prompter: Hi! Generate an outline for an original fiction book. The book should be set in a dark, mature fantasy setting.

assistant: 1. Opening: Introduce our main character, a down-on-his-luck sellsword or mercenary fighting in a pointless war between two corrupt kingdoms. Show his cynical and jaded outlook through wry internal thoughts or jokes at the absurdity of the war. Perhaps have a dramatic fight or battle sequence where his side loses.

2. Inciting Incident: Our hero is hired for a sketchy job by an even more corrupt wizard or politician to find a dangerous magical artifact. He takes the job for the money despite the obvious red flags. While on the quest, reveal more of his amusingly bleak worldview through encounters with gnomes, orcs, elves, etc.

3. Rising Challenge: On his quest, increasingly dangerous and twisted things happen. Perhaps former allies or friends are violently killed, or he uncovers deadly secrets about his employers. The magical artifact is revealed to be even more powerful and perilous than expected. Kill off more characters in shocking or darkly comedic ways to raise the stakes.

4. Major Setbacks: Right as the hero is about to succeed, he suffers some major reversals or setbacks. Maybe he is betrayed and left for dead, or the artifact curses or corrupts him in some way. These setbacks make his eventual success seem nearly impossible. Show his resolve being tested in harsh and brutal ways.

5. Climax: There is a dramatic final confrontation or battle where the hero must draw on all his resources to overcome the forces arrayed against him. People are killed in both bloody and comedic ways. Despite the great costs, he is able to seize the artifact—but then is faced with a difficult moral choice about how to use its power.

6. Resolution: In the end, have the hero make a cynical but poignant choice that addresses the broader themes of corruption and pointlessness you want the story to convey. The tone is darkly funny even though the outcome is bittersweet. Overall, show how the grim dark world has been impacted—for better or worse—by the hero's actions.

prompter: That's incredibly cool.
Do you have Ideas on how to name the main character?

prompter: can you give me an idea for what this magical artifact could be? Make it creative and original

assistant: Sure, here's an outline for an original fiction book set in a dark, mature fantasy setting:

Title: Shadows of the Forgotten

Chapter 1: The Darkening
• Introduce protagonist, a former soldier turned mercenary named Kael
• Kael arrives in a dark, decaying city where an ancient curse has caused the sun to never rise
• He takes a job to protect a wealthy merchant from mysterious attackers
• Kael discovers that the attackers are shadows, creatures from another realm that feed on fear and despair

Chapter 2: The Shadowlands
• Kael meets a group of rebels who are trying to break the curse and restore the sun
• They tell him about the Shadowlands, the realm of the shadows
• Kael agrees to help them journey to the Shadowlands to find a way to defeat the shadows

Chapter 3: The Lost City
• Kael and the rebels travel through a treacherous wasteland to reach the lost city of the ancients
• There they discover an ancient weapon that can destroy the shadows
• Kael and the rebels are ambushed by a group of dark knights who are also after the weapon

Chapter 4: Betrayal
• One of the rebels betrays Kael and steals the weapon, taking it to the dark knights
• Kael and the rebels are captured and taken to the dark knights' fortress
• Kael discovers that the dark knights are led by his old commander, who has been corrupted by the shadows

Chapter 5: The Final Battle
• Kael and the rebels escape and make their way back to the decaying city
• The dark knights and the shadows launch a massive attack on the city
• Kael and the rebels fight back, using the ancient weapon to destroy the shadows and defeat the dark knights

Chapter 6: The Dawn
• The curse is broken and the sun rises once again
• Kael and the rebels are celebrated as heroes, but Kael decides to leave and continue his mercenary work
• The rebels give him a gift, a rare plant that can only grow in sunlight, as a reminder of their adventure together

Epilogue: Shadows in the Light
• Kael takes a job in a sunny, peaceful land, but discovers that the shadows have found a way to cross over into this realm as well
• He vows to fight them wherever they may appear, and the book ends with Kael preparing for his next battle.

prompter: Please provide an estimate how long each chapter should be.

assistant: I. Introduction

A. Setting
   1. Description of the dark fantasy world
   2. Overview of the main characters

B. Conflict
   1. Overview of the main conflict
   2. Description of the opposing forces

II. Rising Action

A. Character Development
   1. Introduction of new characters
   2. Exploration of the characters’ motivations

B. Conflict Escalation
   1. The protagonists’ attempts to resolve the conflict
   2. The antagonists’ attempts to further the conflict

III. Climax

A. Final Battle
   1. Description of the battle
   2. The protagonists’ victory

B. Resolution
   1. Description of the aftermath
   2. Reflection on the characters’ growth

IV. Conclusion

A. Summary of the story
B. Reflection on the themes of the story

prompter: This seems like a relatively generic outline that could be applied to almost any story with a traditional three act structure.
Can you add some more details to better fit the stated premise and target audience?

assistant: Sure! Here's an updated outline for an original dark, mature fantasy book:

I. Introduction

A. Setting
Description of the dark fantasy world, including its unique magical elements and the ways in which they impact the society and culture.
Introduction of the main characters: a skilled warrior haunted by a tragic past, a cunning thief with a mysterious background, and a powerful mage struggling to control her dangerous abilities.

B. Conflict
Overview of the main conflict: a powerful dark lord is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness by unleashing an army of demonic creatures.
Description of the opposing forces: the dark lord's minions, including fearsome beasts and corrupted humanoids, and the scattered resistance fighters who dare to stand against them.

II. Rising Action

A. Character Development
• Introduction of new characters, including allies and enemies who challenge the protagonists' beliefs and motivations.
• Exploration of the characters’ motivations, fears, and vulnerabilities, as they struggle to come to terms with the enormity of the task before them and the sacrifices it demands.

B. Conflict Escalation
• The protagonists’ attempts to recruit allies, gather intelligence, and sabotage the enemy's plans, while also dealing with personal conflicts and past traumas.
• The antagonists’ attempts to further the conflict by unleashing new horrors, corrupting key figures, and manipulating events to their advantage.

III. Climax

A. Final Battle
• Description of the epic battle, as the protagonists and their allies face overwhelming odds against the dark lord's armies and their monstrous commanders.
• The protagonists’ victory, which comes at a great cost and changes them forever.

B. Resolution
• Description of the aftermath, as the survivors grapple with the consequences of the war and try to rebuild their shattered world.
• Reflection on the characters’ growth and transformation, as they confront their inner demons and discover new strengths and purpose.

IV. Conclusion
A. Summary of the story, highlighting the key themes and lessons of the book.
B. Reflection on the impact of the story on the readers, challenging them to think deeper about the nature of heroism, sacrifice, and redemption in a world that often seems beyond hope.