Minotaur

For more information on all races, see: Races

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

Basic Information

Anatomy

Minotaurs are large, muscular humanoids. They have the head of a bull, upper torso, hands, and the body of a human, and hooved feet. Their fur and wild hair typically ranges from brown to black. The fur often covers forearms, chest, abdomen, and legs. Males are referred to as bulls and reach up to 9 feet in height, while females – cows, are similar in appearance, with broader hips, humanoid breasts, and reach only 7 feet tall.
Minotaur bodies are of similar shape and build to that of an ogre. Their hands are huge and strong, ending in thick sharp yellow nails. Minotaurs are known to use claws in battle, but they are brittle and do not survive heavy use. Despite their heads being that of a bull, there are subtle differences in features between mundane beasts and minotaurs. Some are known to have cow-like tails; however, that trait is not common. Their snouts are thicker and longer than that of an animal, and bull-men have sharp carnivore teeth. Their canines are especially noticeable, and minotaurs never hesitate to bite their victims, prey, and opponents. Lastly, unlike bovines, minotaurs' eyes are positioned closer 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 – are very similar to normal bulls', slightly curving forward. Both males and females have similarly shaped huge horns. However, males' are longer and thicker on average. There are several horn coloring variations, and sometimes as many as three colors can be present. Minotaurs with dark fur often have dark yellow or brown horns. The shortest horns are around 1 foot and can reach up to three times that length.

Genetics and Reproduction

Like humans, minotaurs procreate throughout the year. However, as a society, they are guided by the need to replenish their numbers rather than emotions. A typical cow produces one calf; twins are a rare possibility and are considered a religious blessing among minotaurs (sometimes an ill omen). Minotaurs mature much faster than humans: a two-year-old calf has fully formed horns and can kill an orc in combat, a five-year-old minotaur towers over other humanoids, and by their tenth year - minotaurs are considered adults. Minotaurs are capable of procreation as early as three years old in some cases. Culturally, birthing a strong male warrior is considered the height of aspirations for a minotaur cow, while a bull aspires to father as many calves as possible.
Minotaurs can procreate through mating among each other or with a woman of another humanoid, compatible race. Children born out of that union are always male minotaurs.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Minotaurs are always ravenously hungry, a trait that only fuels their aggression. The youth show little affection towards their mothers and fathers. Older females receive no special treatment and are respected as long as they remain strong and physically superior to the youths. Overall, their society is patriarchal, and those females who are physically weaker than other members of the tribes are treated not much better than slaves. Younger minotaurs often stay out of the way of older males just to avoid conflicts and brutal assertions of dominance. Adult minotaurs consume copious amounts of alcohol and duel over most things: treasures, females, power. Polygamy is common as bulls seek to father a great number of children. In some minotaur communities, males assemble harems of six to seven cows. In some fringe cases, infanticide is practiced in cases when a calf is born with physical deformities. Slavery is not unheard of. Some males keep weaker creatures as slaves while females are put in charge and allowed to take out their frustrations on their bulls' slaves. Despite that, minotaurs dislike torture. Despite minotaurs' general brutality, they have the capability to be kind and empathetic.
A typical minotaur leader, also known as the elder, is the biggest and strongest bull in the tribe, which does not necessarily mean the most intelligent leader. The tribe's elder leads his fellow bulls into raids. Solitary minotaurs are a common occurrence, however, a clan can have around eight members.
Minotaur youth are taught to fight and master weapons at an early age. In the minotaur society, combat education is done by parents and fellow male tribe members. Even while playing, minotaur children spend most of their time wrestling and fighting each other. Male calves develop brutal and cruel rivalries amongst each other from earliest childhood, and these feuds are encouraged by the adults.
Minotaurs are proud of their horns and often spend their free time sharpening, cleaning, and polishing them with old rags or furs. In some minotaur societies, the color of their horns determines their status within the community and attractiveness. In minotaur tribes that prefer darker-colored horns, individuals often use oils and polishes to artificially darken them. Decorations are common as well. Brass and silver tacks and spikes are used to accentuate the horns' natural appeal. Repaired severed horns are common in tribes with talented crafters or skilled allies who know how to work metals. After a duel, the winner customarily takes the left horn of their opponent, often leaving the opponent maimed and badly injured. These horns are hollowed out and turned into wind musical instruments, and stronger individuals often own several.
Apart from horn decorations, minotaurs rarely wear any other type of jewelry. The closest to what humans consider decorations among minotaurs are fanciful girdles or gauntlets. Sages speculate that minotaurs are known to easily adapt traditions and norms from other races and societies in lieu of their own culture. Of course, those cultural norms that are aimed at aggression and intimidation are highly preferred and emulated.
Many minotaurs worship the demon lord Baphomet and keep themselves, and their society, secluded. Most are inclined to evil and chaotic acts and do not work well in groups, packs, or even parties due to their solitary hunter-like nature. Levels of reverence and even religious traditions vary greatly among different minotaur communities.
Priests decorate their horns with carved pictograms. The images are filled with blood to darken the designs, and finally, the horns are stained with yellowing agents. Instead of priestly garb, minotaur priests decorate their bodies with soil, dirt, plant matter, and blood spilled in battle. Gnoll blood is the preferred decoration for a reason known to none but priests themselves. The worship is centered on sacrificial ceremonies that take place in the heart of labyrinthine minotaur homes, adorned with bones of precious victims. The most common sacrifice is a human. Minotaur clerics receive little respect apart from the respect earned through physical strength. However, horns collected from defeated bull priests are considered extremely valuable.
Death is not feared in minotaur society. On the contrary, death is considered to be a holy event. Minotaurs think good death to be quick, clean, and in a rush of battle. Honor kills are a staple of minotaurs' cultural and religious creed.
Arcane spellcasting is extremely rare among minotaurs as most lack the curiosity to pursue the art. Minotaurs can be easily fooled by wizardly spells. However, if the duping is discovered, the magic and its caster are treated with extreme prejudice. Divine magics granted to clerics are seldom of healing nature, instead, being battle-focused. Magics such as Bull's Strength are the most used. Magic items hold little value for most minotaurs and are traded away for other valuables or alcohol most of the time.
Minotaurs are most likely found in their underground labyrinthine homes, dungeons, or thickest of forests. Sometimes evil wizards are known to place a clan of minotaurs inside a labyrinth and feed them interlopers and adventurers. There, minotaurs' innate sense of direction prevent them from getting lost. They often make their money by plundering and raiding passers by, but also seek employment as mercenaries, fighters, and servants. Minotaurs are also often kept as slaves by Darklands inhabitants.
The origin of the minotaur species is unknown. However, some speculate that Geryon molded the first bull-men out of ogres. This claim is quite dubious as minotaurs never utter Geryon's name and only swear or praise Baphomet. Another theory is that the first especially devote cultists of Baphomet the Horned King were transformed into minotaurs as this transformation is considered the highest honor in the Demon Lord's church. Yet another myth talks about the Lady of Pain, the mysterious power that rules over Sigil. These tales claim that the first minotaurs were created by her to guard the Lady's many magical planar maze prisons. Yet one more legend claims that minotaurs were created by some curse placed on a human fighter who wanted to be "as strong as a bull" for "crimes against the natural order". The same school of thought mistakingly believes that minotaurs are exclusively male.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

When interacting with other races, minotaurs get along well with ogres. They respect giants and trolls for their strength. Smaller humanoids, such as humans, elves, dwarves, and others, are considered beneath minotaurs in all senses of the word. Bulls cannot, or don't care enough to, distinguish one humanoid from another. Gnolls and minotaurs hate each other and immediately attack each other on sight.

Alternate Racial Traits

Replaces Dungeoneer

Naturalist

Some minotaurs prefer plains and nature over caves and structures. They receive a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (Nature) checks and can make those checks untrained. This trait replaces Dungeoneer.

Replaces Cunning

Improved Bull Rush

The minotaur gains Improved Bull Rush as a bonus feat at 1st level. This trait replaces Cunning.

Nature Resistance

A minotaur with nature resistance gains a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poisons and effects that would entangle them. They also have acid and electricity resistance 5. This trait replaces Cunning.

Favored Class Options

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, minotaurs have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored class. The following options are available to all minotaurs who have the listed favored class.

Barbarian: The barbarian gains 1/6 of a barbarian power.
Bard: The bard can inspire courage for 1 additional round each day.
Cleric: Add +1 to the amount of damage the cleric deals to undead creatures with channel energy.
Druid: Gain energy resistance 1 against acid, cold, electricity, or fire. Each time the druid selects this reward, increase her resistance to one of these energy types by 1 (maximum 10 for any one type).
Fighter: Choose the bull rush or overrun combat maneuver. Add +1/3 to the fighter’s CMB when attempting this maneuver (maximum bonus of +4).
Hunter: The hunter’s animal companion gains a +1/4 luck bonus on saving throws. If the hunter replaces her animal companion, the new animal companion gains this bonus.
Monk: Add +1 to the monk’s CMD when resisting a grapple and +1/3 to the number of stunning attack attempts per day.
Paladin: Add +1 to the amount of damage the paladin deals with smite evil, but only when the paladin uses that ability on an undead creature.
Ranger: Add +1 hit point to the ranger’s animal companion. If the minotaur ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points.
Shaman: Add +1/4 to the natural armor bonus of the shaman’s spirit animal.
Warpriest: Add 1/3 to the number of times per day the warpriest can use blessings, but he can only use these additional uses on blessings that affect weapons or armor.

Racial Feats

The following feats are available to a minotaur character who meets the prerequisites.

• Improved Powerful Stomp
• Warrior's Stomp

Racial Traits

+4 Strength, –2 Intelligence, –2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma
Minotaurs are strong and capable, rivaling the strength of orcs.

Minotaur
Minotaurs are humanoids with the minotaur subtype.

Medium
Minotaurs are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Normal Speed
Minotaurs have a base speed of 30 feet.

Darkvision
Minotaurs can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.

Cunning
Minotaurs gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects, and effects that would physically trap them, such as Forcecage or Imprison. They also get a +2 racial bonus to Intelligence checks to make their way through labyrinths or Maze effects.

Dungeoneer
Minotaurs receive a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (Dungeoneering) checks and can make those checks untrained.

Horns
Minotaurs gain a primary natural gore attack that deals 1d6 points of piercing damage. This is a secondary attack if a loxodon wields a manufactured weapon.

Powerful Stomp
Minotaurs have strength enough in their legs to stomp the ground, creating a thunder clap capable of making their enemies falter momentarily. As a standard action, the minotaur stomps the ground, causing each creature within 5 feet of it to become shaken for 1 round. A successful Reflex save (DC 10 + half the minotaur’s character level + its Strength modifier) negates the effect. After the minotaur has used this ability, it must wait 1d4 + 1 rounds before doing so again.

Sprinter
Minotaurs gain a +10 foot racial bonus to their speed when using the charge, run, or withdraw actions.

Languages
Minotaurs begin play speaking Common and Giant. Minotaurs with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Aklo, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnomish, Orcish, or Sylvan.

Average Lifespan
40 years

Average Height
7 ft. 0 in. – 9 ft. 0 in.

Average Weight
400 – 500 lbs.