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| Many people believe a misguided wizard created the first owlbear, but others insist that these creatures have always dwelled in the Feywild. |
Recall Knowledge - Animal (Nature): DC 19
Unspecific Lore: DC 17
Specific Lore: DC 14
With the body of a powerful brown bear and the keen senses of an owl, the owlbear is a dangerous territorial predator, fearlessly attacking any creature that strays into its domain. Those who run afoul of an owlbear hear its terrifying screech only seconds before the massive creature is upon them, ripping them apart with deadly talons and a powerful beak.
Common Owlbear, Owlbear 4
Source Bestiary pg. 259
Although their origin is lost to time, owlbears are assumed to be the result of a magical experiment to make a more cunning predator. According to the legend, the wizard was too successful and ended up being the first victim of the beast. Today, owlbears can be found around the world, with a variety of features. While the most common subspecies looks like a brown bear with the features of a great horned owl, owlbears from the frozen north might resemble polar bears mixed with snowy owls, and in temperate rain forests, they might resemble black bears with the heads of barn owls.
Most owlbears live solitary lives, gathering only to mate and raise cubs hatched from eggs. An owlbear’s territory usually extends to around 5 miles from its lair, with clear signs of its habitat appearing within 1 mile (clawed-up trees, gigantic feathers, and shredded carcasses). The lair of an owlbear rarely holds anything of value, but some adventurers have found trinkets, coins, and even jewelry in the massive pellets of undigested bones these monsters leave behind.
Perception +13; low-light vision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +14, Intimidation +10
Str +6, Dex +1, Con +5, Int -4, Wis +3, Cha +0
AC 21; Fort +13, Ref +7, Will +11
HP 70
Speed 25 feet
Melee talon +14 [+10/+6] (agile), Damage 1d10+6 piercing plus Grab
Melee beak +14 [+9/+4], Damage 1d12+6 piercing
Bloodcurdling Screech [single action] (auditory, emotion, fear, mental) The owlbear unleashes a loud screech that terrifies its prey. Each creature in an 80-foot emanation must attempt a DC 20 Will save. Regardless of the result, creatures are temporarily immune for 1 minute.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature is frightened 1.
Failure The creature is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The creature is fleeing for 1 round and frightened 3.
Gnaw [single action] Requirements The owlbear has a creature grabbed with its talons. Effect The owlbear attempts to disembowel the creature with a beak Strike. If the Strike hits, the target must attempt a DC 22 Will save.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is sickened 1.
Failure The target is sickened 1 and slowed 1 as long as it remains sickened.
Screeching Advance [double action] (auditory, emotion, fear, mental) The owlbear makes a Bloodcurdling Screech and Strides twice. All creatures within 80 feet of the owlbear at any point during this movement are subjected to the effects of Bloodcurdling Screech.
Variant Owlbears
Snowy owlbears trade their terrifying screech for amazing stealth and the learned ability to erupt from the snow to take prey by surprise. Although incredibly rare, some owlbears have retained a limited form of flight, allowing them to glide almost 20 feet for every foot of height descended. Terrifyingly, these gliding owlbears are entirely silent while descending on their prey.
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