Minotaur

Around Imperial ruins you gather
Eternal guardians with hooves and horn.
What memories lead you to path there
Is it Belharza or the Empire that you mourn?

— Song of The Minotaur

Old folklore speaks of the origins of minotaur as the descendants of St. Alessia, the slave-queen who broke the power of the cruel Ayleids, and her demigod lover Morihaus. Archeological evidence suggests that minotaur were venerated early in the First Empire, but there is little evidence to corroborate the myths. Over the following millennia, the position of the man-bull race has fallen in Imperial society, and Minotaur are regarded generally as violent, primitive beasts who congregate in old Ayleid ruins.

A Divine Origin

The origins of Minotaur are obscured by First Era mythology, and the destruction of early Imperial history at the hands of the xenophobic Alessian Order. Legends persist that Minotaur are the descendants of Empress Alessia and her demi-god lover Morihaus, who possessed bull-like traits. Their son, Emperor Belharza, is said to be the first true Minotaur. These legends persist in both Imperial and Minotaur folk tales, however archeological evidence is contradictory. Imagery depicting the early Alessian emperors as Minotaur are few and far between, with statues, murals, and tapestries depicting them as human. Notably, there is a great deal of evidence suggesting large alterations were made to all of these works centuries after they were created. Modern scholars agree that the Order exercised their power to actively destroy or replace records throughout their nearly two-thousand years in power. Stopping short, of course, of accepting the hypothesis that Minotaur are royalty. The competing theory, claiming the early emperors had merely used the imagery of the bull to associate themselves with strength and vitality, continues to dominate scholarly debates today.
Ayleid writings preserve a cautionary children's fable which marks the earliest possible account of Minotaurs dating back to the middle Merithic Era. It spoke of a city-state, which fell to ruin after its king took pity on the human slaves, who had been beset by a plague. This foolish king allowed his slaves to use the Chim El-Adabal, the crimson Ayleid gemstone known today as the Amulet of Kings, in order to use its magical protection. Instead, the deceitful men used it as a beacon to call a star down from the heavens. The fire of the star burned away the slaves' flesh, revealing the true animalistic nature of mankind underneath. These Bull-Men slaughtered the elves of the city, and decapitated their benevolent king, who had paid the price for his misplaced kindness.

Minotaur have many traits unique to their divine ancestry.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength and Constitution scores each increase by 2.

Age

Minotaur reach adulthood around 18 years old, and can live as long as a century. However, few modern Minotaur live longer than 50 years due to the harsh lives they are forced to live in the wilderness.

Alignment

Minotaur society is patriarchal and highly competitive, with few resources to go around. They are known to be highly temperamental and dangerous when provoked, and have little regard for the rule of law. Their alignment is most likely to be Chaotic Neutral.

Size

Minotaur are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 400 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Natural Athlete

You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Stone’s Endurance

You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you cannot use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Labyrinthine Instincts

You are attracted to underground spaces, and can never get lost inside a dungeon or cave.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Cyrodilic. You can also speak Minoslan, a language with no written form, incorporating complex facial twitches which other races cannot truly replicate. A simplified form developed in the early First Era, is close enough to allow other races to communicate, although many Minotaur would just as likely kill you for using it.