New AI Animations

I don't have much to say about the first three animations, but the fourth ... hmm. Kwee's ears are to big; he blinks, whereas our Ogres have no eyelids (have I set us up for a design complication?); but worst of all, he screeches right at the 'camera' rather than at the men who are trying to kidnap him. That is a flaw I see to be too endemic to Grok.

Candid Interview

Ortha Docs: #2930!

Getting a Move On

We Now Return ...

My thoughts: I couldn't get Simon Horne's accent or his dry and dessicated tone just right; the 'Swamp Ape' seems a little tall and his tenrils not kinetic enough; but Henry Harris Byrd is just right.

What I've Been Doing

First of all, here are some AI enhancements of line illustrations and engravings, a process that I find fascinating. Next here are some illustrations from some Bureau of Shadows stories: Agent Beth Castlemaine paints a picture Taken From Life (aka Through a Bluebell Dell) and an animation of Senator Lovett and Edna York in a railroad car (to be perfectly time appropriate they should be wearing hats).

To round it off, here is an animation of Dr. Gilpin at his alchemical efforts:

Behind the scenes, as it were, I am still preparing material for the script of Episode Seven of my proposed television series. It is still only proposed, of course; I'd like to get at least 10 episodes scripted before I even think about trying to shop it around. In the meantime, it is great fun. I find I haven't published Taken From Life here on the Niche yet. Maybe I should.

Re-"Capitulation"

 

Athenor

Athenor, the little brass boy/homunculus from the chapter of the same name in Elf & Bear. If not immediately sentient upon creation, he became increasingly more so, although his creator, Dr. Gilpin, refused to acknowledge it, preferring he remain the simple tool/machine he was created to be. He was named Athenor from the alchemist's forge that he was made in, so you could say in a strange way Gilpin named him after his 'mother.' Of course, tragedy ensued as Athenor came to consider Gilpin his father, and the doctor refused to acknowledge his personhood, always calling him it. Only after the tragedy and heroic sacrifice did Gilpin finally accept him as his 'son.'

Noj and Yam, Ghamen Elders

Ogress Guarding a Clutch

Sigh. Ogres do not have mammary glands; they are not mammals. A fact I could not convince the AI of. Apparently, it thinks that if something is female, it must have boobs of some sort. The distinguishing characteristic of an Ogress, is, of course, "a type of scaly crest on their heads, analogous to hair in other races. When it is down, it even somewhat resembles hair. It is raised in anger or to display superiority." An individual Ogress lays four or five eggs. They are then collected into clutches of about thirty that one female will guard until they hatch. Only about 1 in 10 Ogres is female.

Update!

Ogre Patrol on the Prowl

A scene from Mighty Mikku, a short story published here on the blog.

"He's Not Such a Bad Little Imp, After All"

Ketta cares for Kwee; that must really be some crunchy old cheese.

It's Gotta Happen SOMEtime Or Other

Another (Imaginary) Country Heard From

Roth and Hannu, Morg City's favorite power couple.

Breklir:

Barda:

Zin:

Rotha and Hannu are from The Peculiar Wooing of General Roth (which see on this blog). Breklir, Barda, and Zin are all characters in my proposed series, The Wizard the Prince, the Warrior, and His Son. And now, for a bit of whimsy, A. I. Al unexpectedly pops into Ortha:

Our Daily Presentation: A Series of Shorts

A scene from Sergeant Roth; some of the cast of A Friend You Haven't Met; and scenes from Bob's Book Two, featuring Philo the Frog-Boy.

On the Road Again

Bob Speaks

Bob Bellamy (b. 1798?): "I have found that, after you have aged a certain amount, barring some illness or other or, God forbid, death, you really don't look any older. You might say I discovered the Fountain of Age to keep me going." - June 11, 2026.

Shutting the Door: Animations

It's All in the Cards, I Say

Why do some of the Winds have winged heels and some have accoutrements and others don't? At this late date I couldn't tell you, if there was ever reasoning behind it. I can tell you the Dragons had esoteric readings, Greed and Peace and Constraint.

If You Know, You Know

Drifted off during cartoons, and woke up from a strange dream (I think it had babysitting elements from Leave It to Beaver, which was on): Me and Mike were at Loop Dr. and K&S had dropped Kam off. Mike was complaining about the sudden nature of it, then he started speaking in rhythm, then singing Laughter Loving Dionysus [a poem I had written and that John used SUNO to put to music]! It was just like the episode of the mother-in-law in Amadeus. That woke me up! But I drifted off again, and suddenly he was singing about smoking cornsilk and Gene Autrey, ala I Wonder What My Poppa Dreamed [another song]. Then I was just awake. Needless to say, the playlist I had made was going.