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To Kill An Owlbear

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this


"I think I might be a were-owlbear."
document for personal use only.
"What is an owlbear?"
This is my second adventure that is on
"Who." http://www.dmsguild.com/ and I hope you find it is as
"I don't care who you think is an owlbear, I want to know enjoyable as my first story. If you would like to take a look at
what it is!" that adventure, it is titled How to Make Enemies and Piss Off
People. Here is the direct link to it:
"WHO!" http://www.dmsguild.com/product/174779/How-to-Make-
"I am going to kill you..." Enemies-and-Piss-Off-People
I am having a lot of fun coming up with adventures! I plan
"Who?"
on making more adventures and I am working on a few other
---unknown projects as well. I will make a few updates to this adventure,
so check back soon. I hope you have as much fun playing this
as I had creating it!

A quick adventure for 1st-3rd level characters

Written and Created by Brett E. Thomas

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast,


Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s
Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D
Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product
names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards
of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters
and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the
Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of
the United States of America. Any reproduction or
unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein
is prohibited without the express written permission of
Wizards of the Coast.
©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton,
WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue
Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by
Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge,
Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.

To Kill An Owlbear
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Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
Introduction

T
his adventure brings the players into a small
town where a lower class half-orc is being tried Racism is Real
for the murder and defilement of the daughter The people of Maicoam will refer to orcs and half-orcs
of an upper class paladin. as "grey skins" or "underbites." Of course you need to
make sure everyone in your gaming group is
comfortable with the topic of this game. I also
recommend that if anyone of your gaming group has
The mother comes to the group for help. She is obviously grey skin or an extreme underbite, resembling that of
very poor but she offers a few magical items her son's father an orc, you simply have the townsfolk use the word
left her with. That son is the half-orc accused of murder and "orc" when speaking about orcs. I also think you may
defilement of a young girl. have an orc in your gaming group.

Location, Location, Location


This tale takes place to the East in Faerun in a town known
as Maicoam. Maicoam is located South of the Southern
Stay On Target
To make sure you keep things progressing it is a good idea to
Lluirwood and Hazuth and the Eastern side of town touches just remind the players that they have a limited amount of
The Great Sea. time to investigate things and complete the adventure. If they
Maicoam was said to have been built hundreds of years want to get the reward they were promised then they will
ago by powerful magics. The architecture is stunning and need to stay focused and not go and get a job down at the
pretty well preserved, given that 14 years ago Maicoam was docks for the rest of the game session. If this happens then
raided by a large band of orcs. just have the Dockmaster tell them to come back tomorrow
The Southern side Maicoam is still a mess from the city after the trial and then ask them if they are going to go and
being ransacked 14 years ago. Lower class citizens, such as watch the trial.
half-orcs and poor humanoid races, live in this area of the city The trial is scheduled for the next morning, however if the
near the graveyard. adventurers plea for more time, Criodin will grant an extra
North Maicoam is where the keep and prison are and it is day. That is if they have been investigating the happenings of
preserved by masons to preserve its grace in modern times. the previous night. If nothing is done by the adventurers then
The North side of Maicoam also includes many of the town's Thokketh will hang, after a fairly brief trial that Thokketh will
large and beautiful homes of the upper class citizens. remain eerily silent during the entirety of, for the crime of
West Maicoam is where the trade happens. All kinds of "Murder and Defilement".
wonders brought in from The Great Sea are sold here and
the houses on this side of town are spectacular to behold.
This is where the main road brings travelers in from Hazuth. Where It All Begins
In the center of town is where the well is located. During
Having traveled into town recently, the group is taking in the
the day, many of the townsfolk come to spread rumors and
sights and wonders of Maicoam. It is shortly into the hour
gossip around the beautiful marble fountains.
when the adventurers are approached by a middle aged
East Maicoam is the port side and it is in a strange
human female. She is clearly not wealthy judging by her
condition currently. Many of it's stone buildings have been
attire and how she holds herself, with an obvious look as
consumed by a rising tide that occurred a few years ago.
though her life has been a rough one.
Several dozen buildings are actually underwater, out beyond
She will beg for help from the adventurers. Alashlis
the current docks. The docks are always hiring labor for
introduces herself and explains that her son has been
things like loading or unloading ships and the wages for
wrongfully accused of "murder and defilement" of a young
traveling across The Great Sea have become pretty nice
human girl. She doesn't have any money but she is a decent
recently due to all the pirate attacks. Payment is given upon
seamstress and will offer to repair any clothes for free. She
arrival to the location the ship is heading to. This is assuming
also offers up some magic items that the father of her son left
the ship actually arrives.
her.
Most of the town folk have lost loved ones during an orc
The items Alashlis offers should be something to entice
raid 14 years ago and have prejudiced views of orcs. This
them to help, such as a unique item that grants a +1 or +2 to
racism also includes half-orcs, as they are a reminder of the
each character's main attribute or access to a feat while it is
terrible things that happened those 14 years ago.
worn.
One additional item was supposed to be included but it is
missing. She describes it as a wand with a beautiful little
owl's head carved into one end of it. She has never used any
of the items and says she no longer wants them around to
remind her of Thokketh's father and she is glad to use them
as payment if the adventurers can prove her son is innocent.

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Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
Important players
A quick description of key NPCs Maicoam Guards
Thokketh - The 14 year old half-orc accused of Medium Human, any lawful
unspeakable acts of violence against a young human girl that
is, or was, the daughter of a paladin and the sheriff here in
Armor Class 15 (chain shirt)
Maicoam. His human mother, Alashlis comes to the Hit Points 27(6d8)
adventurers to beg that they help prove her son is innocent of Speed 30ft.
these horrid crimes. Thokketh is currently being held
prisoner and being closely guarded. Even if he was conscious,
or anyone could get to him to try to question him, he has STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
refused to speak a single word since his arrest.
12 (+1)| 15 (+2)| 10 (0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (0)|
Alashlis - Thokketh's human mother. She is lower class
and survives by working as a seamstress. She approaches the
group, begging for them to help her innocent son in this Skills Insight +1, Investigation +1, Perception +2
mockery of justice. She has lived in the slums of Maicoam Senses passive Perception 14
her entire life and she carries the look of a person that has Languages Common and one additional of choice
had a hard life. Her son, Thokketh, was concieved during the Challenge 1 (200 XP)
orc raid 14 years ago, but she thanks the gods for him every
day. Actions
Criodin - Once an adventurer, he now makes a living as Multiattack. They can make two melee attacks.
Maicoam's sheriff and protector. He constantly talks about
the time he was shot with an arrow in his knee, forcing him Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
to retire from his days as an adventurer. The mother of his
child died several years ago so he decided to settle down and Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
do his duty to help the town and take care of Vylladin, his range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 +2)
daughter. He still has a good deal of wealth from adventuring piercing damage.
as a paladin. He is also paid well to protect and police the
town as sheriff.
Vylladin - The 15 year old human that was brutalized and
killed only a night ago. She was the daughter of Criodin, the
sheriff. They say her innocence was taken before she was
ripped apart by Thokketh, the half-orc.
Pud - A halfling and a drunk that supposedly witnessed a
murder. He also claims that he saw something terrifying, on
the dark street, rip that girl apart.
Kalamadine - The 14 year old human was best of friends
with Vylladin for many years and always at odds with
thokketh. He is also living in the slums of Maicoam not far
from where the murder took place.

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Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
The Basics
Kalamadine Was Known To Have Been At Odds with
A simple breakdown of the story Thokketh since they were children. If he is sought to be
The Party Is Approached by Alashlis, the mother of the questioned he will be found at his home where he will
half-orc Thokketh that is being held for the murder of nervously invite the adventures in. Here he will explain he
Vylladin. She will even offer them a few magic items that her loved Vylladin but she never thought of him that way. He also
son's father left them when he died. She also says it is odd reveals that the day she was killed, she confided in him that
but on of the items is missing, a wand with a bird head she was pregnant with Thokketh's child. He told Criodin that
carved at the end of it. same afternoon leading to the father and daughter having an
argument where she told she was never to see Thokketh
If At Any Point The Party Attempts to See Thokketh again.
they will be sent away. Criodin's orders are no one is to see
the prisoner before the trial. If they are ever caught trying to Kalamadine Is Nervous while speaking to the
see Thokketh, Criodin and several guards will put them in a adventurers and even more so after he has explained the
cell in another structure from where Thokketh is being kept. above. Here he will insist he is innocent of murdering the girl
They will also be kept a day or two and miss the trial where, and produce a wand with an owl head carved into the end of
without the adventurers help, Thokketh is found guilty and is it. He uses it, before the players can react, to summon an
hanged for the murder and defilement of Vylladin. Even if he owlbear that attacks the adventurers while Kalamadine
was conscious, and assuming anyone could get to him to try attempts to run.
to question him, he has refused to speak a single word since
he was arrested. An Owlbear Attack would explain the wounds Vylladin
had far better than being ripped apart by the hands of
Vylladin Was Literally Ripped Apart by something or Thokketh.
someone. It is also said that her innocence was taken from
her before having been murdered. If Kalamadine Is defeated and captured he will only
speak that he loved Vylladin and that it is his fault she is dead.
Criodin Is The Sheriff and is holding Thokketh in the In his mind, if he had never gone to Criodin about the
town jail until a trial takes place. It was his daughter that was pregnancy none of this would have happened. If he is killed
killed and he recently forbade his daughter from seeing the evidence of what the players gathered from talking to the
Thokketh. other people in town and the wand are enough to show
Kalamdine was the murderer. Clearly he was enraged the
Criodin Will Not Allow Anyone To See To Thokketh one he loved only loved a half-orc and his enemy and he used
before his trial. Even if someone could get in to see Thokketh the wand to summon a creature to kill her and framed
he has been severely beaten and is unconscious. Thokketh for it.
If The Halfling Pud Is Questioned he will reveal that he Thokketh Is Released and is grateful and wishes to go
saw some large creature ripping someone apart the other home with his mother and rest and forget about this entire
night. It is also revealed that he was very drunk when he saw thing.
this. He ran back to the pub, Another Round, and yelled at
everyone to go see, "a monster murdering someone."
Thokketh Was At The Scene of The Murder when the
patrons from Another Round showed up. He was holding
some small pieces of Vylladin and, quite literally, had blood all
over his hands. Thokketh took off running from the crowd
but they had clearly seen his face and could identify him.
Kalamadine Is Mentioned by people at the pub, Criodin,
and anyone else being questioned about the murder. It is said
that he greatly disliked Thokketh and was a close friend to
Vylladin.

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Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
You Can't Handle The Truth!
If Thokketh Is Pushed hard enough he might just indicate
that it was his hand that used that wand to kill Vylladin, put
the wand in Kalamdine's house, and went back to try to clean
up the body before anyone noticed. It was then that he was
caught with blood on his hands and so he attempted to run.
Vylladin came to him that night and said she was going to
respect her father's wishes and was going to have the baby
magically aborted. He used the wand, that he was planning on
using on her father, to kill the girl. She was no longer
"innocent" because they had been together and she was with
child.
If The Players Find The Truth then they will find out that
they are too late to save Kalamadine. The people of the town,
wanting to be done with this entire thing quickly decided that
Kalamadine should be hung without a lengthy trial. After all
the evidence was brought to Criodin, and the fact that he was
also from the slums, they were easily convinced of his guilt.
With Kalamadine's insistence that her death was his own
fault and now, only wanting to be with her in death, he had
little else to say. Kalmadine did not beg for death nor did he Kalamadine is at his home and will nervously invite the
ask to be saved. adventurers into his very modest home. He will nervously
claim that he didn't do it and that he has loved Vylladin for
years. He angrily explains that his love never thought of him
Investigating and in such a way and that is why he has always hated Thokketh.
Questioning He reveals that the day of her murder she came to him and
revealed that she was pregnant with Thokketh's child. Upset
Alashlis will mention Criodin being the sheriff and that they to find out that the half breed knocked her up, he went to
might start by asking him a few things. Criodin refuses to let Criodin and told him. Criodin and Vylladin argued and
anyone near Thokketh and says he will arrest anyone for Criodin Forbid her from ever seeing the grey skin ever again.
interfering with a trial and that is caught trying to get to the She told Kalamadine that she would see him one last time to
monster that killed his daughter. If any of the adventurers are tell Thokketh what happened.
caught trying to get to Thokketh they will be arrested until
after the trial. Kalamadine assumes that the adventurers have come about a
magic wand that appeared in his house last night. He will say
Criodin will suggest that if they insist on looking into things nothing about it, but if for some reason it is mentioned, he
they start at the pub in the slums, Another Round. This will will surprise the party by using the wand as he has it on him.
lead them to the patrons of Another Round and they all verify He knows what the wand does and how to use it. He feels
they saw Thokketh covered in the girls blood at the gruesome that if he had not gone to Criodin then the woman he loved
scene of Vylladin's murder. They all agree what they saw of would still be alive. That with the fact that he has the murder
the body they have never seen anything like it before. They weapon on him leads to him making a very bad choice.
will also indicate that it was the halfling, Pud that spotted the This is the point that Kalamadine will get more nervous
murder and came and got everyone at the bar for help. One of and will suddenly pull and use the Wand Of Wonderous
the patrons from the bar also suggests they go see Pud Power: Owlbear to summon an owlbear. It will instantly
because he knows the name of the girls best friend. If pushed, begin attacking the party and makes very little noise as it
one of the other patrons will be able to give the name of attacks. Kalamadine will attempt to run away and during his
Kalamadine being the girls friend. escape he says, "if it weren't for me she would still be alive."
The realization that an owlbear could have easily been the
Pud will reveal that he saw a, "big monster in the darkness
thing that killed Vylladin, based on her wounds, should come
ripping that poor girl apart." He admits he was drunk but
to the adventurers during combat. The description of the
insists he saw something strange in the darkness. Pud also
wounds could be matched with the savagery of an owlbear
gives the name of Vylladin's friend since childhood,
attack.
Kalamadine, and says he might know something. Pud also
explains Kalamadine and Thokketh have been bitter rivals Kalamadine's jealousy, quick anger about the pregnancy, and
since childhood. Kalamadine can be found at his home, in the the fact he has the thing that actually killed the girl in his
slums, not far from the murder scene. possession makes him a prime candidate to hang for murder
over the poor half-orc boy.

To Kill An Owlbear
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Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
O Owlbear, What Art Thou?
Owlbear Kalamadine
Large monstrosity, unaligned Medium human, chaotic neutral >___
Armor Class 11
Armor Class 13 Hit Points 12
Hit Points 59 (7d10 + 21) Speed 30ft.
Speed 40ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 9 (-1) 12 (+1) 9 (-1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
20 (+5) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
Senses passive Perception 11
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +3 Languages Common
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Languages None
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Actions
Wand Of Wonderous Power: Owlbear The owlbear
Special Traits attacks with both of its attacks immediately when
Keen Sight and Smell The owlbear has advantage on summoned.
Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or
smell.
Wand Of Wonderous Power:
Actions Owlbear
Multiattack The owlbear makes two attacks: one with Wand, rare
its beak and one with its claws.
This wand has 3 charges. The wand regains 1d3 expended
Beak Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage. charges daily at dawn. If you expend the wand’s last charge,
roll a d20. On a 1, the wand crumbles into ashes and is
Claws Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one destroyed. Additionally, any summoned owlbears are no
target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage. longer friendly and they no longer obey your commands.
You can use 3 charges to have the duration last for 24
An owlbear is a large nocturnal creature that resembles hours. It still vanishes if it reaches 0 hit points, regardless of
a bear, in many ways, but it has large feathers covering time left. Using the wand like this requires it to recharge
its fury bear-like body, and has the head of an owl. much slower and it can’t be used again until 7 days have
passed, when it regains all its charges.
Owlbears are very aggressive and territorial creatures. The wand is carved from Oak and has the head of an owl
They are smarter than most animals and notoriously at the end of it. It acts almost like a Figurine of Wondrous
stubborn and difficult to train. Even larger or stronger Power except that it is a wand and you do not have to throw it
creatures tend to stay clear of owlbears, for they will on the ground to summon the creature. You use an action to
attack fiercely without any provocation.
activate the wand and point to the ground within 60 feet of
Some say that owlbears were created by some you, the owlbear appears in that space and gets a normal turn
deranged mage but no proof of this exists. right at that moment. This means the creature may attack
and move and so on as it would do on its normal turn. It will
act on your turn for the duration it is summoned or until it is
killed. If the space where the creature would appear is
occupied by other creatures or objects, or if there isn’t
enough space for the creature, it does not appear.
The creature is friendly to you and your companions. It
understands your languages and obeys your spoken
commands. If you issue no commands, the creature defends
itself but takes no other actions.
The summoned creatures will last for a duration of 1d6
rounds. At the end of that duration, the creature vanishes. If it
drops to 0 hit points or if you chose to end the duration, as a
bonus action, it vanishes.

To Kill An Owlbear
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Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)
What is Next?

W
ell... I plan to making more adventures! The
next one will start in the same place as this You absolutely Need
adventure did, Maicoam. The next adventure I
do will also go into more details about the city More?!
of Maicoam and will include new NPC's, Have more time after this adventure and don't want to play a
detailed information on all the important hand of that card game that rhymes with Tragic the
locations of the city, maps, ways to explore the Swaggering?
part of the city that is underwater, and more details on getting You are sick. And now you have to deal with this image for
jobs working at the docks and on ships. the rest of your days.
As far as the rest of this game? Everything is pretty much
over.
If the true killer (spoiler alert it's Thokketh) walks free will he Extremely Psychotic
kill again? Yes! The self righteous paladin, and sheriff of
Maicoam, will be next. If the killer is dead then justice was Brett-Faced Bunny
served. Either way you can pat the players on their heads and Large beast, unaligned
dish out some beloved XP. I recommend you throw in a
decent amount of XP for all the hard work and the possible Armor Class 12
soul-crushing experience of having the wrong person Hit Points 13(2d10 +2)
sentenced to death. Speed 60ft.

Thank you very much for downloading, STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
looking at, and (I hope!) enjoying this 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 2 (-4) 11 (0) 7 (-2)
adventure!
Written, and Created by
Senses passive Perception 10
~Brett E. Thomas~ Languages --
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one
target. Hit 8 (2d4 + 3) piercing damage.
"Can I ride it as a mount?"

To Kill An Owlbear
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Jordan Weeks (Order #15724255)

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