A Carnival of Cakes

Three siblings created their own game to play each year at winter solstice, a game that has grown and changed as they have, sometimes in unexpected ways. Genre: Fantasy Excerpt: No one knew anything in the beginning of their journeys. They only started knowing things by going on the journey. By making decisions before they even knew what the right decision was. And they told me that it was better to learn some lessons in a game than it was to learn them in real life.   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. This episode landed on CHALLENGE. See a story trailer and a video of the wheel turning (if you're into that sort of thing) here: A Carnival of Cakes   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "A Carnival of Cakes" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Donjon keeper (bonus track)" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro & Outro)"Joy" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)  Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Percussion Loop #11"   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Compass" "Fallen leaves""Scroll of the wind walker""Adventure" "A story of gold""The harbor""Winterheart (seamless)""Donjon keeper (bonus track)""Joy"   All these 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 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.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Background, a two-layer round chocolate cake with a slice cut out, with orange frosting, chocolate glaze on top and dripping down the sides, and overlapping round orange slices wrapped around the bottom. Tall glowing triangles of sugar candy crown the top. Foreground left, a square piece of two-layer cake with sprinkles, frosted with whipped cream, topped with three berries in a diagonal, and sprigs of tiny leaves. Foreground right, a square cake seen from top and along one corner, with frosting piped at the bottom and top borders. The word "Farewell" is written on the top. The word "Level" is written on both visible sides. A shadowy hand emerges from right and reaches for the cakes. From below, another hand grasps the first at the wrist. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along bottom of cake at right.

While investigating a murder, a single-celled detective encounters bacterial filaments, proto-multicellular colonies, and a new concept called "love." Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction   Excerpt: "It's not an accident," Dina said. She spun out a flagellum to wave to him. Harry sighed. "I wouldn't be here if it was." He glanced over at the couple of uniformed diatoms who were keeping any floaters-by from getting too close a look at the crime scene. He glided toward Dina. "How's your day so far, Doc?" he asked. "Same as yours, I imagine. But much, much better than his." Dina moved out of the way, giving Harry a better view of the victim.   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 at least a couple of previous stories about single-celled organisms doing and being more than they're expected. Here are those episodes: Amoeba: A Modern Fable Rise of the Prokaryotes   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)     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   CREDITSStory: "The Unicellular Detective" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Smoke" by RAFAEL ARCHANGEL (Intro & Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by RAFAEL ARCHANGEL "Persistence With Beat" "So Cold" "Deep Dive" "Smoke" "Forgotten" "Persistence"   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY* "Unsolved" "Inspector" "Trojan horse" "Under the mask" "Whispers" "Doubts" "Master" "Negociation (seamless)"   *These 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 Market Music by Rafael Archangel is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal Sound effects from AudioJungle, 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 and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Rafael Archangel at Bandcamp Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com     Episode Art Description: Digital image. Cartoon depictions of anthropomorphized unicellular organisms in a line. From left to right, three filaments of cyanobacteria, a Stentor, a paramecium with flagella who's wearing a fedora, a slime mold, and a dinoflagellate with glasses. The rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders that extend the background texture. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along inner side of the Stentor.

Six kids explore the possibility that dogs have been trying to warn humanity about a terrible enemy in their midst…vacuum machines. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy   Excerpts: They were right all along.  "What do they know that we don't know?"  "What are they trying to protect us from?" "This is my home too! And it is in danger…"  "If the law won't help us, we'll have to turn to…the outlaw."   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. The kids who wrote an original play for a school production are now aiming to make a movie with an original script over their summer vacation. Somehow the theme is again about an alien invasion. Here's the link to the previous episode: "Attack of the Giant Cyclops Worm"     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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "Attack of the Vacuum Machine Army" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "The Superiority" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro & Outro) "Casual Theme #2 (looped)" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music) "Casual Theme #1" "Casual Theme #3" "Casual Theme #2" "Another World" "Space Discoveries" "Steel Enemy (looped)" "The Superiority" "Freedom" Music by BENJAMIN CARR (Scythuz) "Abandoned Spacestation" "Gearworks Factory" "Wasteland Ruins"   Music by Benjamin Carr and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Sound 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 Benjamin Carr and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Image Description: Digital drawing. Art deco inspired poster. At bottom center, a terrier with a determined expression, wearing a collar, standing and facing left, seen in three-quarters view. Flanking the dog are the ghostly images of two modern vacuum cleaners. Behind the dog is an art deco marquee pattern of a fan set in a holder. Above the dog's head is the title of the story. Above the title, at top center, is a vintage vacuum machine with the hose missing, facing front. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along bottom right edge of marquee.

The most popular wrestling show in five galaxies is in danger of being shut down, unless the wrestlers jump into action to save it. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy   Excerpt:"Sentient entities of the cosmos!" the announcer spoke, her voice booming through the arena that floated in free space. "Welcome…to GROWL! The audience cheered, waving their flags, waving their extremities, and shouting the names of their favored fighters. The announcer paused until they settled. "Our first contender on tonight's mind-blasting roster, is also our first human ever. Hailing from Earth, wielding the powers of biological science, I give you….Molecular!"   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 has multiple influences, from a show I watched in childhood to a writing prompt to a previous episode featuring non-human arena battles,"Great Persidain"     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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "Galactic Ring of Wrestling Ladies" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Casual Arcade Track #2 (looped)" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro & Outro) "Casual Arcade Track #3 (looped)" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music) "Casual Arcade Track #3 (looped)" "Casual Arcade Track #1 (looped)" "Casual Arcade Track #1 Version 2 (looped)" "Motivation (looped)" "Drive With Me (looped)" "Battle Theme 5" "Epic Drums" "Hidden Threat (looped)" "Reinforcement (looped)" "Prepare for Battle (looped)" "Two Sides (looped)" "Never Back Donw (looped)" "Heart of Warrior NEW (Lyric Part Version 1)" "The Superiority (looped)"   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio) "Under the mask" "Connecting dots" "Negociation" "Genetic Marker" "Doubts" "Particle voyager" All these 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 Market Sound 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. Five figures arrayed in flanking formation. At center is a human woman facing forward from waist up. She holds her hands before her, facing each other. A glowing ball of light is suspended between her fingers. Along the forearm part of her left armband, a lightning bolt glows. She wears color-blocked exercise clothes. A humanoid lizard sits to her right and behind, raising her right arm as if in greeting. She wears a scarf around her neck, and a breastplate displaying circuitry. To the lizard's right and behind is a giant seagull, wings outspread, head raised, and beak open, blasting out a ray of swirling circles. To the human woman's left, a toad springs up and out. To the toad's left and behind, a unicorn with a rainbow mane rears up, her horn blasting forth a ribbon of light. Watermark of "Storyfeather" appears along the edge of the seagull's wings. The rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders with streaks of colors matching the rainbow hues of the main image.

A hunter dedicated to keeping the world safe from monsters has one final monster to fight. Genre: Horror   Excerpt: Curses and cures. Curses and cures. I've tried everything.  …flecks of blood in my eye. My joints have started to ache... My vision has started to flicker. And…now I'm finally afraid.   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 isn't inspired by a particular tale. I've just written a lot of stories about creatures and monsters. Here are a couple, if you're in the mood for a particular monster. "Chainmaker" (werewolf) "The Hunter and the Crypt" (vampire)   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "The Final Monster I Fight" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Sins and sinners" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro) "Blood and bones" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio) "Omen" "Blood and bones" "Fright night" "Eternal life" "Hunter's moon" "The death of love" "Cemetery" "Sins and sinners" "Creatures of the night"   All these 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 Market 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 of several figures in silhouette. Bottom foreground left and center, two figures from chest up with various missing limbs and digits reach to the right. They are zombies. Bottom foreground right, a figure from chest up, holding both hands against their head. Shadows representing gravestones lie at angles behind the figure. Left moving into frame is a ghostly cloud in which the outline of a face and a hand are visible. Right of frame, sitting on an outcropping, a werewolf howls against a glowing moon. Top center floating in the sky, a vampire wearing a cloak and reaching out. At center from back, a hooded figure from torso up, holding a long stake propped over the right shoulder. Upper left corner, a patch of stalactites. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along forearm of figure at bottom right.

What starts as a curiosity, a light on the bedroom ceiling that seems to have no source, heralds the appearance of a huge eye that just watches and watches. Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction, Horror   Excerpt: I yelled out.  The hazel iris shifted toward me.  I slowly slid off the bed... dashed to the door, flung it open, and pulled it closed behind me.  Okay, okay, think. I have to… I had cried out. Someone must have heard. Someone would come knocking on my door. Normally I didn't want that. But right now, right now I might want that. I might want that.   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. A previous story about an organ growing in the walls of someone's bedroom is "Chemoimagination."   Creepy coincidence?One night, after I posted this story, I'd plugged in a mini-fan to charge next to my bed. I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a glowing green eye on my ceiling. The fan had finished charging, and the indicator light happened to be facing up to the ceiling. And it happened to be the same shape and size of the eye I describe in my story. It didn't scare me. I immediately knew what I was. But I did sleepily think something akin to "heh, good one."   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "The Eye in My Ceiling" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Orbs" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro) "Experiment 7" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY "Above" "The 4th world" "Experiment 7" "Dark wonders" "Abyss" "Orbs" "Experiment 6" "The corner of your room" "Well of souls" All these 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 Market 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. Central figure, a woman, her top half, seen from below at an angle. She's facing away, standing in a room where the ceiling and parts of two walls intersect at her left, around waist level. The woman wears pants and a t-shirt and her hair in a ponytail. She holds a carving knife in her right hand, held down and behind herself.  Her left hand reaches up towards a huge eye in the ceiling. Most of the iris and a small portion of the whites are visible. Eyelashes extend out at left. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along wall in image at left. The rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders with blurred portions of the main image.

Surely, a beautiful old house sold at a bargain must have a sinister history.  One new homeowner is about to find out. Genre: Horror, Mystery   Excerpt: "If afterlife spirits are real, they're real whether I believe in them or not." I shrugged. "And if they're real, I'd rather not stir them up." "So…she felt something?"  "She said the place had a weird energy."  "What does that mean?" I shook my head. "Frustrated…."   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 not the first one I've written about houses with links to the otherworldly (or about potentially reckless bargains with forces that one does not understand). It's predecessor is "Mausefalle Manor."   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "The Infernal Bargain House" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "A dead heart" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro & Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY "At night" "Hunter's moon" "Evidence" "Dedale" "Experiment 3" "A dead heart" "Whispers" "Sacrifice" "Ashes" "I'm sorry" "Sins and sinners" "Hidden in the dark" "The death of love"   All these 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 Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, 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. An oak tree at center whose six visible main branches spread in all directions, some dragging on the ground, some reaching upward, some reaching outward.  Diffuse patches of green in the background suggest leaves sprouting from the thinner branches.  A thin dark haze lays along the ground. A vaguely humanoid shadow floats beside the tree. The rectangular image is made square with borders at top and bottom with blurred extensions of the main image. Watermark of Storyfeather along upper main branch at right.

An apartment resident is recruited for help by four kids who claim that a demonic creature has just laid eggs in the laundry room. Genre: Horror   Excerpt: "It's like the thing from the poem that my first grade teacher told us about. 'There Lived a Crooked Creature.' Do you know the one? It lives in a corner—" "—and it can touch us but we can't touch it—"  "'In a corner it did lay; fourteen eggs every fourteen days.'" "'Nothing can destroy it. No weapon forged by human hand.'"   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 is inspired by two previous episodes about humans encountering eerie creatures in their own homes: "The Incident of the Imp," and "Velutinus."   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "There Lived a Crooked Creature" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "The ceremonial" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro) "Creatures of the night" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio) "Trust me" "Creatures of the night" "The 4th world" "The mirror" "Dark wonders" "Distant fear" "Dark echoes" "Creepy doll" "Pitch black" "The ceremonial" "At the gate of hell"   All these 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 Market Sound 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: Portions of a creature. At upper right, fourteen eyeballs with triangular pupils framed by a mane of shaggy hair and held up by a segmented neck that looks like a series of polyps. The neck extends to the left and out of frame. Along the length of one polyp a mouth that looks like a tear with rows of small sharp teeth. Behind the neck is the creature's body with cricket-like legs emerging from the side. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along leg at bottom right. The rectangular image is made square with borders at top and bottom with a rough textured pattern of colors pulled from the image.

There is a tall tower to the north. A warlock once lived there. Now the tower is abandoned. But that does not mean is it safe.  Genre: Horror, Mystery   Excerpt: There was a story told…of a little girl who went into the tower and came out unscathed... The bard who told the story sang in sweet and rising notes of how the girl was protected by her innocence.  But when in the history of this tricksome world has innocence ever protected anyone from anything?  This isn't her story. It's mine. I went into that tower.    NOTE: There's a tech issue with my hosting platform where only the most recent 300 episodes are available from my feed. They're working on fixing it. In the meantime, all episodes are available from my podcast page: Storyfeather Podcast. (10/2/25)   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 was inspired by another story about a dangerous warlock, "Dragons of Verandering."   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)   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   CREDITSStory: "One Wicked Warlock" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Devasted" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro & Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Incantation" "Ghosts" "At the gate of hell" "Once" "Orbs" "Abyss" "Darkest quest" "Devasted" "Well of souls"   All these 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 Market 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. At center, the shadows of two figures cast against a stone wall. The figure at left is reeling backwards, arms outstretched, left leg raised and bent, chest pierced with a long spiraling horn, neck entwined with a segmented whip-like tail ending in a stinger. The figure at right stands upright, face in profile, right arm outstretched, holding a vial out above the first figure's face. The vial is filled with a glowing substance. A green glow appears at bottom right. The left and right frames of the image depict the faint outlines of brickwork. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along right leg of figure at right.

When Anushka was cursed to only repeat what others said, her only hope of escaping the curse was the only person who seemed to remember the curse. Genre: Fantasy   Excerpt: Because Anushka could not convey her thoughts in any way that others could understand, it seemed to many that she did not have any thoughts of her own. But Mitra always told her cousin. "You are the bright one. And the quick one. Like lightning. Like your true name."   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 is inspired by two stories about girls who are cursed and strive to find a way to break their curses: "The Cursefall" and "Auroramorphosis."   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 from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The 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.)   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 CREDITSStory: "The Misfortune of Repetition" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Dwarven Settlement" by BENJAMIN CARR (Intro & Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music) "Adventure Track #1 (looped)" "Ice and Fire (peaceful part)" "Medieval Track #1" "Magic Within" "Secrets of Kingdom" "Journey into Fog" "Knight Rising"   Music by BENJAMIN CARR (Scythuz) "Dwarven Settlement" "Mystical Forest" "Ice Cavern" "Underwater Temple" "Crystal Caves" "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 and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Benjamin Carr and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center, two little girls. The girl at left stands a head taller, with her right hand on her hip and her left arm around the other girl's shoulder. She wears a skirt, a quarter-sleeve pullover, a band around her left wrist, and a barrette in her hair. The girl at right holds a book open in her right hand, and touches a page with her left. Sparkles surround the book. She wears a dress with a pleated skirt. The girls smile and gaze at each other. Behind them are lines of script with random letters bordered by a lightning pattern. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along outer edge of book cover.