Races of Martapa Part 58

Minotaur Relations: 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 ogres.

Races of Martapa Part 57

Minotaur Society: Minotaur 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 rivaled by 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 a lot of their city lay outs and thus live in very orderly cities of wooden and stone buildings.  Minotaurs live to around 60 years and have a single child about ever 5 years once they are married and have come of age.

Races of Martapa Part 56

Minotaur Description: Minotaurs stand around six and a half foot tall with broad shoulders and fury.  They bare a cow head, males having large horns, females having small ones.  They have cloven hooves and legs which are joined 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.

Minotaurs wear clothes similar to humans since they are around humans so much.  They prefer two handed axes or swords, but single handed weapons and shields are not unheard.  Minotaurs are people of their word and one 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 so the other races outright 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.

Races of Martapa Part 55

Half Elf Names: Half elf names really depend on where they were raised.  If they were raised in an elven community, they will have elven names.  If they were raised in a human community they will have human names.  Often, if they are raised in a human settlement, the elven parent might very well give them an elven name as well.

Races of Martapa Part 54

Half-Elf Adventures: Half-elves are good in any class.  If they are raised by elves they most likely will be mages or rangers, while if they were raised by humans they will be warriors, mages or even thieves.  Allow the half-elf pick one good and bad stat from each parent. If they are raised by elves they may use bows as a free ability no matter their class.

Races of Martapa Part 53

Half-elf Religions and Alignments: Half-elves can follow any of the Gods, it just depends on how they are raised.  Most half-elves follow the Gods of Light and Neutrality, but they may follow Gods of the Dark.  Alignment can be anything from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil, since their lives are so hard, being outside of society as they are.  Most are Chaotic Good or Neutral Good.

Races of Martapa Part 52

Half-Elf Relations: Half elves are looked upon with pity and fear in elven circles, while curiosity and hatred in human circles.  On an individual basis, people can get along with half-elves just fine, but elves pity half-elves because they will not live as long as themselves and will not harbor the magic they do. Humans envy them for their longer lives and use of magic, but are also curious about them.  Half-elves find themselves often ignored or alone.  Depending on the culture they are raised in, whether human or elven, will decide how they get along with other races, though they may be more open to other races since they are so lost as to their own roll in society.

Races of Martapa Part 51

Half-Elf Society: Half-elves grow up in a similar manner as their parents, depending on whether the couple lives in a human village or an elven village.  Even though this a mixture of human and elven DNA, if the woman is elven, she will only have a few children.  In human society they are viewed as a curiosity and in elven society they are looked upon with pity since they won't be as "good" as elves at things and won't live as long.  They usually adopt the ways of the world of which ever society they live in.

Races of Martapa Part 50

Half-Elf Description: Half-elves are normally a human/elf cross,  but they can be any race crossed with an elf. In truth, there are other races which could cross, but this would be the most likely.  They can look human, elf, or  a mixture of both.  normally their ears are slightly tapered, but can look round like a humans as well.  Hair color can range wildly, since elves have such outlandish hair colors  like purple or silver and humans have black and brown, as well as blond.  Here is where we get tricky.  Some humans have red hair, but elves of only the Sunstar line can have red hair, thus half elves can only have red hair if they are of the Sunstar line.  Eyes can also range, though human colors usually dominate.  Eyes are slightly almond shape, but not as big as elves.