Library / Bestiary

Sphinx

CR 8.00 Magical Beast N Large

This creature has the body of a lion, the wings of a falcon, and the head and torso of a beautiful human woman.

Description

Although there are many different species of sphinx, the one certain scholars refer to as the “gynosphinx” (a name many sphinxes find insulting) is a wise and majestic creature that is nevertheless terrifying when angered. Less moralistic than their male counterparts (the “androsphinx”—a different creature entirely than the sphinx presented here), sphinxes are careful and methodical in their decision-making, and pride themselves on their cold logic and impartiality. They have little patience for the lesser sphinx variants, seeing them as little better than animals. Sphinxes love riddles and complicated dilemmas, and treasure strange facts and arcane trivia far more than gold or gems

While not great scholars in any traditional sense, sphinxes' great appreciation of puzzles leads them to research shallowly in a wide variety of subjects, and they can often be invaluable sources of information, especially when making use of their magical abilities. They are usually happy to barter with other races, and regularly trade material goods for information or new and interesting quandaries. They make excellent guardians for temples, tombs, and other important locations, so long as they are kept adequately entertained. Sphinxes place great value on politeness, but can be dangerously temperamental—while they may decide to share their latest riddles with travelers out of altruism, they think little of devouring those who don't give their dilemmas adequate attention or provide useful insight.

Sphinxes are typically 10 feet long and about 800 pounds. While their wings are capable of holding them aloft for long periods of time, they are poor fliers, and prefer to land before engaging foes, lashing out with their powerful claws. Though fiercely territorial, they tend to give intruders plenty of warning before attacking.

Ability Scores

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Combat Stats

HP: 102 (12d10+36)
AC: 21, touch 10, flat-footed 20 (+1 Dex, +11 natural, -1 size)
Speed: 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor)
Init: +5
Melee: 2 claws +17 (2d6+6/19-20)
Space: 10 ft.
Reach: 5 ft.
BAB: +12
CMB: +19
CMD: 30 (34 vs. trip)
Fort: +11
Ref: +9
Will: +10

Special Attacks

pounce

rake (2 claws +17, 2d6+6)

Feats

Alertness, Combat Casting, Hover, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Iron Will

Special Abilities

Alertness from Feat

You get a +2 bonus on Perception and Sense Motive skill checks. If you have 10 or more ranks in one of these skills, the bonus increases to +4 for that skill.

Combat Casting from Feat

You get a +4 bonus on concentration checks made to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability when casting on the defensive or while grappled.

Improved Critical from Feat

When using the weapon you selected, your threat range is doubled.

Improved Initiative from Feat

You get a +4 bonus on initiative checks.

Iron Will from Feat

You get a +2 bonus on all Will saving throws.

Skills

Bluff +14, Diplomacy +14, Fly +7, Intimidate +14, Knowledge (any two) +6, Perception +21, Sense Motive +19, Spellcraft +12

Spells

spell-like abilities:

Constant—Comprehend Languages, Constant—Detect Magic, Constant—Read Magic, Constant—See Invisibility, 3/day—Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, 1/day—Dispel Magic, 1/day—Locate Object, 1/day—Remove Curse, 1/day—Legend Lore, 1/week—Symbol Of Fear, 1/week—Symbol Of Pain, 1/week—Symbol Of Persuasion, 1/week—Symbol Of Sleep, 1/week—Symbol Of Stunning

Details

Type: Magical Beast
Alignment: N
Size: Large
Environment: warm deserts and hills
Organization: solitary, pair, or cult (3-6)
Treasure: double
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +21
Languages: Common, Draconic, Sphinx
Source: Bestiary

Sources Used in This Record

19 House/Core

Uses feat: Alertness (Feat)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Uses feat: Combat Casting (Feat)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Uses feat: Improved Critical (Feat)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Uses feat: Improved Initiative (Feat)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Uses feat: Iron Will (Feat)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Comprehend Languages (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Detect Magic (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Read Magic (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: See Invisibility (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Clairaudience/Clairvoyance (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Dispel Magic (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Locate Object (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Remove Curse (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Legend Lore (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Symbol Of Fear (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Symbol Of Pain (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Symbol Of Persuasion (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Symbol Of Sleep (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
Knows spell: Symbol Of Stunning (Spell)

House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.

Rules