Tag: faun

Satyr

Now for the next part of my explanation on the differences between hoofed humanoids, when the argument in the tavern mentioned in my page on Fauns truly began. A Faun is simple enough to recognize, a Satyr, however, is less so.

When I mention Satyrs, I refer to the old type. The original holders of this title who have in recent years seemed to become less prevalent or less willing to interact with humans on a regular basis. These Satyrs are, in fact, human and horse hybrids. Akin to the Centaur, yet they have only two hooves for their hind legs and horse-like tails and ears.

This is often contested, I won’t pretend this is the first night that I’ve been engrossed in attempting to knock drunkards off their self given throne. However, in the annals of the Greeks it is easy to find the recordings of these true Satyrs. It was only a few centuries later when the contended holder of this nomenclature was recognized more than the original.

Satyrs have, again like Centaurs, never been as easily enfolded into human society. Their strength and pride causes them to craft their own communities and laws in many cases. They also tend to favor other animal humanoids over humans proper. This has led to a long line of intermarriage with Fauns. These unions most often produce the hybrid offspring that most associate today with the the title of Satyr when it would be more fitting to call them a Goat Satyr or a half Satyr.

The standard and goat Satyrs tend to have many similar features. Both come with the firmer, shoe-able hooves of a horse, both have a face much more human than a Fauns, and both have less body hair on their human half than Fauns. There are also some distinct differences between the two as well.

Fauns generally pass their horns and goat-like tails to their descendants. Goat Satyrs as well are more inclined towards the elemental as opposed to the raw physical strength of the True Satyr. This is not to look down on their physical strength as, unlike a typical Faun, Goat Satyrs in many cases are much stronger than a human. This coupled with their mischievous nature and tendency to have a greater interest in human settlements can get them in a great deal of trouble.

This prevalence near cities and the absence of true Satyrs is perhaps why the confusion comes around. It is also occasionally attempted to wedge the Goat Satyr under the title of Faun which is similarly incorrect.

Considering that both Fauns and Satyrs are part of the process of arriving at their split offspring, in causal conversation it would not be inexcusable to use the terms interchangeably. When one attempts to exchange the grit at the bottom of their tankard of mead for a knowledge of paleontology to rival both explorers and the learned, that is when I personally find offense. So too do I think the proper preservation of terms is useful when it comes to a crime that might otherwise be placed on the head of another.

Faun

I became embroiled in an argument at a tavern the other night, and spent several hours attempting to sell the locals on my knowledge of the subject of our non-human person neighbors. The argument, I have found, is a frustratingly common one; therefore, I’ll be adding them to my book now and filling in any details on the pages later when I run into the species in question.

The conundrum is founded in the morphing titles given to three kinds of humanoid hybrids, or two kinds and a sub-kind as it may be. The first of this set that I’ll cover is the Faun.

Fauns are goat-human hybrids that tend physically towards the goat appearance. They have animalistic features such as a muzzle–as opposed to a more human visage–and tend to have more body hair, though it is not inconceivable to find fauns who maintain the curls on their upper body to remove some of their animal appearance. They tend to have curved horns, though occasionally will have the straighter horns depending upon their region of origin.

Another of their animal aspects is their cloven goat hooves. They are not good for shoeing, even if the faun in question would want them shoed, and they have to pay close attention to where they are stepping to avoid anything that could poke into the soft area between the toes. They also require frequent use of rocks or files to keep maintained. City dwelling faun have a slight advantage if their area has stone or brick paved roads.

A difference that is not due to genetics is their attitude towards life and society. Despite their obvious personhood, the prominent animal features Fauns possess mean both an unfortunate level of scorn from others and a majority who choose to live a wild lifestyle. The wild faun, as opposed to the city or town dwelling “tame” faun, spend their time in the fields and forests.

Wild fauns tend to be further subdivided into civilized and brutish. Those deemed civilized tend to, though there are exceptions, live immediately surrounding settlements. They also, in all cases, act in a proper manner. They cover themselves, wash, and will follow laws and statutes regarding things like property and assault—both violent and carnal in type. 

Brutish fauns, on the other hand, tend to avoid populous areas and are also frequently solitary. They are generally described as volatile, unkempt, and have been known to be a grave danger to travelers who enter their claimed territories. They are a burden on all their kin in the eyes of society due to their insistence on acting in a way more befitting a deranged wild animal than a person with a conscience.

It’s a shame, seeing the damage done to those of good standing due to the nasty plots of some of their kin. It is especially so due to the difficulty of tracking down those who commit such grave misdeeds due to their knowledge of mountains and deep forest territories. Fauns are not the only ones to suffer for this problem, and it does not help when people cannot properly distinguish what is and is not a Faun. In my next passage, I will cover another close relative who can often get an innocent Faun into trouble.