[Tutorial] : How to Use ChatGPT to Create Lore #32: Writing Prophecies and Foretelling Events

Prophecies and omens are powerful narrative devices in any world, offering foreshadowing, intrigue, and a sense of destiny.

They can shape characters’ decisions, propel the plot forward, and create tension as the foretold events unfold. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to use ChatGPT to craft mysterious prophecies and omens for your world-building, including how to tie them to key world events and conflicts.

Step 1: Understand the Role of Prophecies in Your World

Before you create a prophecy, it’s essential to determine its role in your story. Prophecies can be used to:

• Foreshadow major events or disasters: A looming threat or world-changing event can be hinted at through cryptic predictions.
• Shape character motivations: Prophecies often guide characters to act, whether to fulfill or defy the prophecy.
• Influence political or religious ideologies: Prophecies can be the foundation of cults, kingships, or political movements.
• Create mystery and conflict: Prophecies can serve as puzzles to be interpreted or misunderstood, adding layers of intrigue.

Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“What role does prophecy play in a world where an ancient order seeks to manipulate fate? How do they use prophecies to control events?”

AI’s Reply (Simplified):
In this world, the Order of Fate, an ancient and secretive group, uses prophecies to manipulate political outcomes, wars, and dynasties. The Order believes that they can bend the will of the gods by orchestrating key events foretold by their secret prophecies. By controlling the interpretation of these prophecies, the Order ensures that they are seen as the guiding force behind critical decisions. Prophecies are used as tools of influence, swaying kings and rulers into action based on predictions that align with the Order’s ultimate goals. The Order’s true plan remains hidden, with prophecies always leaving crucial details veiled in mystery.

Step 2: Crafting a Prophecy

A compelling prophecy should be cryptic, vague, and open to multiple interpretations. A prophecy often carries the weight of foretelling a great event, but its true meaning may be hidden or unclear. A prophecy might involve a specific time, person, event, or object, and often uses symbolic language.

Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“Create a prophecy that predicts the downfall of a kingdom, but is so cryptic that it could be interpreted in several ways.”

AI’s Reply (Simplified):
“When the moon’s shadow falls upon the throne, the kingdom will fracture in silence. From the sea’s breath shall rise the one who binds the crown with thorns. The lion will bow to the serpent, and the flame shall return to ash.”
This prophecy could be interpreted in several ways:

1. “The moon’s shadow falls upon the throne” could refer to an eclipse, signaling the death of the ruler.
2. “The one who binds the crown with thorns” might refer to a revolutionary leader or an outsider who will take over the throne through force.
3. “The lion will bow to the serpent” could be seen as a betrayal or alliance between two opposing powers, like a warrior kingdom (lion) and a cunning ruler (serpent).
4. “The flame shall return to ash” might foretell the destruction of the kingdom’s capital or its final collapse into ruin.

Step 3: Creating Omens and Signs

Omens are smaller, often overlooked, events that foreshadow something larger to come. These could be natural occurrences, unusual animal behavior, dreams, or even the actions of common folk. Omens provide a sense of urgency and mystery to prophecies, with characters or nations interpreting them as signs of things to come.

Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“Create a series of omens that herald the return of an ancient evil.”

AI’s Reply (Simplified):

• A Blood-red Eclipse: The sun is blotted out by a blood-red moon, an event that has not occurred for a thousand years. The people of the kingdom begin to panic, and strange creatures are seen roaming the edges of the city.
• The Death of the Silver Wolf: The Sacred Wolf, a creature thought to bring good fortune, dies under mysterious circumstances. This is interpreted as a bad omen, especially because the wolf was known for guarding the ancient burial site of the kingdom’s founder.
• Rains of Black Ash: A strange storm brings black ash to fall upon the land, tainting the crops. Those who breathe the ash fall ill with a fever that cannot be cured.
• The Whispering Statues: Statues in the royal temple, said to be carved with the faces of ancient kings, begin to whisper at night, warning of doom. People claim they hear the name of the ancient evil being spoken by the statues.

Step 4: Tying Prophecies to World Events

Once you have created a prophecy, it’s important to consider how it is woven into the world’s ongoing events and conflicts. Prophecies often interact with major political, social, or personal struggles. They may be used by different factions, and the characters may actively try to prevent or fulfill them.

Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“Design a prophecy that involves the rise of a hero who will defeat a great darkness, but whose identity is unclear. How do different factions interpret the prophecy?”

AI’s Reply (Simplified):
The Prophecy of the Last Dawn speaks of a hero who will rise in the midst of a world-engulfing darkness and bring about the dawn of a new age. However, the hero’s identity is unclear, and different factions interpret it in vastly different ways:

• The Church of Light believes the hero is a chosen priest who will use the holy light to defeat the dark forces. They begin grooming young clerics who show signs of power, hoping one of them will be the prophesied figure.
• The Guild of Assassins, on the other hand, believes the hero is a rogue with the ability to strike at the heart of darkness using stealth and subterfuge. They start recruiting the most promising assassins, convincing them that they are the chosen one.
• The Nomads of the East think the hero is someone who will emerge from the wilds, a warrior who has learned to harness the ancient powers of nature. They begin training their best warriors, teaching them how to commune with the earth.

Step 5: Using Prophecies to Drive Character Arcs

Prophecies can have a significant impact on characters, especially if they are involved in fulfilling or resisting them. Characters may struggle with the idea of destiny, whether they accept the prophecy’s truth or seek to defy it. This can lead to powerful character arcs.

Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“Create a character arc for a hero who is bound by prophecy, but who fears that fulfilling it will destroy everything they love.”

AI’s Reply (Simplified):
Elira, a gifted warrior, is burdened by the Prophecy of the Flame, which foretells that she will wield the Eternal Flame to defeat an ancient evil. However, the prophecy also warns that the flame will consume all it touches, destroying everything the hero loves. Elira has spent her life avoiding her fate, living in exile and turning down calls to lead armies. She is haunted by dreams of a burning city, where her loved ones perish in the flames. Throughout the story, Elira wrestles with her fear of sacrifice, as factions begin to push her toward accepting her role as the savior of the world. As the darkness approaches, Elira must choose between her personal desires and the larger responsibility of saving the world, knowing that fulfilling the prophecy will come at the cost of everything she holds dear.

Step 6: Tying It All Together

Finally, prophecies and omens should be connected to the central conflict and world events in meaningful ways. Characters and factions should be trying to understand and react to them, which will drive the plot and interactions. The prophecy should feel like it is an integral part of the world, not just a random element.

Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“How does the fulfillment of a prophecy that foretells the fall of a ruling dynasty affect the political landscape?”

AI’s Reply (Simplified):
The fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Black Crown—which foretells the fall of the ruling Draven dynasty—shakes the political landscape to its core. As the prophecy comes closer to fulfillment, the noble houses begin positioning themselves to take control, each believing they have a role in the prophecy’s outcome. Some believe the prophet’s heir will rise to power and restore the kingdom to glory, while others seek to ensure the downfall of the monarchy. A civil war brews as the Draven dynasty, desperate to maintain control, tries to prevent the prophecy from coming true, further dividing the kingdom. Meanwhile, rebels, secret societies, and underground movements rise to challenge the existing order, all claiming to be the true harbingers of the prophecy’s fulfillment.

Final Thoughts

Creating prophecies and omens with ChatGPT is an exciting way to add depth and intrigue to your world. Whether foreshadowing world-altering events or influencing characters’ choices, prophecies offer endless possibilities for storytelling. By tying them to world events, conflicts, and character arcs, you can create a world where destiny plays a significant role in shaping the future. Use these steps to craft prophecies that feel rich, mysterious, and integral to the fate of your world.