D&D: Fighting the Owlbear, part 2
Feb. 2nd, 2026 08:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerThe first combat encounter in my latest D&D game was a fight with an owlbear. A hideous magical combination of two apex predators, it combines a grizzly bear's powerful body and huge claws with a sharp, bird-like beak. I left off at a cliff-hanger in my previous journal entry. It's time to finish the story!
The first to the fight was Herran, who felt the beast's wrath. It slashed him with both forearms, trapped him in a bear hug, and bit him. But then Leoghnie returned as much damage and more with a powerful swing from her greatsword.
Those two weren't the only heroes to respond for the cry for help. The guard lieutenant finished giving instructions to his men to guard the street and summon backup, then headed in to join the fray.
Unlike Herran and Leoghnie, Otonio of House Tashara wasn't built for all-out combat like this. Dressed in foppish clothes with only a gold braid epaulet on one shoulder to indicate his rank, today he's serving his occasional duty as a guard leader. In daily life he's the third son one of the ruling families of the city. But despite being, like, 11th in line as heir, or perhaps because of it, he's under pressure to prove his worth. And he was not going to accomplish that by avoiding a fight.
Avoiding fights, though, is actually one of Otonio's strengths. 🤣 He's good at getting past people, or around them, in fights. He did that here, deftly dodging past the owlbear as it was still grasping Herran and roaring at Leoghnie. He set himself up to make a devastating pincer attack on his next turn.
Next, Ryuu-Han the wizard entered the Great Hall.
Ryuu-Han had been in the neighborhood for not the most above-board of reasons. The lord of this mansion was the scion of a family that had all but destroyed his, driving them out of Durendal several generations ago. One thing about the people of Genidia: they have long memories. There's a saying in Genidia, "The past is never dead. It's not even past." But despite skeletons in the closet, or perhaps because of them, Ryuu-Han was not going to let a monster kill this man. At least not without making him answer a few questions first. 😳
Ryuu-Han posted up several paces back from the fray, at the foot of a grand staircase. This is where he could be most effective. He traced a pattern with his fingers in the air as he spoke words in an ancient language, compelling invisible energies of the universe to create fire. A scorching ray shot from his outstretched finger as he complete chanting the words of power, searing through the air and burning the owlbear's hide.
Last to arrive in the Great Hall was Kiarana Dawnseeker.
Kiarana saw that the fight was already well underway. Leoghnie and Otonio were surrounding the owlbear, which was already injured, but at the same time Herran was held in its mighty grip and looked injured. Another injured person, possibly dead, was on the ground beneath the monster.
Kiarana judged that her healing magics would be of limited use until the fight was finished, so she cast a fighting spell. With a few words as she grasped the holy sun medallion on a gold chain around her neck, a warhammer of pure light blinked into existence next to her. With a nod of her head, the hammer of light flew through the air and struck the monster.
Herran, badly injured from the owlbear's two massive claws and its bite, struggled to get free of its grip. He was no match for the beast's size and strength.
The monster, though badly outnumbered now, was not giving up the fight. It did choose to drop Herran, though. It had a new #1 target: Leoghnie, who clearly was the most dangerous opponent.
Herran fell to the ground as the monster wrapped its bear claws around Leoghnie and held her tight. Leoghnie struggled to escape. But even with her magically enhanced strength she was no match for this monster's raw muscle.
Ryuu-Han came through with another spell. Commanding the invisible forces of the universe again he conjured a globe of acid and hurled it at the monster. It struck for just a few points of damage, but the owlbear let out a yelp of pain and dropped Leoghnie.
Otonio finally got his moment. It wasn't the sneak attack he'd tried for; just a clean shot on the target. He willed his shaking knees to stay steady as he thrust with his rapier. He connected! The sharp tip of his gentleman's sword pierced the owlbear's tough hide, letting his blade slide in at least 8 inches. He pulled out... and the best crumpled to the ground! ...Atop the man they were trying to save. 😂
Herran and Leoghnie pulled themselves to their feet. They worked together to heave the dying monster off the man in the tuxedo... but not before Kiarana clobbered it another time with her warhammer of light. "Gotta make sure it's dead," she noted wryly. Though by then she was already striding over to bless the man with healing magic.
"What do you think owlbear steaks sell for?" Leoghnie wondered aloud.
To be continued....
The first to the fight was Herran, who felt the beast's wrath. It slashed him with both forearms, trapped him in a bear hug, and bit him. But then Leoghnie returned as much damage and more with a powerful swing from her greatsword.
Those two weren't the only heroes to respond for the cry for help. The guard lieutenant finished giving instructions to his men to guard the street and summon backup, then headed in to join the fray.
Unlike Herran and Leoghnie, Otonio of House Tashara wasn't built for all-out combat like this. Dressed in foppish clothes with only a gold braid epaulet on one shoulder to indicate his rank, today he's serving his occasional duty as a guard leader. In daily life he's the third son one of the ruling families of the city. But despite being, like, 11th in line as heir, or perhaps because of it, he's under pressure to prove his worth. And he was not going to accomplish that by avoiding a fight.
Avoiding fights, though, is actually one of Otonio's strengths. 🤣 He's good at getting past people, or around them, in fights. He did that here, deftly dodging past the owlbear as it was still grasping Herran and roaring at Leoghnie. He set himself up to make a devastating pincer attack on his next turn.
Next, Ryuu-Han the wizard entered the Great Hall.
Ryuu-Han had been in the neighborhood for not the most above-board of reasons. The lord of this mansion was the scion of a family that had all but destroyed his, driving them out of Durendal several generations ago. One thing about the people of Genidia: they have long memories. There's a saying in Genidia, "The past is never dead. It's not even past." But despite skeletons in the closet, or perhaps because of them, Ryuu-Han was not going to let a monster kill this man. At least not without making him answer a few questions first. 😳
Ryuu-Han posted up several paces back from the fray, at the foot of a grand staircase. This is where he could be most effective. He traced a pattern with his fingers in the air as he spoke words in an ancient language, compelling invisible energies of the universe to create fire. A scorching ray shot from his outstretched finger as he complete chanting the words of power, searing through the air and burning the owlbear's hide.
Last to arrive in the Great Hall was Kiarana Dawnseeker.
Kiarana saw that the fight was already well underway. Leoghnie and Otonio were surrounding the owlbear, which was already injured, but at the same time Herran was held in its mighty grip and looked injured. Another injured person, possibly dead, was on the ground beneath the monster.
Kiarana judged that her healing magics would be of limited use until the fight was finished, so she cast a fighting spell. With a few words as she grasped the holy sun medallion on a gold chain around her neck, a warhammer of pure light blinked into existence next to her. With a nod of her head, the hammer of light flew through the air and struck the monster.
Herran, badly injured from the owlbear's two massive claws and its bite, struggled to get free of its grip. He was no match for the beast's size and strength.
The monster, though badly outnumbered now, was not giving up the fight. It did choose to drop Herran, though. It had a new #1 target: Leoghnie, who clearly was the most dangerous opponent.
Herran fell to the ground as the monster wrapped its bear claws around Leoghnie and held her tight. Leoghnie struggled to escape. But even with her magically enhanced strength she was no match for this monster's raw muscle.
Ryuu-Han came through with another spell. Commanding the invisible forces of the universe again he conjured a globe of acid and hurled it at the monster. It struck for just a few points of damage, but the owlbear let out a yelp of pain and dropped Leoghnie.
Otonio finally got his moment. It wasn't the sneak attack he'd tried for; just a clean shot on the target. He willed his shaking knees to stay steady as he thrust with his rapier. He connected! The sharp tip of his gentleman's sword pierced the owlbear's tough hide, letting his blade slide in at least 8 inches. He pulled out... and the best crumpled to the ground! ...Atop the man they were trying to save. 😂
Herran and Leoghnie pulled themselves to their feet. They worked together to heave the dying monster off the man in the tuxedo... but not before Kiarana clobbered it another time with her warhammer of light. "Gotta make sure it's dead," she noted wryly. Though by then she was already striding over to bless the man with healing magic.
"What do you think owlbear steaks sell for?" Leoghnie wondered aloud.
To be continued....
