History Main / DarkFantasy

* The gods [[JerkassGods are all jerks]] who pass the time [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips and drinking soul-booze while placing bets]], and TheLegionsOfHell are mere days away from digging into the Mortal Realm, or are there already. GodOfEvil is probably [[VillainsActHeroesReact the only active one]], unless the point of the story is that people will jump at any opportunity to do harm. DemonicPossession is quite common. If the gods aren't even there, the CelestialBeuracracy has more red tape than a ribbon factory. MAy even have DevilButNoGod.

* The gods [[JerkassGods are all jerks]] who pass the time [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips and drinking soul-booze while placing bets]], and TheLegionsOfHell are mere days away from digging into the Mortal Realm, or are there already. GodOfEvil is probably [[VillainsActHeroesReact the only active one]], unless the point of the story is that people will jump at any opportunity to do harm. DemonicPossession is quite common.

* Any organized religion which is not a CorruptChurch or ReligionOfEvil, is PathOfInspiration. What else there is tend to be {{cult}}s, paganic {{Scary Amoral Religion}}s, or even more radical offshoots of the big ones. Often led by a SinisterMinister and/or PedophilePreist. Expect TheInquisition to burst in at any given oppourtunity, and we don't mean the funny kind that lampshades the fact that no-one ever sees it coming.

* Any organized religion which is not a CorruptChurch or ReligionOfEvil, is PathOfInspiration. What else there is tend to be {{cult}}s, paganic {{Scary Amoral Religion}}s, or even more radical offshoots of the big ones. Expect TheInquisition to burst in at any given oppourtunity, and we don't mean the funny kind that lampshades the fact that no-one ever sees it coming.

* TheHorde vastly outnumbers the civilisation. FantasyAxisOfEvil is there, and is either [[EvilerThanThou even worse]] [[AlwaysChaoticEvil than you'd expect]], or the "good" guys aren't really better to them. Expect someone (on either side) to say "TheWomenAreSafeWithUs."

* [[ZombieApocalypse The dead find staying buried a little boring, despite any and all attempts to keep them there, short of cremation or dismemberment]].

* The very best you can count on is an {{AntiHero}}ic KnightInSourArmor. There is a high chance of (likely more than a bit of WellIntentionedExtremist) {{Designated Hero}}, who will probably [[DownerEnding lose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters. {{The world is always doomed}}. May be a "bad guy" pres-ganged into being a "good guy."

* Most {{Hentai}} set in a fantasy world, if only because TheWomenAreSafeWithUs.

* {{Diablo}} has elements of it. Moreso in Diablo II, where TheLegionsOfHell have TheHorde of Undead and mutant wildlife (and DealWithTheDevil CatGirls and NaughtyNuns) Vs. DarkIsNotEvil {{Necromancer}}s and a {{Paladin}} who belongs to a CorruptChurch.

* {{Diablo}} has elements of it. Moreso in Diablo II

* TheHorde vastly outnumbers the civilisation. FantasyAxisOfEvil is there, and is either [[EvilerThanThou even worse]] [[AlwaysChaoticEvil than you'd expect]], or the "good" guys aren't really better to them. Expect someone (on either side)to say "TheWomenAreSafeWithUs."

* {{Wretched Hive}}s of cities and TheDungAges in the coutryside is what you should expect of society. The lower classes are MedievalMorons, while the upper prove that AristocratsAreEvil. The slave trade is the main source of income, both in terms of taxes and population. Expect the cute, fuzzy, WeakWilled ones to be targeted, such as PettingZooPeople or {{Hobbits}}. Conscription into the army may be present, or AnArmyOfTheivesAndWhores..

* {{Wretched Hive}}s of cities and TheDungAges in the coutryside is what you should expect of society. The lower classes are MedievalMorons, while the upper prove that AristocratsAreEvil. The slave trade is the main source of income, both in terms of taxes and population. Expect the cute, fuzzy, WeakWilled ones to be targeted, such as PettingZooPeople or {{Hobbits}}. Expect military conscription.

* Of FiveRaces, the elves have either sneaked off or gone extinct (and are stuffed-up jerks anyway), the {{Hobbits}} were the first to be subjugated or are just plain evil in the first place, and the dwarves don't care. The {{humans are bastards}} and actively persecute the rest.
* {{Wretched Hive}}s of cities and TheDungAges in the coutryside is what you should expect of society. The lower classes are MedievalMorons, while the upper prove that AristocratsAreEvil. The slave trade is the main source of income, both in terms of taxes and population. Expect the cute, fuzzy, WeakWilled ones to be targeted, such as PettingZooPeople or {{Hobbits}}.

* The very best you can count on is an {{AntiHero}}ic KnightInSourArmor. There is a high chance of (likely more than a bit of WellIntentionedExtremist) {{Designated Hero}}, who will probably [[DownerEnding lose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters. {{The world is always doomed}}.

* MagicIsEvil, at best relatively neutral. Often TheCorruption. there is a good chance it's directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, BloodMagic or involves HumanSacrifice. Individual wizards tend to [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity go mad with power]] (or just the [[MadScientist possibility of it]]) and are [[VainSorceress full of themselves]]. This is likely why BurnTheWitch is a popular pastime of the lower classes.

* {{Wretched Hive}}s of cities and TheDungAges in the coutryside is what you should expect of society. The lower classes are MedievalMorons, while the upper prove that AristocratsAreEvil. The slave trade is the main source of income, both in taxes and population. Expect the cute, fuzzy, weak-willed ones to be deliberately targeted, such as PettingZooPeople or {{Hobbits}}.

* The gods [[JerkassGods are all jerks]] who pass the time [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips and drinking soul-booze while placing bets]], and TheLegionsOfHell are mere days away from digging into the Mortal Realm. GodOfEvil is probably [[VillainsActHeroesReact the only active one]], unless the point of the story is that people will jump at any opportunity to do harm. DemonicPossession is quite common.

* ''Dragon Pink''

* TheHorde vastly outnumbers the civilisation. FantasyAxisOfEvil is there, and is either [[EvilerThanThou even worse]] [[AlwaysChaoticEvil than you'd expect]], or the "good" guys aren't really better to them.

* {{Wretched Hive}}s of cities and TheDungAges in the coutryside is what you should expect of society. The lower classes are MedievalMorons, while the upper prove that AristocratsAreEvil.

* The dead tend to [[ZombieApocalypse find staying buried a little boring, despite any and all rituals placed on their tombs]].

* Any organized religion which is not a CorruptChurch or ReligionOfEvil, is PathOfInspiration. What else there is tend to be {{cult}}s, paganic {{Scary Amoral Religion}}s, or even more radical offshoots of the big ones.

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil—often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil—or is TheCorruption, and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the {{Designated Hero}}'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding lose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, the elves have either sneaked off or gone extinct, the {{Hobbits}} were the first to be subjugated or are just plain evil in the first place, the dwarves don't care, the {{Jerkass God}}s are just [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips and drinking soul-booze while placing bets]], and TheLegionsOfHell are mere days away from digging into the Mortal Realm. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld, as opposed to the regular fantasy setting, which is pretty lighthearted.

Common elements involve DemonicPossession, HumanSacrifice, BloodMagic, GodOfEvil, DealWithTheDevil, MagicIsEvil, AlwaysChaoticEvil, TheDungAges, TheWomenAreSafeWithUs.

* ''WarhammerFantasy'' and ''{{Warhammer 40000}}''

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil -often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, or is TheCorruption- and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the {{Designated Hero}}'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding loose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, the elves have either snuck off or went extinct, the {{Hobbits}} were the first to be subjugated or are just plain evil in the first place, the dwarves don't give a shit, the {{Jerkass God}}s are just [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips and drinking soul-booze while placing bets]], and TheLegionsOfHell are mere days away from digging into the Mortal Realm. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld, as opposed to the regular fantasy setting, which is pretty lighthearted.

[[AC:Anime]]
* {{Claymore}}
* {{Berserk}}
* DragonPink

* WarhammerFantasy and {{Warhammer40000}} videogames.
* DragonAge

[[AC:Tabletop Games]]
* The Aforementioned Warhammer games are just as dark as the video games based on them.
* Some DungeonsAndDragons settings.

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil -often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, or is TheCorruption- and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the {{Designated Hero}}'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding loose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, the elves have either snuck off or went extinct, the {{Hobbits}} were the first to be subjugated or are just plain evil in the first place, the dwarves don't give a shit, the {{Jerkass God}}s are just [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips and drinking soul-booze while placing bets]], and TheLegionsOfHell are mere days away from digging into the Mortal Realm. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld.

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil -often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, or is TheCorruption- and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the {{Designated Hero}}'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding loose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, the elvesk have either snuck off or went extinct, the {{Hobbits}} were the first to be subjugated or are just plain evil in the first place, the dwarves don't give a shit, and the {{Jerkass God}}s are just [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips]] and drinking soul-booze while placing bets. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld.

[[Tabletop Games]]

* Some DungeonsAndDragons editions.

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil -often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, or is TheCorruption- and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the {{Designated Hero}}'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding loose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, the Elves have either snuck off or went extinct, the {{Hobbits}} were the first to be subjugated or are juts plain evil in the first place, the dwarves don't give a shit, and the {{Jerkass God}}s are just [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips]] and drinking soul-booze while placing bets. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld.

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil -often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, or is TheCorruption- and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the [[Designated Hero]]'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding loose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, the Elves have either snuck off or went extinct, the {{Hobbits}} were the first to be subjugated or are juts plain evil in the first place, the dwarves don't give a shit, and the {{Jerkass God}}s are just [[PassThePopcorn eating prayer chips]] and drinking soul-booze while placing bets. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld.

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil -often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, or is TheCorruption- and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the [[Designated Hero]]'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding loose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, the Elves have either snuck off or went extinct, the [[Hobbits]] were the first to be subjugated, and the [[Jerkass God]]s are just watching and [[PassThePopcorn eating soul chips]]. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld.

Common elements involve DemonicPossession, HumanSacrifice, BloodMagic, GodOfEvil, DealWithTheDevil.

* WarhammerFantasy and [[Warhammer40000]] videogames.
* DragonAge

* WarhammerFantasy and Warhammer40000 videogames.

Fantasy stories where MagicIsEvil -often directly powered or obtained through DealWithTheDevil, or is TheCorruption- and TheHorde vastly outnumbers the [[Designated Hero]]'s side, who will probably [[DownerEnding loose or end up as]] HeWhoFightsMonsters, and the [[Jerkass God]]s are just watching and [[PassThePopcorn eating soulchips]]. Pretty much StandardFantasySetting [[XMeetsY meets]] CrapsackWorld.

Common elements involve DemonicPossession, HumanSacrifice, BloodMagic, FailureIsTheOnlyOption, and TheBadGuyWins.

* WarhammerFantasy and WarhammerFourtyThousand videogames.