Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a plethora of compelling companions to join your party, but arguably none are as uniquely charming and formidable as the owlbear cub. This guide will walk you through the steps to acquire this extraordinary creature as a pet for your camp. While the journey to befriend this cub requires patience and effort, the reward of having a miniature owlbear in your camp is well worth it for any adventurer in Faerûn.
Owlbears have been a staple monster in Dungeons & Dragons since their introduction in the Greyhawk supplement. Known for their ferocity, these creatures, a blend of bear and owl, might seem like unlikely companions. However, in Baldur’s Gate 3, you have the opportunity to turn the tables and have a baby owlbear become a loyal and endearing member of your camp. Let’s explore how you can make this happen.
Finding the Owlbear Cub: The Owlbear Nest Encounter
Your first step in befriending the owlbear cub begins in an Owlbear Nest located between the Druid Grove and the Blighted Village. It’s situated just north of the bridge, in the same vicinity where you can encounter Scratch, the dog.
As you approach the nest, a cutscene will trigger, presenting you with several options when facing the mother owlbear. You can attempt to use Animal Handling to understand its behavior, make a Survival check to cautiously retreat, try a Performance check to intimidate it with a roar, or resort to attacking the owlbear.
It’s important to note that if you’ve already encountered and persuaded Brynna and Andrick to hunt the owlbear for revenge, they will be present in the cave. Interacting with them might lead to an immediate attack on the owlbear, drawing you into combat. If a fight ensues, don’t worry; you can still get the owlbear cub as a pet, provided it survives the battle. Be cautious, however, as enemies might target the cub during combat.
Successfully passing the Animal Handling check will allow you to observe the owlbear cub, which the mother is clearly protecting. Following this, you can choose to extend your hands in a non-threatening manner, advance closer, slowly back away, or attack. Remember that any failed checks or aggressive actions will likely provoke the mother owlbear into attacking your party. If you proceed peacefully, the owlbear will permit you to leave the cave unharmed.
For those with the ability to Speak with Animals, you can directly communicate with the owlbear. While this opens up dialogue options, the core choices remain similar. Directly approaching the owlbear without careful interaction will likely lead to a confrontation.
Choosing to leave the owlbear and its cub alive is a viable path to eventually recruiting the cub. Alternatively, you can defeat the mother owlbear without harming the cub if you choose a more violent approach. If you opt to fight and kill the mother, ensure you interact with the owlbear cub afterwards and choose non-hostile options to keep the cub alive.
Within the Owlbear Nest, you can also find the Head of a Broken Spear by looting the Owlbear’s body. This item can be combined with the Shaft of a Broken Spear found on Edowin’s corpse. Additionally, explore the nearby skeleton to discover the Oak Father’s Embrace armor.
Don’t miss the Owlbear Egg located at the back of the cave! While it won’t hatch into another cub, you can use it later in a side quest to try and deceive Lady Esther into believing it’s a Githyanki egg.
The Goblin Camp and Chicken-Chasing
After your encounter at the Owlbear Nest, the next place to find the owlbear cub is at the Goblin Camp, situated west of the Druid Grove and Blighted Village. You’ll find the cub near the camp’s entrance, surrounded by goblins. Interacting with the cub will initiate a conversation with a goblin named Krolla, who will introduce you to the gruesome spectacle of Chicken-Chasing.
Krolla will begin to explain the rules of Chicken-Chasing, but she will eventually pause, telling you to “come back when that halfwit’s done wailin’.” This refers to Volo the Bard, who is being held captive by the goblins on a pedestal in the center of the camp. After speaking with Volo, return to Krolla to learn more about Chicken-Chasing and the owlbear cub’s involvement.
You can attempt to communicate with the owlbear cub, reassuring it of your peaceful intentions by succeeding on two Animal Handling checks. However, the cub will indicate that you need to deal with the goblins before it can safely follow you to your camp.
Bringing the Owlbear Cub to Your Camp
There are several paths you can take to convince the owlbear cub to join your camp. Crucially, ensure you interact with the cub and allow it to smell your hands at some point during your Goblin Camp encounter – this action is key to it finding its way to your camp later.
Here are the main routes to recruit the cub:
- Condemn Chicken-Chasing: Take the most direct route by denouncing Chicken-Chasing as cruel.
- Participate in Chicken-Chasing: Engage in the game for a chance to win and still recruit the cub afterwards.
- Slaughter the Goblins: Eliminate the goblin threat in the camp. With no goblins holding it captive and recognizing your scent, the cub will eventually come to your camp.
For the quickest method, choose to condemn Chicken-Chasing. Speak to Krolla again, feign forgetfulness of the rules, and then express your disapproval of the cruelty of the game. Following this conversation, speak to Krolla once more and state your intention to take the cub with you.
At this point, you’ll face dialogue options to either Intimidate, Persuade, or Buy the cub for 500 gold. Alternatively, you can utilize your Illithid Wisdom. Using Illithid powers is often the easiest approach, convincing Krolla that you are a True Soul and prompting her to give you the cub as a “gift.”
If you opt to participate in Chicken-Chasing, you’ll need to pay 30 gold to play or wager 75 gold if you’re feeling confident. The owlbear cub will then be released into the pen for the game. To improve your chances of “winning” in a way that benefits you, interact with the owlbear cub beforehand. You can pass an Animal Handling check to encourage it to run effectively or Persuade it to attack the goblins, causing chaos. During the game, you’ll need to chase the cub between posts, being mindful of grease patches on the ground.
Upon “winning,” speak to Krolla to claim your wager. Despite her attempts to cheat you by claiming goblins are the only true winners, you can use Intimidation or Persuasion to get your rightful earnings. Afterward, speak to her again to initiate the process of taking the owlbear cub, which will lead to the same options as the first route: Persuasion, Intimidation, buying the cub, or using Illithid Wisdom.
Regardless of the method you choose, the owlbear cub will disappear from the Goblin Camp and reappear at your camp after a few long rests. If it doesn’t appear immediately, continue progressing the main story, and it should arrive soon.
Enjoying Your Owlbear Cub Pet
Once the owlbear cub joins your camp, you can interact with it each time you rest. You can pet it and even communicate with it if you have the ability to speak with animals. If you also have Scratch the dog in your camp, you can trigger a heartwarming cutscene where you pet both of them simultaneously, earning you the You Have Two Hands For A Reason achievement.
Having the owlbear cub as a pet adds a delightful and unique element to your Baldur’s Gate 3 experience. Its presence in your camp brings a touch of wildness and charm, reminding you of your adventures in the dangerous world outside. So, embark on this mini-quest and enjoy the company of your new, adorable, and slightly fearsome owlbear cub!
