The Magnificenting Glass

A researcher comes across a magnifying glass, but it doesn't magnify, it makes magnificent. Genre: Mystery, Mythology, Science Fiction   Excerpt: I looked through the glass, at my crinkled, folded over, flagged, and dog-eared notebook, expecting to see the unintentional thumbprint on the edge of the page in fine detail. Instead, I saw some kind of roller coaster in a dozen shades of blue. Some glowing, some metallic, some watery. Something that looked like a tiny orange dot zoomed around and around the loops and twirls of the coaster.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode?Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. This episode was inspired by “The Telescope of True Sight,” in which a young woman remembers her grandmother’s stories about an ancient telescope, given to her by a prince, that worked like a regular telescope for most, but showed wonders and marvels to those willing to see farther. I also make a brief reference to spectral cameras, cameras capable of capturing images of ghosts, which are from a story in Year 5 called “Spectral Camera Model 57.” And there’s also a connection with an episode called “Doctor Miratio’s Cabinet of Imminent Invention.”     MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: “The Magnificenting Glass” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Abstract Vision #4” by ANDREW SITKOV (Inro & Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV “Abstract Vision #6” “Stars Talk” “Unknown Terrain” “Abstract Vision #3” “Abstract Vision #2” “Abstract Vision #4” “Another World” All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A hand at the bottom right corner holds what appears to be a magnifying glass over a patch of grass. Through the glass are seen bright multi-colored shapes that appear to be a cityscape seen from above. The corner of a folded-over notebook, marked with paper clips at the page tops and lying in the grass, is visible near the top right edge. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along outer edge of thumb. 

A kitchen mishap leads to the accidental invention of the most powerful ice cream in the world. Genre: Science Fiction     Excerpt: His portable, miniature laser beam healing aid flew out of his hand and landed in the still-open container of vanilla ice cream. Arthur pushed down the momentary surge of panic about the electronics in the laser. He reached out to pick the device out of the ice cream. Luminescent sparks made him recoil.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. What if eating ice cream could give you powers? Ah, cartoon logic. Gotta love it. I first explored the concept of imbuing food—well, a consumable product—with extraordinary abilities in a story called “Transpogum,” in which a few inventors attempt to make a chewing gum that allows a person to teleport. I just can’t let go of the notion of gaining cool powers by eating fun foods. But I also can’t help exploring what could go wrong…   MY FIRST BOOK (yay) Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: “Laser Beam Ice Cream” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart” by ANDREA BARONI (Intro) “Casual Theme #1” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV “Casual Theme #6 (Triumph)” “Casual Theme #1” “Abstract Vision #7” “Casual Theme #3” “Abstract Vision #3”   Music by ANDREA BARONI “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart” “Ground Control” “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart (No Percussion)”   Music by CHRIS LOGSDON “Level 1” “Level 2” “Level 4”   All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Andrea Baroni, Andrew Sitkov, and Chris Logsdon is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrea Baroni, Andrew Sitkov, and Chris Logsdon at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com     Episode Art Description: Digital image. Foreground bottom, a bowl with three scoops of ice cream. Vanilla, center front. Strawberry, left behind. Chocolate, right behind. The chocolate scoop has a spoon handle sticking out of it. The vanilla scoop has little lightning bolts surrounding it. Behind the bowl are three figures. Center, from waist up is a smiling young man facing forward, with his curled hands on his hips. To his left is a young woman from waist up in three-quarters profile, her head tilted up. A beam of light shoots from her eyes. She holds the first two fingers of her left hand to her temple. To the young man’s right is a black-and-white dog, seated, who is also looking up and shooting beams of light from his eyes. He wears a collar with the name “Percival” on it. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along spoon handle.

Two adventurous friends offer to help a scientist whose revolutionary invention for all mousekind isn’t exactly authorized. Genre: Science Fiction, Fable   Excerpt: “What happened to gravity?” Matchstick asked, as he pushed his legs against a stone. The stone moved away from him, and he, moved away from it, and toward the other two mice.  Mischief reached into her satchel for her pencil and pad. “Fab, we fell into the isolated chronon field. Can you confirm?” “I…”  Doctor Fabaceous clutched the control slab against his chest. His eyes faced forward, but he didn’t seem to be looking at anything.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. I adore writing stories about a pair of anthropomorphized animal best friends. One of my favorites was a tale of two caterpillars who crash an extravagant party. It’s called, “Lickspittle and Sobersides.”   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)     CREDITSStory: “Matchstick and Mischief” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Dancing Operators” by ANDREA BARONI (Intro & Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf) “Ground Control” “The Tech Show” “Dancing Operators” “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart” “Cozy Afternoons”   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music) “Action Time” “Unknown Terrain” “Abstract Vision #6” “Abstract Vision #9” “Hidden Threat” “Among the Stars” “Prepare for Battle” “Close Your Eyes”   All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Andrea Baroni and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrea Baroni and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com     Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center, a mouse riding a motorcycle down a glowing pathway, facing forward, left paw on the pedal and right paw holding a lit matchstick. Objects float in the space around the mouse. At top left, a screw. Bottom left a sock. Top right corner, part of some device with buttons. Below that, a toothbrush. Middle right, a yo-yo. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along glowing path at top left. Rectangular image made square with top and bottom borders with blurred elements from the main image.

A studious, non-mischievous fairy fulfills her forbidden dream of traveling to the human realm...straight into a convenience store. Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy   Excerpt: She passed her least favorite quill partly through the mirror and pulled it back to test. The quill appeared undamaged. So she next passed her least favorite finger through the mirror, gasping at the watery chill that passed through it as it passed through the mirror’s surface. Her finger too seemed unharmed.  And so, in the most reckless act that she had ever committed in her life thus far, Oddnever stepped through the mirror into the human realm.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. This story is connected to the Season Three episode entitled “Oddness and the Rose Pox,” in which three kids recovering from chicken pox at home are mistakenly infected with another pox, a fairy-borne pox.      MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: “Oddnever” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Midnight Creeping” by Jonathan Shaw (Intro & Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by JONATHAN SHAW “Spinning Tavern” “Midnight Creeping” “Checking Inventory” “A Tale of Peace”   Music by ANDREW SITKOV “Magic Within” “Hidden Fear” “Journey into Fog”   Music by BENJAMIN CARR “Dwarven Settlement” “Ice Cavern” “Ancient Ruins”   All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Benjamin Carr, Jonathan Shaw, and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Benjamin Carr, Jonathan Shaw, and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.uk Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing of the view down the aisle of a convenience store, shelves stocked with generic shapes of bottles and packages. In the foreground with their backs turned to the viewer are two store employees, both wearing green tops. Across from them at the end of the aisle is a figure sticking a hero landing—one knee down, the other bent forward, one hand on the ground, and the other thrown back. The figure is wearing glasses and a hoodie. Two glowing pink wings sprout from their back. A glowing pink spark floats above the hooded figure. The rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders with streaks of color that match the colors of the main image and line up with the main image’s perspective lines. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along floor of aisle at right.

Weatherman Cliff Blazer is always receiving blazers from his fans. But the latest one he receives really takes the cake.   Genre: Fantasy   Excerpt: “So far, five people have come in complaining of difficulty breathing, and producing a strange croaking sound. Now, they’re still being treated, and the hospital staff is hesitant to speculate on what could be causing this, but the reason we’re reporting on this is that one of the patients has been discharged and we spoke to them earlier. They didn’t want to be on camera, but…” Of course they didn’t want to be on camera. What they had to say sounded preposterous. The patient had puked up a frog.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. Outerwear gone rogue! I’ve written about it before, only last time, it was a technological issue, in an episode call “One Killer Jacket.” And wild weather was a major component of yet another story I’d previously written, called “The Rainheralds.”   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: “Cliff's Rad Blazer” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Whimsical Town” by Chris Logsdon (Intro & Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREA Baroni (Cyberleaf) “Ground Control” “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart” “The Tech Show” “Slightly Across”   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music) “Casual Theme #1” “Casual Theme #3” “Abstract Vision #9” “Casual Theme #2”   Music by CHRIS LOGSDON “Mystical Town” “Whimsical Town” “Shady Town”   All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Andrea Baroni, Chris Logdson, and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrea Baroni, Chris Logsdon, and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A weatherman, from waist up, facing forward and standing slightly left of center before a screen showing a generic weather map. He’s wearing a fancy-looking blazer over shirt and tie. The blazer is patterned with sparkling stars and colorful nebulas. He holds his hands to the blazer’s button. A watch and ring on ring finger is visible on his left hand. His left eyebrow is arched. On the weather display, bottom right, a snow flurry is moving in. Top left, an overlay of temperatures. Top right, a cloud under which raindrops and cats and dogs are falling. The rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders that display portions of the main image, distorted as if blotted with a paint brush. Watermark of “Storyfeather” outside and along the weatherman’s right upper arm.

A god loses half her powers and is cast out of the heavens for the crime of sharing those power with mortals. Genre: Mythology     Excerpt: She was far too kindly, and therefore looked upon with disdain by her fellow gods. The other gods feared that the balance of power was being tipped too much toward mortal creatures, to whom the kindly god had given many gifts… To teach her a lesson, the other gods diminished the kindly god by half. They took half her powers, half her wisdom, half her stature. They even took her name, which alone bore a good portion of her power. They named her Rampion,   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode?Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. I’ve written a few stories centered on the subject of hair, or the lack thereof, and powers contained within hair. “The Witch Rampion,” which is loosely inspired by the story of Rapunzel was the first of these. Then there’s the “Festival of the Triumphant Locks” and “Contest Chevelure,” in which contests and celebrations are held around hair.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: “The Once-God Rampion” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Shadows and flames” by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro) “The village” by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio) “Immortals” “The village” “Emblem” “Dark fields” “Dungeon of shadows” “To Falgaltown” “Dark lord” “Shadows and flames” “Stay (seamless)”   All tracks were 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 Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) 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 of a person seen from the back walking away. The person is barefoot and wearing a flowing skirt or dress with hazy edges. Wavy and curling strands of hair in different muted green, brown, and teal flow outward and back from the head, entirely obscuring the top half of the body. One strand on either side is connecting to the tops of trees and appears to be absorbing the trees. A strand on the left is connected to a purple flower with five petals, a rampion bellflower. Hazy foliage frames the bottom half. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along left side of dress.

Mythical flying horses couldn't possibly be real; but there is one that we all may meet in our most vulnerable hours. Genre: Mythology, Fantasy, Fairy Tale   Excerpt: They emerge from the shadow-light of the moon mist. I resist the urge to reach out.  I gasp and shiver.  The room has grown cold.  Not the crisp cold of winter.  Not the numbing cold of ice.  Not even the cold of night.  It is a bracing but fortifying cold.  A vast cold.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. When I was a kid, I desperately wanted unicorns and flying horses to be real. Revisiting a childhood desire in adulthood can be…unnerving. So, why do I keep doing it? This episode was inspired by “A Gildenfaere’s Gift.”     MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: “Noctemfaere” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Magic Within” by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro and Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* “Ice and Fire (peaceful part)” “Magic Within”   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* “Compass” “In the shadows” “Oinions (second part)” “Oinions” “Don’t move” “Winterheart (seamless)” “Stars above”   *These tracks were 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 Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket 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. Center, a winged horse facing viewer, seen from chest up, mane falling to its right. Partly extended right wing is shadowy and hazy. The left wing is raised and stretched out, and the feathers are defined, some turning dark. Emerging from the horse’s sides under its wings are two more flying horses whose forms are translucent. The horse on the left flank extends a wing and raise a leg. The horse on the right flank extends a wing and raise’s two legs. A glowing mist streams down from center top. At bottom beside the figures are bright sparks in the fog. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along main horse’s right wing. Top and bottom borders depicting dark fog and glowing mist make the image square.

A group of curious and ingenious humans build a spyglass to peer into the realm of the gods, to find out why the gods are not governing the world as they were expected to. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt: Not in the beginning, but early in the history of the world, many mortals suspected that the ones who called themselves gods were shirking their duty of properly governing the world. Some responded by entreating the gods. Others by railing against them. But a few decided to try answering the question of what it was that the gods spent their time doing if they were not doing what was expected.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. Resourceful mortals versus neglectful, cruel, and petty gods. This theme doesn’t seem to get old for me. Two previous episodes that explore that theme and inspired this episode are “Godsfear” and “A Sword Named Blasphemy.”   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: “The Union of the Spyglass” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Haven” by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro and Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* “Scroll of the wind walker” “They don’t return” “Ancient gods” “Runes” “To Falgaltown” “Haven” “Signs of desolation” “The harbor” “Flames on ice” “Fallen leaves” “The huntsman” “Wide place” *These tracks were 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 Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket 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. Composite image. At center, a floating island wreathed with glowing clouds, surrounded by a wispy net of light. Behind the island a circle, a view through a spyglass showing a partial view of the moon at top and a night sky. The circle is encased by a square showing the same view of the sky. In the top right corner are bolts of lightning. In the top left corner are colorful sparks of light. Along the bottom stand a row of twelve people seen in silhouette from the back, each one holding on hand on the shoulder of the person standing next to them. This square is flanked by thin panels. The right panel at bottom depicts a partially constructed ladder next to a support tower. The left panel shows a spyglass or telescope angled to view the floating island. A final set of panels flanks the rest of the image. The scope extends into the final left panel. Thick gray fog or clouds appear at bottom. At right middle, three smaller floating island are chained together with bridges. The sky above displays colored gases. At left, a net of light extends and expands from one corner of the central island. A larger overlay of the circle showing the sky and moon sits to the left of the whole image.  A smaller overlay sits to the right. Borders at top and bottom to make the final image a square. These borders repeat motifs from the main image. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along middle right.]

In an age long past, death was not a mystery, for a palm tree once grew upon the earth that served as a path between life and afterlife. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt: He came by sea in ships laden with his forces… By day he attacked, and by night he attacked. They knew that they must destroy him. And they knew that they could not destroy him, for he was now too powerful.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode?Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. In an earlier story, I wrote of a grieving young man who sought to retrieve his mother from the isle where the souls of those who have died go, just before they pass through the doorway into the afterlife: “The Isle of Mist and Gloom.”   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: “The Caligo Palm” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Infinite land” by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro and Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* “Of sun and sand” “White river” “Gateways” “Underworld” “Infinite land” “Lonely day” “The edge of nightmare” “Shoreline” “Burn the sky” “Ancien stones”   *These tracks were 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 Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) 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 stylized depiction on a tapestry or scroll. At left, a man stands in front of a black cobra that is larger than him. Both face to the right. The man holds his right hand on his hip and holds his left hand out, palm forming a “stop” gesture. They stand on a green shore with bright blades of grass. At right, a man in a boat raises his hands and face to the sky. Before him two strange beasts with hooked beaks and feathery scales stare to the left. Between boat and shore are stylized curls depicting waves. Top center, the bottom half of circle that depicts the sun. Bright rays beam to the left, bolts of lightning fan out to the right. The sky at center is blue, but darkens from left to right between the bolts. Top and bottom borders depict a repeating pattern, in two rows, the tops of palm trees. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along a ray of sunlight at center left.

Three children are determined to find out if the tales they’ve heard are true…that there is a god living in the middle of the forest outside their village. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt: For a moment, there hung an expectant silence. The man was watching the bard on the closest stage, but he still caught the glances between the young folk at his table. And he still noted that there was one whose gaze never left his face.  “The grown folk won’t tell us,” this one said, a little girl. “Are you the one who lives in the wooden house in the middle of the forest?     What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. In this story, I’m revisiting the first story I ever posted on the site, “The Amber God.”  I spoil what happens in that first story in this new one, but it can’t be helped, I say.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon. Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: “The Sandalwood God” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: “Knight Rising” by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro) “Locations_Village (loop)” by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* “Locations_Medieval Tavern Song” “Locations_Village (loop)” “Exploration_Cave (loop)” “Humorous_Stealth (loop)”   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* “Ice and Fire (peaceful part)” “Journey into Fog” “Medieval Theme 4” “Secrets of Kingdom” “Medieval Theme 5” “Knight Rising” “Medieval Track #1” “Magic Within”   *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Albert Fernandez and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrew Sitkov and Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Three faces along a diagonical from bottom left to top right, depicting the same young adult person with slightly different hair and eye colors. The hair is mid-length and wavy. The face at center faces and looks forward with mouth slightly parted. Bottom left, the same face is turned slightly away from center, but with eyes turned toward center. Top right, the same face is again turned slightly away, but with eyes turned toward center. The faces are surrounded by a misty glow. Behind the faces, vines or branches bearing leaves, faint lightning, and rain, spread across the background. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along vine at bottom right.