Homebrew Kitsune Species Details

Kitsune, or fox folk, are trickster creatures with ties to the Feywild. They usually live solitary lives, often along roads, where they either help or hinder travelers that wander by. They use their natural shapechanging and magic enjoy themselves at the expense of others.

Appearance

In their natural form, kitsune are fox-like humanoids. They are a bit shorter and slighter of stature than an average human. Their fur comes in shades of brown and red, though some with grey or white coats are known to exist as well. Lighter markings cover their chest and points of their ears, tail, feet. Their eyes are usually a vibrant color. Kitsune start with a single tail, but as they grow in power they grow additional tails, with a nine-tailed kitsune as their pinnacle.

Each kitsune has a single human form they can shapeshift into. Oftentimes this is an attractive male or female, but some kitsune sometimes take a more wretched form. When drunk or otherwise distracted a kitsune sometimes have problems keeping their tails or ears concealed. This leads to roadside drinks being a common way for travelers to attempt to spot a kitsune in their midst.

Trickster Spirits

Kitsune fall into two camps with their trickery. The zenko kitsune are benevolent. Often posing as an old man or woman, they offer aid in exchange for solving a riddle or puzzle. Conversely, the yako kitsune are malicious, using their abilities to lead travelers astray or even to their deaths.

Kitsune Names

Kitsune usually have a single name. Some add an epithet at the end that describes their general nature.

Male Names: Daishige, Gonobu, Hisashi, Musuki, Santaro, Tomio, Toshiyuki, Yojiro

Female Names: Chiasa, Funoue, Harumi, Katsuka, Muri, Ren, Tsurime, Yarako

Epithets: the Benevolent, the Cunning, the Depraved, the Ruinous, the Playful, the Wise

Kitsune Traits

Kitsune characters share the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity, Wisdom, and Charisma each increase by 1.

Age

Kitsune reach maturity at the same time that humans do, however they can live for hundreds of years afterwards. Most don't get full control of their powers until they are around 100 years old.

Alignment

As kitsune are natural tricksters they tend towards chaotic alignments. Their tricks tend to be more playful than harmful and so tend towards neutrality.

Size

Kitsune are medium sized with slender, acrobatic forms.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

As creatures of the feywild, 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.

Tricksters Instincts

You gain proficiency in two of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Deception, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Shapeshift

As an action, you can transform your appearance to a human or revert to your natural form. The form you take is the same each time you use this ability. You decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics. Your clothing and other equipment don’t change in appearance, size, or shape to match your new form.

Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. 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.

Claws

You have claws when not shapeshifted which you can use to make unarmed strikes. They deal 1d4 plus your Strength modifier slashing damage on a hit.

Trickster's Magic

You know the dancing lights cantrip. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.