#graoully

[philoursmars]

Il y a une petite quinzaine, je suis allé avec Julien et Katie, au Louvre-Lens pour une expo temporaire : "Animaux Fantastiques". Une très belle expo !

Ici des dragons.

Jean Gargot - "La Grand Goule" - Abbaye Ste-Croix de Poitiers, 1677...sauf le dernier :

Jean Thiriot - "L'effigie du Graoully de la Cathédrale de Metz"

[drachenwiki]

Today, November 23rd, is the feast day of Columbanus of Luxeuil, and Irish saint who founded abbeys in France and Italy. According to legend, a dragon lived in a cave near Trambileno in Italy, where it fed on children that were baptised in the river Leno di Terragnolo. Many warriors failed to subdue the dragon, but when Columbanus tried it, he was victorious. Some scholars believe that Columbanus really chased a bear out of the cave.

Columbanus shouldn't be confused with Saint Columba, who was active in Scotland and whose Vita is often cited as the first recorded sighting of the Loch Ness monster.

Today is also the feast day of St. Clement of Metz. When he came to the town of Metz in France, he was greeted by a poisonous cloud. The source of this was a group of snakes, led by a giant dragon named Graoully, that has taken residence in the local amphitheatre. Clement bound Graoully with his stole and led him out of town, where he banished the dragon and all of the snakes into the wilderness.

[ardate]

Since you've sent me a ranking, allow me to send you one - three favorite legendary creatures?

Oh man that's a tough one, I sure love creechur. But (mario voice) here we go!

1- The Tarasque.

Such an absurd creature, an ancient pre-christian gallic myth that survived all this time, with the story of its demise still being celebrated in the original village where it supposedly happened to this day? Very difficult for me not to be completely entranced by this strange beast and having my heart filled with affection for it.

I mean. Just look at it. ♥

2- Dragons

Though the Tarasque technically is a dragon, I do have to add them to that list, the more common ones people think of when they hear that name.

It's an undying classic, powerful and classy, and you can absolutely never go wrong with those beasts. They always slap. Never fails.

3- The Monkfish (or Sea Monk)

I'm just. I'm fucking. Biaised towards that poor pathetic creature. Like. I mean. Just look at this fucking thing.

This is a monk fish. It was supposedly found somewhere in the 1500s. Apparently it does fill some sort of ecclesiastic role to bless the mermaids down there or something. Like I'm being straight up this is what they said back then. THis is so fucking funny to me. My friends and I found out about it in a book about sea myths on a vacation and we cried laughing at him for the whole week we were there and now he's legitimately our symbol.

I'm talking 'printing a flag with this goddamn drawing on it' symbol. Taking this flag wherever we go and putting it up proudly like we're the monkfish nation.

Monkfish truthers rise up. We out there.

[gryphis-eyes]

I wanted to ask your opinion on this because you're French and know a lot about your country's folklore.

I am an American witch who has never been to France, though I'm going to change that someday. However, I am a francophile who has been studying French history, culture, language and folklore for years now. The only reason I ended up believing in magic was because of that sense of awe I got when I looked at pictures of French forests and read French history and folklore.

So I wanted to know, would it be wrong if I took inspiration from French folklore for my magic practice? I own a huge stack of books written in France, I'm learning the language and the history of the individual regions that the folklore comes from and I'm adding to my collection all the time. And if it's alright for me to do it, is there anything in particular I should know or keep in mind on my journey?

Merci beaucoup de votre attention.

Bonjour~

There is absolutely nothing wrong in wanting to take inspiration from our folklore and I would even say that you can as well call upon the fairies/witch and other "named entities"

Think of Melusine or La Vieille (an equivalent of Cailleach) nothing stop you from calling onto them

By named entities I'm not talking about fairy folk in general but more of the specific ones, like La Velue or Graoully. I'm part of the people who believe that the spirits are bound to their lands but nothing stops you from calling onto specific ones.

As for the extra advices I'd say that you can also check the folklore from Belgium since we share a lot (it's mostly centered around witches, one of the most famous is Quintine), the England one share a lot of similarities as well I'd highly recommend Gemma Gary for the practice.

I don't remember if I told you about him but Claude Lecouteux made a lot of books on the folklore and I think a lot of his books have been translated in english!

For that last advice I don't think I have to say it because it's kinda obvious lol but stories from Bretagne will be your best friends !

Bon courage 🌹

[mersi-kokhavasheva]

Hello!

This is Mersi Kokhavasheva, she/her. She is an Ilsabardian Raen Au Ra diviner-turned-knight based out of Gridania. I hope this will be a repository for the fan content I write about her story, from thoughtful snippets to five-part fanfiction.

FAQ&A

It's pronounced "mare-see" — not "mercy", though she understands the confusion — "koh-hha-vuh-shay-vuh".

Her preferred jobs were originally Bard, Dragoon, and Paladin, but she has of late swapped her arms for those of the Samurai, Dancer, and Gunbreaker. Blue magic is something of a special interest. She was raised on astrology, but has sworn off the cards since leaving home. Above all else, Mersi is a talented Weaver and seamstress, and is learning goldsmithing from her love.

She is engaged! Her love, A'rhya Velore, is a Gyr Abanian Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te with gorgeous ruby hair, and eyes like sapphire and amethyst, and a lovely soft voice that's not always able to be heard, and she's more than Mersi could ever have dreamed. However, recent events leave Mersi feeling less worthy than ever, and it shows in her haunted eyes whenever she's asked about a date for their wedding.

There is a timeline under construction for Mersi, A'rhya, and some friends along the way, to see how their spin on the Warrior of Light saga might look in a world in which, logistically, not every one of forty-eight million heroes could be veterans of the same battles.

I'm on Behemoth, in the midst of post-Heavensward. Feel free to say hi if you spot me, but I'm just as happy to chat here on Tumblr, or to share what I've written of her on AO3!

I'll likely be bouncing in and out of character here on Tumblr because, while this is not an RP blog, it's just fun to write in her headspace. If anyone wants to ask her a question, I think we'd be happy to answer. Perhaps we'll crack open the ask box and find out!

Frequent Tags

the Road to Sharlayan: This is for the stories written about Mersi and friends, or for progress made toward the next. I am new to AO3, so I would appreciate honesty when it comes to tagging etiquette! I hear it's "the more tags, the better" but, stars above, there are so many tags.

the Ruby and Larimar: Any Q's-and-A's Mersi gets through the ask box will be tagged as such, as will any fanart I mock up along the way. Casual coffee shop vibes! We love it.

Lore Have Mersi: For when Mersi have lore! These will be posts that explore who Mersi is as a person, or how she came to be as such. I will likely also use it for theorycrafting, such as my thoughts on the Deck of Sixty.

an Average Day in Eorzea: Memes. Nonsense. Shenanigans. Nothing you wouldn't see in Limsa, I'm sure!

Stories So Far

the Spineless Serenade (Romance) War in the north has found peace; those who fought alone to the east have found allies. From the patrol squadrons of Ishgard comes Mersi Kokhavasheva of the Knights Dragoon; from the war rooms of Rhalgr's Reach comes A'rhya Valore. This is not a story of their struggles, but of a rare moment in between. This is the story of a chance to grasp, and of their refusal to let go.

Coerthan Call (Drama/Tragedy) A sudden decision on the battlefield brings dangers unforeseen, and well foreseen. High above the Coerthas Western Highlands, two Knights Dragoon weigh the risks and put it all on the line to slay the dragon Graoully, but Mersi Kokhavasheva's past flies close behind.

The Lovers' Plainsong (Drama) In the fallout of her abduction by the heretics of Coerthas, Mersi Kokhavasheva rests with her fiancée in the shadow of war. Trauma shapes her future, worsened by the knowledge of how and why, of agency and fate. With the help of the one she loves, a woman broken must once again be made whole. All the while, the Dragon roars.

In Progress:

the Forgotten Berceuse (Romance) Two outsiders, strangers to the land of Eorzea, have found themselves sudden heroes of the realm. One misses the sands; the other, the waters. Together they find harmony, self-confidence, and room to breathe.

Ballet de Cour: A'rhya's Card (Romance) Despite two decades of training in the ways of astrology, Mersi has long been afraid to ask the cards for further guidance. With help from a dear friend, that bond may be renewed—or, by overcoming insecurity and learning unshakable trust, two diviners may strengthen their own bond instead.

A Tençon for Ishgard (Drama) The Dragonsong War has raged long enough. Both sides seek harmony, yet forces of darkness and light yet seek destruction. Caught between both worlds and asking for neither, Mersi Kokhavasheva has put down her lance; she rejoins the fray on her own terms.

[lilbittymonster]

Hmmm character bingo... Heustienne 🐉

Heustienne my friend Heustienne!!!! I miss her terribly and I want her to come back!!!

I love that she has special girl bronze drachenmail but I am wrapping that into a larger headcanon that will eventually be elaborated on. :)

I think her rivalry with Estinien is so fucking funny because she's also canonically his second in command. The upward movement grind is so real lmao. And then the whole ~business~ with Graoully happens and now they are both being liaisons for Ishgard and dragons. I wish we got to see more of her before she got flown off since that was the 52 mission and we only see her once before that during the ARR quests. She is incredibly friend shaped.

Thanks for the ask @elizabethrobertajones

Character Opinion Bingo

[est-ce]

la Tarasque de Tarascon la Gargouille de Rouen le Graoully de Metz le Dragon Doré de Douai le Crocodile de Nimes le Kraulla ou Grand Bailla de Reims la Chair Salée de Troyes (le dragon dit) la Grand'Goule de Poitiers le Très Vieux Dragons des Grr.

[tsukimagi]

Bonjour à tous !

Aujourd'hui je vous propose de découvrir le petit sticker spécial pour la Metztorii 2024 du 18 et 19 mai ! ❤️

Pour l'occasion et comme nous sommes l'année du Dragon, j'avais très envie de dessiner ma propre version du Graoully, le célèbre dragon Messin ! 🐲 J'ai essayé de respecter ses traits caractéristiques en ajoutant mes petites touches personnelles, j'espère qu'il vous plaira ! ⭐

A bientôt~🦇

[shy-cuttlefish]

The Graoully was a dragon-like creature that terrorized the city of Metz, until Saint Clément (the first bishop of the city) tamed and defeated it. The Graoully is now the symbol of the city of Metz 😊

[leskrapouilles]

#732 dragon bleu : minky, feutrine, fait sur mesure et adopté #748 Graoully : minky, yeux de sécurité, fourrure synthétique, broderie - faits sure mesure et adoptés

[chimeride]

Graoully, the seventh Known One.

[virovac]

I love the Graoully 

Look it this sweet baby. This mythical serpent/dragon/whatever and his snaky buddies had taken up living in a sports stadium in the town of Metz. Which was very inconvenient to the city’s inhabitants as their venomous breath poisoned the air made it impossible for them to hold any games there. (I can’t even find any evidence the poison was even lethal.)

Dealing with these guys was one of Saint Clement’s three miracles. Now you might expect the saint to kill them,but no. He makes the sign of the cross rendering them docile,  puts the hook of his cane around the neck of the largest, and leads it outside the city with the rest following behind and tells them to go someplace they wont’ bother anyone.

They are good children who never meant to hurt anybody except those who scared them.

(versions of legends after centuries reach double digits aren’t as nice, and have the beast be a blood drinker and drowned in the river. I think we know which version is best though.)

[joris-draw]

Lycée Fabert ✍️

[calamity-death]

A quick thing for Inktober 2: a wyvern from the local foklore called the Graoully.

[psgmisquotes]

Moise Kean: Come on guys, that should be doable, it's Metz.

Kylian Mbappé: Don't understimate the Eastern Dragon.

Marco Verratti: Or our capacity to fuck things up.

[eloillus]

Le Graoully prêt à jouer à BloodBowl!