Kitsune are a race of humanoids with fox like heads, fur covered bodies with digigrade legs and are best known for their multiple tails. They are an innately magical species that grows more tails as they gain magical prowess.
Shards of Orn verison 4.0 Information
| Costuming | Kitsune | Kitsune must wear a fox mask, or ears, and two to nine fox tails. |
| Passive Effect | Master Illusionist |
Allows you to use “Vanish” without an incantation. |
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Combat Effect
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Magic, Vanish |
You trigger a Magic ability by speaking an incantation. Incantations must be at least nine syllables in length, distinguishable from normal speech, and related to the nature of the effect. The ability cannot be interrupted unless you are Subdued. If you are “Muted”, you cannot use the ability. Once the ability is triggered, you deliver the effect by throwing a packet at the intended target. If the effect is beneficial, you may also deliver the effect through touch or have it affect yourself. The target is invisible and may move freely. |
| Narrative Effect | Conjure |
You conjure a small item with no monetary value or special properties, such as rope, food, clothes, water, or basic equipment. An appropriate prop must be provided for any item intended to be used in combat. Items without props automatically disappear at the end of the adventure. Creating anything too large to hold in one hand or multiple items in succession typically causes the conjuration to fail. |
A Fox Mask, Ears, and One to Nine Tails
They tend to be dressed so they blend in wherever they are rather than having a stylistic preference based on race, though they do favor nicer outfits. The main exception to this is that they tend to wear cooler or more loose clothing so not to overheat due to their fur.
Kitsune have strong ties to the fickle magics of the Astral. This makes them more prone to a more fickle nature often playing tricks and joking with their companions. Thanks to their connection to that realm of magic they tend to have a natural connection to the that type of magic as well as an ease of use that makes more prone to using their magic in everyday use even if it isn't always needed. This desire to use their magic even for trivial uses means they often tend to use it on those around them for their own amusement. Even those who remain disciplined enough to only use their powers when needed, will often jump to using them before exploring other options. Though the manner they use their powers rather helpful, simple prank or even maliciousness is based on the individual's temperament It's possible this desire is subconsciously driven by a strange aspect of their physiology, their tails.
It is widely believed that a kitsune is nearly immortal unless killed, and that they grow more tails as they age which gives them more power. The truth is actually the opposite as a kitsune gains in magical strength additional tails will grow and the stronger magic they are able to use the longer they tend to live. With nine tails being the most one will earn in their lifetime putting one's lifespan on par with Empyreon. However it's rare that one becomes this strong, maybe only one or two every couple of generations. Just using their magic doesn't increase their strength enough to gain more than a couple tails(putting their lifespan on par with dwarves) leading a decent number to become adventurers but many of those fall to monsters cutting their lifespans short not matter how many tails they had gain, making the risk too much for most Kitsune to dare try.
Kitsune first appeared long before the first Age of Ascension. The oldest tales about the race claim that they were created by Muralakrum when he made foxes walk upright like commoners and gave them magic, and no one knows why. Most scholars tend to agree that if it is true, and on the off chance there was a reason behind their creation it is believed to be for his amusement while others tend to believe that it was to assist him in creating chaos.
Kitsune aren’t really known as being a major race numerically, tending to smaller numbers with no distinct region of origin. Most of their references in history have been more because of the individual rather than the species. Unfortunately due to their natural inclination to trickery these instances tend towards a negative reputation despite most individuals being good natured and friendly.
Kitsune tend to trace the bloodline to the first nine tails of a particular appearance.
Scarlet – Kitsune that look like the common red fox are named after Reynard Scarlet; a renowned charlatan and adventurer. Reynard earned his last tail after he and a band of adventurers made their way to the pit to rescue a princess and were captured by Hexadus. After a year in captivity, Reynard tricked a tyrant into releasing him and taking his place before leading the band out of the pit, victorious. His bloodline tends to put more respect in being able to get away with their antics with their force of personalities and usually without any hard feelings from the target of their attention.
Sureshadow- Grey fox Kitsune are named after Davi Sureshadow, a master wizard who used magic and focus in equal measure. Sureshadow was unusual in that he achieved the feat of gaining ten tails, after cleaving off part of his soul to make a false tail. On a bet with a now forgotten rival on who could become the first greypelt nine tails, the rival lacked the discipline or focus to match Sureshadow and attempted to cheat. Sureshadow Kitsune are focused on the gaining of their tails, knowing that pranks distract from the pursuit of knowledge required to gain true power. They use their powers for their own means but never for frivolous activities.
Sandsage– Fennec Kitsune are named after Gilgamesh the Mirage. Gilgamesh is actually the most recent to claim the honor of becoming a nine tails, giving the Fennec their title only 500 years prior to the current day. The ‘Sage of the Sands’ as he is known is thought to have drunk from the river of ages and is considered by those who have met him to be wise enough for it to be true, helping those that deserves it but also giving the evil knowledge that will lead them to ruin. The Sage of the Sands is actually still said to be alive though living as a hermit somewhere in the Sirison desert offering knowledge to those who can find him. It’s not quite clear if the Sandsages take after their namesake or if Gilgamesh’s ideology was based on his heritage. They value trickery and karma, their pranks are usually less troublesome for their friends but end up being downright dangerous to those they truly feel deserve it.
Chillheart- Nimue Aurora was the first and only known nine tail of the White Kitsune. The Whites were the only bloodline of Kitsune to found their own city-state in the frozen tundra of Glesmyr. The city grew to modest size over several generations drawing the white Kitsune from across the continent. Its prosperity didn’t last long as marauding Angori found the city and attacked in large numbers. The city’s defenders were overrun almost immediately and most of the population was wiped out. Nimue, one of the original founders of the town in a desperate gamble turned the city into a frozen maze trapping the angori in the city until they froze to death, leaving the city a twisted labyrinth of ice with the few survivors living in the ghost town. After this event, and Nimue gaining her ninth tail the White kitsune took the name Chillheart, they value survival at any cost. This makes them the most ruthless of the bloodlines willing to lead explorers to wander in the ice and snow to their deaths rather than risk their lives in a fight. Even after several thousand years the Chillheart are the rarest of the Kitsune bloodlines due to their near extinction.
Kitsune almost never organize into larger groups, preferring to stay in smaller family groups as part of a community. They are usually able to provide skilled trade or magical goods valuable enough to offset the inevitable problems that they cause either accidentally or intentionally. This may be as much of a reason that they stay in smaller social groups as the scattered nature of the race’s demographics
There are a few groups that have appeared over the generations, made up of like minded individuals that seek out each other.
-The Focused: A sect of kitsune that are devoted to the gaining of their tails but oddly think that pranks distract from the pursuit of knowledge required to gain true power. They use their powers for their own means but never for frivolous activities, so if one of the Focused use magic for small matters there is usually a bigger motive for their actions. Kitsune that know of the Focused but are not one of their number tend to call the members of the sect ‘The killjoys’ for their more somber demeanor.
-Muralakrum’s Touch: Founded by a forgotten Kitsune, who dedicated themselves to the service of Muralakrum through trickery and chaos. Muralakrum's Touch are a group of Kitsune that seek to bring about change for the very sake of change. Seeking to honor the one they believe to be their creator, these Kitsune are true anarchist; they’d just as likely seek to overthrow a dictator as to try and cause a volcano to erupt near a population center. So long as they can upset the status quo their goals will be met.
-Nogitsune: Not really a organized group so much as a subsect of the race. Nogitsune are kitsune who seek to extend their natural life by the use of magic. They cleave off a piece of their soul into a false tail, gaining unnaturally magical longevity the cost of their being. An unfortunate side effect of this process is that a Nogitsune has an unnatural desire to feed off the spirit of others to replace that which they have lost.
Kitsune are too widely spread and live in groups too small to develop their own culture but not matter their region of origin they all tend to have similar traits that appear.
Tricks and pranks are a minor art form to most kitsune, to the point that many will use it when raising their kits to teach life lessons or trying to make a point.
The other thing most kitsune have in common is that they see aging as a disease. Since kitsune live longer the more they use magic, aging is something that can be postponed at least for a while.
While kitsune are so widely spread to rarely see their own kin, they do have a curious hierarchy. Even if they have never seen one of their own before they will inherently form a loose pecking order based on the number of tails they have. This usually only lasts as long as they feel like the older and more powerful member deserve their respect.
Kitsune are generally seen as troublemakers by their neighbors, the exact thoughts on the race vary by region. In some areas they are harmless but in others they might be seen as dangerous or even malicious.
There are a few interracial relations that tend to stand out a bit more.
Ixifar and Sandsages- The Sandsages favor similar environments to the Ixifar, as such can usually be found around their settlements or caravans. Fortunately for the Ixifar, the Sandsage bloodline can generally keep their pranks to harmless fun, and there illusion magic can be helpful when trying to avoid trouble.
Angori and Chillhearts- Chillhearts almost universally despise Angori, to the point where there stereotypical ruthlessness becomes downright vicious. Going out of their way to cause as much trouble for Angori as they can, preferably killing the horned race in the process but only after the angori has suffered to the point of giving up.
Muralakrum – Seen by most Kitsune as their creator, but there are some that seek to emulate his achievements as a way to honor him
Drakerim and Thereon- The Focused followed Drakerim as their beliefs put the immortal of magic in their high esteem. After his ascension they have transferred their loyalty to Thereon as the goals of his seeker’s align with their own and some of them are members of both groups. Due to their magical nature, most kitsune at least respect the immortals of magic.
Hexadus- Kitsune as a whole hate the Lady in Chains, probably more than any other immortal, since they value the freedom to do as they please the thought of being imprisoned is one of the worse fates they can imagine. The Scarlet bloodline especially tend to almost enjoy trying to get in the way of her followers
Kitsune almost all tend to lean towards magical talent as such even the few that seek to become frontline fighters tend to incorporate magic into their fighting styles.
Wizards, Seers, and Sorcerers are the most common though Rogues and Bards are also widely seen, though they tend to use magic to help them achieve their goals
Warlocks are rarer but given their natural inclinations they can be found among the more maliciously minded of the race.
Purely Martial kitsune are all but unheard off, though those that focus mostly one physical ability with a few tricks are sometimes the most dangerous because the blending of a martial and magical style can catch an opponent unawares.
-Kit: A child
-Straight Tailed: Straight Laced, a kitsune who doesn’t use trickery or pranks often
-'Who sat on his tail?': an expression used when asking why someone is mad or upset.
-'Don't get your tails in a knot.': An expression for when someone is overracting or upset