MANTICORE’S LAIR 2.

Deep scratch marks on the walls speak to the

manticore’s strength and the sharpness of its claws.
3. Dried gore covers the ground; occasionally, bloody,
These erce winged predators patrol vast areas in smeared handprints appear low down on the walls.
search of fresh meat. They prefer dismal lairs— 4. Deep cracks riddle the walls and oor. A vast profusion
typically underground or in caves—in warm places. of insects dwells within. They periodically emerge to
They eat virtually anything but prefer human esh. feast on the manticore’s leavings.
OUTSIDE THE LAIR
MANTICORE’S APPEARANCE
1. A smattering of yellow spikes juts from tree trunks while
a few others litter the ground. 1. With dark brown wings and a bright yellow body, this
2. A torn and dismembered torso of what may have once manticore’s mud-stained face bears deep scaring across
been a man lies amid a pool of congealing gore. its forehead.
3. The eviscerated corpse of a warhorse lies sprawled on 2. The underside of this manticore's wings is jet black
the ground. A spike is deeply embedded in the horse’s which matches the colouration of its human head of hair.
forehead. Gore soaks the horse’s saddle. 3. This manticore’s tail is long, sinuous and tipped with
4. Several boulders and thick tree trunks bear deep claw wickedly sharp spikes. The creature’s wings are ragged.
marks. Scattered heaps of dung dot the ground. 4. A surprisingly human face—complete with a bushy beard
and wildly unkempt hair—gives this manticore a feral air
akin to a berserk barbarian.
W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N ?

1. The manticore is absent—it is out hunting when the

TREASURE
characters enter its lair. It returns as the characters reach
the furthest extent of the beast's home. 1. A torn sack holds a cache of rectangular golden coins.
2. The manticore is noisily chewing the spoils of a recent Dwarven script edges the coins.
hunt. The gore-splattered beast is distracted and does 2. A huge club—once a giant’s—stands against a wall. The
not notice the characters unless they make much noise. club is well balanced and could be wielded by a strong,
3. The manticore slumbers. It takes one round to awaken tall human.
and loses initiative in the rst two rounds of combat. 3. Wrought of pure gold, this golden gurine depicts a
4. The manticore is faking slumber—warned by some sixth dryad and her tree. The depicted tree is a mountain ash.
sense of approaching intruders. 4. Delicate silver wings surmount this golden helm. The
helm is in perfect condition but a little bloodstained.
M A J O R L A I R F E AT U R E S
TRINKETS & TRASH
1. The stench of death, decay and decomposing esh
hangs heavily throughout the lair. The smell intensi es 1. A heaped mass of bloody, torn clothes, shredded sacks
the closer the characters get to the manticore’s nest. and the like form a pile. Small pieces of rotting or rusting
2. A chasm, 15-foot-wide and 30-foot-deep, cuts across the equipment stud the pile; none are valuable.
lair’s main corridor. 2. A torn and bloody backpack has spilt its contents over
3. Some parts of the cave system are unstable. The use of the ground. The mundane traveller’s gear it once held is
explosive spells could cause a localised collapse. gore-splattered and rotting.
4. A many-branched stream gushes through the cave 3. A shredded blood-stained cloak obscures sight of the
system. Some of the main passageways have no dry decomposing torso of what was once a human. Flies and
ground at all. This does not hinder the manticore. other insects swarm over the remains.
4. The three pieces of a splintered horseman’s lance lie
scattered about the manticore’s lair.
M I N O R L A I R F E AT U R E S

1. A scattering of broken bones, shredded clothing and

CREDIT
destroyed equipment cover the uneven ground
This is a short system-neutral extract from Monstrous Lair
throughout the lair.
#61: Manticore’s Lair by Robert Manson.

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