On Minotaurs Content . By Nonus Caprenius , Temporarily Unaffiliated Scholar of Imperial Antiquities No matter how many institutions of higher education expel me , no matter how many publishers decline to print and distribute my theories , I refuse to recant my position or change the topic of my research — not until minotaurs have received the recognition and respect that they deserve ! In the course of my research into the origins of the Empire , specifically the rise and fall of the Alessian Order , I came across a wondrous thing . Hidden in the background , often purposely obscured but still visible to those of us who know what to look for , was an entire race of humanoids who have been all but stricken from the historic record . This crime against history must not stand , and I pledge to restore these creatures to their proper place in the chronicle of the Empire . I ' m referring , of course , to the maligned and misunderstood minotaur . These humanoids with bodies that resemble human s and heads that resemble bull s trace their lineage to Empress Alessia herself . While no period records survive to state the truth of the situation , many ancient documents from later periods speak of a relationship between the Slave - Queen and Kynareth ' s son , Morihaus , whom the Divine sent to aid and advise Alessia . Often depicted as a minotaur , the demigod Morihaus , I believe , gave rise to the race through his dalliances with the Slave - Queen and the birth of her son , Belharza the Man - Bull . Whatever the truth regarding the origins of the minotaurs , they began to appear in greater and greater numbers in the years during and after Empress Alessia ' s reign . I contend that the early minotaurs were as intelligent and cultured in their own way as any Elf or Orc or Khajiit . Fiercely loyal to the Empire , the minotaurs were among Empress Alessia ' s most devoted defenders . Certain art and tomes from the time hint as much , but many of my detractors want to know where the hard evidence is to back up my claims . Unfortunately , much of that evidence was destroyed in the intervening period while the mis - named Alessian Order held sway over the Empire . It was , after all , the Alessian Order that followed the rigorous Alessian Doctrines . Of all the rules and regulations set forth by the Seventy - Seven Inflexible Doctrines , the most notorious were those firmly opposed to the Elves . I contend that the Order wasn ' t restricted to anti - Elven sentiment . I believe its resentful followers applied the Doctrines to any non - human races they felt like persecuting — including the minotaurs . One remaining fragment of an ancient tablet , known as the Belharza Stone , shows what most scholars agree is a section of a larger carving depicting Belharza the Man - Bull , second Emperor of the Alessian Empire , facing down enemies . My own study of the fragment tells a very different story . By the cut of their armor and the shape of their spears , I believe the so - called enemies depicted in the carving are actually fanatical precursors of Alessian troops . The spears , jabbed directly at the minotaur ' s heart , indicate that these proto - Alessians killed or drove off the minotaurs , thus beginning the decline of the race that we still see in evidence in the current day . It ' s a shame what happened to the once - majestic race of bull - men ! But wait , I can hear my detractors already . They demand more evidence — evidence that I fear was wiped out along with a hundred other atrocities committed by the Alessian Order . But I do have one more fact to consider , and it ' s evident to anyone willing to travel to specific sites and watch the activity of the minotaurs from a safe distance . If you happen to study the minotaur in the wild , you ' ll find that they often congregate at or near ancient sites of significance to the Empire . Why ? I contend it ' s because they have an instinctual memory of a time when they were fierce defenders of the fledgling Empire . I contend that they are drawn to such sites , compelled to continue to defend them despite the actions of the Alessian Order that arose and all but destroyed these remarkable creatures . Oh , scoff if you must . Go ahead . I ' ve suffered worse . But take a moment and at least consider what I ' ve presented . Then ask yourself , why do the minotaurs guard these ancient Imperial sites ? Maybe in that question , you ' ll come to appreciate the minotaurs — at least a little . Trivia . In datamined content , the book was originally called " " Minotaurs : A Forgotten Heritage " " .