Minotaurs are the descendants of an ancient tribe of humans who were cursed by the gods, transforming them into half-human, half-bull monstrosities. Although they are widely dismissed as unthinking brutes, they are in fact as diverse and as intelligent as any other species.

Legend of the Minotaurs#

Over a thousand years ago, a tribe of humans washed ashore in Thylea and came to live in the the Western Heartlands. Here, they laid foundations for a city and called it Minos. But not one man or woman among them had the strength to till the hard, rocky soil. As fate would have it, they discovered a magnificent bull that could pull a plow through any terrain for days without resting. Using the bull’s great strength, they were able to produce bountiful crops with which to survive the first winter.

Over time, the people of the tribe began to venerate the bull, crowning him as the god of the harvest. When Sydon learned of this, he was furious. He threw curses down upon the settlers and transformed them into bulls, in mockery of their insolence. Each of them was harnessed to a plow and forced to tread the same winding, geometric path, until that path became a deep, labyrinthian gorge. Eventually, the plows broke, and the people of Minos slowly began to stand upright again— but their faces had been forever changed by the curse.

The people of the tribe came to be called minotaurs— the bulls of Minos—and they have never fully shed their bull-like demeanors. Some of them merely have horns and a snout-like nose, while others have the entire upper torso of a bull. Some continued to dwell in the labyrinth, while others left to explore the far reaches of Thylea. Over the centuries, they have come to view their own cursed existence as the will of the Fates.

Warrior Bulls#

Minotaurs possess uncommon strength, making them excellent warriors. The curse infuses their bodies with the power of a bull at all times, and their muscles seldom relax, even when they are drunk or asleep. In battle, minotaurs sometimes lose control of their emotions and fly into a rage. When this happens, the curse takes over, transforming them back into a full-fledged bull for a short period of time.

Oathbound Slaves#

Minotaurs are widely shunned, because they are believed to be unthinking brutes who have been cursed by the gods. Most minotaurs gather together to form small farming or fishing communities, far from civilization. The only way that most minotaurs can find work in cities and villages is to swear oaths of service that effectively reduce them to the status of slaves. Many bear this humiliation with stoic grit, but others resort to banditry rather than submit to the unreasonable demands of cowardly superstition.

Minotaur Names#

Minotaurs generally prefer names that are short and simple. They typically punctuate their names with a snort or a sharp exhalation of air through their nostrils. When someone omits this part of their name, they become annoyed.

• Names: Arxan, Braz, Dregxa, Elagore, Garnox, Horus, Kath, Luth, Manx, Parth, Raxus, Steth, Torag, Zark

Minotaur Traits#

Minotaurs have the following special traits.

Keen Snout**.** You have a delicate nose. You gain proficiency in the Investigation skill and can detect strong odors from up to six miles away.

Labyrinthine Vision**.** ou have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet and when you make an ability check to solve a maze or maze-like puzzle, you can use a total of 15 plus your Proficiency Bonus instead of rolling. Additionally, you automatically pass the saving throw for the Hypnotic Pattern spell. Finally, you have Advantage on skill checks and saving throws against illusions that rely on sight.

Colorblindness**.** You see the world in shades of red and gray, leaving you incapable of discerning any color except for very bright reds.

Cursed Transformation**.** You can take a Bonus Action to cast the Polymorph spell on yourself without expending a spell slot or requiring Concentration. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it. You must choose the Bull statblock. At character level 9, you can choose the Dire Bull statblock as well.

You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus and regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Starting at level 9, when you use this ability, you transform into a Dire Bull instead of a bull.

Powerful Build. You have Advantage on any ability check you make to end the Grappled condition. You also count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity.