Kitsune (Kit-sue-neigh)
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kitsune posses three separate physical forms that they change freely move between; a human form, a fox form and a hybrid form. The human form shares all physical characteristics with humans, betraying no hint of their true identity, while their 'hybrid' form is the true form of the Kitsune, appearing as a humanoid fox. For their fox form the Kitsune tends to adopt similar features to that of their hybrid form, though in a quadrupedal and tiny form.
Genetics and Reproduction
While Kitsune can reproduce sexually, possessing similar incubation and maturing rates of humans, most Kitsune today are created from a special ritual possessed by the various Ninja Orders of the Myrakel.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Due to their hybrid form's fox-like appearance the Kitsune posses low-light vision, providing them an edge in lower light conditions superior to humans.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Various Ninja Orders
History
Originally a small tribe of humans blessed by Qhymos with their alternate forms to grant them a way of surviving the Bloodplague, the Kitsune can trace their legacy back to a series of Valley's north of Zahin, where their ancestors developed the original Order of Ninja. Here they also discovered and allied the Kass'obake in their struggle, an alliance that remains to this day. This struggle against the Kalkur would last a few centuries, though as the Kitsune developed their various stealth techniques and as the Kalkur regained their intelligence, many Kalkur would come to believe that the Valley's are haunted and would ultimately refuse to enter.
These legends would remain even in to the days of the Empire of the Sun, where local governors would have to keep spending great deals of time preventing locals from losing their lives within the 'haunted' Valley's. In truth, not everyone who entered the Valley's was killed, some would be taken far north and never find their way home, others would be kept prisoner until a tribe of Amri would come and take the prisoners with them, while others still would join this hidden society. Some, of course, would be killed, though as the years went by more and more of the Ninja guards would begin to take the intruders down non-lethally. This would come back to bite the Ninja during the Long Summer, however, as their more passive approach would lead to some prisoners escaping and leading hordes of desperate people into the Valley's, forcing the Kitsune out.
Following their displacement the Kitsune would attempt to remain as a single group, though the chaotic times would force them apart every now and again. These groups would struggle, much like everyone else at the time, having to fight and scrape together a living, though that would end with the 'conquest' of Koritsae. This island off of the Trivadon Point had been abandoned during the collapse of the Empire, leaving a few villages empty, as well as large herds of farm animals left to fend for themselves. Upon Koritsae the Kitsune would rebuild, moving into the various dilapidated towns and villages, as well as re-domesticating the wild beasts upon the land. Until word of the Samurai would arrive on the island, the Kitsune would live in surprising peace for close to two centuries, trading with the few merchants left at that time.
When word of the Samurai reached Koritsae the Kitsune were skeptical, a 'large number of honour-bound warriors bringing peace to the mainland?' Most refused to believe it, though eventually a small party of Ninja would leave to verify this rumour, scouring the land in search of these warriors. Eventually, this party would arrive in the fortress-city of Kharsharb, where they witnessed the immediate aftermath of the Samurai's liberation of the city. Here they would meet with the various Samurai, commune with them and came to greatly respect them. After having their curiosity sated, and having learnt that the Samurai would remain in the city to guide it away from the destructive culture of the Warlords, the Ninja would return to Koritsae.
Three years of debates would follow the return of the scouts, though a consensus was ever truly reached, as a Kharsharb vessel arrived at Koritsae, requesting aid from the Ninja. On board the vessel was a small party of young Samurai who requested the aid of the Ninja to eliminate an obstacle to peace that the Samurai could not; another Warlord that was threatening Kharsharb. The city itself was still vulnerable and a nomadic Warlord was in the area, sending scouts near the city, though never clashing with the Samurai, preventing them from doing anything. The new Daimyo of Kharsharb were refusing to engage these scouts for fear of that attracting the horde proper, and the young Samurai were concerned about not striking first. Before debate about getting involved could begin, a senior Ninja left with the Samurai and eliminated the Warlord, causing the war band to disintegrate, saving the city from another occupation by Warlords.
In the following half a century the Ninja would be called on by various Samurai to eliminate foes of Kharsharb, paying handsomely each time for the services, though such transactions bothered the Elder Kitsune, until they would eventually start to prohibit such interactions. A short period of isolation would follow, which would see a number of internal power struggles, until an outside threat came to Koritsae. Between the years of 354-359 LS a fleet of Kalurai Slavers from Kauris would pillage the Shattered Coast, including Koritsae, taking many Kitsune as exotic slaves and killing many more. The Ninja were not well versed in more traditional forms of warfare, and were caught unawares initially by this assault, causing much havoc on their new home. Without a fleet of their own to harass the raiders nor a strong tradition of combat outside of their traditional talents, the Kitsune of Koritsae would have to seek aid from outside.
Many of the coastal Samurai settlements had their own raiders to deal with, but an old ally met with with an offer; Kharsharb would protect Koritsae if the Ninja of the island would serve Kharsharb. The specific wording of this agreement meant that the Ninja would serve the city, not any one specific individual within it, meaning that Ninja could chose to align themselves with specific clans, Daimyo or even individual Samurai. Stipulations were included within this agreement that Ninja were not to be made to engage each other, nor would they be petty spies or conduct espionage, they were killers and that was all. Following this agreement a fleet of Sharbian warships would depart Kharsharb and begin patrolling the seas around Koritsae, repeatedly engaging the Kalurai raiders. Eventually these forces would work in tandem with other Samurai fleets to trap and eliminate the raiders, though the damage had already been done, and many peoples had been lost to the Kalurai.
Following the securing of Koritsae, a small band of Ninja would depart Kortisae with the goal of retrieving their lost loved ones from the raiders, beginning an epic saga that would span four years, two continents and see an old regime fall. These Kitsune would fight sea monsters, pirates, Warlords, Kalurai Blood Mages and abominations hidden under the peaks of Orhindur. By the time they began to track down individuals who had been taken, many had already perished, though the vengeful Kitsune would see that justice would be delivered, straight through the heart. Out of two-hundred and thirty eight taken, only forty-one would be recovered, though the path of bloodshed left in their wake would ensure that the Kalurai would think twice before trying again. This tale has become so well known within not only the Kitsune but also across the Myrakel and the Kalomyr that those who undertook the quest have become Legends, known collectively on Koritsae as the Five Paragons. Amongst their number is Ishido Masao, known as the 'Divine Wind' (aka Kamikaze) of Kortisae, who was said to be plagued by visions from various gods that aided the Paragons in their quest.
Around the year 500 LS the Ninja Order of Koritsae would suffer a schism, seeing the founding of multiple other Orders across Uldkai Daruvath, and the tightening of control the Elder Council possessed on the remaining Ninja. Members of these other Orders follow different methods of assassination often forbidden by on Koritsae, as well as acting as spies/conducting espionage for those they work for. Koritsae Ninja remain loyal to Kharsharb, though they remain so secretive that only a handful of Samurai in the city know that they are more than a tale to scare young Samurai.
Today the Koritsae Ninja remain loyal to Kharsharb and find themselves often aligned with Shogun Miriyagi as he attempts to prepare Kharsharb for the next war with the Crild, as both the Ninja and Miriyagi know that the Crild will soon have the strength they need to conduct a successful conquest of Kharsharb. Infiltration of the Dynasty has become more and more difficult, especially given the rise of the Rekenar, who seem specially trained to root out Ninja.
These legends would remain even in to the days of the Empire of the Sun, where local governors would have to keep spending great deals of time preventing locals from losing their lives within the 'haunted' Valley's. In truth, not everyone who entered the Valley's was killed, some would be taken far north and never find their way home, others would be kept prisoner until a tribe of Amri would come and take the prisoners with them, while others still would join this hidden society. Some, of course, would be killed, though as the years went by more and more of the Ninja guards would begin to take the intruders down non-lethally. This would come back to bite the Ninja during the Long Summer, however, as their more passive approach would lead to some prisoners escaping and leading hordes of desperate people into the Valley's, forcing the Kitsune out.
Following their displacement the Kitsune would attempt to remain as a single group, though the chaotic times would force them apart every now and again. These groups would struggle, much like everyone else at the time, having to fight and scrape together a living, though that would end with the 'conquest' of Koritsae. This island off of the Trivadon Point had been abandoned during the collapse of the Empire, leaving a few villages empty, as well as large herds of farm animals left to fend for themselves. Upon Koritsae the Kitsune would rebuild, moving into the various dilapidated towns and villages, as well as re-domesticating the wild beasts upon the land. Until word of the Samurai would arrive on the island, the Kitsune would live in surprising peace for close to two centuries, trading with the few merchants left at that time.
When word of the Samurai reached Koritsae the Kitsune were skeptical, a 'large number of honour-bound warriors bringing peace to the mainland?' Most refused to believe it, though eventually a small party of Ninja would leave to verify this rumour, scouring the land in search of these warriors. Eventually, this party would arrive in the fortress-city of Kharsharb, where they witnessed the immediate aftermath of the Samurai's liberation of the city. Here they would meet with the various Samurai, commune with them and came to greatly respect them. After having their curiosity sated, and having learnt that the Samurai would remain in the city to guide it away from the destructive culture of the Warlords, the Ninja would return to Koritsae.
Three years of debates would follow the return of the scouts, though a consensus was ever truly reached, as a Kharsharb vessel arrived at Koritsae, requesting aid from the Ninja. On board the vessel was a small party of young Samurai who requested the aid of the Ninja to eliminate an obstacle to peace that the Samurai could not; another Warlord that was threatening Kharsharb. The city itself was still vulnerable and a nomadic Warlord was in the area, sending scouts near the city, though never clashing with the Samurai, preventing them from doing anything. The new Daimyo of Kharsharb were refusing to engage these scouts for fear of that attracting the horde proper, and the young Samurai were concerned about not striking first. Before debate about getting involved could begin, a senior Ninja left with the Samurai and eliminated the Warlord, causing the war band to disintegrate, saving the city from another occupation by Warlords.
In the following half a century the Ninja would be called on by various Samurai to eliminate foes of Kharsharb, paying handsomely each time for the services, though such transactions bothered the Elder Kitsune, until they would eventually start to prohibit such interactions. A short period of isolation would follow, which would see a number of internal power struggles, until an outside threat came to Koritsae. Between the years of 354-359 LS a fleet of Kalurai Slavers from Kauris would pillage the Shattered Coast, including Koritsae, taking many Kitsune as exotic slaves and killing many more. The Ninja were not well versed in more traditional forms of warfare, and were caught unawares initially by this assault, causing much havoc on their new home. Without a fleet of their own to harass the raiders nor a strong tradition of combat outside of their traditional talents, the Kitsune of Koritsae would have to seek aid from outside.
Many of the coastal Samurai settlements had their own raiders to deal with, but an old ally met with with an offer; Kharsharb would protect Koritsae if the Ninja of the island would serve Kharsharb. The specific wording of this agreement meant that the Ninja would serve the city, not any one specific individual within it, meaning that Ninja could chose to align themselves with specific clans, Daimyo or even individual Samurai. Stipulations were included within this agreement that Ninja were not to be made to engage each other, nor would they be petty spies or conduct espionage, they were killers and that was all. Following this agreement a fleet of Sharbian warships would depart Kharsharb and begin patrolling the seas around Koritsae, repeatedly engaging the Kalurai raiders. Eventually these forces would work in tandem with other Samurai fleets to trap and eliminate the raiders, though the damage had already been done, and many peoples had been lost to the Kalurai.
Following the securing of Koritsae, a small band of Ninja would depart Kortisae with the goal of retrieving their lost loved ones from the raiders, beginning an epic saga that would span four years, two continents and see an old regime fall. These Kitsune would fight sea monsters, pirates, Warlords, Kalurai Blood Mages and abominations hidden under the peaks of Orhindur. By the time they began to track down individuals who had been taken, many had already perished, though the vengeful Kitsune would see that justice would be delivered, straight through the heart. Out of two-hundred and thirty eight taken, only forty-one would be recovered, though the path of bloodshed left in their wake would ensure that the Kalurai would think twice before trying again. This tale has become so well known within not only the Kitsune but also across the Myrakel and the Kalomyr that those who undertook the quest have become Legends, known collectively on Koritsae as the Five Paragons. Amongst their number is Ishido Masao, known as the 'Divine Wind' (aka Kamikaze) of Kortisae, who was said to be plagued by visions from various gods that aided the Paragons in their quest.
Around the year 500 LS the Ninja Order of Koritsae would suffer a schism, seeing the founding of multiple other Orders across Uldkai Daruvath, and the tightening of control the Elder Council possessed on the remaining Ninja. Members of these other Orders follow different methods of assassination often forbidden by on Koritsae, as well as acting as spies/conducting espionage for those they work for. Koritsae Ninja remain loyal to Kharsharb, though they remain so secretive that only a handful of Samurai in the city know that they are more than a tale to scare young Samurai.
Today the Koritsae Ninja remain loyal to Kharsharb and find themselves often aligned with Shogun Miriyagi as he attempts to prepare Kharsharb for the next war with the Crild, as both the Ninja and Miriyagi know that the Crild will soon have the strength they need to conduct a successful conquest of Kharsharb. Infiltration of the Dynasty has become more and more difficult, especially given the rise of the Rekenar, who seem specially trained to root out Ninja.
Lifespan
80 years
Average Height
1.4-1.8m
Average Weight
43-81kg
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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