Minotaur

MINOTAUR

Class: Terrestrial species

Known Representatives: Axantheas, Bas Ohn-Horak, Bas Ohn-Koraf, Cantavian, Hester, Karranus, Nordos, Platius, Quillian, Tyche, Zamere

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Nethosak, Krynn, Earth-TSR

First Appearance: (DC Comics) Dragonlance #9 (July, 1989)

Powers: Minotaurs were fierce warriors that were half-man and half-bull. They had an uncanny knack for navigating mazes.

History: (Dragonlance #9, 10) - The half-man half-bull Minotaurs were a warrior race with strong ties to the family. Lord Gunthar knighted Riva Silvercrown and gave her her own command unit. Thanks to Riva's bravery and the use of the Dragonlance the forces of good won the day. Forces of evil were still afoot, and Kitiara rallied her dragonsoldiers and looked to expand her sphere of influence to Nethosak, city of the Minotaurs. They offered the warlike Minotaurs a military alliance, and Gunthar sent Riva, Tanis Half-Elven and the elven cleric Loralon to Nethosak to counter with a trade alliance. Gunthar had chosen Tanis because he knew Kitiara's scheming ways better than anyone else because he was once her lover, and Riva was to keep her eye on him to make sure Kitiara didn't seduce him. At the meeting with Minotaur leader Bas Ohn-Horak he leaned towards Kitiara's offer, because she was a warrior and a conqueror, much like his own people. Loralon revealed that Tanis was with Ohn-Horak's brother Bas Ohn-Koraf when he perished during the War oof the Lance. Tanis had no idea how he had that information, and wished Loralon would have alerted to him to his plan, but Ohn-Horak badly wanted to perform the proper funeral rites for his brother, and promised a greater chance at an alliance if Tanis led him to his brother's watery grave in the blood sea of Ishtar. Ohn-Horak hosted the night's entertainment, a feast eaten while they watched a Gully Dwarf run through a maze of monsters. The Dwarf was killed, and Riva was disgusted, while Kitiara enjoyed herself. Ohn-Horak said the entertainment was also an educational lesson for young Minotaurs, weakness was never tolerated in their society. Kitiara flirted with Tanis and baited Riva, who was still furious that she'd caused the deaths of several of their friends. The next day Ohn-Horak, Loralon, Tanis and a crew of Minotaurs set sail for the blood sea. Kitiara followed them with her black dragon, and Tanis told Ohn-Horak how she'd driven him and her brother into a storm during the war. The ship sank, and while sea elves saved several of them Bas Ohn-Koraf sunk beneath the waves. A storm blew up, and a whirlpool opened up beneath the ship. The ship sunk beneath the waves, but Loralon saved himself, Tanis and Horak with a magically created air-bubble. Dragon Turtles had taken over Ishtar, and one of them rammed the bubble, knocking Loralon out. The bubble collapsed, but Tanis and Horak managed to swim to Ishtar, which had a magically created atmosphere. They were quickly apprehended by the resident gladiators, who the Dragon Turtles forces to fight for their own amusement. The prisoners' wills had been broken, and when Tanis said he disliked killing they told him it was kill or be killed, and the champions of the arena would win a coveted prize. Horak and Tanis were thrust into the arena, but Tanis could not bring himself to kill his opponent. After Horak bashed his opponent's head in with a mace he killed Tanis' foe and said he didn't expect to have to do his job for him next time. Koraf and Tanis' old captain Maquesta had survived the storm and been transformed into merfolk. As current champions they held the amulet that the Dragons promised would lead to their eventual release. Horak was thrilled that his brother lived, but Koraf said he'd slay him and Tanis to attain his freedom. Loralon appeared to the heroes in their cell, telling them they needed to claim the amulet, and revealed that he'd conjured the storm that sunk them for that purpose.

(Dragonlance #11, 12) - Tanis was furious that he'd risked their lives, but Horak staid his hand, demanding answers. Loralon was in Ishtar centuries ago during the cataclysm and managed to save all the clerics of the city, but lost two valuable artifacts he needed to recover for Paladine. Tanis demanded to know why Paladine's will was worth his life, and why the god sunk Ishtar. Loralon showed him a vision of Ishtar in its' glory, and how the people turned their backs on the gods, causing disaster. The priestking demanded power from Paladine, and the god destroyed Ishtar for his hubris, as well as to restore the balance of all things. The artifacts Loralon needed back were the amulets Koraf wore, starstones created by the gods that created the new races of Krynn. He feared Kitiara or other evil forces would claim them if he didn't, and admitted Horak would have to kill his brother to get them, which Horak found infuriating. Tanis and Horak prepared for combat, and Horak remembered the last words he spoke to his brother before he disappeared, "May we never meet as enemies, but if we do may the heavens sing of our battle," an old Minotaur maxim. They prevailed, slaying Koraf and Maquesta, claiming the starstones as their reward. Loralon used the power of the starstone to summon a group of sea elves, who helped him flood the sunken city, and he proceeded to cast a spell to allow Tanis, Horak and himself to breathe water. The Dragon Turtles were displeased that their fun had been ruined, and Loralon turned them into ordinary sea turtles. Horak refused to ally himself with Riva's group or Kitiara's, saying the Minotaurs needed their independence, so Kitiara and her dragon soldiers attacked Nethosak. Horak used the starstones to summon several elementals, repelling Kitiara's forces. Horak promised to use his immense power only for defense, and told Tanis he considered him a brother-at-arms.

(Dragonlance #22, 23) - Minotaur Axantheas was the commander of the League of Minotaurs, who served the imperial emperor. Axantheas made a deal with Erestem, the Queen of Darkness, who gifted him with the black dragon and the fabled Dragonring. He was planning on turning on the League’s emperor and taking control of the capital Kristophan. His soldiers Griffin and Skrum learned of the plot, and knew that if the emperor discovered his treachery it would mean the death of them all. They attacked Axantheas, severing his hand and stealing the Dragonring. They were viewed as traitors, and needed to reach Kristophan to present the emperor with the Dragonring to prove Axantheas was working against them. They were pursued by Axantheas and the League, but were saved by Riva Silvercrown, a hero sent to Taladas by the great Paladine to bring justice and order to the land. She used her Dragonlance to kill Axantheas’ dragon, giving her new friends time to flee. They escaped to an underground cavern, but when they emerged they were captured by the League. Axantheas’ general Tyche, another Minotaur, informed them they were being taken to Kristophan where they’d be executed as traitors. As they approached Kristophan Tyche announced that Riva and company might have co-conspirators in the city and ordered his soldiers to fan out. He kept behind one man, Rangor, behind and fatally stabbed him. Tyche didn’t want his prisoners blabbing to the emperor about Axantheas’ plans, so he intended to kill them then and there, using the cover story that they tried to escape and killed his soldier. Riva hit him over the head with a stick, and went running with Griffin and Skrum. Griffin was sure they were going to die, but said they’d at least put up a fight. Skrum figured out how to use the Dragonring and summoned a Red Dragon to fly them away. Riva was hesitant, saying Red Dragons were evil and allying herself with one would betray her knightly oaths. Tyche caught up to them, and after Riva stabbed Tyche she decided to swallow her pride and fly away on the dragon. Skrum found his control over the dragon was tenuous, forcing a landing, and he dismissed the beast. Griffin suggested that instead of handing the Dragonring over to the emperor maybe he should keep it for himself, and scuffled with Skrum over it. The fight was interrupted by Maraghiz and Sulai, elves from the Tiger-Clan. Their clan’s spirit animal Quoyai sent them to Taladas on a mission to find good and make it grow. They were led by their Quoyai to seek out Riva, who was a lone bit of goodness in an otherwise corrupt land. The group knew they were in trouble when they saw several Red Dragons flying overhead.

(Dragonlance #24, 25) - Axantheas summoned the other champions of Erestem, including a Traag Draconian, a Hobgoblin, a Glass Sailor and a Thenolite. Axantheas learned that the Thenolite still served Lord Hoth, evil god of the Thenol and immolated him with a flame spell. Riva and company located the emperor of the Minotaurs, who was already aware of Axantheas’ schemes and didn’t believe Erestem to be a threat to him. Skrum had had enough and used the Dragonring to summon a horde of dragons who routed the emperor’s troops. The company debated going after the emperor, who’d been put to flight and Skrum, corrupted by the ring, declared that he’d be the new ruler of Taladas, and a loyal servant of Erestem. The dragons scooped up Skrum’s companions, and Riva lost her Dragonlance. Skrum said he was taking them to meet Erestem, who was aware they were plotting against her. They arrived at a lavafall, where Erestem created an avatar of herself from lava and fire. Erestem boasted that Riva’s plan to spread goodness throughout Taladas was doomed, and no one in the land worshipped Paladine. Sulai summoned an icestorm that allowed them to flee from Erestem. Skrum caught up with them and demanded they submit to Erestem. Griffin knocked him out, but was unable to pry the Dragonring from him, saying it was as if it was grafted to his hand. Axantheas arrived, riding a Red Dragon and threatened to kill the company. They were saved by Riva’s dragon Ktarrh, who’d been sent by Fizban to aid her in her quest. Riva and Axantheas had an aerial duel over a lavafield, and Axantheas called out to Erestem for aid, so she reformed her avatar. With Erestem distracted Maraghiz removed her control over Skrum, causing the Dragonring to slip from his hand. The fight started going against Riva, so Griffin risked possession by Erestem to summon a dragon to help her in her duel. He was no match for Axantheas, but when he tossed the Dragonring in the lava Axantheas dove in after it, incinerating himself and his dragon. Erestem was disgusted that her champion had failed her.

(Dragonlance #26, 27) - The Minotaur League still wanted to bring Griffin and Skrum to trial for betraying their commander, and Minotaur Karranus commandeered a Glass Sailor ship when he learned Riva Silvercrown and company had left port for the Glass Seas. He slaughtered the captain when he objected, and had his men start tossing sailors overboard because they weren’t catching up to Riva’s ship. Riva’s dragon Ktarrh had abandoned her, drawn by unknown forces, and she was sailing with captain Antara to find him. The Minotaurs finally caught up with them as they entered the Wind Caverns of Rathna Vulghan, also known as the Vaults of Despair, but Karranus feared the elven magic the caverns contained and would not follow. He had the captive crew drag their boat overland to meet them on the other side. The crews ob both ships were beset by a Glass Sea shardstorm. Karranus didn’t care that the sailors were being cut to ribbons, and ordered them to keep pursuing the outlaw vessel. Ktarrh came to the rescue, bringing Antara’s ship to a safe place in the caverns. Riva was overjoyed at being reunited with her dragon, and Ktaarh explained that he’d been called away because a clutch of Silver Dragons were about to be born. Ktarrh and a council of other dragons were trying to convince the silver Dragons, lead by Eron, that the eggs were better protected being scattered throughout Taladas instead of concentrated in one area. The unborn dragons could be a great force for good, but Erestem and Hith both sought them out for their own evil ends. Karranus and his men survived the storm and caught up with Riva and company. Karranus demanded Antara hand Riva, Skrum and Griffin over to them, but she refused. Antara’s Minotaur crewman Hester was Karranus’ cousin, and challenged him to personal combat. The normally meek and mild Hester slew his cousin, even though it saddened him to do it, and Griffin and Skrum repulsed the other Minotaurs.

(Dragonlance #28) - Cantavian was a gladiator and military commander who served the emperor of Minotaur controlled Kristophan. When his cousin Axantheas died he petitioned the emperor to take over Axantheas’ Minotaur League. Cantavian confided in his assistant Quillian that he planned to fulfill his cousin’s ambitions, using the League to usurp the emperor. Quillian called him a traitor so Cantavian fatally stabbed him. Axantheas had made a pact with Erestem, Queen of Darkness in exchange for power, and Axantheas wanted to become Erestem’s new champion. He forced his way into the temple of Erestem, intimidating her priests. He spoke to the temple statue of Erestem, declaring himself a worthy champion, and Erestem answered by animating the statue and breathing fire at Cantavian, incinerating him for his hubris.

(Dragonlance #33) - Riva and company were attacked by the League of Minotaurs, and Griffin was badly injured. They fled to Southern Hosk, with the League still on their trail. They came across a small village and discovered several dead Minotaurs. Tyskel, a healer from the Cult of Mislaxa gave them shelter and tended to Griffin. Tykel told them the story of Mislaxa’s patron saint Miisia Genyei, a woman chosen by destiny to defeat Lord Bylarr and his Darkhold and become a healer. Her story was aimed at Riva, who she recognized as a woman of destiny.

Comments: Adapted to comics by Dan Mishkin & Dave Simons.

The Minotaurs were a race from TSR's AD&D role-playing game adapted to DC Comics. For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons).