Monday, January 24, 2011

Run Rabbit Run


The City doesn’t have a monopoly on weirdness in the New World. There’s plenty for rural areas as well...

In the west of Freedonia, there exists a population of jackrabbits or hares the size of bison. Locals call them “lagoes” or “leaps.” These animals exist in a fair limited geographic area, but are still occasionally hunted for fur and food, and even used as mounts.

The origins of the lago are obscured. Most experts believe they are the result of some demented thaumaturgical experimentation, but a few consider it possible they are prehistoric survivors, or mutations from accidental exposure to magics of the Ancients.


Lagoes have historical been considered nuisances as they take grazing land away from cattle, and can ravage farmers' fields. Ironically, a use for the beasts’ being discovered--in the form of an interest in their fur for coats and trim for clothing--did more to bring them the brink of extinction that any previous effort. Their relatively fast reproduction rate for such a large animal, combined with the fickleness of fashion saved them.

Natives in the area have a superstitious dread of the animals, believing them to be the reincarnated souls of a gluttonous and grasping ancient tribe.  Folklore of the first settlers likewise takes a negative view, suggesting that they are sometimes infected with a degenerative disease that leads to frenzied attacks against other animals or man in its early stages.  Eating of lago meat is avoided by old trail hands for this reason for fear of contagion.

7 comments:

Lagomorph Rex said...

Night of the Lepus...



one of my favorites...

The Drune said...

Very nice...Night of the Lepus.

Porky said...

It seems almost completely natural somehow. Rabbits do have an air of inscrutability about them, expecially the ones pictured.

Night of the Lepus.

netherwerks said...

I used to have that very postcard or one very like it from a trip out to South Dakota. This is a great post. I'm still laughing...

Anonymous said...

Having to chase down one of the "Leaps" that got loose in a city (or even The City) could be great fun.

Chris Kutalik said...

You don't know the half of it, pardner. Down here in Fredonia we also have to deal with them pesky jackalope varmints too.

Trey said...

@Lagomorph - That wouldn't be the source of your blog handle, would it?

@Drune - Thanks.

@Porky - Not only are they inscrutable--they're rascally. At least according to noted hunter, E. Fudd.

@NetherWerks - Yeah? At the Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota, they've got that giant jackalope you can get a photo op with, too.

@Seaofstarsrpg - That's a great idea!

@Ctutalik - It's still the wild west out there.