The Kitsune are elemental alien spirits, and the most intelligent bakemonos. They first appeared in the supplement "Secrets of Japan" published by Chaosium in 2005 for Call of Cthulhu.
Description
Upon reaching Earth, they quickly adapted to the planet's living matrix and took the form of animal beings akin to its elemental energy. However, they can manifest in their true form. This is detrimental to life on earth, and kitsuns use it to feed on a large scale of life energy from humans, buildings, and kamis.
Using their transformation magic, Kitsunes tend to take three forms: that of a Japanese fox of human intelligence, a strong and beautiful fox-headed humanoid form, and that of an extremely attractive human. However, they cannot hide their tails and the shadow they cast is always that of their alien form. This is that of a five foot stem covered in about twenty tentacles that stick out at odd angles. Most are flattened as "matted hair" around the body. The biggest is its "tail", which cannot be completely hidden. Topping each of the tentacles is a small orb, presumed to be a sense organ.
Kitsune feed on life essence and ki. In the first case, this does not kill the victim, but weakens them, leaving them with a pale complexion. The old kitsune do take everything they can in order to maintain their existence on this plane. The second is a subtle process, taking ki from elements of fire, wind or forests, but also from music and written knowledge. This affects the material taking a smaller size, and can become dust if it is completely drained. Furthermore, the essence of souls is the most powerful source on the material plane. To feed on a living being, the kitsune must simply touch the flesh of it just once. This can be a consensual process between the two, or it can happen by force or by seduction. Taking soba is said to be a good remedy for regaining lost energy, and kitsune will often suggest it to frequent victims as "payment for their services".
They are not easy to damage or kill: unless its spirit is destroyed, it will regenerate in the Dreamlands until it is strong enough to return to the land of those awakened. Additionally, a weapon can only deal damage to them once, regenerating after subsequent uses. By attacking them with blessed weapons, it is possible to deal normal damage to them, without regeneration. If they are possessing someone, they simply leave the body, but keep in mind that blessed or enchanted weapons do not cause them special damage.
As spirits, they are timeless, but not immortal. As they age, they require more energy to continue to exist on Earth as the channel between their reality and physics atrophies. This reaches a critical point when they are about 900 years old. It is then that they can reincarnate as a different being in the Six Realms or return to the spirit world.
They rarely reveal their real names, as this leaves them vulnerable to kodama masters. Anyone who knows the true name of a kitsune can force it to serve or banish it. That is why they usually use names with a certain humor, adopting them to the circumstance in which they are.
Conceptual information and role
History and Culture
The Kitsune come from a planet turned into a world their life due to the Dholes. It was then that they came to Earth attracted by its overflowing life force, taking advantage of the opening of the dimensional gates during the destruction of Mu. First they arrived in China (where they are known as hu-ching). From there, they migrated to Korea and eventually reached Japan. However, his current homeland is in the Dreamlands. When a matsuri festival or wedding takes place, a rift opens that connects him to the world of the awakened.
They are part of the folklore of the area: for example, if it starts to rain on a day that until then had been sunny, it is said that it is due to a kitsune no yomeiri (wedding between kitsune), with a retinue dressed in samurai armor from the Edo period and the bride dressed in a pure white Shinto kimono. It is said that humans who stay to spy during the wedding will be hunted down and killed by the entourage. They are also said to have been chosen by Inari (the god of rice) as his messengers, and their statues flank the gateway to their shrines: a male and a female who will manifest from them when required. Between the gate and the main shrine there is usually a corridor of red torii gates. On auspicious nights, kitsune often use them to reach the Dreamlands.
In general, human contact with kitsune is usually that of practical jokes and punishment, although they may also adopt human customs in order to go unnoticed, such as dressing. Their whimsical demeanor makes them just as prone to antagonizing as to befriending humans, but they never deviate from their core personality. For those whom they judge wrong in their actions, they become malevolent, evil and destructive. On the other hand, for those who judge good, they are helpful, kind and polite. This is due to the clash between the human perspective and that of the race. It simply has its own moral code and is neither benevolent nor malevolent, and the way in which its members exploit the weaknesses of others is explained by their need to feed.
Their culture is a simile of the Japanese feudal caste system, following the code of honor of the bushidô. They are divided into 13 uji (clans), each one related to a Taoist element. The one with the highest rank is the myobu (celestial). They belong to the Byakkos, guardians of the Inari shrines and vigilantes of the Nogitsuns the most chaotic kitsune something they take very seriously.
The number of tails is also a sign of rank and power, with each member gaining a tail every hundred years and their hair turning gray at approximately 700 years. The nine-tailed (tenko) are considered the most dangerous. His life experience makes his thinking completely foreign to a human and his power is terrifying.
Powers and Abilities
Kitsune are adept at conjuring illusions. Generally, they use it to take human form, affecting all the senses of those who observe them. Stories are told of kitsune who lived, married and had children with humans without their suspicions. However, religious people such as Shinto priests, yamabushi, mikos, and even itakos can unsettle a kitsune with this knowledge and cause them to lose their concentration, thus undoing the illusion. Although tradition says they do this by putting magic leaves on their heads, this is simply a focal point used by young kitsune who are not yet good at shapeshifting.
Although they can personify themselves directly in their alien form, they can do so by possessing humans by entering through their nails and chest (or through their dreams, if they are asleep). These are said to have contracted "kitsune-tsuki", or "kitsune madness". It is possible to try to repel it, but it leaves the human exhausted or having nightmares. If complete possession occurs, the human's consciousness falls into a coma, so the kitsune cannot access his memories. A kitsune can possess a human for decades, and after leaving it, the human would have amnesia for that long. In times past, a Buddhist priest or a yamabushi ascetic could easily dispel possession. Currently, since only the oldest believe in these possessions, they are rarely noticed by family or friends of the possessed person.
To carry out a physical incarnation, they usually use baby foxes, joining their spirit to that of this. This grants an instant possession and a permanent incarnation from which to take its three typical forms. On the other hand, this means that, until the age of 900, the kitsune cannot leave the body (not even under exorcism or prayers) and can be killed by conventional means. Also, they will require using more magical energy by having to do it through a body to maintain.
Additionally, by rubbing their tails they can create orbs of natural energy (often fire or lightning) and breathe fiery breath. This is known as "kitsune-bi", or "kitsune fire". It can be used both as a weapon and to illuminate dark areas. This last case is frequently confused with ghostly apparitions.
Related spells
They can be invoked by a Taoist spell known to Shinto itako (blind shamans), Empress Pimiko and Asahara Shinyama, the leader of the Buddha's Tears. In general, this spell is used for the invoker to ask the kitsune to bring a message to the gods. It also appears in the book "Supernaturalia Japonica", by Lafcadio Hearn. The spell works best if performed near a shrine to the god Inari, leaving an offering of soba or fried tofu at the foot of a torii gate. However, keep in mind that nothing ensures that a nogistune appears instead of a byakko, so you have to prepare not to regret possible damage or death.
Curiously, if an ill-informed cultist attempts a Contact Summon, there is a chance that an o-bake will appear instead of the typical Mythos creature. Among these, is the kitsune.
Curiosities
- In real life, the kitsune are beings from Japanese folklore.