Storyfeather

A woman unwittingly misses the start of daylight savings, falls one hour behind, and is unable to catch up.

Genre: Mystery, Mythology

Excerpt: On her way back to her cubicle, she called to her nearest neighbor. He didn't answer. She walked over, leaned against his cubicle and called his name again. He kept working.

You too? she wondered. The silent treatment? For being late?

Audrey sighed. It was going to be a long day. She re-turned to her cubicle and reached for the mug on her desk. The handle was freezing. Her hand recoiled instinctively, then reached back. It was also, it seemed, going to be one of those days when every little thing would be hard.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?None. I wrote this when daylight savings was about to start and was frustrated about losing an hour and decided to attempt a "ridiculous and unoriginal" story.

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Behind the Hour" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)* "March of the Waking Lights" "Ground Control" "You Were Always In The Right Place" "Cozy Afternoons" "Fugue For One Synthetic Heart" "Slightly Across (No Percussion)" "Forest Bathing" "Night Time (No Percussion)"

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Exploration Mystery (loop)" "Exploration Mystical Place (loop 1)" "Exploration Technologic Place (loop)"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Andrea Baroni and Albert Fernandez is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Andrea Baroni and Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A sphere set on a stand that's lying on a table top. The sphere bears a pattern that looks like several atomic orbitals intersecting and jagged lines moving from edge to center. The stand bears on its front a colorful version of the intersecting orbitals pattern. The horizontal rectangular image is made square by adding a textured pattern of the sphere design in borders at top and bottom.

When rumors and gossip surround the newest resident of town, particularly about her mysterious habit of hiding her feet, one girl dares to seek the truth.

Genre: Mystery

Excerpt: "Ah yes, Madam Pantoflae. She of the delicate foot. Have you heard? A witch placed a curse upon her feet, and the curse can only be counteracted by the wearing of enchanted boots."

Katherine Lovelace sighed a long and long-suffering sigh at the girl who'd spoken. They two, and the several other children gathered at the Baker house for the first party on the cusp of winter, were gathered around the small fireplace in the receiving room.

In the few months since the new resident had settled into town, the infamous Madam Pantoflae had been the subject of many rumors.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Pantofle: a slipper (source: dictionary.com)

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CREDITSStory: "Madam Pantoflae" Copyright © 2018 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by JONATHAN SHAW* "Midnight Creeping" "Visions of Freedom" "A Bitter Hope"

Music by BENJAMIN CARR (Scythuz)* "Underwater Template" "Mines" "Ancient Ruins" "Ice Cavern" "Ghost Town" "Necropolis" "Dwarven Settlement"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Benjamin Carr and Jonathan Shaw is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Benjamin Carr and Jonathan Shaw at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.ukFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Composite image. At bottom center, three children stand clustered together seen from waist up. From left to right: A boy with short hair holding a mug in his right hand at waist level, wearing a collared shirt. A girl in a dress with her hair pinned back holding a cup between her hands in front of her. Another girl in a dress with her hair in a high braid, with left arm held across herself and her chin propped under her right fist. Surrounding them at bottom of frame are flames. Behind them and above their heads is the oversized figure of a woman, seen from shoulders up, facing forward in three-quarters profile. She has short wavy hair and a cap-style hat with a sword-shaped pin. Four sets of four vertical lines pass diagonally behind the whole image.

Starling and Leveret investigate the sudden disappearance of the legendary Tortoise of the famed race between the Tortoise and the Hare.

Genre: Fable, Fantasy

Excerpt: "Is it true that you once beat Hare in a foot race? It can't be true. But is it true?"

Tortoise sighed.

He continued walking along as the little black bird flapped around him. She landed on a nearby branch.

"I've heard that you've seen the world from above as a bird does when she's flying. Is that true? How did you do it? It can't be true. But is it true?"

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Leveret: a young hare (source: dictionary.com)

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Starling and Leveret" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by JONATHAN SHAW* "In Tranquil Spring" "Checking Inventory" "Spinning Tavern" "Midnight Creeping" "Treading the Unknown" "Thoughts" "Lingering Evil" "Cold Sanctuary" "Land of Misdeeds" "Encounter of Misdeeds"

Music by CHRIS LOGSDON* "Mystical Town" "Haunted Town" "Mining Town" "Shady Town"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Chris Logsdon and Jonathan Shaw is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Chris Logsdon and Jonathan Shaw at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.ukFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Two figures facing forward. A leveret, or young hare at left, standing upright and holding out human-like hands in a clawed pose. A starling, a black bird, at right, standing with wings folded, body in left profile and extending off frame to the right so that the tail feathers are not visible. Both have eyebrows, which are drawn down. At left behind the figures is a doorway or opening with only darkness visible beyond. The horizontal image is made square with border bars above and below displaying distorted faded partial copies of the main image.

As penance for a recent crime, a thief is tasked with carrying a most precious and coveted treasure to a place where no mortal may tread.

Genre: Fairy Tale, Mythology, Fantasy

Excerpt: The thief fell from the tower's upper window. She had lost her precarious grip on the pitted brick. She remembered that she should roll herself up into a loose ball to protect her head and neck. But by the time she remembered, she had already struck the first branch of the tree in the orchard below. Then she struck another and another. Scratched and thrashed and bounced about, she finally reached the ground, thankful that the soil was soft. She lay there for far too long a moment. The breath had been knocked out of her. And she feared moving for fear she might discover that she could not.

But she heard voices, shouting, lights coming on, the barking of dogs from the other side of the courtyard.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Evenfall: the beginning of evening; twilight; dusk. (source: dictionary.com)

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Thief, The Fairy, and the Raven" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Gateways" "Illusions" "Elders wisdom" "Jesters dance" "Back in the village" "Infinite land" "Written in stones" "Into wild lands"

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Exploration_Cave (loop)" "Exploration_Forest Of Magic" "Humorous_Stealth (loop)" "Locations_Medieval Tavern Song" "Battle_1_normal (loop)" "Holy_Hymn (loop)"

*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 Albert Fernandez is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Two figures facing forward seen from waist up. The figure at left, face in three-quarters profile facing left, has her arms raised, but bent, the left one in front of her and the right one with hand near her face, fingers loosely flourished. One of her brows is raised. She wears shoulder guards and elbow length gloves. The figure at right, standing slightly behind, bears a quiver of arrows on his back, has pointed ears, and has an arrow knocked and ready to fire. Behind them is the silhouette of a bird with wings outstretched seen from above. This lies over an opening shaped like a three-pointed arch. A haze of fog surrounds the figures up to their shoulders.

When her sister disappears into the fairy realm, a girl and her best friend mount a rescue. But while it's quite easy to get into the fairy realm, almost no one gets out.

Genre: Fairy Tale

Excerpt: It's quite easy to get into the fairy realm, you see. They want you to come to them. They need you to come to them. So quite easy to get into the fairy realm. But almost no one gets out.

There were eight hundred and eighty-eight doors leading into the fairy realm. And only eight leading out.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?I have no idea. I don't think there was one. But here's an intriguing word that appears in the story: Harridan: a scolding, vicious woman; hag; shrew. (source: dictionary.com)

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Fairy Blackberry" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by BENJAMIN CARR (Scythuz)* "Dwarven Settlement" "Crystal Caves" "Ancient Ruins" "Ice Cavern" "Mystical Forest" "Necropolis" "Flying Fortress"

Music by JONATHAN SHAW* "Midnight Creeping" "Spinning Tavern" "Encounter of Misdeeds" "Sinning Tavern" "Lingering Evil"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Benjamin Carr and Jonathan Shaw is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Benjamin Carr and Jonathan Shaw at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.ukFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At right, two little girls standing next to each other. The one at left stands facing forward, her long hair pinned to either side, arms at her side, looking and smiling down at the outstretched hands of the girl at right. The girl at right is seen from left profile, mouth parted, brows raised, looking down at her hands. Her upper arms are at her side, bent at the elbow with her cupped hands held out. In her palms, there stands a small human figure whose features are not visible, but whose face is raised up to the girl. Behind the girls is shrubbery. Along the left edge is a tree.

Rare are the fantasticators, who can by their very presence bring about the emergence of the fantastic from the most common of things and the most mundane of people.

Genre: Fable, Fairy Tale, Fantasy

Excerpt: Rare are they who can by their very presence bring about the emergence of the fantastic from the most common of things and the most mundane of people.

So rare indeed, that most towns only had one such person, only one whose speech inspired the emergence of energy from lethargy, whose gaze trans-formed ugliness to beauty, and whose touch could change a blunder into a wonder.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Fantasticate: to make or render fantastic Fantastic: extraordinarily good; excellent: Also fan·tas·ti·cal —conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination; odd and remarkable; bizarre; grotesque: —fanciful or capricious, as persons or their ideas or actions: —imaginary or groundless in not being based on reality; foolish or irrational: —extravagantly fanciful; marvelous: —incredibly great or extreme; exorbitant: —highly unrealistic or impractical: (source: dictionary.com)

CREDITSStory: "The Frog Who Foiled the Fantasticator" Copyright © 2018 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Locations_Happy Villlage (loop)" "Exploration_Forest Of Magic" "Humorous_Exploration (loop)" "Exploration_Mystery (loop)" "Cue_Nature 2" "Locations_House (loop)" "Cue_Nature"

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* "Lyric Voices #5" "Lyric Voices #1" "Adventure Track #1"

Music by TRG BANKS "Horse ride 4" "The silver bus" "Lake in the woods"

Music by LEE ROSEVERE "Featherlight (remix – vocals by Heather Feather)"

*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 Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Music by TRG Banks is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net Find more music by Albert Fernandez and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Lee Rosevere and TRG Banks at bandcamp.com Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Bottom left corner, a frog seen from behind, sitting on a rock, surrounded by blades of grass. In front of the frog is a human looking down at the frog with her right hand on her chin, left hand propped on her hip. She wears boots, bloomers, a long coat, and a cap with a feather in it. At right is a tree whose branches and leafy canopy extend over the head of the human and droop down to the ground line. Through the branches, in the distance, is a flying pig facing forward. At bottom right are bushes of unusual and bright colors. They curve around the base of the tree.

Jaquery Tattery was born at sea, and he grew up in a town far from the sea, and all he wanted to do was return to the sea.

Genre: Fantasy

Excerpt: The Tatterys were tailors who started working in town with a humble business of repairing and refreshing old clothes, and soon expanded to fine tailoring of clothes and tapestries. Jack learned the trade of sewing and tailoring from a young age, as his brother and sister had been required to do before they set out on their own. He knew he would one day mind the family business. Jack was proud of his family's trade and their shop, and he admired what his parents had built, but so did he admire their courage incoming to a new land to build a new life. He had never gone on any such adventure, and feared he never would.

Still, he dreamed.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Jactation: 1) boasting; bragging. 2) [Pathology] a restless tossing of the body (source: dictionary.com)

CREDITSStory: "Jacquery Tattery Maker of Sails" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Scroll of the wind walker" "Back in the village" "Into wild lands" "They come from the north" "Pirate attack!"

Music by CHRIS LOGSDON* "Mining Town" "Mystical Town" "Whimsical Town" "Port Town"

Music by BENJAMIN CARR (Scythuz)* "Dwarven Settlement"

*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, Chris Logsdon, and Benjamin Carr is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy, Chris Logsdon, and Benjamin Carr at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Part of a sail whose braided border is being pierced by a needle. The sail sits on the lap of a person, at right of image, whose left hand grips a section of the braided border and whose right hand, equipped with a sailmaker's sewing palm, directs the need through the braid of cloth. An image is stitched onto the sail and is partially visible, the body of a serpent entangled around a boat with one sail unfurled at bottom center and middle. At bottom right, the serpent's head with mouth parted, looking at the ship.

The mayor of a modest harbor town struggles to deal with the appearance of a whale in the sky above the ocean.

Genre: Fantasy

Excerpt: "There's a whale, just…floating in the middle of the sky. That doesn't impress you?"

"I never said I wasn't impressed."

"I mean that doesn't move you to—I don't know—ponder about the big stuff in life?"

The mayor crossed his arms. "Big stuff?"

She shook her head, then turned back to look at him. Her brows were slightly creased now, and her gaze fixed on him. "If the official explanation isn't real, do you think there's a logical explanation for this?"

"I think there's an explanation," Mayor Joyance said. "Whether or not it's logical remains to be seen."

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Joyance: (Archaic) joyous feeling; gladness. (source: dictionary.com)

CREDITSStory: "The Watchers of the Whale" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)* "Ground Control" "Night Time" "Evolving Cities" "Fugue For One Synthetic Heart" "Slightly Across" "Cozy Afternoons" "Fast Lanes Light Rain" "March of the Waking Lights" "You Were Always In The Right Place"

Music by TAO AND SOUND* "I Never Gave Up - INTRO" "I Never Gave Up - (B) MELODY LOOP" "I Never Gave Up - (A) MELODY LOOP" "U Never Had To Exist - INTRO" "Cry No More - (B) MELODY LOOP"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Andrea Baroni and Tao and Sound is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net Find more music by Andrea Baroni and Tao and Sound at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A right whale seen in left profile, floating in midair in a cloudy sky with sunset colors.

An air of mystery surrounds a young lord who came to rule a province from a distant land, until those closest to him gather clues about his past.

Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy

Excerpt: Lord Orgulous came to our province some time ago, and when he did, he inherited the rule of the province. As might be expected, he arrived with quite a flurry of rumor swirling about him, for he hailed from a distant land, and he was young and handsome and mysterious. Some said he left behind a fortune so grand that even the stars looked down upon its glittering magnificence with envy. Some said he was exiled for some preposterous boast that insulted a very powerful personage. And there are some among us—the romantics—who believe that he came to our land because he was fleeing from heartbreak.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Orgulous: (Archaic) haughty; proud. (source: dictionary.com)

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Lord Orgulous" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "A band in the inn" "Shadows and flames" "Back in the village" "Dragon rider" "Facing the dragon" "The bard"

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ ((Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Exploration_Mystical Place (loop 2)" "Exploration_Forest of Magic" "Locations_Happy Village (loop)" "Locations_Medieval Tavern Song" "Locations_Court Song" "Humorous_Exploration (loop)" "Exploration_Cave (loop)" "Holyl_Hymn (loop)" "Battle_1_normal (loop)"

*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 Albert Fernandez is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Three people sitting at a table, described from left to right. In three-quarters profile, a bald man in a collared long sleeve shirt, holding a stein in both hands with his elbows on the table. A woman facing forward with her hair in a bun, wearing a double-breasted jacket, resting her left forearm on the table, and holding her right index finger to her mouth. She looks to the right at the third person, a woman with long curly hair, seen in left profile, smiling, and holding up her right hand with palm loosely facing upward.

A baker chosen for an honorable and prestigious assignment must contend with a rival who was not chosen.

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy

Excerpt: Four nations warred. And they warred. And they warred. And some suppose that they might be war-ring still if not for the firm but humble interference of a fifth nation. Mensulamare was a lengthy name for such a small nation. "The Little Table in the Sea" it was called, for the isle floated in one of the world's vast oceans, surrounded by four nations much greater in size and power, and much fiercer in fury. The leaders of the four nations despised each other, but there was one for whom they had enough respect and admiration—even affection—to come together for talks of a truce. Perhaps it was time.

What's the Word (that inspired the story)?Piecemeal: piece by piece; one piece at a time; gradually Peace: the nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world. (source: dictionary.com)

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Piecemeal Cake" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* "Medieval Theme #4" "Medieval Theme #5" "Medieval Track #1" "Adventure Track #1 (looped)" "Medieval Theme #3" "Journey into Fog" "Lyric Voices #1" "Lyric Voices #2"

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ ((Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Battle_2_Evil (loop)" "Humorous_Exploration (loop)" "Locations_House (loop)"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Andrew Sitkov and Albert Fernandez is licensed from GameDev Market

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net 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. View down a table set with plates and platters of cakes with colorful patterns on the inside. At the other end of the table sit five people. From left to right, a person with a simple head covering seen profile; a person with face in three-quarters profile, smiling and folding hands upon the table; a person with a cowl neck tunic and gloves looking down at a cake and smiling, also with hands folded on the table; a person wearing a cloak and two high braids, pointing with left hand to a cake; and a person wearing a hair combs, earrings, an armband on the left arm that appears to be a device, with hands folded on the lap. The rectangular image is bordered with repeating patterns of cake slices at top and bottom to make the whole image square.