Homebrew Fox Folk Species Details

“THERE'S SOMETHING STRANGE ABOUT THAT FOX,” Victor whispered to his companion. The two hunters had gone two days and caught nothing. Now they stalked the only creature the two had caught sight of all day, a large fox with a brilliant orange coat like a sunset.

“You're imagining it-” Hrothgar began to reply, when the fox dove into the bushes disappearing. Before they could do more than curse their luck, a stunningly beautiful woman whose hair matched the fox's colorful coat stepped out of the foliage. She gave them a mischievous smile, showing off sharp white canines and golden yellow wolf-eyes, “I hope you boys aren't here to hunt. That would be unfortunate for you both.”

—D. Futuza, A Fox Tale

Fox folk are an enchanting fey people of otherworldly grace. They live in hidden places of natural beauty, amid ancient forests, jungles and mountains away from civilization. While they are frequently shy around strangers, they soon warm up to visitors as they are extremely curious and often driven by thrill seeking. While they are generally good natured, they revel in playing pranks and causing mischief, at times going in disguise to visit other races. Given their fey nature, their fickle moods shift as easily as the direction of the wind.

Alluring and Agile

These foxlike, shapeshifting folk, share a love of mischief, games, secrets, music, and beautiful things. They appear humanoid with canine teeth, retractable claws, fox ears and tails. Fox folk are quick-witted, nimble, and gregarious, and because of this, a fair number of them become adventurers. They are slightly smaller than humans on average, ranging from 4-6 feet in height and weighing between 90-150 pounds. Fox folk hair and tail coloration encompasses the typical human range, but also includes a variety of amber, gold and red pigments - like that of a fox. White, grey and silver haired fox folk are rare. They generally have pale white to tan copper skin, with eye colors including violet, green, brown, amber, black, or yellow-orange coloration. Males may have facial hair. The fox folk are first born as foxes and live about 10 years growing to a large size at the end of the decade (about as large as a wolf). At the end of the adolescent years, they will gain their humanoid form. They will continue to mature for another 15 years before reaching adulthood. Their fur and hair will slowly whiten and grey during their elderly years. As they grow in age, experience, and power they may grow additional tails. The oldest and most powerful of the fox folk are said to have nine tails, a sign of their wisdom and power.

Wild Tricksters

The fox folk are wild and chaotic but are not generally cruel hearted. As a people, they keep to themselves, preferring not to politick with the other races, and do not trust the motives of most of the other races. Individually, they are known to be very sly and mischievous. Fox folk are more likely to play a prank on someone for their own amusement, than to maliciously put a victim in harm's way. They enjoy including others in their mischief and consider a well played scheme the height of refined entertainment. Fox folk are easily emotional and excited, but also natural actors and can appear to be aloof and uncaring when it suits their mischief. They delight in making and keeping deals, but often seek for loopholes or ways to twist a pact's wording if it is to their distaste or simply too dull. As they are slow to mature, it often takes fox folk many years to gain wisdom, refinement, and patience. They are naturally curious and love new things and occasionally venture out of their hidden homes in disguise, seeking new marvels in the world. Fox folk delight in collecting interesting trinkets and favors. They despise boredom.

Hesitant but Curious

Though hesitant to approach most other races, they may take interest. Most fox folk take a 'positive' approach to strangers.
Dwarves. “They carry fascinating trinkets and crafts, but are boring conversants. Far too serious. A drunk dwarf is a fun dwarf.”
Elves. “There is nothing more fun than out-highbrowing a haughty elf and making them overthink everything.”
Humans. “They tend to react to jokes the best, but always want something from you. Their ambition drives them to rash bargaining.”

Guardians of the Feywild

Fox folk are protective of their woodland homes and mother nature, and on rare occasions, will act together to intervene if they feel either is threatened. They do not appreciate trespassers in their hidden glades and will trick or lead travelers astray to keep their homes secret. They live in treetops or in dens dug beneath tree roots, rarely building lasting architecture. Many fox folk communities live near boundaries between the Feywild and Material Plane, living on both sides. They fiercely guard the plane boundaries against unworthy wanderers. Occasionally they may befriend druids and other likeminded individuals, but guests are very rarely invited to their dens or allowed through their planar portals. Fox folk rarely form settlements larger than a village, preferring smaller communities consisting of a few closely knit families. They are not fond of other canines such as dogs or werewolves and often consider them rivals or unwelcome.

 Fox Folk Names

Fox folk names, are often similar to elven names, given the common ancestory, but are often shorter and more simplified.

• Male Names: Adron, Bryn, Del, Aram, Austee, Balek, Enee, Eton, Galin, Hadar, Hare, Imura, Ivelo, Kalas, Lund, Montee, Perin, Reva, Soven, Thamor, Therin, Varin, Zuld
• Female Names: Adri, Andra, Antee, Beth, Byrell, Drussee, Era, Feli, Iel, Jelen, Keyla, Laura, Lila, Meril, Nairil, Naveena, Odessa, Queveena, Rastra, Rena, Sareel, Shana, Shava, Sila, Vala, Xana, Zara
  
  
  

Fox Folk Traits

Your fox folk character has a variety of traits in common with others of its kind.

Ability Score Increase.

Choose one of the following. Your Dexterity score increases by 2; or your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age.

Fox folk are first born as foxes and reach puberty at 10, growing to roughly the size of a wolf. During puberty, they gain their ability to shift into humanoid form (see Shapeshift below) and continue to mature for another 15 years before reaching adulthood and can live to about 300 years old.

Alignment.

Fox folk are wild and chaotic and enjoy mischief but are usually good hearted. They are fierce protectors of their wooded homeland and tricksters.

Size.

Fox folk range from 4-6 feet tall with slender builds. They are on average smaller than humans and a few inches shorter. Your size is medium.

Speed.

Your base walking speed is 35 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.

Fey Blood.

You are considered a fey creature. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep. You pass the Fey Ancestory racial benefit on to any half-blood posterity.

Seductive Glance.

As an action, you may attempt to charm a humanoid if they are within 30ft and make eye contact with you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw, and does so with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it. The DC is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier. If the target is attracted to you add +1 to the DC. If it fails the save, it is charmed by you for the next hour or until you or your companions do anything harmful to it. It regards you as a friendly acquaintance. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus -1. You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Shapeshift.

You can shapeshift between a single specific human-like form and your natural fox form as an action. Shapeshifting between your two forms functions as a druid's Wild Shape feature - except it can be used indefinitely and your ability scores and statistics are not altered. As you gain experience and age, your forms both continue to mature and grow. While in fox form, you have advantage on Perception checks, but cannot speak, cast spells, or use other abilities dependent on speech or hands. If rendered unconscious or killed, you revert to your fox form. While in humanoid form small hints of your fox form remains, such as fox ears or tails and other creatures have advantage to notice them if you attempt to hide them. Starting at 6th level, you may also shapeshift as a bonus action instead of using an action.

Tooth and Nail.

You have sharp claws and teeth. You can bite or claw enemies doing 1d3 + Strength modifier as an unarmed attack. Beginning at 8th level, your fox form grows in size and ferocity, increasing the damage to 2d4 + Strength modifier while in your fox form (as described in Shapeshift above).

Languages.

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan. Sylvan is fluid and musical. Sylvan is the language of the fey. The fox folk written style uses the Elvish alphabet.