Kitsune

The great Kitsune! Believe it!

Description

 * Originally from the majestic country of Japanifornia, kitsune are shape-shifting yokai. There are two common classifications of kitsune. The zenko are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes. On the other hand, the yako tend to be mischievous or even malicious. (Bobby is a yako because of course he is)


 * Physically, kitsune are noted for having as many as nine tails. Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful fox; When a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes white or gold. These kyūbi no kitsune gain the abilities to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. However, the ninth tail doesn’t come with age, it comes with reaching a certain state of being that most kitsune never achieve. Yako kitsune almost never reach that state because they’re too mischievous. (Bobby starts out with six tails, he’s relatively pro)


 * Kitsune usually take the shape of humans and attempt to ‘blend in’ with society for the lulz. They can also disguise themselves as animals, but prefer human form over anything else. For the most part the disguise is flawless, though they can be ‘forced out of it’ through magical means or severe injury.


 * It’s the greatest taboo for a disguised kitsune to talk about its true form, as it’s considered to be arrogant boasting. Any kitsune who admits to another living being that its form is simply a disguise will be punished by divine powers and, as a result, have its powers of transformation stripped away. It’ll be stuck in fox form for the rest of its life.


 * If another being finds out through some means that was outside of the kitsune’s control, the punishment will be withheld and it can keep its powers of transformation, but depending on the circumstances, it may lose one of its tails as a penalty. The tail can be regained with enough ‘experience’.


 * While in fox form, it cannot speak human tongue, because its vocal chords aren’t capable of such a thing. The fox form also comes with somewhat diminished intelligence, but they certainly aren’t mindless animals while in that state.


 * While kitsune are born with a certain sex, it doesn’t mean their disguises are limited to that sex. So a male kitsune could disguise himself as a female human and vice versa.


 * Every kitsune has its own ‘soul gem’. In Japanifornian folklore it’s known as a ‘Hoshi no tama’ (Star ball). It’s an external vessel of sorts that holds the kitsune’s life, which is why it needs to be hidden and protected from other beings at all costs. Hoshi no Tama are considered some of the rarest, most valuable gems in the world; collectors of prized magical items would consider one a priceless must-have. Anyone who holds a Hoshi no Tama can basically order the kitsune it belongs to to do their bidding, because if it were to be broken, the kitsune would lose their life.


 * Some kitsune have characteristics reminiscent of vampires or succubi and feed on the life or spirit of human beings, generally through sexual contact.