Gravy Boat

Also known as Sir Ferdinand, Ferdinand

Minor
First seen · Book 4 · Ch. 34

Gravy Boat is a minor character in Dungeon Crawler Carl (Book 4).

Gender: male
Age: adult
First appears: Book 4 · Ch. 34
Books: 4

Gravy Boat, better known by his self-styled title Sir Ferdinand, is an orange cat who rises from a feral oddity in the dungeon to a reluctant but genuine power player. Introduced in Book 4 as a large orange-yellow feline caught up in the dungeon's feral transformations, he resurfaces in Book 5 as a turbaned, feather-crowned royal caricature, a former pet of the high elf Queen Imogen and Princess Donut's ex-boyfriend. In Book 6 he is named co-warlord of the new Home Team alongside Juice Box. By Book 7 he serves as Warlord Ferdinand of Team Retribution and Shanty Town, an imperious, annoying, and comically difficult leader whose survival is politically vital, and who still finds the courage to join Carl in trying to save Donut.

Description

Large orange and yellow fur cat, feral survivor Sir Ferdinand is an orange cat with sleek fur, standing on two paws at the size of a large domestic feline with agile, bounding movements. He wears an enormous poofy turban made of gold fabric with a dramatically curling four-foot white feather rising from it, creating an absurdly exaggerated royal caricature. His tail swishes back and forth dynamically with his moods while he perches on shoulders or hops atop heads, his projected form intangible enough to phase through people and objects yet solid enough to draw blood when savagely struck. Ferdinand is identified as a male cat, but the text does not specify his breed, size, fur color, markings, eyes, or facial features. A hat is mentioned as something he lost, while his clothing and usual appearance remain undescribed. Avoid assigning him a particular feline look beyond the fact that he is a cat. No physical details are provided for Gravy Boat, also referred to as Sir Ferdinand. The text does not establish his build, age, coloring, face, clothing, or demeanor. Ferdinand is an orange cat with a feline build and a scorched tail. A gold chain bearing a jeweled charm rests against his coat, while thin white paper tissues circle his head like a toilet-paper turban. He carries himself with the self-importance of a warlord, turning makeshift adornment into unlikely regalia. The text does not describe Gravy Boat’s appearance. Their species, build, coloring, face, hair, eyes, clothing, and distinguishing features are unspecified.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Carlally
A fellow survivor of the Book 6 collapse, Ferdinand becomes Carl's ally in Book 7, joining the effort to save Donut. Carl reassures him and urges him to stay out of danger.
Princess Donutfriendly rival
Once Donut's boyfriend, Ferdinand assumes he can stroll back into her life in Book 6, and his appointment as co-warlord shocks her. By Book 7 they have settled into a teasing, familiar rapport, laughing and joking together while Donut treats him with affectionate impatience.
D
DrickProfessional
Drick attempts to teach Ferdinand the warlord menus in Book 7 and finds him a difficult student.
Juice Boxconflicting source relationships
Named co-warlords in Book 6, the two share a strained partnership in Book 7. Juice Box resents his control over her people and the city defenses, and he complains that she is mean, yet she must protect him because his death would cost them control.
S
Simoomowner
Ferdinand's rhinoceros mount, first hinted at in Book 6. In Book 7 she is kept at Carl's castle while Ferdinand's is underwater, and he wants her back.

Story so far

BOOK 4The Gate of the Feral Gods
- Appears as Gravy Boat, a large orange-yellow furred feral cat
- Serves as a brief walk-on figure among the dungeon's menagerie of threats
- Embodies the dungeon's transformation of pets into predators
BOOK 5The Butcher's Masquerade
- Appears as Sir Ferdinand, an upright orange cat in a huge gold turban with a four-foot white feather
- Perches on shoulders and hops atop heads in an intangible projected form
- His projection proves solid enough to draw blood when savagely struck
BOOK 6The Eye of the Bedlam Bride
- Revealed as Donut's ex-boyfriend and a former pet of Queen Imogen of the high elves
- Tries to waltz back into Donut's life
- Is linked to a lost hat, a move to the city, and a rhinoceros mount
- Announced as co-warlord of the new Home Team with Juice Box, prompting a gasp from Donut
- Survives the collapse alongside Carl and Donut
BOOK 7This Inevitable Ruin
- Leads as Warlord Ferdinand of Team Retribution and Shanty Town, with an alliance named "Ferdinand and his Bird"
- Proves a difficult student as Drick tries to teach him the warlord menus
- Clashes with co-warlord Juice Box, who resents him but must keep him alive to retain control
- Wants his rhinoceros Simoom back while his castle remains underwater
- Joins Carl in trying to save Donut despite his fear