Far east of the Great Kingdoms of Cheshire lies Maelthas, home to the mighty minotaurs. Ten kingdoms make up Maelthas, run by one of the ten great House of Maelthas. House e holds the distinction of holding the title of Great House for over a century. Emperor Darak Dragonsbane has held a tight grip on Maelthas for just over a decade.
Each of the kingdoms has a Coliseum. Dragonsbane holds the largest, the Crimson Arena. Gladiatorial contests are part of the culture here. Trials are almost always by combat. It is tradition that all members of the noble houses fight at least once in a coliseum. Just as it is expected that all members serve a minimum of five years in the Imperial Navy. Only choosing to become a gladiator for a year can exempt a citizen from serving in the Navy. Cowards end up in the coliseum anyway, facing almost certain death. In this way lowborn may dream of becoming champions of their respective kingdom. Or even the Grand Crimson Champion, undisputed gladiator of the empire.
The ten great houses get along reasonably well. The two dozen or so lesser houses that serve the great houses though fight among themselves constantly. Looking for favor to attempt depose a weaker great house. For the last century the smallest kingdom has been a vast plains with a large beach. A large number of merchant ships pass through here. Unfortunately, it also makes it vulnerable to a house who can muster a naval force to take it. House Jann has only been in its position for three months, having beating off rivals when the tenth house, made a play for ninth, and lost. House Jann is always looking at the minor houses for potential rivals, as well as not trying to draw the ire of the greater houses.
Every sailor of the world fears the minotaur Navy, for the ships are fast, the sailors merciless. Every minotaur captain know he or she is a master of the sea. Every other ship not from Maelthas is fair game. The only thing scarier than a minotaur naval ship at sea is a minotaur pirate ship. While the Navy concerns itself with protecting Maelthas, the corsairs travel far away from home, pillaging villages, from all over the world. The most successful ones always bring tribute back to the Emperor.
Minotaur life is simple and brutal. They are a martial people first and foremost, respecting only strength and power. Their faith also mimics that respect. Clerics of the war god Torgash, have driven all other religion into hiding. Only the coastal kingdoms still have temples to Sloverash, god of the sea. Angering a sea god is not in the naval minotaurs best interest.
Their only true rivals, are the drakken, four armed humanoids descended from dragons. With an equally impressive navy, the two races hate each other with a rage that will not abate.
A Darkness Rising 