An idea I like a lot has proven itself rather interesting to think about. I've drawn a few pictures of it already. So then, time to talk about the Space Kitsunes! Or Sune as they will be called.
Physical Description:
Sune are primarily quadrupedal however their tails can counterbalance, allowing them to stand on hind legs. Additionally their forepaws have opposable thumbs, plus their shoulder and shoulder blade structure differs slightly from normal canids, allowing them a larger range of motion. More or less a Sune can 'spread their arms' to the sides much as a human can. They are larger than normal canids, standing on all fours they are roughly one meter tall. These vulpinous creatures' most defining trait is the multitude of tails that they posses. Sune grow an additional tail every 15 years and have been known to have a life span of 150-175 years, and grow up to a maximum of 10 tails. The Sune are a Psionic race with limited telekinesis powers, of which the number of tails amplifies their power. Early Sune had earthen and natural colorization, however recent genetic engineering and popularization of fashion has led to many Sune permanently modifying their genes to produce vibrant and bright colors that do pass on to next generations. Sune deprived of sunlight for significant amounts of time or traveling in space often cause their fur to loose their natural tones and bleach pure white while maintaining their secondary colors.
Nature of Tails
Every 15 years a Sune grows an additional tail up to a maximum of 10, and for every additional tail they have been known to become even more powerful psionically. This is due to how their biology is set up to take advantage of not just their keen minds, but their whole nervous system. They channel their powers through their spine and into their tail which acts as a sort of beacon or antennae. The more tails a Sune has the more they can bend, shape, or form their intended action. The eldest Sune who remain sane enough to think coherently have been witnessed being able to quite literally mind control a weak minded victim. However reaching such untold level of power is difficult and often impossible as few Sune are able to reach the needed 10 tails and remain coherent due to age.
Technology
The Sune are a highly inquisitive and curious species, often limited due to their quadrupedal form, forming challenges in which to adapt and grow. They are a highly technologically advanced race bearing a mastery over the containment and use of plasma physics. They are capable of FTL travel and make heavy use of advanced shield technology. Their general architecture is often brightly colored, white, and elegant in form and shape. Sune take great pride in remaining presentable and fashionable.
Racial Legends
The Sune are infamous for two things aside from their tails: Fox Fire, and stealing husbands or wives.
These are common social misconceptions many races mistake the Sune for, however they aren't terribly incorrect either.
Fox Fire:
The Sune are famous for their mastery over plasma and magnetic containment, often weaponizing it on powered armor and ships. They appear as burning balls of energy able to move and curve, even float around the users. When needed they are flung at enemies dealing tremendous damage. Many races misconceive this as a fascination the Sune have. The truth lies in a particularly brutal and bloody part of Sune history. In their equivalent of a Medieval Period, the Sune warriors often marched into battle with a fair armored chestplate, helmet, gaintlets, and lots of flaming torches. During a close in melee, Sune warriors would attempt to burn their oppenents with flaming torches held aloft telekinetically, from multiple angles while attacking with bladed or blunted weapons. This style of combat lead to the vicious, and gruesome deaths of tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of Sune in their history until gunpowder was developed. By then just as many Sune died from fighting in rigid lines firing muzzle loaded rifles at one another while 'Runners' with said rifles strapped to their sides, aimed and reloaded telekinetically would flank and fire on enemy lines.
Compulsive Adultery:
Ancient Sune were generally known for leaving family groups and roaming around looking for mates, often by stealing one from others. This has carried on in their history for a very long time and many aliens are correct in keeping a sharp eye on Sunes seeking love. However this misconception, again is born of history. Ancient Sune females would often roam and lure out dissatisfied, taken males away from their former mates and procreate from there. Whether or not the cycle repeats depends on just how satisfied both parties are. However as they developed agriculture and began accumulating in urban centers, the compulsion to take another one's mate has been looked down upon. Many tales appear in their Medieval Period regarding this compulsion, such as Romantic stories of how a dissatisfied prince is lured away from home by a beggar female, finding true love regardless of wealth, only to be punished in the end.
The modern Sune look down heavily upon adultery, however for different reasons, primarily reputation. A compulsive adulterer is known for one thing: Lack of commitment, and word gets around fast. Few Sune would allow a compulsive adulterer to work under them as they are difficult to predict and often make poor long term workers, plus they develop a reputation of being untrustworthy. Although the Sune divorce rate remains rather high for a single pair species, Sune rarely go out to steal taken mates, and many Sune value commitment over blind love. For better or worse, this historic attribute has labeled them the Galaxy's Seductress.
Racial Preferences
Inquisitive: Highly intelligent, curious, and always seeking more questions rather than answers, they have special research improvements available.
Obsessive Presentation: Sune care heavily about presentation and good looks while at the same time trying to keep things practical. Their ships are beautiful and well crafted, however as Sune often compare their ships to one's own bodies, punching holes in the skin is a horrifying and gruesome experience. They prefer to use shields over armor to keep from being wounded.
At Arm's Length: Although a cornered Sune is incredibly dangerous, they prefer to keep foes at arm's length rather than getting sucked into a brawl. They specialize in long range standoff equipment but have very basic close range armaments.
Brain Fame: The Sune are famous for their psionic potential, and often make use of it even in space combat. Powerful Sune use special tech to project their power, allowing them to perform feats few races could achieve.
Galactic Stigma: They are often known as the Galaxy's Seductress, and few races wish to get too close to the Sune for fear of being manipulated or toyed with. Similarly other races tend to try to form stronger bonds with one another as to not be tempted. Although these attempts are largely fruitless as Sune don't care much for interspecies relationships. Still, Sune will find it harder to form close alliances.
