This weeks post is for one of my personal favourites, the…
RED‑BELLIED EMBER DRAKE
Draco porphyriacus ignis — “The Riverfire Serpent”
Origin
From the Red‑Bellied Black Snake, these drakes became semi‑aquatic fire‑aligned predators.
Physiology
Glossy obsidian scales
Underside glows ember‑red when agitated
Steam‑venting gills
Paddle‑like tail
Behaviour
Ambushes from riverbeds
Uses heat to boil water around prey
Highly protective of nesting sites
Habitat
Rivers, swamps, billabongs
Abilities
Steamfire Breath: Superheated vapour blast
Boiling Aura: Raises water temperature around it
Ember Flash: Blinding red flare from belly plates
Weaknesses
Vulnerable when fully dried out
Cultural Lore Said to be the guardian of sacred waterholes.
The below image illustrates the Draco porphyriacus ignis in a state of ‘Ember Flash’:
If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. His titles are also available in libraries.
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I hope you are ready for another animal from my creature files. Everyone knows Australia is home to a host of dangerous creatures, but few know of the Marrin-Gul (Shadow that Hunts). More commonly known as the Bush Bastard by those at the local outback pub. This ancient monstrosity is a seasoned hunter; it covers ground quickly with its fast bounds and tears its prey apart with sharp claws and pointed teeth. I certainly would not want to meet one, if I was all alone, in the vast expanse of the Australian Outback.
MARRIN‑GUL
Procyon ferox umbravallis — “The Shadow That Hunts” (Common name: “Bush Bastard”)
Origin
Said to predate the oldest outback settlements, the Marrin‑Gul emerged from a lineage of nocturnal scavengers twisted by drought, starvation, and something older lurking beneath the red earth. When the first frontier cabins were raised, these creatures were already watching from the treeline. Folklore claims they learned to hunt humans by studying the patterns of campfires and the weaknesses of those who wandered too far into the dark.
Physiology
Thick, soot‑black fur that masks movement in low light
Elongated limbs built for bounding pursuit
Oversized claws curved like hooked knives
Needle‑point dentition designed for puncture and tearing
Blood‑rimmed eyes adapted for extreme nocturnal vision
Muscular hindquarters enabling explosive leaps
A tail used for balance during rapid directional shifts
Saliva laced with bacteria that accelerates rot in wounds
Behaviour
Hunts with sudden, silent bursts of speed
Displays territorial aggression toward anything entering its hunting grounds
Emits low, guttural growls that mimic distant wind through the gums
Rarely travels alone; where one is seen, others are circling unseen
Habitat
Remote outback scrub, abandoned homesteads, hollowed creek beds, and regions where human presence has thinned to whispers.
Abilities
Shadow Bound: Covers ground in rapid, loping strides that seem unnaturally fast
Rend‑Strike: A flurry of claw swipes capable of shredding flesh and hide
Night Veil Vision: Sees clearly in near‑total darkness
Pack Echo: Communicates with others through sub‑audible clicks and growls
Fear Break: Its presence induces panic in livestock and unease in seasoned bushmen
Weaknesses
Bright firelight disrupts its depth perception.
High, metallic noises cause it to recoil.
Its endurance is limited — prolonged chases exhaust it quickly, forcing it to rely on ambush tactics.
Cultural Lore
Bushmen say the Marrin‑Gul only hunts those who walk alone after sundown. Old-timers at the pub swear that if you hear claws on corrugated iron at night, you’re already marked. And if you see its eyes glowing red between the trees, you’re not looking at one — you’re looking at the one that wants you to notice it.
Would you survive if this critter sprang at you from the Outback plains? I wouldn’t fancy your chances.
If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.
This image was generated (with the help of AI) from the description within a scene from my short horror story ‘The Cold and The Dead’. It took me a few attempts to get the wagon in the right style. The shack in the background and some of the details are not how I imagined, so you’ll find the actual descriptions in the book differ a little, but overall, I’m pleased with how it turned out.
If there is a scene from one of my books that you’d like me to re-create in an image, please leave a comment to let me know which one.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post, why not share it with your friends on social media.
From the King Brown, these dragons became muscular, armour‑plated earth‑aligned beasts.
Physiology
Thick, iron‑like scales
Massive forelimbs for digging
Blunt, crushing jaws
Dust‑storm coloured hide
Behaviour
Slow but unstoppable
Creates vast tunnel networks
Uses tremor‑sense to detect prey
Habitat
Red deserts, rocky outcrops, subterranean caverns
Abilities
Earthshock Roar: Causes localized quakes
Dust Cloak: Surrounds itself in blinding sand
Crushing Coil: Constricts with immense force
Weaknesses
Poor aerial ability; heavy body limits flight
Cultural Lore
Miners leave offerings at tunnel mouths to avoid “the Titan’s displeasure.”
The below image illustrates the Draco australis terravore burrowing out from beneath the desert.
If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. His titles are also available in libraries. If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.
Welcome to the next post from my creature files. You may recall the Rib-back, a Canadian terror from a previous post. Well while I was searching for this beast I came across another frightful being. It’s the kind of thing the locals whispered about around campfires when the wind cut through the pines. Known as the Shadow-tail Cabin Creeper, this is no ordinary Raccoon. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more vicious creature of its size. And a scary thing about them is, where you find one, there are usually a few more in tow.
Born from generations of raccoons forced to scavenge in cursed logging grounds, the species adapted to the dark resonance of abandoned cabins and blood-soaked soil. Over time, their bodies twisted to match the predatory hunger that seeped into the land. Locals claim the first Creeper emerged after a winter famine drove a raccoon pack to cannibalism beneath a moonless sky.
Physiology
Matted charcoal fur that absorbs light
Elongated muzzle with serrated, needle‑like teeth
Eyes glowing red from hyper‑vascularised night vision
Hooked claws capable of rending bark, bone, and flesh
Prehensile “shadow-tail” used for balance, strangling, or anchoring during ambush
Musculature far denser than a normal raccoon, granting unnatural strength
Carrion‑tainted saliva that accelerates decay in prey
Behaviour
Hunts in loose packs of three to six, though scouts often appear alone
Displays eerie stillness before striking, as if listening to something beneath the soil
Known to toy with prey, dragging bodies into dens to rot
Highly territorial around abandoned cabins, root cellars, and logging shacks
Communicates through low, rattling chittering that echoes unnaturally far in the pines
Habitat
Dense pine forests, derelict cabins, forgotten hunting trails, and regions where human habitation has decayed into silence.
Abilities
Shadow Pounce: Launches from darkness with near‑silent acceleration
Rot‑Claw Rend: Claws coated in necrotic saliva cause rapid tissue breakdown
Pack Convergence: Nearby Creepers are drawn to the kill-site within minutes
Fear Scent: Releases a musk that induces panic in small animals and unease in humans
Corpse Burrow: Hides within carcasses or debris piles to ambush intruders
Weaknesses
Bright, sustained light disorients them.
Fire drives them back.
Their heightened senses make them vulnerable to high‑pitched metallic sounds.
Lone Creepers are far less bold without pack support.
Cultural Lore
Campfire tales warn that if you see one Creeper watching from the treeline, two more are already circling behind you. Old trappers insist the faint cabin window glow seen deep in the woods isn’t a lantern — it’s the reflection of their eyes, waiting for you to step closer.
Would you survive if a group of these creatures visited your cabin at night? You better not leave any food scraps in your garbage can, just to be on the safe side.
If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.
Today’s post highlights a magical fantasy relic. While this relic has no sharp edges, it is a dangerous weapon. The type of weapon that is often overlooked. I give you an AI generated image that attempts to illustrate the ‘Blood Rage Amulet’ from my ‘Blood Rage’ trilogy. This is one of several tries. The AI tool wasn’t happy with generating the image as I described it, due to the systems acceptable image generation rules. so, I had to amend the prompts to stay within those rules. In some cases, it allowed certain things on one image, but it wouldn’t allow me to reproduce the effect on another. While the image above isn’t exactly the same as the description in the books, it is a fair representation and I like it.
Here are some of the other attempts, I like them and they all give a good representation of the amulet as I envisioned it, but none of them are exactly as I had imagined:
Feel free to let me know which one is your favourite in the comments.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post, why not share it with your friends on social media.
Welcome back to my Australian dragon series. This week’s post brings you the…
INLAND TAIPAN DREAD WYRM
Draco microlepidotus mortis — “The Pale Doom”
Origin
The Fierce Snake’s venomous potency drove an evolutionary path toward a mythic apex predator.
Physiology
Bone‑white or ash‑grey scales
Heavy, plated skull with multiple horns
Venom sacs evolved into pressurised toxin jets
Wings with cracked‑earth patterning
Behaviour
Solitary, contemplative, almost ritualistic
Burrows deep beneath desert stone
Emerges only during heatwaves or omens
Habitat
Deep desert, badlands, scorched mesas
Abilities
Toxin Jet Breath: Melts armour and stone
Burrow Surge: Erupts from beneath prey
Solar Overcharge: Absorbs heat to amplify power
Weaknesses
Cold renders it sluggish; nocturnal activity limited
Cultural Lore Said to be born from the first lightning strike that ever hit the desert.
The below image illustrates the Draco microlepidotus mortis performing a solar overcharge:
If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. His titles are also available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.
Here is another post from my creature files. This terrifying animal was once extinct, but scientists meddling with the cloning of genes tried to bring it back to life and re-introduce it to the world. They partially succeeded, though you can’t really say this Thylacine is alive. Meet the Bone-Striped Tiger, an undead devil sometimes referred to as a Rot Runner by the locals.
BONE‑STRIPED TIGER
Thylacinus ossifera revenant — “The Rot Runner”
Origin In an ill‑fated attempt to resurrect the extinct Thylacine, geneticists spliced preserved Tasmanian tiger DNA with experimental regenerative sequences designed to repair cellular collapse. The process reanimated the body but failed to restore true life. What emerged was neither clone nor animal, but an undead predator driven by instinct, hunger, and a strange, lingering echo of its former species.
Physiology
• Emaciated, wolf‑like frame with exposed ribs and necrotic musculature
• Bone‑pale striping along the flanks, glowing faintly in low light
• Elongated jaws with desiccated lips pulled back from permanent snarl
• Eyes burning with unnatural red luminescence
• Limbs reinforced by partial ossification, granting unnatural speed
• Thickened tail vertebrae forming a whip‑like, skeletal lash
Behaviour
• Hunts in erratic bursts, alternating between stillness and explosive pursuit
• Drawn to heat, movement, and the scent of decay
• Displays territorial pacing patterns reminiscent of living thylacines
• Emits a rasping, breathless bark‑snarl that carries across wetlands
• Shows uncanny persistence, tracking prey long after a normal predator would give up
Habitat
Swamp margins, dead forests, abandoned research sites, mist‑choked valleys, and any region where rot, stagnant water, and shadow converge.
Abilities
• Gravebound Sprint: Accelerates with terrifying speed despite its decayed frame
• Rot Aura: Proximity induces nausea, weakness, and rapid spoilage of organic matter
• Bone‑Howl: A resonant, corpse‑dry cry that disorients prey and attracts others of its kind
• Death‑Scent Tracking: Follows the faintest trace of blood or decomposition across vast distances
Weaknesses
• Fire disrupts its necrotic tissues;
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight slows its movements;
• Cannot cross running water;
• Becomes disoriented by strong chemical disinfectants.
Cultural Lore
Locals claim the first Rot Runner rose from a vat that cracked open during a storm, lightning illuminating the creature as it staggered into the marsh. Some say the Bone‑Striped Tiger is not merely undead but angry — a spirit wronged by humanity’s meddling, doomed to wander until its lineage is restored or its remains are finally laid to rest.
Would you survive if you saw this beast, just as it spotted you from the tree line? Just how fast can you run?
If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.
When I wrote the ‘Blood Rage’ trilogy, I created a whole world for my characters to live in. The world that I wanted to set their story in. It was the world of Armada; a dark, gritty, medieval-style, fantasy world. One of the locations in this world is ‘The Dead Duck’, a tavern whose landlord holds an allegiance to a guild of thieves known as ‘The Crimson Guild’. The image above is an illustration of ‘The Dead Duck’ that I generated using AI, to try and bring the world to life for those who are more visual. I’d like to say here that I have found it very difficult to get AI to produce an image that represents a description I have provided of the image in your head, but I must say that after refining my prompts a few times, I am very pleased with how this one turned out.
The world of Armada has inspired a lot of art for me. I remember sketching some of the scenes to anchor them in my head and support my writing. I have also created other art for merchandise that can be found in my Merch store; here’s an example:
I’ve created a short movie clip of the scene where the Ku-Shee chases Conall and Erin through the forest, as well as other images of the creatures that inhabit the world, and scenes from the book. Most of which I plan to share with you all in future blog posts.
If there are any particular scenes, creatures, or merchandise that you would particularly like to see, please let me know in the comments.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.
Known to lure prey with bioluminescent throat sacs
Territorial around coral reefs
Habitat
Coastal jungles, mangroves, reefs
Abilities
Reef Camouflage: Shifts colour to match coral
Silent Swim: Zero wake movement
Neuro‑Fog Breath: Paralyzes prey in water or air
Weaknesses
Avoids cold water; vulnerable to deep‑sea pressure
Cultural Lore
Island tribes call it The Whispering Current, believing it guides lost spirits to shore.
The below image illustrates the Draco scutellatus littoralis in a night hunt:
If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.
Happy Reading!
Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. His titles are also available in libraries.
If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.
