Hell Hare
Few creatures can match the horror, the malevolence, or the pure EVIL that is the hell hare. These creatures are unnaturally strong (particularly for something so tiny), exceptionally intelligent, and actively evil. They are able to blend into their environment, and can easily go unnoticed for the terrifying monsters that they are.
The hell hare resembles a common rabbit or hare, but that is where the similarity ends. The only visual differences are in the eyes, the underbelly, and their jaw. A hell hare's eyes are orange to red in color, but can be so dark as to appear nearly brown or black from a distance; and the fur of its underbelly is a bright blood-red. The jaws of the hell hare are hinged (somewhat in nature of those possessed by snakes), allowing them to inflict larger bite wounds than would seem possible. It is exceedingly rare to see this jaw formation unless the creatue willingly displays it. Finally, as the hare can vary its size from as small as four pounds to as large as twenty, and can also voluntarily undergo a process of shedding all of its fur (called molting) (excepting its underbelly), re-growing any type or color coat desired. This allows it to resemble nearly any form of Leporidae.
Hell hares are actively evil. They delight in causing pain and suffering to other thinking creatures, and often develop elaborate plans to cause sorrow to as many individuals as possible. Sometimes, they will chose one person (the mark; often a child, but anyone that can be easily hurt emotionally could be targeted) to torment, and will slowly hurt or kill those around them. They may kill a parent or other close parental figure, often in a gristly fashion if it is likely the mark will discover the body. If they can make it appear that another person close to the mark caused the death, so much the better.
It is important to understand that hell hares are NOT natural creatures, even though they may appear so. In order to really understand these monsters, it has to be understood that they do not age, and will sometimes make plans measured in YEARS. A hell hare may chose to stay in one area for decades, and they will go to great lengths to wreath their mark in sorrows. They will observe and listen to their mark often, ensuring their life never contains great joy.
All hell hares are carnivorous, although they will sometimes eat whatever rabbits in the area would normally consume. They particularly enjoy eating tended gardens and flowerbeds, not so much as for the nourishment it provides, but to destroy the work and effort of others. Even though they can survive on plants, they seldom go more than a week without killing, even if it is only a mouse or stray animal. If they are establishing a new territory, it is common that they will bury or otherwise hide any remains, so as to conceal the fact that a predator is in the area. They will occasionally leave an animal kill in a conspicuous location (often a particularly savage display) in order to gauge the response of the dominate creatures. Hell hares have been known to spend considerable time and effort to make the kill appear to have been done by some other type of creature (such as a dog or cat, or some form of lycanthrope). After a kill, hell hares will clean themselves carefully so as to maintain their deception.
Hell hares are aware of their strengths, their limitations, and very much aware of how they are perceived by other creatures, particularly humanoids. They use that knowledge to great advantage, and will often construct extensive tunnel networks in a settlement, allowing them to quickly travel through urban areas without detection.
These monsters understand common, and will often learn other languages used in the places they inhabit. It is even thought that some hell hares can read, although scholars debate this. What is known is that they will eavesdrop in an area to learn its customs, its routines, and its people. They may observe a settlement for months or even a year before settling on a plan. They tend to maintain several plans at once, and will pursuse whichever one seems most promising for causing the most suffering.
Hell hares will sometimes become part of a rabbit or hare colony (or even a domestic herd) when it serves its purpose. When surrounded by other Leporidae, they cannot be distinguished from the others. These creatures can even "speak" as a beast would (such as when a speak with animals spell is cast). When spells allow a caster to interact with beasts, the hell hare "responds" as an intelligence 2 creature. However, if a caster uses beast sense, they will be using the hell hares actual senses (including blindsight and darkvision), which are more acute that those of normal Leporidae.
The hell hare prefers to live in less prosperous areas, because it knows that even if it is discovered, hiring a group capable of capturing or killing it is often expensive, and some of these creatures will actually allow their true nature to be known; knowing that the community is powerless to stop it, and that it will be able to simply move on if such a party shows up.
Some ancient potion formulae exist that mixing the blood of a hell hare with an equal quantity of wine or spirits will produce a potion of giant strength. The formulae also says this potion has a side effect of causing a "malevolent influence" to those who imbibe this potion. This influence acts much like the suggestion spell (as if cast by the hell hare), which persists so long as the potion is active, and for one to three days afterwards.
Animals which attack (or possibly eat) a hell hare are likely susceptible of this blood effect as well. The malevolent influence could easily appear as a case as a case of rabies, and is likely where the name rabid rabbit derives, as the hell hare does not and can not carry the rabies disease.
Hell hare
Tiny monstrosity, chaotic evilProficency Bonus +3
Skills Deception+9, Insight +6, Investiigion +3, Perception +4, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances cold, fire, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Senses Blindsight 30 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages Understands common and perhaps others, but cannot speak
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
False Appearance. While the hell hare is not attacking, it is indistinguishable from a normal rabbit or hare.
Keen Senses. The hell hare has advantage on Wisdom(Perception} checks that rely on sight, hearing, or smell.
Leap. Hell hares can jump up to 15 feet in any direction in any direction, including straight up. A hell hare's leap does not provoke opportunity attacks
Moulting. A hell hare may spend 1d4 days undergoing a process of shedding all of its hair (except for its belly fur) and regrowing a new coat of it's choosing. During this time, it may also reduce its size to at small as four pounds, or increase it to as much as twenty pounds.
Actions
Multiattack. A hell hare can make two attacks: either bite/claw on one target, or bite/leap/bite on two targets.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 +6) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 6) slashing damage.
Other Names Used
While the name hell hare is considered the proper name for this monster, many other names exist, and some places may know this creature by no other name. Listed below are some of the names believed to have been used to refer to this creature:
Variations do exist. While called Satan's coney, both Orcus's coney and Orcus' rabbit have been heard. Also, while several legends from the west speak of an evilapin, those stories speak of a beast that "speaks into the heart's of men to do evil". While the legend may have grown over the generations, some speculate the legend either does not refer to a hell hare at all, or if it does, it is a hell hare of exceptional power.
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