Minotaur realm [Archive] - Wizards Community

Minotaur realm [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sages
05-28-07, 10:24 AM Is anything known about a Minotaur realm in the underdark. I think the Labyrinth was a part of that realm. In the Underdark it also says that the savage minotaurs that now occupy the Labyrinth know nothing of their past.
Old Sage
05-28-07, 11:12 AM The only known minotaur community lies in the depths of the Northdark in an area known as the Labyrinth. It's covered briefly in one of the Perilous Gateway articles here at WotC, Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide the Underdark, Underdark, and one of the WotSQ novels.

Note also the presence of baphitaurs (basically minotaur tieflings) from the Dungeon of Death who now reside in the Labyrinth. They are detailed in Underdark.
MerrikCale
05-28-07, 12:08 PM Note also the presence of baphitaurs (basically minotaur tieflings) from the Dungeon of Death who now reside in the Labyrinth. They are detailed in Underdark.

aren't they sort of running the show down there?
sages
05-28-07, 04:47 PM In the Underdark it says that minotaurs carved a mighty realm a long time ago. It was at the same place where the Labyrinth is now. It also says that minotaurs that now occupy the Labyrinth are savages.
Is it possible that long time ago minotaurs had a organized and functional realm?
Kelmech_Ra
05-28-07, 04:58 PM In the Underdark it says that minotaurs carved a mighty realm a long time ago. It was at the same place where the Labyrinth is now. It also says that minotaurs that now occupy the Labyrinth are savages.
Is it possible that long time ago minotaurs had a organized and functional realm?

That's my guess.

Does anyone know of any minotaurs on the surface of Faerun? Where their located, how many there are?
Old Sage
05-28-07, 08:24 PM The minotaur race doesn't feature prominently in the Realms. There are of course minotaurs in Faerūn, but they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own.

We know, from Ed, that -

"Faerunian minotaurs are very rarely seen or mentioned for the same reason psionics was downplayed for so long; they’re considered essential elements of another TSR/now WotC product line (minotaurs meant Dragonlance, psionics meant Dark Sun). So while they’re in the Realms (the ‘home of everything’ for 2nd Edition D&D), we weren’t allowed to feature them in adventures or novels, or make more than passing mention of them."

and,

"Capn Charlie. I like both of your minotaur isle ideas, and yes, I have always included a FEW intelligent, refined minotaurs, though most are brutish, barbarian-level “grunting beasts.” I’ve always treated lizard men the same way; most are tribal warriors with much cunning but not a whole lot of inspirational intellect (i.e. they can learn a new weapon, trap, or battlefield danger in a hurry in a fight with PCs, but don’t lead lives of complex culture), but a few are every bit as intelligent and accomplished as most humans. This usually means that they’re smart enough to keep isolated and largely hidden from humans."

...

So while there *are* of course minotaurs in Faerūn, they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own.

That being said, most of the FR-related references to minotaurs in 1e, 2e, and 3e establish that they seem to fill mostly bodyguard or slavery roles. Fahd yn Ralan el Pesarkhal of Calimport is said to be personally guarded by a contingent of 12 minotaurs. Some Red Wizards utilise minotaurs as personal bodyguards as well. Small numbers of minotaurs are seen regularly in many slave pens of the Drow Houses of Menzoberranzan were they sometimes also double as foot soldiers when the drow go to war.

And then of course there is Taurus, the "famous" Hillsfar arena fighter, who has garnered an impressive measure of fame during his time in the arena.
MerrikCale
05-28-07, 10:03 PM so did Ed conceive of more uses for minotaurs in his original ideas, only be told that they had to go since they were so Dragonlanceish
Theogonist
05-30-07, 05:28 AM Not to forget the minotaur pirate captain from Cormyr's past - detailed in the Cormyr novel and maybe in the FRCS(?)
He was last seen in the royal cormyrian treasure chamber in Suzail... stuffed and standing in a corner IIRC.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sages 05-28-07, 10:24 AM	Is anything known about a Minotaur realm in the underdark. I think the Labyrinth was a part of that realm. In the Underdark it also says that the savage minotaurs that now occupy the Labyrinth know nothing of their past.
Old Sage 05-28-07, 11:12 AM	The only known minotaur community lies in the depths of the Northdark in an area known as the Labyrinth. It's covered briefly in one of the Perilous Gateway articles here at WotC, Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide the Underdark, Underdark, and one of the WotSQ novels. Note also the presence of baphitaurs (basically minotaur tieflings) from the Dungeon of Death who now reside in the Labyrinth. They are detailed in Underdark.
MerrikCale 05-28-07, 12:08 PM	Note also the presence of baphitaurs (basically minotaur tieflings) from the Dungeon of Death who now reside in the Labyrinth. They are detailed in Underdark. aren't they sort of running the show down there?
sages 05-28-07, 04:47 PM	In the Underdark it says that minotaurs carved a mighty realm a long time ago. It was at the same place where the Labyrinth is now. It also says that minotaurs that now occupy the Labyrinth are savages. Is it possible that long time ago minotaurs had a organized and functional realm?
Kelmech_Ra 05-28-07, 04:58 PM	In the Underdark it says that minotaurs carved a mighty realm a long time ago. It was at the same place where the Labyrinth is now. It also says that minotaurs that now occupy the Labyrinth are savages. Is it possible that long time ago minotaurs had a organized and functional realm? That's my guess. Does anyone know of any minotaurs on the surface of Faerun? Where their located, how many there are?
Old Sage 05-28-07, 08:24 PM	The minotaur race doesn't feature prominently in the Realms. There are of course minotaurs in Faerūn, but they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own. We know, from Ed, that - "Faerunian minotaurs are very rarely seen or mentioned for the same reason psionics was downplayed for so long; they’re considered essential elements of another TSR/now WotC product line (minotaurs meant Dragonlance, psionics meant Dark Sun). So while they’re in the Realms (the ‘home of everything’ for 2nd Edition D&D), we weren’t allowed to feature them in adventures or novels, or make more than passing mention of them." and, "Capn Charlie. I like both of your minotaur isle ideas, and yes, I have always included a FEW intelligent, refined minotaurs, though most are brutish, barbarian-level “grunting beasts.” I’ve always treated lizard men the same way; most are tribal warriors with much cunning but not a whole lot of inspirational intellect (i.e. they can learn a new weapon, trap, or battlefield danger in a hurry in a fight with PCs, but don’t lead lives of complex culture), but a few are every bit as intelligent and accomplished as most humans. This usually means that they’re smart enough to keep isolated and largely hidden from humans." ... So while there are of course minotaurs in Faerūn, they are not a wholly organised people with a land or nation or their own. That being said, most of the FR-related references to minotaurs in 1e, 2e, and 3e establish that they seem to fill mostly bodyguard or slavery roles. Fahd yn Ralan el Pesarkhal of Calimport is said to be personally guarded by a contingent of 12 minotaurs. Some Red Wizards utilise minotaurs as personal bodyguards as well. Small numbers of minotaurs are seen regularly in many slave pens of the Drow Houses of Menzoberranzan were they sometimes also double as foot soldiers when the drow go to war. And then of course there is Taurus, the "famous" Hillsfar arena fighter, who has garnered an impressive measure of fame during his time in the arena.
MerrikCale 05-28-07, 10:03 PM	so did Ed conceive of more uses for minotaurs in his original ideas, only be told that they had to go since they were so Dragonlanceish
Theogonist 05-30-07, 05:28 AM	Not to forget the minotaur pirate captain from Cormyr's past - detailed in the Cormyr novel and maybe in the FRCS(?) He was last seen in the royal cormyrian treasure chamber in Suzail... stuffed and standing in a corner IIRC.