Kitsune Lore

[Kitsune]

Foxes or Kitsunes are a common sight in Japan, especially to those who can see the secret world. Shapeshifters who can change between human and fox at will, most have the ability to use magic and they start growing more tails as they gain wisdom and power. The only way to kill a kitsune is to cut off all of its tails, as it is said that one of the tails is its main tail and the source of all its power. Not knowing which tail is the main one, one would have to cut off all its tails to kill it. The oldest known Kitsune in Japan has been alive since the middle of the Edo period, his line having come from the first kitsune to gain power. Any fox can become a kitsune, but it is rarely seen now days and most kitsune are born to kitsune parents.

While it is common to see many kitsune's in the far east, there are rarer groups living out in the rest of the world. America, Canada, England, France and many other countries. One noteworthy western kitsune is known as the Reynard the Fox, a famed trickster and often at odds with a Were. Lesser known then their Asian cousins, western kitsune's are more careful, through history they'd been hunted, sometimes by human's that called them witches and sometimes by other creatures. It is unknown how Kitsune's gained their powers, some say there is the Kami Inari Ōkami who gave them the ability as a protection, but no one knows for sure.

The kitsune are an aspect of the elements, meaning that they have ties to their abilities from each of these. The elements are broken down into 13 categories and the kitsune are divided into each type: Kaze (Wind), Chikyu (Earth), Kasai (Fire), Kawa (River), Tengoku (Heaven), Sanda (Thunder), Yama (Mountain), Kukan (Void), Seishin (Spirit), Jikan (Time), Mori (Forest), Umi (Ocean), and Ongaku (Music). Each kitsune has its own strength and weaknesses, based on the element it is assigned to. The element reflects where the kitsune's power originates, what affinities it has in the elements. For example, a Fire Kitsune would be unaffected by fire, could easily feed from the element of fire to strengthen itself, and would use fox fire with ease. However, a water kitsune would not use fire too well, but would be a natural healer, and would thrive near or in water.  

One of the most important things to a Kitsune is freedom. They do not fare well to being locked away, and do not like to be forced to do something they don't want to. Doing something like that would be likely to get you killed if they are freed. Kitsune love playing tricks. They like to take things and hide them from people, or do just about anything else to piss someone off. Some kitsunes can have difficulty hiding their tails and ears when they take human form; perhaps when the fox gets drunk or careless or is too inexperienced.