Kitsune Kaper Examination - RPLOG
Participants
Date
24/2/478
Log
The barracks training yard is abuzz with quiet conversation and speculation as soldiers and officers and a few invited freeswords await this so called, Expert that the guard claims will be coming today. Who could it be?
The situation was to tempting to pass upon as Angus joined the little scene, already taking a seat at the back of the barracks as he waits for the lesson to start. His ears flick as he props his elbow up on a knee, resting his chin in his palm as he smiles softly.
A soft rumble, and a lone feline makes her way into the area. Her mask concealing her face like usual, her tail swaying behind her, and her cane hitting the floor with every step, she seems... Relaxed, watching the people currently present with curiosity on her face.
Rokarion briskly moved towards the barracks when he heard of an expert that could help identify kitsunes and their tricks. The youthful plant being thought that this would be quite the boon, if it was actually true, he had his doubts about it. Entering the barracks, Rokarion glanced around waiting to see how this mess of a meeting will get organized, moving forward, and aiming to take a seat in closest to the 'expert' as possible.
Zuri follows in shortly behind Rokarion. The salamander had seen his friend heading this way, and joined the gathering crowd without any real knowledge of what was about to take place. He wiggles his way past the much taller beings to try and reach the front of the gathered group, to get a chance to see what this was about.
After a few minutes of waiting, an sturdy looking, if grizzled fox in the garb of a city guard with a badge marking that he is, or was, a Captain at some point. The fox marches silently through the crowd to the front, where he folds his hands behind his back and looks over the assembled group. "I understand," he barks in a voice obviously used to command, "that you have been having a bit of Kitsune trouble!" He waves a hand perfunctorally at a soldier who fetches a folding camp chair and sets it out. The old fox grunts as he takes a seat. "It seems that there is a dearth of understanding about our multi tailed friends," he continues, "And so here I am. I am Captain Bellamy Foxglove, formerly of the Firmament Home Guard and I suppose I know as much as anyone about Kitsune. Where shall we start?"
Angus flicks his ears, sitting up as he eyes the former soldier of the same rank. "Hm, didn't think I would encounter a Foxglove." This caught his attention more then the briefing on Kitsunes, thinking he may have a conversation with his distant relative after this.
"Well... If one is permitted to simply ask questions... The most obvious one to ask, of course is... How does one see through a Kitsune's disguise and discern their actual identity?" the she-cat rumbles, her tail swaying lightly behind her.
Rokarion notices Zuri and smiles, offering him a seat next to him before focusing back towards the old fox entering the place eyeing him with a shrug. The jasmine flower had his doubts, lots of them actually. This guy might just be somekind of a distraction to ensure that there gets no public panic against kitsunes, sounds like the best way to go about it! "If I may add to those questions, how does one also manage to see through their illusions? I heard they have got a couple of those tricks up their sleeves."
Zuri looks up at guard as he approaches and addresses the group. The salamander didn't recognize this particular fox, but the sight of a Guard Captain's stripes commands instant attention and respect from the former private. He has a burning question of his own, but decides to leave hidden his complete ignorance of what a Kitsune is. He notices Rokarion smiling at him after the first questions are asked, and slinks through the crowd to sit by the Jasmine.
Bellamy nods at the shouted questions, both of them often echoed. "Straight to the point, I see," he says, "I like that." The grizzled fox clears his throat and raises his voice to be heard. "You can't see through a real Kitsune disguise," he says, "Not a shapechanger's disguise. But there are some signs to know you are dealing with a kitsune. First, they can't imitate an actual person any better than a talented disguise artist. Birthmarks, tattoos, scars, details, a kitsune can only imitate what they already know. Second, transforming does not change a kitsune's voice, making it near impossible to pretend to be a well known figure." He thinks a moment before answering the second question. "The Kitsune trick of illusion is rather simpler," he says, "No illusion can withstand the touch test. If you think something might be a kitsune illusion, a simple touch will dispel it."
Angus gives a soft nod, well at least he hasn't gone into speculation at least that's always a plus. As the questions start pouring out he looks around, noticing a few faces that he is familiar with which kind of surprises him, guess kitsunes never come up in public conversations anymore.
A smile, a tailflick, and a soft rumble. "I see," the she-cat rumbles, her ears twitching, and her eyes trained upon Bellamy. Softly purring to herself, she awaits questions from others for a short while, contemplating her own next question.
Rokarion nods, and as is befitting of the young knowledge-hoarder, he takes out a little notebook from his satchel and begins writing down notes, giving Angus a glance before quickly turning away, he still hasn't forgotten the events of Shralesta. "So what other important details would you suggest that we should keep on the lookout for if we suspect a kitsune around?" the flower being asks.
Zuri looks between the active participants as the scene unfolds. Some kind of trickster beings, probably. Using illusions? Bleh.. The salamander look at Rokarion as he raises his question, and turns to captain Bellamy to follow up. "And .. what should be done if we do identify one? How dangerous can they be if exposed and confronted directly?" He resisted the urge to address the fox as Sir.
Bellamy snorts at the continued barrage of questions. "Kitsunes are not generally malicious by nature," he says, "Remember that the sacred families are not just clubs! Beings are drawn to dedicate themselves to a way of life, not to acquire magical powers!" he strokes his chin in thought, "A kitsune's trickery will usually be mostly harmless, even if they are breaking laws, they are not usually fighters." He holds up a hand to forestall some of the shouted outbursts. "There are always exceptions," he allows, "But most of the time, an exposed kitsune will either laugh that the game is up, or try to flee." He looks to Rokarion. "If you suspect that someone near you has been replaced by a kitsune, be sure you know your friends," he says, "Ask about events you would both remember, or refer to events that did not happen, you have to trick the tricksters, after all."
A smile, a tailflick, and a soft rumble. "And what if, say, you believe someone to be a kitsune, but you lack any hard proof? Are there tell-tale ways to find out the truth, if not their identity?" the she-cat finally offers, her ears flicking lightly and her tail swaying behind her.
Rokarion nods and continues writing things down, occassionally drawing things too for his own purposes. The sweet-scented jasmine raises his head and eyes the fox, "So, a kitsune needs to have seen a person to disguise as him, they can't make up their own disguises on the spot?" he asks curiously, "And is there any certain limitations of being species or shape or even gender to their disguises?"
Zuri rubs his chin, looking thoughtful. He looks up at Rokarion and nods, agreeing with his line of thinking. "Perhaps physical traits they cannot fully conceal in addition to keeping their voice, or mannerisms that will always be present regardless of what act they try to put on or what person they are trying to mimic." He turns to Captain Bellamy, awaiting his answers.
"I can make up people and disguises on the spot," Comes the voice of a masked and four-tailed fennec. Of course, most people by now likely know full well who it is in the top hat and tailcoat. "And a few limitations, even! I can be only female, but I can be any kind of fox or canine... I could be a red fox! Or a poodle. Or a wolf, or even a jackal, if it pleases me." Fresh off the field of practice, it seemed, and her arm propped up on the pommel of her rapier. "Voices... Can be changed, but not through trickery. That takes personal practice. There's a good deal of personal acting talent that goes into such things. ... Sorry if I borrowed your thunder," she says, doffing her hat and dipping into a bow.
"If you -know- the kitsune, you can spot personal mannerisms. Depending on how good they are at acting," Natska adds, the jaguar slipping in behind Cassidy and tipping her hat to the group. "I would wager I have an even chance of spotting Cass through a disguise, because I know how she acts and thnks... but only an even chance, since she is certainly a most capable woman and always has surprises for me." She winks at Cassidy, then takes a seat as she settles in to listen.
"Hmm?" Bellamy grunts, holding up a hand to slow the tide of questions, "Perhaps there is a better way to handle this." The fox stands and waves his hand at the young soldier who brought his chair to take it away again. He nods at Cassidy's explanation. "I am a kitsune myself," he says, "Perhaps a demonstration is in order." The Captain turns revealing four fluffy fox tails waving behind him. "Not all kitsunes can change shape," he says, "And not all can make illusions." As he speaks, his form alters slightly, getting a hair thinner and a little taller until a very different canine stands there. The fox, now a much younger looking Rottweiler turns slowly on the spot. "The Ladies Solacious are right, of course," he says, "I myself can turn only into other canines with a similar build to my own. Also, a kitsune can only remain their own gender. If you were familiar with me, you would know that my voice has not changed, and that the way I walk and talk is not effected, only my appearance. And it generally takes time to change, as you have seen. But the physical change is real and is not dispelled by touching." He holds out an arm for someone to verify his statement.
"Figures," the she-cat rumbles, her tail still swaying lazily behind her as she watches the changes, her ears twitching and her gaze moving towards Cassidy and Natska with a polite bow of her head.
Rokarion focuses his attention and the guard captain, nodding his head and containing to jut down notes. "So a kitsune's disguise is physically real. . ." Rokarion says, rubbing his chin for a moment before asking, "So is it possible that a person who is a kitsune could be living more than one life, so to speak? Or is there some limitations, maybe due to stamina or something else, that might prevent that?" the flower asks, of course his first thought was of a criminal using a kitsune disguise to live 'another' life but that kind of question might have caused even further panic, considering the reason of this meeting.
Zuri sits there with a slacked jaw. From the two new arrivals to the sight of the captain transforming before his very eyes, the salamander was trying to catch up to the flurry of information that he had just been exposed to. His eyes linger on the fennec in particular. He has no further questions to ask, well, none that he would dare to voice, and instead listens as Rokarion continues his line of questioning.
"We certainly could," Cassidy replies to Rokarion. "Most do not seek any kind of... Validity when meeting someone. You could meet a fox, one day, and it could turn out they are actually lizard borne. And have been living as a fox for years on end. You'd never know it, unless you saw fit to accuse a stranger of not being who they claim to be."
Natska tilts her head to the side at the question, then shrugs her shoulders and smiles as she looks over the other people in the room. She notes those present, and gives Bellamy a smile.
Bellamy tilts his head in thought at Rokarion's question. "I suppose it is possible," he confesses, "But to live two lives simultaneously is unlikely. It would take a lifetime to acquire the kind of skills to maintain that sort of thing, and resources that most beings just don't have. Not to mention a kind of patience uncommon in Kitsune." He looks over the crowd, many as slack jawed as Zuri. "I know it is a lot to take in," he barks over the crowd, "But Kitsune are quite complicated, and no two are exactly the same. It would be impossible to prepare yourself completely, these are just some general guides." He looks around and nods, gradually returning to his own foxy form.
"Now," he says, "For illusions." He looks at Cassidy. "I don't suppose you can supply us an illusion, Lady Solacious?" he asks.
Angus holds his chin in his hand, contemplating the information.
"Hold on one moment, please... I did ask another question that hasn't been answered yet," the black-furred she-cat rumbles with a small frown hidden behind her mask. "I'd like to know if there's a way to at least tell a kitsune, disguised as a stranger, without them showing their tails, or doing... That," the she-cat rumbles.
Rokarion nods his head at Bellamy, "So it is a possibility, if unlikely, then." He says with a shake of his head as he goes back to note writing, seemingly finished with his questions for now.
Zuri listens intently to Captain Bellamy. At this point he is now wondering how many beings around town might have been kitsunes, how many might have tricked him simply for the laugh. He turns to the Lady Solacious as Captain Bellamy requests an 'illusion'. With all that had happened thus far he was expecting something spectacular.
Cassidy bows her head to Bellamy and brings her gloved hands up, jazz-handing for a moment. "I certainly can! And not that I know if," she says, looking at Katrina. "I'm not sure I'd want that kind of information being available. Now... What would we like to see?" She closes her eyes and hums. "Oooh, I know." She throws her arms apart, and all at once the area seems to fade away. It hasn't, of course, and instead a bubble of sheer black has been placed around the group like a dome. Odd on its own, but made even more odd by the large eyes that seem to open at various angles and sizes within the darkness. A static illusion, of course, and a pattern.
Natska gives Cassidy a smile and then turns to address Kat, although her words are forestalled by the appearance of the dome and the eyes. She blinks, then politely claps her hands. "Goodness, love, that is fantastic." Then she nods her head at Katrina. "No more so than telling who a dragon is, when you've only seen their scales. Or what someone like the phoenix elder was before they became a phoenix." She smiles. "I always look the same in my other shape, so someone who knew it was me would know it was me, but a kitsune has more options."
"Very nicely done, Lady Solacious," Bellamy says amid the worried murmurs of the gathered guards, "This is an excellent example of a very high level Kitsune Illusion. I imagine that the Lady cannot do this for very long. Usually an illusion will be only about the size of an average being." Light surrounds the Kitsune instructor in the darkness and he points to the illusory eyes and shapes. "Note that the motions are repetitive," he says, "And Lady Solacious must devote her full attention to it. I imagine this work is quite taxing. Once she stops focusing, it will vanish immediately." The sturdy fox walks over to a looming shape and passes a hand through it as if it were empty air. "And as you can see," he says, "The illusion has no substance." Even as he speaks, the terrifying darkness seems to fade to an after image, now that he has pointed out its weaknesses." He looks to Katrina. "And I am afraid that it is true," he says, "There is no way that we know to identify a disguised kitsune, save to catch them in a lie."
Angus looks up at the changing walls, before he starts clapping for his cousin's illusion. "Even if it's just an illusion it is a rather well put together one." He comments to no one in particular as he watches the situation unfold.
Rokarion shifts his jasmine yellow gaze towards the illusion momentarily, snickering as it reminded him of a certain thing, and at least it was not an amethyst eye. Eyeing Zuri, Rokarion smiles, "Hope you are not afraid of a little shadow." He teased before going back towards his scribbles, not giving the illusion much attention as Bellamy dispels it.
Zuri looks around the crowd as murmurs reach him from all sides. He tries to catch the whispers, trying to get a feel for the crowd's posture in regards to the revelations so far. As a result, he is completely unprepared when he turns back to the fennec and notices out of his peripheral vision that they seem to have been transported to some kind of void-like nightmare of staring eyeballs. He nearly falls off his chair, his eyes meeting Rokarion's as he flails to keep his balance. He chuckles off his embarassment and returns to watching the illusion, just in time to see Captain Bellamy defy and dispel it.
Cassidy smiles at Natska and gives a little nod before sweeping into another bow. "Glad you liked it. It is not actually so hard to maintain, as long as I focus. Were I to stop, it would only last a minute or so... Unless I expended the effort to make it last longer. But such things need only be done for a moment to unnerve someone. And that is all it takes, but a moment. And I am rather fond of this one."
Natska grins wider at her wife, then nods her head. "Sometimes a moment is all it takes. Why the kitsuisition, any way?" she asks, head tilting. "Although... I suppose the same sort of defenses help against the Shadow taken, too."
Bellamy nods to Cassidy. "Thank you very much Lady Solacious," he says, "That was very helpful." He turns to face the main body of soldiers. "This is not much to go on, I know," he says, "But it will help should another kitsune lawbreaker come along. I imagine that they will be few and far between. As I said, it is not in our natures to be malicious. This is only for your reference and information. Kitsune are citizens as much as any being, not something to be feared. Thank you for your time." The fox nods to an important looking guardsman. "I will, of course, brief you in private about our current situation," he says, "But I believe we may dismiss."
Rokarion lets out a sigh and closes his book, before standing up and heading towards the exit, "How about we go for some dinner Mister Zuri?" Rokarion asks the short salamander as he walks outside the barracks.
Angus claps once more, this time for Bellamy as he stands up. "A grand demonstration if I may say so myself." He comments, his tails flicking a little in amusment as he smiles. Putting on his hat he turns and heads for the door, but not before teasing his cousin by sticking his tongue out at her.
Zuri fluffs out his jacket and clears his throat. "Very uh.. enlightening.." He smiles around the crowd before nodding at Rokaroin. "Certainly Mister Rokarion. Lead the way!" The small salamander follows behind the Jasmine, rattling his brain as he processes everything that just happened.
Cassidy adjusts her hat and offers an arm to Natska. "Shall we go about our day, then, Natska?" She asks with a smile. "And you are welcome! I am always happy to help! Within reason. A magician must keep some secrets, after all!"
Natska rises up to her feet and brushes at her skirt, then grins and settles her hat back in place as she takes Cassidy's arm. "Yes, let us, my dear."
