Minotaurs (and Half-Minotaurs) of Taladas

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Nael

Taladan Minotaurs

The minotaurs of Taladas are descendants of minotaur raiders and sailors from Ansalon, yet the first minotaurs are actually creatures of Taladas. When the Graygem first made its appearance on Taladas, it changed a large contingent of ogres into the first minotaurs. True Ogres, already seeing the signs of their eventual deterioration into what we would consider modern ogres, viciously and aggressively began to purge the "abominations" from their midst. Fleeing from their cousins, the remnants of the new minotaur race fled across the steppes of the Tamire, the minotaurs eventually found themselves on the coast of Northern Hosk. Commandeering many small coastal trading ships the minotaurs fled south along the coast, until they were blown out to sea near the spine of Taladas. From here the minotaurs received a crash course in navigation and seamanship from Zeboim herself as she threw devastating storm after storm at the beleaguered Minotaurs. Calling on Sargas (Sargonnas), the ogre god of vengeance and strength, the minotaurs impressed Sargonnas as they didn't ask for help, only the strength to endure so that they may confront their enemies. After the Cataclysm the minotaurs took to the sea and founded a great sea going kingdom, it is from this kingdom that one Eragas the Mighty, an exile from his home of Kothas, discovered the vulnerable communities on the sea coast of Southern Hosk. In a series of lightning raids, Eragas and his crew conquered the poorly defended encampments of humans, and declared himself Emperor. The minotaurs have held sway, conquering and forcing into submission nearly all their neighbors, the minotaurs have created an empire to rival anything on the face of Krynn.

Personality: Taladan minotaurs are much like their Ansalonian counterparts; however, they are more sophisticated, and in most cases, better educated, than any minotaur of Ansalon. Taladan minotaurs are still a warrior culture and as such are the same as the minotaurs detailed on page 42-43 of the Dragonlance Campaign Setting (DLCS).

Appearance: Taladan minotaurs are much like their Ansalonian counterparts in appearance. However the shades of minotaur fur do tend to be lighter, with less of the "dairy cow" patterns. But otherwise remain the same as the description found on page 43 of the DLCS.

Relations: The Minotaurs of the League are more cosmopolitan than Ansalonian minotaurs; all races that accept league protection are considered equal, under the law, with minotaurs being slightly more equal than non-minotaurs. But due to the expansionistic mindset, the Minotaurs of the League inevitably come into conflict with their neighbors. But stereotypically, many minotaurs of common descent still hold to the outlook detailed on page 43 of the DLCS.

Alignment: The Minotaurs of the League are a very lawfully aligned people; however, the minotaurs are morally more neutral than evil, but the tendencies of evil still affect them today. Few minotaurs are truly good, but there are rare exceptions.

Minotaur lands: Minotaurs are the undisputed masters of the league. The League covers most of the area of Southern Hosk and Thenol, and portions of Northern Hosk as well.

Religion: As per the entry on page 43 of the DLCS with the following exceptions. Jolith the Warrior (Kiri-Jolith) is openly worshipped with very little complaint from the priests of Sargas, as are the gods Zeboim and Habbakuk the Sea Lord. Unlike the Minotaurs of Ansalon, Shinare (seen in the guise of a male minotaur) is also popular among the merchant classes and some noble families.

Language: The Minotaurs of the League speak a mixture of Kothian and Auric. As minotaurs travel extensively throughout the league either in service to the military or on trading concerns, the minotaurs frequently learn the languages of their neighbors, their reasoning, who knows they may be citizens in a week or two.

Names: Minotaur naming conventions are still the same as those listed on page 43 of the DLCS.

Adventures: As listed on page 43 of the DLCS.

Minotaur Racial Traits
As per the entry on page 43 of the DLCS with the following exceptions:

• Automatic languages: Minotaurs are familiar only with Kothian and League common at first level.
• Favored class: Fighter, mariner or noble.

Half-Minotaurs

Only among the empire's fringes will one encounter a half-minotaur, and only very rarely. Most half-minotaurs are unfortunately the result of a violent encounter between a minotaur male and a human female, much like some unfortunate half-elves.

Personality: Half-minotaurs tend to be solitary creatures, living on the fringes of society. Many half-minotaurs share personality traits with their close cousins the half-ogres, as detailed on page 43 of the DLCS.

Physical Description: Half-minotaurs resemble the minotaur parent more than the human parent on average. Half-minotaurs have a shorter less prominent snout; many humans think that the half-minotaur has a bison-like visage more than the normal bovine. Half-minotaurs also tend to be shaggier than true minotaurs, with fur almost always of a darker shade. Half-minotaurs also have shorter horns than true minotaurs, with a male's horns rarely longer than 6 inches, and a female's horns are normally little more than stubs of 3 inches or less. Half-minotaurs also unlike the true minotaur parent have human-like feet, with thick hornlike toenails, instead of the elongated hooves. There are rare instances when the half-minotaur, resembles the human parent, in those instances use the description for a half ogre raised within a human culture. A typical half-minotaur stands 6 to 7 feet tall with thick corded musculature. Large dark eyes are also prominent.

Relations: Half-minotaurs are much like half-ogres (page 41 of the DLCS) in regards to relations with other races; however, while true minotaurs view half-minotaurs with contempt for their mixed heritage, they do respect them for their strength and endurance against all odds.

Alignment: Usually raised by humans, and then just barely, half-minotaurs lack the strict upbringing that would normally re-enforce the minotaurs' lawful nature, so many half-minotaurs tend toward a more neutral and pragmatic outlook, with a few who are raised half wild tending toward the chaotic.

Half-Minotaur Lands: Half-minotaurs do not have a land of their own, they are however only found in isolated communities, where they are usually unwelcome by both the human and minotaur portions of society.

Religion: Like the half-ogre (DLCS page 41), half-minotaurs vary in their belief and devotion to a higher power, but many half-minotaurs raised in human communities tend to follow humanities practices. Many half-minotaurs reach out to Jolith the Warrior (Kiri-Jolith) as they see a reflection of themselves in his visage as the bison-headed warrior.

Language: Half-minotaurs nearly all speak the Language of the League, as well as the languages of the border communities in which they where raised.

Names: Half-minotaurs usually have humanized variants of minotaur names, or acquired names granted to them for their prowess at arms.

Adventurers: Like the half-ogre, most half-minotaurs become adventurers through necessity, as many are forced out into the world to find their own place. Many half-minotaurs adventure in hopes of earning the respect and acceptance into minotaur society.

Half-Minotaur Racial Traits
Half-minotaurs have the same racial traits as half-ogres listed in the DLCS page 41 and 42, with the following exceptions.

• +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma. While not as innately strong as their minotaur parent, the half-minotaur is generally more robust and dexterous; however, like their minotaur parent, half-minotaurs focus more on the physical than the cerebral and lack many social graces.
• Natural Attack: Like their minotaur parent, half-minotaurs have a natural attack as detailed on page 43 of the DLCS.
• Half-minotaurs, like the minotaur parent may take the Scent special quality as a feat.
• Unlike true minotaurs, few half-minotaurs are familiar with the sea or ships, but unlike the true Minotaurs of the League, half-minotaurs receive a +4 bonus to all Survival checks and a +2 bonus to Intimidate checks vs. non-minotaurs.
• Automatic Languages: Half-minotaurs tend to grow up on the fringes of society or in the wilderness, so although they speak the language of the race that raised them, half-minotaurs tend to learn the languages of other outcasts, such as goblins and out league humans.
• Favored class: Barbarian or ranger. Unlike the true minotaur, half-minotaurs grow up without the formal training that normal minotaur society requires, many depend on their natural ferocity and their frontier skills to survive.

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