Minotaur
FOOTSTEPS WETLY SLAP ACROSS THE TILED FLOOR. A young woman slides to stop into a wall, another dead end. Nerissa was running out of time, she could hear it in the distance. CLOP! ...CLOP! ...CLOP! It was getting closer, the beast of the labyrinth was almost upon her. She had to get out, she had to live. Otherwise, they’ll never know. She turned the corner swiftly and-
Bullheaded Wayfinders
Minotaurs are known as terrifying beastmen who live in labyrinths. While this is often true, it does not paint the whole picture. Minotaurs have an unparalleled spacial memory.
To a minotaur, its pride, not its honor, is everything. As such, minotaurs rarely seek help from others and often live alone. To insult a minotaur is to invite its terrible anger.
Children of the Beast
Originating as the spawn of the demon lord of beasts and labyrinths, Baphomet, minotaurs are a surprisingly complex race. Minotaurs, much like their demonic progenitor, appear as bipedal bulls, however, despite this appearance, minotaurs are in fact carnivorous.
Their propensity towards a diet exclusively of meat and aggressive tendencies have led them to be declared monsters by the common folk.
Kindred Spirits
Unlike the civilised races, minotaurs never bothered developing any sort of farming.
Agriculture itself was never considered as minotaurs rely on a diet of meat, and animal husbandry was disregarded as minotaurs regarded the chase vital for its food, and to rely on another for heavy lifting is regarded as weakness.
Furthermore, minotaurs look upon livestock such as horses and cows with pity, frequently releasing them from their captors.
The Kingdom of the Lost and Found
Despite their independent streak, minotaurs do not all strike it out alone. While not particularly large, minotaurs are known to form settlements from time to time.
These groups may not particularly be related as young minotaurs are known to leave their homes to find their own ways in life, before settling down, likely elsewhere. Furthermore, these settlements rarely go over a hundred members, leaving them small and tightly knit.
While minotaurs do not seek out maxes to reside in, they do often form them over time, treading peculiar paths or tunnelling absurd networks into mountains. Looking at the roads of an overground minotaur settlement is an exercise in madness, however, as they do not make any logical sense, often meandering as opposed to going point to point.
Large Player Characters
This race has size of large, and by extention, its speed and horn damage is increased to compensate.
In order to compensate for balance issues that would arise from these facts, it is recommended that you use the author's rules for Large Player Characters.
Names
Minotaurs often have names consisting of a series of short hard or guttural sounds. There hardly any notable difference in names between males and females as such things are of little importance for matters short of reproduction.
Minotaurs do not have clan names, due to their independent nature, they do not like to be burdened by such things and it would change often. Rather they don various epithets associated with their deeds (good or bad).
Names: Asternor, Gren, Logrem, Kardun, Rid-Okk, Rutmulag, Zendemak
Epithets: Bear-Eater, the Lost, Orc-Breaker, Rockcrusher, Soul-Thief, Shark-Catcher
Minotaur Traits
The following traits are shared by player characters who are minotaurs.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2.
Alignment. Minotaurs are often independent spirits, leading them to chaotic alignments.
Size. Minotaurs average at about 9 feet in height, and they have strong, stocky builds, weighing about 700 pounds. Your size is Large.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Horns. Your horns are natural melee weapons, with which you're proficient. When you hit with them, the target takes piercing damage equal to 1d8 + your Strength modifier.
Charge. If you make a melee attack, immediately after you move at least 20 feet in a straight line, you can make that attack with advantage.
Hybrid Nature. You have two creature types: humanoid and monstrosity. You can be affected by a game effect if it works on either of your creature types.
Labyrinthine Recall. You can perfectly recall any path you have travelled.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.
Subraces. There are three types of minotaur, the more common Shorthorn, and the less common Ghost Bull and Labyrinthine Minotaurs.
Shorthorn Minotaur
By far the most common variant of minotaur, and yet possibly, the most dangerous. These minotaurs are more likely to be found in their lair of choice.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Hammering Horns. Immediately after you hit a creature with a melee attack as part of the Attack action on your turn, you can attempt to shove that creature with your horns using your reaction.
The creature must be no more than one size larger than you and within 5 feet of you. It must make a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier. If it fails, you push it up to 5 feet away from you.
Ghost Bull
These stark-white beasts are among the rarest of their kind. These albino minotaurs are said to read one's soul. Due to superstition, ghost bulls are feared by their brethren.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Soul Sight. Your eyes pierce through the veils between life and death.
You know instinctively if a creature is alive, dead, dying, or undead. This ability has no effect on non-living creatures, such as constructs.
Additionally, as a bonus action, your sight can pass into the ethereal plane until the start of your next turn.
Labyrinthine Minotaur
Technically a type of tiefling, these minotaurs drink more deeply from their demonic progenitor than the rest of their kin. These minotaurs are noticeably larger than their other kin, with blood-red fur and glowing eyes, they are fearsome to behold.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2.
Abyssal Fortitude. Your hit point maximum increases by half your level (minimum 1
Burning Stare. You have proficiency in the Intimidate skill.
Minotaur Height and Weight
| Race | Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minotaur | 8'6" | +2d6 | 680 lbs. | x1d6 |
Credits
Designed by d'Artagnan on DMs Guild, /u/dArtagnanDnD on reddit, or dArtagnanDnD on patreon and dArtagnanDnD on Twitter.
- Made with "GM Binder".
- Made with reference and for use with Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, created by Wizards of the Coast.
- Smelt Ward Minotaur, by Wisnu Tan
