(Experimenting with the Servant-Phantom combo. Not sure if this was the best choice, but this is probably one of my best sheets by far...)
“There are no shortcuts to achievement, Master; so this is why we must struggle.”
Faceclaim (sans ring)
Servant Class: Caster
True Name: George Washington Carver, The Plant Doctor
Place of Origin: America
Alignment: Neutral Good
Attribute: Man
Alternate Classes: Berserker
Catalyst: One of his many "Carver Bulletins"
Likes: Relaxing in woods, Henry Ford, Painting
Dislikes: Bystander Syndrome, Denial, Getting paid
Talents: Botany, Cooking(?), Painting
Natural Enemy: Gaea
Parameters:
Strength - E
Endurance - E
Agility - D
Mana - B+
Luck - B
N.
Phantasm - B+
Background
George Washington Carver was a prominent African-American scientist and inventor. He is best known for the numerous uses he devised from the peanut and the sweet potato. A gifted individual, he pulled the American South from economic failure when the cotton plants drained the land of its nutrients. Afterwards, he was also interacted with many influential figures in the world like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and even Gandhi.
Born in 1864, Carver was one of many children born to an enslaved couple owned by Moses Carver. A week after his birth, raiders from a neighboring state kidnapped the infant Carver with his sister and mother from the farm. Out of the three, Carver was the only one who was brought back. Since then, both Moses and Susan Carver raised him as their own. Since childhood, Carver was driven by a desire to learn; as a result, he was constantly enamored by nature’s phenomena, and became proficient when taking care of the plants. Aside from caring for plants, Carver was adept in cooking, sewing, fishing and so on. It was no surprise that Carver wanted to move out and learn more.
When he was of age, Carver traveled across the States hoping to be enrolled into a university. Due to societal values back then, he was rejected many times. Determined to learn, Carver homesteaded a claim, where he conducted biological experiments and compiled a geological collection. While interested in science, Carver was also interested in the arts. In 1890, he finally managed to apply to a college called Simpson College, where he developed his painting and drawing skills through sketches of botanical samples. Eventually, he enrolled in the botany program at the Iowa State Agricultural College. Carver later moved to Ames and began his botanical studies the as the first black student at Iowa State. From there, George excelled in his studies. In these years, Carver established his reputation as a brilliant botanist and began the work that he would pursue for the remainder of his career.
After graduating from Iowa State, Carver embarked on a career of teaching and research. Booker T. Washington, the principal of the African-American Tuskegee Institute, hired Carver to run the school's agricultural department in 1896. Tuskegee's agricultural department achieved national renown under Carver's leadership, with a curriculum and a faculty that he helped to shape. Areas of research and training included methods of crop rotation and the development of alternative cash crops for farmers in areas heavily planted with cotton. This work helped struggling sharecroppers in the South who faced with necessary cultivation under harsh conditions including the devastation of the boll weevil in 1892. The development of new crops and diversification of crop use helped to stabilize the livelihoods of all farmworkers.
Carver's work at Tuskegee included groundbreaking research on plant biology that brought him to national prominence. Many of these early experiments focused on the development of new uses for crops such as peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans and pecans. The hundreds of products he invented included plastics, paints, dyes and even a kind of gasoline. In 1920, Carver delivered a speech before the Peanut Growers Association, attesting to the wide potential of peanuts. The following year, he testified before Congress in support of a tariff on imported peanuts. With the help of Carver's testimony, Congress passed the tariff in 1922.
Carver's prominence as a scientific expert made him one of the most famous African-Americans and one of the best-known African-American intellectuals of his time. By the time of his testimony, however, Carver had already achieved international fame in political and professional circles. President Theodore Roosevelt admired his work and sought his advice on agricultural matters in the United States. Carver was also recognized abroad for his scientific expertise. In 1916, he was made a member of the British Royal Society of Arts—a rare honor for an American. Carver also advised Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi on matters of agriculture and nutrition.
Since then, Carver's scholarship and research contributed to improved quality of life for many farming families, and made Carver an icon for African-Americans and Anglo-Americans alike. For the rest of his life, Carver spent his days replying to various people who asked for his advice via appointments or mail within the confines of his home. George Washington Carver died on January 5, 1943, at the age of 78 after falling down the stairs at his home. He was buried next to Booker T. Washington on the Tuskegee grounds. Carver's epitaph reads: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world."
Personal Traits
The part of Carver that's the genius botanist who imparted wisdom and knowledge to the world.
Intelligent and rather down-to-earth, Carver is well-meaning but frank when the situation is serious. A humanist at heart, the botanist is willing to give anyone a chance - even to dubious individuals. Believing that human life is more valuable than anything else, expect Carver to step in to protect innocents and being very driven to save humanity. However, this habit may cause more problems for Carver, since the botanist tends to forget to about his own issues while certain individuals would take advantage of his kindness. Carver's ultimate goal is to do whatever is the best for humanity and their survival, meaning he isn't above getting his hands dirty should it be necessary.
As mentioned above, his affection for humanity may potentially be his undoing; for while he cared for others, he failed to care for himself and his own wants.
Despite the sharp demeanor, Carver is absolutely disorganized; if the dirt-covered lab coat and boots didn't give it away, the botanist tends to mostly disregard hygiene during field work. Since he hardly keep any concrete recordings, Carver tends to forget certain details; which could possibly be a bit troublesome in crucial moments. The lab he conjures via Territory Creation is filled with scattered research papers and plant samples being put anywhere that has space. It gets to the point to where one might have to drag Carver out of his lab in fear of him getting lost. Speaking of the lab, the botanist is ironically a bit of a shut-in. While he certainly enjoys the outdoors, he would never leave his lab unless it's one of the four listed below:
a) the world's in danger
b) gather info/samples for his plants
c) get food
d) make new lab equipment
Because of this, it's preferred that Carver should use his Territory Creation Skill unless it's absolutely necessary.
While Caster is undoubtedly Carver himself, there's more to him than the simple Peanut Man. Being a more modern Servant, he would still be too weak to actually be able to fight against other Servants even by Caster standards. As a result, Carver was assimilated with the Phantom of another scientist by the name of Gregor Mendel, also known to be the Father of Genetics. Now given an advantage by harnessing the concept of hereditary genetics, Carver is now a Servant that is not to be underestimated. Oddly, despite their compatibility, some of Mendel's quirks tends to leak out at times. Although, it mainly comes out in the form of some really weird remarks (e.x: "Always do science with things you can make into soup.")
Although this may be the phantom's influence, Carver's wish is to see his actual parents; maybe being fused with Mendel allowed Carver to be a little more selfish to himself.
Extras:
(Carver is a oddly proficient cook, but his meals were always made with the weirdest ingredients imaginable. However, unless you are Arturia, never specifically request him to make sandwiches or salads; your stomach might not handle the garden weeds. If you don't think they're delicious, Carver may not speak to you for several days.)
(Carver can be a bit immature, assuming the Master teases him or makes fun of his obsession with peanuts or his cooking.)
(Really doesn't care for money. It even got to the point where back when he was alive, he turned down numerous offers and pretty much gets paid in a salary so low - even by university professor standards - that he tends to grow most of his food in the back garden.)
Craft Essence/Reactions
To Prove A Point
"Good morning, students;
to celebrate our first successful harvest in the Agriculture Class, I've prepared a hearty breakfast for you all.
Over to the left are pancakes and biscuits, while there are pie and toast on the other.
Now, would you all kindly- Hey, wait! I'm not done talking yet!
...
That was filling meal compared to the cafeteria food, right?
...What was that? 'How did I afford anything to make this?'
Why, I didn't even have to buy anything; why should I when I had everything since the harvest?
Ha-ha~! Didn't expect the "lowly goober" to make all of this, did you?
That's right, even the toast and milk were made out of peanuts!
Brilliant, isn't if? This plant truly does contain infinite potential.
With it, I can-
...Why are you all staring at me like that?"
---
Reaction to Other Servants:
Thomas Edison: "...Apparently the 'I'd rather die before getting out of my house and work for you' part actually came true. Oh well, a promise is a promise- Oh hello, Mr. Tesla, a pleasure to meet someone of your- W-wah!? Mr. Edison, Mr. Tesla, stop fighting! Please calm down, let's work this out...! Is there anyone who can help!?"
Youthful Servants (Jack, Nursery, any Lily Servants): Carver's fervent encouragement of vegetables being a part of a healthy meal garnered himself an infamous reputation as "The Veggie Man" among the "younger" Servants.
Leonardo Da Vinci: One of Da Vinci's biggest fanboys. Carver always remarks on how Da Vinci's inventions and accomplishments were absolutely brilliant, and how the accounts on the polymath's life were a great inspiration for him to continue his passion on science and painting. The botanist will even ask for an autograph from him(?). ...The fanboying was so great, it took a while for him to notice Da Vinci's unique appearance.
Arturia: "Honestly, you're the first person to actually like my sandwiches; not even my student can handle the ingredients I've used! ...W-wait, you want 8 more!? ...Well, normally I wouldn't object, but... really, 8?"
Taiwara Touta: Carver's culinary creations are the only kind of food that the Archer's hesitant to eat, much to the surprise of everyone.
---
Bond Lines:
Lv. 1: "I will lend you my knowledge, Master; but from now on, I am now your Teacher. With me, you will certainly leave with an open mind."
Lv. 2: "Sometimes, you don't always have to grasp the bigger picture; instead, try to pick apart a single specific thing. And in time, all will become clear."
Lv. 3: "It's true that I'm normally too weak to actually be a capable Servant, so with a little help from Mendel, I can easily use nature to our advantage! ...But without nature, wouldn't I still be just as useless as I was without the phantom's assistance? How can a mere bulb compare to blazing suns? Hmph, no; I cannot think so lowly of myself; Humanity is in danger, and as one of the Servants in Chaldea I will give it my all in saving everyone on Earth."
Lv. 4: "As much as I like field work, I'd prefer not to leave my lab unless absolutely necessary. So try not to drag me out for petty reasons, alright? Just think of me staying in the lab as a quicker way for me to help you... no, seriously."
Lv. 5: "...Master-no, I do not consider you a mere Master anymore; you're someone who's much more important: my Assistant. ...W-what's that look you're giving me? This is definitely better than being a mere student, right?"
Skills
Class Skills:
Item Construction - C+(EX)
A Caster-class Skill to manufacture magical items, from implements of war to items for daily use. Also, this Skill requires time to gather components and manufacture items.
This Skill allows Carver to create specific lab equipment. Aside from equipment, it also allows Carver to create more advanced products from plant matter, like soy-based armor. Due to being a person who’s accustomed to poverty, the botanist was practical enough to craft impressive lab equipment just from scraps and junk alone. As a Servant, the skill he possessed in life now allows him to top-notch equipment from almost anything. Hell, just take him to the nearest junk yard/pawn shop and expect him to return with some surprisingly high-quality gear.
Due to being fused with the Phantom of Gregor Mendel, this Skill can be combined with the Noble Phantasm Verdure Modification to become even more effective. As long as the "item" is plant-based or a new strain of seeds, then there is nothing that can stop him from making new... interesting plants. With both time and luck, Carver may even create items/plants with supernatural functions, almost to the level of Advanced Thaumaturgy.
(See Noble Phantasms section for more info.)
Territory Creation - B
A Caster-class Skill that allows construction of a special terrain that is advantageous to oneself as a magus, such as for the purpose of collecting mana.
While barely counting as a workshop, Carver is able to conjure the exact replica of his home-laboratory. Within the homely lab, he is able to proficiently work on his research and prepare his Noble Phantasms. When working in the lab, George's rate of discovery and the Verdure Modification process increases considerably. Curiously, due to his tendency to almost forget the presence of everyone else when working, everyone other than Carver gains a lack of detection akin to a C-ranking Presence Concealment upon entering the lab. But no matter how one justifies that they weren't intentionally trying to sneak up on Carver, one is always bound to be a victim of his lecture on addressing themselves properly when entering his lab.
Personal Skills:
Affection for Humanity - B
A Skill for one who deeply cares for mankind in some time or place. And from this love, one temporarily gains a spurt of power in hopes to better the lives of others. In turn, one’s own Luck parameter gradually decreases as long as the user is on the power boost. Even so, one may truly love the world, but the same gratitude may not be returned. Truly, this may be a fitting curse for all humanists.
Throughout his life, Carver used his skills to improve the lives and conditions of everyone around him. He never accepted payments, and was always ready to listen to the people’s plights as they visited his home everyday. Many of the functions he found within the peanut ended up helping others, including an oil concoction that served as a precedent towards Polio vaccines, as well as extremely tough plastic which can resist the toughest of blows. However, many of these accomplishments were birthed from hours of overworking, sometimes even leaving him bedridden. Yet despite all of Carver's hard work, many people back then still did not fully acknowledge his accomplishments due to societal values.
Innovation: Sacred Harvest of Rebirth - A+
A special Skill given to heroes who brought about innovation to their eras. Namely, this is a conceptual revolution that breathes life to the arid earth as well as manipulating all types of plants.
Carver's variant of the Skill is not of a mechanical revolution, but originating from his large influence in restoring life and prosperity to the struggling farmlands across the world. Due to cotton’s nutrient-draining effect, nearly all of the South’s farmlands are completely devoid of any sustainability. Even worse, many were at the edge of bankruptcy and families were starving as an result. Due to George spreading the legume plants’ function in restoring the land and the concept of Sustainability, this twist of fate allowed the American South to survive and prosper from this revolutionary idea. Eventually, this concept was spread throughout the world, and nearly all of the farmlands across the globe practice Carver's "Sustainability Plan" to some degree.
A walking symbol of Revitalization, Carver is able to return any lifeless environments around him back to when it was a habitable zone. Even the most hostile habitats can be tamed into a save zone for all humans to live and survive in. For example, dead, arid earth can be slowly revitalized into rich earth that's capable of farming should Carver traverse through the terrain. Even a desert wasteland can be transformed into a large oasis should Carver stay around for an extended time; water will flow, plants would grow, etc. Pay in mind that the revitalization is only advantageous to suit human needs, granting bonuses to Man-aligned lifeforms that stands on these zones.
However, the effects of this Skill don’t go beyond than breathing life back to the land itself. While the plants that were sprung from the earth do have healing effects, it is useless when going against the corruption from unnatural forces such as the cursed mud from the Grail. Since this Skill is seen as "Subjugating Nature to serve Man's needs," it draws hostility from all lifeforms that are Earth-aligned. Ironically, Carver unintentionally became the natural enemy of a aspect of the world that he was so fascinated with since childhood.
Natural-Born Genius - B
A Skill that shows one who has unparalleled natural knowledge. Allows the use of most Skills excluding those inherent to the body (such as Divinity) or ones unique to particular heroes, at proficiency of A~B Rank.
Since childhood, Carver was considered to be “The smartest boy they ever saw in their lives”; with a aptitude for cooking, knitting, fishing, drawing, plant care and so on, it’s not surprising that many thought the boy to be a gifted child. Later in life, Carver not only became a widely known botanist/chemist, he was also an inventor, college professor, painter and as well as a advise-giver to everyone who sought his advice; people such as Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and even Mahatma Gandhi asked for help at least once. His fascination with nature is apparent in his works, which all of them are based from the natural world.
Revelation - D
A Skill to "hear the voice of heavens" and take optimum action; a Skill equivalent to Instinct, a sixth sense regarding battles. However, 'Revelation' accommodates all matters related to the achievement of a goal (for instance, choosing the most suitable path while traveling). It is a Skill held by the soul, thus it will not work when the subject is under the influence of another.
Despite being a scientist, Carver was also a devout Christian; and combined with the similar religious spirit of Gregor Mendel, he gains a somewhat weaker version of Revelation. The botanist claimed that he wouldn’t have made some of his discoveries if he didn’t receive visions from God himself. Although the visions were sparse and brief, it gave Carver enough information to discover the various uses he had with the peanut and other plants.
Noble Phantasms
Over 300 Uses - The Miracle of the Unappreciated Legume - C+ - Support -
Carver's Noble Phantasm, where unlimited possibilities lay in the form of a single peanut. This NP is formed from his biggest accomplishments in creating hundreds of products/uses from plants like the peas, peanuts and yams. One of the plethora of inventions were the famous medical oils that managed to combat the symptoms of paralysis and Polio, along with paints, antiseptics, fuels, plastics and much more. It was said that if Carver actually lived longer, he would've created even more from these seemingly unimpressive foods.
All Carver needs is either a single peanut or sweet potato on his person. Upon brandishing any of the products, he has the ability to mold the product into anything that is nonliving. Depending on what he transforms, the types of items vary; Peanuts for support and utility items(medicine, bandages, ropes) and sweet potatoes for more offensive/defensive items (D-ranking armor and weapon replicas made from sweet potato-based rubbers). Given his reputation to "create countless uses" with these plants, the possibilities of the construction is practically limitless; from D-ranking weapons to medicines, the botanist is able to make peanuts and sweet potatoes more versatile than a swiss army knife.
Among the countless objects he can mold them into, the most effective item he can craft is a perfected version of his healing peanut oil. Upon using a peanut, Carver is able to craft a single vial of the miracle oil. With the oil's healing factor being improved, the concoction is able to quickly remove all sense of pain, restore their stamina along with sealing most of the subject's wounds. However, the concoction must be applied to the skin, and it will take at least a minute for it to be absorbed and take effect. Additionally, it will partially heal major wounds, so the oil serves more as a stabilizer than anything else.
Unfortunately, there is also a factor of luck involved in the NP. Due to Carver never bothering to record a concrete reference or instructions when making the numerous products, he'll most likely be... "winging it," so to speak. As a result, there will always be a chance that Carver may accidentally make something else entirely. At best, he may create completely new items from the plants; at worst, however, it would be like making a rope when you need a weapon in battle.
...And before you ask, no; he cannot create a fully functioning mech with a mere sweet potato - he'll need at least 20 bags worth of it.
--- Assuming he fused with Gregor’s Phantom… ---
Verdure Modification - The Uncommon Way, With Countless Branching Possibilities - A+ - Varies -
A unique Noble Phantasm formed when Carver was fused with the Phantom of Gregor Mendel, where it advances the functions of Over 300 Uses and allows the botanist to actually take apart and either choose existing traits or create new functions or even behaviors for all plant life. Taken from the concept of hereditary evolution, it essentially gives Carver unlimited potential in predicting and manipulating all plant life. With the power of science, the botanist essentially possessed near god-like dominion over all flora.
For example, assuming that Carver would require a plant that can grow at an accelerated speed, he can "implant" the trait into the plant, and wait for the plant to produce the seed. Upon possessing the seed, Carver is able to cause it to grow at unnatural speeds once the seed is planted in the ground. That example is just the tip of the iceberg, as there are countless things he can do to modify his plants. From razor-sharp vines to explosive pollen, the possibilities are endless. With enough time and creativity, Carver may even be able to create seeds akin to the Pop Greens from a certain series...
Unfortunately, even this NP will also require a bit of luck. Just like genetics, there are chances that the plant with a newly implanted trait can either dispense seeds with a recessive trait or a mutation. And from a mutation, the seed can either become exponentially stronger than the intended version or... well, you don't want to be there to find out. Additionally, Carver can only implant a maximum of 3 unique traits onto the plants, for any more rewriting can lead to a higher chance of mutation. But since "Accelerated Growth" is a must-need trait in case of direct combat, it limits the botanist to only 2 traits.
---
(Note: The reason I made someone who's the "Father of Genetics" a Phantom is the fact that not only was discovering hereditary genetics his only accomplishment in life, his works was pretty much constantly overshadowed by other scientists as time went by, thus somewhat making him incapable of being HS-worthy. Additionally, it was debated whether his findings were accurate, since recent observations found out that his data were too perfect...)
Originally Posted by RoydGolden
