Beast Folk

Bull Men (Minotaurs)

There was once a man called Minotaurus, one of the Ancients, who found a way to take the strength from bulls and transfer it to himself, giving him eternal youth. For every bull he killed and who's heart he ate he absorbed its strength, but there was a price as be became more and more bestial over the years. After many years, normal bulls were not to his liking and he began to kill supernatural bulls. First, he raided the Sky's Bulls on Sky Mountain, slaying them until they eventually took wings and flew away from him. Then he went deep into the Underworld to kill the Beast Lords who dwelt there. Finally, he met a Bull Demon, one that had been summoned by the other Ancients, and ripped its heart out, eating it in one gulp. Drunk with power, he saw one of the Daughters of the Moon and fell upon her with all the ferocity of the demon. When he had finished, he walked away, but she cursed him "An animal you were, an animal you will remain" she said and he started to change. His limbs thickened and his feet turned to hooves, his shoulders became broad and his neck thick, his head turned into that of a bull and he grew great horns. In fear, he ran back to his wife, but she took one look at him and fled, refusing his embraces and entreaties. But, he found that he could mate with women and cows and turned to them for his carnal pleasures and sired a new species, that of the Bull Men or Minotaurs.Minotaurs are Bull Men, large, heavy-set males with powerful builds, hooves for feet and the heads and horns of bulls. They are fierce and have foul tempers, falling into battle rages when they fight. Bull Men live in wild places, mountains, forests, the steppe and even the tundra and ice realms. They live alone but sometimes congregate into small groups for varying periods of time from a few weeks to several years. There are no female Bull Men and Bull Men mate with humans or various types of cow. Male offspring are Bull Men, female offspring either take the form of bestial humans or intelligent calves. Bull Men have been known to mate with normal cattle, buffaloes, bison and even yaks and musk oxen and their male offspring tend to follow the mother in appearance. So, there are Yak Men and Musk Ox Men in the frozen wastes, Buffalo Men in the southern swamps and Bison men on the steppe. Bull Men usually return to their matings to claim their offspring and raise them as Bull Men. Where this is not possible, the Bull Children are raised by normal people or go into the wilds, but eventually they find a Bull Man to be mentored.

Bull Men often move around on foot, but they are just as likely to be found on Bulls of their own. These bulls are quite likely to be relatives of some kind, sons of their daughters or sisters. Bull Men sometimes have a special link to their bulls that helps them in times of difficulty. Some Bull Men have tamed the Sky Bulls that fled Minotaurus, but this is very difficult. Those that have succeeded have flying mounts that are as aggressive and bad-tempered as their riders. Bull Men never ride cows and never ride bullocks, or castrated bulls. In fact, the Bull Man symbol for a slave is a castrated and polled Bull Man, one whose horns and testicles have been removed. Such Bull Men are a sorry sight, meek and mild, with little aggression and are suitable only for heavy labour. They have half the chance of going into Battle rage as a normal Bull Men and twice the chance of coming out of it and are not affected by the phases of the moon.

Many Bull Men of the Steppe live in a single group that they call the Bull Brigade and is organised along military lines. The Bull Brigade can have as many as 200 Bull Men, but usually has between 50 and 150 Bull Men. The Bull Brigade is a mounted division and the Bull Men ride Bison, Aurochs and normal cattle Bulls. They keep slaves and cattle, both for mating and for food, but are not involved in animal husbandry themselves. The Bull Brigade can be hired as mercenaries, but are notoriously difficult to control, although they are extremely loyal to their hirers.

Bull Man culture is very primitive with the Bull Man relying on his strength to get him through any problems. They are mainly warriors and hunters, although they have some priests and shamans. Bull Men have a natural affinity as craftsmen and often have some craft skill in addition to their normal skills. Bull Men often hire out as mercenaries, serving in the armies of the Kingdoms of the world, but they are normally used as Heavy Infantry and specialise in the Raging Charge that is virtually unstoppable. Most Bull Men use axes, especially the Moon Axe, a Great Axe with crescent blades. Of course, Bull Men have their own natural weaponry and Battle rage that stands them in good stead when axes are not available ot are impractical to use.Since Bull Men were cursed by a Moon Daughter, they feel their bestial natures on days of the Full Moon. However, the Moon Wives all cursed Minotaurus and so the Bull Men are affected by the Full White Moon, Full Black Moon, Full Blue Moon and Full Red Moon. At these times, Bull Men have twice their normal chance of going into Battle Rage and have half their normal chance of coming out of Battle Rage.

Every so often, perhaps between 50 and 100 generations, the Moon Daughter gives birth to a fully-grown female Bull Man. She sends her daughter to the world where she becomes Queen of the Bull Men and attracts more and more Bull Men to her. Her offspring are normally male but can sometimes be female themselves and can follow her as Queen. Eventually, the last of the Queens dies and the Bull Empire dies with it. But, as long as there is a Bull Queen living, she can command and control any Bull Man in her presence. Such a Bull Empire is feared by all sane folk and many assassins come to kill the Bull Queen when her presence becomes known.