Homebrew Kitsune (Fox Beast-People) Species Details

" 'A kitsune can have up to nine tails, depending on its age, wisdom and power. The only way to kill a kitsune is to cut off all of its tails, as it is said that one of the tails is its main tail and the source of all its power. Not knowing which tail is the main one, one would have to cut off all its tails to kill it. One, five and seven tails are the most common numbers. When a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes white or gold.' On the black market you will find our tails because they think it holds our powers and to hold on to one will gain them our powers. Such storys of magic is what's get us killed so please my dear children watch out." - Akiko, a nine-tailed Kitsune

Kitsune are magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests in the far east. The fox like creatures love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, trickery and the good things of the world.

Fine Creatures

With their unearthly grace and fine features, Kitsune appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

They tend to hide their Kitsune heritage while dealing with other races as a way to keep away from the discrimination and hatred built up in legends and stories.While they hide their fox ears and tails they don't look much different then elfs and mostly hide as such. They usually  have light coloured hair and fur, reddish brown, white, gray, golden brown, though it isn't completely unheard of them to posses black hair and fur. Their range in eye colour are mostly blue, green, yellow or brown eyes.
A kitsune is born with a single tail, but as they grow older and gain more power the also gain more tails. (every 2 lvl they gain a new tail starting with lvl 3, but the ninth at lvl 20)

Long Lives

Kitsune can live well over 800 years. The eldest one known is one millenia old. Their long lifes giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Kitsune can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and quick to make enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.

Hidden In The Forrest

Most Kitsune dwell in small forest villages hidden among the trees. Far away from other races to avoid to get hunted or abused. They gather food, hunt and grow vegetables, and their skill and magic allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing and plowing land. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few Kitsune make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (which they have no interest in mining).

To hide between the races Kitsune have a difficulty hiding their tails when they take human/elven form. Looking for the tail, perhaps when the Kitsune gets drunk or careless, is a common method of discerning the creature's true nature. Variants on the theme have the Kitsune retain other foxlike traits, a fox-shaped shadow, or a reflection that shows its true form. Kitsune-gao or fox-faced refers to human females who have a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Traditionally, this facial structure is considered attractive, and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form. Kitsune have a fear and hatred of dogs even while in human/elven form, and some become so rattled by the presence of dogs that they revert to the shape of a fox and flee.

Kitsune are often presented as tricksters, with motives that vary from mischief to malevolence. Stories tell of kitsune playing tricks on overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful commoners. For example, Kitsune are thought to employ their kitsune-bi or fox-fire to lead travelers astray in the manner of a will o' the wisp . Another tactic is for the Kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions. Other common goals of trickster Kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.

Thy Kitsune keep their promises and strive to repay any favor. Occasionally a kitsune attaches itself to a person or household, where they can cause all sorts of mischief.

Other kitsune use their magic for the benefit of their companion as long as the person beings treat them with respect.
Tales distinguish Kitsune gifts from Kitsune payments. If a Kitsune offers a payment or reward that includes money or material wealth, part or all of the sum will consist of old paper, leaves, twigs, stones, or similar valueless items under a magical illusion. True Kitsune gifts are usually intangibles, such as protection, knowledge.

Kitsune Names

 It is not all that uncommon for a Kitsune to have names of other races.

Male: Akihiko, Hitsuta, Kotsuyo, Bakusho, Yugoro, Fumune

Female: Kuraiko, Naoyu, Toroe, Niharu, Shimiho, Yakaru

Kitsune (Fox Beast-People) Traits

Your Kitsune character has a variety of magical abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2 and your Dexterity scrore increases by 1.

Age

Kitsune reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans and can live up to 800 years.

Alignment

Kitsune love freedom, variety, and self-expression, so they lean strongly toward the gentler aspects of chaos. They value and protect others’ freedom as well as their own, and they are more often good than not.

Size

Kitsune range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, 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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Kitsune Trickery

When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the disguise self spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

When you reach 7th level,  you can cast disguise self once per short rest instead of once per long rest.

Transform

A Kitsune can turn into a fox. as an action, you can transform into a normal fox (with the exception that you still have just as many tails, and its fur is the same color as your hair) as if you had cast the polymorph spell on your self. you can do this once per long rest.

When you reach 5th level, you can do this once per short rest instead of once per long rest.

Fox Fire

You know the Produce Flame cantrip with the exception that your flame is blue. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it.

Languages

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