Manticore
CR 5, LE Large Magical beast
Senses: Perception 9, Darkvision 60, Low Light Vision, ScentThis special quality allows a creature to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights. The creature can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range. When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed-only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source's location. A creature with the scent ability can follow tracks by smell with a perception check instead of using the Track skill.
Speed: 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (clumsy) Skills: Athletics -3
Languages: Common
Ability Scores: Str 20 (+12), Dex 15 (+9), Con 18 (+11), Int 7 (+0), Wis 12 (+3), Cha 9 (+1)
INIT: +2 CP: +6 HP: 57 (6d10+24) SA: -- DC: 18
AC: 17 Touch: 11 Flat-footed: 15 [+2 Dodge, +6 Natural, -1 Size]
SR: -- Vulnerable: -- Resistant: -- Bypass: --
Immunity: -- Effect Immunity: --
Attacks
- Melee (Natural) - 1 x bite +10 (1d8+5). Reach: 5 ft.
- Melee (Natural) - 2 x claws +10 (2d4+5). Reach: 5 ft.
- Ranged - 4 x spikes +7 (1d6+5). Range: 180 feet
Spikes (ex) - With a snap of its tail, a manticore can loose a volley of four spikes as a standard action (make an attack roll for each spike). This attack has a range of 180 feet with no range penalties. All targets must be within 30 feet of each other. The creature can launch only 24 spikes in any 24-hour period.
Environment: warm hills and marshes
Organization: solitary, pair, pride (3-6)
Treasure: standard
This creature has a vaguely humanoid head, the body of a lion, and the wings of a dragon. Its tail ends in long, sharp spikes.
Manticores are fierce predators that patrol a wide area in search of fresh meat. A typical manticore is about 10 feet long and weighs about 1,000 pounds. Some have more human-like heads, usually with beards. Males and females look much alike. Manticores eat any meat, even carrion, though they prefer human flesh and rarely pass up an opportunity for such a delicacy. They are smart and social enough to bargain with or bully evil humanoids into alliances or offering tribute, and more powerful creatures may hire or bribe them to guard or patrol a place or area. They like lairs in high places, such as hilltops and caves in cliffs. Although manticores were likely a magical creation, they have long since established themselves as a naturally occurring species. Curiously, manticores seem strangely fecund, and can interbreed with a number of other similarly shaped creatures, including lions, dire lions, lamias, sphinxes, and even chimeras.
