Magicore
Frequency: Very Rare
No.
Appearing: 1-2
Armor
Class: 4 (may employ magical protections)
Move:
12”, 18”
Hit
Dice: 4+4,
%
in Lair: 45%
Treasure
Type: H, S, T,
No.
of Attacks: 3
Damage/Attack:
1-3, 1-3, 1-8
Special
Attacks: magic use.
Special
Defenses: Nil
Magic
Resistance: Standard
Intelligence:
High
Alignment:
Lawful Evil
Size:
L
Psionic
Ability: Nil
A
magicore is a manticore in the main. As do manticores, they prefer dismal
lairs, such as caverns and dungeons. They range in all climes, though favoring
warmer over colder. They also favor man
as prey.
Magicores,
however, have motivations greater than mere gustatory satisfaction. Unlike
ordinary manticores, a magicore is a magic-user capable of casting spells. Unfortunately,
a magicore cannot learn or memorize spells as human magic-users do. Instead, a
magicore may gain spells only by devouring other magic-users. Any spells held
in the mind of the monster’s victim at the time he is eaten, are then transferred
to the magicore.
The
spells remain with the magicore until cast, at which time they are lost. To
regain spells, the beast must find and devour another dwoemer holding
magic-user.
A
magicore may cast spells of up to 4th level. Greater magics are
beyond its ability, and are simply lost if contained within the head of a
magicore’s , “meal-book”.
In
any first encounter, a magicore will have 1-6 spells available to it. These
spells may be determined by first rolling a D6 to find the total number of
spells, then by rolling a D4 for each to determine its level, one through four.
Each spell may then be randomly determined by rolling on the level lists, or
simply chosen by the Dungeon Master.
A
magicore can and will employ magic items it has gained to best advantage. A
magicore will employ its spells judiciously.
A
magicore lacks the spine-hurling tail of a manticore. Instead its tail ends in
a serpent’s head. The tail-head is not venomous, in most cases. The magicore
may use it in a clumsily prehensile manner, to bite and hold small creatures
and manipulate objects.
Though
they are both monstrous and bestial, magicores exhibit leonine confidence and
an excess of personality.
Magicores
have a particular weakness for ornate headgear. Any captured creature with
skill in hattery will be forced to create fabulous and impressive hats for the
monster. Until such time as its appetite overcomes its vanity.
