Difference between revisions of "Sphinxes"

Revision as of 06:27, 5 December 2007

A beautiful pantaur resting on a rock. Picture by Akhkharu and used with artist's permission. For larger version visit Akhkharu's gallery

Sphinxes are a proud and regal race. With the torso and head of a human fused with the lower body of a lion and great feathered wings, they are truly awe-inspiring. They often have long hair and passionate, fiery eyes.

Sphinxes can be surprisingly emotional, switching modes at dizzying speeds however, they are also intelligent and think very logically, albeit rather rigidly. They tend to see themselves as superior and can be quite self-righteous at times. They are largely used as symbols of justice because Sphinxes seem to hold that value dear. They often act as self-appointed judge jury and executioner in matters they see fit to preside over. Sphinxes are prone to defend causes with passions which can sometimes lead them to a certain fanatism. They are very prideful and a sure fire way to kill yourself would be to insult them or there ideals.

Sphinxes of Felarya come in a range of sizes from 8 feet (head to ground)to 100 feet or more. they often have golden fur, hair and eyes and walk with a strut of superiority. They are skilled warriors, especially proficient in blades, and many find a living in guarding a place, person or thing they feel is worth of their protection.

Given their size, greater specimens are not as voracious as one would think. Most sphinxes like hunting alone and will get if possible their prey from a groups rather than cornering a single victim. This is considered dishonorable and unsatisfactory to them. They also strongly despise sneak attacks and will always openly annouce themselves before engaging an ennemy.

Sphinxes store the food they ate primarily in their human stomach but once it becomes full, the content is transferred to a second stomach, much larger, situated in their feline part.

Sphinxes are dangerous on both ground and air and some of them master a powerful healing and protective magic. They tend to live near mountain ranges and open fields, where they can make good use of their great, majestic wings.

Like one could figure, sphinxes absolutely despise harpies, their main rival as the dominant avian race of Felarya. The two races often waged wars in the past.

Blue Sphinxes

A species mostly found in the great rocky fields. They have blue fur, blue hair, and possess cat ears, paws instead of hands, and furred forearms.

Blue sphinxes are fearsome creatures. Not only are they totally immune to lighning, but they can absorb it to heal themselves as well. Their body is full of electricity. They store it, a bit like stormseekers, except they keep it in their bones and can't blast bolts of lightning at targets. Thus, any hostile or unwanted contact with a blue sphinx results in a powerful, stunning shock. Even when the sphinx is standing iddle, small arcs of lightning can be seen coursing on the lenght of their body. In presence of a friend, however, the sphinx's touch can become perfectly normal.

Blue sphinxes are vain, prideful, but slighty more lascivious and naughty than the rest of their kind and less inclined on the code of honor. They won't announce themselves before a fight for instance, having lost countless battles against the fierce harpies of the zone this way.

They are also friendly with nekos and will very rarely attack or feed on them.

Sphinxes Sentinels

Sphinxes sentinels are an uncommon species of giant sphinxes, mostly found in dungeons, mazes, or temples. They receive a very special education, learning the traditions, history, and laws of their races, as well as an impressive number of riddles. Then at a point of their life, young sphinxes sentinels receive the two curses of their kind that are passed among them since time immemorial :

• The Geas of Guardianship: on their one hundredth birthday, a sphinx is given charge over a great secret, usually a treasure or extreme magical power, sometimes a gateway or passage a hero would be expected to survive. They must guard this place for 5672 years or until an adventurer wins the prize.

• The Geas of Riddles: the second prohibition laid down upon a sphinx once the geas of guardianship is announced. During the 5672 years of guardianship, a sphinx is forbidden to consume any sentient being unless they have asked them a riddle and the being has failed to answer. If the being answers correctly, they must be allowed to pass and gather treasure unmolested by the guardian.

Recently, however, a lot of younger, less patient sphinx’s have begun using tricks and technicalities to get around the geas. For example, a hero answers a riddle correctly and passes to get the treasure. Well obviously there is so much he can’t do it all in one load, so he figures he can make several trips. Hungry and impatient, the sphinx will allow him to fill up his arms with a load, and then force him to answer another riddle to be allowed to pass again. Most are so flustered at the situation that they fail and are promptly devoured by the tricky sphinx.

The origins of these two curses and why sphinxes pass it to each other is an absolute mystery. It's believed to be far older than when Sphinxes first set foot in Felarya.

Like one could imagine, sphinxes sentinels are extraordinarily patient creatures. They kill time with mind games, solving complex mathematic problems, or searching for new riddles. In Felarya, some sphinxes sentinels has been known to link themselves to dryads to keep a contact with the outside world. Sphinxes sentinels possess a formidable memory and ability of concentration, thus they makes excellent spellcasters, proficient in many type of magic, from dimensionnal magic to telekinesis or transmutation. Added to their natural physical strenght, this makes them frighteningly powerful opponents.

Once in a while, Another sphinx will come to replace the guarding one to allow them to feed if the number of adventurers have been scarce. The sphinx then gate themselves to another world where they enter a feeding frenzy. For a few hours, the calm and composed creature turns into a ravenous and insatiable predator, engulfing preys by dozens and stuffing themselves until their two enormous stomaches are so bloated, the sphinx can barely walk anymore. They then come back to their post, ready to stand their guard again and to digest their copious meal. This is the only time a sphinx sentinel don't ask riddles.

Canopy Pantaurs

A wingless species of sphinxes also called panther-taur living in the summit of the gigantic trees of Felarya. They largely make up for their lack of wings by their great speed and extraordinary agility. Climbing a tree is as natural as walking to them.

Pantaurs are a lot more easy going than other sphinxes. They are social creatures and usually hunt in small pack of 3-5 specimens. They don't hesitate to assault large group of ennemies or prey, confident in their combat skills and in their speed in case things turn bad. Two traits that rarely betray pantaurs despite their great recklessness.

Pantaurs have a very curious mind and don't like to stay in the same place for very long. They love to travel, explore, and see new things.

Pantaurs are fearsome hunters. Their senses are very developped, especially their hearing. They love to play with their preys, much like a cat with a mouse and when in group, they often sensuously feed their prizes to each others.

• Credits goes to Chroias for the idea of the sphinxes sentinels.