In Shadowdark, a polar bear is described as “a mighty, white bear that thrives in arctic environments.” It attacks with its claws, and it can also crush a combatant for an extra die of damage if it hits with both claws. The polar bear has thick fur making it cold immune.
Polar bears are massive creatures, with males weighing between 660 and 1760 pounds (300-800 kilograms). While they primarily feed on marine mammals, polar bears do sometimes eat terrestrial prey. Polar bear attacks on humans are rare, happening less than once a year in the real world. That doesn’t mean things can’t be different in your fantasy world.
Encounter Seed: As the party travels the snow Northlands, they come across a caribou carcass. The polar bear that killed the creature is not far away.
Encounter Seed: Oleph Duwald, a visiting trader to the town, has several items for sale. One of them is something he identifies as an extremely rare polar bear hide. Even a cursory glance is enough to tell that the hide is actually a brown bear hide painted white.
Encounter Seed: The Frozen North Tavern has been an establishment in the settlement for decades. The original owner was an explorer who visited the Frozen North. The tavern is best known for its ice-cold drinks and the large taxidermy polar bear that stands in the corner. Yusma Erwin recently purchased the Frozen North Tavern from the heirs of the original family. Imagine his surprise when the stuffed polar bear animated at midnight on a busy night. [Mechanics: Animated Taxidermy Polar Bear: AC 13, HP 34, ATK 2 claw +6 (2d6), MV near, S +3, D +0, C +3, I -3, W +0, Ch -3, AL N, LV 7. Crush. Deals an extra die of damage if it hits the same target with both claws. Unaware. Immune to morale checks.]
Adventure Seed: The Yukio nomads of the northern land have lived in peace with the polar bears for generations. Recently, something has changed. The bears have become much more aggressive. The nomads think it is an omen.
Adventure Seed: In the seas to the north is the Island of the Frozen Realm, once home to the Xynx the White Wizard. In addition to the abandoned wizard’s tower, there is an abandoned keep. The realm is kept magically cold by some unknown power. There are snow apes, mammoth, and several large polar bears that call the island home. (Note: This is envisioned as a 5-15 hex island of cold. Be creative, and have fun with it.)
Ridiculous Adventure Seed: An archmage created a snowy wonderland behind his tower. He has kept Henri, the polar bear, in the enclosure for six years with no problems. That all changed today when Henri escaped his enclosure and chased people in the local market. The archmage insists that Henri come back to him alive.
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