MANTIMERA
by Gregory Detwiler
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 11?/18?(MC:E)
HIT DICE: 8
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: E, F
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 bites, 2 horns, and
2 claws
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3/1 -3/1-4/1-4/
1-8/2-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Tail spikes
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low
ALIGNMENT Neutral evil
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VII/725 + 10/hp
The mantimera is a sterile crossbreed
resulting from the mating of a manticore
with a chimera. This creature has the hu-
manlike head of a manticore as well as the
goat and lion heads of the chimera, and
retains the spiked tail of the manticore.
Similar to its manticore parent, the man-
timera prefers to lie in wait for prey along
game trails or caravan routeas, firing at
least one volley of tail spikes before closing
for melee. Even without its tail spikes, the
mantimera is a formidable opponent, able
to strike six times per round. The human-
like head can bite for 1-8 hp damage, the
lion head for 2-8, the goat horns can butt
for 1-4 points each, and each of its forepaws
can lash out for 1-3 hp damage. It can
divide these attacks against as many as
three different targets in the same round,
although the two goat-horn attacks must
always be against the same foe.
The mantimera will not lie in wait indefi-
nitely, and if no prey presents itself the
creature will take to the air and range far
and wide looking for men (its favorite prey)
or other food sources. However, it is a
clumsy flier, and will not choose to engage
in aerial combat.
The mantimera is vicious and always on
the lookout for prey. It will not take on a
greatly superior opponent by choice, but
will usually not hesitate to swoop down
upon (for instance) a large group of armed
men; if the group proves to be too strong,
the mantimera will simply lift into the air
and fly away.
The coloration of the creature is similar
to that of the body parts of its parents. It
has the batlike wings of the manticore,
rather than the dragonlike wings of the
chimera.