It would be ridiculous to try and out-do what Sean K. Reynolds has already brilliantly done for D&D 3.5 in The New Argonauts so at the start of every one of these posts I’m going to 1) thank him for making that supplement (thank you Sean!) and 2) tell you to go download it (it’s free–give it 5 stars because damn). This blog series is not intended to be a reproduction of that product, only a conversion update. Go get it.

Post 1: What You Need To Play

Master Page for D&D 5E Ancient Greece/Monster List

Sphinx (Classical)

Large monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 75 (13d10+26)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

Skills Arcana +10, Deception +7, History +10, Insight +10, Intimidation +7, Perception +7, Persuasion +7, Religion+10, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Common
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

Ageless. The sphinx cannot suffer from frailty of old age, die from old age, or be aged magically.
Magic Weapons. The sphinx’s weapon attacks are magical.
Pounce. If the sphinx moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, scylla can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Power Attack. When the sphinx makes its first melee weapon attack in a turn, it can choose to take a -5 penalty to its melee weapon attack rolls in exchange for a +10 bonus to melee weapon damage. In addition, the sphinx can use a bonus action to make one melee weapon attack after it uses a melee weapon to reduce a creature to 0 hit points or scores a critical hit with a melee weapon. The sphinx can only use this feature on its turn.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The sphinx makes one bite attack and two claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10+3) piercing damage and if the target is a creature it is grappled (escape DC 14).
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) slashing damage.

Born of Typhon and Echidna (or perhaps the Chimera), the sphinx has a lion body, a woman’s torso, and eagle’s wings. She had learned a riddle from the Muses, and terrorized the people of Thebes by posing the riddle to all who tried to enter or leave the city; those who failed to answer were throttled and devoured by the sphinx. Oedipus solved the riddle and she hurled herself to her death. Clearly the Greek sphinx is a more cruel and malevolent sort of creature than the sphinx found in the core rules, and it lacks the magical powers attributed to it by modern authors. Any other sphinx has probably learned the lesson of her ancient sister and ignores riddles, focusing instead of grappling her opponents and raking. If approached with peaceful intent and given offerings of meat she may answer questions about mankind, the world, or even the gods.

An Intelligence (History) check reveals the following information: 8—The sphinx was halfwoman, half-lion, and challenged all who crossed her path with a riddle, killing those who failed to give the right answer. 13—The sphinx’s riddle was correctly answered by Oedipus, and in a rage she threw herself off a cliff and died. 18—The sphinx is the daughter of Typhon and Echidna, or perhaps Chimera.