Small, sentient, penguin-like creatures native to the icy peninsulas of the Bifröst Isles. Standing just under three feet tall, these rotund, feathered folk are known for their stubby wings, expressive eyes, and proud warrior traditions. Though they appear comical to outsiders, Pufflins are hardy, resourceful, and fiercely territorial when it comes to protecting their frostbitten homelands.
Description
Pufflins have round, plush bodies covered in thick, downy feathers ranging from midnight blue to violet-black. Their bellies are often a contrasting pale gray or mauve. They have short, sturdy legs with sharp webbed claws, perfect for navigating icy shores. Their beaks are stout and often display surprising flexibility for speech and tool use.
A distinctive feature of warrior Pufflins is their stone-forged gear—crude but effective shoulder guards, helmets, and short swords or clubs, often adorned with ice crystal motifs. These are fashioned from coastal basalt, bone, and the chiseled remnants of ancient glacial rock.
Culture & Society
Pufflins live in tight-knit coastal clans, often in burrow-villages built into cliff faces or icy coves. They value unity, storytelling, and community defense above all else. Each clan elects a “Puffmarshal,” typically the strongest or wisest member, to lead hunting parties and direct defense during winter raids or predator attacks.
Though primitive in appearance, Pufflins possess a surprising cleverness. They craft simple siege weapons like slingshots or ice-boulders for defense and often employ clever ambushes and traps to outwit larger predators—or explorers who mistake them for harmless.
Behavior
Pufflins are semi-nomadic in winter, following fish migrations and seal herds while always returning to the same hallowed nesting grounds each spring. They communicate in a mix of squawks, gestures, and an oddly refined spoken tongue known as “K'wah,” which scholars claim holds elements of ancient druidic runes.
Despite their small size, Pufflins are brave—recklessly so. Tales speak of lone Pufflin warriors holding off frost wolves or sea-raiders using only a chipped stone blade and raw determination.
Rumors & Legends
- Some Pufflin clans speak of a “Grand Beak”, a massive, ancient Pufflin who resides beneath the glaciers and is said to awaken only when their kind is in great danger.
- A few rare Pufflins are born with glowing crests—believed to be touched by frost spirits, granting them minor magical abilities like frostbite touch or blizzard calling.