Sphinx
- Habitat
- Deserts, ruins, hidden temples, and mountain passes
- Biomes
- desert, +mountain, +settlement
- Spawn
- solo, any
- Temper
- Proud, aloof, varies by breed
- Threat
- High
- Rarity
- Rare–Very Rare
- Move
- sprint; fly.
- Special
- Androsphinx; a fearsome bellowing roar that builds mounting panic in those nearby and ends in a brief, staggering stun; the wise breed also wields minor protective magic
- STR39
- DEX16
- CON37
- INT18
- Health650
- Damage149
- Mana174
- Armor48
Sphinxes are great winged beasts with the body of a lion and, depending on the breed, the head of a man, a woman, a ram, or a hawk. The wise, woman-faced sphinx guards lost places and tests trespassers with riddles; the proud man-faced sphinx is a mightier guardian that scorns riddles and looses a thunderous roar when crossed; the ram-headed and hawk-headed kinds are fiercer and more bestial. All are powerful flyers and fearsome in melee, raking with lion's claws and striking with beak or fanged jaws. Though they bear a face that can speak, their bodies are wholly beast.
Behavior
- Guard a territory, ruin, or treasure and challenge intruders
- The wise breed parleys or poses riddles before resorting to force
- Take wing and strike from above, then rake with claws on the ground
- Loose a deafening, concussive roar against massed foes
Abilities
- Rending Claws. Twin lion's-claw strikes that tear deeply.
- Thunderous Roar. A concussive bellow that builds mounting fear in nearby foes and ends in a brief, staggering stun.
- Flight. A strong flyer despite its bulk.
- Guardian Lore (wise breed). Keen intellect, riddles, and minor protective magic.
Drops & Crafting
- Tawny lion-pelt and feathered wings
- Great claws and fangs/beak
- (Wise breed) lore, riddle-answers, or a guarded boon rather than loot