Howitzers are specialized heavy artillery in Hyacinth's army. They typically spend most of their time far from the battlefield, pelting targets with incendiary shells. Occasionally, a Howitzer will spawn a Herald for support. A group of Howitzers is known as a battery or a stonk.

Howitzers are medium-large puppets, standing taller than Reconcilants at an average of height of 5' 6" (157cm). They are generally considered smaller than Reconcilants, however, due to their much thinner, ganglier build; many describe Howitzers as the most "horselike" of any puppet. Their distinquishing trait is the trio of elongated, stiffened orifices on their back, which they use for launching incendiary shells resembling typical Abomination pupae. Internally, the Howitzer bears a strikingly robust gas transportation system that it uses to fire its shells, with hardened suture bones allowing the Howitzer to regularly build and release pressures of 60-80 MPa.

Howitzers are deceptively active during combat, mostly due to their inability to focus on moving and shooting at the same time. However, once set up, an individual Howitzer is capable of firing up to four shells in a single volley with rapid accumulation of shells and gas pressure, a Howitzer is capable of reliably hitting point targets out to 200 feet, with a maximum area target range of 500 feet, with the full firing and recuperation cycle being as short as six seconds. With a Herald acting as an appropriately near spotter, Howitzers can hit point targets reliably anywhere within their maximum range.

The Howitzer's shells contain a thermoactive slurry that rapidly combusts upon contact with air, causing intense thermal damage on struck targets (reaching temperatures hot enough to melt many common metals, including some alloys). If a Howitzer's shell is caught before it hits a solid surface and explodes, it can be safely stored for several months, preserving the pyroactive slurry within for up to a year with no quality loss. Aside from the obvious uses as a weapon, the liquid inside makes an excellent firestarter if the shell is manually punctured, rapidly combusting when interacting with air and easily lighting most flammable materials ablaze in minimal time.

Somewhat uniquely for heavy puppets, Howitzers strongly favour groupwork and forming ranks for prolonged combat scenarios. A sufficiently sized stonk of Howitzers is nearly unbeatable at medium to long range, hailing wild barrages of fiery shells at any unsuspecting victim. This grouping structure often trickles down to Herald coordination as well, meaning targets are almost always suffused with pyroactive mucus just in time for a fresh shelling.

Howitzers are less active during peacetime, though they do lend their spatial awareness and planning skills to help other puppets with planning resting areas or any structures they might need. Communing through Heralds, Howitzers can act as a pseudo-telecommunications network, transmitting messages through their bound Heralds to further enhance their planning potential. They can also utilize their launching abilities to transport small packages great distances.

Howitzers, despite their extensive internal uniqueness, combine a strange mix of epigenetic traits from Reconcilants, Totems, and Pustules, in addition to some of their own unique triggers. How exactly a puppet as magically inclined as a Totem fits into the Howitzers' lineage is generally unknown, though some believe the magic is used to enhance their accuracy at great ranges.

If Deltas were added as a defensive light puppet, Howitzers went in what at the time was the exact opposite direction: A heavy puppet that went all in on offense, basically acting as a foil to Deltas. Howitzers haven't seen too many exciting developments over time, save for the addition of their Heralds. Like Imps, I think the simplicity is part of the charm. A Howitzer isn't going to swarm you, or fanagle with fancy tools or magic. It's going to catch you lurking through the trees at 300 feet away and set you on fire with artillery shells.