Minotaur, Spire

The Spire Minotaur are smaller and more intelligent than their brutish cousins from a different plane. Their fur is less course yet more shaggy and curly with a wider range of coloration, from light yellow, brown and grey to deep shades of near black. A Spire Minotaur has goat like eyes with horizontal pupils, the Iris coloration ranges from gold to reddish black and the sclera is pinkish red. Horns jut from the side of the Minotaurs bull like head, just in front of their long bovine ears and can be either straight or curled. Much pride and care is put into a Spire Minotaurs horns which are carefully polished and can be adored with caps of precious metals or other baubles depending on the individual. Spire Minotaur retain their ancestors ability to navigate mazes with absolute direction sense and eidetic memories. It is known that Minotaurs were the first sapient species to arrive on Spire, though it's not quite known when or where they truly originated. It is theorized that there were a sort of Proto-Portal that would randomly appear in dungeons and mazes on Prime Material Planes, usually inhabited by Minotaur of various types. Though this effect seems to have ceased by unknown means.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Spire Minotaur are smaller and weaker than their larger cousins, this allows them easier access to tight spaces while retaining the minotaur abilitys to navigate mazes with amazing accuracy.

Genetics and Reproduction

Minotaur cows can birth up to two offspring after a 9 month gestation cycle.

Growth Rate & Stages

Spire Minotaur are physically mature by the age of 14 but learn at a rate similar to humans and other humanoid races. Their lifespan is longer than a humans, living about 150 years.

Ecology and Habitats

Spire Minotaur prefer the halls and hidden places of Spire, but more have begun to live near or even with the other civilizations that inhabit Spire.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Spire Minotaur are omnivores with a preference for meat. They have pronounced canines but retain grinding teeth for tougher plant matter.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Spire Minotaur society favors a clan Patriarch backed up by the head Matriarch which are usually a mated pair.  Such a post is won not only in contests of strength but contests of intelligence and emotional control. Younger Minotaurs train and play extensively in order to compete later in life for the various clan positions they wish to hold.

Facial characteristics

Bovine like facial features, though softened and more humanoid than purely bovine.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Spire Minotaur almost exclusively inhabit Spire. however there are a few individuals who have gone through Grand Portals to different worlds and have never returned. It is known that their Absolute Direction Sense will orient itself to an equivalent on any world they visit, though the adjustment period can be very uncomfortable to the Minotaur.

Average Intelligence

About human average with the usual variation amongst individuals.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Eidetic memories relating to their physical surroundings and a perfect direction sense In relation to the exact center of Spire at all times.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Male Minotaur use a three syllable structure in their names such as Urd-kur-mug (Urdkurmug) or Il-sem-tyn (Ilsemtyn) each syllable in the Minotaur language stands for an aspect of their personality or where they were born. Female Minotaur use much the same structure, save they have a 2 by 2 Syllable naming structure, giving them two names. Ie: Lim-Kor Pen-Yat (Limkor Penyat or Ab-Dra Wer-Lyk. (Abdra Werlyk). Full names are always used and never abbreviated as this is considered an insult.

Major Organizations

Spire Minotaur are respected amongst the Exploration and Navigation guilds. A bull or cow can make a living as guides and bodyguards, escorting people from one place to another. Some Minotaur have become very powerful in such organizations, even rising to the very top ranks.

Common Dress Code

Minotaurs have a very humanoid level of modesty, preferring kilts and vests amongst males and slightly longer dresses and loose halters or chest wraps amongst the females.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Minotaur culture is one of contest, strength and challenge, stemming from their ancestry and refined through their growing intelligence. a challenge need not be purely physical but a challenge of intelligence or emotional ability might be put forth between two competing Minotaur.

History

Spire Minotaur can trace their linage back to several, widely separated Grand Portals many thousands of years ago. Then they were brutish and dimwitted. However the different sources of their creations allowed them to intermingle and grow as an integrated species, naturally eliminating many negative traits as they evolved to live on Spire. It is considered true that Minotaur were the first sapient species to arrive on Spire.
Origins of different Progenitor Minotaur species include: Godborne/Created, Cursed individuals, Magically modified from Bovine Stock (non-cursed), Magically Modified from Humanoid Stock (non-cursed)

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Spire Minotaur get along well with other humanoid and some non-humanoid races. Given their abilities and numbers on Spire they proceed with a level of caution when dealing with the organizations and governments that have grown large.

Lifespan

150 years

Average Height

1.8 meters to 2.2 Meters max

Average Weight

100kg to 135kg

Average Physique

Strongly built and muscular, but not as huge as their larger cousins. Their muscle mass tends to be corded and more lithe than slab like. The addition of shaggy fur also softens their features somewhat.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Minotaurs can range in fur coloration from light yellow, brown and grey to shades of nearly black. Markings and include different color splotches and sometimes stripes.