Gaanu Tench

The mysterious spirit who sailors believe they can barter with for safety when at sea.

Summary

Gaanu Tench was the name of a particularly infamous gambler, who owed some of Irindor's least polite gangsters a large sum of gold. The myth goes that Gaanu fled carrying as much of his gold as he could carry before being trapped near The Black River with no hope in sight, when a mysterious figure approached him in the dead of night from the dark waters. This figure wore fine clothing and a number of trinkets, its frame bulbous liek that of a frog and with whiskers like a catfish, its form simultaneously solid as flesh and freeflowing as the waters it had come from. the beast bowed and removed its hat, before offering Gaanu safe passage anywhere in the world. Gaanu was desperate, but not stupid, demanding to know what the creature wanted in return. The beast let out a wet gurgiling laugh, and replied that one day he would come knocking on Gaanus' door for food and that he would be required to feed the beast until his hunger was satisfied. offering a wet webbed hand to Gaanu, the gambler hesitated but a moment before shaking the beasts hand. in that moment the creature used a large, oversized tongue to grab at Gaanu and swallow him whole, quicker than the gambler could even blink. the next moment, as Gaanu screamed for help, he was spit out miles and miles away, in Ravan. he stuttered and blinked, looking back to the creature who was already slipping back into the murk from which it came, its deep rumbling laughter making Gaanu's hair stand on end. decades went by, and Gaanu nearly forgot about the creature, having amased a small fortune and established his own palace of chance for others to try their luck. this is when the creature appeared, a toothy grin as it twirled its fleshy moustache, 'GAANU, ma ol' friend, it's time to pay up and my does it look like you got quite the feast here." While Gaanu was surprised, he'd been prepared, and offered the great beast a banquite even Dwarven Kings would feel humbled by. he watched in horror as the great maw of the beast swallowed bite after bite of the food, platter, gobblet, cloth and all. the beast devoured it all, and rumbled." more. Gaanu stuttered and wove to the cheff to prepare another feast, but before he could, the beast struck, biting and lashing with its tongue to swallow all his guests and the fine things he'd decorated his palace with. Gaanu froze in terror as the beast unhinged its jaw and swallowed two or three guests whole at a time, gnashing them once with its great teeth and their screams muffled by the beasts stomach.Quickly, much too quickly, the palace was destroyed, and left to ruin with only Gaanu remaining weeping in fear and despair. the beast smiled and pat the gambler on the shoulder, 'now that my friend, was quite the feast...it almost left me satisfied." Gaanu looked up, to see the beasts unhinged jaw lunging his way, swallowing him whole into that bottomless maw.

Variations & Mutation

in some versions of this tale, Gaanu is left broken and destitute, for the creature to return whenever he aquires anythign of value, the creature returns to devour it.

Cultural Reception

While mostly a sailors myth, the tale of Gaanu Tanch has gained popularity near many rivers over the centuries.