What is the kitsune?
'Kitsune is an animal supposed to be mysterious, fascinating, and mischievous. And he is believed to be very grateful for the kindness done to him, as seen in many tales, and is also affectionate as revealed in some dramas. He is enshrined as a god because of his supernatural power. He is endowed with the subtle art of metamorphosis, and he is able to bewitch men in the guise of a charming girl. An exceedingly interesting and entertaining beast Kitsune is.'
The Author also mentions that the kitsune, and it's idea, was introduced from China and Korea, and went through an amazing metamorphosis once ntroduced to the Japanese culture. The word Kitsune comes from two syllables: kitsu, and ne. Kitsue is the sound made when a fox yelps, in Japan, and ne is a word signifying an affectionate feeling. In the ancient times, the word kitsu meant 'fox', as well. The kitsune are ageless, being spirits, but are not immortal. Kitsune manifest, and can live a lifespan of 900 years, before they are likely to leave/die, and return to the spirit world.
A key note for kitsune. In order to gain a tail after two, you must, I REPEAT, must audition for each additional tail. this is to keep down those who think they can try and twink the established paladins, mages and gods.
The only type of manfistation that will be delt with for Cat’s Haven is the ‘avatar’ method. For mor information on the other methods see the web site addy given at the end.
This is easily the least taxing of the methods for a kitsune to show up. This also, incidentally, gives a kitsune a long-term physical body.
Kitsune tail are visible unless they are hidden by illusion, and has to eat, drink, sleep, breath, and suffer the full range of mortal life, all 900 years of it. They also bleed, and can possibly get sick. A kitsune using this method can transform into a fox-form/human-form, and with development, possibly other forms as well. As an additional note, a kitsune who has an avatar can not be simply banished or exorcized.
One common thing, however, is that a kitsune, once here, can become enraputed with the full range of sensations that they experience in their physical form. This tends to turn kitsune into hedonists, willing to experience new forms of pleasure and pain. Older kitsune, who have lived in the physical world for a long time, may become more jaded, however.
Another aspect of spirits, is that to be able to manifest and survive on a physical level, they require sustenance. The Gaaki, for example, feed off of many different things, depending on the type of gaaki you come across. Some feed off of scents, some off of blood, some from pain, others from tears, and the more dangerous type feed from souls. Kami usually require small gifts, and prayers to sate them, or they would become hostile and dangerous. These gifts, and the worship, 'fed' the kami. The kitsune, on the other hand, feed from the essence of the land, it's elements, and it's people. They are vampires, in a sense, and require essence to sustain themselves. A kitsune who has an avatar does not feed quite like other kitsune. Instead, as long as they do not tap into the abilites they posses, they will function more or less as normal for a human or fox. Use of their abilites will weaken them, but if given the chance to relax, they will recover on their own.
To keep manifested, and to keep the use of it's ablities, the kitsune much draw off the energy around them. This chi, or essence, is found in the elements, fire, forest, wind, and others.
The other source that kitsune can feed from is the soul:
The soul has a mystical quality to it, making it the strongest source of essence found. It is the source of inspiration and power for mortals, and it is also a source of energy that can grow and heal. To a kitsune, this is a resource far greater than any other. To feed from a person or animal, the kitsune must first touch the target. Once the kitsune has fed for the first time, this is no longer required, as the kitsune is capable of maintaining a link with the target, and will constantly drain the target from then on. This 'drain' can be large or small, depending on the needs and desires of the kitsune, and can be so minute as to not cause harm.
The soul, however is a reluctant source of nuirishent. For a kitsune to actually benefit, the target should be willing. Once feeding has begun, the experience become pleasant, and the more that is taken, the more pleasure both the kitsune, and the target, will feel.
Unrestrained feeding continues this pleasant sensation, until it becomes a searing sensation in the target, beyond their capabilities to handle. Even after feeding, it requires being treated with soba (a balm made of buckwheat) to remedy this. (As a side note, I don't know if soba is drunk, or if it is applied where the kitsune focused their feeding. To this day, I have had no clue.) The more willing the victim is to being fed from the less harm they will suffer from being drained, and the more the kitsune will receive from the target. A kitsune's willing lover is much safer than a resisting victim, and the kitsune will benefit more from a lover. It is a good guess that this is why kitsune are more willing to seduce others than to simply take what they wish, even if it is for reasons of trickery.
Kitsune can also feed from the elements:
The side effect if a kitsune feeding is by the essence of the element being removed from whatever it is feeding from. The after-effect is an ash. Living things that are fed from, over time, begin to wither, in a manner similar to aging. It isn't aging par-se, but the person or animal becomes weak, pale, and sickly, as their essence fades. This usually will not happen to people (or furs) in just one feeding, but there are many examples of nine-tails who take human lovers, who waste away to death over time.
Kitsune can also draw on the by-products of their elements. A kitsune could drain the wood from a fireplace, along with the fire. They can drain from the stones of a home. They could feed from the knowledge written in a book. Whatever they draw from does not have to be destroyed, though it will most certainly be weakened by the experience.
Kitsune are more adept at feeding from their own element than from outside it, and most skilled at feeding from people. This is a rundown, based on the elements.
Wind - Feeding from the wind would leave stale, unhealthy air. This would be hard to breath, and would be sort of a 'pocket', remaining in an area until a stronger, fresh wind could disappate it. Think of more of a 'dead zone' in the spirit world, that needed to be swept away.
Earth - Feeding from the earth would allow kitsune to draw from the stones, and from the soil. This would more than likely kill most crops, as the land becomes cracked and blighted.
Fire - Feeding from fire would snuff the flames. As part of RP, I've envisioned the flames cirling towards the kitsune as it draws on the fire, the flames leaving the source of their creation, and vanishing into the kitsune. Note that most kitsune create fox-fire, so this most likely would be a common form of feeding.
Water – These kitsune would feed off of rivers or lakes. This could cause the water level to go down, kill fish, taint the water, or in the most extream cases completely dry up the body of water.
Void - These kitsune could feed from the marshes and swamps, leaving stagnant, poisoned waters and dead creatures. They could also feed from the shadows around them, stealing the shadow of people, or making the darkness seem more bleak.
These examples are at varying shades of extreme. A kitsune doesn't *have* to take away all the essence of its feeding ground. A younger kitsune most certainly doesn't need to strip the essence out of everything it comes across, though an older kitsune most certianly will, to maintain themselves. As a side note, kitsune, with the correct understanding, could also drain the essence from magic, enchantments, and places of power.
For note: Chi is the strength of the soul. The soul recovers from harm on it's own accord. ( This is, obviously, all speculation, but it's something to go by for purposes of using kitsune in an RP environment, and helps explain some of what happens and why, with kitsune.) Kitsune need to feed depending on the number of tails they have, and how much they've been using their innate abilities. For the most part, a younger kitsune needs to feed more often, but takes less than a kitsune who's older.
Also note: Kitsune do not have to actually bite into what they are drawing energy away from. For an example, a water kitsune does not feed of its element by drinking water, it needs only be near a body of water to draw the energy away. Also, feeding off of the soul does not require the kitsune to bite the one (s)he is feeding off of, they only need to be close by to do it.
First off, in order to gain a new tail, you must audition for it. Any and all audition must be set up and approved through Prophet. To be anything higher than a two-tail, you HAVE to aud because of the magical strength involved with the char.
Kitsune are most often recognized by the fact they have more than one tail. This does not have to be the case, however, as kitsune who have possessed someone, or who have taken an avatar, do not necessarily show their tails. Be that as it may, a kitsune gains power and stronger magics as it ages. The kitsune gains a tail once every hundred years, until they become a nine-tail. At this time, most kitsune turn silver, though there are exceptions.
Another way a kitsune can gain their tail is by being rewarded by another kitsune. When one kitsune has done a service, or aided an older kitsune, it is possible to gain a tail for their efforts. This is, of course, not to be expected, and is never to be asked for. Some kitsune, though, become apprentices to other kitsune, learning from them, and eventually being called to do some form of quest or service (or two, or three). When the teacher is satisfied, he may grant a tail for these services. The more tails a kitsune has, the more tasks and longer the tenureship will be.
Please note: if a kitsune is to gain tails early, for some reason, the length of tenure should be one to two months for every tail the kitsune already has. (Or even longer) In addition, a kitsune can only be granted a tail by another kitsune that is at least five ranks above it. Thus a one tail could have a tail granted by a six tail, a two tail by a seven tail, a three tail by an eight tail, and a four tail could only be granted a tail by a nine tail.
The number of tasks, or the severity of them, could also depend on the number of tails the kitsune already possesses. Most tasks are dependent on the type of kitsune who is teaching. The easiest way to know how strong a kitsune is, is to look at their tails. Kitsune, as they age, can become quite powerful. A kitsune's strength of magic depends on the number of tails it has. A kitsune with only one tail has roughly the power of the average mage, a little more or a little less depending on the kitsune. A two tailed kitsune is roughly twice as powerful as a one tail, a three tail is twice as powerful as a two tail, so on and so forth. Thus a nine-tailed kitsune has 256 times the power of a one tail and commands near god-like power.
Kitsune who have taken avatars are very vulnerable to physical harm. Anything that can harm a mortal can harm the kitsune. Kitsune do not regenerat and must either spend their resources to heal, or heal at a natural rate. Magical weapons and faith can harm these kitsune far less than other kitsune in the spirit world because they are accepted as more 'natural' to the physical world and have attuned to it some. These kitsune, once killed, re-animate in the spiritual world, much weaker than any other of their brethren. When a kitsune wishes to heal, they must expend energy. If things are very desperate, they can sacrifice one of their tails to gain a huge influx of chi for fuelling themselves. A kitsune who's spend energy to heal becomes more desperate for essence, and has to feed much sooner.
When a kitsune has been killed, unless their spirit has been destroyed, they have a number of options. Depending on how recently and how much they have fed, they can re-manifest in any of the listed ways, or they can sacrifice a tail for a sudden large influx of chi to allow for the manifestation. If they do not, or can not, remanifest, they can just wander the spirit worlds, biding their time and waiting for the most convenient time to do it. While in the spirit world, the kitsune is very vulnerable to spirit attacks or magicks.
Kitsune, being spirits, are amoral. They have only a basic understanding of right and wrong, and make decisions according to what they think will aid them the most. A kitsune's core personality is dependant on the type of kitsune they are. The beliefs in the elemental forces, and the kami which possess them also apply to the kitsune.
Wind - Flighty, these kitsune are wanderers, never staying in one place for long.
Earth - Solid and unyielding, these kitsune are rooted in history, and resistant to change.
Fire - Quick-tempered and reactionary, Fire kitsune are constantly moving, and very emotional.
Water - Natural healers, these kitsune are quiet and peaceful.
Void - Dark and brooding, these kitsune are more malicious and very protective of their domains.
These aspects of a kitsune are less likely to change than other aspects of their personality. As a kitsune becomes involved with those around them, parts of their personality may change. Kitsune are naturally mecurial, but are most often true to their element than to anything else.
Kitsune follow their own code of ethics, though they adapt the morals of those around them, more for the sake of being accepted than for any other reason. Unless they are Guardian kitsune, they can be both allies and enemies to the mortals around them. If someone offends what a kitsune considers 'correct', they can become evil, malicious, and disruptive. If someone behaves according to their ethics, they will become polite, kind, and helpful. This contradiction is evident in the sheer number of legends of kitsune, how they were feared and hunted on one hand, and revered and worshipped on the other. There are legends of kitsune guarding samurai for a favour done, while there are others of kitsune taking the desired lover of another samurai. There are legends of kitsune aiding the peasantry, while there is another of a kitsune stealing food from a lowly traveler.
Some things that kitsune believe in:
1) Kitsune aid each other, helping their clan and showing a united front. Even Guardian kitsune will prefer to drive out a nogitsune, instead of killing them.
2) Kitsune respond to what they see around them. When a kitsune sees what they consider an act against their code of ethics, they will aggravate the situation. They will respond favourably to what they consider a 'moral' act. If a kitsune is treated well, they will respond in kind, and may even go out of their way to aid their friend, while if they are treated poorly, they become extremely spiteful.
3) Kitsune try to follow their promises and personal word of honor. If a kitsune breaks their word, or somehow dishonors themselves, they become very self-distructive. A kitsune's emotions are a weapon against a kitsune. Sorrow or guilt can paralyze them, and in the most extreme, it can kill them. A kitsune can be blinded from the darker side of a person by being treated well, and will be loathe to harm or work against those they have declared friends.
4) Kitsune are will not accept unwilling charity. Those who wish to help kitsune must do so of their own free will. Kitsune are loath to ask for help, and will not accept help that is not freely given.
5) Kitsune are emotional and very vengeful. Kitsune will lose their temper at the slightest provocation. Once someone has earned a kitsune's enmity, the kitsune will begin enacting revenge that can become quite extreme. On the other hand, those who have earned a kitsune's trust and loyalty will see a friendship that can last through many trials.
6) Freedom is very important to the kitsune. They do not accept being forced into something they do not wish, and do not like being bound or trapped. Doing so weakens the kitsune, and is frowned upon by other kitsune.
If a kitsune is to be in a position of servitude, this requires that the kitsune has either been bound spiritually, or owes someone a dept or favour. Otherwise, other kitsune may appear to torment the 'owner', or if the kitsune is unwilling to gain their freedom, punish the kitsune.
The offspring of a kitsune is always another kitsune. These children are often fox-kits, though human children can also be born. These children are automatically 'avatars', and gain the strengths and weaknesses of such manifestation.
The second way for a kitsune to produce offspring, is by transforming someone into a kitsune. This process requires feeding from a willing target until they have almost died. The faint spark of their soul is then surrounded by the kitsune, who invests a portion of their own spirit into the soul, and lets the fragment merge and combine with the soul, then feed from the soul until only the spirit remains. This turns the target into a kitsune, though very weak. These kitsune are considered avatars.
A new kitsune learns quickly. They are very intelligent, and develop their innate abilities in very short periods of times, since to them, their innate abilities are as natural as breathing is to someone else. A kitsune, after transforming someone, is very weak, and has to recuperate.
Kitsune have a number of inherent weaknesses. This section is mostly for those who are playing kitsune, since most kitsune will not tell others about this, and it is not common knowlege.
Those of certain faiths who actually possess faith (read: Clerics, Priests, Monks, Healers) do not see kitsune illusion. In fact, if they touch an illusion made by a kitsune, the illusion will dissolve. The distruction of a kitsune's illusions by faith is a traumatic event to a kitsune, as their concept of reality gets destroyed. This is a psionic attack of sorts, and can drive the weaker kitsune mad.
Continuing on this vein, members who have faith can also remove the connection a kitsune has with someone who has been fed from, preventing the kitsune from being able to drain them again. They can also ward themselved from a kitsune's innate abilities, or protect someone from said abilities.
The kitsune have many allies and enemies. Their interaction with the oriental cultures have given them a diversity that is truly amazing.
Dragons - The dragon is *the* symbol of the elements of the orient, and as such, the kitsune are a lesser creature under them. The dragon is capable of tearing away the spirit of a kitsune, robbing them of the source of their existance. The kitsune and the dragon are naturally hostile to each other, and while they rarely come face to face, the kitsune are known to attempt tricks on the dragons. The only advantage a kitsune has against a dragon is the kitsune's innate cunning.
Oni - There is little that could produce such a reaction of fear in kitsune than the Oni. The oni are oriental demons, creatures that feed from the land and the spirit world much like a kitsune feeds from the elements. The oni are powerful, and can drain a kitsune to a withered husk. Most kitsune, when seeing an oni, will either flee in terror, or curl up and whimper, hoping for either mercy, or a quick death. Oni who practice magic (common), are even more of a threat, as their sorceries are stronger than all but the strongest of kitsune.
'Men of the Cloth' - Shinto, Buddhist, and other faiths are a bane to the kitsune, as many faiths have developed wards and symbols that can harm, bind, or ward a kitsune. To the holy men, a kitsune's illusions, and their very reality, does not exist. A kitsune's innate magics can not harm a holy man, but the reverse is not true.
Sites of faith also harm kitsune, though a kitsune is capable of entering such places. Kitsune make a practice of trying to change the faith of a temple to that of Inari, giving the kitsune access and power at the shrine.
Kitsune are *not* innate sorcerers. They do, however, have innate abilities that fall under the concept of magic. This is called 'Fox-magic', and is as follows:
Illusion
Kitsune are innate illusionists. To them, illusion is as real as anything else around them. A kitsune who uses illusion to appear human *is* human, and can talk, act, make love, and sire children while the illusion exists. A kitsune who transforms a staff into a snake, creates a snake who can crawl, bite, and kill. The kitsune, using this glamour, can make objects, weapons, people, homes, and even manipulate the landscape to suite their needs. More often than not, the illusions are biased towards the element the kitsune is connected to. One kitsune is capable of creating illusions and manipulating the landscape in a small vicinity, but when kitsune gather their collective resources, whole cities can be made.
Foxfire (Kitsune-bi)
Kitsune can produce lightning or fire by rubbing their tails. This becomes a melee weapon. Kitsune can also breath fire, to a limited range, about five feet or less. Kitsune can also create small balls of fire, and use these as lights, thrown weapons, or as playtoys.
Shapeshifting
Kitsune only have two forms which they are allowed to shift to on Cat's haven. the anthro version and their non-anthro version of the fox forms. The rest of their forms are illusions as well as the hiding of their multiple tails.
Kitsune Ball
Kitsune can create small balls of focused power. These balls look like small, white spheres that can easily be mistaken for a child's toy. These balls are a focus for kitsune abilities, and also houses their spirit, usually when they have taken an avatar, or have possessed someone. Kitsune enjoy playing with this ball, and use it as a focus for some of their magics. If anyone else can get their hands on it, they can sometimes coerce the kitsune into helping them.
Kitsune can study any normal field of magic. A drawback they possess however is that to use any form of magic requires them to either draw the energy from a source of power, or draw it from themselves. Unlike mortals, though, they weaken when they draw off their own energies, which does not replenish under its own power. A kitsune who casts magic too often will eventually become weak, and starved.
These are examples of oriental magic:
Akasic
This is the magic of chi, or essence. With it, a mage can see auras and sites of power, and can manipulate, draw on, or expel chi. (Yes, for those of you who play Streetfighter II, this is where you get to throw chi-bolts...) Akasic magic is not powerful, however, unless it is combined with other magics. It is good to draw in energy for things like healing, regeneration, and reversing the loss of essence that a kitsune causes by feeding.
Elemental Magic
Kitsune follow the oriental Elements, and as such are tied to the elements they represent. A kitsune can, to a limited extent, already influence the elements they are a part of, and if they study elemental magic, can become very dangerous in their field of study.
1)Wind - Simple enough. With this study, they can create winds, cause tornadoes, and influence local weather patterns.
2) Earth - They can move rocks, transmute minerals and physical objects, and build things.
3) Fire - This is a kitsune's specialty. They can create fire, control fire, and cook meals. ;)
4) Water - This is a life-giving power. They can create water, or control the creatures that live in water. They can heal others with this element, and bring life to things around them.
5) Dark (void) - This is the magic of the void. With this magic, kitsune can cause blights, drain life, summon creatures of darkness, slip into shadows to vanish, and drain the light from areas. Note: Kitsune do not consider this study 'evil.’
Feng Shui
This is the study of Geomancy. Sites of power, and ley lines are a large part of this magic. With this, a person can find out the best way to build on a site, creating a location of power, or a means to tap into a leyline or a nexus. This allows someone to travel the Dragon Lines (ley lines) to get from location to location, and also allows them to tap the line for power.
Ju-Fo
This is runic magic. With this, a mage can write the words of power, or call them out to create magic effects. These are also good for warding places, banishing or controlling spirits, and binding sites.
Every kitsune has a distinguishing mark on its body to mark it as a kitsune. Each mark is different, sort of like the stripes of a zebra, serving as a method of identifying the ‘sune should you know how. The mark can be almost anything, but usually appears on a cheek, the small of the back, the upper arm, or one a thigh (not both). Almost always the mark stands out against the fur pattern, though kitsunes can use their magic to disguise their mark if it suits them to.