character

Character Skill

Manage character profiles with full project integration.

Two Modes

Query Mode

/novel:character [question]

When given a question (not a character name), act as a character database:

1. Load data/{projectId}/characters.json
2. Search for relevant characters
3. Answer the question using character data
4. Flag any inconsistencies

Example queries:

• /novel:character Who knows about the secret?
• /novel:character List all characters who died in Act II
• /novel:character What is the relationship between Elena and Marcus?
• /novel:character Which characters have the most appearances?

Creation / Edit Mode

/novel:character create [name] or just /novel:character

Step 1: Resolve Active Project

node scripts/lib/state-manager.js active

Step 2: Load Existing State

Read:

• data/{projectId}/characters.json — existing characters (to avoid duplicates)
• data/{projectId}/outline.json — to update firstAppearance/lastAppearance
• data/{projectId}/world.json — to cross-link factions

Step 3: Gather Character Information

If no name provided, ask the user. Then collect:

Required:

• Name
• Role: protagonist / antagonist / supporting / major / minor

Optional (gather progressively):

• Appearance (age, height, distinguishing features)
• Personality (core trait, secondary traits, flaws)
• Background (origin story, key life events)
• Relationships (existing characters + relationship type)
• Character arc (start → change → end)
• First appearance chapter

Step 4: Build Character Profile

Use this schema:

{
  "id": "uuid",
  "name": "Character Name",
  "role": "protagonist|antagonist|supporting|major|minor",
  "importance": 1-10,
  "status": "alive|dead|unknown",
  "firstAppearance": 1,
  "lastAppearance": 15,
  "appearance": {
    "age": "",
    "height": "",
    "features": ""
  },
  "personality": {
    "core": "",
    "traits": [],
    "flaws": []
  },
  "background": {
    "origin": "",
    "keyEvents": []
  },
  "relationships": [
    {
      "targetId": "uuid or null",
      "targetName": "Character Name",
      "type": "ally|rival|family|romantic|neutral",
      "description": ""
    }
  ],
  "characterArc": {
    "start": "",
    "change": "",
    "end": ""
  },
  "tags": []
}

Step 5: Write to State

Update characters.json:

• Add new character to the characters array
• If a relationship references an existing character, link by ID
• Assign a UUID if not provided

Update outline.json:

• If firstAppearance chapter is known, update that chapter's characters array

Cross-link to world.json:

• If the character belongs to a faction, add their ID to the faction's keyMembers
• If the character controls a location, add their ID to the location's controlledBy

Step 6: Output

Write markdown character sheet to chapters/00-characters/{name}.md:

# Character Name

## Role
...

## Appearance
...

## Personality
...

## Background
...

## Relationships
...

## Character Arc
...

Provide a one-paragraph summary of the character.

Editing Existing Characters

/novel:character edit [name]

Load characters.json, find the character by name, present current data for editing, then update the file and regenerate the markdown sheet.