Minotaurs

(Please also read the Rules for ALL Taur PCs)

Racial Traits

• +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma
• Large: Minotaurs are large sized.
• Normal Speed: Minotaurs have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Natural Armor: Minotaurs have a +1 Natural Armor Bonus
• Racial feat: Toughness
• Natural Attacks: one horn gore for 1d8 damage (piercing, crit 20, x2)
• +1 racial bonus on Perception checks
• +1 racial bonus on Intimidate skill checks
• Fearsome: Minotaurs suffer a -2 penalty on Diplomacy checks.
• Cloven Hooves: Minotaurs have cloven hooves, and can not wear normal or magical boots.
• Minotaur begin play speaking Minotaur and Tauric. Minotaur with high intelligence scores can choose from the following: Common, Centaur, Liontaur. Note that Minotaur do not automatically know Common.
• Favored Class: Fighter

Large Size Modifiers

• AC: -1
• To Hit: -1
• +1 to CMB/CMD
• Fly Skill: -2
• Stealth Skill: -4
• Special attacks: Size bonuses often figure into special attacks.
• Carrying Capacity is doubled for minotaurs
• Minotaurs have a 10-foot natural reach and occupy a 10x10 space.
• Armor for minotaurs weighs double and costs twice normal (costs for magic enhancements are not doubled)
• Weapons for minotaurs are large. If a minotaur uses a weapon sized for a medium creature, the taur suffers a -2 penalty using the weapon. Weight and price for large-size versions of weapons is double normal. Damage for large-size versions is greater (see PHB and this page).

MINOTAURS IN COMBAT

Minotaurs use the same rules as all D&D creatures for natural attacks and attacks with manufactured weapons. As a standard attack, minotaurs can make one horn attack or one weapon attack. As a full round attack, minotaurs can make usual weapon attacks and a secondary horn attack at -5 to hit. Minotaurs can take the Multiattack feat to reduce this secondary attack penalty from -5 to -2. Minotaurs can also take a unique Minotaur Charge feat:

Minotaur Charge [Racial]

• Benefit: Once per encounter, you inflict double damage with your horns (only horns, not weapons) on a charge attack. You also make a free Demoralize Opponent (Intimidate Skill) check against the target of that charge. A fighter may select Minotaur Charge as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Minotaur Information and Roleplaying Notes

Minotaurs venerate the concept of honor above all else. The strong, they believe, should naturally rule, because the strong can physically enforce the code of honor if need be. Surrender is viewed as weakness, so minotaurs fight (or argue) to the death. They are extremely cunning and have keen eyes. They attack without fear and retreat only if the opponent is obviously beyond their ability to defeat. The minotaur code of honor calls for the fair treatment of anyone whom, themselves, act honorably. (You do right by them, they do right by you.)

Combat is often used to settle disputes -- an event referred to as a KAYLEB; honor demands that Kaylebs be an equal fight -- all parties involved in a Kayleb must start out equally equipped and/or capable of being in combat. The first person who renders the other person unable to continue combat on an equal footing is declared the winner. However, the Kayleb Counselor (an impartial referee) determines when that occurs: some will make the ruling once blood is drawn, while others won't rule until at least one combatant is struck a mortal blow.

Minotaurs often blame anything bad on centaurs, whom the race has been taught is the source of all their woes from the Time of the Sundering. Minotaur parents usually point out the horrors of their calves growing up to become like the Silly Centaur (a coward with no honor.) Discipline and honor are the way of life for minotaurs -- the honor of their race, the honor of their city, the honor of their family and the honor of themselves ... in that order, too.

They never use the Ride skill because there is no domesticated animal large enough for them to ride.

Minotaurs have a great capacity for (and love of) good wine and appreciate logic puzzles and mazes as diversionary entertainment. Minotaur society is ruled by castes, which is divided into two primary groups: The Body of Imod and the Soul of Imod. The Soul of Imod is itself divided into three types of classes: the Head of Imod (the ruling officials of the minotaur race); the Heart of Imod (the religious officials); and the Hand of Imod (the enforcers of minotaur law.) The Body of Imod are the commoners of minotaur society. Anyone who can win the Kayleb of Initiation into any of the Soul of Imod's castes can become members of that caste.

Wine plays a VERY important part in minotaur society. Vintners and brewers are the cream of the Body of Imod -- a majority of the Head of Imod rule by virtue of their battle prowess AND the fact that they are members of clans that are in the wine business in some way, shape or form. Purple wine is the most valuable resource on the island that just anybody can possess ... it is a crime for anyone not sanctioned by the Heart of Imod to have the mystical Blue wine, as it is used for religious purposes only. It is an immediate death sentence to be caught dealing illegally in the making, trading, buying, selling or possession of unsanctioned Blue wine. The only exception to this rule is the possession of healing-type (or other Clerically-made) potions, which are all based on Blue wine. Magi make their potions using Purple wine.

PERSONALITY:

Minotaurs are very strong and honorable, but they are not bullies. They believe that might makes right, but they do not strike or intimidate the helpless. Bravery, personal honor, and a code of conduct are important to them.

Minotaur Tale

Here is a story about a minotaur who met a centaur.

A short time before the Godwar and the Year of Ascension, an island appeared in the waters between Minotaur Isle and Centaur Isle, where land had never been before. Strange stories were told about this new place -- called Bridge Isle by most. These rumors said that Bridge Isle was a place that welcomed centaurs, minotaurs, and liontaurs -- a place where ancient enemies lived in peace.

Hearing word of this, a minotaur and a centaur each independently decided to travel to this Bridge Isle and see it for themselfs. They ended up, as chance would have it, on the same ship, a human merchant sloop. They avoided each other, but on the last day of their trip, they found themselves aboard the same longboat, rowed to shore by the human crew and the first mate of the ship.

The first mate smiled as he watched each taur pretend the other did not exist. Seeing a chance for good sport, he asked his two large passengers, "You both must be excited to see this wonder of nature."

"No wonder, but an abomination," the centaur said, tossing her head indignantly. "This place did not naturally appear. Nature was warped to create it. Lands do not rise from the sea garbed in flora and fauna. Strange and unnatural forces are at work."

"The abomination is not the nature of the island," the minotaur growled, "but the dishonor of those who have taken it. A true minotaur fights for his place and wins honor. This land was a gift given to the weak by a false craven god." She turned to look the centaur in the eye. "That is the abomination!"

"Craven!" The centaur's nostrils flared in anger. "Craven!"

"Come now, be at peace," the first mate said. "If you upset the boat, neither of you will arrive unsoaked.

The centaur listened, and her face became less red. Calmer, she said, "You will no doubt be displeased, minotaur, to learn that those who live here claim the god there is the same being honored in temples among your own people. Indeed, they say Imod of your folk is the same as Domi of ours.""

The minotaur shook her head swiftly back and forth, and her horns swished through the air. "Heresy!" she cried. "An insult to top all others! If your words are true, then those who live here have much to answer for! They spread lies! No doubt they seek to convert others as well. This must be stopped!"

The centaur agreed. "Those who would say my god is your god are deluded, or mad! It is absurd that the bull-headed, rigid, bloody god of your people could be the same gentle protector of knowldge we centaurs love." The centaur seemed amazed at the words she spoke: "I find myself forced to agree with you -- this must not stand!"

The minotaur snorted. "It galls me no end to see the honorable path lies under a centaur's hooves. But perhaps we will find common ground against these scoundrels."

"Perhaps the cleverest solution will be for us to join forces," the centaur said thoughtfully. "These apostates say they want to unite minotaurs and centaurs. Well, maybe they will unite two peoples -- just long enough to for a crusade to wipe the heretics out!"