Level
Varies
Adjective
Tanuki
Source: Tian Xia Character Guide, pg(s). 64–69
As an ancestry, tanuki are
Common
in Minkai, the Forest of Spirits, and Goka, and Uncommon
everywhere else.Tanuki
Tanuki
(Creature)
Type
Monstrous humanoid
(shapechanger)
(shapechanger)
CR
4
Environment
Temperate forests or urban
Alignment
Adjective
Tanuki
Source: Bestiary 3, pg(s). 259
Tanuki1 are raccoon-like humanoid shapechangers.
Scurrying underfoot, tanuki are a fun-loving people who are determined to get the most out of life before their luck runs out. Tanuki can shapeshift into a variety of forms, whether turning into a teapot to hide in a room or turning into a priest to get a bit of extra respect. Tanuki also use illusions to play tricks on others or get a laugh, and they enjoy drumming on their bellies under the full moon.23
Society
Tanuki tend to live in tightly knit communities in and around public or abandoned buildings. Much of their public life revolves around celebrations, throwing parties for the smallest of achievements, which leads to any actual work taking a long time.4
Religion
Tanuki have no patron deity but frequently worship Kofusachi or Cayden Cailean. Many tanuki even believe Cayden was a tanuki who tricked everyone into thinking he was human, and their statues of him often reflect this belief.4
Whilst they hold no animosity towards Tsukiyo, they do their best not to draw his attention since they know their often boisterous manner would not be appreciated by the more quiet moon god.4
On Golarion
Tanuki live in Minkai,54 the Forest of Spirits, and Goka.4
Similar creatures
A nue is often described as having the body of a tanuki but the head of a monkey, limbs of a tiger, and a snake as a tail.6
The term "tanuki" also refers to less-intelligent animals native to Minkai that resemble raccoons.7
References
Paizo detailed tanuki as an ancestry in Tian Xia Character Guide.
For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.
- ↑ In Pathfinder First Edition Bestiary 3, the plural of tanuki was tanukis, but the Jade Regent Adventure Path and Second Edition use tanuki for both singular and plural.
- ↑ . Tian Xia: Coming 2023–2024!. Paizo blog, 2023
- ↑ . “Tanuki” in Tian Xia Character Guide, 64–65. Paizo Inc., 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 . “Tanuki” in Tian Xia Character Guide, 65. Paizo Inc., 2024
- ↑ . “Minkai and the Forest of Spirits” in Tian Xia World Guide, 146. Paizo Inc., 2024
- ↑ . “Bestiary” in Tian Xia World Guide, 290. Paizo Inc., 2024
- ↑ . “Glossary & Index” in Tian Xia World Guide, 302. Paizo Inc., 2024