Kitsune

Kitsune are the mortal children of fox spirits, instilled with an inherent sense of destiny and a proclivity for mischief. The majority of kitsune society exists in demiplanar monasteries or hidden away in the thick bamboo forests of Izumo and Zhongho.

Each kitsune is born with one tail and grows more as they gain wisdom, up to a maximum of nine tails. Kitsunes can live for centuries, with the most powerful, nine-tailed masters reaching ages of 1,000 years or more. These masters often become divine beings, leaving the mortal world to ascend to the Celestial Heavens.

Rambunctious young kitsune who haven’t already run off in search of mischief are often sent away in the company of a master, with the hope that the outside world will tame their wilder impulses.

Kitsune and their fox spirit parents believe in the betterment of the world through trickery: whether it’s a prank to bring a smile to a sad child’s face or a grand plot to bring down an oppressor.

Heritage

• Ability Score Increase: When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. You can't raise any of your scores above 20.
• Creature Type: You are a Fey.
• Age: Kitsune have been known to live for over 1,000 years and are thought to be functionally immortal.
• Languages: You can read, speak and write Common, Celestial and Kitsune
• Size: Your size is Medium.
• Speed: Your base walking speed is 35 ft.
• Born Trickster: You know the Prestidigitation cantrip.
• Fox's Luck: When you make an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you may roll an additional die. You may do this after the roll has been made but before the outcome is determined, choosing which of the d20s is used for the result. You may use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.
• Mystic Tunnel: Once per week, you can use an action to create a temporary portal between two locations. The portal openings must both be on solid ground and have a maximum distance between them of 10 miles. Alternatively, you may create a portal to a location you are familiar with on a different plane, exiting at a random spot within 5 miles of that location. Portals can only accommodate Medium or smaller creatures and disappear 1 hour after they're created.
• Subrace: Two subraces of kitsune exist: young foxes and wisened masters. Choose one of them for your character.

Variants

Young Fox

• Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity or Charisma score increases by 1.
• Fox Form: As an action, you may take the form of a fox. Your hit points remain the same, but all of your other stats and abilities change to those of a fox. You can't cast or maintain spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of this form. You can remain in your alternate form indefinitely, and you can shift back to your true kitsune form by using this ability again.

Wisened Master

• Ability Score Increase: Your Wisdom or Charisma score increases by 1.
• Humanoid Form: As an action, you may take the form of a humanoid. This form must be of a Medium humanoid race you have seen before, be of the same body type and height as your true form and have roughly analogous physical traits, such as hair color. You can remain in your alternate form indefinitely, and you can shift back to your true kitsune form by using this ability again.

As the fox spirits who birth mortal kitsune have no need of names, it falls to others or the kitsune themself to create one. Young kitsune are often named after something they feel a significant connection with. As they age, kitsune may choose to rename themselves after an object or event that granted them the wisdom to gain a new tail.