Minotaurs

Minotaurs are barrel-chested half-giants averaging 3m tall and with heads resembling those of bulls. Their horns range in size from about 0.30 m long to great, curling weapons easily three times that length. They often ornament their horns with metal rings or sheathe them in metal to protect them from damage. Manes of shaggy fur extend down minotaurs’ necks and powerful backs, and males have long tufts of hair on their chins and cheeks. Their legs end in heavy, cloven hooves. Minotaurs are born with long, tufted tails, but minotaurs of the warrior cast (and some others) have their tails docked as part of a coming-of-age ceremony; they find the heavy-plated armor typical of the tribal warrior cast much more comfortable without a long tail in the way. Minotaurs are zealous and love battle, they tend to vent their outrage through violence but aren’t generally quick to anger. They are passionate, loving their friends and partners fiercely, and they laugh loud and long at good jokes. Minotaurs live for only 50 years on average but develop faster than most other races reaching full physical maturity at 10 years old.

Minotaur casts

Minotaurs are divided into casts, not at birth, but upon reaching adulthood at the age of 10. During their communal upbringing, they are quickly divided into different groups depending on their aptitudes and sometimes their tribe's necessities. The casts are divided thusly, the lowest are the workers, then the warrior cast, and finally the shaman cast. Workers are the most numerous they do almost anything in their tribal societies from agriculture and husbandry to construction and craftsmanship. Warriors train constantly in periods of peace and then leaed the tribe during war. Shamans study both mundane concepts such as medicine or history and arcane ones such as the magical arts, they also form the tribal council that governs the tribe. Education of the children is done communally first by shamans then by other casts when specialized education is required in a system similar to apprenticeship. Even if the minotaur cast of warriors is especially suited for war, almost all minotaurs fight during large conflicts and most want to fight and are capable fighters due to their strong militaristic cultue.

Minotaur tribes

Minotaurs are divided first into 6 major tribes dependent on their patron god and then if necessary into smaller sub-tribes to solve overpopulation problems. Minotaur tribes are guided by a council of shamans, all shamans of the tribe can participate in this council, and every 5 years a high shaman is elected by the council to govern the tribe. In times of war a chieftain from the warrior cast is selected to govern the tribe for the duration of the conflict, this has given rise to a warmongering culture where powerful warlords push to be always at war in order to keep their political power. Minotaur tribes are semi-permanent settlements, walls with walkable roofs are built from wood and the buildings of the tribes are either solid wooden buildings or simpler hide tents depending on their importance, the tribes move their settlement only when they feel scarcity in their current region.

Religion

Minotaurs believe in the gigantic pantheon of the ancient giants and worship the sons of Annam and Othea(they do not recognize the nameless pigmy as one of the children of Anaham), each tribe worships one of the 6 sons as their Patreon God. They also value highly their ancient heroes of legend, but they do not worship them as gods. Minotaurs see war as the highest form of worship to their gods.

Economy

Minotaurs' economy is more advanced than the other tribes of Uxal, featuring both agriculture and husbandry, as well as more advanced forms of craftsmanship, minotaurs only trade with other minotaurs. Minotaurs are strictly carnivorous creatures so their agriculture is only used to sustain their husbandry of local bovines, ovines, poultry, and porcine species, they also hunt a lot.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

The legends that recount the deeds of ancient minotaur heroes are full of other names as well: those of the retainers, allies, lovers, servants, enemies, and others who played roles, however small, in the lives of the heroes. Almost every minotaur name is drawn from that long list of minor characters of legend so that those folk are never forgotten.
Female Names: Akra, Bolsa, Cica, Dakka, Drakisla, Eleska, Enka, Irnaya, Jaska, Kalka, Makla, Noraka, Pesha, Raisha, Sokali, Takyat, Vrokya, Veska, Yelka, Zarka, Zoka.

Masculine names

The legends that recount the deeds of ancient minotaur heroes are full of other names as well: those of the retainers, allies, lovers, servants, enemies, and others who played roles, however small, in the lives of the heroes. Almost every minotaur name is drawn from that long list of minor characters of legend so that those folk are never forgotten.
Alovnek, Brogmir, Brozhdar, Dornik, Drakmir, Drazhan, Grozdan, Kalazmir, Klattic, Melislek, Nirikov, Prezhlek, Radolak, Rugilar, Sarovnek, Svarakov, Trovik, Vraslak, Yarvem.

Family names

Minotaur legends describe a small pantheon of heroes—perhaps they were once thought of as gods—who established the minotaurs’ place in the world. Every minotaur in Uxal claims descent from one of these heroes. Since each family line has so many members, minotaurs don’t usually find it helpful to connect the name of the line to their personal names, preferring to use the name of their tribe as their second name.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The minotaur language is derived from ancient giant, it uses the same alphabet and is similar enough that someone knowing one would understand most of the other, the language is also similar enough to the goliath one to be understood. Minotaurs have only one deep literary tradition, the legends of their ancient heroes, other than that written language is used only for practical purposes chiefly war logistics and shamanic magic.

Shared customary codes and values

Minotaurs value honor, order, and courage, they are deeply defensive of their laws and customs and strongly conservative. For minotaurs, war is sacred, a form of religious ritual to honor their gods, and is fought with both conventional and well-understood tactics doctrines, and formation and single individual heroic efforts.
A popular minotaur war taunt "Kom, soth meg wo dnach val raser mog dun mishphodt kahn" roughly translates to "Come, show me what passes for fury/wrath among your misbegotten kin/clan/race"