Quest of the Key "Gatherings" excerpt (with two special guests!)

Excerpt from Episode 1 of "Quest of the Key," an animated web series now in production. Set in a fantasy world where there are dungeons, and possibly dragons, this scene sees our intrepid heroine Darla beginning her quest where all good quests begin: in a tavern. Aurora fans may spy a familiar duo...

[@treecatt]

It's a crying shame Paramount got so pissy about fan made Star Trek material. You started exploring an aspect to the Star Trek universe that was new and original. And your characters were fun to watch and listen to. Good luck with the new series.

[@Auroratrek]

Yeah, I think a more nuanced reaction to fan films would have been nice. The vast majority of creators just wanted to make something for other fans to enjoy, and didn't want anything in return beyond the satisfaction of getting to share their work with others.

[@robskalas]

Unfortunately Paramount/ CBS has made it very clear they don't give a hoot about the fans of Star Trek.

[@worldtraveler930]

Excellent work as Always Keep up the Good Work!!! 🤠👍

[@Auroratrek]

Thank you! We'll keep at it!

[@DJRonnieG]

Omg, what a cameo! I could live with this slow release of new installments on wide intervals as long as they keep coming. One day we'll have enough for a cohesive playlist and it will be glorious.

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! I am still working on it--hoping to have new stuff up in a few weeks.

[@RandallFrequentFlyerFlagg]

Love the Kara Carpenter and T'Ling cameo.

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! It seemed like the right thing to do.

[@Auroratrek]

@Nines I agree! And what’s more, If you’re not a fan of your own work, or at least the genre, then why are you doing it? The best work being done in the different franchises is being done by people who actually love and understand the lore. Dave Filoni, for example, loves and understands Star Wars, and it shows in Clone Wars and Mandalorian. Rain Johnson obviously looked at Star Wars and analyzed it just enough to see what fans enjoyed about the movies, and did everything he could to do the opposite in Last Jedi, and it was garbage.

[@NurmYokai]

Somehow thinking: "Fascinating place." Kara "There is an old Vulcan saying, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." T'Ling

[@Auroratrek]

@@NurmYokai But is magic distinguishable from technology…? ;-)

[@H3zzard]

Looking and sounding amazing! Well, *more* amazing than your previous offerings anyway. And the cameos were appreciated - I'd imagine that the Aurora is concealed away somewhere, hiding from the unwarranted attentions of bloodsucking lawyers... probably!

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! Just let them try finding Kara & T'Ling here... ;-)

[@DevilByTheTale]

"Have you any advice?" "Yeah... never pay for advice." 🤣 Golden! Also, amazing aesthetic and animations in the dialogue.

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! The animations are custom mocap edited in iClone, including adding the lip sync, which iClone is really good at.

[@nightworg]

Awesome! It look really good. Look forward to see next episode.

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks!

[@gabesantiago3074]

Very well produced and very humorous! . . . Slamming pub door and "half-pint" remark at the bar were cleaver and hilarious. The "Hitchcockesque" cameos were a pleasant surprise. . . . I wonder if there's a side story of Capt. Carpenter and First Officer T'Ling accidentally entering a parallel universe; blending in while trying to get back to Federation space?! ha ha ha. Looking forward to seeing the complete 'Quest Of The Key' adventure; it looks spectacular, thus far! . . . I've always admired all of what you guys have done - keep up the good work!

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt, and our other work. But, yes, just what are Kara and T'Ling doing in that place...? ;-)

[@libraeotequever3pointoh95]

@@Auroratrek There's nothing to prevent a starship from visiting worlds that haven't yet achieved space-travel. Also, magic is sometimes described as science we don't yet understand. So, I figure that the Aurora visiting a planet far away from Federation space is entirely possible, for a variety of reasons.

[@libraeotequever3pointoh95]

The "special guests" were a nice touch. I'm looking forward to the full story.

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! I'm working on it now!

[@Americalandofthefree]

That's awesome!

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks!

[@ouchmaker93]

Loved the cameos! Thanks for the sneak peak =)

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks-I couldn’t resist!

[@BanthaTube]

I love the Mr Spock toque hiding her ears! Amazing work. Any idea when we might see the finished project? Can't wait!

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! The old Vulcan toque disguise is universal, and even pan-dimensional! "Quest of the Key is going to be a series that will come out as episodes are completed, so "finished" is a relative term. ;-)

[@TheMsLourdes]

@@Auroratrek Goooooooooold :)

[@Auroratrek]

@@TheMsLourdes LOL--a lot can happen in such a big universe(s)! ;-)

[@khnum21]

this is awesome, love the cameo! :D

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! Yes, those two get around... ;-)

[@larrygorlitz]

Nice! I sure miss Aurora. 😔 😢

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! Well, maybe a little piece of Aurora lives on... ;-)

[@libraeotequever3pointoh95]

@@Auroratrek In 15 minute increments? Some future story-telling is better than no future story-telling, I feel. :-)

[@alberttetley]

love your videos they are so good

[@Auroratrek]

Thank you!

[@spaceace1006]

Ha HA!! I saw Kara..couldn't really tell if that was T'ling following her.

[@Auroratrek]

Yep! You were probably fooled by T'Ling's clever knit cap disguise. ;-)

[@FANtomCore]

The cameo yay

[@Auroratrek]

Couldn't help myself! ;-)

[@barryon8706]

Very nice! I guess all that ending up on alien planets, alternate realities, time travel stuff isn't just for Starfleet.

[@Auroratrek]

That kind of stuff seems to get around. ;-)

[@quoniam426]

I wonder what trouble Kara and T'Ling got themselves into to hide on a prewarp, even pre industrial civilization planet (or possibly in another time line as well)...

[@Auroratrek]

So many possibilities.... ;-)

[@redfish7302]

I discovered your clip on the Reallusion Forum. Great job from what I can see. Care to share a quick description of your animation technique? Hand-keyed? Mocap? Actorcore? It looks very smooth.

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! Mocap with Optitrack system, processed in 3DXchange, characters created in Daz and Character Creator, animated in iClone, rendered in Cinema 4D, enhanced in After Effects, assembled in Premiere. Hope that helps!

[@peacemaster8117]

@@Auroratrek That's one hell of a pipeline! I love how smooth the animation is on her reaction to the door slamming.

[@Auroratrek]

@@peacemaster8117 Thanks! Yes, it's a real process to put this thing together, and it keeps changing as the tech evolves. Right now I'm pretty pleased with the pipeline--I feel like I'm finally (mostly) working with the software rather than fighting it!

[@CodyVibbart]

good stuff! what program did you use for this?

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! Some of the characters began their life in Daz3D, translated to Reallusion Character Creator 3, sent to iClone; mocap in Optitrack, processed in 3DXchange, sent to iClone; animations composed in iClone, exported to Cinema 4D as fbx and/or alembic for rendering. Videos processed and composed using After Effects, Premiere, and Audition.

[@robskalas]

My question is, can Darla actually handle that short sword? I'm guessing we will find out!

[@Auroratrek]

Time will tell! ;-)

[@jabboy9696]

This looks great. are you using poser for this

[@Auroratrek]

Thanks! Mostly Daz3d and iClone, rendered in Cinema 4D.

[@CITAP1]

With all this covid junk and stay at home shut downs going on, shouldn't you be posting a lot more stuff? Hint Hint. I too enjoyed the cameo. The faces clarity and detail is great. Now I have to look forward to your next upload. Take care...

[@Auroratrek]

LOL--I did actually use a bit of this covid downtime to reconfigure my workflow, which should be a bit faster, so maybe the postings will start to pick up!

[@bfmcarparts]

Has there been a change in the voice performer.

[@Auroratrek]

No, same actress, new accent!