Epic Monsters: Cerberus (5E)

Today on Epic Monsters we visit the underworld which means of course crossing paths with Hades’ guard dog: Cerberus!

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This three-headed (possibly as many as 100 heads depending on where you look) canine keeps the dead from escaping the afterlife—really though Cerberus’ claim to fame is his capture by Heracles/Hercules as one of the twelve labors, a story celebrated again and again throughout both Greek and Roman arts. The hero is initiated into the Eleusian Mysteries and then travels into the underworld probably by way of a cave in Tainaron, guided afterward by Athena and Hermes. Once he’s down there Heracles/Hercules runs into Theseus and Pirithous (held captive for trying to rescue Persephone from hell—that whole pomegranate seeds and winter thing) then wrangles the beast. How he does so (and much more) is written about in great length and changes from author to author, but at the end of the day comes back up with Cerberus, typically with Theseus, and sometimes Pirithous too.

Design Notes:This is actually a conversion from Sean K. Reynold’s excellent New Argonauts with a little bit extra tacked in (a breath weapon). He thought a smaller puppified version would be useful for folks and I am in full agreement on that—if you are too here’s a cerberean hound.

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Cerberus
Huge monstrosity, neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 152 (16d12+48)
Speed 50 ft.

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
22 (+6)​	15 (+2)​	17 (+3)​	7 (-2)​	12 (+1)​	10 (+0)​

Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +6
Skills Insight +5, Perception +7, Stealth +5, Survival +4
Damage Resistances cold, fire, necrotic, radiant
Senses darkvision 200 ft., passive Perception 22
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Ageless. Cerberus cannot suffer from frailty of old age, die from old age, or be aged magically.

Snake-Tail. Cerberus’ uses its Dexterity modifier for attack and damage rolls with its snake-tail.

Three Heads. Cerberus gains double his proficiency bonus to and has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks. In addition, he has advantage on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.


ACTIONS

Multiattack. Cerberus makes three bite attacks and one snake-tail attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d10+6) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Snake-Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Poison Foam (Recharge 5-6). Cerberus exhales a spray of toxic liquid in a 20-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

This, right here, touches on my oldest, biggest bugbear (in the sense of pet peeve) with D&D. In your example, Lestat and Dracula (and Cassidy and Strahd) are all Vampires, the set of creatures they belong to is Vampires. They are not Draculas any more than they are Frankensteins. But I'm guessing you're being facetious.

That's just how language evolves. You don't blow your nose on tissue paper; you use a kleenex. You don't use a self-adhesive bandage to cover a minor wound; you use a band-aid. Likewise, you don't fight vampires; you fight draculas. Genericization happens.

The actual thing that has always annoyed the out of me about D&D was this: Medusa was a Gorgon, she belonged to the set of creatures known as Gorgons, Medusa was her PROPER GIVEN NAME.

The thing that really bothers me, for the purpose of this example, is that there has never been a named medusa. It makes sense to fight a group of draculas, because Lestat and Spike and Edward exist. The only three medusas are Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale; and without a larger sample size, it doesn't make a strong case for genericizing the name like that.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I disagree. I have never thought of Lestat as Dracula (or ever heard anyone make that argument). I definitely understand why some would conflate Fluffy with Cerberus, but Fluffy is not Cerberus - like a giant spider is not Aragog. I think it is a bit much to extrapolate Fluffy to Cerberus, especially on these forums.

Lestat isn't Dracula. Lestat is a dracula. This is extremely common terminology, at least in the circles I travel. The Venture Bros, upon meeting their neighbor (Doctor Orpheus), described him as looking like a dracula. The most recent issue of Squirrel Girl opens with her watching a movie featuring "the world's first robot Dracula". That boat has long since sailed. Dracula is the species name.

As for Fluffy and Cerberus, well, I'm taking my cues from Harry Potter. He refers to the dog as "the Cerberus" because he doesn't know its name, and that's good enough for me. And if a three-headed dog ever showed up in a Monster Manual, then I can't imagine they'd give it any other name.

The question is open as to whether traits of the type specimen should necessarily be indicative of all later examples, but it would seem to be the case, given that vampires demonstrate all of the traditional vulnerabilities of Dracula. Whenever they make a species out of a single example, they do traditionally carry over all of its traits.

 

[dave2008]

Lestat isn't Dracula. Lestat is a dracula. This is extremely common terminology, at least in the circles I travel. The Venture Bros, upon meeting their neighbor (Doctor Orpheus), described him as looking like a dracula. The most recent issue of Squirrel Girl opens with her watching a movie featuring "the world's first robot Dracula". That boat has long since sailed. Dracula is the species name.

I have never heard Dracula used as a replacement for the general term of Vampire. The examples you provide still work it you replace "Dracula" with "Bob" the could be describing a resemblance to an individual, not a group. I am sure it has probably been done, but I would argue is not widely used or excepted that way. People would generally know what your talking about, but I think most would think it is odd. In fact, I actually think it is tilting the other way where the knowledge and acceptance of vampires is exceeding the knowledge and acceptance of Dracula. People know what vampires are, they don't need a substitute term of "draculas." That just sounds weird.

As for Fluffy and Cerberus, well, I'm taking my cues from Harry Potter. He refers to the dog as "the Cerberus" because he doesn't know its name, and that's good enough for me. And if a three-headed dog ever showed up in a Monster Manual, then I can't imagine they'd give it any other name.

One example is not enough and I will have to take your word for it that they refer to fluffy as a Cerberus. I don't remember that from the book or movie (but it has been a long time). I do remember Hagrid making a comment about you don't come across 3-head dogs often. thought that was the sentiment, the language was undoubtly different. Regardless he was describing how unusual Fluffy was.

The question is open as to whether traits of the type specimen should necessarily be indicative of all later examples, but it would seem to be the case, given that vampires demonstrate all of the traditional vulnerabilities of Dracula. Whenever they make a species out of a single example, they do traditionally carry over all of its traits.

Well you probably know that the abilities and traits of vampires can vary widely. So I am not sure of your point here. For example, Bram's Dracula was not destroyed by the sun or really even harmed by it.

 

[dave2008]

The thing that really bothers me, for the purpose of this example, is that there has never been a named medusa. It makes sense to fight a group of draculas, because Lestat and Spike and Edward exist. The only three medusas are Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale; and without a larger sample size, it doesn't make a strong case for genericizing the name like that.

I don't think it is quantity that matters, but brand recognition that makes the difference. Medusa has all of the brand recognition. Almost no one knows she was one of three and most people probably believe she had a human or half snake body (which she didn't). For all intents and purposes Medusa is it - there are no gorgons. She is actually the better example than vampires & Dracula with regard to how language evolves.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Looking at it from another angle, this is Herc's 12th labor. While he is under some disadvantage due to not being able to kill or seriously injure Cerberus, the challenge should be higher than a hydra. In his 11th labor, he took out a dragon that Atlas didn't want to fight, and it doesn't seem like Hera would want to go easy on him for his last labor.

 

[Quartz]

There's one thing that bugs me about both the versions so far: Cerberus is supposed to keep the dead in, but he has no powers that actually affect them. So he can't actually do his job! For starters, his attacks should count as magical and he should have immunity to necrotic damage. He should also have some sort of mass attack vs undead - an undead-repelling sonic version of Eldritch Blast, perhaps? Or perhaps you might channel the Crypt Thing.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

There's one thing that bugs me about both the versions so far: Cerberus is supposed to keep the dead in, but he has no powers that actually affect them. So he can't actually do his job! For starters, his attacks should count as magical and he should have immunity to necrotic damage. He should also have some sort of mass attack vs undead - an undead-repelling sonic version of Eldritch Blast, perhaps? Or perhaps you might channel the Crypt Thing.

I am not sure that the Greek dead in Hades are undead as we think of it in D&D, maybe more like petitioners (celestials or fiends). The Odyssey dead seem fairly undead, but Hercules and Orpheus's interactions with the dead didn't seem particularly undead. Maybe it is just me, but any dead who aren't running around in the world (as opposed to the afterlife) don't seem like "undead."

 

[Quartz]

I am not sure that the Greek dead in Hades are undead as we think of it in D&D, maybe more like petitioners (celestials or fiends). The Odyssey dead seem fairly undead, but Hercules and Orpheus's interactions with the dead didn't seem particularly undead. Maybe it is just me, but any dead who aren't running around in the world (as opposed to the afterlife) don't seem like "undead."

I agree, but to put them in D&D terms I think Undead is the best fit, after all, if they're trying to escape they're the unquiet dead.

 

[Aiden_Keller_]

I generally agree that Cerberus could be higher (see my little modifications to take him to CR 20); however, Cerberus fell to Herakles so in terms of Mike's project we have to keep that in mind. Also, I think Cerberus' primary function is to keep the dead in Hades. Finally, Tiamat is a goddess and Cerberus is never discussed within the ranks of deities. In both of the most famous stories with Cerberus it is defeated by a single mortal (Herakles in one and Orpheus in the other). So I think Mike is probably more on track than either of us. It really depends on how you see Herakles (a potential PC or uber NPC) and Mike would frame him as a PC in this project.

That makes more sense...Thanks!

 

[dave2008]

In his 11th labor, he took out a dragon that Atlas didn't want to fight, ....

Hmm. The version I'm most familiar with has Herakles asking Atlas to get the apples while he holds the sky - because even Herakles couldn't defeat the dragon. He then tricks Atlas into putting the sky back on his shoulders and takes the apples.