Eight-and-a-Half-Tails

Eight-and-a-Half-Tails, born Wise-Muzzle, was the highest spiritual leader of the kitsune on the plane of Kamigawa. An extremely skilled cleric and healer, his nine tails were a product of a long journey marked by several spiritual, practical, and emotional achievements, each of which brought him a new tail. He was an unusual kitsune since his birth - instead of being born with a pure white-tail, he had a black streak in it. This was seen as an omen of great destiny, of changing the world.

When he was very young, Wise-Muzzle received his second tail after rescuing a friend from ransom by a group of ronin samurai. Later, still a child, he received his third tail after easing a samurai's death and deciding to become a cleric. His fourth tail came much later when he became a sensei. Declining offers to lead a temple or become Lord Konda's personal physician, he chose instead to remain in Susuki Village and teach a new generation to find their paths. His fifth tail appeared after he developed a form of protection using the Turning Principle to create a perfect defense, impressing his masters. After saving three-quarters of Hagi Village from a plague, he received his sixth tail, and his seventh came after his first direct conversation with a kami. When his apprentice, Iron-Claw, chose to leave his apprenticeship to become a samurai, he accepted Iron-Claw's departure gracefully despite his misgivings, earning him his eighth tail. His ninth and final tail came when he was elevated to his position as spiritual leader of all kitsune on Kamigawa.

Nine Tails was arguably the most experienced mortal on the whole of Kamigawa when it came to the spiritual world. Upon the request of daimyo Konda, he did extensive research on the kakuriyo. Before handing the results to Konda, he realized that the rituals that Konda asked for could be used to breach the barrier between the mortal and spirit world. A shadow went through his mind, but he banished it and assured himself that Konda was no madman who would attempt to meddle with such things and abuse them. By doing this, he became indirectly responsible for Konda's crime and the Kami War - and also for the death of one of his former apprentice, Iron-Claw.

When the kitsune elder Nine Tails realized all these things, he decided that he had no right to wear his nine tails as a sign of honor. As penance for his crime, he cut off half of one of his tails with a ceremonial knife. Since that day, Nine-Tails was no more, and Eight-and-a-Half-Tails was born.