Homebrew Artificial ("Pygmy") Owlbear Species Details

      Born from a strange line of experimentation by creative wizards seeking to combine different animals to "see what happens".  Funding for this project was provided by an old, wealthy, and powerful merchant family who were looking for a new, innovative way to sell their products and - not being hampered by silly things like "ethics" and "morals" - decided the best way to do this was to create an entirely new species.  Thus: Artificial Owlbears are born!  The experiment was considered a wild success, though few of the diminutive creatures born from it would agree with that line of thought.

      Due their cute and cuddly appearance they have a hard time making others take them seriously.  Most Artificial - or "Pygmy" - Owlbears tend to stay close to cities for safety and regular - if demeaning - work as mascots, clowns, entertainers, and product promoters.

      Luckily (at least in their eyes), the synthetic creation method of their species is now illegal due to ethical concerns.  Artificial Owlbears can reproduce naturally, and are now working on building their own culture and gaining the same rights and respect as other species.

Appearance

     You were made entirely with marketability in mind.  You are small and mobile, soft and cute, brightly colored and appealing to the masses, all to draw someone's easily distracted eyes to whatever is around you.  You're like if a circus clown was combined with a poodle and had a way more degrading and unethical life planned out for you. 

Basic Stats

Names

      A. Owlbears have few if any discernible differences between genders, but most parents have an inexplicable compulsion to give their chicks punny names. 

Ability Score Increase

      You were made to be cute and resistant to sickness. +1 strength and +2 charisma

Age

      Oddly enough, A. Owlbears age and mature around the same age as the average human.  You’re considered 'mature' at 20, and live about a century. 

Size

      You were made to be marketable and cuddly. Your size is small.

Speed

      Walking speed: 30 ft

Creature Type

      beast

Languages

      Common, and one other that you and the DM agree on

Alignment

      At the beginning of their existence, A. Owlbears would always be 'Good'.  As their resentment grew, it became more common for them to fall to the dark side.  Currently, alignment distribution is fairly equal... though with more and more going toward the 'Evil' side, mostly as a way to "even things out".

Artificial ("Pygmy") Owlbear Traits

Your synthetic creation gives you some ups and downs in life.

Rainbow Fur and Feathers

     Your kind comes in a wide variety of bright, saturated, marketing-friendly colors and patterns.  While this means Artificial Owlbears are appealing to the masses, it also means blending into nature is near impossible. Advantage on charisma checks and disadvantage on stealth checks.

Eyes on the Back of Your Head

Your neck is extremely flexible, and you can turn your head 360° without injuring anything.  It freaks people out. Advantage on perception checks.

Flight

Your wings are small and cute, but they work just as well as any other bird's.  Your flight speed is 30ft. 

Advanced Darkvision

 Your massive eyes can see in dim light within 100 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Natural Weapon - Teeth

     Not only do you have strong, sharp claws and a pointy beak, you also have teeth made to tear.  Many have speculated that although this may seem 'less marketable', it was done because a face full of flat herbivorous teeth would be even more unsettling. Attack with this natural weapon using 1d4+STR, piercing damage.

Natural Weapon - Claws

     Not only do you have strong, sharp claws and a pointy beak, you also have teeth made to tear.  Many have speculated that although this may seem 'less marketable', it was done because paws with fingernails would be even more unsettling. Attack with this natural weapon using 1d4+STR, slashing damage.

Aw Look, It Thinks It's People

     You have a hard time getting others to take you seriously.  Disadvantage on intimidation checks.