#Dark Watchers

[cryptid-quest]

Cryptid of the Day: Dark Watchers 

Description: Made famous by John Steinbeck, the Dark Watchers are tall, dark silhouettes who observe travelers along the Santa Lucia Mountains in California. They are usually seen around dusk and dawn, and if one walks up to them, they will vanish into thin air. 

[ultrainfinitepit]

The Dark Watchers - one (or more) of these will be a cross-collab freebie for my upcoming Themed Monster Enamel Pins campaign. I'll be collaborating with Cryptid Crushes by @holoraindrops, be sure to follow and pledge to their campaign too!

While the non-pinup design was more popular in the poll, I think a male pinup would better suit the cross-collaboration 🤔 since Cryptid Crushes will feature handsome cryptid pinup boys! But I'm thinking if we reach a high enough funding goal, I'd let backers pick out of the three options - and possibly also rainbow plating.

You can let me know what you'd prefer as the initial option in the replies or in the poll below - though in the end I may decide on my own, it's still helpful to see what you're all most interested in!

[leasthaunted]

Episode 114: The Dark Watchers

From the coast of Big Sur, to the top of the second highest peak in The British Isles, Cody and Garth explore tales of giant shadow figures in the mist. What are The Dark Watchers? Who is The Big Gray Man? and What does a specter from Germany have to do with it? All of this and the opening of your third eye await in the latest episode of Least Haunted!

As always, please come join the episode discussion on the Least Haunted Discord!

[briefbestiary]

Enigmatic shadows. Tall and watchful, the mysterious Dark Watchers observe from afar across the Santa Lucia Mountains.

[buttsaremyassthetic]

Niche Crytpids #2: The Dark Watchers

This is one of my favorites! The Dark Watchers are a very old piece of folklore originating from the Santa Lucia mountain range in California. It is said these (very) tall figures stand motionless in the hills during twilight and dawn, watching you from afar as you wander the wilderness. Should you ever approach them, they seemingly vanish into thin air! It’s a bit unclear on which group the legend can be attributed to, but it seems to most often be to Spanish colonizers, as nothing in the folklore of the local Chumash people translates directly to the Dark Watchers. Regardless of origin, this folklore has existed for a long time and has influenced quite a few writers and artists, including John Steinbeck! Cool! As for less supernatural explanations of the phenomena, there are a ton. The most common are attributed to isolation, exhaustion, animals doing animal things, pareidolia, or just the good ol’ Brocken specter.

Thanks to my patrons for picking this prompt for April's Illustration!

[tundraplateau]

The Hat Man is a dark watcher who ascended to a higher plane thanks to Benadryl.

[cyallowitz]

The Dark Watchers of California

Dark Watchers? There is some debate on if ghosts should count as cryptids.  I’m going with yes with this one because nobody is sure if these are ghosts.  They’re certainly creepy and unnerving if you see them.  Nobody knows what they are, so could be anything from ghosts to trick of the light to a local family of cannibals living in the wilderness. Found in California’s Saint Lucia Mountains,…

[nectardraws]

michael awareness poster

[wyrmfedgrave]

Don't Stare at the Dark Watchers - Atlas Obscura

Have you ever felt like you're being watched?

It could be "dark watchers"!

These are tall visual phantoms with rainbow auras surrounding them.

We know these mysterious shadow 'witnesses' have been around since the Spanish came to California.

There's older versions of them around the world - especially the Brocken Spectre of Germany.

Natural illusions & pareidolia have been used to explain these shadowy forms.

But, what of a proper Lovecraftian story seed?

How about the rule(?) that quantum probability waves don't collapse - if they're not measured?

This rule has already been expanded to include reality itself!

So, what if you couldn't exist without a personal 'angel'?

Some thing that could only be met out in extremely remote places?

Could you bargain with such a being for a longer life?

I leave the rest up to you writers...

End?

[paranormal-playground-podcast]

The Legend of the Dark Watchers in the Santa Lucia Mountains

The Legend of the Dark Watchers in the Santa Lucia Mountains is a captivating tale that has intrigued locals and visitors for generations. These mysterious shadowy figures, known as the Dark Watchers, are said to appear at twilight, standing silently and observing the landscape. The Legend of the Dark Watchers in the Santa Lucia Mountains continues to be a subject of fascination and fear,…

[anxious-local-cryptid]

CRYPTID-TOBER

October 6th, 2023

THE DARK WATCHERS

-

Traveling could be unnerving, under those things' gaze.

They just stood there, among trees and hills, dark shadowy figures sending chills down your spine.

Some of them were giants, but you doubted they were gentle ones.

Big, enormous, a wall of shadow... they couldn't be good, right?

You hated them.

Not that they actively bothered you.

They never approached your, or try to communicate.

They just... watched.

Maybe that was even worse than being chased down.

-

After many failed Inktobers, I decided to stop trying to follow prompt lists that always end up boring me, so I'm challenging myself to draw a cryptid per day for all the month of October!

No lists, no prompts, just me drawing random creatures I like!

How fun is that?

-

[eghostsofdeadchildren]

THE PISS WATCHERS.

[leasthaunted]

Here's how to use a "Sun Stone" crystal to locate the source of light through the creation of a glory.

From Episode 114: The Dark Watchers

[bergoop]

when you know someone so well that you know exactly how to vex them

(x)

[solargeist]

i think the Watchers always try to use words first, but i don't think they're above using magic to influence a player's emotions. In this case, making Grian docile when he's arguing or fighting too much. From their perspective, its as simple as nap time.

Originally this idea started as.. manipulating a player's dopamine and adrenaline so they're more inclined to join Watchers, play life games, continue the work, etc etc.

[hiort]

dreamers discuss their shared fate