History NightmareFuel / AmnesiaTheDarkDescent

** A bronze bull that's hollow inside, with the makings of a campfire beneath it. The game explains precisely what the Baron and Daniel use this for, if the implication wasn't enough for players to get on their own. Oh, and by all means -- [[SchmuckBait light the campfire set up beneath the bull]]. The result [[http://youtu.be/k3HUCuhMJrY?t=6m43s is here]]. And the worst part? Those bulls were ''not'' invented by the developers. Those things were [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazen_bull actually used in real life.]]
** One thing people forget to mention is that the brazen bull was designed with a brass horn-like instrument in its mouth. The horn sounded like a call of a bull. You can imagine that is hard to breathe in the bull, so the occupant used the horn to inhale and exhale oxygen which gave it that horrible sound. The occupant would try to avoid the part that was in direct contact with the fire, but, because of the nature of metal and the fact the victim was usually naked, this did not help much. All that occurred was the victim prolonging their own life while entertaining or putting the fear of God into guests.

[[caption-width-right:350:When you see these ([[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4giyol.png or these]])...Hide!]]

* In the Archives, there's a nasty scare that can create a fear of wandering off exploring. Near the end of the Archives key-FetchQuest, there's a chance that you'll just miss a figure wandering towards the exit, provoking you to investigate the other end of the "foyer". However, if you instead decide to head in the opposite end of the "foyer", A gatherer is suddenly behind you, gurgling, wandering towards you. You likely turn around quickly and learn the hard way, what the grunts look like before it vanishes. It's all a hallucination, but it gets the ParanoiaFuel ignited.

** The backstory - [[spoiler:a down on his luck stage magician purchased an automaton at an auction house that can spell out the names of dead family members. However, he quickly discovered that in order for it to work, he needed to sacrifice humans to it. More specifically, human children. After some time, he grew sick of what he was doing, and sought out a way to exorcise the spirit from the automaton, kidnapping and sacrificing the protagonist's younger brother to keep the spirit distracted while he did so. Judging by the state of his corpse when you find him, it seems that the spirit caught on and decided to feed on him, too.]]

* The "Transept" can be considered pretty and well lit with cyan light coming through the giant cathedral windows; this is in contrast to this area's sibling wing, "The Choir". However, this cathedral area contrasts with the three torture rooms connected to it, as if the "Transept" is celebrating the agony of the prisoners.

* The "Storage" is a nasty wake-up call for players. The darkness approaches pitch-black in many areas, and Servant Grunts show up relatively frequently to send you running to hide. This was the area where Daniel murdered a little girl and you would hear the flashbacks of her begging for mercy before being stabbed to death. When you approach the scene of the murder, you are greeted by a nasty JumpScare.

*** One thing people forget to mention is that the brazen bull was designed with a brass horn-like instrument in its mouth. The horn sounded like a call of a bull. You can imagine that is hard to breathe in the bull, so the occupant used the horn to inhale and exhale oxygen which gave it that horrible sound. The occupant would try to avoid the part that was in direct contact with the fire, but, because of the nature of metal and the fact the victim was usually naked, this did not help much. All that occurred was the victim prolonging their own life while entertaining or putting the fear of God into guests.

** One thing people forget to mention is that the brazen bull was designed with a brass horn-like instrument in its mouth. The horn sounded like a call of a bull. You can imagine that is hard to breathe in the bull, so the occupant used the horn to inhale and exhale oxygen which gave it that horrible sound. The occupant would try to avoid the part that was in direct contact with the fire, but, because of the nature of metal and the fact the victim was usually naked, this did not help much. All that occurred was the victim prolonging their own life while entertaining or putting the fear of God into guests.

** A bronze bull that's hollow inside, with the makings of a campfire beneath it. The game explains precisely what the Baron and Daniel use this for, if the implication wasn't enough for players to get on their own. Oh, and by all means -- [[SchmuckBait light the campfire set up beneath the bull]]. The result [[http://youtu.be/k3HUCuhMJrY?t=6m43s is here]]. Those bulls were ''not'' invented by the developers. Those things were [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazen_bull actually used in real life.]]

** A bronze bull that's hollow inside, with the makings of a campfire beneath it. The game explains precisely what the Baron and Daniel use this for, if the implication wasn't enough for players to get on their own. By all means -- [[SchmuckBait light the campfire set up beneath the bull]]. The result [[http://youtu.be/k3HUCuhMJrY?t=6m43s is here]]. Those bulls were ''not'' invented by the developers. Those things were [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazen_bull actually used in real life.]]

** In one area of the game, you have to search for a special fungus down in a cellar. What makes this level unnerving is that it has pitch black corridors with flickering lanterns. There is very little sound aside from the monster's ghostly wail.

** In one area of the game, you have to search for a special fungus down in a cellar. What makes this level unnerving is that it has pitch black corridors with flickering lanterns. It builds dread by having little sound aside from the monster's ghostly wail.

** The main monster in this custom story is a ghostly woman with glowing white eyes and a drooping jaw. She tormented the protagonist into gathering innocent children as food for her. The encounters with her are very horrific as she can kill you in one hit and you must stay in the dark to avoid being detected.

** In one area of the game, you have to search for a special fungus down in a cellar. What makes this level unnerving is that it has pitch black corridors with flickering lanterns.
**

** When you are looking for 3 different rods to power the orbs in a basement. There will be a persistent monster that roams the area, [[SarcasmMode no pressure there.]]

* After successfully passing through the first test, you escape through a small tunnel. When you go through the tunnel, you begin to hear the suitors and the music becomes more frightening. Despite the fact that you are in no danger at all, the game manages to trick you into believing you are being pursued.

* The suitors' are a very horrifying enemy in this {{DLC}}. While the grunts are like meat puppets, the suitors are just regular people horribly tortured into what they are; there no supernatural means used on them. Their eyes are gouged out and they have chains on their limbs and cartwheels somehow attached on their necks. The sounds of their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uPcUF9sshc heavy breathing and gasps]] are very unnerving as well.

* The suitors' origins. While the grunts are like meat puppets, the suitors are just regular people horribly tortured into what they are; there no supernatural means used on them. They are blind and have chains on their limbs and cartwheels somehow attached on their necks.
* Out of all the suitors, Malo is the most terrifying. He has been driven so insane, that he wants to eat Justine after becoming tired of eating his own flesh. The encounter with him is incredibly nerve-wracking, as you have to solve a machinery puzzle while he smashes the door. When he begins to chase you, you have to escape through a door that opens slowly and have to navigate through a corridor filled with boxes with him in close pursuit. There is also no use in hiding from him as he is able to find you despite being blind.

* Near the end of the sewers, there is a brute guarding the exit and you need to distract him by throwing a rock. After it gets distracted, you believe the cost is clear and advance to a doorway. But then the [[OhCrap monster notices you]] and it becomes a desperate chase as you try to reach the ladder and climb to the next area.

* The Chancel, with it's [[BottomlessPits bottomless pit of doom]] underneath the bridges. Really makes you wonder what's actually down there. The Cistern entrance also seems to connect with it, somehow.
* The Castle itself seems to make no sense, with some levels taking place deep underground, then the next level having an opening with sunlight pouring in.

* Subtle one, but there are [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101217182857/amnesia/images/thumb/1/17/1537059-portrait_alexander_normal.jpg/316px-1537059-portrait_alexander_normal.jpg portraits of Alexander]] scattered around the castle. Look at one with low sanity. [[http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110221100759/amnesia/images/thumb/3/36/Portrait_alexander_insane.jpg/316px-Portrait_alexander_insane.jpg Just try it]]. It can also act like a NightmareRetardant if you realize he now looks like an owl with no feathers. Or it can make it worse when you realize that there are plenty of clues that suggest Alexander isn't human. Maybe his current form is a mask and that's his real face. It can be scary and silly at the same time. At least he looks like the monster he really is on the inside or at least Daniel's perception of that monster. This in turn raises another possibility: if that really is his true face, it's possible that the monsters are his attempt to emulate his kind's form in humans, though bodily mutilation.

* While there's the possibility of Alexander having innumerable servants through the years, the [[http://blog.kirkebykvalitet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Amnesia-Torture.jpg bulging eye and twisted hand]] and the [[http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lezwihTDJB1qdlo2go1_500.jpg messed up leg and distorted mouth]] of the servants depicted in these diagrams from the torture rooms could suggest that Grunts and Brutes have been around a long, long time.
* In the sewers, you can find the shattered body of the first humanoid monster that was pursuing you (by this time, another has shown up). What killed it? The MeatMoss? The other monster? Whatever it was, it gives you the willies to think of it. Although if you have a sick sense of humor, it's just nightmare retardant. Plus, you finally get to see what they look like.

* The zone simply named "Archives" can be deeply unsettling the first time. Ambient noise is put to good effect and the deep-bellow of a monster can be heard at times as if it is around the corner, and in truth, there is nobody there. You are never in danger of dying here, but you may be afraid that you are. Also, the piano in the main hall can be heard playing when you are in another room -- but it stops when you get close to it.

* After dealing with a rather annoying puzzle involving slides, you proceed to a large storage room that is rather well-lit. Then, a sudden gust extinguishes all lighting in the room, and the door inexplicably locks behind you. Then, the uncanny combination of clanking chains and wheezing heralds the beginning of a monstrous hide-and-seek game against a blind foe who attempts to track you through sound. Pray you don't slip and knock over a chair.

*** One thing people forget to mention is that the brazen bull was designed with a brass horn like instrument in its mouth. The horn sounded like a call of a bull. You can imagine that is hard to breathe in the bull, so the occupant used the horn to inhale and exhale oxygen which gave it that horrible sound. The occupant would try to avoid the part that was in direct contact with the fire, but, because of the nature of metal and the fact the victim was usually naked, this did not help much. All that occurred was the victim prolonging their own life while entertaining or putting the fear of God into guests.
*** The designer of the bull was killed when the King, who ordered it made, wanted to hear the horn (that was already installed in the device) tested. He slammed the door shut and burned the designer alive thus claiming the bull's first victim. Yeah, that's pretty horrifying to say the least. Supposedly, he did it because [[EvenEvilHasStandards he felt the creator was a sick, sick man to make such a thing]]. Even more theoretically, he took the guy out before he died. Then, threw him off a cliff.

[[caption-width-right:350:When you see these ([[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4giyol.png or these]])...Run]]

* The worst part about the monsters is actually how they appear often enough and yet seldom enough to cause extreme panic and paranoia.\\

* The "Storage" is a nasty wake-up call for players. The darkness approaches pitch-black in many areas, and Servant Grunts show up relatively frequently to send you running to hide. Plus, a stomach -- churning crime took place here. You have to come here to grab two of the control rods that help you repair a broken elevator.
* The Prison Level. Most people give up in sheer terror because the place is swarming with monsters, and is very dark and claustrophobic. The monsters literally seem to be everywhere which gives out a deep sense of ParanoiaFuel.

* Just imagine [[ColdBloodedTorture the intense pain during the reforming into the grunts]], including having to have your [[GroinAttack genitals ripped off or sewn together]]. It seems like they are Alexander's servants, and they were afflicted by the Shadow. Alexander can still maintain some control over them, as in the ambush at the end of the game. But, that's only when Alexander realizes you are in the castle. The rest of the time the servants want to kill you.\\
\\
Many signs indicate deliberate, careful mutilation rather than mutation caused by the Shadow. Alexander would have a need for servants who are absolutely loyal, easily sacrificial, and replaceable if needed, and capable of inflicting mad terror in their subjects just with their appearance. Grisly mutilation + alchemy = Grunt. They were presumably hooded or otherwise disguised around Daniel before the game, since he commented on their abnormal behaviour, but not appearance.

\\
Oh, and the deal about Alexander not having any female corpses around, and Grunts? Some may have once been a woman. Look closely.

** One document in the game lends some credence to the idea that they have been around for a while. It states that monsters had been part of the local folklore since at least [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War the Thirty Years War]], monsters that sound an awful lot like the grunts...