Nov 16

Liburgrad



Liburgrad

In the present, minotaurs are rarely encountered, but when they are, they can be loosely divided into two types: civilized minotaurs and savage minotaurs. Civilized minotaurs are sometimes found working as bodyguards, sailors, or mercenaries. If befriended they will speak of their homeland, the largest island in the Shattered Isles, which they call Liburtis. They will explain that if you land on the beach at Liburtis, you will probably be accosted by savage tribes of primitive humanoids. As you penetrate the island further, you will come across more civilized tribes, some of which actually have systems of agriculture and trade. These tribes are led by chiefs or dictators, and they surround a nation which supports them, and to which they are loyal: the minotaur nation of Liburgrad.

Liburgrad was founded in Year 2852 by descendants of the minotaur settlers, founded upon Stalenin’s philosophy and principles. It is The Known Lands’ only communist nation. Liburgrad has no rulers, for it is led by the people. People are free to pursue whatever job they wish. There is an army, but it is made up of volunteers. Gold has no value in Liburgrad, for everything is bartered. Goods are distributed equally to everyone.

When outsiders first hear of Liburgrad’s government, most shake their heads in wonder or disbelief. Even Stalenin seemed to understand that communism would probably fail if tried by humans, whose lust and greed almost always gets the better of them. But minotaurs have inherited from their bovine side a herd mentality. Minotaurs police themselves, and each other. There is strong social pressure in Liburgrad to conform to Stalenin’s ideals, and the social mores which have evolved from them. Liburgradites who fail to conform to these social mores and do not bend to pressure either leave the nation willingly or are Punished.

There is no religion in Liburgrad. According to Stalenin’s philosphy, minotaurs have no need for it. Minotaurs know they were created not by a god, but by a man. The recognize the existence of the deities of the Third Age, and while they respect those deities, they feel they owe them nothing. So while there are plenty of druids and shamans in Liburgrad, there are no clerics. Liburgradites who are unlucky enough to be favored by a deity usually voluntarily banish themselves from the nation. Those who stay and are caught hiding their abilities are Punished.

Liburgrad has attempted to spread its way of life to the humanoid tribes on Liburtis with varying degrees of success. The nations directly neighboring Liburgrad are all communist dictatorships, which receive agricultural and military aid from the minotaurs. These nations act as a buffer between the minotaurs and the more savage tribes in the outer parts of the island.

At Liburgrad’s center is a large lake, which is connected to the ocean by a wide river. Liburgrad has built a large and powerful navy as well as a fleet of fishing vessels, which ply the waters around Liburtis. Many Liburgradites are accomplished sailors.

Tribes from other parts of the Shattered Isles dare from time to time to attempt to conquer or sack Liburgrad. Those who are smart enough to sail a fleet upriver and strong enough to beat back the other tribes on Liburtis are allowed to sail onto the lake and into the heart of the nation…

… where they come face to face with thousands of angry minotaurs. And it is never a good idea to anger anyone who can bench press an elephant. Minotaurs are a proud and honorable race dedicated to peace and freedom, but when it comes to protecting that freedom they will fight with a ferocity unmatched by any other race.*

Those civilized minotaurs who are encountered outside of Liburgrad are Liburgradites who have banished themselves for one reason or another (though they often still speak of Liburgrad fondly), or Liburgradites who have been allowed to leave their home to search for a human wife. Liburgrad is a small nation, and to prevent inbreeding they will sometimes go to other lands looking for human women to take home as wives. They are quite successful in this endeavor (or as one Narcuan wife who emigrated to Liburgrad said, “once you go minotaur, you don’t go back”).

Savage minotaurs encountered are one of two types. Every now and again a wizard will find copies of Saxx’s notes and make a minotaur. These created minotaurs and invariably wild and not very intelligent. Liburgradites who come across such savage minotaurs will try to aid them if possible, to the extent of capturing them and taking them to Liburgrad, where they can have a better life.

The other type of savage minotaurs are Liburgradites who have been Punished. Liburgradites built a special wall which surrounds their nation. The stone wall is two stories high and a hundred feet thick. Inside the wall is a three-dimensional maze. This wall labyrinth serves two purposes. It prevents intruders from easily entering the city (the wall has no gates). It also acts as a prison for those who have been punished. Punishment comprises being lobotomized, then tossed into the wall labyrinth. There the lobotomized minotaurs, who descend into barbarism, wander the maze in search of people to brutalize. Sometimes one of these Punished minotaurs escapes to the outside world, where they may find themselves sold into slavery and shipped off to other parts of The Known Lands. (Women who are Punished are blinded and cast into the labyrinth, where they suffer a horrible fate at the hands of the savage minotaurs within.)

* - A human former mercenary who was visiting Liburgrad when an orc horde attacked gave the following account: “I tell you what, a pissed-off minotaur eats a hundred orcs for breakfast. An orc broke into the house where I was staying. Before I could even draw my sword my mino host hopped out of his bathtub and beat the armored orc unconscious. With his dick. Swear to gods man, if I’m lyin’ I’m dyin’. That kinda thing, it stays with you forever. Dented the orc’s helm, man! That’s why I swore off fightin’ and women and shit – shaved my head and became a Taanite, eating vegetables and meditating and all that shit. I mean, once you see that… why even try, man. Almost broke that orc’s neck. Holy Hell, man. Hey, you got any smokes?”



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