Storyfeather

The captain and crew of a vessel-for-hire cautiously agree to help a banished merman prince find his hidden realm in exchange for a lavish undersea treasure. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:"What did he look like, Captain?" someone asked. "Did he have long sharp teeth, like a pike fish?" "No, I've heard they're more like a shark's or piranha's." "Either way, there are rows of them, so—" "Let the captain tell us! Was he handsome, Captain?" "Set aside all your fantasies and your wild guesses. In the end, it comes to this, do you want to make a bargain with a merman?" The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Brittle Star This episode landed on CREATURES. I based the story on a "creature" I'd drawn for an art challenge. Find more stories and episodes inspired by challenges here: Year of Creatures. MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE NEWSLETTERSStoryfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.) FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station. MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE CREDITSStory: "The Brittle Star" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel Music:"Call of the wild" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"In the shadows" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Captain's tribute""A last prayer""A story of gold""Don't move""Call of the wild""Adventure""Pirate attack!""In the shadows""The ocean takes it all""Dark lord""Leviathan""Dragon rider""What is hidden" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A merman, his top half human and his bottom half a fish, facing forward perched on flat earth. He is bare-chested and his tail curves up behind him to the left (his right). He wears a belt of gold around his waist, and in the center is a symbol: three upside down triangles, overlapping and growing smaller from bottom to top. He wears gold cuffs or vambraces. His right hand is curled in a fist by his side. In his left hand, he holds a golden trident, simple save that the symbol of three triangles is worked into the lines connecting the prongs of the trident. Waves splash behind him. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along outside of his upper left arm.

Our ancestors possessed powers and protections that were lost upon the destruction of a machine that had only one function, providing each person with a name. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:Tempest and storm. Disease and death. Creatures who hunted humankind as prey. Beings who pursued humankind out of evil longing. The name generated by the Arcanomen provided protection from all these dangers. If any harmful influence, be it demon or disease, tried to possess a person, the name would respond. It would twist and shift. It would examine and adapt. It would block and shield. And if that was not enough, it would attack… The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Arcanomen This episode landed on CHALLENGE. I challenged myself to write a very short myth. Find more stories and episodes inspired by challenges here: Year of Challenge. MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE NEWSLETTERS Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.) FICTION-WRITING ARTICLES & RESOURCES (New)Come and explore the Fictioneer's Field Station. MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE CREDITSStory: "The Arcanomen" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel Music:"To Falgalown" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Shadows and flames" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Shadows and flames""Immortals""Runes""Before the shadows""Onirik""To Falgalown""Haven" Tracks by Andrew Sitkov and Nicholas Jeudy are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A machine. Large central disc at center resembling an astrolabe, but without any markings around the rim, and only one pointer. The disc is supported by one small leg at left and a larger apparatus at right with a large hand crack attached and a small spinning lever below the crank. All other parts are behind the central disc. At left are arrayed three smaller discs with hands of various shapes and lengths. Left top, a polyhedron with knobs and circular openings. Above center, three pointers. Right top, a ring facing forward orbited by three rings at vertical and symmetrical angles. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along support left at right.

A thief and an investigator each try to convince the other to accept the truth about the unparalleled treasure that is the Flaming Jargonelle. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:And the thief spoke. "Most of the stories say that when the Flaming Jargonelle is struck by any kind of light from brightest sun to dimmest candle, it appears as if it were made of fire. Sometimes a smoldering fire, sometimes a bright blaze. But I've had it in my possession for many days, and I've never seen it glow like this." The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Flaming Jargonelle This episode landed on DEFINITIONS. The story was inspired by the word "jargonelle," a type of pear. Find more stories and episodes inspired by creative prompts here: Year of Definitions. MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE NEWSLETTERS Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.) MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE CREDITSStory: "The Flaming Jargonelle" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel Music:"In the shadows" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Under the mask" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Inspector""Mindhunter""Black light""In the shadows""As it happenned""Doubts""Creatures of the night""Under the mask""Wide place" Music by LEE ROSEVERE"Waves of Sleep" Tracks by Andrew Sitkov and Nicholas Jeudy are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.com Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A young woman sits within a window frame whose sides and bottom are visible. She sits with her back to the right. Her left leg slightly bent, her left foot is pressed flush against the left frame. Her right leg is bent up, foot flush against the bottom pane. Her face, seen in three-quarters profile, is covered with a mask from nose to chin. Her eyes watch the viewer. She wears a hood over her head. Her left arm is bent against her leg and her hand is slightly curled around a glowing teardrop-shaped jewel, tilted slightly toward her. Sparks are visible on the jewel's surface. The glowing light radiates in a sunburst pattern. Behind the woman is a monochrome painting of a pear tree laden with fruit. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along window frame behind young woman's head.

In the alley behind the factory where they toil, two friends discover something that may lead to their salvation...or to their doom. Genre: Fantasy, Mythology Excerpt:The statue was a depiction of a "vas vespertilio," an idol carved specifically to be the vessel for containing fundamental powers, specifically the powers of the four elements. Each element was contained in the gemstone that represented it. The ruby contained the power of fire. The sapphire contained the power of water. The emerald contained the power of earth. And the missing diamond had contained the power of air. The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Vessel Vespertilian This episode landed on PROMPTS. The story was inspired by a prompt about bringing home a bag you find in the street whose contents are life-changing... Find more stories and episodes inspired by creative prompts here: Year of Prompts. MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE NEWSLETTERSThe Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.) MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE CREDITSStory: "The Vessel Vespertililan" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel Music:"Dark lord" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Inspector" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Whispers""Evidence""Don't move""A story of gold""Inspector""To Falgalown""Scroll of the wind walker""Dark lord""The plan""They follow" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A bat mostly resembling the pygmy round-eared bat, three-quarters view of head with mouth slightly open, seen from bent legs up. The bat has two arms bent over his legs with a smooth membrane connecting the arms to his side. Behind these arms rise four pairs of membranous wings. They extend off frame. The bottom pair is watery and translucent. Next up is a pair with rough earthen texture. Next is a flaming pair. And the topmost pair is luminous and wispy. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along membranous part inside of right arm.

A man opens his new briefcase and discovers that something else lies beside his files, something…vast. Genre: Mystery, Mythology Excerpt:"Once," she started, "the world was filled with different beings than the ones that now fill the world." They were just as wondrous. And just as terrible. But in different ways. For ways changed with time. As it would come be, it was so in those days as well, that some of these beings were short-lived but numerous, and some were long-lived but few. The longest lived of all were the firstborn. They were born when the world was born. And they would end when the world would end. The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: A Brief Case of Dread This episode landed on DEFINITIONS. The story was inspired by the definition of the word "anthropopathy." It's when human emotion is ascribed to an inanimate object. Find more stories and episodes about powerful objects here: Year of Definitions. MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE NEWSLETTERSThe Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.) MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE CREDITSStory: "A Brief Case of Dread" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel Music:"Negociation" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Infinite Land" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"The deal""Trojan horse""Men in black""Under the mask""In the shadows""Call of the wild""Seasons""Ancien stones (seamless)""Winter guild""Runes""On the way""The last stand""Infinite land""Negociation" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A briefcase opening to the left, seen from an angle and tilted up. A tiny toy shaped like a green alien lies inside. The pocket on the inside of the top is decorated with symbols of a sun at center, and at top left and bottom corners, a five-pointed star within the curve of a crescent moon. The case floats in outer space. Nebulous clouds are visible at the corners, and distant clusters of stars. A hazy glowing light emanates from the briefcase and shifts color as it extends out of frame. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along bottom side of briefcase.