Fiction:The Firmament/Kultaurus

"The far south is naught but burnt forests, badlands, prisons of brass and hordes of frenzied bull-folk who seek to destroy all civilization. We do well to avoid the region... If there's something good about Okran, is that it serves as a good meat shield against it."

- Bakenranf, Arkhan scholar

Kultaurus is a territory situated at the southwest tip of the southern continent of Dryadala. A heavily damaged and inhospitable wasteland, it serves as the home of the monstrous creatures known as minotaurs, who are consumed by a hateful desire to set all of the land in flames in the honour of their dark goddess, Maulak.

History
Kultaurus has no true documented history, as its inhabitants do not possess written language. It is unknown when the minotaurs first appeared there, as the region remained mostly unexplored by outsiders and they have only begun venturing out of it in the past millenia.

Harpies claim their kind is far older than the bullfolk, with legends among their kind exclaiming their land was once made of lush and beautiful like that of Amazq, before a 'great flaming shadow' descended upon their land which followed by the minotaurs crawling their way out of the ground and conquering the landscape, forcing the harpies to flee northwest.

Geography
Kultaurus is a large extension of badly burned badlands, dotted by labyrinths where minotaurs make their lairs. Many extensions of land hold the remnants of once great jungles, destroyed by the arson of the bullfolk. It borders Okran to the north, the mountains of Grungirnur to the northwest and Amazq to the west.

Government
The brutal land of Kultaurus has little in the way of governments; groups of minotaurs congregate into 'herds' led by a powerful warlord, who is advised by a cabal of shamans who interpret the will of Maulak to their flock. While many smaller herds are nomadic, the greater ones use their gift of metalsmithing to construct elaborate labyrinths which serve as lairs and self-governing cities. The greatest among the warlords is known as the Brass King, the champion of Maulak and the only one expected - but not always obeyed - to lead the minotaurs to war with other lands.

The current Brass King is a dreaded berserker named Mivtanreior, whose tales of brutality are legendary across Kultaurus and its neighbours.

Religion
The sole deity of most minotaur herds is Maulak, a malevolent force who encourages her children to engage in destruction and arson in her name. Despite their violent nature, minotaurs generally do not worship demon lords as they see them as inferior to Maulak.

Inhabitants
Kultaurus is the homeland of the minotaur species, a race of violent and bloodthirsty monsters bent on destroying all those unfortunate enough to cross paths with them. The race of wildkin known as harpies are also native to the region, though most of their kind fled to Okran or Khalmartis when the minotaurs arrived, with those who did not being either slaughtered or enslaved.

Due to the devastated state of the land, few animals manage to survive there, though a few have endured. Most famous among these is the catoblepas, a creature with a potent magical breath who the minotaurs possess a certain affinity to. Due to their extensive use of fire, the minotaurs have for the most part exterminate trolls from Kultaurus, though small numbers of their kind are still found today.

Relations
The minotaur herds of Kultaurus are not capable of diplomatically engaging with other races and see all other territories as potential grounds for raid and conquest. Likewise, the nations aware of the region's existence see its inhabitants as monsters who pose a threat to the rest of Dryadala.


 * Positive relations
 * N/A


 * Ambivalent relations
 * N/A


 * Negative relations
 * Amazq - Warherds of minotaurs are the most persistent foe of the elusive amaz.
 * Grungirnur - The duergars are not afraid of the minotaurs, rather enjoying the sight of them bound to their slavery.
 * Okran - Minotaur invaders and raiders plague the southern border of Okran.

Notable inhabitants

 * Notable warlords
 * Mivtanreior - Brass King of Kultaurus