Scanlan Shorthalt

S**canlan Shorthalt** is a gnome bard and a member of the group Vox Machina. A talented musician, master of disguise, and dashingly handsome especially in his own mind, Scanlan sings songs almost as much as he sings his own praises. Still, Scanlan considers himself a lover first, performer second, and fighter distant third. On the battlefield, he'll support his allies, but rarely draws blood unless it's to protect fellow gnome Pike. Count on Scanlan for a hearty laugh, a rollicking song, and a twinkle in his eye that melts hearts and makes the females swoon.

## Description

### **Appearance**

As a gnome, Scanlan is shorter than the other members of Vox Machina. He is also much older, but because gnomes live so much longer than many humanoid races, he appears to be around the same age as his former companions. After joining the Slayer's Take, Scanlan has the brand of the guild on his right arm.

### **Personality**

Scanlan's tends to sit back and watch while his allies strategize and scheme, occasionally making a joke or two. However, when the situation becomes urgent (or ripe for comedy), Scanlan would eagerly jump into fray.

His quick wit and silver tongue made him Vox Machina's best negotiator and deceiver. Scanlan often acts as support for his allies by enhancing their abilities or weakening their opponents. He is also capable of holding his own with a combination of magic, improvisation, and courage, as exemplified by his solo fight against Duke Vedmire and his eight armed guards.

Scanlan creates parodies of songs from across the universe, silly limericks, and comical remarks as part of his inspiring presence, Healing Word, or distraction. Some were improvised on the spot, while others were prepared in advance.

Scanlan is fluent in Common, Gnomish and Marquesian. When he began adventuring with Vox Machina he was in his 69th year of life. Scanlan is an extensive womanizer, but has been known to flirt with men as well, particularly Grog and Vax. He has said that Vax kissing him was not the first time an elf-man kissed him (but it was in the top three). When Vax and Grog pranked him with a potion of love, causing him to become infatuated with Percy, it was confirmed that Scanlan is pansexual.

#### **Personas**

Highly skilled in Deception, Scanlan sometimes found himself in situations where a simple lie or half-truth was not enough, so he adopted a disguise or false identity.

* **Burt Reynolds, Esquire:**  Initially used with a fake mustache and pretend badge to convince members of the Clasp that he was a customs inspector, the Burt Reynolds persona became Scanlan's deceit of choice when needing to impersonate an authority figure.  Burt Reynolds later returned as a lawyer to rescue Keyleth and Tiberius from jail in Vasselheim.
* **Kingslayer:**  Not entirely a lie, Scanlan's "Kingslayer" title was earned when delivering the killing blow to King Murghol.  However, his "Kingslayer" persona deceptively portrayed Scanlan as a more honorable and valiant warrior than his everyday actions might have warranted.
* **The Meat Man:**  Scanlan provided this pseudonym to the half-orc Rutur in Ank'Harel during a "drug deal". He later adopted it as his underworld moniker when he returned to Ank'harel for revenge.
* **Francois Bertrand Jean-Luc Australia:** Scanlan used this name while under the illusion of Seeming to disguise himself as an azer slave-trader in the City of Brass.

## Abilities

Scanlan trained as a bard, so he has a large array of spells and skills, which he utilizes both in social and combat situations. His spells run the gamut of offense, defense, and support. Due to being trained at the College of Lore his presense is inspiring to himself and all those around him.

#### **Gnome Abilities**

​As a Gnome, Scanlan has the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all. His dark vision is black and white only (colors cannot be discerned yet he can see nearly equally in darkness and light.

​Gnomes are extremely cunning and have great knowledge of magic meaning they often avoid its effects.

#### **Feats**

Through his experiences of adventuring, Scanlan developed into a tough individual taking a beating more than most normal individuals. As well as this his ability to use magic during combat was impresses during the end of his adventuring career.

#### **Bard Abilities**

Bards have the ability to use magic through the power of music but are also extremely masters of the mouth using words to distract, insult, inspire and much more.

**Bard Spells**

Scanlan is a intellegant fellow and each day can memorise about 24 spells a day, but the spells he had at his were the ones listed below.

* Friends

* Mage Hand
* Message
* Minor Illusion
* Vicious Mockery
* Wristpocket

* Healing Word
* Thunderwave
* Unseen Servant

* Blindness/Deafness
* Hold Person
* Invisibility
* Suggestion

* Counterspell
* Dispel Magic
* Lightning Bolt
* Major Image
* Stinking Cloud

* Banishment
* Dimension Door
* Dominate Beast
* Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
* Polymorph

* Bigby's Hand
* Dominate Person
* Greater Restoration
* Modify Memory
* Seeming

* Eyebite

* Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
* Reverse Gravity

* Dominate Monster

* True Polymorph
* Wish

#### **Blessing of the Knowing Mistress**

Upon becoming the chosen champion of Ioun, Scanlan was granted divine intelligence that allowed him to also creatures physicality.