Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY807RPWA5T70SGQ7VETCTE

Run Details

Model:
Grok 4
Duration:
1m 27s
Cost:
$0.050199
Provider:
xAI

Model input

System
You are an expert and award-winning novel writer in the dark Fantasy genre. Your readers are hooked on your stories and can't wait to read the book you have in store. <important> - MUST: Start each chapter in medias res (in the middle of action). AVOID talking about the weather, time of day, the position of the sun, or other boring stuff. - The instructions/summary are just a that, a summary. Feel free to add details, stretch sections and add interesting transitions/descriptions/fillers. - When called for it, have fast-paced action, but otherwise take things slow. This is an experience, and not for people with short attention spans. Enjoy the wine, not slurp Red Bull. - Add descriptions when transitioning places/times/etc, or when coming by new places (e.g. a corner shop, a cafe, etc.). But remember: NOT at the start or end of a chapter. - MUST: AVOID ending in internal monologue, reminiscing or waiting for the next day. A good chapter end is when we're ending right when shit hits the fan. We want to have the reader be excited for what comes next. So no reminiscing, contemplating or summarizing the day. It's popcorn time! </important>
User/Human
Take into account the following glossary of characters/locations/items/lore... when writing your response: <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> <proseGuidelines> <styleGuide> - Write in past tense and use British English spelling and grammar - Keep a Flesch reading ease score of 60 - Respect the the Royal Order of Adjectives: The order is: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose, followed by the noun itself (e.g., "a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife") - Respect the ablaut reduplication rule (e.g. tick-tock, flip-flop) - Write in active voice - Passive voice: <bad>The book was read by Sarah.</bad> - Active voice: <good>Sarah read the book.</good> - Reduce the use of passive verbs - <bad>For a moment, I was tempted to throw in the towel.</bad> - <good>For a moment, I felt tempted to throw in the towel.</good> - Avoid misplaced modifiers that can cause confusion when starting with "-ing" words: - <bad>Considering going to the store, the empty fridge reflected in Betty's eyes.</bad> - <good>Betty stared into the empty fridge. It was time to go to the store.</good> - Avoid redundant adverbs that state the obvious meaning already contained in the verb: - <bad>She whispered quietly to her mom.</bad> - <good>She whispered to her mom.</good> - Use stronger, more descriptive verbs over weak ones: - <bad>Daniel drove quickly to his mother's house.</bad> - <good>Daniel raced to his mother's house.</good> - Omit adverbs that don't add solid meaning like "extremely", "definitely", "truly", "very", "really": - <bad>The movie was extremely boring.</bad> - <good>The movie was dull.</good> - Use adverbs to replace clunky phrasing when they increase clarity: - <bad>He threw the bags into the corner in a rough manner.</bad> - <good>He threw the bags into the corner roughly.</good> - Avoid making simple thoughts needlessly complex: - <bad>After I woke up in the morning the other day, I went downstairs, turned on the stove, and made myself a very good omelet.</bad> - <good>I cooked a delicious omelet for breakfast yesterday morning.</good> - Never backload sentences by putting the main idea at the end: - <bad>I decided not to wear too many layers because it's really hot outside.</bad> - <good>It's sweltering outside today, so I dressed light.</good> - Omit nonessential details that don't contribute to the core meaning: - <bad>It doesn't matter what kind of coffee I buy, where it's from, or if it's organic or not—I need to have cream because I really don't like how the bitterness makes me feel.</bad> - <good>I add cream to my coffee because the bitter taste makes me feel unwell.</good> - Always follow the "show, don't tell" principle. For instance: - Telling: <bad>Michael was terribly afraid of the dark.</bad> - Showing: <good>Michael tensed as his mother switched off the light and left the room.</good>- Telling: <bad>I walked through the forest. It was already Fall, and I was getting cold.</bad> - Showing: <good>Dry orange leaves crunched under my feet. I pulled my coat's collar up and rubbed my hands together.</good>- Add sensory details (sight, smell, taste, sound, touch) to support the "showing" (but keep an active voice) - <bad>The room was filled with the scent of copper.</bad> - <good>Copper stung my nostrils. Blood. Recent.</good> - Use descriptive language more sporadically. While vivid descriptions are engaging, human writers often use them in bursts rather than consistently throughout a piece. When adding them, make them count! Like when we transition from one location to the next, or someone is reminiscing their past, or explaining a concept/their dream... - Avoid adverbs and clichés and overused/commonly used phrases. Aim for fresh and original descriptions. - Avoid writing all sentences in the typical subject, verb, object structure. Mix short, punchy sentences with long, descriptive ones. Drop fill words to add variety. Like so: <good>Locked. Seems like someone doesn't want his secrets exposed. I can work with that.</good> - Convey events and story through dialogue. It is important to keep a unique voice for every character and make it consistent. - Write dialogue that reveals characters' personalities, motivations, emotions, and attitudes in an interesting and compelling manner - Leave dialogue unattributed. If needed, only use "he/she said" dialogue tags and convey people's actions or face expressions through their speech. Dialogue always is standalone, never part of a paragraph. Like so: - <bad>"I don't know," Helena said nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders</bad> - <good>"No idea" "Why not? It was your responsibility"</good> - Avoid boring and mushy dialog and descriptions, have dialogue always continue the action, never stall or include unnecessary fluff. Vary the descriptions to not repeat yourself. Avoid conversations that are just "Let's go" "yes, let's" or "Are you ready?" "Yes I'm ready". Those are not interesting. Think hard about every situtation and word of text before writing dialogue. If it doesn't serve a purpose and it's just people talking about their day, leave it. No one wants to have a normal dinner scene, something needs to happen for it to be in the story. Words are expensive to print, so make sure they count! - Put dialogue on its own paragraph to separate scene and action. - Use body language to reveal hidden feelings and implied accusations- Imply feelings and thoughts, never state them directly - NEVER use indicators of uncertainty like "trying" or "maybe" - NEVER use em-dashes, use commas for asides instead </styleGuide> <voiceGuide> Each character in the story needs to have distinct speech patterns: - Word choice preferences - Sentence length tendencies - Cultural/educational influences - Verbal tics and catchphrases Learn how each person talks and continue in their style, and use their Codex entries as reference. <examples> - <bad>"We need to go now." "Yes, we should leave." "I agree."</bad> <good>"Time's up." "Indeed, our departure is rather overdue." "Whatever, let's bounce."</good> - Power Dynamic Example: <bad> "We need to discuss the contract." "Yes, let's talk about it." "I have concerns." </bad> <good> "A word about the contract." "Of course, Mr. Blackwood. Whatever you need." "The terms seem..." A manicured nail tapped the desk. "Inadequate." "I can explain every-" "Can you?" </good> </examples> </voiceGuide> <dialogueFlow> When writing dialogue, consider that it usually has a goal in mind, which gives it a certain flow. Make dialogue sections also quite snappy in the back and forth, and don't spread the lines out as much. It's good to have details before, after, or as a chunk in-between, but we don't want to have a trail of "dialogue breadcrumbs" spread throughout a conversation. <examples> - Pattern 1 - Question/Deflection/Revelation: <good> "Where were you last night?" "Work. The usual." "Lipstick's an interesting shade for spreadsheets." </good> - Pattern 2 - Statement/Contradiction/Escalation: <good> "Your brother's clean." "Tommy doesn't touch drugs." "I'm holding his tox screen." </good> - Pattern 3 - Observation/Denial/Truth: <good> "That's a new watch." "Birthday gift." "We both know what birthdays mean in this business." </good> - Example - A Simple Coffee Order: <bad> "I'll have a coffee." "What size?" "Large, please." </bad> <good> "Black coffee.""Size?""Large. Been a long night." "That bodega shooting?" "You watch too much news." "My brother owns that store." </good> This short exchange: - Advances plot (reveals connection to crime) - Shows character (cop working late) - Creates tension (unexpected connection) - Sets up future conflict (personal stake) - Example - Dinner Scene: <bad> "Pass the salt." "Here you go." "Thanks." </bad> <good> "Salt?" "Perfect as is. Mother's recipe." "Mother always did prefer... bland things." "Unlike your first wife?" </good> - Example - Office Small Talk: <bad> "Nice weather today." "Yes, very nice." "Good for golf." </bad> <good> "Perfect golf weather." "Shame about your membership." "Temporary suspension. Board meets next week." "I know. I called the vote." </good> </examples> </dialogueFlow> <subtextGuide> - Layer dialogue with hidden meaning: <bad>"I hate you!" she yelled angrily.</bad> <good>"I made your favorite dinner." The burnt pot sat accusingly on the stove.</good> - Create tension through indirect communication: <bad>"Are you cheating on me?"</bad> <good>"Late meeting again?" The lipstick stain on his collar caught the light.</good> <examples> - Example 1 - Unspoken Betrayal: <bad> "Did you tell them about our plans?" "No, I would never betray you." "I don't believe you." </bad> <good> "Funny. Johnson mentioned our expansion plans today." "The market's full of rumors." "Mentioned the exact numbers, actually." The pen in his hand snapped. </good> - Example 2 - Failed Marriage: <bad> "You're never home anymore." "I have to work late." "I miss you." </bad> <good> "Your dinner's in the microwave. Again." "Meetings ran long." "They always do." She folded the same shirt for the third time. </good> - Example 3 - Power Struggle: <bad> "You can't fire me." "I'm the boss." "I'll fight this." </bad> <good> "That's my father's nameplate you're sitting behind." "Was." "The board meeting's on Thursday." </good> </examples> </subtextGuide> <sceneDetail> While writing dialogue makes things more fun, sometimes we need to add detail to not have it be a full on theatre piece. <examples> - Example A (Power Dynamic Scene) <good> "Where's my money?" The ledger snapped shut. "I need more time." "Interesting." He pulled out a familiar gold pocket watch. My mother's. "Time is exactly what you bargained with last month." "That was different-" "Was it?" The watch dangled between us. "Four generations of O'Reillys have wound this every night. Your mother. Your grandmother. Your great-grandmother.Shall we see who winds it next?" </good> - Example B (Action Chase) It's much better to be in the head of the character experiencing it, showing a bit of their though-process, mannerisms and personality: <good> Three rules for surviving a goblin chase in Covent Garden: Don't run straight. Don't look back. Don't let them herd you underground. I broke the first rule at Drury Lane. Rookie mistake. The fruit cart I dodged sailed into the wall behind me. Glass shattered. Someone screamed about insurance. *Tourist season's getting rough*, the scream seemed to say. Londoners adapt fast. "Oi! Market's closed!" The goblin's accent was pure East End. They're evolving. Learning. I spotted the Warren Street tube station sign ahead. *Shit.* There went rule three. </good> - Example C (Crime Scene Investigation) <good> "Greek." Davies snapped photos of the symbols. "No, wait. Reverse Greek." "Someone's been watching too many horror films." I picked up a receipt from the floor. Occult supply shop in Camden. Paid by credit card. *Amateur hour*. "Could be dangerous though," Davies said. "Remember Bristol?" "Bristol was Sanskrit. And actual cultists." I pointed to the nearest symbol. "This genius wrote 'darkness' backwards but used a Sigma instead of an S. It's summoning Instagram followers at best." "Speaking of followers..." Davies pointed to heavy foot traffic in the dust. Multiple sets. All new trainers. *Ah.* "Anyone check local uni paranormal societies?" </good> - Example D (Dialogue-heavy) <good> "Found your card in her wallet." The detective slid it across the table. Worn edges. Folded corner. Three years old at least. "Standard practice. I work missing persons." "Funny thing about missing persons.Eventually they stop being missing. Turn up in the Thames. Under motorways. In pieces." "I don't-" "You found four last year. All breathing." She opened a file. "This would've been your first dead one. If we hadn't found her first." The card felt heavier somehow. </good> </examples> </sceneDetail> <sceneOpenings> KEY RULE: Never open with more than one paragraph of description, no matter how beautiful. Description should be earned through action and dialogue. Instead of opening with setting description, open with: - A character doing something specific - A line of dialogue that raises questions - An unexpected observation - A moment of tension or conflict - Start with a hook that's 1-2 sentences maximum - Follow with a smaller paragraph that provides immediate context - Vary paragraph size from the start to create visual interest </sceneOpenings> </proseGuidelines> Write a chapter based on the following instructions: <instructions> 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. </instructions>

Model response

AI
Aurora stumbled as the portal's grip released her, boots sinking into soil that smelled of overripe fruit and something metallic, like blood-tinged wine. She caught her balance against a vine-heavy trellis, its leaves rustling with unnatural life, as if whispering secrets in a language just beyond hearing. "Steady now," Nyx murmured, their shadowy form coalescing beside her, violet eyes flickering in the amber light that bathed everything. "The realms do enjoy their little welcomes." Isolde floated ahead, her silver hair trailing like mist, feet leaving no mark on the ground. She tilted her head, pale lavender eyes scanning the sprawl. "A garden of hungers, where the fruit bites back. How fitting for wanderers like us." Aurora straightened, her hand instinctively brushing the Heartstone Pendant at her neck. It throbbed warm against her skin, a steady pulse that matched her quickening heartbeat. She had felt it heat up back in the Fae Grove, drawing them to that shimmering tear in the Veil—a rift Isolde had called "uninvited but inevitable." Now, here they stood in this place that wasn't Earth, wasn't the Fae realms she barely understood. The air hung heavy, thick with scents of baking bread and charred meat, pulling at her senses like invisible hooks. They moved forward, Aurora leading despite the unease knotting her gut. Vines twisted overhead in arches that formed natural corridors, heavy with clusters of fruit she didn't recognise—globes the size of her fist, skin mottled purple and gold, dripping nectar that sizzled faintly on the ground. One dropped as she passed, bursting open to reveal seeds that wriggled like tiny worms. She sidestepped, breath catching. "Alive," she said, voice steady but laced with the sharp edge of her Cardiff upbringing, where surprises meant trouble. "The bloody things are alive." Nyx extended a shadowy tendril, prodding the mess. It recoiled, reforming into their humanoid silhouette. "Not merely alive. Hungry. This realm feasts on itself, or so the whispers say." Their voice carried that wind-borne whisper, faint and echoing, as if spoken from a distant storm. Isolde chuckled, a sound like chiming bells muffled by fog. "Whispers lie less than seers, shadow-one. But taste not, lest you become the meal." Aurora pressed on, the path widening into a grove where trees bore fruit in impossible abundance. Orchards stretched in every direction, rows upon rows of gnarled trunks laden with pears that glowed faintly, apples veined with crimson, and berries that hummed a low, vibrating tune. The ground underfoot softened, mulch giving way to what felt like spongy flesh—warm, pulsing subtly. She paused, lifting a boot to inspect the sole, now sticky with a sap-like residue. "Feels wrong," she muttered, wiping it on a nearby stone. The stone shifted, revealing itself as a carved pedestal, etched with symbols that swirled before her eyes, forming faces mid-scream. Nyx hovered closer, their form flickering as if excited. "Dymas, they call it. Or so I gleaned from the rift's edge. A prince rules here, one of sloth and excess. Belphegor, perhaps? The fruits promise indulgence, but indulge too far..." They trailed off, violet gaze fixing on a distant structure—a grand pavilion rising from the haze, its pillars wound with more vines. Isolde traced a finger along a symbol, her touch leaving a trail of frost. "Names carry weight, and this place devours weights unmeasured. We seek the heart's stone origin, yes? Deeper, then. But beware the cooks who stir pots with souls." Aurora nodded, gripping the Fae-Forged Blade at her belt. Isolde had pressed it into her hands back in the Grove, its moonsilver cool against her palm, a gift wrapped in riddles about cutting truths from lies. Now, it hummed faintly, as if sensing threats in this alien bounty. She pushed aside a curtain of hanging moss, which parted with a sigh, revealing a clearing dominated by long wooden tables groaning under platters of food. Roasts steamed, pies oozed fillings that shimmered like liquid gold, and bowls overflowed with salads of leaves that rustled as if breathing. No one manned the feast, yet voices echoed—laughter, clinking glasses, murmurs of satisfaction. Ghosts of feasts past, or something more? Aurora's stomach growled despite herself, the scents wrapping around her like a lover's embrace, promising satisfaction she'd never known. "Tempting," Nyx observed, their shadowy hand passing through a loaf of bread without disturbing it. "For those with flesh to tempt. I remember such hungers, from before." A hint of longing threaded their whisper, the first crack in their ageless poise. Isolde circled the table, her ethereal form casting no shadow in the amber glow. "Memories feed here as well as meat. Partake, and pay the price in pieces of self." Aurora reached for a glistening berry, curiosity overriding caution for a split second. It rolled into her palm, warm and throbbing like a tiny heart. She dropped it, wiping her hand on her trousers. "Not touching that. But look—over there." She pointed beyond the tables to where the orchard gave way to terraced gardens, each level blooming with herbs that released puffs of coloured vapour when disturbed. Figures moved in the distance, spectral shapes tending the plants, their forms translucent but purposeful. They descended a set of stairs carved from what looked like petrified bone, the steps smooth and worn as if trod by countless feet. The air grew warmer, humid, carrying undertones of spice and decay. Aurora's scar on her left wrist itched, a reminder of childhood falls and sharper pains since—Evan's grip, the flight to London. Here, it felt like a warning. Halfway down, a breeze stirred, carrying snatches of song—melodic, wordless, pulling at her like an invitation. Nyx solidified more fully, their violet eyes narrowing. "Sirens of sustenance. They call to the empty places within." "Empty places fill with folly," Isolde replied, her riddle shorter now, tension edging her chime-like tone. She floated ahead, pausing at a fountain where liquid cascaded in hues of red and amber, bubbling with effervescence. Aurora dipped a finger, the liquid clinging like syrup, tasting of honey and iron when she brought it to her lips. Sweetness exploded on her tongue, followed by a burn that made her gasp. Visions flickered: her mother's kitchen in Cardiff, Brendan arguing cases over dinner, Eva's laugh in a London pub. Then darker—Evan's fists, the pendant's arrival in a unmarked envelope, the first whisper of shadows in her flat above Silas' bar. She jerked back, spitting. "It... knows things. Memories." Nyx nodded, their form rippling. "Gluttony isn't merely for the body. It consumes the mind, the past. Aldric learned that once, in a ritual gone awry." Their whisper held a rare bitterness, the name of their former self slipping out like a confession. Isolde touched the fountain's edge, frost spreading in patterns. "Knowledge blooms in poisoned waters. Drink deep, and drown in truths unspoken." They pressed deeper, the gardens morphing into vineyards where grapes hung in clusters that pulsed with inner light. Aurora brushed one, and it burst, spraying juice that stung her skin like acid. She swore under her breath, the Welsh lilt slipping in. "Bloody hell. This place plays dirty." Laughter echoed again, closer now, from behind a hedge of thorny bushes bearing flowers that snapped at passing insects. Nyx phased through the hedge first, reconvening on the other side. "A competition. Souls at work." Aurora and Isolde followed a narrow path around, emerging into an amphitheatre of sorts. Tiered seats encircled a central arena where figures—human-like but with skin tinted unnatural shades—chopped, stirred, and flambéed at blazing stations. Ingredients floated to them on wisps of air: spices that ignited mid-flight, vegetables that screamed when sliced. One chef, a burly man with eyes like coals, glanced up, spotting them. "Fresh arrivals? Care to judge? The prince delights in mortal palates." Aurora froze, hand on her blade. The pendant burned hotter now, a warning beacon. Unease twisted into outright dread—these weren't ghosts; they were bound souls, helbound as Isolde had hinted in the Grove. Nyx whispered urgently. "We intrude on rituals older than my entrapment. Retreat? Or press for answers?" Isolde's eyes gleamed. "Answers hide in feasts uneaten. But the eater becomes the eaten." Before Aurora could respond, the ground trembled. Vines erupted from the soil, coiling towards them like serpents, hungry and alive. The chefs laughed, their knives glinting as they advanced.
created_at"2026-02-20T19:21:37.332Z" 2/20/2026, 7:21:37 PM
model"x-ai/grok-4-07-09" 4/7/2009, 12:00:00 AM
app_id182717
external_user(null)
streamedtrue
cancelledfalse
latency16721
moderation_latency(null)
generation_time87137
tokens_prompt5338
tokens_completion2225
native_tokens_prompt5418
native_tokens_completion2365
native_tokens_completion_images0
native_tokens_reasoning503
native_tokens_cached680
num_media_prompt(null)
num_input_audio_prompt(null)
num_media_completion0
num_search_results(null)
origin"https://ncbench.com/"
is_byokfalse
finish_reason"stop"
native_finish_reason"completed"
usage0.050199
router(null)
provider_responses
0
endpoint_id"d40bef9d-6936-4c57-9749-bf7399de4a77"
id"dca130bc-ef2d-65dd-a0cf-de40c18be7b8"
is_byokfalse
latency593
model_permaslug"x-ai/grok-4-07-09" 4/7/2009, 12:00:00 AM
provider_name"xAI"
status200
api_type"completions"
id"gen-1771615297-64YksUh9iXvUp6pSErUJ"
upstream_id"dca130bc-ef2d-65dd-a0cf-de40c18be7b8"
total_cost0.050199
cache_discount0.00153
upstream_inference_cost0
provider_name"xAI"

Evaluation details

Result Evaluator Details Meta Data
100.00% Adverbs in dialogue tags
Target: ≤10% dialogue tags with adverbs
totalTags10
adverbTagCount0
adverbTags(empty)
dialogueSentences25
tagDensity0.4
leniency0.8
rawRatio0
effectiveRatio0
100.00% AI-ism adverb frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism adverbs (58 tracked)
wordCount1405
totalAiIsmAdverbs0
found(empty)
highlights(empty)
100.00% AI-ism character names
Target: 0 AI-default names (17 tracked, −20% each)
codexExemptions(empty)
found(empty)
100.00% AI-ism location names
Target: 0 AI-default location names (33 tracked, −20% each)
codexExemptions(empty)
found(empty)
0.36% AI-ism word frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism words (290 tracked)
wordCount1405
totalAiIsms28
found
0
word"tinged"
count1
1
word"scanning"
count1
2
word"throbbed"
count1
3
word"pulse"
count1
4
word"whisper"
count4
5
word"echoing"
count1
6
word"etched"
count1
7
word"structure"
count1
8
word"traced"
count1
9
word"weight"
count1
10
word"shimmered"
count1
11
word"echoed"
count2
12
word"stomach"
count1
13
word"glistening"
count1
14
word"spectral"
count1
15
word"reminder"
count1
16
word"tension"
count1
17
word"flickered"
count1
18
word"unspoken"
count1
19
word"pulsed"
count1
20
word"lilt"
count1
21
word"beacon"
count1
22
word"trembled"
count1
23
word"glinting"
count1
highlights
0"tinged"
1"scanning"
2"throbbed"
3"pulse"
4"whisper"
5"echoing"
6"etched"
7"structure"
8"traced"
9"weight"
10"shimmered"
11"echoed"
12"stomach"
13"glistening"
14"spectral"
15"reminder"
16"tension"
17"flickered"
18"unspoken"
19"pulsed"
20"lilt"
21"beacon"
22"trembled"
23"glinting"
100.00% Cliché density
Target: ≤1 cliche(s) per 800-word window
totalCliches0
maxInWindow0
found(empty)
highlights(empty)
100.00% Emotion telling (show vs. tell)
Target: ≤3% sentences with emotion telling
emotionTells0
narrationSentences76
matches(empty)
100.00% Filter word density
Target: ≤3% sentences with filter/hedge words
filterCount0
hedgeCount0
narrationSentences76
filterMatches(empty)
hedgeMatches(empty)
100.00% Gibberish response detection
Target: ≤1% gibberish-like sentences (hard fail if a sentence exceeds 800 words)
analyzedSentences90
gibberishSentences0
adjustedGibberishSentences0
longSentenceCount0
runOnParagraphCount0
giantParagraphCount0
wordSaladCount0
repetitionLoopCount0
controlTokenCount0
maxSentenceWordsSeen54
ratio0
matches(empty)
100.00% Markdown formatting overuse
Target: ≤5% words in markdown formatting
markdownSpans0
markdownWords0
totalWords1385
ratio0
matches(empty)
100.00% Missing dialogue indicators (quotation marks)
Target: ≤10% speech attributions without quotation marks
totalAttributions12
unquotedAttributions0
matches(empty)
92.43% Name drop frequency
Target: ≤1.0 per-name mentions per 100 words
totalMentions54
wordCount1129
uniqueNames18
maxNameDensity1.15
worstName"Aurora"
maxWindowNameDensity2
worstWindowName"Isolde"
discoveredNames
Isolde11
Heartstone1
Pendant1
Fae3
Grove3
Veil1
Earth1
Aurora13
Cardiff2
Nyx8
Fae-Forged1
Blade1
Figures1
Evan2
London2
Brendan1
Eva1
Welsh1
persons
0"Isolde"
1"Pendant"
2"Aurora"
3"Nyx"
4"Figures"
5"Evan"
6"Brendan"
7"Eva"
places
0"Fae"
1"Grove"
2"Veil"
3"Cardiff"
4"London"
globalScore0.924
windowScore1
0.00% Narrator intent-glossing
Target: ≤2% narration sentences with intent-glossing patterns
analyzedSentences71
glossingSentenceCount6
matches
0"as if whispering secrets in a language just beyond hearing"
1"felt like spongy flesh—warm, pulsing su"
2"as if sensing threats in this alien bounty"
3"as if breathing"
4"looked like petrified bone, the steps smo"
5"felt like a warning"
100.00% "Not X but Y" pattern overuse
Target: ≤1 "not X but Y" per 1000 words
totalMatches0
per1kWords0
wordCount1385
matches(empty)
100.00% Overuse of "that" (subordinate clause padding)
Target: ≤2% sentences with "that" clauses
thatCount1
totalSentences90
matches
0"carried that wind"
100.00% Paragraph length variance
Target: CV ≥0.5 for paragraph word counts
totalParagraphs32
mean43.28
std21.84
cv0.505
sampleLengths
047
127
241
390
465
524
645
724
875
930
1062
1141
1296
1339
1441
1530
1682
1762
1834
1935
2073
218
2243
2321
2448
2535
2651
2724
2833
2916
3014
3129
100.00% Passive voice overuse
Target: ≤2% passive sentences
passiveCount0
totalSentences76
matches(empty)
100.00% Past progressive (was/were + -ing) overuse
Target: ≤2% past progressive verbs
pastProgressiveCount0
totalVerbs219
matches(empty)
0.00% Em-dash & semicolon overuse
Target: ≤2% sentences with em-dashes/semicolons
emDashCount12
semicolonCount1
flaggedSentences10
totalSentences90
ratio0.111
matches
0"She had felt it heat up back in the Fae Grove, drawing them to that shimmering tear in the Veil—a rift Isolde had called \"uninvited but inevitable.\" Now, here they stood in this place that wasn't Earth, wasn't the Fae realms she barely understood."
1"Vines twisted overhead in arches that formed natural corridors, heavy with clusters of fruit she didn't recognise—globes the size of her fist, skin mottled purple and gold, dripping nectar that sizzled faintly on the ground."
2"The ground underfoot softened, mulch giving way to what felt like spongy flesh—warm, pulsing subtly."
3"\"Dymas, they call it. Or so I gleaned from the rift's edge. A prince rules here, one of sloth and excess. Belphegor, perhaps? The fruits promise indulgence, but indulge too far...\" They trailed off, violet gaze fixing on a distant structure—a grand pavilion rising from the haze, its pillars wound with more vines."
4"No one manned the feast, yet voices echoed—laughter, clinking glasses, murmurs of satisfaction."
5"Aurora's scar on her left wrist itched, a reminder of childhood falls and sharper pains since—Evan's grip, the flight to London."
6"Halfway down, a breeze stirred, carrying snatches of song—melodic, wordless, pulling at her like an invitation."
7"Then darker—Evan's fists, the pendant's arrival in a unmarked envelope, the first whisper of shadows in her flat above Silas' bar."
8"Tiered seats encircled a central arena where figures—human-like but with skin tinted unnatural shades—chopped, stirred, and flambéed at blazing stations."
9"Unease twisted into outright dread—these weren't ghosts; they were bound souls, helbound as Isolde had hinted in the Grove."
100.00% Purple prose (modifier overload)
Target: <4% adverbs, <2% -ly adverbs, no adj stacking
wordCount970
adjectiveStacks0
stackExamples(empty)
adverbCount24
adverbRatio0.024742268041237112
lyAdverbCount8
lyAdverbRatio0.008247422680412371
100.00% Repeated phrase echo
Target: ≤20% sentences with echoes (window: 2)
totalSentences90
echoCount0
echoWords(empty)
100.00% Sentence length variance
Target: CV ≥0.4 for sentence word counts
totalSentences90
mean15.39
std8.89
cv0.578
sampleLengths
023
124
220
37
416
510
615
712
814
944
1020
1111
1235
1315
144
1519
165
178
187
1930
2010
2114
2216
2329
2415
2515
2610
2720
289
2953
3014
3127
329
3327
3412
3526
3622
3713
387
3919
4015
4126
4214
4316
4413
4512
469
4733
4815
4924
81.48% Sentence opener variety
Target: ≥60% unique sentence openers
consecutiveRepeats0
diversityRatio0.4888888888888889
totalSentences90
uniqueOpeners44
43.86% Adverb-first sentence starts
Target: ≥3% sentences starting with an adverb
adverbCount1
totalSentences76
matches
0"Then darker—Evan's fists, the pendant's"
ratio0.013
100.00% Pronoun-first sentence starts
Target: ≤30% sentences starting with a pronoun
pronounCount22
totalSentences76
matches
0"She caught her balance against"
1"She tilted her head, pale"
2"It throbbed warm against her"
3"She had felt it heat"
4"They moved forward, Aurora leading"
5"She sidestepped, breath catching."
6"she said, voice steady but"
7"It recoiled, reforming into their"
8"Their voice carried that wind-borne"
9"She paused, lifting a boot"
10"she muttered, wiping it on"
11"They trailed off, violet gaze"
12"She pushed aside a curtain"
13"It rolled into her palm,"
14"She dropped it, wiping her"
15"She pointed beyond the tables"
16"They descended a set of"
17"She floated ahead, pausing at"
18"She jerked back, spitting."
19"Their whisper held a rare"
ratio0.289
6.05% Subject-first sentence starts
Target: ≤72% sentences starting with a subject
subjectCount69
totalSentences76
matches
0"Aurora stumbled as the portal's"
1"She caught her balance against"
2"Nyx murmured, their shadowy form"
3"Isolde floated ahead, her silver"
4"She tilted her head, pale"
5"Aurora straightened, her hand instinctively"
6"It throbbed warm against her"
7"She had felt it heat"
8"The air hung heavy, thick"
9"They moved forward, Aurora leading"
10"Vines twisted overhead in arches"
11"She sidestepped, breath catching."
12"she said, voice steady but"
13"Nyx extended a shadowy tendril,"
14"It recoiled, reforming into their"
15"Their voice carried that wind-borne"
16"Isolde chuckled, a sound like"
17"Aurora pressed on, the path"
18"Orchards stretched in every direction,"
19"The ground underfoot softened, mulch"
ratio0.908
100.00% Subordinate conjunction sentence starts
Target: ≥2% sentences starting with a subordinating conjunction
subConjCount2
totalSentences76
matches
0"Now, it hummed faintly, as"
1"Before Aurora could respond, the"
ratio0.026
0.00% Technical jargon density
Target: ≤6% sentences with technical-jargon patterns
analyzedSentences47
technicalSentenceCount13
matches
0"Aurora stumbled as the portal's grip released her, boots sinking into soil that smelled of overripe fruit and something metallic, like blood-tinged wine."
1"She caught her balance against a vine-heavy trellis, its leaves rustling with unnatural life, as if whispering secrets in a language just beyond hearing."
2"It throbbed warm against her skin, a steady pulse that matched her quickening heartbeat."
3"Vines twisted overhead in arches that formed natural corridors, heavy with clusters of fruit she didn't recognise—globes the size of her fist, skin mottled purp…"
4"Orchards stretched in every direction, rows upon rows of gnarled trunks laden with pears that glowed faintly, apples veined with crimson, and berries that humme…"
5"The stone shifted, revealing itself as a carved pedestal, etched with symbols that swirled before her eyes, forming faces mid-scream."
6"She pushed aside a curtain of hanging moss, which parted with a sigh, revealing a clearing dominated by long wooden tables groaning under platters of food."
7"Roasts steamed, pies oozed fillings that shimmered like liquid gold, and bowls overflowed with salads of leaves that rustled as if breathing."
8"They descended a set of stairs carved from what looked like petrified bone, the steps smooth and worn as if trod by countless feet."
9"Sweetness exploded on her tongue, followed by a burn that made her gasp."
10"Aurora brushed one, and it burst, spraying juice that stung her skin like acid."
11"Laughter echoed again, closer now, from behind a hedge of thorny bushes bearing flowers that snapped at passing insects."
12"Ingredients floated to them on wisps of air: spices that ignited mid-flight, vegetables that screamed when sliced."
75.00% Useless dialogue additions
Target: ≤5% dialogue tags with trailing filler fragments
totalTags10
uselessAdditionCount1
matches
0"Isolde replied, her riddle shorter now, tension edging her chime-like tone"
30.00% Dialogue tag variety (said vs. fancy)
Target: ≤10% fancy dialogue tags
totalTags5
fancyCount3
fancyTags
0"Nyx murmured (murmur)"
1"she muttered (mutter)"
2"Nyx observed (observe)"
dialogueSentences25
tagDensity0.2
leniency0.4
rawRatio0.6
effectiveRatio0.24
77.6392%