Sphynxes occupied a unique niche during Alice’s Reluctant War.
They came down firmly on the side of Light. Despite having spent the past many thousands of years holding onto riddles and eating everyone who got the answers wrong. Self-image is a curious thing.
However, they weren’t very active. They’re statues. Like most (albeit not all) statues, they don’t move much; one really good, sudden, catlike lunge, tearing the riddle-player to bits and eating various parts of them, then a slow, dignified return to the platform—that’s a nice, civilized life.
The Hobbits and the Dwarves, working together, made a mead of of what you or I would think of as cement.
Many Hobbits carried a jug or two and would hand one to any passing Sphynx they, well, passed. They claimed they were building brand recognition, which is true.
It took perhaps a week for creatures who had been sober for several thousand years to develop some bad habits.
Sphynxes were a powerful weapon in the war who were removed almost entirely from the field and put in administrative positions because they couldn’t stop falling on people and crushing them.
And also, it was an open secret that the Mead came from Alice, and this somewhat split the Sphynx’s loyalty.
Damn the riddles and raises a glass! No, throw the glass against the wall and raise an amphora! Perhaps two! If your back will handle it!
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