Guido Porifini among his creations.[1a]
Guido Porifini is a master puppeteer from the southern lands of the Old World, and a sorcerer devoted to the Chaos God of change and intrigue Tzeentch.[1a]
History[]
Porifini's puppet shows were famous throughout northern Estalia, captivating both adults and children alike. The nobility of Estalia clamored for private performances from the great man, but he had to leave suddenly -- something to do with a nobleman's daughter.[1a]
Porifini's stand at P.D. Barfung's Travelling Carnival.[1a]
Travelling north to the Empire, Porifini joined up with P.D. Barfung's Travelling Carnival. However, a less cultured audience introduced Porfini to a new experience. He faced several criticisms, as the commoners of the Empire lacked the maturity to appreciate his displays. But despite the critique, Porifini returned with the carnival year after year -- unlike many of his critics. Each year, Porifini's collection of puppets grew, and his shows became increasingly spectacular.[1a]
Some whispered that he was a former wizard who had turned to puppetry to make ends meet. Others claimed that his puppets were actually Halfling children, sold by their impoverished families. As for the truth, no one was entirely sure. Whatever the case, it served him well until one night in Stirland. The town mayor had gone missing, and the townsfolk suspected Porifini's involvement. The next morning, all that was found in the burned remains of the master puppeteer's caravan was his bag of puppets.[1a]
Another puppeteer later bought the puppets from the carnival owner, but lacking Porifini's talent was soon driven away. The man stole the puppets as payment and sold them at the Ten-Tailed Cat inn to a mysterious old man. That man revealed himself to be Porifini, who had become a regular at the inn. As for the wannabe puppeteer, he disappeared shortly after concluding the affair.[1a]
Only Porifini knows the full truth. The rumours about his undoing weren't far off -- his victims were turned into his own twisted puppets.[1a]
Trivia[]
The story of Guido Porifini is a clear reference to The Adventures of Pinocchio, an 1883 children's fantasy novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi. In the original novel, the plot revolves around the mischievous adventures of an animated marionette named Pinocchio and his creator and father figure, a poor woodcarver named Geppetto. However, in contrast to Collodi's narrative where Pinocchio longs to become a real boy, Guido Porifini's story outs a far more sinister spin on this concept: in his tale, men and women are transformed into puppets rather than puppets aspiring to become human.