Minotaur

Minotaurs were a strong and combative race of monstrous humanoids resembling bull–human hybrids. They were rare in Faerûn, outside of their labyrinth homes in the Underdark.

Description
Minotaurs were large, muscular humanoids. They had the head of a bull, upper torso, hands, and the body of a human, and hooded feet. Their fur and wild hair typically ranged from brown to black. The food often covered forearms, chest, abdomen, and legs. Males were referred to as bills and reached up to in height, while females – cows, were similar in appearance, with broader hips, humanoid breasts, and reached only.

Minotaur bodies were of similar shape and build to that of an ogre. Their hands were huge and strong, ending in thick sharp yellow nails. Minotaurs were known to use claws in battle but they were brittle and did not survive heavy use. Despite their heads being that of a bull, there were subtle differences in features between mundane beasts and minotaurs. Some were known to have cow-like tails, however that trait was not common. Their snouts were thicker and longer than that of a, animal and bull-men had sharp carnivore teeth. Their canines were especially noticeable and minotaurs never hesitated to bite their victims, prey, and opponents. Lastly, unlike bovines, minotaurs' eyes were positioned slicer to the center of their faces, granting them good depth perception and another telltale evidence of their predatory nature.

The creatures' iconic feature – their horns were very similar to normal bulls', slightly curving forward. Both males and females had similarly shaped huge horns, however males' were longer and thicker on average. There were several horn coloring variations and sometimes as many as three colors could be present. Minotaurs with dark fur often had dark yellow or brown horns.

Abilities
All minotaurs were immune to maze spells.

Personality
Minotaurs were proud of their horns and often spent their free time sharpening, cleaning, polishing them with old rags and furs. In some minotaur societies, color of their horns determined their status within community and attractiveness. In minotaur tribes that preferred darker-colored horns, individuals often used oils and polishes to artificially darken them. Decorations were common as well. Brass and silver tacks and spikes were used to accentuate the horns' natural appeal. Repaired severed horns were common in tribes that had talented crafter or skilled allies who knew how to work metals.

Apart from horn decorations, minotaurs rarely wore any other type of jewelry. The closest to what humans consider decorations amon minotaurs were fanciful girdles or gauntlets. Sages speculated that in leu of their own culture, minotaurs were known to easily adopt traditions and norms from other races and societies, of corse those cultural norms that were aimed at aggression and intimidation were highly preferred and emulated.

Despite minotaurs' general brutality, they had the capability to be kind and empathetic.

They loved to dwell within maze-like caverns or ruins, where their innate sense of direction prevented them from getting lost.

Combat
Minotaurs were not highly intelligent, but possessed instinctive cunning and were adept at ambush attacks. They were particularly skilled at hunting their prey. In general, minotaurs preferred melee combat, and utilized their horns for charge attacks.

Biology
Like humans, minotaurs procreated throughout the year, however, as a society they were guided by need to replenish their numbers, rather than emotions. A typical cow produced one calf, twins were a rare possibility and were considered a religious blessing among minotaurs. Minotaurs matures much faster than humans: a two year old calf had fully formed horns and could kill an orc in combat, a five year old minotaur towered over other humanoids, and by their tenth year - minotaurs were considered adults. Minotaurs were capable of procreation as early as at three years old in some cases. Culturally, birthing a strong male warrior was considered the height of aspirations for a minotaur cow, while bull aspired to father as many calves as possible.

Some sages speculated that minotaurs lived 80 years on average, however, determining their longevity was challenging as so many of them led violent lives and perished long before their natural expiration time. A thirty-year old minotaur often thought to be a steeled veteran.

Society
Minotaur youth were taught to fight and master weapons at an early age. In the minotaur society, combat education was done by parents and fellow male tribe members. Even while playing, minotaur children spent most of their time wrestling and fighting each other. Male calves developed brutal and cruel rivalries amongst eachother since earliest childhood, and these feuds were encouraged by the adults.

Minotaur youth showed little affection towards their mothers and fathers. Older females received no special treatment and were respected as long as they remained strong and physically superior to the youths. Their society overall was patriarchal and those females who were physically weaker than other members of the tribes were treated not much better than slaves. Younger minotaurs often stayed out of the way of older males just to avoid conflicts and brutal assertion of dominance.

Many minotaurs worshiped the demon lord Baphomet and kept themselves, and their society, secluded. Most were inclined to evil and chaotic acts and did not work well in groups, packs, or even parties due to their solitary hunter-like nature.

They wore little to no armor, even when in combat.

Homelands
Minotaurs were most likely found in their underground labyrinthine homes or dungeons. They often made their money by plundering and raiding passers by, but also sought employment as mercenaries, fighters and servants. Minotaurs were also often kept as slaves by Underdark inhabitants, such as mind flayers and drow.

A reasonably sized population could be found in found within the Underdark in an area known as the Labyrinth, and an occasionally – in the underground city of Skullport in Undermountain, as of the late 14 century DR.

Nelanther Isles was known for a population of sea-faring pirate minotaurs as of the late 15 century DR. Mountains of the Moonsea were home to sporadic bands of minotaurs, as well as deserts of Raurin. The city of Kushk in the Hordelands was occupied by a wide variety of monster races. One of the city's wards - aptly named Minotaur City, was a district of narrow maze-like alleys and home of the city's minotaur population.

The caves of Daerndar, in the Grand Duchy of Shantal of the Border Kingdoms, were affected by storms of wild magics and spellstorms. Among creatures spirited into the caverns was a significant number of minotaurs. Another population of minotaurs lived in peace with humans in the Chultan city of Omu until the city was enslaved by lich Acererak long before the 13 century DR.

Outside of Toril, minotaurs inhabited numerous crystal spheres, most notably, on the world of Krynn, and could be found in the Domains of Dread. In the planes, numerous minotaur tribes roamed the Endless Maze in the Abyss – the layer where the minotaur deity Baphomet dwelt.

Ecology
In the ancient Empire of Netheril, minotaur tail hairs were used to make special braided brushes. These items were used in arcane magic rituals. Oil of minotaur musk was a rare commodity imported into Waterdeep and often imitated and faked by some industrious individuals.

Among planar creatures and inhabitants of Sigil, a common legend stated that bulezau were created by Baphomet though crossbreeding minotaurs and tanar'ri. However, the legend remained unconfirmed.

History
In the, minotaurs were forced to flee Narathmault along with their drow masters, traveling to the underground caverns of Plateau of Thay.

Apart from that, not much was known of Minotaur history, but it was said that the Labyrinth was once an empire, rather than the uncivilized lands it was known as.

In the, a band of roving minotaurs ravaged a small town of the Dead Tree Hollow in the Vast. One of the survivors of the attack was a five year old Tordon Sureblade, who escaped to the city of Ravens Bluff with his father. Tordon eventually became the Lord Magistrate of Ravens Bluff.

In the, the Emberhorn minotaur tribe under the leadership of Zegdar, joined forces with the Cult of the Eternal Flame. The tribe's leader was blessed by his deity Imix and led the tribe down destructive path. The Emberhorns often beheaded their opponents and roasted the heads in hot coals in praise of the All-Consuming Fire.

Notable Minotaurs

 * Karagos, a great champion of Omu in Chult whose skull was fixed on a throne in lich Acererak's ruined city..
 * Magrath, a minotaur pirate lord circa 432 DR.
 * Red Minotaur, a famed gladiator of Hillsfar who claimed his freedom in the late-14 century DR.
 * Thoele Raervrun, a storeowner who was cursed to become a minotaur. He ran Skulls New and Used in the city of Oeble in the late 14 century DR.
 * Zaal, a minotaur trapped in a mirror of life trapping by lich Acererak.

Rumors & Legends

 * A rumor circulated tavern in late 15 century Chult. Stories claimed a lost ancient city of Omu built by minotaurs deep in the jungles and overrun by yuan-ti.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Ruins of Adventure • Desert of Desolation • The Throne of Bloodstone • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Blood Charge • Four from Cormyr • For Duty & Deity • Undermountain: Stardock • Expedition to Undermountain • Dungeon #206, "Eyes on the Ball" • Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle • Princes of the Apocalypse • Out of the Abyss • Tomb of Annihilation • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist • Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage • Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Undermountain: The Lost Level
 * Novels
 * Cormyr: A Novel • A Slow Day in Skullport • Starless Night • Siege of Darkness • Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea • Night Masks • Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn • Masquerades • Daughter of the Drow • Windwalker • Prince of Lies • Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad • Easy Betrayals • Dissolution • Condemnation • Storm of the Dead • Ascendancy of the Last • Sandstorm • The Spectral Blaze • Timeless
 * Trial by Ordeal • Laughter in the Flames • The Fallen Fortress • The Silent Blade • Murder in Halruaa • Tymora's Luck • Depths of Madness • Heirs of Prophecy • Sword of the Gods • Prophet of the Dead • Prince of Ravens • Venom in Her Veins • Fire in the Blood
 * Comics
 * A Darkened Wish 1
 * Video Games
 * Pool of Radiance • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Hillsfar • Secret of the Silver Blades • Neverwinter Nights (AOL game) • Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor • Dungeon Hack • Ravenloft: Stone Prophet • Icewind Dale • Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance • Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn • Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast • Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms • Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea • Baldur's Gate III
 * Board Games
 * Battle for Faerûn
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards • Dragonfire
 * Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
 * Zhent's Ancient Shadows • Nurture and Nature • Black Blood • Outlaws of the Iron Route • Blood Above, Blood Below • The Iron Baron • Peril at the Port • The Ark of the Mountains • Over the Edge • The Vampire of Skullport
 * Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
 * Zhent's Ancient Shadows • Nurture and Nature • Black Blood • Outlaws of the Iron Route • Blood Above, Blood Below • The Iron Baron • Peril at the Port • The Ark of the Mountains • Over the Edge • The Vampire of Skullport