This Dark Land

Also known by the names of Ban-Side/ Bean-Sidhe which translates from old Irish as "woman of the fairy mound." Fairies were believed to live in hollow hills unreachable to mortal folk. The Banshees are death omens. The first recorded tale of a Banshee was in 1437  where one was heard wailing before the death of King James 1 of Scotland. They were depicted as having red eyes from eternal weeping and long hair. In some tales they wore green dresses with veiled faces, in others they were dressed in white. Appearing either as virginal young maidens or old wise crones, they were most commonly seen by moonlight. Banshees were often heard to be wailing a mournful lament or keening whenever someone was about to die. It was said their wails could be so horrific it could shatter glass, and it was considered a most terribly bad omen if one of their hairs should fall on you. It was said that banshees were often attracted to noble Irish and Scottish families. In Irish mythology ...

Dryads and Hamadryads are wood nympths who first appeared in ancient Greek Mythology. Old tales depict Dryads as female nature spirits who lived in trees and forests giving them an atmosphere of deep magic. They were said to be very fond of Oak trees which have long been celebrated in many ancient nature based religions such as Druidism, Wicca and Paganism. The word Drys translates into Oak in ancient Greek. In ancient works of Greek art they are often depicted as being pursued by Satyrs, their male counterparts. They were shown as being very shy creatures that could only be found in very secluded places but were very fond of the Greek goddess Artemis to whom they would appear. They were not immortal but lived very long lives and were tethered to their tree homes. The Hamadryads were different to the Dryads in that they were such a deep integral part to their trees that if it died they would also perish. Because of this it was said that the Greek gods would punish a...

"When Ankou comes, he will not go away empty" Ankou is the faerie embodiment of death and is an important figure in Celtic folklore which came from the ancient regions of Brittany, Cornwall, Wales and Ireland. He is probably better known for his other names; The Grim Reaper, Father Time and Death. His role was to collect the souls from the recently departed and transport them to the Otherworld. He would carry out his task dressed all in black in a robed costume and cowl which covered his entire face. It is said that no one alive has ever seen his face, because just looking upon him will bring out your own demise. There are many tales surrounding Ankou. It is believed that Ankou was once a young and cruel prince. One day whilst out in the forest hunting he encountered Death who challenge him to a contest where the winner was the first to kill a black stag. Anjou subsequently lost to Death and his forfeit was to collect human souls forever more. Mant tales from...

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...