"The Rings of Saturn: Fall of House Namarra" is a narrative retelling of a single-player Dungeons & Dragons campaign run by ChatGPT. The images included in this post were created by ChatGPT's image generator, Sora, based on descriptions provided throughout the campaign, and the story was driven by AI and shaped by decisions made by a human and his dice rolls along the way.
Previously:
House Namarra
Kerret, Lady Virelle and I arrived at House Namarra just as the city’s late afternoon sun filtered through the estate’s high windows, turning golden against the polished stone. Virelle had donned the crisp attire of a household servant, her posture poised, her hair tucked up, her eyes sharp. She moved with the confidence of someone who belonged here—though I could tell her heart was pounding just as fast as mine. Kerret and I were back in our traditional clothes, of course, having donated our legendary opera costumes back to Aelith at Brillane’s Trunk—but who was to say that we wouldn’t have a couple more surprises in store for Vandros’ elite?
Our destination: the ballroom. I remembered it from the masquerade—the way the light shimmered on marble, the acoustics that could lift a voice to the rafters, the secret nestled around a corner and down a mysterious hallway. But first, we needed to get in the front door.
At the entrance, two guards stood dutifully. But I’ve always said: confidence is key, and panic is power. So, I gave them both. I stormed up, breathless, spouting nonsense about scheduling conflicts and rehearsals, Kerret the Crooner and his upcoming performance… I nudged one of them and winked as though we were co-conspirators. Aelith’s ring warmed on my finger, lending just enough gravitas to make it all believable.
To my surprise, they bought it. Within moments, Kerret and I were inside the ballroom and Virelle was slipping off into the servant corridors to prepare for our next move.
Kerret—Kier bless him—took to the center of the room, testing the acoustics with a few glorious, drawn-out notes. I used the distraction to scout the hall and plan our next move. The vault entrance wasn’t far, but we needed time. So I played the fool. Or rather, the entertainer.
I announced an impromptu performance: Kerret the Crooner was in town, and he needed to warm up for his performance later in the evening! (Truth be told, I had no idea what was going on at House Namarra later that night, but enough people believed me that I guess it worked out.) A few folks trusted me straightaway but some seemed to have no idea who "Kerret the Crooner" was. I assured them whole-heartedly that this was the opportunity of a lifetime, to witness one of the fastest-rising singers in all of Vandros—and beyond! Truly, it would be something to write home about—a dress rehearsal not to be missed.
With enough convincing, the noble guests who had been meandering the spacious rooms and palatial halls began to drift in, curious. That’s when she arrived—Lady Seraphina Althrun, of House Althrun. Beautiful, sharp-tongued, and entirely too perceptive. I could tell that she was skeptical from the first look she gave me. It made me sweat a little bit, but I turned on every ounce of charm I could muster: I flirted, spun her, dipped her, whispered sweet lies in her ear, told her to take a front row seat to the greatest show on the planet.
Kerret took the cue and belted out a brand-new number that he, once again, composed on the spot: “Three Ravens, Two Rings, and a Big, Giant Boom!”
Three ravens flew at midnight’s toll,Past gilded gate and manor wall,With feathers black and secrets deep,They sang of rings, they whispered “fall.”One ring forged in silent flame,One passed down through noble name,Together they unlock the past—And maybe make the present… blast.They danced beneath a stolen moon,He sang the tune, they stole the room,And through the lies and grand disguise,A secret waits where shadow lies.
The crowd was entranced. Lady Seraphina might’ve seen through my bravado, even she was drawn in by Kerret’s masterful performance. With her attention drawn away by Kerret, that beautiful bard, the moment felt right. I reached in gently, snatched her coin purse with a subtle flick of my wrist (25 gold pieces richer, thank you), and slipped away into the corridor.
As I snuck back through the crowd, I motioned to Kerret to stretch the song out for as long as he could—at least a few more verses. With a subtle nod and a smirk, Kerret raised his voice and continued to sing all the louder. A good man, indeed.
Virelle was waiting for me by the entrance to the vault, her servant’s disguise still intact. Two guards stood watch, as we expected. I enthusiastically praised the music, remarked how I couldn’t wait for the real show later tonight, and gave Virelle the nod. She stepped forward, radiant and warm, weaving compliments and misdirection like a true performer. She smoothly recommended that the guards head out to witness Kerret the Crooner, live and in person; we would be happy to watch the door for them. Surely, it would only take a few minutes, and they probably deserved a break anyway. The guards melted beneath her gaze—and moments later, we were alone.
There was no time to waste.
I polished my obsidian ring with my sleeve, watching as the companion ring on Virelle’s hand shimmered with anticipation. The vault gate—12 feet of dark, pulsating metal—looked like it had never been touched by mortal hands. Glyphs spiraled around its frame. The emblem of House Namarra, that raven with ruby eyes, seemed to stare right through us.
Together, we held our rings to the twin mechanisms. The magic responded instantly—lines of light spidering across the surface, ancient machinery groaning to life. The gate rotated inward, releasing a breath of cold, ancient air.
The vault had opened.
The Vault, House Namarra
Virelle and I stepped into the vault, and the atmosphere immediately felt off. The walls of this place felt like they were holding secrets—secrets that had been buried for too long. A deep, eerie hum emanated, seemingly, from inside an obsidian pedestal that I could faintly make out at the back of the dark room. I could tell that whatever was hidden in this vault was the very thing that had terrified Big Jarek and his men. Something about this aura of power was clearly tied to House Namarra’s troubling history.
But I wasn’t here to be intimidated. I was here to find the answers, to uncover whatever it was that House Namarra had buried away for so long. My fingers twitched at the thought of getting closer to that power. Out of anxiety, I slipped my hands into the pockets of my cloak.
That’s when I remembered: Big Jarek had given me two random trinkets after we brought him down: an onyx chip and a silver token bearing the sigil of House Namarra. I hadn't figured out what they were for, but perhaps they could come in handy for me in some way here. I fidgeted with them nervously as I paced around the room, looking for anything that might enlighten my mind.
Virelle and I stepped into the vault, and the atmosphere immediately felt off. The walls of this place felt like they were holding secrets—secrets that had been buried for too long. A deep, eerie hum emanated, seemingly, from inside an obsidian pedestal that I could faintly make out at the back of the dark room. I could tell that whatever was hidden in this vault was the very thing that had terrified Big Jarek and his men. Something about this aura of power was clearly tied to House Namarra’s troubling history.
I asked Virelle if anything in the room was familiar to her, if she had any kind of personal attachment to any of it. All we could find were dusty old treasures, some ornate and intricately locked chests, and some jewelry, but nothing stuck out to her. We pushed through the darkness until we reached the large obsidian pedestal. The humming noise grew deafening. I examined the pillar for any sign of danger, and glimpse of hope. I discovered that it was damaged on one edge, which I thought was odd. I pulled out Jarek’s trinkets. I pressed the Namarran coin against the pedestal and moved it to several different spots along the cold, obsidian stone, but it didn’t seem to have any useful effect.
However, the onyx chip fit perfectly into a recess on the broken edge. With a satisfying click, the mechanism seemed to respond, but nothing prepared us for what happened next. A secret compartment on one side of pillar snapped open, revealing a strange, glowing crystal within—a pulsating, ominous object with a low, rumbling sound that felt like it was reaching into my soul.
And then, I could have sworn that it spoke to me. I don’t know how to describe it—this low, throbbing voice that echoed in my head. I think… I think it said, “Join me!”
It felt ancient, full of power and darkness, and I realized that this wasn’t just about treasure. This was something much more dangerous. Whatever it was, it wasn’t meant to be disturbed. The pressure was getting to be too much. The air felt thick, as if the very vault itself was watching us, waiting for us to make a mistake. I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.
Virelle and I made the call to destroy the crystal with the explosives we brought with us: that glowing vial of liquid from Warehouse 43 and the flare dust given to us by the alluring alchemist Vessa. I took all of the necessary components and set them down cautiously at the base of the pedestal. We backed up to a safe distance and I pulled out my bow, hoping that my aim would be true. I uttered my final “Praise Kier” (and a phrase Virelle had definitely never heard and certainly didn’t understand) and shot the arrow at the Flare Dust. As the arrow flew across the vault, I grabbed Virelle by the hand and turned for the exit. We sprinted toward the door and never looked back.
The explosion was deafening. I could feel heat from the flames against my back as we reached the exit. We burst out of the door and slammed the vault shut behind us
The Grand Ballroom, House Namarra
We flew through the hallway and back into the ballroom. With the whole manor on the brink of destruction, we didn’t waste a second. I sped toward Kerret, interrupting his grand performance—which was still going!—and, at the top of my lungs, yelled, “EVERYBODY RUN!!”
The chaos had already started to spread. Crashes, shouts, and the sound of people realizing the manor was in danger echoed through the ballroom and its adjoining halls.
We bolted. Virelle stayed close, and Kerret was already on his way, pushing through the crowd with ease. I had no time to think about anything other than getting to the front doors. I spotted Lady Seraphina in the crowd, panic in her eyes, but she was already moving, too. At least she wasn’t going to be left behind.
I waved frantically to Kerret as he got ahead, and with every step, the sounds of panic grew louder. We were almost to the ballroom’s entrance. Almost to the front doors.
The floor shook beneath our feet. Smoke and heat poured into the hall behind us. The crystal's terrible voice still echoed deep inside my skull.
To be concluded.
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