D&D Game: Fighting an Owlbear
Feb. 1st, 2026 08:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerD&Deeeee! I got to play D&D today. Of course, I had to run the game myself since I'm the forever DM. This is the game I got rolling two weeks ago with an unexpected monster in the city drawing 5 brave adventurers together.
There's a trope in TTRPGs (tabletop role-playing games) of "You're all sitting comfortably in a tavern when..." something happens that brings everyone together. Often it's something on the level of Lassie runs, barking, into the tavern, and someone translates from Dog to English, "What's that, girl? Timmy fell down the well?" And away we go.
I started this game with this prompt, as the players were doing different things in a tony neighborhood near the city center:
It wasn't just a grizzly bear, a few of the sharp eyed characters noticed. It was an owlbear.
A dangerous magical creation that put a huge, sharp beak atop the powerful body of a grizzly bear.
Five heroes from different walks of life quickly assembled. One of them was even a patrol leader with the city guard, with 3 men-at-arms assisting him.
While the guard lieutenant gave instructions to his men at the front steps outside the mansion, the other heroes swung into action.
Bounding through the doors first was Herran the Woodsman. No fan of city life, he was in the downtown core to retrieve his prized weapons from a wizard he hired to enchant them. Now armed with not one but two magic wakizashi he felt ready to take on a challenge.
Next on the steps was Leoghnie, a warrior from a foreign land thousands of miles away and across the sea. She drew a massive sword, itself a curiosity in this realm, and she paused to catch her breath before going in.
Just before Leoghnie continued, a cleric came up behind her. Kiarana Dawnseeker, a priestess of the Reema, placed her hand on Leoghnie's armored shoulder and said, "The goddess of the sun strengthens your hand."
Leoghnie felt new power coursing through her veins. Her massive sword felt almost lighter in her hands, her heavy armor less weight on her shoulders. She had the benefit of the spell Bull's Strength.
Herran had already sprinted into the mansion, his path guided by the sounds of growling and cries for help and the occasional "Hooo!" 🤣 He dashed through the foyer, past paintings hanging askew on the walls or knocked onto the floor with huge, bear claw-like slashes through them, and rounded the corner into the Great Hall.
There, past a wide staircase leading to the second floor, he saw the owlbear hunched over the body of the man in the tuxedo. With swords quick to hand, Herran engaged.
Artist's conception of fighting an owlbear. Image does not match specifics of this story.
Herran got in one swat before the owlbear struck back. Rearing up to its full 8' height it swung at him with both of its huge, powerful claws. Both penetrated Herran's mail.
Having connected with both claws the owlbear trapped Herran in a bear hug. The best trapped him against its chest and bit him with its sharp beak. Herran was now badly wounded.
But the fight was far from over.
Leoghnie rounded the corner next, and she was fresh to the fight.
Leoghnie saw her newest ally about to be shredded by the owlbear. "Oh, HELL no!" she sputtered and strode forward. She whirled around her massive greatsword, putting all of her strength into the windup, and unloaded on the beast like a coiled spring.
The sword form Leoghnie chose wasn't the most accurate. The exaggerated windup meant she took her eyes off her target for a fraction of a second. But the tradeoff in accuracy was more than made up for in its impact. In D&D terms, her Power Attack maneuver did 27 HP of damage. Her massive blow sent the beast staggering. It roared in pain. But it maintained its grip on Herran. Could she stop the owlbear in time?
To be continued....
Update: The adventure continues in part 2!
There's a trope in TTRPGs (tabletop role-playing games) of "You're all sitting comfortably in a tavern when..." something happens that brings everyone together. Often it's something on the level of Lassie runs, barking, into the tavern, and someone translates from Dog to English, "What's that, girl? Timmy fell down the well?" And away we go.
I started this game with this prompt, as the players were doing different things in a tony neighborhood near the city center:
The door of a city mansion on Billionaire's Row bursts open. A middle aged man in a tattered tuxedo staggers out, calling hoarsely, "Guards! Guards! Someone call the guards!" A moment later a pair of huge arms covered in brown fur, like a grizzly bear, grab him and drag him back into the darkness behind the door.
Roll initiative.
Roll initiative.
It wasn't just a grizzly bear, a few of the sharp eyed characters noticed. It was an owlbear.
A dangerous magical creation that put a huge, sharp beak atop the powerful body of a grizzly bear.
Five heroes from different walks of life quickly assembled. One of them was even a patrol leader with the city guard, with 3 men-at-arms assisting him.
While the guard lieutenant gave instructions to his men at the front steps outside the mansion, the other heroes swung into action.
Bounding through the doors first was Herran the Woodsman. No fan of city life, he was in the downtown core to retrieve his prized weapons from a wizard he hired to enchant them. Now armed with not one but two magic wakizashi he felt ready to take on a challenge.
Next on the steps was Leoghnie, a warrior from a foreign land thousands of miles away and across the sea. She drew a massive sword, itself a curiosity in this realm, and she paused to catch her breath before going in.
Just before Leoghnie continued, a cleric came up behind her. Kiarana Dawnseeker, a priestess of the Reema, placed her hand on Leoghnie's armored shoulder and said, "The goddess of the sun strengthens your hand."
Leoghnie felt new power coursing through her veins. Her massive sword felt almost lighter in her hands, her heavy armor less weight on her shoulders. She had the benefit of the spell Bull's Strength.
Herran had already sprinted into the mansion, his path guided by the sounds of growling and cries for help and the occasional "Hooo!" 🤣 He dashed through the foyer, past paintings hanging askew on the walls or knocked onto the floor with huge, bear claw-like slashes through them, and rounded the corner into the Great Hall.
There, past a wide staircase leading to the second floor, he saw the owlbear hunched over the body of the man in the tuxedo. With swords quick to hand, Herran engaged.
Artist's conception of fighting an owlbear. Image does not match specifics of this story.
Herran got in one swat before the owlbear struck back. Rearing up to its full 8' height it swung at him with both of its huge, powerful claws. Both penetrated Herran's mail.
Having connected with both claws the owlbear trapped Herran in a bear hug. The best trapped him against its chest and bit him with its sharp beak. Herran was now badly wounded.
But the fight was far from over.
Leoghnie rounded the corner next, and she was fresh to the fight.
Leoghnie saw her newest ally about to be shredded by the owlbear. "Oh, HELL no!" she sputtered and strode forward. She whirled around her massive greatsword, putting all of her strength into the windup, and unloaded on the beast like a coiled spring.
The sword form Leoghnie chose wasn't the most accurate. The exaggerated windup meant she took her eyes off her target for a fraction of a second. But the tradeoff in accuracy was more than made up for in its impact. In D&D terms, her Power Attack maneuver did 27 HP of damage. Her massive blow sent the beast staggering. It roared in pain. But it maintained its grip on Herran. Could she stop the owlbear in time?
To be continued....
Update: The adventure continues in part 2!
