Pontiff

Pontiff is a bull-headed Taurin, former stripper, and hired mercenary who becomes a driver for Carl's coalition on the Tenth Floor. Burdened by his earlier conduct, he volunteers to test a dangerous casino portal so the crawlers can determine whether it reaches a holding area accessible to Herot. Pontiff is a large Taurin with a bull-like head and enough strength to wield a massive glowing mallet. He formerly worked among the club performers. Later dialogue with Bucket Boy shows that he regrets the person he was and is trying to make amends through present action. Rosetta and Tipid hire Pontiff for Carl's team. He drives through multiple Tenth Floor heats, handles shrinking and wall-crawling environments, and times jumps with precision. He also fights summoned enemies with the mallet when driving alone is insufficient. Pontiff investigates the altered Wheel of Fortune in the Desperado casino. The new Nothing spaces may lead to a protected holding area or may be a trap created by Hamed's faction. He purchases an Examine Portal effect and reports the measurements to Rosetta. Rosetta reasons that a successful transfer should remove Pontiff from Carl's mercenary roster if the portal exits the playing field. Pontiff volunteers despite the risk, arguing that personal reform is not enough unless he helps people he once called friends. Carl asks him to deliver a message to Herot. The system later announces that Pontiff has left the playing field and is no longer considered a mercenary. That result supports the holding-area theory and proves he was not killed immediately. His exact location is unseen, but he should be listed as alive outside the playing field rather than deceased.