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Difference between revisions of "Peluda"

(New page: thumb|right|Unknown origin The '''Peluda''' (sometimes called the '''Shaggy Beast''' or '''La Velue''') is a dragon-like beast that terrorized the city of La Ferté-Be...)
 
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[[Image:peluda.jpg|thumb|right|Unknown origin]]
The '''Peluda''', sometimes called the '''Shaggy Beast''' or '''La Velue''', is a dragon-like beast that terrorized the city of La Ferté-Bernard, France, in medieval times.  
The '''Peluda''' (sometimes called the '''Shaggy Beast''' or '''La Velue''') is a dragon-like beast that terrorized the city of La Ferté-Bernard, France, in medieval times.  




==Etymology==
==Etymology==
Peluda is the Portuguese for "hairy".  
Peluda is Occitan for "hairy". "La Velue" means "The Hairy One" in French, a reference to the dragon's main method of defense.






==Description==
==Description==
Depending on the account, it had either a porcupine-like body or a mess of hair-like projections hanging from its body that were actually stinger-tipped tentacles which could erect into quills. Consistently, it was said to have possessed poisonous stingers that it could shoot off its body, a snake's neck, head, and tail, large, tortoise-like feet, and a green color.
Depending on the account, the Peluda had either a porcupine-like body or a mess of hair-like projections hanging from its body which could erect into quills. These quills were said to be so toxic that just a prick from the Peluda's back would kill instantly. Consistently, it was said to have possessed a snake's neck, head, and tail, large, tortoise-like feet, and a green color.




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The Peluda was said to be capable of the following feats, which vary between tales:
The Peluda was said to be capable of the following feats, which vary between tales:


* Searing breath that could wither crops.
* Firing off its quills like arrows.
* Firing off its quills like arrows.
* Invulnerability except for its tail.
* Invulnerability (except for its tail).
* Creating floods by stepping into rivers.
* Creating floods by stepping into rivers.
* A single strike from its tail was lethal to a full grown man.
* A single strike from its tail was lethal to a full grown man.
* Breathing out fire as a typical dragon.
* Breathing out fire as a typical dragon to burn crops.
* Spitting out a powerful stream of water or acid.
* Spitting out a powerful stream of water or acid.


Line 32: Line 30:


==Quote==
==Quote==
<blockquote>Along the banks of the Huisne, an otherwise peaceful stream, there roamed during the Middle Ages a creature that became known as the Shaggy Beast (La velue) . This animal had somehow managed to survive the Flood despite its exclusion from the Ark. It was the size of a bull, and it had a snake's head and a round body buried under long green fur. The fur was armed with stingers whose wound was deadly. The creature also had very broad hooves that were similar to the feet of the tortoise, and its tail, shaped like a serpent, could kill men and cattle alike. When its anger was aroused, the Shaggy Beast shot out flames that withered crops. At night it raided stables. Whenever the farmers attempted to hunt it down, it hid in the waters of the Huisne, causing the river to flood its banks and drown the valley for miles.
<blockquote>Along the banks of the Huisne, an otherwise peaceful stream, there roamed during the Middle Ages a creature that became known as the Shaggy Beast (La Velue). This animal had somehow managed to survive the Flood despite its exclusion from the Ark. It was the size of a bull, and it had a snake's head and a round body buried under long green fur. The fur was armed with stingers whose wound was deadly. The creature also had very broad hooves that were similar to the feet of the tortoise, and its tail, shaped like a serpent, could kill men and cattle alike. When its anger was aroused, the Shaggy Beast shot out flames that withered crops. At night it raided stables. Whenever the farmers attempted to hunt it down, it hid in the waters of the Huisne, causing the river to flood its banks and drown the valley for miles.
The Shaggy Beast had a taste for innocent creatures, and devoured maidens and children. It would choose the purest of young womanhood, some Little Lamb (L'agnelle). One day, it waylaid one such Little Lamb and dragged her, mauled and bloody, to its lair in the riverbed. The victim's sweetheart tracked the monster, and with a sword sliced into the Shaggy Beast's tail, its only vulnerable spot, and cut it in two. The creature died at once. It was embalmed and its death was celebrated with fifes and drums and  dancing. ''The Book of Imaginary Beings '' by JL Borges</blockquote>
The Shaggy Beast had a taste for innocent creatures, and devoured maidens and children. It would choose the purest of young womanhood, some Little Lamb (L'agnelle). One day, it waylaid one such Little Lamb and dragged her, mauled and bloody, to its lair in the riverbed. The victim's sweetheart tracked the monster, and with a sword sliced into the Shaggy Beast's tail, its only vulnerable spot, and cut it in two. The creature died at once. It was embalmed and its death was celebrated with fifes and drums and  dancing. ''The Book of Imaginary Beings '' by JL Borges</blockquote>



Revision as of 16:19, 20 January 2011

The Peluda, sometimes called the Shaggy Beast or La Velue, is a dragon-like beast that terrorized the city of La Ferté-Bernard, France, in medieval times.


Etymology

Peluda is Occitan for "hairy". "La Velue" means "The Hairy One" in French, a reference to the dragon's main method of defense.


Description

Depending on the account, the Peluda had either a porcupine-like body or a mess of hair-like projections hanging from its body which could erect into quills. These quills were said to be so toxic that just a prick from the Peluda's back would kill instantly. Consistently, it was said to have possessed a snake's neck, head, and tail, large, tortoise-like feet, and a green color.


Powers

The Peluda was said to be capable of the following feats, which vary between tales:

  • Firing off its quills like arrows.
  • Invulnerability (except for its tail).
  • Creating floods by stepping into rivers.
  • A single strike from its tail was lethal to a full grown man.
  • Breathing out fire as a typical dragon to burn crops.
  • Spitting out a powerful stream of water or acid.


Story

The lore proposed that the beast was denied access to Noah's Ark, yet survived the biblical flood by seeking refuge in a cave near the Huisne River. After many years, it returned to rampage across the countryside, wilting crops with its breath and devouring both livestock and humans. It was finally defeated after it killed a man's fiancée. He tracked it down and cut off its tail. This was the only vulnerable point on the beast, and it died immediately.


Quote

Along the banks of the Huisne, an otherwise peaceful stream, there roamed during the Middle Ages a creature that became known as the Shaggy Beast (La Velue). This animal had somehow managed to survive the Flood despite its exclusion from the Ark. It was the size of a bull, and it had a snake's head and a round body buried under long green fur. The fur was armed with stingers whose wound was deadly. The creature also had very broad hooves that were similar to the feet of the tortoise, and its tail, shaped like a serpent, could kill men and cattle alike. When its anger was aroused, the Shaggy Beast shot out flames that withered crops. At night it raided stables. Whenever the farmers attempted to hunt it down, it hid in the waters of the Huisne, causing the river to flood its banks and drown the valley for miles. The Shaggy Beast had a taste for innocent creatures, and devoured maidens and children. It would choose the purest of young womanhood, some Little Lamb (L'agnelle). One day, it waylaid one such Little Lamb and dragged her, mauled and bloody, to its lair in the riverbed. The victim's sweetheart tracked the monster, and with a sword sliced into the Shaggy Beast's tail, its only vulnerable spot, and cut it in two. The creature died at once. It was embalmed and its death was celebrated with fifes and drums and dancing. The Book of Imaginary Beings by JL Borges


See also


Art/Fiction

In the SNES Squaresoft RPG Chrono Trigger, the alien parasite Lavos has similar abilities and appearance to the Peluda.


References

  • Rose, Carol [November 2001]. Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth (in English). W. W. Norton & Company, 217, 289. ISBN 0-393-32211-4.
  • Shuker, Karl (1995). Dragons: A Natural History. Simon & Schuster, New York. ISBN 0-684-81443-9
  • The Shaggy Beast of La Ferte-Bernard, from Book of Imaginary Beings by J.L. Borges [1]