Kitsune
Possessing the reputation of a playful trickster, the kitsune weaves between the vibrant regions of Mor Thia , hopping from place to place in search of fun to be had. Much like other Fey creatures, kitsune take on many forms, but their natural shape is always a fox. Distinctive markings resembling a crescent moon on the forehead and under the eyes are the only features that set them apart from a common fox.
Most people would not even realize that they’ve encountered a kitsune when it has shapeshifted to appear as one of their own. An unusual increase in items suddenly going missing is the only telltale sign of the kitsune's presence, plotting mischief unbeknownst to the village’s residents.
Habitat and Behavior
All kitsune are different. There are some that prefer to linger in a single village for decades, and others that never stay in the same place for long, moving from town to town as the fancy strikes them. Their preferred domains are quiet settlements near mountains, allowing them to seamlessly blend in with local communities and slip away when the need arises. Under the veil of night, the kitsune has a penchant of stealing personal effects—a token of someone's identity that gives the kitsune the ability to transform into a mirror image of the person.
Because of this penchant for pilfering, townsfolk may occasionally stumble upon "nests" of lost items secreted away in thickets or caves where a kitsune has chosen to make their temporary home. Some kitsune even have their own abode, living unassuming lives in human form save for their peculiar tastes in fashion that seem foreign.
It is said that kitsune are able to read thoughts and draw out memories with a simple touch, which is how they can so easily adopt the likeness of anyone they choose. It is difficult to tell when a kitsune has taken the place of someone, and it often goes unnoticed until the person up and disappears one day, years after the switch had happened.
The missing persons can occasionally be found slumbering deep in a neighboring dwimmer. This is how the kitsune can so convincingly play the role of their target: The victim's dreams function as a mirror for the kitsune to fashion themselves after. Once a person has been abducted by a kitsune, they are forever prone to the tricker’s magic, which provides kitsune with a quick and easy disguise if needed. A spell such as Dispel Magic or Remove Curse is required to awaken the victim from their slumber.
Kitsune Morality
The whims of a kitsune are often unpredictable. One moment they act as guardian spirits, saving the common folk from mortal accidents; the next they sow chaos in a family while disguised as a loved one. Free of any concept of morality, kitsune act upon what they think will bring them the most fun at the moment. Their victims tend to be among the most gullible, from greedy merchants to naive children, with little care for the victim's age or station as long as they can be tricked into the kitsune’s games.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
In fox form, kitsune can be identified by crescent moon-shaped markings on the forehead and under the eyes.
