3. Wyvern Tor

Not sure what to expect, Igrem follows his companions and Redhawk warily while they follow the orcs' tracks. Then everything happens at the same time: the dead moose, the shout, the menacing monster.

And the fight.

Boggart is startled out of his contemplations by Alex's yell, and follows his eyes to the rocky outcropping where the owlbear stands. Fear makes all of his hair on his body stand on end, but Boggart's hands fly to his mace and shield instead of freezing in terror. He steps in front of his friends and shouts "Puck," the pronouncement echoing strangely over the hills as light and leaves coalesce into the form of his dear friend, hackles raised for a fight.

As he waits for the beast to charge them, his heart pounding like a war drum in his ears, he prays.

"O Mielikki, Lady of the Forest, bring us your blessings as danger approaches. May our eyes see what needs seeing. May our hands work your will."

Alex, you have heard stories of owlbears before. Most are embellished, but as your sling stone flies harmlessly past the beast, you notice this is no ordinary predator.

The creature doesn't flinch, doesn't duck, and doesn't even seem concerned that armed people are standing before it. It watches with the quiet confidence of something that has never learned to fear another creature.

You suddenly understand why experienced adventurers speak of some creatures as Legendary. An owlbear is not merely dangerous—it is the apex predator of these hills, a beast powerful enough to dominate everything that shares its territory.

---

Redhawk, you release your first arrow with the calm precision of a seasoned hunter.

The shaft strikes the owlbear squarely in the shoulder.

For an instant, it seems a good hit...

...until the arrow fails to draw blood. Beneath, the thick feathers, dense muscle and heavy bone turn the blow aside. The shaft splinters and falls away, leaving little more than a scratch.

Its natural armor has absorbed what would have been a grievous wound against almost any other creature.You are already drawing your second arrow.

This one flies straighter still, striking the beast high on the head where feathers replace the thick plating of its shoulders. The broadhead bites deep enough that it would have dropped a wolf, an orc, or even a large bear where it stood.The owlbear stops. Its amber eyes lock onto you.

A thin line of blood trickles through the feathers around the wound.

Then, with a deafening screech that echoes across the hills, it surges forward.

---

Boggart, you raise your shield instinctively while, watching the monster charge, you appreciate its sheer size in a way stories never capture. This isn't simply a dangerous animal—it is a force that shapes the wilderness around it. A predator like this drives game from entire valleys, changes the routes of hunters, and claims territory that few creatures dare contest. Even orcs would have reason to respect such a beast.

For a brief moment, you wonder whether this owlbear has been influencing events around Wyvern Tor... But alas, no time to think, as that monster's claws hurts you! A lot!

---

Alex eyes nearly pop out of his head when he realizes that this is no ordinary owlbear. As if any owlbear was ordinary, he thinks. And then he stops thinking; he stops doing anything but grimacing at the unearthly sonic weapon that goes boring into his very brain. The screech of the monster was physically palpable. His nostrils started oozing blood and his eyes felt as if they had been polished with the coarsest of sandpapers. Rocking back on his heels, Alex was gripped in chains of mortal terror.
HE WAS GOING TO DIE!Then, deep within his mind—or was it his soul—he heard a faint, feminine laugh and the tinkling of dice as they rolled across the Dragon Dice tables in venues all across his beloved Waterdeep. His lady was still with him, and were he to shed his mortal coil, he would do so boldly as befits a devoted worshipper of Tymora. Shaking off the fear, he wiped the blood dripping from his nose, taking in the situation.

Boggart, Tymora watch over him, is right up against the beast. It should be distracted enough for me to slip my rapier deep into its side. And if I get torn to pieces, then so be it With a strange mix of fatalism and joy, Alex moves around Boggart to the other side of the beast [Cheat Free Action: Move to D9]. Watching out of the corner of his eye as the gnome summons his apparent familiar, Alex slides his rapier into the side of the massive creature [Action 1: Vicious Opportunist, Crit, Sneak Attack: Note crits ignore monster armor.] Knowing that the monster was faster than he, and realizing his best hope was to prey on its focus on others, Alex realized he could not simply flee out of range. Instead, he assessed the terrain around him for either areas in which to break the focus of the owlbear or at least block some of its wrath [Action 2: Assess: Naturecraft - Anticipate Danger].

Once again, the rush of adrenaline has stymied the usually perceptive Alex. Understanding their best bet was to bring the beast down as quickly as possible, Alex attacked again, off-balance and rushed [Action 3: Rushed attack; taking the disadvantage on the primary die, I guess. IF it hits, I'll roll secondary die.].

Igrem feels the shriek of the monster into his very core. Trembling and shaking, his first reflex reaction is to move aside, out the monster charging direction. Seeing his companions courageously attacking the bugbear in melee combat he stops, and, feeling the urgency to do something to contain the hostility, decides to unleash lightning fury at the creature.

Hearing this shriek Redhawk can't believe a beast could make such noise. He is a hunter though an he used to animals do things you can't always believe. He will line up his next shot nock, draw with inhale, aim, exhale release but this time there will be a bit of a surprise for the monster as he unleashes an incendiary shot. See how it likes a little flame. He will fire a second and third in rapid order trying to bring this creature down a fast as possible.

Round 2
Alex, you force yourself through the terror. You dart around Boggart, using the gnome's steadfast defense as your opening.

The owlbear is wholly committed to crushing the druid, and it never sees you coming.

Your rapier slips beneath a wing and drives deep between muscle and ribs. Rather than glancing harmlessly from its thick hide like Redhawk's first arrow, the slender blade finds flesh unprotected. A roar tears from its throat as dark blood pours from the wound. It wheels violently, its feathers bristling, and for the first time the great predator shows unmistakable signs of wear.

The owlbear is now Bloodied.

Those amber eyes, once fixed on Boggart, now burn with murderous intent.

With shocking speed, the owlbear pivots and lashes out. Its massive foreclaw scythes through the air in a sweeping arc.

You throw yourself backward just enough that the claws miss your chest...

...but not enough to escape entirely.

---

Redhawk, you force yourself to ignore the owlbear's deafening cries and the chaos unfolding around your companions. The arrow streaks across the clearing, its enchanted head erupting into flame moments before impact. It strikes the owlbear's shoulder in a burst of fire, singeing feathers and scorching flesh. The beast recoils with an enraged bellow, smoke rising from the wound as it tears the burning shaft free. Any ordinary beast would be collapsing by now.

The owlbear only grows angrier.

With Alex's rapier still lodged in its memory as the deepest wound it has suffered, the monstrous predator ignores the fresh arrows jutting from its body. Instead, it turns its full fury upon the duelist. Its claws rake toward Alex again in a savage flurry, while its bloodstained beak snaps forward with crushing force, determined to tear apart the one creature that dared draw so much of its blood.HP lost
Owlbear: 22 + 27 + 23 + 18 = 90

Boggart is set upon by the fearsome beast, enduring it's shriek and turning aside monstrous blows as best as he's able, slashing claws and piercing beak rending huge gouges in his shield and flesh, narrowly avoiding death. He grunts under the weight of his injuries, clenched teeth stained red with blood, and knows in that moment that his healing gifts are not potent enough to save him from another such barrage. The only hope he has of surviving this battle is to heap such violence upon the owlbear that it is slain before it has a chance to kill them all.

Boggart roars as he strikes out with his mace, bringing the flanged head down onto the creature's flank. Puck follows suit, biting down with radiant fangs.

Boggart, you plant your feet and meet the owlbear head-on. The flanged head of your mace smashes into the owlbear's wounded flank, directly where Alex's rapier had pierced moments before.

The great beast stumbles, it's really injured now.

The glowing marten darts beneath the creature's guard and sinks radiant fangs into its throat. Golden light flares from the wound and radiant magic hurts it.

So its legs buckle and the colossal predator crashes to the earth with such force that loose stones bounce and dust billows around the fallen body.

It's dead

---

For the past weeks—perhaps months—it had dominated these hills. It hunted the largest game, claimed the choicest territory, and forced every other predator to give way or keep its distance. Herds would have altered their grazing routes to avoid its range. Hunters would have found valleys strangely empty. Even bands of orcs would have had good reason to skirt its hunting grounds.

Its presence had already begun reshaping the wilderness around Wyvern Tor in subtle ways, many of which the nearby farmers and travelers would never have recognized.

Now, that balance has shifted once more. The hills lost their apex predator.

Whether more game returns, rival monsters move in, or the orcs grow peaceful (or bolder) without such a fearsome neighbor, only time will tell. For now, the four of you stand over a trophy that few adventurers ever claim.

You have slain an Owlbear... and lived to tell the tale!