The Minotaur Circus is the personification of the race’s ambitions. Testing their mettle and forging a strong race. It even decides the emperor. Let’s learn more about the Minotaur Circus, otherwise known as The Bloody Path. Buy The History of Dragonlance: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/197643/The-History-of-Dragonlance-2e?affiliate_id=50797
Transcript
Cold Open
There is no race as brutal and simultaneously mired in honor and tradition as Minotaurs.
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about the Minotaur Circus, otherwise known as The Bloody Path. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this channel, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate links. I am referencing The History of Dragonlance – Being the Notes, Journals, and Memorabilia of Krynn for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!
Discussion
An aspect of worldbuilding that is often borrowed from our real world are governing systems. It seems monarchies or dictatorships are the most prevalent in fantasy worlds, certainly in Dragonlance. But from time to time you find something new and fresh. That is what I found in the Minotaur Circus. It is a system that is so ingrained into the culture, that one’s family status, personal advancement and sense of honor are entirely wrapped up within it. I honestly can’t say how effective it is at choosing an appropriate leader, for might is right is often a misconstrued phrase by the juvenile. To encapsulate an entire race within the concept seems to be the very definition of Evil Feeding Upon Itself. Detractors would suggest that simply being the strongest does not equate to the most capable of leadership or command. And if it were simply a king of the hill, all our brawl, I would tend to agree. But if we look at monarchies based in hereditary titles, well, we often find ineptitude, even weak and insane leaders. Even in an electoral system we find the cream rarely if ever rises to the top, as the path to it is mired in scheming and back door dealings. This also doesn’t make an effective form of governance. So who knows, perhaps the minotaurs have something here.
The circus is not filled with clowns, acrobats and enslaved animals. It is a battlefield where every single member of the society is trained. The youth are instructed on the importance of competition and honor. Regardless of your gender, you are instructed in the tools of war, and by adolescence, every minotaur is nearly a seasoned warrior. They have tested themselves in foot races, horseback races and sailing races. They have faced off in unarmed and armed combat. They are instructed in military strategy and bear their scars proudly. Naturally the level of violence is metered, no one is expected to murder one another, as they are training for their futures not reenacting Lord of the Flies. But this is just the beginning. Is it any surprise that a race that was enslaved for the majority of its existence would focus on martial training to ensure its liberty?
Every minotaur is required to enter a series of basic competitions within reaching two years of adolescence. This is similar to their former training, only with an increased intensity of a hundredfold. It becomes a clan versus clan competition, and the clans focus on bringing up their best to one day challenge the emperor, though in truth, very few ever do. These youth train and compete in eight lesser circuses. These are smaller arenas located on the outer edges of the four quarters of the capital cities, forming a circle. Though they are smaller in size, they still hold hundreds of spectators. The circle itself is representative of the eight members of the Supreme Circle who govern the kingdoms of Mithas and Kothas in the name of the emperor. These competitions do not just center around strength, but also in dexterity and intelligence. After all, a well rounded warrior is worth more than a brute. This is where individual ability begins to take shape as well. For as you discover your particular talents and weaknesses, you begin to focus on developing those talents and not as much in those areas in which you are weakest. In nine days, you compete in nine contests. At the end, the individual may choose to reenter normal life of which there is honor in every trade. However even those who are not training to one day face off against the emperor continue to pursue their military training as a perpetual aspect of minotaur life.
Some minotaurs will return to the circus from time to time to showcase their skill, and thereby raise in rank and status in their professions. The circus is a place to resolve personal duels and legal issues. But for some, regular life is simply not enough. For these minotaurs, their clan supports them in their training and after completing their basic tournament, they may apply for the First Challenge. This is a ritual combat that marks the applicant as desiring rank. First Challenge is a one on one battle to draw first blood or bring down their opponent, depending on whether they chose unarmed or armed combat. Again death is not the desired outcome, though one can imagine lasting injury and even death can occur. Death in the arena is honorable, a lifelong injury, not so much.
Each of the eight circuses maintain their own rankings and after the First victory, minotaurs may challenge increasingly successful adversaries. It is important to note that while anyone from the eight circuses may challenge other circus champions, they must remain in their own kingdom. However unofficial challenges are not discouraged, this is meant to foment rivalry between Mithas and Kothas. Each circus has a Grand Champion who may accept challenges, but they must be made at the beginning of each month, and answered midway through the month. Challenges can only be made to those present, and up to three may be answered in a given month! Imagine the strain to their bodies! UFC fighters only fight up to a few times a year. When a Grand Champion and their circus believes they are worthy of challenging the Emperor, they still must face the Great Circus. There is only one Great Circus and it is located in Nethosak, the imperial city of Mithas.
The Great Circus is where only the most prestigious of battles and challenges are met. Challenges between Grand Champions are met in the Great Circus. This is a high profile battle with representatives of the emperor present. They have to know their potential rivals after all. There is no time limit and the beginning of each is signaled with the ringing of a gong. After fifteen victories in this fashion, the minotaur is now known as the Supreme Champion and has the right to challenge the Emperor, but again, few ever do. If a challenge is made, the Emperor answers immediately or risks being seen as a coward. This combat is an event of the greatest magnitude and happens up to four times a year. If spectators can’t get a seat, they sit outside the Circus. Bets are often made on the outcome. It is a scene of celebration and indulgence.
Challenges to the Emperor rarely end without a death. No one wants a former challenger alive. Combat is slightly different. They face off on a raised platform ten feet in the air in the center of the Great Circus. The platform is ten yards square and is slowly rotated by dozens of arena workers. They are armed with a single weapon of choice and a small metal shield bearing the clan’s emblem. Combat generally lasts an hour, and is the height of intensity. In the end, the Emperor, remaining or new, is honored in a feast where the state priesthood and Supreme Circle affirm their rulership. Property of the deceased now belongs to the Emperor. And this is all done to ensure the kingdoms are ruled by the most skilled so one day the minotaur race can conquer all of Krynn as they believe is foretold.
Outro
But that is all I have to say about The Minotaur Circus. Do you think the circus is an effective method of governance? Should a culture be wrapped up so tightly with violence? And finally, will Ansalon ever be ruled by the Minotaur race? Leave a comment below.
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You young folk also need strength, and perhaps privacy.
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