The Filidentria tribe, an ancient and proud lineage of Minotaurs, has thrived for generations, isolated high in the rugged, snow-capped mountains. They are a deeply spiritual people, believing themselves to be the chosen protectors of the World Tree—Tharanthia, the Sacred Oak—whose roots, they believe, reach into every realm, binding the cosmos together. According to the tribe's teachings, the World Tree is not a mere plant but a divine entity that bestows its warriors with unmatched fury in battle, a sacred gift to those worthy of its blessing.
The Filidentrians' religion is rich with rituals and traditions. Every cycle of the moon, the tribe gathers at Drakthar's Hollow, a revered cave where they believe the essence of Tharanthia is strongest. There, the Tharok the tribe's shaman, leads ceremonies of blood and fire, invoking the World Tree's power to strengthen their minds and bodies. The Tharok, a position currently held by the wise and battle-scarred Unknown, claims to commune directly with Tharanthia, interpreting its will and guiding the tribe according to its divine vision.
The Vranthok, the warriors of the tribe, are taught from a young age to harness their inner rage, believing it to be the voice of Tharanthia echoing within them. The strongest of these warriors, known as the Verdanthar, are said to be the closest to the World Tree, their eyes glowing with a feral light that others interpret as the mark of Tharanthia's favor. The current Verdanthar is Unknown a minotaur of immense stature whose ferocity in battle is matched only by his devotion to the Tree.
The Filidentrians also revere the Ash’ra, the keepers of lore and history, who preserve the tribe's sacred knowledge and pass down the tales of Tharanthia's blessings through generations. Ash’ra Unknown, the tribe's elder and chief lorekeeper, weaves stories of how the tribe's ancestors first discovered the World Tree and how its power has sustained them through countless winters and battles.
However, the true story behind the Filidentrians' "divine connection" is far more sinister. Unbeknownst to the tribe, their sacred rituals and revered gifts of rage and madness stem not from a World Tree but from a curse laid upon them by a group of bugbear shamans centuries ago. These shamans, led by Azandriimark the Twisted, summoned, after many offerings to Izalith, a malevolent spirit of madness and rage, Vrothir, to inhabit the waters of the springs near which the tribe had settled. The bugbears, fearing the minotaurs' strength and seeking to eliminate them without direct conflict, hoped that the corrupted waters would drive the Filidentrians to insanity and self-destruction.
Yet, against all odds, the Filidentrians did not succumb. Instead, they interpreted the madness and rage that seeped into their minds as a divine gift, a sign of their favored status in the eyes of Tharanthia. Over time, the bugbears, realizing their plan had backfired, abandoned their efforts, leaving the Filidentrians to their delusions. The tribe continues to thrive, unknowingly worshiping the very curse meant to destroy them, their belief in the World Tree now an unshakable cornerstone of their identity.