The Kitsune

The Kitsune Disciple

Sango smiled gently at the man she accompanied up the stairs of the harem. “I hope I can please you tonight my lord, it is my first time.”

The man smiled lecherously at her. “Oh my little darling, I doubt you could displease me, my sweet little jewel.” He opened the door and lit the lantern, beckoning Sango into the room.

She entered slowly and took in all the details of the room, including the window. A slight smile crossed her face. She reached slowly into her kimono as the man sat on the bed.

“Oh, just as eager as me, eh?” He laughed as he started to unlace his shirt.

“Wait, wait just a moment,” she said, taking a small dagger from it. She gently placed it in his hand.

“What’s this?” he asked, turning it in his hands.

“Oh, it’s just a little fun!” She grinned and inhaled deeply, and then screamed “No! No! Don’t…AHHH!”

“Hey, what are you doing?” he growled, following her to the window.

She chuckled and pushed the window open. As he tried to grab her she leapt and landed nimbly, waving farewell as she transformed into a small, seven tailed fox. He backed away, shocked as the keeper burst in, holding a sword.

“What have you done?” he cried, seeing the nearly decapitated body by the window and the bloody dagger.

“Wait, wait it wasn’t! She, she wasn’t human; she was some sort of spirit! It’s all a trick!”

And, somewhere down the street, a little, seven-tailed fox almost seemed to grin. Those who frequent harems deserve no better.

The Kitsune Disciple are a small band of folk who, for some reason or another, seek to emulate the Kitsune, mischievous fox spirits whom live just beyond the veil of reality, manifesting only to associate with humans, punish or reward those who don’t or do follow their morals and to please their abstract desires. Although they start as mere mortals, as they come closer to their namesake, they strive further from humanity and closer to foxhood (as you could say). The most common Kitsune Disciples are among those who already think and act much like the fox spirits, making Rogues and Bards among the most common. Aside from that, other classes appear in varying numbers, except for Paladins, Rangers and Druids. Although Rangers and Druids would seem to be more common because of their bond with nature, most refuse to even associate with Kitsune (both spirits and group), seeing them as perversions of the natural order.

OOC: On a side note, if you plan to allow for Kitsune and Kitsune Disciples, I highly recommend you at least reference a little bit about how Kitsune are said to act. I highly recommend visiting the site www.coyotes.org/kitsune/kitsune.html and doing a smidge of reading, but, to simplify things I excerpted this from the Kitsune Lore and Player’s Guide by Foxtrot-

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 gaint their freedom, punish the kitsune.

Requirements

Alignment: LN, N, CN

Skills: Bluff 7 Ranks, Diplomacy 5 Ranks

Special: Must make peaceful contact with a Kitsune

HD: d6

BAB: as Rogue

Saves: Good Reflex/Will

Skill Points: 4+int mod
Skills: As Bard

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Kitsune gain automatic proficiency with their Foxfire, but no other proficiencies.

Lvl…Special Abilities

1……1 Tail, Feeding, Foxfire,

2……2 Tails, Fox Magic I

3……3 Tails, Fox Magic II, Kitsune Form

4……4 Tails, Thousand Faces

5……5 Tails, Fox Magic III

6……6 Tails, Fox Magic IV

7……7 Tails, Ethereal Shift

8……8 Tails, Fox Magic V

9……9 Tails, Fox Magic VI

10……Kitsune, Illusory Reality

Tail- As a symbol of their bond with the Kitsune, the Kitsune Disciple is granted tails to show her development in the way. Beginning at first level, and at every level up to nine, she sprouts a single fox-tail to show her relative rank. These tails are naturally visible in all three of the Kitsune Disciples shapes.

Feeding- Just as the Kitsune must draw spirit energy (Ki) to utilize their Fox Magic, so too must the Kitsune Disciple. There are several ways to do this. The most basic way is to draw the energy from the land which, tragically, can do severe damage to the land if not carefully moderated. The second, and just as common way, is to draw forth Ki from living beings. This is done by forming a bond with the person and then draining their Ki, be it through sexual contact or merely pulling it at will. This experience is quite, unique, and can be mentally damaging to those whom she draws from. It is preferred that her link be created with a willing individual, although in a pinch, she can drain from anybody.

Feeding from the land requires that the Kitsune Disciple first choose an area to feed on, requiring that she be at the area, and then “bond” with that area for an hour. From that point on, as a full round action, she may draw forth 1 charge of energy. The trick is that draining these charges damages the land as spirit energy is pulled forth. This causes the expected effects, such as plants wilting, soil becoming useless, water becoming stagnant, rocks weakening and crumbling and other such negative effects. Given time, the land can heal, but repeated draining of the same area can cause permanent damage. So, considerate (or perhaps merely wise) Kitsune Disciples rarely drain from the area for long, opting to constantly move it, or draw from a humanoid.

The process for feeding from humanoids is quite similar to that of the land. The Kitsune must at least be in sight of the target, and use a Standard action to form a link between them. Then, as a full round action, they may draw energy from their target, gaining 2 charges per round of drain. Those affected by this drain feel extreme joy and pleasure, causing a -2 penalty to all attacks, AC and skill checks while feeding continues. Each round it is continued, the target is dealt one point of permanent wisdom damage (recoverable through any restoration spell, limited wish, wish and miracle). If at any time the target’s Wisdom falls to three or below, they are afflicted with Insanity as per the spell. Unwilling targets can resist the drain and sever the bond by making a Will save (DC 10+1/2 KD lvl+KD’s Cha mod). As stated, Kitsune Disciples prefer to draw from willing targets and help them recover (finding it much more enjoyable), but in a pinch, they are more than willing to do so to unwilling targets. This is a supernatural ability.

Foxfire- The most notable ability of a Kitsune Disciple is her ability to create little balls of fire known as “Foxfire.” These balls can be used as lighting, toys, or even a method of attack. As a Standard action, she may conjure up a number of balls equal to her Kitsune Disciple level. These balls hover and dance around her until she actively moves one. These balls deal 1d4 fire damage with a x2 critical and a range increment of 60 feet if used as a weapon. Multiple balls may be combined to form a larger flame as a Move Equivalent action (+1d4 fire damage per ball combined). No more than her level in Foxfire (count combined Foxfire as a number equal to its total damage dice) may exist at a given time. This is a supernatural ability.

Kitsune Form- In their efforts to emulate the fey they are so fond of, the Kitsune Disciple develops another special ability. She gains the ability to take the form of a fox, as well as a hybrid form. This is a supernatural ability that should be treated as a Polymorph Self spell, except that she does not heal upon transforming.

Fox Statistics- Borrowed from Dragon: CR ¼ Tiny Animal; HD 1/2d8+1; hp 5; init +4 (Dex); Spd 40ft; AC 17 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +1 natural); Atk +1 melee (1d3 bite); SQ Scent; Face 2 ½ ft by 2 ½ ft; Reach 0 ft; SV Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +1; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7.

Skills: Hide +4, Listen +4, Move Silently +4, Spot +2, Swim +2, Wilderness Lore +1*.

Foxes have a +4 racial bonus to Wilderness Lore checks when tracking by scent.

Hybrid Adjustments- +2 Dex, +2 Natural Armor, SQ Scent

Fox Magic- With their efforts to emulate the Kitsune, Kitsune Disciple’s learn to manipulate the energy they draw into illusion and enchantment spells, similar to those of a sorcerer. Each spell uses a number of charges equal to its Fox Magic level. Spells cannot be used without expending the proper number of charges. These spells are cast as a Sorcerer of level equal to her total class level.

I: Ghost Sound, Silent Image, Ventriloquism

II: Charm Person, Minor Image, Suggestion

III: Major Image, Emotion, Confusion, Hallucinatory Terrain, Illusory Wall, Shadow Conjuration

IV: Greater Shadow Conjuration, Mirage Arcana, Persistent Image

V: Mass Suggestion, Shades, Permanent Image, Programmed Image

VI: Insanity, Sympathy, Mass Charm

Thousand Faces: As per the Druid ability.

Ethereal Shift: The Kitsune exist on primarily upon the Ethereal plane, manifesting upon the Prime Material plane only when they wish. As their closeness to the Kitsune increases, they too gain the ability to shift planes. For 10 min times 1/2 her KD Levels at a time, she may expend 5 charges to become ethereal as per the spell Ethereal Jaunt. This is a supernatural ability

Kitsune: Upon reaching the 10^th level, the Kitsune Disciple has achieved their ultimate goal. She has come as close to becoming the being she so admires as she can. Upon reaching 10^th level, her type permanently changes to Fey. She gains damage resistance +1/20 and now drains 2 Charges from the land and 3 Charges from humanoids.

Illusory Reality: It is said that the illusions of a true Kitsune are no different than reality. Although the Kitsune Disciple is unable to perfect the ability, she can exert her energy to occasionally make a single illusion real. Once per month, she may spend an additional 10 Charges as well as 1,000 exp points when using an illusion spell to make real. This ability cannot create creatures or people, but it can alter them, change terrain, create items or buildings and similar tasks. This ability cannot create any objects of value greater than 15,000 GP.