Thursday, June 20, 2024

Magical Hybridization In Action: Rabboons

Not all the weird chimerical things that come out of wizards' workshops are monstrous killing machines.  Just most of them.

Rabboons

Description:  A magical hybrid with the head and nimble forelimbs of a raccoon and the ears, tail and powerful hind legs of a large rabbit.  Coloration varies although they always sport a "bandit mask" around their eyes and their cottontails are generally white, off-white or pale gray.  Fairly large compared to their parent species, they average about two feet in length and weigh as much as fifty pounds.  They aren't as good climbers as a raccoon and don't run quite as fast as a hare, but can leap up to ten feet vertically and twice that horizontally on supernaturally powerful legs.  Smart, stealthy and omnivorous, they're a gardener's nightmare and happily prey on chickens, ducks, frogs and similarly sized animals.

Originally created as pets, they didn't take to domestication well and most are now found living wild.  Many rabboons see humanoid farms and settlements as a ready source of food and quietly live alongside them, scavenging trash, raiding henhouses, and even opportunistically predating smaller vermin like rats and gremlins.  They're too small to do serious harm to an adventurer (dealing whatever your system's minimum unit of damage is with bites and scratches) and will do their best to avoid confrontation with larger threats (humanoid or otherwise) by hiding or fleeing.  

If forced into a fight many rabboons carry a disease called rabbititis, which can be transmitted by their bite.  If a victim fails to resist the disease they'll begin suffering its effects within 1d6 days, at which point they suffer a flat 10% chance to fail with any attacks or complex skills relying on sight due to swirling red and yellow spots occluding their vision.  These symptoms usually last a further 2d6 days or until cured with magic or conventional medicine.

It is possible but difficult to train a rabboon as a companion or pet, although few go the effort.  Their relatively high intelligence, manipulatory forepaws, great mobility and good stealth make them an useful adjunct for aspiring housebreakers and other ne'er-do-wells.  Exceptional specimens are even able to identify things like keys, coin purses and jewelry as desirable things to bring back from a scouting expedition.  They're also generally adorable, and an exotic pet can open doors and attract interest in the right circumstances - but most are prone to bite if startled or annoyed, so some caution is called for.   

Design Commentary:  These were inspired by a post over on Ancient Vaults and Eldritch Secrets that had me thinking about portmanteaus and the potential for misunderstanding homophones.  Confusing a rabboon with a raboon or vice versa could really be an unpleasant surprise.

Rabititis is, of course, a reference to the classic Bugs Bunny short Hare Tonic, which I heartily recommend watching if you somehow haven't seen it.  Or even if you have.

Magical Hybridization In Action: Rabboons

Not all the weird chimerical things that come out of wizards' workshops are monstrous killing machines.  Just most of them. Rabboons Des...