Basics
| Original name | Cerberus |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Beastmaster, Houndmaster |
| Alias(es) | Ned Breeden |
| Species | Demon |
|---|---|
| Age | Ancient—one of the first humans with a soul |
| Rank, status, title(s) | Archdemon; Father of Monsters |
| True form | A twenty-feet tall malformed beast |
| Sex | Male |
|---|---|
| Height | 188 cm (6'2") |
| Hair & eye color | Black hair, dark brown eyes |
| Body type | Burly |
| Occupation | Monster breeder and master torturer in Hell; may work as a debt collector or in similar "brute" jobs on Earth |
| Alignment | Lawful evil |
| Strengths | Assertiveness, pragmatism, strategic management |
|---|---|
| Weaknesses | Volatile temper, impatience, pack mentality |
| Weapon(s) of choice | A wooden baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and infused with demonic essence; three beasts that never leave his side |
| Face claim | Jeffrey Dean Morgan |
|---|---|
| Theme song(s) | "Meet the Monster" and "Dot Your Eyes" by Five Finder Death Punch |
Powers and abilities
Demonic beast creation
Though not exactly creation from nothing, Cerberus is capable of manipulating living tissue into new forms, sometimes fusing entities together, but usually carefully reforming old meat and bones into new shapes. By carefully planning the lineages and selecting fitting individuals from dozens of litters, he has been able to create some of Hell's fiercest predators.
Faster methods include fusing hybrids, chimeras, and amalgamations of animals and lesser demons, as long as all used "parts" are still alive or, at the very least, attached to living donors.
Monster control
After creating a monster, while not a guaranteed given, Cerberus can form a bond with a beast and control his creation anywhere, across any distance. While still an independent entity, most monsters become minions of their master and follow his commands to their deaths, defying pain and self-preservation instincts to protect their creator.
The link between monsters and master seem almost telepathic in nature, as no words are needed to guide the hellish hounds to their target. Additionally, he can summon any monster to his side as long as they heed him, leaving the beastmaster never truly on his own.
Soul manipulation
In order to make living beings, Cerberus needs a soul to start the creation process—or rather, a violent rebirth. This is also the reason for his control over the beasts, as their souls are now considered to be his.
If these monsters breed, their offspring are still connected to Cerberus, but to a lesser degree for each descending generation. Hounds formed without a soul have to be "broken" or tamed to control, leaving feral packs to roam around Hell without a master to heed them.
Even though mortal souls come from a deadly sin's domain and should belong to the corresponding prince, Cerberus' authority takes priority over them.
Pack empowerment
The phrase "strength in numbers" describes Cerberus… More or less literally. He grows more powerful depending on how many beasts are in his immediate vicinity and in his control, bolstering the archdemon's demonic capabilities. Even though he is perfectly capable of defending himself or asserting dominance over lesser demons by his lonesome, a surrounding pack makes him that much more terrifying.
Pack manipulation
The Beastmaster should be able to command only a single monster at a time, right? Not quite—souls once in his control are his for eternity, no matter their number. In time, he's grown remarkably skilled at commanding packs of any size, up to monstrous hordes made out of hundreds of individuals.
Naturally, controlling several beasts at a time takes a toll on him, and he can't keep it up forever… But it takes a formidable opponent to make their way to the Father of Monsters before his commands are dismissed.
Sonic scream
Finally, Cerberus' final weapon and tool at his disposal is the ability to project his voice at such volume it'll rupture eardrums. The scream will create a force wave that travels at the speed of sound and knocks down most physical entities, driving any hearing monster into a frenzy. While the effect is short-lived, the results can be devastating, if not downright deadly.
Personality
Sadistic
Cerberus has no difficulty hurting people, demons, or any other creatures that get in his way. He enjoys inflicting pain and spends time watching professional torturers, studying their methods before utilizing them personally. He's cruel and shows next to no empathy towards those who suffer, even if the poor souls are his allies. Pain is a tool he gladly wields and uses to show lesser demons, and even mortals, their place.
Aggressive
Cerberus knows what he wants, and isn't afraid of taking control of a situation to fulfill his needs. He is a natural leader and doesn't submit to his superiors without first having a reason to listen and respect them. Group settings with enforced co-operation under pretentious authority are his greatest weakness, as he doesn't see others as his peers, but lesser beings to be bossed around. If he has to raise his voice or use his size as an advantage, he won't hesitate a single heartbeat to do so.
Primal
Despite how false and cringey the classic misconception of alphas and betas is, Cerberus sure acts like he's the sole leader of a mindless mass. Partners are property to be owned and ordered around, but also protected and guarded by their significant other; children should obey their parents without complaint and be raised to respect their elders. His beliefs are old-fashioned and crude at best, misogynistic and misanthropic at worst.
Violent
No one is claiming Cerberus is a smart man, and his tendency for violence definitely agrees. He angers easily and uses force to get rid of annoyances, whether they are obnoxious people mouthing off at him, young angels trying to smite him, or simply other demons in his way. This, of course, is a great quality for a debt collector, a profession Cerberus definitely shines in. He also enjoys watching all types of brutal sports, ranging from bare-knuckle boxing to good old gladiator fights.
Antisocial
It takes a certain type of personality to truly enjoy solitude without negative mental effects that goes beyond simple introversion. He lives well outside of urban areas, builds and maintains property by himself, and absolutely loathes any type of large gatherings. Occasionally, he spends time in small pubs or strikes conversation with strangers when he's in a good mood, but it takes long-term friendship to really see a more social side of him.
Paternalistic
In stark contrast to Cerberus' usual mindset, he is surprisingly paternalistic when it comes to his creations and animals in general. Among all his offspring, half-bred or fully demonic, those stubborn enough to seek out their father are usually treated with paternal care and appreciation. Naturally, not all progeny is fit to live into adulthood, and the same goes for the Houndmaster's children.
History
Birth
Originally, Cerberus was a human: a violent, often drunk bastard with little redeeming qualities, like many men of his generation. His name and family have long since been forgotten, as have any children he might have had. As unremarkable as his mortal life was, his vices made him a prime example of a successfully corrupted soul.
After Cerberus died from wound-inflicted sepsis before the age of 40, he was assigned to Wrath's circle and slowly transformed into a demon over the course of several decades by the realm's first "official" torturers.
Rebirth
By the time Cerberus regained his sentience and took on a new name, Hell was still being reformed after Lucifer's fall. Back then, any control over the chaos and anarchy was shortlived and futile, so Cerberus was assigned a mission: to help the hell knights and deadly sins to bring order to the infernal mess.
Since Cerberus had been so lovingly handcrafted from a mortal soul, his unique powers presented themselves soon after his rebirth. He would capture, examine, and transform hellish creatures of his own, adding to the realm's hostile fauna with his creations. As he realized the creatures heeded his command despite their rebellious and wild nature, he began to lend them around, gaining favor among the higher ranks for his service.
Building Hell
With the help of controllable, ever-hungry monsters, Hell's royalty finally managed to overpower the unruly hordes and rule over them. For Cerberus, this meant more free time to study his true potential. He began to consciously breed the monsters, searching for the fiercest lineages that could survive any condition they were thrown in. He also needed to figure out how to take the beasts out of Hell and teach them to transform into less monstrous animals.
During these experiments, the Beastmaster started to gain notoriety among his kin for buying rebellious runts off their masters and making them disappear. A few managed to stay by his side and serve him, but most met their ends in one way or another, usually by getting fused into another lifeform. These demons-made-into-beasts grew into truly hellish proportions, rivaling small overlords, and were stationed to guard Hell's gates and other key locations.
Generations of trial and error were paying off, and Cerberus was making generous profit by continuously supplying new monsters to those interested in them.
Now
Nowadays, the Father of Monsters spends most of his time on Earth, enjoying a relatively quiet life near the Everglades. Even though he isn't directly employed by the national park and certainly doesn't have moral obligations towards its preservation, he is a regular visitor and occasional caretaker of injured predators, particularly alligators and crocodiles. For all the demon's faults, he's never taken his frustrations out on animals.
Extra details
- Out of all created monsters, the first ones—and to this day, Cerberus' favorites—are named Echidna, Typhon, and Orthus. They are the foundation of many monster lineages that have survived to this day.
- Cerberus has also dabbled in breeding Bullmastiffs, Tibetan Mastiffs, and Cane Corsos, but hasn't owned dogs or had litters for years. His youngest dogs are still around, living with new owners.
