First appearance of the Tarrasque? [Archive] - Wizards Community

First appearance of the Tarrasque? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Scorpion13
07-15-07, 10:05 PM I was curious as to what book/Adventure/magazine the Tarrasque first appeared in. Anyone know?
Rerecros
07-15-07, 10:21 PM The Tarrasque is from actual mythology.
regeneration make since since it is a hybrid from a phenix and leviathan.
Scorpion13
07-16-07, 02:12 PM Yes, I know that the Tarrasque is from mythological sources, thats not what Im asking.

In what publication did the Dungeons and Dragons version of the Tarrasque first appear?
Jagyr Ebonwood
07-16-07, 02:36 PM The Tarrasque is from actual mythology.
regeneration make since since it is a hybrid from a phenix and leviathan.

I actually hadn't heard that. Where can I read that myth?
Rerecros
07-16-07, 03:14 PM God, doesn't any just do their own damn research, doesn't anyone know how to type things into google?
I got that little gem from wikipedia, so you know it's gotta be right ;)
420
07-16-07, 04:10 PM Earliest source I have for it is the AD&D Monster Manual II (1983).

There is no mention of it in my Dictionary of Classic Mythology.

-420
Lyinginbedmon
07-16-07, 04:53 PM It's from France if I recall correctly, not exactly classical either
DrStalker
07-16-07, 07:21 PM Source
The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons
By Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
Drawings by Stephen Walker
Scribner's Sons, New York: 1975

The Story
The Tarasque cannot be destroyed by mere human strength or weapons. The people in Nerluc have suffered many years until Martha, the girl with a quiet disposition and a Christian, comes to spread the words of God to the pagan people. She listens to the stories of the Tarasque and sets out, bear-footed[sic], to search the dragon. When she finds the dragon, she uses two sticks as a cross and that stops the dragon as if it is pierced by a sword. She sprinkles holy water on the dragon and that quenches all the fire in him. She uses his sharp tooth to cut off her braids and using the braids as a bridle, leads him back in town, tame as a lamb. The townspeople kills the Tarasque with a shower of stones and Martha weeps for the creature but forgives the people's action because she understands their long-time suffering.

Comments
This male dragon is enormous. His body is most like an ox but with six short bear-like legs with enormous claws. On his body he has two shields like those of a turtle but covered with curved spikes, and the rest of his body is covered with closely overlapping scales that formed his armor. His tail is long and curved like a scorpion. His head is that of a lion, yet with a horse's ears, but his face, with eyebrows and mustache, is that of a sad and bitter old man. The Tarasque is described as an evil fire-breathing beast. The other monster similarly tamed, also originates from France, is The Gargouille, even though the later is an aquatic dragon.

The tarrasque, like many creatures borrowed from legend, bears no resembelence to the source material. I'd go as far as saying TSR took the name and ignored the rest.

I think the Tarrasque in D&D appeared in 2nd edition, but I'm not sure of that.
Kraze
07-17-07, 03:10 PM The tarrasque, like many creatures borrowed from legend, bears no resembelence to the source material. I'd go as far as saying TSR took the name and ignored the rest.

I think the Tarrasque in D&D appeared in 2nd edition, but I'm not sure of that.

The Tarrasque appeared in early 1st ed D&D in Monster Manual II.

There's also one in the legendary adventure Mines of Bloodstone. :)

I'm not sure which book came first. I would have to check when I got home from work.
Scorpion13
07-17-07, 06:13 PM THANK YOU, Kraze!!

Man, I dont know how much clearer I could have put the question.

That was exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you.
Skritz_the_Lizardmen
07-18-07, 03:13 PM La Tarrasque was a monster from a french myth. It was not as deadly as the D&D one, but it was one nightmarish monster if i remember!
Andyr
07-18-07, 04:18 PM Dragon 329 (I think that issue) discussed the similarities and differences between real-world mythological creatures and their D&D incarnations, the Tarrasque being one such beast.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Scorpion13 07-15-07, 10:05 PM	I was curious as to what book/Adventure/magazine the Tarrasque first appeared in. Anyone know?
Rerecros 07-15-07, 10:21 PM	The Tarrasque is from actual mythology. regeneration make since since it is a hybrid from a phenix and leviathan.
Scorpion13 07-16-07, 02:12 PM	Yes, I know that the Tarrasque is from mythological sources, thats not what Im asking. In what publication did the Dungeons and Dragons version of the Tarrasque first appear?
Jagyr Ebonwood 07-16-07, 02:36 PM	The Tarrasque is from actual mythology. regeneration make since since it is a hybrid from a phenix and leviathan. I actually hadn't heard that. Where can I read that myth?
Rerecros 07-16-07, 03:14 PM	God, doesn't any just do their own damn research, doesn't anyone know how to type things into google? I got that little gem from wikipedia, so you know it's gotta be right ;)
420 07-16-07, 04:10 PM	Earliest source I have for it is the AD&D Monster Manual II (1983). There is no mention of it in my Dictionary of Classic Mythology. -420
Lyinginbedmon 07-16-07, 04:53 PM	It's from France if I recall correctly, not exactly classical either
DrStalker 07-16-07, 07:21 PM	Source The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons By Felice Holman and Nanine Valen Drawings by Stephen Walker Scribner's Sons, New York: 1975 The Story The Tarasque cannot be destroyed by mere human strength or weapons. The people in Nerluc have suffered many years until Martha, the girl with a quiet disposition and a Christian, comes to spread the words of God to the pagan people. She listens to the stories of the Tarasque and sets out, bear-footed[sic], to search the dragon. When she finds the dragon, she uses two sticks as a cross and that stops the dragon as if it is pierced by a sword. She sprinkles holy water on the dragon and that quenches all the fire in him. She uses his sharp tooth to cut off her braids and using the braids as a bridle, leads him back in town, tame as a lamb. The townspeople kills the Tarasque with a shower of stones and Martha weeps for the creature but forgives the people's action because she understands their long-time suffering. Comments This male dragon is enormous. His body is most like an ox but with six short bear-like legs with enormous claws. On his body he has two shields like those of a turtle but covered with curved spikes, and the rest of his body is covered with closely overlapping scales that formed his armor. His tail is long and curved like a scorpion. His head is that of a lion, yet with a horse's ears, but his face, with eyebrows and mustache, is that of a sad and bitter old man. The Tarasque is described as an evil fire-breathing beast. The other monster similarly tamed, also originates from France, is The Gargouille, even though the later is an aquatic dragon. The tarrasque, like many creatures borrowed from legend, bears no resembelence to the source material. I'd go as far as saying TSR took the name and ignored the rest. I think the Tarrasque in D&D appeared in 2nd edition, but I'm not sure of that.
Kraze 07-17-07, 03:10 PM	The tarrasque, like many creatures borrowed from legend, bears no resembelence to the source material. I'd go as far as saying TSR took the name and ignored the rest. I think the Tarrasque in D&D appeared in 2nd edition, but I'm not sure of that. The Tarrasque appeared in early 1st ed D&D in Monster Manual II. There's also one in the legendary adventure Mines of Bloodstone. :) I'm not sure which book came first. I would have to check when I got home from work.
Scorpion13 07-17-07, 06:13 PM	THANK YOU, Kraze!! Man, I dont know how much clearer I could have put the question. That was exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you.
Skritz_the_Lizardmen 07-18-07, 03:13 PM	La Tarrasque was a monster from a french myth. It was not as deadly as the D&D one, but it was one nightmarish monster if i remember!
Andyr 07-18-07, 04:18 PM	Dragon 329 (I think that issue) discussed the similarities and differences between real-world mythological creatures and their D&D incarnations, the Tarrasque being one such beast.