Meet the Characters: Souza

“Maybe the point of life is just to keep growing, even if nobody sees your roots… Or try listening to moss. It has all the answers, but never really tells the same one twice.”
– Souza, God of Nature

SOUZA, eldest of the Pūka gods and personification of all things creeping, growing and occasionally hallucinogenic, floats through the ages in a haze of Skyleaf and Muddleglum; his beloved pipe as essential as his indifference to cosmic scheduling.

Of all his creations, these two mind-expanding wonders remain his proudest accomplishment, opening mortal minds to the cosmos and reliably closing the door on productive afternoons across Magonia. The Earthborn come in a close second; though, depending on the day or his libido, he might rank Hogpeanut as the true runner-up.

Only after a pondering puff does he even remember creating the Earthborn, a detail he mostly left to natures vibes; a nudge from the wind, or the odd mystical fungus would sort out the details. Yet, to this day, the diminutive Earthborn thank him for the gift of survival, while Souza wonders if he ever left them directions or simply wandered off in pursuit of.. well, something… He can’t really remember.

Dreamborn in distant lands once revered the Mantilion’s sleepy grin on cave paintings, believing he taught them when to harvest, how to listen to the land, and which plants led to enlightenment, or, at the very least, a memorable nap.

“Skyleaf makes philosophers. Muddleglum makes poets. Hogpeanut makes trouble… And the Earthborn? Well, they turned out interesting… I think?”
– Souza the Mantilion

For Souza, rules are much like reeds by the river’s edge: they’re meant to bend with the current, not snap in the wind. He believes in balance, prefers psychedelics over dogma, and knows that for every vine strangling a branch, there’s a fruit soon to blossom.

While his siblings shake the heavens with melodrama, Souza brings a mellow serenity, offering both cosmic calm and pungent “incense” that nobody asks about. As enlightening as he is baffling, wisdom from Souza is typically served tangled (and usually after three bowls of Skyleaf). Survive one of his philosophical discourses, and you might leave with profound enlightenment, a headache, or just really craving snacks.

In family matters, he alone reassures Maduta, goddess of death, that even decay is simply nature’s way of making room for something wild and new. Should you be foolish enough to annoy him, he might be pleased to introduce you to her.

In battle, the soft-spoken sage transforms quickly, with lion’s teeth, mantis pincers, and an natural selection lesson in how “chill” should never be mistaken for harmless.

Still, Souza prefers to let life and nature unravel at their own pace, satisfied to measure eternity by the length of a well-smoked pipe and the patience of a stone.

Nicknames: Father Nature, Herbfather, The Leafy Dreamer

Occupation: Pūka (god)

True form: Mantilion

Pūka powers: Spitting foliage, verdokinesis, causing earthquakes and landslides

Legendary astra: Tenae, the Gladefoil — stolen by Leelee, the Pirate Queen

Domains: Nature, earth, plants and animals

Strengths: “Natural” wisdom, patience and zen-like serenity, adaptation

Weaknesses: Skyleaf, Muddleglum, snacks, naps, constant haze, foggy memory

Golden Guardian Sponsor

Souza’s final artwork by Francesco Sala was made possible by the generous contribution of Golden Guardian Club members Rodrigo Goyanes & Rommel Sagana. Thank you for your incredible support!