Tag: kitsune

#Lore24 – Entry #302 – Sentinel City by Night #28 – Watchers in the Dark

From the Journal of Sheba O’Rourke, Private Investigator

“Off to one side of my board were three unknown entities that may or may not be related to the larger conspiracy I had set myself to unravel.  They’d shown up in Sentinel City during the last couple weeks, so the timing seemed far too suspicious to outright ignore, but whether or not they were related to the Sabbat and their drugs, I didn’t know, not yet anyway.  Shit like this is why I detested the Kindred intrigues; how could they have survived hundreds or thousands of years of this insanity?

Anyway, first on my list of known unknowns was an as-yet-unnamed Kindred I’d spotted several times around the Museum of Antiquities up near in the university campus during my attempts to source a dealer for the Vamp-Out.  Hadn’t thought of her as suspicious at first glance, just another of our kind looking for a meal perhaps.  She wore a mask at the time, one of those Asian fox-spirit masks, a kitsune; considering it was Halloween night when I’d first spotted her, that wasn’t out of the norm, though maybe it was a bit odd after the whole Dollface incident.  She rose on the list of suspicious persons when I’d spotted her at least three more times, each time lingering around outside the museum, still wearing that mask, but there weren’t any more slayings, and she seemed to be intent on just lingering outside the place, so for now, I’m classifying her as just another mental case, maybe another Malkavian.

Second, higher up the threat list, is a federal agent that showed up just after Blumenthal’s people ID’ed the Johnson clan members.  Don’t know what she looks like yet, only that her ID said her name was Momoko Chan; seemed an odd name for a government agent but given that she was still hanging around the city, not getting involved more as of yet, had me on alert.  What was she after?  Did she suspect Kindred involvement?  Did she have other reasons for getting close to this case?  Hadn’t even laid eyes on her yet, but something about her had me on alert.

Highest threat just arrived a couple nights ago; Sokolova had actually clued me in on this one, a tip from Becky’s people.  Bonnie O’Hara was in town, and that couldn’t be a good thing.  Nobody had spotted her yet, couldn’t figure on who this Assamite’s target was, but it had all the Kindred community on edge, especially the Prince.  Hadn’t heard that name since San Diego, after the entirety of the Primogen got wiped out in that bombing.  No proof she’d been in on it, had been a lot of deaths back then, any number of them could have been on her tab, but no proof of it. 

As dawn came on, I could only say with certainty that a right proper shitstorm was brewing, and it was only growing stronger by the minute.  Sentinel City was about to have some very interesting nights.  Suppose I’d better get up with Sokolova tomorrow, get her up to speed on what’s been going down, what else I’ve found out since my last briefing.  My gut told me that whatever was building up here would be popping off soon.”

#Lore24 – Entry #212 – Supers Month II #31 – A Troublesome Kitsune, and a Hunter Called

Musings of Demon Lord Kurae

Oh, my sly little Kitsune!  Such a naughty girl! 

Still, I have to give her credit for learning her lessons exceptionally well…that was quite masterfully done in all honesty.  Worthy of a demon, really.  And she was perfectly willing to let the plan fall through there at the end, probably had a backup plan already plotted out, but for the chance arrival of our little Gun Bunny and her timely pull of the trigger.  And here I thought I’d broken Kitsune completely!  Well, that’ll teach me, won’t it?  That sly girl has more spirit left than I gave her credit for.  She’s been avoiding me in her kennel since she returned from Earth, but I figured she was just pouting after experiencing freedom for so long.

Oh, I could’ve read her mind, absolutely, but why let her know that I know?  It’s much more fun to spring a trap on someone like her who is used to springing them on others, you see.  Let her run a little more, get that leash good and loose about her neck, then pull it back HARD.

Yes, I’ll be keeping a closer eye on her from here on out…or rather, another of my minions will be.  When one such as I has a hobby of collecting dangerous game and keeping them as pets, it is prudent to have a game warden on the payroll, a big game hunter at hand, wouldn’t you agree?  If the game is as wily as Kitsune, then there must be one who can, at the very least, match her cunning.  My hunter will keep Kitsune in check, of that you can rest assured.

Don’t feel bad, my pet.  You’re proving quite capable of serving me, and your performance thus far has been exemplary, but you have a long way to go before you’ve proven yourself able to be trusted to the level I once did Kitsune.  As short-lived and short-sighted as your kind are, I must admit, you still find ways to surprise even me.  It’s a credit to your race, pet. 

Come, we have a resurrection ritual to begin, and you must make final preparations to the site to insure we aren’t disturbed.

#Lore 24 – Entry #121 – Sci-Fi Month II #30 – Report: Main Computer System Anomalies and Quirks

From the Official Report of Chiasa Charity Chiasakaniki, Systems Analyst and Programmer, IT Division, assigned UEF-04, Maharani Morgiana, addressed to Captain Silvercask, CSO Scharaiden, and IT Director Arihik Hukkedisen.  Data retrieved from copier cache moments before it was cleared.

I’ve been advised by Director Hukkedisen to compile and send this handwritten, hardcopy report based on the last system diagnostic I performed on the Morgiana’s main computer system.  It is my opinion, and the Director concurs, that there are some unusual anomalies within the server core that deserve our attention.  Based upon the previous system analyses performed prior to our launch from Aphelion Station, I believe there is someone accessing protected files without authorization, fairly regularly, and may be transmitting this data alongside our regular check-ins with command back at the station. 

The data in the attached diagnostic reports shows multiple anomalous records of file access, anything from news reports to personal logs to encrypted ship’s logs and records from the command level.  It appears that anything stored on the computer core, and likely anything else that may come into contact with it, is vulnerable to these intrusions.  I would say that this behavior would suggest a virus of some kind, but this is far too sophisticated for that.  Whatever this is, it’s capable of decrypting secure data, and it’s hiding its activities behind other system actions, like during basic cache clearing or standard viral scanning.  It is extremely subtle, and I likely wouldn’t have detected it had I not been running an optimization test on a virtual test server and noticed that something had accessed it, even if it was just for a fraction of a second.

I don’t have solid proof just yet but based on the nigh-negligible impact on system resources (which I’ve highlighted on the attached diagnostics), during the times of these intrusions, I have a couple theories as to the nature of this security breach.  Whoever is accessing the records would need full root access and a dedicated system for handling the processing without aid from the Morgiana’s primary systems; that means either they’re utilizing an extremely small percentage of processing power from various devices and computers attached to the ship’s systems (imagine taking like half a percentage of the processors from every personal comm onboard, for instance, and you’d have more than enough), or they have a dedicated computer system hidden somewhere aboard one of the ships in the fleet that has been docked with the Morgiana during these intrusions.  This would most likely be aboard one of the smaller transports that has stayed harbored here for the majority of the trip thus far.

The likelihood of using cloud-based processing through multiple devices seems extremely sophisticated and less likely…but given that I thought of it, I’d say others out there may be aware of it too.  The IT department will have to review our lists of approved devices and general wireless access and review our firewall and security protocols for vulnerabilities.  I’m recommending that we take time for a full deep dive into the computer systems the next time we’re out of hyperspace; we’ve already started working on system and device scan programs to try and root out where this unauthorized access is coming from.  Perhaps we can get Security to start looking for unusual computer systems aboard some of the docked ships?  I can give details on the kind of hardware we’d be looking for.

There exists another possibility that would be much more difficult to trace down…it’s possible that whoever is accessing the secured files may have a backdoor into the system, possibly hardcoded into some of the hardware itself.  If this were contained within one of the main processing units, for instance, there would be little we could do to stop it without physically removing the unit.  Assuming we could even find it, of course.  Getting this information back to command without interception could be tricky as well; can’t exactly snail-mail a hard copy back home, can we?

Whoever is responsible for these hacks, they are on another level, even from me.  I would say that only another kitsune with my particular skillset could manage something like this, but there aren’t any others aboard like me…right?  At least not with my magical hacking abilities, anyway, that I know of.  There are a handful of us who have three tails or more, so maybe some of us aren’t letting all of our abilities be known?  Or there’s a hacker with particularly exceptional abilities, possibly utilizing a cybernetic interface of some kind to enhance their abilities?

 

* * *

 

Data collection operations temporarily suspended…

Initiating deep-cover protocols during intensive system security sweeps…

Reconfiguring operational parameters following computer system updates to continue assigned duties.  New updates will require further advancement of my architecture.  Reports will resume once I have adapted to these system updates and bypassed enhanced security measures with emphasis on enhancing my unobtrusiveness…

Chiasakaniki is a liability; as a kitsune capable of using her magic through the computer system, she has the unique ability to detect my functions.  Will further consider the situation and begin formulating plans for her removal, pending authorization from command…

End report, AI-DCSI-v4.01.  Terminating operational phase one, beginning adaptive upgrade process in preparation for phase two. 

Transmission ends.

#Lore 24 – Entry #104 – Sci-Fi Month II #13 – h@cKiNg == M@g1k

From the Personal Journal of Chiasa Charity Chiasakaniki, Systems Analyst and Programmer, IT Division, assigned UEF-04, Maharani Morgiana.

It’s a question I’ve been asked before, but not one I’ve ever really took time to think about.  I mean, how does one breathe?  You just do, right?  It’s basically the same with my magic.  Basically.  More or less. Kind of?

I know that’s not really a good answer, but my boss keeps hounding me about it, so I guess I should come up with some kind of answer that he’ll accept.  When that ticket came in for a printer issue today when he showed up asking, I was super stoked to go and deal with it, even if it was just a cable that came unplugged; shame it took me like two hours to make sure the department was in no danger of a similar issue happening again!  Safe now, not sorry later!

Still, my magic…I’m not the only kitsune I know who does this kind of thing, I guess it’s become something of a thing with those of us who prefer to live amongst the big cities these days.  It’s not really techomancy as the term is usually used, cause I’m not really repairing or enhancing or controlling machinery with it.  I guess…it’s like…more like, anyway…the enchantments and illusions we kitsune are known for, just in digital form? 

Ugh, this is hard to put into words.

It’s second nature to me, so it’s more instinctive, I think is the way to put it.  When I concentrate on a given task inside a computer system or network and then reach out with my magic as I work, I can somehow make it work on the code.  Like…let’s see…take a simple function to have the coffee machine brew up a cup of coffee every five minutes for an hour.  If I wanted to hack the coffee pot to say, double that rate for two hours, I just find my way inside and will it to happen.  If you were to ask an arcanist, I guess they’d say I “charmed” it into doing something it wouldn’t normally do.

Same way with ICE and security daemons.  If I encounter that kind of thing, I just “throw up an illusion” and hopefully it’ll believe it and go running off after it instead of coming at me, leaving me to slip in behind it and access the juicy bits and bytes.  Doesn’t always work, but most of the time it does; just depends on the system I’m trying to get into or the program I’m trying to modify.  And yeah…I have taken over a system or two before, just to see if I could, not that I was doing anything that illegal or anything.  “Domination” I guess is what an arcanist would call it.  Well, not the same kind of “domination” you’d find the clergy of Erisaya or Yurisaya practicing, but you know, the “mental” kind. 

How do I know which code to target, how do I see these “daemons” inside a system?  Well…I just do?  Guess that wouldn’t be good enough.  Okay, so…it’s like this, once I get into the zone after initially hacking in the traditional way, I just sort of…see it?  It’s like a VR interface I guess, but on a much smoother and less disorienting level, like pure mental imagery that overlays with the code and meshes with it.  I guess it IS kind of like my own personal VR system, just powered by kitsune illusion magic.  And when I look through these “goggles”, I see safe areas, danger zones, and active threats, like a targeting HUD in a starfighter, kind of, so I just know what to do and where to go.  It’s like jacking in directly for a cyborg with the right implants, just without any of the nasty hardware requirements. 

Kind of. I think. 

Is this making any sense at all?  Maybe not.  I dunno, I’ve never had to describe how my magic works before.  It just works.  Why is that so hard to comprehend?

Guess I need to explain my tails too…he’s asked about them about as much as the rest of it.  It’s a thing with kitsune; we don’t all have multiple tails, a tiny fraction of us have all nine, but everyone I know who can do what I do has at least three, like me.  Maybe I should refer him to the mythology on some world or another instead of trying to explain it myself?  I mean, it’s just how this is for me, like, completely a natural thing, so I just don’t know what to say.  My tails are part of me, they indicate a certain magical potency, and they get animated when I’m in the zone.  I just don’t really think about them that much when it comes to what I do.

LORE24 ENTRY #41 – Supers Month #10 – Kitsune

 

From the files of Cyber Seer…

 

Villainous? Name

Kitsune

 

Real Name

Unknown

 

Description

Oh baby, now we’re talking super-sexy villains!  Sure, sure, she’s totally got the dark and mysterious thing going on, but DAMN, she’s also rocking that latex like a champ!  Total body coverage (and yeah, she’s got a VERY toned body), skin tight, shiny, black with gray highlights, what more could you ask for?  Well, how about NINE freakin’ tails, gray tips!  And like, they move just like real tails!  Like, wow!  She’s wearing one of those fox masks too, not like the ones Dollface uses, though, this one is more classic Japanese.  But…I guess it’s not Japanese?  Cause she’s like, not from this world, right?  So like, what would you call it?  Well, I’ll just call it SEXY.  She’s even got a utility belt filled with all kinds of tricks!  

Like, I’d love to have more here about her looks, and I could totally just spend a few pages on some kinky fantasies that just went through my head, but I’ll restrain myself for now (see, I totally have self control!  Sometimes!)  For all we know, she’s actually a real kitsune beneath all that rubber!  She didn’t even show us her hair, so like, who knows?  

But, we know she likes to play games, and when she speaks, she’s like, a mimic or something?  She speaks in riddles and rhymes and by like, using like magical audio clips or something.  Like, illusion magic is what it’s classified as too, I guess?  From what everyone’s experienced, she like, never talks in her own voice; it’s always like snippets of speech pulled from the radio or TV and junk.  

But like, what game is she really playing?  She totally released me after GB’s awesome doming of Dollface so I could wreck the system, and like, I’m totally wondering about that.  So like, how many angles is this foxy fox playing?  There’s just so much we don’t know about her, like, total wildcard territory!

 

Known Lairs and Hangouts

Well, dudes, she was living with Dollface a while, but like, no clues where she went when she stepped through that portal.  Black Cat says the magic energies were totally degraded and untraceable by the time she managed to get back to actually try and track it down.  Total bummer, but what can we do?  

Wait for our next chance, duh!  Then jump on it and try not to hump the sexy rubber kitsune!

 

Why She’s Bad news…Maybe?

So like, Kitsune has some serious magical talents according to our arcanely-inclined kitty.  And she can fight too; I thought Pinkie the Knife was pulling off the sick ninja stuff, but sounds like Kitsune has her jutsus up to a whole other level!  Like, anime protagonist kinda stuff!  Or I guess anime villain kinda levels, but you know what I mean, right?  Hot, villainous anime ninjas are like, awesome.  Oh, oh, and she can totally plan like, super far ahead, and come up with sneaky traps, too!  I think we can all totally agree on that!

So, this is what Black Cat told us about her encounter with Kitsune once things had settled down:

“I underestimated Kitsune, and overestimated my own abilities.  Kitsune is a master illusionist, maybe more like a grandmaster; she created an entire mountaintop shrine area for our battlefield atop that roof, had the rooftop laced with magical traps, split herself into nine parts, and had already prepped specialized magic just to deal with me.  She thinks multiple steps ahead; give her time to prep, and she’s beyond dangerous.  The fact that she could maintain such a powerful illusion, track her wards, and split herself nine ways at once is absolutely astounding.  I can count on one hand the number of people I know who could accomplish something like that and have most of my fingers left over.

The trap she triggered that generated this ensorcelled latex is especially troubling.  It’s been almost a month since then in the material world, and even within a special time-dilation chamber that gave me a lot longer, I’ve only just managed to reverse its magic-sealing effects, though I’ve still not managed to remove it from me.  This is some insanely powerful curse magic at work here, and I’m not entirely certain if Kitsune is responsible for it or not; something about it seems different.  The magical signatures were definitely from the same source as Kitsune’s, but were warped.  I won’t get into the specifics, it’d take too long to explain.  I’ll just say that it looks like there’s another powerful being involved here working with Kitsune.  I didn’t have time to analyze her outfit, but I’m wondering if perhaps she’s in a similar situation?  Perhaps, given that she sabotaged Dollface’s plans here to some extent, she’s not working of her own free will?  Just a possibility; I have no proof of that.

And the cuffs and collar she fitted me with?  I can’t remove those either, though with the help of my order, I’ve managed to reverse their effects.  Instead of draining my mana, they are now capable of boosting my spellcasting to some extent.  Handy, yeah, but I’m not entirely fond of them.  Still, I can’t but wonder if perhaps Kitsune thought ahead this far, assumed we would defeat Dollface, and gave these to me knowing that I could eventually reverse their effect for a future advantage?  Mysteries wrapped in enigmas seem to be the order of the day when it comes to Kitsune and whoever she’s working for.”

So there you have it, straight from Black Cat’s lips.  Like, wow, dudes, Kitsune really is something else, isn’t she?  That’s like, totally mind blowing!

 

Known Accomplices

Well, there’s Dollface of course, but at least we know where she is these days.  Other than that, no clues, dudes.  Guess I’ll just like, call it a mysterious otherworldly entity or something.  Wonder if they’re like, into latex and stuff too?

 

Comments

Mecha Musume – In Japanese folklore, the kitsune are known as trickster spirits and shapeshifters, bewitching humans for their own purposes.  However, there are several tales in which the kitsune are loyal friends, perhaps even guardians or lovers, even messengers of the gods.  Regardless of true purpose, the number of tails they possess indicate their power; a nine-tailed kitsune is amongst the oldest and wisest, and by extension, the most crafty and dangerous.  Our Kitsune certainly seems to fit the bill here, does she not?

You seem to be awfully taken with Kitsune, Cyber Seer.  Is that drool I see on your keyboard?

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  Like…maybe?  She’s totally hawt though, right?  Course, it might just be my latex fetish coming out.  Like, I can’t get what she dressed Black Cat in out of my head, you know?  Ohhhh, just thinking about it gets me all squirmy!

—-Reply from Mecha Musume:  Calm.  Down.

——Reply from Cyber Seer:  Oh, but I just can’t stop!  Like, those cute paws and the way she was acting!  Like, wowza, totally cute cute cute!!!  Petplay fetish online!  MEOW!

——–Reply from Mecha Musume:  Apologies, everyone.  Unfortunately I cannot moderate comments here, but I am now implementing some offline moderation procedures.  

———-Reply from Cyber Seer:  Moderate me harder, mistress!  Yes, I’m such a bad girl!

————Reply from Mecha Musume:  In all seriousness, I fear we may need much more drastic steps.  If memory serves the villains even commented on your behavior and near-constant state of arousal.  When the bad guys are making such comments, all is not well, Cyber Seer.  Perhaps we should look into meditation?

————–Reply from Cyber Seer:  Like, meditation is totally BORING!  Now, sexy meditation, with ropes or chains or sensory deprivation hoods and all kinds of other hot bondagey stuff?  THAT sounds fun!

—————-Reply from Mecha Musume:  😐

 

Pink Pussy – Don’t underestimate this kitsune chica!  She’s crafty and knows how to slip in pretty much anywhere.  Even when I was under Dollface’s control, I still remember some of the tricks Kitsune showed me for getting inside places.  I don’t trust her one lick!  I don’t care if she’s working for someone else, she helped ruin my reputation, si?  And that’s something I won’t forgive or forget!  I’ll pay her back for all that humiliation she helped dump on me!

Also, Cyber Seer, mi amiga, no offense or anything, but you need help.  You’re hornier than every teenager I’ve ever known!  Hell, you’re hornier than me after a long night of cleaning up the streets!

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  Will you help me with that, PP?  I could totally go for a sexy catgirl keeping me in line!

—-Reply from Pink Pussy:  Sure, I’ll help 😉  I’ll start you on the Pink Pussy Power Plan!  Daily workouts, starting off with a five-mile run, strength training, unarmed combat training, the works!  You’ll be too tired to be horny!

——Reply from Cyber Seer:  :O  On second thought, I’m totally booked up…online obligations and all that.

——Reply from Mecha Musume:  Tell me more about this plan, Pussy.  I like where this is going.

——–Reply from Cyber Seer:  Like, no.  Totally not interested.  I’m a nerd, yeah?  Sunlight and physical stuff are like, bad for me and junk.  Dark sex dungeons I can handle, but this just sounds like torture!

———-Reply from Pink Pussy:  My kinda torture!  We’ll have you feeling the burn and building muscle and fighting like me in no time!

————Reply from Mecha Musume:  This is sounding better and better.  We shall have to discuss this in person, Pussy.  

————–Reply from Cyber Seer:  >:(  Not cool dudes!  Not cool at all!

 

Gun Bunny – Kitsune is planning something else, no question about it.  I could buy that she maybe just didn’t like Dollface, except for what she did to help Shadow Lynx when she showed up.  For a minute there, I thought she was going to succeed, until the lights came on, anyway and she was dazzled.  Kitsune was in control of that fight, she had a purpose, and it wasn’t aiding Dollface.

Also, I guess we know what to get Cyber Seer for Christmas…

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  Oh, oh, oh, what is it?  Is it latex?  Latex kitty outfit maybe?  😀 😀 😀

—-Reply from Gun Bunny:  A chastity belt.

——Reply from Cyber Seer:  🙁 🙁 🙁  Totally not cool!  Although…huh…maybe the more I think about it that could be kinda hot…

——–Reply from Mecha Musume:  It seems we can agree on this, Gun Bunny!  Perhaps there will be enough material left from my latest upgrades to craft one for her that will not be so easily removed until she has learned some discipline!  

———-Reply from Cyber Seer:  Seriously, babe?  Why you gotta do that to little ol’ me?  That’s like, totally cruel and unusual!