(Pl. Kitsune; Key-tsoo-neh)
Basic Information
The Kitsune is a mythological being of Eastern creation. This creature is a single, or multi-tailed (up to nine) Fox. Stories call them rain spirits, and traditionally considered them neutral or good beings.
Their powers are chiefly manifested through shape-shifting and illusion. They also on occasion would possess people, although not necessarily with malefic intent.
The Japanese rice god, Inari, was said to use Kitsune as his messengers.
A potential hazard, especially in these days of international travel, is to confuse at kitsune with their Korean equivalent the Kumiho. Kumiho are in many ways similar to Kitsune, but almost universally malevolent and hostile towards humanity. They are definitely not just in it for the lols and red bean paste.
See Also: Japanese Mythology
Game and Story Use
- Kitsune are often used in stories, the most well known modern stories mentioning them are Pokémon (Vulpix and Ninetails,) Naruto, and Okami. According to the Sonic Team, Tails is not a Kitsune, though many fans consider him one
- Kitsune are very powerful magical creatures, and are traditionally capable of possessing, persuading, or otherwise controlling simple, foolish, weak-minded, non-magic human types.
- A local magistrate has suddenly started acting peculiar, issuing nonsensical edicts and demanding red beans and rice for every meal. His family fears he has been possessed by a kitsune and is trying to conceal this from the rest of the community. They ask the party for help.
- A farmer is being plagued by a mischievous kitsune who keeps playing magical pranks on his farm. He asks the players for help. What he doesn't know is that the pranks are of a beneficial nature and that the Rice god Inari has sent the kitsune to aid the farmer.
- If faced with a weeabo player with an inappropriate interest in kitsune, consider running them into a kumiho instead … that will stop them from trying to drag your sessions into the "magical realm". Hopefully.