In the alley behind the factory where they toil, two friends discover something that may lead to their salvation...or to their doom. Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Excerpt:The statue was a depiction of a "vas vespertilio," an idol carved specifically to be the vessel for containing fundamental powers, specifically the powers of the four elements. Each element was contained in the gemstone that represented it. The ruby contained the power of fire. The sapphire contained the power of water. The emerald contained the power of earth. And the missing diamond had contained the power of air.

The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Vessel Vespertilian This episode landed on PROMPTS. The story was inspired by a prompt about bringing home a bag you find in the street whose contents are life-changing... Find more stories and episodes inspired by creative prompts here: Year of Prompts.

MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE

NEWSLETTERSThe Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters:

Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)

Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)

MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE

Music:"Dark lord" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Inspector" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Whispers""Evidence""Don't move""A story of gold""Inspector""To Falgalown""Scroll of the wind walker""Dark lord""The plan""They follow"

All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.

Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A bat mostly resembling the pygmy round-eared bat, three-quarters view of head with mouth slightly open, seen from bent legs up. The bat has two arms bent over his legs with a smooth membrane connecting the arms to his side. Behind these arms rise four pairs of membranous wings. They extend off frame. The bottom pair is watery and translucent. Next up is a pair with rough earthen texture. Next is a flaming pair. And the topmost pair is luminous and wispy. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along membranous part inside of right arm.