View source for Gillman

{{Badges|featured}}
{{Creature
| image       = [[File:Gillwoman.jpg|250px|A female gillman.]]
| name        = Gillman
| type        = [[Humanoid]]
| subtype     = aquatic
| challenge   = Varies by class
| environment = Temperate ocean
| alignment   = {{Alignment grid/Any}}
| adjective   = 
| imagesof    = gillmen
| source      = [[The Inner Sea World Guide]]
| page        = 310
}}

The '''gillmen''', known among themselves as '''azarketi''' and also called '''Low Azlanti''',<ref>{{Cite book/Lost Omens World Guide|133}}</ref> are amphibious [[humanoid]]s who live in and around the [[Arcadian Ocean]], [[Steaming Sea]], and [[Inner Sea]].<ref name="RotFS-60">{{Cite book/Raiders of the Fever Sea|60}}</ref> They are believed to be one of the last direct descendants of the vanished [[Azlanti (human ethnicity)|Azlanti]] people.<ref name="GtA-11-12">{{Cite book/Guide to Absalom|11&ndash;12}}</ref>

== Appearance ==

The gillmen of the [[Inner Sea region]] most closely resemble the now vanished inhabitants of ancient [[Azlant]]. They have their forebears' pronounced and haughty facial features, and exotic, purple eyes. Their hair is generally dark and they have pale skin from years of living far from the [[sun|sun's]] rays. Three piscine gills on both sides of their neck, just above their shoulders, give them the ability to breathe underwater, even though they can also breathe air. Gillmen cannot survive long away from sea or freshwater; they quickly develop organ failure if they are not submerged in either fresh or salt water for more 24 hours.<ref name="ISWG-310"/>

== History ==

Most of the [[human]] inhabitants of ancient Azlant died during [[Earthfall]], either burnt to death in the infernos caused by the meteoric impacts, or drowned in the earthquakes and tidal waves that swallowed their mighty empire. A few were saved by the Azlanti's original masters, the mysterious [[alghollthu]]s, who took in a small number and [[fleshwarping|fleshwarped]] them to survive in their aquatic domain far below the waves. Strangely, once this transformation was accomplished, the alghollthus seemed to lose interest in the gillmen, leaving them to freely form their own society in the following millennia.<ref name="ISWG-310">{{cite book/The Inner Sea World Guide|310}}</ref>. Despite this ancient abandonment, some gillmen still serve as spies for their [[alghollthu master]]s.<ref name="RotFS-60"/>

Thousands of years later, a contingent of gillmen visited the newly established democratic nation of [[Andoran]]. They presented the government with the keystone of the [[Arch of Aroden]], which they had dragged there from the bottom of the [[Hespereth Strait]], symbolizing their support for Andoran's commitment to freedom and equality.<ref>{{Cite book/Andoran, Spirit of Liberty|7}}</ref>

== Society ==

[[File:Gillman awakened agent.jpg|200px|right|thumb|A gillman awakened agent.]]

=== Connection to the alghollthu === <!-- awakened agent redirects here -->

Because of the race's origin, gillmen still have a strange connection to alghollthus. Although particularly resistant to [[enchantment]] magic, they display a distinct vulnerability to alghollthu enchantment, a legacy of the early control their [[Aberration|aberrant]] masters had over them. In addition, the alghollthu seem to have implanted some form of racial post-hypnotic suggestion in all gillmen, giving them the theoretical ability to exert control through key words or images.<ref name="ISWG-310"/> Many still serve their creators, sometimes unwillingly, which makes some distrust gillmen. Even free gillmen feel shame at their history and rarely deal with others.<ref>{{Cite book/Aquatic Adventures|28}}</ref>

Occasionally, the alghollthu programming in a gillman's mind triggers. Most descend into [[insanity]] and turn to worshipping the [[Great Old One]]s, but the most self-aware ones realise its true nature and embrace their roles as alghollthu servants known as '''awakened agents''', who gather data on the surface and influence fellow gillmen to carry out their masters' agenda. Many lead mystery cults of 'hidden Azlanti [[deity|gods]]' or 'newly risen ocean spirits', whose members never know the truth about their patron. Some awakened agents are nearly insane, while others view their acts as necessary to secure their people's position as favoured pets even if it means sacrificing the world. Awakened agents are often entrusted with powerful [[magic]] by the alghollthus.<ref>{{Cite book/Inner Sea Monster Codex|33}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book/Inner Sea Monster Codex|29}}</ref>

== On Golarion ==

The town of [[Escadar]] (located on the [[Isle of Kortos]] and within the domain of [[Absalom]]) is the only terrestrial city with an embassy of the Low Azlanti. It can be found in the [[House of the Cresting Wave]], locally known as Wet-House. The gillmen offer information on the sea, meet with officials from Absalom's [[Low Council]], and train the [[Hippocampus|hippocampi]] instructor for the city's [[Wave Riders|Sea Cavalry]]. The gillmen are often seen worshipping at the Azlanti ruins at the town's center, or partaking in Escadar's many warrens of vice.<ref name="GtA-11-12"/>

Besides Escadar, gillmen can also be found in the nearby surface cities of [[Diobel]],<ref>{{Cite book/Towns of the Inner Sea|5}}</ref> and in the Absalomi neighborhood of [[Gilltown]],<ref>{{Cite book/Guide to Absalom|24}}</ref> and much further afield in the aquatic [[River Kingdoms|River Kingdom]] of [[Outsea]],<ref>{{Cite book/Guide to the River Kingdoms|35}}</ref> and the undersea canyons of sunken [[Azlant]].<ref name="ISR-6">{{Cite book/Inner Sea Races|6}}</ref> A group of gillmen, aware of their origins, maintain a settlement in the [[Steaming Sea]] from which they raid [[ship]]s and fight off the [[Spiresworn]] [[elf|elves]], in the hope of attracting the alghollthus' attention and rejoining them.<ref>{{Cite book/Aquatic Adventures|39}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Refs}}

{{Races navbox|uncommon}}
{{Alghollthu navbox|creation}} 

[[Category:Gillman| ]]
[[Category:Absalom]]
[[Category:Humanoids]]
[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Aquatic subtype creatures]]
[[Category:Temperate water creatures]]
[[Category:Alghollthu]]
[[Category:Azlanti]]
[[Category:Human]]
[[Category:Half-human]]