SH: Hey DS! Thank you for taking the time to answer some of our questions for the Webmasters Pick. We selected your site because it's rich in information, resource, image gallery, and especially everybody working hard bringing us viewers this great content. First of all, when was Darken Souls created to the web, and have you expected it to be where it is today? And what inspired you to create the site?

Gatekeeper: Darken Souls started in 1999 off a free host server and no one excepted to turn out the way it has now. Originally we started with a horror theme site to publish novels, articles and other writings. Once Darken Souls started to post information about the paranormal to enhance its content, interest and demand for it grew. This was the turning point where a decision was made to get a domain and dedicate the web site about the paranormal with the over all goal to have the largest resource of information on the internet.

SH: Could you tell us who and what does everyone do on the site? The webmaster, designer, staff writers, and etc. And what's the relationship you all share?

Gatekeeper: Currently there are 10 of us involved with Darken Souls. Now for personal reason some of the staff wish to either be referred by their first name or by a nickname given to them.

First there is me, Vince, also known as Gatekeeper and I am the co-founder and webmaster of Darken Souls along with a researcher when needed. Also among the ranks is Seeker. He is the specific individual with knowledge about the paranormal and the resource of the Darken Souls to find answers to anybody who asks. Andy is the local skeptic who keeps our feet rooted into the ground and keeps our minds objective about the situation. The other co- founder not to mention author of Darkness Within and one half of the PR team is Pat. Then there are our computer technicians, Dennis and Berry, over seeing operations of the website and PCs.

Other members include Black Widow, researcher and poet, Rachelle, Queen of Chaos and editor of Asylum and Terry who is always ready to give a hand. Just recently Mich has joined up with Darken Souls to soon start her own section about the mystical property of herbs and stones. Keep your eyes open for this one.

Pat and I have shared a friendship and interest of the paranormal for over a decade which has turned into our passion. The other members are friends we have meet over the years with similar interests and have a wish to take in part of our investigation into the paranormal.

SH: When preparing a new a section for the site such as Vampires how long does it usually take to finish? What are some of the preparations involved? And how many staff members are working in a new section? Or is it one person per project?

Gatekeeper: The time involved in any project is usually determined the amount depth that is to be researched on and investigated. Each project would have its goals established first, then the material and resources are researched to obtain the information needed. Conclusions are then made along with any revisions before being published on the site. Usually one person per project if the assign is small such as doing an article or looking up information but if say on investigations all member are involved.

SH: In overall site work what would be the most lengthiest, and the most difficult project?

Gatekeeper: The most difficult project yet is Project Diabolus. It has consumed a lot of time and resources. Project Diablous has been in the works for over a year now. In the several of legends and religions I researched through, similarities were found about an ancient race existing before humans but were wiped out off the earth. With Project Diabolus, time has been used to find information and evidence if other humanoid life forms existed on the planet, how they disappeared, if they still live today in some form and will there be a day when they return. We at Darken Souls look into the world of the Nephilim and giants.

SH: Okay on with the newbies out there who are just starting their own site, and with you being an experienced webmaster, investigator, and researcher what could you suggest to them for tips of success?

Gatekeeper: Like with anything in life, dedication and hard work is always needed to achieve your goals. To everyone out there, be aware that you will be required to put in much time and effort, even when you find it boring, yourself sick and it is the last thing on your mind.. Also I should say be knowledgeable and experienced within your area and if you don't know it, research it or consult other resources. Anyone just beginning I would recommend to join up with a group to learn and gain practice.

Anyone or group wishing to have a strong presence of the Internet, get yourself a good webmaster and computer technician they are your key to survival. If you are the webmaster, update your content regularly, learn a lot of web coding and media and become affiliated with others.

SH: Now, I am going to ask a few questions so we could get to know a little about you and the staff. Tell us briefly about the personalities behind the site? Like who's the most humors, out going, and etc.

Here is how it goes:

Gatekeeper: The leader. I myself am serious about all matters in dealing with Darken Souls and practically anything else.

Seeker: The enigma. Very mysterious and creepily knowledgeable about everything in his expertise.

Pat: The believer. He is interested in and believes in the possibility of everything. Aliens, demons, vampires, monsters he has some sort of theory on them.

Andy: The skeptic. Skeptical about everything until proven. When asked if he would like to join in a ghost hunt or investigation his response is: "So which designer sheets we hunting tonight? Flannel or silk?" Plus he's the comedian of the group.

Black Widow: The Strange. Bizarre, very energetic and forward about any issue of interest or lets you know what on her mind.

Rachelle: Dedicated in what she does and very dominating on any matters dealing with Queen of Chaos of the Asylum.

Dennis: The Shy, quiet and the one who gave the meaning behind energetically impaired.

Terry: The One to be reclusive and loves his privacy. He is more commonly known as the troll in the basement.

Berry: The man who laughs at anything including his own mistakes

Michelle: The smile. The most cheerful of the Darken Souls team, despite that she fits right in with the rest of us

SH: What is everyone's favorite monster topic and what do you find fascinating about it?

Gatekeeper: Over the years I have found the Nephilim to be fascinating entities. They are the half-angels and giants of legends told through out the world which may at one time existed.

Pat: I have too many to pick a specific. The whole realm of darkness most call the "paranormal" fascinates me.

Seeker: The Ancients. God like beings sometimes referred to as the Greek and roman gods. The evil that they were capable of was immeasurable.

Andy: None

Black Widow: I believe it would be my favorite monster is the dragon. I have sat in debates to discuss about if they were real, what they were like and if they were destroyed. Not to mention all forms of lore indicate they were intelligent and powerful creatures.

Rachelle: Vampires have always fascinated me since I was a child. The power they possess and the need of blood to life had drawn me in to learning and reading about them.

Dennis: Werewolves. They are the animal and power lurking within all of us

Terry: None

Berry: None

Michelle: Mythology in general. Mythology holds many monsters and creatures from so many cultures that it is impossible for me to choose just one. Although call me a girl, I do love unicorns.

SH: What is everyone's favorite tales of the underworld or urban legend?

Gatekeeper: The tales about the devil and how people bargain their souls away or tried to summon to talk with him.

Seeker: I read and hear so many stories that it would be like asking someone which smarties they liked. They all taste the same after the first box.

Pat: I'm with GK. I love stories about people getting screwed by the devil.

Andy: The freaky ones involving people waking up in a strange place after a goodnight of partying./

Black Widow: None

Rachelle: The stories you hear about headless ghosts especially about the one motorcyclist who was decapitated while drive or the one of the railway worker.

Dennis: The Valentine Massacre or any other urban legends about the mafia.

Terry: None

Berry: None

Michelle: Any local ghost stories... well... pretty much any ghost story.

SH: What is everyone's believes in the legends, myths, folklore, mystery and other supernatural happenings of this world today?

Everyone at Darken Souls believes there is a paranormal presence within the world and the myths and legends do hold some bases of the truth. The difference in opinions are the occurrences happening today being the involvement of demons, ghosts, aliens, ancient forces or the power of the human mind. We all agree there is something out there in the world which is ignored or intentionally hidden but we do intent to find it.

SH: Does anyone have a personal true story to tell such as a ghost story?

Gatekeeper: Years ago I attended the university in Sault Ste. Marie and as the history goes, the place use to house local native child. There were accounts where many of those kids were abused and some even died there. While going to classes or the library, I would feel as if there was someone watching me especially when no one was around. But the most eerie encounter was going down the path which cuts through a section of brush behind the school around 11:30 pm. As I was walking, I heard children laughing and playing around me and being winter with the trees bear, there was nobody there.

Dennis. There was this one time I went to my dads camp during the summer. I was cutting wood where a noticed a shadow coming up behind me. When I turned around there was a man hanging by the neck off this old tree. He was wearing what I could say were colonial clothing. Within a few second, the guy disappeared from sight. My dad later told me there was a tale about the tree being used to hang criminals and deserters.

Michelle:  I sorta have one.  It involves my dad years ago.  When his brother died he and the siblings decided to do a seance. It was evening, just before the sun was to set.  They all gathered in the field with candles. The last thing Dad remembered was the candle flickering then "waking up" on the porch. Everyone else was inside and wouldn't let him in.  They later told him that the candles blew out and his eyes started to glow.  Everyone panicked and locked him outside.  He wasn't out for very long though... and nothing else happened.

SH: And briefly what's everyone's favorites such as music, movies, and etc.?

Gatekeeper: B rated horror movies. The more gore and blood the funnier I find them like the Evil Dead series. Now as to music anything that is metal.

Pat: Classic rock and eye candy movies like Matrix and LOR

Seeker: Classical. Movies that involve fantasy and horror stories.

Andy: Anything with a lot of blood.

Black Widow: Best movies are UnderWorld and Pump up the Volume. I love any music that is communing and energizing with or around nature along with anything that is not country and Favorite Place to Be.

Rachelle: Horror, horror and more horror. I loved Texas Chainsaw Massacre and only listen to hard rock.

Dennis: Only movies to watch are those that are interesting and over the year I will only listen to the classical rock. You know the 50s, 60s and 70s stuff.

Terry: Watch anything that is good and the same with music.

Berry: Any movie with enough action and explosion will be among my collection.

Michelle: Pretty much any type of music. Techno Dance and Celtic, From Colin James to Eminem.  Movies vary depending on my mood. And I love anything in the fantasy novel category. Katherine Kerr and Mercedes Lackey most of all.

SH: What are some of everyone's bad habits?

No one has any bad habits or ones we are not willing to share with the world yet.

SH: Thank you for talking to us we greatly appreciate it. Do you have any last things you want to say?

The truth is out there, though it is only a matter of what truth you are looking for and whose truth you find.