```metadata
title: Kitsune
description: ''
tags:
  - ''
systems: []
renderer: legacy
theme: 5ePHB

```


# Kitsune
These tricksters are full humanoids whose lineage come from large, intelligent, multi-tailed foxes in the Feywilds.  They have large fox ears, canine teeth, fine claws on their hands/feet and the thinly slitted eyes of a fox.  They have multiple tails depending on their age.  Their builds/height are usually lithe like elves and many enjoy disguising themselves as such.  Their nature is to trick, manipulate and deceive but dislike outright lies.  They value loyalty to family and clan above all else.

If a kitsune happens upon a traveler they will always be curious to see that person's spirit.  Their tricks and deceptions can range from harmless all the way to downright mean.  All are meant to test the metal of a person.  This behavior is not bias to other races.  Kitsune will endlessly test one another.  

A kitsune parent will have their child try and figure things out for themselves.  As such the race values self-worth and self-reliance highly.  This does not mean they do not cooperate.  One of the greatest lessons a kitsune will learn is when to ask for help.  This lesson teaches the kitsune that their family and clan is one of their greatest strengths.
 
Kitsune folklore tells of their ancestors creating the first illusion.  It is taught that the first Archfey fox fell in love with a Seelie princess and so created a magic to win her affection.  Thus the race of kitsune were born.

You can find their villages ranging from forests, mountains to deserts.  They usually live far away from any large cities, hidden behind their illusions.  The only other societies you see them walk around openly in are elvish society.  Their intense fey nature is off putting to other mortal races.  Usually they keep themselves disguised outside of their own kind. 

Their fox-like sensibilities give them preferences for building cozy burrows in hills and large trees.  However, the village public buildings and shrines are above ground and are normal for their local culture.

### Tails of the Fox
Kitsune gain a tail every 75 years (plus or minus) after maturity, up to the number of nine.  It is a momentous occasion and cause for celebration when a kitsune gains a tail.  It happens while the kitsune is asleep.  One of their tails will split painlessly into two.  This is accompanied by bursts of foxfire and random minor illusions peppering the area.  These are normally used as party decorations the next day.  They fade after 24 hours.  

Most kitsune die before their ninth tail through misadventure, despair or *Sleep of the Fox*; a choice an old kitsune can make to fall asleep in peace, contentment and pass away.  Most eight tailed kitsune do this if they believe they cannot become a nine-tails.  If they show their age at eight tails it is considered a sign they will never gain their last tail.  

As they become older it is harder for them to mother or father a child.  Most kitsune have their families at around five tails.  To produce a child at seven or eight tails is unheard of.  A nine-tails is completely infertile.

If a kitsune is aged they do not become old and wizened but weaker by losing their fey essence.  They can lose a tail this way.  If a kitsune is weakened permanently this will guarantee they cannot become a nine-tails.  Because of this kitsune tails are considered quite the magical item.

All kitsune fear one terrible event that can happen when they reach eight tails.  If they despair and give into their feral nature, they can lose all sense of self and become a true fey fox in mind and body.  This transformation is usually violent, painful and can rend a temporary tear to the Feywilds.  These fey foxes are no longer humanoid and totally ruled by their instincts.  Their number of tails usually decrease to between three and five.  

These fey foxes can regain their tails and intelligence if they survive a few centuries.  Even if this happens the person they were before is lost.

*Author's Note: This is a high fantasy class and has been created along that theme.*

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### Kitsune Traits
Your kitsune character has a number of traits in common with all other Kitsune.

***Ability Score Increase.***  Your Dexterity, Wisdom and Charisma scores each increase by 1.

***Age.***  Kitsune reach maturity around the age of 50 and up until then their appearance tends more childlike then adolescent.  They usually freeze into a young visage and do not get older with age but simply more mature, ageless and fey.   They don't die of infirmity but multiple things can happen to them at their maximum age of approximately 650.

***Alignment.***  Most kitsune don't side with the extremes of black and white.  They are more chaotic gray.  Some will be a trickster that have their target's well being at heart.  Others will often cause mischief for their own enjoyment or malice.  An evil and good aligned kitsune will protect each other from outsiders. 

***Size.***  Medium

***Speed.***  30 ft

***Darkvision.*** Your eyes have the thin slits and reflective nature of a foxes.  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.*** Large, ambidextrous ears sit upon your head.  You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing. 

***Illusion Sensitivity.***  Illusions are your lifeblood.  You have played with them since you were a child.  When you encounter one you recognize it immediately and can see through it with ease.  You have advantage versus any illusion Intelligence (Investigation) or Perception (Wisdom) checks.

***Tail Casting.*** You can perform the somatic gestures for spells with your tails.  If a spell requires a somatic component, the kitsune must have free use of their tails or at least one hand to perform the gestures.

***Guise of the Fox.*** One of a kitsune's favorite games is to fool someone into thinking they are someone else.  You can cast the *disguise self* spell once per short rest.
 
***Foxfire.*** You know the *produce flame* cantrip.  The fire is blue in color and fey in nature.  Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.  If you gain any other fire spell with your class that fire is also blue and of a fey nature.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read and write Common and Sylvan.  Kitsune usually have many dealings with fey creatures.  More often than not they live in areas with only a thin veil between the Material Plane and the Feywilds, if not inside the Feywilds themselves.


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*Author's Note: The idea behind Illusion Sensitivity is not to be a type of Truesight.  They don't visually see through illusions unless they make the intelligence checks like everyone else.  They cannot see through invisiblity.  They are sensitive to the presence of illusions. If they are not goofing off, it should be very obvious to them if something is an illusion, kind of like when we can tell something is CGI in a movie.  It just doesn't look, feel, smell or sound right to them. *



>##### Reference Links
> There are several kitsune homebrews that may be referenced or linked to above.  They are as follows:
>
> * [Kitsune 5e Race Homebrew](http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/H1hf18WxZ)
> * [Sorcerous Origin: Kitsune Bloodline](http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/r1Vp6HZeZ)
> * [The Nine Tails: Lair and Monster Stat Blocks](http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/SJWiSAH-eb)
> * [Sorcerer 5e Rework](http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/ByrDFP8TYx)
> * [Metamagic 5e Rework](http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/Bk-9pjmp6e)
>
> Thank you to [The Homebrewery](http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/) for creating such a wonderful tool for nerds like us.
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