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Mantraps were a very rare, large species of carnivorous plants[3][2][1] related to the venus flytrap.[2]

Description[]

The mantrap was a large bush with towering stalks of purple colored blossoms and huge green leaves that hung close to the ground.[2] Some described them as looking like oversized venus flytraps.[1]

Behavior[]

These plants lacked any form of sentience.[2]

Abilities[]

During daylight hours a mantrap would continuously released pollen,[2] out to a radius of 30 feet (9.1 meters)[1] or 60 feet (18 meters).[3][2] The odor of this pollen magically entranced creatures, making them deeply fascinated by it and compelled to walk towards the mantrap.[3][2][1] This effect of their pollen took roughly twenty-four hours to wear off, though they could be counteracted by the fumes produced from burning a mantrap.[3][2]

These plants were capable of a small degree of mobility.[1]

Combat[]

Creatures attracted to the odor of a mantrap's pollen would voluntarily climb on to one of its large leaves,[3][2] which would then snap around and firmly entrap them like the jaws of a beast.[3][2][1] These leaf traps could only engulf one creature at a time. The victims inside them were thoroughly blinded and restrained,[1] unable to escape or be pulled free unless the plant itself was destroyed. While stuck inside them, the leaf traps of this plant slowly digested their prey with acidic secretions.[3][2][1]

History[]

An evil mage in eastern Scardale once raised a group of skeletons to work as farmhands at the gardens of his estate, harvesting crops that partially consisted of bizarre strains of mantraps and strangle weeds. Long after the mage passed away, his skeletons continued harvesting these crops well into the 14th century DR.[5]

In the 15th century DR, mantraps were known to have taken over the northeastern parts of the great garden of Nangalore, where they grew on the terraces overlooking its main concourse.[6]

Ecology[]

These plants were often found in pairs and were most dangerous during daylight hours.[2]

Diet[]

Mantraps were a carnivorous species of plant,[3][2] though their most preferred prey were humanoids.[1]

Habitats[]

Mantraps were typically found in forests or on hills of regions with a tropical climate,[2] such as the jungles of Chult[4][1] and its shore Snapping Turtle Bay.[7] Though they could occasionally be found in the forest of Cormanthor[8] and much of the North,[9] such as in the greenhouse of Bard Keep.[10]

Beyond Toril, this species of carnivorous plant could be found on the planets of Krynn[11] and Oerth.[12]

Usages[]

Because of the overwhelming effect the scent of their nectar had, some were known to use it as an ingredient if philters of love. Though it was not a popular choice among alchemists due to the risks involved in searching for mantraps.[2]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures
Dungeon #29, "Ex Libris"Tomb of Annihilation
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Whispers in the Dark

References[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 227. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), pp. 103–104. ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 92. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
  4. 4.0 4.1 James Lowder, Jean Rabe (1993). The Jungles of Chult. (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 1-5607-6605-0.
  5. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Settled Lands”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 27. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  6. Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 75, 79. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
  7. Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
  8. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  9. slade (April 1996). The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (Tables 1 to 15). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  10. Randy Maxwell (May/June 1991). “Ex Libris”. In Barbara G. Young ed. Dungeon #29 (TSR, Inc.) (29)., p. 40.
  11. Rick Swan et al. (1990). Monstrous Compendium Dragonlance Appendix. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 90. ISBN 0-88038-822-6.
  12. Grant Boucher, William W. Connors, Steve Gilbert, Bruce Nesmith, Christopher Mortika, Skip Williams (April 1990). Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 62. ISBN 0-88038-836-6.
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