I have mentioned this before talking about Junior Year was Gorgug's year... But in all honesty....
Gorgug is one of my favourite d20 PCs because of his growth.
He is intelligent. He is smart. He is confident. He is protective. He is strong. He is one of the voices of reason in the Bad Kids (the other one is Riz and occasionally Adaine) . He is the heart of the group. He is also the quieter one of the group.
It's not seeing yourself as smart that just makes me so happy that he has that development throughout Sophomore and Junior Year. It's that lack of confidence that turns into the first Barbarian and Artificer multiclass and it works. It's him going, I need to figure this out in order to help understand and solve this part. He put a satellite into space to contract Elmville to get help. He fixed the Hangman, he created that Solar Lasso. Before deciding to become an Artificer.
Literally Leviathan was mostly Gorgug asking questions which got the others thinking. He is sometimes the catalyst for them to slot the puzzle into place (if that makes sense)
His friendships with the Bad Kids are amazing. He cares about all of them so much. He knows he can put himself in front of the weaker players (Adaine and Kristen) knowing that they have his back. That his team, his friends are going to be there to pick him back up and keep going.
The whole "It's Gorgug, Keep Going". . Yes that is important to the character and his relationship with the rest of the Bad Kids. But if your Barbarian says "I'm here. I'm right here. You can keep going. I've got you. I'll see you on the other side", then you know everything is going to be okay. Gorgug will keep going. You can get back up and keep going.
It's Fabian going straight to hug Gorgug when they reunite during the forest. It's Kristen using her low dex to keep Gorgug alive on a moving airborne ship during Junior Year. But it's also "remember when we died? It might happen again" conversation. It's Fig being in Barbarian class and gifting Gorgug those drum sticks. That helps him work out there is math to being in a rage. It's Riz and Adaine taking on his stress by helping him do 4 years of class in one year, but also there to give Gorgug the support that he needs.
It's Gorgug tanking the blows from the bigger creatures in the Last Stand-ard, especially from the Purple Worm. Since he knows and is comfortable that the others have his back and also dealing with the smaller creatures.
It's Gorgug taking hit after hit from Porter, surviving because of his friends and his will to Keep Going. Him dropping out of rage to help the final moment. It's Gorgug keeping Porter occupied throughout that fight. Even in his teacher's grasp.
It's Gorgug, Keep Going.
Just keep going and everything will be okay. You can get knocked down but get back up and keep going. Keep pushing. Just keep going.
