I like bunny people! I grew up on series like Redwall, so woodland creature people have always had a special place in my heart. So when when rabbitfolk were announced as an official race, I was thrilled!
And I think WotC did a decent job, they’ve got some cool abilities, but they didn’t really give them any background or lore, or… Really anything, to be honest. If I recall correctly, the official flavor text more or less boiled down to “they’re bunny people from the Feywild who like freedom.” And that was basically it. Which is… Not particularly flavorful.
Still, I think the Harengon/Rabbitfolk have a lot of potential, so here’s a bunch of headcanons, ideas, and homebrews that I’ve got floating around my brain! Feel free to steal any you like for your own games, if ya wanna! Or don’t! It’s your call!
(Also, just a fair warning, I will probably be using Harengon and Rabbitfolk interchangeably, just so you know. They mean the same thing, just figured I’d say so so that people don’t think I’m sliding in a random sub race or something.)
Everybody knows that the Harengon have sharp hearing, those floppy ears aren’t just for show, but a lot of people fail to realize exactly how sharp. Most Rabbitfolk can easily hear through walls, pick out individual voices in a crowd, and hear the heartbeats of other beings. Some can even identify people by their individual heartbeats and breathing patterns, if they know the person well enough.
Harengon are native to the Feywild, and while many of them have left for more mundane places for one reason or another, a little bit of Fey weirdness tends to follow them wherever they go. Maybe they plant a rose, and then when it grows up it turns purple, maybe all the stray cats in their neighborhood are unusually friendly towards them, maybe when they hum a tune, if you listen closely you might hear someone playing along with a flute. Just, minor, harmless, magical weirdness. There’s no real rhyme or reason to it, it just happens sometimes.
Rabbitfolk live for hugs. They love hugging and being hugged. If you are friends with a Harengon, you will be hugged, sometimes with great force. Because these guys hop and jump everywhere, and sometimes they see a friend in need of hugging, and decide that the fastest way to achieve that goal is by jumping at them. So yeah, flying tackle hugs are very much on the table.
Much like Elves, who also originated from the Feywild, Harengon have an extended lifespan, about 500 years or so on average.
Despite being rabbit shaped, Rabbitfolk are not herbivores. Or at least, not completely. They have no problem eating animal products, like milk or eggs, and they have no problems with fish either, but red meat like beef or pork makes them very ill, and poultry isn’t much better. Weirdly enough though, they have no issues with reptile meat, and in fact even crave it. Lizard and turtle are beloved staples at many a Harengon table, and snakes? Oh, they LOVE snake! Grilled Python steak is considered a delicacy among Rabbitfolk, and deep-fried Adder meat is a must have treat at county fairs and festivals. Scholars have been scratching their heads for centuries over this bizarre biological phenomenon, but as is the case with many oddities from the Feywild, the best they can do is shrug and say “Eh, it’s fairy stuff, don’t question it.”(Side note, many Harengon call snake meat ‘sneef.’ I couldn’t think of anywhere else to say that, but I had to say it, so there you go.)
Speaking of food, Rabbitfolk have a high metabolism, so they tend to eat a lot more than most folk. Which might be a major reason why food is so important to their culture. For starters, the Harengon are always on the lookout for an excuse to throw a feast, even if it’s only with friends or family. Birthday? Feast! Just finished finals? Get the good silverware out, it’s time to eat! Just got back from a dangerous quest with your party? Celebrate still being alive by stuffing your face! Basically any excuse is a good excuse to eat a lot and have fun. Another big role food plays in their society is a display of trust and friendship. Buying/making someone a drink or a meal without payment or recompense of some kind is a big deal among Rabbitfolk. It’s a statement, both to the recipient and anyone who happens to be watching. It basically means: “This person is important to me, I care about their well being, and anyone who wants to get to them, will have to deal with me too.”
While they are exceptionally cute, the big floppy ears of the Rabbitfolk can be a bit bothersome during strenuous activity, flopping around and getting in the way. So a lot of folks tie them back with something like a hair tie or scrunchie when they’re out and about. Some Rabbitfolk with a bit more coin to sling around might have custom made hats, hoods, or veils to do the job and look a bit fancier while doing it.
Rabbitfolk culture takes things like oaths, promises, and commitments very seriously. Most scholars believe it’s a hold-over from their Feywild origins, where words have a frightening amount of power, and one slip of the tongue or misjudged phrase could spell disaster. Regardless of why, Harengon are raised to weigh every big commitment heavily before making a choice, examining every angle and detail, and when they finally make a decision, they are committed. When Harengon marry, it’s for life! If they sign a contract, they will carry it out the letter if it’s the last thing they do! If they promise to be your friend till the end, they aren’t being hyperbolic, they are by your side hell or high water, ride or die! So yeah, these are some very dedicated hippity hops. Mind you, they aren’t throwing around these promises all over the place, like I said, they’re very careful about it, and will call out anybody trying to swindle them.
Because of their sharp hearing, Rabbitfolk tend to be very in tune to the people around them. They aren’t full on empaths, but their generally pretty good at reading people’s emotions by paying attention to their breathing, heart rate, posture, etc.
Unsurprisingly, given their advanced hearing, Rabbitfolk love music. Since they can hear on a level that most humanoids couldn’t even imagine, it’s an almost euphoric experience for them. Imagine being able to see additional colors in a painting that no one else can, or see a beautiful sculpture in 4D. It’s a bit hard to describe, but I think you get the gist of it. Musicians are highly prized in their culture, and a lot of Harengon become Bards because of it.
Generally speaking, most Harengon don’t mind being called cute. They consider it a complement, really. But sometimes people assume ‘cute’ means ‘not worth taking seriously’ and that Rabbitfolk do take offense to, very much so. They especially hate being treated like dumb children, or even worse, baby talk. There is no phrase in all the planes that pisses off a Rabbitfolk faster than “Wittle Bunny Wabbit.” Some get so harassed, that they develop a little bit of a Napoleon Complex.
