Minotaur

Lore of the Minotaurs/Monsterkin of Crosswinds

A long lined history makes up those of the Minotaur breed, with many legends from human's speaking of dangerous beasts that pulled warriors apart, to beastkin talking of tales to them as great ones lumbering their bodies like mountains. Yet in truth, a true minotaur is a dangerous being of Draxington, feral at most, but slaves to many a higher being of Draxington. However, even with such a history full of mystery and misery, there are those and their human-crossed lesser kin that have been able to build a life outside of the slave camps or the confines of feral tribes.

With luck, determination, and sheer will of survival, three clans have been able to create a life within the wilds of Draxington. Tri'Gora. Rixentop. And Brackenwood. Each of them has their own history and unique ways of life. But each of them should not be taken lightly.

Minotaur Lifestyle/Culture

Minotaurs grow up in several stages, while there are differences, the majority of their people follow through with a simple line of age. From birth to that of six winters, they are called 'Calves'. Past that however, many are titled 'Young Bloods' and begin their training passed through their respected clans and family. The final right of passage is very varied from clan to clan around the age of twenty winters. In Brackenwood, youngbloods bring back the bloodied limb of a land wyvern. Of Tri'Gora, they are to gather their first pearl. To Rixentop, their first blade, ore mined and forged alone.

Most of the free Minotaurs however may share a similar culture to those in which their clans reside nearest to, taking in the aspects of deities, food, or music. One however shared custom that has grown in the last two hundred years is observed by most to help keep their numbers stable. Even though there may be skirmishes with that of Sha'an from time to time, some minotaurs will share mates of those of the Bovid beastkin, which they call each other 'Cousins'. This happens every other year, but in cases of large conflicts, may turn into a yearly or even a twice a year ordeal. For Minotaurs, once one has been picked, they become their 'Chosen' and unless approved will either stay with them for life or return to the clan/tribe they call from. It is not rare for a single Minotaur male to Sire several calves from other females, but most keep to one Chosen unless the other succumbs to death.

Many Elvish and Imperial scholars believe that most of the Minotaur tribes are too primitive to have any form of a code of honor, yet this is in reality far from the truth. One example is that of 'Tigiren' or in the Imperial tongue "Passage of Trust ''. In this act, one minotaur may ask for an item of another, be it weapons, trinkets, or armor. If a weapon is asked, it must be vowed never to be used against its previous owner. If it is armor, it must be to defend those requested by its former wearer. Be it that of a trinket, it must never be handed to another unless its former owner has passed. To break Tigiren is to be considered taboo, and its breaker to be shunned with a mark upon their face.

Another known form of honor is that of ‘Rethw’ or ‘A Warrior’s Death’ for those who are either injured on the battlefield or facing their last few days. Depending on the situation though, it would either be a quick death, or one with great regard for their respected clans. As for the situation, if done so on the battlefield it is one of respect to strike their brethren through the heart in a single strike, cutting off a sliver of their hair to place upon the mortal wound and giving their thanks for such showing of strength in battle. Yet when it is done for those of older age, the elder chooses from their respected clan in which to give them the final blow. May they be a calf, young blood, or even a fellow elder, it is an experience which lasts with them through the rest of their lives, and after the elder has taken their last breath they are carried to the center of their clan’s home. Upon this, a pyre is made, and a small wreath of their bloodline’s hair is placed upon their hands. The youngest able of their bloodline, is then permitted at this point, to place down the first torch, signalling the respect of the youth to their elder. This is followed by older kin of the bloodline, then at the head to that of the eldest, until a ring of fire consumes the pyre.

Minotaur Ranks/Classes

Healers:

Tri’Gora - Doks

Rixentop - Sage

Brackenwood - Bone Menders

Minotaur Legends

Within every nation or tribe within Malm, Legends of their people exist in many forms, but within each established clan, there is at least one they all view to be the truth of how Minotaurs came upon Malm.

Within Tri'Gora, their kin all speak the tale of the Kraken, I'Dogon, who spat out the first Minotaur upon the beach as there was none within the sea worthy enough to battle it. For seven suns and moons, the kraken waited in the shoals. It's patience waning in the eighth  sunrise as the first light struck the waters. Without warning, the creature was struck through its eye from a spear hidden in the rays of the sun, and beached itself to bleed out upon the sands. It is in this spot many of Tri’Gora’s kin believe their clan put down their roots.

Those of Brackenwood, with their brutish history, believe that the first Minotaur was born from that of a dragon egg. Out of this egg was Reng’la, the fire. Within seconds of his birth, Reng’la’s dragon father spotted the abomination and attempted to kill him. Yet with such dragonic strength, the newborn grabbed upon its father and snapped his neck instantaneously. This is why many of the Brackenwood clan view the term ‘Might is Right’ in the highest regards.

For the Minotaur of Rixentop, their greatest legend is that of Winrrena, the lady of the mountain. It is described for her to be of hair of gold, eyes of silver, and tears that dropped mithril. Upon her first descent from the peak of the mountain, she grew thirsty and during the morning mist that had collected, she drank from a dew covered leaf of that of an oak and upon her arrival to the bottom of the mountain, gave birth to the first minotaur. There are many debates still to this day that the tree in question was not an oak, but that of a walnut or even a chestnut tree. Many Elven scholars believe this is why they view many elder Minotaurs as quote “Nuts”.

Free Minotaur Cities

Tri'Gora:

Leadership: Council of Elders

Current Leader: Elder Rajagol

General Diet: Rice/Seafood/Kelp

Outfits: Light/Leather Armor

Weapons: Spears/Light Blades/Short Bows

Skills: Fishing/Seafaring

Export: Pearls/Sea Glass (Expensive)/Dried Seafood

Accent: Norwegian

The minotaurs of Tri'Gora reside upon the North-Eastern coast of Draxington near the Draxington Capital. They are the most peaceful of the three, and sadly due to the sandy shoals in which their clan lives, they have been pushed to live a life with the salt air in their face and fish in their bellies more than that of grain compared to the others. Kelp and Rice is a basic need, and they keep themselves with high spirits of music among them. A minotaur of Tri'Gora is the most nimble on their feet, a mixture of speed and accuracy guides them on the sea as they do the land.

Despite the harshness of the Treaq sea, the small craft made by Tri'Goran Minotaurs are quite sturdy, able to carry several of their large size at a time. But compared to ships of the major powers, they are seen to be of crude nature, barely keen to keep afloat.

With such skills in hand, the Minotaurs of Tri'Gora enjoy a relative peace with the beastkin of Sha'an. But every now and then though, a small fight may happen between fishermen over who caught the largest squid or where their craft is laid to fish. Although minor, such is met with a good brawl onboard their crafts, and much a laugh even with broken bones or horns.

Rixentop: - DESTROYED BY THE SHADOW LORD

Leadership: Chieftain

Current Leader: Chieftain Tridus Felden’spar

Outfits: Heavy Plate/Rough Iron

Weapons: Greatblades/Axes/Hammers

Skills: Mining/Trade/Elvish Language

Export: Burn Rock (Coal)/Rough Gems (Expensive)/Metals

Accent: Scottish, Irish, Welsh

Mino's of Rixentop have faced many a toll in the mountains of South-Eastern Draxington, yet are the newly religious ones of the three clans, worshiping the Elven Pantheon. Every minotaur within Rixentop push themselves to learn the ways of Ul'El'Baren and his mountain, as within it gives them the means for their continued survival.

Even though they have the better means to live, their crops are low quality due to the rough terrain for which they live. Yet with all their problems, they are met with travelers from Treaq as they make their way west, gaining them experience and further knowledge of their language as well as trade.

The history of Rixentop is that of "Walking tall with a large sword". While ignored by the Elves of

Treaq for some time, their first full peaceful encounter with their people happened in the year of 2019 C.E. It is said that Elven Missionaries at this time came preaching of the Pantheon, and teaching its inhabitants that of basic skills that those of Treaq teach their children. Sadly with all conflict, it was not to last, and in 2022 C.E., these missionaries stopped coming. It is a mystery to this day on why.

Within the settlement, there are nine ‘major’ families, each of them having a place within the structure to keep a sense of society.

Brackenwood:

Leadership: Warlord

Current Leader: Warlord Aler Rakbone

Outfits: Dragon Scaled Armor/Light Plate

Weapons: Bone Weaponry

Skills: Hunting/Combat skills

Export: Dragon Bones/Rare Plants/Death

Imperial Note: Extremely Dangerous to all. Do not enter without sufficient forces at any time.

Accent: Baltic, Russian

The most dangerous of Free Minotaur, to those of their own kind and not, the ones that make up their home in the northern ash woods and volcanic fields of Draxington are as near to civilized feral as you can find. These Minotaurs view might as absolute right, and will not hesitate to kill should they find the lowest form of reason.

Many of those in Brackenwood find those of the outside world to be a threat to its culture, and while preferring to be left alone, have shown a history of involving their strongest as mercenaries to the highest bidder for the price of food and steel. And such prices for this are very high within their volcanic fields and ashen woods.

With such barbarics, their way of life has one absolute. To be Warlord, is by death, be it the former or its challenger with the victor eating the heart and eyes of the slain. It is because of this they have been able to survive in such a harsh world, and dealing with dragons or others of Draxington in nearly a weekly occurrence.

Known Minotaur History