Giant Bull

Giant Bull


Large beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 63 (6d10 + 30)
Speed 40 ft

STR 21 (+5)
DEX 8 (-1)
CON 21 (+5)
INT 2 (-4)
WIS 12 (+1)
CHA 6 (-2)

Senses passive Perception 11
Languages none
Challenge 3 (700 xp)

Trampling Charge. If the giant bull moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a gore attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength or Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the giant bull can make one stomp attack against it as a bonus action. 

Actions
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage. 

Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack. +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one prone creature. Hit 23 (4d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage. 

This bull is massive and aggressive. At its shoulder, this wild bull stands almost six feet tall and weighs over a ton. It is carved from pure muscle with a thick hide and sharp horns. The Greeks raised cattle, but it was not uncommon for wild cows called Aurochs to be found in the untamed wilds of mainland Greece. 

On Crete, King Minos was sent a beautiful bull from the sea by Poseidon. He was commanded to sacrifice this bull in the name of the King of the Ocean. However, Minos chose to keep the beast instead. He sacrificed one of his own cows in its place. This angered Poseidon. As revenge, Minos's wife, Queen Pasiphae fell in love with the steer. She commanded Daedalus construct a wooden cow that she could place herself in. She tricked the bull, and carried out an adulterous affair with it. From that coupling the horrid Minotaur was born. 

The Cretan Bull was left to wander the island ravaging the countryside, until Heracles came. As a part of his twelve labors he was sent to fetch the creature and bring it back to King Eurystheus. Upon dragging the beast back to mainland Greece he let it go. The bull wandered throughout the land crushing crops and savaging the people. Theseus finally slayed the bull once and for all at Marathon. 

Bulls like this one are also prized sacrifices to the Olympians. If the heroes slay a beast like this, they may wish to make an offering. They can also take the bull alive and lead it to the temple to be cleaned and wrapped in ribbons. Then they must pour water on its head then its throat cut. The blood must be collected in a special container. 

Then the offering is prepared and roasted over an open flame. The gods will be given the long bones with some fat and spices, while the meat will be left to the people. For many Bronze Age Greeks, this was the only time they got to eat red meat. A feast will be hosted, and everyone in the community will take part. The offerings set aside for the gods will be left to continue to cook until they burn and the smoke rises up to the gods. 

The reason for the difference in portions goes back to Prometheus, the Titan of Forethought. According to Hesiod, a great ox was trussed up before Zeus, "Before the rest he set flesh and inner parts thick with fat upon the hide, covering them with an ox paunch; but for Zeus he put the white bones dressed up with cunning art and covered with shining fat." When it came time for Zeus to choose which portion would belong to the gods, he was duped into choosing the bones and fat instead of the delicious meat. 

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