#gwyllion

[greengargoyleprince]

[dandelionjack]

female faeries of frightful aspect that haunt lonely roads in the welsh wilderness

gwilliam sure does sound like gwyllion, doesn’t it? roger ap gwilliam, “ap” means “son of”. as in born-of-the-gwyllion. the (metaphorical) son of the gloomy hag that leads travellers astray and utters strange cries. old ruby was the gwyllion so she inadvertently created the minister of war, her “son”, through her powers of manifestation

[haremask]

“Among the traditions of the origin of the Gwyllion is one which associates theme it’s goats. Goats are in Wales held in peculiar esteem for their supposed occult intellectual powers. they are believed to be on very good terms with the Tylwyth Teh, and possessed of more knowledge than their appearance indicates. It is one of the peculiarities of the Tylwyth Teg that every Friday night they comb the goats’ beards to make them decent for Sunday.”

Wirt Sikes, British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions

🐐 🐐 🐐

[roguepyrola]

The bard wore a long red vest that looked to be of the same material as the prized coat that he had been treating so carefully since Geralt first saw it in Kovir. Beneath the vest, a pale yellow sleeveless chemise only made its appearance known because its silky fabric cascaded from below the hem of the vest. At first glance, the fabric looked to be of a solid pale yellow, but if one studied it more closely, the faint lines of a darker yellow traced a silhouette of dandelions.

So excited to share this with you! I had the pleasure of collaborating with @gwylliondream​ for and beta Gilli_ann this year’s @witcherbigbang​ on this cover art for the amazing slow-burn fic, “Visiting Marilka.” 

Loved watching the story come together over the last few months. I’m so glad I was paired with Gwyllion for my first collaborative fandom event, she truly made the process approachable and fun. 

Summary: Months after the mountain breakup, Geralt finds Jaskier performing in a tavern. Before Geralt can consider apologizing, the bard is interrupted by a messenger who notifies Jaskier that his father has died. Jaskier prepares to set off for Lettenhove to console his mother and siblings. Geralt gets caught up in the drama and accompanies Jaskier as he travels to his childhood home. On their journey, Geralt learns that a witcher’s Path needn’t have a predetermined destination.

Go over and read it on AO3 right now: Visiting Marilka (57k, rated M) 

(art minus title under the cut)

[lailoken]

Exorcism by Knife:

A Welsh Magical Tradition

One traditional practice I learned of growing up is that of the Exorcism by Knife—an occult concept that has analogues across cultures, but is uniquely Welsh within the context of my traditions.

The Exorcism by Knife is a Welsh notion, encompassing the belief that a blade can be employed to ward off Faeries of malevolent intent. While this is best undertaken by a Faerie Intercessor (such as a Faery Doctor), it appears that even a common knife in the hand of a common man was believed enough to keep away a member of the The Gwyllion (a sect of Welsh Faeries often believed to inhabit the mountains, and generally seen as malicious.) Despite the insularly Wesh quality of this practice, there is an old superstition, widely prevalent throughout Europe, which says that to receive a blade or scissors from a friend or give one as a gift yourself will result in a “cutting” of the friendship, lest the gift receiver pay back the gift giver with some form of money—however small. While there are some tentative connections to be made between these traditional beliefs, the definitive origins of the Welsh Exorcism remain obscured. The custom goes back for at least several centuries, with multiple accounts referencing the act in the 18th and 19th centuries; however, it is likely that the practice stems, in one way or another, from the traditional belief—shared throughout much of the Celtic world—that a Faery will not tolerate the touch of cold iron.

In Wales, it is said that the Gwyllion often found their way into the homes of the people living in the parish of Aberystruth, particularly during stretches of stormy weather. The occupants of those homes entered by the Gwyllion were known to welcome the Faeries, showing all deference possible, for fear of inviting ill-luck and injury upon themselves, should they offend a Gwyll. Offense was, therefor, avoided by providing clean water for them and taking special care to assure that no blade was in, or directed towards, the hearth-side corner, where the faeries were widely believed to sit and rest by the fire.

Though such shows of inhospitality were to be avoided at all costs when dealing with the Gwyllion, it was still deemed widely acceptable in most of Wales for one to wield a blade in the open air, so as to keep any malicious Faery at bay who might want to cross a traveler and do them harm. Below, I include two accounts of the custom, which I came across while reading British Goblins (Wirt Sikes, 1880.)

“Robert Williams, of Langattock, Crickhowel, 'a substantial man and of undoubted veracity,' tells this tale: As he was travelling one night over part of the Black Mountain, he saw the Old Woman, and at the same time found he had lost his way. Not knowing her to be a spectre he hallooed to her to stay for him, but receiving no answer thought she was deaf. He then hastened his steps, thinking to overtake her, but the faster he ran the further he found himself behind her, at which he wondered very much, not knowing the reason of it. He presently found himself stumbling in a marsh, at which discovery his vexation increased and then he heard the Old Woman laughing at him with a weird, uncanny crackling old laugh. This set him to thinking she might he a gwyll; and when he happened to draw out his knife for some purpose, and the Old Woman vanished, then he was sure of it; for Welsh ghosts and fairies are afraid of a knife.”

“The cases of successful exorcism by knife are many, and nothing in the realm of faerie is better authenticated. There was Evan Thomas, who, travelling by night over Bedwellty Mountain, towards the valley of Ebwy Fawr, where his house and estate were, saw the Gwyllion on each side of him, some of them dancing around him in fantastic fashion. He also heard the sound of a bugle-horn winding in the air, and there seemed to be invisible hunters riding by. He then began to be afraid, but recollected his having heard that any person seeing Gwyllion may drive them away by drawing out a knife. So he drew out his knife, and the fairies vanished directly.”

[incorrectbarbiequotes]

Gwyllion: That was the deal when we moved in. You cook the dinner, I look after the plants and goldfish.

Boris: Yeah, and what did you make me cook on that first day?

Gwyllion: Sausages. It was a Monday.

Boris: Yeah, sausages and?

Gwyllion: …sausages and plants and goldfish.

[vowcomic]

[thewinedarksea]

a-z fae → gl-gw