Creature Lore - Manticore

[leave me alone 993]

The Manticore

 

 

A Manticore is a very dangerous monster that inhabits all of the temperate and colder regions of the realm. It has two different breeds that differ slightly in appearance and mentality.

Breeds

The Manticore has two breeds, Common and Imperial. The Common Manticore is the more common of the two (as is suggested by the name) while the Imperial Manticore is quite rare, but much more dangerous.

 

Habitat and nesting

Both of the two breeds of Manticore live in colder climates ranging from temperate zones to outright arctic regions. They usually prefer rough terrain because it is easier for them to hide their nests and also makes it easier to ambush pray.

The Common Manticore is rather nomadic when it comes to habitat, usually only staying at the same nest sites for a few months at a time. Common Manticores are typically harder to track due to this. It is speculated that they move with the climate and that they have a very fine line between a comfortable temperature and an annoying one. They'll typically move to nearby regions that are colder.

The Imperial Manticore is rather different in their nesting. They'll only live in very rough terrain such as mountains. They only live in the more harsh cold climates and do not move from region to region. An Imperial Manticore lives in the same region for its entire life, making them easier to track. Imperial Manticores defend their nests until death, refusing to leave. The Imperial Manticore has a strange way when it comes to habitat that not many other monsters and animals have. The Imperial Manticore expands its territory by killing other Imperial Manticores, this may seem normal but it gets even stranger when you learn of how Imperial Manticores handle their children. Once a Manticore Cub reaches adulthood their father gives them a smaller territory on the edge of their own (the mother uses the father's territory, as though bound to him). The only way the Imperial Manticore can expand its territory is by killing a neighbour Manticore or by killing their own father, at which point they get his territory.

Manticore nests are typically located within caves or nestled securely at high points in mountain ranges.

 

Reproduction

Manticores are unique in that they have very strict and specific gender roles. When a female Manticore is born it is bound to their father, only when their father is killed do they leave the nest in search of another male to breed with. If their father is killed by another Manticore, they become bound to this Manticore and live in its nest. These groups of females bound to a male are known as a 'harem'. When mating, the father doesn't seem to care whether his mate his sister or daughter or not.  It is not uncommon for the Manticore to impregnate several females at once instead of taking one mate for the breeding season.

 

Manticore children are called Cubs, and are looked after by the Harem (not just the mother). Once the Manticore Cubs come of age, the female joins their father's Harem, and the male does one of two things. The male is either assigned a small region at the edge of their father's territory to have as his own territory, or challenges his father for his territory in a fight to the death. If the male cub wins the fight he inherits his father's territory and his harem (and any other cubs who haven't yet come of age).

 

Common Manticore Cubs usually mature in two-three years. Imperial Manticore cubs usually mature in one-two years, noticeably faster than their Common kin.

 

Appearance

 

Manticore have a unique appearance that is breed specific.

 

The Common Manticore has the tail of a scorpion and the body and head of a lion. Their fur is typically a pale yellow, with a brown mane that runs down their back. They have noticeably more muscle than lions, and their tail has more powerful venom than that of a scorpion. It is hypothesised that these creatures were created by some sort of dark magic in the attempt of creating the perfect killing machine, in some ways they are correct.

 

The Imperial Manticore is much more impressive (and intimidating) to look at. They are twice their size of their Common kin (their kin being a little larger than a lion). They also have two large wings of a bat expanding from their abdomen (their most unique feature). Due to these two wings they differ greatly from their Common kin. The Imperial Manticore also has  dark brown fur with an even darker tone of brown mane that reaches further than that of their Common kin. A few sights of black fur and black mane Imperial Manticores have been reported, but these sightings have not been made official due to lack of evidence. It is believed that the Imperial Manticore was another attempt at making the perfect killing machine, this time adding the wings of a bat. These wings cannot be used for full blown flight, however they can aid the Manticore by allowing it to glide.

 

Feeding

The Manticore is strictly a carnivore. Both breeds of Manticore use ambush tactics to kill their prey. By the time the prey knows a Manticore is there it is often too late. If the Manticore is faced with a foe that is bigger than them they will often use their tail to immobilise them with poison before finishing them off, however, smaller prey often simply gets tackled and then killed with the Manticores sharp claws. Common Manticores usually only attack each other when desperate for food or when defending their nests, it has been reported that they are otherwise indifferent to each other. Imperial Manticores are a different story. Imperial Manticores hunt all things that Common Manticores hunt, while also hunting Common Manticores themselves. Imperial Manticores also actively seek out neighbouring Imperial Manticores in an attempt to kill them and take their territory. Imperial Manticores are extremely aggressive and typically attack everything living thing they can get their hands on.

 

Manticores typically pounce or swoop (depending on breeds) down onto their prey from a high up point. If forced into a fight due to a failed ambush they’ll often gauge their foe on how tough they would be to defeat, if they are deemed too strong the Manticore will retreat (although, Imperial Manticores have been known to have a stubborn pride). The Manticore however will not give mercy to those who try to escape its grasp, and will usually not settle until their prey is dead.

 

The Manticore has an unsettling way of eating it’s food, devouring its prey entirely. While a Common Manticore typically takes a few bites to eat its prey, Imperial Manticores are capable of consuming their prey in one bite. It has been seen that the Manticore is capable of dislocating its jaw to swallow large prey much like a snake does.

 

 

 

DICLAIMER

 

I'm fully aware ET can RP whatever the hell they want now but I like having lore that can be found with a quick forum search, cause I know full well the Wiki is unused as hell.

 

[CosmicWhaleShark 2487]

These things would be so ******* cool, and rightfully scary. I forgot about these creatures honestly. +1 for the reminder

[BartOhYeah 18]

They'll only live in very rough terrain such as mountains. They only live in the more harsh cold climates and do not move from region to region.

In short, at the top of the Dwarven Capital.     

+1

[Swgrclan 2636]

A good idea and proper lore to back it. I like it.

[DISCOLIQUID 1974]

I like it.

[Anderssn 1115]

+1, however the human like face in the art disturbs me, a lot.

[Quartzen 13]

Can't wait to see Petrus ravaged by these.. +1

[Pandan 1448]

[under Review]

 

Feel free to continue submitting feedback in the form of comments or changing the post should you want to, expect an answer within the coming week or just afterward.

[Pandan 1448]

This lore has been  [Approved] !

 

Have fun at level 60!