Gancanagh Creature 4

Pathfinder Bestiary (Second Edition), page 31; family: Azata

Gancanaghs are lovers, revelers, and dashing duelists of Elysium. Embodiments of free love, they eagerly throw themselves into courting targets for brief but earnest flings until their quicksilver passions change their desires. They serve Cayden Cailean as well as other bacchanalian deities and empyreal lords of Elysium who understand their desires for love and parties. Gancanaghs hate evil beings that profane the spirit of romance and passion, as such creatures (especially the demonic tempters known as succubi) reinforce stigmas against open and free love. One can give no greater insult to a gancanagh than to mistake him for such a creature, and more than one hotheaded gancanagh has challenged a misinformed paladin or other champion of good to a duel over such a slight. While they enjoy drinking and carousing, gancanaghs can’t stand smoke. Nonetheless, many gancanaghs carry whimsical-looking smoking pipes because they think it makes them look dapper. They cherish their silver flutes, for they enjoy the beauty of flutes’ music and its ability to sway the heart.

The majority of gancanaghs present themselves as male, but the concept of gender to a creature like a gancanagh, which can change its shape freely, is much more fluid and open to interpretation than for many mortals. Gancanaghs enjoy using this flexibility to confront and test mortals’ convictions when faced with fear or prejudice, but when encountering mortals who themselves are open-minded about sexuality or gender identity, they can become lifelong allies. For those who are persecuted for such reasons, gancanaghs are tireless defenders and eager supporters, quick to provide safety and to punish those who would attempt to impose narrower beliefs upon a world that deserves more diversity than it often gets. If possible, a gancanagh seeks to educate and redeem those who hold destructive beliefs or prejudices, resorting to combat only to defend themself or an endangered mortal, or when no other option seems tenable—yet even then, they fight with sadness.

Perception +11; darkvision

Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal; tongues

Skills Athletics +9, Deception +13, Diplomacy +13, Performance +14, Religion +9, Stealth +11

Str +1, Dex +5, Con +3, Int +2, Wis +1, Cha +5

Items silver rapier, silver virtuoso flute

AC 21; Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +11

HP 75; Weaknesses cold iron 5, evil 5

Vulnerable to Smoke A gancanagh’s lungs can’t tolerate smoke. They take a –2 circumstance penalty to saving throws against effects that create some form of smoke.

Speed 30 feet

Melee ◆ silver rapier +13 (deadly 1d10, disarm, finesse, good, magical), Damage 1d6+7 piercing plus 1d4 good

Divine Innate Spells DC 23; 4th suggestion; 3rd heroism; 2nd heal, mirror image (at will); 1st charm (at will); Constant (5th) tongues

Change Shape ◆ (concentrate, divine, polymorph, transmutation) The gancanagh can take on the appearance of any Small or Medium humanoid. This doesn’t change their Speed or their attack and damage bonuses with their Strikes, but might change the damage type their Strikes deal (typically to bludgeoning).

Invigorating Passion ◆◆ (divine, emotion, enchantment, mental) The gancanagh embraces or kisses a willing creature, infusing that creature with their invigorating passion. The creature gains a +1 status bonus to attack rolls and 10 temporary Hit Points for 10 minutes. After that time, the target becomes fatigued for 10 minutes unless they succeed at a DC 21 Fortitude save.