Homebrew Fox Demon Species Details

Ancient History.  Long ago, near the beginning of the world, the mad god Coyote created a race that would represent all the things he felt the world needed to keep it from being a place of boredom and drudgery.  As a foundation for his chosen people, Coyote chose the one creature in nature that seemed to embody the spirit of what he felt was important in his chosen people, the fox.  Upon this creature, Coyote built a race of people who were both inquisitive and graceful, who were lovers of magic and nature, art and music, poetry and storytelling, but above all this he created a people who valued trickery and craftiness above all else.  According to legends and stories passed down through the ages, these people were created to protect Coyote's temple, to be his priestesses and monks.  But then, as the world grew, they were sent out to spread mirth and joy in the form of chaos and trickery.

Kitsune.  A fox demon, whom most refer to as the kitsune (kit-soo'-nay), is born looking very much like a human child, though they almost always have long auburn hair and fox ears on top of their heads instead of normal ears that a human might have.  By the time they have walked 10 cycles of the sun upon the world, they will have started to grow their first tail. (As they live a very long time and never seem to age, you can only tell a kitsune's age by the number of tails they have.)  Many mistakenly believe that the kitsune are of fey descent, both because of the way they look and the way they enjoy trickery and trouble.  This, of course, is a mistaken notion since they walked the world long before the veil was torn and the fey entered our world.  It is when that first tail has reached its full length (about 3 to 4 feet long) that it is finally considered audaruto (ah-dar-oo-toe), or an adult.  From that time on, a fox demon is encouraged to walk the world, spreading the worship of their god Coyote.  This is usually done through trickery and spreading chaos among the peoples they encounter.  

Though they are called fox demons, they are not technically a demon in the truest sense of the word.  They do not reside in the abyss, nor do they particularly feel welcome there.  They are called demons simply because that is the first word that people thought of when they encountered the trouble which the kitsune can create.  As they age, they will begin to grow more tails over their life time, growing their ninth and last tail well after they have reached the age of 700.  (about 1 tail every 80 years).  The kitsune will also develop other features that come from their fox heritage.  Over time, their noses and mouths may extend into the snout of a fox, or they sometimes may grow a light layer of reddish brown fur with stripes of white and black on their backs and ears, or sometimes their feet grow pads and short claws.  Every kitsune, following their own chaotic natures, looks very different from the rest of their race.  As an exception to this, every one of them have the distinctive red irises in their eyes.  The kitsune will always have humanoid hands, but they will have short black claws that protrude from their fingers.

Trickery Magics.  Now, as already stated, the kitsune are very intrigued by magics of all kinds.  They, however, have concentrated on the illusion magics because they serve their purposes the most.  They have become masters of this school of magic, and have even developed abilities that are inherent to their race.  The first of these, taught to them after they begin to grow their first tail, are the magics used to disguise themselves (disguise self).  Their magics are so powerful in this regard that not even the most powerful can see through this particular illusion.  However, to keep his people from growing too proud of themselves, Coyote declared that this magic would be limited.  He made it so that if they are seen in a mirror or any other reflective surface, the disguising magics are easily seen through. 

The kitsune are very charismatic in nature, and their magics almost always are expressed as bards, sorcerers, or warlocks.  Whichever the case, their magic is always expressed in the form of illusions, though they may pick up a spell or two of other types to defend themselves.  Usually a method of escaping danger, the Fox Demon can shape change into a simple fox once per long rest.  They can maintain this form for a number of hours equal to their Constitution modifier (minimum 1).

Kitsune Society.  The kitsune are a solitary people, preferring to be amongst other peoples where their tricks and shenanigans are unexpected and have a fuller impact.  Among the Fox Demons, they are divided into classes of social standing.  The number of tails they possess determines what caste they belong to, and those with more tails are seen as elders and therefore more important.  When a kitsune reaches adulthood, somewhere around the age of 16, they begin to suffer a periodic "rut" season (Usually in the season following Fall Eventide) once every four or so years where they feel compelled to find one of their own kind to mate.  The longer they go without fulfilling this draw, the harder it is to resist.  The record is currently held by Yugoro Naoyu, who claims he has gone forty four years without mating.  (He claims that it improves his magics, but this has never been substantiated.)  When a female finds herself with child (something that happens very seldom, and when she is this way she will not feel the rut while she is with the child), she will build a nest of sorts high in the trees of a deep forest.  After the child is born, they will remain in the area around the nest until the child begins to grow its own tail (which they call the "shippo", their primary tail).  During those years, the mother will teach the child everything it will need to live, including its heritage, its abilities, and its purpose in life.  When the kitsune's shippo begins to grow, the two of them will begin to travel as she continues to teach the child what it means to be kitsune.  When the child's shippo reaches its full length, it is considered an adult, and the two of them will part and walk on separate paths.  On average, a kitsune female will only birth three or four young, in spite of the age they live to.  Kitsune do not have life partners, preferring to live a life of chance in a firm belief that fate is in control of all things.

Creating Your Character

Ability Score Increases

As a race, in general, the kitsune are very charismatic, and are more agile than average.   However, because of their nature, they are not the wisest race of beings to walk the world.  (+3 to charisma, +1 to dexterity, and -1 to wisdom.) 

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common.  They also know the sign language used by kitsune to speak with one another.  In addition to these, you may choose one other language for your character to know.

 Life Span

As stated above, a kitsune will naturally live over 700 years, and some may even reach 1000 years if they are lucky enough.

Height and Weight

Typically, the kitsune are about 5 1/2 feet tall, and weight 110 to 120 pounds.

Specific Racial Characteristics

Roll a d12 to help determine your character's physical characteristics.

1. small fox snout
2. large fox snout
3. dark auburn fur covering your body
4. bare skinned with patches of fur on the backs of your hands
5. bare skinned with a furry face
6. padded feet with tiny claws
7. bare skinned with fur covered legs
8. light red fur covering your body
9. golden fir that has a reddish tint in the sunlight, covering your body
10. short fox ears on top of your head
11. long fox ears that protrude to the sides a little
12. roll twice ignoring 12s

 

Fox Demon Traits

As a fox demon, you possess the following characteristics

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, your Charisma ability score receives a +3 bonus, and your Dexterity receives a +1 bonus.  Your Wisdom ability score suffers a -1.  You can not raise any of your scores above 20.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Medium when you select this race.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Hide the Demon Nature

You know the disguise self and you can cast it at will.  The DC for seeing through this spell is 15 plus your character level, should someone make a perception or investigation check.  A check, with advantage, must still be made by anyone who possess truesight.  As stated above, however, if a check is made while viewing the kitsune in a reflective surface (such as a mirror, or a still body of water), the DC is equal to your character level.

Dark Vision

Due to your Fox heritage, you have the ability to see normally in darkness out to 60 feet as if the area was in dim light and in dim light as if the area was bright light.

Nimble Foxes

The lithe build and somewhat sleek build of the kitsune makes them quite adept at moving in some fantastical of ways and as such, kitsune are proficient in Acrobatics.

Kitsune Awareness

Kitsune have a Keen sense regarding illusion magic. Upon passing either an Investigation check or Perception check (Your choice) versus an opposing magically disguised creatures performance or Deception check, a higher roll will tell your character that the other being is disguised.  If you roll 5 or higher than their roll, you can also ascertain the true nature of said creature, as if by truesight.

Kitsune Trickery

As you level up, a Kitsune will inherently learn the following spells, as gifted to you through Coyote:

• 1st level - minor illusion and produce flame (your flame will always be blue)
• 3rd level - Nystul's Magic Aura
• 5th level - silence
• 7th level - major image