Kitsune

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.

# Kitsune Racial Traits

* **+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, –2 Strength**: Kitsune are agile and companionable, but tend to be physically weak.
* **Medium**: Kitsune are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* **Kitsune**: Kitsune are humanoids with the kitsune and shapechanger subtypes.
* **Normal Speed**: Kitsune have a base speed of 30 feet.
* **Low-Light Vision (Ex)**: Kitsune can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
* **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 and can remain in this form indefinitely.

* **Agile (Ex)**: Kitsune receive a +2 racial bonus on Acrobatics checks.
* **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* (caster level equals the kitsune's level).

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

# Alternate Racial Traits

The following racial traits may be selected instead of existing
kitsune racial traits. 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 options are available to all kitsune 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 Archetypes

The following racial archetype is available to kitsune.

## Kitsune Trickster (Rogue)

The kitsune trickster combines her sharpened wit with minor arcane
powers of charm and persuasion. She uses her talents to spin convincing
lies, riddles, and stories. A trickster has the following class
features.

**Kitsune's Guile (Ex)**: At 1st level, a trickster relies on her intellect as much as her personality. She adds her Intelligence modifier on Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, and Sense Motive checks. This ability replaces trapfinding.
**Kitsune's Charm (Sp)**: At 3rd level, a kitsune trickster can use *charm person*
 once per day as a spell-like ability (caster level equal to her rogue
level – 2). At 6th level, and every three levels thereafter, the kitsune
 trickster gains an additional daily use of this ability. This ability
replaces trap sense.

**Rogue Talents**: The following rogue talents complement the kitsune trickster archetype: major magic, minor magic (*Core Rulebook*); false friend, obfuscate story, steal the story (see below); charmer, coax information, honeyed words ; convincing lie.

**Advanced Talents**: The following advanced rogue talents complement the kitsune trickster archetype: skill mastery, slippery mind (*Core Rulebook*); master of disguise ; rumormonger.

# Rogue Talents

The following new rogue talents can be taken by any rogue who meets the prerequisites, but they are more common among kitsune.

* *False Friend (Ex)*: A rogue with this talent gains a +4 bonus when making Bluff

 checks to convince someone she has never met or who doesn't know her
well that they are previously acquainted or know each other well.

* *Obfuscate Story (Ex)*: While another individual attempts to give an account of an event, the rogue makes an opposed Diplomacy

 check to deftly interject comments or statements over the course of the
 storytelling that cause the individual to muddle his ability to recall
accurate or specific details. If the rogue succeeds, her target remains
unaware that the rogue's interjections caused the confusion. However, if
 she fails, the target is allowed a Sense Motive check (DC equal to the rogue's failed Diplomacy check) to figure out that she made deliberate attempts to confuse the story.

* *Steal the Story (Ex)*: After muddling another's account using obfuscate story, the rogue may make another opposed Diplomacy

 check to alter the details further in order to discredit, insult, or
humiliate the target. If the check succeeds, the target takes a penalty
on Diplomacy and Intimidate
 checks against anyone who heard the altered story. This penalty is
equal to the rogue's Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma bonus (whichever
is highest), and lasts until the target is able to repair his reputation
 or discredit the rogue. The rogue must have the obfuscate story talent
to select this talent.

# New Racial Rules

The following options are available to kitsune. At the GM's
discretion, other appropriate races may also make use of some of these.

## Kitsune Feats

Kitsune have access to the following feats.

### Magical Tail

You grow an extra tail that represents your growing magical powers.

**Prerequisite**: Kitsune.

**Benefit**: You gain a new spell-like ability, each usable twice per day, from the following list, in order: *disguise self*, *charm person*, *misdirection*, *invisibility*, *suggestion*, *displacement*, *confusion*, *dominate person*. For example, the first time you select this feat, you gain *disguise self* 2/day; the second time you select this feat, you gain *charm person* 2/day. Your caster level for these spells is equal to your Hit Dice. The DCs for these abilities are Charisma-based.

**Special**: You may select this feat up to eight times. Each time you take it, you gain an additional ability as described above.

### Realistic Likeness

When you are in human form, you can take the shape of a specific individual.

**Prerequisite**: Kitsune.

**Benefit**: You can precisely mimic the
physical features of any individual you have encountered. When you use
your racial change shape ability, you can attempt to take the form of an
 individual, granting you a +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks made to fool others with your impersonation.

## Kitsune Magic Items

Kitsune have access to the following magic item.

Kitsune Star Gem

**Aura** faint transmutation; **CL** 1st (1st), 3rd (2nd), or 5th (3rd)

**Slot** none; **Price** 750 gp (1st), 3,000 gp (2nd), 6,750 gp (3rd); **Weight** —

Description

This magical jewel glows like *faerie fire*, shedding light as a candle. It acts as *pearl of power*, except it only allows a kitsune to recover a spent use of a spell-like ability of the appropriate spell level.

Construction

**Requirements** Craft Wondrous Item, creator must be a kitsune; **Cost** 365 gp (1st), 1,500 gp (2nd), or 3,375 gp (3rd)

## OGL Section 15 - Copyright Notice

**Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Race Guide**. © 2012, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Jim Groves, Tim Hitchcock, Hal MacLean, Jason Nelson, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Owen K.C. Stephens, Todd Stewart, and Russ Taylor.