The Gean Canach, a name which comes from the language of the Old Religion, is a magical creature similar to an
enormous slug, fearsome for those who have magic. It was forged by the tears of the Earth Mother Nemaine and it devours the magic of others, draining them of their power.
Although such magical animals were believed to have been entirely wiped out during the Great Purge, Morgana was in possession of a box, which had the sign of the Gean Canach on it, and it contained the infamous slug. She used it first to strip a sorcerer named Ari of his magic (casting this spell: "Aweax þu meteþearfende! Þicge þu þone drycræft þe þinan deorcan mode gefylþ"), to make sure she could use it on Merlin. One of her Saxon warriors, infiltrated Camelot and put the box with the creature under Merlin's bed. When he came home from the tavern, he was attacked by the slug and, before Gaius could kill it with a shovel, it consumed the young warlock's powers (The Day of the Diamond: Part One), but, being magic itself personified, he eventually regenerated his powers.
