Minotuars of Martapa

In my "High King's Sword" series the minotaurs start off as bad guys but turn to the light, as it may be, in the end because of Elly, one of my main characters and her actions. To be honest, I hated the minotaurs being bad guys, because I made them to be honorable, but their redemption makes for a good plot twist.

So minotaurs stand around six and half foot tall (so they would be of the same height as Akicitia), are broad at the shoulders and very fury. They bare a cow head, males having large horns, females having small ones. They have cloven hooves and legs which are jointed like the back legs of a cow. Their fur color and patterns can vary just as widely as real cattle, so be creative. To add character I would also pick the direction and conditions of the minotaur's horns.

They wear clothes similar to humans since they are around humans so much (not always to their benefit). The prefer two handed axes or swords, but single handed weapons and shields are not unheard of. Minotaurs are a people of their word and once their word is given it is a deal which will be followed through on. Unfortunately, for the last three thousand years or so they have been used, and used badly, by the Black Wizards of Shaniko and the other races dislike and out right hate them. They are codependent upon the Wizards because they have given up so many aspects of an agricultural life to train in the martial.

Minotaurs have a single child about every five years after they come of age and they have the average life span of around sixty years. Families are very patriarchal, but women have important rolls in society as well. (If you haven't noticed I have a very sexist free world here, for some reason. Not to say there aren't pockets of sexism...) Houses usually have only a single family in them as well as any apprentices.

Blacksmithing is very important and blacksmiths are revered by the minotaurs, and their skills are only rivalled by the dwarves. To harm a blacksmith is a heinous crime. Same goes for healers. Healing is usually a female dominated career and blacksmithing is usually a male career, though either sex can do either.

Minotaurs are so adapted to serving a certain sect of humans they have adopted alot of their city lay outs and thus live in very orderly cities of wooden and stone buildings.

Most roleplaying games have minotaurs as monsters so I would looks to Dragonlance, perhaps for stats unless they have ways to adapt your monsters. Baring this I would give them an appropriate bonus to Strength and Constitution, but a minus to Intellect and Charisma. Do what you think is appropriate. I would also give the option of taking blacksmithing for free but if they do that they lose the ability to specialize in a weapon if that is an option in your game. Because they are around humans so much they should receive the High King's Speech (human speech) for free.

Minotaurs are not trusted by the humans of Tridon, the Elves, the dwarves, or the Ancient Elves. The Akicitia, though they do not like them, will trust them because they are honorable and because of their mutual hatred of the ogres.
Monday: Ogres