History NightmareFuel / DragonCalling

* The Black Sand within the [[PerpetualStorm Void of Storm and Fire]] is a mysterious and frightening force that seeks out living energies and invades their being, targeting their minds in order to induce them in a state of hallucinating their deepest fears. As if that wasn't terrifying enough, if an individual fails to stand their (mental) ground and succumbs to a mental breakdown, the Black Sand violently ejects them from the Void (aka sandstorm). The risk of injury is very high; the risk of death, moderate.

* The [[TheDreaded Tainted Shadows]] are by far the most nightmarish entity within the Dragon Calling series. It's not specified exactly what they/ it is, other than being a presence (or force)containing legions of pure malice and malicious intent. The entity lurks within the tainted areas of the Deep Ways, like a wraith anchored to its haunt. Any living thing that garners its attention becomes a target, and once engulfed in its 'living darkness', they are subjected to mental afflictions so horrendous they are [[DrivenToSuicide driven to madness-induced suicide]]. What's even worse is that it's heavily implied they are some form of creation from the Parasite, which likely makes the Tainted Shadows an [[NighInvulnerability un-killable]] force. Pure, terrifying evil.

* Thrawn. Nevermind that he's an unnatural [[HybridMonster amalgamation of creatures]], infused with manticor bones and transfused with blood from the Parasite--the creature is visually terrifying having a four-legged reptilian-beast body with a second 'armoured warrior-like' form protruding from the centre of its spine (like a mount and rider). Not only does Thrawn have strength and speed, but with its Parasite blood it is immune to [[LightEmUp Light magic]] and can create barriers of [[TheCorruption corrupted energy]]. Oh, and its arms are capable of [[LovecraftianSuperpower multiplying and changing shape to form ghastly claws and sharp or serrated edges]].

* The harpies themselves are grotesque and vile enough (revealed in full during the Shoumeign Arc in ''Book Three'')--physically ugly and filthy (wounds made by their teeth and claws cause infection and blood poisoning) and truly malicious in nature (indiscriminately snatching up innocents, both from the city streets ''and'' from inside their houses and tearing them to pieces). Then there's their Matriarch, ''Mothuurdresh''. The epitome of a horrendous, nightmare-inducing monster five-times the size of a normal harpy. Her description is particularly vivid, from describing her bulbous body and scabby flesh, to her milky lidless eyes and lower protruding jaw hanging open, dribbling saliva and bearing sharp, crooked teeth. She one creature you do ''not'' want to encounter. Ever.

* Laeka'Draeon's traumatic experience being transformed by Kushal into a hemlan. The description via his POV is quite awful (the feeling of being on fire along with muscle contractions so intense it feels like your bones are about to shatter), and if you really think about it, the experience would be akin to a human being turned into a featherless chicken.

* And mentioning the Med'neth'dast--they are basically animated corpses revived by necromantic magic that are voracious devourers of flesh. Not muscle, not organs, just the flesh. They are bound entirely in purple swathes of material--like the bandages wrapping a mummified body--save for their eyes, which are glittery and black, like beetle carapaces. They also can't be killed by anything other than purified balefire; any sort of physical attack against them will just result in their [[PullingThemselvesTogether body parts refusing back together]]. Thank goodness they seem to be securely locked down within the deepest depths of the abandoned dungeons beneath Rellornen.

* Bierkel'Sorgh is a demon that (once a cacodemon) was stripped of its physical form and sealed away inside the tallest peak of the Nemblem Mountains--right underneath the northern Beacon Throne (likely because the Throne's power helped to subdue the terrible entity). Whenever it awakens, it is able to manipulate the elements and weather of its mountain prison (creating storms, causing avalanches, hurling giant boulders like slinging pebbles). That's frightening in itself, but it gets much worse when the northern Beacon Throne is destroyed. Beikrel'Sorch shows up in swathes of shadows that drip and stretch to form the shape of eyes, claws, and fanged mouths. It moves through the air with a physically weighted presence that can only be seen in reflective surfaces. And when it screams, there's a delayed second or two before the noise carries from its sealed (prison) dimension, into the physical plane.

* The muulta bugs. While they could be considered 'pretty' (with their glossy silvery-plated bodies) and are predominantly placid-natured, they are utterly terrifying when riled. They swarm like angry ants and will chase the agitator/s relentlessly until either they are caught (and presumably killed) or they manage to make it out of muulta territory. Oh, and don't forget their size--these are beetles that are roughly the size of a small dog (think jack russel terrier, ''not'' chihuahua). Those with entomophobia, be warned!

* Az-Thorz is a nightmarish antagonist in the fact that he is completely sadistic and has the powers of illusion and delights in tormenting other creatures. Then there's the fact that he's a flesh-eating [[OurHippocampsAreDifferent water horse]] of great speed and strength and dwells in the deepest, creepiest part of Mistwood: the [[SwampsAreEvil Labyrinth]] [[ForbiddenZone of Tears]]. Also, his inclination toward [[EvilTastesGood taste-related adjectives]] is quite disturbing.

-->'''The Inquisitor:''' Fair is foul and foul is fair, in this place where the sundark never sees starlight.

* The Parasite/ Yurek'stelin is an [[EldritchAbomination eldritch monstrosity]] (that emerged from a meteorite hundreds of years prior to the story's plot) whose manna is so perversely abnormal, it is capable of [[EnemyToAllLivingThings destroying and contaminating anything it touches]]. All efforts to destroy it in the past failed--the only course of action left to the inhabitants of Elrathil was to seal it away in a [[ForcedSleep death-like slumber]]. Their efforts came too late to save Elrathil and most of its inhabitants, which ended up becoming [[EldritchLocation Darks Whelm]] thanks to the Parasite's taint. Not only is the creature deadly and [[NighInvulnerability near-invincible]], but its appearance is grotesque and bizarre, with a massive crocodilian maw, multiple bulbous eyes, and limbs thick as mature trees covered in deformed scales and growths. As if it wasn't bad enough, the Parasite is also the 'mother' of the Don-Chease, which its literally spews from its mouth, after it 'sings' them into existence from a dream-state.

* What happens to the Shade Senders when Vagel forces them to consume/ intake manna-terra. To start off with, the hobgoblin captain smashes his fist (which is holding crushed manna-terra) into Fordon's chest. Instead of dying, Fordon is thrust into an agonising transformation where manna-terra infects his entire body and his mask (previously an enchanted accessory) literally becomes [[FaceHorror fused to his face]] and takes on grotesque animalistic features. Not only that but, since Vagel was the one that initiates the transfusion, Fordon becomes [[SlaveMooks bound to his will]]. A similar fate befalls Curdilis and Hulborne.

''Literature/DragonCalling'' is an expansive, adventurous fantasy series. And while considered ''Light'' Epic Fantasy, it certainly has its fair share of dark and disturbing creatures and moments, as revealed on this page.

* Laeka'Draeon's traumatic experience [[spoiler: being transformed by Kushal into a hemlan. The description via his POV is quite awful (the feeling of being on fire along with muscle contractions so intense it feels like your bones are about to shatter), and if you really think about it, the experience would be akin to a human being turned into a featherless chicken]].

* Aubrianna being forced to watch Vagel brutally torture her comrades to death. Not only that, but he feeds their corpses to the flesh-eating [[OurWightsAreDifferent Med'neth'dast]]. Right. In. Front. Of. Her. This is the kind of thing that would [[DespairEventHorizon break someone's spirit for life]]. The fact that she refuses submission is an incredible testament to her fortitude. Still, one can imagine her never being able to fully recover from the experience.

''Literature/DragonCalling'' is an expansive, adventurous fantasy series. And while considered ''Light'' Epic Fantasy, it certainly has its fair share of dark and disturbing moments, as revealed on this page.

-->'''The Inquisitor:''' Fair is foul and foul is fair, in this place where the sundark never sees starlight.

* The giant, bulbous citrine-coloured monstrosity that is Sotaik. It's a mindless, broken mutation--the result of a failed attempt at creating a cacodemon--and would almost be pitiable if not for the fact that it kills without thought or remorse. One of its most disturbing features is the extensive root-like tentacles encircling the base of its neck. They are extremely flexible with an elastic-like quality; meaning even if you managed to keep your distance or attempt to keep some trees between you for protection, it could still shoot out its tentacles and snatch you up from a significant distance away (as it did with Maikor and Ubi).

* The poetic citation at the start of Chapter Ten of Kin Seeker is super creepy (epitomising the Don-Chease).

* For those who don't like snakes, the Ash-Banes are a nightmarish concoction of large, red-scaled serpents with gangly forearms tipped with long, hooked claws, and ugly goblin-esque features framing an enormous mouth filled with curved needle-like fangs and saliva that emits a putrid stench. As if they weren't freaky enough, the ancient Lore binding them to the forest of Caprine adds to their disturbing legend--they are cursed to rise during every half-moon, to terrorise the inhabitants of the woodlands as penance for stealing one of the original woodland manna weavers and dragging her underground to her death.