Homebrew Kitsune Species Details

Beware the stranger who seems just a little too alluring. Many a wretched fool, too caught up in the whims of their egos, have unknowingly invited death itself back to their homes.  For a time, it will seem charming, delightful—submit to every request with a well-placed smile and a wink. But the next morning, when the fool is found dead, crumbled and naked across their bed, the house guards will only wonder how they could ever have let the assassin evade their watch.

— Moto Teiji, Kitsune: The Silent Death

Mystical creatures descended from the spirits of the sun and moon, the shape-shifting kitsune are killers-for-hire; shadowy agents of death who lend their expertise to the highest bidder and employ both deception and illusions in equal measure to corner their quarry. Though once confined to the sleepy peaks of Kikohama, recent decades have seen their operations spread far and wide, and now no land can rightly consider itself beyond the reach of their blades.

Children of the Heavens

Common legend claims that the kitsune were ordinary foxes blessed by the spirits of sun and moon many thousands of years ago and given new shape. Whether true or not, the appearance of their true form would seem to match this unusual origin: kitsune resemble upright foxes, standing slightly taller on average than most humans at around 6 to 6½ feet and weighing anywhere between 150 to 275 pounds. Depending on their region of origin, their fur might be red, yellow, or white.

A kitsune's large, bushy tail is incredibly distinctive, waving effortlessly behind them at all times as if caught in the wind. Their use of the mirror image spell, be it historically for pranks or in more recent times for confusing their prey, has given rise to the misconception that they have many tails, sometimes up to nine depending on the spell's potency. Nevertheless, this striking imagery has stuck, and in illustrated folklore kitsune are almost always depicted with at least three tails.

Kitsune also have a human form, used primarily in modern times for subterfuge. These forms are a little shorter than their true forms, although not to any extent as to suddenly render their armor or clothing unusable. Every kitsune's human form is both unique and stunning: the appearance recalls their heavenly heritage, that of the spirits of sun and moon, and so their human form tends to be flawlessly beautiful, almost to a disconcerting degree. Their hair may be naturally gold or white, and their skin pale or a healthy red. Of course, these aspects are usually a dead giveaway for any kitsune trying to conceal themselves; and so most use illusionary magic to change their hair colour to less conspicuous blacks or browns. A kitsune's true beauty can never be shown to the world—such is their constant tragedy. 

HEAVENLY VISAGE

A kitsune's human form is not chosen—it is as natural as their true shape, and grows up with them. When making your kitsune, determine the appearance of this human form in addition to that of their true form. This is particularly important, as this form is the one they will likely spend the most time assuming: the true form of a kitsune is a symbol of death, shunned by wider society, and would be kept at a distance in even the most tolerant settlements. Of course, the odd kitsune adventurer—already a rare breed—might choose not to use their human form at all, instead flaunting their true form in a valiant effort to rise above their troubled reputation. The choice is yours to make, but bear in mind the consequences of each approach. 

Killers for Hire

In the wealthy provinces of Tsenxi, the tale is a common one: a noble is met by an exceedingly-beautiful man or woman, whisks them away back home, and is found dead the next morning with only the faintest magical wound. As shapeshifters, kitsune are frequently employed as assassins, manipulating their targets with peerless beauty and charm before swiftly and silently dispatching them and slinking back into the crowds. A particularly large number serve in the employ of the Shi-Sheng consortium, working as agents and saboteurs to dismantle rival businesses and take care of troublesome individuals. Once a kitsune receives an assignment, it becomes their sole occupation—a contract broken only by death, be it their target's or their own.

Not every kitsune works as an assassin, but their natural affinity for disguise and deception makes even the clumsiest kitsune a capable killer. Though feared and loathed for their reputation as murderers, some choose instead to spend their days living in secrecy among humans, desperate for acceptance and ever fearful of their secret being revealed. A kitsune in hiding will almost never marry, and if they do, it will only be with another kitsune. Children in such unions are unheard of: a kitsune's human form only properly develops by the age of 3, and so a child would immediately reveal a couple's true nature.

Cold and Calculating

Solitary creatures by nature, kitsune are inherently cold and detached, and whatever emotion is seen to manifest in their human form is likely the result of strained performance. This isn't to say that they never feel emotion, but rather that they can have immense trouble expressing it: a kitsune's gratitude might seem insincere simply because the situation is an unusual one for them. Moreover, what emotions they do have are kept in check for their line of work, be it assassination or adventuring, for a kitsune believes even the slightest burst of feeling can upset the delicate balance of success. An assassin cannot feel guilt when they slice a shadow blade across a target's throat. The guilt must come later, through sleepless nights and hollow days.

Kitsune Names

If kitsune have 'real' names, they are not known to the other races. A kitsune's name is a shifting matter of convenience, as much a part of their disguise as their form itself, and can vary wildly from place to place. A kitsune who goes by the name 'Izumo Hitomi' in Yakuyama, the port capital of Okusunai, might call themselves 'Ren Shun' in Shaogong, off the Red Coast. A kitsune who decides to settle down among humans might take up a more permanent name in keeping with the local community and tradition, but even this is only fabricated.

Kitsune Traits

Your kitsune character has a number of traits in common with all other kitsune.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and either your Charisma or your Intelligence increases by 1 (your choice).

Age

Kitsune age at around the same rate as humans, maturing in their late teens and rarely living more than a century. 

Alignment

As natural assassins, most kitsune live solely outside the law, undertaking contracts from shady individuals with money to spare. Rejected in their true form, they are outcasts, and only a select few would try and find their place in law-abiding society. A kitsune also has little concept of traditional morality: it knows itself, and it knows its target. So long as the price is right, any other details are irrelevant. 

Size

Kitsune are slightly larger on average than humans, standing at about 6 to 6½ feet and weighing anywhere between 150 to 275 pounds. Your size is Medium. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Dualform

As an action, you can transform between your natural kitsune and human forms at will. You revert to your natural form if you are incapacitated or die.

In their human form, most kitsune are unnaturally beautiful, more perfect sculptures than natural faces. Nevertheless, this more often works to their advantage than it risks revealing their true nature. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.

Fox's Trickery

You are proficient in the Deception skill.

Illusionary Magic

You know the minor illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the color spray spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the mirror image spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Of Light and Dark

Kitsune are beings of duality, of night and day; and this extends into their very nature. A kitsune might descend from either a spirit of the sun or the moon, and this ancestry brings with it similar but sharply contrasting effects. 

Pick between one of two options: Mark of the Day or Mark of the Night. A Mark of the Day kitsune is resistant to radiant damage and, while in direct sunlight, has advantage on Charisma saving throws; a Mark of the Night kitsune is resistant to necrotic damage and, while in direct moonlight, has advantage on Dexterity saving throws.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common and two extra languages of your choice. A kitsune working as an assassin must be versatile if they want to blend in, and so they spend a great deal of time outside of contracts studying the intricacies of other languages and cultures.