Editing Manticora (section)

==Redeemed Manticoras==
In 2nd edition, the manticoras appeared in the Scarred Lands Player's Guide. Here, they were retconned from being a wild monstrous race as evil as any Titanspawn to being more morally neutral - after all, they were technically created by the gods and fought on their side during the Divine War.

The manticora are a graceful, yet fearsome combination of feline and human. They stand upright on two feet, with a long, lion’s tail swishing between their digitigrade legs. The torso is humanoid, and the whole is covered in tawny or russet-gold fur. The manticora’s head shares features of both species: catlike eyes and nose, but humanlike ears, and a foreshortened leonine snout filled with sharp feline teeth. Male manticora have a thick mane, while females have more fur covering the face than the males. Manticora wear rustic tunics and simple cloth robes for clothing, though being furred, they tend to wear as little clothing as possible, climate permitting. More than one sage has observed that the manticora must be related to the panther-like terali [[catfolk]] of Termana.

With the titans defeated and Vangal more or less having left them to their own devices, the manticora have begun to civilize themselves, engaging with the divine races and settling into semi-permanent towns and cities. They are a race in transition, ready to take the next step forward as a people. As a former servitor race to one of the gods (even if that god was Vangal the Reaver), the manticora do not face the same stigma as many of the Redeemed. That said, most other races still consider the [[catfolk]] to be dangerous and untrustworthy, citing stories of bloodthirsty manticora raids on settlements and villages all around the Blood Steppes, and even as far off as Vesh, New Venir, and Hollowfaust. However, a number of contemporary manticora are making great strides to repair their tarnished reputations. The manticoras’ greatest success thus far has been with the Ganjus [[elves]], who have established a number of treaties and trade agreements with peaceable factions among the lionfolk. Elsewhere, the manticora have established relations with the [[orc]]s of the Plains of Lede and the [[slitherin]] of the Walled Warren.

The manticora are a traditionally nomadic people, divided into tribal groups called "prides" that are normally led by the strongest male, although some powerful females have overturned this rule in the past. Some of the more civilized prides have begun to settle in the Haggard Hills, forming small towns and villages and engaging in regular trade with the other races. Some of the more violent manticora tribes of the Perforated Plains, still somewhat loyal to Vangal, have formed a loose union, or at least a peace pact, with the Bleak Savannah’s “proud” (a race of savage, centaur-like leonine creatures). Yet other manticora, particularly in the Blood Steppes, remain fiercely independent. The manticora admire storytellers and keepers of history, perhaps because the race has not existed for a very long time relative to many others. Skalds and bards are common among them, valued by their prides. The manticora prefer oral traditions over written ones.

Since their formation during the Divine War, and until it ended, the manticora were loyal to [[Vangal]], acting as his prized raiders and warriors on Scarn. They hunted titanspawn, primarily, but were also known to turn on the other divine races (and it is even said that some of them developed a taste for human and elven flesh). With the war over and Vangal’s attention turned elsewhere, some lionfolk see this new era as a time of reawakening, spiritually and culturally. Some have chosen to follow [[Enkili]] or [[Tanil]], while others view [[Madriel]] or (more likely) [[Belsameth]] as their spiritual guide.

A manticora’s alignment can vary, although they tend toward the chaotic. Many are evil by human standards, although a growing number have shifted toward a neutral alignment. Good manticora are not unheard of, but they are rare.

The manticora were raiders and scouts for Vangal during the Divine War. The thought of adventuring for one’s own gain was very far from their understanding. In recent decades, however, having watched the other races, some manticora have chosen to leave their pride to seek glory on their own. Part of this newfound sense of agency may also have to do with a growing need to understand other cultures in order to thrive in a post-war world. Still, many manticora maintain their natural hunting instincts and view adventuring as a means to slake their blood-thirst.

Male Names: Akul, Choo, Garghi, Hepto, Klah, Megdak, Otahk, Tocho, Yasi
Female Names: Boona, Elu, Isi, Maruna, Pezi, Sihu, Terha, Woki, Zola

===5e Manticora Racial Traits===
Manticora are skilled hunters and trackers, as demonstrated by their common traits.
::Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and either your Wisdom or your Charisma score increases by 1.
::Age. Manticora mature in their late teens, and few live over a century.
::Size. The typical manticora is just under 6 feet tall and weighs around 160 pounds. Your size is Medium.
::Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Provided your hands are empty, you can choose to move on all fours. If you do so, your land speed increases to 40 feet. 
::Darkvision (60 ft.). Your catlike eyes can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
::Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
::Manticora Combat Training. You have proficiency with claw gauntlets and shortbows.
::Natural Hunter.When you select skill proficiencies from your class during character creation, you add Stealth and Survival to your list of choices.
::Natural Weapons. You have fangs and claws you can use in combat. Both are finesse weapons with which you have proficiency. Your Bite attack deals 1d4 piercing damage, while your Claws attack deals 1d4 slashing. If you deal improved unarmed damage, such as from the monk’s Martial Arts class feature, you can deal your normal unarmed strike damage with your Claws attack instead.
::Languages. You speak Leonid and any one other language.

[[Category:Furry]][[Category:Monsters]][[Category:Scarred Lands Races]]