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Welcome to lore legends, a subset of lore episodes that explore the strange tales we whisper in the dark,

even if they can't always be proven by the history books.

So if you're ready, let's begin.

Small towns can be strange. They can feel as cozy as a warm blanket and as comfortable as an old t-shirt.

Or they can smother you, like the plumes of smoke billowing out of a burning building.

Small towns, especially the ones we grow up in, are known.

They're familiar, like living sitcoms, complete with fan favourite characters, whacking neighbours,

and every once in a while, a convoluted plotline.

Oh, and then there are the stories.

If you grew up in a small town like me, you would recognise them all, like a well-worn glove slipping over your fingers.

They always have the flavour of wild rumour and the shimmer of fantasy, but we love to hear them anyway.

Tales from our communities past, painted with a brush loaded with imagination.

Most of those anecdotes are salacious and fun to hear, but within them is always a smaller subset.

The ones with a hint of darkness.

How many of us grew up hearing stories about the lonely old widower,

who was said to kidnap children and murder them in his basement,

...