Kitsune Race (Rebalanced) 5e

by Arron

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Kitsune

Race made by Arron

Physical Description

Kitsune have a size that's near same to that of an elf, being slightly shorter, and lithe than a typical human of the same stature. In their natural form they are much like anthropomorphic foxes. They usually have light coloured fur, Orange, reddish brown, golden brown, though it isn't completely unheard of for them to posses black, white, silver or golden fur covering their entire body. Some may have multiple colors in their fur such as being mostly reddish brown with white gloves and socks. Their eyes range in colour as well, though most have blue, green, or brown eyes. Albeit uncommon they may also have orange, purple, yellow, or even red eyes. They have mostly human-like hands though they do possess dark black claws at the ends of their fingers. A kitsune is born with a single tail, but gain more tails as they grow older. A Kitsune's age is very difficult to tell since they appear to stop aging in their early twenties and commonly live to be a few years past nine-hundred, some for a full millenium.

History

Kitsune are a race of fox people that are quite rare as they are usually from the feywild. They tended to hide their heritage while dealing with those of other races as a way to keep away from the discrimination and hatred that had built up in the legends of some of their most powerful brethren. There are many legends floating around the world relating to powerful nine-tailed Kitsune. Powerful and wise, a nine-tailed Kitsune has white or golden fur, tending to be powerful sorcerers. It is said in legend that Kitsune are born tricksters and have nigh infinite power by the time they are fully matured.

Supposedly, the only way to kill a Kitsune is to cut off all of its tails, where it's power is stored, but this is simply part of a 'tall tale' to scare young children. Due to the legend stating that a Kitsune's tail contains power, the Kitsune were nearly wiped out for their tails and most of them went into hiding. Only just getting back into the world after centuries of hiding, it was once the practice of some races to sever a Kitsune's tail in hopes of obtaining power. Though, thanks in part to a number of kitsune bard this belief has faded significantly. Though there may be the rare occurence where someone may be fool enough to try it.

Kitsune Traits

A race of anthropomorphic fox people who have magic in their blood and light shape-changing capabilities.

Ability Score Increase: Your charisma score increases by 1

Age: Kitsune reach adulthood at sixteen, cease physical aging in their early twenties and live to be over nine-hundred.

Alignment: Due to their nature of being a bit mischievous, Kitsune are often chaotic. Even the most disciplined of Kitsune find it difficult to suppress their trickster nature, but they tend to approach the trick in a much more planned out and guided manner. Kitsune are known to be both good and evil.

Size: Medium (Base height range of 4'5" to 6'8") .

Speed Your base walking speed is 30 feet. While not carrying anything in your hands you can drop to all fours and increase your movement speed to 40 feet.

DarkVision: Due to your Fox heritage, you have the ability to see normally in darkness out to 60 feet as if the area was in dim light and in dim light as if the area was bright light.

Fey Ancestry: Being of fey blood means you get advantage against being charmed. and magic can't put you to sleep

Nimble Foxes: The lithe build and somewhat sleek build of the kitsune makes them quite adept at moving in some fantastical of ways and as such, kitsune are proficient in Acrobatics

Faerie Tails: Kitsune begin their lives with one tail around 3 feet long. At 4th level and every four levels afterwards, you grow an additional tail as you increase in age and worldly experience. Enlightening, uplifting or incredible events may also result in the growth of an additional tail, at the discretion of the DM, up to a maximum total of 9. Note: Kitsune are capable of hiding just how many tail they have...even appearing to have none if they so choose... (This is mainly a mechanic for gaining tails that can be used if desired and serves no other purpose unless paired with the 'Magical Tails' Optional Feat Below.)

Shapechanger: A kitsune takes naturally to shapeshifting and develop that gift allowing them to change themselves into a fox indefinitely using a natural transmutation magic. But, on a DC 8 + proficiency bonus + Charisma Modifier Investigation check, a person looking directly at you can tell that you are not what you appear, though they still cannot tell your true form. (I.E. They may know you have sentience/can understand them.) This magic is detectable and dispelled in an anti-magic field or by dispel magic (your character level divided by 2 rounded down is the level of this spell for the sake of dispel magic). If this Magic is dispelled or you revert to normal willingly, you cannot use the effect again until after a long rest. You lose the ability to speak in Fox form, but you still understand the languages you know. Upon casting this ability to become a fox your equipment merges with you, your AC is set to 14, Your HP becomes 6 (1d8+1) your size becomes small and your max movement speed is 35 feet You gain a +4 to stealth while in this form due to your small size You also gain a 1d4 bite attack. This abilty functioning as a druid's Wild Shape (Save the fact a kitsune may only become a fox.) If the Faerie tails trait has been taken or your kitsune has a set number of tails, you may choose to display your current number of tails in this form or just a single tail.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan

Subraces: You may choose one of the following Subraces.

Zenko

They are the Celestial Kitsune, most are benevolent and kind. These Kitsune tend to have the lighter fur colours, white, golden brown, grey, etc. (Fur colors are merely a suggestion.)

Ability score increase: Your wisdom score increases by 1

Kitsune Divinity: At level 1 you are able to use the dancing lights cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Color spray spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the Calm Emotions spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Yako

They are known as Trickster Kitsune, since they are the ones more prone to their prankster heritage. These Kitsune tend to have the darker fur colours, black, reddish brown, dark grey, etc. (Fur colors are merely a suggestion.)

Ability score increase: Your dexterity score increases by 1

Kitsune Arcana: At level 1 you are able to use the Produce Flame cantrip, with the exception that your flame is blue. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the Phantasmal force spell once a day with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Art by Myke Greywolf

Kitsune Racial Feat

(Note: This feat is optional)

Kitsune Tail Spell Levels

Spells must be of the Illusion, Enchantment or transmutation schools

Number of tails Character Level aquired Tail Spell level
1 4 One 1st level Spell
2 4 One 2nd level Spell
3 8 One 3rd level Spell
4 12 One 4th level Spell
5 16 One 5th level Spell
6 20 One 6th level Spell
7 DM awarded One 7th level Spell
8 DM awarded One 8th level Spell
9 DM awarded One 9th level Spell

Magical tails

Prerequisite: Kitsune race
This feat pairs with the Faerie Tails trait.

Starting at level four, you gain an extra tail and another tail every four levels after. With each new tail, you gain one new spell that can be cast once, a long rest being required to cast again. When you gain a new tail, you gain a spell of that level as shown on the Kitsune tail table above.

While this feat will only gain you magic for five tails through leveling, as with the Faerie tails trait your DM may award you extra tails at their discretion. Such as through Enlightening, uplifting, incredible or even distressing/traumatic events. As said earlier, upon gaining a new tail you may choose a spell of coresponding lvl, it must be either from the Illusion, enchantment or transmutation schools.

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for attained spells
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier
Spell Attack Modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma Modifier

 

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