Fox spirits are known throughout East Asian culture each with varying names. For example, in Chinese their name is Huli jing, Gumiho in Korean and Kitsune in Japanese. They are the same thing with the only difference being where the fox spirit originated. Given that the location is set in Japan, Kitsune will be considered the catch all East Asian Fox Spirit.
Each kitsune originally has a fox form, it is their natural state and the look varies from kitsune to kitsune. Some have unnatural white fur with red colorations while others have more natural colored fur. A commonality is their multiple tails, tails that grow as a kitsune ages. Each two hundred years they grow an extra tail and are nine-tailed at 1,600 years old at which point the kitsune often spends their time meditating to reach enlightenment.
Kitsune abilities include:
Human form: Some kitsunes are more gifted in creating their human form while others sometimes just copy the form of a human they saw. So sometimes related kitsunes look nothing alike.
Possession: The tell-tale sign of a kitsune possession are glowing yellow eyes. Some kitsune no longer practice possession while others do it in secret like any other crime.
Dream walking: Kitsunes are also able to enter someone’s mind when they are asleep and give them horrible nightmares or good ones depending on their intention. In this dream realm kitsunes have complete control over the world and can create horrifying dreamscapes.
Illusions: Kitsunes can create various illusions, the older they are however, the more “real” they can make their illusion. For example a nine-tailed kitsune can create wealth out of nothing and it becomes the real thing. Illusions can be broken through magical spells.
Inari foxes are ones who have pledged to be good for humanity, to protect living beings. These are the ones that people have built statues for to protect shrines and temples and homes. Most take their position seriously and hold great honor in it. Their possessions do not last as long as possessions done by a nogitsune. The most they can last is a few hours. After, they are either kicked out of the body or the human dies.
Nogitsune foxes are ones who have no interest in protecting humanity. They are trickster foxes who enjoy harming others and seeing them fail. They are unable to create an original human form so they often take the form of someone they’ve seen and kill them to take their life.
The elemental magic a kitsune can do depends on the fox but a list of elements they can manipulate are:
Wind - They are able to create winds, control their breathing as well as influence some weather patterns like tornados and snowstorms. Kitsunes with this ability also are able to move relatively fast as they move with the wind not against it.
Mountain - These focus on the ground itself, the dirt particles, the minerals. Anything solid and underground they can manipulate to some form. This element allows for the control of the mountains, and those that live in it. With this, kitsune can cause earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
Light - This elemental ability can go one of two ways, either through fire and allow the kitsune to manipulate and create fire or lightning, allowing the user to create shockwaves and manipulate electrical currents.
River - They can create water and manipulate its liquid form only. They can heal others with their element with older kitsune being able cause very strong storms, flooding, and tsunamis.
Forest - This focuses on plant-life, they are able to manipulate trees and flowers. Often able to cultivate magical plants and create concoctions of various effects with them.
Dark - Also called “void”, they are able to cloak themselves in darkness to hide in the shadows (which they teleport through) or drain life energy and cause illnesses.
Some people, particularly East Asian werebeasts still revere fox spirits to this day considering their kind to be as close to an animal god as they can have.
Kitsunes can be killed by cutting off all their tails. It is best to cut them off either all in one swipe or soon after the other because given enough time a kitsune can regenerate a tail that has been cut off. A one-tailed kitsune requires a severed tail and head.
Often those who have been possessed by kitsune or are wary against them choose to have dogs for protection as kitsunes prefer to not be anywhere near dogs.
To make a kitsune favorable to you, all you have to do is offer them some fried tofu. However, once you feed a kitsune they may feel bound to you in some way and won’t leave until you let them give you a favor.
