in-universe-script

---
name: in-universe-script
description: Render in-universe scripts (Aurebesh, Mando'a, Sith Kittât, Huttese) as PNG image inserts for a chapter. Installs the needed font on demand from the plugin font library, dispatches the language specialist for translation where required, and returns a paste-ready markdown block. Use when the writer wants alien text to render in the built EPUB rather than appear as romanized italics — e.g. an Aurebesh chapter header, a Sith inscription on a tomb wall, a Mando'a clan motto, Huttese signage. Distinct from /holocron:language, which verifies non-English phrases the writer has already typed.
argument-hint: "<aurebesh|mandoa|sith|huttese> \"<english phrase>\" [--chapter NN] [--slug name] [--variant name] [--size N] [--passage]"
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Glob
  - Grep
  - Write
  - Edit
  - Bash
  - Task
  - AskUserQuestion
---

Render an English phrase as a PNG image insert in an in-universe script, ready to paste into a chapter.

## What this does

Dispatches the `script-renderer` agent with the writer's request. The agent:

1. Resolves the font for the requested script + variant from `<plugin>/fonts/manifest.json` and installs it into `<project>/fonts/<script>/` on first use (via `tools/install-font.py`).
2. For Mando'a / Sith / Huttese: dispatches the relevant language specialist (`mandoa-linguistics-consultant`, `sith-linguist-scholar`, `huttese-lexicon-specialist`) to translate the English phrase into era-appropriate target language and verify it against the canon compendium. For Aurebesh: skipped (Aurebesh is a 1:1 Latin cipher; the English text IS what gets typeset).
3. Renders the resolved text to `<project>/inserts/<script>/<chapter-prefix><slug>.png` (via `tools/render-glyph.py`), with a `.alt.txt` sidecar holding the alt text for accessibility.
4. Returns a paste-ready markdown block referencing the PNG with relative path — pandoc bundles it into the EPUB automatically at build time.
5. Offers to log the insert to `world/lore-overlay/scripts.md` for project-canon persistence.

This skill is **image-first**. PNG inserts render identically across EPUB readers and Kindle devices, where embedded-font support is patchy. The fonts ship with the plugin; the writer does not source them.

## Usage

```
/holocron:in-universe-script aurebesh "Beware" --chapter 3 --slug warning
/holocron:in-universe-script aurebesh "Chapter One" --slug ch1-header --size 144
/holocron:in-universe-script aurebesh "Long passage of alien graffiti..." --chapter 7 --passage

/holocron:in-universe-script mandoa "we are one" --chapter 2 --slug clan-motto
/holocron:in-universe-script mandoa "strength" --variant classic --slug beskar-inscription

/holocron:in-universe-script sith "the dark side will set me free" --chapter 9 --slug bane-creed

/holocron:in-universe-script huttese "no credits, no entry" --chapter 4 --slug cantina-sign
/holocron:in-universe-script huttese "sector seven" --variant nal --slug door-marker
```

The first invocation for a given script in a project installs the font into `<project>/fonts/<script>/`. Subsequent invocations reuse the installed font.

## Scripts and variants

- **aurebesh** — Galactic Basic alphabet. Variants: `regular` (default), `narrow`.
- **mandoa** — Mandalorian script. Variants: `modern` (default), `classic`.
- **sith** — Sith Kittât. Variants: `kittaat` (only).
- **huttese** — Hutt script. Variants: `trade` (default), `nal`.

To add a new script later: drop the zipped font into `<plugin>/fonts/` and add an entry to `<plugin>/fonts/manifest.json`. No code change needed.

## Arguments

- **script** (required) — one of `aurebesh | mandoa | sith | huttese`.
- **phrase** (required) — the English source phrase, quoted.
- **--chapter NN** — chapter number; prefixes the output filename as `chNN-`.
- **--slug name** — short semantic name for the output file; auto-derived from the phrase if omitted.
- **--variant name** — font-family choice (see scripts/variants above).
- **--size N** — explicit font pixel size. Default 96; auto-bumps to 144 for `--passage`.
- **--passage** — hint that this is a longer block insert, not an inline phrase. Affects sizing.

## Output

The agent returns a markdown fragment the writer pastes into the chapter. For example:

```markdown
![A Sith inscription reading: "The dark side will set me free" — gloss: traditional Bane-era creed](inserts/sith/ch09-bane-creed.png){.script-insert .sith}
```

Plus the resolved file paths, the translation gloss (for Mando'a / Sith / Huttese), and any canon-fidelity flags from the specialist.

## Translation behaviour (Mando'a / Sith / Huttese)

The agent reads `world/era.md` for era context and dispatches the relevant specialist with a translate-and-verify prompt. The specialist returns the canon-faithful target-language phrase plus a literal gloss.

**Sith is conservative.** The attested *ur-Kittât* corpus is small. If the specialist cannot translate faithfully from attested vocabulary, the agent stops and asks the writer whether to (a) accept the closest attested approximation, (b) accept a fabricated phrase explicitly flagged, or (c) abort. The agent does NOT silently fabricate Sith vocabulary.

## Build integration

Inserts live at `<project>/inserts/<script>/*.png` with relative-path markdown references. Pandoc bundles relative-path images into the EPUB automatically — no change to `/holocron:build` is required. Run `/holocron:build` as usual; verify in Calibre / Kindle Previewer that the images appear inline.

## Persistence

After a successful render, the agent offers to log the insert to `world/lore-overlay/scripts.md` (creating the file if missing). The log records: English source, rendered text, gloss, image path, variant, era context, and specialist notes. Useful for:
- Maintaining consistency across a manuscript (same English phrase always renders the same way).
- Cross-referencing during continuity passes.
- Picking up a project after a break.

## Related

- `script-renderer` — the agent this skill dispatches.
- `/holocron:language` — verifies non-English phrases already typed in chapter source. Use when you have romanized Mando'a / Huttese / Sith inline; use *this* skill when you want it rendered in its native script.
- `/holocron:in-universe-name` — for generating names. Once you have a name in a target language, this skill can render it.
- `/holocron:build` — bundles the inserts into the EPUB.
- `mandoa-linguistics-consultant` / `sith-linguist-scholar` / `huttese-lexicon-specialist` — the translation+verification dispatch targets.
- `tools/install-font.py` / `tools/render-glyph.py` — the underlying helpers.