Appearance

Their bodies are composed up of two or three parts, depending on gender. The head of a wo/man, the body of a large cat, and the wings of a bird of prey. Fur patterns vary among individuals. While they still have paws, both genders are very adept at using their front paws like hands, as their dewclaw serves as a proto thumb, allowing them great dexterity where other pawed species wouldn't.

Males

Male Sphinxes have the head of a man and the body of a large cat. Their faces are human, though they are a little elongated, creating a more animalistic feel to them, particularly while in profile. Their ears are rounded, and occasionally come to a slight point, though they remain where they would be placed upon a human head. They can sport all manner of facial hair, and it all depends on an individual's own personal sense of style. Their eyes are almond shaped, and rimmed in black, almost as though they're wearing eyeliner. Their hair comes in a variety of shapes and textures, and can be worn in a variety of styles.

Facial hair is common where they are able to sport any style they wish. It all depends on the individual sphinx’s own interests. Elder male sphinxes are known for their grown out facial hair as it has become a way to show their wisdom.

There is an incredibly rare mutation that allows males to have wings, though males of the royal line will always have wings as a sign of their blood status.

Females

Female Sphinxes have the head of a woman, the body of a large cat, and the wings of a bird of prey. Their faces share a structure with the males, with a slightly elongated profile, rounded feline-like ears, and almond shaped eyes rimmed with black.

Their hair, likes the males’, come in a variety of colors and textures. They can leave it up or down, though wearing elaborate up-dos is the current trend in society, and they have a fondness for adorning their hair with all manner of ornaments.

While sharing a feline body, females have the additional gift of flight by use of their wings, though the type of bird may vary. Due to being part bird, they also have incredibly good eyesight.

Many sphinx are able to take on a human form at will.

Abilities

Sphinxes are seen as protectors. They are wise, and some have reached a state of near all-knowing, though these are the Sphinxes that have traveled far, far away to guard the greatest secrets known to the realm in which they make their home.

While their personalities vary among individuals, all Sphinx have a strong sense of justice and a strong sense to protect what is dear to them. In turn, they are not a species to go down without a fight. Females are in general more wry, and prone to asking their riddles. It is because of this trait that females are often asked to guard entrances to important buildings; they will not allow anyone (outsiders only) to enter unless their riddle has been answered.

Sphinxes have incredible magical prowess. They have a strong affinity for light magic and vikta. As such, they have an uncanny ability to heal and purify things around them, as well as the ability to sense when someone is lying or holds malicious intent. They have a natural resistance to poisons, and can sense when something has been laced. Certain Sphinx, charged specifically with the task of guarding cities, are taught how to create illusions and whip up sandstorms to protect their people.

Many Sphinx are able to pick up other elemental magics, though dark magic is incredibly rare.

Culture

Sphinx primarily live in desert cities, often built of marble and stone along rivers and oases. A king over all cities, with governors to keep charge over each individual city. As intelligent creatures, each city has a grand library. Many Sphinx are scholars, and those who are not either train as warriors, guardians, craftsman of all sorts, or even farmers. They live is close-knit families (prides), and a male may have a harem of up to five females. They consider themselves to be incredibly civilized, to the point where they cross the desert using carriages and chariots pulled by teams of ibex, impala, or gazelles.

Some are loners, sick of city life and their strict society, others to pursue knowledge and truth, and some just have a personality that prefers solitude.

They adore shiny things, and adorn themselves in all manner of jewelry. Many are considered vain for their love of finery.

There is a legend among the Sphinx that they were born from the first ray of sunlight to hit the desert sand.

History

Originating from the chimera curse, the sphinx is a creation formed from the procreation between a lion and chimera dragon stuck between its feral and human forms. The product of this pairing resulted in the first of the sphinxes to be born. It is said that Karnos became fascinated by the odd creation that resulted from an odd hybrid born of Plythio’s curse. The creature had the body of one of his creations yet the characteristics known to dragons and humankind. Karnos studied the creature from afar to try to understand how its resemblance between the different species affected. Zarkos soon caught wind of Karnos’s new fascination and soon joined in his efforts to study the new chimera.

Unfortunately, the chimera died earlier than anticipated by either of the gods. Karnos and Zarkos became devastated having lost the focus of this attention for the last few decades. In honor of the chimera’s life, the two took notes of how the chimera during their studies of the creature and created a new race: the Greater Sphinx. It is said that each sphinx born exhibits a small characteristic that was unique to the original chimera though none have been able to pinpoint which traits may have originated from it.