Prunchau

Prunchau is a major character in the Clockwork Knight series. A wooden top, he is the loyal servant of the Pepperouchau family and follows them on their travels.

Appearance
Prunchau resembles a cross between a top and a figurine. His upper half is humanoid, featuring a tanned bald head with yellow eyes, large ears, a red pear-shaped nose, and a black bushy mustache. A yellow Tyrolean hat with a green feather sits atop his head. His upper body is red and is outfitted with green overalls. Connected to this are spindly green arms, with yellow orbs acting as elbows and red orbs as his hands. The lower half of his body is styled like a conical top, with stripes of various colors and sizes adorning it.

History
Prunchau is the Pepperouchau family’s trusted follower, and has served them across three generations. Currently, he primarily assists the youngest member of the family, Tongara de Pepperouchau, making sure his needs are met and that he stays out of trouble. While an honest and good-natured sort, he often treats Pepper like a child due to his klutziness and tends to be a worrywart, fretting about the potential dangers that could befall his young master. Prunchau is by no means a strong person, but his ability to float through the air means he can easily keep up with Pepper and his friends.

One night, after spectating a knightly display of skill between his master and Sir Ginger, the lights suddenly go out, and Princess Chelsea is kidnapped. Pepper and Ginger immediately set out to save her, with Prunchau and some other friends following along to help them. Prunchau appears in the beginning conversations of many levels, usually with bits of advice for Pepper to take note of such as information on level mechanics or potential hazards to avoid. In one cinema scene in Clockwork Knight 2, Prunchau demonstrates his helpfulness by winding up Pepper’s key and revitalizing him. He can also grant Pepper a special key that permanently gives him five hit points if he manages to keep up with him in a secret race in the final Clock Tower stage.

Trivia

 * Prunchau’s hat and overalls resemble the traditional outfit typically associated with Oktoberfest and Bavarian culture in general.
 * Prunchau appears in the Sega Freaks Card Collection as Card #84.
 * Prunchau’s face bears heavy resemblance to that of Mr. Potato Head, a customizable children’s toy. This is notable as Mr. Potato Head is a prominent character in the Toy Story series, a franchise that the Clockwork Knight games are often compared to thematically.