Gargo (called Shithead by Fresh Cut Grass) was a large, undead bird that pursued Fresh Cut Grass throughout Marquet, defecating violently on his head.
Description[]
Gargo was large, mangy, and missing some feathers.[1] It had a long hooked bill, bulging clouded eyes, long oily wings that turn in odd directions, and a hoarse screech.[2] It appeared more like a scavenger bird than a bird of prey.[3]
According to FCG, it had hatred in its eyes and a horrifying cry. It was not a hawk, although FCG didn't know what it is.[4]
Abilities[]
Gargo's AC was 13 or lower.[5] It had under 10 hit points,[6] and a fly speed of more than 40 feet.[7]
History[]
Long ago, Gargo's master was a necromancer woman[8] of some repute, and upon her death, Shithead was locked into a permanent undying state, more or less a revenant cursed to roam the land. One day, they found a shiny person and just really hated them.[9]
The first hint of Gargo's continued existence was when Fresh Cut Grass stated that they didn't like birds, and the rest of the party remarked that that was the only thing they'd ever expressed a dislike for. FCG explained they had once been attacked by a bird.[10]
Later, while FCG was on watch when the party was in Bassuras, they heard the flapping of a large bird landing outside their room. Looking out the window, they saw the general outline of something fluffing or rustling its wings while resting on the tower. FCG then immediately closed the curtain and backed into a corner, hiding behind a chair. When Chetney awoke for the following watch, FCG warned him there was something out there and asked him if the creature looked "mangy". When Chetney assured FCG it looked like a normal large hawk nesting, FCG told him that on "the night everything changed", there was a bird. The bird hated FCG, and wanted them dead or humiliated. It chased FCG everywhere, day and night. FCG didn't know why. But FCG's bird wasn't a hawk, so this bird probably wasn't it. Chetney pledged to protect FCG from the mysterious bird, which FCG named Shithead "because it shits on my head whenever it sees me."[11] In the weeks following this incident, Fresh Cut Grass repeatedly showed nervousness about birds. They explained that they didn't like Pâté because his creepy flying reminded FCG of Shithead.[12]
Weeks later, as Bells Hells approached the Aydinlan Seminary in Yios, they heard a sound from above and saw an avian creature coming out of the shadows, with a long hooked beak, a cloudy eye, and patches of missing feathers. As FCG franticly urged them to get inside, it swooped down[13] and defecated on FCG's head. The party was able to quickly knock it unconscious and Chetney sensed it was some form of undead. It then escaped and flew off.[14]
FCG explained that the bird had been chasing him for as long as he remembered, and although at first he didn't take it seriously, he now thought it was a manifestation of the guilt he felt for his past.[15]
When Bells Hells traveled back to Yios after the apogee solstice, Shithead appeared again and attacked Fresh Cut Grass. After a brief combat during which it was killed a couple of times but kept coming back to life, the aeormaton seriously considered eating the undead bird but it wouldn't fit inside their body. Fearne cast Speak with Animals and talked to the creature, but like the last time they had encountered it, it only manifested its dislike for the world and for FCG in particular. When the druid asked, it revealed its true name was Gargo, as well as its inability to die, and that its previous master (whose name it could not recall) had been gone for a long time. Shortly after that, the bird broke free from Fearne's grasp and tried to attack the FCG again, but was quickly destroyed by their Turn Undead ability. FCG kept some of its feathers.[16]
Quotes[]
- FCG: What do you want with me? Who are you? Who sent you? What do you know about me?
Gargo: I don't know. There's just something about you I have to ruin.[17] - FCG: How can I get you to leave me alone?
Gargo: You can't. If I'm here forever, I'm making myself everyone else's problem.[18]
Appearances and mentions[]
- Campaign Three
- "The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24), mentioned only
- "A Taste of Tal'Dorei" (3x25), mentioned only
- "Hidden Truths" (3x26), mentioned only (unnamed)
- "Pyrrhic Return" (3x35), mentioned only
- "A Dark Balance" (3x38), mentioned only
- "Compulsions" (3x40), mentioned only (unnamed)
- "The City of Flowing Light" (3x42) (first appearance)
- "Axiom Shaken" (3x43)
- "Ominous Lectures" (3x45), mentioned only
- "Reunited" (3x64), mentioned only
- "Nice" (3x69)
Trivia[]
- Sam stated that the inspiration for Shithead came from the design of Fresh Cut Grass's character art, when he thought it might be fun to have some kind of familiar creature. He decided against using it as a familiar but showed it to Matt, giving him its nickname, and asked him to incorporate it into FCG's story.[19]
References[]
- ↑ See "The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24) at 2:01:21.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 0:12:59.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 0:30:03.
- ↑ See "The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24) at 2:01:21.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 0:18:27.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) from 0:16:25 through 0:19:14. After Imogen hit for 4 damage, Fearne's Ice Knife knocked the creature unconscious without a damage roll.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 0:25:47).
- ↑ See "Nice" (3x69) at 3:44:56.
- ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Kiss and Tell" (4SDx16) at 1:59:50.
- ↑ See "The Tunnels Below" (3x15) from 0:47:52 through 0:49:13.
- ↑ See "The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24) from 1:57:11 through 2:06:17.
- ↑ See "A Dark Balance" (3x38) at 1:29:08.
- ↑ See "The City of Flowing Light" (3x42) at 3:50:35.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) from 0:12:59 through 0:24:56.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 0:29:02.
- ↑ See "Nice" (3x69) from 3:36:17 through 3:51:10.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 0:22:54.
- ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 0:23:59.
- ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: To Be Continued!" (4SDx10) at 0:48:07.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Gargo ("Shithead"), by David "Dingo" Bleecher (source). Used with permission.
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