Owlbear II

The arctic owlbear is the polar cousin of the familiar forest beast, a cross of snowy owl and polar bear. Fur and feathers alike are snow white, the claws and beak black, and glowing yellow eyes peer from a round head. It hoots and screeches like other owlbears.

Its pale coat makes it 75% likely to surprise prey, and it is every bit as foul-tempered as its forest kin, charging straight in with claws and beak. Any claw that hits on an 18 or higher becomes a hug for 2d8 per round, held as long as the owlbear likes; while hugging it can bite but not claw. The victim gets one attempt to escape with a bend bars/lift gates roll. Monsters with no Strength score instead save vs. paralysis, with a -2 penalty if man-sized or smaller. Layers of fur and feathers make it immune to cold-based attacks.

Arctic owlbears roam the coldest polar regions, using existing caves or digging dens into snowbanks, but they wander and never stay put for long. A lair with a mated pair has a 25% chance of 1d6 eggs (20%) or young (80%). The young are 40-70% grown, fight as 5 or 6 Hit Die creatures, deal 1d6/1d6/2d4, hug for 2d6 per round, and are 20% easier to escape.

They live about 20 years and eat anything, preferring meat. Unlike forest owlbears they hunt mostly by day, and as strong swimmers they chase prey into freezing water without pause. Tough, rough pads on their paws grip the ice. Locals say nothing is worse than having one on your trail, so stubborn, nasty and hungry are they.

The winged owlbear is the truest blend of owl and bear, with a pair of great feathered wings sprouting from its shoulders. Its temper is as vile as any ground-bound cousin's, and it uses the same screeching speech.

Specially structured feathers make its flight almost silent, giving prey at least -2 on surprise rolls, and as much as -6 in poor light. It fights with front claws and beak like other owlbears, and a claw hit on 18 or better starts a hug for 2d8 per round, with one bend bars/lift gates chance to break loose.

Rare everywhere, it may turn up in nearly any environment except the arctic, but favors forests and mountains. Flight lets a mated pair claim ten to twenty square miles. A lair has a 25% chance of 1d3 eggs (20%) or young (80%); the young match normal owlbear young, since their wings cannot carry them until they are fully grown.

Winged owlbears often reach 25 years, a little longer than other kinds. Wizards seek them for various purposes, but none has ever been successfully tamed.