Being a type of Spirit, Kitsune are able to use magic. One of their most common powers is the ability to throw fire, also called Kitsune-Bi (or FoxFire). A more powerful Kitsune will be able to use more powers. Powerful Kitsune have been known to do shape-shifting, possession and illusions
Kitsune-Bi:
This is the most common power a Kitsune will use. The collect magic or spiritual energy in their paws and release it in the form of fire. They can also create fire by rubbing two of their tails together if they have more than one.
Illusion:
By using their powers, a Kitsune can also make illusions of just about anything they choose. The illusions are so life-like that it is nearly impossible to tell the illusions from the real thing. Of course, in order to make good illusions and to hold them, it takes a lot of power and practice. A weak Kitsune will not be able to pull of as large or complicated of an illusion as a powerful Kitsune.
Possession:
Kitsune are also capable of possessing another living being, whether it be human, animal or another Kitsune. While possessing someone, the Kitsune will have full control of the host body and be able to use it as he pleases. Sometimes a lazy Kitsune will let his own features slip through the host’s body, such as the eyes and face features. This is one way to tell when someone is possessed by a Kitsune. A very powerful Kitsune will be able to expel other Kitsune from its own body during possession, but it takes a lot of magic and energy to do so. Also, more options of possession are open to a more powerful Kitsune. On top of possession living beings, they can possess inanimate objects, unborn humans and animals and even beings that have passed away.
Shape-Shifting:
Using magic, the Kitsune are able to change their form at will. The most common shapes for a Kitsune to be in are either a human form or a fox form. As a human form is a bit harder to take and hold, an inexperienced or lazy Kitsune will often let some of its fox features slip. The most common features seen on human shape Kitsune are the ears, feet and tail. If the Kitsune is focused enough, they can take the form of a full human. There is another form some Kitsune take and that is the form of a bipedal fox, meaning a fox that walks on two legs like a human would. Inari is an example of a Kitsune who is often seen in a bipedal form. Along with the most common form of shape-shifting, a Kitsune can also turn itself into inanimate objects such as rocks, trees or a chair. They can also change their appearance to look like someone else. But since these forms are all taken with the use of magic and concentration, if a Kitsune is startled or scared, they will revert back to their fox form.
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Where does the Kitsune’s power come from?
Kitsune can always be seen wearing a colored belt made of silk when they are in their human form. This belt conceals a small jewel of the same color known as a Star Jewel. From this small jewel, the Kitsune can draw its magic and spiritual energy and use it however he pleases. In their fox forms, the belt cannot be seen, but the Kitsune is still connected with the jewel. It is very important for a Kitsune to never lose their Star Jewel. If they did, their powers would be halved at the least.
Each Kitsune’s Star Jewel is connected with a larger Jewel that is at the center of each Kitsune Clan. These larger Jewels power the smaller Star Jewels and enable Kitsune to use them freely.
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What are the Jewels?
There are thirteen Jewels in the Kitsune Realm, one for each Clan. They are round and are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Each Jewel is colored the same as the Clan color it belongs to (e.g.: Fire Clan’s color is Red, so the Fire Jewel is also red) These Jewels are what gives power to all the Star Jewels of the Kitsune of the corresponding Clan. If the Jewel was ever lost or stolen, the power would be cut off.
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What are the Thirteen Clans?
The thirteen Clans are the thirteen elements in the Kitsune Realm. They are Celestial, Void, Thunder, River, Ocean, Time, Sound, Earth, Fire, Wind, Spirit, Mountain, and Forest. Each Kitsune in the Realm belongs to one Clan, which is usually where they live. Each clan is composed of a few small villages and a Temple, where the Supreme of the Clan lives.
The Clan Colors are:
- Celestial: White
- Void: Black
- Fire: Red
- Wind: Purple
- Thunder: Yellow
- Sound: Light Green
- Spirit: Pink
- Time: Orange
- Ocean: Light Blue
- River: Dark Blue
- Mountain: Grey
- Earth: Brown
- Forest: Dark Green
In each Clan, there is a Supreme. The Supreme is like the ruler of a Clan, much like a king or emperor. They can be either male or female and they come to power when the previous Supreme dies. There is one designated family for Supreme and the Supreme must be from that bloodline. Often a Supreme will have mush stronger powers than average Kitsune and don’t need the assistance of the Jewel or Star Jewel. You can always which Supreme belongs to which Clan because of their eye color. A Supreme’s eye color will always match the Clan’s color. (e.g. the Supreme of the River Clan will have dark blue eyes) Each Supreme also has a title that the Kitsune refer to him or her by, since it is considered improper to call them by their true name
The Supreme titles are:
- Fire: Faigyou
- River: Taigazou
- Ocean: Kaiyomei
- Thunder: Raimeshun
- Wind: Uindoku
- Earth: Tsuchitsu
- Forest: Juriken
- Celestial: Tentosho
- Void: Daakujin
- Mountain: Mauntaga
- Sound: Saundmu
- Spirit: Supiritoku
- Time: Taimuji
The thirteen Clans are also divided into Myobu and Nogitsune Clans. The Myobu clans are located more towards the center of the Kitsune Realm while the Nogitsune Clans border it along the edges. The Myobu Clans are Mountain, Earth, Sound, Celestial, Thunder and Wind. The Nogitsune Clans are Ocean, River, Spirit, Void, Forest, Fire, and Time. The Myobu and Nogitsune Clans very rarely associate with each other.
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What are the difference between Nogitsune and Myobu?
While Myobu and Nogitsune are both types of Kitsune, the two are very different. Myobu always have white fur with light colored tips and marking while Nogitsune always have darker fur with dark colored tips. But there are more differences than their colors. The Myobu are more loyal Kitsune and their rules are more extreme. They follow Inari, the Kitsune’s God, and have always been loyal to him. They are normally more docile than Nogitsune and are less tricky. Nogitsune, on the other hand, are more wild-like and don’t follow set rules very closely. Because of this, they tend to be looked down on by Myobu. Also, instead of following Inair, they follow The Lady.
Since these two races of Kitsune are so different and rarely associate with each other, they don’t normally have children together. A young Kitsune who is part Nogitsune and part Myobu is often looked down upon and hurt because of it. It created a lot of problems, which is why Kitsune don’t do things like that. And if they do, they keep it a secret.
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What are the Kitsune Rules?
All Kitsune, no matter who they serve and follow, must follow the Kitsune Code. While there are not many rules, breaking one of them could lead to a Kitsune’s death. There are two very important rules that are followed by all Kitsune
The first rule is that if a Kitsune is saved or helped by another being, the Kitsune must give back equally. If a Kitsune’s life is saved by a human, the Kitsune owes that human his life. The Kitsune is bound by this debt until it is paid off. If a Kitsune were to give a small service or do a favor to another, the Kitsune would expect equal payment back.
Another rule is the rule about mating with humans. Kitsune are allowed to mate with humans and live in the mortal realm and it is done often. Female Kitsune often take the shape of a pretty young woman to attract male men. But while this is done often, the opposite, a human female with a male Kitsune, is forbidden. That has always been the law and no Kitsune has been even known to break it. That’s just how it has always been.
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Do the children of a Kitsune and a Human have any powers?
Yes and no. The child of a human and a Kitsune would resemble a human completely and wouldn’t have any of a Kitsune’s normal powers. They are unable to shape-shift, cast illusions or fire, or possess people. But even though they don’t have normal powers, they are still special. The child of a Kitsune and a human will often live a longer life than most humans, well over 100 years. A half Kitsune will also have high spiritual awareness and be able to sense presences of other Spirits and Kitsune as well as see through Kitsune illusions and shape-shifting. Sometimes, though it is rare, the child will inherit an extreme talent from the Kitsune side of the family, like a strong fighting, endurance or jumping ability.
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What is the significance of a Kitsune’s Tails?
Powerful or older Kitsune will often have more than one tail. It is a sign that the Kitsune should be respected and that the Kitsune is powerful. A Kitsune will usually gain a tail for every hundred years it lives. (It is born with one tail and begins gaining tails when it reaches 200) The maximum number of tails a Kitsune can have is nine. There are also reasons for a Kitsune to not gain a tail every hundred years. If a Kitsune betrays its Clan or god, it will not gain a tail. If a Kitsune breaks a rule it will temporarily stop gaining tails until it makes up for it.
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What is the Kitsune Realm?
The Kitsune Realm is a place completely made out of Kitsune Magic. It's not on earth, but it's not really another planet either. When you enter into the Kitsune Realm, you enter into another world using a portal that takes you there. This portal can only be made out of Kitsune Magic. Noramlly, the portal is made through a grave or tombstone. A gravesite has the closest link that connects the two worlds. The Kitsune Realm is also very different from the mortal world on earth. Besides being inhabited by Kitsune, the biggest difference is the time flow difference. For each single year in the mortal world, fifteen years pass in the Kitsune Realm.
The Kitsune Realm is much like a huge island. The Kitsune have broken up into thirteen different clans, as explained above. Seven of these Clans are Nogitcune Clans. (Void, River, Ocean, Fire, Spirit, Time and Forest) These Clans are located on the outer edge of the Kitsune Realm. The rest of the Clans are Myobu Clans. These Clans are situated more in the center of the Kitsune Realm, which is closer to Inari's Temple.
The Nogitsune and Myobu Clans differ a bit from each other since the Nogitsune and Myobu have different lifestyles. The Nogitsune Clans tend to be made up of several smaller villages while the the Myobu Clans have fewer larger villages. The other major difference is where the Supreme lives. In a Myobu Clan, the Supreme's temple is located somewhere in the main village (the biggest village in the Clan). In a Nogitsune village, the Supreme's temple is located in its own area right outside of the main village.
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Below is a map of the Kitsune Realm. If you would like to view smaller maps of each individual Clan, click on the colored circles on the map.
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