The
Minotaur:
A beast of myths and legends.
Its mighty battle-cry shakes the nerves of but the bravest of souls.
The legendary stories of this particular Minotaur start at its birth, some say he was born under the Great Tree itself and was able to take down a half-Orc at the age of 6. Well actually it was an oak tree and the half-orc was made of wood but still. He grew up with the customs and values of his race; pride and honour in peace, strength and determination in battle.
There are some that say the primitive beast cannot speak, others know that they only do so when needed and only if the other has shown courage in a battle with the majestic creature. Since a battle with a Minotaur is always a battle to the death it explains the nature of this particular misconception.
This particular Minotaur, some say was named K'tar, lived with the others of his tribe on one of the southern Continents. In an area called the Rock Flats they had made a home on a clearing between the many tall sharp rocks that were so typical of the land and which were somewhat of a natural labyrinth for those from far away.
Though mostly arid it was still home to a variety of plants and animals, one of these animals was the Sand Basilisk. About 3 foot tall and 7 foot long the creature was smaller than the average Minotaur and didn't pose any threat for the experienced hunters. Still its fangs and spiked tail made it anyting but a harmless creature. As such it killing it was deemed the perfect test for those coming of age.
For K'tar it was no different, his parents had trained him well and he felt at home between rock and sand. He felt confident on the day he was send out not to return before he had slain a
Sander, as proof he was to take back the organs, considered a delicacy, and prepare them for the festivities at night were he would eat them.
He set off that morning with nothing more then his hunting knife and the axe his father had given to him. The axe was small and simple in nature but it had a double blade and was sharp enough so that only the finest mithril could stop it. Still it was the first time K'tar went hunting alone and he felt anxious even though he did not let it show from the outside. It took him only an hour before he saw the first Sander, it was a youngling, the creature was small and would bring him little honour. However its mother could not be far away. K'tar was right, unfortunately for him the creature had deceived his senses and was standing a mere two metres behind him.
Kssss, the hissing sound that announced the Sanders attack came as a shock, quickly turning around he was just able to deflect the deadly fangs with the side of his axe. The shock blew the blade of the handle.
Ksss ksss ksss there were more. Surrounded by one adult and three young Sanders with only a cracked piece of wood in his hands. This was not how K'tar had imagined his hunt to go. Looking around he discovered a small ledge on one of the big rock spires. He quickly climbed up. The youngsters tried to follow him, unsuccessfully, and were left jumping against the rock. The older and more experienced adult mother took her place a few meters from the rock and waited. At one point he had to come down or he would starve.
...
A minute later the big beast lay dead on the ground and the small Sanders quickly fled.
K'tar picked up his hunting knife and started to take out the intestines. The feast would be grand. On his return he received various gifts which included a new axe, made out of a single piece of steel, a battle armour and a crimson cape. Not made for hunting but for glorious battle, K'tar did not anticipate that one day he would use them daily and that hunting had become something of the past.
His mother was a dark priestess and trained him the arts of demonic magic, something that would prove most useful to him. When he was twenty years of age he had become so skilled in the use of magic that he was able to infuse his weapon with it, something that would later show it self to be the key to a life a court. It was on the fourth day of the sixth month of the same year when a caravan entered the lands, it was heavily guarded something that became more and more necessary. Raiders had ambushed caravans on multiple occasions and there was one in particular that was considered dangerous, they had nicknamed him "Fire Starter", no raider would dare to attack this caravan though. It was decorated with the seal of Tebryn Arbandi and flanked by several Manticore's.
The woman that stepped from one of the bigger horses was anyone but Tebryn Arbandi. At first K'Tar thought she was just a simple guard, a pretty guard, but just a guard. For now he was more distracted by the man with the black armour, it seemed to absorb all light around it and the shadows formed an unusual circle around him. He was Rahkesardnahc, commander of the king's personal guard. Feared by all but whom he served to protect. It soon became clear why he was here, war had broken out. By law the Minotaur clan had to send all able warriors to the front. However this had not happened, it seems the caravan carrying the messenger was attacked. At least the message never made it to the village. So now Rahkesardnahc had come to take what was not given.
Thirty-four had to come with him, more than a third of the entire clan, two of the warrior women were carrying. Nobody said Rahkesardnahc was kind or understanding, he sought to protect what he saw holy at all cost and by any means necessary. Of course K'Tar was one of them, that night he did not dream of the exciting battles ahead of him but of a sensual redhead. The next morning they set off it wasn't until long until the world around him started to change and he saw things he had never seen before; Animals that looked unnatural to him and cities buzzing with life. Finally after an uneventful 8 day journey the group arrived at the Sheaim Capital.
During the training that followed K'Tar was put to the test, countless demons he fought summoned by the court Shamans, he fought other Minotaurs from his own and from other clans all brought here to make them in to the warriors the Sheaims needed to win the war. He won every battle and it didn't take long before the commander started to notice him. When the others where send to the front lines to fight, K'Tar was not among them. He was to become part of the Royal Guard. Not uncommon for a non-native but a first for the Minotaur. K'Tar felt proud that he was chosen for this honourable task.
It was two weeks later, his training to become a Personal Guard well under way, that he set his eyes on a familiar face. He saw her leaving the Royal Chambers accompanied by two guards, wearing a silk dress and expansive jewellery it was clear that she was no housemaid. She was a princess and he fell in love with her in an instant. She was clearly the most beautiful Minotaur he had ever seen.
In the weeks that followed he saw her often, sometimes she even came to watch when he had combat training. The rare eye-contact he had made his heart race faster than any battle could. It was during his training he found out who she really was. Ashari, princess of Tybir. Tybir was a small city state and had a small army, it couldn't be called a civilization and the world would always see it as just another barbarian faction. But it had a culture and more important in its borders resided three sources of Chaos Mana. The princess was taken hostage and would only be set free alive when the city became part of the Sheaim realm.
The Minotaur struggled for days with his feelings, torn between love and loyalty.
Then it happened, it was the last day of his training. His instructor came to him, he had been given a great honour. It seems Tybir had not taken their offer seriously and as such the princess was to be executed. K'Tar was given the task of fulfilling the role of executioner, a tradition for those who completed their training. A gift as it were for the soon to be Royal Guard.
A gift it was not.
That night he took his chance, he knew when the guards would change shifts and he managed to sneak in the chambers where Ashari was held. A night of passion followed.
It was midday the following day. The sun stood high on the central square. K'Tar stood in full body armour. His crimson cape moving in the breeze, his axe in his hands. His love at his feet, she was also dressed in her armour and her trident lay next to her. Traditions that would prove most useful. As the bell rang K'Tar raised his axe but a strike did not follow instead he made a quick spin. Killing both guards that were standing next to him. He jumped and brought his axe down on two more surprised victims. An alarm bell sounded and more guards came running on to the square. Ashari had gotten up now as well and a bloodbath unleashed itself together they fought countless of guards until they were outside the palace gates. Strangely they were not followed.
Perhaps there were none left to follow them. Whatever the reason was they were able to reach their home and settle down in a quiet location. It was not until a few years later that he heard of the Tournament held by Perpentach. He travelled once more for honour, glory and the promise of bloodshed.