Flying manta-ray creature?

[Ambrus]

Normally I'd simply check the monster index on the WotC board, but for obvious reasons it's currently down. I'm looking for the name of a monster which resemble manta-rays, are intelligent, capable of casting spells but that fly rather than swim. It's described in a 2e novel so it may not have been updated to 3e.

Likewise, the novel also describes a "snake-woman" creature, which has a snake's tail and woman's torso but who is lacking a medusa's serpent hair or a lillend's wings. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[freyar]

Just read about a cloud ray in MM2, which is a manta-shaped flying creature. But it's colossal, which might not be what you want. I think it has spell-casting, but I'm now at work and can't check. Try looking in Echohawk's index, too. It's a bit massive, but if you know the original source, you can find the name of the creature and just look to see if it's been updated literally almost anywhere.

 

[Ambrus]

Wow. That's a BIG index. A bit of research suggests that it may be a shadow lurker or possibly a mantarri. Unfortunately both are barely above animal intelligence. Hm. :\

 

[BOZ]

Likewise, the novel also describes a "snake-woman" creature, which has a snake's tail and woman's torso but who is lacking a medusa's serpent hair or a lillend's wings. Any ideas? Thanks!

Lamia noble? they were also recently featured in an adventure - i think Expedition to the Demonweb Pits?

 

[GrayLinnorm]

The ixzan, a subterranean relative of the ixitxachitl, is capable of levitation. They're in Lost Empires of Faerun.

 

[Ambrus]

It can't be the Ixzan (thanks for the suggestion though) because it only levitates rather than flies. Does it strike anyone else as odd that there are so many manta-ray inspired creatures in D&D? What is so iconic about rays that makes them desireable as a model for monster-building? I can't think of a single platypus inspired creature for instance.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

It could be the sinister (Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerun under "Bat, Deep").

 

[useridunavailable]

Likewise, the novel also describes a "snake-woman" creature, which has a snake's tail and woman's torso but who is lacking a medusa's serpent hair or a lillend's wings. Any ideas? Thanks!

This could be a Yuan-Ti Halfblood (or a Marilith, but in that case you would probably have mentioned that she had six arms.)

 

[RavinRay]

The forest ray from Mystara/Savage Coast is the closest I can find to your flying ray, though it doesn't have innate spellcasting abilities.

 

[demiurge1138]

Does it strike anyone else as odd that there are so many manta-ray inspired creatures in D&D? What is so iconic about rays that makes them desireable as a model for monster-building? I can't think of a single platypus inspired creature for instance.

Thought-eaters. At least, they used to be.

Demuirge out.