The Mangy Manticore Tavern

Modeled after The Rusty Dragon in Sandpoint, The Mangy Manticore hums with grit, more grit, and ghosted glory. Just as The Rusty Dragon is famous for its exotic cuisine, frequent adventurer patrons, and welcoming innkeeper, the Mangy Manticore was once a popular and eclectic safehouse for bruised warriors and scheming minds.

 Location & Architecture

Foreign Quarter (Absalom)

• Nestled near the outer markets and faded gladiator hostels.

• Originally a converted Irorium supply barracks, with thick stone walls and vaulted ceilings—repurposed by Targas into a two-story tavern and inn.

Distinctive Features:

• Wrought iron balconies facing the street where fighters used to wave to fans before bouts.

• Red-and-bronze tiled roof, some of which has collapsed and been patched with mismatched wood.

• A distinctive chimney stack shaped like a manticore’s tail, belching black smoke from the stew pots below.

Cuisine & Drink

While the Rusty Dragon is known for its Tian Xia influences, the Mangy Manticore has its own signature offerings—rooted in spice, survival, and street-level taste.

Popular Dishes:

• Blood & Barley Stew: Meat of uncertain origin, heavily spiced with cinnamon, clove, and smoked paprika.

• Fighter’s Flatbread: Charred naan-style bread with marrow butter and pickled redroot.

• Ashen Roast: Flame-seared skewers of lizard, goat, or mystery meat.

Notable Drinks:

• Tailstrike: A potent red liquor that numbs the tongue before it hits the gut.

• Manticore Mead: Honey-wine infused with black pepper and crushed cardamom pods.

• Targas’s Wake: A dark, bitter brew served flaming—named in grim honor of the original owner.