Huli
The Huli - informally known as the Kitsune, or fox folk, are vulpine shapeshifters known for their love of both trickery and art. Despite an irrepressible penchant for deception, kitsune prize loyalty and make true companions. They delight in the arts, particularly riddles and storytelling, and settle in ancestral clans, taking their wisdom from both the living and spirits. They originally were confined to their fox forms, but when humans visited Ayru in the early ages of Kalio, they transformed, seeking to take their health, and become part of their society.
Mechanics 5e
Charisma +2
Darkvision: Kitsune are used to seeing in the dark and are able to see in darkness as if it were dim light, up to 60ft.
Shapechanger: Kitsune possess two forms, a humanoid shape, and a fox shape. Both shapes share HP, ability Scores, and Saving throws. As a fox, Kitsune have a natural weapon in the form of a Bite attack (1d6 P) and claws (1d4 S). Both use strength as the ability mod.
Passing For Human: While a Tsuki appears to be almost human. they may suppress the existence of their tails and secondary ears with a thought. At 3rd level. This ability manifests in the ability to alter personal details for a time. This functions as the Alter Self Spell using Charisma as the spellcasting ability. Kitsune may use the empowered ability twice per long rest.
Subspecies Type:
Charmers
Tsuki
+1 Wisdom
Vulpine Luck: When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, skill check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll. The Kitsune may use this ability up to 2 times per short rest. However, they may use both uses to allow a party member to reroll a natural one instead.
Yakoi
+1 Dex
Dancing Shifter: You can cast the misty step spell once using this trait. You regain the ability to do so when you finish a short or long rest.
Trickster Magic: You gain the Minor Illusion Cantrip. Your casting ability is charisma.
The other Three Subraces are still very much in progress.
Mechanics Pathfinder
Shapeshifter: Kitsune possess two forms, a humanoid shape, and a fox shape. Both shapes share HP, ability Scores, and Saving throws. As a fox, Kitsune have a natural weapon in the form of a Bite attack (1d6 P) and claws (1d4 S), and are at Small size. Both use strength as the ability mod.
Additionally:
All worn and carried equipment is not absorbed unless it is a magical item.
Shifting between forms is a 2 step Action.
For now, Huli have access to Human Ancestry Feats. Heritages are located on the Ethnicity page associated.
| Rarity | HP | Size | Speed | FLAW |
| Uncommon | 8 | MED | 25 | STR |
| BOOST | LANG | Traits | SENSES | SPECIAL |
| DEX | Kiril, Common | Humanoid, Aberration | Low Light | Shapeshifter (See Below |
| CHA |
Basic Information
Anatomy
A kitsune has two forms—a single human form and its true form, that of a fox. In their human forms, kitsune tend toward lean and lithe builds, always seeming a bit lanky or thin. In all forms, they possess golden, amber, or brilliant blue eyes. In their true forms as small foxes, they are covered with a downy and fluffy coat of fur, although sleek and matted fur can happen in individuals. The Easiest way to tell you’re dealing with a Kitsune, rather than your average fox, is to count the number of tails. Kitsune, after they reach adulthood, gain another tail for every decade they live. Truly Ancient Kitsune Matriarchs can have dozens of tails, if not hundreds if they live a magically enhanced life.
Genetics and Reproduction
Kitsune are capable of reproduction with humans, other Kitsune, and as always, the genetically diverse Hakir.
Notably, the Huli seem to be of a very recessive gene. Only by producing with other Kitsune, are the Huli people guaranteed to make more of their own kind. With a human or Hakir parent involved in the mix, the chances of a Kitsune child only happen 1 in every 20 kids, meaning sometimes, a Huli will never have a a child of their own kind if they choose to mingle with other species.
Vixens have a yearly reproductive cycle more inline with their true, Fox form than the humans that they mimic, and the hormone fluctuations that accompany their period of fertility is similarly more intense. They will gestate their children for approximately 8 months (or longer if the child is Human or Hakir) before giving live birth. Pups are always born in their true form, and will often remain in fox form, for almost a full year, before they begin showing signs of their human appearances. There are rare instances (about 1 in Every 1000 births) where a Huli child will be born in their human form, sporting ears and tail after birth. These rare pups are called Kōzasshu, and they supposedly are blessed by the spirits of their ancestors, and will lead lives of wonder and adventure.
Growth Rate & Stages
Infancy
Kitsune, as a species that has always lived among humans, and experience a very similar growth cycle to humans, especially in the early years of their life. Both genders will often remain in their true forms well into their first year, and only begin shifting after they've weaned from their mother's milk. Infancy still lasts roughly two to three years, as they learn human tendencies from their parents, and are honestly far self sufficient as foxes, than as children on two feet. Officially though, infancy is considered to be over, when a Pup is able to express full coherent sentences (even if they're simple ones).
Childhood
After infancy, the sexual dimorphism of the species becomes more apparent. Boys generallly experience childhoods identical to most human boys. Lots of rumbleroughing, and generally not experiecing much physical growth, besides height and teeth. Huli girls on the other hand, mature approximately twice as fast, mentally and physically, as their male counterparts. This is because the female Huli express the traits of their parasitic ancestors more strongly than the males, this is purely a magical effect, and Huli mothers are fiercely and violently protective of their daughters that have physically matured but are still children mentally, as there is an element of sick adults that have attempted to reason that physical maturity allows for consent. There have been searches by Huli seers and researchers to remove this magical part of their biology, but successes has been elusive to this point and time.
Adulthood
Huli children are officially considered adults by their Huli parents when their second tail grows in, around the same time as the Huli boys finish going through puberty. However, they often won't leave their families for a few more years, often taking care of their siblings, until around 25-30 years old, they start to experience territorial based needs, as they need to split from their home nest, and begin experiencing the world for themselves, and claim something for themselves. Its during this period a lot of Huli adventurers happen, but there are also cases of joining militaries, studying trades, becoming merchants, and experiencing life on the road. This growing need to wander and claim something for themselves will no settle until they find something that can satiate this need to claim. Sometimes this is due to love and marriage, others a new found family, and some will find their place in games of politics and power.
Nesting and Venerability
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Kitsune can be found anywhere where humans can be found, which is to say everywhere, however, their greatest populations are found in the Island Region of Ayru, where their species was discovered at the Dawn of the first Age.
Average Intelligence
The Huli people are average as species come, in terms of intelligence, though they are often clever and charming, able to pick up social cues quickly and easily.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
While their existence is more Symbiotic these days, the truth of the matter is that the Huli began as a Parasitic species, living on the fringes of Human seafaring societies that landed on Ayru with the Mask, when she buried the Firstborn in the Volcanic soils of the Island. The foxes were elevated by the Void, and meant to sow division among the humans, until the first Huli Matriarch fell in love with human explorer Akoto Moi, and their union lead to the Huli people, who almost entirely populated Ayru for 100 years. However, the fear of fleeing sailors left their reputations destroyed for centuries abroad, and it has only been in the past 5 centuries, that a Huli hasn't been required to hide their natural traits, to avoid witch hunts and purges in Human cities.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Author Note: As the Huli have always glomped onto Human traditions across the world, meaning they often share in human names, but the region they originate from, Ayru is a healthy mix of folklore and traditions I've pulled from Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, so if you want a Huli that is named for their Ancestors, names from those real world countries are always a great choice.
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