Foxtail Staffs

Foxtail staffs are an external extension of a Kitsune's esso circuits, and as such are functionally a part of their body detached from them. Each staff is a unique representation of the kitsune it belongs to, and can only be used as a focus by that individual, and rarely by highly trusted individuals. If a kitsune dies, their staff does not dissipate but cannot be used by anyone.

Each instance of permission to use their staff as a focus is circumstantial and does not equal permanent permission. For these exceptions to occur, their foxfire must also have a great degree of trust in the lendee.

Foxtail staffs are also said to house the kitsune's foxfire while it's inactive, and as such hold great importance in their funeral rituals. It is said that a kitsune cannot pass on to the afterlife until their tails and their foxfire are inherited by another kitsune. This inheritance is of great importance, not just as a funeral rite, but as a way to pass one's tails down through one's lineage.

This practice gave way over time to the concept of a 'heritage tail', which is a tail which has been in a kitsune's family for at least three generations. These tails can become extremely saturated with chroma as they're inherited, usually by the eldest son of a family. It is considered a great honor and privilege among kitsune to inherit staffs.

Notably heritage tails are not the only tails passed down, as it's customary for the father of a kitsune family to pass down their tails to the eldest son and the mother to pass down her tails to the eldest daughter.