Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYAFPDAFBK729Z6YTF91WJY

Run Details

Duration:
58.1s
Cost:
$0.002253
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
Rory sliced the Fae-forged blade through the Veil's final shimmer. Cold moonsilver bit into the distortion, and the world twisted. She tumbled forward, boots sinking into loamy soil that reeked of overripe plums and smoked meats. The Heartstone pendant scorched her chest, a thumbnail-sized ember against her skin. Nyx flowed through the rift beside her, shadow-form rippling like ink in water, while Isolde glided last, silver hair trailing without stirring a single vine. Vines. Thick as wrists, they coiled everywhere, heavy with fruits that pulsed faint light—crimson globes the size of fists, skins stretched taut over innards that shifted like living hearts. Rory yanked her blade free from the closing rift, the silver humming cold in her grip. No going back yet. Nyx solidified first, tall silhouette sharpening to humanoid edges, violet eyes flickering. Their whisper cut the humid air. "Excess. Pure, unfiltered." Isolde tilted her head, lavender eyes scanning the canopy. Wildflowers shouldn't bloom here, yet they did—petals like shattered stained glass, unfurling in the warm amber haze above. Rory crouched, fingers brushing a vine. It quivered, releasing a puff of spores that tasted like honeyed wine on her tongue. She spat, wiped her mouth. The soil clung to her skin, richer than any London park, worming into her pores with unnatural warmth. "Stay sharp. This isn't Richmond." They pushed deeper, weaving through trellises arched like cathedral bones. Grapes dangled in clusters, each berry veined with gold, dripping nectar that sizzled on the ground. Steam rose, carrying notes of cinnamon and charred flesh. Laughter echoed ahead—booming, endless, layered like a choir of drunks. Nyx slipped ahead, incorporeal again, melting into the shadows of a gnarled orchard tree. Bark peeled back to reveal faces trapped in wood, mouths frozen mid-grin, eyes glassy. "Feasters," Nyx's voice ghosted back. "Bound to serve." Rory gripped her dagger tighter. The blade's chill anchored her amid the heat pressing from all sides. Sweat beaded on her neck, evaporating too fast, leaving salt that itched like whispers. A path widened into a clearing. Tables stretched infinite, hewn from single slabs of petrified fruitwood, laden with platters. Roasts glistened under amber light, juices pooling in moats around carved tureens of bubbling stews. Helbound souls manned the spreads—translucent figures in aprons stained eternal crimson, wielding ladles that stirred without cease. One chef, face bloated like rising dough, impaled a writhing eel-thing on a spit, its scales popping with bursts of truffle oil. Isolde paused at a centrepiece: a fountain spouting wine thick as blood, rimmed with crystal goblets that refilled themselves. "Drink from the vein of indulgence, and thirst becomes your master." Rory shot her a glance. Riddles already. "Not touching that." Nyx reformed beside a tureen, dipped a shadowy finger in. It emerged slick, trailing vapour. "Ambrosia laced with memory. One sip, and you'd crave your worst vice forever." The nearest soul-chef locked eyes with Rory—pupils dilated black, cheeks smeared with gravy. He carved a slab from the roast, steam curling in shapes of forgotten faces. "For the new guests. Prince Belphegor's welcome." Rory's scar itched on her wrist, old crescent burning fresh. She waved him off, but the plate thrust forward, meats quivering as if breathing. "Take. Eat. Or hunger finds you." Isolde's hand brushed Rory's arm, nails like frost. "The glutton's gift rejects refusal." Nyx snatched the plate mid-air, shadows coiling around it. The meats shrivelled to ash, scattering on the wind. The chef howled, body bloating, skin splitting to spill maggots that wriggled into the soil. Laughter from distant tables spiked, turning jagged. "Move," Rory hissed. They veered left, into denser gardens. Orchards gave way to hedgerows of herbs that sang faint melodies—basil leaves humming dirges, rosemary spikes trilling like flutes. The air thickened, pollen dusting their clothes in metallic sheen. Rory's lungs burned sweet, each breath fuelling a gnaw in her gut she hadn't noticed before. Footfalls? No. Something slithered parallel, vines parting for a bulk that rustled wetly. Nyx darted incorporeal through a gap, returned solid with violet glow dimmed. "Boar-things. Truffle-eyed swine, fattened on souls." Isolde plucked a bloom—no footprint marked her step—and crushed it. Petals bled sapphire sap, scent exploding like forgotten lust. "Wonder devours the unwary." Rory led them downhill, blade leading. The path spiralled into a sunken amphitheatre, tiers carved from amber-veined marble, seats filled with spectral feasters. Below, a culinary arena blazed. Chefs hurled fireballs into cauldrons, flames blooming shapes of serpents that devoured their own tails. Aromas warred: saffron storms clashing with umami fogs, underlaid by rot that cloyed the throat. A victor raised a pie, crust shattering to reveal a beating heart encased in pastry. The crowd roared, forks stabbing air. Rory's stomach twisted. Hunger clawed now, insistent, painting visions of Golden Empress dim sum on her tongue. "Portal brought us deep. Too deep." Nyx nodded to the arena's heart: a throne of fused bones and gold, empty but throbbing. "Belphegor's seat. He watches." Isolde murmured, voice threading the din. "Gluttony crowns its king in absence, feasts on the empty chair." They skirted the upper rim, shadows their ally. Nyx pointed—a side tunnel, vine-draped, exhaling cool mist laced with vanilla and decay. "In there. Stronger pull." Rory ducked first, blade parting tendrils that bled milky sap, sticky as regret. The tunnel sloped, walls pulsing with bioluminescent fungi, caps shaped like screaming mouths exhaling spores. Each step echoed wrong, footsteps multiplying into a crowd behind them. Unease coiled in Rory's chest. The pendant cooled now, glow fading, but the air grew heavier, pressing skin like oiled hands. Voices filtered ahead, not laughter—chants, rhythmic, greedy. Deeper. The tunnel spat them into a vaulted hall, ceilings lost in gloom. Pillars of petrified banquets rose: tables frozen mid-collapse, chairs clutching skeletal diners, cutlery embedded in stone like lightning scars. Central dais cradled a pool of liquid obsidian, surface rippling with visions—mortals gorging on Earth, bellies swelling grotesque. Nyx approached the pool, reflection twisting their form into Aldric's lost face, gaunt and pleading. "Memories trapped. Feed the prince." Isolde knelt at the edge, silver hair dipping without wetting. Lavender eyes reflected feasts unending. "The heart of Dymas beats here. Indulge, and join the menu." Rory circled, blade humming. Something stirred beneath the obsidian—fingers? Tentacles? The pool belched a bubble, bursting to release a sigh that tasted of mother's shepherd's pie, father's rare steak. Hunger surged, vicious. She gripped the pendant, its warmth flickering back. "Whatever pulled us here, it's close." Nyx extended a hand over the pool. Shadows leeched into the liquid, feeding it form—a shape coalesced, humanoid, rotund, crowned in laurels of fat-wreathed vines. "Belphegor's echo." The echo rose, translucent paunch jiggling, eyes pits of endless night. It grinned, teeth filed to points dripping honey. "New palate. Fresh sins to savour." Isolde stood, unblinking. "Gluttony offers no seconds. Choose your course." Rory levelled the blade, moonsilver flaring faint. The echo lunged, maw unhinging to swallow light itself. Nyx dissolved into shadow, reforming behind it, claws raking ethereal flesh. The echo split, reforming larger, tendrils lashing. Rory dodged a vine-whip cracking stone, slashed true. Moonsilver sheared clean; demon-stuff sprayed, evaporating to spice clouds. More echoes bubbled up—dozens, mouths gaping, chanting her name. "Rory. Taste. Join." Isolde wove hand-signs, fae compulsion weaving riddles into chains that bound three echoes writhing. But the pool churned wild now. A greater mass heaved beneath, cracking marble. The real prince stirred.
created_at"2026-02-20T20:05:00.995Z" 2/20/2026, 8:05:00 PM
model"x-ai/grok-4.1-fast"
app_id182717
external_user(null)
streamedtrue
cancelledfalse
latency270
moderation_latency(null)
generation_time57988
tokens_prompt5338
tokens_completion2203
native_tokens_prompt4889
native_tokens_completion2595
native_tokens_completion_images0
native_tokens_reasoning766
native_tokens_cached151
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"
usage0.00225265
router(null)
provider_responses
0
endpoint_id"9821aa0e-dce3-4c27-9716-161359123d0b"
id"2503a818-3514-dd91-889c-d8b9f790f6a1"
is_byokfalse
latency85
model_permaslug"x-ai/grok-4.1-fast"
provider_name"xAI"
status200
api_type"completions"
id"gen-1771617900-nWs6G04e2bn3oXJzuZLy"
upstream_id"2503a818-3514-dd91-889c-d8b9f790f6a1"
total_cost0.00225265
cache_discount0.00002265
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
totalTags2
adverbTagCount1
adverbTags
0"Nyx's voice ghosted back [back]"
dialogueSentences24
tagDensity0.083
leniency0.167
rawRatio0.5
effectiveRatio0.083
100.00% AI-ism adverb frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism adverbs (58 tracked)
wordCount1256
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)
0.00% AI-ism word frequency
Target: <2% AI-ism words (290 tracked)
wordCount1256
totalAiIsms26
found
0
word"pulsed"
count1
1
word"whisper"
count1
2
word"scanning"
count1
3
word"shattered"
count1
4
word"quivered"
count1
5
word"warmth"
count2
6
word"echoed"
count2
7
word"chill"
count1
8
word"crystal"
count1
9
word"marble"
count2
10
word"spectral"
count1
11
word"stomach"
count1
12
word"footsteps"
count1
13
word"rhythmic"
count1
14
word"gloom"
count1
15
word"echo"
count4
16
word"maw"
count1
17
word"echoes"
count2
18
word"churned"
count1
highlights
0"pulsed"
1"whisper"
2"scanning"
3"shattered"
4"quivered"
5"warmth"
6"echoed"
7"chill"
8"crystal"
9"marble"
10"spectral"
11"stomach"
12"footsteps"
13"rhythmic"
14"gloom"
15"echo"
16"maw"
17"echoes"
18"churned"
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
narrationSentences105
matches(empty)
100.00% Filter word density
Target: ≤3% sentences with filter/hedge words
filterCount0
hedgeCount0
narrationSentences105
filterMatches(empty)
hedgeMatches(empty)
100.00% Gibberish response detection
Target: ≤1% gibberish-like sentences (hard fail if a sentence exceeds 800 words)
analyzedSentences127
gibberishSentences0
adjustedGibberishSentences0
longSentenceCount0
runOnParagraphCount0
giantParagraphCount0
wordSaladCount0
repetitionLoopCount0
controlTokenCount0
maxSentenceWordsSeen29
ratio0
matches(empty)
100.00% Markdown formatting overuse
Target: ≤5% words in markdown formatting
markdownSpans0
markdownWords0
totalWords1226
ratio0
matches(empty)
100.00% Missing dialogue indicators (quotation marks)
Target: ≤10% speech attributions without quotation marks
totalAttributions3
unquotedAttributions0
matches(empty)
66.67% Name drop frequency
Target: ≤1.0 per-name mentions per 100 words
totalMentions46
wordCount1093
uniqueNames11
maxNameDensity1.56
worstName"Rory"
maxWindowNameDensity3
worstWindowName"Rory"
discoveredNames
Fae-forged1
Veil1
Heartstone1
Isolde9
London1
Rory17
Golden1
Empress1
Earth1
Aldric1
Nyx12
persons
0"Isolde"
1"Rory"
2"Aldric"
3"Nyx"
places
0"Veil"
1"London"
globalScore0.722
windowScore0.667
89.76% Narrator intent-glossing
Target: ≤2% narration sentences with intent-glossing patterns
analyzedSentences83
glossingSentenceCount2
matches
0"tasted like honeyed wine on her tongue"
1"as if breathing"
100.00% "Not X but Y" pattern overuse
Target: ≤1 "not X but Y" per 1000 words
totalMatches0
per1kWords0
wordCount1226
matches(empty)
100.00% Overuse of "that" (subordinate clause padding)
Target: ≤2% sentences with "that" clauses
thatCount0
totalSentences127
matches(empty)
100.00% Paragraph length variance
Target: CV ≥0.5 for paragraph word counts
totalParagraphs69
mean17.77
std15.28
cv0.86
sampleLengths
020
153
249
318
43
527
644
75
845
928
108
1131
1273
1319
1411
157
163
1715
1813
1927
207
2124
226
238
245
2518
2622
273
2851
2913
3012
316
3219
334
3458
3521
3617
376
3816
394
406
4111
4221
434
4439
4521
467
4750
4815
495
100.00% Passive voice overuse
Target: ≤2% passive sentences
passiveCount0
totalSentences105
matches(empty)
100.00% Past progressive (was/were + -ing) overuse
Target: ≤2% past progressive verbs
pastProgressiveCount0
totalVerbs247
matches(empty)
0.00% Em-dash & semicolon overuse
Target: ≤2% sentences with em-dashes/semicolons
emDashCount14
semicolonCount1
flaggedSentences14
totalSentences127
ratio0.11
matches
0"Thick as wrists, they coiled everywhere, heavy with fruits that pulsed faint light—crimson globes the size of fists, skins stretched taut over innards that shifted like living hearts."
1"Wildflowers shouldn't bloom here, yet they did—petals like shattered stained glass, unfurling in the warm amber haze above."
2"Laughter echoed ahead—booming, endless, layered like a choir of drunks."
3"Helbound souls manned the spreads—translucent figures in aprons stained eternal crimson, wielding ladles that stirred without cease."
4"The nearest soul-chef locked eyes with Rory—pupils dilated black, cheeks smeared with gravy."
5"Orchards gave way to hedgerows of herbs that sang faint melodies—basil leaves humming dirges, rosemary spikes trilling like flutes."
6"Isolde plucked a bloom—no footprint marked her step—and crushed it."
7"Nyx pointed—a side tunnel, vine-draped, exhaling cool mist laced with vanilla and decay."
8"Voices filtered ahead, not laughter—chants, rhythmic, greedy."
9"Central dais cradled a pool of liquid obsidian, surface rippling with visions—mortals gorging on Earth, bellies swelling grotesque."
10"Something stirred beneath the obsidian—fingers?"
11"Shadows leeched into the liquid, feeding it form—a shape coalesced, humanoid, rotund, crowned in laurels of fat-wreathed vines."
12"Moonsilver sheared clean; demon-stuff sprayed, evaporating to spice clouds."
13"More echoes bubbled up—dozens, mouths gaping, chanting her name."
100.00% Purple prose (modifier overload)
Target: <4% adverbs, <2% -ly adverbs, no adj stacking
wordCount1121
adjectiveStacks0
stackExamples(empty)
adverbCount19
adverbRatio0.01694915254237288
lyAdverbCount2
lyAdverbRatio0.001784121320249777
100.00% Repeated phrase echo
Target: ≤20% sentences with echoes (window: 2)
totalSentences127
echoCount0
echoWords(empty)
100.00% Sentence length variance
Target: CV ≥0.4 for sentence word counts
totalSentences127
mean9.65
std5.4
cv0.559
sampleLengths
010
110
216
312
425
51
628
716
84
912
106
113
129
1318
146
1515
165
1718
185
1910
2016
219
2210
2314
2414
255
263
275
2812
2914
306
3113
3215
3317
3422
3519
3611
375
382
393
4010
415
4213
4313
4414
457
4610
4714
486
498
83.20% Sentence opener variety
Target: ≥60% unique sentence openers
consecutiveRepeats1
diversityRatio0.5039370078740157
totalSentences127
uniqueOpeners64
0.00% Adverb-first sentence starts
Target: ≥3% sentences starting with an adverb
adverbCount0
totalSentences98
matches(empty)
ratio0
100.00% Pronoun-first sentence starts
Target: ≤30% sentences starting with a pronoun
pronounCount12
totalSentences98
matches
0"She tumbled forward, boots sinking"
1"Their whisper cut the humid"
2"It quivered, releasing a puff"
3"She spat, wiped her mouth."
4"They pushed deeper, weaving through"
5"It emerged slick, trailing vapour."
6"He carved a slab from"
7"She waved him off, but"
8"They veered left, into denser"
9"They skirted the upper rim,"
10"She gripped the pendant, its"
11"It grinned, teeth filed to"
ratio0.122
5.92% Subject-first sentence starts
Target: ≤72% sentences starting with a subject
subjectCount89
totalSentences98
matches
0"Rory sliced the Fae-forged blade"
1"She tumbled forward, boots sinking"
2"The Heartstone pendant scorched her"
3"Nyx flowed through the rift"
4"Rory yanked her blade free"
5"Nyx solidified first, tall silhouette"
6"Their whisper cut the humid"
7"Isolde tilted her head, lavender"
8"Wildflowers shouldn't bloom here, yet"
9"Rory crouched, fingers brushing a"
10"It quivered, releasing a puff"
11"She spat, wiped her mouth."
12"The soil clung to her"
13"They pushed deeper, weaving through"
14"Grapes dangled in clusters, each"
15"Steam rose, carrying notes of"
16"Laughter echoed ahead—booming, endless, layered"
17"Nyx slipped ahead, incorporeal again,"
18"Bark peeled back to reveal"
19"Nyx's voice ghosted back"
ratio0.908
0.00% Subordinate conjunction sentence starts
Target: ≥2% sentences starting with a subordinating conjunction
subConjCount0
totalSentences98
matches(empty)
ratio0
21.79% Technical jargon density
Target: ≤6% sentences with technical-jargon patterns
analyzedSentences59
technicalSentenceCount10
matches
0"She tumbled forward, boots sinking into loamy soil that reeked of overripe plums and smoked meats."
1"Thick as wrists, they coiled everywhere, heavy with fruits that pulsed faint light—crimson globes the size of fists, skins stretched taut over innards that shif…"
2"Sweat beaded on her neck, evaporating too fast, leaving salt that itched like whispers."
3"One chef, face bloated like rising dough, impaled a writhing eel-thing on a spit, its scales popping with bursts of truffle oil."
4"Isolde paused at a centrepiece: a fountain spouting wine thick as blood, rimmed with crystal goblets that refilled themselves."
5"She waved him off, but the plate thrust forward, meats quivering as if breathing."
6"Orchards gave way to hedgerows of herbs that sang faint melodies—basil leaves humming dirges, rosemary spikes trilling like flutes."
7"Chefs hurled fireballs into cauldrons, flames blooming shapes of serpents that devoured their own tails."
8"Aromas warred: saffron storms clashing with umami fogs, underlaid by rot that cloyed the throat."
9"The pool belched a bubble, bursting to release a sigh that tasted of mother's shepherd's pie, father's rare steak."
100.00% Useless dialogue additions
Target: ≤5% dialogue tags with trailing filler fragments
totalTags2
uselessAdditionCount0
matches(empty)
100.00% Dialogue tag variety (said vs. fancy)
Target: ≤10% fancy dialogue tags
totalTags1
fancyCount1
fancyTags
0"Rory hissed (hiss)"
dialogueSentences24
tagDensity0.042
leniency0.083
rawRatio1
effectiveRatio0.083
78.9113%