Homebrew Harefolk Race Details

Autumn leaves rustled as the dryad sighed in tandem with the woodland wind. Seeds were missing, fruit was taken, and someone had scratched doodles into her tree.

She knew in an instant that the frivolous harefolk had struck again.

— Walter Stocke, Fables of the Fey Forest

Harefolk, sometimes known as rabbitkin, resemble large hares and rabbits who stand upright with a humanoid quality to their body shape. Agile and energetic, they have a mischievous reputation and move with a bounding gait.

Carefree Creatures

Harefolk cultures vary between their subraces: rabbit, jackrabbit, and the elusive almiraj. Despite this, all types of harefolk share many physical traits—they each have large ears,  short fur, and powerful limbs that make them capable of remarkable leaps. Their eyes are placed on the sides of their heads, akin to true hares and rabbits, giving them almost complete 360-degree vision. They prefer to clad themselves in simple clothes that allow for freedom of movement

Harefolk are commonly known as tricksters, and this is generally true among them—except for the jackrabbit harefolk, who usually have a more sensible nature. Their pranks are rarely harmful, and most harefolk don't concern themselves with such lofty ideals as 'morality', 'politics', and 'religion'. There are exceptions, especially among those living close to the settlements of other races, but otherwise harefolk are typically carefree and struggle to understand laws and rules, nearly all of which they find restrictive—a trait which often gets them into trouble when it comes to farmers and their crops.

Widespread but Reclusive

Harefolk can be found across many regions of many worlds, but most people can go their entire lives without ever seeing one. They mostly keep to themselves deep in woodland thickets, distant meadows, and beyond. A few do choose to live near rural villages and farmland, and find particular kinship with halflings and fey. The concept of cities confuses most harefolk, who puzzle over enclosed spaces and the curious reactions of the urban-dwellers who have hardly ever heard of harefolk, let alone seen them. Those who do venture to cities often find themselves in trouble with the guards by sheer accident.

The origins of harefolk are forgotten, even to their own people, but the truth is the majority of their kind don't care to know. They are a race who live in the present.

Harefolk Names

Harefolk usually have two names. Their first names are usually taken from human or halfling cultures, whilst their family names take inspiration from the environment and the deeds of their ancestors—their family names are fluid and prone to change every few generations, whether from changing reputations, a new deed, or settling in a new area.

Harefolk family names: Brookbounder, Dawnwild, Lakechaser, Thicketquick, Trickpaw

Harefolk Traits

Your harefolk character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity and Wisdom score each increase by 1.

Age

Harefolk mature quickly compared to humans, reaching adulthood by the age of 10, and have lifespans that can reach up to 50 years.

Alignment

Harefolk lean toward chaotic neutral. They resent restrictions and embrace their own personal freedom.

Size

Harefolk are lean, sprightly, and they stand between 3 to just over 4 feet tall. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You have a rabbit's twilight senses. You can see in dim light within 30 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.

Keen Senses

You has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing. In addition, you have +2 to both your passive Wisdom (Perception) and initiative. 

Bunny Hop

Your long jump is up to 20 feet and your high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Almiraj Harefolk

The almiraj harefolk are the rarest known harefolk. Native to the desert, these timid harefolk are instantly recognisable by the prominent spiral horn situated at the center of their foreheads. Some people believe these horns are evidence that they're related to unicorns, convinced they bear some innate magic—almiraj harefolk do not profess to any great magic and yet, whether through coincidence or not, they are more commonly spellcasters than all other harefolk. They live in small groups of up to ten, and move incredibly quickly when threatened.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by an additional 1.

Evade Predator

As a reaction, when a hostile creature moves within 5 feet of you, you take the Dodge action and may move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short rest.

Spiral Horn

Your horn is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Jackrabbit Harefolk

Jackrabbit harefolk, commonly known as true harefolk, are the largest and most physically impressive of all harefolk. Athletic and independent, almost all harefolk are fiercely competitive and naturally adept at using their powerful limbs to both punch and kick. They are generally of a serious and sensible nature, at least compared to other harefolk, but remain labelled as tricksters by the wider world.

They tend to live in solitude or pairs, building simple homes in low ground or else roaming as nomads. From icy tundras to rocky mountains and southern coasts, the jackrabbit harefolk can be found across many different environments.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 1.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift. In addition, you no longer have disadvantage with heavy weapons due to your size.

Natural Competitor

You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Boxing Paws

You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage on a hit.

Rabbit Harefolk

Rabbit harefolk are the most agile, social, and mischievous of all harefolk. They are excellent at burrowing with nothing but their bare paw-like hands, and typically dig their underground homes at the foot of hills or beneath large trees. They are native to mild climates and favor both woodland and grassland—while they usually keep away from most races, of all harefolk they are the ones most likely to make homes next to rural settlements.

A handful of family groups will live near to each other, and their families are large with up to twelve kits being raised by their parents at any one time. Rabbit harefolk have a particularly close bond with halflings who share their curious but kind natures—on the other hand, they are infamous among farmers and hunters alike for their rascally ways.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by an additional 1.

Down the Rabbit Hole

You have a base burrowing speed of 10 feet.

Out of the Hat

You gain proficiency in either the Persuasion, Deception or Sleight of Hand skill.
VillainTheory

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