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Each environment in fantasy is awash in creatures that draw eyeballs whether it’s a bear, dragon, or mermaid. There is one that calls the desert home that stands out amid all the beasts that reside in the heat. This remarkable creature is simply known as the fantasy sphinx and boy is it a fascinating one to behold.
The sphinx is known for its unusual appearance. Indeed, for all those who happen to see it whenever this rare animal makes an appearance, they are mesmerized by what they see. Should they survive the encounter and not make it angry, they tell other people what they saw which only makes them more curious to see it in person.
A wise person doesn’t let the appearance of the fantasy sphinx deceive him. He recognizes that underneath its physical exterior lies an intelligent creature who can communicate with relative ease. This animal enjoys riddles and questions designed to deceive people but will treat them with respect as long as it is given that same courtesy.
While it can be found in other locales, the sphinx is commonly associated with the desert. It is because its body is capable of enduring the blazing heat of the sun for extended periods of time and at nighttime, its fur enables it to stay comfortable on the cold sand. Some sphinxes live together, forming a community where they hunt and raise families, whereas others live by themselves.
This is article number six in the series exploring the different kinds of fantasy creatures. For more, take a gander at our blog page where there’s a ton of content you can check out!
The world of fantasy is populated all kinds of creatures that have an interesting appearance and the same holds true for the sphinx. It is a wondrous and deadly beast. This rare animal is truly a sight to behold, as long as you remain on its good side and don’t get too close for comfort.
The fantasy sphinx is essentially a mix between a human and large cat. Instead of having a feline face, it has one of a human. Male ones can have a mane that runs all around it like a lion and females don’t. Both sexes have a tail at the end which they use to swat back foes that are foolish enough to pounce from behind.
The average sphinx is as tall as a human, measuring about five to six feet in height, depending on the gender. Males tend to have more of a muscular body although females have a more slender figure. Their paws are razor sharp, perfect for slashing prey and tearing them apart to feast upon their corpses.
As part of the feline family, the fantasy sphinx moves fast. In fact, its high agility enables it to spot a potential prey from afar and run at a dazzlingly-fast speed to strike before it sees it coming. This beast uses its incredible speed to its advantage when hunting or scouting for potential predators that could harm it.
The sphinx is easily angered. It will get enraged over even the smallest thing which is why a smart person, should he come across one, go to great lengths as to keep it in a calm mood. It does not suffer fools or those who insult it and it will use its sharp claws to attack in anger and not regret it afterward.
Despite its exotic appearance, the sphinx is a formidable creature, one not to be taken lightly. It possesses an intelligence unlike many other animals which makes interacting with it more interesting. Due to it living in the desert, it is a hardened beast that will do whatever it takes to ensure its survival, going as far as to eliminate any threats to its life.
The fantasy sphinx is capable of communicating with people. That means it can hold conversations with them and they can go a number of ways. Pleasant ones lead to them forging at least a semblance of relationship that could potentially blossom into friendship whereas infuriating ones could very well lead to the sphinx harming them. It treats people with the same respect that is given to it.
The sphinx has a mastery in trickery. That is, it enjoys riddles and questions that force the other person to figure out how to best answer them. It typically gives the other a chance to answer; should he give the wrong answer, it could attack him or let him walk away unscathed. It is generally difficult to outsmart such a creature, especially when it comes to riddles and other word puzzles.
If there was one word that perfectly describes the fantasy sphinx, it would be smart. Due to it being intelligent, it is capable of thinking of complex plans and executing them with the utmost precision. This creature uses its brains in many ways, from figuring out the best way to take down an animal or finding an excellent location to call home.
When it comes to its territory, the sphinx is fiercely protective. It will hunt down any interlopers that dare encroach upon its area and eliminate them right away. Should such an intruder be a human, it will give him a chance to turn around and leave. If he is foolish enough to not take it up on its offer, the sphinx will make the human regret making that choice.
Whenever people think of where the sphinx lives, the desert immediately comes to mind. This is because people associate this cat-like creature with the ancient Egyptians who had an affinity for felines as well as designing great structures that resembled this wondrous beast. Many stories across the genre put the sphinx in the desert, mostly as a wild creature the protagonist must be careful about whenever he encounters one on his journey.
In the desert, the fantasy sphinx prefers cool places that shields it from the blazing heat of the sun. It likes to stay nearby rock formations, oases, and trees that offer them some respite from the heat. Rarely does it venture out into the dunes or places that have little to no shade in the daytime, except at nighttime when the sun has retreated beyond the horizon.
In some cases, the sphinx can be found in or close to major points of interest, whether it be a temple or castle, eschewing towns and cities where it knows people live. It can even move in and consider these places its territory! Travelers and explorers who come across such sites must always keep in mind that there is a high likelihood they will encounter such a feline-like creature whenever looking around them.
As for its diet, the fantasy sphinx will eat whatever it can get its claws on. It hunts other animals in the desert and if its source of food starts to run low, it will start targeting humans, especially those who are by themselves. It’s willing to go beyond its territory to get the sustenance it is seeking.
The sphinx can also be found in other parts of the world besides the desert though it is quite rare to see it elsewhere. For instance, it can also reside in a swamp, forest, jungle, and even the mountains. Places you definitely won’t see it are the tundra or the frozen areas far to the north and the south due to its deep aversion to cold climates.
In short, the fantasy sphinx is truly a remarkable creature. Even though it is a human-cat hybrid, it is capable of communicating with humans with relative ease, though it has no qualms about hurting it should said conversation go off the rails. If you’d like to bring this beast into your own world and story, you can’t go wrong with it!
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