Kitsune
The kitsune are an Unseelie Fey species of the Autumn Court. They are sworn rivals with the Tanuki. Their leader is the archfey King Tenko.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kitsune are Fey creatures approximately equivalent to the Material Plane's foxes. They are small beasts with pointed ears, green eyes, golden fur, and up to nine tails. They can easily shapeshift into humanoid or fox-human hybrid creatures, but they cannot easily hide their tails in these forms.
Growth Rate & Stages
Young kitsune are indistinguishable from ordinary foxes, besides the slightly more golden tint of their fur. Each two centuries that they live, a kitsune gains another tail, growing a maximum of nine over their lifespan.
Ecology and Habitats
Kitsune can live in both the pastures and the forests of the Autumn Court, with covens preferring the more heavily forested areas and camps tending towards lighter forests, grasslands, and pastures. They typically avoid the harsh mountainous regions bordering the Spine.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Kitsune are omnivores who mostly survive off the various fruits and berries of the Autumn Court. They also eat fish, insects, birds, and the occasional Pixie.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Kitsune are divided into two major social structures: the coven and the camp. Covens are groups of kitsune who prefer to live primarily in foxlike form as hunters and scavengers. About 70% of kitsune prefer life in covens. Kitsune who live in camps spend most of their time in hybrid fox-humanoid forms. They are nomads who occasionally tend to agriculture but typically survive largely off the Fey-goat herds they keep, supplemented by scavenging or trading with the Autumn Eladrin.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
All kitsune are born with a Star Pearl in their mouth, to which they are bound for life. They typically hold the star pearl in their mouth while in fox form, or in a pocket or bag while in hybrid or humanlike form. The star pearl holds the true names of every creature that has ever touched the kitsune, and can whisper them back to the holder if they meditate carefully on the creature whose name they wish to learn for at least ten minutes. It is incredibly difficult to win a kitsune's trust enough to hold their star pearl.
A kitsune who loses, or is forcibly separated from, its star pearl transforms into a hideous monster. This transformation is irreversible, as the former kitsune will not recognize its star pearl or even its own name.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Kitsune speak Sylvan, though those who come into regular contact with mortals often learn a few words of their language, like Common and Elvish. Younger kitsune speak very little, out of fear of dropping their star pearl. By the time a kitsune has grown at least five tails, it gains limited short-range telepathic abilities and uses these to communicate.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Kitsune are cunning and quick-witted. They treasure secrets and gossip. Their purpose is to dash grand plans, largely for their own amusement. This is just as likely to bring down an evil scheme as it is to foil a hero. Therefore, while the tanuki humble the Summer Court via making them look foolish, the kitsune primarily work to frustrate the schemes of the Winter Court.
Common Taboos
A kitsune will never willingly give up their star pearl, though they may occasionally let another hold it temporarily as a gesture of immense trust.
Kitsune occasionally leave the feywild to live among remote villages on the Material Plane, typically in middle Scalados. This is seen as ordinary, especially for young kitsune who may experience a sense of wanderlust; however, if a kitsune is ever discovered as such by the wider village, they must flee and never return.
by katzentupas
Lifespan
2,000 years
Conservation Status
As of Y1111 (Locumtempus Materiae), kitsune are incredibly rare. They are feared to be critically endangered or perhaps extinct.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Their fur tends towards a golden hue, but may also be partially or completely red, gold, or white. Different-colored patches are most common on their paws, ears, and the tips of their tails. Like all fey creatures, their eyes are always green.
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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