Kitsune, or fox folk, are vulpine shapeshifters known for their love of both trickery and art. Kitsune possess two forms: that of attractive human of slender build with salient eyes, and their true form of a fox. Despite an irrepressible penchant for deception, kitsune prize loyalty and make true companions. They delight in the arts, particularly riddles and storytelling, and settle in ancestral clans, taking their wisdom from both the living and spirits.
Quick-witted and nimble, kitsune make excellent bards and rogues. It is not uncommon for one to pursue sorcery, while those few born with white fur and pale eyes usually become oracles.
Physical Description
A kitsune has two forms—a single human form and its true form, that of a fox. In their human forms, kitsune tend toward quickness and lithe beauty. In all forms they possess golden, amber, or brilliant blue eyes. In their true forms, they are covered with a downy coat of auburn fur, although more exotic coloration is possible.
Society
Kitsune society is enigmatic, as kitsune prize loyalty among their friends but delight in good-natured mischief and trickery. Kitsune take pleasure in the pursuit of creative arts and in all forms of competition, especially the telling of stories interwoven with tall tales and falsehoods.
Relations
Kitsune deal well with elves, samsarans, and vulpini. Their reputation as tricksters follows them when they interact with other races. Many kitsune, particularly those who dwell in mixed-race societies, choose to hide their true natures and pose as humans in public.
Alignment & Religion
Kitsune tend to be neutral, or of alignments with a neutral component. Most kitsune worship worship Fatin.
Adventurers
Keenly interested in adding their own names to the myths and legends of explorers and heroes of old, Kitsune adventurers range across the world.
+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma: Kitsune are agile and companionable
Medium: Kitsune are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Normal Speed: Kitsune have a base speed of 30 feet.
Low-light vision: They can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
Fox Form: The natural form of a kitsune is that of an unusually large fox. While in this form they gain a +4 racial bonus to CMD against trip attempts. While in their natural form they also add 10 feet to their base speed
Change Shape (Su): A kitsune can assume the appearance of a single human form of the same sex—this form is static, and cannot be changed each time the kitsune assumes this form. A kitsune in human form cannot make its bite attack, but gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear human. Changing from human to kitsune shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as alter self, save that the kitsune does not adjust its ability scores.
Resistant: Kitsune gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects and poison.
Seducer: Kitsune add +1 to the saving throw DCs for their spells and spell-like abilities of the enchantment school. In addition, Kitsune with a Wisdom score of 15 or higher may use charm person once per day as a spell-like ability (caster level is equal to the user’s character level).
Natural Weapon (Ex): A kitsune has a bite attack in its natural form. This bite does a base of 1d4 points of damage on a hit. This is a primary attack, or a secondary attack if the kitsune wields a manufactured weapon.
Languages: Kitsune begin play speaking Kitsune and a regional language. Kitsune with high Intelligence scores can choose bonus languages from the following: any human tongue, Aklo, Celestial, Elven, Gnome, Elgarian, Mongoose, Sylvan, Tengu, and Felarian.