So Different Yet… So Similar?

Written with the canadian hero; Gerhard
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City Bound

It felt like the right time now, even if Kavel also felt he should stay with Kruger for longer. But no. Kavel had; grieved with Kruger, grieved with Sorrel, and talked with his friend Derthaad. Kavel had also worked with Kruger to make something to honour their bros; Tim and Sampson. Now. Now it was the right time to go back to Daring Heights and check on Mendal and some others.

Kavel was sitting in the now named, 'Castiron & Ironstrong Strength & Conditioning Corner,' looking at the two large, stone plates with Kruger's engraving of Tim's and Sampson's names. Kruger had done an amazing job, especially the engraved pair of wolf heads. Kavel traced a finger idly over one of the faces.

"They're beautiful."

The voice belongs to a familiar face, albeit with a few more burns than Kavel is familiar with. Gerhard steps forward, hesitant, his eyes taking in the fine stone work. A hand reaches out slowly to grasp Kavel's shoulder. "Your brothers would be very proud to watch over the Corner."

"Gerhard," Kavel turned his head to look his human friend in the face. Appreciative of what he's heard, Kavel pats Gerhard on the ribs twice with an open palm, "It is really good, yes. Kruger did an amazing job. And I changed the plaque in tribute to them. But, also Castiron & Ironstrong equally refers to just me and Kruger now."

Kavel smiled, remembering something Tim and Sampson used to say, and put a finger on Gerhard's chest, "whenever I would tell my bros about an adventure with you, Tim would always want to know if you still have, 'that deadly silver bow,' as if you might have lost it. I think as a werewolf, he was worried about your bow ending up in bad hands - he didn't mind you having it, though. 'It's good in his hands,' he would say whilst pointing. Ha, ha. And Sampson, was always eager to know if you used that potion of Hill Giant strength he gave you? He was always expecting a story of you shooting something with a massive arrow. Ha."

Gerhard chuckles, a sad remembrance of his adventures with the Ironstrong. A thumb reaches back to rub the Call slung across his shoulders. "I hope you reassured them that it's easier said than done to separate it from me."

He plucks the bowstring softly, his gaze inwards now. "Hill Giant Strength... I think we sold the potions afterwards. Ah, Sampson... maybe I should have kept it."

"Never mind. It's not a problem," Kavel thought to change the subject, he did have a question or two to ask, "so is Copernicus gone? Apologies for asking, but I'm not sure if pit fiends are like Adhyel, the one we fought in the Angelbark."

“He’d have gone somewhere in the Hells when he died, though whether that is fortunate for him or not I can’t say. I looked around, afterwards, but his Call, that silver longsword, was nowhere to be found. Maybe he’s got it back and he’s already left to travel the planes?”

Gerhard turns away from Kavel, his eyes back on the plates and their carved wolves. “Doesn’t seem quite fair, does it?”

"No. It does not... They decided to stay and help support the adventurers. While we dealt with the assault on the walls, they dealt with any gith that made it through. It was easy for them, until there were too many gith. Kruger said that Tim and Sampson would bite the gith to death, but for every gith they had in their jaws, two would slash at them with swords before they eventually killed those attackers. Eventually there were just too many for two goliath werewolves. Kruger fought on with vengeance giving him a second wind. Not long after the gith routed, and I was lucky not to lose another brother."

Kavel took a big breath in and exhaled, "my brothers fought heroically. I am very proud of them. And now I will never forget them when using the adamantine bar and the heavy plates. It is not fair. But, it is what it is."


Of Comrades Large and Small

The comrades stood there silently for a few seconds. Until Kavel, with eagerness, has a question to ask.

"... are you going back to the moon to see if Copernicus is there? You need me to come travel the Staircase with you?"

The sudden eagerness catches Gerhard off guard, and he turns to look surprised at Kavel.

"No... no, I may ask Andromeda if he's okay, but..."

He sighs, looking Kavel over. His goliath comrade is not himself today, stubble growing on his face and head. His eyes are lit up, a stark contrast to Gerhard's: his eyes are sad, his face guilty. "Do you think of the Staircase often, Kavel?"

Is it not enough that it takes a piece of your immortal soul, but to ask for more... Gerhard thinks to himself.

"No... but maybe yes. Actually I don't. The staircase doesn't preoccupy my mind. But, when it comes up in conversation it comes back to me how fun it is to explore the many possible worlds. At first I didn't care for the Staircase, but I think I have grown rather enchanted by it, even though there are other plane travelling options I have access to," Kavel's brow furrowed, "Yeah. You know what? Now that I've thought about it, I'm not sure why I have begun to have a desire to travel the Staircase, when it is mentioned."

Gerhard pats the other man's shoulder, trying to reassure him. "I'm sure it's nothing, comrade. Maybe you just miss our adventures together, hmm?"

Gerhard's face, his eyes trying not to meet Kavel's, betrays his inner thoughts.

He tries to change the subject. "Have you spoken to the others, Kavel? I was with Beets during... that night, but I haven't seen her since."

Beets ah! It occurs to Kavel that Beets was being trained by Tim and Sampson. Not just for strength training, but rage control.

"I spoke to Sorrel. I saw her searching the dead for Silvia's body, which of course she could not find. I explained to her what happened. Disintegration is a horrible spell. Then the next day, Derthaad, who was with me on the west wall checked in on me. And now you, comrade... How was Beets? And for that matter how are you, comrade? Is there anything I can do for you, maybe?"

Gerhard nods along. "Good."

"Beets. Well... we had a dragon with us, at the east wall. Qirliria the Bright. She was... magnificent. She's... she's at rest, now."

Gerhard stares off into the middle distance, reliving the pain of that moment. "Beets took it hard. We all did, but Beets especially. I think they were close. Like family."

Gerhard returns his gaze to Kavel, smiling at the goliath's offer. "But I'm alright my friend. I'm going to take a break, go back to Daring Heights. It feels like... like home there, now. Maybe I'll see if Beets will come with me, and we can get out of this fort. Too many fresh wounds here to stay."

"Ah," Kavel remembered now. There were a lot of names he recognised on the list of dead. But, only after grieving a while for Tim, Sampson and Silvia did he remember some of the relationships his friends had with the names on the list.

"Qirliria! Shit. Yes I imagine young Beets would be very upset. I remember going to the Court of Harmony with her to recruit Qirliria. Beets was quite fond of her. I will have to check in on Beets, too."

Kavel lingered on his last thought for a while, before striking up the conversation anew, "I'm actually off to the city now, comrade. I'm going to see how my friend Mendal is doing. You've met him, right?"

A large smile emerged on the goliath's face, "Mendal told me you climbed up an immense beast like a pro, some 60+ feet in the air! Comrade, you've made huge improvements since the time I saw you out of breath from scaling one of the buildings in the city. Good for you! Mendal then said you fell off, but still very impressive!" Kavel slapped Gerhard's shoulder out of respect.

Gerhard winces under the blow, rubbing the location of the impact as he chuckles. "Tell Mendal if he's going around telling my story to say that the bull elephant threw me off, alright? And it was 80 feet."

He stops rubbing the shoulder. "But yes, do tell Mendal that I say hello. He's... an interesting fellow, Kavel. You certainly seem to collect the most interesting friends."

"Ha, yeah. Mendal. He also said - and forgive me if it's too personal - he said, I quote, 'Kavel! I would bet all the money I've earnt here in the Dawnlands that Gerhard and Orianna are knocking boots,'" Kavel slapped Gerhard in the shoulder again, "good for you comrade! So, you are seeing each other, or is this good, casual fun between horny adventurers?"

Gerhard's face transitions through the full spectrum of colours between stark white and deep red. He looks at Kavel, the blow to his shoulders not even registering in his mind.

"Uh, er, yes, well..."

He stammers, his ears aflame with the might of dragons, the few remaining burns he nurses serving only to fan them.

"I didn't think that Mendal... someone ought to tell him... "

He sighs, his embarrassment clear as he looks back up to Kavel. Maybe he's grateful to have someone to speak to. And Kavel, well... Kavel tells it like it is.

"She's wonderful, Kavel."


Of Love Lives Complicated and Simple

Gerhard finds a seat, gesturing for the giant of a man to take the larger one next to him. He leans back, eyes cast to the heavens. "Do you ever look up at the stars and wish you could be among them? That's how she makes me feel, Kavel. She's a star, and I'm starstruck."

He looks back to the ground, rubbing his palms together in an attempt to burn some nervous energy. His cheeks are still flushed, but his eyes are excited as he speaks of her. "It's not just casual fun. At least, it isn't for me, and I don't think it is for her. I guess we haven't really... had that discussion" he says. "But I want to see her again. That must count for something, right?"

"I don't know her like I know you. Only been on one adventure with her. She seems nice. I could see you two together, I think. Good luck to you both!" Kavel slapped Gerhard on the shoulder again - the Kavel slaps to the shoulder kept coming.

"Oh, was she here? Do you know if she is alright?"
"... and, so I guess your relationship with Henri was not amourous? Just friendship? Excuse me for prying, but I was never sure what that relationship is. Obviously, I will continue to help you try and rescue him regardless."

"She was in Daring Heights, protecting the Academy. She's... she's alright. She lost friends there, too. But we've been sending letters by falcon. And I'll see her soon."

At the mention of Henri's name in the same breath as Orianna's, Gerhard winces. "Henri is... complicated. Like two dancers that never quite touch."

He sighs, again, a long drawn out breath. "We... Maybe we could have had something. I... We..." The words are thick and heavy in his mouth, and he cannot bear to say them.

Kavel watched his comrade struggle to give voice to thought. Seconds that felt like minutes passed until Kavel reached over his friend's head with his arm and placed his arm around Gerhard's shoulder, and then shook Gerhard playfully, "comrade Gerhard. You have a complicated love life."

Gerhard chuckles, pushing back at Kavel's shove. "And what do you know of it, Kavel? Do the weights get jealous if you lift one more than the other?"

"Ha, ha, ha!" Kavel roared with laughter.

"Oh comrade! You are savage! But, you make your comrade laugh. You are a funny man. I appreciate laughing like this right now. It is good to have fun. Thank you, Gerhard - you cheeky fucker." Kavel used the arm he had around Gerhard's shoulder, and moved it around Gerhard's neck, and pulled him in to ruffle his long hair with his other hand."

"Ha, ha. Yes, it's true that I am a more simple creature than others like yourself. But your friend Kavel likes a good bonk too, you know? And sometimes, maybe, Kavel finds an amazing woman he finds more desirable than even strength training, heh?"

Kavel removed his arm from Gerhard's neck and placed his hand on Gerhard's shoulder instead. "Comrade. It is now a slightly sad story, since Qirliria died. But, when I accompanied Beets to recruit her, we stopped by a place called the Damphenite Tangle. We met this beautiful warrior called Nathalie Walnut. She was the spiritual leader of the Danphenites, and truly an impressive fighter. I put on an exhibition fight with her for her people's Summer Solstice celebration. She was strong! I really liked her. At the end of the exhibition, Beets shouted from the crowd, 'kiss her!', and I did. Then one thing led to another, but I will not give details... Then we talked, and I admired what she told me about herself. I don't know about wanting to be with the stars, but when I thought back to her compliment to me about how she had never met a warrior like me before, I thought to myself; I never want to deviate from being that person that impressed her."


Gerhard raises a hand to smooth down his hair, locked as he is in the goliath's iron embrace. "She must be quite the woman, Kavel. No wonder she caught your eye, if she was your equal in a fight!"

He thinks on the last things that the goliath said. I never want to deviate from being that person that impressed her. Words to remember, Gerhard thinks.

"I'm glad you have found someone. Will you see her again?"

"Yes! I told her I'd like to see her again, and she said she'd like to see me again sooner rather than later. I was very pleased to hear her say that."

"Hey comrade," Kavel patted Gerhard's shoulder - Gerhard would just have to accept that that shoulder was Kavel's now, "do you and Orianna like hot weather? Because the Damphenite Tangle is in the Summer Court of the Feywild, and it is very warm. At first, I didn't like it. But, now I have come around."

"I'm happy for you, Kavel. I hope your love life is... uncomplicated."

Each pat causes Gerhard's entire body to move. Kavel is going to hurt more than that dragon did... he thinks to himself. Although, compared to Copernicus' hugs...

"You seem to be coming around on a lot of things you weren't so sure about before. Well, I don't know much about where she is from, but.. I think she might like that. Are you suggesting a couple's retreat, Kavel?"

"Hmmm. Well, it may be presumptuous of me to invite my friends there, at the moment. It is very early days. But, we'll see how things go, and I'll let you know."

Kavel slapped his thighs, stood up and stretched from side to side. He then stopped, and turned to face Gerhard, "oh! I don't think I mentioned it - Nathalie and the Damphenites are sprites. She is two foot tall," Kavel indicated the size by placing one hand at the top of his head and the other at the bottom of his chest, "she's actually pretty tall for a sprite, but she's still between a third and a quarter of my height - you have to shrink to go into the Damphenite Tangle. I am having to be more dependent on magic now. There is no strength solution to the size difference unfortunately."

As Kavel describes the size of the woman that has caught his eye, Gerhard laughs, a surprising result even for himself.

He tries to stop, a hand to his mouth, but his shoulders shake and he gives himself away. "Kavel, I think that may count as a complication of your love life."

He lets out a last few chuckles. "Size changing magic... reasonably powerful and not likely to last too long. You'll need a fair few potions comrade!"

"Ah... crap. You are right. I guess my love life is not as simple as I made out."

Upon saying that, Kavel began to laugh with Gerhard about his oversight in his own love life.