Kitsune
Kitsunes are magical foxes from Asian folklore. There are a vast and wide-ranging array of stories behind them. Some give them the power to craft illusions. Some give them power over fire and lightning, the ability to become invisible, to drain life forces and so on.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kitsunes are shapeshifters with essentially three forms: human, fox, and kitsune. In their human form, they are essentially indestinguishable from a regular human. In the kitsune form, they are a human with tail(s) and ears. As a fox, they appear in every way to be a regular fox with four legs, two ears, and so on (though they have additional tails, they are able to somewhat hide them by pressing them together).
Their original form can be revealed through pain, distractions, intoxication, and occasionally strong emotions. When this happens, their form will begin to slip and vulpine traits will show through, fur, tails, and ears will appear. Essentially they can be pushed into the kitsune form. There is some belief that they hate dogs and that a dog can detect a kitsune, however this is false. It is often used as an easy out, if a dog fails to detect the kitsune, then clearly they are not a kitsune.
Their two most significant anatomical features are their tails and lifespans. Left to their own devices, a kitsune will age to about their mid 20s and then seem ageless for centuries. They are exceptionally long lived creatures. There is no documented limit on the age of a kitsune. Theoretically they could live into the tens of thousands of years old, though there is no way to confirm this. According to myth, tails represent the age of a kitsune and consequently their power. They are said to accrue one tail per century. Few know it, but this is false. Tails serve as a status symbol and MAY store a kitsune's magical abilities, but that is all. It is said if one is caught by their tail, they will grant a wish. If they are removed, whether surgically or in combat, it will lose its power.
The importance of their tails makes a Kitsune vulnerable to attackers (in theory). If caught by the tail, many will readily agree to a deal for the safe release of their tail(s). There are no known documented cases of this happening. It may have happened and had no survivors or it may be a myth spread by the kitsunes.
Growth Rate & Stages
Kitsunes age and develop essentially in parallel to human physiology for the first few decades of their lives. They will be born, go through early life, and so on no different than humans. Around their mid 20s their aging begins to slow. It will come to all but a complete and total stop, leaving their forms frozen in time. A seven hundred year old kitsune looks perhaps in line with later middle ages in a human.
It is believed that Kitsunes accrue tails over the course of their lives. This is largely believed to be false OR if new tails are gathered, it functions as a more significant social attribute than anything else.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Kitsunes may be hunted for their magic. According to myth, this is stored in their tails. It is believed that if you catch a kitsune by their tail, they will readily accept nearly any deal. There are however, no documented and confirmed instances of this happening. Proceed with caution.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Kitsunes have exceptional senses. They are able to see in near total darkness, have exceptional hearing, and a heightened sense of smell. Their sensory abilities fall a little shy of the Werewolf, but not by too much. This leaves them orders of magnitude ahead of humans, and more than that, they retain their enhanced senses in any form where werewolves have slightly lessened senses in their human forms.
Some forms of Kitsune are able to sense more mystical elements. The Succubi forms for eample can sense the desires of others and infect their dreams. Tricksters are believed to have some similar limited abilities, but this may be an effect of their insight, age, and experience more than a physical ability. There are no known tests or research on the matter to confirm it one way or the other.
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