Post by Kumiho on Sept 22, 2013 21:51:54 GMT -5
Profile Link: konahav2.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=origchar&thread=5808&page=1#18213
Character Name and Rank: Kumiho - Summon Animal
Note: You don't need to add them.
· Demonic Magic (まどう, Madō): An organized body or system of magical use, related to the three ninja arts (ninja techniques, illusions and martial arts). While foxes and kitsune are capable of utilizing chakra to perform a variety of techniques, their preparation involves small rituals instead of hand seals.
Supernatural abilities commonly attributed to the kitsune include possession, mouths or tails that generate fire or lightning (known as Fox Fire), willful manifestation in the dreams of others, flight, invisibility, and the creation of illusions so elaborate as to be almost indistinguishable from reality.
Some tales speak of kitsune with even greater powers, able to bend time and space, drive people mad, or take fantastic shapes such as a tree of incredible height or a second moon in the sky.
Other kitsune have characteristics reminiscent of vampires or succubi and feed on the life or spirit of human beings, generally through prolonged sexual contact.
· Fox Fist (きつねけん, Kitsuneken): The traditional game called Fox Fist references the kitsune's powers over human beings. The game is similar to rock, paper, scissors; the three hand positions signify a fox, a hunter, and a village headman. The headman beats the hunter, whom he outranks; the hunter beats the fox, whom he shoots; the fox beats the headman, whom she bewitches.
This simple game evolved into a style of combat which focuses on extremely efficient and brutal counter-attacks as well as preemptive strikes. Fox Fist emphasizes aggressive threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers.
Foxes encourage one another to avoid confrontation. If this is not possible or unsafe for the fox, Fox Fist is employed to finish a fight as quickly as possible. Attacks are aimed at the most vulnerable parts of the body, such as: the eyes, neck/throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, foot, fingers, joints, etc...
The fox tends to counter attack as soon as possible (or attack preemptively), for maximum effectiveness and efficiency in order to neutralize the opponent as quickly as possible. Maintaining awareness of surroundings while dealing with the threat in order to look for escape routes, further attackers, objects that could be used to defend or help attack, and so on.
· Summoning • Fox (くちよせ • きつね, Kuchiyose • Kitsune) [C-RANK]: A time-space technique which allows the ninja to transport animals or people across long distances in an instant. To attain a summonable animal, a contract must first be signed by the ninja (Kumiho has a contract with the kitsune).
Kitsune and foxes are one in the same. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form.
While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.
Kitsune are believed to possess superior intelligence, long life, and magical powers. They are a type of yōkai, or spiritual entity, and the word kitsune is often translated as fox spirit.
However, this does not mean that kitsune are ghosts, nor that they are fundamentally different from regular foxes. Because the word spirit is used to reflect a state of knowledge or enlightenment, all long-lived foxes gain supernatural abilities and become kitsune.
Most legends state that while a kitsune is capable of changing its appearance, there is still something persistently fox-like about it; its countenance changes, but its nature does not. Although they have the ability to change forms, the true identity of a kitsune is said to be zealously guarded by the kitsune themselves.
There are two common classifications of kitsune. The good foxes (ぜんこ, zenko) are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with the god Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes. On the other hand, the wild foxes (やこ, yakō), also called field foxes (のぎつね, nogitsune), tend to be mischievous or even malicious.
Local traditions in the Land of Waterfalls add further types. For example, an invisible fox spirit (にんこ, ninkō) that human beings can only perceive when it possesses them. Another tradition classifies kitsune into one of thirteen types defined by which supernatural abilities the kitsune possesses.
Physically, kitsune are noted for having as many as nine tails. Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful fox; in fact, some tales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 100 years. One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in stories.
When a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes white or gold. These nine-tailed foxes (きゅうびのきつね, kyūbi no kitsune) are said to gain sensory abilities which allow them to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. Other tales attribute them infinite wisdom.
However, while some kitsune are often depicted with ambiguous moral compasses, possibly good or bad, the nine-tailed fox is almost always treated as a malignant figure who feasts on human flesh. It is unclear at which point in time humans began viewing the nine-tailed fox as a purely evil creature, since many ancient texts mention benevolent nine-tailed foxes assisting humans.
In later literature, nine-tailed foxes were often depicted as bloodthirsty half-fox, half-human creatures that wandered cemeteries at night, digging human hearts out from graves. One fairy tale depicts a fox spirit preying on a family for livers.
Kitsune are associated with Inari, a revered deity of rice. This association has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. Originally, kitsune were Inari's messengers, but the line between the two is now so blurred that Inari may be depicted as a fox.
Likewise, entire shrines are dedicated to kitsune, where devotees can leave offerings. There is speculation among some in the Land of Waterfalls as to whether another fox deity existed in the past. Foxes have long been worshiped as gods, there.
Fox spirits are said to be particularly fond of a fried sliced tofu called aburage, which is found in the noodle-based dishes kitsune udon and kitsune soba. Inari-zushi is a type of sushi named for Inari that consists of rice-filled pouches of fried tofu.
Kitsune are often presented as tricksters, with motives that vary from mischief to malevolence. Stories tell of kitsune playing tricks on overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful commoners, while the crueler ones abuse poor tradesmen and farmers or devout monks.
Their victims are usually men; women are possessed instead. For example, kitsune are thought to employ their Fox Fire to lead travelers astray in the manner of a Will o' the Wisp.
Another tactic is for the kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions. Other common goals of trickster kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.
Other kitsune use their magic for the benefit of their companion or hosts as long as the human treats them with respect. As yōkai, however, kitsune do not share human morality, and a kitsune who has adopted a house in this manner may, for example, bring its host money or items that it has stolen.
Accordingly, common households thought to harbor kitsune are treated with suspicion. Oddly, samurai families were often reputed to share similar arrangements with kitsune, but these foxes were considered noble and the use of their magic a sign of prestige. Abandoned homes were common haunts for kitsune.
Kitsune are commonly portrayed as lovers, usually in stories involving a young human male and a kitsune who takes the form of a human woman. The kitsune may be a seductress, but these stories are more often romantic in nature.
Typically, the young man unknowingly marries the fox, who proves a devoted wife. The man eventually discovers the fox's true nature, and the fox-wife is forced to leave him.
In some cases, the husband wakes as if from a dream, filthy, disoriented, and far from home. He must then return to confront his abandoned family in shame.
Many stories tell of fox-wives bearing children. When such progeny are human, they possess special physical or supernatural qualities that often pass to their own children. Several kitsune like to make the claim that the Sage of Six paths was one such offspring.
· Bestiality Seduction (じゅうかん ゆうどう, Jūkan Yūdō) [S-RANK]: Most stories explain fox spirits as being the result of great longevity or the accumulation of energy, with kitsune said to be foxes who have lived for centuries, giving them the power of shape-shifting, usually appearing in the guise of a woman.
They are known to store this energy in a Star Ball.
Kitsune are known to take in many different forms of energy. From such mundane sources as thermal energy and electricity to chakra, natural energy and life force, seemingly any form of energy can be drawn in and stolen by the kitsune.
The fox is said to absorb these energies from skin contact (though this is not the case for ambient energy), in a manner similar to standard chakra absorption techniques. The difference lies in the variety of different energies that can be taken in.
In some stories, they receive sufficient energy from human breath, as a kiss was once said to have been sufficient to bring a kitsune back from the brink of death. Some great and powerful kitsune are said to draw in essence from the moon and the sun.
Sexual energy in particular is a potent force. Stories tell of kitsune appearing in dreams in the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual intercourse.
Repeated intercourse with a kitsune may result in the deterioration of health or even death. It is said that the act of sexually penetrating a kitsune who means to end your life is akin to entering a cavern of ice.
A female kitsune collects semen from the men she seduces. The vixen will then transform into a man and use the semen to impregnate human females, thus explaining how kitsune of any gender could apparently sire children despite the traditional belief that the vixens were incapable of reproduction.
· Fruit of the Anus (しりこだま, Shirikodama) [A-RANK]: Some dangerous kitsune are believed to seduce humans in order to eat their flesh, drink their blood, eat their heart or liver to gain power. However, the tales of the malicious, flesh-eating foxes are misunderstood and greatly exaggerated.
The actual threat they pose is their ability to take the various energies from a human, sucking out the chakra and leaving the soul intact. In some cases, a kitsune will target the chakra pathway system through the seventh gate. The kitsune gains access to the gate through the anus, pulling out their chakra.
Male kitsune in particular are known as ravishers of women.
· Avatar of Inari (いなりのあまくだり, Inari no Amakudari) [C-RANK]: Inari's kitsune possess the power to ward off evil, and they sometimes serve as guardian spirits. In addition to protecting Inari shrines, they intervene on behalf of locals and aid against the troublesome foxes who do not serve Inari.
According to some beliefs, the fox's power over evil is such that a mere statue of a fox can dispel evil energy. Many shrines of Inari feature such statues, sometimes large numbers of them.
Kitsune related to Inari are capable of sensing the killing intent of an individual, as well as an ominous or dangerous predicament. They are sometimes capable of sensing an impending crisis or peril. In some cases, a kitsune can even tell when a human is not telling the truth or hiding something from the kitsune.
· Fox Possession (きつねつき, Kitsunetsuki) [B-RANK]: The state of being possessed by a fox. Though foxes can possess a person of their own will, possession is often attributed to the malign intents of men who have foxes as servants. The host may retain some free will, if the fox allows it. Often, a fox will possess a victim in their sleep, and they will have knowledge of being possessed.
Those who are possessed suffer from cravings for rice or sweet red beans, listlessness, restlessness, and aversion to eye contact. They eat only what foxes are believed to like — tofu, aburagé, azukimeshi, etc. — and they eat a great deal, alleging that not they, but the possessing foxes, are hungry. Once freed from the possession, the victim will never again be able to comfortably eat tofu, azukimeshi, or other foods favored by foxes.
To possess a human, the fox takes on an incorporeal form and enters through an orifice or opening in the body, such as a cut or other open wound. The victim is almost always a young woman, whom the fox enters beneath her fingernails or through her breasts. In some cases, the host's facial expressions are said to change in such a way that they resemble those of a fox.
On some part of the body of the host a moving lump appears under the skin, which seems to have a life of its own. If it is pricked with a needle, it glides instantly to another place. By no grasp can it be so tightly compressed by a strong hand that it will not slip from under the fingers.
Exorcism, often performed at an Inari shrine, may induce a fox to leave its host. In the past, when such gentle measures failed or a priest was not available, victims of possession were beaten or badly burned in hopes of forcing the fox to leave. Entire families in the Land of Waterfalls were ostracized by their communities after a member of the family was thought to be possessed.
· Fox Deception (きつねにばかされる, Kitsune ni Bakasareru) [C-RANK]: A kitsune may take on human form, an ability learned when it reaches a certain age—usually 100 years, although some tales say 50. As a common ritual for the transformation, the fox must place reeds, a broad leaf, or a skull over its head.
Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women, young children, or elderly men. These shapes are not limited by the fox's age or gender, and a kitsune can duplicate the appearance of a specific person. Some kitsune in disguise as beautiful women will prey on humans through sexual contact, much like the succubus.
In some cases, a kitsune cannot fully transform, but retains fox-like traits, such as a coating of fine hair, a number of tails, long hair the color of their fur, a fox-shaped shadow, or a reflection that shows its true form. Kitsune often have difficulty hiding their tails when they take human form; looking for the tail, perhaps when the fox gets drunk or careless, is a common method of discerning the transformed kitsune's true nature.
Fox-faced (きつねがお, Kitsunegao) refers to human females who have a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Traditionally, this facial structure is considered attractive, and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form.
Foxes are particularly renowned for impersonating beautiful women. Common belief early on in the Land of Waterfalls was that any woman encountered alone, especially at dusk or night, could be a fox. A particularly wise individual may in some cases even be able to see through a fox's disguise merely by perceiving them.
Kitsune may also be exposed while in human form by their fear and hatred of dogs and tanuki, and some become so rattled by their presence that they revert to the form of a fox and flee.
· Trick Gift (おくるてじな, Okurutejina) [D-RANK]: A ritual of illusion utilized by most foxes and kitsune. Tales of kitsune distinguish kitsune gifts from kitsune payments. If a kitsune offers a payment or reward that includes money or material wealth, part or all of the sum will consist of old paper, leaves, twigs, stones, or similar valueless items under a magical illusion. True kitsune gifts are usually intangible: protection, knowledge, or long life.
· Sleep Paralysis (まひしばり, Mahashibari) [C-RANK]: A kitsune ritual which causes a human to temporarily experience an inability to move. It is often accompanied by terrifying illusions, to which one is unable to react due to paralysis.
The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes—and in rare cases, hours, by which the individual may experience panic symptoms. The paralysis is not entirely complete; eye movement is still possible during such episodes; however, the individual experiencing Sleep Paralysis is unable to speak.
· Will 'o the Wisp (おにび, Onibi): Yōkai, such as nekomata or kitsune, create a supernatural flame through rituals. Generally the color of the flame is red or orange, but there have been several examples of witnesses that have seen blue flames.
· Play Fire (あそびび, Asobibi) [D-RANK]: A common Will 'o the Wisp which foxes use to play with children. One would think that it appeared very close, just for it to fly far away, and when one thinks that it has split apart several times, it would once again all come together. It is said to be of no particular harm to humans.
Fox Fire (きつねび, Kitsunebi) [D-RANK]: A ritual which manifests a small flame. As its name implies, it has a close relation to kitsune, and there are many theories stating that it is formed from the glow of the sigh or long breaths of a fox. It is also said that a fox knocking together its tails can create a fire, or that it is the glow from a ball that the fox possesses called the Star Ball can form it. This type of Demon Fire cannot harm humans.
The flame is known to appear on the hillside where there are no roads and other places where there is no presence of humans, and when it senses the presence of a human, it will disappear. In reverse, there are also legends where it would follow a human anywhere they went until they would in turn follow it.
It is often said that foxes trick humans; the flame would light up places where they are no roads and make the humans lose their way, and in those times, it is said to be possible be possible to disperse it by kicking it up with one's feet.
· Fox Torch (きつねたいまつ, Kitsune Taimatsu) [C-RANK]: As its name implies, it is said to be a torchlight to providing lighting for a fox's marriage, and is said to be a good omen. The area of illumination of this flame is such that it can glow over an entire village. The flame poses no danger to humans.
· Eternal Fox Fire (ちゅうこ, Chūko) [C-RANK]: Different from the average Will o' the Wisp, these flames float at relatively low altitudes and illuminate a designated path. A variation consists of these flames falling to the earth and illuminating the a distant location briefly, and then disappearing without a trace.
Wedding of the Fox (きつねのよめいり, Kitsune no Yomeiri) [B-RANK]: Stories tell of kitsune marrying one another. A rain of fire falling from the sky — a sunshower — is is said to appear during the wedding ceremony of a kitsune being held during such conditions. The event is considered a good omen, but the kitsune will seek revenge on any uninvited guests. This fire is not harmless to humans, it will burn those caught in it.
Character Name and Rank: Kumiho - Summon Animal
Note: You don't need to add them.
· Demonic Magic (まどう, Madō): An organized body or system of magical use, related to the three ninja arts (ninja techniques, illusions and martial arts). While foxes and kitsune are capable of utilizing chakra to perform a variety of techniques, their preparation involves small rituals instead of hand seals.
Supernatural abilities commonly attributed to the kitsune include possession, mouths or tails that generate fire or lightning (known as Fox Fire), willful manifestation in the dreams of others, flight, invisibility, and the creation of illusions so elaborate as to be almost indistinguishable from reality.
Some tales speak of kitsune with even greater powers, able to bend time and space, drive people mad, or take fantastic shapes such as a tree of incredible height or a second moon in the sky.
Other kitsune have characteristics reminiscent of vampires or succubi and feed on the life or spirit of human beings, generally through prolonged sexual contact.
· Fox Fist (きつねけん, Kitsuneken): The traditional game called Fox Fist references the kitsune's powers over human beings. The game is similar to rock, paper, scissors; the three hand positions signify a fox, a hunter, and a village headman. The headman beats the hunter, whom he outranks; the hunter beats the fox, whom he shoots; the fox beats the headman, whom she bewitches.
This simple game evolved into a style of combat which focuses on extremely efficient and brutal counter-attacks as well as preemptive strikes. Fox Fist emphasizes aggressive threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers.
Foxes encourage one another to avoid confrontation. If this is not possible or unsafe for the fox, Fox Fist is employed to finish a fight as quickly as possible. Attacks are aimed at the most vulnerable parts of the body, such as: the eyes, neck/throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, foot, fingers, joints, etc...
The fox tends to counter attack as soon as possible (or attack preemptively), for maximum effectiveness and efficiency in order to neutralize the opponent as quickly as possible. Maintaining awareness of surroundings while dealing with the threat in order to look for escape routes, further attackers, objects that could be used to defend or help attack, and so on.
· Summoning • Fox (くちよせ • きつね, Kuchiyose • Kitsune) [C-RANK]: A time-space technique which allows the ninja to transport animals or people across long distances in an instant. To attain a summonable animal, a contract must first be signed by the ninja (Kumiho has a contract with the kitsune).
Kitsune and foxes are one in the same. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form.
While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.
Kitsune are believed to possess superior intelligence, long life, and magical powers. They are a type of yōkai, or spiritual entity, and the word kitsune is often translated as fox spirit.
However, this does not mean that kitsune are ghosts, nor that they are fundamentally different from regular foxes. Because the word spirit is used to reflect a state of knowledge or enlightenment, all long-lived foxes gain supernatural abilities and become kitsune.
Most legends state that while a kitsune is capable of changing its appearance, there is still something persistently fox-like about it; its countenance changes, but its nature does not. Although they have the ability to change forms, the true identity of a kitsune is said to be zealously guarded by the kitsune themselves.
There are two common classifications of kitsune. The good foxes (ぜんこ, zenko) are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with the god Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes. On the other hand, the wild foxes (やこ, yakō), also called field foxes (のぎつね, nogitsune), tend to be mischievous or even malicious.
Local traditions in the Land of Waterfalls add further types. For example, an invisible fox spirit (にんこ, ninkō) that human beings can only perceive when it possesses them. Another tradition classifies kitsune into one of thirteen types defined by which supernatural abilities the kitsune possesses.
Physically, kitsune are noted for having as many as nine tails. Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful fox; in fact, some tales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 100 years. One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in stories.
When a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes white or gold. These nine-tailed foxes (きゅうびのきつね, kyūbi no kitsune) are said to gain sensory abilities which allow them to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. Other tales attribute them infinite wisdom.
However, while some kitsune are often depicted with ambiguous moral compasses, possibly good or bad, the nine-tailed fox is almost always treated as a malignant figure who feasts on human flesh. It is unclear at which point in time humans began viewing the nine-tailed fox as a purely evil creature, since many ancient texts mention benevolent nine-tailed foxes assisting humans.
In later literature, nine-tailed foxes were often depicted as bloodthirsty half-fox, half-human creatures that wandered cemeteries at night, digging human hearts out from graves. One fairy tale depicts a fox spirit preying on a family for livers.
Kitsune are associated with Inari, a revered deity of rice. This association has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. Originally, kitsune were Inari's messengers, but the line between the two is now so blurred that Inari may be depicted as a fox.
Likewise, entire shrines are dedicated to kitsune, where devotees can leave offerings. There is speculation among some in the Land of Waterfalls as to whether another fox deity existed in the past. Foxes have long been worshiped as gods, there.
Fox spirits are said to be particularly fond of a fried sliced tofu called aburage, which is found in the noodle-based dishes kitsune udon and kitsune soba. Inari-zushi is a type of sushi named for Inari that consists of rice-filled pouches of fried tofu.
Kitsune are often presented as tricksters, with motives that vary from mischief to malevolence. Stories tell of kitsune playing tricks on overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful commoners, while the crueler ones abuse poor tradesmen and farmers or devout monks.
Their victims are usually men; women are possessed instead. For example, kitsune are thought to employ their Fox Fire to lead travelers astray in the manner of a Will o' the Wisp.
Another tactic is for the kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions. Other common goals of trickster kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.
Other kitsune use their magic for the benefit of their companion or hosts as long as the human treats them with respect. As yōkai, however, kitsune do not share human morality, and a kitsune who has adopted a house in this manner may, for example, bring its host money or items that it has stolen.
Accordingly, common households thought to harbor kitsune are treated with suspicion. Oddly, samurai families were often reputed to share similar arrangements with kitsune, but these foxes were considered noble and the use of their magic a sign of prestige. Abandoned homes were common haunts for kitsune.
Kitsune are commonly portrayed as lovers, usually in stories involving a young human male and a kitsune who takes the form of a human woman. The kitsune may be a seductress, but these stories are more often romantic in nature.
Typically, the young man unknowingly marries the fox, who proves a devoted wife. The man eventually discovers the fox's true nature, and the fox-wife is forced to leave him.
In some cases, the husband wakes as if from a dream, filthy, disoriented, and far from home. He must then return to confront his abandoned family in shame.
Many stories tell of fox-wives bearing children. When such progeny are human, they possess special physical or supernatural qualities that often pass to their own children. Several kitsune like to make the claim that the Sage of Six paths was one such offspring.
· Bestiality Seduction (じゅうかん ゆうどう, Jūkan Yūdō) [S-RANK]: Most stories explain fox spirits as being the result of great longevity or the accumulation of energy, with kitsune said to be foxes who have lived for centuries, giving them the power of shape-shifting, usually appearing in the guise of a woman.
They are known to store this energy in a Star Ball.
Kitsune are known to take in many different forms of energy. From such mundane sources as thermal energy and electricity to chakra, natural energy and life force, seemingly any form of energy can be drawn in and stolen by the kitsune.
The fox is said to absorb these energies from skin contact (though this is not the case for ambient energy), in a manner similar to standard chakra absorption techniques. The difference lies in the variety of different energies that can be taken in.
In some stories, they receive sufficient energy from human breath, as a kiss was once said to have been sufficient to bring a kitsune back from the brink of death. Some great and powerful kitsune are said to draw in essence from the moon and the sun.
Sexual energy in particular is a potent force. Stories tell of kitsune appearing in dreams in the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual intercourse.
Repeated intercourse with a kitsune may result in the deterioration of health or even death. It is said that the act of sexually penetrating a kitsune who means to end your life is akin to entering a cavern of ice.
A female kitsune collects semen from the men she seduces. The vixen will then transform into a man and use the semen to impregnate human females, thus explaining how kitsune of any gender could apparently sire children despite the traditional belief that the vixens were incapable of reproduction.
· Fruit of the Anus (しりこだま, Shirikodama) [A-RANK]: Some dangerous kitsune are believed to seduce humans in order to eat their flesh, drink their blood, eat their heart or liver to gain power. However, the tales of the malicious, flesh-eating foxes are misunderstood and greatly exaggerated.
The actual threat they pose is their ability to take the various energies from a human, sucking out the chakra and leaving the soul intact. In some cases, a kitsune will target the chakra pathway system through the seventh gate. The kitsune gains access to the gate through the anus, pulling out their chakra.
Male kitsune in particular are known as ravishers of women.
· Avatar of Inari (いなりのあまくだり, Inari no Amakudari) [C-RANK]: Inari's kitsune possess the power to ward off evil, and they sometimes serve as guardian spirits. In addition to protecting Inari shrines, they intervene on behalf of locals and aid against the troublesome foxes who do not serve Inari.
According to some beliefs, the fox's power over evil is such that a mere statue of a fox can dispel evil energy. Many shrines of Inari feature such statues, sometimes large numbers of them.
Kitsune related to Inari are capable of sensing the killing intent of an individual, as well as an ominous or dangerous predicament. They are sometimes capable of sensing an impending crisis or peril. In some cases, a kitsune can even tell when a human is not telling the truth or hiding something from the kitsune.
· Fox Possession (きつねつき, Kitsunetsuki) [B-RANK]: The state of being possessed by a fox. Though foxes can possess a person of their own will, possession is often attributed to the malign intents of men who have foxes as servants. The host may retain some free will, if the fox allows it. Often, a fox will possess a victim in their sleep, and they will have knowledge of being possessed.
Those who are possessed suffer from cravings for rice or sweet red beans, listlessness, restlessness, and aversion to eye contact. They eat only what foxes are believed to like — tofu, aburagé, azukimeshi, etc. — and they eat a great deal, alleging that not they, but the possessing foxes, are hungry. Once freed from the possession, the victim will never again be able to comfortably eat tofu, azukimeshi, or other foods favored by foxes.
To possess a human, the fox takes on an incorporeal form and enters through an orifice or opening in the body, such as a cut or other open wound. The victim is almost always a young woman, whom the fox enters beneath her fingernails or through her breasts. In some cases, the host's facial expressions are said to change in such a way that they resemble those of a fox.
On some part of the body of the host a moving lump appears under the skin, which seems to have a life of its own. If it is pricked with a needle, it glides instantly to another place. By no grasp can it be so tightly compressed by a strong hand that it will not slip from under the fingers.
Exorcism, often performed at an Inari shrine, may induce a fox to leave its host. In the past, when such gentle measures failed or a priest was not available, victims of possession were beaten or badly burned in hopes of forcing the fox to leave. Entire families in the Land of Waterfalls were ostracized by their communities after a member of the family was thought to be possessed.
· Fox Deception (きつねにばかされる, Kitsune ni Bakasareru) [C-RANK]: A kitsune may take on human form, an ability learned when it reaches a certain age—usually 100 years, although some tales say 50. As a common ritual for the transformation, the fox must place reeds, a broad leaf, or a skull over its head.
Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women, young children, or elderly men. These shapes are not limited by the fox's age or gender, and a kitsune can duplicate the appearance of a specific person. Some kitsune in disguise as beautiful women will prey on humans through sexual contact, much like the succubus.
In some cases, a kitsune cannot fully transform, but retains fox-like traits, such as a coating of fine hair, a number of tails, long hair the color of their fur, a fox-shaped shadow, or a reflection that shows its true form. Kitsune often have difficulty hiding their tails when they take human form; looking for the tail, perhaps when the fox gets drunk or careless, is a common method of discerning the transformed kitsune's true nature.
Fox-faced (きつねがお, Kitsunegao) refers to human females who have a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Traditionally, this facial structure is considered attractive, and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form.
Foxes are particularly renowned for impersonating beautiful women. Common belief early on in the Land of Waterfalls was that any woman encountered alone, especially at dusk or night, could be a fox. A particularly wise individual may in some cases even be able to see through a fox's disguise merely by perceiving them.
Kitsune may also be exposed while in human form by their fear and hatred of dogs and tanuki, and some become so rattled by their presence that they revert to the form of a fox and flee.
· Trick Gift (おくるてじな, Okurutejina) [D-RANK]: A ritual of illusion utilized by most foxes and kitsune. Tales of kitsune distinguish kitsune gifts from kitsune payments. If a kitsune offers a payment or reward that includes money or material wealth, part or all of the sum will consist of old paper, leaves, twigs, stones, or similar valueless items under a magical illusion. True kitsune gifts are usually intangible: protection, knowledge, or long life.
· Sleep Paralysis (まひしばり, Mahashibari) [C-RANK]: A kitsune ritual which causes a human to temporarily experience an inability to move. It is often accompanied by terrifying illusions, to which one is unable to react due to paralysis.
The paralysis can last from several seconds to several minutes—and in rare cases, hours, by which the individual may experience panic symptoms. The paralysis is not entirely complete; eye movement is still possible during such episodes; however, the individual experiencing Sleep Paralysis is unable to speak.
· Will 'o the Wisp (おにび, Onibi): Yōkai, such as nekomata or kitsune, create a supernatural flame through rituals. Generally the color of the flame is red or orange, but there have been several examples of witnesses that have seen blue flames.
· Play Fire (あそびび, Asobibi) [D-RANK]: A common Will 'o the Wisp which foxes use to play with children. One would think that it appeared very close, just for it to fly far away, and when one thinks that it has split apart several times, it would once again all come together. It is said to be of no particular harm to humans.
Fox Fire (きつねび, Kitsunebi) [D-RANK]: A ritual which manifests a small flame. As its name implies, it has a close relation to kitsune, and there are many theories stating that it is formed from the glow of the sigh or long breaths of a fox. It is also said that a fox knocking together its tails can create a fire, or that it is the glow from a ball that the fox possesses called the Star Ball can form it. This type of Demon Fire cannot harm humans.
The flame is known to appear on the hillside where there are no roads and other places where there is no presence of humans, and when it senses the presence of a human, it will disappear. In reverse, there are also legends where it would follow a human anywhere they went until they would in turn follow it.
It is often said that foxes trick humans; the flame would light up places where they are no roads and make the humans lose their way, and in those times, it is said to be possible be possible to disperse it by kicking it up with one's feet.
· Fox Torch (きつねたいまつ, Kitsune Taimatsu) [C-RANK]: As its name implies, it is said to be a torchlight to providing lighting for a fox's marriage, and is said to be a good omen. The area of illumination of this flame is such that it can glow over an entire village. The flame poses no danger to humans.
· Eternal Fox Fire (ちゅうこ, Chūko) [C-RANK]: Different from the average Will o' the Wisp, these flames float at relatively low altitudes and illuminate a designated path. A variation consists of these flames falling to the earth and illuminating the a distant location briefly, and then disappearing without a trace.
Wedding of the Fox (きつねのよめいり, Kitsune no Yomeiri) [B-RANK]: Stories tell of kitsune marrying one another. A rain of fire falling from the sky — a sunshower — is is said to appear during the wedding ceremony of a kitsune being held during such conditions. The event is considered a good omen, but the kitsune will seek revenge on any uninvited guests. This fire is not harmless to humans, it will burn those caught in it.
