Minotaurs

Origins:
Minotaurs were once noble and proud beings, allies of the forces of light, especially the centaurs. They played a significant role in the early days of Nathakra’s formation, known for their strength and honor. However, during the First Great War of the realm nearly 5,000 years ago, they were defeated, enslaved, and driven mad by the Lord of the Underworld. This corruption turned them into brutal servants of darkness, and they have since lived to serve their dark masters.

Physical Appearance:
Minotaurs are imposing creatures with the head and hind legs of a bull and the torso of a man. Their bodies are heavily muscled, designed for power and endurance. They stand tall and are covered in coarse fur, usually dark brown or black. Their bull-like heads feature large, curved horns, and their eyes burn with an intense, feral rage.

• Height: 7 to 9 feet tall
• Weight: 400 to 600 pounds

Social Structure and Hierarchy:
In their corrupted state, Minotaurs are organized into brutal warbands, each led by the strongest and most ferocious among them. These leaders, often called Warlords, command absolute obedience from their followers. Strength and the ability to inspire fear are the primary factors in their hierarchy. However, their original societal structure, which valued honor and wisdom, has been all but forgotten.

Behavior and Culture:
Minotaurs are now known for their brutality and savagery. They relish combat and take pleasure in destruction, often acting as the vanguard in assaults by the forces of darkness. Their once-noble culture has been eroded by centuries of enslavement and madness. They are feared on the battlefield, known for their relentless and overwhelming charges.

However, it is not widely known that a small sect of Minotaurs was able to escape captivity. This group, untouched by the Lord of the Underworld’s corruption, has retained their reverence for nature and the old ways, similar to the Centaurs. They have hidden themselves away, and no one has seen or heard from them in centuries, leading many to believe they are a myth.

Traits and Abilities:

• Brute Strength: Minotaurs possess incredible physical power, making them formidable in close combat. Their strength allows them to wield large weapons like axes and hammers with ease.
• Battlefield Prowess: A single Minotaur is said to have the strength of ten men, making them terrifying opponents in war. Their charges can break through enemy lines, and their endurance allows them to fight long after others would have fallen.
• Rage-Fueled Combat: Their madness and rage fuel their combat abilities, giving them an almost berserk quality in battle. The more blood they spill, the stronger and more frenzied they become.
• Honed Instincts: Despite their lack of cunning, Minotaurs have sharp instincts for battle and survival. They can sense fear in their enemies and use it to their advantage.

Psychological Traits:
The corruption of the Lord of the Underworld has left Minotaurs with a deep-seated rage and madness. They are driven by an insatiable bloodlust, finding joy only in destruction. However, remnants of their old selves sometimes surface, leading to moments of confusion or hesitation, especially when confronted with symbols of their lost honor.

Habitat:
Minotaurs primarily reside in the dark and desolate regions of Nathakra, often near the strongholds of their dark masters. Their lairs are usually found in labyrinthine caves or ruined fortresses, places that reflect the chaos in their minds. The small sect that escaped captivity is rumored to dwell in hidden groves and deep forests, far from the influence of darkness.

Languages:
Minotaurs speak a guttural, harsh language known as Minotauran, which is as brutal and direct as their nature. Those still loyal to the darkness also speak Infernal, the language of their dark masters.

The hidden sect of Minotaurs is said to have retained knowledge of the Old Tongue, the language of their ancestors, which includes reverence for nature and the ancient ways.