Attack of the Vacuum Machine Army
Storyfeather
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...
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Galactic Ring of Wrestling Ladies
Storyfeather
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,...
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The Final Monster I Fight
Storyfeather
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...
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The Eye in My Ceiling
Storyfeather
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...
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The Infernal Bargain House
Storyfeather
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...
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There Lived a Crooked Creature
Storyfeather
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? ...
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One Wicked Warlock
Storyfeather
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...
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The Misfortune of Repetition
Storyfeather
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...
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Mushrooms of the Underworld
Storyfeather
The living do not belong in the underworld. But all the paths of escape are horrific, save for one…the mushroom. Genre: Mythology Excerpt: There were a number of ways for the passage to be made—flesh-wrenching spells, maps that could only be read by those who had spent a lifetime studying magic, or aid given by the sovereign’s own siblings to some favored mortal, all of which were giving way to a new and much easier means…mushrooms. What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or...
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The Margin Alien
Storyfeather
To rescue her brother, a woman jumps into what she believes is a dimensional rift generated by a device that he has invented. Genre: Science Fantasy Excerpt: “You come from within the margins. Where there are well-defined boundaries... Reality.” "Isn’t this also real?” “It is for now.” 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...
info_outlineThree 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!
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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.
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CREDITS
Story: “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.