Kofun

**Kofun** is one of the two sighted children of Maghra by Jerlamarel. He and his sister, Haniwa, are the main targets of Queen Kane's obsessive wrath. As a result, both require Baba Voss's protection and guidance on their journeys through the world of *SEE*. Kofun is composed, compassionate and intelligent, growing to be more cautious than his twin sister, Haniwa. While she uses the books left to them by their father to create weapons such as her bow and arrow, Kofun is more measured in what he uses their knowledge for and does not wish to abuse the enormous advantages they impart. Early in their childhood, their parents realized the twins possessed the same ability to see that their father had. Being raised among the Alkenny forced them to keep their sight a secret, and it left Kofun with a deep appreciation for his community and their intrinsic worth as humans even without sight.

## Biography

### Early life with the Alkenny

Kofun and Haniwa were born the same day that Queen Kane's Witchfinder army, led by Tamacti Jun, finally locates and assaults the Alkenny Village. He was born to Maghra and fathered by the heretic Jerlamarel, who claimed to have the power of sight. Baba Voss, his adoptive father, was the chieftain of the Alkenny, who had fallen for Maghra after she wandered into the village already pregnant and raised her children as his own. When they mere hours old, the twins were carried by their mother across a bridge made by Jerlameral that allowed the Alkenny to escape the Witchfinders.

Growing up in New Alkenny, it soon became clear that Kofun and Haniwa were both able to see. They hid this fact from the rest of the Alkenny, although Maghra, Baba Voss, and Paris were aware of their secret. On the twins' twelfth birthday, Paris reveals to Kofun and Haniwa that their true father is named Jerlamarel, and he has left them a gift: a crate of books for them to learn from. Jerlameral also leaves them a message, explaining why he had to leave and that he will be waiting for them when they decide to leave the village. The knowledge of the books are kept secret from Maghra—who had previously forbade them from being given to the children, although Baba Voss comes to learn of Paris' actions and keep it secret from his wife. As Kofun and Haniwa grow, they devour the knowledge in the books until they reach the age of seventeen.

### A big decision

Kofun joins Baba Voss in attacking a Trivantian border patrol to steal armour and supplies. As Baba goes into Trivantes to rescue Haniwa, Kofun is instructed to wait outside the city with Paris for seven days for his return. While waiting, Kofun is captured by a small band of Witchfinders, led by Toad, and taken on a journey to Pennsa on the orders of Maghra, who had replaced her sister as Queen Kane. Kofun manages to leave a message that he is on his way to Pennsa, knowing that his sister was capable of reading it though his captors could not. En route there, Toad's soldiers begin to question the wisdom of bringing Kofun in alive, when their mandate had always been to kill "witches" such as him on sight. Toad stands firm on following their orders and ends the debate, and they continue their advance to Pennsa.

Upon arriving in Pennsa, Kofun is reunited with his mother. This is an uncertain period though, as Kofun is confused by her abrupt political marriange to Lord Harlan and questions her motivations. During the wedding, Kofun leaves early to be alone and finds himself in the company of the now-deposed Sibeth, who tries to build a rapport with him in the hopes she can manipulate him as part of her plan to regain the throne. Kofun later has an argument with Maghra over why she had never told him about their royal heritage until circumstances had left her no choice.

Later, Kofun wants to improve his fighting skills and turns to Toad for help, having gained respect for his principles and martial prowess during their travel to Pennsa. Toad is apprehensive and at first refuses to assist in his training. Kofun is soon reunited with Baba Voss, Haniwa and Paris, and they all join Queen Maghra and Lord Harlan for dinner. The following day, Kofun catches up on lost time with Baba and Haniwa, where they each share their thoughts about sight returning to the world. He also sees Sibeth, who divulges a secret to him.

Toad eventually agrees to train Kofun, but soon establishes that, contrary to his expectations, the boy's sight is putting him at a steep disadvantage to the older, blind man. Toad soon decides to take away his sight with the use of a blindfold during their sessions, and both are surprised by the swift improvement in his skills as a result. Kofun also takes up horseback riding and eventually offers for Sibeth to accopany him on a ride, making Paris uncomfortable and she admonishes him to be careful around the former Queen. Despite her warnings, she and Kofun continue to spend time together, providing Sibeth with the opening she needs to advance her schemes when she invites him to consume thornflower for the first time with her, a potent euphoric drug. This causes the pair to lose their inhibitions and for Kofun to succumb to Sibeth's entreaties for him to be intimate with her. This leads to the news that Sibeth is pregnant by her nephew, which Kofun struggles to process.

As hostilities grow ever more likely with Trivantes, Kofun and Haniwa insist on joining the battle, much to the dismay of Baba Voss and Maghra. Despite anguished protests from their adoptive father to leave the battlefield, Kofun and Haniwa are resolved to stay and fight. Kofun is able to demonstrate his newly-acquired fighting sklls in the battle and helps to secure victory for the Payan army.

### Being a father

Kofun is coming to terms with being a father. He watches his child being born from the sidelines, and walks out during this process. Later, Maghra offers for Kofun to hold his son, Wolffe, but Kofun declines, saying he is not the father. He goes outside to a bar, where he is met by Harlan. He gives Kofun advice on being a father, namely that Wolffe’s mother is Queen Kane and thus needs a good father on Kofun. Kofun is unsure what to do about this.

At dinner with Maghra and Haniwa, the group discuss Haniwa seeing a sighted person. Kofun, along with Maghra, dispute if she saw a sighted person and also ponder if the sighted person wanted to be discovered. After Haniwa calls on Kofun to be a better father, he storms out of the room.

Kofun continues to be uncomfortable with being a father and again storms away from Haniwa when she mentions his son later on. Kofun eventually goes to see Sibeth to hold his son, where he realises that his son is blind. He quickly returns Wolffe to Sibeth and exits the room, pushing past Maghra.

Later, Kofun watches on as Lucien preaches about how the sighted are witchs and how the people should rise up. Kofun leaves during this speech but is followed by patrons of a bar. He realises he is being followed and chooses his moment to attack his assailants. He is successful initially, but is nearly overwhelmed before Charlotte saves him. He is also met by Baba who checks his condition, but asks about his son. Kofun walks away at this. Baba later reaches Kofun again to discuss being a father, and gives Kofun pause for thought as he hands his son to him.
After this, Kofun goes to Sibeth’s quarters and opens a secret passage under the floor where Sibeth is being kept. He explains to her the situation with Tormada’s bombs and also brings her food. Much to her frustration, he explains she cannot be released - it’s for her own safety. Later, Kofun sings to his son but the sound of drums draws him outside where he sees Witchfinders about to be hanged. Walking back in, he sees Baba confronting Sibeth and he tried to convince Sibeth to stop what she is doing. He is forced to tell her Wolffe is blind. He is stabbed from behind by Harmony and falls to the floor. After baba kills Harmony and sees Sibeth escape, he tends to Kofun but Kofun makes sure his son is safe first.

Recovered from his wound, Kofun journeys to the House of Enlightenment with the group. He apologizes to his father, Baba, over what he did with Sibeth and how it has lead to this mission. He is made to feel better by his father, after hearing he has done what any father would have to protect his son. After stopping to collect Ranger, the group continue and Baba tells Kofun of Ranger’s history with Tormada, such as the experiments conducted on him. Arriving at the House of Enlightenment, Kofun, Baba and Ranger kill the guards outside while the rest of the group joins them as they free the children. Trivantians, joined by Harlan, soon arrive however leaving the group holding up inside the House.

Inside the House, Kofun and the group begin to plan how to tackle the Trivantian advance. Kofun speaks with Baba when they come across a lamp. Kofun struggles to explain what it is to Baba, but after he does, he realises what it can be used for. It is later he used the lamp to electrocute Trivantians who are standing in water. The Trivantians are defeated and the group work out a plan to go to warn them that Tormada is on his way with the bombs.

Before they go, Baba begins to burn the House. Kofun stops Haniwa from confronting Baba about it, where she is upset at the knowledge being destroyed. Kofun argues the house stands for pain and destruction with the bombs made there and what the House did to their family. He fights her and she pulls a gun on him, to his surprise. He asks her if he will shoot her. Baba eventually breaks the pair up and the group advance to Pennsa.

Through the lowlands go Pennsa, Baba encourages Kofun to talk to Haniwa about their differences at the House and how they can move forward. However, later, the group are ambushed by a cannibal group and Kofun and group have to fight them off. Haniwa and Harlan are kidnapped and Kofun is sent on to Pennsa alone by Baba to warn Maghra. He never makes it there however as he is ambushed. Kofun has been kidnapped by Sibeth and the pair discuss current events. They also discuss what Sibeth is doing and her character, where she says she loves too deeply and much. Kofun objects to the notion that she is no different to Maghra where he is told to be quiet as he is a witch. Tormada attempts to form an alliance with Kofun, but he is freed by Sibeth.

He makes his way to Pennsa, where he brings a message from Sibeth that Maghra should surrender in order to protect the lives of citizens of Pennsa. This does not happen however, and Kofun joins the citizens of Paya in underground tunnels that lead to the village of Altuna and the safety it can offer.

While in the tunnel, the bombs begin to fall ahead. Kofun scouts ahead to see what is happening and a cave-in nearly kills him. He is rescued by the group and it is here the group agree they should turn back as they would rather die fighting than hiding. They decide to go and help Baba and once Maghra kills Sibeth, Kofun joins them in attacking the Trivantian forces. Baba dies when destroying the bombs and winning the battle for Paya.

Time passes, and Kofun begins to grow into the role of being a father and is proud of it. He also makes peace with Bank after Haniwa jeopardises a potential peace deal after he frustration with Bank’s hatred of the sighted. Later, Maghra congratulates Kofun on making a kind of peace and he suggests interests in becoming king, despite Haniwa’s objections.

A year later, Kofun believes he can only be king if he takes away his sight, believing he cannot serve unsighted people with it.

## Appearances

* Season 1
	+ "Godflame" (First appearance)
	+ "Message in a Bottle"
	+ "Fresh Blood"
	+ "The River"
	+ "Plastic"
	+ "Silk"
	+ "The Lavender Road"
	+ "House of Enlightenment"
* Season 2
	+ "Brothers and Sisters"
	+ "Forever"
	+ "The Compass (episode)"
	+ "The Witchfinder"
	+ "The Dinner Party"
	+ "The Truth About Unicorns"
	+ "The Queen's Speech"
	+ "Rock-a-Bye"
* Season 3
	+ "Heavy Hangs the Head"
	+ "Watch Out for Wolves"
	+ "This Land is Your Land"
	+ "The Storm"
	+ "The House of Enlightenment"
	+ "The Lowlands"
	+ "God Thunder"
	+ "I See You"

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Godflame"
2. ↑ "Message in a Bottle"
3. ↑ ”Heavy Hangs the Head”
4. ↑ ”Watch Out for Wolves”
5. ↑ "This Land is Your Land"
6. ↑ ”The Storm”
7. ↑ ”The House of Enlightenment”
8. ↑ ”The Lowlands”
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 ”God Thunder”
10. ↑ ”I See You”