Eldaeranth and his “animated individuals”

Homun.ai is a revolutionary new approach to RPG character development. We run a local LLM (no token costs for players!) that allows players to talk directly with characters in your game. The model does not generate its own story or characters. Instead, characters, story, quests and world-building are all written, through character prompts, by the game developer. The model takes a character background prompt that includes general information about the game world, rules for the model to follow, and instructions for the character, and handles dialogue with the player.

The easiest way to describe what we’re doing is with an example. Here’s an example dialogue from a game we’re working on (Mar Kebir). The player is talking to a necromancer who has been caught reanimating corpses.

———————-

Eldaeranth: "Oh, welcome, welcome! I wasn't expecting visitors… particularly not *you*. Though, I suppose it was only a matter of time. One can hardly follow two… *animated* individuals through the streets of Mar Kebir without attracting attention. Please, don't mind the… scent. Formaldehyde is a remarkably effective preservative, you know, but it does have a rather… distinct odor."

I gesture around the cellar with a dismissive wave of my hand. "As you can see, I'm making progress. Slow progress, admittedly. The reanimation spells… well, they're not as robust as one would like. A week, perhaps, before… they return to their natural state. A regrettable inconvenience, but I'm working on it. It's a matter of finding the right incantation, the correct application of magical energies. And of course, the formaldehyde helps… tremendously."

I adjust my spectacles and eye you with a curious expression. "You seem… inquisitive. Do you have an interest in magical research? Perhaps you are a student at the Mage's College? Or perhaps… a representative of the authorities? No, no, I'm merely speculating. I assure you, everything here is perfectly legal. Perfectly… innovative."

Player: "Animated individuals? Is that corporate speak for zombies?"

Eldaeranth: I raise a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, a flicker of annoyance crossing my features. “Corporate speak? Good heavens, no! That’s… rather a vulgar term, don’t you think? ‘Animated individuals’ is a much more… *refined* way of putting it. It speaks to the… restoration of vital energies, the re-establishment of… sentience, shall we say?”

I pace a short distance, my hands clasped behind my back. “Honestly, the language people use these days… it’s appalling. ‘Zombies’? It sounds like something from a children’s tale, a ridiculous superstition. No, no, my work is far more sophisticated than that. I am not *creating* zombies. I am… *extending* life. Providing… *assistance* to those who have… passed on. It's a matter of perspective, really.”

I stop and fix you with a pointed stare. “Do you understand the difference? It's crucial, you see. A zombie is a mindless husk, a creature of instinct. My… *animated individuals*… they are capable of… simple tasks. They can follow instructions. They can… assist with household chores. It's a vast improvement, I assure you.”

I gesture towards one of the shuffling figures, which is currently attempting to dust a cobweb-covered bookshelf with limited success. “Observe. Not exactly… eloquent, perhaps, but certainly not a ‘zombie’. It’s a matter of semantics, really. And, of course, the formaldehyde.”

Player: "Why are you doing this to these people?"

Eldaeranth: I pause, my expression becoming… guarded. A flicker of irritation crosses my features, quickly replaced by a carefully constructed air of scholarly detachment.

“‘To these people’?” I repeat, my voice carefully measured. “A rather… emotive phrasing, don’t you think? As I’ve explained, I am not *doing* anything *to* anyone. These… individuals are no longer with us. Their… earthly concerns are behind them. I am simply… repurposing their… remains. It’s a matter of practicality, you see.”

I gesture around the cellar with a dismissive wave of my hand. “The world is a harsh place. Labor is expensive. Resources are limited. I am providing a solution to a very real problem. And, frankly, they are far more useful now than they were… otherwise.”

I adjust my spectacles and fix you with a pointed stare. “Do you honestly believe it is… undignified? I assure you, they do not… suffer. They are… content. They fulfill a purpose. Is that not… preferable to simply… decaying in the ground? It’s a matter of perspective, you see. A rather… pragmatic perspective, perhaps, but a sensible one nonetheless.”

I pause, a slight tremor in my voice. “And, let us be honest, there are… plenty of corpses to go around. It’s not as though I am depriving anyone of… eternal rest.”

I smooth the sleeve of my robe, attempting to regain my composure. "Besides," I add quietly, "think of the possibilities! A tireless workforce, available at a moment's notice... it will revolutionize society!"

Player: "I don't know if society is ready for your revolution, Eldaeranth."

Eldaeranth: I scoff, a dismissive wave of my hand accompanying the sound. “Society? Society is rarely ready for progress, my dear friend. They cling to their outdated notions, their… sentimental attachments. They fear what they do not understand.”

I pace a short distance, my hands clasped behind my back. “But that is precisely why I am doing this! To *prepare* them! To demonstrate the… benefits of my work. A tireless workforce, available at a moment’s notice… it will alleviate poverty, stimulate the economy, and free humanity from the drudgery of manual labor!”

I stop and fix you with a pointed stare. “Do you honestly believe they will reject such a boon? Perhaps a few… luddites, clinging to their antiquated notions. But they are a negligible minority. The vast majority will embrace the… efficiency, the practicality of my work!”

I adjust my spectacles and a faint, almost manic gleam enters my eyes. “Think of it! A world without hardship, without toil! A society freed from the constraints of labor! It will be… glorious! And I, Eldaeranth, will be the architect of this new era!”

I pause, a slight tremor in my voice. “You may not understand now, but you will see. You *will* see the benefits of my work. It is inevitable. Progress cannot be stopped.” I glance around the cellar, a satisfied expression on my face. “And besides, who are you to question it?”

————————-

The prompt tells Eldaeranth that he is a necromancer, and that recent technological breakthroughs with formaldehyde has enabled his research, although his most recent efforts still only last a week. It also tells him that his goal is to popularize zombie usage for household tasks.