Homebrew Kitsune Species Details

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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

Subrace

There are two common classifications of kitsune.

Kitsune Traits

+2 Charisma +1 Dexterity