HOME | DD

Description
You know...when regarding magical beasts...I believe I've had my fill of the same cookie-cutter vicious, man-eating monsters. You know, those dungeon monsters or jungle creature that is hyper-aggressive and chases down even the tiniest morsel of meat they see. Those bizarre freaks of nature that are stacked with features JUST to make an adventurer's life miserable.

I know...I probably sound really pretentious already. Sorry if that's the case.

i just well...wanted to try going another route.

Treating magical beasts like actual animals.

I mean...humans have very divisive opinions over those who kill something like a lion, wolf, gorilla, or a snake. Some might congratulate them for badassery, some take pity on the animal instead, some might call the hunter a murderer, for killing something with no concept of human morality. Why not make that a thing on Cauldron too?

------------------------------

Savannah Manticore

Manticores...they are not the human-faced, stinger-tailed, winged monstrosities that you'd think of when you think of the word "manticore".

No...they are actually more akin to giant, terrestrial monkeys. Granted...
Some species, like the Lesser Manticore, have wingss and can fly. Albeit they're much smaller than other manticore species.
Some, like the Speartail Manticore, do have hardened hairs like quills they rub down with poison. They don't shoot the quills though, just tail-slap their opponent like a porcupine.
Some, like the Melodious Manticore, can make a wide range of vocal noises. Although they can't QUITE pull off humanoid speech, and are better at sign language.
Some like the False Sphinx hang around in ruins, and guard them ferociously. But only as much as any other territorial animal would do so. Not out of any actual connection to the ruins.

But...one thing people don't mention enough about these magnificent primates is their great intelligence. Par for the course with most greater primates, they have a very organized social structure, which might remind one of a troop of gorillas, or a pride of lions. One male with a big mane gets the rights to most, if not all the sexually available females in his troop. In turn, he protects the females and young in his troop, against predators and rival troops.

They do indeed eat meat. But they are omnivorous, and will readily eat termites, fruits, and leaves if the occasion calls for it. And in times of famine, even the leader of the troop will give up his own food to feed those under him.

Manticores understand the bonds of family.

I was once part of that bond...but today is the day I severed it.

---------------------------------

His name is Gaius. And he was a circus animal, caged 24 years ago and taken to the Lucky Kingdom. He had spent far too long being whipped, laughed at and treated as a profitable product at best, and an outright toy at worst. Such is the disgusting and shameful way that my race has treated animals, even dating back to its founding. I know so...I was Gaius' last caretaker.

The ringleader had set him up with a few females, for the purpose of making baby manticores that could be sold to other businesses. The females seemed to know their babies would be taken away...this is what got me to finally put my foot down, and collude with animal welfare organizations.

Allowing me to take them away from their oppressive cages and tents.

And to take them to a wildlife reservation back at their REAL home.

----------------------------------

I've observed them for the past few months after that. The females have given birth the day they arrived here. Months later, they're available to mate once again. And Gaius is making out to be a fine father, letting the infants rest on his back.

I was about to leave, knowing they wouldn't need me anymore now.

Yet even so...

-----------------------------------

I'll never forget that last look on Gaius' face.

Goodbye, Gaius.

Now...go and be a family man.

Description
You know...when regarding magical beasts...I believe I've had my fill of the same cookie-cutter vicious, man-eating monsters. You know, those dungeon monsters or jungle creature that is hyper-aggressive and chases down even the tiniest morsel of meat they see. Those bizarre freaks of nature that are stacked with features JUST to make an adventurer's life miserable.

I know...I probably sound really pretentious already. Sorry if that's the case.

i just well...wanted to try going another route.

Treating magical beasts like actual animals.

I mean...humans have very divisive opinions over those who kill something like a lion, wolf, gorilla, or a snake. Some might congratulate them for badassery, some take pity on the animal instead, some might call the hunter a murderer, for killing something with no concept of human morality. Why not make that a thing on Cauldron too?

------------------------------

Savannah Manticore

Manticores...they are not the human-faced, stinger-tailed, winged monstrosities that you'd think of when you think of the word "manticore".

No...they are actually more akin to giant, terrestrial monkeys. Granted...
Some species, like the Lesser Manticore, have wingss and can fly. Albeit they're much smaller than other manticore species.
Some, like the Speartail Manticore, do have hardened hairs like quills they rub down with poison. They don't shoot the quills though, just tail-slap their opponent like a porcupine.
Some, like the Melodious Manticore, can make a wide range of vocal noises. Although they can't QUITE pull off humanoid speech, and are better at sign language.
Some like the False Sphinx hang around in ruins, and guard them ferociously. But only as much as any other territorial animal would do so. Not out of any actual connection to the ruins.

But...one thing people don't mention enough about these magnificent primates is their great intelligence. Par for the course with most greater primates, they have a very organized social structure, which might remind one of a troop of gorillas, or a pride of lions. One male with a big mane gets the rights to most, if not all the sexually available females in his troop. In turn, he protects the females and young in his troop, against predators and rival troops.

They do indeed eat meat. But they are omnivorous, and will readily eat termites, fruits, and leaves if the occasion calls for it. And in times of famine, even the leader of the troop will give up his own food to feed those under him.

Manticores understand the bonds of family.

I was once part of that bond...but today is the day I severed it.

---------------------------------

His name is Gaius. And he was a circus animal, caged 24 years ago and taken to the Lucky Kingdom. He had spent far too long being whipped, laughed at and treated as a profitable product at best, and an outright toy at worst. Such is the disgusting and shameful way that my race has treated animals, even dating back to its founding. I know so...I was Gaius' last caretaker.

The ringleader had set him up with a few females, for the purpose of making baby manticores that could be sold to other businesses. The females seemed to know their babies would be taken away...this is what got me to finally put my foot down, and collude with animal welfare organizations.

Allowing me to take them away from their oppressive cages and tents.

And to take them to a wildlife reservation back at their REAL home.

----------------------------------

I've observed them for the past few months after that. The females have given birth the day they arrived here. Months later, they're available to mate once again. And Gaius is making out to be a fine father, letting the infants rest on his back.

I was about to leave, knowing they wouldn't need me anymore now.

Yet even so...

-----------------------------------

I'll never forget that last look on Gaius' face.

Goodbye, Gaius.

Now...go and be a family man.