Kitsune
Kitsune is the Japanese word for "fox," although it's never really used for that in the context of /tg/ content. If someone talks about a kitsune, they're probably referring to the shapeshifter fox spirits of Japanese mythology. They are a player race in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
Mythological Basis
In Japanese mythology the kitsune are fox spirits who serve a couple of different roles. They are usually thought of as tricksters, often pulling pranks on arrogant samurai in general and Buddhist monks. They are also divine messengers associated with Inari, the Shinto god of rice. The divine servant kitsune are portrayed as white in color, while the tricksters can be any color.
Kitsune are also said to be great lovers. Female kitsune are said in many stories to take the form of a beautiful woman after falling in love with a human man. These stories are generally positive and romantic in nature, unlike most similar mythological stories, making them the proto-waifu in a lot of ways, and showcasing just how long Japan has been embracing monstergirls.
Similar creatures appear in China and Korea as well, although each culture puts its own different spin on them. The Chinese fox-spirit, the Huli Jing, is effectively a kitsune succubus: possessing only Ying ("female") spiritual energies in their bodies, they seek to correct this by seducing men, as they can suck their Yang ("male") spiritual energies out through intercourse. This is not necessarily lethal, but usually portrayed as a bad thing, whether from direct spiritual malaise or from just being an "evil" act. The Korean fox-spirit, the Gumiho, is also a trickster, but is generally described as much more malevolent than the Kitsune; Gumihos generally like to kill people, and are typically described as literal man-eaters. Eating livers (or hearts, depends on the story, but most say liver) ripped from human victims is generally stated to be the key to a Gumiho increasing her power.
Kitsune in Pathfinder
Kitsune are a race of fox-like humanoids known for their trickster nature and love of beautiful things. They are also shapeshifters in the setting and hail from Tian Xia, from which all things weeaboo hail. Their racial stats and attributes are detailed in the Dragon Empires Gazetteer source book.
Pathfinder Stats
- +2 Dexterity
- +2 Charisma
- -2 Strength
- Medium Size
- Base Land Speed 30 Feet
- Low Light Vision
- Agile (+2 on acrobatics tests)
- Kitsune Magic (+1 to the DC of any saving throw versus enchantment spells)
- Change Shape (can change between humanoid and natural form)
- Racial Disguise Bonus (+10 to disguise tests in humanoid form)
- Natural Weapons (1d4 bite attack while in their natural form)
They also have access to the Realistic Likeness feat which allow them to use Change Shape on any individual they've encountered instead of their specific human form, making Kitsune the race to pick if you've ever wanted to be an effective spy in D&D, and the source of all kinds of clever tricks for almost any class with only a little work.
| The Races of Pathfinder | |
|---|---|
| Player's Handbook: | Dwarf - Elf - Gnome - Half-Elf - Half-Orc - Halfling - Human |
| Advanced Race Guide: |
Aasimar - Catfolk - Changeling - Dhampir - Duergar Drow - Fetchling - Gillman - Goblin - Grippli - Hobgoblin Ifrit - Kitsune - Kobold - Merfolk - Nagaji - Orc - Oread Ratfolk - Samsaran - Strix - Suli - Svirfneblin - Sylph Tengu - Tiefling - Undine - Vanara - Vishkanya - Wayang |
| Bestiaries: | Android - Astomoi - Caligni - Deep One Hybrid - Gathlain Gnoll - Kasatha - Munavri - Naiad - Orang-Pendak Reptoid - Rougarou - Shabti - Trox - Yaddithian |
| Adventure Paths: | Being of Ib - Kuru |
| Inner Sea Races: | Ghoran - Monkey Goblin - Lashunta - Skinwalker Syrinx - Triaxian - Wyrwood - Wyvaran |
| Ultimate Wilderness: | Vine Leshy |
| Blood of the Sea: | Adaro - Cecaelia - Grindylow - Locathah - Sahuagin - Triton |
| Planar Adventures: | Aphorite - Duskwalker - Ganzi |