Sphinx

Sphinxes are Others of karmic balance, driven to preserve it no matter what. Their race was created to serve as sentinels.<ref name=":0"/><ref>Genies.  All of the problems a sphinx posed, with a great many of the same capabilities, but sphinxes were created, and genies were natural, born of elements and divine remnants. - Interlude 9</ref> Each sphinx will generally follow a set pattern, gaining power over those who break a specific karmic rule, such as answering a question falsely or deviating from a long-standing tradition.<ref name=":0">“Sphinxes are creations and natural Others with a heavy tie to the karmic balance,” Diana said.  “They’re often used as divine guardians for temples or sites of power.  Different sphinxes follow different rules, gaining certain rights and powers from karma and destiny, provided the other party deviates from a code, offers a mistruth, breaks from tradition, or something in that vein.” - Excerpt from Collateral 4.2</ref>

They are sensitive to things that alter or damage the balance, with demons and their taint being unpleasant to painful to be around and those from the choir of madness being enough to completely cripple them. Because one of their duties is to remember things, even if connections are cut or erased from existence, they can hold onto fragments or more.

When born, the strongest of a litter will eat the weaker siblings,<ref>“Do you have any conception of how old I am?” she asked.  Her voice was more dangerous now.  She was big enough and her voice had enough low notes that I could feel the vibration of it in the air.  “How few of the mortals alive today are able to trace their ancestry back to the day I was a cub breaking free of my egg?  When the first thing I did after that was devour my weakest siblings?” - Excerpt from Subordination 6.3</ref> and they are genetically incapable of caring if someone dies so long as the death is in the right place and time. However, they can learn from experience and can emulate human emotions. Likewise, they can suppress the instinctive drive to attack the ignorant, but telling a lie to a sphinx allows them to exercise their right to atone the balance, which often ends in death.

Known Sphinxes

• Phix
• Isadora
• A independent Apsasû<ref> - Excerpt from Cutting Class 6.4</ref>

Trivia

• While "sphinx" is traditionally held to derive from the greek word "to strangle" a compelling argument<ref>Bauer, S. Wise (2007). The History of the Ancient World. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. pp. 110–112. ISBN 0-393-05974-X.</ref> has been made that it's a loan word for demotic egyption meaning "created image". Tying into the appearance of chimeric temple guardians throughout the worlds cultures.

References

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