I am running a campaign and my L17 players are going to encounter an androsphinx to which it guards a wondrous treasure. I have all the puzzles, riddles and other shenanigans but I want to beef up the Sphinx by adding a little back up in case the players attack.
What monsters/creatures would you pair with a Sphinx? (I know Sphinx’s are normally solitary creatures but trying something different).
Maybe its just me, but I've always associated constructs with Sphinxes, golems, homunculii, shield guardians, animated statues, etc. I couldn't point you to any established lore that establishes the connection, it just always seemed to make sense to me for the kind of minions you might find in their lair, given their solitary nature
Have they arrived at the Sphinx yet? Have they seen the layout of the area? If not you describe this large chamber or plateau. The Sphinx is front and center but all around are statues upon statues. They are all sorts of races and creatures. The Sphinx could even be walking among the statues admiring them or looking at them in pity. Partly for show partly to be truthful. He doesn't want the party to end up like all these lost souls.
The statues are all those souls who failed to complete the Sphinx's riddles or puzzles. This may not be true but it will give the players pause if you have not only hordes of beasts but also dragons as statues. Colors of your choosing.
If they wish to attack the Sphinx disappears and a number of statues come to life and attack until destroyed or the party yields requesting to speak once again to the Sphinx. The great Sphinx will demand each heroe place something of value on an altar or location to show they are sorry for attacking him. Then he will return.
The statues have all the abilities of whatever creature they are but add resistant to piercing and slashing. Immun to any attacks that have to do with mental, charm, or breathing. When they defeat that wave (hopefully expending resources) The Sphinx will reappear. Then pose the riddle or puzzle again. If the attack again rinse and repeat but make the next wave harder than the last. I would plan at least 6 waves if not 10.
If this persists tell the players their skin starts to feel stiff after a while. Then if they don't stop colors of stone grey begin to form in patches on the skin or scales. Followed by stiffness in joints that they can't seem to heal. Slowing them down to half speed or half damage during attacks. Combatants start to do fewer attacks per turn. You get the picture. They are slowly turning into statues. It's all an illusion or the area is cursed and no curing can stop it from happening. If they complete the challenge of the sphinx it all goes away. Or if they leave the space where the whole encounter takes place.
Lastly, the items that were placed before the Sphinx in apology for attacking will be returned if the party completes the challenge. If they attack again those items will be lost forever. Your call as always.
Maybe its just me, but I've always associated constructs with Sphinxes, golems, homunculii, shield guardians, animated statues, etc. I couldn't point you to any established lore that establishes the connection, it just always seemed to make sense to me for the kind of minions you might find in their lair, given their solitary nature
Have they arrived at the Sphinx yet? Have they seen the layout of the area? If not you describe this large chamber or plateau. The Sphinx is front and center but all around are statues upon statues. They are all sorts of races and creatures. The Sphinx could even be walking among the statues admiring them or looking at them in pity. Partly for show partly to be truthful. He doesn't want the party to end up like all these lost souls.
The statues are all those souls who failed to complete the Sphinx's riddles or puzzles. This may not be true but it will give the players pause if you have not only hordes of beasts but also dragons as statues. Colors of your choosing.
If they wish to attack the Sphinx disappears and a number of statues come to life and attack until destroyed or the party yields requesting to speak once again to the Sphinx. The great Sphinx will demand each heroe place something of value on an altar or location to show they are sorry for attacking him. Then he will return.
The statues have all the abilities of whatever creature they are but add resistant to piercing and slashing. Immun to any attacks that have to do with mental, charm, or breathing. When they defeat that wave (hopefully expending resources) The Sphinx will reappear. Then pose the riddle or puzzle again. If the attack again rinse and repeat but make the next wave harder than the last. I would plan at least 6 waves if not 10.
If this persists tell the players their skin starts to feel stiff after a while. Then if they don't stop colors of stone grey begin to form in patches on the skin or scales. Followed by stiffness in joints that they can't seem to heal. Slowing them down to half speed or half damage during attacks. Combatants start to do fewer attacks per turn. You get the picture. They are slowly turning into statues. It's all an illusion or the area is cursed and no curing can stop it from happening. If they complete the challenge of the sphinx it all goes away. Or if they leave the space where the whole encounter takes place.
Lastly, the items that were placed before the Sphinx in apology for attacking will be returned if the party completes the challenge. If they attack again those items will be lost forever. Your call as always.
I really like this. That would deter them from attacking. I think I like the idea of this and include constructs here too.
Just in case it does come to a fight with the sphinx itself. Don't forget it has legendary and lair actions. Still, you'll probably want some other creatures if it's a CR 17, and they are level 17. But you don't want to overtune the encounter. The statues coming to life from above could be a good choice, a golem could fit and they have variable CRs so you can use whichever one will better fit the party, and just skin it how you like. Or you could use some inanimate objects, like some pillars or other large items within the tomb, and give them a damage aura. Maybe psychic, since the sphinx is immune to psychic damage. And at the start of their turn, each creature in the room takes 10 or 15 points of psychic damage. Just make sure the players know it's coming from the object. Basically, the trick is to find something besides the sphinx to eat up some of the character's actions. Otherwise, a party will all focus fire on the single target and just wreck it. You need some kind of distractions/speed bumps to split their attention.
You might also give it some legendary resistance. Nothing more frustrating than it getting 1-shot by a polymorph or something because of a bad save.
As an off-the-wall idea, consider making it a reverse sphinx.
Reverse Sphinx: OK, you are seasoned adventurers so I'm sure know the drill. I answer your riddle. If I get it right, you get to leave with some treasure. If I answer it wrong, I eat one of you. Players: Ahh, what, OK, that actually sounds good. Yes. Reverse Sphinx: Great to hear. My answer is "the autumn moon", what is your riddle?
As an off-the-wall idea, consider making it a reverse sphinx.
Reverse Sphinx: OK, you are seasoned adventurers so I'm sure know the drill. I answer your riddle. If I get it right, you get to leave with some treasure. If I answer it wrong, I eat one of you. Players: Ahh, what, OK, that actually sounds good. Yes. Reverse Sphinx: Great to hear. My answer is "the autumn moon", what is your riddle?
Oh man, this is something I would do to my players. They hate it when I pull stuff like that. I love it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I live my life like a West Marches campaign, A swirling vortex of Ambitions and Insecurities.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Hi all,
I am running a campaign and my L17 players are going to encounter an androsphinx to which it guards a wondrous treasure. I have all the puzzles, riddles and other shenanigans but I want to beef up the Sphinx by adding a little back up in case the players attack.
What monsters/creatures would you pair with a Sphinx? (I know Sphinx’s are normally solitary creatures but trying something different).
Thanks in advance.
Jim
Another Sphinx its sister
Maybe its just me, but I've always associated constructs with Sphinxes, golems, homunculii, shield guardians, animated statues, etc. I couldn't point you to any established lore that establishes the connection, it just always seemed to make sense to me for the kind of minions you might find in their lair, given their solitary nature
Have they arrived at the Sphinx yet? Have they seen the layout of the area? If not you describe this large chamber or plateau. The Sphinx is front and center but all around are statues upon statues. They are all sorts of races and creatures. The Sphinx could even be walking among the statues admiring them or looking at them in pity. Partly for show partly to be truthful. He doesn't want the party to end up like all these lost souls.
The statues are all those souls who failed to complete the Sphinx's riddles or puzzles. This may not be true but it will give the players pause if you have not only hordes of beasts but also dragons as statues. Colors of your choosing.
If they wish to attack the Sphinx disappears and a number of statues come to life and attack until destroyed or the party yields requesting to speak once again to the Sphinx. The great Sphinx will demand each heroe place something of value on an altar or location to show they are sorry for attacking him. Then he will return.
The statues have all the abilities of whatever creature they are but add resistant to piercing and slashing. Immun to any attacks that have to do with mental, charm, or breathing. When they defeat that wave (hopefully expending resources) The Sphinx will reappear. Then pose the riddle or puzzle again. If the attack again rinse and repeat but make the next wave harder than the last. I would plan at least 6 waves if not 10.
If this persists tell the players their skin starts to feel stiff after a while. Then if they don't stop colors of stone grey begin to form in patches on the skin or scales. Followed by stiffness in joints that they can't seem to heal. Slowing them down to half speed or half damage during attacks. Combatants start to do fewer attacks per turn. You get the picture. They are slowly turning into statues. It's all an illusion or the area is cursed and no curing can stop it from happening. If they complete the challenge of the sphinx it all goes away. Or if they leave the space where the whole encounter takes place.
Lastly, the items that were placed before the Sphinx in apology for attacking will be returned if the party completes the challenge. If they attack again those items will be lost forever. Your call as always.
I live my life like a West Marches campaign, A swirling vortex of Ambitions and Insecurities.
Thank you. That’s a good shout!
Ooh. That might be interesting!
I really like this. That would deter them from attacking. I think I like the idea of this and include constructs here too.
Thank you.
Just in case it does come to a fight with the sphinx itself. Don't forget it has legendary and lair actions. Still, you'll probably want some other creatures if it's a CR 17, and they are level 17. But you don't want to overtune the encounter. The statues coming to life from above could be a good choice, a golem could fit and they have variable CRs so you can use whichever one will better fit the party, and just skin it how you like. Or you could use some inanimate objects, like some pillars or other large items within the tomb, and give them a damage aura. Maybe psychic, since the sphinx is immune to psychic damage. And at the start of their turn, each creature in the room takes 10 or 15 points of psychic damage. Just make sure the players know it's coming from the object. Basically, the trick is to find something besides the sphinx to eat up some of the character's actions. Otherwise, a party will all focus fire on the single target and just wreck it. You need some kind of distractions/speed bumps to split their attention.
You might also give it some legendary resistance. Nothing more frustrating than it getting 1-shot by a polymorph or something because of a bad save.
As an off-the-wall idea, consider making it a reverse sphinx.
Reverse Sphinx: OK, you are seasoned adventurers so I'm sure know the drill. I answer your riddle. If I get it right, you get to leave with some treasure. If I answer it wrong, I eat one of you.
Players: Ahh, what, OK, that actually sounds good. Yes.
Reverse Sphinx: Great to hear. My answer is "the autumn moon", what is your riddle?
Oh man, this is something I would do to my players. They hate it when I pull stuff like that. I love it.
I live my life like a West Marches campaign, A swirling vortex of Ambitions and Insecurities.