A Tale from the Unbound Realm - The Sorcerer's Scroll

Synopsis: In a crumbling world where the Imperium’s reach is rotting from within, Roslyn — a fugitive sorcerer — risks her life to uncover a secret long thought buried: a forbidden Elvern scroll that could change the course of history.

But survival comes at a price.

Betrayed, poisoned, and hunted by the Inquisition, Roslyn must navigate a crumbling town, ancient magic, and the growing threat of something far worse than the Imperium —A lost Sovereign.

Burdened by old scars and new oaths, Roslyn must decide whether the ruins of the past offer salvation — or only death.

A Tale from the Unbound Realm: The Sorcerer's Scroll is a dark fantasy short story, offering a first glimpse into a saga of survival, sacrifice, and ancient terror.

(Open AI source)

The Elvern Ruins

Roslyn vs the Hybrid (Open Source AI rendition)

Roslyn and Asterix arrive at Dunhavel

Available Now

Using AI as a concept tool not art (Where it get's it wrong):

I gave it a passage from my book to generate some concept art — something atmospheric, grounded, in line with the existing visual tone.

It returned a piece that looked great…

Except for one thing: it randomly added the Scroll Guardian.

Bit of a problem.

Because — minor spoiler — the Scroll Guardian died in the previous chapter.

I just want to remind everyone:

AI is a tool, not a lore-accurate oracle.

Yes, it helps visualise my scenes. No, it doesn’t read my work or understand continuity. That’s still my job.

But it’s funny seeing how it “interprets” the tone.

Dark forest? Add a monster.

Empty ruin? Must need a creature.

Narrative consequence? What’s that?

This was meant to be a moody, reflective piece.

So instead of a sombre moment, we got a lore violation with bonus legs.

“Do you have your digital ID, ma’am?"

It’s painting with your keywords, not your canon. Behind every finished image, there are dozens of iterations — most of which get it wrong.

Characters recast. Armour replaced. Mood missed entirely.

AI doesn’t read the lore. It doesn’t know your world. You do.

That’s why visualising a scene through AI is exhausting — not effortless.

Because you’re not just prompting a machine… You’re directing a production.

Roslyn, apparently aged 40 and wielding a sword. (Wrong on both counts.)

"Do you have digital ID Ma'am" - The Scroll Gaurdian

A lore accurate Roslyn on attempt four.

Author notes

The Mid-Quest:

The Sorcerer’s Scroll is written to feel as though the reader has been dropped into a world already turning — mid-quest, mid-collapse. At this point, Roslyn’s power hasn’t awakened. She’s still a foot soldier in Rennoc’s rebellion, bound by duty more than destiny. That distance is intentional — to let the weight of the so-called “Dark Lord” settle over the realm before we understand the cost of following him.

The Hybrid (Scroll Guardian):

A twisted fusion of man and arachnid, the creature that guards the scroll is as much a manifestation of fear as it is flesh. Its upper body bears the gaunt, sinewy outline of a human — grey skin stretched taut over too-long limbs, a faceless head masked in twitching flesh. Below the waist, its body dissolves into a slick, barbed spider-form, its spindled legs clattering wetly over stone. Rotted strands of silk hang from its back like decaying robes.

It does not speak. it does not reason.

It only defends — bound by whatever cursed magic lingers in its blood.

But who placed it there?

A creation of the Sovereigns? A cursed sentinel stitched together from the lost arts of the First Era?

Or was it something darker — a forgotten Inquisition experiment, worse than execution, where flesh and magic were fused into silent obedience?

I hate spiders.

So what better way to summon a personal nightmare than paying homage to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion — and its Daedric abominations?

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews or scholarly analysis.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, real-world events, or locations is purely coincidental.

The world of “ A Tale from the Unbound Realm”, its lore, and all characters therein are original creations and the sole intellectual property of the author.

For more information, visit: [https://dabutlermedia.myportfolio.com]

2025