Minos

"In all my wanderings, I have felt most at home amidst the Minos people. Perhaps even more than amidst my fellow humans, at this point. The Gorgorons dismiss them as being uncultured and old-fashioned, the Bennu see them as oddities, but I know the truth of them. The Minos are a gentle people, their perspective shaped by both ancient customs and a curiosity to know more about the world around them. For the Minos, it is not about the destination. The journey is what matters."

-fragment from the journal of Xanthippe the Traveler

Basic Information

Anatomy

Large humanoids with the horns and tails of a bull.

Biological Traits

Ability Score Mods: +2 Wisdom, +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma
Large Sized Creature, base speed of 30 ft
Even Tempered: Minos are the peacekeepers of Xalendria. +2 bonus to Diplomacy and Bluff checks.
Bull-Headed: Minoans are a stubborn lot. When rolling a save against mind-affecting spells or supernatural abilities, roll twice and take the higher result.

Growth Rate & Stages

Minos are considered adults at thirty years of age, with their growth rate being the slowest out of Xalendria's species. They are also the species with the longest natural lifespan.

Ecology and Habitats

The Minos primarily make their homes in the various chains of islands in the Oneieros Sea (or the Wadj-Ur to the Bennu), located in central Xalendria, as well as a handful of mainland settlements along the same sea's south-western coast. Similar to the Bennu, they are well adapted to dry and hot climates where rainfall is scarce.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Minos, as a rule, do not consume meat or dairy. While there is some basis for this preference in their religion, in truth the digestive system of purebred Minos seems to struggle to break down these two food groups. Hybrids generally do not have this issue.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Despite the unflattering depictions of Minos with bull heads sometimes found in old Gorgorian art, Minos are not "monstrous" in appearance. Though their features are broader on average than other species, they look entirely humanoid.

Average Intelligence

Minos are quite intelligent, surpassed perhaps by only the Bennu. Learning and scholarship are deeply important to the Minoan society as a whole, and for a young Minos to enter the workforce without a full education is almost unheard of. Even those Minos who are not of the scholarly mindset are inquisitive by nature.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Minos have the standard five senses and a sixth, referred to as their intuition. This extra sense is unique to each individual and is something they use often. For example, a fisherman Minos's intuition may be related to weather conditions or the best place to cast a net, while a Minoan justice may be particularly adept at telling truth from lie.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Minoan names sound quite similar to Gorgorian names, suggesting both species share the same root language. However, Minos do not divide names down gender lines the same way Gorgorians do. Instead of surnames, most Minos simply introduce themselves by given name only, perhaps followed by their place of birth when pressed.
[Author's Note: Minoan culture is based on what is known about the real Minoan culture of Crete. As only one script of the Minoan language has been successfully deciphered and translated sources are scarce, it can be difficult to find actual Minoan names, the most comprehensive list I've found is here. Ancient Greek names would work as well, so feel free to use this generator too.

Beauty Ideals

Color is considered to be the root of all beauty in Minoan culture. Vibrant tattoos, cosmetics, and hair tints are very popular. Minoans with naturally bright red hair are often praised for their beauty, and it is rare for these individuals to tint their hair. 
Glossy, well-formed horns are also preferable. Minoans are so proud of their horns that those who have suffered damage through conflict or accidents used to retreat from society in shame. In modern times, advances in magical and medical technology have resulted in effective treatments for damaged Minoan horns, and these instances of self-imposed exile have become exceedingly rare.

Gender Ideals

"Gender" is not a concept that Minoan society has. There are two biological sexes, but these are only acknowledged for health or reproductive purposes. The Minoan language, for example, only has one third-person single pronoun. When referring to themselves in other languages, Minos have been known to simply pick a gendered pronoun at random, even hopping between terms, as these words mean nothing to them.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The Minos have their own language, Minoan, which has its own syllabic script that boasts roughly 200 characters. Many modern language scholars consider it to be closely related to the Gorgorian language, with Minoan being the older of the two. Do to these similarities, many Minoans can easily learn the Gorgorons' language. Bennuan is another popular choice for a second language, with Cackle being a far rarer choice.

Common Etiquette Rules

"To enter the labyrinth is a reminder that we live in thrall to greater forces. We do not control everything. We cannot control everything."

- anonymous Labyrinth Keeper, Edification Age

Minoans are known to be, generally, quite stoic and thoughtful in comparison to other species. They tend to look askance at emotional outbursts (though find these episodes more understandable coming from those of artistic temperaments). Minoan community members who regularly experience "disruptive feelings" are persistently encouraged to seek counselling from Labyrinth Keepers or similarly trained scholars to find the root of their mind's disquiet. Minoans do not seek to suppress their feelings, as such a practice is viewed as highly unhealthy, but rather to balance their emotional equilibrium to achieve a more steady and peaceful inner self.
The Minos also have a staunch belief that all good things come with time. Do not expect a quick, decisive answer from a Minoan authority figure on anything beyond the most basic of inquiries. Pushing for a swift decision or incomplete information will lead to a recommendation you visit the nearest labyrinth for a session of quiet contemplation.

Common Dress Code

Minoan clothing is brightly colored and often elaborately decorated with beading and embroidery. They favor flowing, wide legged pants or ankle-length skirts paired with tailored shirts that sport shell buttons or simply have wide collars. Their preferred footwear are soft-bottomed felt slippers, but Minoans will wear sandals or boots if necessary. In colder areas, they wear massive, square wool cloaks pinned at the right shoulder. These garments, known as chlamys, are so large they can also function as a blanket.

History

"We are but grains of sand within the hourglass. Perhaps, through the lens of history, our individual fadings will be unremarkable, our names recalled only by our loved ones. But together, we mark the passing of what was. Together, we are apart of something much greater than ourselves."

Kerawios, noted Minoan philosopher, Dissension Age

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Minoans have an openly weary relationship with the Gorgorons, who once enslaved large swaths of the northern Minoan populations to use as a manual labor force. In the southern-most Minoan settlements, visiting Gorgorons are openly shunned. There are, however, mixed islands in the northern Oneieros Sea where the number of Gorgorian citizens is nearly even with the number of native Minoans. In these cities, most Gorgorian citizens prefer to at least partially, but often fully, assimilate into Minoan society, going as far as adopting Minoan dress and refusing to eat meat.
Due to the geographic separation between their respective homelands, Minoans had limited contact with the Crocotta before the formation of the Republic. They approach relations with the Crocotta as a whole with a mix of caution, respect, and no small amount of bewilderment at some of the Crocotta's more... unique customs.
Surprisingly, it is with the Bennu that the Minoans share the most amicable relationship. Some of the earliest examples of Minoan written documents record an already flourishing trade relationship between the Minoan islands and the Bennuan port cities to the south. It is even speculated that it is from the Minoans that the Bennu learned how to build large-scale ships, as opposed to the small reed fishing boats they used in the River Nu. This respectful relationship built on shared knowledge continues in the Unified Age.
Due to their relatively low population numbers, Minoans are scarce in the large mixed-population cities ruled by Bennu or Gorgorons. Minoan hybrids are also rare compared to Gorgoron or Crocotta hybrids, but are not entirely unheard of. These hybrids generally retain the height, horns, and measured nature of their Minos parent.
[Author's Note: Hybrids are not playable at this time.]

Lifespan

Approximately 150 years without magical intervention

Average Height

Between seven to nine and half feet tall

Average Weight

260-450 lbs

Average Length

Minos horns, present on both sexes, can range from no more than a few inches long to spanning as much as three feet away from the head.

Average Physique

Minos, due to both their impressive size and inclination to be quite muscular, are stronger than on average than other Xalendrian species.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Minos can have skin ranging from albino white (they have a higher percentage of albanism being present in their population than any other species) to jet black. Their eyes are normally some shade of brown, from amber light to near-black. Most Minos have very thick, straight hair that is most often a shade of brown or red. Their horns are usually darker in color at the base and fade to cream or white at the points. Their tails possess fur (often matching their skintone) and end in a longer tuft of hair identical to the hair on their heads.