Summer Solstice Creature Feature

Blessings of Alban Hefin, Midsummer, Litha, Summer Solstice, to Everyone in the Northern Hemisphere!

Blessings of Alban Arthan, Midwinter, Yule, Winter Solstice, to Everyone in the Southern Hemisphere!

As we bask in the warm sunlight of the longest day of the year, amid the green and growing things of summer, it’s almost a shock to realize that after today the light will begin dying. The Oak King has reached the height of his strength, but even now the Holly King is stirring, beginning to stalk the Oak King in his quest to rule over the long dark winter. The endless cycle of birth and death continues.

The Holly King and Oak King are the twin faces of the Horned God, each ruling over the dark and light halves of the year. They are in a perpetual duel for the favor of the Goddess, and each ritually dies at the end of his season. But neither one is truly dead, he merely withdraws for six months, some say to Caer Arianrhod, the Castle of the ever-turning Silver Wheel. This is the enchanted realm of the Goddess Arianrhod where the god must wait and learn before being born again.

Source: Earth Witchery

Summer Solstice Recipe

ORANGE HONEY BUTTER

2 Tablespoons Grated Orange Rind
3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
1 Tablespoon honey

Combine the orange rind, powdered sugar, butter and honey in a small bowl and blend until well mixed. Chill slightly and serve with scones or biscuits. Recipe courtesy Red Deer & Elenya.

Creature Feature: Nessie

The Loch Ness Monster… Nessie… A phantom, long-necked creature rising out of the mists of a dark Scottish lake. Creepy, right?

Many stories have been told over the centuries and many theories exist as to whether or not Nessie really lives deep in the cold waters of Loch Ness.

Some speculate Nessie could be an elasmosaurus, a kind of plesiosaur, or a decendant thereof. They were thought to have become extinct at the same time as most dinosaurs. They were aquatic reptiles with long necks and bodies up to 46 feet long, according to fossil evidence.

Could there be a last lingering few of these creatures living deep in the waters of Loch Ness? It’s a tantalizing mystery to ponder. So tell me, do you believe in Nessie?

Bianca D’Arc
Come over to the D’Arc side… www.biancadarc.com

Creature Feature: D’Arc Royal Black Dragons

I was recently asked what makes the dragons I write about different from others and thought I’d answer the question here, in a “Creature Feature.” Hope that’s okay with you all.

In the Dragon Knights series, there are many varieties and hues of dragon, but the only black dragons in existence are the Royal Blacks. They are the shapeshifters – the beings of noble blood born and sworn to protect both humanity and dragonkind.

They rule with an understanding born of the fact they are both human and dragon. The founder of their line, Draneth the Wise, intended it just that way, so the dragons and humans could live in harmony and work together to protect their land and people against the forces of evil.

In my Dragon Knights series, the time has come when this partnership will be tested utterly. The last of the wizards have returned to continue their war against each other, using humans and other creatures like the venemous skiths as pawns in their deadly game. King Roland, Prince Nico, and their brothers will lead both the dragons and people of their land into battle… and beyond.

I hope that answers at least some of the questions about the Royal Blacks. I’ll probably have to do another post sometime on the wild Northern Ice Dragons and some of the other creatures unique to my world. So what do you all think?

Bianca D’Arc
Come over to the D’Arc side… www.biancadarc.com

Creature Feature: The Grugach

The name “Grugach” comes from an old Irish word which can mean hairy or long-haired, but it is also applied to goblins, enchanters, wizards and fairies. However, it is most often described as a helpful spirit similar in some ways to the brownie, both in the Highlands of Scotland and in Ulster, where it is known as the Grogan. Described as short, hairy, with broad shoulders and great strength, it is famed as a hard worker.

The Ulster Grogan generally appear as naked, hairy little men about 4 feet tall. In the Highlands, the Grugach may be well dressed and watch over cattle. Some Highland stories describe the Grugach as a fairy woman dressed in green with long golden air, who may appear as either beautiful or as worn and haggard. She would sometimes enter houses dripping wet and ask to dry herself by the fire. Male Highland Grugachs could be handsome youths, but for the most part they were described as naked and shaggy.

Elsewhere in Scottish tradition, the Grugach is a more fearsome and frightening creature, playing tricks on mortals and displaying magical powers. One Celtic legend tells of a piratical Grugach who talks a poor fisherman into giving up his son for a year and a day, promising to educate the lad and return him a wise man. The fisherman agrees, and a year later the boy is returned home. But the fisherman is tricked into letting the Grugach have the boy for another year and a day. Worse, this time he forgets to make the Grugach promise to actually return his son home. (Sound like a certain pirate we all know and love? Hmm?)

Sources:
- Elemental Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, by John and Caitlin Matthews
- SacredTexts.com

Creature Feature: The Gulon

OK, folks, this next one is not for the faint of heart. If nothing else, you’ll get an idea how deeply juvenile my sense of humor can be!

Today’s creature is the Gulon, a monster with rather disgusting habits found in the folklore of Sweden.

It is described as looking somewhere between a lion and a hyena with a fox’s tail and long, razor-sharp claws. It lives mainly on carrion. If that’s not disgusting enough, wait’ll you hear about its eating habits.

Its general modus operandi is to eat until it is painfully full, body swollen and distended. The only way it can, er, ease its pain is to find two trees that grow close together. It squeezes itself between the narrow gap, thus forcing out the buildup of gases from its body and enabling it to feed again.

Yeah, that’s right. It eats until it’s bloated. Then it makes itself fart in order to keep eating.

Though its flesh is never eaten (jeez, I wonder why?), its blood was said to have aphrodisiac properties and was sometimes served, mixed with honey, at weddings.

Yum.

Sources:
- Elemental Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, by John and Caitlin Matthews
- Wikipedia.com

Creature Feature: Wyvern

What is a wyvern? Looks like a dragon, right? But it’s not.

A wyvern has two limbs and two wings. Note that many Western dragons have four limbs and two wings, while Eastern dragons often have no wings, only four limbs. Wyverns also seem a bit more serpent-like than dragons. Sometimes they have fish tails or barbed tails, and their limbs are more bird-like that a dragon’s.

They figure prominently in heraldry, as do dragons and unicorns. Sometimes they are described as having the head of a dragon and the tail of a snake. Personally, I may have plans for some fictional wyverns I can’t divulge just yet. For sure I’ve got dragons of all kinds in my books at this point, but no wyverns… yet.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Creature Feature. We have more planned like this, so stay tuned!

Bianca D’Arc
Come over to the D’Arc side… www.biancadarc.com