Editing House of Minos

{{infobox location
 | name          = Minos
 | image         = 
 | imagecaption  = 
 | ruler         = [[Inreza]]
 | location      = Ocean
 | affiliation   = [[Minotaurs]]
 | inhabitants   = [[Minotaurs]]
 | first appearance =
}}
The '''House of Minos''' is an island nation located on the [[Isles of Minos]], primarily resided by [[Minotaurs]].

== Overview ==
The House of Minos is located in an archipelago<ref name="IBA" />  which possibly means that their isles are part of or close to [[Drath Archipelago|''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].<ref name="IBA">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/03/08/interlude-burning-alcohol/ Interlude: Burning Alcohol]</ref> She is exceptionally popular.<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/07/05/interlude-the-isles-of-goblin-and-minos/ Interlude - The Isles of Goblin and Minos]</ref>

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.<ref name="IBA" />

== Background ==
Minotaurs originally had lands elsewhere, and often made wars with other continents.<ref name="Glossary" /> 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.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/05/3-35/ Chapter 3.35]</ref> They were exiled to the Isles of Minos after the "Era of Conquest" and condemned to face their [[Goblins|ancient foes]] there.<ref name="IBA" />

They are in a state of constant war with the island of [[Goblins]], which [[Beza]] compared to the [[Reiss|Goblin Lord]] in strength.<ref name="IBA" />The period during which they fight the Goblin Isle is known as the Month of Strife.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/06/06/8-26-fk/ Chapter 8.26 FK]</ref> [[Magnolia Reinhart]] expressed fears that these Goblins would destroy the House of Minos within a decade, if they ever laid hands on Earth weaponry.<ref name="2.38">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/21/2-31/ Chapter 2.38]</ref>

== Chronology ==
28 years ago they participated in a war with [[Terandria]] and [[Issrysil|Izril]]. They also fought against [[Baleros]] 15 years back, and had a few engagements at sea and other numerous skirmishes.<ref name="4.06KM">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/01/27/4-06-km/ Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref>

Lady [[Magnolia Reinhart|Magnolia]] told [[Erin Solstice|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 traveller from Earth.<ref name="2.38" />

After the [[Flos Reimarch|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.<ref name="4.06KM" />

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 ==
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.<ref name="IBA" />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.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" /> Beriad means "away", as in the members will fight and die away from their home.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/02/16/interlude-hectval-pt-3/ Interlude - Hectval (Pt. 3)]</ref>

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 ===
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.<ref name=":1">[[Chapter 7.47 K]]</ref>

=== Mneiol ===
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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Pets ===
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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Art ===
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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Song of Home ===

==== Verse 1 ====
<blockquote>''From days of war and wrath we ran''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Exiled from every land''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Searching for our honor lost''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''And found the House of Minos’ sands.''</blockquote>

==== Verse 2 ====
<blockquote>''In days of old our savage kind''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Lost our pride and lost our minds''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''To keep our wisdom the King decreed:''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''This land was ours as fate designed.''</blockquote>

==== Verse 3 ====
<blockquote>''By rock and sand the holds arose''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''And the House of Minos built its throne''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Maweil sails and Beriad creates''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Hammerad protects and Samad grows.''</blockquote>

==== Verse 4 ====
<blockquote>''Now watch and wait, and guard this land''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''That never may dishonor stand''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''When the King calls our fleets to war''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''We remind the world of our names once more.''</blockquote>

==== Verse 5 ====
<blockquote>''From the House of Minos we march to war''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''And the axes rise and fall once more''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Until the last horn will break''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Let nations tremble and empire quake!''</blockquote>

==== Hamerrad's Verse ====
<blockquote>''Where does the warrior fall?''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''What end see I, large or small?''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Laugh at death, and stand ever tall!''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''From the House of Minos, Hammerad calls.''</blockquote>

==== Maweil's Verse ====
<blockquote>''We sail until the world’s end''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Bring death to foe and aid to friend''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Those whom the House of Minos offend''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Maweil’s sails your doom portends''</blockquote>

== Military Strength ==
In terms of major powers, the House of Minos is one of the listed groups, which can overwhelm [[Flos]]' weakened kingdom.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/05/2-00-k/ Chapter 2.22 K]</ref>

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.<ref name="Glossary">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref>

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.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref name=":1" />

== Locations ==
* Etrerra-Valar - Main Harbor<ref name=":1" />
*Hammerad
**Sand city<ref name=":0" />
*Maweil
*Caeitl
*Samad
*Honn's Mountain<ref name=":0" />
*The [Labyrinth of Fithel] - Dungeon

== Trivia ==
* The Isles of Minos house a small Human population.<ref name="1.03R">[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/11/06/1-03-r/ Chapter 1.03 R]</ref>
* The Axe of Minos is a Relic passed down between Minotaur Kings.

== References ==
{{refbox}}
[[Category:Groups/Organizations]]
[[Category:Isles of Minos]]
[[Category:Kingdoms]]
[[Category:Minotaurs]]
[[Category:Utopias]]
[[category:Nations]]