Cervitau

Cervitau are a forest-dwelling Devilhuman race native to Halvmen. Their bodies combine humanoid and cervid characteristics, giving them exceptional mobility within forests as well as highly developed senses.

Cervitau are particularly known for their knowledge of empowering brews, their ability to move rapidly and silently through dense forests, and their mystical connection with the animals and natural environments around them.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains information about Cervitau biology, natural abilities, society, brews, and mystical traits.

Overview

Cervitau are highly adapted to forest environments. While many fast races benefit most from open terrain, Cervitau are capable of maintaining great mobility among trees, vegetation, uneven ground, and natural obstacles.

Their physical adaptations are complemented by exceptional senses and a supernatural connection with nature, making forests particularly favorable environments for them.

Appearance

Cervitau display considerable sexual dimorphism.

Males possess a much more bestial appearance, with pronounced cervid features, fur, hooves, and large antlers.

Females possess a considerably more human-like upper body. Their most obvious cervid characteristics on the upper body are their deer-like ears and antlers, while the lower body retains the characteristic anatomy of their race.

Male Cervitau

Male Cervitau possess strongly pronounced cervid characteristics and a powerful physical build.

Their appearance is considerably more bestial than that of females, with the head and other visible features resembling those of a deer much more closely.

Males also traditionally occupy most positions of authority within Cervitau society.

Female Cervitau

Female Cervitau possess a much more human-like upper body than males.

Their human-like facial and upper-body features contrast strongly with the more bestial appearance of male Cervitau. Their deer-like ears and antlers remain prominent racial characteristics.

Habitat

Cervitau are primarily associated with forests.

Their anatomy and natural abilities make them particularly effective at navigating environments filled with trees, vegetation, uneven terrain, and other obstacles.

Rather than being hindered by the complexity of forest terrain, Cervitau are adapted to exploit it.

Forest Mobility

Cervitau possess remarkable running speed within forests.

Their cervid anatomy allows them to move rapidly through terrain that would significantly hinder many other races.

They are also capable of performing exceptionally large jumps, allowing them to clear natural obstacles that would otherwise interrupt their movement.

Fallen trees, rocks, changes in elevation, and dense vegetation therefore present considerably less difficulty to a Cervitau moving through familiar forest terrain.

Natural Senses

Cervitau possess highly developed senses that help them perceive danger before it reaches them.

Their sharp eyesight is particularly useful for noticing movement, while their hearing and sense of smell are considerably more developed than those of an ordinary Human.

Together, these senses make it difficult to approach a vigilant Cervitau without being detected.

Silent Movement

Cervitau are remarkably quiet while traveling through dense vegetation.

Their familiarity with forests and their natural mobility allow them to move through the undergrowth while producing very little disturbance.

Combined with their other natural and mystical adaptations, this can make Cervitau extremely difficult to detect within their preferred environment.

Knowledge of Plants

Like Centaurs, Cervitau possess considerable knowledge of plants and the preparation of brews.

However, the two races are known for different applications of this knowledge.

Centaurs are particularly associated with medicinal brews, while Cervitau specialize in preparations capable of temporarily enhancing or stimulating the body.

Empowering Brews

Cervitau can use plants to prepare brews with a variety of stimulating effects.

Depending on the preparation, these brews can help someone remain awake, increase physical vigor, temporarily strengthen the body, reduce the effects of fatigue, or allow someone to remain active for longer periods.

Their exact strength, duration, ingredients, and individual recipes vary and have not yet been fully revealed.

Connection with Nature

One of the most unusual characteristics of the Cervitau is their mystical connection with nature.

Cervitau possess a special relationship with the animals inhabiting the forests around them and are capable of influencing them.

Because of this connection, Cervitau may live alongside numerous animals that serve as companions, pets, or subordinate creatures.

Forest Animals

The relationship between Cervitau and forest animals extends beyond simply domesticating individual creatures.

Their supernatural influence makes interaction and cooperation with animals considerably easier, allowing Cervitau communities to maintain relationships with many creatures inhabiting their territories.

The exact limits of this influence have not yet been revealed.

Natural Camouflage

Cervitau possess a supernatural ability to camouflage themselves through their connection with the natural environment.

This camouflage is associated with the energy of the forest and winter, allowing Cervitau to conceal themselves exceptionally well within suitable surroundings.

Combined with their silent movement, developed senses, and familiarity with forests, this makes them extremely difficult to locate when they do not wish to be found.

The exact mechanism and limits of this supernatural camouflage have not yet been revealed.

Combat

Cervitau are particularly dangerous when fighting within forests.

Their speed allows them to rapidly change position, while their enormous jumping ability enables them to bypass obstacles that could restrict an opponent.

Their developed senses help them detect approaching threats, while silent movement and natural camouflage make tracking their own movements much more difficult.

Rather than requiring open ground to exploit their mobility, Cervitau can use the complexity of the forest itself to their advantage.

Society

Cervitau society is predominantly governed by males.

Male Cervitau traditionally occupy most positions of leadership and authority within their communities.

The exact distribution of social responsibilities between males and females has not yet been fully revealed.

Known Traits

Devilhuman race native to Halvmen.
Primarily associated with forest environments.
Strong sexual dimorphism.
Males possess considerably more bestial cervid features.
Females possess much more human-like upper bodies.
Female upper bodies retain deer-like ears and antlers.
Possess exceptional mobility within forests.
Capable of extremely large jumps.
Possess highly developed eyesight.
Possess hearing and smell superior to those of ordinary Humans.
Can move very quietly through dense vegetation.
Possess extensive knowledge of plants.
Specialize in stimulating and empowering brews.
Possess a mystical connection with forest animals.
Can influence animals.
May keep numerous animals as companions or subordinate creatures.
Possess supernatural camouflage associated with nature.
Cervitau society is predominantly governed by males.

Comparison with Centaurs

Cervitau and Centaurs possess superficially similar body structures, but their natural adaptations and specialties are considerably different.

Centaurs thrive particularly well in grasslands and open scrublands, where they can combine their speed with archery. They are also known for medicinal plant knowledge and possess Rapid Charge, a Racial Ability that doubles their current speed.

Cervitau instead specialize in forest environments. Their mobility is adapted to obstacles and dense vegetation, and their developed senses, silent movement, connection with animals, and supernatural camouflage make them particularly suited to life within forests.

Their traditions involving plants also differ. Centaurs are especially known for medicinal preparations, while Cervitau are notable for brews designed to stimulate and temporarily enhance the body.

Common Misconceptions

"Cervitau are simply forest-dwelling Centaurs."

Incorrect.

Although the two races possess superficially similar body structures, Cervitau have their own biological traits, natural adaptations, mystical abilities, and traditions.

"Dense forests reduce Cervitau mobility."

Generally incorrect.

Forest environments are where Cervitau mobility becomes particularly effective. Their speed and enormous jumping ability allow them to navigate many natural obstacles with ease.

"Cervitau brews are the same as Centaur medicine."