Today's Gemini-enhanced TES:Oblivion screenshot has nostalgic significance, in that it documents one facet of the day-to-day interactions between my decrepit avatar and his ward, a nostalgia that was not triggered until Gemini worked its magic. We are in Benirus Manor, Anvil, reasonably early in the morning. Vilja rests abed, with my avatar standing at bedside just prior to rousing her to begin that day's adventures, almost certainly a return to the Imperial City following a successful patrol of the Gold. It is likely that, once appropriately dressed, they broke their fast at one of Anvil's two dining establishments and then began the ride home, with a possible package delivery en route. While this is the most likely scenario, my avatar sometimes let his ward sleep late and dined by himself.

The original screenshot is decidedly lackluster. I passed it by without batting an eye, during numerous directory sweeps in search of enhancement-worthy captures, before hesitantly deciding to see what Gemini might make of it. Here is the unvarnished image:

<link> Vilja abed in Benirus Manor, a second-playthrough screenshot. <link>

Here is what I told Gemini to do:
"Transform this Elder Scrolls Oblivion indoor screenshot into a photorealistic image. Do not alter the characters' attire or faces; just render them photorealistically. Make it so that morning sunlight streams in through the window."

Here is the result:

<link> Vilja abed in Benirus Manor, a Gemini-enhanced second-playthrough image. <link>

I think it's quite the transformation! In the enhancement, Vilja is seen with her eyes open. Gemini would have closed them had I asked. I almost did so. But it came to me that, on this particular occasion, Villja might well have woken prior to my avatar's arrival and decided to laze abed, luxurating in pleasant thoughts, until summoned. You might also notice her long hair, in both the original and its enhancement. The mod is sophisticated enough to allow automatic switching between hairstyles in this circumstance. I merely needed to install a wig mod, select a long-hair wig of the appropriate color, and place the wig in a certain inventory location. Voilà!

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Mar 18 2026, 01:47 PM

Wonderful job with that one indeed!

Today's Gemini-enhanced Oblivion screenshot installment is a multi-image documentation of Martin Septim's journey from Weynon Priory to Cloud Ruler Temple near the beginning of the Crisis. As such, it forms the first half of what I currently call "The Martin Septim Octet."

Image 1 shows Martin, escorted by my avatar and Jauffre, departing Weynon Priory on horseback. This is one of the first, if not the first, images in which I asked Gemini to give all horses leg animations so that they are seen to be trotting (or walking) forward along the road. It does so with varying degrees of success. The horses are, of course, given reins.

<link> Martin Septim Octet, part one, image one <link >

The sky is now overcast. This is my favorite among the first three images.

<link> Martin Septem Octet, part one, image two <link>

A slight mist has arisen. We are likely not far from Bruma.

<link> Martin Septem Octet, part one, image three <link>

Approaching Cloud Ruler Temple. This enhancement turned out far better than anticipated. Indeed, I initially wrote off the original as unsalvageable. As it turns out, the only real niggle I have with the enhancement is that Martin and Jauffre's horses are seen a bit off the road. I asked Gemini to correct this. Havoc ensued. Thankfully, Gemini saves each step of an image's transformation, so no unrecoverable harm was done.

<link> Approaching Cloud Ruler Temple, a view from on high <link>

I told Gemini to "add a dusting of snow atop the structure nearest the camera." This was done with aplomb. To give Gemini its due, it might well have added the snow without my input. Then again...

Again nice set of images, Decrepit. Photo realism is perhaps debatable but if anything they do kinda look Skyrimesque to my eyes.

Yeah. I consider these four Martin Septim images as "enhanced screenshots" rather than photorealistic or artwork. Their worth is largely in what they document. Gemini's enhancements, especially with image four, simply make them easier on the eyes.

Today's Gemini-enhanced screenshot captures road combat between the gang and an ogre, in which Arrowspeed joins in the fun. I do not recall where it was captured. I suspect it might be somewhere along the Red Ring Road's northeast section, which the gang seldom traversed. Gemini does a bang-up job here, in my opinion, its only sin being to transform my avatar's sword into a mace. I could, of course, have asked Gemini to correct this, but decided it doesn't matter.

<link> "The bigger they are..." The gang battles an ogre along what is possibly Red Ring Road, a first playthrough image. <link>

Really nice shot! I like how it captured Arrowspeed in mid-rear and also like the simple display of practical tack on Neeshka's horse.

Today's Gemini-enhanced Oblivion screenshot, of my avatar and Neeshka surrounding a chest, is neither photorealistic nor artwork. It barely qualifies as an "enhanced screenshot." As such, I had no intention of showing it to the public. So matters rested for some time, until it came to me that, if I couldn't improve upon the image's visual quality, I might at least make its contents more interesting. An obvious solution was to make the chest be seen with its lid open and treasure inside; in this case the chest was to be filled with scrolls. Gemini did exactly as asked. But something more was needed. It came to me that it would be nice to have my avatar hold one of those scrolls in his right hand. Gemini instead put it in his left hand, extending that arm closer to the chest in the process. I immediately saw that Gemini had the right of it. But the torch previously held in my avatar's left hand was now seen floating in place behind that arm. I saw no easy fix for this. Then, yesterday evening, it dawned on me that I could jettison the torch and replace it with a lit lantern resting atop a wooden post seen just behind my avatar's left hand. I worried that this might be a bit complex for Gemini to handle. My distrust proved unwarranted. The result is seen below:

<link> Cavern treasure chest perusal, a first playthrough Gemini-manipulated screenshot. <link>

I'm fairly certain that this scene is quest-related and that the chest held a needed quest item.

ADDENDUM: After posting this image, I notice that AI is up to its usual tricks, in that it gave my avatar's left hand an extra finger. I will attempt to remedy this later today, once back from my exercise-walk.

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Yesterday, 02:00 PM