Puff

Overview

Puff is a Chimera that takes the form of a massive ram, bonded to Kauri as his Alter Ego through The Musubi. Puff serves alongside Kauri as an Exalt with the Expeditionary Corps at The Screed.

Appearance and Behavior

Puff manifests as an unusually large ram with prominent horns and misty, downy wool. He moves among the sheep flocks at The Screed, disguising his true nature by “parading in ovine form.” Only Kauri recognizes that Puff is a Chimera rather than an ordinary sheep—through his Skein sensitivity, Kauri alone could perceive Puff’s true nature hidden among the flock.

Puff displays protective behavior toward the flock, watching over ewes and lambs. When Kauri freed a lamb caught in rope at the fence, Puff observed from nearby, glaring to ensure the lamb wasn’t mistreated. After Kauri released the lamb, Puff turned away. Puff bleats when sensing Kauri’s distress and nudges him with insistent headbutts when guiding him.

Aboard The Ouroboros, Puff was initially distrustful of Kauri but gradually relaxed in his presence as Kauri fed the animals and filled grain bowls each morning.

Armored Bird Form

Puff can manifest as a gigantic armored bird with jade and emerald coloration. In this form, Puff possesses plated feathers and spreads wings large enough to block an attacker’s path. The mineral plumage can withstand lances, arrows, and rockets.

Protective Behavior

When Kauri is injured, Puff enters a berserk state and attacks aggressors with horns and hooves. In this state, Puff cannot be easily stopped and will charge directly into enemy formations.

Skein Shielding

Puff can shield Kauri from emotional overflow during Skein contact with powerful entities such as Leviathans. Puff absorbs the emotional torrent through his vaporous fleece, which is consumed but reforms using Mana.

Timeline

393 AC - Woollyback Transhumance

Puff grunted alongside Kauri to keep the Woollyback flock moving as they began transhumance from The Ouroboros across the pastures of The Screed.

393 AC - Defending Flock from Wyvern

During a severe storm at The Screed, Puff charged a wyvern that swooped down on the Woollyback flock, buying Kauri time to lead the sheep to the pen.

393 AC - Wounds Healed by Kauri

Kauri drained Mana from surrounding plants and directed it toward Puff to heal wounds sustained defending the flock from the wyvern.

393 AC - Musubi Ceremony

Puff and Kauri underwent The Musubi bonding ceremony presided over by Eru, with Kauri’s parents and woodland animals present as witnesses.

393 AC, October - Intervening to Protect Halua

During the Bravos trap operation against Halua, Puff carried Kauri in armored bird form through hunter crossfire. Puff’s mineral plumage absorbed lances, arrows, and rockets as they weaved between islets to shield Halua from the hunters’ line of fire.

393 AC, October - Harpoon Strike and Berserk Charge

A harpoon struck Puff and Kauri, causing Kauri to fall and lose control of his Alteration. Puff entered a berserk state and charged into a Bravos unit, attacking hunters with horns and hooves.

393 AC, October - Shielding Kauri During Skein Contact

When Kauri extended his Skein to make contact with Halua, Puff shielded Kauri from the Leviathan’s overwhelming consciousness. Puff absorbed the emotional torrent through his vaporous fleece, allowing Kauri to experience Halua’s memories without being consumed by them.

Relationships

• Kauri: Bonded partner and Alterer, connected through The Musubi
• Eru: Eidolon who presided over Puff and Kauri’s Musubi ceremony (393 AC)
• Halua: Leviathan Puff helped protect during trap operation (393 AC)
• Sol: Bravos Exalt whose attack Puff blocked in armored bird form (393 AC)
• The Skein: Network through which Puff shields Kauri during contact with powerful entities
• Mana: Energy Puff uses to reform his fleece after absorbing emotional overflow