As another test of ChatGPT I asked it: "in 2 thousand words, to write a fiction about a modern-day witch who uses chemistry and female charms to enslave her familiars". This is one of the motifs in my novella: The Craft (along with: the great famine; world government; cyber security and overarching artificial intelligence).
Rather alarmingly, two of five ChatGPT offerings, each taking around 22 seconds to generate, came quite close to the sub-plot, although I'm not keen on the style or moralistic endings. Here they are:
Title: The Alchemist's Seduction: A Tale of Modern Witchcraft
In the heart of a bustling city, amidst towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, lived a woman named Evelina Blackwood. To the outside world, Evelina was an enigma—a successful entrepreneur with an air of mystery that seemed to surround her every move.
Little did they know, Evelina harbored a secret that defied the confines of conventional reality. She was a witch, wielding powers beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals.
Evelina's journey into the world of witchcraft began at a young age. Gifted with an innate affinity for the arcane arts, she delved into the ancient tomes of magic, seeking to unlock the secrets of the universe. But unlike the witches of old, Evelina did not rely solely on incantations and potions. She was a modern witch, blending ancient wisdom with the cutting-edge science of chemistry.
In her sleek penthouse apartment, hidden from prying eyes, Evelina conducted her experiments in a state-of-the-art laboratory. Surrounded by beakers, vials, and bubbling cauldrons, she concocted potions that rivaled the wonders of alchemy. But it was not just her mastery of chemistry that set Evelina apart—it was her beguiling charm, her ability to ensnare the hearts and minds of those around her.
In the shadows of the city, Evelina maintained a network of familiars—individuals ensnared by her charms and bound to her will. Some were high-powered executives, lured by promises of success and prosperity. Others were artists and intellectuals, drawn in by the promise of inspiration and creativity. But all were unwitting pawns in Evelina's grand design, mere instruments to further her ambitions and satiate her desires.
They were not mere servants but willing slaves, entranced by Evelina's beauty and charisma. With a flick of her wrist and a whispered word, she could bend them to her every whim, weaving a web of enchantment that ensnared even the most guarded souls.
Among Evelina's familiars was James, a handsome young man with a keen intellect and a heart full of longing. From the moment he laid eyes on Evelina, he was captivated by her ethereal beauty and magnetic presence. Little did he know, he was but a pawn in her intricate game—a puppet dancing to her tune, oblivious to the strings that bound him.
James worked as a chemist in a prestigious research firm, his days consumed by the pursuit of scientific discovery. But in the quiet hours of the night, he found himself drawn to Evelina's penthouse, unable to resist the pull of her intoxicating aura. She welcomed him with open arms, her smile like a siren's song, luring him deeper into her web.
Under Evelina's guidance, James became her most prized familiar, his expertise in chemistry proving invaluable to her arcane experiments. Together, they delved into realms of magic and science, blurring the lines between the two until they became indistinguishable. With each passing day, James fell deeper under Evelina's spell, his thoughts consumed by thoughts of her and her alone.
As Evelina's power grew, so too did her appetite for control. With each passing day, she sought new ways to expand her influence, weaving a web of deceit and manipulation that ensnared all who dared to oppose her. Yet, amidst the shadows and deception, there existed a glimmer of hope—a flicker of light that threatened to pierce the darkness and expose Evelina's true nature.
It came in the form of a young woman named Lily, a newcomer to the city whose innocence and purity stood in stark contrast to Evelina's malevolent machinations. With her fiery red hair and eyes as bright as the morning sun, Lily possessed a spirit that could not be tamed—a spirit that Evelina found both infuriating and intoxicating.
From the moment they met, Evelina sensed a power within Lily—an untamed energy that defied her control. Determined to bend the young woman to her will, Evelina set her sights on seducing Lily, using all the charms at her disposal to ensnare her in her web. But try as she might, Evelina found herself thwarted at every turn, for Lily's spirit could not be broken, nor her will bent to another's command.
As their relationship unfolded, Evelina's fascination with Lily grew, her obsession bordering on madness. Yet, for all her efforts to ensnare the young woman, Evelina found herself drawn to her in ways she could not explain. Beneath the layers of deception and manipulation, a bond began to form—a bond that transcended the confines of magic and chemistry, connecting them in ways neither could fully comprehend.
In the end, it was this bond that proved to be Evelina's undoing, for in Lily she found a mirror of her own desires and fears—a reflection of the darkness that lurked within her own soul. As their connection deepened, Evelina's hold over her familiars began to wane, their loyalty tested by the strength of Lily's spirit and the power of her love.
In a final act of defiance, Evelina attempted to unleash her most potent potion yet—a concoction designed to bend Lily to her will and cement her control over her familiars once and for all. But in her hubris, she underestimated the strength of Lily's resolve, for when the moment came, it was Lily who stood tall, her spirit unbroken and her heart pure.
Lily shattered Evelina's spell, breaking the chains that bound her familiars and setting them free. In the blink of an eye, Evelina's empire crumbled, her power dissipated like smoke in the wind. And as she watched her carefully constructed world collapse around her, Evelina knew that she had been defeated—not by magic or chemistry, but by the unyielding power of love.
In the aftermath of Evelina's downfall, the city began to heal, its streets alive once more with the sounds of laughter and joy. And though the memory of the witch who had once held them in her thrall lingered like a shadow, the people of the city knew that they were free—that the darkness had been vanquished, and that light had triumphed over darkness once more.
As for Evelina, her fate remains a mystery, her whereabouts unknown to all but a chosen few. Some say she disappeared into the night, her spirit broken and her heart heavy with regret. Others whisper of a new beginning—a chance for redemption and forgiveness in a world where anything is possible.
But wherever she may be, one thing is certain: the tale of Evelina Blackwood, the modern-day witch who used chemistry and female charms to enslave her familiars, will be told for generations to come—a cautionary tale of the dangers of power and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
To test this further, I added some more details to my request to resemble more closely The Craft "write a fiction about Margery, a modern day witch who uses chemistry and female charms to enslave her familiars including Mohandas a software developer, a bishop and Phillip, a cosmetic surgeon". Unsurprisingly, ChatGPT changed the names accordingly and added some more detail.
Title: Margery's Enchantment: A Modern Witch's Tale
In the heart of a bustling city, where the pulse of life beat with the rhythm of urbanity, there dwelled a woman named Margery. To the world outside, she appeared as a mere mortal. With her long, flowing black hair, piercing green eyes, and an air of mysterious allure, she effortlessly enchanted those who crossed her path, her beauty and grace masking the depths of her secrets. But beneath her polished exterior lay a power that transcended the ordinary—a power born of ancient wisdom and modern science. Margery was a witch, wielding the arcane arts with the precision of a chemist and the allure of a siren.
Margery's journey into the realm of witchcraft began in her youth, where she discovered a natural affinity for the mysteries of magic. With a curious mind and a thirst for knowledge, she delved into the esoteric realms of alchemy and potion-making, blending ancient rituals with cutting-edge chemistry to create spells unlike any the world had ever seen.
But Margery's true strength lay not just in her mastery of the arcane, but in her ability to enchant those around her with her feminine charms. With a mere glance and a subtle smile, she could ensnare the hearts and minds of even the most steadfast souls, bending them to her will with effortless grace.
Among Margery's most devoted followers were her familiars—loyal companions bound to her through a potent combination of chemistry and charm. They were not mere servants but willing slaves, entranced by Margery's beauty and charisma, their minds clouded by the intoxicating allure of her spells.
One such familiar was Mohandas, a gifted software developer with a brilliant mind and a gentle soul. From the moment he met Margery, he was captivated by her ethereal beauty and magnetic presence, his thoughts consumed by desires he dared not voice. Little did he know, he was but a pawn in her intricate game—a puppet dancing to her tune, oblivious to the strings that bound him.
Margery's relationship with Mohandas was one of calculated manipulation and subtle coercion. Under the guise of mentorship and guidance, she slowly but surely ensnared him in her web of enchantment, his devotion to her growing with each passing day. With a whispered word and a gentle touch, she stoked the fires of his desire, bending him to her will with ease.
But Mohandas was not the only familiar under Margery's thrall. Among her other devoted followers was Bishop Alexander, a respected clergyman known for his unwavering faith and moral rectitude. Entranced by Margery's beauty and sophistication, Bishop Alexander found himself drawn into her orbit, his rational mind clouded by the allure of her charms.
Under Margery's guidance, Bishop Alexander became her most prized familiar, his influence in the community proving invaluable to her arcane experiments. Together, they delved into realms of magic and science, blurring the lines between the two until they became indistinguishable. With each passing day, Bishop Alexander fell deeper under Margery's spell, his thoughts consumed by thoughts of her and her alone.
But Margery's hold extended beyond the realm of spirituality. Among her familiars was Phillip, a talented cosmetic surgeon renowned for his skill and artistry. Entranced by Margery's beauty and sophistication, Phillip found himself drawn into her web of enchantment, his rational mind clouded by the allure of her charms.
Under Margery's guidance, Phillip became a prized familiar, his expertise in cosmetic surgery proving invaluable to her arcane experiments. Together, they delved into realms of magic and science, blending potions and incantations with surgical precision. With each passing day, Phillip fell deeper under Margery's spell, his thoughts consumed by thoughts of her and her alone.
But as Margery's power grew, so too did the whispers of dissent. Rumors spread like wildfire through the city, tales of a mysterious woman who wielded powers beyond mortal comprehension. Some whispered of witchcraft, while others dismissed it as mere fantasy. But beneath the surface, a storm was brewing—a storm that threatened to shatter Margery's carefully constructed facade.
Unbeknownst to Margery, there were those who sought to uncover the truth behind her enigmatic persona. Among them was Detective Emily Parker, a tenacious investigator with a keen eye for deception. Haunted by the memory of a loved one lost to the clutches of darkness, Emily was determined to expose Margery for what she truly was—a witch masquerading as a mere mortal.
As Emily delved deeper into Margery's past, she uncovered a web of intrigue and deceit that spanned generations. She traced Margery's lineage back to the Salem witch trials, where her ancestors had been accused of practicing black magic. But it was not just her bloodline that intrigued Emily—it was the strange occurrences that seemed to follow in her wake, the inexplicable accidents and disappearances that defied rational explanation.
Determined to unravel the mystery of Margery, Emily embarked on a perilous journey into the heart of darkness. With each step, she drew closer to the truth, uncovering secrets that threatened to tear apart the fabric of reality itself. But as she delved deeper, she realized that Margery's power was greater than she could have ever imagined—a force beyond the comprehension of mortal minds.
In a final confrontation that would decide the fate of them all, Emily confronted Margery in her opulent penthouse lair, armed with nothing but her wits and her determination. But Margery was not alone—she
was surrounded by her familiars, each bound to her will through the power of her charms. As Emily faced off against this formidable adversary, she knew that victory would come at a steep price—one that would test her resolve to its very limits.
In the end, it was not brute force or cunning that prevailed, but the power of love and sacrifice. For as Margery unleashed her darkest spells upon her, Emily refused to yield, her love for humanity guiding her through the shadows. With a final incantation, she broke the spell that bound Margery's familiars, freeing them from her thrall and restoring balance to the world.
As Margery's powers waned and her illusions crumbled, she realized the folly of her ambition—a quest for power that had consumed her soul and blinded her to the beauty of the world around her. In a moment of clarity, she renounced her dark arts, vowing to use her knowledge for the betterment of mankind.
And so, the tale of Margery came to an end—a cautionary tale of hubris and redemption, of the dangers of wielding power without wisdom. In the annals of history, she would be remembered not as a witch, but as a woman who dared to defy the boundaries of possibility and paid the price for her folly. And though her name would fade into obscurity, her legacy would endure—a testament to the enduring power of magic and the human spirit.
ChatGPT is very dependent on the information you provide in the request message - simply assembling and playing-back common tropes based on the request. In several versions references were made to: 'the Salem Witch Trials' and 'bubbling cauldrons'; Mohandas is described as: 'a gentle soul'.
Another, rather annoying feature, is that there is an underlying short-storey design: set the scene; provide some stock description; a purpose and an an antithetical clash, concluding with an uplifting (happy) resolution.
Thus, would-be authors, for example, with writer's block or writing for television, might find ChatGPT a useful tool for plot development 'keys' or 'waypoints' provided that they were prepared to fill in the more imaginative details and provide a more realistic resolution.
But the most interesting application could be character development, including divining motivation. So, I asked it to give me exactly the same story in the first person. This became much more interesting as ChatGPT attempted to provide Margery's motivations.
Those concerned with what might happen, if a self-aware World Wide Web emerges, might take pause. I ran it several times and in almost every case it provided Margery's motivation to be something like this:
For I am Margery, a modern-day witch, and I will stop at nothing to achieve my goals. With my familiars by my side, I will carve out my place in this world, bending reality to my will and ruling over all who dare to defy me. And woe betide anyone who stands in my way, for they will feel the full force of my wrath.
But for now, I bide my time, weaving my spells and ensnaring my prey, until the day comes when I will emerge from the shadows and claim my rightful place as queen of all I survey. And on that day, the world will tremble at the sound of my name, and they will know that Margery, the modern-day witch, reigns supreme.