Homebrew Kitsune Species Details
Kitsune are a species deeply tied to the Goddess Yanna, created as her enforcers of the Divine Parley. The original kitsune were immortal celestials, serving their goddess throughout the Outer Planes as soldiers, messengers, and mediators. However, just as Yanna sought to understand the gods, many of the celestial kitsune sought to travel to the Material Plane- an act that would surely violate the Divine Parley. With much regret, Yanna relented, and allowed those who wished to become mortal and live on the Material Plane, losing their immortality, memories, and much of their power in the process. This event is known as 'The Fall', and is a story in Yannan mythology used to symbolize balance and the importance of mortals- for even Yanna's own servants would sacrifice their immortality to live among them.
Since the Fall and their arrival on the Material Plane, the mortal kitsune have spread wherever other humanoids are found. Many still worship Yanna for guidance and wisdom, although a few see the Fall as their chance to live beyond the reach of their goddess. Regardless, they are characterized by a distinct sense of wanderlust that takes them across Tehiri, taking up work as couriers, scouts, and warriors. While they lack the power of their full celestial ancestors, kitsune still possess a spark of Yanna's magic, and can even take the form of a fox at will.
Physically, kitsune resemble humans with fox-like features; an additional pair of fox ears on top of their head, and a set of nine fox tails on their lower back that can meld into one when convenient. Some will have no human ears at all, others may have clawed hands, and a choice few feature long fangs that indicate a greater connection to the goddess. They reach maturity in their late teens, and often live five centuries. Most kitsune are able to have children with other humanoid species, the end result typically being a kitsune or the other parent's species.
Kitsune Traits
Your Kitsune character has the following traits.Ability Score Increase
When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.
Age
Kitsune reach adulthood at the same age as humans and live to up to 500 years.
Alignment
Most kitsune inherit the perspective of Yanna, the God of Messages. As such, they tend to learn towards lawful, if not neutral alignments.
Creature Type
You are a Humanoid.
Size
Kitsune are of similar height to humans, but can be shorter end of the average. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your walking speed is 35 feet.
Courier's Instincts
You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion.
Darkvision
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 discern colors in darkness only as shades of gray.
Divine Vestige
You count as a Celestial for the sake of resisting charm person, hold person, and similar effects that only target humanoids.
Nine-Tailed Enchantments
You know the message cantrip, and can cast it without material components. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell with this trait, without requiring a material component. When you cast the spell with this trait, you can delay when the person realizes they've been charmed by up to 24 hours. Once you cast the spell using this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast it using any spell slots you have, but do not gain the memory-delay feature when doing so.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells (choose when you select this species).
Shapeshifting
As an action you can replicate the effects of the polymorph spell on yourself, requiring no components or concentration, and always turning yourself into a fox. This fox uses the statistics of a cat, but inherits your mental ability scores and vision. It's CR also changes to be equal to your level, and it can understand (but not speak) the same languages as you. You can end this transformation early (no action required). You can transform in this way a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and one language of your choice.
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