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Maruuk Centaur

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NeutralMaruuk Centaur
Dragonflight reveal - Centaur.jpg
Main leader IconSmall Centaur2 Female.gif Khanam Matra Sarest
Race(s) IconSmall Centaur2 Male.gifIconSmall Centaur2 Female.gif Centaur
Capital Maruukai
Theater of operations Ohn'ahran Plains
Affiliation Independent
Status Active

The Maruuk Centaur (also spelled the Maruuk centaur)[1] are centaur found on the Dragon Isles. They date back to before the War of the Ancients and rule the Ohn'ahran Plains, where they worship the wind god Ohn'ahra and hunt the wild game of the region. Although split into many different clans ruled by various khans, they share a single culture. The Maruuk's ancestors forged a pact with the green dragonflight, but were cut off from the rest of the world when the Dragon Isles were hidden after the Great Sundering.

History

The earliest known centaur lived on ancient Kalimdor prior to the War of the Ancients.[2] Their origin has not been explained.

Maruuk, co-founder of the Maruuk centaur.

When the Burning Legion invaded Azeroth, the ancient centaur clans fought and died until the hero Maruuk emerged and slaughtered the invaders. However, the other clan leaders feared Maruuk's strength and betrayed him, leading to him and his partner Teera rejecting the clans and setting out across Kalimdor in search of a new home. Many centaur were inspired by their honor and followed them, forming a new clan. Ohn'ahra, the Wild God of the Wind, guided the centaur on their journey until, after months of wandering, they reached what is now the Ohn'ahran Plains on the Dragon Isles. Maruuk died, and his people renamed themselves the Maruuk centaur in his honor.[2]

The Ohn'ahran Plains were inhabited by gnolls when the centaur first arrived, they fought fiercely but the Maruuk managed to push the gnolls from the plains.[3]

The Emerald Gardens bordering the plains were already inhabited as well but by the green dragonflight, who were initially hostile toward their new neighbors and fought with the centaur over territory. Teera—who had taken up leadership of the Maruuk—met the dragons' leader Merithra in battle, but they soon realized that they were evenly matched and instead allied with each other against hostile proto-dragons that threatened both of their peoples. Teera and Merithra then made a pact, promising that the Maruuk and the dragons would stay out of each others' way but come to the aid of the other in times of need, a vow symbolized by the Horn of Drusahl. Afterward, the centaur hunted the plains while the dragons tended the gardens.[2][4][5] The green dragons left the Isles after the Great Sundering, leaving the Maruuk to develop their culture in isolation.[6]

It is presumed that the other centaur clans that refused to follow Maruuk to the Dragon Isles had perished.

Dragonflight This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

Maruukai.

After the Dragon Isles reawakened, the Maruuk centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains—who had been isolated since the Great Sundering—became embroiled in the conflict between the dragonflights and the Primalists. Shortly after the green dragonflight and their leader Merithra returned to their Emerald Gardens, Primalists led by Koroleth attacked the area in an attempt to reach the dragons' portal to the Emerald Dream. The dragons repelled them, and the Primalists resorted to recruiting the help of the centaur of Clan Nokhud[7] and introducing them and their power-hungry khan, Balakar, to forbidden storm magic.[8] The Primalists tried to recruit at least Clan Shikaar as well, but this was unsuccessful.[9]

Adventurers traveled to the Ohn'ahran Plains and established diplomacy with the centaur so that they could cross their lands, reach the Emerald Gardens, and help Merithra and her flight empower the Emerald Oathstone.[10][11][12] They befriended the Clan Shikaar and accompanied them to Maruukai for the Khural gathering, where the clans planned to discuss the dragons' return.[13] The green flight itself sent an emissary, Gemisath, to the Khural to ask Khanam Matra Sarest to uphold her ancestor Teera's pact with the dragons by providing military aid against the Primalists.[4][14] Sarest agreed to do so, but the gathering was disrupted by Balakar Khan and the Nokhud, who revealed their alliance with the Primalists, killed Gemisath, and launched an attack on Maruukai,[15] starting off a war between them and the other clans.[16][17] This was unlike any conflict the Maruuk had seen for generations.[18] While Clan Ukhel and Clan Kaighan sided with Balakar, the other clans sided with Khanam Matra Sarest.

While Balakar marshaled his army to conquer the entirety of the Ohn'ahran Plains, Sarest planned to blow the Horn of Drusahl to answer the green dragons' call for an alliance.[17][19] However, with the Nokhud's aid, the Primalists were able to capture Ohn'ahra herself.[20] With Ohn'ahra as their captive, the Primalist and Nokhud were able to blow the horn in order to lure the green dragonflight into a trap.[21] However they failed in their objective in killing Merithra and the other centaur were able to prove they had no part in Clan Nokhud's betrayal.[22] Rallying together the green dragonflight and the centaur were able to thwart the Primalists and kill their leader, Koroleth.[23]

With Koroleth's death, Balakar retreated to his stronghold with the captive Ohn'ahra, even as he had his raiders storm across the plains to wreak havoc, [24] with the remaining Primalists in the region aiding him in his endeavors, and Clan Ukhel (one of the only centaur clans to have sided with him) using their necromantic magics to resurrect their ancestors Maruuk and Teera to serve as tools of war against their enemies. However as the centaur clashed against one another on the field, adventures struck out against Balakar's allies, defeating the Primalists, soothing the angered ancestors (who had swiftly killed the necromancer responsible for their rebirth), and ultimately invaded the stronghold, killing Balakar and freeing Ohn'ahra.

Appearance

A female and male Maruuk centaur sparring.

A centaur appears as a creature with a horse's body and legs and with a humanoid's torso, arms, and head. Their equine lower bodies give them great speed[25] that is unmatched upon the plains,[26] while their burly humanoid torsos give them incredible physical strength.[25]

The centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains look somewhat more human- or elf-like with cleaner features compared to the centaur in Kalimdor. Some of them have a distinctly larger and heavier build, with shaggier fur and deeper voices.

Culture

Concept art of Maruuk architecture.

The Maruuk centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains are a society of hunters, nomads, and storytellers.[27] They are a proud and territorial people who do not suffer insult lightly.[10] They are organized into many individual clans, led by chieftains known as khans. Though each clan has its own strengths and weaknesses, they share a single culture and all consider themselves Maruuk.[28] Clans rise and fall in power,[27] and it is commonplace for clans to seize territory and power from their rivals by force,[29] but they maintain relative peace among themselves and with the neighboring green dragonflight.[27] Each season, clans large and small gather in the city of Maruukai for the Khural, a time of truce and discussion during which they share resources and stories.[30] The Maruuk frequently trade with the tuskarr, with whom they share many values and hobbies.[31] The Maruuk centaur are known far and wide for their drums, and they have been honing their drum-making skills for generations.[32]

Centaur children are called "foals".[33][34] They refer to other humanoid races as "two-foot"[5][28][35] or "two-legs".[36] Maruuk centaur wear horseshoes,[37][38] and farriers are found in many of their settlements.[39][40] The Maruuk have skilled weavers who make soft and elaborate rugs and quilts from argali wool and the vivid natural dyes found in the Ohn'ahran Plains.[31]

Companions

A Shikaar hunter with an ohuna and bakar companion.

The Maruuk keep a variety of domesticated animals:

  • Bakar serve as hunting companions and guard dogs.[41] It is said that there are few bonds stronger than that of a Maruuk centaur and their bakar. It is a cause for celebration when one's bakar loses their baby teeth. The occasion has been commemorated for thousands of years by using the baby teeth to make jewelry, modern craftsmanship of which has become more intricate. All manner of bangles or circlets are made from these teeth. They are even used to make musical instruments, it is said the teeth have a lovely percussive quality when bunched together.[42] Leather shoes, lined with fleece, are made for bakars to protect their bare paws from the cold.[43]
  • Ohuna, eagles descended from Ohn'ahra herself,[5] serve as hunting companions. Their relationship to the centaur is transient and built on mutual respect: each spring, the ohuna choose a new centaur to hunt alongside, and each winter they return to their kin.[44]
  • Argali are domesticated for their milk[45] and wool.[31][46]
  • Bruffalon are domesticated for their milk.[47]
  • Musken serve as beasts of burden that pull the clans' caravan wagons.[48]
  • Thunder lizards have in rare cases been known to bond with centaur and their close allies.[49]

Cuisine

The Maruuk mainly eat game meat from the various wildlife of the Ohn'ahran Plains.[35] They also eat fish,[31][50] cheese[51] and milk from argali and bruffalon,[45][47] and sweets like tarts,[52] puddings,[53] and sliced honey plum with chilled cream.[54] Centaur prefer their meat and fish roasted to the point of being charred black and drenched in so much spice that it numbs the tongue. Even foals have plenty of spice on their food. That said, the centaur of Clan Teerai can also enjoy a hearty fish stew like their Iskaara tuskarr neighbors.[34][54] Some, but not all, tuskarr dislike centaur cooking, arguing that it dishonors the fish and that eating blackened fish with so much spice is akin to "eating ash".[31]

Spirituality

A Maruuk shrine to Ohn'ahra.

The Maruuk worship the eagle spirit Ohn'ahra, the Windmother. She originally guided the Maruuk's ancestors to the Ohn'ahran Plains during the War of the Ancients, and has watched over them ever since.[28] Foals with an innate connection to Ohn'ahra leave their clans to join the mystics of Clan Ohn'ir,[33] who interpret her songs to advise the other centaur.[5] Ohn'ahra does not speak in language but instead through the winds themselves, and the Ohn'ir are trained to feel her presence and interpret her messages.[55] Windsong Rise is considered hallow ground for the Maruuk, being the place where their connection to the wind and Ohn'ahra is strongest.[56] The Maruuk make a sharp distinction between "wind magic" and "storm magic". Storms are considered an affront to Ohn'ahra's gift and her most dire omen,[55] and storm magic is therefore viewed as a sacrilege to her gift of winds.[57]

The Maruuk believe that the spirits of dead centaur live with Ohn'ahra in the sky and run alongside her on the winds.[58][59] When a mystic of Clan Ohn'ir dies, a sacred ohuna known as a Child of Ohn'ahra carries their spirit to Windsong Rise, were they may become one with the wind and sky.[60] The ancestors always walk beside their living descendants, guiding and protecting them, to the point where the Khural is considered a gathering for not only the living Maruuk, but the dead as well. The Khural begins when Clan Teerai invite the ancestors to Maruukai by giving them an offering in the form of a meal. They intentionally overchar and overspice the food to ensure that the scent is strong enough to reach the spirits in the sky.[34][59] They bury their most esteemed dead in underground chambers known as kurgans.[61] They also practice cremation.[62]

Maruuk tales are handed down through the generations through storytellers, a sacred role rooted in tradition. They tell these stories to pay respect to the ancestors and remind themselves of what's important.[2]

Marriage

The Maruuk practice betrothal.[58][63] There are various traditions associated with marriage, but different individuals and clans seem to hold different views of them. Elder Odgerel believes that it's irrelevant if partners love each other and that it is more important to keep to tradition, which involves giving sweets to a matchmaker who will find a partner for the bachelor, an exchange of offerings between families, and many other ceremonies. Matchmaker Osila believes that true compatibility between lovers comes from seeking guidance from one of the ancestors and asking them to bless the relationship.[64] According to Ohn Arasara, tradition suggests that the centaur making the proposal should gift sweets to their intended partner's family. These sweets are then shared with the rest of the clan.[65] Tradition also dictates that the proposer should receive a blessing from both their own and their intended partner's clan before they make their proposal.[66]

There is no greater sign of intimacy and trust between Maruuk centaur than mutual grooming.[67]

Clans

The banners of the major Maruuk clans. From left to right: Nokhud, Teerai, Shikaar, and Ohn'ir.

The Maruuk centaur of the Ohn'ahran Plains are split into many different clans, but there are four who hold the most power:[28][68]

  • Nokhud — A clan that values brute strength over all else.[8] They are the newest clan to rise to power, and the one that maintains the largest military force.[68] Led by Balakar Khan, the Nokhud allied with the Primalists and turned against the rest of the Maruuk.[15] Their capital is Nokhudon Hold in the western highlands.
  • Ohn'ir — A clan of mystics who hone a special connection to Ohn'ahra. Its members are initiated from the other clans[28][68] and are spread throughout the plains,[33] but they make their main home at the Ohn'iri Springs and other villages in the south. Led by Tigari Khan.
  • Shikaar — The strongest hunters of the Maruuk. Their camps are spread throughout the plains,[28] mainly in the eastern Shikaar Highlands. Led by Sansok Khan.
  • Teerai — A clan that upholds the traditions of the Maruuk's ancestors and guides the other centaur according to their ways. They are led by the Khanam Matra (currently Khanam Matra Sarest), who serves as the cultural khan of all Maruuk.[28][68] Their home is Teerakai in the southwestern plains.

In addition, there are various minor clans:

  • Aylaag — A small clan of nomads who travel across the plains, regularly setting up and taking down camp wherever the wind guides them.[69] Led by Hadari Khan.
  • Kaighan — A small hostile clan found at the Kaighan Camp.
  • Toghus — Formerly one of the most powerful clans, until they were defeated and replaced by Jhakan Khan of Clan Nokhud.[28]
  • Ukhel — A clan of necromancers who have sided with the Nokhud.

Notable centaur

Name Role Clan Status Location
 Maruuk Hero-ancestor of the Maruuk Maruuk Deceased Buried in Eternal Kurgans, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Teera The Guidemother, first matriarch of the Maruuk Maruuk Deceased Buried in Eternal Kurgans, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Khanam Matra Sarest Khanam Matra of the Maruuk Teerai Alive Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Khansguard Akato Captain of the Khanam Matra's khansguard Teerai Alive Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Balakar Khan Khan of the Nokhud and ally of the Primalists Nokhud Killable Nokhudon Hold, Nokhud Offensive
 Hadari Khan Khan of the Aylaag Aylaag Alive Various, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Sansok Khan Khan of the Shikaar Shikaar Alive Timberstep Outpost and Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Ohn Seshteng Ohn'ir advisor to Clan Shikaar Ohn'ir Alive Timberstep Outpost and Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Tigari Khan Khan of the Ohn'ir Ohn'ir Alive Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains
 Scout Tomul Shikaar scout Shikaar Alive Timberstep Outpost and Maruukai, Ohn'ahran Plains

Quests

Questlines with the Maruuk Centaur are unlocked at various renown levels:

Storylines

A single storyline with the Maruuk Centaur is unlocked at renown level 9.

Renown 9: Replacement Hooves

  1. N [70] To Tame A Thunderspine
  2. N [70] To Tame A Thunderspine
  3. N [70] To Tame A Thunderspine
  4. N [70] To Tame A Thunderspine
  5. N [70] To Tame A Thunderspine
  6. N [70] Beast of the Plains

Rewards

All Renown rewards and unlocks are account-wide with the exception of profession recipes, non-cosmetic armor, and questlines (all marked with *s).

  1. Among the Maruuk Centaur
  2.  [Centaur Hunting Trophy] (rare beasts -> rep)
  3. Toys:  [Comfortable Pile of Pelts],  [Maruuk Cooking Pot],  [Very Comfortable Pelt]
  4. Call of the Plains (bonus daily quests)
  5. Call of the Hunt I (Grand Hunts)
  6. Drakewatcher Manuscripts I (N [62-65] Observing the Wind:  [Windborne Velocidrake: Horned Jaw],  [Windborne Velocidrake: Yellow Horns])
    • Call of the Hunt II (Grand Hunt companion)
    • Questline: Replacement Hooves
    • Call of the Hunt III (Grand Hunt blessing)
    • Word of a Worthy Ally I (+100% reputation on alts below Renown 10)
  14. Ohn'ahran Friendship (Maruukai eagle mail network)
  16. Call of the Hunt V (bonus power on Grand Hunts)
  17. Centaur Armaments III (cosmetic weapons)
  19. Drakewatcher Manuscripts III ( [Renewed Proto-Drake: Green Scales],  [Highland Drake: Green Scales],  [Cliffside Wylderdrake: Green Scales])
    • Call of the Hunt VI (more bonus power on Grand Hunts)
    • Word of a Worthy Ally II (+100% reputation on alts below Renown 20, +200% reputation below renown 10)
  21. Toys:  [Clan Nokhud Pennant],  [Clan Ohn'ir Pennant],  [Clan Shikaar Pennant] and  [Clan Teerai Pennant]
  23. Call of the Hunt VIII ( [Shikaar Hunting Horn])
  24. An Ally's Armor* (ilvl 389 chest armor)

Notes

  • It is currently unknown how the Maruuk predate the War of the Ancients, as it was previously thought that the only centaur race had only been born around 1,100 years ago by the union of Zaetar and Theradras.[70]
  • According to a factions overview in Dragonflight, all of the Maruuk share the same culture. According to an Ohn'ahran Plains preview, however, every Maruuk clan's culture is unique.[71]
    • In the game, they share the same base culture, but each clan has a different focus. Teerai are focused on tradition, Shikaar on hunting, Nokhud on war, Ohn'ir on religious worship, Toghus on craftsmanship and animal rearing, and Uhkel is focused on necromancy (though this appears to be a recent development). It is unknown what Clan Kaighan or Clan Aylaag are focused on.
  • The standard Maruuk centaur models use vorkai animations. The bulkier variant uses magnataur animations.
    • Unlike other races that got model updates in Dragonflight such as dryads and gnolls, the centaur model was not retroactively applied to older centaur. Centaur NPCs added before Dragonflight continue to use the original model.

Gallery

  • Maruuk architecture concept.jpg
  • Agurahl the Butcher.png
  • Nokhudon Brute.png
  • Post Guard.png
  • Nakeena.png
  • Khansguard Hojin.png
  • Omens on the Wind.jpg
  • Toward the City - first stop.jpg
  • Toward the City.jpg
  • By Broken Road.jpg
  • Maruukai - Nokhud camp.jpg
  • Iskaara Mammoth - Teerakai.jpg
  • Dragon-killer ballista.png
  • Horn of Drusahl - north view.jpg
  • Maruuk ballista model.jpg
  • Centaur burial mounds.jpg

Patch changes

References

 
  1. ^ World of Warcraft: The Dragonflight Codex, pg. 97
  2. ^ a b c d Storykeeper Jaru#Quotes
  3. ^ The Gnoll Wars
  4. ^ a b Gemisath#Quotes
  5. ^ a b c d N [62-65] By Broken Road
  6. ^ World of Warcraft 2022-04-19. Waking Shores and Ohn’ahran Plains Preview. YouTube. Retrieved on 2022-04-20.
  7. ^ N [62-65] With the Wind at Our Backs
  8. ^ a b N [62-65] Unwelcome Outsider
  9. ^ N [62-65] Welcome at Our Fire
  10. ^ a b N [62-65] Next Steppes
  11. ^ N [62-65] Into the Plains
  12. ^ Lore Book: Ohn'ahran Plains
  13. ^ N [62-65] The Shikaar
  14. ^ N [62-65] The Emissary's Arrival
  15. ^ a b N [62-65] The Khanam Matra
  16. ^ N [62-65] The Nokhud Threat
  17. ^ a b N [62-65] Hooves of War
  18. ^ N [62-65] The Calm Before the Storm
  19. ^  [The Khanam Matra's Message]
  20. ^ N [62-65] Oh No, Ohn'ahra!
  21. ^ N [62-65] Blowing of the Horn
  22. ^ N [62-65] Green Dragon Down
  23. ^ N [62-65] Stormbreaker
  24. ^ N [62-70G5] The Nokhud Offensive: The Wind Belongs to the Sky
  25. ^ a b World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 144 - 145
  26. ^ Landfall: "The devils' speed cannot be matched upon the plains."
  27. ^ a b c Blizzard Entertainment 2022-10-13. Dragonflight: Major Factions Overview. Retrieved on 2022-10-15.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h N [62-65] Toward the City
  29. ^ N [62-65] Clan Nokhud
  30. ^ N [62-65] Maruukai
  31. ^ a b c d e Iskaara Trader
  32. ^ N Leatherworking [60-70] Drums Here!
  33. ^ a b c Ohn Seshteng#Gossip
  34. ^ a b c N [62-65] Honoring Our Ancestors
  35. ^ a b N [62-65] For Food and Rivalry
  36. ^ Warlord Krom'zar yells: You two-legs are nothing! My children could beat you!
  37. ^  [Crate of Horseshoes]
  38. ^ N [62-65] Thieving Gorlocs
  39. ^ Farrier Roscha
  40. ^ Farrier Rondare
  41. ^ N [62-65] Release the Hounds
  42. ^ N [70] Curious Find: Hole-Punched Bakar Tooth
  43. ^  [Leather Bakar-Sized Shoe]
  44. ^ Skyhunter Pahra#Quotes
  45. ^ a b  [Argali Milk]
  46. ^ N [62-65] If There's Wool There's a Way
  47. ^ a b Milk Cow
  48. ^ N [62-65] Making Introductions
  49. ^  [Hoofhelper]
  50. ^ Basket of Dried Fish
  51. ^  [Argali Cheese]
  52. ^  [Honey Plum Tart]
  53. ^  [Yak Milk Pudding]
  54. ^ a b Teerai Chef
  55. ^ a b N [62-65] Omens on the Wind
  56. ^ Boku#Gossip
  57. ^ N [62-65] The Ora-cull
  58. ^ a b N [62-65] The Sole Mender
  59. ^ a b Qariin Dotur
  60. ^ Tigari Khan#Gossip
  61. ^ N [62-65] Up to No-khud
  62. ^ N [70] Do Rites by Her
  63. ^ Windsage Contan#Quotes
  64. ^ N [62-65] Bloodlines, Sweets, and Teerai
  65. ^ N [62-65] Shikaar Giver
  66. ^ N [62-65] After My Ohn Heart
  67. ^  [Stiff Brush]
  68. ^ a b c d N [62-65] Clans of the Plains
  69. ^ Getseng#Quotes
  70. ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 144-145
  71. ^ World of Warcraft 2022-11-09. Dragonflight: Step Foot into the Magnificence of the Ohn’Ahran Plains. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2022-11-28.

External links

Faction Paragon Renown
Major factions
Neutral
Centaur clans and groups
Kalimdor
Dragon Isles
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