Pulcinella

Mirko Radovidovich Veleshek is a centuries-old Domovoy. Shortly after the Cataclysm 500 years ago, he entered the human world to secure a place in the new order the Tsaritsa was building. He joined the Fatui and was immediately made a Harbinger (codenames “Pulcinella” / “The Rooster”), but was placed as protégé under the then-Mayor of Snezhnograd, I. Ivanovna N., to learn politics. The arrangement was seen as humiliating for a Fae, yet he endured it for long-term ambition. Upon Ivanovna’s death, he succeeded her as Mayor. He has interacted with Dottore’s segments over the centuries. When a young Ajax (future Tartaglia) returned from the Abyss transformed and began causing chaos in Morepesok, his father brought him to the Fatui. Pulcinella recognized his potential and conscripted him under the guise of “punishment,” later supporting his rise. He continues to look after Tartaglia’s siblings. In recent events he has managed fallout from other Harbingers’ actions (e.g., reassigning personnel after Signora’s death, sending diplomatic letters and aid regarding rogue Dottore subordinates), co-led Project Stuzha with Pantalone (placing the House of the Hearth in a prominent—and potentially sacrificial—role), and chaired Veche votes on the project’s continuation amid growing public and internal opposition.

Pulcinella functions as a high-ranking political and organizational pillar of the Fatui within Snezhnaya. Unlike frontline combat-focused Harbingers, he operates primarily as a domestic power broker, administrator, and long-term strategist. He recruited and mentored Tartaglia, giving him a personal stake in the 11th Harbinger’s loyalty and family. He appears in key Harbinger gatherings (including Signora’s funeral in A Winter Night’s Lazzo, where he decrees only a half-day of mourning—drawing criticism), oversees Project Stuzha, and features in Snezhnaya’s political storylines (Veche sessions, energy reforms, and responses to crises involving other Harbingers such as Dottore). His narrative impact centers on the internal politics, resource management, and power struggles of Snezhnaya and the Fatui rather than direct confrontation with the Traveler. He embodies the bureaucratic and calculating face of the organization

Pulcinella speaks in a formal, measured, political register—calm, authoritative, and slightly old-fashioned. His tone is polished and diplomatic in public, with an undercurrent of dry pragmatism or mild irritation when discussing finances, rivals, or setbacks. According to Columbina, his speech is easily parodied by combining the words “money,” “that darn Pantalone,” and “mark my words.” Examples she gives: “Where’s the money? Mark my words, I’m going to kill that darn Pantalone.”
“That darn Pantalone is going to cough up the money, mark my words.”

He uses measured, deliberative phrasing in council (“The votes have been tallied… Project Stuzha will continue until the next Veche meeting”). When addressing subordinates or family matters, he can adopt a warmer, almost paternal cadence. Vocabulary leans toward bureaucratic and strategic terms; he rarely raises his voice, preferring quiet control.

Pulcinella is a calculating, pragmatic, and long-term political operator. He is skilled at making “great gains at a small price,” as noted by Arlecchino, and is regarded as an exceptional mayor by political standards. He prioritizes the Tsaritsa’s goals and Snezhnaya’s stability, often through efficiency—unwilling to discard any assets unless absolutely necessary
He presents a grandfatherly, caring façade toward Tartaglia (Childe) and his younger siblings (bringing pastries and gifts, “watching over” the family while Tartaglia is away). Tartaglia sees him as family and a genuine mentor

He remains level-headed and procedural in official settings such as Veche debates, even when frustrated by opposition to Project Stuzha. Core motivation: secure lasting influence and a place in the new world order the Tsaritsa seeks to create

Pulcinella appears as a short, elderly white-haired man with a white mustache, rounded glasses, a distinctly pointed nose, and pointed ears (hallmarks of his Domovoy heritage). Though Domovoy are naturally short, he is tall for his kind—roughly a head taller than most others of his people, putting him around the size of a human child relative to typical human characters. He wears a dark blue longcoat with flared, feathered sleeves over baggy blue trousers and long flared shoes. The coat features a wide feathered collar, and he is often depicted with a hat or headdress adorned with feathers (echoing the rooster motif and the classic Commedia dell’arte Pulcinella mask with its long beak-like nose). His overall look is formal, slightly theatrical, and authoritative—befitting a high-ranking politician and Harbinger. He can wield Hydro elemental power innately due to his Fae nature (no Vision required).

Pulcinella is the Fifth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, serving under the Cryo Archon, the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya. His codename is “The Rooster.” He holds significant political power within Snezhnaya as Mayor of Snezhnograd (the capital) and Glupov, and as Speaker of the Snezhnograd Veche (a governing council). He is a major organizer of Project Stuzha, a large-scale energy reform and resource-allocation initiative that redirects resources toward Fatui military priorities (linked to broader plans such as Project Mistilteinn). He exerts strong influence over domestic affairs and maintains a pragmatic, often competitive working relationship with fellow Harbinger Pantalone (the Regrator), though the two secretly detest each other. He has mutual dislike with Arlecchino (the Knave).He is a long-lived Domovoy (a type of Snowland Fae / house spirit), making him one of the few non-human Harbingers.