Scanlan Shorthalt

Scanlan Shorthalt is a gnome bard in the group Vox Machina. He is played by Sam Riegel.

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 (except for Pike). 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 companions.

Personality
Scanlan's alignment is "neutral good", like Keyleth (and, originally, Vex'ahlia). He 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 eagerly jumps into fray.

His quick wit and silver tongue make 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 (or rather Sam) creates parodies of real-world songs, silly limericks, and comical remarks as part of his Bardic Inspiration, Healing Word, or Cutting Words spells. Some are improvised on the spot, while others are prepared in advance.

Personas
Highly skilled in Deception, Scanlan sometimes finds himself in situations where a simple lie or half-truth is not enough, so he adopts a disguise or false identity.
 * Burt Reynolds:  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 portrays Scanlan as a more honorable and valiant warrior than his everyday actions might warrant.
 * The Meat Man:  Scanlan provided this pseudonym to the half-orc Rutter in Ank'Harel during a "drug deal", which might serve as Scanlan's underworld moniker.
 * 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.

Background
Scanlan is fluent in Common and Gnomish.

At some point in his past, at least fifteen years before the start of Critical Role, Scanlan encountered a gnome named Sybil (one of many women he has "encountered"). Unbeknownst to Scanlan, Sybil became pregnant with his child, Kaylie, but Scanlan left before learning of his daughter.

Scanlan joined up with Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe at some point, but he eventually left before joining the group that became Vox Machina.

Scanlan may be bisexual, or at the very least pansexual. This can be inferred by his interactions with Grog Strongjaw and Vax'ildan, especially when he mentioned that Vax kissing him was not the first time an elf-man kissed him but it was in the top three, in addition to his relationship with Pike Trickfoot and many of the other women he's encountered. If anything, he seems not to care much for personal preference but rather for affection and attention.

Before the Stream
At some point, the group either accidentally or intentionally walked through the back door of the Clasp, the thieves' guild in Emon, and almost got into a deadly confrontation. Scanlan was able to trick the guild into thinking Vox Machina was part of the customs department, using a silver star he had made in a previous town.

The bard, by rolling a natural twenty on deception and putting a finger over his upper lip so it looked like he had a mustache, was able to get a man who had access to a tower into letting them in by tricking him into thinking that he was "Burt Reynolds".

Scanlan and Grog managed to intimidate a group of hostile mages in a fighting pit when Scanlan summoned a pony that Grog abruptly decapitated and smeared the gore of on his body while screaming. Scanlan also had Percy build him a bomb to use in that event, but since Grog's intimidation worked, Scanlan kept the bomb, which was later used in.

Scanlan spent much of his time trying to convince Percy to create an exploding donkey, a request that Percy eventually complied to.

He was able to convince some guards to free Keyleth from prison after convincing them that she had pubic lice. She played along by foaming at the mouth and acting insane. Percy acted as her lawyer.

Scanlan was the one who brought Pike back to life after she perished in combat fighting a glabrezu, both by using a small figurine of her he carved two months before and kissing her on the brow. He still keeps the small figurine wherever he goes.

The bard accidentally crashed through a stained glass window when attempting to charge at the Dread Emperor by rolling a natural one. He crashed into a bramble bush three stories down while glass and wood from the window rained down on him.

On the Stream
Scanlan made his very first kill ever on the first episode of Critical Role,.

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

 * &rarr; Main article:  Relationship between Grog and Scanlan.

Grog and Scanlan are best friends, occasionally pursuing the same things.

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 the 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 White Duke 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 lost time.

Pike

 * &rarr; Main article:  Relationship between Pike and Scanlan.

Scanlan has very strong feelings toward his fellow team member Pike, and it is often 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 close friends.

Tiberius

 * &rarr; Main article:  Relationship between Scanlan and Tiberius.

Scanlan and Tiberius had a bullying form of friendship, which started at some point before the stream. On many occasions, the two of them made jabs at each others. 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 Ravinites give the sorcerer a proper burial and a statue to mark it with the epitaph, "I Encourage Peace".

Trinket

 * &rarr; Main article:  Relationship between Scanlan and Trinket.

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

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.

Notable Items

 * Aberration Bane Longsword
 * Coldsnap Leather Armor (traded to Vex'ahlia)
 * Drow Poison
 * Earring of Whisper (made by Tiberius)
 * Handcone of Clarity (made by Tiberius)
 * Horn of Fog
 * Ioun Stone
 * Magical Poop of Scrying
 * Placed in the ruins of the temple to Sarenrae that Pike was rebuilding in Vasselheim.
 * Placed in the kitchen of Greyskull Keep.
 * Placed in the scabbard of the Singing Dawnblade.
 * Mythcarver
 * Ring of Mind Shielding
 * Scroll of Chain Lightning (expended against K'Varn)
 * Singing Dawnblade (given to Kaylie)
 * Small statue of Pike
 * Studded Leather Armor of Acid Resistance (received from Vex'ahlia)
 * Tome of Leadership and Influence (successfully used by Scanlan; recharging for the next hundred years)
 * Wand of Fireballs
 * Wand of Magic Missiles
 * Whip

Abilities
Because Scanlan is a bard, he is one of the few members of Vox Machina with 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)

Feats

 * Tough
 * War Caster

Class Features

 * Additional Magical Secrets (College of Lore)
 * Bardic Inspiration (d12)
 * Countercharm
 * Cutting Words (College of Lore)
 * Font of Inspiration
 * Jack of All Trades
 * Magical Secrets
 * Peerless Skill (College of Lore)
 * Song of Rest (d12)
 * Spellcasting (Charisma-based ability)

Bard Spells

 * Banishment
 * Blindness
 * Counterspell
 * Dimension Door
 * Dispel Magic
 * Dominate Monster
 * Dominate Person
 * Eyebite
 * Friends
 * Healing Word
 * Hold Person
 * Invisibility
 * Lightning Bolt
 * Major Image
 * Message
 * Minor Illusion
 * Modify Memory
 * Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
 * Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
 * Polymorph
 * Reverse Gravity
 * Seeming
 * Stinking Cloud
 * Suggestion
 * Thunderwave
 * Unseen Servant
 * Thunderwave
 * Unseen Servant

Quotes
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–" Ashley Johnson:  "True, true, true."
 * Scanlan:  "You remember what Pike looks like?"