Spectral Manticore

This spell causes a ghostly manticore to appear and fight for the caster until banished (instantly, by the silent will of the caster), “slain,” or the spell expires (in all three cases, the manticore speedily and silently fades away). This monster first appears out of the caster as it materializes, bounding away from his breast toward an opponent of his choosing.

The spectral manticore can attack only one opponent per round, but has the usual manticore abilities: THAC0 13, 6+3 HD, initial round attack is a volley of 1d6 tail spikes with a 180-yard range, each spike inflicting 1d6 points of damage at a single opponent; then 3 attacks/round (a bite for 1d8 points of damage and two claw attacks for 1d3 points of damage), MV 12, Fly 18 (E). It has a leonine body with a spiky (ail, bat wings, and a tusk-toothed human head with flowing mane and beard, but it is translucent and obviously an unnatural creature. Unlike a real manticore, it is absolutely silent, has a morale of 20, and is absolutely loyal to the caster. It cannot be charmed or magically controlled in any way, except through the casters will. It has a real, tangible presence and can be ridden by the caster as a mount.

The material component is a tail spike from a manticore.