Sphinx (Misotera)

Siblings: Orthrus, Cerberus, Colchian, Chimera, and Hydra

The **Sphinx** is a mythical monster, which had the head of a human and the body of a lion. In Greek mythology, it has the head of a human, the haunches of a lion, and sometimes the wings of a bird.

## Overview

The Sphinx was believed to be the child of Typhone. It is said to be one of the most intelligent beings on Earth to the point where humans have regarded them as being nigh-omniscient. Their intellect and love for knowledge often has them be appointed as guardians within the Wanderer's Library.

The Greek version of the Sphinx is depicted as treacherous and merciless. Those who cannot answer its riddle suffer a fate typical in such mythological stories, as they are killed and eaten by this ravenous monster. However, not all Sphinx in Greek mythology were malevolent as some were actually benevolent in a sense. A benevolent Sphinx will pledge its loyalty to those who solve its riddle, which is shown with Andromeda who was defeated by Dante in an exchange of riddles and became the bookkeeper for his library of grimoires and other books.

## Description

Unlike the Greek sphinx, which was a woman, the Egyptian sphinx is typically shown as a man (an androsphinx). In addition, the Egyptian sphinx was viewed as benevolent, but having a ferocious strength similar to the malevolent Greek version and both were thought of as guardians often flanking the entrances to temples.

The Sphinx is said to have guarded the entrance to the Greek city of Thebes, and to have asked a riddle of travelers to allow them passage. The riddle being, "Which creature has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?" She strangled and devoured anyone who could not answer. Oedipus solved the riddle by answering: "Man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, then walks on two feet as an adult, and then uses a walking stick in old age." This caused the Sphinx to kill herself in a rage.

## Powers and Abilities

**Absolute Intelligence:** Sphinx's intellectual faculties transcend all other sentient beings in their universe. Said faculties includes; a superior mental capacity and a limitless level of concentrations, can recall absolutely everything, has unparalleled wit and ingenuity, unrestricted mental thinking and access to unlimited amounts of ideas, can intuitively comprehend everything and anything and is a brilliant master tactician.

**Feline Physiology:** Sphinx possess the traits, attributes, characteristics and/or abilities of felines, from domesticated, to wild, to big cats etc. They achieve this either through full or partial transformation into felines, choosing to mimic certain aspects of them, or simply already being a feline in the first place.

**Guardian:** Guardians are often those who are of noble birth or a high position of great historical or legendary importance. They have taken/been given the responsibility to defend, protect and, if needed, avenge the focus of their protection, which can be an object, place, concept, or person (throne/crown, village/gate/country/planet, love/good/harmony, royal heir/chosen prophet, etc.) among other things.

**Spiritual Awareness:** Sphinx possesses a heightened awareness/sensitivity to the paranormal, allowing such feats as being able to see or sense entities, such as spirits, ghosts, angels, and demons, that are normally invisible to humans.

**Unnatural Size:** Sphinx either possesses a level of physical size either greater or smaller than that of a normal member of their species or is simply a member of a species that is naturally bigger or smaller than humans.