Sphinxes

"May the eyes of the desert guard your back, may its voice sing your lullaby, and may its hands lead you to true oases until you may rest."
--Classic Afallonian blessing.

"May the eyes of the desert know your face, may its voice sing your threnody, and may its hands lead you to that final rest."

--Classic Afallonian curse.

While the Death-Sands of Afallon are full of treacherous creatures, the Sphinxes are not one of them. Make no mistake, they are fully deadly, perhaps the deadliest thing you'll find in those deserts, but they are beings of reason and great intelligence. If you are but a traveler, you will find fortune in their presence. If you mean them or the desert harm, well, you likely won't know they are upon you until the final moment.
Blessed by the Goddess of Sands and Education, Sphinxes are guardians of the desert and divine monuments for The Cabal of the Night Sky, many of which double as repositories of ancient knowledge and discoveries. While not every Sphinx is tied to this sacred task, those that do are honored and recorded in the annals of Afallonian history.
While their numbers have dwindled over the millennia for various reasons, they are still present, although the guardians of the faith remain sequestered and protected. Nonetheless, they are protected as endangered creatures by the Grand Seer themselves.

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Basic Information

Anatomy

Sphinxes are quadrupedal creatures, with a body much like a Lion up to the top of their neck. From there they have humanoid facial features and hair, albeit thicker than human hair, more akin to a Lion's mane. They also possess sharper teeth and feline eyes. While there is variation among them, their noses tend to be flatter than their face. Aside from this, they also have two pairs of feathered wings. 
The first, main set has a wingspan about five times the length of the Sphinx, starting from their foreleg shoulders, usually in dark red or blue hues. The second pair is smaller, about one-and-a-half times their length, starting in the center of their back. The larger set is the main pair used for flying, while the smaller pair is mainly used to aid in gliding and to keep balance while making fast maneuvers.

Genetics and Reproduction

Sphinxes reproduce similarly to Lions, given that the part of their body that contains their reproductive organs are part of their feline body. Their gestation period is a bit longer, at around 150 days/five Eddan months. They experience live births and have anywhere from 3 to 6 kits in a litter.

Growth Rate & Stages

Sphinxes mature very quickly. On average, their newborn stage lasts for only two months, the latter half of which is spent beginning to be taught language and to use all of their senses. After that, they are capable of hunting prey their size independently. However, Sphinx families will often stay together long into the kit's "adulthood" regardless.
Six months after their birth, they are roughly the size of adult lions, with their first pair of wings being in the process of growing large enough to maintain flight. At this stage, they will often train via gliding down from cliffs and, where possible, tree canopies.
Three years after birth, they will be roughly half the size of adult Sphinxes and will be capable of flight with their first wings, with their second beginning to properly grow. 
Ten years after birth they will reach the pre-adult stage, where they are capable of using both wings and will have begun experiencing their magical abilities, and their mental powers as well if they possess them. The only difference between a pre-adult and an adult among sphinxes is size, as they will still be roughly 75% of the way there at this point, as well as the coloration of their wings.
At 20 years of age, they will experience their final growth spurt into adulthood as well as the initial major molt of their wing feathers, with the beige, black, and white colored feathers transferring to the reds and blues of adult sphinxes. 
After adulthood, there isn't much biological change among sphinxes, except for in size as every 10 years they will experience a growth spurt.

Ecology and Habitats

There are currently two known habitats that Sphinxes live in. The first is the Death-Sands of Afallon, where they hunt larger creatures and make their homes in wide caverns. Not only does their large size and high intelligence make them skilled predators for this region, but their strength of flight and Blessings from the Goddess of Sands herself leave them uniquely strong against sandstorms that plague even the toughest monsters.
The second location is within the Plane of Mysticism, an otherworldly dimension full of many creatures and monsters that are rarer on the material plane. Here they live in the sands as well, and largely follow the same carnivorous diet against larger creatures, however they are more plentiful there and also do not face the threat of poaching or deadly sandstorms, leaving their home habitats more varied and intricate compared to those on the Material Plane.

Dietary Needs and Habits

While Sphinxes are capable of eating and digesting all sorts of foods, they are mainly carnivores, both for the energy meat provides and the fact that their main selection of prey are other monsters and animals in the treacherous sands of Afallon. They also rely heavily on water and are capable of heavily filtering water internally. Legends of the past even say that a Sphinx's tongue can drink water while sifting past any dirt or blood in the stream.
As for their methods, Sphinxes have one of two main methods. If they are solitary, they will usually take the path of a persistence predator, using their flight, intellect, and heightened senses to track their target far longer than the prey can anticipate them. They usually use this method to track smaller prey, but older, more experienced Sphinxes can take down large sandwyrms single-handedly.
If they're a part of a pack, usually made up of their family, then they will hunt as a pack, and typically employ battle tactics and strategies to ensnare and corner their target. Most larger creatures will be taken down in this fashion, but if times are tough or any member of the pack is young and/or vulnerable, they will go after manageable targets, even at a potential loss of overall gain.
Sphinxes in the Plane of Mysticism have the luxury of a healthier environment, and while hunting is still common, some have the luxury of exploring methods of agriculture and animal husbandry, along with rudimentary methods of natural storage and preservation via magical means.

Biological Cycle

Alongside the shedding of fur coats that come with having a feline body, Sphinxes also go through molting cycles once they reach adulthood, with dull feathers being replaced with brighter ones each time. They also lose and grow new teeth roughly three times in early adulthood.

Behaviour

Sphinxes largely operate on a mortal forms level of sapience. While they still have methods and occasionally structural habits of the large Felines they take after, they are able to verbalize, philosophize, learn, and grow in highly intelligent ways. They do not behave as mindless hungry predators, but are capable of scheming, planning, and moral reasoning. Whether this makes them more or less threatening than the animals they mirror is up to personal discretion.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Sphinxes both on the material plane and the Plane of Mysticism largely follow family structures. There doesn't seem to be much lean towards either patriarchy or matriarchy, with either parent being a voice of authority and control. 
Mysticism Sphinxes, while still largely adhering to this, do have certain members that are older, wiser, and more powerful than their fellows, if only because of the time they have had to become such. These Sphinxes are regarded as The Eusebeia, otherwise called Parents-of-All, as their wisdom can teach any Sphinx under their tutelage, even otherwise grown and matured ones.

Domestication

As Sphinxes are inherently sapient creatures, there is no domestication about them. You can, however, have an allegiance with them, and many Afallonian citizens have in the past. Most notably, the Grand Seer of Afallon is the direct protector of the Sphinxes, and they in turn protect them as well as the country in times of peril, otherwise guarding key locations of great divine importance.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Sphinx Feathers make for soft yet resilient fabrics, as their blessings to ward off sandstorms still apply when shed. Sphinx Fangs for that matter are also incredibly sharp and sell for quite the charming copper for collectors and smithies alike.
Unfortunately, Sphinx Meat as well is a delicacy often sought after. While it is largely non-nutritious and far too muscular to be readily enjoyable, an ancient belief holds that by consuming the flesh of Sphinx, you will gain a portion of their great wisdom and blessings. Unfortunately, many powerful nobles in Afallonian history found a portion too small in their hunt for divine knowledge, leading to the creatures becoming sparse on the material plane.

Facial characteristics

Sphinxes largely have humanoid facial features, with the addition of feline eyes, sharper teeth, flatter noses on average, and thicker hair. Most Sphinxes have skin tones towards the darker end, but human understandings of genetics don't apply to Sphinx progenies. They will have darker or lighter skin, different mane and eye colors, different ear shapes, and so on and so forth from either of their parents. It is largely the patterns on their fur and wings that denote true parentage.
Old stories say that each Sphinx is born with the face of a scholar who met a tragic end, and tell stories of great minds who died young meeting a Sphinx who wore their face, but as far as practical science goes, they haven't found an answer yet.

Average Intelligence

Sphinxes are highly intelligent creatures capable of complex planning and problem solving along with reasoning and memorisation. Those with magical potential are often quickly able to grow in arcane understanding and often make their own spells wholesale.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sphinxes possess powerful senses of scent, taste, and sight, far exceeding mortal, feline, or avian limits. When hunting and dealing with similar creatures to them, they mainly rely on these senses. However, Sphinxes also possess a latent ability to sense the flow of magic, both natural magic and cast spells, which they use to track magical opponents.
Sphinxes also possess great potential to gain powerful mental abilities, which can increase their extrasensory capabilities.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Sphinxes name themselves using the language known as Eldtongue [IRL Greek]. The names they give one another are not set in stone, and largely follow deeds they've performed or values they stand by, especially the more philosophical ones. Therefore, they can change either intentionally or otherwise depending on their actions and growth.

Major Organizations

While Sphinxes themselves don't have any major organizations, at least not on the same scale as mortal kingdoms and faiths, they are a key part of the Cabal of the Night Sky. While not directly part of the pantheon, their roles as wise and learned scholars who protect old relics and areas of the gods, and are even under the Blessing of the Goddess of Sands, Sibrydion. Therefore, even in periods where Sphinxes were hunted and feasted on, they were seen as divine vessels and symbols of power nonetheless.

Beauty Ideals

The most beautiful sphinxes are those whose feathers and fur are unmarred by combat or unwashed sand. This proves not only a level of care and dignity that betrays their natural living but also proves they are smart enough to fight without taking major injury and to find shelter from the sands and the luxury of maintenance. Oddly, despite having human faces, Sphinxes do not put any weight of attraction on those features.

Courtship Ideals

When a Sphinx wants to pursue a relationship, for progeny or simple attraction, they will first approach the other party with a gift they find worthy of them. This can be a key part of a hunted creature or, in rarer cases, an object of some importance. With this intention stated, the two will then undergo a days-long process called the Zigaria, where they will not only assess each other's merit as potential partners or mates but also their obtained knowledge and philosophical ideas. Essentially, it's a marriage interview and scholarly debate rolled into one.

Average Technological Level

Sphinxes are born with inherent psychic abilities to small degrees. Natural telepathic rapport is one, but another is mild telekinesis over inanimate objects. Your average, untrained Sphinx can lift a large boulder, or in some cases pick up a large weapon left in the open. Some trained Sphinxes, however, have such a refined gift for these talents that they are able to not only lift multiple objects and larger ones but also manipulate and utilize tools to the degree of skilled artisans.
Be that as it may, their level of technology overall is on the lower end, due to only having so many habitats available, and only so many needs they struggle to meet. However, they craft weapons, tools, and accessories, are able to smelt ores and smith metal, and are renowned for their magical and historic artifacts.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Sphinxes mainly speak in Eldtongue, a mostly dead language [IRL Greek] that only they themselves actively speak, although many Merfolk have records of the language still. This is true both on the Material Plane and the Plane of Mysticism, although there is a difference in application among them. Material Sphinxes rarely speak aloud, using telepathy with one another instead, especially in the presence of mortals. Mysticism Sphinxes speak aloud more often, only using telepathy for those who don't know the language.

Common Dress Code

Aside from their golden masks, Sphinxes don't wear any full articles of clothing. However, some wear jewelry along their body, crafted by more skilled Sphinxes.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The culture of the Sphinxes is largely built on the pursuit of knowledge, as their psychic and magical powers are driven by their understanding of the world and the powers that flow through it. It also is necessary for general survival and their style of hunting, but the same could be said of any predator.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

When a Sphinx reaches their 100th year, they will gain a special golden mask. Whether they craft it themselves or have a more skilled Sphinx craft it, they will have to journey to find a Eusebeia to anoint and verify the mask, along with an assessment of the Sphinx's knowledge and honor. Afterward, the mask will be a symbol of triumph and knowledge.

Common Myths and Legends

While there are various legends featuring Sphinxes in their role as divine protectors or judges of knowledge and worthiness, their most notable myth involves the first Sphinx, Theban.
As mortals first began to gather and philosophize, they gained the ire of Anwar, God of Animals and Strength, who found them inferior to the beasts of the sands. This brought him into a debate with his sister, Sibrydion, Goddess of Sands and Education, who found their new skills of reasoning and learning inspiring, as it brought them closer to the duties and skills of the gods. This caused a long-standing argument that persisted for hundreds of years, soon coming to involve just about every god of the pantheon on one side or another. Finally, the father-of-all, Galaeth, demanded they find a way to settle this once and for all.
The two then made a proper wager, along with the fickle Dawns, Goddess of Dance and Freedom, who decided to create a creature that would be a powerful predator with the ability of reason and learning to see which instincts would win out in the end. They named the creature Theban, as she was born not of a live method but from the god's power within one of their sacred temples.
Theban underwent various trials, learning how to set traps and employ strategy and tactics in fights against tremendous creatures that Anwar would send after her. Despite this show of knowledge, it seemed like the wager was leaning towards Anwar's victory, as he bet that giving a proper predator knowledge would result in them defeating the feeble humans, as a proper superior predator ought to.
But, one notable moment was all that Sibrydion needed to claim victory, as when Theban first came to encounter pilgrims wandering the sands, she saw them not as threats, but as curiosities. Despite Anwar's insistence that this was the first step to domination, Theban actually found herself bested in a game of riddles against a mortal wise man and was thoroughly humbled. While the Animal God thought his creation would lash out and slay the sage, when he bowed his head and thanked her for the chance to match wits, she did the same, and through humility learned about the value of failing and learning from others. 
At that moment, Sibrydion would bless them both. Neither Theban, her kin, nor the sage and the people he lead would be harmed or buffeted by the sandstorms. To Theban, she gave the ability to glide through the sands without difficulty and delay, and to the sage, she gave a divine trident to use in order to calm the winds for those not under his protection. 
While Anwar would be a sore loser, creating more Sphinxes to prove that one success didn't make a rule, or that the conflict of territory would change the score, each attempt ended in failure, and many Sphinxes came to know Theban's teachings, and would eventually be given the duty of preserving the knowledge and relics of the gods against the forces of evil. It is this moment of blessing that also tied the Sphinxes to the Grand Seers of Afallon, as the trident would go on to be called Desert Queller, and become a sacred treasure of the Grand Seer.

Scientific Name

Chimerica Leo-Homo-Unicinctus

Lifespan

500 years

Conservation Status

The few Sphinxes that remain on the material plane make their homes in heavily protected places of divinity within Afallon, and are also defended by the Grand Seers. However, within the Plane of Mysticism, they are far more common and are able to fly freely within their native lands.

Average Height

(Wingspan not included)
Juvenile: 3' 4"
Pre-adult: 7' 9"
Adult: 10' 11"
Once entering the Adult phase there will be an average growth of three feet in height every 10 years.

Average Weight

Juvenile: 330-550 lbs.
Pre-adult: 800-1000 lbs.
Adult: 1200-1400 lbs.
Weight will fluctuate with diet and activity, but with the growth spurt every 10 years, an average of 200 pounds of mass can be expected.

Average Length

(Wingspan not included)
Juvenile: 4' 10"
Pre-adult: 13' 1"
Adult: 18' 6"
Once entering the Adult phase there will be an average growth of five feet in length every 10 years.

Average Physique

Sphinxes are commonly very muscular, as their larger size and weight requires it, along with the muscle strength needed to effectively use their wings.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The fur of a Sphinx is largely monocolored, typically some shading of gold or yellowish-brown, but some Sphinxes have particular markings or sets of markings along their fur in darker or lighter colors, and some even develop spots or stripes that mirror other large felines. Their wings similarly have different patterns of reds vs blues once they get their first adult molt. These patterns often follow genetic lineage from one of their parents.