Storytime
My first DnD campaign I can remember and it already has some silliness. *PREFACE: My DM pretty much let’s almost anything go if you can explain it, have a good enough back story, or get the proper rolls to make it happen*
I am a neutral good halfling ranger, pretty normal stuff. I rolled to get 130 gold pieces to start with so I’m looking through the list of standard shop items to pick things I want to begin Moyra’s entrance to the campaign with. Some of it is standard fair: hemp rope, some glass bottles (I picked herbalism as a profiency), starting arrows, another quiver, a dirk, tent, cloak, etc. Then I get to the “animals” section and see dogs, cats, birds, a pony, etc. I’m starting out level 4 since that’s where the rest of my party is and my DM is letting us have mounts the next time we go to town. So I skip over the pony.
Then, in my Dragon Age loving ways, see what I want: 20gp for a war hound.
I immediately say I want one and use the excuse I’m a ranger with animal empathy living in a shack in the woods, of course I would want animal companion to defend me while I’m asleep. So I get the dog.
The person helping me roll Moyra’s character sheet go to roll for her dog, Barkspawn. She pull up the monster handbook on her phone and searches war hounds but can’t find stats or how to roll for them, instead finding a Weisshund and reads the description to me. I beg and plead for this furry, flabby temple guardian super rare pupper. Again, I explain she bought it from a thief in the tavern who was more than willing to sell the fiesty pupper to a unsuspecting ranger (Weisshund’s can detect evil or malicious intents and are naturally wary of creatures of these alignment). She agrees on the condition that Barkspawn is twice the price of a standard war dog and warns me that since it is treasured breed of a certain order of clerics that Moyra will face a challenge later on because of it- offering me instead a pony or hawk as a companion. I say I want the dog. She then rolls to determine Barkspawn’s sex. Only 5% of the dogs encountered in battles are females and they are especially treasured.
She rolls, 4%. All I hear from across the table is “I don’t fricking believe it.”
Meet Barkspawn, my halfling ranger’s female Weisshund puppy.
