Manticore's Lair One-Pager
These fierce winged predators patrol vast areas in search of fresh meat. They prefer dismal lairs—typically underground or in caves—in warm places. They eat virtually anything but prefer human flesh.
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Outside the Lair
A smattering of yellow spikes juts from tree trunks while a few others litter the ground.
A torn and dismembered torso of what may have once been a man lies amid a pool of congealing gore.
The eviscerated corpse of a warhorse lies sprawled on the ground. A spike is deeply embedded in the horse’s forehead. Gore soaks the horse’s saddle.
Several boulders and thick tree trunks bear deep claw marks. Scattered heaps of dung dot the ground.
What’s Going On?
The manticore is absent—it is out hunting when the characters enter its lair. It returns as the characters reach the furthest extent of the beast’s home.
The manticore is noisily chewing the spoils of a recent hunt. The gore-splattered beast is distracted and does not notice the characters unless they make much noise.
The manticore slumbers. It takes one round to awaken and loses initiative in the first two rounds of combat.
The manticore is faking slumber—warned by some sixth sense of approaching intruders.
Major Lair Features
The stench of death, decay and decomposing flesh hangs heavily throughout the lair. The smell intensifies the closer the characters get to the manticore’s nest.
A chasm, 15-foot-wide and 30-foot-deep, cuts across the lair’s main corridor.
Some parts of the cave system are unstable. The use of explosive spells could cause a localised collapse.
A many-branched stream gushes through the cave system. Some of the main passageways have no dry ground at all. This does not hinder the manticore.
Minor Lair Features
A scattering of broken bones, shredded clothing and destroyed equipment cover the uneven ground throughout the lair.
Deep scratch marks on the walls speak to the manticore’s strength and the sharpness of its claws.
Dried gore covers the ground; occasionally, bloody, smeared handprints appear low down on the walls.
Deep cracks riddle the walls and floor. A vast profusion of insects dwells within. They periodically emerge to feast on the manticore’s leavings.
Manticore’s Appearance
With dark brown wings and a bright yellow body, this manticore’s mud-stained face bears deep scaring across its forehead.
The underside of this manticore’s wings is jet black which matches the colouration of its human head of hair.
This manticore’s tail is long, sinuous and tipped with wickedly sharp spikes. The creature’s wings are ragged.
A surprisingly human face—complete with a bushy beard and wildly unkempt hair—gives this manticore a feral air akin to a berserk barbarian.
Treasure
A torn sack holds a cache of rectangular golden coins. Dwarven script edges the coins.
A huge club—once a giant’s—stands against a wall. The club is well balanced and could be wielded by a strong, tall human.
Wrought of pure gold, this golden figurine depicts a dryad and her tree. The depicted tree is a mountain ash.
Delicate silver wings surmount this golden helm. The helm is in perfect condition but a little bloodstained.
Trinkets & Trash
A heaped mass of bloody, torn clothes, shredded sacks and the like form a pile. Small pieces of rotting or rusting equipment stud the pile; none are valuable.
A torn and bloody backpack has spilt its contents over the ground. The mundane traveller’s gear it once held is gore-splattered and rotting.
A shredded blood-stained cloak obscures sight of the decomposing torso of what was once a human. Flies and other insects swarm over the remains.
The three pieces of a splintered horseman’s lance lie scattered about the manticore’s lair.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Monstrous Lair #61: Manticore’s Lair by Robert Manson.
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