If you enjoy AI roleplay, you've probably tried a few online character-chat services. Some are expensive, and model availability can be inconsistent. I've launched an online AI tavern where you bring your own API key, so you can chat with characters using your chosen provider without an extra intermediary markup from the tavern.
Try it here: Star Dream AI — ai.xmyun.org.
Choose your API provider
The provider options shown in the original screenshot are OpenAI, Claude, OpenRouter, MiniMax, DeepSeek, Star Dream API, and SiliconFlow's China service.
For roleplay, I'd start by considering DeepSeek or SiliconFlow. I also have a Chinese guide to the SiliconFlow API.
DeepSeek can be inexpensive for this use: in the kind of roleplay described in the original post, a top-up of a few Chinese yuan can stretch to about a week of frequent chatting. That's a rough usage estimate; the model, conversation length, and volume affect the actual bill. Your API provider still charges for usage. The tavern's lack of intermediary markup doesn't make model calls free.
Characters, lorebooks, and personas
You'll find more of the characters I've created here. Several have been popular on other AI platforms, but their experience on Telegram wasn't good enough for me to release them there.
You can also create your own characters and chat using your own API key. Creating a private character without publishing it does not require phone-number authorization. Lorebooks, which supply background information about the world, and persona features are included too.
A small launch offer for existing followers
If you're already subscribed to the Star Dream Blog channel and have joined the Star Dream Teahouse group, you can contact me to request CNY 7 in free Star Dream API credit to try the models. This is API usage credit denominated in Chinese yuan.
Translated from the original Chinese article, published on October 18, 2026. The platform introduction, recommendations, and follower offer are the original author's announcement.
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