted and more experienced.

Centinel morphs are inspired by different kinds of ungulates, including cetaceans.

Centinels with mixed morph parents often have mixes of mane/tail styles or take hoof style from one of their parents. Due to more than two parents being a very real possibility, many centinels can have traits from many different morphs simultaneously, within one generation.

The first morph created by Fallow was the Steed morph.

True half and half hybrids are incredibly rare due to the infrequency of only having two parents for a centinel, but reproducing with other species is possible, albeit through unconventional methods. Due to the fact that there is no limit on parentage, it is possible to have multiple parents of non-centinel species contribute their genes as well, though the fewer centinel genes there are to contribute, the less chance of successful egg formation there will be.

Centinel hybrids tend to inherit the tauran body plan and unmoving-plaid patterns, along with limb styles from any other species involved. It is most frequent for a centinel hybrid to resemble a tauran-version of the other species in question, though ungulate-like traits can often sneak in.

Common horror mutations for centinels include size increase, hunger increase, mood instability, restlessness, teeth growth/sharpening, mane/tail growth, an omnivorous diet, and muscle growth. More extreme conditions include psychic abnormalities, vivid hallucinations, and the ability to psychically manipulate bone/flesh- these are extremely rare, and terrors exhibiting these symptoms are to be exterminated on sight in Fallow’s Island communities.

The steed morph is based on horses. They range from 7'6“-9'6” at their adult height. They have long manes, tails, thick legs, solid hooves, and their stationary plaid pattern on their manes and tails. Sometimes additionally on their markings. They are associated with Fallow's Island. Steed morph centinels can gradually form an intimate psychic bond with another individual, be they centinel or another species, often a sibling, partner, or incredibly close friend. This bond offers the communication of intention, and sometimes surface-level thoughts, between the centinel and the bonded individual, and these pairs tend to make incredibly effective teams.

??? variant steed centinels are based on kelpies and are a semi-aquatic form of steed centinel. They are notable for secreting a sticky mucus-like fluid that makes them appear wet; especially coating their long, stringy mane and tail which are composed of seaweed. These secretions can be reduced with targeted medical treatments. Additionally, they have fin-shaped ears, fangs that protrude from their mouths, and flippers in place of the morph's usual hoof hands. As opposed to most centinels the ??? variant is omnivorous by nature. ??? variants have a unique effect on their bonded individual, with their communication coupled with hallucinations of a physical, auditory, or sometimes visual nature; such as the sensation of being hugged. These sensations are both mood-dependent and sent subconsciously, and few ??? variant centinels have managed to develop control of this odd quirk.

Spell variant steed centinels are based on unicorns.

The shear morph is based on alpaca, llama, and sheep. They range from 4'6“-6'6” at their adult height. They have wool around their shoulders, neck, and head, as well as down their back. They have tapered legs, solid hooves, a stationary plaid pattern on their wool, and prominent eyelashes when they are present. They are associated with Taverne. Shear morph centinels emit a low-range psychic aura from their wool, this aura influences the moods of those in close proximity or contact with the wool. When the wool is attached to the centinel, this aura directly reflects the centinels current mood, meaning that cuddling or hugging a shear morph centinel can offer incredible mood-boosting effects if the centinel is in a good mood. However, upon shearing, the mood the aura projects will be “locked” to whatever mood the shear morph centinel is in upon shearing. Items then made from this sheared wool will retain the aura indefinitely, meaning a centinel wool sweater may offer a psychic boost when worn or a centinel wool blanket may offer a relaxing, soothing aura that helps the user sleep.

The steer morph is based on cows and bulls. They range from 6'6“-8'6” at their adult height. They have a short mane and tail, thick legs, solid hooves, and their stationary plaid pattern on their often piebald markings. They can sometimes have large horns on the sides of their heads. They are associated with Luxson. Steer morph centinels often have the psychic ability to imbue food they prepare with healing properties far beyond their nutritional benefit of being food items. The effects of steer-prepared food have been closely studied, and individuals who regularly consume steer-prepared meals have stronger bones, more developed muscles, and improved mental health when compared to those who do not regularly or rarely consume steer-prepared meals. Though it is of note that steer centinel meals cannot cure illness miraculously, only encourage healing to a greater degree than normal food.

The swine morph is based on pigs and boars. They range from 4'-6' at their adult height. They have a curly mane and tail, thick legs, cloven hooves, and their stationary plaid pattern on their mane and markings. They can sometimes have thick tusks at the corner of their mouth. They are associated with Luxson. Swine centinels often have the ability of contact-based telepathy. This power is limited to face-to-face physical contact with another individual, meaning a swine morph centinel can learn a great deal from a simple nose kiss. Nose kisses are incredibly common in swine centinel communities due to this ability and are considered one of the greatest ways of showing affection.

The stag morph is based on deer, elk, moose, reindeer, and other Cervidae. They range from 6'-8' at their adult height. They have large, impressive antlers which can take a wide variety of shapes, a short mane, a bobtail, thin, tapered legs, solid hooves, and their stationary plaid pattern on their markings. They are associated with Monte. Stag morph centinels often have the psychic ability to detect and sense the surface-level intentions of individuals around them, and can sometimes identify them from these clues. While this is nowhere near true mind-reading, some stag centinels have honed their powers of deduction, and use this ability to great effect.

The stilt morph is based on giraffes. They range from 10'-12' at their adult height. They have small knobby horns, a short mane and tail, thin, tapered legs, solid hooves, and their stationary plaid pattern on their markings. They are associated with the zone of Wonder in Taverne. Stilt centinels have the psychic ability to locate things. Mostly this manifests in the ability to find bodies of water, be they above ground or below, but some have developed this power into a tool that they can use to locate personal items, natural resources, or locations they have been before.

The seafarer morph is based on cetaceans and Sirenia. They range from 8'-10' at their adult height. They have a tail fluke with two large paddles, thick legs, large flippers instead of hooves, and their stationary plaid pattern on their markings or underbelly. Seafarer morphs are either carnivorous or herbivorous, depending on their variant. Some have baleen, some have sharp teeth, and others have crushing, grinding tooth plates. They are the only amphibious centinel morph and often return to the sea to eat, otherwise requiring the import or purchase of fish, krill, algae, and kelp to satisfy their dietary needs. They are associated with the seas surrounding Luxson. Seafarer morph centinels have the psychic ability to navigate by the stars at sea, their powers reaching out into the cosmos, orienting them where they wish to go.

Siren variant seafarer centinels are based on manatees and favor warmer, shallow waters, and can often be found in tropical or subtropical environments. A large population has recently settled in the coastal swamps of Hoopla. Siren centinels have the ability to use their wayfinding powers to locate both aquatic and terrestrial plants, especially those that they find particularly tasty. There is no hiding a good snack from a siren centinel.

Spearhead variant seafarer centinels are based on narwhals and favor deep, icy waters, and their long, strong horn, which is truly a tooth, aids in breaking through ice sheets when they need to surface. Their horns also give direct focus to the seafarer wayfinding abilities and allow spearhead centinels to focus on objects, people, or locations directly instead of merely navigating by their powers. This however comes at an incredibly reduced range in comparison to other seafarer centinels.

Swoon variant seafarer centinels are based on river dolphins and favor warm, shallow freshwater and tend to settle in rivers in warmer climates. Their most notable feature is their long thin snout. Swoon centinel have the ability to find connections between others, be they platonic or romantic, and some act on this ability, performing the role of a matchmaker or simply introducing people who can become good friends.

Signal variant seafarer centinels are based on belugas and favor ice-cold water. They are characterized by their large squishy melon. This melon not only enables them to echolocate but also greatly amplifies their psychic powers, allowing them to “scry” information over vast distances. Signal centinels often form networks across multiple settlements, allowing many disparate centinel populations to keep in touch even in the absence of technology.