The Seven Rings of Necessity

When two siblings play a board game where they must collect seven magic rings, they discover that the game pieces may possess real enchantment.

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Excerpt: “I…am a Mystery mage.”

“Awesome. What does that mean?”

August frowned down at the game board. “I don’t know. What do the rules say?”

Nova was minding the rule book—or the guidebook as the cover proclaimed. She flipped through to the detailed descriptions of the seven rings.

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 6 episode, “The Last Wish of Caducus the Wizard,” in which a dying wizard forges enchanted rings to help him speak to his baby granddaughter. And also to a Season 1 episode called “Imberflos.”

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

(Hint: The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletter, where you can get tales of my fictioneering mischief and writing tips from me for free.)

CREDITSStory: “The Seven Rings of Necessity” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel

Music: “Mystical Town” by CHRIS LOGSDON (Intro and Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)

Music by CHRIS LOGSDON* “Shady Town” “Mystical Town” “Mining Town”

Music by BENJAMIN CARR (Scythuz)* “Crystal Caves” “Dwarven Settlement” “Deceitful Castle” “Ancient Ruins” “Ice Cavern”

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* “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 Chris Logsdon, Benjamin Carr, 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 Andrew Sitkov, Chris Logsdon, and Benjamin Carr at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing of a game board as seen from above.  A right hand holding a half-filled glass of water hovers over the board.  Two rings are visible on the hand, on the index and ring fingers. Printed on the gameboard are seven seven-sided polygons of various colors, randomly scattered across the board and connected by a path. Words are written in ornate lettering within the polygons, some visible, some not. The visible words read, “Blood, Light, Breath, Changes, Wonder, Mystery.” Three dice lie on the gameboard. Two cards are partially visible at bottom right. The top one displays a figure with raised arm and the word “Mage” at the top. The word “Healing” is visible on the card beneath. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along left border of gameboard.