Criosphinx

Criosphinxes were a type of ram-headed sphinx.

Description
Like other types of sphinx, these creatures had tawny lion bodies as large as a horse with large wings similar to that of a falcon. In addition, they were always male. When born they lack their distinctive ram horns. These develop rapidly over the course of their first year of life and then at an increasingly slow rate afterwards. Though they had the head of a ram, their mouth was full of sharp carnivore teeth.

Personality
Criosphinxes found wealth extremely attractive and would pursue it above all else if they couldn't find a gynosphinx. Because of their penchant for wealth, they enjoyed extorting tolls from travelers. They also had remarkable memories, at least in terms of remembering their treasure caches.

Combat
Unlike other types of sphinxes, these creatures did not possess an innate spellcasting ability. Because of this, they relied upon their leonine claws and ram-horns in combat, and would forgo using their teeth. When fighting, their combat tactics were rather simple.

Society
Like most sphinxes, these creatures lived largely solitary lives. Though while searching for a mate, occasionally up to four of them could be found traveling together, each of them hoping to take her for themselves. Criosphinxes would bury their treasures in the ground as they traveled, often having several caches spread over a considerable area.

Whenever a criosphinx mated with a gynosphinx, male children born of their union would also be criosphinxes. Gynosphinxes always abandoned these children, leaving them to fend for themselves or to be raised by their father.

It was a common practice among members of this species to add a descriptive adjective to their name.

Diet
These creatures were a carnivorous species. They would use their sharp teeth to rip chunks of meat from their prey and then swallow them whole.

Habitats
Criosphinxes were typically found in deserts or forests with a warm climate. They tended to be nomadic, disdaining permanent lairs.

In Faerûn, they could be found in the Hullack Forest. In the Shining South they could be found in Dambrath, the Shaar, and the Toadsquat Mountains.

Languages
These creatures were capable of speaking Common, as well as the language of sphinxes and animals.

Relationships
Criosphinxes were known to act as servants of the deity Nephthys.

Criosphinxes lusted after gynosphinxes and constantly sought them out, though the latter found them repulsive.

History
Around 1374 DR, one could find criosphinxes stabled by the Zhentarim as mounts within the Temple in the Sky.