SPHINX

    (This is a legacy post from my old website, so there may be some formatting issues. Feel free to email me if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Thanks!)

These curious and haughty creatures live in carefully selected lairs, far off of traveled paths, where they lounge amongst their collected wealth of trinkets and secrets. These beasts have the head of a woman and the body of a big cat, sometimes winged. Always imposing, both physically and psychologically. STATBLOCK FOR TORCHBEARER 2E.

Might: 4 Nature: 4

Descriptors: Running, Toying, Hunting (For Prizes)

HP

Drive Off: 6 Flee/Pursue: 7 Riddle/Trick: 11 

Weapons 

Battering Claws: +2D Attack in Kill or Drive Off Conflicts.

Foreign Mind: +1D Defend and +1S Maneuver in Convince, Trick, or Riddle Conflicts.

Sharp Tongue: +1D Attack and -1S Defend in Convince, Trick, or Riddle Conflicts.

Instinct: Always investigate the new or unusual

Special Rules:

False Prophecy: The Sphinx has the uncanny ability to project it's thoughts into the mind of another person. When you catch the eye of an angered sphinx make a Will Test vs the Sphinx's toying nature; success means the character becomes Afraid. Upon failure choose one your character's Traits to replace with 'Forlorn' as the character now believes themselves to be cursed with misfortune. Humorously, there is no actual curse.

Duration (d6):

1-2 one session

3-5 one adventure

6 one season

I think the concept of the Sphinx is pretty neat. I considered that most encounters with this creature will likely be non-violent, this is why it fits in really well with the Torchbearer model of conflict and encounter design. Despite that, I still wanted to make sure the Sphinx was threatening when cornered or if a group of adventurers were hunted by one, for whatever unfortunate reason. When in a Kill or Drive Off conflict it will likely be acting outside it's nature, which will give it only two measly dice, but it's Might of 4 and Battering Claws mean it can still pose a sizable threat to unprepared parties.

While I think the image of a wizened and hyper-intelligent sphinx is interesting, I wanted to emphasize how alien the sphinx is, not just by how strange it is to the adventurers, but how interesting the sphinx finds the world. I think they are mostly entertained by the things they see, and may see value in absolutely useless items.They are fond of philosophizing and pondering, especially riddles, which they love to put stakes on.

Addendum: I am particularly inspired by the works of slimemold. Please check out their sphinx artwork here, it is very dear to me.

Caress of the Sphinx - Fernand Khnopff 1896

cunt is being served, so eat up!