Okay, so this image doesn’t really scream dark fantasy at all… right? But it is another AI generated image inspired from my books. This one is based on the machine in my short horror story ‘Darkness in Shadows’. The story is set in the 1980’s and the image was to reflect the style of the technology back then. While it has the elements I provided in the description, the image doesn’t look much like the machine I pictured in my head when I wrote the story. Anyway, I thought I would post it here for those that would like to see it anyway.
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.
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Here we go with another image I have created using AI tools. This one is an illustration of a character known as ‘The Caretaker’ from my short horror story ‘Low Life’. Yes, I know the title of this blog post refers to dark fantasy worlds, but that’s not referring to the genre of the book, it’s referring to the world, and I reckon the world is dark and it is not real, therefore it is a fantasy world. Alright, I might be stretching things a bit, but how about we just let this one slide, eh?
Anyway, the world behind this piece of art is dark indeed, a rendition of a hell with 18 levels in fact. The idea came from the title and theme of the anthology that I originally wrote the short story for – ’18’, which was published by Vision Writers. I subsequently released the story on its own under my own imprint, and later included it in an anthology of my own short stories called ‘Ripples Through Murky Water’. Needless to say, I’m really pleased with how this image came out, it fits the description and portrays the character well. Again, this isn’t exactly how I pictured him in my head, but it is quite close. This version of the character kind of reminds me of a cross between Jack Nicholson in ‘The Shining’, and Christopher Lloyd as Doctor Emmet Brown (A.K.A ‘The Doc’) from ‘Back to the Future’. I don’t have a problem with that, after all one of these falls in the same genre, right?
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is the second post from my creature files. This week we have crossed the timeline to the Northern Hemisphere in search of strange beasts and find ourselves in Canada. And what dark creature could be more appropriate than this Ribbed-back Revenant, more commonly referred to as a Rib-back. This monster evolved from the grizzly bear and dons a partial exoskeleton of ribs, coupled with a row of defensive bone spikes, that run down either side of its back.
RIBBED‑BACK REVENANT
Ursus horrendum redivivus — “The Rib‑back”
Origin
Born from the grizzly bear’s relentless survival instinct, the Ribbed‑back Revenant represents a grotesque evolutionary divergence. In regions where famine, radiation, and predation pressure converged, the species adapted by externalising portions of its own skeletal structure. What began as hardened scar‑bone plates eventually became a full partial exoskeleton — a macabre armour forged from its own ribs.
Physiology
Towering ursine frame with elongated limbs and hypertrophied musculature
Exposed rib‑plates forming a natural exoskeleton along the flanks
A double row of jagged bone spikes running down either side of the spine
Skull elongated into a predatory wedge with protruding fangs
Eyes glowing with bioluminescent red tissue, adapted for low‑light hunting
Internal organs partially shielded by fused rib‑growths, granting unnatural resilience
Behaviour
Apex scavenger‑predator hybrid; attacks opportunistically but with calculated brutality
Known to stalk wounded prey for hours, letting fear weaken them
Displays territorial aggression toward anything entering its kill‑zone
Emits low, rattling growls caused by air vibrating through its exposed rib structures
Shows an eerie fixation on human remains, often dragging bones back to its den
Habitat
Boreal forests, alpine foothills, and abandoned frontier settlements. Prefers regions scarred by conflict or ecological collapse, where carrion is plentiful and cover is dense.
Bone Spike Charge: A devastating shoulder‑rush that impales prey on its lateral spines.
Gravehowl: A resonant roar amplified by its hollow rib structures, capable of stunning prey.
Revenant Endurance: Can continue fighting long after sustaining wounds that would kill other megafauna.
Weaknesses
Limited flexibility due to ossified rib‑plates; struggles in tight spaces
Bright light disrupts its low‑light vision, causing momentary disorientation
Bone spikes can fracture under extreme blunt force, leaving it vulnerable
Cultural Lore
Frontier survivors whisper that Rib‑backs are the restless spirits of the wilderness itself — guardians twisted by humanity’s encroachment. Some claim the creatures are drawn to battlefields, as if feeding on the echoes of violence. Others insist that when the forest falls silent and the wind carries a hollow rattle, a Revenant is already watching from the treeline.
Would you survive if this Ursidae nightmare crawled out from the bushes before you? Thankfully they are rare creatures that tend to inhabit the wilds, rather than our cities.
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.
Welcome to my creature files, a series of posts about fantasy creatures. Some of these will be from my stories, others from mythology and folktales, and some I have just created for fun – Like this week’s creature. The Nocturnal Maw; a larger, darker relative of the drop bear, and its better known, cuter, friendlier cousin the Koala.
NOCTURNAL MAW
Phascoloctonus sanguinolentus — “The Nocturnal Maw”
Origin
Folklore speaks of a once‑ordinary arboreal marsupial twisted by an ancient lunar curse. During a blood‑red moon, the creature’s gentle lineage fractured, giving rise to a predatory offshoot that feeds not on leaves, but on fear, flesh, and the warmth of living breath.
Physiology
• Matted charcoal‑grey fur streaked with dried blood
• Oversized claws adapted for silent vertical ambush
• Lantern‑red eyes capable of piercing total darkness
• Elongated muzzle with carnivore fangs replacing herbivore dentition
• Prehensile limbs retaining koala ancestry but warped for predation
Behaviour
• Nocturnal ambush hunter, descending from trees without warning
• Exhibits territorial rage when the red moon rises
• Emits low, rattling growls that mimic wind through dead branches
• Known to stalk prey for hours before striking
• Displays eerie stillness — can remain motionless for an entire night
Habitat
Dead forests, drought‑stricken bushland, abandoned clearings, and regions touched by wildfire scars. Prefers trees with hollowed cores or skeletal branches.
Abilities
• Crimson Gaze: Induces paralysis or disorientation in prey when eye contact is made
• Silent Drop: Falls from height with near‑perfect soundlessness, crushing prey beneath its weight
• Lunar Frenzy: Strength and aggression surge during red‑moon phases
• Scent of Warmth: Tracks living creatures by heat signature alone
Weaknesses
• Bright light disrupts its night‑vision and causes temporary blindness.
• Fire and intense heat repel it.
• Becomes sluggish during daylight and avoids open ground.
Cultural Lore
Bush legends warn travellers never to camp beneath dead trees during a red moon. Some claim the creature is the restless spirit of the forest itself, awakened to punish those who trespass on scorched land. Others whisper that if you hear nothing at all — no wind, no insects, no rustling — the Nocturnal Maw is already above you.
Would you survive if this little beast fell upon you from the treetop canopy above? Let’s hope you never have to find out.
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.
You’ll want to feast on the vision of this evil item and fantasy weapon of the week. Sixth in the series of concept art images taken from my collection of cursed weapons forged by a dark lord. This week’s weapon; a halberd of doom. Take care not to fall beneath its shadow, for its thirst for blood is insatiable.
This deliciously dark scimitar is crying out for your attention. Fifth in a series of concept art images from my collection of cursed weapons forged by a dark lord. This week’s weapon; a curved sword that delights in the sorrow of the dead. A collector of souls with a thirst for blood.
