Skip navigation

Scanlan Shorthalt

Tal'Dorei

Scanlan spent a portion of his life travelling with Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe to support his single mother, Juniper.

Scanlan spent a portion of his life travelling with Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe to support his single mother, Juniper. During his years of travel, he encountered a gnome named Sybil, who later gave birth to his daughter, Kaylie, without his knowledge. At one point, he witnessed his mother's death at the hands of a goblin.

During his adventures with Vox Machina, Scanlan came into possession of the legendary sword, Mythcarver, to fight the Chroma Conclave. After meeting his daughter and going through hard times, Scanlan left Vox Machina. He later returned and earned the blessing of Ioun, becoming the Champion of Ioun, to face Vecna.

Intro

"Oh, you haven't heard of Scanlan Shorthalt? Well, gird your loins, ladies, because he has his eye on you. A talented musician, master of disguise, and dashingly handsome in his own mind, Scanlan sings songs almost as much as he sings his own praises.

Born a poor gnome, Scanlan used his endless charm and soaring tenor voice to croon for coin and support his single mother. One day he was discovered by a half-orc promoter, and joined Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe, where he learned the ways of the world, and honed his skills as a bard extraordinaire.

A loner much of his life, Scanlan has never quite come to terms with the violent death of his mother at the hands of a goblin invasion. While his years on the road provided many, shall we say, educational experiences with the opposite sex, deep down Scanlan yearns for the one thing he's never known: the true love of a fellow gnome.

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."

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.

Scanlan has brown hair and usually wears a beret. In official art, he is depicted wearing purple clothing with an open shirt that reveals his chest hair. His skin tone varies from slightly tanned to brown in various depictions of the character.

After joining the Slayer's Take, Scanlan has the brand of the guild on his right arm. Later, during his first time in Whitestone, he bought a beret, completing the iconic look. When Scanlan returned to Whitestone after a year on the road with his daughter Kaylie, he bore a new scar under his eye where Kaylie's knife cut him.

As of 836 PD Scanlan hasn't aged too much (since gnomes can live for centuries) but he is proud and vain so he makes an effort to hide with style and the occasional illusion his slight belly and his slowly receding hairline. He also has a mustache that makes him look distinguished (according to himself).

In 843 PD when Vox Machina tracked him down traveling with a group of musicians through the Barbed Fields of Xhorhas, Scanlan had long salt-and-pepper hair and a thick beard. He wore a black leather jacket with purple piping. He had True Polymorphed himself (and his friends) into centaurs; Scanlan's had purple fur and "I brake for hot chicks" branded on his left haunch.

Personality

Scanlan's quick wit and silver tongue made him Vox Machina's best negotiator and deceiver. Scanlan often acted as support for his allies by enhancing their abilities or weakening their opponents. He was 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 was often regarded as the comic relief character and almost never brought up his own troubles and anxieties, instead focusing on making jokes or witty comments. His refusal to ask for help and constantly lying about his mental health slowly built up, until he began to feel like he didn't belong with Vox Machina, accusing them of never having cared about him or bothered to find out who he was and what he wanted. Because of this, he left the party for over a year.

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 bi- or pansexual. Scanlan tends to flirt with most women he interacts with, but most notably with Pike. For years, he made advances to her that she politely ignored. However, as time went by, and especially after spending a year with his daughter, [citation needed] Scanlan realized that his behavior had been disrespectful, and he wished to be more respectful towards women in the future.

Scanlan (or rather Sam) created parodies of real-world songs, silly limericks, and comical remarks as part of his Bardic Inspiration, Healing Word, or Cutting Words spells. Some were improvised on the spot, while others were prepared in advance. CritRoleStats has compiled a list of Scanlan's songs used on stream.

Scanlan's alignment is "neutral good", like Keyleth (and, originally, Vex'ahlia). He tended to sit back and watch while his allies strategize and scheme, occasionally making a joke or two. However, when the situation became urgent (or ripe for comedy), Scanlan would eagerly jump into the fray.

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.

Epilogues

" Dalen's Closet " (Sx47)

A year later, Vex'ahlia asked Scanlan to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, which he accepted. After the wedding reception was attacked, Scanlan suggested they hold the wedding immediately before anything else could happen. He turned into a triceratops and Vex rode him down the aisle. After the vows, Scanlan asked if he could offer a gift: to Wish that Vex's brother would be able to speak to her for just a moment on her wedding day. His wish was granted, and Vax appeared briefly, spending a moment with Vex'ahlia and Keyleth. His final words to the party were "Thank you. Live!" before disappearing in a scattering of feathers.

This was Scanlan's last Wish, but he said it was worth it.

Between Campaign One and Campaign Three

As revealed in " The Chapter Closes " (1x115), Scanlan spent the next few years with Pike, helping her rebuild Vasselheim and following her in adventures with Grog. He paid for Kaylie to be educated at the Alabaster Lyceum in Emon, where he visited her occasionally. He sent some rather fine jewelry anonymously to Sybil, Kaylie's mother, to make sure she was taken care of. In his free time, and with some help from Ioun and Sprigg, he wrote down the story of Vox Machina, titled In the Belly of Dragons: The Legend of Scanlan Shorthalt and Vox Machina. As things go well with Scanlan, Pike eventually asked him for his hand in marriage. Scanlan asked Grog for his permission to accept Pike's proposal. Grog gave Scanlan a black sapphire for Pike, and agreed to carry Scanlan down the aisle at their wedding. Scanlan moved in with Pike and Grog in the Red House of Trickfoot.

By 835 PD, he also wrote a book titled Adventure Sexy: Impress Potential Lovers with Great Deeds.

Pike and Scanlan had two children within a year of each other: Juniper and Wilhand'ildan. After their children went off to school, Pike and Scanlan decided to end their romantic relationship while remaining best friends and occasional lovers. Scanlan spent his winters in Ank'Harel with Kaylie, where the two of them owned a trading business, Meatman Imports & Sexports, and visited Pike every summer in Whitestone to spend time with their friends and family. He was constantly traveling across Exandria for business and to perform the tales of Vox Machina through song. At some point before 843 PD, he staged the play To Kill a God: The Scanlan Shorthalt One-Man Show in the Dreamscape Theater of Jrusar in Marquet.

Campaign Three: Bells Hells

As of early in 843 PD, Scanlan still divided his time between Whitestone and Marquet, where he lived the life of a divorced Robin Hood. By then he and Pike had remarried and divorced more than three times. During the climactic events following the Apogee Solstice of that year, Vox Machina tracked him down with a group of his friends (including Dr. Dranzel, Kent Plucker, Lionel Gayheart, Jameson the Painter, and Keg) in True Polymorphed form as centaurs, galloping across the Barbed Fields of northern Xhorhas. The group had formed a band called the "Silver Saddles" and were on a road trip that had started in the Menagerie Coast and gone through the Dwendalian Empire (Scanlan had particularly enjoyed Hupperdook), and was now heading toward Bazzoxan. Scanlan was totally unaware of world events and was shocked to learn Vax'ildan had been imprisoned in an orb at the Malleus Key. Although he had misgivings that the group just wanted his magic and not him, he was easily persuaded to join them in the effort to rescue Vax. During the night they spent in Vasselheim before the battle the bard tried to balance looking cool in front of his friends and Cerkonos (who was a big fan of his) and trying to be sincere with Pike, sleeping in the room she shared with Grog (very uncomfortable because of his centaur form). The following morning, before they traveled to the Hellcatch Valley, he shared some advice with Cerkonos so that he could impress Lieve'tel Toluse, who would be traveling with them too. Before they left, Grog gave him boots to make his hooves more stealthy.

During the battle itself Scanlan and his friends approached the Malleus Key, where they fought Ozo Cruth and his monstrous companions. The bard cast Scanlan's Hand and used it to attack the Key itself, causing the Bloody Bridge to flicker, and later, after Lieve'tel's Divine Intervention exposed the Luxon beacon that acted as its power source, he used the Hand to take it out with some difficulty, giving it to the cleric; that caused the Malleus Key to turn off. During the rest of the fight Scanlan focused on praising Cerkonos so that Lieve'tel was aware of how cool he was, and using Dominate Monster to control the Sunder King's mount, Scrag, so it would attack its master. At one point the Weave Mind used one of the reilora in the battlefield to Dispel Scanlan's magic, but he Counterspelled them.

After Vex killed the last hostile enemy (Vorak, the Sunder King's bane worm), that left Scrag as the only creature with them, and since it was still Dominated by Scanlan he forced it to flee so they wouldn't have to kill it. They then faced the recently rescued Champion of Ravens: he confirmed that he was still connected to the Matron of Death, but after some conversation the goddess herself let him know that he had one night of freedom to be with his loved ones. Accepting Percy's suggestion, they all Traveled via Plants back to Whitestone.

In the morning, Scanlan went with Cerkonos to fetch bear claws from the Slayer's Cake, and along the way continued coaching him on how to attract Lieve'tel Toluse. To help loosen Cerkonos up, Scanlan suggested they could try some spice together some time-- he just happened to have some in his saddlebag. Cerkonos accepted eagerly. However, Allura Sent to Keyleth that Vox Machina should return to Vasselheim immediately. Scanlan was present for the Rites of Catatheosis that took place there, and for the council regarding the Ruidian refugees later. Very shortly afterwards, he told Cerkonos to ignore everything he had told him about dealing with Lieve'tel and to just be himself and talk about what he was passionate about. A short time later, he galloped to see Pike and they talked about what they planned to do now. Scanlan noted that time just keeps moving and they've both changed, but the best times of his life were with her. Pike admitted that though a huge part of her wanted to say no, she still loved him, and without commitments on either side, agreed to come travel with him for a while. Plus, she's really into centaurs. When Scanlan asked her if she'd like to be one too, she agreed, and he True Polymorphed her into a centaur as well. They galloped into the sunset together.

In the months following the Catatheosis,Vox Machina and their allies, in a meeting in Whitestone, decided they had to help inform the people of Tal'Dorei about the new age that was coming, while also shaping the narrative to make sure people looked at the future with hope instead of fear. Scanlan suggested using songs for that and Gilmore supported the idea, declaring that spellcasters could help with the task.

Scanlan attended the reception after the wedding of Fjord and Jester, still as a centaur, and being Dr. Dranzel's vocalist for the night, charging a lot.

Season One

Scanlan and his friends went to a tavern in Emon. While his crew were busy drinking and fighting, Scanlan was preparing to have sex with the barkeep's daughter after serenading her with a song. The mood was interrupted when the barkeep threw him and the rest of Vox Machina out. He then found a wanted poster for mercenaries to kill a creature terrorizing the area and showed it to his friends. They went to the Council of Tal'dorei where Scanlan introduced them with a song. After consideration, Uriel agreed to hire them and Lady Allura flew them to the location the dragon had been spotted. After landing, they passed through a humble village and met some of the townsfolk. Eventually, a blue dragon called Brimscythe appeared. Scanlan was afraid, but tried ineffectually to fight the dragon with Scanlan's Hand. It did nothing. Eventually, the dragon sent rocks falling on the party, seemingly killing them. As he flew away, the party emerged from the rubble thanks to Keyleth's vines.

Scanlan was among the party members urging abandoning the mission for the sake of staying alive. However, when they returned to the village they had passed through, they found it had been destroyed by Brimscythe and all its inhabitants were dead. Scanlan played his lute somberly, "Trying to come up with a rhyme for dead dragon," prompting the rest of the party to commit themselves to the mission as well.

The party returned to Emon, and Uriel made the decision to bring the fight to the dragon, dismissing Vox Machina from the palace. Scanlan tried to make sure that Uriel's offer was still on the table as he was being pushed out, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Vex'ahlia then revealed she felt the presence of someone working with the dragon in the council, meaning one of them was a mole. Scanlan claimed the mole was probably Allura because he didn't "trust anyone prettier than [him]". Vex shot him down suggesting it was Fince and assigned Grog and Scanlan to look for him, much to Scanlan's boredom. Fed up with the seeming fruitlessness of the mission, Scanlan decided to go to the nearest brothel until he noticed Sir Fince pass by and started following him to a large mansion, where he entered and locked the door after drawing a blade. Scanlan rushed off to tell the others just as Grog asks him to get him a sandwich. Scanlan caved to the request before getting the others. Scanlan tried to unlock the door with a magic song to no avail. Eventually, Vax managed to pick the lock. As they went inside, they interrupted Fince stealing documents from Krieg's cellar. He tried to explain but was murdered by Krieg. When the party pursued Krieg, they landed in a magic-filled room, where Grog admired a pornographic painting until Keyleth threw a book at him, which bounced off his head and revealed a hidden portal. Scanlan nervously tried to stay behind until Vax pulled him along.

Behind the painting was a huge treasure trove and Scanlan decided that whatever Uriel offered them was nothing compared to this. They soon realized this was the dragon's hoard, and Krieg reappeared, revealing he was the dragon. Another fight ensued and Brimscythe was getting the upper hand until, following a quickly-formed party plan, Scanlan created an illusion of the party arguing and Brimscythe shot it. With Brimscythe hoodwinked, the party then each played their part in killing the dragon. Scanlan threw Vax with Scanlan's Hand so he could slit the dragon's throat before Grog dealt the final blow. As the cavern collapsed, Scanlan tried to salvage as much treasure as possible. They returned to the council, where they received title to a keep.

The morning after their first night in the keep, Scanlan was eating breakfast with his friends, annoyed by Keyleth's loud chipperness. Lady Allura appeared, passing on Sovereign Uriel's invitation to his banquet the next evening. Scanlan asked Pike if she would like to be his date there, promising to be on his "best worst behavior", but Pike politely declined. At the banquet, they left their weapons at the check desk and dispersed. Scanlan came across a man who asked him if he knew where the facilities were, and Scanlan intentionally interpreted it as him wanting to do something sexual with him. Prior to the banquet, Percy was was startled to see the Briarwoods and revealed they had killed his family and taken everything from them when he was a teenager. Vax offered to sneak into their room and Scanlan suggests a safe word for Vax in case things went south. During the meal, Scanlan complimented Delilah on her choice of beads, claiming he had a set just like them, but not the kind one wears.

When the Briarwoods left the dinner and Vex sensed that Vax was in imminent danger, Scanlan offered to cause a distraction while the others went to Vax's aid, grabbing the guests' attention with a rendition of "Pull my Beads of Love." When the song finished, he went outside to catch up with the others, proud of his performance, to find his friends were being detained by the guards. Scanlan and the others were taken before Uriel who reprimanded them for attacking the Briarwoods and put them under house arrest. There, Scanlan tried to read the journal Vax stole from Delilah, but couldn't make out the words due to it being in another language. When they attempted an escape and were caught, Scanlan was locked up with Vex and Vax, his lute confiscated. The gnome made a sandwich to pass the time until they were attacked by wraiths, and once victorious, Jarrett returned Scanlan's lute.

In the morning, Scanlan gave a good luck wave to Pike who was staying behind, worrying to himself if she would be okay. He tried again to read Delilah's journal with some success, but mistranslated the word "ziggurat". The party were attacked by fiendish dogs who dragged off Scanlan, still holding Delilah's book. The party chased after them to a cliff where the dog holding Scanlan jumps over, seemingly killing him. The party mourned for a moment until Scanlan revealed he had saved himself with his magic hand.

When they find a spot to make camp, Grog watches Scanlan use a scroll he looted from Brimscythe's cave. He watched with fascination as the gnome turned into various things, ranging from a gnome, a unicorn and an elven woman. Later that night, Grog suggests the party goes around explaining the craziest thing they have ever killed. When it was Scanlan's turn, he spoke about a woman he was having a one-night-stand with, which puts the party at an anti-climax at first until Scanlan continues. He explains said woman was actually a two headed monster in disguise.

Once at Whitestone, the party decided they needed to rescue Archibald Desnay. Scanlan suggested he could use the potions he stole from Brimscythe's lair to his advantage, although he did not know what they would do to him yet. Since Scanlan's idea was one of the bad ones, Vex devised her own plan. Scanlan, Vax, and Percy would break through the back door of the dungeons to break Archie out. Scanlan and Vax struggled badly to get the door open. A guard eventually opend the door to empty a bucket full of urine, accidentally splashing it on the two, who killed him before running in. The party reconnected and they saved Archie, only to be stopped in their tracks by Sir Kerrion Stonefell. His guards grabbed Scanlan and prepared to kill him until he saved himself with an illusion spell to confuse the guards. Scanlan freed himself and made a run for it. He helped somewhat in the subsequent fight.

Later, the party needed to rescue Cassandra from Professor Anders's house. Scanlan suggested he lure the guards away, which Vex sharply objected to. Scanlan assured her that everything that made Scanlan himself would be enough for the solo mission to go successfully. Once on his own, he very quickly regretted his decision but followed through using his magic to lure guards away from their posts. He then snuck in through the window of Duke Vedmire's house, unluckily finding him on the chamberpot. Vedmire called the guards to take care of Scanlan, who used his first potion to teleport him away from danger in a natural manner. Once it wore off, he drank the second potion, which made him tiny, making him quicker and more dexterous, dodging the duke's attempts to stomp on him. He then drank the final one, which did not hit until he was grabbed by the guards and cornered by Vedmire, and he began uncontrollably started breathing fire causing the guards to release him. Scanlan rushed into Vedmire's trophy room and pulled out the Polymorph spell scroll, turning himself into a triceratops and killing many of the guards. Eventually, that wore off and Vedmire chased him to the roof, where he beat the gnome in a fight of raw strength easily. When the duke had Scanlan pinned, however, Scanlan used his energy to charge a Lightning Bolt from his crotch, shocking the duke and forcing him off. Scanlan made a quick getaway with his magic hand, telling Vedmire he'd "been a lovely audience".

Celebrating his victory with a song, Scanlan made his way to return to his friends' hideout, but was distracted by what he thought was a couple making out. He tried to join in, only to realize it was a zombie eating a victim. He informed his friends about it once he finally caught up with them and they made a run for it to Archibald's hideout. They were not safe there for long however, as zombies burst through the door and attacked. They managed to slay the zombies, but Scanlan got bitten on the arm. Since they feared it would spread, Grog offered to amputate the arm, but Scanlan accepted it only as a last resort. They eventually moved out of the hideout, where they found a zombie giant heading their way. Duke Vedmire showed up with two more giants, ordering them to kill Vox Machina. The party split up, not ready to fight them, but one of the giants threw a piece of roof in front of Scanlan. Vedmire called out to the gnome, ready to settle the score. Scanlan tried to lie his way out of it. When that didn't work, he tried to shock Vedmire again, but the had duke adapted since their last encounter. Scanlan then ran from the Duke, who gave chase. Archibald saw this, and saved Scanlan's life by fighting Vedmire head on, dying in the process.

More zombies showed up, making the denizens of Whitestone lose hope. But Percy gave a rousing speech to encourage everyone to keep fighting. Scanlan could not perform any magic with his lute due to his decaying arm. When things seemed hopeless, Pike returned, coolly greeting the party. Scanlan looked at her with astonishment. Pike noticed his decaying arm and healed it. Scanlan asked her to marry him and she jokingly agreed. Grog had Scanlan throw him at one of the incoming zombie giants. When the zombies were defeated, Vox Machina resumed searching for Cassandra.

Dr. Dranzel

Scanlan found himself learning and perfecting his skills as a bard from a half-orc named Dr. Dranzel, and ended up joining his Spectacular Traveling Troupe. During his time with Dranzel, he honed his skills and became knowledgeable of the world around him. They reconnected years later in Emon just before the Chroma Conclave attacked, then reunited on several occasions afterward.

Grog

Grog and Scanlan are best friends, often pursuing the same things. They have frequently gone to 'houses of lady favors' together. Scanlan was the only person Grog told about Craven Edge's nature and sentience. When Scanlan came back with Lionel to Whitestone, Grog was deeply offended that his best friend had deceived him and replaced him with 'a whole new idiot'. Their friendship was quickly restored when Scanlan gave Grog a note that allowed him to go to any bar, tavern or house of lady favors he wished and drink until drunk without molestation by any employee. All charges and bills related to his drinking, cavorting, or violent behavior resulting from drunkenness were to be forwarded to the Meat Man for timely payment in full.

Kaylie

Scanlan first met Kaylie in the Diamond Nest Tavern, where he was also reunited with Dr. Dranzel and his old troupe. They had a flautist duel—which was mostly a distraction so Vox Machina could pursue Riskel Daxio —and Scanlan forfeited the competition (and all of his money) to the young gnome girl despite having a clear advantage. After that, he invited the girl to his room in Greyskull Keep for the night.

Later that night, Kaylie revealed to Scanlan that she was his daughter that he never knew existed—news that greatly bothered Scanlan. She had trained at the College of the Savvy and traveled with Dranzel in order to hone her skills and, one day, not only find Scanlan and shame him but also kill him. She then pulled out a dagger, intending to kill him, but couldn't go through with it upon hearing Scanlan's impassioned speech and witnessing him offer his life without resistance. Scanlan mentioned that he knew there was something missing in his life, and that it may well have been his daughter before him. The two shared a tearful hug and, unable to face him anymore that night, Kaylie ran out of the keep.

Scanlan did not reveal this information to the group until the following day, when he asked for their help to get Kaylie out of the stockade for causing a brawl in a bar. She and Dranzel's troupe soon left Emon shortly before the Chroma Conclave attacked. The two later reunited in Westruun when the Herd of Storms occupied the city. Working together, father and daughter aided in the escape of a few of the survivors alongside Dr. Dranzel.

They later reunited in Kymal after the slaying of Umbrasyl. During their reunion, Scanlan admitted that he had been going about his life all wrong, that the gnome he was supposed to love and protect wasn't Pike but Kaylie, his daughter. Scanlan gave her his Singing Dawnblade (which also contained a piece of his Magical Poop of Scrying in the scabbard) for her protection and for him to check in on her on occasion. Kaylie then made her father promise to stay alive and be there for her when the Chroma Conclave was defeated, so they could make up for the lost time.

Over the years Kaylie and her father reconnected and even made business together: as of 836 PD he spent the winters with her in Ank'Harel, operating their high-end trading business, Meatman Imports & Sexports. In 843 PD he was more distant because of one of his mid-life crisis, but he still got a monthly check from Kaylie representing his share of the income from their business.

Pike

Scanlan had very strong feelings toward Pike, and it was a source of great humor and emotional moments within the Critical Role campaign. Pike eventually did willingly kiss Scanlan on the cheek when he saved her life once more during their escape from Yug'Voril. He once proposed marriage to the cleric, but Scanlan later rescinded the offer and he and Pike chose to remain as close friends.

Following Scanlan's departure and eventual return to Vox Machina, Pike was initially angry and resentful towards Scanlan for leaving the way he did and saying the things he had, leading to some tension between the two. As the group journeyed to stop Vecna, however, Pike quickly warmed back up to Scanlan, and their close friendship was restored.

Once Vecna was finally defeated, Scanlan asked Pike out on a formal date, just to see how things go, to which Pike answered by saying that she was going to ask him the same thing. The two dated for several years before Pike asked for Scanlan's hand in marriage. They settled down in Wilhand's old home, with Scanlan taking Pike's surname, [citation needed] to live together alongside Grog.They had two children together, Juniper and Wilhand'ildan.

After their children left for school, Pike and Scanlan decided to end their romantic relationship, but remained very close friends. Scanlan visits Pike in Whitestone every summer, and they sometimes end up in bed together, leading to temporal reconciliations.

Tiberius

Scanlan and Tiberius had a bullying form of friendship, which started before the stream. On many occasions, the two of them took jabs at each other. However, when Tiberius was discovered to have died defending Draconia, Scanlan showed the deepest respect for his fallen friend.

After Vorugal was slain, Scanlan requested that the Ravenites give the sorcerer a proper burial and a statue to mark it with the epitaph, " I Encourage Peace ".

Trinket

Scanlan frequently picks on Vex'ahlia by making jokes about her beloved bear companion, Trinket. He repeatedly suggests that the group leave Trinket behind.

Taryon Darrington

When Taryon Darrington first talks to Pike in gnomish, he recalls only learning it from books that he read and had been taught only briefly by a fellow gnome from a musical group. He describes the "fellow" as "part of a performing troupe" that his father has hired for New Year's Eve, and how he vividly remembers him leaving quickly because something occurred with his "father and house maiden" and was chased out the house. Taryon also says although he doesn't know what exactly happened, his father had to "burn his bed sheets and I think he got a new bed." It is implied that this unnamed gnome bard is in fact Scanlan Shorthalt.

Quests

Originally seeking to win Pike's heart, Scanlan realized that the gnome he was meant to love and protect is his daughter, Kaylie. After successfully slaying the ancient black dragon Umbrasyl, Scanlan promised Kaylie that he would return to her and be the father she needs once he has finished slaying the other members of the Chroma Conclave.

Proficiencies

  • Skills: Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, Intimidation
    • Expertise: Deception, Investigation, Performance, Persuasion
    • Half: Animal Handling, History, Insight, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Survival, Initiative, Death Saves

Current items

Former items

Abilities

Because Scanlan is a bard, 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 his expertise as a College of Lore bard, he is capable of inspiring not only his allies but also himself.

Gnome abilities

  • Darkvision
  • Gnome Cunning (advantage on INT/WIS/CHA saving throws against magic)
  • Speak With Small Beasts

Feats

  • Tough
  • War Caster
  • Resilient (Constitution)
Class features
  • Bard College: College of Lore
    • Additional Magical Secrets: Counterspell, Lightning Bolt
    • Bonus Proficiencies
    • Cutting Words
    • Peerless Skill
  • Bardic Inspiration (d12)
  • Countercharm
  • Font of Inspiration
  • Jack of All Trades
  • Magical Secrets
  • Ritual Casting
  • Song of Rest (d12)
  • Spellcasting (Charisma-based ability)

Bard spells

As a level 20 College of Lore bard, Scanlan can know 24 spells at a time. He can also swap a spell out with another one when gaining a level, so some of these spells may no longer be known by him.

Blessing of the Knowing Mistress

Upon becoming the chosen champion of Ioun, Scanlan has been granted the following abilities:

  • A permanent +2 bonus to intelligence.
  • As a bonus action, you may channel the omniscience of Ioun. For one hour, whenever you successfully hit a creature with a spell or attack you can learn one of the creature's stats of your choice from the following list:
    • AC
    • Senses
    • Saving Throw Bonuses
    • Damage Resistances
    • Damage Immunities
    • Damage Vulnerabilities

During this hour you also have advantage on initiative rolls and on saving throws. Once this ability is used it can not be used again "for like a week".

Appearances and mentions

Quotations

  • Kima: The cruel king. Who dealt the final blow?
    Scanlan: (clears throat) That would be the kingslayer. Me.
  • Scanlan: I check under my belt because the spell has worn off. And I'm back down to my normal one and a half inches. Which on a gnome is pretty big. [...] Length! And girth. [...] It's like a square. Like a cube.
  • Scanlan: Hello. What a lovely dinner we had--LIGHTNING!
  • Scanlan: You can dwell on the shit, or you can leave it behind in people’s beds and keep going.
  • Scanlan: You remember what Pike looks like?
    Elowen Brist: Yeah, about your size, light-ish hair...
    Scanlan: Hair the color of the sunset; eyes like waves that crash in the night; breasts supple, firm–
    Grog: (interrupting) Okay, uh, Scanlan, uh, Scanlan–
  • Grog: If I pelvic thrust, will you...?
    Scanlan: I will grant you cock lightning.
  • Scanlan: Remember... We met, but you did not meet the meat man.
  • Scanlan (speaking about fusaka): I’m upstairs, trying to take it anally.
  • Scanlan: I flew too close to the sun. Next time. Next time I'll do things differently. Next time I will find drugs. [..] Look harder. The Meat Man never gives up.
  • Keyleth: Let's go maybe get some good news...or bad news. Maybe it's all bad. Maybe it's all gone to shit.
    Scanlan: No, we're together. It's always going to be good when we're together.

Settings