This Dark Land

Once upon a time in this dark land, a group of ancient Welsh water sprites known as the Gwargedd Annwn lived side by side with their fellow humans deep down in their underwater kingdoms under the lakes, hidden from mortal eyes through using a special blend of fairy glamour. They possessed many gifts, it was once believed that they guarded secret gardens hidden on islands on their sacred lakes. Once a year on New Year's Day it would be possible for humans to find these gardens, as long as they found the secret entrance. Like with the garden of Eden it was strictly forbidden to take anything from these gardens, and it was not rise to offend a fairy. Unlike some fairies the Gwargedd Annwn were very fond of humans and would often impart to them their medicinal wisdom. They were often known to take human lovers, but if they were not treated with the correct respect they would vanish and never be seen again. The most widely known Gwargedd Annwn was the Lady of the Lake who fea...

In the ancient religions of this dark land, people believed in two worlds, there was the mortal world wherein all living creatures dwelt, and then there was the Otherworld. The Otherworld was said to be the world in which all the fairies, the little folk, the good people dwelt. It was where the gods lived and these immortal creatures could cross the veils between worlds and come visit the mortal folk. The Otherworld was also believed to be the place where the recently deceased returned after death. Mortals could only enter this world once they had passed away (hence the term) from the mortal world but getting to the Otherworld required assistance and this usually came in the form of Morrigan, the goddess of death, guardian of the departed. So who was this strange and powerful woman? Morrigan was an ancient goddess who came from the legendary faerie clan of the Tuatha De Danann who once ruled over Ireland before men came with their steel and swords. She features heavily...

Once the world was full of the Fey folk which roamed free and untethered throughout this dark land. Concentrated in the west-country were the Pixies (Piskie's in Cornwall) who were small mischievous creatures. Have e’er you seen the Pixies, the fold not blest or banned? They walk upon the waters; they sail upon the land, They make the green grass greener where’er their footsteps fall, The wildest hind in the forest comes at their call. They steal from bolted linneys, they milk the key at grass, The maids are kissed a-milking, and no one hears them pass. They flit from byre to stable and ride unbroken foals, They seek out human lovers to win them souls. The Pixies know no sorrow, the Pixies feel no fear, They take no care for harvest or seedtime of the year; Age lays no finger on them, the reaper time goes by The Pixies, they who change not, nor grow old or die. The Pixies though they love us, behold us pass away, And are not sad for flowers they gathered yesterday, To...

Long ago all the ancient streams, rivers, fountains, wells, brooks and springs of ancient Greece came under the protection of the Naiads. These were water nymphs who looked after nature's  most sacred sites. If they weren't respected in the correct way by the mortal mankind  they would leave, taking the local wildlife of fishes and animals with them. The area would fall to ruin, the water would be poisonous, the surrounding soils infertile. The Naiads were said to resemble beautiful young women who were often found by their sacred site. Not only did they protect these areas, they also protected all girls seeing their safe passage from childhood to adulthood. People would worship the Naiads. It was said their waters had highly sought after magical properties. About the Author S.J.Budd is a writer of all things weird and creepy. Previously her tales have been featured on Deandman's Tome,  Sanitarium Magazine, Dark Gothic Resurrected, Liquid Imagination, A...

The Vikings or Northman were a breed of people whose culture was built on their love of  farming and battle. The viking warriors' idea of heaven was the great legendary hall of Valhalla where each day they would fight and feast everyday in their afterlife waiting for the penultimate battle- Ragnarok. Not everyone would be granted passage to Valhalla after death. To be able to enter they must have died in battle, and be chosen by the Valkyries, Odin's battle maidens. In the ancient Norse tales it has also been suggested the Valkyries also possessed the rather sinister ability to choose who would die in battle and join them. The Valkyries were said to be noble and beautiful creatures with long flowing corn blonde hair with skin as white as the moon. They charged into battle on steeds of clouds armed with flashes of lightning. It is aid they always appeared in groups of nine, a magical number. After the last battle cry they would swoop down along with the ravens and ha...

Located on the ancient Redmoor on Helman Tor in deep Cornwall you'll find the Logan stone which has endured a deep association with witchcraft. It has long been believed that this desolate area once served as a midnight  meeting point for witches. In the past there had been eye witness accounts of people seeing dark figures dance and leap beside the Logan stone on moonlit nights and that the cries of these witches would carry on the wind terrifying those nearby unlucky enough to hear. It is said the witches came here to brew their spell potions and charms after gathering nearby plants and flowers from the wild moors.Christian priests arriving after succeeding the druids absolutely forbade anyone to visit there due to its arcane connection to the supernatural, lest they be suspected and charged with witchcraft. There have also been many reports that a solitary crone, an ancient witch, would stand upon the stone watching ships out at sea and brewing up storms to destroy them...