Minotaur

## On Minotaurs

*"Most minotaurs share our passion for law and order. In this way, they are a respectable people. Sadly when the Dominion meets the forces of Demauric it will inevitably end with the destruction of the mighty minotaur army. Still, the Dominion will welcome the survivors into the light of Maglubiyet and, in time, they will find joy within its structure."- Krondrorg, hobgoblin ambassador to Latrellus, during a diner conversation with a college.*

*"I hear they enjoy the taste of human flesh. But that's only fair isn't it? I enjoy beef."- Reg, human farmer, in a philosophical conversation with his neighbor.*

*"Prettier than humans. Not that that's hard to do."- Squak, porcine barbarian, to the agreement of most porcine.*

*"They've got great minds for directions and mathematics. Great builders too. Honestly, they've got more in common with us than the average gnome."- Nallyl Silverrush, onyx dwarf gemcutter, to her mother-in-law.*

Minotaurs are a race of large bovine humanoids, renowned for their stern attitudes. Most hail from the minotaur kingdom located within the southern mountain range called Demauric, now a shell of its former glory. Many can also be found throughout the kingdoms of men dwarves and even elves, serving as warriors, engineers and architects. A proud, reserved people, minotaurs firmly oppose public displays of emotion or disorder, treating honor and integrity as supreme virtue. The exception to this ideal are the feral, barely-sentient minotaurs who flee from their well ordered society. These become barbaric cannibalistic reavers. These however are the minority among the otherwise noble race.

## Physical Description:

Minotaurs are massive creatures, with the largest males standing over seven and a half feet and even the smaller females being over six. They are muscled and bull-headed, with large pointed horns that grow up to 24 inches long on males with female horns being usually smaller. Their ears are large and tapered and their eyes typically red or gold. Their bodies are covered in short, soft fur typically of brown, grey or black color, though white, red or blonde furred minotaurs do exist. Fur tends to be of one color exclusively, without variant on head or body. Rarely however a minotaur may have two tone fur patterns or even "beards." Minotaurs have cloven hooves for feet, like cows or goats, and beefy, three-fingered hands with a grip strong enough to easily crack bone. They keep themselves carefully groomed, horns sharp and polished, broad noses wiped and teeth clean. While tattoos are nearly impossible for a minotaur to acquire, piercings are quite common among both sexes, notably around the nose and, rarely, in the horns. Scars are highlighted as signs of glory and strength. Minotaur clothing is sturdy but beautifully crafted, flowing robes and togas are favored when outside of combat. Decorative armor plates, metal greaves and flowing lightweight chainmail are commonly found in these outfits, giving a militaristic impression, even during formal events. During combat they favor heavy armor painted in the royal colors of red, purple and gold, important shades to a minotaur.

## History:

The minotaurs are a proud people who built a great empire and then tragically lost it. According to their oldest myths, the great winged bull of the heavens, whom they called Zurpiter, lay with the goddess Dozna and produced a son, the god Emdera Ruggedfist. Emdera was half man and half celestial bull with a strong head for tactics, mathematics, logic and philosophy but likewise a warrior's courage and dedication to honor. The minotaurs, the children of Emdera, emulated their celestial father in all respects. They were courageous in battle, honor-bound and wise, noble and pure. They went to war with a song on their lips and fire in their hearts, fighting in armored, orderly rows. However, like all Apian races, they would spend a period of tempering, enslaved by the vile beholders. It was the noble minotaur Ulysses Gloryeye, rumored to be the demi-god son of the goddess Rila, who led the grandchildren of Zurpiter to the side of Latrell, earning their place in the rebellion as warriors without peer. It is said by the minotaur sages that Gloryeye was, aside from the legendary five companions, the closest friend to Latrell. Some even suggest they were closer friends than Latrell was with Ervon Mindamner. The people of Latrellus hotly contest this claim, instead calling general Ramus the most beloved of Latrell's non-companions.

Gloryeye was a warrior without peer, a tactician without equal and a poet of great skill. Once the dust was settled and the races of Apia were free, Gloryeye took his people, with Latrell's blessing, and set off on an epic journey to the southern reaches of the continent to find a promised home for his people. Upon reaching the middle-mountains, through the Buckle, he knew they had found it. Demauric, their mighty capital, was built into the highest mountain in the western range and Gloryeye was named emperor of this new empire. The surrounding grasslands were wild and untamed, home to many gnoll tribes, savage goblins and a few aggressive centaur herds. These foes proved no match for the mighty minotaur legions who easily drove them back. The generous retirement policy of providing every retiring veteran with several acres of homestead ensured that, even on the frontier, young Demauric had warriors ready to protect her. The new emperor proved himself time and again, against monsters and man, earning his people further glory, and reputation for himself. In time he married, produced a son and his line continued for generations. It was said that, upon his deathbed, his only regret was that he hadn't spotted the treachery of Mindamner before his betrayal and thus saved Latrell's life.

Unlike the human empires, Demauric was relativity stable, with few civil wars or disturbances. Eventually, it reached the tip of the southern subcontinent. After a series of wars with the cyclops' off the tip of the Southern Continent dubbed "The Coastal Wars," Demauric was unchallenged in the region. With no more land in sight, minotaur sailors set out to find islands that mighty be added to the glorious empire. Tragically for all of Apia, they succeeded. The island the minotaurs dubbed "Stormhorns" was, in fact, a weak point in the Planes. As they explored its rocky surface, the energy of their lifeforce called to the demons of the Abyss, who ever hunger for mortal souls. When the demons found the weak point they pushed through it, slaughtered the explorers and poured into the world. Shortly behind these demons were the devil of the Nine Hells and soon the Blood War was raging on Apian soil. Demauric found herself right on the front lines. The coastal cities fell in a matter of days, the minotaur legions smashed by hoards of ravenous demons and disciplined devils in numerous battles across the southern plains. The slaughter was overwhelming as city after city fell to the invaders. The minotaurs, despite their courage and sacrifice, were being steadily pushed back. It was at this low point, that Baphomet, demon lord of the Endless Maze, physically walked Apian soil. Baphomet claimed to all minotaurs that could hear him that it was he and not Zurpiter that created their race. Their mythology was a lie, he told them, they were demon spawn. Their culture of honor and disciple was a false savior and if they embraced the bloodlust, the savage beast that lurked within the heart of each minotaur, they would not only survive but thrive. Many saw the evidence of their phsyical appearance and Baphomet's as irrefutable proof to embrace the demon lord. All minotaurs had long struggled with "the beast" and now that Apia was coming to an end as a demon lord walked the soil encouraging it, many embraced his cult. A civil war the likes of which Demauric had never seen split the empire as ferals emerged in great droves from the Hollow while cultists attacked loyalists in the streets.

Demauric crumbled as the surviving legions withdrew to Demauric City itself to form a last desperate defense of the empire. The cultists within the city were slaughtered, though not before they managed to assassinate emperor Neovean Stormheart, leaving his twenty year old son, Trajus, to rule the collapsing empire. Trajus took up his father's laurels as the minotaurs prepared a last desperate defenses. Baphomet and his demon hoard fell upon the city like water on rock, smashing against it again and again, Trajus led the defense personally, alongside Oenna Sharpheart, leader of the white-furred paladins of Dozna. Surrounding the young emperor, the paladins struck a mighty blow against the demons, driving them back long enough for Radovid II, king of Latrellus, to banish the fiends from Apia. Minotaur sages say that the avatars of Remus, Dozna and Emdera Ruggedfist themselves appeared on the battlefield behind Trajus and Oenna and personally drove Baphomet back to the Abyss. The remain cultists scattered and Demauric breathed a sigh of relief. The empire, such as it was, had survived. Forever after, Trajus was known as Trajus the great.

Trajus soon wed Oenna, though she was fifteen years his senior and together they began rebuilding the fallen empire, focusing on the capital city. Their eldest son, Vorue, would claim the honorific "The Rebuilder," as it was during his reign that many settlements near Demauric were rebuilt. The minotaurs continued to struggle with their identity as Baphomet's claims shook them to their core. Cultists of the horned god continued murdering in ritualistic sacrifices or outright ravaging outlaying villages. Even those who rejected Baphomet's words as lies, privately began doubting. Today, the empire of Demauric is a shadow of it's former self, unable to reach beyond the Southbour Blackwoods and the great southern plains. However, the minotaurs are a proud people and will not go quietly into that cold night, and indeed, the latest emperor Tenarun Stormslayer II, a greathorn from the lower depths, seems to have the courage, morale fortitude and tactical acumen to make great strides in retrieving much of the lost territory.

## Geography:

Minotaurs are found in Demauric in great numbers. However, that is not the only place they are located. Large numbers exist in Latrellus and Everstand. Small communities of minotaurs exist in Druz, Delorgan, Taskanda, Vitteodel and Umgar. Feral bands of savage minotaurs roam the Hollow, hunting for their next meal. The Hollow is also home to large communities of sane, non-feral minotaurs.

## Personality:

Minotaurs are defined by their dedication to order, their pursuite of the three noble virtues and their struggle against the bestial nature within. This aspect of their personality is personified among them as "the beast." All minotaurs have a feral killer buried deep inside them. No matter what that minotaur does the beast will be waiting to get out. Because of this, minotaurs highly value discipline and control over their impulses. Minotaurs consider public displays of emotion as undisciplined and judge those who allow "emotion to rule their faces." Instead, they turn their minds towards the three noble virtues of duty, honor and discipline. The defining philosophy of self-control and navigating these instincts is called "The Maze," as a minotaur must carefully navigate their emotions, just as they would a maze. Young minotaurs are taught to visualize a maze whenever they get angry and mentally guide themselves through it until they are no longer enraged. In a highly ritualized rite of passage, a minotaur on the cusp of adulthood will walk the ceremonial maze in the heart of the city, committing themselves to duty as they do so. A child enters and an adult leaves.

A minotaur cares for the empire above all, putting its needs above his own, that is his honorable duty. They love puzzles, logic, mathematics and philosophy. Their love of self-discipline and control is even shown in their artistic expression. Minotaur art is typically beautiful and of excellent quality, but it contains a precision and certain coldness. This makes their pottery and clothwork highly sought after and their poetry somewhat lackluster, though exceptions do exist. Mintotaur mathematicians and scientists are highly sought after in foreign lands. Minotaurs love complex things that challenge their intellects, their puzzle-boxes and interlocking pyramids gain much renown among foreign collectors. The minotaur double crossbow is perhaps the best example, being both an eloquent instrument of warfare and highly complex.

Because of their inborn bloodlust, minotaurs place a great emphasis on sparring, gladiator games and physical fitness, avenues allowing them to channel their aggression and killing instinct in a more constructive way. These battles are never to the death, not even against animals, as giving into the killer instinct is too dangerous a thing to enter lightly. Minotaurs are quite comfortable underground with their near perfect sense of direction. All their cities contain underground sections, where some live by choice.

Occasionally, a minotaur will succumb to the instincts within and become a feral brute, retreating to the Hollow as little better than a hook horror. The feral will have overgrown claws and horns, hunting without clothing or tools. Civilized minotaurs consider ferals abominations and hunt them down wherever they can; having a feral in one's family is hugely shameful and it is usually blood relatives leading the hunt to slay it. Cultists of Baphomet consider ferals sacred to the demon lord, vessels of his killing will.

## Society:

Minotaurs are highly regimented and their societies are carefully maintained. The emperor is advised by both a council of ancient "white-horns," and the imperial senate. The White-Horns are elderly mystics who embody all minotaur virtues and maintain the sacred mazes. The emperor's will is both supported and complemented by the senate, where those patriarchs and matriarchs of the oldest families are elected to serve the empire. While the senate does have the power to legislate and pass laws they can be overruled by the emperor, though this rarely happens. Minotaurs consider military service to be a hallmark of the three noble virtues, duty, hono and discipline, and so almost every minotaur has a period of military service. However, those who preform honorably in scientific, religious or mathematical fields are equally valued. Minotaurs are notably religious, worshiping both their patron gods and the spirits of their fallen ancestors with near equal vigor. Due to the lingering influence of Baphomet and his cults, there is no sympathy for those dabbling in demon worship or black magic. Minotaur justice is harsh and final, with none punished more brutally than demon-worshipers. Minotaur paladins actively hunt cultists even outside the empire, refusing to allow Baphomet's faithful to have any rest, no matter where they may be found.

Even in minotaur communities outside Demauric, there will typically be an individual leader, a council of elders and a supporting legislative body. It's a system that serves them well and they do not deviate from it. While the minotaur society is egalitarian, there is an expectation that both male and female minotaurs will settle down and raise a brood of calves. Minotaurs place great value on the family structure, marriage is a serious business and promiscuity is frowned upon. Raising good children is highly important as it will be those children who honor your spirit when you move on to be with the gods, and a poor family legacy is considered a sign of poor character. It is even suggested (perhaps unfairly) that those who do not marry or who raise sub-standard children are more likely to go feral.

## Religion:

Minotaurs are deeply religious. They honor both the spirits of their ancestors and those spirits belonging to those great members of their race, such as Gloryeye the First or Vorue the Rebuilder. Additionally, the celestial bull, Zurpiter is honored though not typically worshiped, except by the emperor and his staff. He is a force of nature and a god of kings after all. The gods, Dozna, Remus and Emdera Ruggedfist are considered special patrons of the minotaurs are are typically depicted as celestial minotaurs, rather than the human characteristics others give them. Rila, goddess of love, has a strong following among minotaurs, though she's portrayed somewhat more modestly as fitting with mintotaur calture. Tragically a large minority also worship Baphomet, the horned god and demon lord, giving into depraved rituals of cannibalism and murder. Minotaurs hunt down these cultists wherever they may be found and exterminate them without pity.

## Alignment:

Most minotaurs are lawful or neutral good with a sizable number being lawful neutral. Those minotaurs who have gone feral or given themselves over to Baphomet are chaotic evil, savage killers and little better than wild animals.

## Relations:

Minotaurs get along well with most good races, though they have a special relationship with onyx dwarves. As many dwarves helped defend Demauric during the Apian Blood War, they are considered kin and blood. Dwarves feel similarly about minotaurs, as both are honor-bound, tacit craftsmen who place little value in emotional outbursts. Centaurs and minotaurs mingle frequently and the two people are allies, though contentiously due to differing philosophies. Still, intermingling between them is common enough to produce the Keptaur, a hybrid race. Hobgoblins and minotaurs share many common traits and are known to get along well depending on the circumstances. Minotaurs struggle with tieflings of all kinds, perhaps being reminded of how close they might be to demon-spawned themselves (something pointedly ignored).

## Language:

Minotaurs speak common and Demaur. Some also learn giant.

## Names:

Minotaurs have a first name and a clan-name. Clan-names tend to be simple honorifics, pointing to some great deed or personality in the clan's past. The first name is longer and more syllabic.

**Example Male Names:** Nataras, Nantra, Hinevin, Tinapen, Eraza, Traknarun, Raktagar, Kurkun , Minraduk, Graturok

**Example Female Names:** Weopen, Arekea, Henenim, Sinaven, Seesres, Fasfen, Reolian, Kuolin, Aamdin, Emkea

**Example Clan-Names:** Bearhoof, Ironhunter, Goblinpelt, Steelhorns, Bearmind, Heavyhide, Steelskin, Honorhoof, Ironroar, Vigilleader

## Adventurers:

Minotaurs adventure for glory, honor and to rid the world of evil. The collapse of Demauric led many to explore wider Apia, looking to recover lost relics and treasures of their people. The demons took many minotaurs away as slaves and any record of their location is highly sought after. Minotaurs also look to hunt ferals and demon-worshipers, something that adventuring provides ample opportunity for.

## Traits:

Minotaur traits are described below...

+2 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma. Minotaurs are strong and intelligent, but they move slowly and their attitudes often seem arrogant or cold.

Medium size or Large size. (The player chooses at the beginning of play. This cannot be changed later. All benefits and penalties for large size are applied)

Base land speed 30 feet

Natural armor: +2

Natural attack: gore (1d6 + Str modifier) Charging into a gore attack causes damage equal to 2d6 plus 1.5x Str

+2 to Intimidate, One crafting skill, and swim

Weapon familiarity: Minotaurs treat greathammers and minotaur double crossbows as martial rather than exotic weapons

Automatic languages: Common and Demur

Favored classes: Fighter or Paladin

### Minotaur double crossbow

Weapon Type: Two-Handed Exotic Weapon

Weapon Damage(M): 1d8(19-20/x2)

Weapon Damage(L): 2d6(19-20/x2)

Range: 100 ft

Damage Type: Piercing

Weapon Weight: 18 lbs

Weapon Cost: 300gp

Minotaurs love complicated things, and the double crossbow is one of their favorites. This heavy weapon fires a pair of iron-tipped bolts with deadly accuracy. Due to its size and weight, you take a –2 penalty on your attack roll if you’re proficient with it, or –8 if you’re not. If the attack is successful, the target takes the listed damage twice, although critical hits and precision based damage are only applied to one of the bolts. Reloading a double crossbow takes 2 standard actions (one for each bolt), although the Rapid Reload feat reduces this to 2 move actions (meaning that it can be accomplished in 1 round). The Crossbow Mastery feat can reduce this even further and allow a Minotaur Double Crossbow to load both bolts as a Swift action or a single bolt as a free action. Characters proficient with the double crossbow can treat it as a crossbow for purposes of any of the following feats: Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, Weapon Focus, and Weapon Specialization.