The House of Minos is an island nation located on the Isles of Minos, primarily resided by Minotaurs.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The House of Minos is located in an archipelago[1] and to the east (of Izril)[2], which possibly means that their isles are part of or close to the Archipelago, as there are trading and cultural connections between Drathians and Minos. Otherwise, their archipelago may be a different and distant one.
The House of Minos consists of Minotaurs and is ruled by the Minotaur King. The current [King] is female, but Minotaurs claim that gender doesn't matter there and outsiders would judge their ruler differently were she called [Queen].[1] She is exceptionally popular.[3]
Places on the Isles of Minos include The Beriad, Hammerad and Maweil, although nothing specific is known about these places so far: they are part of toponymic surnames.
Minotaurs wishing for the immense honour to leave the House of Minos have to pass severe testing. Calruz, Venaz and Bezale each went through these tests, which apparently involve fighting.[1]
Background[edit | edit source]
Minotaurs originally had lands elsewhere, and often made wars with other continents.[4] They tried to take over the world a few times (many species have done that over the course of history), but they were repulsed each time.[5] They were exiled to the Isles of Minos after the "Era of Conquest" and condemned to face their ancient foes there.[1]
They are in a state of constant war with the island of Goblins, which Beza compared to the Goblin Lord in strength.[1]The period during which they fight the Goblin Isle is known as the Month of Strife.[6] Magnolia Reinhart expressed fears that these Goblins would destroy the House of Minos within a decade, if they ever laid hands on Earth weaponry.[7]
Chronology[edit | edit source]
28 years ago they participated in a war with Terandria and Izril. They also fought against Baleros 15 years back, and had a few engagements at sea and other numerous skirmishes.[8]
Lady Magnolia told Erin in the winter after her arrival that the House of Minos have recently closed their isles, and their ports are barred to any ships but their own. Furthermore, every spy she had planted in their kingdom has gone quiet. She speculates that this is due to the actions of a traveler from Earth.[7]
After the King of Destruction's return, the House of Minos' [King] prepared to send an army capable of defeating him. But as such an act would be considered a declaration of war by many kingdoms, some of her subjects were tasked to approach other assemblies of auspicious gathering, to request formal support. allowing them to sail without hindrance in exchange for a small contribution to their army, as arms or gold would allow them to ready themselves for battle.[8]
As promised, a small armada from the House of Minos led by [General] Ozem ambushed the King of Destruction's army at Medain. While most of their forces were killed in the clash, they were able to force Flos to use his [Army of the King] Skill, allowing several Chandarian nations to declare war on Reim. Overall, they considered the battle a victory.
Culture[edit | edit source]
The House of Minos upholds honour above all else, considering it their duty and way of life. Each Minotaur is encouraged to strive to improve themselves, and contribute in a meaningful way.[1]They also throw themselves into what they do with passion. In this way, they give their citizens purpose, something that other utopias struggle to do at times.[3] While their society is centered around war and battle, Minos is a peaceful place, befitting its status as a utopia.
Though their population is proportionally high in how of them fight, the average civilian of the House of Minos are much like those of any other nation, and are not highly fit individuals that undergo rigorous training regimens. But since the Minotaurs most people will meet outside of visiting the Isles of Minos, which have strict visitation regulations, will be members of the Beriad or their volunteer army who had diligently trained to attain either honour, the prevalent image of Minotaurs in the wider world is that of diligent bodybuilders.[3] Beriad means "away", as in the members will fight and die away from their home.[9]
Civilians have six-hour working days, and do not have strict schedules to follow. They do not need to go work as early, can choose to take early lunch breaks, and work with leisure.
Visitation and Laws[edit | edit source]
Each island has a limit of people able to travel, and some areas are off-limits. Visitors are given an extensive list of rules to follow. Despite how numerous they are, they are generally basic and not hard to follow. Failure to do so will result in the individual being exiled to their ship, or face swift Minotaur justice. Friends of the House of Minos undergo less rigorous checks and paperwork to enter.
Some of the known rules are:
- Don’t offer insults
- Don’t pick fights
- Don’t steal
- Don't litter on the floor (including spitting)
- Leave any area you had been as clean as when you had arrived
Minos' judicial system is absolute in the sense that they do not revisit sentences; once punished, the matter sits forever. Lawbreakers are given the chance to redeem themselves through death in combat.[10]
Mneiol[edit | edit source]
The Mneiol are administrators with the authority to pass judgement in or outside of the House of Minos. They judge their fellow Minotaurs to allow them to join the Beriad or to render sentences for crimes they committed. The process for both is similar, except that when being judged for being named Beriad, the individual under scrutiny has a Right to Dissent, while a criminal does not. Someone of high enough rank may act as Mneiol.[3]
Pets[edit | edit source]
Common pets in the House of Minos are Capybaras, which they call Astelains. They also befriend sea-creatures such as whales and dolphins, who take up no space on their islands.[3]
Art[edit | edit source]
Under the last few Minotaur Kings, the House of Minos has adopted a practice of periodically selling all of its artworks. This is to test if new artists would be less stifled and create more without being overshadowed by their predecessors, and to spread Minotaur culture to the world. And more practically, for wealth and because they have limited storage space.[3]
Song of Home[edit | edit source]
Verse 1[edit | edit source]
From days of war and wrath we ran
Exiled from every land
Searching for our honor lost
And found the House of Minos’ sands.
Verse 2[edit | edit source]
In days of old our savage kind
Lost our pride and lost our minds
To keep our wisdom the King decreed:
This land was ours as fate designed.
Verse 3[edit | edit source]
By rock and sand the holds arose
And the House of Minos built its throne
Maweil sails and Beriad creates
Hammerad protects and Samad grows.
Verse 4[edit | edit source]
Now watch and wait, and guard this land
That never may dishonor stand
When the King calls our fleets to war
We remind the world of our names once more.
Verse 5[edit | edit source]
From the House of Minos we march to war
And the axes rise and fall once more
Until the last horn will break
Let nations tremble and empire quake!
Hamerrad's Verse[edit | edit source]
Where does the warrior fall?
What end see I, large or small?
Laugh at death, and stand ever tall!
From the House of Minos, Hammerad calls.
Maweil's Verse[edit | edit source]
We sail until the world’s end
Bring death to foe and aid to friend
Those whom the House of Minos offend
Maweil’s sails your doom portends
Military Strength[edit | edit source]
In terms of major powers, the House of Minos is one of the listed groups, which can overwhelm Flos' weakened kingdom.[11]
The Minotaurs guard their isles jealously and allow only small embassies to visit their port-Capital, so not much is known about the Isles. Warships crewed by Minotaurs regularly patrol their waters, threatening death to any pirates or travellers who do not follow strict rules when sailing through the area.[4]
They are one of the only powers in the world with the knowledge to create siege weaponry, and craft superior versions. They prominently use enchanted ballista and catapults, which their warships are commonly equipped with. Their naval arsenal makes up a third of their firepower, with the rest coming from their island defences.
Their vanguard when fighting the Goblin Isle is entirely made up of level 30 warriors. Veteran forces such as the Greathammers of Hammerad and the Axebearers of Maweil are also level 30 or higher.[10] Along with more common magic casters, they employ Blood Mages. From trading with the Drath Archipelago, they have access to Drathian magic such as talismans that can summon monsters.[3]
Fresh warriors who have yet to see many battles are called Sharphorns. While they could be considered Minos' weakest soldiers, they are still all above level 16.[10]
Locations[edit | edit source]
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- The Isles of Minos house a small Human population.[2]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Interlude: Burning Alcohol
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 1.03 R
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Interlude - The Isles of Goblin and Minos
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Glossary
- ↑ Chapter 3.35
- ↑ Chapter 8.26 FK
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chapter 2.38
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chapter 4.06 KM
- ↑ Interlude - Hectval (Pt. 3)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Chapter 7.47 K
- ↑ Chapter 2.22 K