Buy me a coffeeSphinx, Gynosphinx, “The Enigmatic Sentinel of Wisdom”
“Discover the deadly allure of the Gynosphinx: A beautiful, lion-bodied riddler who devours those who fail her test!”
The Gynosphinxes are a formidable and enigmatic group of mythic beasts with a blend of lion-like power and human intellect, making them both awe-inspiring and terrifying. They possess the following attributes:
Appearance:
Each Gynosphinx boasts a muscular lioness body, covered in sleek, tawny fur that shifts with shades of gold and bronze, highlighting their immense physical strength. Their powerful limbs are adorned with sharp, retractable claws that can shred armor and flesh alike. From their shoulders rise massive, eagle-like wings with dark, iridescent feathers that catch and reflect light with an almost otherworldly gleam. The wings are capable of swift, silent flight, allowing the Gynosphinxes to approach unseen and strike with precision.
Their human heads feature regal, striking beauty, with high cheekbones, full lips, and piercing eyes that glow with an eerie, supernatural light. Their hair is long, jet-black, and flows like a dark river, often tangled and wind-swept, adding to their majestic appearance. Their human torsos are equally powerful, with a regal bearing that commands respect and fear.
Behavior:
Gynosphinxes are intelligent and cunning, with a demeanor that is both aloof and menacing. They are known for their cryptic and challenging riddles, which they pose to travelers and adventurers. These riddles are not merely tests of intelligence but are woven with elements of divine insight, designed to probe the depth of a person’s wisdom and resolve. Failure to solve a riddle often leads to a swift, brutal death, as the Gynosphinxes have no mercy for the unworthy.
Their behavior can range from stoically observing from high perches to actively hunting those who enter their domains. They are strategic and calculating, using their riddles to weaken or trap their prey before striking. When not engaged in combat, they often engage in arcane rituals or ancient practices, reflecting their deep connection to old magics and forgotten lore.
Habitat:
They dwell in ancient, weather-beaten ruins or isolated, craggy cliffs overlooking desolate landscapes. Their lairs are often surrounded by tangled forests, treacherous ravines, or storm-lashed coastlines, adding to their formidable natural defenses. These areas are filled with ancient traps, puzzles, and arcane wards, crafted by the Gynosphinxes themselves to deter intruders.
Modus Operandi:
Gynosphinxes typically guard important thresholds such as the entrances to sacred places, ancient tombs, or hidden temples. When adventurers or travelers approach, the Gynosphinxes challenge them with a riddle or series of riddles. The complexity of these riddles often requires not just raw intelligence but insight into the nature of the challenge, making it a true test of wisdom and perseverance.
If the riddles are answered incorrectly or not at all, the Gynosphinxes attack with a combination of savage physical prowess and magical abilities. They can use their wings to swoop down quickly, their claws to rend armor and flesh, and their sharp fangs to deliver devastating bites. They may also employ illusionary magic or mental manipulation to confuse or disorient their foes before engaging them directly.
Motivation:
The Gynosphinxes are driven by a deep-seated desire to maintain their dominance and superiority over lesser beings. They view their role as keepers of ancient knowledge and guardians of sacred secrets. Their riddles serve as a way to prove their intellectual supremacy and to test the worthiness of those who seek to uncover or claim the hidden treasures or knowledge they protect. Their motivation is not only a reflection of their self-importance but also a manifestation of their belief in their role as divine arbiters of fate and wisdom.
In essence, the Gynosphinxes are formidable mythic sentinels whose combination of physical might, intellectual challenge, and mystical prowess makes them both a dread adversary and an awe-inspiring guardian of ancient lore.
Gynosphinx 5e
Gynosphinx 3.5
Gynosphinx
Large monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 150 (12d10 + 72)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 22 (+6) | 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 17 (+3) |
Saving Throws Dex +10, Wis +10, Cha +9
Skills Perception +10, Insight +10, Intimidation +9
Damage Resistances Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities None
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 20
Languages Common, Infernal, Celestial
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +5
Traits
Legendary Resistances (3/Day). If it fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Keen Smell. It has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Magic Resistance. It has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. It’s weapon attacks are magical.
Actions
Multiattack. The Gynosphinx makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) piercing damage.
- Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10 + 5) slashing damage.
Riddle Challenge (Recharge 5–6). The Gynosphinx presents a riddle to one creature it can see within 60 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence saving throw or become confused for 1 minute. A confused creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. A creature that solves the riddle is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Breath of Divination (Recharge 5–6). The Gynosphinx exhales a cloud of shimmering, divine energy in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Additionally, affected creatures are blinded until the end of their next turn.
Legendary Actions
The Gynosphinx can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Gynosphinx regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Attack. The Gynosphinx makes one bite attack or claw attack.
Wing Buffet (Costs 2 Actions). It beats its wings. Each creature within 15 feet of the Gynosphinx must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away from the Gynosphinx and knocked prone.
Teleport (Costs 3 Actions). The Gynosphinx magically teleports, along with up to one willing creature it can see within 5 feet of it, to a space it is familiar with within 120 feet of its current location.
Mythic Rejuvenation (Costs 3 Actions). The Gynosphinx regains 30 hit points.
Tactics
- Riddle Challenge: The Gynosphinx uses its Riddle Challenge to disorient foes, making them vulnerable to its subsequent attacks. It often presents riddles to high-priority targets or those it perceives as the greatest threat.
- Breath of Divination: It uses Breath of Divination to deal massive damage and impair multiple foes at once, especially when they are clustered together. This breath weapon can also serve as a means of crowd control, hindering the enemy’s effectiveness in battle.
- Wing Buffet: It employs Wing Buffet to push back and disrupt enemy formations, creating opportunities for itself or allies to capitalize on the chaos.
- Teleport: This ability allows the Gynosphinx to reposition itself strategically, escape from dangerous situations, or surprise enemies with sudden attacks from unexpected angles.
- Mythic Rejuvenation: It uses this action to recover health, ensuring it remains a formidable opponent throughout the encounter.
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.