Contains major mentions referred in a particular episode of the Lore podcast produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Note:
I might have missed some important mentions, but episode transcripts might be found here and here.
This is merely a "quick glance and get summary" type page, and not complete list of anecdotes.
Similar efforts to summarize are done in this wikipedia page, without a lot of references and sources.
For a complete set of references, one could check "sources" under that episode's offical page (if available).
Reason: I kept forgetting the storyline and the major mentions in an episode, hence created this document. For me, transcripts (provided in above point) are too long.
Help needed: Although I really really love the Lore podcast, but recently I am finding less and less time to listen.
If you want to take over some episodes (maybe because you like this format or are a big fan of the Lore), please do so, and I will add it with due credits. Thanks!
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Major theme: Apocalypse cults (Southcotians and Shakers)
Official Description: The end of the world has always been a big fear. And fear, as we all know, is a powerful fuel for driving folklore into the future. Let's meet one individual who did just that, while also leaving us with a fascinating mystery to unravel.
Official Description: Many creatures in the world of folklore are inventions designed to fulfill one purpose or another. But if the stories are true, some of those inventions haven't been satisfied with remaining in our heads.
Official Description: Human remains are a touchy subject. But over the centuries, one specific type of folklore has turned them into something greater in death than they were in life.
Official Description: Bridges help us span uncrossable gaps in our world. But according to legend, a few go further, helping connect the living to the dead.
Official Description: The court of public opinion has always been a place where lives can be boosted or ruined. But centuries ago, it could also lead to darker results—even death.
Official Description: Burial seems like a certainty for most people. But according to the legends that are whispered in graveyards around America, not all burials are created equal.
Timothy Clark Smith's Grave:
Timothy Clark Smith,
Catherine (wife),
Harrison (son),
Taphophobia,
Sleeping sickness,
Window and stairs into Timothy's Grave
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3)
Leila Hansell's Grave:
Lelia Maud Davidson Hansell (The Sunshine Lady),
Judge Charles P. Hansell (husband)
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3)
Mittie Manning's Grave:
Mittie Manning,
Van and Mary Manning (parents),
Harriet Manning,
Sliding window in the grave to slide and see Mittie
(Reference articles:
1,
2)
Official Description: Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, one American city has climbed out of a dark and painful past. But the shadows of those early tragedies have proven to be impossible to leave behind.
Martin and Susan DeFoor murder:
Martin Walker,
Martin DeFoor and Susan DeFoor,
Montgomery House,
DeFoor's Ferry (or earlier, Montgomery Ferry)
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3)
Major theme: Bonaventure and Colonial Park Cemetery
Official Description: Like all cemeteries, Savannah's Bonaventure is the resting place to many people. But as time has proven, it's also home to some dark legends.
Colonial Park Cemetery:
Colonial Park Cemetery,
Button Gwinnett and Lachlan McIntosh (duel),
Lieutenant James Wilde and Captain Roswell P. Johnson (duel),
Rene Rondelier
(Reference articles:
1,
2)
Major theme: Haunted stories associated with England forests
Official Description: There are few locations in our world as loaded with mystery and dripping with folklore as the woods. Let's step onto the path and see what frightening places it might take us.
Official Description: Love has always been a sort of the type of pain and heartbreak that leaves a mark after death, even when those romances don't quite fit the expectations of the world around them.
The Ladies of Llangollen:
Sarah Ponsonby,
Frisk (dog),
Eleanor Butler,
Mary Carryl,
Plas Newydd (the New Palace in Welsh),
Mary Gordon
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3)
Official Description: People have a lot of fears. From spiders to the open sea, lots of things put us on edge. But few things are as downright terrifying as this particular circumstance…and it has for thousands or years.
Major theme: Paranormal investigators: Harry Price and Nandor Fodor
Official Description: Some rivalries play out on the big screen in a way everyone can cheer along with. But some have had a very different, and much more frightening, tone.
Official Description: Some of the darkest local legends grow alongside the roads we take for granted. An no stretch of pavement in New Jersey has more to be afraid of than Clinton Road.
Official Description: Rumors might not always represent the truth, but that doesn't mean they don't have the power to change the world around us. Or—in some cases—give birth to frightening stories.
Major theme: Mysterious beings watching over people
Official Description: The feeling of being watched is a common strand that runs through many legends around the world. Pulling on that thread, however, might take us to very dark places.
Major theme: Ghosts associated with places or events
Official Description: Two centuries ago, one family played host to an unwanted visitor. And while the community wanted to learn more and see it for themselves, the challenges to that quest are also what made it so frightening.
Introduction:
William Kent,
Elizabeth Lynes (first wife),
Fanny (second wife and sister of Lynes),
Richard Parsons,
Elizabeth Parsons (daughter),
Cock Lane ghost
The Edgefield Ghost:
Isaac and Hetta Burnett,
Bob Jones,
Reverand Nicolas Hodges,
James Sheppard,
Martha (younger daughter)
(reference 1,
reference 2)
Official Description: Judging by music's ability to connect with us on multiple levels, it's no wonder that history is filled with legends about how that connection could go very wrong. Let's explore some of those dark melodies together.
Official Description: Humans have done some horrible things over the course of history, usually because of internal issues. But one outside substance developed a frightening reputation thanks to folklore.
Official Description: The woods can be a place of peace and tranquility. But if the legends from around the world have anything to teach us, it's that there are always exceptions to the rule.
Official Description: The way folklore breaks through in our day to day lives is often dictated by the worldview that society applies to certain people. The way that has played out in practical terms, however, has been terrifying.
Official Description: Few occupations created more legendary tales than piracy. From adventure to treasure, everything seems dripping in blood and lore.
Official Description: It's never fun to misplace something. Lost objects have been a frustration and fascination for most of humanity. But one place in particular is better than all the others at making things disappear. And today…we're going there.
Official Description: Folklore at the intersection of romance and danger is nearly universal, no matter where you go in this world. And more than that, they can be downright terrifying as well.
Official Description: Summer is here, and for many people, that also means it's camping time. But few paintings are as perfect as campfires and spooky tales, so be ready for some scares.
Official Description: Few corners of American folklore have as much depth and texture as one that was born out of tradition, longing, and powerlessness. And thanks to one trailblazing writer, we can take a guided tour of it all.
Official Description: Our search for legends today takes us deep into the woods outside of Huntington, Long Island, to a place known forbiddingly as Mount Misery. Just be sure to bring a flashlight.
Official Description: Much of the history of folklore we have today involves a community driven to panic over unusual stories and experiences. But few moments in time illustrate that pattern so clearly as the events in one small Midwestern town.
Major theme: Women accused as witches, witch stories
Official Description: The history of witchcraft, from the folklore to the legal trials, is dark enough. But for centuries, people have been whispering legends that are so chilling, they've never been forgotten.
Elizabeth Masters (The Recovery ship):
The Athenian Mercury (or The Athenian Gazette),
The Recovery (ship),
Elizabeth Masters (accused of witchcraft on The Recovery),
William Reynolds,
William Goodfellow,
Mary Leare
(reference article)
Official Description: Despite being known for being a “mile high”, the folklore and history of one American city is filled with more than enough darkness hidden away down below.
Official Description: Some folklore can only be explored if we're willing to get a little wet. Let's dive into the frightening folklore of lake monsters.
Major theme: Legends associated with love from Mexico
Official Description: Few genres of story are as compelling as romance. But just because death puts an end to life, it doesn't necessarily mean it has also severed the ties of love.
Official Description: Some corners of folklore offer us a place to hide. But when those traditions become a pawn in political and religious games, the stories they breed often leave us with chills.
Official Description: The world is a big, scary place, and that's mostly because of the people around us. But if the legends are true, there are darker reasons to be afraid, and they are lurking in the shadows outside our homes.
Official Description: Some of the most popular stories in our culture are far older, and more dark, than we could ever imagine. And what makes them even more frightening is that some of them might be true.
Introduction:
Lady Rai,
Hekashepes (oldest non-royal mummy, discovered in Jan 2023)
Official Description: In this remastered classic episode, we revisit the story of two young women bound by something beyond our world, and the frighteningly familiar tales they tell. Plus, stick around for a brand new bonus story at the end.
Wateska Wonder (Mary possessing Mary):
Bloodletting,
Mary Roff (parents Asa Roff and Anne Roff),
Thomas Vennum,
Lucinda Vennum,
Mary Lurancy Vennum (siblings Laura and Bertie),
E. Winchester Stevens,
Katrina Hogan,
Willie Canning,
Hypnosis,
Fox sisters,
Watseka Wonder
(detailed account),
Major theme: Occurences of Gods and Devil (especially footprints)
Official Description: Folklore is typically invisible, buried in the stories we tell and the words we use. But every now and then it takes on a physical shape…with terrifying results.
Official Description: So many stories are built on the idea of double identity. In this remastered classic episode, we revisit the true life story of one of history's most infamous double lives. And be sure not to miss the brand new bonus story at the end!
Introduction:
Thomas Harvey, Sarah Harvey (mother of Thomas), Ms. Knight
(reference article)
Official Description: One of the most crowded landscapes in folklore comes from one of the most harsh and barren locations in the world. But the dead might just have too many stories to tell.
Official Description: It's time to revisit the notion of a cursed community. This remastered classic episode features brand new narration and a score by Chad Lawson, as well as a whole new Epilogue bonus story at the end.
The Kaskaskia Curse:
Jean Benard, Marie (daughter of Jean Benard),
Kaskaskia (in Illinois)
(reference article)
The Abenaki Indian Curse:
Northeast Kingdom,
Brunswick Springs curse (Ripley's Believe It or Not! called this Eighth Wonder of World),
Charles Bailey (built Brunswick Springs House), D. C. Rowell (built The Pine Crest Lodge), John Hutchins
(reference article)
Official Description: In this remastered fan favorite, we return to the folklore of bird-man legends, and the events in Point Pleasant that have left us with one of the biggest cryptids of all time: Mothman. Come for the fresh narration and score, but stay for the brand new bonus story at the end.
Official Description: There are a lot of well-worn tales in the world of folklore. But there are some truly astonishing—and frightening—stories waiting for us just off the path, hidden away in the shadows.
Lukh Witch trials: High women percentage (England and Scotland),
High men percentage (Normandy, Ukraine, Finland, Russia),
Lukh Witch Trials
(Tatiana,
Tosca Malakorov (healer),
Ivan, the investigator)
Official Description: Behind every vampire is a hunter looking to stop them, and this remastered classic episode takes us deep inside that mythology. Fresh narration and music, plus a brand new bonus story at the end!
Official Description: Some fads are more than a harmless form of entertainment. In fact, the pages of history contains one that stalked the Midwest in the 1970s…with frightful consequences.
Official Description: In this remastered classic episode, we revisit the story of Mary Toft and her unusual pregnancy. This episode features brand new narration and scoring, plus an exclusive new bonus story at the end.
Official Description: In this remastered classic, we return to Scotland's deadly past, where one person's accusations of witchcraft could bring an entire community to its knees. And don't miss the brand new bonus story at the end!
Major theme: Anecdotes on places with 'Devil' in their name
Official Description: Some of the darkest folklore in America is hidden right inside many of the place names that are dotted across the landscape—and one special location that defies the norm.
Major theme: Monstrous creatures (especially around Monongahela River)
Official Description: While humans have depended on them for fresh water and transportation over the millennia, the rivers in our community have also become home to terrifying folklore.
Official Description: Some of the most unusual stories in history have a connection to something many of us have living right inside our homes. But just because they're familiar doesn't mean they aren't chilling.
Major theme: Incidents in expeditions (especially mountains)
Official Description: Bundle up, because we're returning to the frigid mountain crime scene that has baffled historians for decades: Dyatlov Pass. This remastered classic episode features brand new narration and production, plus a never-before heard bonus story.
Official Description: 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.
Official Description: The well-worn carpets and imperfect walls of an old hotel can often make guests feel as if they are staying in a little slice of the past. In one grand old hotel, however, that truth has never been more true. This remastered edition includes a brand new story at the end, plus refreshed narration and production, and music from Chad Lawson.
Official Description: Our classic exploration of everyone's favorite hairy beast, freshly re-recorded and produced from scratch with music by Chad Lawson. And don't miss the new Epilogue story after the credits!
Official Description: We like to think we'll see it coming. That we can plan ahead and prepare—even defend ourselves. But death comes in all shapes and sizes, sometimes so small and featureless that it slips through our carefully constructed defenses without us even knowing. And history shows us that all of us should be worried about that.
Herman Billik:
Barbara Billik,
Elsa (daughter),
Herman Billik (son),
Mary Cermak (wife of Herman),
Martin Vrzal and wife Rosa,
Mary (daughter),
Tilly (daughter),
Jerry (son),
Emma Vrzal (oldest daughter),
Albert Ross (her lover),
William Niemann,
O'Callaghanm (defense attorney).
Who killed everyone - Herman Billik or Emma Vrzal?
(References:
Poisoned (book),
1,
2,
3)
Official Description: Humans have a tendency to collect things. From baseball cards to Twitter followers, we enjoy bringing everything into one place. But when that collection represents the very worst of humanity—both in how it's managed and where it comes from—the act of collecting comes with dire consequences.
Major theme: Florence Cook (medium) and William Crookes (scientist)
Official Description: We love to simplify things. Easy is better than complex, after all, and simple things are easy to understand. Sadly, though, the people around us are far from simple; they are complex and layered, with deep, hidden stories just waiting to be discovered.
Florence Cook (medium):
Dalston Association of Enquirers into Spiritualism,
Katie King (spirit summoned by Florence Cook),
Miss Eliza Cliff,
Mr. Charles Blackburn (husband of Mrs. Agnes Guppy, another medium),
William Volckman,
Edward Elgie Corner (later husband of Florence),
Earl and Countess of Caithness,
Henry Dunphy
Official Description: The ocean is very good at taking things from us, but we are equally skilled at not forgetting. Still, no matter how many stories we tell about lost ships and vanished loved ones, it will never bring them back. At least, that's what most people believe.
Official Description: Humanity is fueled by hope. We hope for improvement, and dream of a day when things get better than they are right now. And for a very long time, there have been certain people who have taken advantage of that hope. What they deliver instead is an unexpected dose of darkness.
Major theme: Walburga and Otto's (attic) love affair
Official Description: Most of us live incredibly busy lives, and because of all that distraction, we tend to miss the little things. Whether it's a forgotten birthday, or the small puddle of water beneath your water heater in the basement, not noticing things can have consequences. And sometimes, those details can be a matter of life and death.
Walburga Oesterreich and Otto Sanhuber:
Walburga Oesterreich (or Dolly),
Great Chicago Fire (1871),
Fred William Oesterreich (husband),
Otto Sanhuber (Walburga's lover, later Walter Klein),
Mrs. Norton (neighbor in LA),
Mrs. Rawson,
J. Ashley,
Roy Klumb,
La Brea Tar Pits,
Herman Shapiro (Walburga's personal attorney),
Marjorie Tex
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3)
Official Description: Like a well-loved pair of shoes, or those jeans you bought in college and never gave up on, some things become worn out over time. But when that thing is a physical location, eroded away by thousands of years of human activity and deep, rich folklore, what sort of nightmares might we expect to pour in through the hole? There's only one way to find out.
Official Description: Every movement has a seed, that spark that sets the fire ablaze. But this spark is more than just a murder mystery, or a treasure hunt, or even a haunting unlike any other. This one is all three. Which may explain why a century and a half later, the world is still reeling from its impact.
Official Description: Each of us holds inside ourselves a precious cargo. It is the key to life, and a worthy sacrifice when important things are on the line. And yet it also sits at the center of some of our greatest fears. After all, if something's precious, there's always someone who wants to steal it.
Official Description: When tragedy strikes and poor choices haunt us, sometimes the only thing we can do is move on and build on the ashes of the past. But there are places where that hasn't worked out so well. In fact, sometimes the worst thing we can do to history is bury it.
Major theme: Dreams as Convictions - Russell Colvin & Thomas Jr.
Official Description: For thousands of years, humans have built rules and procedures for handling the various curveballs that life throws our way—and we place a lot of trust in those systems. Most of the time, it all works properly, but there are moments when human nature and our belief in the unusual throw a wrench in the gears.
Russell Colvin and Boorn brothers:
Russell Colvin,
Sally Boorn,
Jesse and Stephen Boorn (brothers),
Barney Boorn (father),
Lewis (Russell's son),
Thomas Johnson,
Uncle Amos Boorn,
Silas Merrill,
Tabor Chadwick,
James Whelpley
(Reference articles:
1,
2)
Thomas Cornell Jr. and mother Rebecca:
Thomas Cornell Sr.,
Rebecca Cornell (mother),
Thomas Cornell Jr. (son, allegedly killed his mother,
reference),
John Pierce,
Ezra Cornell (founder of Cornell University)
Official Description: Life is full of challenges. From learning new skills to climbing the social ladder, most people struggle with the hurdles we're forced to overcome. But when it's all said and done, few things are as difficult as something all of us will have to face some day: saying good-bye.
Introduction:
French noblewoman (fully-clothed in a lead coffin with husband's heart)
Official Description: Few things disappoint us more than when our expectations aren't met. We expect to be loved, or to be rewarded for our hard work. And above all, we expect the people in our lives to always be there. Which is why it's so frightening to hear stories of those who don't — of people who were right there, where they should be, only to disappear without explanation.
Introduction:
Mr and Mrs Vaughan - missing 3 children in Gloucester
(reference)
Identity theft of Fritz Alswanger and disappearance of Diedrici:
Captain Fritz Alswanger,
Diderici,
Weichselmünde prison,
White Swan Inn
(References:
1,
2)
Official Description: Our understanding of the natural world is incredibly advanced compared to our ancestors from a few centuries ago. We have established rules and order to help us frame how everything works. On occasion, though, those rules have been broken, and the results have been absolutely terrifying.
Official Description: Humans are hard-wired for trust. It's the secret ingredient that helps us form communities, build relationships, and grow as people. But while that trust is a noble inclination, it can also get us into trouble—trouble that can sometimes turn deadly.
The Bloody Benders:
John Eliot,
King Philip's War,
Praying town,
Treaty of Fort Clark,
John Bender Sr.,
Elvira Bender (wife),
John Bender Jr. (son),
Kate Bender (daughter),
Dr. William Henry York,
Col. Edward York (brother),
Alexander York (brother),
George Loncher,
Mary Ann (daughter),
Billy Tole,
survivors (William Pickering, Father Paul Ponziglione),
Bloody Benders
(Reference articles:
1,
2)
Official Description: There is a lot in life that we can control, but no system is perfect. Every now and then, circumstances pull the rug out from underneath us and leave us powerless. But at least one surprise turn of events had a different affect, and the results have left us with questions that are still unanswered today.
Official Description: Islands have served a variety of functions for people over the years. They can be a place of safety and privacy, or of simplicity and escape. But islands have played host to other less savory events over the years. And just because they can be small, it doesn't mean they can't be dark.
Major theme: Water Monsters Legends, particularly the Champ
Official Description: We tend think of rivers and lakes as tame. They are the safe and friendly counterpart to the deep and treacherous waters of the ocean. Freshwater rivers and lakes give us life, after all. But that doesn't mean they aren't dangerous. Somewhere in the darkness beneath their calm surface, terrifying stories wait for us.
Official Description: Some cities experience a single tragedy and then live with that pain and loss for generations. They are built on a dark foundation, and everything new takes on a flavor of the past. But there are other places where that tragedy is spread out over time, like a slow-burning fire that never fully consumes but always leaves its mark—and I'd like to take you on a tour of one.
Official Description: Humans have always sought companionship. From the communities we live in, to the pets we welcome into our homes, our need for companions is as old as we are. But that natural desire has led some to pursue some very unnatural ideas.
Official Description: Every now and then a story comes along that is so powerful and compelling that it creates a new branch on the tree of folklore. Yes, it has deeper roots, but sometimes a new expression of fear grows out to cast new shade on our already-fearful lives. And one of these rare moments happened less than six decades ago.
Official Description: Our bodies are a fortress, and every day, they suffer through attacks from the outside. Over the centuries, we're become very good at protecting ourselves from illness and disease, but all of those efforts assume everyone around us will be responsible. Illness, though, has often been misused—sometimes maliciously and other times through sheer ignorance—and the results have been horrifying.
Major theme: Borley Rectory and The Amityville Horror
Official Description: Our home is supposed to be a safe space where we are free to relax and enjoy life. History, though, contains stories that break that mould. Places where people want to live in peace, and yet find themselves at odds with forces beyond their control. And if there's a logical reason, it might very well be buried in the past.
Borley Rectory:
Borley Rectory,
Referend Henry Dawson Ellis Bull,
Caroline Foyster Bull (wife),
Harry Bull (son),
Ethel Mary (daughter),
Mrs Newman (cook),
Reverend Guy Eric Smith,
Mabel Smith (wife of Rev. Eric Smith),
Harry Price,
Harry Price's investigation,
Reverend Lionel Algernon Foyster,
Mrs. Marianne Foyster (wife of Rev. Lionel Foyster),
French nun Marie Lairre
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3,
4,
5)
Official Description: Nothing is more magical than when a family works together. But when their talents seem to defy all logic and reason, it might not be a bad idea to dig deeper and look for the truth. Just be careful—the truth, it turns out, isn't always that simple.
Official Description: Humans have always been more than a little bit superstitious, and one of the oldest and most universal of those beliefs is the curse. The story of how that belief has evolved in relation to one particular culture, though, is both powerful and frightening. It would serve us well to not get swept up in the lies.
Official Description: People are really good at moving on. We rush from fad to fad at an alarming speed, and it's difficult to predict where our interests will land next. In the process, we tend to abandon things—things like the places we live. But don't be fooled; even after we've all moved on, those places are far from uninhabited.
Avilla:
Avilla,
Andrew L. Love and David S. Holman (founders of Avilla),
Dr. Jaquillian M. Stemmons,
Rotten Johnny Reb,
The Death Tree,
Rotten Johnny Reb
Official Description: Humanity seems to always be at risk of suffering through another major outbreak. History is full with dark moments of biological chaos, and despite constant advances in medical science, there seems to be no end in sight. We're afraid of getting sick, and sometimes it feels like we're right on the edge. And that can be a terrifying place to be.
Le Pain Maudit or The Cursed Bread:
Doctor Gabbai,
Madame Charpai,
Mr. Maison (died from heart attack),
Marie,
Madame Maudlin,
Joseph (son),
Pont Saint Esprit,
1951 Pont-Saint-Esprit mass poisoning (Le Pain Maudit or The Cursed Bread)
(Reference articles:
1,
2)
Official Description: The places we inhabit slowly become like us, reflecting our brightest ambitions and darkest secrets. Countless cities harbor the shadows of a violent past, but few hide it so elegantly as one southern gem.
Alice Riley's ghost:
Alice Riley,
Richard Cannon,
William Wise (in Hutchinson's Island),
Richard White,
James (child of Alice),
First African Baptist Church,
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3,
4)
Hamilton Turner Inn:
Samuel Hamilton,
Isabella Stewart Gardner,
Dr. Francis Turner,
Hamilton Turner Inn
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3,
4)
Official Description: Our lives have a way of becoming magnets that attract pain and suffering. Some of us go through more than others, but in the end, we're all running from something. Just how far we might go to get away is a mystery, but it could never top the lengths one person went to to escape a life of pain and guilt. This is their story.
Official Description: We live in a very technological world today, with constant updates and improvements over last year's model, and while many of the advancements are amazing, few have impacted humanity quite like photography. It opened up new worlds, and changed the way we think about time and space. Some, however, might have taken that too far.
Official Description: Waves of illness crash against the shores of humanity. They always have, and they probably always will. But we weather the storm through advancements in medical science and the resilience of human nature. Still, no matter how hard we've tried, some outbreaks have left a dark stain on the pages of history.
Major theme: Nelly Butler ghost/specter of Sullivan
Official Description: Life is a lot like a big budget movie. We click play, and then let the action wash over us. There are highs and lows, laughter and tears, and then it's all over and the screen goes silent. The dead can't talk back, something most people are thankful for. Still, there have been rare moments in history when that rule appears to have been broken—and the results were extraordinary.
Nelly Butler's ghost story:
Eleanor Hooper Butler (Nelly Hooper),
Sally (sister),
David (father),
George Butler (husband),
George's second wife - Lydia Blaisdell,
Paul (brother),
Abner Blaisdell (father),
Immortality proved by the testimony of sense (book by Abraham Cummings)
(Reference articles:
1,
2,
3)
Official Description: The pages of our greatest literature are full of tales of powerful wizards. People gifted with abilities that stand head and shoulder above their peers. They act as guides, ushering us into a new world with fresh possibilities. And yet they are much more than simply a tool used by storytellers. In fact, history paints a much more fascinating—and dark—picture for us.
Official Description: The sky is a source of life for everything on this planet. Rain to quench our thirst and sunlight for our food. We don't look up too often these days, but that hasn't changed our dependance on it. But occasionally, the sky can be a source of something else. Something much less typical than rain or snow or sunshine. History, it seems, paints a very frightening picture of the world above us.
Official Description: When our health is failing and our lives are at risk, trust is essential. The people who care for us often find themselves in a position of power, with our well-being entirely under their control. As history has shown us, however, there’s danger in handing that much control over to another person.
Introduction:
Edward Struck,
Lydia Sherman (the Derby Prisoner)
Official Description: Humans have a seemingly never-ending list of fears. The dark of night, small spaces, open water…there doesn't seem to be an area of life that doesn't come with a few reasons to take pause and be afraid. But the greatest of those fears might just come at the end of our lives, and for over a century, that fear drove people to unimaginable things.
Official Description: In this second Lore Trick or Treat 2017 set of stories, we explore the power of folklore and fate.
A Head of Steam takes us on an eerie trip through the graveyard, while A Deadly Past shows us how sometimes our actions have a way of catching up with is.
Official Description: We've conquered much of our world, but even with all of our great cities and urban sprawl, there are still shadows on the edge. And it's in the shadows that the greatest threats still exist—creatures from our darkest nightmares that threaten our feeling of safety. Which has led some to strike out into the dark and hunt them.
Official Description: The first Trick or Treat Halloween special of 2017 features two tales.
The first, A Bridge Too Far, walks us through a winter train ride that went horribly wrong over a century ago.
The second story reminds us that life is a lot more complex than we're willing to admit.
Rise Above introduces us to the darkness found inside that complexity.
Official Description: There's a fine line between rationality and madness, but it's not as easy to avoid as you might think. Throughout history, our world has played host to people who have taken their superstitions too far, but it was the chaos of the English Civil War that helped give birth to one of the worst.
Official Description: The sky is full of mystery. It's big, expansive, and—despite a century of powered human flight—outside our realm of control. Which is why, for centuries, humans have expected things to come down from the sky and harm us. It might sound crazy now, but the possibilities are wide open. And that might not be a good thing.
Official Description: The older the country, the deeper the roots of its folklore have grown—roots that are fed by darkness, fear, and pain. And few countries hold such a variety of frightening tales, both old and modern, as the lovely Emerald Isle. But not everything that walks those hills is safe to approach.
Official Description: There are some locations that seem to draw humans closer. Places that are away from the bustle of everyday life, that almost seem part of our soul. We go there for solitaire, or for rest, or recreation. Sometimes, though, we don't return.
Official Description: Fire is a dangerous tool. Used properly, it can transform a society, but if it isn't respected, it can burn that society to the ground. Which is why we are obsessed with controlling it—and completely, utterly afraid of it.
The Haunting of Esther Cox:
Esther Cox,
Olive (sister) and Daniel Teed (brother-in-law),
Jennie and William (siblings),
John Teed,
Bob Macneal,
Dr Carritte,
"Esther Cox, you are mine to kill.",
Walter Hubbell
(reference article 1,
reference article 2),
The Great Amherst Mystery (book)
Official Description: There are very few bits of folklore that haven't spread around the globe over the past few centuries. Yet every now and then, something fresh and distinct pops up. But just because it's relatively new doesn't mean it's safe.
Official Description: The bigger the city, the easier it is to miss the little details. Stories of loss, tragedy, and horrifying events have a way of vanishing beneath the bustle of everyday life. And no place is better at hiding away its dark secrets than the Big Apple.
Introduction:
Joseph Asch,
Isaac Harris and Max Blanck,
Triangle Waist Company
(Triangle Fire)
Official Description: Folklore and popular culture are filled with a type of event that seems both unusual and logical: time and time again, criminals return to the source. But as one man proved a century ago, it's not always easy to go home.
Official Description: Folklore and medicine often go hand in hand. In fact, for a long time they were the very same thing. But folklore has a way of leading people to tragic actions—all in the name of getting better.
Official Description: You can tell a lot about a culture by the things it creates. Tools, exploration, weapons; all of it speaks to the priorities and character of that society. But if that’s true, then what are we supposed to assume about the mind behind one of history's most bizarre creations?
Official Description: Humans have an innate desire to fix what's broken, and that's a good thing. We're not the best at it, though, and we often fail—sometimes horribly. And few examples are as powerful as the world of mental health.
Official Description: H.P. Lovecraft said it best: “…the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”. And no other place in the world is as unknown to us as the ocean. It's dark, it's deep, it's full of questions—and maybe something else.
Official Description: Human culture has a different expression no matter where you go. Despite that variety, though, we do share one common thread: music. And while it has typically been a source of joy, there have been moments when music has brought something else: fear, pain, and horror.
Official Description: Nearly four centuries ago, a wave of sickness spread through a community in the French countryside. It wasn't a traditional disease they were fighting, though. This plague had a more sinister source.
Official Description: Fear has a way of spreading. It's contagious, moving from person to person. Given enough time, fear can consume an entire community. Sometimes, though, there's good reason to be afraid.
Official Description: Folklore is more than just a collection of stories; it's the soul of a culture or location. Without them, our world has less texture and beauty. But like the stories themselves, some places have spirits that creep in and take up residence.
Official Description: The more crowded our world becomes, the more frequently we are confronted with our commonality. Our interests, our passions…even our appearance. But just how similar can we get? Well, that's the stuff of folklore.
Official Description: Our connection to animals is ancient, intimate, and complex. Humans have worshiped them, sacrificed them, lived with them, and been buried with them. But folklore from all over the world hints at a darker connection, and it just might be true.
Official Description: History is full of criminals. They come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some are cheerful, some are dark. Some, however, steal more than money or precious belongings. To be caught in their web means paying the ultimate price.
Belle Gunness or Hell's Belle:
Brynhild Størseth (or Belle Gunness),
H. H. Holmes,
Mads Sorenson,
Jennie Olsen (adopted daughter),
Peter Gunness,
Ray Lamphere,
George Anderson,
John Moe,
Ole Budsberg,
Benjamin Carling,
Clyde Sturgis,
Joe Maxon,
Andrew Hegelian,
Esther Carlson
(reference article),
Why Crime Does Not Pay and
Queen of the Underworld (books by Sophie Lyons)
Official Description: We crave safety. We build rules and systems and even physical barriers in order to create a sense of security. But darkness has a way of creeping in, no matter how powerful the walls might be.
Official Description: A Halloween treat to add a bit of spook to your week.
Each Lore “Trick or Treat 2016” episode is a collection of two of my favorite Patreon member-only “shorts” in one place.
Perfect for a rainy day, a walk in the dark, or a campfire gathering.
This episode includes “In a Pickle” and “Drained”.
Official Description: A Halloween treat to add a bit of spook to your week.
Each Lore “Trick or Treat 2016” episode is a collection of two of my favorite “shorts” in one place.
Perfect for a rainy day, a walk in the dark, or a campfire gathering.
This episode includes “Peg & Button” and “Behind the Door”.