Minotaurs

Mess with the bull...

CobaltDM - June 23, 2022
Some appearance details: WotC

"Stories spread quickly in Tekoril, and the stories I heard of a certain Minotaur called Kel were enough to get my attention. I traveled north into the Almash Expanse to find the town of Balrimal hidden amid the dunes. There were several of the Minotaur here, and they were welcoming to me in a strange, rigid politeness that told me there were a great many rules for speaking with them. I asked for Kel, and was directed to a white merchant's tent in the center of the market. I stepped through the flaps of the tent and came face to face with the largest Minotaur I'd ever seen--easily eight feet tall. Mentions of their quick tempers fluttered queasily through my stomach, but I swallowed them down and introduced myself." - An excerpt from "The Travels of Hafrick Moriarty"

Minotaurs were created by Kebis shortly after Leonin. They were the second of the bestial races he placed in Mytkora. Hardy and strong, Kebis designed them to withstand the hot days and cold nights of the northern deserts. Their size makes them excellent warriors or laborers, although many seem to have a knack for sailing or running caravans. They can be found across Tekoril and eastern Atheles.

The Strong Bull

Minotaurs are barrel-chested humanoids with heads resembling those of bulls. Thick hair extends down minotaurs’ necks and powerful backs, and some have long patches of hair on their chins and cheeks. Their legs end in heavy, cloven hooves, and they have long, tufted tails. Minotaur horns range in size from about 1 foot long to easily three times that length. Minotaurs often carve their horns to sharpen their edges, etch symbols of power into them, or sheathe them in bronze to prevent them from shattering during battle. They stand at about 7 feet tall on average and weigh around 280 pounds.

Customs and Courtesies

The art of conversation is as important to a Minotaur as eating and breathing. They have many strict guidelines when it comes to speaking to another, many of which take into account physical size or age while others have to do with social class, economic standing, or the success of one's business. The hierarchy of deference has hundreds of factors that could influence how one is supposed to speak to another, and the consequences of not knowing one's place in that structure could be catastrophic within Minotaur society. They do not expect outsiders to understand all of the nuances of such a system, but if a Minotaur spends any extended period of time with one, they will likely try to teach them.

Traders and Sailors

Minotaurs have an innate sense of direction, which allows them to make long voyages or land journeys with little risk of losing their way. Because of this, many successful merchants or caravans will have a minotaur along to act as a guide. The race is relatively well-traveled and can be found almost anywhere there are markets. Minotaurs threw themselves into society from creation, and thus did not feel any huge loss when The Silence came, although there were some among them who were religious.