Griselda Polaris

"*a Wundersmith - **Griselda Polaris** - more gifted than any of the others she'd seen*"
―Narration of Morrigan Crows thoughts[src]
**Griselda Polaris** was the oldest Wundersmith contemporaneous with Ezra Squall. She lived to nearly 300 years old, becoming very skillful at the Wundrous arts. She was killed at the Courage Square Massacre.

## Biography

Griselda Polaris was a Wundersmith at the Wonderous Society. Most of what we know of her comes from ghostly hours.

### Ghostly Hours

##### Age of Poisoners, Winter of Six

Griselda attends a morning ‘free-for-all’ led by Molloy and involving all contemporaneous Wundersmiths. The Book of Ghostly Hours author Hemingway Onstald often lists the youngest participants last. In this Ghostly Hour he lists Griselda third last, perhaps she is the teenage girl who does the impersonations of everyone.

##### Age of Endings, Spring of Nine

Griselda gives a glorious lesson in the Art of Ruination. It is attended by all the contemporaneous Wundersmiths including Brilliance Amadeo, Rastaban Tarazed, Mathilde Lachance, and Decima Kokoro who are quite experienced at the time.

##### Age of East Winds, Autumn of Eight

Griselda gives an advanced workshop in Tempus to Mathilde Lachance and Decima Kokoro. This workshop happens after Mathilde Lachance has created Museum of Stolen Moments and after Decima Kokoro has created the Cascade Towers and is another example of Griselda teaching very experienced Wundersmiths.

## Abilities and Skills

"*There is nobody at the Wundrous Society who can teach you what you need to know. Not even the great Griselda Polaris.*"
―Ezra Squall[src]
### Teacher

Griselda Polaris was an excellent teacher - watchful and patient, generous with praise but quick to correct.

### Wundersmith

Griselda Polaris was an excellent Wundersmith, praised by Morrigan Crow to be more talented than all others. She is also called great by Ezra Squall.

#### Weaving

Griselda is said to be a master weaver, much better than Brilliance Amadeo, an excellent weaver herself. This is emphasized in the way she can weave a building out of nothing.

#### Ruination

Griselda must be a master of Ruination in order to teach a class on it to many younger Wundersmiths, some of which also quite experienced. She also understands the nature of Ruination and is able to explain it to others.

#### Tempus

Griselda gives an advanced workshop in Tempus with Mathilde Lachance as a student, which takes place after the latter had built the Museum of Stolen Moments, a Wundrous Act which requires a lot of use of Tempus, meaning that Griselda should be better than Mathillde.

#### Inferno

Griselda must have been good at Inferno as she is regarded by the Kindling, the Inferno Wundrous divinity, as one of the brightest flames.

## Etymology

**Griselda** (gri-ZEHL-də) is a old fashioned name possibly derived from the Germanic elements *gris* "grey" and *hild* "battle". It is found in “The Clerk’s Tale” of the *Canterbury Tales* by Geoffrey Chaucer.

**Polaris** is the North Star, useful for navigation. It is thought to be derived from the Latin *stella polaris*, "pole star." As a directional marker, it is often associated with being a positive (directional) guide.

## Appearances

* *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow* (First appearance)(Appears in flashback(s))

## Notes and References

1. ↑ https://www.behindthename.com/name/griselda
2. ↑ https://www.behindthename.com/name/polaris/submitted