Taurus

Born of Queen Pasiphaë and a bull, the Minotaur represented Zeus’ displeasure with King Minos of Crete. The Minotaur spent his first life within the Labyrinth, the tangled maze of corridors and chambers designed by Daedalus. He fed only once a year upon fourteen sacrifices, seven young men and women each. With Daedalus and Ariadne’s help, Theseus slew the Minotaur and escaped the Labyrinth.
When Daedalus tried to refuse the gods’ gift of immortality, he offended Hades, god of the Underworld, who resurrected the Minotaur and granted the man-bull immortality to serve him and vex the Greek inventor throughout eternity. For the first millennia of his second life, the Minotaur simply sought out Daedalus and engaged him in battle, but he was no match for his foe’s cunning intellect.
Hades grew impatient after a thousand years and no success. Over the next few centuries, Hades forced the Minotaur to work with Medea and others, and the manbull learned more practical ways of fighting their mutual enemies. He also began to learn to use more than just his brawn, as he traveled to the East and learned numerous skills from teachers, wise men, and ancient sorcerers. By the end of his second millennium, the man-bull had adopted the name Taurus, after the constellation of the bull.
Around the time Rome fell, Taurus gathered together other monsters, mystical creatures, sorcerers, and common enemies of Daedalus as allies. He formed the Zodiac Cabal—he and eleven others under astrological names—and spent centuries fighting Daedalus or at least thwarting his plans. The Zodiac Cabal eventually dissolved, but not before finding new foes in other immortal heroes like Eos, the Temple’s Star (often misreported as the Templar or believed to be the Wandering Jew), the Thunderer, the Green Knight, and Davrak the Undying.
By the seventeenth century, Taurus had already built himself a massive financial empire. In the past three centuries, he has continued to grow his economic power. While it is harder in the modern era to gull people into believing a person exists merely by letters, Taurus is so wealthy that even if he were to lose half his fortune, he would still be wealthier than the wealthiest mortals in the world.
Now, in the modern world, Taurus can exist as a phantom, placing many cover identities and false conspiracies in the way of any who would try and prove his existence. He prefers to remain a shadowy figure behind the scenes. He’s the prime mover behind many schemes, and the maze of power that is his new Labyrinth extends far indeed.

Physical Description

Special abilities

Taurus is a massive, powerfully muscled figure, divinely empowered with tremendous strength, stamina, and resistance to harm. His imposing presence is enhanced by his bestial nature and appearance, making him a fearsome figure—particularly when he chooses to be.
Taurus’ divine nature also grants him the ability to understand any speech or writing, and be understood in return, which he uses to appear even more learned than he already is. It also frees him from many mortal concerns, like illness or the need to breathe. Taurus does not require food or drink, although he enjoys both when he chooses to partake.

Specialized Equipment

Centuries of experience have given the man-bull considerable skills, ranging from combat and military tactics to a surprisingly cunning and deceptive manner and a keen intellect and understanding of human nature. Taurus has access to all of the advanced technology, resources, and equipment of the Labyrinth, but still prefers to enter single combat with a massive double-bladed axe as his weapon of choice.

Mental characteristics

Intellectual Characteristics

Once, Taurus was nothing more than a trapped beast, attacking any intruders that came into his lair, and that beast still lies just beneath the surface, awaiting an opportunity to emerge and fight again. Centuries of experience have allowed Taurus to contain that aspect of his nature, however. The few who encounter him in the present find the master of the Labyrinth cultured, thoughtful, and urbane, with an imposing edge, equally capable of discussing the world economic markets, ancient history, or the activities of criminal syndicates.
Taurus has come to enjoy the many pleasures of life, not the least of which is outwitting his enemies and surviving for as long as he has. He owes his immortal existence to Hades and, while others might seek to escape from under the death-god’s thumb, Taurus worships him and loyally serves when Hades calls. He has gained a grudging respect for his old foe Daedalus after centuries of conflict, and largely only troubles him when Hades commands.
Himself a freak and an outcast, Taurus has a soft spot for others in similar situations, yet he also admires strength and ruthlessness. Anyone expecting sentimentality from the man-bull is in for a disappointment, as Taurus truly cares only about his continued existence, and would sacrifice the world, if need be, in order to preserve it. Indeed, he gladly makes offerings to Hades to appease the death god, while recruiting others into his cult.