Homebrew Jackalope Species Details

Jackalopes are a small and magical race that resemble jackrabbits with the horns of antelopes.  They can also shape shift into a more humanoid form.  Generally they prefer to live in either the desert or deep forests and usually keep to themselves.

While not necessarily worshiping nature, Jackalopes have a deep respect for it.  They revere both their ancestors and the gods, which are a pastiche of deities from other pantheons.  Their society is usually centered around family and is very matriarchal, almost a mix of Norse and American Frontier like.  Living groups are usually made up of huge extended families that set up farms of sorts and are very self sufficient.  They are not an overly greedy or indulgent race, but there are the rare exceptions.  When they aren't tending to their crops, which usually are course vegetables or easy to harvest food stuffs in the desert or forest, they enjoy telling stories of the deities and heroic ancestors.

Jackalope adventurers are not rare, but aren't entirely common either.  Most people of the wider world will not notice the usual Jackalopes because of their predisposition of shifting into their rabbit like form, where as the adventurers of the race will boldly stroll down main street in their humanoid forms.  Most Jackalope adventurers tend to be bards, monks, druids, clerics of life, trickery or nature or Oath of the Ancients paladins.

The lesser known cousins of the Jackalopes are the Wolpertingers.  There is not a huge difference in society in terms of the two groups, other than Wolpertingers being a bit more aggressive and more omnivorous than their herbivore cousins.  Of course there is the physical differences in the form of wings and prominent canine teeth as well.

Names: In terms of first names both Jackalopes and Wolpertingers take up the naming conventions of whatever prominent race is near their settlement, whether it be Elf, Dwarf and the like.  Surnames are based around the general physical attribute of their clan such as Gray Fur, Crooked Antler, or Short Ear.

Jackalope Traits

+3 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom, +1 Charisma, Dark Vision, Keen Senses

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 3, Wisdom score increases by 1 and Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

Jackalopes mature at a relatively fast rate and are considered in adulthood by the age of 2.  Their lifespan is an average of 27 due to their magical nature.

Alignment

Jackalopes have a nature based society so they lean towards neutral or chaotic, and the adventurous types usually lean towards good.

Size

When in rabbit form Jackalopes are considered small.  While in humanoid form they average a height of 3' without antlers and 4'6" with antlers.  They weigh between 60 and 80 lbs, even in rabbit form.   Your size is medium while in humanoid form.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet and your base burrowing speed is 10 feet.

Darkvison

Due to their prey like natural form Jackalopes have adapted to having amazing vision in both daylight and darkness. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception Skill.

Shift Form

Jackalopes have two forms, rabbit form and humanoid form.  When shifting between them it takes an action and two rounds to complete.  It can be done once per short/long rest.

Languages

You can speak, read and write (while in humanoid form) common and sylvan.