Homebrew Bunarian Species Details

Bunarians: The Wandering Survivors of Cloan

Bunarians are a race of rabbit-like humanoids known for their agility, resilience, and deep connection to their homeland, the now-destroyed ice world of Cloan. Once a people of quiet survival and harmony with nature, they have since become a scattered diaspora, their numbers nearly wiped out by a brutal colonization effort that drained their planet’s core.

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Physical Traits

Bunarians are distinguished by their soft, pastel-colored fur, which can range from pale blues and lavenders to warm peaches and soft pinks. Their large, expressive ears are highly sensitive to sound and temperature changes, allowing them to detect approaching danger and navigate harsh environments. Their powerful legs make them exceptional jumpers, capable of traversing difficult terrain with ease.

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Cultural Background

Before the fall of Cloan, Bunarian society was built on small, self-sustaining villages, each adapted to the planet’s icy landscape. They were masterful engineers, using burrowing technology to access water beneath the ice, and their craftsmanship extended to fishing, agriculture, and textile arts using the vibrant pelts of native creatures. Despite their technological aptitude, they rejected central governance, relying instead on communal decision-making and mutual survival.

Following the catastrophic loss of Cloan, the few surviving Bunarians now exist as wanderers, drifting from world to world. Some seek to preserve what little remains of their history, while others fight to reclaim what was taken from them. Many harbor a deep distrust of large governments, and their resourcefulness makes them adept smugglers, mechanics, and survivalists.

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Abilities & Traits

1. Fleet-Footed – Bunarians have an innate speed and agility, allowing them to move quickly across all terrains. They can make incredible leaps, able to reach high places or evade danger with ease.

2. Burrower’s Instinct – Descended from a people skilled in drilling through ice and stone, Bunarians have a natural affinity for tunneling, excavation, and sensing structural weaknesses in their surroundings.

3. Survivor’s Tenacity – Having lived through the destruction of their homeworld, Bunarians are fiercely resilient. They can endure extreme conditions, from freezing tundras to the vast emptiness of space, and have an uncanny ability to adapt to new environments.

4. Honed Senses – Their large ears grant them an exceptional sense of hearing, and they are especially adept at detecting distant movement, changes in air pressure, or approaching threats.

5. Echoes of Cloan – Some Bunarians carry fragments of their ancestral knowledge, often in the form of old writings, sketches, or recorded messages from lost family members. These texts may provide insight into ancient engineering secrets, resistance tactics, or even forgotten aspects of their culture.

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Modern Bunarians

Though their homeworld is lost, Bunarians endure. Some become rebels, striking against the forces that stole their planet. Others live on the fringes of galactic society, working as scouts, engineers, and smugglers. A few still dream of reclaiming Cloan, though the planet itself is now little more than a shattered ruin.

Bunarians carry with them the weight of a lost world, but also the unbreakable will of a people who refuse to disappear.

Bunarian Traits

Your Bunarian has a variety of natural abilities, the result of their background.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Bunarians have a unique lifespan compared to many other species. They reach adulthood around the age of 15, maturing quickly due to the harsh conditions of their home planet, Cloan. Their prime years — physically strong, agile, and mentally sharp — last well into their 50s. By the time they reach their 60s, many Bunarians begin to show signs of aging, with their vibrant pastel fur fading and their energy levels gradually declining. Most Bunarians live to be around 80 to 90 years old, though those who endured the hardships of Cloan’s collapse often exhibit lingering health effects, shortening some lifespans. Elders are highly respected, valued for their wisdom and stories of their homeland, especially among displaced Bunarian communities.

Size

Bunarians are a predominantly Small race, typically standing between 3 to 4 feet tall and weighing around 40 to 60 pounds. Their compact size is a result of their evolutionary adaptation to Cloan’s rugged, icy terrain, allowing them to navigate narrow mountain paths and burrow efficiently for warmth and shelter. While most Bunarians are small, a rare few may grow to be Medium in size, often standing closer to 5 feet tall and possessing a sturdier build — these individuals are often referred to as "Burrowbacks," a term of respect for their resilience and strength.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Rabbit Hop

As a bonus action, you can jump a number of feet equal to five times your proficiency bonus, without provoking opportunity attacks. You can use this trait only if your speed is greater than 0. You can use it a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Darkvision

Accustomed to the dimly lit interiors of their insulated cabins and the long, dark winters of Cloan, Bunarians have developed keen night vision. They can see in dim light within 60 feet of them as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. They can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Lucky Footwork

When you fail a Dexterity saving throw, you can use your reaction to roll a d4 and add it to the save, potentially turning the failure into a success. You can't use this reaction if you're prone or your speed is 0.

Whisper of the Warren

Bunarians have an innate connection with the creatures of the wild, honed through generations of living in harmony with nature. You can cast Speak with Animals at will, without expending a spell slot. This ability allows you to communicate freely with beasts, sharing knowledge, warnings, and the occasional bit of gossip from the warren.