"Stage one is effectively a collection of different named fox spirits, normally formed by large energy outputs from third stage Kitsune. The fourtail teacher probably has made a few of these while working at the school. There are about twenty of these spirit types. Only about a third of them are actually capable of becoming second stage Kitsune, aka Tsuki. The rest usually pick someone or something they like or dislike and follow them around to either bless or curse them. Boons can vary from Luck of the Fox to altering perception of aggressors to prevent damage to host. Curses towards hosts can vary from Luckless to withering diseases of both the body and mind."
"Of the third that can become Tsuki, they possess either a likeminded host, a live fox, or a newborn child. Those are Tsuki. If a Tsuki has kids, those kids are Tsuki. If a thirdstager has kids, those kids are Tsuki. Kumo is a Tsuki, a secondstager for example. I'm Inari, a thirdstager."
"Tsuki can't generate energy on their own. They also can get rather unbalanced if they don't have the right input. They can gain energy either from being directly fed it by another Kitsune or from drawing on the emotions of those surrounding them. Upon acquiring enough energy, as well as an assortment of raw emotions, the Tsuki will catalyze it and become a thirdstager. Which type of thirdstager they become depends on their mindset, personality, and general alignment. The two types of thirdstagers are Inari and Yakko. I'm Inari, Inari are generally benign, if a little playful, they also have a tendency to worship a certain deity, seven and higher tails are equivalent to greater angelic and demonic beings in terms of power, they're literally vulpine angels at that point. Inari tend to grow faster then Yakko due to their divine connection. Yakko tend to be mischievous and tricksy. They grow slower then Inari but tend to be much more fun to be around. Inari tend to be sorta sticklers for rules, too orderly. Thirdstagers generate their own energy, exponentially larger amounts depending on tail number."
"I'm only barely Inari, it was nearly a cointoss, but a few traits made me Inari. I don't worship the deity most Inari worship. Sooorta a matter of pride on my end. I intend to go ninetails without any divine aid as fast as possible. No fun if you get help with it. I'm actually rather rare among Kitsune due to how quickly I catalyzed. Normally a Kitsune catalyze at age thirty or so if they're aware of their heritage. If they are a possessed, or otherwise known as an accidental, they often don't find out until they die the first time at the end of their mortal life. Dead Tsuki end up as firststagers with their minds partly intact. Usually they end up in a body again, although they occasionally lose access to them until a certain age if they possess a baby. Dead Inari and Yakko end up as spirits with their minds and abilities fully intact, they just need to find a fox to possess."