23: S1E23 – Below the World of Men

Some truths should never see the light. In this chilling double feature from the shadowy edges of Otis Jiry’s Tales From Duskwood, we descend—literally and figuratively—into the hidden places beneath our feet and behind our minds. Beneath Rome’s ancient stones, a rivalry turns deadly in a place no map dares mark. And far beneath the hills of England, something stirs in the dark, older than empire… and far less patient. Host Otis Jiry guides you through two forgotten corridors of terror, each penned by the legendary Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—not of pipe and magnifying glass, but of claw, echo, and silence.

PODCAST SUMMARY

“The New Catacomb” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Rival archaeologists Kennedy and Burger share a passion for uncovering Rome’s forgotten past—but their friendship masks deeper tensions. When Burger reveals he’s discovered a previously unknown catacomb, Kennedy is eager to see it for himself, unaware of how personal the expedition is about to become. A gripping tale of ego, betrayal, and the terrible things buried beneath both cities and souls, this story reminds us that some secrets are kept hidden for a reason.

“The Terror of Blue John Gap” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sent to the English countryside to recover from illness, Dr. James Hardcastle finds peace among the moors—until strange sounds and missing livestock lead him to a Roman mine long abandoned. As he investigates the mysterious cavern known as Blue John Gap, scientific curiosity gives way to dread. Blending cosmic unease with rural folklore, this slow-burning descent into isolation and obsession explores what happens when reason confronts the unimaginable.