Manticore

From PathfinderWiki
Manticore
Lazzero and Linxia face a manticore.
(Creature)

Manticores are monstrous winged predators that combine the features of several creatures into a deadly whole.1

Appearance

A manticore has the body of an immense lion the size of a horse, the wings of a dragon, and a long tail ending in a cluster of vicious spikes. Some manticores have a lion's head, but others have the face of a snarling bearded human with razor-sharp teeth. Unlike lions or humans, both male and female manticores have manes or beards.1

Ecology

It is unknown how manticores came into existence, though magic is assumed to be involved. Manticores are not picky eaters; they are ravenous eaters of meat, whether freshly killed or rotting carrion. They patrol vast stretches of land seeking food.1

Manticores are strangely fecund and capable of interbreeding with other lion-like creatures, including common lions, dire lions, lamias, sphinxes, and chimeras. Such crossbreeds are usually members of the mate's species, but with manticore features, such as a chimera with a spiked tail.1

Habitat and society

Manticores are more than dumb beasts. Though not as smart as a human, they are thinking creatures capable of speech, and often strike deals with or bully evil humanoids into working with or for them, often employing such creatures to guard their lairs. They make their homes in high places like hilltops and cliffside caves.1

Manticores are known to revere the archdevil Barbatos2 and the demon lord Nurgal.3

Abilities

Manticores have keen senses and are skilled trackers. They possess great strength, ripping claws and fangs, and the power of flight, but their most unusual feature is the ability to whip their tails and launch a volley of spikes at their prey. The spikes rapidly grow back over the course of a day.1

On Golarion

Manticores have been encountered in the Hold of Belkzen,4 on the Nesmian Plains of southern Nirmathas,5 in the hills in the Mwangi Expanse,6 in the Takalak Hills on Motaku Isle in the Shackles,7 in the Gembasket of Katapesh,8 and in the hills of Glenebon in the Stolen Lands of the River Kingdoms.9 They are rumored to live on Bag Island in the Shackles.10 They were once hunted by the warriors of Sarkoris in what is now the Worldwound.11 In Varisia, manticores are found in the hinterlands of Magnimar,12 the Stony Mountains,13 and the Devil's Elbow14.

Manticores are encountered on occasion in the Darkmoon Vale of Andoran, where they inhabit Arthfell Forest and Darkmoon Wood. The Greenfire Circle and Fangwatch keep their numbers in check, and many have fled north to the Five Kings Mountains. A powerful manticore named Grazhgaugh closely guards a grove in Darkmoon Wood; some say he is guarding an ancient elven artifact.15

Two prides of manticores live in the Roiling Den, in the Chelish city of Corentyn, where they aid in the protection of the city through a partnership with the human ranger and Chelish Navy Lieutenant Frazura Antelo.1617

Manticores also sometimes venture into the upper caverns of Nar-Voth.18

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jason Bulmahn. (2009). Bestiary (First Edition), p. 199. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-183-1
  2. ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2012). Lords of Hell: Barbatos. Kobold Quarterly 22, p. 14. Open Design, LLC.
  3. ↑ James Jacobs. (2010). Lords of Chaos, p. 22. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-250-0
  4. ↑ Sean K Reynolds and Greg A. Vaughan. (2008). Bestiary. Skeletons of Scarwall, p. 77. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-099-5
  5. ↑ Crystal Frasier. (2017). The Nesmian Plains. Trail of the Hunted, p. 66. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-926-4
  6. ↑ Tim Hitchcock et al. (2010). Heart of the Jungle, p. 62. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-247-0
  7. ↑ Mike Shel. (2012). Isles of the Shackles, p. 11. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-408-5
  8. ↑ Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. (2009). Dark Markets: A Guide to Katapesh, p. 6. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-166-4
  9. ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2010). The Stolen Lands. Guide to the River Kingdoms, p. 51. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-203-6
  10. ↑ Mike Shel. (2012). Isles of the Shackles, p. 6. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-408-5
  11. ↑ Wolfgang Baur, Adam Daigle, Jeff Erwin, and F. Wesley Schneider. (2012). Lost Kingdoms, p. 50. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-415-3
  12. ↑ Adam Daigle and James Jacobs. (2012). Magnimar, City of Monuments, p. 45. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-446-7
  13. ↑ James L. Sutter. (2007). Varisia. The Hook Mountain Massacre, p. 68. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-038-4
  14. ↑ Ashavan Doyon, Mike McArtor, Rob McCreary, Erik Mona. (2008). Bestiary. Children of the Void, p. 79. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-127-5
  15. ↑ Mike McArtor. (2008). Guide to Darkmoon Vale, p. 27. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-100-8
  16. ↑ Jeff Quick. (2009). Corentyn. Cities of Golarion, p. 22. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-200-5
  17. ↑ Amanda Hamon Kunz, Ron Lundeen, and Mark Moreland. (2015). Cheliax, The Infernal Empire, p. 11. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-799-4
  18. ↑ James Jacobs and Greg A. Vaughan. (2008). Into the Darklands, p. 19. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-140-4
Retrieved from "https://pathfinderwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Manticore&oldid=303224"