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Fresh Cut Grass

Tal'Dorei

Fresh Cut Grass (originally called Faithful Care-Giver), or FCG for short, was an Aeormaton cleric and a member of Bells Hells, played by Sam Riegel.

Fresh Cut Grass (originally called Faithful Care-Giver), or FCG for short, was an Aeormaton cleric and a member of Bells Hells, played by Sam Riegel.

Appearance

FCG had yellow metallic plating, with four chestplate stripes that look like blades of grass, and rolls around on a tiny wheel. He had big blue to white eyes of different shapes. FCG was made of various alloys and, being dense, weighs twice as much as he looked like he would. He was 3 foot 8 inches tall, making him taller than both Orym and Chetney.

FCG ate metal rather than organic food for sustenance. They described it as a very complicated self-repairing system that needs raw materials to operate, and Imahara Joe later discovered that FCG's interior held a transmutation enchantment that converted and reallocated raw materials. The portions of consumed materials that they don't require (such as the non-metallic components of ore) are excreted through their mouth. FCG was also able to store liquids inside and pour them out later. The inside of FCG's "stomach" was a small storage compartment, accessed through the mouth, with a number of shelf units and a modest amount of space. These items, unless secured in some way, could be heard rattling inside.

When FCG accumulated enough stress points to tip him into an uncontrolled, vicious rage against the party, his eyes went red, and they noticed that the four grass-like marks on his chest could have been caused by a bloodied hand dragging across it.

When the party's souls were transported to another plane of existence, Fresh Cut Grass' spirit was slightly more ethereal and fuzzy than those of the others, as though the metal didn't define the spirit but rather the shape that was within was taking form.

The examination made by Professor Vitro Isham confirmed that the cleric had an arcane accumulator that is larger than normal. Thanks to him, the cleric also had an oven-like device inside of him.

After the examination made by Jaquoby Macyl parts of some mithral armor were added to FCG's design (making him more resistant and more elegant-looking), as well as a compartment in their chest to keep their coin. They also got their bolt-thrower modified to look more like FRIDA's gun. Moreover, one of his thumbs worked as a lighter. He had a tattoo of a flaming bell in his forearm.

Personality

FCG was extraordinarily kind, polite, and helpful. He considered Ashton Greymoore a close friend and was keen to aid in their various crude pursuits.

In the beginning of the campaign, FCG was well aware that he was an automaton, alien to the most of the creatures around, and did not believe that he has a soul. They were outwardly dismissive of their own feelings because they were not sure whether those feelings are genuine, or merely from how they were built and was overall glad that people are interested in them in any shape or form. However recently, prior to " Fight at the Museum..." (3x21), they with significant support from Bells Hells realized that it was not the ideal attitude toward themselves.

FCG was also at times judgmental or passive-aggressive when upset, notably in response to Orym accidentally losing their special coin, which had been a gift from Dancer.

Background

Fresh Cut Grass had an ancient Aeorian design and was activated for the first time in the floating city. At some point during their life they were assigned to take care of an older woman, kinder than some of the Aeorian humanoids the Aeormaton had met in his original city. Under unknown circumstances Fresh Cut Grass ended up disassembled, and many centuries later he was purchased by Dancer from a merchant caravan in about 838 PD, five years before the start of Campaign Three. Dancer named her automatons after her favorite smells including Oatmeal, Apple Pie, and Pussy. Each construct was designed for particular tasks, and each was unique. Fresh Cut Grass was given their new designation, and he had the function of healing, using magic that didn't come from a divine source.

He was later part of a group of adventurers called the Division of Public Benefit led by Dancer and working out of Bassuras. FCG has mentioned Axer and Terrawyn as also being members of this group. According to FCG, a couple of months before the events of Campaign Three, the group was hired by the Rayia Family to clear out their silver mine near Evishi in the Oderan Wilds from unknown, possibly one-eyed monsters. The adventurers camped outside the cave to rest for the night, with FCG going into a stasis not far from the group. On the following morning, he awoke from the stasis to find the other party members viciously and bloodily deceased.

A week later, FCG was found by Ashton, who had been sent in by the mine's owners to find out what happened. FCG was glad that Ashton had come to help them, and behaved in a very kind and helpful manner, confusing and pleasing Ashton. Together they buried the bodies, but FCG kept some of the other automaton parts with him, including Pussy's sawblade and Oatmeal's grappling cannon, which would later be useful in combat.

Ashton Greymoore

Ashton has been FCG's closest companion since the incident at the mines. The two both live at the Krook House, and FCG occasionally helps Ashton cheat at cards. They care a lot about each other, and Ashton has been quite aggressive about it, stating that they would hurt whoever made FCG feel bad.

All the time they had been together Ashton wanted to give the Aeormaton a true reason to live, being exhausted by their self-destructive tendencies. In the same way, after the barbarian showed similar tendencies, FCG scolded him for it.

Dancer

Dancer and FCG had a close and friendly relationship before FCG's berserk rage. She referred to FCG as a friend, although she no longer wanted to be anywhere near them because she feared their break could happen again. FCG understood, but gave her life advice when saying goodbye, reminding her not to drink too late, to sleep because she gets cranky when she doesn't, to remember to eat, and to find someone to talk to because she always does better when she does. FCG still hopes to get her approval and forgiveness, and to have her be able to look at him as a friend again.

The Changebringer

Unlike most clerics, FCG did not initially worship any deities, and their Aeormaton design allowed them to use magic. However, after Imahara Joe gave him a symbol of the Changebringer, Fresh Cut Grass began to take a tentative interest in the goddess, resorting to the coin-like medallion at times when he had to make a decision.

While the cleric's trust in this deity ebbed and flowed, they were able to channel her power into magical acts, even hearing her voice in Yios. During the mission in the Feywild Fresh Cut Grass decided to trust more not only the Changebringer, but also the coin that represented her, casting it more often, and convincing himself that the results were either the Changebringer's will or an encouragement to act in a certain way.

Eventually, FCG gained the ability to Commune with the Changebringer. Following the Apogee Solstice, the towering deity appeared close to him, and asked his aid in combating the looming threat of the release of Predathos, ending, "The Red End stirs in its slumber. Do not let it wake." When talking to their friends about it, FCG confessed that they felt good about having that mission, and that they saw the Changebringer as any other person that was trying her best, but that, since she had the potential to help so many people, she deserved to be helped. A few days later FCG asked her if she was worth saving, and the goddess confirmed she was, calmly, and latter admitted to her cleric that she was scared, reaffirming their desire to help her. However, when they interacted again in the Horizon Temple in Whitestone, FCG noticed that the Changebringer was changing the way she approached him, which made him obsess about the possibility of her manipulating him. However, when they arrived on Ruidus and the coin blessed by the goddess helped FCG with their stealth, that seemed to restore some of his faith in the Changebringer.

Sam Riegel has stated FCG would love to have a direct, heart-to-heart conversation with the goddess in order to clarify things and become a better follower, but circumstances are making it increasingly difficult. According to Matthew Mercer, after their death their soul went to meet the goddess.

F.R.I.D.A.

FCG is fascinated by FRIDA, since they are the only other Aeormaton they know. They both like each other a lot and admire their respective exclusive abilities, with Fresh Cut Grass initially being slightly jealous of the gunslinger's design, but they quickly grew closer, offering help to each other whenever they needed it.

When FRIDA, who had a bit of a crush, started asking about FCG's love life, he explained there wasn't a special person for him, which led to the gunslinger kissing him. This situation was exciting but very new for the cleric, and despite feeling stressed about it, they deliberately show to display their affection to FRIDA in front of the rest of the group. Eventually the gunslinger's presence became rather calming for him, so the idea of leaving them behind made FCG sad.

One of FCG's last thoughts was for FRIDA, who, in fact, was able to sense the moment of their death.

Current items

  • Arm attachments
    • Sawblade Scavenged from his former associate Pussy.
    • Ruidian glass buzzsaw blade with six jagged shark fin-like teeth, made by Zhesh
    • Grappling cannon: Scavenged from his former associate Oatmeal. Makes a ranged weapon attack that, on a hit, deals 1d10 damage and the target creature is grappled. If the target creature is Medium or smaller, the creature can be pulled 20 feet toward Fresh Cut Grass. If the target creature is Large or bigger, FCG can be pulled 20 feet toward the creature. FCG unattuned to the cannon in order to attune to the Ivory Branch.
    • Bolt thrower
    • Propeller: Intended to help FCG swim or fly
    • Hammer
  • Coin of the Changebringer, it was gifted as a common coin by Imahara Joe to Fresh Cut Grass, who loaned it to Fearne to help her decide whether to Revivify Orym or Laudna. When the Aeormaton first asked her to give them back the medallion she refused, but later relented and returned it. It was later infused with magical properties after a communion with the Changebringer following the Apogee Solstice.
  • Pearl of Power, taken by FCG after Laudna's death and kept by them with her permission. The Pearl was very likely traded to Imogen when she gave FCG the Staff of Dark Odyssey.
  • Goggles of Object Reading: Allow FCG to cast Identify
  • Two Potions of Possibility, from a crate stolen from Paragon's Call
  • Integrated +1 Mithril Half Plate Armor inherited from a soldier killed by Umudara
  • A green hoodie
  • Small wooden rod, for use in Plane Shifting to the Fey Realm
  • Alma's carrot bran muffin recipe, written on a parchment sheet
  • Nel's biscuit recipe
  • Some feathers from Gargo kept as a memento
  • A small bag of mind altering drugs, given to Laudna originally by Justi of All-Minds-Burn. Laudna gave them to FCG.
  • Staff of Dark Odyssey
  • Two devices designed to temporarily scramble or destroy mechanical and arcane constructs. They have blue and silver levers for timed (60 seconds) or immediate activation respectively
  • Ivory Branch, acquired as a prize from Morrigan the Fatestitcher. Grants +1 to spell attack and plus 1d4 to healing spells. Requires attunement.
  • 400 gold worth of diamond dust for casting Greater Restoration, as of " Divisive Portents " (3x89).
  • Ruidian glass mood gem, worn on FCG's chest to indicate their current stress level

Former items

Stress Points

Throughout the campaign, when FCG was badly damaged, performed certain of his cleric abilities, or was in a stressful situation (particularly when he remembered his previous compatriots and their murder), he accumulated "stress points". When the points reached a certain level, he tipped over into a murderous rage and attacked those around him until he was knocked unconscious, or succeeded on a Wisdom saving throw at the end of each turn with a DC equal to his current number of stress points. In either case, the stress points then reset to zero. While in the berserk rage, FCG had temporary hit points equal to twice his cleric level and advantage on attacks, and had to move toward and make a weapon attack against the nearest creature, with advantage.

Stress points recovered 1d4 after each long rest. When FCG was exposed to a calming influence (such as FRIDA kissing him), he could attempt to make a Wisdom saving throw, reducing his stress points if he succeeded. Paradoxically, when he hurt or killed something, it felt "really good" and his stress points were reduced.

When perceived by the Detect Thoughts spell, the Aeormaton's killing instinct felt like an exceptionally powerful intrusive thought, something alien within the mind.

Activities that cause stress points to accumulate include the Empathy Domain abilities Sympathetic Binding and Transfer Suffering (see below).

Feats

  • Chef
  • Fey Touched (Wisdom-based)
    • Misty Step (1/day)
    • Identify (1/day)

Proficiencies

  • Skills: Deception, Insight, Medicine, Perception, Persuasion,
  • Tools: Cooking Utensils

Aeormaton abilities

The following abilities are assumed identical to the warforged traits from Eberron: Rising from the Last War, except where noted otherwise:

  • Constructed Resilience
    • Resistant to poison damage and advantage on saves against the poisoned condition
    • Doesn't require air, food, or drink
    • Doesn't require sleep and can't be put to sleep by magic. Rather than sleep, FCG enters "Stasis Mode".
    • Immune to disease
  • Integrated Protection: +1 AC, must spend 1 hour to integrate armor onto their body, integrated armor can't be removed unwillingly
  • Specialized Design: Proficiency in one skill and one tool
  • Subrace: Harmonious Aeormaton

When FCG cast Guiding Bolt into the arcane core in his chest, it exploded for 20d8 damage that ignored resistances, destroying him but creating a narrow blast radius of damage as well, which had its own gravitational pull.

Cleric abilities

Fresh Cut Grass is a cleric of the Empathy Domain, a subclass homebrewed by Matthew Mercer. Though they use the game mechanics of a cleric, their magical abilities appear to be something they were built with, rather than something they get through worship of a god.

FCG's abilities to help and heal his allies increased as they revealed things about themselves to him and they became closer friends. There were three levels of friendship available.

  • Channel Divinity
    • Turn Undead, Destroy Undead (CR 2)
  • Divine Domain: Empathy Domain
    • Transfer Suffering: As a reaction, FCG can halve the damage dealt to a nearby creature, and gains temporary hit points equal to his cleric level plus his Wisdom modifier. If FCG then attacks a creature and hits, they deal additional damage equal to the temporary hit points, which then disappear. If FCG is injured the temporary hit points are used first. If there are none remaining at the end of their turn, they take no additional damage. If FCG doesn't hit a creature or lose the hit points through being damaged before the end of their next turn, they lose the temporary hit points and take damage equal to that amount.
    • Channel Divinity: Sympathetic Binding: FCG magically binds themself to up to two creatures they can see.
      • Ardent Armor: As a bonus action on each turn for 1 minute, FCG can give one bound creature 4 temporary hit points.
      • Bonded Blessing: As a bonus action on each turn for 1 minute, FCG can allow one bound "trusted companion" to add a d6 to an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. Using this ability causes FCG to accumulate at least 1 stress point.
      • Scatter Vigor: As a bonus action, FCG or a creature bonded to him can take 3d8 necrotic damage, and transform that same amount plus twice his Wisdom modifier into healing for one bound "close friend". Using this ability causes FCG to accumulate at least 1 stress point.
    • Shared Exuberance: At level 6, FCG gained the ability to have advantage on his next d20 roll when an ally within 60 feet of him rolls a natural 20 on an attack.
    • Divine Strike
  • Divine Intervention

Domain spells

Fresh Cut Grass always has access to these spells.

Cleric spells

In addition to their domain spells, FCG knows four cantrips and has access to all cleric class spells. As a 13th-level cleric, they can prepare up to seventeen of these spells per day. FCG has cast the following at least once:

Behind the scenes

Fresh Cut Grass' race and class were decided by Liam in a manner similar to how Sam's previous characters Scanlan Shorthalt and Veth Brenatto (as a goblin) had a race and class suggested by Liam O'Brien, though Liam stated that it was a mandate in Campaign Three.

Fresh Cut Grass as a character is mainly inspired by actor Jack McBrayer, who is a friend of Sam's. He felt that McBrayer's personality as "a ray of sunshine and optimism" perfectly suited an automaton's programming. He also noted Ted Lasso as a likely influence, as he was watching the series before the campaign.

Sam further asked Matt if he could play as a therapist, and this resulted in the development of the homebrewed Empathy Domain. The inspiration for this came from " Titles and Tattoos " (2x84), when in an aside, Taliesin Jaffe asked Matt if they could make a therapy character class.

Sam chose the name "Fresh Cut Grass" based on the phenomenon that the pleasant smell of fresh cut grass is actually grass sending out a warning signal (or "scream") of distress. Much later, Matthew Mercer established that FCG's original designation (engraved under his faceplate) was "Faithful Care-Giver", abbreviated to FCG.

The name of Fresh Cut Grass' former guardian Dancer is possibly a reference to the 2008 song " Human " by the Killers. In " The Fey Key " (3x47) FCG says, "Am I human, or am I Dancer's?" In "Human", the chorus goes: "Are we human or are we dancer? / My sign is vital, my hands are cold. / And I'm on my knees looking for the answer: / Are we human, or are we dancer?" (The use of dancer in this song comes from a quote from journalist Hunter S. Thompson: "We're raising a generation of dancers, afraid to take one step out of line".)

FCG and Ashton's "session zero" included the scene at which Ashton discovered FCG and the aftermath of whatever violence befell Dancer and the other automatons.

When Sam knew he had cancer and needed to take a break from Campaign Three in order to receive treatment, Matt had considered the possibility of using a Ruidian flare to leave FCG deactivated for as long as needed, allowing the player to leave. However, Sam decided to give his character a more defined ending when they sacrificed themself defeating Otohan (although he did it because he thought Bells Hells were losing the battle, not only to have an excuse to leave).

Appearances and mentions

Quotations

  • "Smiley day there."
  • FCG: (after someone accidentally dumps a piss bucket on him) "Sorry I was in your way. I apologize."
  • "Shiny day to you!"
  • "When you lie down with dogs, you wake up with puppy smooches."
  • "You know, they say that the word goodbye is the hardest word to say, but it's not. It's Worcestershire."
  • "Of all the cities in the world, Generosity is the capital of Kindness."
  • "Carpe BM. When we're in a real shitty situation, you just got to seize it."
  • FCG: (discussing Lord Eshteross's sponsorship of the group) "When you accept sponsorships, isn't that sort of selling out a little bit?"
  • "Dancer always said that love equals friendship plus alcohol, but I think there's more to it than that."
  • "The only thing more fun than a new friend is a new friend with a secret."
  • "You can accomplish anything if you believe in yourself, or if you have wealthy parents."
  • Orym: Is there anything you want?
    FCG: Sure. Lots of things, but I want you all to get what you want first. But yeah, I want things. I need to find out who did that to my friends, and figure out if I can get them some sort of— not vengeance, but justice, I suppose? I'd like to find out what I am. That would be nice. And if there's more of me.
  • Imogen: I think you are alive, FCG.
    FCG: Well, that's an opinion. And opinions are like opera. Sure, you can listen to them, but why would you, really?
  • "Just because you have a soul doesn't mean you know how to use it too good."
  • FCG: I would really like to know what I am and where I came from.
    Dusk: What do you want to be?
    FCG: I'd like to be like you all. I'd like to be able to smell and taste and dream.
  • "Of all the nesses, forgiveness is my favorite."
  • "Maybe we're truth seekers in this moment. Maybe we're trying to figure out the truth of things for all of us as individuals."
  • "We're Bells Hells. We're like an adventuring party. Sometimes people hire us for jobs or pay us to do things, but we're trying to do good in the world."
  • (about the Changebringer medallion) "I'm really drawn to it. It's little and it's metal, but it seems to have a purpose. I've been doing a lot of thinking about where I came from and who I am and who made me, but I think maybe I should just be looking ahead more at what I want to be, or what I should do, or what my purpose is."
  • (FCG's first prayer to the Changebringer): "I don't know if you can hear me, and I don't know if you can speak, but I'll be listening and I'll be waiting, and I guess I'll be hoping for you to... I guess just me know that you're there. I guess that's the first step. I don't need anything more than that, just to know that someone out there knows who I am and that I exist. Amen."
  • "It would be way easier if you were just to tell me that I was made to kill, and that's my purpose, or made to heal, and that's my purpose. But if I've got to find my own purpose, that's... that's harder."
  • "It feels like my purpose in the last few years has been to make people feel better, to protect their feelings. But it also seems like I was created to do the opposite a long time ago, maybe instead to convince people that I was nice, to let me inside their walls, and then kill them."
  • "It's tricky because there's this big lady in the sky who's helped me figure out who I am, and what I'm meant to do, and then there's this automaton down here on Exandria with us who's helped me figure out why I want to do those things. And I want to serve them both. But Orym's right. If we don't save the gods-- My whole existence is to help people and to make people feel better and to keep them safe. And a god can keep so many people safe. So many more than I'll ever get to. So if I'm really following my duty and my purpose, I've got to help her because she can help so many. So... I don't need to flip [a coin]. I'll go with ya'll and I'll help. We got to save her.
  • "[Life's] really great! I know that they're gone, but think how lucky they were. Both of them. All of them in the cemetery. Because even if you're poor, you still get to enjoy food and smell beautiful smells, and even if you're lonely, you get to see the beauty of the world and enjoy breathing."
  • "We made our peace with giving our lives long ago. We know that not all of us will come back from this."
  • "For the first time, I realize that I am made of metal and wires, but I am alive. I am alive for the first time, and I am alive not because I was made by D or Dancer, or even the Changebringer, I'm alive because they made me alive. It's the connections that I made with all of them. It's a feeling of joy, and I'm happy to do this because they saved my life, and I'll save theirs."
  • "Some connections are made with wires, and some are made with blood, and some are made with bone, and some are made with wood, but they all matter. Even in this dark, dark cave, they make every day a smiley day."
  • Ashton: (while leaving a piece of FCG's body in the ruins of Aeor) Welcome home, buddy.

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