Well, I say "Adopt". What actually happened is they camped outside a cave, killed the owlbear that ran out to attack them, nosed about in the cave stealthily, completely ignored the carvings and hints of habitation and managed to steal an owlbear egg from under the other parent.
This is exactly what I've come to expect from the party fighter who thinks wearing a pot on his head counts as a helmet and lost a fight with a bookcase.
But anyway. Somehow, they kept the egg warm and safe for a few days, and since it hatched they have had a 1hp tiny owlbear that constantly demands food and attacks things on principle. I'm not quite sure how they kept it alive so long, but it got to the point this week where I decided to work out how to handle this... pet. Especially since, after a very difficult and trying time for the owlbear (... and actually the rest of the party), their Sorcerer managed a perfect natural 20 Animal Handling with a natural 1 opposed roll, and I thought: Yes. They've had it long enough and been lucky enough, sure. They can have a loyal owlbear. I'm sure I can use that to give them some more rope.
So I now have some stats for an owlbear cub that's been... well-socialised and well-fed for its entire short life. I added a few personality traits, ideals, bonds and flaws, too, and told the players: I will accept any suggestion for what the owlbear does that fits the personality defined here. If you suggest something that screws the party over and I accept, the person who suggested it gets Inspiration.
Here's the stats I'm using:
[sblock=Owlbear Cub]
Owlbear Cub (Nominal level 2)
Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armour Class: 12
Hit points: 19 (2d10+4)
Speed: 20’
Skills Perception +3
Senses darkvision 60’, passive Perception 13
Languages Some few words of common. Understands tone if not content.
Keen Sight and Smell The owlbear has advantage on Wisdom(Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Tough The owlbear has advantage on death saving throws
ACTIONS
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5’, one creature. Hit: 4 piercing damage
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5’, one target. Hit: 2d4+3 piercing damage
Screech. A loud declaration of presence, triumph or aggression. Can be heard over some distance
Personality Traits:
(It has a few minor changes from the standard owlbear; every now and then I will replace the character sheet with a slightly different one as it grows up. The personality traits will change a little over time (it will get less hungry when it stops growing, and will pass the curious-about-everything stage eventually))
Obviously, this method of dealing with a party pet won't work with every party - my group is entirely happy to do the fun thing that will cost them if it feels suitably in-character, and I know they will have a lot of fun with this. I should be able to get by without ever really running the owlbear, too, which is good - it should be run by the players. It's their pet, after all.
This is exactly what I've come to expect from the party fighter who thinks wearing a pot on his head counts as a helmet and lost a fight with a bookcase.
But anyway. Somehow, they kept the egg warm and safe for a few days, and since it hatched they have had a 1hp tiny owlbear that constantly demands food and attacks things on principle. I'm not quite sure how they kept it alive so long, but it got to the point this week where I decided to work out how to handle this... pet. Especially since, after a very difficult and trying time for the owlbear (... and actually the rest of the party), their Sorcerer managed a perfect natural 20 Animal Handling with a natural 1 opposed roll, and I thought: Yes. They've had it long enough and been lucky enough, sure. They can have a loyal owlbear. I'm sure I can use that to give them some more rope.
So I now have some stats for an owlbear cub that's been... well-socialised and well-fed for its entire short life. I added a few personality traits, ideals, bonds and flaws, too, and told the players: I will accept any suggestion for what the owlbear does that fits the personality defined here. If you suggest something that screws the party over and I accept, the person who suggested it gets Inspiration.
Here's the stats I'm using:
[sblock=Owlbear Cub]
Owlbear Cub (Nominal level 2)
Small monstrosity, unaligned
Armour Class: 12
Hit points: 19 (2d10+4)
Speed: 20’
Code:
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16(+3) 14(+2) 15(+2) 4(-3) 12(+1) 8(-1)Skills Perception +3
Senses darkvision 60’, passive Perception 13
Languages Some few words of common. Understands tone if not content.
Keen Sight and Smell The owlbear has advantage on Wisdom(Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Tough The owlbear has advantage on death saving throws
ACTIONS
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5’, one creature. Hit: 4 piercing damage
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5’, one target. Hit: 2d4+3 piercing damage
Screech. A loud declaration of presence, triumph or aggression. Can be heard over some distance
Personality Traits:
- I am always hungry, and everything looks like a meal.
- I feel no fear and can bear a grudge until my dying day.
- I am a mighty and powerful hunter and want everyone to know it.
- What’s mine stays mine. Territory, people, food, it doesn’t matter - it’s MINE.
- The one who smells of burning is my master. I will do anything I think he wants.
- The group I travel with are MINE.
- I understand the word ‘NO’. I just don’t care.
- Now I’m mobile enough, I simply cannot leave anything new uninvestigated.
(It has a few minor changes from the standard owlbear; every now and then I will replace the character sheet with a slightly different one as it grows up. The personality traits will change a little over time (it will get less hungry when it stops growing, and will pass the curious-about-everything stage eventually))
Obviously, this method of dealing with a party pet won't work with every party - my group is entirely happy to do the fun thing that will cost them if it feels suitably in-character, and I know they will have a lot of fun with this. I should be able to get by without ever really running the owlbear, too, which is good - it should be run by the players. It's their pet, after all.
