Sphinx Gynosphinx

There was a single Sphinx in Greek mythology, a daughter of Typhon and Echidna. She was represented as a woman with the paws, claws and breasts of a lion, a serpent’s tail and eagle wings. Hera sent the Sphinx from her Ethiopian homeland to Thebes where, she asks all passersby history’s most famous riddle: “Which creature in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two, and in the evening upon three?” She devoured anyone unable to answer.

Oedipus solved the riddle: man – he crawls on all fours as a baby, then walks on two feet as an adult, and walks with a cane in old age. Bested at last, the Sphinx then threw herself from her high rock and died.

All sphinxes are territorial, but the more intelligent ones can differentiate between deliberate intrusion and temporary or inadvertent trespass.

A typical sphinx is about 10 feet long and weighs about 800 pounds.

Sphinxes are enigmatic creatures with great feathery wings and leonine bodies. A gynosphinx has female humanoid facial features. They gladly bargin for treasure or service, but constantly seek riddles and challenges for their staggering intellect.These sphinxes are the female counterparts of androsphinxes.

Source(s) 3.5E Monster Manual I, 3E Monster Manual I, Monstrous Compendium Volume 2, 1E Monster Manual 1, Monstrous Manual

Sphinx Gynosphinx
Size/Type Large magical beast
Hit Dice	8d10+8 (52 hp)
Initiative	+5
Speed	40 ft. (8 squares), Fly 60 ft. (poor)
Armor Class	21 (-1 size, +1 Dexterity, +11 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple	+8/+16
Attack	Claw +11 melee (1d6+4)
Full Attack	2 claws +11 melee (1d6+4)
Space/Reach	10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	Pounce, rake 1d6+2, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities	Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision
Saves	Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +8
Abilities	Strength 19, Dexterity 12, Constitution 13, Intelligence 18, Wisdom 19, Charisma 19
Skills	Bluff +15, Concentration +12, Diplomacy +8, Disguise +4 (+6 acting), Intimidate +13, Listen +17, Sense Motive +15, Spot +17
Feats	Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Iron Will
Environment	Warm deserts
Organization	Solitary or covey (2-4)
Challenge Rating	8
Treasure	Double standard
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	9-12 HD (Large); 13-24 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment	+4 (cohort)

Combat

In close combat, gynosphinxes use their powerful claws to flay the flesh from their enemies. Despite their deadly nature, they prefer to avoid combat whenever possible.

Rake (Ex) Attack bonus +11 melee, damage 1d6+2.

Spell-Like Abilities 3/day- clairaudience/clairvoyance, detect magic, read magic, see invisibility;

1/day-comprehend languages, locate object, dispel magic, remove curse (DC 18), legend lore.

Caster level 14th.

The save DC is Charisma-based. Once per week a gynosphinx can create a symbol of death, a symbol of fear, a symbol of insanity, a symbol of pain, a symbol of persuasion, a symbol of sleep, and a symbol of stunning as the spells (caster level 18th), except that all save DCs are 22 and each symbol remains a maximum of one week once scribed. The save DCs are Charisma-based.