Cerberus

*Raised by Hades, this savage beast keeps the living from entering the lands of the dead and likewise prevents the dead from entering the lands of the living. Loyal to a fault to the god who raised him, Cerberus is highly intelligent and stronger than any mortal creature. Cerberus bears an unending grudge against Hercules for the hero's past exploits resulting in Cerberus' humiliation. Cerberus got his revenge, though.*

### An Accounting of Cerberus

At the height of the Titans' usurpation, the Titans pulled Gaia from her prison in Tartarus and forced her to create a being so monstrous and destructive that the gods could not stand against it. That being was named Typhon and its destructive potential only grew after it mated with another Titanic creation, Echidna. From these two vile creatures were born many of the Earth's most powerful monsters, Cerberus included.

When Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon clashed with Typhon, its mate and offspring scattered, with the exception of Cerberus which had been sedated before the battle by a clever Hades that offered the young beast an opportunity to eat from the god's hands. After Cerberus awoke to find his family scattered, Hades took the beast under his care and trained it to be a mighty battle steed for the duration of the war.

After the fall of the Titans, Hades took Cerberus with him into the Underworld. The mighty monster only grew more fierce and mighty in the land of the dead. This ferocity, when coupled with its incredible intelligence and unwavering loyalty to Hades made the beast an ideal guardian of the Gates to the Underworld.

In this position, Cerberus would roam the Underworld freely, but would most often be found strolling through the area known as Taenarum, where the six gateways from the Underworld to the Overworld were found. Here, Cerberus would scare off would-be trespassers from among the living and keep the dead spirits from deciding to return to the land of the living.

There have been few instances of beings getting past Cerberus. Notably, the hero Orpheus (in several incarnations) has shown an ability to put this beast to sleep with his magical melodies, and the mighty Hercules once defeated Cerberus and captured the giant beast, bringing him to the Overworld as proof that he had been able to defeat many of Cerberus' siblings. Hercules had planned to slay the beast after showing his capture off, but Hades himself paid a visit and threatened severe repercussions for all mankind if Cerberus was not immediately released.

Since this instance, Cerberus has had a distaste for Hercules' antics and taste for the hero's blood. Cerberus has slain three of Hercules' reincarnations, twice when the hero tried to repeat his previous Twelve Labors and once when the hero wandered too close to an Underworld Gate, letting Cerberus catch his scent.

## Abilities

* **Typhonic Monstrosity:Typhonic Biology:** Cerberus is a three-headed dragon-like creature. He has massive strength, speed, and reflexes. This thick hide can only be pierced by the sharpest and most powerful weaponry. His senses are incredibly sharp, particularly his sense of smell and hearing. The claws at the end of his feet are razor-sharp, able to rend armor with ease. The process by which this beast's heads coordinate the movements of their body is flawless and fluid in execution.
* **Blue-Eyed Head: Paralysis / Freezing Breath:** Cerberus' glowing blue eyes can emit a sense of fear and bread, paralyzing weak-willed mortals. Should a mortal be able to resist the glare they may be frozen solid by its chilling breath. This head's own personality is calm and collected, rarely emoting.
* **Green-Eyed Head: All-Sight / Venom Bite:** Cerberus' green eyes can see in the darkest of shadows and through the thickest of fog or smoke. The eyes have also been known to be the sharpest of the eyes, discerning the smallest of details from great distances. This heads' jaws drip a powerful acidic poison. This is the primary head, directing most of the beast's actions.
* **Red-Eyed Head: Thermal Sight / Heat Blast:** Cerberus' burning red eyes can read heath signatures and its breath burns with such an intensity that not even ash survives its touch. This head is hot-headed and aggressive.
* Shapeshifting: Cerberus has the ability to change his size at will.

## Links and References

1. ↑ A Beginner's Guide to NeOlympus (W.I.P.)
2. ↑ New-NeO-Cerberus