History

Minotaurs were a once proud and noble race, residing deep within the Fae Realm. They were widely considered the most beautiful of creatures and possessed incredible skills in both music and art. Unfortunately, this led to vanity and it wasn’t long before the other Fae Houses began to resent them. A war broke out and lasted many eons. The Minotaur race was defeated and cast out of the Fae Realm. They were stripped both of their heritage and their beauty. Cursed by the oldest of the True Fae, they were transformed into monstrous brutes with the body of a human and the head of a bull. The Minotaur were driven underground where they were imprisoned for many centuries. Torturous games played on them by the Fae over the centuries have made most Minotaurs extremely superstitious. Their shortened life span, compared to their Fae brethren, means no Minotaur has survived since their original imprisonment. In reality, so many generations of Minotaurs have come and gone that few remember the old stories or carry the old vendetta. Yet some still do.

Tradition holds that in their time of need, while they were being chased by the jealous Fae, Vesmir opened the earth and brought the Minotaur safely to the Womb of the Earth. Somehow, perhaps just from time or from the earthquakes that occurred around that time, those walls both trapping and protecting them have broken and Minotaurs, for the first time in many years, have set foot on the surface lands. The Minotaur, now free from their prison, set forth to explore this strange surface world and to bring back useful knowledge and resources to bolster their races survival.

Geography

The Minotaur villages are located in tunnel systems which radiate out from a massive central cavern known as the Womb of Earth, north of Berphaunt and east of Gerdain. It is believed that the Womb of Earth is the place where Minotaurs were originally trapped, and as such it is the birthplace of their culture. It is maintained as a cultural capital with a multitude of Fae wards and the extensive usage of wrought iron, but only a few elders and a contingent of guards live there year-round.

Most Minotaur live in a cave with their extended family, with individual sleeping areas partitioned off and clustered around a central common area. Likewise, the average Minotaur village consists of many family caverns clustered around a large cavern that functions as a central village common.

It is considered extremely unlucky to give any village or tunnel where people are expected to live a name. Villages are generally described based on their geographic descriptions such as the “fourth village of the third south-south-eastern tunnel with the quartz deposits to the right of their gate”. Because of this Minotaur may seem to have an uncanny sense of direction when underground.

The Hellshaft

Of all the tunnels radiating out from the Womb of Earth only one has been named, and it is the only tunnel which contains no settlement of any kind. This is the Hellshaft. Minotaur tradition holds that the Fae live in the Hellshaft. It is thought to be so powerfully cursed that any creature seen coming out of it is killed on sight by the guards at the Womb of Earth, no matter how familiar. The Hellshaft extends out under the ocean floor to the east towards an underwater volcano and is prone to flooding, mild tremors, small geysers, and the occasional sulfurous cloud.

Culture

The average Minotaur lives and works completely underground. Resources are scarce, and unlike the other subterranean species the Minotaur have not, until very recently, had the option of taking what they need from the surface. As a result everything that can be used is used and used to its fullest extent. Tools are made from stone, bone, metal, and glass. Clothing is made from leather and spun lichens. Their diet consists of mushrooms, lichens, mosses, insects, blind-fish, and occasionally other Minotaur.

Religion / Beliefs

According to Minotaur legend the Fae are monsters of great power that hate all living creatures. One day they drove the whole Minotaur race into a deep pit, intending to burn them all to death and eat their souls. As their hell-fire drew near the people cried out to any power that would listen to save their lives, and at the last possible moment the earth itself opened up and swallowed their whole race. The great lord Vesmir had answered their plea by entombing them in the earth, thus preserving their race from an unnatural death in the fires of the evil Faes’ magic. To protect their souls from being eaten, he set into motion the cycle of reincarnation so that no soul could ever stray into the hands of the Fae. And so to these Minotaur the god of death is also the protector of the unborn, guiding them through the circle of death into their next life. Although any may choose to follow another god or dragon, a Minotaur who does not at least respect Vesmir is considered to be either insane or suicidal.

The legend continues on to state that many free-floating spirits were dragged into the earth with the Minotaur as they were trying to flee the Fae. To this day these spirits still drift through the tunnels, helping or hurting as is within their power. Each village has developed its own rituals for appeasing the spirits that share their refuge.

Mating

Minotaur are considered of age to take a mate once they turn 15 years old. They marry for love, with either gender equally likely to court the other, but they can only be formally married once a year at a ceremony held at a yearly gathering in the Womb of Earth. This is known as the River Ceremony. The presiding elder lays out two rows of carved white stones meant to represent a river. All of the males present for the yearly gathering assemble on one ‘bank’ of the river and all the females on the other. When everyone is assembled the elder starts the ceremony by ringing their prayer bell. The elder continues to ring the bell and chant while all those present cross the river, pressing through the opposing groups to the other side. Those Minotaur wishing to be married must find each other in the centre, clasp hold of each other, and stay in the river together until all those not holding onto their mate have left the river. When only couples remain the elder stops chanting and rings the bell a number of times. The couples line up within the river to see the elder, who stands at the river’s head. In the presence of the elder and all those assembled they declare their love for each other, and receive the elder’s blessing. With all that complete the couple is considered married upon leaving the river, but the union will only be recognized by their village if they tattoo their mark on each other before they come home. This is traditionally done in private. If the couple comes from two different villages, they go to live in whichever village is smaller.

As in courtship, either partner can initiate a divorce. To do this the initiating partner must build a fire in the village common and then, in the presence of an elder, cut their marriage tattoo off and burn it. The wound must be allowed to heal naturally so that it scars. After this is complete the remaining partner has the option of removing or covering over their own tattoo in private.

Although there are no formal rules against premarital sex, if a family discovers that one of their young people is engaging in such they will strongly encourage the young man or woman to attend the next River Ceremony with their partner. Some families will go so far as to have several relatives escort the couple to the Womb of Earth and stand witness to the ceremony.

Children

Minotaur are born without horns. A Minotaur pregnancy lasts about six months, at which point the mother usually gives birth to a single child. Births take place in the home and are attended by the child’s father (or another close relative if he is deceased or otherwise unavailable) and the village midwife. The rest of the family blockades the door to the house, ringing their prayer bells and offering prayers to Vesmir to drive off any evil spirits that may try to kill the mother or steal the child’s soul. Once the infant’s first cries echo through the home the family praises Vesmir, and goes inside to prepare a large meal in celebration.

On rare occasions, twins may be born. Triplets or more are almost unheard of. This is seen as a great blessing on the household, as a second-born twin is believed to be a reclaimed soul: a soul that either lost its way or was stolen by Fae, but was guided back into the circle of death and rebirth by Vesmir himself. Such children commonly join the priesthood.

For the first year the child sleeps in a cradle kept in the parent’s sleeping chamber. This is how long it takes for the infant’s horns to grow, and also marks the length of time the child is considered vulnerable to having their soul stolen by Fae. Before a newborn is put to bed in their cradle for the first time all those in the household participate in decorating the cradle with beads, charms, carvings, and Fae wards, all meant to keep their newest family member safe from harm. Last of all, the child’s father or close relative hangs a prayer bell above the head of the cradle. This bell is usually one passed down from a deceased family member. The young Minotaur will carry the bell throughout their life.

Homosexuality & Traders

If both members of a couple are of the same gender they cannot be married at the River Ceremony. However, there are no actual rules against homosexual relationships provided those involved keep the relationship private. The one notable exception is if the Minotaur has taken up trade as a profession. Traders are the primary links between villages; they travel up and down the tunnels, some crossing through the Womb of Earth several times a year, carting resources one village has in abundance to other villages where it may be scarce. These are not the same sort of profit-driven merchants found in most other lands. Like every other member of Minotaur society, the good of the villages they visit comes ahead of the trader’s own welfare, though whenever they reach a village the trader’s welfare is not an issue, as the entire village will look after their needs during their stay. When traders enter a village and touches the common iron, whoever is standing closest is to pray a short blessing over them. When the traders leave the village whoever is closest to the exit is to pray for their safety in the tunnels. Since the trader spends so much time away from family and home they customarily work in pairs, and it is seen as perfectly normal for those pairs to be as close to each other as married couples. Traders generally do not marry. Thus many families will encourage a homosexual young person to become a trader. It is a vital, honoured role in their society where they can continue their relationship without stigma.

Naming & The Age of Reason

Although children are well-loved and highly valued, parents do not name them. It is a grave insult to the child’s family for any person above the ‘Age of Reason’ to nickname the child, and most Minotaur do not even use gendered pronouns to refer to children. At seven years old the child reaches the Age of Reason. The ceremony surrounding their seventh birthday is similar to that of being born. It starts with the family barricading the house, ringing their bells, and praying. A parent or other close relative calls everyone assembled to order by giving thanks to Vesmir for their child surviving the most vulnerable years of life. Then in the presence of the whole household the child chooses his or her own name. They are now considered responsible for their own actions and will be addressed the way any adult is by the rest of the community.

Fae Superstition

All Minotaur communities will have a piece of iron in their common area. It is usually a post or sculpture, and it is usually next to the slab of laws. Tradition dictates that when one enters a village they do not live in they walk to this piece of iron and touch it before trying to interact with anyone living there. Failure to do this is seen as an insult to the village, and in communities closer to the Hellshaft could be grounds to have the offending party shunned or even forcibly thrown out of the village.

Similarly Minotaur homes will have a piece of iron at their door; a post, sculpture, large charm, or even a section of the doorframe. For practically, many villages have adopted the tradition of having iron door handles on their dwellings. Everyone entering the house including those who live in it must touch the iron before walking through the door. Failure to do this by anyone over the Age of Reason is considered an attempt to curse the household.

It is a grave insult to ask a Minotaur for their name without at least first offering your own. Most prefer a polite conversation before names are exchanged. In communities close to the Hellshaft it will usually be demanded that you touch a piece of iron before the Minotaur will tell you their name. An artist or writer will never sign their work, for fear of it leaving the village and being found by a Fae.

Because the true Fae can use a simple ‘thank you’ as a tool to enslave a person, Minotaurs will almost never thank anyone for anything, despite the gratitude they may feel. Only very close friends ever show this level of trust, and thanking someone for something is a meaningful gesture of intimacy.

Funeral Rites

When a Minotaur dies, members of the household sit up through the night with the body, ringing prayer bells and offering prayers to Vesmir to drive off any evil spirits or Fae that want to steal the Minotaur’s soul. In the morning the body is taken to the temple in the village common, washed by same-gendered relatives, anointed with spices, and then set on a table in the main gathering space. The funeral is a simple ceremony open to any of the community, where the closest relatives deliver a eulogy before inviting those assembled to share stories about the deceased. After all the stories are told, the service is closed with a prayer, and those assembled form a line to pay their respects. Each person in attendance, from the oldest grandparent to the youngest child, pricks their finger as they approach and sheds a couple drops of blood on the body. Then the same relatives who prepared the body for the funeral take it to the communal kitchen in the back for preparations of a different sort. The body is beheaded, the heart removed, and the rest is butchered and cooked into a stew. The head is reverently placed in an embroidered bag and taken to be buried outside of the village. The heart is cooked separately.

That evening the children of the village gather at the temple for a meal mainly consisting of the stew. In this way the Minotaur performs his or her last act of service to the community by nourishing the future generation. The cooked heart is given as a meal to a pregnant woman or a young married woman of child-bearing age selected by the family. This is considered a great honour for the woman. It is believed that the deceased Minotaur will be reincarnated as one of her children.

Politics

Minotaurs have a loosely theocratic society. Each village is headed by the village elders and a priest or shaman of some kind. Of these, a village representative is chosen. While individual villages have their own way of determining their representative – whether by merit, age, combat or vote. These leaders report to the Womb of the Earth once a year, attended by a member of their village’s priesthood. Between the guidance of the priesthood of Vesmir and the villages’ representatives, legal and political matters are approached democratically. The Head Priest casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie.

The Minotaur do not have a standing army. Each village trains and contributes a few guards to the Womb of the Earth as a symbol of unity and to protect their hub.

Law

The rules agreed upon within each village are written on a stone slab in the village common. The minor crimes can vary from village to village, but theft, assault, and nicknaming a child are almost universal. Punishments for these can vary, but usually take the form of lashes or completing acts of service for the victim. It is the duty of the village representative to judge crimes, though they are not above the law. If a representative’s actions are in question, the other village elders will decide their fate.

High crimes are the same for all villages: murder, rape, wilfully collapsing an occupied cave, and aiding the Fae. Depending on the circumstances there are two punishments for the elders to pick from. In less severe circumstances the offending Minotaur is expelled from the village. For the most severe offences, the Minotaur is executed by beheading and the entire body is burned. If the Minotaur has been executed for aiding a Fae, the heart is removed before the body is burned and preserved. It will be stored within a Fae ward until the next yearly gathering at the Womb of Earth, at which point members of the village will take it with them and turn it over to the guards with a detailed account of the Minotaur’s crime. The guards will then launch the heart into the Hellshaft.

Common Personalities & Views

The hierarchy of Minotaur values reflects the building patterns of their tunnel system, in that it radiates from the large to the small. First comes the species, then the village, then the family, and finally the self. Each tunnel system has its own cultural variations, attitudes, and idiosyncratic traditions. In general the closer a tunnel is to the Hellshaft, the less open and friendly the residents of its villages will be.

This sense of community mindedness is instilled at a young age, and as such Minotaur tend to be pragmatic and lean towards thinking about the long-term priorities of their family and community rather than themselves. They are planners, builders, and scholars, ever seeking how to improve the lives of their fellow Minotaur, even to the detriment of themselves or other races. Because of their rough background and historical resource scarcity, they are very efficient with materials and are good at – and fond of – taking care of themselves and others.

Views on Other Races

From their relatively limited experience with other races, Minotaurs do not have particularly strong feelings about other races aside from Fae and other Fae-derived beings, nor will they care much about the fine differences amongst other racial groups. They understand that the various species of, say, elves or humanoids, may see themselves as distinct from each other, but as a race Minotaurs have not been exposed enough to varying other cultures to care about their cultural differences. The closer a Minotaur’s home village is to the Hellshaft, the more likely it is for the Minotaur to be xenophobic.

Elves: To Minotaurs an Elf is an Elf regardless of their skin tone; some of them may just be more practical than others. The fact that some live underground, in forests, or the frozen wastes of the North, is just a testament to their adaptability. Now if they could just realize that they don’t know everything.

Humanoids: To a Minotaur there is not much difference between Ajaunti, Einher and Humans aside from their cultural dress and how loud they speak, as they all seem to be rather self-serving at their core.

Hoblings: Are they Human children? Their cheerful outlook is rather infectious.

Goblinoids: Loud and chaotic. It’s a good thing they mature so quickly or their brutish nature would see them extinct by their own foolhardiness.

Dwarves: No, you may not mine here, but I would like to see if your techniques can be applied for bigger folk.

Gnomes: Are they dwarven children? They seem a bit too clever to be children.

Savar’Aving and Wolven: Those claws and teeth mark them as predators, but their community-mindedness makes them sensible enough folk.

Avian: What are they and they live where? Minotaurs tend to view Avians with outright fascination, so different are their habitats and experiences.

Sidhe: Minotaurs regard Sidhe with great suspicion and will not associate with them by choice. The presence of a Sidhe is viewed as bad luck and will be killed on sight if they tried to access the Womb of Earth.

Wood Fae: Minotaurs feel sympathy for the Wood Fae, as former slaves of the true Fae, but generally keep them at arm’s length to avoid potentially catching their bad luck.

Undead: An unnatural perversion of the circle of reincarnation as set forth by Vesmir. They should be laid to rest, so that they may be reborn properly. In the case of Risen, this view holds but may be approached with more sympathy than outright aggression.

Roleplaying Tips

• Generally very community-oriented and self-sacrificing for their community and family
• Your feelings on Fae are likely going to range from suspicion and resentment to outright hostility
• Minotaur usually carry a small prayer bell, a piece of iron, and at least a cursory respect for Vesmir
• Names and thanks are both important tools the Fae use to force others to do their bidding; a Minotaur is very cautious about giving out their name, and never says ‘thank you’ lest they be trapped into doing a Fae a favour