Character · Book 7, This Inevitable Ruin

Growler Gary

Shade Gnoll bartender of the Downward Dog at the interdiction depot, level 25, held at his own door by an invisible wall while Jumping Jen-Jen called him a coward and died. An indestructible NPC — a Cookbook tell — whose left hands start the rapid-response carts. Killed fourteen times for his left hands, and twice more when the carts come up a pair short; after the fifth, told why; 'Do your best to make sure it doesn't hurt.'

Segment appearances

• Chapter 36 — Orren's zero zone
• Chapter 37 — Growler Gary, and Princess Formidable's four choices
• Chapter 38 — Relationship advice

Arc

The AI's avatar in the fourth-floor bartender's body, in Orren's doorway with vodka: 'I'm afraid I must intervene' (ch. 36). Twitching, giggling, massaging Carl's shoulders, it drops Princess Formidable into the room and gives her four choices (ch. 37), asks Donut for relationship advice about a girl with a prison ex and cracks a desk — 'We. All. Have. Our. Limitations.' — and collapses Shitfaced, a real gnoll again for a moment: 'Where am I?' (ch. 38).