Ye Gods! Look at the size of the hat on that thing!

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 4^th 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.