Cerberus

The Cerberus are three headed canid guard dogs of the Underworld and Tartarus. They are one of the most well known and widespread of the Hellhounds. They have immense strength and magical ability.

*Cerberus are based on the monster of the same name from Greco-Roman Mythology*

## History

### The First Hellhound

#### Son of Echidna

During the early days of the Universe, the Mother and Father of Monsters, Echidna and Typhon, settled in the Underworld, and together had many children. The second eldest child was a three headed canid creature they named Kerberos, the Alpha Cerberus. Kerberos was eventually adopted by Hades, god of the Underworld.

#### Children of Kerberos

Kerberos grew older quickly and had children with many other Hellhounds, spawning hundreds of other three-headed canid creatures, similar in appearance to their father. Those children had children of their own with each other until a new species was formed.

## Characteristics

Cerberus are large and powerful variation of Hellhound, dogs of the Underworld. Unlike most Hellhounds, the Cerberus has three heads on their enlarged bodies. They are muscular creatures by default, their front bodies wider and stronger than their backs in order to support their large heads full of sharp teeth. Their bodies are large and covered with spiny thorn-like fur and snake scales in unique patterns. Instead of furred dog tail, Cerberus possesses long smooth serpentine tail.

They are a very protective beings, having the primary job of making sure Lost Souls do not leave the Underworld and that the living cannot enter. However, Cerberus are mostly used for intimidation and rarely attack beings, especially the living. Cerberus can easily be tamed or distracted by giving them large hunks of meat or big dog toys. Despite the size and initial threat of the Cerberus, many of them are simply large puppies waiting and willing to play.

## Powers

* **Hellhound Physiology:** Hellhounds are fiery canid creatures native to the Underworld, they are larger, stronger, and more intelligent than other canids
	+ **Canid Physiology:** The Cerberus is a three-headed dog with serpentine features. despite these features, they are still mostly canid and have the enhanced abilities that most canid beings possess
		- **Enhanced Smell:** Cerberus have heightened olfactory senses. They can detect and track down any creature living or dead through smell alone
		- **Enhanced Speed:** Their large bodies and four legs allows the Cerberus to run at great speed, easily able to chase down escaped souls
		- **Enhanced Strength:** Cerberus bodies are nearly all muscle making them one of the strongest animals in the creature world
		- **Night Vision:** Living in the dark realm of the Nether, Cerberus has evolved to see in the dark
	+ **Immortality:** Cerberus are very long lived creatures, the eldest being only a few million years younger than the Universe itself
	+ **Fire Immunity:** As a species created in the Nether, and calls the smoldering dimension its home, the Cerberus are resistant against heat and fire. Even magma has the same properties as water for them
	+ **Invulnerability:** Cerberus skin is some of the toughest in the Magical Community, impervious to all blades and resilient to melee weapons
* **Fire Breathing:** The center head of the Cerberus, the largest and most intelligent of the three can breathe fire through channeling magic and turning it into heat exited through the mouth
* **Division:** Cerberus can separate their three heads into three separate Hellhounds. These three Hellhounds can act independently of each other but can not be more than a few meters from each other