Build Your AI Chatbot Community: A Step-by-Step Guide to Silly Tavern on Zeabur

Have you ever dreamed of having your own private chat server populated with unique AI characters? Imagine crafting intricate storylines, engaging in dynamic group conversations, or simply having a friendly chat with a bot of your own creation. With the power of Silly Tavern and the ease of Zeabur, this is not just a dream—you can get it done within seconds.

This guide will walk you through the entire process, from creating an AI API Key from Zeabur AI Hub to creating lively group chats. We'll follow a practical use case to illustrate each step.

Step 1: Deploying Your Silly Tavern Instance on Zeabur

The first step is to get your Silly Tavern instance up and running.

1. Navigate to the Zeabur template page.
2. Search for "Silly Tavern" and click deploy.
3. During setup, choose a domain name (e.g., my-tavern.zeabur.app).
4. Once the deployment shows "Running," click on your domain name to open your new Silly Tavern site.

[👉 Navigation Note: Important! Keep your new Silly Tavern website open in one tab. We will come back to it in Step 3.]

Step 2 & 3: The Key to Conversation - Setting Up Your API Key

This is the most crucial step. You need a "brain" for your chatbot, which requires an API Key. We will use Zeabur AI Hub for this.

Part A: Get the Key from Zeabur

[👉 Navigation Note: Leave your Silly Tavern tab open. Open a NEW browser tab for this step.]

1. Navigate to the Zeabur AI Hub page.
2. Click on "Create API Key."
3. Give your key a name and click "Create Key."
4. Copy the API Key immediately and save it safely (it won't be shown again).
5. On the same page, look for the Endpoint URL. Copy the one closest to you (e.g., https://sfo1.aihub.zeabur.ai/).

Part B: Connect the Key to Silly Tavern

[👉 Navigation Note: Now, close the Zeabur AI Hub tab and switch back to your Silly Tavern tab.]

1. In the Silly Tavern interface, look at the top bar and find the API Connection icon (it usually looks like a Plug 🔌).
2. In the menu that opens:
   • API Type: Select "OpenAI Compatible".
   • API Key: Paste the key you just created.
   • Custom Endpoint: Paste the URL you copied (e.g., https://sfo1.aihub.zeabur.ai/).
3. Click Connect. A green light or success message indicates you are ready.

Step 4: Fine-Tuning Your AI's Mind

Now that the brain is connected, let's adjust how it thinks.

[👉 Navigation Note: Stay in the API/Plug 🔌 menu, or look for the "A" / Sliders icon for text generation settings.]

• Token Context (Memory): Set this between 4096 and 8192. This determines how much of the conversation the AI remembers.
• Max Response Length: Set this between 200 and 400 tokens. This controls how long the AI talks in one go.
• Top K (Creativity): Set this between 20 and 50.

Step 5: Populating Your World - Importing Characters

An empty tavern is no fun! Let's get some characters.

Part A: Find a Character Card

[👉 Navigation Note: Open a NEW tab and go to a character library website.]

1. Browse aicharactercards.com or chub.ai.
2. Find a character you like.
3. Look for the "Copy URL" button (or right-click the "Download" button and select "Copy Link Address").

Part B: Import into Silly Tavern

[👉 Navigation Note: Switch back to your Silly Tavern tab.]

1. Click the Character Management icon (usually looks like a Person 👤 or ID card) in the top right.
2. Click the "Import Character" button (looks like a cloud upload or a file download icon).
3. Select "Import from URL".
4. Paste the link you copied from the other website and hit Import.

Your character will now appear in your list!

Step 6: Let the Conversations Begin!

[👉 Navigation Note: Click on the character card you just imported in the list.]

With your characters imported and your settings configured, you're all set. Select a character, typing a greeting in the chat bar at the bottom, and watch the magic happen!

Step 7: The More, The Merrier - Creating Group Chats

Want to see characters talk to each other?

1. Start a Group:
   • Option A: In the chat bar at the bottom, click the "Hamburger Menu" (three lines) and select "Turn into a group chat."
   • Option B: In the Character Management menu (👤), click the "Create Group" icon.
2. Add Members:
   • [👉 Navigation Note: Look at the right-side panel]. Click the "+" sign next to characters to add them to the current chat.
3. Chat Controls:
   • You can let them talk automatically by enabling "Allow self-respond" in the group settings, or manually trigger them to speak.

Your Journey Begins

Congratulations! You have successfully navigated the "Page Transitions"—hopping between Zeabur, AI Hub, and external libraries—to build your perfect setup. You are now ready to build your own stories. Happy chatting!