The Kitsune-Gumi Letters
During The Sixth Word War, a number of personal letters were written by the Night Monarchs Princess ShyRedFox and Foxx, and delivered to several living Tome Knights. While clearly intended as personal communications, they also contained significant intelligence that had long-reaching effects on the ultimate outcome of the war. Collectively, these communications are known as "The Kitsune-Gumi Letters," also occasionally known as "The Kitsune Letters" and "The Fox Letters."
Purpose
The primary purpose of the writing of these letters appears to have been an apology, and an explanation. While this was unknown to the Tome Knights at the time the war broke out, Princess ShyRedFox, and Filk Archivist Foxx, seem to have chosen to use the power of being the Night Monarchs in order to fight powerful enemies from their pasts who had followed them from other dimensions. They were aware this would deeply hurt many of the people they cared about, and even once their transformation had taken place, they seemed hopeful that the damage to their relationships would not be lethal.
Additionally, they seemed to want to share information with the living Tome Knights, in the hopes that they would be able to find ways to assist in the effort, or at the very least, not stand in the Kitsune-Gumi's way.
Critics argue that these "apologies" were merely justifications for their actions, in order to escape future consequences. However, The Council of the Great Houses appears to have accepted the letters at face value.
Yes, I believe the apologies and remorse are genuine. They were in an impossible situation, and while I may not have made the decisions they made, I understand why they made them. I wasn't in the situation and I make it a point never to second guess the man on the ground. Yes, I've forgiven them both — I've forgiven all four of them.
No comment.
Document Structure
Clauses
There were ten known letters delivered in total. All were written in a hasty scrawl, as if in a hurry. Many show signs of things being started, and then crossed out again.
The first two were delivered to the front entrance of The Warren, addressed to Queen Sable, by a LitMon Fowlx on the 5th of November, 2025. They were hastily written on quality handmade stationery with an expensive, quality office pen. They were delivered in scroll cases, one of which read: "Letter from Shy to Queen Sable. No tricks this time. The best I can offer is to cross my heart—wherever it was swept off to— and I will cross myself out of existence if you find any lies in this letter." Both scroll cases were marked with the personal seals of the Night Monarchs.
The third was delivered directly to Queen Badger Purpleheart's chambers, also on the 5th of November, 2025. A baby Badger Scout dropped a scroll case down on the floor and barked at it twice—the signal for zombies nearby. The outside of the tube read, "Letter from Shy to her sister, Queen Purple. No tricks. The best I can offer is to cross my heart—wherever it was swept off to— and I will cross myself out of existence if you find any lies in this letter." This letter was also written in a hasty scrawl on the same stationery with the same pen.
The next two letters were also delivered by Badger Scouts on the 7th of November, 2025, addressed to Brocktree 1st Lieutenant Blade and Brocktree 2nd Lieutenant Liath in similar scroll cases, also written on the same stationery with the same pen.
The Owsla have confirmed that a sixth letter was sent to Queen Sable at the Warren via Paper Airplane Message on 11 November, 2025. Because this is a teleport spell, it was redirected to a receptacle in the Lapin Command Center which had been created for the purpose in 2022. Queen Sable swore upon reading it, and dislodged a data wafer which was attached via duct tape, containing footage from a Sauropodan drone the Kitsune-Gumi had captured. After this had been checked and verified by security, it was released to the media. This letter was scribbled in ballpoint pen on the back of a spreadsheet printout for number of estimated undead with the numbers blacked out. There were traces of Glitter on the paper. A sticky note was also folded into the airplane, which contained a separate message.
Another letter arrived via Paper Airplane Message on 11 November, 2025, following the razing of the Self Care Mafia HQ. It was addressed to, and received by, Lady Wynter, Acting Oyabun of the SCM, while she was recovering from her injuries in an undisclosed location. Regent EGryph and Owsla Lieutenant Flubb witnessed its arrival. The paper airplane letter was scrawled on the back of a sheet of lined paper, torn from a notepad, with a ballpoint pen. There were traces of glitter on this paper as well.
On the 14th of November, 2025, two more letters arrived via a ripple of earth sliding up to the front gate of Windy Willows, which halted at the wards. Another scroll case popped out of the ground where the ripple stopped. The label on the outside read: "To Meles and the Brocktrees, From Shy." These letters, one to House Meles, and one to the Brocktrees collectively, were scrawled with a ballpoint pen on cheap yellow stationery.
On the 16th of November, 2025, Princess Shy's husband, Lord Yori, sent her a letter as well. This was originally written in traditional charcoal brush ink on a rice paper scroll. The style is indicative of the Edo period in Tomeverse Japan. It is included in the collection of Kitsune-Gumi Letters for completeness and context, although it is not officially considered part of the Kitsune-Gumi Letters itself.
On the 18th of November, 2025, one final letter was received by Princess Shy's husband, Lord Yori. This was, unlike the others, written in traditional charcoal brush ink on a rice paper scroll. Unlike her other letters, it was written in an older form of kanji calligraphy, indicative of the Muromachi–Momoyama period of Tomeverse Japan, not English. Lord Yori has not specified how the letter was delivered.
References
In the letter sent from Princess Shy to Queen Sable on the 5th of November, she referred to the letter that was sent to Queen Purpleheart, and directed the Mother of Bunnies to gather more information there.
In the letter sent from Princess Shy to Queen Purpleheart on the same date, she spoke of doing an interview with LitWatch News, a newsletter publication that dealt strictly with news relevant to Literomancers.
A data chip containing captured Sauropodan drone footage of the razing of the Self Care Mafia HQ was included with the paper airplane message sent to Queen Sable on the 11th of November. This footage was later aired on WLA News and the OneWorld News Network.
Publication Status
While the general contents of the letters are widely known by the public, the specific contents themselves remain classified, and are known only to the Leadership and Bodyguards of The Great Houses.
The contents of Queen Sable's first two letters were scanned and transmitted to the other Great Houses within an hour of their reception. The letter she received from Princess Shy was shared with 1st Lieutenant Blade, 2nd Lieutenant Liath, and WordiGirl and Sylvi, two well-known Meles Tome Knights, in person on 8 November, 2025. No one but herself, and presumably, AttorraRu as the Royal Lapin Librarian, has seen the contents of the third letter.
Queen Badger Purpleheart's letter and 2nd Lt Liath's letter were read by Queen Sable in person on 8 November as well. 1st Lt Blade and the Brocktrees did not share their letters with anyone else, and did not mention to anyone they had received them, other than that a "series of letters" had arrived in the past few days in the November 8th discussion.
Most of the letters, including the one written by Lord Yori, since they were sent to members of House Meles, are kept under lock and key in the Meles Windy Willows Nikolas branch library. Access is granted to people with the proper security clearance and with special permit for scholarly or military studies.
Three of the letters, the ones sent to Queen Sable Aradia, are stored under glass in the Lapin Secret Library.
What has happened to Lady Wynter's letter remains unknown, and while others can confirm its existence, she did not show its contents to anyone.
The contents of Queen Sable's first two letters were scanned and transmitted to the other Great Houses within an hour of their reception. The letter she received from Princess Shy was shared with 1st Lieutenant Blade, 2nd Lieutenant Liath, and WordiGirl and Sylvi, two well-known Meles Tome Knights, in person on 8 November, 2025. No one but herself, and presumably, AttorraRu as the Royal Lapin Librarian, has seen the contents of the third letter.
Queen Badger Purpleheart's letter and 2nd Lt Liath's letter were read by Queen Sable in person on 8 November as well. 1st Lt Blade and the Brocktrees did not share their letters with anyone else, and did not mention to anyone they had received them, other than that a "series of letters" had arrived in the past few days in the November 8th discussion.
Most of the letters, including the one written by Lord Yori, since they were sent to members of House Meles, are kept under lock and key in the Meles Windy Willows Nikolas branch library. Access is granted to people with the proper security clearance and with special permit for scholarly or military studies.
Three of the letters, the ones sent to Queen Sable Aradia, are stored under glass in the Lapin Secret Library.
That's my personal correspondence. Those letters were sent to me, not the Lapin public. My descendants and the Lapin Protectorate can have them when I die, just like the rest of my personal stuff as the Lapin queen.
What has happened to Lady Wynter's letter remains unknown, and while others can confirm its existence, she did not show its contents to anyone.
Historical Details
Public Reaction
Rumours of the existence of the letters spread while the war was still underway, although confirmation of their existence was not announced until December of the same year. This step was taken to prevent the public from sympathizing too deeply with the Kitsune-Gumi, in concern that they would cease viewing them as a threat. However, the details revealed by the letters were announced within a few days of reception, once verified by House security, including in a direct interview with Queen Sable on WLA News, so that the public would also be informed of the additional threat presented by the extradimensional invaders.
Overall, public reaction has been mixed. Some have been encouraged by the effort of Night Monarchs to apologize for their actions, while others believe they represent additional efforts at duplicity and gaslighting. A Freedom of Information Act release request to publish the letters that Queen Sable received is currently before Lapin Parliament.
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Navigation
Type
Text, Letter
Medium
Paper
Authoring Date
November 2025
Authors
Signatories (Organizations)
THE LETTERS
Letters to Queen Sable
TOP SECRET: OWSLA EYES ONLY.
Possession of these documents without sufficient security clearance is a criminal offense under Lapin law.Princess ShyRedFox's Letter (5 November, 2025)
11/5/2025
Dear Sable,
You have no reason to believe me. Especially after we tricked you. I’m sorry. I’m no longer worthy of calling you friend or of being a Great Librarian. I had to leave my heart at the Den to do this. After all is said and done, I will accept whatever punishment you and Purple deem fit.
But you know me well enough that I wouldn’t just randomly do this. I tried so hard to bring up this new danger in the Tomeverse. Something kept stopping me from reaching out every single time - a force of some kind. This was my last option. Once I turned, of course, I was able to communicate again. When I find what it was that prevented me from sharing, I will hunt it down and eliminate it without mercy.
So, why did I turn? My past came back to haunt me, and I will do all I can to protect you all: You, Meles, the Woodlanders, and every Literomancer in the TomeVerse.
Beware, my old mob boss found his way here (line streaks across the page)
We have a plan. But gotta move. Can’t write more. Ask Purple to show you the letter I wrote to her. It explains what I wanted to say here.
Shy
P.S. Purple will need you. She won’t take my turning well.
Filk Archivist Foxx's Letter (5 November, 2025)
Sable,
It’s Foxx. I know you probably don’t want to hear from me right now. Probably, you’ll burn this letter and plot all kinds of ways to hold me in bunny jail and try to stop me and Shy… By now, you know we’re the Night Monarchs. By now, you know that Ru and Bard have joined us.
Tell Stretch I’m sorry about his shoe. And tell James I’m really sorry I tried to eat him. … I am not sorry about the glitter. That was funny. I refuse to be sorry for that.
I’m distracted. I usually am, but it’s worse when I’m undead. I fear that I might have made a mistake, but it’s too late to regret the choices I made. The choices I had to make. There are… things... about my past… that no one knows. That I’ve never shared. Terrible things I should have told you last year after that deal I made with Bard… My memories came back, Sable… and when they did, I feared they pulled something in. The past has come to haunt me, and I swear I can hear his voice mocking me… her voice begging me to help her.
I can’t help her Sable. Not as I was. Not without more power. Not without the Tome. I need to save her. I know she’s out there. If he is, she has to be as well. I refuse to believe that... That monster. That traitor. That disgusting egomaniac is alive and She isn’t. I refuse to believe it. I refuse… She has to be out there, and when I find her everything will be alright again. It has to be.
Shy and I… We have things that we have to do. Things that have to be done, to protect everyone. I know you don’t understand. I know you can’t, not when you don’t know… when I can’t tell you… You have always been there for me, when I needed you. You were one of the first people I met when I first woke up. Do you remember? I had been stone, and then I wasn’t… but my paws hurt so bad, and you held me while I cried. I was so scared. I didn’t know who I was. I didn’t know where I was. I bit people, I created chaos and havoc… but you held me, and told me it was going to be okay, and I believed you.
Please believe me now when I tell you. It’s going to be okay. I promise.
Our actions are going to be upsetting. We are following in the footsteps of night monarchs before us. We need more power. Literomantic. We need the undead army. I need to protect you all and this is the only way I know of to do it… Me and Shy, we have people we need to save. People we need to protect. I hope when this is all over, you can forgive me for doing... well. Everything.
Beware the White Wolf.
And know that you are the closest thing to a mother I’ve had in this world.
Thank you for taking care of me.
Foxx
P.S. there’s like, five turkey sandwiches under my bed. Will you like, take those out before they spoil? There’s a heap of sweets under there too. You can have them if you want.
Paper Airplane Message (11 November, 2025)
Information known only to ShyRedFox, Sable Aradia, and AttorraRu
Nov 10, 2025
Sable,
I’m trying not to freak out as I parse through the implications of what I just experienced.
Now I know why I couldn’t talk to you, Purple, Yori, or anyone else about what I knew before I became Night Monarch. Akui, it had to be him—it’s not Carl’s magic, he put a spell or maybe a few on me when I saw them in Tokyo. The spell to keep me from talking was broken when I turned undead.
I’m kicking myself for not seeing that possibility. Could Foxx and I have not had to be the Night Monarchs? I’m still trying to figure that one out. We couldn’t have let that bastard duo be the Night Monarchs, either way. (stuff crossed out) But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Today, the Tome actually opened and talked in its weird text appearing on the page thing. It cussed me out and told me I was being stupid for not realizing what happened to me. Since Akui’s spell made me see things, I tried to touch the Tome—I had to be sure. But it slammed shut and won’t open again. Foxx, Bard, and Ru were there so I know it really happened.
Why I’m writing is that during the conversation with the Tome, I told it THE ONE has to be in place, hoping it would help but I was scared I’d have to explain what that meant. I couldn’t betray that secret but I also have to know every backup is available. The Tome said it would ensure that THE ONE was in place. Did it listen to the conversation you and I had back in the Great Library? The thought just gives me shivers.
It also said we would know who THE ONE is because they will be the last one left and every undead would be drawn to them. If that comes into play, Foxx and I will command the undead to stay in place and beat the rest of the undead to THE ONE to keep them and the the Tomeverse’s hope alive. Know there is hope. There always HAS to be hope.
Shy
Attached Sticky Note (11 November, 2025)
We captured this from one of Dazz’s nosey drones that we kept in the area to watch over the SCM after those two broke in the first time. Carl and his lackey dog will pay. Now do you see why I’m gathering an undead army?
The Meles Letters
Brocktree Banner by Nathalia Books
TOP SECRET: BROCKTREE EYES ONLY.
Possession of these documents without sufficient security clearance is a criminal offense under Meles law.Letter to Queen Purpleheart (5 November, 2025)
Nov 5, 2025
My dearest sister,
I’m sure news has reached you by now of my turning, and you’re asking why. I’m betting you feel utterly betrayed. On top of that, the headlines and travel warnings aren’t helping to ease your worry or confusion. I’m so sorry for causing you pain. I have a hard task ahead.
Ru, Foxx, and I did an interview yesterday at the LitWatch News. Some of your questions will be answered there. But I’m hoping this letter reaches you before the issue goes out. You need to hear this from me. (several crossed-out sentences, you can make out a few words that might read ‘forgive the bragging it’s expected from the Night Monarch’ and ‘I’m not feeling quite myself’.)
Something stopped me from being able to communicate with you or anyone else before I turned. I tried everything—to bring it up in meetings, to talk with you, to call Sable… The gods know everything I tried. Nothing worked. Calls wouldn’t go through, words lodged in my throat, internet connections went down, and so many other stupid issues. Please, know that I tried hard to reach out to you. Turning undead to become one of the Night Monarchs was my last option. Once I turned, of course, I was able to communicate again. When I find what it was that prevented me from sharing with you, I will hunt it down and eliminate it without mercy. Nothing should come between us.
So you’ll be asking, why did I turn? My past came back to haunt me, and I will do all I can to protect you, Meles, the Woodlanders, and every Literomancer in the TomeVerse. (several crossed-out sentences that look like Shy’s having a hard time explaining)
Black Carl Sasuga will stop at nothing to get the Tome and the Woodlander Crowns. We have the Tome and it is safe as long as it is with us. Help Gala keep the crown safe. Don’t tell ANYONE where Meles’ crown is. Carl, the filking bastard, took over much of the dimension I fled from. Now he’s found me in the TomeVerse. I have to stop him from doing the same here and bringing unspeakable terror and misery. (section crossed out, nothing legible) I’m too ashamed to tell you what he made me do when he was my mob boss. But know this. I swore I’d never go down that road again.
Foxx tells me Okamiden, their arch enemy, followed them here, too. Dazz’s drones have been flying around everywhere. We managed to capture the ones near SCM HQ. The drones caught Carl and Okamiden breaking in and snatches of their conversation. It’s more dire than I expected. They’re moving quickly. Foxx and I will lead the Undead to stop them by any means necessary.
I’m sure this doesn’t all make sense right now, but I hope in time it will.
I also hope in the end that you’ll be able to forgive me for what I’m about to do. If you can’t find it in you, know I will accept your judgement and will kneel before you for any punishment you deem necessary when all is said and done. My heart remains with Meles, literally.
Sincerely,
Shy
P.S. Only eat the cake if you’re ready to join us. I’d love to have you fight by our side. Otherwise, don’t trust any newcomers. It may be Carl and Okamiden in disguise.
Letter to 1st Lieutenant Blade (7 November, 2025)
Information known only to the Brocktrees
Blade,
You told me what happened to your clan. Dear gods, I’m sorry for what’s coming. Know there’s a plan for the long run. It WILL turn out ok. I doubt you will believe me as the Night Monarch and I can’t blame you. Sorry that the responsibility of command fell on your shoulders at this time. But I believe in you, and I don’t relish meeting you on the battlefield. You’re a force to be reckoned with.
Keep Purple safe.
Shy
Letter to 2nd Lieutenant Liath (7 November, 2025)
Liath,
As the newest Brocktree, I’m sure you’re not looking forward to the coming war and may be scared. I can’t blame you. I don’t look forward to it either. I’ve fallen as a guard many times - as a Brocktree and in the Stinger Squadron. War is terrible. But I know you have reserves of will and grit inside you. Draw on those. They WILL be there when you need them.
Help Blade keep Purple safe.
Shy
Letter to House Meles (14 November, 2025)
November 14
To House Meles,
Unless the Houses manage to stop the Kitsune-gumi, I see what’s coming. Being a Night Monarch means death and destruction. But Foxx, Bard, Ru and I are clever, I don’t think the Houses can stop us at this point. We’ve over run the Bats and Dinos. Not that they rolled over for us. They fought valiantly. But the Horde is really strong this year. It’s not a brag. It’s necessity.
Know I do not look forward to attacking Meles when the time comes. Meles was one place that was home and family for me. My old mob boss is more powerful than when I left his clan. I’m truly sorry for what I will have to do to protect you all in the long run.
Shy
Letter to the Brocktrees (14 November, 2025)
To the Brocktrees,
You are an especially stubborn lot, and I admire you each for it. I am relying on you to help Queen Purple. She has one very important task: to keep the Meles Woodlander crown out of my old boss’s hands. You know your duty. Help her and protect her, please.
I thought I could resist the undead drive to bite and kill. But it took over faster than I expected when we conquered House Chiroptera and Sauropoda. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself for very long when we meet next. I’m sorry.
There are so many threads in this plan to manage. Hopefully I can stay sane. Bard struggled with that last year and has warned me about how it affected him.
Shy
Letter to ShyDeadFox from Her Husband, Lord Yori (16 November, 2025)
Letter to Japanese late 18th–early 19th century (public domain) - I have no idea how to translate traditional kanji so if you do please let me know! by Urakami (Uragami) Gyokudō (public domain)
I have struggled to write this letter, because I know you too well to consider that becoming one of the Night Monarchs of this ‘verse was an accident. You would not be drawn in simply by power or riches, nor the need to control others. But seeing you, MY wife, in the daily news as governments try to guess your next move and watching the destruction you leave in your wake is difficult to stomach. This merciless behavior looks too much like how you described Black Carl, the one you escaped from. You say Black Carl and Akui took over other ‘verses and they, or others like them, may have been the ones to ruin our home and your cohort’s home. I cannot see how you following this path of terror will bring about any light in the end. It appears to only end in darkness and death. So I ask that you give me a reason to hope that you are still the kindhearted, loving, loyal, and playful fox I married those many years ago—before we were so cruelly separated. I desperately want to believe you haven’t changed into something I can no longer recognize. P.S. I will continue to track you as long as you wear the necklace I gave you. Don’t make me hunt you down only to have to challenge you to a duel. November 16, 2025
To HRH Princess Shyredfox, Kitsune-gumi’s “not so secret” lair.
From Kimotsuki Yorimoto, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Letter to Lord Yori (18 November, 2025)
November 18, 2025
Dearest Yori, Thank you for giving me a chance and not forsaking me. Though, I deserve it and so much worse. The fear that you might leave warred inside me and kept me from being able to reach out to you sooner. But I can’t afford to be a coward on that front any longer. Yes, the news paints the bleakest picture possible. The sensationalism that drives the media outlets here will take you some getting used to. It’s got to be the worst way to find out about the technology and advancements of this world. And I’m sorry for what I put you through as you watched Foxx and I lead the Kitsune-gumi to slaughter and take down House Chiroptera and House Sauropoda. Foxx, Bard, Ru and I have a plan to keep Carl and Akui from taking over the Tomeverse. Unfortunately, it requires drastic measures. I promise when I see you again after this dreadful mess is done, I will explain everything in detail. But I will keep things here brief because we have to keep on the move. You told me to prepare for the battle ahead against Black Carl and Akui and I have. Just not the way I’d originally planned. From what I’ve been able to piece together, Akui cast a spell on me to keep me from speaking about you and I seeing him and Carl in Japan. I couldn’t even speak about it to you, my beloved, after the spell was enacted. By the kami, I tried so hard to tell you and those close to me here in the Tomeverse. So, out of desperation, Foxx and I beat them to becoming Night Monarch of this world. We cannot allow them to hurt others ever again. The undead state protects people from being controlled by Black Carl. As you guessed, our plan cannot end in everyone becoming undead or world domination. We plan to remove the possibility of Carl and/or Akui taking over all the Litmon and then ultimately this world. We aren’t heroes, but we’re clearing the way for the ones who truly are and can ultimately save the Tomeverse. Also know that your letter arrived just before Bard asked me to not attack Ailurus. He received information that rocked him to the core. I’d planned to attack tomorrow, but your letter and Bard’s request together are not a coincidence. They are a sign that Foxx and I need to take a different direction against Carl and Akui. Please, consider contacting my sister, Queen Purple of House Meles or Queen Sable of House Lapin. They will need your help in decoding the plight of the Litmon and could use your tactical mind to help with defenses against Carl and Akui. If you feel you have to fight me, I will not fight back. If undead, I may not be able to resist biting. But I will not fight you. I’d rather be struck down than to hurt you. Yours Always, Shy P.S. I trust that you will only reveal the truth about the necklace you gave me if you feel it’s truly needed. You may share this letter at your discretion.
Letter to the Self Care Mafia
Letter to Lady Wynter & the Self Care Mafia (11 November, 2025)
Information only known to ShyRedFox and Lady Wynter
To Acting Oyabun Lady Wynter and my dear SCM family,
I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to be there to help evacuate SCM HQ. But I know I placed the SCM in the right hands while Foxx, Bard and I are away. Lady Wynter, you and the officers did well. From the captured drone footage we extracted after the fact, it looked like everyone got out. Were you or any of the SCM family injured? Is everyone alright? I expect you all wiped the servers to protect the locations of the cafes and vital intel like that.
Ask Dazz to give you some drones if you want them for surveillance. I think she will, if it’s not ME asking. She’s probably still pissed at me and rightly so.
I think the little octo litmon will come in handy for security and surveillance, too. We have one with us and it’s been useful to help us quickly parse security issues and footage. Have you been seeing all the new yokai and litmon showing up?
Black Carl and Akui will pay for what they did to the SCM and every thing else they’ve done. Stay safe.
Shy
I have to say this article is simply amazing from the setup and each of the letters which each have a unique feel to them. So well done! , Like the name of the world as well, It gives me a bit of SCP foundation vibes and game of thrones vibes. Great work!
Thank you so much! <3 I think you get us - that sounds very much like an apt description of our vibe to me!