Brothers of Zeus who helped overthrow their father, Chronos, the cyclopses were repaid by being forced into slavery to Hephaestus. They assist him in forging the most powerful weapons known to the gods: Zeus' thunderbolts, Athena's Invincible Spear, Ares' sword, and Poseidon's Trident are among these. Hideous and malnourished, the cyclopses are little more than beasts, with little intellect shared between them. They fight each other for the scraps from Hephaestus' table; they are unclean beasts, with no concept of shame or dignity. The cyclopses have been known to wear tattered rags and strap on plates of armor, but only during times of battle. They serve their master unquestioningly, too unintelligent to resent their positions as slaves.

Withered and emaciated but powerful in the arts of magic, Steropes is the polar opposite of his brother Brontes. The runt of his litter, Steropes was ill-suited to the rigors of the forge. Taking pity on the frail creature, Hephaestus blessed Steropes with a set of enchanted tattoos that granted him power over thunder and lightning. So embued, Steropes has distinguished himself both in the forge and on the battlefield. It is Steropes who is responsible for the construction of Zeus' lightning bolts, and fury he can channel from the heavens is capable of striking down even the sturdiest of opponents.