Kitsune, or fox folk, are vulpine shapeshifters known for their love of both trickery and art. Kitsune possess two forms: that of an attractive human of slender build with salient eyes, and their true form of an anthropomorphic fox. 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.

Quick-witted and nimble, kitsune make excellent bards and rogues. It is not uncommon for one to pursue sorcery, while those few born with white fur and pale eyes usually become oracles.

Physical Description: A kitsune has two forms—a single human form and its true form, that of a humanoid fox. In their human forms, kitsune tend toward quickness and lithe beauty. In all forms they possess golden, amber, or brilliant blue eyes. In their true forms, they are covered with a downy coat of auburn fur, although more exotic coloration is possible.

Society: Kitsune society is enigmatic, as kitsune prize loyalty among their friends but delight in good-natured mischief and trickery. Kitsune take pleasure in the pursuit of creative arts and in all forms of competition, especially the telling of stories interwoven with tall tales and falsehoods.

Relations: Kitsune deal well with elves and samsarans, but their reputation as tricksters follows them when they interact with other races. Many kitsune, particularly those who dwell in mixed-race societies, choose to hide their true natures and pose as humans in public.

Alignment and Religion: Kitsune tend to be neutral, or of alignments with a neutral component. Most kitsune worship the goddess of craftsmanship.

Adventurers: Keenly interested in adding their own names to the myths and legends of explorers and heroes of old, Kitsune adventurers range across the world.

Female Names: Ayaki, Jiyoki, Kyomi, Miyaro, Shinyai, Yulai

Male Names: Chankotu, Imhakaru, Kyrsaku, Namkitu, Yanyeeku

Standard Racial Traits

• Ability Score Racial Traits: Kitsune are agile and companionable, but tend to be physically weak. They gain +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, and –2 Strength.
• Size: Kitsune are Medium creatures and thus have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Type: Kitsune are humanoids with the kitsune and shapechanger subtypes.
• Base Speed: Kitsune have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Languages: Kitsune begin play speaking Common and Sylvan. Kitsune with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: any human language, Aklo, Celestial, Elven, Gnome, and Tengu. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

• Agile (Ex) Kitsune receive a +2 racial bonus on Acrobatics checks.

Magical Racial Traits

• Change Shape (Su) A kitsune can assume the appearance of a specific single human form of the same sex. The kitsune always takes this specific form when she uses this ability. A kitsune in human form cannot use her bite attack, but gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear human. Changing shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as alter self, except that the kitsune does not adjust her ability scores.
• Kitsune Magic (Ex/Sp): Kitsune add +1 to the DC of any saving throws against enchantment spells that they cast. Kitsune with a Charisma score of 11 or higher gain the following spell-like ability: 3/day—dancing lights.

Offense Racial Traits

• Natural Weapons (Ex) In her natural form, a kitsune has a bite attack that deals 1d4 points of damage.

Senses Racial Traits

• Low-Light Vision: Kitsune can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.

Alternate Racial Traits

The following alternate racial traits may be selected in place of one or more of the standard racial traits above. Consult your GM before selecting any of these new options.

• Fast Shifter (Su) You were born with an innate talent for switching between your natural forms. Using your racial change shape ability is a move action instead of a standard action. This racial trait replaces kitsune magic.
• Gregarious (Ex) Even among your own kind, your gift for making friends stands out. Whenever you successfully use Diplomacy to win over an individual, that creature takes a –2 penalty to resist any of your Charisma-based skill checks for the next 24 hours. This racial trait replaces agile.

Favored Class Options

The following favored class options are available to all characters of this race who have the listed favored class, and unless otherwise stated, the bonus applies each time you select the favored class reward.

• Bard Add a +1/2 bonus on Bluff checks to lie and a +1/2 bonus on Diplomacy checks to gather information.
• Druid Add a +1/2 bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks to change a creature's attitude.
• Oracle Reduce the penalty for not being proficient for one weapon by 1. When the nonproficiency penalty for a weapon becomes 0 because of this ability, the oracle is treated as having the appropriate Martial or Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat for that weapon.
• Rogue The rogue gains 1/6 of a new rogue talent.
• Sorcerer Add +1/4 to the DC of enchantment spells.

Racial Archetype

The following racial archetype is available to kitsune:

Racial Feats

The following feats are available to a kitsune character who meets the prerequisites.

• Fox Shape
• Magical Tail
• Realistic Likeness
• Swift Kitsune Shapechanger
• Vulpine Pounce