Art by Julien Carrasco

Manticore

A wretched creation, sired by magic in a pitiful attempt to recreate the formidable beast of yore. As legend would have it, the manticore was a lion with a Nua Sidhe's face and the tail of a giant scorpion, but this poor imitation is far more monstrous. In the lion's stead, a different beast was born altogether, fashioned out of mutated and spell-bound flesh. Through reviled sorcery and an alchemist’s experimentation, the manticore was made anew, halfway between a jaraid and a legbat, with barbs and spines protruding from its lashing tail and a pair of crooked wings flaring from its misshapen back. Grotesque and vicious, the creature is rumoured to toy with its prey, hunting for sustenance just as much as for some twisted form of diversion. By virtue of the pair of wings grafted onto its back, the manticore can be found tearing through the skies and gliding from treetop to treetop in dense, forest environments. 

Hunting most often in the pitch dark of night, manticores roam in packs of two to three and are heard before they are seen. The bone-chilling screech of a manticore is enough to send even the bravest running, a signal of the terror to come. Their warped and unnatural physiology only amplifies this further, resulting in a sound that sits in an uncanny medium between natural and not. With elongated limbs, they possess ample dexterity to pursue their prey. When the twisted fascination of toying with their victims has waned and they finally catch their quarry, their large, jaraid claws make swift work, tearing through flesh and bone. On occasion, mangled corpses are left in their wake – evidence of their penchant for hunting as a cruel thrill.

Written by Tidepod, Electric, and ShinyBlue

DM Guide

The information below is almost exclusively intended for DMs: an explanation of the creature's behaviour, weaknesses, its unique abilities, and a full statblock to aid in rolling checks and contests where applicable. Characters may reasonably have the knowledge of the information in the above post. The information below is more OOC-facing and can be learned in detail via IC research (a research ticket or event) or known in vague, broad strokes where applicable: common sense applies! A Falstoner may have a vague idea of a Faded Steppe creature's abilities, but not specifics. For example: "the creature spews blood, but I don't know how, when, and what that looks like."

Not every spell, feat, or ability interaction is defined for beasts. DMs are expected to use their discretion when adjudicating interactions that are not explicitly covered. Additionally, the mechanics of bestiary creatures are set in stone and not open for adjustment unless specific issues are noted through DMed encounters.

Spoilers ahead... proceed with caution! Here be dragons!

Statblock

Boons

[Leap] Due to its unnatural physique, the manticore struggles to take flight directly from the ground. Instead, it uses its claws and powerful hind legs to climb steep surfaces, leaping off them to take flight. Alternatively, with a flap of its wings, it can close distances swiftly even while on the ground. This ability operates similarly to the Pounce feat: using two actions, the manticore pounces to a point in Skirmishing distance, landing with great force and dealing 6 damage to anyone within Melee distance. This attack may be Blocked or Evaded. Even if they avoid the attack, they must roll a STR: Athletics check or fall Prone from the sheer force of impact.

[Barrage of Barbs] Coated in sharp barbs, a mere swipe of the tail can inflict devastation. Using two actions, these barbs can also be hurled at alarming velocities, each of them similar in size and sharpness to a dagger. Make one attack roll for every target in a 5x5 area in front of the manticore, each with /roll attack 1 4 that does 4 Dmg. This attack may be Blocked or Evaded, and can only be used once before running out. The manticore can grow more barbs as a free action to use this ability again afterward, with each instance costing 6 HP.

[Acidic Blood] Vile, mutated ichor flows through its veins, corrosive to any who touch it. Unarmed attacks and maneuvers (except for Pull) deal 1 AP back to the player. Similarly, each turn the beast is grappled, it deals 1 AP to the grappler. On critical hits, the damage would be 2 AP instead.

Banes

[Natural Armour] While still benefitting from armour rolls when taking damage (for this beast, it uses Medium Armour), it does not physically have armour. This means that weapons such as Whips and Finesse Blades, which do additional damage against unarmoured targets, deal that additional damage to the beast.

[Malformed Wings] Should the manticore’s wings be sufficiently damaged, it loses the ability to take flight and to use its [Leap] boon. 

Mechanics Guidance

• Medium Armour
• 60-70 HP 
• 2 actions per turn
• Movement
  • 6m (6 blocks) grounded 
  • 5m (5 blocks) flying
• Attack rolls and damage - general guidance:
  • Bite
    • /roll attack 2 3 AP
    • 3 AP damage
    • 1 action
    • Melee distance
  • Smack
    
    • /roll attack 3 5
    • 5 damage
    • 1 action
    • Melee distance
  • Tail-swipe
    
    • /roll attack 3 4 GP
    • 4 GP damage
    • 1 action
    • Skirmishing distance
  • [Leap] See boons.
    • No roll
    • 2 actions
    • Skirmishing distance
  • [Barrage of Barbs] See boons.
    • /roll attack 1 4
    • 2 actions
• For the purposes of contesting spells or making otherwise necessary checks, the following stats are provided: