Minos

During the Age of Dragon Kings, the human slaves that the Dragon Kings kept were made, first and foremost, to secure food for the dragons. This allowed the Dragon Kings to spend their time managing their empires, preening themselves, or submitting to hedonism when otherwise they would be made to hunt for their meals. But this necessitated massive amounts of meat to be raised, and so this gave rise to massive herds of cattle. These herds grew and grew, and would strip bare the earth for miles around as they were routed through the territory of a given Dragon King. Any land suitable for grazing was forbidden to settle on, and inconvenient forests were burnt down by dragon fire on multiple occasions. As each dragon grew, so did their appetites, and it took greater and greater heads of cattle to be sacrificed to them.
But as the Dragon Kings began to dwindle, their numbers thinning as they struck each other down, these herds became unnecessary. While many were slaughtered outright, served even to the common man where the supply exceeded the needs of even the Dragon Kings who remained, there were some cows who were simply lost to their grazing grounds, abandoned in the wilderness by mistake or happenstance.
These were the ancestors of the Minos. Barely recognizable, the Minos are massive, ill-tempered beasts that roam the wide plains of Lerulious. Their skin is thick and tough, and they are enormous and heavy, more so than domestic cattle. While some hunt the Minos, for they are still quite capable of being butchered for great quantities of meat, it is not common. Minos are vengeful creatures, and will turn on hunters rather than flee when other members of the herd are struck down.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Minos is in some ways analogous to the North American Buffalo, though much less shaggy and with thicker skin and limbs. Their tails are short, and their horns grow out and up at a 45 degree angle to the skull.

Ecology and Habitats

The Minos dominate the plains of Lerulious, and seldom venture into forests, where they have difficulty finding food. They also avoid mountainous areas, as the Minos is a favorite of Wyverns.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Minos is a grazing animal, with a preference for grasses. They will eat leaves from bushes or low hanging branches, but will make no special effort to seek them out. Saplings do not survive long where Minos travel, as they are either eaten as the Minos makes their way along, or simple crushed beneath their hooves.