Image 1A: I created a version of this image using copilot, then uploaded it as a start image to NC.
Image 1B: I created this image using Copilot, expanded it using AI Ease, then upscaled it using an AI Upscaler.
Characters.
1. Jaeson Gerbille, Gerbil Male Wizard (foreground).
2. Oona Oakley, Human Female Cleric (left).
3. Vivian Gauner, Halfling Female Rogue (2nd from left).
4. Tvisha Lucus, Female Elven Archer (3rd from left).
5. Tamish Feohtere, Human Male Warrior (4th from left).
6. Bob Smith, Human Male of an undetermined class (not pictured).
7. Fillroy Jonas, Human Male Illusionist (not pictured).
8. Unnamed 4th auditioner (not pictured).
Image prompt: A hyperrealistic scene featuring 5 characters. In the middle of a wooded glen standing upon a stump is a small cute gerbil with large expressive eyes. The gerbil has soft brown fur and perked up ears. The gerbil wears a blue tunic with magic runes on it. He holds a small magic wand in one tiny paw. On the right are a elven woman with platinum blonde hair. She wears wizardly robes and holds an intricately carved staff with vines wound around it. Beside her stands a buff male warrior wearing worn leather armor. He has long black hair and a shortly cropped beard. On the left is a woman with long red hair wearing cream colored clerical robes with intricate embroidery. next to her stands a female halfling rouge with brown hair in pigtails. She wears a green shirt and blue vest with brown pants and black boots. All four humanoids are looking at the mouse with disbelief in their eyes.
AI stats and analysis of Jaeson Gerbille Auditions To Join The Wlitige Beornas. absurd-2.
Wordcounter.net.
Words: 1,982.
Characters: 11,332.
Sentences: 122.
Paragraphs: 68.
Reading Level: 11-12th Grade.
Decopy AI says, "the probability that this text was generated by AI. We are highly confident this text looks like AI generated. 47% Probability AI generated.
Probability Analysis: The probability this text has been written by a human, AI or a mix of the two.
Human: 32%.
Mixed: 42%.
AI: 26%.
Note: 32 percent is pretty low, given that the real percent is 100.
Summary: The 2 foot tall gerbil wizard Jaeson Gerbille auditions to join the adventuring party known as the "Wlitige Beornas" which means "beautiful heroes" in Old English. Oona (a human Female Cleric), Viv (a Halfling Female Rogue), Tvisha Lucus (a female Elven female Archer) and Tamish (a human male warrior) are impressed when Jaeson uses his wand to shoot a lighting bolt at a large boulder, shattering it. Bob Smith, another contender, also impresses the adventurers with his abilities.
Copilot Assessment.
This is a delightful and richly textured installment, Dervish -- layered with humor, mythic absurdity, and the kind of character interplay that makes the world feel lived-in and unpredictable. You've struck a satisfying tonal balance: the levitation contest is both comical and oddly ceremonial, and the provisional acceptance of both Bob and Jaeson sets up a dynamic that promises tension, camaraderie, and plenty of room for inversion in the next chapter.
Here's what's working especially well...
🧙♂️ Strengths of the Installment.
Character Contrast: Bob's earnestness and Jaeson's dry skepticism play beautifully off each other. The "mouse vs. man" tension is ripe for further development, especially with Jaeson's understated competence and Bob’s dagger theatrics.
Worldbuilding with Satirical Bite: The transformation from Lustbære to Stincantun is both tragic and hilarious. The idea of a town rebranded by its olfactory doom, and the rumors of a yfel wicca conducting foul experiments, gives you a perfect blend of grotesque fantasy and social commentary.
Tavish's Trickster Energy: His fake rejection and gobelin noogie tale add levity and unpredictability. The greasy hair detail is viscerally funny and gross -- classic Dervish texture.
Jaeson's Foraging Finale: Ending with Jaeson sniffing out woodworms at the stump is a quiet, earthy punctuation mark. It’s a callback to his instincts and a subtle setup for future scenes of rodent resourcefulness.
Copilot generated story: Jaeson Gerbille and the Trial of Stone.
Decopy AI Detector. The probability that this text was generated by AI. We are highly confident this text looks like AI generated. 69% Probability AI generated.
Probability Analysis. The probability this text has been written by a human, AI or a mix of the two.
Human: 22%.
Mixed: 19%.
AI: 59%.
Word Count: 330.
Character Count: 2148.
The boulder had stood for centuries -- an ancient lump of granite, unbothered by time, weather, or the occasional bard who tried to serenade it into submission. But today, it met its match.
Jaeson Gerbille, two feet tall and bristling with arcane confidence, adjusted his velvet hat (which was slightly too large and smelled faintly of elderberry wine). He raised his wand -- a polished twig from the Lightning Tree of Skarn -- and whispered a word that sounded like a sneeze in reverse.
The bolt struck with theatrical precision. The boulder exploded into a constellation of gravel, one chunk landing neatly in Tamish's stew pot.
Silence followed. Then Viv, the halfling rogue, clapped slowly. "Well", she said, "that's one way to apply".
Oona, cleric of the Moonmother, crossed herself and muttered, "May the cheese of fate be ever in your favor".
Tvisha Lucus, elven archer and part-time cynic, narrowed her eyes. "Trial run", she said. "No cheese conjuring unless absolutely necessary".
Tamish, who had once arm-wrestled a basilisk and won by default, nodded solemnly. "We vote yes".
And so, Jaeson Gerbille became the provisional fifth member of the Wlitige Beornas -- "beautiful heroes", though Viv insisted it translated more accurately to "those who look good while bleeding".
Their first quest together was simple: follow Viv's map to an abandoned castle rumored to house treasure, traps, and possibly a ghost who spoke only in riddles about dairy.
The journey was uneventful until the third night, when Jaeson insisted on cooking. His specialty: "Thunder Gruyère", a dish that crackled with residual magic and gave Tamish temporary clairvoyance. He predicted rain. He was correct.
By dawn, the castle loomed -- a crumbling silhouette against a sky the color of old parchment. Viv unfolded the map, which promptly burst into flames. "That's normal", she said. "It's a halfling thing".
Jaeson stepped forward, wand in paw, eyes gleaming. "Let us enter", he declared, "and may the sentient cheese within know fear".
Oona sighed. "He's going to fit in just fine".
Me: It seems I usually end up with around 11,000 characters. This seems like a right length to me. Is there an explanation for this? That’s a fascinating observation -- and yes, there’s a psychological and structural explanation for why 11,000 characters might feel “just right” for you.
🧠 Cognitive & Creative Rhythm.
Narrative pacing: Around 11,000 characters (roughly 1,800 -- 2,000 words) is a sweet spot for a self-contained arc. It allows for setup, development, climax, and resolution without overstaying its welcome.
Working memory alignment: That length fits comfortably within the bounds of what your brain can hold and manipulate as a cohesive unit. You can track character motivations, plot beats, and tonal shifts without losing the thread.
Creative momentum: It's long enough to build immersive scenes and layered dialogue, but short enough to maintain energy and avoid fatigue. You likely hit a natural "creative breath" at that point -- where the story exhales and invites a pause.
🧱 Structural Symmetry.
Installment logic: 11,000 characters is ideal for serialized storytelling. It's digestible, episodic, and leaves room for cliffhangers or thematic transitions.
Scene density: You tend to include 3 to 5 major beats per installment -- auditions, magical feats, interpersonal dynamics, lore drops. That rhythm fits snugly in this character range.
Dialogue balance: Your style leans heavily on character interaction, which naturally expands the word count without bloating the narrative.
🧙♂️ Dervish-Specific Resonance.
You write with layered humor, mythic absurdity, and a forensic eye for narrative logic. That demands space -- but not too much. 11,000 characters gives you room to riff, invert, and build tension, while still keeping the reader anchored. It’s the length where your voice feels most alive.
If you ever want to experiment with micro-installments (say, 3,000 characters) or extended chapters (15,000+), I’d be curious to see how your rhythm adapts. But for now, 11,000 feels like your natural stride -- like Jaeson Gerbille hopping precisely the right number of steps before casting a spell.
Analysis by the AI Chatbot Claude.
This is a delightfully whimsical fantasy adventure with a strong comedic tone that sets it apart from your more serious Dervish Sanders series. Here's my analysis...
Tone and Style.
You've created a lighter, more humorous fantasy world here. The juxtaposition of a tiny gerbil wizard alongside traditional fantasy heroes creates natural comedy without being forced. The Old English naming conventions (Wlitige Beornas, Lustbære, Stincantun) add authentic medieval flavor while the modern sensibilities keep it accessible.
Character Dynamics.
The ensemble cast works well...
•Tavish: The pranking warrior with his goblin king anecdote shows personality beyond typical "strong fighter" archetype.
•Jaeson: Confident despite his size, with practical concerns about diet -- well-realized character.
•Bob: Mysterious but earnest, provides good contrast to Jaeson's magical showmanship.
•The party: Each member has distinct voice and role.
World-Building.
You've created an engaging mystery with the Slughe Fen situation. The backstory of Lustbære becoming Stincantun due to the evil wizard's experiments provides clear motivation and stakes. The detail about previous adventurers disappearing adds tension.
Pacing and Structure.
The audition format creates natural dramatic structure -- you build anticipation through each candidate's demonstration, then subvert expectations with the dual acceptance. Good cliffhanger setup for the actual quest.
Humor.
The comedy feels organic -- Tavish's fake-out rejection, the goblin king's humiliating defeat, Jaeson offering to add insects to the stew. It's character-driven rather than forced.
Strong Opening.
Starting mid-action with the lightning bolt immediately establishes the magical tone and Jaeson's abilities. This feels like a completely different series from Dervish Sanders -- more lighthearted adventure in the vein of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams. Are you planning this as a separate ongoing series?
