| “ | Answer my riddles or be devoured—those were the rules. Once you agree to play, my rules are law!
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” |
The Sphinx of Rules, formerly known as the Sphinx of Games, is a spirit who guards a small "bridge" in a Mayview back alley. He is one of the major antagonists of Chapter 3, along with Johnny Jhonny and Ollie Oop.
Appearance[]
The Sphinx has a tan feline body with retractable black claws and a tail that ends in a light cream tuft. He has a set of wings that have an off-white furred cuff around the shoulder blades and dusty red feathers underneath. Around his neck is a gold plate. The Sphinx also has pointed ears with black insides, a black marking on the top of his head that reaches both ears and slopes down to his nose bridge. He has a long, pointed, black, nose, red eyes, sharp teeth, and a lined pink forked tongue.
When he reappears in Chapter 6, Page 41
, the black pattern over his forehead extends over his ears to the back and sides of his head.
Personality[]
The Sphinx has a rather bizarre personality, challenging passersby with strange, nonsensical riddles and threatening to eat them should they get them wrong. It wildly overreacts to individuals (inevitably) getting its riddles wrong, and will tenaciously pursue them should they escape. In Chapter 3, Page 33, it exhibits embarrassment and genuine surprise when it realises it cheated in its own game, leaving Max and Isaac alone.
Paranatural[]
Chapter 3[]
As Isaac O'Connor and Max Puckett make their way towards the Slanted Manse, the Sphinx intercepts the two and challenges them to a game of riddles. After Isaac gets the riddles incorrect, the Sphinx attempts to attack him, but is quickly defeated. The Sphinx continues pursuing Isaac after he leaves and attacks him once more alongside Ollie Oop[1], which Isaac eventually escapes.
After Johnny hits his head on a rock, the Sphinx confronts Isaac and Max and claims the rules of the challenge must be met, Isaac threatens the spirit with his powers and informs him that the game was rigged due to him having "shoehorned in" eating them after the first riddle. After learning this, the Sphinx seems to be genuinely surprised and leaves, claiming that "the others will hear about this"[2].
Chapter 5[]
As Isaac confides his anger issues to King Catnine as he follows Mr. Garcia across the school's playground, the spirit tells him to quiet down as he begins to sense "something... amiss."[3] As Isaac moves deeper into the woods, King Catnine recognizes the scent of two approaching hostile spirits, stalking them through the trees.[4]
Chapter 6[]
Much later, as Isaac walks home with the rest of the Paranatural Activity Club, King Catnine pulls Isaac into a spirit trance to notify him that the spirits from earlier are about to strike. The Sphinx and a catlike spirit (that later reveals their name as the Sphinx of Truth) emerge to block their path, much to Max and Isaac's exasperation. The Sphinx claims that Isaac's answering of a riddle after the declaration of eating them counted as participation and lunges for him, but he's quickly smacked down by Ed Burger, Isabel Guerra and Max.
Abilities[]
General[]
The Sphinx is a bestial spirit with the ability to fly and can move quickly, allowing it to efficiently hunt down its prey.
Spirit[]
According to a comment of Zack's, the Sphinx's ability allows the conditions of a game it sets to inevitably come to pass. For example, if the losing condition set for the player is "The Sphinx will devour you", and they fail to correctly answer the Sphinx's riddles, it will eventually eat them regardless of what may happen. Likewise, if the winning condition was "being able to cross this bridge", failing to correctly answer the riddles will prevent the player from crossing the bridge. However, the conditions of a game cannot be changed during the middle of the game; the only conditions enforced by the Sphinx's power are those set at the beginning of the game.
Quotes[]
- Sphinx: "If you wish to cross my bridge, you must correctly answer 2 out of 3 of my riddles... Now then... What has 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and 3 legs in the evening??"
- Max: "Man."
- Isaac: "It's man."
- Sphinx: "WRONG! The answer is that guy."
- Spirit: "Hey"
- Sphinx: "Get one more incorrect and I eat you both."
- — The Sphinx, Isaac, and Max (Chapter 3, Page 15
)
- "NO, it's an airplane! GOD you are SO DUMB at riddles!"
- — The Sphinx to Isaac (Chapter 3, Page 21)
- Isaac: "Your game's rigged. You shoehorned in eating us after the first riddle."
- Sphinx: "Wait, seriously"
- Isaac: "Yes."
- Sphinx: "I'll be going then."
- Isaac: "Mm."
- — Isaac and the Sphinx (Chapter 3, Page 33)
Trivia[]
- The Sphinx of Games' design and character are based on the Sphinx from Greek mythology.
Gallery[]
Official Artwork[]
Comic[]
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