Folklore is often born in moments were answers and hope seem lost, and few situations like that have generated more stories than the crucible of human conflict.

In a world obsessed with fairytale endings, the most iconic type of setting for those stories turns out to also be home to some of the darkest histories around.

It should come as no surprise that one of humanity’s greatest qualities is also the tool with which it has committed much darker tragedies. Even far from the wilds of the Old World, that legacy was never far behind.

While animals have been our constant companions for thousands of years, one chapter of our long history together led to much more terrifying results.

Some places seem to straddle the boundary between one world and another. It’s a feature than can often generate charm and beauty, but sometimes it creates darker things, as the history of these historic islands demonstrates so well.

For thousands of years, humans have used a tool of violence to control their enemies, advance their careers, and remove their problems. And the only thing more frightening than the tool itself are the stories about the people who use it.

Death is one of life’s certainties, and the final chapter in each of our stories. And yet throughout history, there have been reports of those who have broken the rules—and the brave few who rose to the challenge to stop them.

Hope is a powerful emotion, and it has driven humans to do great things over the centuries. It’s also a key element of folklore, but the stories it gives rise to there are more than just inspiring—some of them can also be terrifying.

We’ve all been told to beware things that seem too good to be true, and for good reason. But beyond the world of hucksters and frauds, one special group of people fooled an entire culture, at the cost of hundreds of lives

Some of the most frightening kinds of folklore are the ones with a familiar element. Details that sit a bit too close to home. Qualities that resonate just a bit too much. And few places host legends more terrifying than the wilderness around us.

The older the city, the deeper its roots. And when that location is the oldest around—well, the amount of darkness it’s hiding should not come as a surprise.

Many people need something to believe, and someone to follow. But out of all the examples throughout history of bad leaders, few are as bizarre and unexplainable as one man from a century ago.

On the edge of the world, where risk and danger crash constantly against the shores of civilization, stands a type of ancient guardian that everyone recognizes, but few truly understand. And there’s at least one mystery waiting for those brave enough to explore them.

Much like our instinct to set up a home in new places, humans are good at creating everything else we might need. And that includes folklore. But if even half of the stories that have been born in this one town are true, there’s a lot to be afraid of.

In our never-ending journey to discover what makes us tick, people have come up with some pretty surprising ideas. And in the process, they’ve given themselves permission to do some utterly terrifying things.

In all the folktales about the forest, we are warned to not set foot inside, lest the darkness and dangers that live there seek us out and harm us. But there are other stories that describe a much more sinister outcome, and throughout history they have proven themselves true.

One of the things that has united humans across cultures and languages is music. For as long as we can remember, we have filled our lives with new musical backdrops. And at the center of that world are the people who write and perform it all—as well as the stories about where their powerful gifts come from.

Some of the darkest moments in human history have taken place because of our hunger for a second chance, a better life, or a fresh start. But not all opportunities are guaranteed a bright and shiny outcome.

Folklore has many uses, and a quick trip through history would reveal many that you’ve come to expect. It educates a community, preserves events and well-known figures, and provides a sometimes-fictional explanation for mysterious happenings. But one particular use for folklore needs a deeper look…because it’s beyond thrilling.

In the world of folklore, one of the most interesting most timeless characters is also the least supernatural. But that doesn’t mean their stories are any less thrilling or entertaining.

We’ve always had a hunger for mystery stories and true crime. But for a period of time, many of those stories had a very unusual element to them—a detail that had a way of making less believable today, an so much more frightening.

While many of the places we live are defined by their current, modern personalities, a look into the past can reveal a much more thrilling—and terrifying—picture. And no where is that more true than the Silver State.

Some of the most frightening and disturbing stories are the ones that take a different path than we expected. Their horror is in the exceptions, the little things that make them different. But some little things are more difficult to see coming.

History is filled with people who gathered unusual collections, often following a curiosity or passion to the extreme. But among those collectors, there have been those who have taken things too far. And the objects of their obsession have become the stuff of nightmares.

If there’s one thing humans have been obsessed with over the years, it’s the risk that the most dangerous, evil things in the world might find a way inside and take control. The stories about this usually sound more like fantasy than fact, but history has a few surprises in store for us all.

One of the most frightening aspects of our lives is something that’s hidden from our eyes. And yet its impact is so powerful and destructive that we’ve spent centuries running in fear from it. Well, except for one brave community, that is.

Many of the darkest moments from history were born out of a perfect storm of motivation, fear, and misguided courage. And in the case of one individual, that became a recipe for something beyond horrific.

Some of the darkest stories and traditions are hiding inside one of our most beloved times of the year. Let’s take a fun and frightening journey into the heart of it all.