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 and the body of a human. Their fur and hair typically ranged from brown to black.

Abilities
All minotaurs were immune to maze spells.

Personality
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.

Society
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.

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
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.

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.

Notable Minotaurs

 * 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.
 * 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.

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" • Out of the Abyss • 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 • Condemnation • Storm of the Dead • Sandstorm
 * Trial by Ordeal • Laughter in the Flames • The Fallen Fortress • The Silent Blade • Murder in Halruaa • Tymora's Luck
 * 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