Background Information
Centries are centaur spirits in the Otherfaith stories. Unlike other centaurs throughout folklore, Centries are not associated with revelry or wildness. In the Otherfaith, centaur spirits are tied most closely to the Clarene (God of Sovereignty) and Ophelene (God of Justice). The first centaur is created by the Clarene; She buries a horse’s heart in Her Orchard in the hopes it will sprout, only for gunpowder and blood to fall upon the field. From the soil is born Dallas, the leader of the Centries.
As more centaurs are born Dallas is tasked by the Clarene with protecting the Westernlands and hunting down evildoers. The creation of the Centries as a specific group of spirits is currently marked on July 15. They may appear with lion-halves, instead of equine forms, hinting at their ties to the Clarene.
Though they may serve as spirits of justice, Centries are primarily concerned with lawfulness and order. They are good to call on in cases when the law is already ‘one one’s side’. They may act as forces of retribution but more often carry out punishment as the law of the land requires.
In Otherfaith canon, all Centries are named after cities.
Spirit Information
Rio is associated primarily with fire. His equine form is often a palomino or sorrel. He appears wielding a bow and arrow or spear, both weapons tipped in gold. Like many fire spirits he has red hair. Rio is specifically tied to punishing perpetrators of sexual assault and abuse.
He frequently appears beside Dallas. He may be the second-in-command of the Centries, or they may have some other relation that ties them together. Rio is one of the less mature Centries and acts more brashly than his kin.
Unfortunately, even though this is his birth date on our calendar, we do not have an origin story for Rio. How he came to be in the West and to serve in the Centries is a story that remains to be told.
Otherfaith practitioners could dedicated bows and arrows to Rio, along with charms shaped like bows and spears. Horse charms or symbols are another good option to dedicate or give to Rio. Standard offerings of bread, water, and incense would work well for the spirit. Milk and honey may be too ‘rich’ for Centry spirits. Offerings of carrots, apples, or other ‘horse food’ should likely be avoided to prevent offense.
The best time to give offerings to Rio would likely be during daylight hours.
Prayer
Rio of the Centries,
Short of stature
Fiery in temperament
I praise you.
Rio of the Centries,
Enflamed in righteousness
Vicious in destruction
I praise you.
Rio of the Centries,
Stable of hand
And stable of eye
I praise you.
[All information above is in-process, as the Otherfaith is always under development. It should not be taken as solid canon or ‘law’. Please use the information to explore and experiment as feels appropriate.]