Post by Andre on Nov 3, 2010 9:13:17 GMT -5
"We have been enslaved but have always thrown
off our shackles. We have been driven back,
but always returned to the fray stronger than
before. We have risen to new heights when all other races
have fallen into decay. We are the future of Krynn, the fated
masters of the entire world. We are the children of destiny."
Minotaurs are a race of bull-men hailing from the twin
islands of Mithas and Kothas in the Blood Sea. They are
the chosen of Sargas, the minotaur god of wrath and
vengeance, whose form they emulate. Minotaurs are
descended from the ancient ogres, as is evident in their
strength, though unlike their cousins, they are not only
strong in arm but also intelligent and cunning. Minotaurs
believe in a brutal code centered on the idea of strength as
the instrument of glory and respect. It is through strength
that a minotaur will rise through society to serve in the
legions, strength by which a minotaur may lead his clan,
strength by which a minotaur may captain a vessel, and
strength by which an emperor may rule an empire.
A Brief History
The origins of the minotaur race are shrouded in
controversy and myths dating back to the fall of high
ogre civilization and tales of the Graygem. According to
minotaur legend, the god Sargas took the form of a giant
condor, gathering those ogres he found worthy and flying
them to a land on the eastern edge of Ansalon. He placed
upon each his sign, transforming them into minotaurs.
His greatest gift would be their horns, so they are never
without a means to defend themselves.
Actually, the earliest minotaurs were from the
continent of Taladas, on the opposite side of the world
from Krynn. Ogres of that continent were transformed
by the Graygem, and fled opposition from unchanged
ogres. The exodus of minotaurs took place on makeshift
sailing vessels, carried across the waves by the determined
minotaur refugees and propelled by prayers to Zeboim the
Maelstrom.
The minotaur’s first settlement on Ansalon was known
as Mithandrus, the Land of the Bull. The minotaurs
dreamed of the glory days of the ancient high ogre empire,
but they made the mistake of landing near the dwarven
realm of Kal-Thax. Mithandrus was razed and thousands
of minotaurs became slaves, working in mines under
harsh dwarven rule. After two thousand years, the slaves
finally revolted under the leadership of Ambeoutin and
Belim, who saw to the slaughter of the dwarves and the
destruction of Kal-Thax.
With Belim’s death, Ambeoutin led the minotaurs back
to their homeland, which was named in his honor. Sargas
gave Ambeoutin a vision, establishing the minotaur tenets
of honor and strength. He also introduced the first of the
armed tournaments, decreeing all major decisions be
adjudicated through formalized duels. The first arena was
built.
Upon Ambeoutin’s death sixty years later, his twin sons
fought in the arena for leadership of the minotaurs. They
were so evenly matched that both collapsed of exhaustion.
The brothers, fearing civil war, split the kingdom in two,
with Kothas ruling the southern half and Mithas the
northern. Ten years later, Kothas fell. As Mithas tried to
stabilize the nation, his actions were misinterpreted as an
invasion. The ogres, under the leadership of a great Khan,
took advantage of the situation, and the minotaurs became
slaves once again.
After overthrowing their ogre masters at the end
of the Second Dragon War in 2645 PC, the minotaurs
rebuilt the twin kingdoms. The minotaur leaders agreed,
in the interest of security, the minotaurs should have
one absolute leader. The Great Circus was created, with
Bosigarni Es-Mithas, known also as Bos of the Blood, as
the first champion. Bos set up the temple of Sargas and
established the Supreme Circle.
After Bos’s death, the empire again fell to ruin, and
the minotaurs found themselves as slaves once more, first
to dwarves then ogres. Freedom came in 2485 PC, when
a gladiator succeeded in slaying the Grand Khan. Makel
Ogrebane led his people on a bloody crusade through their
masters’ domain, nearly wiping out the ogres. As emperor,
Makel made the city of Nethosak the permanent imperial
seat. Makel ruled for forty years, uncharacteristically dying
in his sleep.
Makel’s death ushered in the Age of Pretenders, so
named for the brief reigns of the emperors. The archer
Jarisi became emperor, defending her crown for fifteen
years and expanding sea exploration. In 2335 PC, the
minotaurs claimed their first island colony, naming it Jari-
Nyos in her honor. Jarisi’s successors once more tested
the resolve of a neighbor. The minotaurs attempted to
conquer Silvanesti, but the emperor was strangled when a
vine wrapped around his throat. Weakened by the loss of
their leader, the minotaurs retreated. The ogres saw their
opportunity and once again conquered and enslaved the
minotaurs for another two hundred years.
At the same time Vinas Solamnus defeated Ergoth in
1791 PC, a minotaur named Tremoc appeared, crossing
Ansalon four times to track down his mate’s killer. His
dedication stirred the realm, so much so that when
Tremoc entered the Circus to challenge for the throne,
his adversary conceded without combat. Sargas blessed
Tremoc, who build a new, greater Circus and strengthened
the realm. Tremoc was killed by an unknown assassin,
an elven dagger stuck in his chest. Minotaur legend says
the skies thundered for three days afterwards, demanding
vengeance.
The earthquake of 1772 PC is chronicled as the worst
in minotaur history, splitting Nethosak in two. The
arena caved in, killing thousands. Morthosak became a
haven of disease and chaos as refugees filled it. Tremors
kept plaguing the realm, leaving it open once again for
conquest, this time by the humans of Istar in 1543 PC.
General Hymdall invaded, but he was defeated by a small
army commanded by the minotaur Mitos, who secured
the release of the minotaurs already taken. Mitos became
emperor, withdrawing the Imperium from the rest of
Ansalon.
The minotaurs became slave-soldiers to the Dark
Queen’s forces during the Third Dragon War in 1060
PC. The Warlord Crynus made them the right arm of his
legions. During this time, Kaziganthi de-Orilg slew his
ogre captain and fled into Solamnic lands, where he was
saved by the legendary knight Huma Dragonbane. Kaz
Dragonslayer, as legend calls him, fought at Huma’s side
and bore his body after his noble sacrifice against Takhisis.
Many legends of Kaz’s life after the Third Dragon War
emerged, including one where he fathered a subrace of
minotaurs known as the Kazelati.
With the change to the Proclamation of Manifest
Virtue in 94 PC, the minotaurs were once again led from
their homeland in chains by the forces of the Kingpriest
of Istar. The minotaurs rejoiced at the Cataclysm, as the
Blood Sea was born and the minotaur lands, now two
islands, were forevermore separated from mainland
Ansalon. The minotaurs would never be slaves again. Their
new emperor, Toroth, looked to the east, claiming islands
in unexplored regions of the Courrian.
Many years later, in the years of the War of the Lance (i.e. the "now" time of the campaign, the present time),
Emperor Garik Es-Karos was assassinated. The new leader,
Chot, held power within the Supreme Circle, yet political
rivals delayed his ascension to the throne.
Physical Appearance
Minotaurs are physically imposing, standing between 6
1/2 and 7 1/2 feet in height and weighing anywhere from
300 to 450 pounds. A minotaur’s upper body is humanoid,
with broad shoulders, a deep chest, and strong arms,
which end in fully articulate hands. Their powerful bodies
are covered with short, thick fur, ranging in hue from red
to brown, with rare occurrences of black, tan, or whitefurred
individuals. Minotaur heads are bovine in nature.
They have large, deep-set eyes in shades of dark brown
and black. Minotaurs have yellow-white horns growing
from their temples, 6 to 12 inches long for females and
anywhere from 1 to 2 feet long for males. Minotaur manes
are a shade or two darker than their fur. A common
misconception among the lesser races is that minotaurs
have hooves, when in fact, their feet end in twin toes with
hoof-like toenails.
Surprisingly, minotaurs pay close attention to their
appearance. They tend to keep their horns polished and
shiny. Many minotaurs wear earrings, and some also wear
nose rings. They keep their fur as clean as their situation
allows. Most are not vain, but almost all minotaurs believe
in looking their best.
To non-minotaurs, the physical differences between
males and females may not be immediately apparent,
since both sexes are powerfully built and there is no role
distinction between the sexes. Minotaur dress tends to
be austere and simple, nothing more than a harness and
a leather skirt, although those of noble rank may wear
loose-fitting robes. The harness carries weapons, as well as
providing a place for a minotaur to hang trophies.
Psychology
Minotaur society works on the precept that to be weak
is to be wrong. Strength is the raw power of life, giving
minotaurs the ability to triumph. While strength is often
defined as physical power, it is an all-encompassing
concept including a strong mind and a courageous heart.
Some have the misconception of minotaurs as stupid
brutes. However, minotaurs are very intelligent, which they
use to surprise their enemies in combat. Their cunning
minds make them excellent tacticians.
Honor gives structure to minotaur society, allowing
them to resist chaos and enslavement. All minotaur law
is centered on their code of honor. A minotaur’s word is
his bond; once given, it is never broken. A minotaur is
expected to accept all responsibility for his actions and
to face punishment for any misdeed. Those who show
cowardice are treated no better than the lowest of vermin.
No minotaur may slay another minotaur; anyone who
slays another without cause of honor will be executed on
the spot. If a cause of honor exists, the two parties will
settle it in the Great Circus. Whoever loses in the Games
is dishonored, while the victor’s name is cleared of any
wrongdoing.
Minotaurs are fiercely loyal, especially to those to
whom they owe a debt of honor. The minotaur hero
Kaz Dragonslayer once owed a debt of honor to Huma
Dragonbane, never leaving his side, though minotaur
records claim it was Huma who swore an oath of honor
to Kaz. Loyalty is taught from birth.
Minotaurs are taught to put clan and
empire before themselves. Individual
desires come only after one has met
his duty as a citizen of the empire
and a member of his clan.
Social Structure
A clan consists of several families
who can trace their lineage back to
a single ancestor. The clan’s elder
determines the course of the clan
and their position within the empire.
All minotaurs serve the empire.
To do otherwise is treason. Clan
leaders and elders are considered
nobility, though any minotaur can
reach this level of status through
loyal, exemplary service. In the
past, if a minotaur could defeat
the reigning emperor in combat in
the Great Circus, he or she would
become emperor.
The Games serve several
functions in minotaur society. They
are a form of entertainment open to all; a minotaur can
test his skill against other minotaurs or against fearsome
beasts. Minotaurs who have grievances against one another
settle them in blood duels in the Games; the winner
proclaimed the victor and in the right. A minotaur who is
dishonored, such as through failure in his duty, can reclaim
his honor through the Games, though this often leads to
his death. Even wedding ceremonies center on the Games.
The Games are far more than combat; they are tests of skill
and strategy. The minotaurs create a myriad of fighting
surfaces and obstacles for the Games, including beds of
hot coals, shifting sand, swinging axes, shifting surfaces,
and columns of poles with spikes underneath. Most cities
and towns in the Empire have some version of the Games,
though when most minotaurs think of the Games, they
think of the Games in the Great Circus of the capitol city
of Nethosak.
Family Life
Whether a Legionary, shipbuilder, blacksmith, or serving
in a more mundane role, a minotaur’s life revolves around
service to the empire. From the time minotaur children
are born, they are taught that service to the empire and to
the clan comes before their own wants and desires. Those
who are traitors to the empire will find themselves on the
receiving end of a minotaur battle axe.
Minotaurs believe in gender equality. As it takes both
parents to bring a minotaur child into the world, both
parents play an equal part in raising the child. In the ranks
of the Legions, there is no discrimination. A minotaur
makes her way through the empire on her own merits, not
gender, color of fur, or island of origin.
When a minotaur reaches adolescence, he is expected
to serve in the imperial navy for three years. This is a time
when minotaurs come of age. They learn to be sailors and
gain an understanding of the enormity of the empire and
the world. This is also a time of warrior training. Every
minotaur is expected to be able to come to the defense
of the Imperium. When this time of service is over, a
minotaur may either continue service in the fleet, join the
Legions, or work at a trade. This decision is often made for
the minotaur by his clan, based on tradition. A cooper’s
father, grandfather, and so forth were probably all coopers.
If a minotaur shows special talents either as a mariner or a
warrior, the empire may recruit him for imperial service.
Such service brings honor to the minotaur’s clan.
Eventually, a minotaur will choose a mate. When a
minotaur finds a member of the opposite gender who he
finds attractive, the two will court. Minotaur courting
can, and often does, involve physical violence, which fuels
the passion between two minotaurs. After a period of six
months, the couple can marry, though the partnership
must be approved by the clan elders of the two. When both
elders approve, the marriage ceremony, which also results
in physical violence, is performed by a priest of Sargas.
A minotaur dies as he lives—in service to the empire.
Most minotaurs die serving in the Legion or the navy.
Legionnaires are typically burned on a funeral pyre, while
mariners are buried at sea with the captain asking for the
blessings of both Sargas and Zeboim. It is a rare minotaur
who dies of old age. Those who reach this point in life will
often choose to face the Rite of the Final Oath, where a
minotaur swears a battle as his last. The rite begins with a
minute of prayer to Sargas, followed by battling the Games’
greatest champions and monstrosities. A minotaur will
fight until he can fight no more, thereby fulfilling his oath.
Names
Minotaurs signify their island of origin with a prefix to
the clan name. The “Es-” prefix denotes a clan from the
island of Mithas, while the “de-” prefix denotes a clan from
Kothas. While most minotaurs hail from one of these two
islands, some are from colonies. New naming traditions
have risen in the last several decades of colonization,
allowing for new prefixes to develop, such as the “ne-”
prefix used for the colony of Mitos. Some colonists still
use the “Es-” and “de-” prefixes if their lineages can be
traced back to Mithas or Kothas. If a minotaur can’t trace
his lineage, his clan name remains without a prefix. Such
minotaurs are looked down upon for their lack of strong
bloodline. Minotaurs who cannot trace their paternal
lineage at all, such as an illegitimate child, have the “–Ohn”
suffix to their first name, which means bastard child. Bas-
Ohn Koraf would be an illegitimate child who cannot trace
his lineage to either Mithas or Kothas.
Minotaur Life
Minotaurs are a people of tradition. They believe in
structure and order, which is seen through all aspects of
their society. A minotaur’s clan is his identity, giving name
to the ancestor who founded the clan. Clans teach the
virtues and ideals that shape the minds of their people.
Throughout the centuries, the minotaurs have been
enslaved repeatedly. They have primarily been slaves
to ogres, though dwarves and the humans of Istar also
enslaved them. Minotaurs will fight ferociously against
any who tries to enslave them. They believe that they will
one day become the masters, enslaving others as they were
once enslaved.
Minotaurs look upon those who would conquer only
Ansalon as shortsighted. The minotaur people believe, as
the children of Sargas, they are destined to one day rule
the world. All of Krynn is theirs for the taking, a manifest
destiny set down by Sargas and the ancient emperors.
Arts & Industry
Despite many misconceptions about the race, minotaurs
are a cultured people. They are practical, placing function
before appearance. Minotaurs are excellent sculptors,
having statues decorating many buildings throughout the
Imperium. Statues of the current emperor are a constant
reminder of service to the empire. Minotaurs also have
a love of music, typically war ballads or old mariner
songs. Such music helps to give rhythm to marching feet
or rowing oars. Nobles have been known to dance to
minotaur ballads at imperial functions.
Minotaurs have an appreciation for technology,
but usually only in relation to warfare and seafaring.
Minotaurs make some of the largest and fastest war ships
on Krynn’s oceans, rivaled only by those of the Ergothian
Empire. They forge and are trained in a variety of weapons,
including large swords, nets, tridents, and battle axes.
Minotaurs also make use of siege weapons, such as
ballistae and catapults, adapting them to use at sea as well
as on land.
Magic
Minotaurs have a high disdain for magic, considering it
to be a crutch used by humans, elves, and other inferior
races to compensate for their lack of strength and stature.
Casting arcane magic is a dishonorable act used by
cowards who cannot fight on the battlefield. Rarely, a war
mage can gain grudging respect from a minotaur fighter.
There are few minotaurs who join the Orders of High
Sorcery; most are renegades. Divine magic is acceptable, as
long as Sargas is the source.
Religion
Sargas the Destroyer is the primary deity worshiped by
minotaurs. The Horned God appears to his faithful as
a giant minotaur with charcoal black or crimson fur,
covered in the blood of his enemies. Although Sargas
and Sargonnas are one and the same, minotaurs believe
them to be separate deities. While most races cursed the
gods after the Cataclysm, the minotaurs considered it
a blessing from Sargas; no longer would they be slaves.
With the blessings of Sargas, they planned to eventually
become the masters of Krynn.
.
Kiri-Jolith is the second most prominent deity of the
minotaurs and the rival of Sargas. He appears as a bisonheaded
minotaur with a great horned axe. Minotaur
followers of the Great Bison tend to be the most noble and
honorable among their race, yet they can be reviled and
persecuted for their beliefs, resulting in being cast out by
their families and exiled from their homeland. Kiri-Jolith
is often referred to as Emperor by his minotaur followers,
as they can openly swear an oath by the Emperor.
As a seafaring race, the minotaurs know it is wise to
pay homage to Zeboim the Maelstrom. Zeboim is quite
volatile, and it is in the best interests of all minotaur sailors
to say a prayer to her before voyages. Occasionally, a
minotaur ship will offer a sacrifice during the voyage. Each
port city has at least a small shrine to Zeboim.
Folklore
The Legend of Kaz is an oral history detailing the heroic
efforts of the greatest hero of the minotaurs—Kaz
Dragonslayer. Kaz is a minotaur hero of the Third Dragon
War who breaks the chains of slavery. He rescues a Knight
of Solamnia named Huma from a group of goblins, who
pledges an oath of loyalty to Kaz. The two are accompanied
by Huma’s friend, a Red Robed wizard named Magius.
Though Magius is a coward, he dies honorably, learning
from Kaz’s example. Kaz avenges his friend’s death by
slaying the cowardly renegade wizard, Galan Dracos. In
the final battle against the Queen of Darkness, Huma falls,
saving Kaz’s life. Kaz then delivers the final blow, exacting
the promise from the Dark Queen to never return to the
world. The records and legends dispute what happens
to Kaz, though there is some speculation that he has
descendents living even today.
Language
The minotaur language is known as Kothian. As the name
suggests, its origins can be traced to the island of Kothas.
Linguists speculate that the origins of Kothian can be
further traced to the ancient high ogre tongue, Kolshet.
There are certain similarities between Kothian and the
modern ogre tongue, though it is a vague resemblance at
best.
Surprising to many outsiders is the minotaur use of
snorts and grunts. These sounds do not convey words so
much as emotions. A grunt may range from approval to
caution or a warning. Snorts are used to display disbelief,
surprise, or anger.
Typically, those outsiders who learn Kothian are able
to understand the language but find it more difficult to
speak. Humans find it difficult to produce the harsh tones
that come with the minotaur language. Reproducing their
use of snorts and grunts has proven impossible. Minotaurs
look unfavorably on any who attempt to speak their
language, especially those who do a poor job of it.
Minotaurs are fond of using oaths in their speech.
“By Sargas!” is often used to express surprise or anger. A
minotaur who swears an important oath may swear “by
the emperor’s horns.” These oaths often involve a figure of
import, such as the god Sargas, the emperor, or the father
of the individual.
Racial Relations
Minotaurs believe they are the rightful rulers of the world
and the chosen of Sargas. They generally believe other
races are weak and inferior. Minotaurs view dwarves
and centaurs with a certain respect, due to their rugged,
uncompromising natures. However, minotaurs still
remember how they were enslaved to the dwarves ages ago
and intend on correcting that slight of honor in the future.
Of all the races, humans have earned the most respect
from minotaurs, for in their minds, humans’ military
and naval skills are secondary only to their own. The
minotaurs particularly respect the Knights of Solamnia for
their strength and courage in battle.
Minotaurs also respect the humans who
sail the dangerous Blood Sea, especially those who braved
the Maelstrom in the Age of Despair.
Elves are considered weak, frail creatures without any
honor or courage. This belief was reinforced during the
War of Souls when the minotaurs conquered Silvanesti
enslaving many elves in the process.
Gnomes are also viewed as weak and frail. Minotaurs
see their focus on technology as a crutch. While a gnome
needs a tool to make him more powerful, a minotaur is
born mighty. Minotaurs have little interest in gnomish
technology, feeling their time could be better spent on
other pursuits. However, minotaurs do have a healthy
respect for the propensity of gnomish inventions to
explode.
Kender are a nuisance, no better than rats or an
infestation of roaches. Kender have a fascination with
the bull-men, especially with their resemblance to cows.
Since kender are fearless, there are a fair number who will
approach a minotaur and taunt them with a loud, “Moo!”
Of course, this infuriates the minotaur, who will charge the
offending kender. Such foolhardy kender rarely live to see
further adventures.
Minotaurs absolutely abhor ogres. Slavery has created
a centuries-old enmity. Minotaurs begrudgingly admit
to admiring the strength of the ogres, but they are quick
to point out that ogres have no honor or discipline. The
lack of order is a stark contrast to the orderly lives of the
minotaurs.
off our shackles. We have been driven back,
but always returned to the fray stronger than
before. We have risen to new heights when all other races
have fallen into decay. We are the future of Krynn, the fated
masters of the entire world. We are the children of destiny."
Minotaurs are a race of bull-men hailing from the twin
islands of Mithas and Kothas in the Blood Sea. They are
the chosen of Sargas, the minotaur god of wrath and
vengeance, whose form they emulate. Minotaurs are
descended from the ancient ogres, as is evident in their
strength, though unlike their cousins, they are not only
strong in arm but also intelligent and cunning. Minotaurs
believe in a brutal code centered on the idea of strength as
the instrument of glory and respect. It is through strength
that a minotaur will rise through society to serve in the
legions, strength by which a minotaur may lead his clan,
strength by which a minotaur may captain a vessel, and
strength by which an emperor may rule an empire.
A Brief History
The origins of the minotaur race are shrouded in
controversy and myths dating back to the fall of high
ogre civilization and tales of the Graygem. According to
minotaur legend, the god Sargas took the form of a giant
condor, gathering those ogres he found worthy and flying
them to a land on the eastern edge of Ansalon. He placed
upon each his sign, transforming them into minotaurs.
His greatest gift would be their horns, so they are never
without a means to defend themselves.
Actually, the earliest minotaurs were from the
continent of Taladas, on the opposite side of the world
from Krynn. Ogres of that continent were transformed
by the Graygem, and fled opposition from unchanged
ogres. The exodus of minotaurs took place on makeshift
sailing vessels, carried across the waves by the determined
minotaur refugees and propelled by prayers to Zeboim the
Maelstrom.
The minotaur’s first settlement on Ansalon was known
as Mithandrus, the Land of the Bull. The minotaurs
dreamed of the glory days of the ancient high ogre empire,
but they made the mistake of landing near the dwarven
realm of Kal-Thax. Mithandrus was razed and thousands
of minotaurs became slaves, working in mines under
harsh dwarven rule. After two thousand years, the slaves
finally revolted under the leadership of Ambeoutin and
Belim, who saw to the slaughter of the dwarves and the
destruction of Kal-Thax.
With Belim’s death, Ambeoutin led the minotaurs back
to their homeland, which was named in his honor. Sargas
gave Ambeoutin a vision, establishing the minotaur tenets
of honor and strength. He also introduced the first of the
armed tournaments, decreeing all major decisions be
adjudicated through formalized duels. The first arena was
built.
Upon Ambeoutin’s death sixty years later, his twin sons
fought in the arena for leadership of the minotaurs. They
were so evenly matched that both collapsed of exhaustion.
The brothers, fearing civil war, split the kingdom in two,
with Kothas ruling the southern half and Mithas the
northern. Ten years later, Kothas fell. As Mithas tried to
stabilize the nation, his actions were misinterpreted as an
invasion. The ogres, under the leadership of a great Khan,
took advantage of the situation, and the minotaurs became
slaves once again.
After overthrowing their ogre masters at the end
of the Second Dragon War in 2645 PC, the minotaurs
rebuilt the twin kingdoms. The minotaur leaders agreed,
in the interest of security, the minotaurs should have
one absolute leader. The Great Circus was created, with
Bosigarni Es-Mithas, known also as Bos of the Blood, as
the first champion. Bos set up the temple of Sargas and
established the Supreme Circle.
After Bos’s death, the empire again fell to ruin, and
the minotaurs found themselves as slaves once more, first
to dwarves then ogres. Freedom came in 2485 PC, when
a gladiator succeeded in slaying the Grand Khan. Makel
Ogrebane led his people on a bloody crusade through their
masters’ domain, nearly wiping out the ogres. As emperor,
Makel made the city of Nethosak the permanent imperial
seat. Makel ruled for forty years, uncharacteristically dying
in his sleep.
Makel’s death ushered in the Age of Pretenders, so
named for the brief reigns of the emperors. The archer
Jarisi became emperor, defending her crown for fifteen
years and expanding sea exploration. In 2335 PC, the
minotaurs claimed their first island colony, naming it Jari-
Nyos in her honor. Jarisi’s successors once more tested
the resolve of a neighbor. The minotaurs attempted to
conquer Silvanesti, but the emperor was strangled when a
vine wrapped around his throat. Weakened by the loss of
their leader, the minotaurs retreated. The ogres saw their
opportunity and once again conquered and enslaved the
minotaurs for another two hundred years.
At the same time Vinas Solamnus defeated Ergoth in
1791 PC, a minotaur named Tremoc appeared, crossing
Ansalon four times to track down his mate’s killer. His
dedication stirred the realm, so much so that when
Tremoc entered the Circus to challenge for the throne,
his adversary conceded without combat. Sargas blessed
Tremoc, who build a new, greater Circus and strengthened
the realm. Tremoc was killed by an unknown assassin,
an elven dagger stuck in his chest. Minotaur legend says
the skies thundered for three days afterwards, demanding
vengeance.
The earthquake of 1772 PC is chronicled as the worst
in minotaur history, splitting Nethosak in two. The
arena caved in, killing thousands. Morthosak became a
haven of disease and chaos as refugees filled it. Tremors
kept plaguing the realm, leaving it open once again for
conquest, this time by the humans of Istar in 1543 PC.
General Hymdall invaded, but he was defeated by a small
army commanded by the minotaur Mitos, who secured
the release of the minotaurs already taken. Mitos became
emperor, withdrawing the Imperium from the rest of
Ansalon.
The minotaurs became slave-soldiers to the Dark
Queen’s forces during the Third Dragon War in 1060
PC. The Warlord Crynus made them the right arm of his
legions. During this time, Kaziganthi de-Orilg slew his
ogre captain and fled into Solamnic lands, where he was
saved by the legendary knight Huma Dragonbane. Kaz
Dragonslayer, as legend calls him, fought at Huma’s side
and bore his body after his noble sacrifice against Takhisis.
Many legends of Kaz’s life after the Third Dragon War
emerged, including one where he fathered a subrace of
minotaurs known as the Kazelati.
With the change to the Proclamation of Manifest
Virtue in 94 PC, the minotaurs were once again led from
their homeland in chains by the forces of the Kingpriest
of Istar. The minotaurs rejoiced at the Cataclysm, as the
Blood Sea was born and the minotaur lands, now two
islands, were forevermore separated from mainland
Ansalon. The minotaurs would never be slaves again. Their
new emperor, Toroth, looked to the east, claiming islands
in unexplored regions of the Courrian.
Many years later, in the years of the War of the Lance (i.e. the "now" time of the campaign, the present time),
Emperor Garik Es-Karos was assassinated. The new leader,
Chot, held power within the Supreme Circle, yet political
rivals delayed his ascension to the throne.
Physical Appearance
Minotaurs are physically imposing, standing between 6
1/2 and 7 1/2 feet in height and weighing anywhere from
300 to 450 pounds. A minotaur’s upper body is humanoid,
with broad shoulders, a deep chest, and strong arms,
which end in fully articulate hands. Their powerful bodies
are covered with short, thick fur, ranging in hue from red
to brown, with rare occurrences of black, tan, or whitefurred
individuals. Minotaur heads are bovine in nature.
They have large, deep-set eyes in shades of dark brown
and black. Minotaurs have yellow-white horns growing
from their temples, 6 to 12 inches long for females and
anywhere from 1 to 2 feet long for males. Minotaur manes
are a shade or two darker than their fur. A common
misconception among the lesser races is that minotaurs
have hooves, when in fact, their feet end in twin toes with
hoof-like toenails.
Surprisingly, minotaurs pay close attention to their
appearance. They tend to keep their horns polished and
shiny. Many minotaurs wear earrings, and some also wear
nose rings. They keep their fur as clean as their situation
allows. Most are not vain, but almost all minotaurs believe
in looking their best.
To non-minotaurs, the physical differences between
males and females may not be immediately apparent,
since both sexes are powerfully built and there is no role
distinction between the sexes. Minotaur dress tends to
be austere and simple, nothing more than a harness and
a leather skirt, although those of noble rank may wear
loose-fitting robes. The harness carries weapons, as well as
providing a place for a minotaur to hang trophies.
Psychology
Minotaur society works on the precept that to be weak
is to be wrong. Strength is the raw power of life, giving
minotaurs the ability to triumph. While strength is often
defined as physical power, it is an all-encompassing
concept including a strong mind and a courageous heart.
Some have the misconception of minotaurs as stupid
brutes. However, minotaurs are very intelligent, which they
use to surprise their enemies in combat. Their cunning
minds make them excellent tacticians.
Honor gives structure to minotaur society, allowing
them to resist chaos and enslavement. All minotaur law
is centered on their code of honor. A minotaur’s word is
his bond; once given, it is never broken. A minotaur is
expected to accept all responsibility for his actions and
to face punishment for any misdeed. Those who show
cowardice are treated no better than the lowest of vermin.
No minotaur may slay another minotaur; anyone who
slays another without cause of honor will be executed on
the spot. If a cause of honor exists, the two parties will
settle it in the Great Circus. Whoever loses in the Games
is dishonored, while the victor’s name is cleared of any
wrongdoing.
Minotaurs are fiercely loyal, especially to those to
whom they owe a debt of honor. The minotaur hero
Kaz Dragonslayer once owed a debt of honor to Huma
Dragonbane, never leaving his side, though minotaur
records claim it was Huma who swore an oath of honor
to Kaz. Loyalty is taught from birth.
Minotaurs are taught to put clan and
empire before themselves. Individual
desires come only after one has met
his duty as a citizen of the empire
and a member of his clan.
Social Structure
A clan consists of several families
who can trace their lineage back to
a single ancestor. The clan’s elder
determines the course of the clan
and their position within the empire.
All minotaurs serve the empire.
To do otherwise is treason. Clan
leaders and elders are considered
nobility, though any minotaur can
reach this level of status through
loyal, exemplary service. In the
past, if a minotaur could defeat
the reigning emperor in combat in
the Great Circus, he or she would
become emperor.
The Games serve several
functions in minotaur society. They
are a form of entertainment open to all; a minotaur can
test his skill against other minotaurs or against fearsome
beasts. Minotaurs who have grievances against one another
settle them in blood duels in the Games; the winner
proclaimed the victor and in the right. A minotaur who is
dishonored, such as through failure in his duty, can reclaim
his honor through the Games, though this often leads to
his death. Even wedding ceremonies center on the Games.
The Games are far more than combat; they are tests of skill
and strategy. The minotaurs create a myriad of fighting
surfaces and obstacles for the Games, including beds of
hot coals, shifting sand, swinging axes, shifting surfaces,
and columns of poles with spikes underneath. Most cities
and towns in the Empire have some version of the Games,
though when most minotaurs think of the Games, they
think of the Games in the Great Circus of the capitol city
of Nethosak.
Family Life
Whether a Legionary, shipbuilder, blacksmith, or serving
in a more mundane role, a minotaur’s life revolves around
service to the empire. From the time minotaur children
are born, they are taught that service to the empire and to
the clan comes before their own wants and desires. Those
who are traitors to the empire will find themselves on the
receiving end of a minotaur battle axe.
Minotaurs believe in gender equality. As it takes both
parents to bring a minotaur child into the world, both
parents play an equal part in raising the child. In the ranks
of the Legions, there is no discrimination. A minotaur
makes her way through the empire on her own merits, not
gender, color of fur, or island of origin.
When a minotaur reaches adolescence, he is expected
to serve in the imperial navy for three years. This is a time
when minotaurs come of age. They learn to be sailors and
gain an understanding of the enormity of the empire and
the world. This is also a time of warrior training. Every
minotaur is expected to be able to come to the defense
of the Imperium. When this time of service is over, a
minotaur may either continue service in the fleet, join the
Legions, or work at a trade. This decision is often made for
the minotaur by his clan, based on tradition. A cooper’s
father, grandfather, and so forth were probably all coopers.
If a minotaur shows special talents either as a mariner or a
warrior, the empire may recruit him for imperial service.
Such service brings honor to the minotaur’s clan.
Eventually, a minotaur will choose a mate. When a
minotaur finds a member of the opposite gender who he
finds attractive, the two will court. Minotaur courting
can, and often does, involve physical violence, which fuels
the passion between two minotaurs. After a period of six
months, the couple can marry, though the partnership
must be approved by the clan elders of the two. When both
elders approve, the marriage ceremony, which also results
in physical violence, is performed by a priest of Sargas.
A minotaur dies as he lives—in service to the empire.
Most minotaurs die serving in the Legion or the navy.
Legionnaires are typically burned on a funeral pyre, while
mariners are buried at sea with the captain asking for the
blessings of both Sargas and Zeboim. It is a rare minotaur
who dies of old age. Those who reach this point in life will
often choose to face the Rite of the Final Oath, where a
minotaur swears a battle as his last. The rite begins with a
minute of prayer to Sargas, followed by battling the Games’
greatest champions and monstrosities. A minotaur will
fight until he can fight no more, thereby fulfilling his oath.
Names
Minotaurs signify their island of origin with a prefix to
the clan name. The “Es-” prefix denotes a clan from the
island of Mithas, while the “de-” prefix denotes a clan from
Kothas. While most minotaurs hail from one of these two
islands, some are from colonies. New naming traditions
have risen in the last several decades of colonization,
allowing for new prefixes to develop, such as the “ne-”
prefix used for the colony of Mitos. Some colonists still
use the “Es-” and “de-” prefixes if their lineages can be
traced back to Mithas or Kothas. If a minotaur can’t trace
his lineage, his clan name remains without a prefix. Such
minotaurs are looked down upon for their lack of strong
bloodline. Minotaurs who cannot trace their paternal
lineage at all, such as an illegitimate child, have the “–Ohn”
suffix to their first name, which means bastard child. Bas-
Ohn Koraf would be an illegitimate child who cannot trace
his lineage to either Mithas or Kothas.
Minotaur Life
Minotaurs are a people of tradition. They believe in
structure and order, which is seen through all aspects of
their society. A minotaur’s clan is his identity, giving name
to the ancestor who founded the clan. Clans teach the
virtues and ideals that shape the minds of their people.
Throughout the centuries, the minotaurs have been
enslaved repeatedly. They have primarily been slaves
to ogres, though dwarves and the humans of Istar also
enslaved them. Minotaurs will fight ferociously against
any who tries to enslave them. They believe that they will
one day become the masters, enslaving others as they were
once enslaved.
Minotaurs look upon those who would conquer only
Ansalon as shortsighted. The minotaur people believe, as
the children of Sargas, they are destined to one day rule
the world. All of Krynn is theirs for the taking, a manifest
destiny set down by Sargas and the ancient emperors.
Arts & Industry
Despite many misconceptions about the race, minotaurs
are a cultured people. They are practical, placing function
before appearance. Minotaurs are excellent sculptors,
having statues decorating many buildings throughout the
Imperium. Statues of the current emperor are a constant
reminder of service to the empire. Minotaurs also have
a love of music, typically war ballads or old mariner
songs. Such music helps to give rhythm to marching feet
or rowing oars. Nobles have been known to dance to
minotaur ballads at imperial functions.
Minotaurs have an appreciation for technology,
but usually only in relation to warfare and seafaring.
Minotaurs make some of the largest and fastest war ships
on Krynn’s oceans, rivaled only by those of the Ergothian
Empire. They forge and are trained in a variety of weapons,
including large swords, nets, tridents, and battle axes.
Minotaurs also make use of siege weapons, such as
ballistae and catapults, adapting them to use at sea as well
as on land.
Magic
Minotaurs have a high disdain for magic, considering it
to be a crutch used by humans, elves, and other inferior
races to compensate for their lack of strength and stature.
Casting arcane magic is a dishonorable act used by
cowards who cannot fight on the battlefield. Rarely, a war
mage can gain grudging respect from a minotaur fighter.
There are few minotaurs who join the Orders of High
Sorcery; most are renegades. Divine magic is acceptable, as
long as Sargas is the source.
Religion
Sargas the Destroyer is the primary deity worshiped by
minotaurs. The Horned God appears to his faithful as
a giant minotaur with charcoal black or crimson fur,
covered in the blood of his enemies. Although Sargas
and Sargonnas are one and the same, minotaurs believe
them to be separate deities. While most races cursed the
gods after the Cataclysm, the minotaurs considered it
a blessing from Sargas; no longer would they be slaves.
With the blessings of Sargas, they planned to eventually
become the masters of Krynn.
.
Kiri-Jolith is the second most prominent deity of the
minotaurs and the rival of Sargas. He appears as a bisonheaded
minotaur with a great horned axe. Minotaur
followers of the Great Bison tend to be the most noble and
honorable among their race, yet they can be reviled and
persecuted for their beliefs, resulting in being cast out by
their families and exiled from their homeland. Kiri-Jolith
is often referred to as Emperor by his minotaur followers,
as they can openly swear an oath by the Emperor.
As a seafaring race, the minotaurs know it is wise to
pay homage to Zeboim the Maelstrom. Zeboim is quite
volatile, and it is in the best interests of all minotaur sailors
to say a prayer to her before voyages. Occasionally, a
minotaur ship will offer a sacrifice during the voyage. Each
port city has at least a small shrine to Zeboim.
Folklore
The Legend of Kaz is an oral history detailing the heroic
efforts of the greatest hero of the minotaurs—Kaz
Dragonslayer. Kaz is a minotaur hero of the Third Dragon
War who breaks the chains of slavery. He rescues a Knight
of Solamnia named Huma from a group of goblins, who
pledges an oath of loyalty to Kaz. The two are accompanied
by Huma’s friend, a Red Robed wizard named Magius.
Though Magius is a coward, he dies honorably, learning
from Kaz’s example. Kaz avenges his friend’s death by
slaying the cowardly renegade wizard, Galan Dracos. In
the final battle against the Queen of Darkness, Huma falls,
saving Kaz’s life. Kaz then delivers the final blow, exacting
the promise from the Dark Queen to never return to the
world. The records and legends dispute what happens
to Kaz, though there is some speculation that he has
descendents living even today.
Language
The minotaur language is known as Kothian. As the name
suggests, its origins can be traced to the island of Kothas.
Linguists speculate that the origins of Kothian can be
further traced to the ancient high ogre tongue, Kolshet.
There are certain similarities between Kothian and the
modern ogre tongue, though it is a vague resemblance at
best.
Surprising to many outsiders is the minotaur use of
snorts and grunts. These sounds do not convey words so
much as emotions. A grunt may range from approval to
caution or a warning. Snorts are used to display disbelief,
surprise, or anger.
Typically, those outsiders who learn Kothian are able
to understand the language but find it more difficult to
speak. Humans find it difficult to produce the harsh tones
that come with the minotaur language. Reproducing their
use of snorts and grunts has proven impossible. Minotaurs
look unfavorably on any who attempt to speak their
language, especially those who do a poor job of it.
Minotaurs are fond of using oaths in their speech.
“By Sargas!” is often used to express surprise or anger. A
minotaur who swears an important oath may swear “by
the emperor’s horns.” These oaths often involve a figure of
import, such as the god Sargas, the emperor, or the father
of the individual.
Racial Relations
Minotaurs believe they are the rightful rulers of the world
and the chosen of Sargas. They generally believe other
races are weak and inferior. Minotaurs view dwarves
and centaurs with a certain respect, due to their rugged,
uncompromising natures. However, minotaurs still
remember how they were enslaved to the dwarves ages ago
and intend on correcting that slight of honor in the future.
Of all the races, humans have earned the most respect
from minotaurs, for in their minds, humans’ military
and naval skills are secondary only to their own. The
minotaurs particularly respect the Knights of Solamnia for
their strength and courage in battle.
Minotaurs also respect the humans who
sail the dangerous Blood Sea, especially those who braved
the Maelstrom in the Age of Despair.
Elves are considered weak, frail creatures without any
honor or courage. This belief was reinforced during the
War of Souls when the minotaurs conquered Silvanesti
enslaving many elves in the process.
Gnomes are also viewed as weak and frail. Minotaurs
see their focus on technology as a crutch. While a gnome
needs a tool to make him more powerful, a minotaur is
born mighty. Minotaurs have little interest in gnomish
technology, feeling their time could be better spent on
other pursuits. However, minotaurs do have a healthy
respect for the propensity of gnomish inventions to
explode.
Kender are a nuisance, no better than rats or an
infestation of roaches. Kender have a fascination with
the bull-men, especially with their resemblance to cows.
Since kender are fearless, there are a fair number who will
approach a minotaur and taunt them with a loud, “Moo!”
Of course, this infuriates the minotaur, who will charge the
offending kender. Such foolhardy kender rarely live to see
further adventures.
Minotaurs absolutely abhor ogres. Slavery has created
a centuries-old enmity. Minotaurs begrudgingly admit
to admiring the strength of the ogres, but they are quick
to point out that ogres have no honor or discipline. The
lack of order is a stark contrast to the orderly lives of the
minotaurs.
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