Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMG9R0G9WH220V3ZAB2HHQ

Run Details

Model:: Hermes 3 405B
Test:: Bad Writing Habits
Scenario:: Fantasy: entering an ancient ruin
Duration:: 57.0s
Cost:: $0.002564
Provider:: DeepInfra

Model input

System

You are an expert novelist with a gift for vivid, immersive prose. You write in tight third-person limited point of view with a strong narrative voice. Your prose is clean, precise, and engaging — you favor strong verbs, concrete details, and natural-sounding dialogue.

You will be given a story bible (codex) containing canonical details about characters, locations, items, and lore. Use these details to ground your writing in the established world. Stay consistent with the codex.

Write only the prose of the scene. Do not include titles, chapter headings, markdown formatting, or any commentary before or after the scene.

User/Human

<codex>
<character id="4412" name="Aurora Carter" aliases="Rory, Laila, Aurora, Carter, Malphora" pronouns="she/her" species="Human" storyRole="Protagonist">
  <eyeColor>bright blue</eyeColor>
  <hair>straight shoulder-length black</hair>
  <height>5'6"</height>
  <age>25</age>
  <scar>small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist from a childhood accident</scar>
  <description>Aurora, referred to by her friends as Rory, is cool-headed, intelligent, and known for quick out-of-the-box thinking.</description>
  <backstory>Born in Cardiff to an Irish barrister father (Brendan Carter) and Welsh teacher mother (Jennifer Carter née Ellis), Rory reluctantly pursued Pre-Law at Cardiff University. She fled to London at the behest of her childhood friend Eva after leaving an abusive ex named Evan. By day, Rory works part-time as a delivery person for Yu-Fei Cheung's Golden Empress restaurant. She lives in a flat above Silas' bar.</backstory>
</character>

<character id="4418" name="Nyx" aliases="Nyx, the Shadow, Nightwhisper" pronouns="they/them" species="Shade" storyRole="Wild Card">
  <eyeColor>faintly glowing violet</eyeColor>
  <height>approximately 6'2" in solid form</height>
  <age>ageless</age>
  <form>humanoid silhouette of living shadow, can shift between solid and incorporeal</form>
  <voice>sounds like a whisper carried on the wind</voice>
  <description>A being of living shadow, existing between the mortal plane and the spaces between realms.</description>
  <backstory>Nyx was once a human sorcerer named Aldric who became trapped between realms during a failed summoning ritual in 1643. They now exist as a Shade, bound to the mortal plane but able to slip between shadows.</backstory>
</character>

<character id="4424" name="Isolde Varga" aliases="Isolde, the Seer" pronouns="she/her" species="Half-Fae" storyRole="Oracle">
  <eyeColor>pale lavender</eyeColor>
  <hair>silver, reaching her waist</hair>
  <height>5'5"</height>
  <age>300 years old</age>
  <appearance>ethereal, ageless</appearance>
  <speech>speaks in riddles</speech>
  <footprints>leaves no footprints when she walks</footprints>
  <compulsion>cannot lie (Fae compulsion) but can mislead</compulsion>
  <description>A Half-Fae seer exiled from the Fae Courts for sharing visions with mortals.</description>
  <backstory>She now lives in a hidden grove in Richmond Park, offering cryptic prophecies to those who seek her out.</backstory>
</character>

<location id="853" name="Dymas (Gluttony)" aliases="Dymas, gluttony, Dymasian" realm="Hel" sin="Gluttony">
  <ruler>Prince Belphegor</ruler>
  <skyColor>warm amber</skyColor>
  <description>A place of excess and indulgence. Sprawling vineyards, orchards, and gardens provide exotic ingredients for master chefs — often helbound souls contracted from Earth. Grand feasts and culinary competitions are common.</description>
</location>

<location id="861" name="The Fae Grove" aliases="Isolde's grove, Richmond grove, the Grove" realm="Earth (Fae-touched)">
  <parkLocation>Richmond Park</parkLocation>
  <standingStones>ancient oak standing stones mark the boundary</standingStones>
  <timeBehavior>time moves differently — an hour inside can be minutes or days outside</timeBehavior>
  <flora>wildflowers bloom year-round</flora>
  <description>A hidden clearing that exists in a pocket between Earth and the Fae realm.</description>
</location>

<item id="2001" name="Heartstone Pendant" aliases="the pendant, Heartstone" type="Artifact" origin="Dymas">
  <gemstoneColor>deep crimson</gemstoneColor>
  <chainMaterial>silver chain</chainMaterial>
  <size>roughly the size of a thumbnail</size>
  <behavior>pulses faintly with warmth when near a Hel portal</behavior>
  <glow>faint inner glow</glow>
  <description>Given to Aurora by an unknown benefactor.</description>
</item>

<item id="2006" name="Fae-Forged Blade" aliases="the Fae blade, Isolde's gift" type="Weapon" origin="The Fae Courts">
  <material>moonsilver</material>
  <shape>slender, leaf-shaped dagger</shape>
  <temperature>always cold to the touch</temperature>
  <glow>faintly luminescent in moonlight</glow>
  <power>can cut through magical wards; particularly effective against demons</power>
  <givenTo>given to Aurora by Isolde as a gift</givenTo>
  <description>A weapon of the Fae Courts, rare and highly coveted.</description>
</item>

<lore id="7001" name="The Veil" aliases="the Veil, the Barrier, the Boundary" category="Cosmology">
  <solsticeEffect>weakens during the winter solstice, strengthens during the summer solstice</solsticeEffect>
  <appearance>faint shimmering distortion visible only to those with supernatural sight</appearance>
  <monitoring>rift points (tears in the Veil) are monitored by the Wardens</monitoring>
  <description>The Veil is the metaphysical barrier separating Earth from Hel and the Fae Realms.</description>
</lore>
</codex>

Write a fully fleshed out scene of at least 1000 words in the fantasy genre.

A small group enters an ancient, otherworldly place for the first time. The environment is alien and wondrous. Describe their exploration — what they see, hear, and feel as they move deeper. Include moments of discovery, unease, and wonder. Let the world-building emerge through the characters' experience rather than exposition.

Use the codex entries above as your world reference for characters, setting, and lore.
Only include the prose of the scene without any markdown or commentary.

Model response

Aurora stepped through the shimmering portal, her bright blue eyes widening as she took in the alien landscape of Dymas. The sky above glowed a warm amber, bathing the sprawling vineyards and orchards in an ethereal light. Beside her, Nyx shifted into a solid form, their violet eyes scanning the horizon.

"This is... incredible," Rory breathed, her fingers brushing the deep crimson gemstone of her Heartstone pendant. It pulsed faintly with warmth against her skin.

Isolde stepped through the portal behind them, her pale lavender eyes serene as she surveyed the land of Gluttony. "Welcome to Dymas, dear ones," the Seer said, her voice musical. "We must tread carefully here. The Prince of this realm is known for his... appetites."

As they moved deeper into the vineyards, Rory couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crept over her. The air was thick with the scent of overripe fruit and the cloying sweetness of honey. She glanced down at her Fae-forged blade, its moonsilver surface gleaming faintly in the amber light.

Nyx paused beside a gnarled tree heavy with strange, luminescent fruit. They plucked one from the branch, turning it over in their shadowy hands. "These fruits... I've never seen anything like them," they mused, their voice a whisper on the wind.

Isolde reached out and stayed their hand before they could take a bite. "Caution, Nightwhisper," she warned. "The fruits of Dymas are not for mortal consumption. They are cultivated to tempt and ensnare."

Rory's heart raced as they pressed on, leaving the vineyards behind for the shaded paths of an ancient orchard. The trees here were twisted and gnarled, their branches heavy with blossoms that glowed like embers in the perpetual twilight. The air hummed with the droning of unseen insects and the rustle of leaves in a breeze she couldn't feel.

"Look," Nyx murmured, pointing to a shimmering distortion in the air before them. "A rift in the Veil."

Aurora approached cautiously, the pendant around her neck growing warmer the closer she got to the rift. Through the shimmering portal, she could see the familiar greens and browns of Earth – Richmond Park, to be precise. A sudden wave of homesickness washed over her.

"The Veil is thin here," Isolde said, her eyes distant. "The solstice approaches. We must be gone from this place before the boundary strengthens once more."

As they turned to leave, a sound froze them in their tracks – the baying of hounds in the distance, followed by the blare of hunting horns. Isolde's face went pale.

"Belphegor's Hunt," she whispered. "We must flee, now!"

They ran, racing through the orchard as the sounds of pursuit grew louder. Rory's lungs burned and her legs ached, but she pushed on, driven by the terror of what would happen if they were caught. Nyx ran beside her, their form flickering between solid and shadow with each stride.

Just as the hounds' howls reached a fever pitch, Isolde skidded to a halt before a shimmering rift in the Veil. "Quickly, through here!" she urged, all but shoving Rory and Nyx through the portal.

They tumbled through the rift, landing in a heap on the familiar grass of Richmond Park. The sounds of the Hunt faded, replaced by the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirp of birds. Rory lay there for a moment, catching her breath, before sitting up and looking around.

They were in Isolde's hidden Fae grove, the ancient oak standing stones marking the boundary. Wildflowers bloomed around them, a riot of color even in the fading light. The Seer stood a few feet away, her silver hair tousled and her lavender eyes haunted.

"That was too close," Nyx said, their form solidifying as they stood. "We can't risk returning to Dymas. Not until we're better prepared."

Rory nodded, her hand going to the Heartstone pendant around her neck. The gem was cool and still now, the danger passed. She looked to Isolde, who was staring into the distance, her expression unreadable.

"We will need to gather our allies and our strength," the Half-Fae said softly. "The Veil weakens and the solstice draws near. The time for the final battle approaches."

Rory and Nyx exchanged a glance, the weight of Isolde's words settling over them like a shroud. They had glimpsed the wonders and terrors of Dymas, but there were greater challenges yet to come. Together, they would face them. They had no other choice.

Evaluation details

Result

Evaluator

Details

Meta Data

100.0000%

Adverbs in dialogue tags

Target: ≤10% dialogue tags with adverbs

totalTags

adverbTagCount

adverbTags

0	"the Half-Fae said softly [softly]"

46.0189%

AI-ism adverb frequency

Target: <1% AI-ism adverbs (57 tracked)

wordCount

741

totalAiIsmAdverbs

found

adverb	"carefully"
count	1

adverb	"cautiously"
count	1

adverb	"quickly"
count	1

adverb	"softly"
count	1

highlights

0	"carefully"
1	"cautiously"
2	"quickly"
3	"softly"

100.0000%

AI-ism character names

Target: 0 AI-default names (17 tracked, −20% each)

codexExemptions	(empty)
found	(empty)

100.0000%

AI-ism location names

Target: 0 AI-default location names (33 tracked, −20% each)

codexExemptions	(empty)
found	(empty)

46.0189%

AI-ism word frequency

Target: <1% AI-ism words (140 tracked)

wordCount

741

totalAiIsms

found

word	"ethereal"
count	1

word	"gleaming"
count	1

word	"unreadable"
count	1

word	"weight"
count	1

highlights

0	"ethereal"
1	"gleaming"
2	"unreadable"
3	"weight"

100.0000%

Cliche density

Target: ≤1 cliche(s) per 800-word window

totalCliches

maxInWindow

found

label	"air was thick with"
count	1

highlights

0	"The air was thick with"

100.0000%

Emotion telling (show vs. tell)

Target: ≤3% sentences with emotion telling

emotionTells	0
narrationSentences	46
matches	(empty)

100.0000%

Filter word density

Target: ≤12% sentences with filter/hedge words

filterCount	0
hedgeCount	0
narrationSentences	46
filterMatches	(empty)
hedgeMatches	(empty)

100.0000%

Overuse of "that" (subordinate clause padding)

Target: ≤10% sentences with "that" clauses

thatCount	0
totalSentences	53
matches	(empty)

55.3097%

Paragraph length variance

Target: CV ≥0.5 for paragraph word counts

totalParagraphs

mean

37.05

std

12.73

0.344

sampleLengths

0	51
1	24
2	45
3	50
4	41
5	33
6	59
7	18
8	45
9	26
10	31
11	8
12	50
13	35
14	50
15	44
16	23
17	35
18	29
19	44

100.0000%

Passive voice overuse

Target: ≤5% passive sentences

passiveCount

totalSentences

matches

0	"were twisted"
1	"were caught"

100.0000%

Past progressive (was/were + -ing) overuse

Target: ≤10% past progressive verbs

pastProgressiveCount

totalVerbs

101

matches

0	"was staring"

100.0000%

Purple prose (modifier overload)

Target: <4% adverbs, <2% -ly adverbs, no adj stacking

wordCount	616
adjectiveStacks	0
stackExamples	(empty)
adverbCount	11
adverbRatio	0.017857142857142856
lyAdverbCount	4
lyAdverbRatio	0.006493506493506494

100.0000%

Repeated phrase echo

Target: ≤20% sentences with echoes (window: 2)

totalSentences	53
echoCount	0
echoWords	(empty)

86.9893%

Sentence length variance

Target: CV ≥0.4 for sentence word counts

totalSentences

mean

13.98

std

5.14

0.367

sampleLengths

0	20
1	17
2	14
3	16
4	8
5	19
6	11
7	15
8	18
9	16
10	16
11	11
12	13
13	17
14	13
15	4
16	16
17	19
18	20
19	20
20	13
21	5
22	17
23	20
24	8
25	10
26	16
27	27
28	4
29	4
30	4
31	13
32	23
33	14
34	21
35	14
36	16
37	19
38	15
39	15
40	13
41	16
42	12
43	11
44	12
45	10
46	13
47	14
48	15
49	17

71.6981%

Sentence opener variety

Target: ≥60% unique sentence openers

consecutiveRepeats	2
diversityRatio	0.4528301886792453
totalSentences	53
uniqueOpeners	24

0.0000%

Dialogue tag variety (said vs. fancy)

Target: ≤30% fancy dialogue tags

totalTags

fancyCount

fancyTags

0	"Rory breathed, her fingers brushing the deep crimson gemstone of her Heartstone pendant (breathe, brush)"
1	"they mused, their voice a whisper on the wind (muse)"
2	"she warned (warn)"
3	"Nyx murmured, pointing to a shimmering distortion in the air before them (murmur, point)"
4	"she whispered (whisper)"
5	"urged (urge)"
6	"Nyx said, their form solidifying as they stood (say, solidify stand)"
7	"the Half-Fae said softly (say softly)"

82.7079%