Empress Tamamo the Dark Nine Tail
One of the most formidable, terrifying, and cunning Foxfolk ever to walk the world of Elema was Empress Tamamo Numa. She ruled the vast region southwest of Japstion—territory that now belongs to several separate kingdoms. Tamamo was famed for her grace, beauty, and cruelty.
Little is known about her early life. The first reliable record begins with her marriage to Emperor Zhoul Shangy of the Shangy Dynasty. She seduced him with her playful charm and beguiling presence, quickly rising to power at his side.
As Empress, Tamamo was known for her sharp intelligence, ruthless efficiency, and unshakable control over the military. Failure was not tolerated. She was feared not just for the consequences she inflicted, but for the dark pleasure she seemed to take in doling them out.
Under her and the Emperor’s rule, the empire flourished. Their iron grip and tactical brilliance brought prosperity and conquest for over 60 years. But when Emperor Shangy died of old age, grief swept through the realm—though Tamamo, still only 350 years old, remained. Given the long lifespan of Foxfolk, she could have ruled for centuries more.
After the funeral, Tamamo shifted the empire’s structure to one of total militaristic dominance. The mask came off. Rumors of her sadism and arcane experiments began to spread. She sought to transform her empire into a superpower—through any means necessary.
She founded grand academies for both magical and technological research, encouraging the study of all life forms. No subject was off-limits. Even children of the royal line were enrolled in brutal scientific curricula. Research covered poisons, body modifications, and magical enhancement. Inmates were frequently used as test subjects.
At first, some prisoners may have volunteered, hoping to reduce their sentences. But eventually, all were used. The more valuable the research, the more time could be subtracted. Those on death row were subjected to horrific experiments—driven mad or killed in the process. Even then, their bodies were repurposed for further studies. Prisoners of war endured even worse fates. High-ranking captives were brought directly to Tamamo, where she personally broke them until they begged for death.
The results were undeniable: her military became one of the most powerful forces on the planet. They developed new weapons, tactics, and methods of city-wide destruction. Training was brutal—failure was punished severely, success was rewarded with cruel privilege.
Society fractured into three distinct castes:
The Nobles: Adorers of Tamamo’s power, many molded themselves in her image. Those who defied her often disappeared into her personal dungeon. There, she delighted in psychological and physical torment—using illusion magic to blur the lines between pain and pleasure. Her favorite game was to reverse sensations until victims begged for more, not realizing they were being destroyed.
The Military and Resource Factions: As long as they delivered results, they were honored and free to act as they pleased. But failure meant replacement—often becoming the next “subject” in an experiment.
The Commoners: Regarded as little more than livestock. Those who did not serve in the military or academia lived in constant fear. As long as they obeyed the laws and the whims of those above them, they were spared the worst—but only barely.
This grim order persisted for 149 years. Numerous assassination attempts were made on Tamamo’s life. Some came close. But thanks to her powerful magic and physical prowess, she always prevailed. Captured would-be assassins suffered fates that mirrored their plans, stretched out over days or weeks. If she wished them to last longer, she healed them—so the torment could begin anew.
Eventually, the other kingdoms of Raygon recognized her unchecked power as a global threat. Her conquests had become more brazen, and smaller nations were being wiped away as footnotes. A grand alliance formed, launching a unified counterattack. With Tamamo’s forces spread thin across the continent, the allied kingdoms began to reclaim lost territory.
Then came her 587th birthday. On that day, Tamamo ascended to her full form, becoming a Kyubi—a Nine-Tailed Foxfolk of legendary power. Surrounded by enemy forces at her palace, she transformed into a towering fox beast, radiating magic so intense it rivaled ancient dragons. For days, she rampaged across the battlefield, laying waste to both enemies and terrain alike. Even her own people became collateral damage. She was a storm of destruction—seemingly unstoppable.
But in the chaos, her own empire fractured. Many of her forces defected or surrendered. With the full might of the allied nations and a rebellion within, Empress Tamamo was finally brought down after days of brutal combat.
History records her death and the dissolution of her empire. The lands she once ruled were divided into new kingdoms or absorbed into others. And yet, whispers remain—stories that the Dark Nine-Tail escaped, slipping through a metaphysical gate before the final blow was struck.
Whether myth or truth, none can say.
But some still claim that the old fox walks the world of Elema… waiting.
Little is known about her early life. The first reliable record begins with her marriage to Emperor Zhoul Shangy of the Shangy Dynasty. She seduced him with her playful charm and beguiling presence, quickly rising to power at his side.
As Empress, Tamamo was known for her sharp intelligence, ruthless efficiency, and unshakable control over the military. Failure was not tolerated. She was feared not just for the consequences she inflicted, but for the dark pleasure she seemed to take in doling them out.
Under her and the Emperor’s rule, the empire flourished. Their iron grip and tactical brilliance brought prosperity and conquest for over 60 years. But when Emperor Shangy died of old age, grief swept through the realm—though Tamamo, still only 350 years old, remained. Given the long lifespan of Foxfolk, she could have ruled for centuries more.
After the funeral, Tamamo shifted the empire’s structure to one of total militaristic dominance. The mask came off. Rumors of her sadism and arcane experiments began to spread. She sought to transform her empire into a superpower—through any means necessary.
She founded grand academies for both magical and technological research, encouraging the study of all life forms. No subject was off-limits. Even children of the royal line were enrolled in brutal scientific curricula. Research covered poisons, body modifications, and magical enhancement. Inmates were frequently used as test subjects.
At first, some prisoners may have volunteered, hoping to reduce their sentences. But eventually, all were used. The more valuable the research, the more time could be subtracted. Those on death row were subjected to horrific experiments—driven mad or killed in the process. Even then, their bodies were repurposed for further studies. Prisoners of war endured even worse fates. High-ranking captives were brought directly to Tamamo, where she personally broke them until they begged for death.
The results were undeniable: her military became one of the most powerful forces on the planet. They developed new weapons, tactics, and methods of city-wide destruction. Training was brutal—failure was punished severely, success was rewarded with cruel privilege.
Society fractured into three distinct castes:
The Nobles: Adorers of Tamamo’s power, many molded themselves in her image. Those who defied her often disappeared into her personal dungeon. There, she delighted in psychological and physical torment—using illusion magic to blur the lines between pain and pleasure. Her favorite game was to reverse sensations until victims begged for more, not realizing they were being destroyed.
The Military and Resource Factions: As long as they delivered results, they were honored and free to act as they pleased. But failure meant replacement—often becoming the next “subject” in an experiment.
The Commoners: Regarded as little more than livestock. Those who did not serve in the military or academia lived in constant fear. As long as they obeyed the laws and the whims of those above them, they were spared the worst—but only barely.
This grim order persisted for 149 years. Numerous assassination attempts were made on Tamamo’s life. Some came close. But thanks to her powerful magic and physical prowess, she always prevailed. Captured would-be assassins suffered fates that mirrored their plans, stretched out over days or weeks. If she wished them to last longer, she healed them—so the torment could begin anew.
Eventually, the other kingdoms of Raygon recognized her unchecked power as a global threat. Her conquests had become more brazen, and smaller nations were being wiped away as footnotes. A grand alliance formed, launching a unified counterattack. With Tamamo’s forces spread thin across the continent, the allied kingdoms began to reclaim lost territory.
Then came her 587th birthday. On that day, Tamamo ascended to her full form, becoming a Kyubi—a Nine-Tailed Foxfolk of legendary power. Surrounded by enemy forces at her palace, she transformed into a towering fox beast, radiating magic so intense it rivaled ancient dragons. For days, she rampaged across the battlefield, laying waste to both enemies and terrain alike. Even her own people became collateral damage. She was a storm of destruction—seemingly unstoppable.
But in the chaos, her own empire fractured. Many of her forces defected or surrendered. With the full might of the allied nations and a rebellion within, Empress Tamamo was finally brought down after days of brutal combat.
History records her death and the dissolution of her empire. The lands she once ruled were divided into new kingdoms or absorbed into others. And yet, whispers remain—stories that the Dark Nine-Tail escaped, slipping through a metaphysical gate before the final blow was struck.
Whether myth or truth, none can say.
But some still claim that the old fox walks the world of Elema… waiting.
Comments