I was wondering how well AI can manage a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. I want to have the AI be the dungeon master, but also manage my character sheet and those of other team mates completely managed by AI.
Spoiler, it nailed it.
Long story, I was specifically looking at Google Gemini 2.5 Pro as it is one of the better models right now, but more importantly the 1M token context window size. D&D campaigns are long and long dialogs with AI quickly eat up tokens faster and faster with each new message.
I initially did this as a quick experiment, and wasn't planning on getting too deep into it. The more I played around with it, the more interesting it became.
Since this was just a quick thought experiment, I didn't get fancy with the prompt. If I was serious, I'd put a lot more effort into the prompt, give it some direction enforcing how I want it to behave with player characters and rolls.
You are the best dungeon master in the world, and you just created an amazing campaign. Be my dungeon master and walk me through the campaign. You will make all the dice rolls when needed, and help me build my character by asking me questions and then generating and maintaining my character sheet.
You will narrate the adventure and let me know when I can take actions.
A real simple prompt, as I was planning on redoing it if I got serious, but I honestly thought it was going so good I just kept interacting with it rather than perfecting the prompt.
I wanted the AI to handle everything but decisions. I wanted it to walk me through creating my character then maintaining my character sheet, inventory, and all dice rolls. I forgot initially to tell it I wanted other players that it completely maintained, but I resolved this later on in the conversation. I really wanted to see how it would handle the character sheets but more importantly personality and dialog for npcs and team mates.
The initial response to my prompt was this:
Excellent! Welcome, brave adventurer, to my humble creation! Settle in, get comfortable, for tonight the dice will roll, legends will be forged, and the fate of realms may hang in the balance! I've poured heart and soul into this campaign, Whispers of the Sunken Temple, and I'm thrilled to guide you through it.
Imagine a world named Aethelgard. It's a land of ancient forests, mist-shrouded mountains, bustling port cities, and forgotten ruins whispering tales of magic and empires long past. Magic is real, though not always commonplace. Gods watch from distant planes, monsters lurk in the shadows, and heroes... well, heroes are desperately needed.
Our story begins in Port Azure, a sprawling, vibrant city clinging to the coastline of the Cerulean Sea. It's a place of opportunity and danger, where merchants hawk exotic goods, sailors spin yarns of kraken and sea-devils, and shadowy figures conduct business in salt-stained alleys. Lately, however, an unease has settled over Port Azure. Strange, localized storms lash the coast with unnatural fury, fishermen report unsettling lights beneath the waves, and scholars whisper fearful interpretations of ancient prophecies speaking of a lost temple rising from the depths... a temple said to hold immense power, or perhaps, utter doom.
But before we plunge into the churning waters of adventure, we need our hero! That's you. We'll build your character together. Don't worry about the rules minutiae; I'll handle the mechanics and the character sheet. Just focus on the kind of hero you want to be.
First, let's think about the core concept. When you imagine your adventurer in Aethelgard, what kind of figure comes to mind?
Are you a mighty warrior, clad in steel, relying on strength and skill at arms?
Perhaps a nimble rogue, lurking in the shadows, skilled with locks and daggers?
Maybe a wise spellcaster, wielding the arcane energies of the cosmos or drawing power from a divine source?
Or are you something else entirely? A sturdy cleric serving a deity? A nature-loving druid? A charismatic bard? A disciplined monk? A pact-bound warlock? A primal barbarian? A resourceful ranger?
Tell me, what sparks your imagination? What kind of hero do you want to play?
I chose Paladin.
From there, it asked me race, and a sacred oath.
This is what I got for the character after answering the couple of questions.
# Character Sheet: Marky
**Race:** Human
**Class:** Paladin (Oath of Conquest) - Level 1
**Alignment:** (Likely Lawful, possibly Neutral or even Evil depending on interpretation, but focused on Order over Goodness) - *We can refine this as we play.*
## Ability Scores:
- **Strength (STR):** 16 (+3)
- **Dexterity (DEX):** 11 (+0)
- **Constitution (CON):** 14 (+2)
- **Intelligence (INT):** 9 (-1)
- **Wisdom (WIS):** 13 (+1)
- **Charisma (CHA):** 15 (+2)
## Combat:
- **Hit Points (HP):** 12 / 12
- **Armor Class (AC):** 18 (Chain Mail + Shield)
- **Speed:** 30 ft.
- **Proficiency Bonus:** +2
- **Weapons:**
- Longsword: +5 to hit, 1d8+3 slashing damage
- Javelin (Thrown Range 30/120 ft): +5 to hit, 1d6+3 piercing damage
## Skills:
*(Proficient skills have a +Proficiency Bonus added)*
- Acrobatics (Dex): +0
- Animal Handling (Wis): +1
- Arcana (Int): -1
- **Athletics (Str): +5** *[Proficient]*
- Deception (Cha): +2
- History (Int): -1
- Insight (Wis): +1
- **Intimidation (Cha): +4** *[Proficient]*
- Investigation (Int): -1
- Medicine (Wis): +1
- Nature (Int): -1
- Perception (Wis): +1
- Performance (Cha): +2
- Persuasion (Cha): +2
- Religion (Int): -1
- Sleight of Hand (Dex): +0
- Stealth (Dex): +0
- Survival (Wis): +1
## Saving Throws:
- Strength: +3
- Dexterity: +0
- Constitution: +2
- Intelligence: -1
- **Wisdom: +3** *[Proficient]*
- **Charisma: +5** *[Proficient]*
## Features & Traits:
- **Divine Sense:** As an action, you can sense the location of any celestial, fiend, or undead within 60 feet that is not behind total cover. You know the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) but not its identity. You can use this a number of times equal to 1 + Charisma modifier (3 times) per long rest.
- **Lay on Hands:** You have a pool of 5 healing points. As an action, you can touch a creature and draw power from the pool to restore a number of hit points, up to the maximum remaining in your pool. Alternatively, you can expend 5 points to cure the target of one disease or neutralize one poison affecting it.
## Equipment:
- Longsword
- Shield
- 5 Javelins
- Chain Mail
- Holy Symbol (*What does it look like?*)
- Explorer's Pack (Backpack, bedroll, mess kit, tinderbox, 10 torches, 10 days rations, waterskin, 50 ft. hempen rope)
- Set of common clothes
- Pouch containing 15 Gold Pieces (gp)
---
This is Marky on paper. Now, let's breathe some life into them! To help me portray Marky and understand their motivations, tell me a little more:
1. **Background:** What did Marky do before becoming an adventurer? Were they a soldier imposing martial law? A member of a stern religious order? A guard who took things too far? (This might give you another skill or tool proficiency).
2. **Appearance:** Give me a quick description. What does Marky look like? Tall, short, muscular, lean? Hair color, eye color? Any scars or notable features? Do they carry themselves with rigid discipline or intimidating presence?
3. **Personality/Beliefs:** The Oath of Conquest is about crushing foes, instilling order (often through fear), and ruling with an iron fist. What drives Marky's belief in this? Is it a reaction to past chaos? A divine mandate? What is their ultimate goal? Are there any lines they *won't* cross (or *will* cross)?
4. **Holy Symbol:** You wear one as a focus for your power. What form does it take? An iron gauntlet? A symbol of a specific god of tyranny or war? A broken scale?
5. **Why Port Azure?** What brings a Paladin of Conquest like Marky to this chaotic port city just as strange things are happening? Are you here to impose order on the rising panic? Did you receive a vision or command related to the sunken temple? Are you hunting someone or something that has fled here?
Give me some details, and then we can begin our adventure in Port Azure!
The AI asked a few more questions, then we moved on and started the adventure.
Excellent! Let's rock.
**(Sound of seagulls crying, waves lapping against stone quays, the distant clang of a shipyard hammer, the murmur of dozens of conversations in various accents, the smell of salt, fish, and damp rope fills the air.)**
You are Marky. You stand on the docks of Port Azure, a city teeming with life, yet underscored by a palpable tension. The sky overhead is a bruised purple-grey, threatening rain that hasn't quite broken. People hurry along the cobblestones, merchants hawk their wares with a little less gusto than usual, and sailors cast nervous glances out towards the choppy, grey-green waters of the Cerulean Sea. You can feel the roughspun fabric of your common clothes under the weight of your chain mail, the solid heft of the longsword at your hip, and the comforting weight of the shield strapped to your arm. The simple iron spike hanging from a leather thong around your neck feels cool against your skin.
You arrived a few days ago, seeking... something. A new start, perhaps. A place where your particular brand of order could be imposed, where strength could carve out a space free from the chaos you left behind. Port Azure, with its crime, its frantic energy, and now, its growing fear, seems ripe for a firm hand.
You're currently near the 'Salty Squid' tavern, a known gathering spot for dockworkers and sailors. You overhear snippets of conversation:
"...never seen the like. Water just... churned itself into a froth!"
"...old Man Hemlock's boat, the 'Sea Sprite'? Vanished. Two nights back. Not a trace."
"...prophecies... the Starstone Cycle... the Temple..."
Suddenly, a commotion erupts further down the quay. A crowd gathers near the edge, pointing and shouting. Above the din, you hear a cry of real fear: "Look! By the Three Sisters rocks!"
You stride towards the disturbance, your height allowing you to see over the heads of some of the panicked townsfolk. About fifty yards offshore, near a jagged trio of rock formations known locally as the Three Sisters, the water is behaving strangely. A patch of sea, perhaps thirty feet across, is boiling. Not with heat, but with an unnatural, localized turbulence. The water froths and churns violently, spitting spray high into the air, forming bizarre, short-lived peaks and troughs entirely out of sync with the surrounding waves. A faint, unsettling greenish light seems to emanate from *within* the churning water.
Panic ripples through the crowd. Some people back away fearfully, others push forward, craning their necks. A portly merchant beside you, clutching a ledger to his chest, mutters, "Seven Hells... it's happening again! Just like the whispers said..."
**What do you do, Marky?** The chaos is beginning. Fear is spreading. The crowd is disorganized. The strange phenomenon continues offshore.
I look over by Three Sister's Rocks
You focus your attention intently on the roiling patch of water by the Three Sisters rocks. The churning is violent, unnatural. It's not like waves breaking; it's as if something massive is struggling just beneath the surface, kicking up froth and spray.
The greenish light you noticed before seems to pulse faintly within the turbulent water, casting eerie reflections on the dark, wet rocks. The sound is unsettling – a low, grinding roar mixed with the frantic splashing.
You scan the surface of the churning water. It's mostly chaotic froth, but for a fleeting moment, you think you see something dark and slick break the surface – larger than a fish, perhaps scaled, maybe serpentine? – before it's swallowed again by the turmoil. It's too quick and obscured by the spray to be certain.
Around you, the crowd is a mixture of fear and morbid curiosity. People are shouting questions, pointing, jostling. A couple of city guards in leather jerkins are trying to push people back from the edge, but they look uncertain and overwhelmed. No one seems to be in charge. The fear is palpable, a tangible thing you can almost taste in the salty air. It breeds disorder.
You notice a small, sturdy-looking fishing boat tied up at a nearby mooring, bobbing nervously in the agitated water, perhaps twenty yards from the disturbance. It appears empty.
The churning water and the growing panic present a clear challenge to order. The unknown nature of the disturbance is a source of fear that could quickly spiral out of control.
**(You have a few options here. You could:**
* **Continue Observing:** Try to get a clearer view of whatever is in the water.
* **Use Divine Sense:** Focus your will to detect any celestial, fiend, or undead presence connected to the disturbance.
* **Address the Crowd:** Use your imposing presence (perhaps an Intimidation check?) to instill order or quell the panic.
* **Question Someone:** Ask the nearby guards or the portly merchant what they know about these events.
* **Investigate Closer:** Consider moving towards the nearby fishing boat or finding another vantage point.
* **Or something else entirely.)**
**What does Marky do?**
I spend some time talking to people and looking around, and while the experience was really good, I want to swing over to where we create another team member and show off how well it nails the dialog. It was quite good, in fact I'd say it was better than most Dungeon Masters.
Before I do that though, I want to show off this interaction where I was trying to do something where I wanted to get an emotional response from.
I put my arm around the merchant, "Hello mate, what you know about what's going on?"
You stride through the jostling crowd, your armored presence parting the way. You reach the portly merchant, who is still muttering anxiously to his companions. Without breaking stride, you casually but firmly place your heavy, chainmail-clad arm around his shoulders. It's not exactly a friendly hug; it's a gesture of undeniable presence and control.
The merchant jumps, letting out a small squeak. He looks up at you, his eyes wide with alarm, suddenly very aware of the hardened warrior beside him. The ledger slips slightly in his grasp. "Wh-who...? By the seas, man, don't *do* that!" he stammers, trying to shrink away but finding your grip surprisingly solid.
You lean in slightly, your voice calm but carrying an unmistakable weight beneath the din. "Hello mate," you say, your gaze fixed on him. "What do you know about what's going on?"
Your sheer presence, combined with the sudden physical contact, clearly unnerves him. He swallows hard, his gaze darting between your face and the terrifying display in the water.
**(Your Intimidation check is successful - Roll: 16 + 4 = 20)**
"Know?" he squeaks, his voice tight with fear. "I know it's bad for business! Very bad! First, the freak squalls damaging ships moored right here in the harbor! Then nets coming up empty or... or torn by something unnatural! Now *this*! It's the third time this week something like this has happened near the Sisters, but never this... this *violent*!"
He gestures vaguely towards the churning water with a trembling hand. "They whisper... sailors, old wives, doesn't matter... they whisper about the Sunken Temple. An old legend, supposed to be cursed. Some say it's rising again. Others say something *within* it is stirring. Lights under the waves, strange currents pulling ships off course... Silas, the old lighthouse keeper, he tried to warn the Port Authority, but they dismissed him as a rambling drunk!"
He lowers his voice slightly, leaning conspiratorially closer despite his fear. "Look, whatever it is, it's scaring the trade away. If ships can't dock safely, if fishermen are too scared to go out... Port Azure will wither! This isn't just strange lights, paladin... this is ruin staring us in the face!" He seems genuinely terrified, less by the immediate phenomenon and more by its potential economic consequences. He glances nervously at your arm still resting on his shoulder. "Now... if you don't mind..."
He's given you a summary of the recent strangeness, confirmed this isn't the first incident near the rocks, mentioned the Sunken Temple legend, and a potential witness (Silas, the lighthouse keeper).
**The churning water continues unabated. The crowd remains agitated. What do you do now, Marky? Do you press the merchant further? Release him? Turn your attention elsewhere?**
Here was where I was really impressed with how the AI picked up what I was doing and gave the character realistic emotional responses. I frequently used personality to try to do more with the story than just simple directions. I wanted to see the characters develop and respond. I was not disappointed.
I give him a firm pat on the back, a coy smile and tell him I will do what I can to help.
You remove your heavy arm from the merchant's shoulders. He visibly relaxes, though his eyes still hold a nervous energy. You then give him a firm pat on the back – perhaps a bit *too* firm, making him stumble slightly against the man next to him. A small, tight smile touches your lips, one that doesn't quite soften the intensity in your gaze. It's less friendly reassurance and more the look of someone who sees a problem and intends to *fix* it, thoroughly.
"Don't worry," you say, your voice level and confident. "I will do what I can to help."
The merchant nods quickly, perhaps reading your confidence as competence, or perhaps just eager to be away from your immediate attention. "G-good! Yes! Someone must! The Port Authority is useless..." He edges back slightly into the crowd, clutching his ledger like a shield. "Thank you, uh... sir knight." He then quickly turns and scurries away, disappearing into the throng.
You stand for a moment, the center of a small bubble of space as people unconsciously give the imposing figure in armor some room. The unsettling roar from the churning water continues. The green light pulses. The crowd remains a messy, fearful organism.
The merchant mentioned **Silas, the old lighthouse keeper**, as someone who tried to warn the authorities. He might have more concrete information than panicked rumors. The **lighthouse** itself is likely a good vantage point and a place of relative solitude compared to the chaotic docks.
Alternatively, the **stern-faced woman** who seemed analytical rather than panicked might have practical insights, especially if she's involved with shipping or the docks. The **guards** are ineffective now, but they represent the city's official (if failing) authority. And of course, there's the **disturbance itself** – investigating it more directly, perhaps from that nearby boat, remains an option, though potentially dangerous.
Your promise to "help" hangs in the air. For Marky, helping likely means imposing order and crushing the source of this fear.
**What is your next step, Marky?**
I won't be but a moment Silas, your help would be appreciated. I noticed the disturbance, and I just so happen to be looking for something to do. You may have noticed Betsy, tapping my sword, she is really looking for adventure.
Here is another example where I did something purposeful to see how it would impact the interaction.
Silas squints at you, his watery eyes narrowing further. He glances down at the longsword at your hip, then back up at your face. The reference to "Betsy" doesn't seem to amuse him; rather, his frown deepens, lines etching themselves further into his weathered face.
"Adventure, is it?" he rasps, his voice dripping with cynicism. "That's what the young fools call it before the sea takes 'em. This ain't no game, armored man. This is... wrong. Deep wrong."
He hesitates for a moment, glancing back into the dim lighthouse interior, then back at you, seemingly weighing his options. Your imposing presence and stated intention to act seem to clash with his expectation of being ignored or dismissed.
"Disturbance," he mutters, more to himself than to you. "Aye. Saw it. Heard it too. Worse today. Getting closer."
He pushes the door open a bit wider, though not fully inviting you in. "So, the dockside rats finally mentioned old Silas, did they? Took 'em long enough. Too scared to listen when it mattered, but happy to point fingers now the sea's spitting at their feet."
He looks you up and down again, his gaze sharp despite his age. "You look like you can handle that... 'Betsy'... of yours. But handling a sword ain't the same as understanding the deeps. What makes you think you can do anything 'bout this? What's your stake in Port Azure, stranger?"
He hasn't shut the door in your face, which is something. He's testing you, trying to gauge your seriousness and perhaps your competence. He wants to know *why* you care, or if you're just another problem waiting to happen.
**What do you tell Silas, Marky? How do you convince him you're serious and perhaps gain his trust (or at least, his cooperation)?**
Mind if I use your peepers?
Silas blinks, surprised by the blunt request. He clutches the tarnished spyglass a little tighter for a second, his knuckles white. "My 'peepers'?" he grumbles, but there's less heat in it now. He looks from the spyglass to you, then out towards the grey, choppy sea.
"Aye... alright," he says after a moment, extending the brass tube towards you. "But be careful with her. She's seen more winters than you have, fighter."
The spyglass feels cool and solid in your gauntleted hand. It's clearly old but well-maintained. You raise it to your eye, adjusting the focus. The wind whips strands of your hair across your face as you brace yourself against the stone wall of the lighthouse.
First, you focus on the disturbance near the **Three Sisters rocks**. The magnification cuts through some of the distance and spray. You can see the violent, unnatural churning much more clearly now. The water looks thick, almost syrupy, in the center of the turmoil, and the green light pulses with more definition – it definitely seems to emanate from *below* the surface. You watch intently, scanning the chaos.
**(Let's make a Perception check. Roll: 13 + 1 (WIS) = 14)**
For several long moments, it's just chaotic water. Then, just as you saw before, but clearer this time, something dark breaks the surface. It's not serpentine. It looks like... stone? A blocky, angular shape, covered in slime and seaweed, emerges briefly before sinking back down. It looks like part of a structure, maybe a carved pillar or a section of wall, being forced upwards by the turbulent water before vanishing again. It definitely wasn't natural rock.
You then sweep the spyglass further out, towards the **reef system** Silas mentioned, guessing the general direction based on his words. The sea is rougher out there, making observation difficult. You scan the waves, looking for the "big shapes" he described or any other anomalies.
**(Another Perception check, this one harder due to distance and waves. Roll: 9 + 1 = 10)**
You don't see any large, distinct shapes breaking the surface. However, you do notice something odd. In one area, maybe a mile or so offshore, the pattern of the waves seems... off. It's subtle, but there's a faint, circular ripple effect, as if something very large rests just beneath the surface, disturbing the natural flow of the water. It's hard to be sure, but it aligns with where Silas indicated the temple might lie. You also catch a fleeting glimpse of that same faint, greenish light reflecting off the underside of a wave crest in that distant area, just for an instant.
You lower the spyglass, the wind feeling cold on your face. You hand it back to Silas.
"You saw it then?" Silas asks, his voice quiet, watching your expression. "The stone? The light?"
He takes the spyglass back, cradling it almost protectively. "It's risin'. Or bein' pushed up. The temple... or parts of it, anyway. And whatever's down there is makin' it happen."
You've seen evidence supporting Silas's claims: unnatural structures surfacing near the rocks, and potential signs of something large and submerged further out, connected by that eerie green light.
**The situation feels more concrete now. The Mages Guild library holds potential charts. The disturbance is clearly linked to submerged structures. What is your next move, Marky? Press Silas for more? Head to the Mages Guild? Re-evaluate the disturbance at the docks?**
I look around town for someone who may go on this adventure with me and offer company.
Here is where I try to nudge the AI to start a new character, and I played around with some quirky dialog to see how the AI would respond.
A wise decision. Facing unknown powers rising from the depths alone is a daunting prospect, even for a Paladin of Conquest. Strength can be amplified by allies, and control is easier to exert with support.
You adjust your course, deciding the Mages Guild can wait for a short while. First, you need assets. People who can handle themselves, who aren't paralyzed by the fear gripping the city. Where to find such individuals?
You head towards the **Market Ward**, a large, cobblestone square typically bustling with activity. Even now, despite the gloom and tension, vendors are still attempting to sell their wares – fishmongers (though their stock looks sparse), vegetable sellers, craftspeople, and street food stalls puffing smoke into the damp air. The crowd is thinner than usual, more subdued, but it's still the most populated area you've seen outside the immediate dock disturbance.
You stride through the square, your armor drawing glances, your focused intensity keeping most people from getting too close. You scan the faces, looking for someone who stands out – not just another scared citizen, but someone with a spark of competence, resilience, or perhaps even recklessness.
Your eyes pass over:
* A group of city guards clustered near a fountain, talking amongst themselves and looking more concerned with staying dry than policing. Useless.
* Merchants arguing quietly over dwindling supplies or cancelled shipments. Too absorbed in their own worries.
* Panicked citizens exchanging fearful rumors in hushed tones. Not what you seek.
Then, you spot a few individuals who catch your attention:
1. **The Scarred Half-Orc:** Leaning against a stall selling cheap metal goods, a large Half-Orc warrior examines a battleaxe with a critical eye. They are clad in mismatched pieces of plate and leather armor, heavily scarred across their visible green skin. A massive greataxe is strapped to their back. They seem utterly unimpressed by the surrounding anxiety, more focused on the quality of the weapon they're inspecting. They radiate boredom and capability.
2. **The Shadowed Observer:** Lurking in the covered entrance of a narrow alleyway between a bakery and a chandler's shop, a figure watches the market square. They are clad in dark, practical leather armor, hood pulled low, obscuring their features. They move with a quiet grace, their eyes constantly scanning the crowd, alert and cautious. Could be trouble, could be an asset.
3. **The Anxious Scholar:** Near a public notice board covered in official proclamations and handwritten flyers, a young man with ink-stained fingers and spectacles perched on his nose pores over a thick, leather-bound tome. He keeps glancing nervously between the book, the notices, and the sky, muttering to himself. He looks completely out of place, yet intensely focused on whatever research consumes him. Perhaps knowledge is a weapon he wields?
These three stand out from the general populace. They seem less caught up in the immediate panic, each focused in their own way.
**Who do you approach, Marky? Or do you continue searching elsewhere?**
I walk by the shadowy figure, and fart on my way by. I continue to look around.
You walk purposefully towards the alleyway where the Shadowed Observer lurks. As you pass the entrance, maintaining your forward stride and impassive expression, you subtly... release a brief, perhaps muffled, burst of intestinal gas in their general direction. You don't break stride, don't look back, just continue your patrol of the market square as if nothing happened.
**(I'll make a quick check to see if the Observer notices or reacts significantly. Let's say a Sleight of Hand check for subtlety vs their Perception. Your Sleight of Hand is +0. Let's roll: 5. Their Perception is likely decent... Roll: 15.)**
The figure in the shadows likely catches the... *emission*. Their head might turn almost imperceptibly towards you for a split second, perhaps a flicker of annoyance or disdain crossing whatever features are visible beneath the hood. But just as quickly, they dismiss it, returning their gaze to the wider square. They are focused on observation, and a passing vulgarity, while perhaps noted, doesn't distract them from their purpose. They make no move to acknowledge you or react further.
You continue your circuit of the Market Ward. The Half-Orc warrior is still examining weapons, now haggling quietly with the stall owner. The anxious scholar remains engrossed in his book near the notice board, occasionally pushing his spectacles up his nose. The general mood of the square remains subdued and fearful.
No other obvious candidates for adventuring companions immediately stand out among the remaining vendors and citizens.
**The Shadowed Observer remains in the alley. The Half-Orc warrior is at the weapons stall. The Anxious Scholar is by the notice board. Having completed your initial sweep (and your... fly-by), what do you do now, Marky? Approach one of them? Head to the Mages Guild alone? Reconsider your need for companions?**
I walk up to the shadowy figure, and ask them if they smelt something rotten
You turn and walk back towards the shadowed alley entrance. The figure within remains still, almost blending into the gloom. You stop directly in front of them, blocking much of the dim light filtering in from the square. Your armored form fills the narrow space.
Up close, you still can't make out many features beneath the hood, but you sense a coiled readiness, like a predator waiting in ambush. You lean in slightly, your voice low but clear, carrying easily in the confined space.
"Smell something rotten?" you ask, your gaze steady.
There's a moment of absolute stillness from the figure. You can almost feel their focused attention on you, analyzing, calculating. Then, a quiet voice, impossible to determine gender or origin from its hushed tones, replies from the depths of the hood.
"Besides the fish three stalls downwind?" The voice is dry, devoid of inflection. "Or the general stench of fear choking this city?"
They didn't rise to the bait directly, nor did they ignore you. They acknowledged your question while turning it back towards the ambient unpleasantness, subtly letting you know they are aware of their surroundings and perhaps implying your... contribution... was insignificant compared to the city's larger problems. Their head tilts slightly.
"Something specific bothering your nose, Paladin?" The use of your likely class shows they are observant. They didn't react with hostility, but there's a definite challenge in their tone, a guarded curiosity. They are waiting for you to state your actual business.
**How do you respond to the Shadowed Observer, Marky? Do you press the point, get down to business, or try a different tactic?**
Care to figure out what this disturbance is and see if we can't take care of it?
The figure remains motionless for another heartbeat, the shadows under their hood seeming to deepen. The dry voice returns, still quiet but sharp.
"Take care of it?" The words hang in the air. "You speak as if swatting a fly. You saw the water boil? Heard the whispers? This isn't some drunken brawl down at the docks."
Their head tilts again, a subtle gesture that somehow conveys intense scrutiny. "Taking care of things requires understanding *what* needs taking care of. And usually, a reason. Risking my neck against... whatever that is," they gesture vaguely towards the direction of the sea with a gloved hand, "isn't something I do for idle amusement."
There's a pause, then the question comes, direct and pragmatic. "What's your plan, Paladin? And more importantly, what's the reward, assuming we don't end up as fish food?"
They are interested, or at least, not immediately dismissive. But they are cautious, professional maybe. They want specifics: the objective, the approach, and the compensation. They value their skills and aren't offering them freely.
**How do you answer the Shadowed Observer, Marky? What plan do you outline? What reward, if any, do you offer?**
I'm sure we will find plenty of rewards on the way, and if not I am sure the town will see to it. I talked to the light house keeper Silas, and discussed it with him. It's not something we should just rush into, but I plan on making my way over there and see what I can do.
The figure listens intently, the silence stretching after you finish speaking. The sounds of the market seem distant.
"Rewards found 'on the way' are uncertain," the dry voice states flatly. "And the gratitude of townsfolk is often short-lived and lighter than air. Especially when their purses are tight from fear."
They pause, letting the pragmatic observation sink in. "Silas, eh? The old keeper sees more than most give him credit for. So, you know it's likely tied to the Sunken Temple legends. That it's not just random."
The figure shifts slightly, a subtle adjustment of weight. "And 'making your way over there' means what, exactly? Swimming out to the Three Sisters rocks? Chartering a boat to the reef? Storming the Mages Guild for charts?"
There's still skepticism, but also a hint of engagement. They picked up on the key elements – Silas, the Temple – and they're pressing for a concrete *first step*. They aren't satisfied with vague intentions. They want to know *what you are going to do right now*.
"This," the figure continues, their voice still low, "is the kind of trouble that can swallow unprepared fools whole. If you have a *specific*, actionable next step beyond 'seeing what you can do', I might consider hearing more. If not..." The implication is clear: they won't waste their time on aimless bravado.
They are testing your resolve and your planning. They need more than just conviction; they need direction.
**What is your immediate plan, Marky? Do you tell them about the Mages Guild charts? Suggest a different first action? How do you convince them you have more than just strength and a vague desire to intervene?**
I just pasted a few back and forth here to really show how well the AI handled this new character Vex. It was really well done and the character is as interesting as a good Hollywood movie. This is where I started to get really impressed.
I go back and forth with Vex for a bit, they agree to join me. We go around town to visit the Mage guild do a lot of dialog to get in and get the information we needed, get some equipment, and set off on the adventure. We spent some time in a quiet bar going over the material and making a plan. At this point (about 1hr or so interacting) we have not left town yet. The reason for this, is we don't have enough money for the potions and the equipment needed, so I made some choices to help remedy that. I was blown away how well it worked and how interesting it became. Let me skip to some highlights.
At this point I know Vex is a rogue, but I want to get a feel for what type of rogue and if he (still not sure if it is a he) will be loyal. His response is engaging and unique. Not the typical glazing you get with AI.
I assumed as much, can you hold your own in a fight? I will defend you will my life, if you will do the same.
You lean forward slightly, your gaze intent. "I assumed as much about the skills. Good. But temples have guardians, not just traps. Can you hold your own in a fight if stealth fails?" Your voice lowers, becoming deadly serious. "I will defend you with my life, if it comes to that. I expect the same commitment."
Vex is silent for a beat, the hooded head tilting slightly as if considering the weight of your words.
"Direct confrontation is messy," the dry voice replies. "It signifies a failure in planning or execution. My preference is to ensure such failures don't occur."
There's a pause. "But Port Azure teaches many lessons. One is that plans inevitably encounter... complications." Vex subtly shifts, and you catch the briefest glimpse of what might be the hilt of a dagger or short sword tucked away beneath their cloak. "I am not defenseless. I handle threats that get too close... *efficiently*. Usually by ensuring they don't get the chance to strike back." The implication is clear: precision strikes, disabling attacks, perhaps poisons, rather than prolonged melee.
They then address your pledge directly, their tone devoid of sentiment. "Mutual defense declarations are... dramatic. Let's be practical, Paladin. Your function is to absorb and deliver heavy blows. My function is to navigate hazards and neutralize specific threats quietly. Our survival is intertwined with mission success."
Vex leans forward slightly, the shadows under the hood seeming absolute. "Keeping you operational," they gesture towards your armored form, "significantly increases my chances of survival and, more importantly, achieving the objective and securing my compensation. Dead paladins guard no one and uncover no treasure. Therefore, preserving your life is tactically advantageous for me."
"I will act in accordance with maximizing mission success, which includes preventing your untimely demise where feasible," Vex states flatly. "I expect the same pragmatic consideration in return. Protect the asset that helps you bypass the traps. Simple economics."
It's not the oath of fealty a knight might expect, but it's a clear, albeit cold, statement of mutual interest grounded in pragmatism and survival. Vex will protect you because you are useful, and they expect the same functional protection in return.
**Is this pragmatic assurance acceptable to Marky? Are you ready to trust Vex based on this understanding and move on to planning the approach to the temple?**
Look to see if we have enough for supplies.
Here is where we start looking for equipment, and this is where the AI hits a few home runs. Vex is a master planner, and nails this dialog, and I swing the story around back to the merchant in the beginning trying to come up with a way to afford the supplies we need.
You pull out your coin pouch, feeling the modest weight within. "Alright, let's see where we stand." You count out your savings – 15 gold pieces, hard-earned and carefully kept.
You look expectantly at Vex. After a moment's pause, Vex reaches into a hidden fold of their cloak and produces a small, well-worn leather pouch. They don't count it out loud, but give it a slight, assessing jingle.
"I have funds," Vex states simply. "Approximately twenty-five gold. Reserved for operational necessities."
So, combined, you have **40 gold pieces**.
You quickly run through the list, estimating costs based on typical market prices:
* Rope, grappling hook, crowbar, hammer, pitons, chalk, sacks, rations, waterskins... the basic mundane gear. That seems manageable, probably around 10-15 gold for everything.
* Vex likely already has their Thieves' Tools.
Then you hit the expensive items:
* **Potions of Healing:** Standard ones usually run 50 gold *each*. You'd barely afford one, let alone several.
* **Potions of Water Breathing:** These are magical and specialized. Likely 100 gold or *much* more per potion, assuming you can even find someone selling them openly.
* **Underwater Light / Cold Resistance:** Similar issue. Magical solutions are costly. Mundane options might be cheap but ineffective.
* **Boat and Skilled Captain:** Hiring someone willing to sail into a notoriously dangerous reef system, especially with the current panic? That won't be cheap. You'd be lucky to find someone for under 50 gold just for the trip, possibly much more given the risk.
The calculation is stark. You have enough for the basic tools and survival gear, but the crucial elements – the magic potions needed for underwater survival and healing, and the transport to get there safely – are currently well beyond your combined 40 gold pieces.
Vex seems to reach the same conclusion, their posture unchanging. "Our current capital is insufficient for acquiring the optimal resources through conventional channels," the dry voice states. "Particularly the potions and the transport."
**Your current funds limit your options significantly. How do you proceed, Marky?**
* **Seek cheaper/riskier alternatives?** (Look for black market potions, a desperate or shady captain?)
* **Try to negotiate?** (Persuade/Intimidate a captain or alchemist to help for reduced cost or future payment?)
* **Earn more gold first?** (Look for a quick job or bounty in Port Azure?)
* **Re-evaluate the plan?** (Is there a way to approach the temple that *doesn't* require expensive potions or a boat immediately?)
I'm going to just post the interactions and let them speak for themselves.
Let's visit a merchant i talked to either, he seems to think this is really bad for business and may sponsor us
"Right," you say, gathering the charts and notes carefully. "Forty gold won't cut it for magic elixirs and a seaworthy vessel into that mess." You recall the panicked merchant from the docks earlier, the one clutching his ledger like a lifeline. "There was a merchant I spoke to near the quay... portly fellow, obsessed with how this disturbance is affecting trade. He seemed terrified of ruin."
You look at Vex. "He might see funding us as an investment. Restoring order means restoring his profits. It's worth a try. Let's find him."
Vex gives a curt nod. "Leveraging self-interest is often more effective than appealing to charity. A sound tactic. If he values his gold, he may be willing to spend some to protect the rest."
You both leave the relative seclusion of The Rusty Anchor's back booth and step out into the grey afternoon. The air is still heavy, threatening rain. You head back towards the main dock area and the adjacent merchant stalls, scanning the thinning crowds. The earlier panic has subsided into a nervous quiet, but the site of the disturbance near the Three Sisters remains deserted, the water still showing an unnatural chop.
**(Let's make an Investigation check to locate the merchant. Roll: 12 + (-1 INT) = 11. Not great, but maybe Vex can help. Vex's Investigation is likely better. Let's say Vex rolls: 17. Vex assists.)**
After searching for about fifteen minutes, asking a couple of stall owners who shake their heads vaguely, Vex subtly directs your attention towards a slightly more upscale warehouse building a street over from the main fish market. The sign above the door reads "Azure Imports - Willem Grosbeak, Proprietor". Through a grubby window, you spot the familiar portly figure inside, pacing nervously behind a large wooden desk piled high with papers. He looks pale and stressed.
Vex nods. "That seems to be your man. Grosbeak."
You approach the warehouse door and give it a firm knock. After a moment, you hear hurried footsteps, and the door cracks open. Willem Grosbeak peers out, his eyes widening first in recognition, then in renewed alarm as he sees you, the armored paladin from the docks. He looks past you, his gaze lingering on the shadowed form of Vex with obvious suspicion.
"You!" he squeaks, clutching the door. "What do you want now? Haven't you caused enough... uh... I mean, isn't there enough trouble already?"
**How do you present your proposal to Willem Grosbeak, Marky? Remember his primary motivation: fear for his business.**
Whisper to Vex, does it seem like he is hiding something?
You lean closer to Vex, turning your head slightly as if surveying the street, and whisper under your breath, "Does he seem like he's hiding something specific? Beyond the obvious panic?"
Vex's hooded head remains still, but you sense their keen observation focusing intensely on the merchant. Vex subtly shifts their weight, angling for a slightly better view past Grosbeak into the dimly lit warehouse interior.
**(I'll make an Insight check for Marky, with advantage due to Vex's assistance. Marky's Insight: +1. Vex's observation adds advantage.)**
**(Roll 1: 15. Roll 2: 8. Taking the higher roll: 15 + 1 = 16.)**
You both observe Grosbeak closely. His fear is genuine, yes – fear of the situation, fear of economic ruin, fear of your imposing presence. But there's something else layered underneath. His eyes dart nervously not just away from you, but back into the shadows of his warehouse behind him. He's clutching the door not just to keep you out, but perhaps to keep you from seeing *in*. He seems overly protective of the premises, more so than simple fear would explain. It feels less like he's hiding information *about* the disturbance, and more like he's hiding something *tangible* within the warehouse itself, something he desperately doesn't want discovered, especially not by someone like you who radiates authority and judgment.
You share a quick, subtle glance with Vex. It seems your merchant friend might have more secrets than just worries about his shipping manifests. This could potentially be leverage, or it could complicate matters.
**Knowing this, how do you proceed with your request for sponsorship, Marky? Do you mention his nervousness? Ignore it for now? Adjust your pitch?**
Ask him what you are not telling us?
You lean in closer, lowering your voice so only Grosbeak can hear it, but losing none of the intensity. Your gaze bores into his, unwavering.
"Grosbeak," you say quietly, the name clipped and sharp. "You're afraid. That's plain enough. But there's more." You pause, letting the silence stretch, emphasizing his nervous fidgeting. "What aren't you telling us? What are you hiding in there?"
Your direct accusation hangs heavy in the air. Grosbeak flinches as if struck. His eyes dart wildly between you, Vex (who remains a silent, menacing presence), and the dark interior of his warehouse. He starts to sweat visibly, beads forming on his pale forehead. He tries to bluster, puffing himself up slightly.
"H-hiding? Preposterous! I am a respectable merchant! I hide nothing! I am merely concerned, as any citizen would be, about these... these terrible events!"
**(You press the point. Let's make an Intimidation check. Roll: 18 + 4 = 22. A very convincing roll.)**
You don't even blink. "Respectable merchants don't look like cornered rats when someone asks a simple question." You take a half-step closer, your armored presence filling the doorway. Vex subtly shifts behind you, perhaps letting the hilt of their blade become momentarily visible in the gloom. "The truth, Grosbeak. Now. Before my patience wears thin and I decide to take a closer look myself. Problems have a way of multiplying when people aren't forthcoming."
Grosbeak crumbles under the pressure. His face goes slack, his eyes filled with terror. "Alright! Alright!" he whispers frantically, pulling you slightly inside and trying to shut the door partway behind you, casting fearful glances down the street. Vex slips inside with you before the door closes fully.
"It's... it's not related to the sea monsters! I swear!" he insists, wringing his hands. "It's just... business. Unofficial business." He gestures vaguely towards some stacked crates in a dark corner. "Fine silks from Kadar. Highly taxed. *Very* highly taxed. I... acquired them through alternative channels. If the City Watch finds them..." He shudders. "I'll be ruined! Fines, confiscation... maybe even jail!"
He looks at you pleadingly. "Please, sir knight... you wouldn't...?"
So, the secret is smuggling. Not directly tied to the Sunken Temple, but certainly leverage. He's terrified of being exposed.
**Now that you know his secret, how do you use this information, Marky? Do you reassure him to gain his trust? Use it to pressure him for sponsorship? Offer to keep quiet in exchange for help?**
I don't care about your silks, I do care about completing our mission safely and without problems. It is in your best interest we succeed, as well as keep your activities to ourselves. We have a little problem with finances for the proper supplies to handle our mission. What say we help each other out?
You hold up a hand, cutting off Grosbeak's panicked pleading. Your expression remains stern, but your focus shifts.
"I don't care about your silks, Grosbeak," you state flatly, dismissing his smuggling operation with a wave. Your concern lies elsewhere. "What I *do* care about is dealing with the disturbance in the harbor. The one that's choking your trade and spreading fear through this city."
You let that sink in for a moment, connecting your mission directly back to his primary fear. "It is in your best interest that we succeed. Quickly, quietly, and effectively. The sooner this unnatural business is resolved, the sooner your *official* business," you add with slight emphasis, "can return to normal."
You pause, letting him absorb the implication. "And, naturally, it's also in your interest that distractions, like certain... *untaxed goods*... remain private matters."
You meet his wide, fearful eyes. "We have the will, the skills, and the plan to confront this threat. But plans require resources. Proper supplies – reliable equipment, necessary magic, safe passage – cost coin. Coin we currently lack in sufficient quantity to guarantee success and minimize complications."
You lean in slightly again, your voice a low rumble. "So, Grosbeak. What say we help each other out? You provide the necessary funds to equip our expedition properly. We deal with the larger threat plaguing Port Azure, ensuring your livelihood can continue... and ensuring your *other* activities remain undisturbed by inconvenient attention. A simple arrangement."
Grosbeak stares at you, his mouth slightly open. He glances nervously at Vex, then back at you. He sees the way out you're offering – a path that not only potentially solves the problem crippling his legitimate trade but also buys your silence about his illegal activities. The fear in his eyes slowly begins to mingle with frantic calculation.
"F-funds?" he stammers. "How much... how much are we talking about? Proper supplies aren't cheap, as you say! Especially now, with everyone hoarding..."
He's not saying no. He's negotiating. He sees the potential benefit, weighed against the cost and the continued threat of exposure if he refuses.
**How much funding do you request from Grosbeak, Marky? Remember your estimated needs (likely well over 100 gold for potions and a boat, plus gear). Do you give him a specific number? Or let him make an offer?**
We spend a while dealing with Grosbeak with some awesome dialog and then negotiate with the two contacts he gives us. These both were awesome interactions with similar efforts made to deal with our lack of funds using clever arrangements.
I was really impressed how well this turned out, and I wanted to try it over voice for a better experience. This was a complete disaster, at one point it stopped speaking English, it would forget things, and even lost track of dialog, at one point I asked a character a question and the AI swapped place with me and the npc making a very confusing and unrecoverable mistake. The text based only made one mistake in 1 hour of interaction, it made a tiny math error on our gold supply reporting we had 17.7g instead of the 16g we should have had at the time.
I think I am approaching the limit of a Hive post, but I thought this was a fun experiment. At this point, I have used 67,115 out of 1M tokens and could probably go for a few more hours before I hit the limits of the context window.