Jackalope

The jackalope is a combination between a hare and antelope, with slight variations found depending on the environment. These rare and unique animals are the subject of much debate, and some even question their existence.

Decieving Appearances. The jackalope is said to be highly deadly despite its small stature. Hunters inexperienced with these animals are told to wear iron leggings so as to avoid being gored, and some legends tell of individuals who have even lost limbs to these fearsome mammals.

Mimicry. Supposedly, jackalopes can mimic humanoid voices that they hear, repeating lyrics and words in low tenors. Though smart enough to learn what basic words and phrases mean, these animals are not smart enough to fully understand what they are repeating without being taught.

Jackalope Milk. Supposedly a rare ingredient used for ancient lightning-summoning rituals, jackalope milk is nearly impossible to get. Not only does one need to obtain it from a nursing jackalope, which is rare innate of itself, but they must also survive the encounter of one, if not two, intensely overprotective and aggressive mated parents. However, jackalope milk is supposedly delicious enough in its own right that it's worth taking on such a periless task.

Lightning-Bred. It is said that the jackalopes only breed during lightning strikes, or in deadly thunderstorms. Some rangers and druids have long theorized that this is due to the fact that jackalopes supposedly originally come from barren deserts, where water that would be found in such a storm would surely signify things such as the end of a drought or the beginnings of the wet season, but others are not so sure. Some mages claim that this beast was formed through magical lightning striking a hare and an antelope, combining them into the first jackalope, while others believe that it was the work of a bored, drunk, or mad god, arguably making these creatures divine to some extent. Most people who dwell with these creatures, however, think it's merely something of the Feywilds's doing that happened long ago, and tend to leave it at that.

Desert Guardians. Jackalopes mostly inhabit deserts, though rarer varieties can be found in wooded and snowy environments as well. Fiercly territorial, they are sometimes jokingly referred to as guardians of the desert, due to the jackalope's unfortunate habit of harrassing individuals off their land.

Credit: Okegan

`

Variant: Snow Jackalopes You may, on occasion, see a jackalope in an environment known for its constant and consistent snow, despite this creature's desert origin. These jackalopes have evolved completely white pelts and antlers designed to help them blend in with their surroundings. Jackalopes which reside and come from snowy environments gain the following abilities: Snow Camouflage. The jackaloupe has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in snowy terrain.