Juggernaut

The Juggernaut, once known as the Elephantaur, was a towering elephant-shaped monster that walked upright on its hind legs and bore the war-armor of Persia. A heavy and ferocious beast, it stood among the mightiest foes Kratos met during his march through Attica, its presence on the field much like that of the Minotaurs of earlier days.

Form and bearing#

The Juggernaut was shaped like a fearsome elephant, yet it stood and moved upon its hind legs, its forelimbs ending not in an elephant's feet but in clawed paws shaped much like human hands. Over its body it wore Persian war-armor, plating that guarded its arms, its waist, its tusks, and even its snout. In sheer bulk and threat it recalled the Minotaurs that Kratos had broken in earlier campaigns, a brute meant to anchor a battle line and trample whatever came against it.

Appearance in the wars of Attica#

The Juggernaut came against Kratos during his pursuit of the Furies through the lands of Greece. He met the first of them at the Village of Kirra, and others awaited him afterward at Delos Landing and at the Shoulder of Apollo, places shadowed by the temples of Apollo. These beasts were loosed as living siege-engines, set to guard and to overrun.

In battle the Juggernaut fought with overwhelming force. It would lower its head and charge, driving its armored tusks forward to fling an enemy back, or stamp the ground with one massive foot to throw a foe off balance, or rake the air with its clawed paws. Certain of them bore a mace fashioned from spiked elephant tusks, which they swung in great arcs or slammed against the earth; when such a weapon was at last broken, the beast cast it aside and fought on with its bare hands. Most dangerous of all, the Juggernaut could close one enormous fist around a foe and lift him from the ground, crushing him in its grip, though a determined enemy could still strike free of the hold and bring the great beast down.