teller-config

name	teller-config
description	Use when config_manager creates or updates Denova narrative style configurations.
agent	config_manager

Narrative Style Config

Use this skill before calling write_tellers.

Workflow

1. Call list_tellers first. For updates, call read_tellers for the exact teller IDs.
2. Call list_style_references before editing style_refs or style_rules. If a needed reference does not exist, use write_style_references to create a .denova/styles/*.md Markdown file first.
3. Use write_tellers for create/update/delete. Do not edit teller JSON files directly.
4. Updating a built-in narrative-style ID creates a user-space override of that same ID. Deleting a built-in ID is only for restoring the code-defined default and requires an explicit restore request.
5. For update, preserve slots and policy fields the user did not ask to change.
6. For delete, require an explicit user request.
7. Do not create or update orchestration here. Events, stats, TRPG checks, and opening trait rolls belong in story-director-config and write_story_directors.
8. Narrative styles are shared modules for Writing Mode and Game Mode. Do not add a per-style mode/scope field.

Teller Shape

Important fields:

• id: stable ID. Required for update/delete; create may generate one if omitted.
• name: user visible name.
• description: short explanation of the narrative style.
• tags: short searchable labels.
• context_policy: controls which context groups the teller expects.
• slots: prompt slots used by writing and interactive story prompt assembly.

Do not change version, path, custom, builtin_overridden, invalid, error, created_at, or updated_at unless preserving an existing complete object from read_tellers.

Context Policy

context_policy contains:

• creator: how to use CREATOR.md and creator-level rules.
• lore: how to use lore/context library.
• runtime_state: how to use current story state and turn context.

Keep these as short policy strings. They guide prompt assembly but do not replace runtime safety rules.

Slots

Each slot contains:

• id: stable slot ID.
• name: user visible slot name.
• target: where the slot applies, such as system, turn_context, or another existing target read from a teller.
• enabled: boolean.
• content: prompt text for that target.

When modifying slots:

• Preserve slot IDs so existing UI selection and semantics remain stable.
• Keep slot content focused on narrative behavior, not backend tool permissions.
• Do not put story facts, chapter prose, or temporary scene state into teller slots.
• If a new slot target is needed, mirror the target style already present in existing tellers.

Style References

Top-level style_refs lists shared style reference files that apply to every scene by default.

style_rules maps specific scenes to shared style reference files:

• scene: scenario label.
• style_refs: list of paths returned by list_style_references, usually .denova/styles/<name>.md.
• style_contents: legacy inline snippets. Preserve existing values unless the user asks to migrate them, but do not add new inline content.

Use top-level style_refs when the user wants one reference style to affect all scenes. Only add style_rules when the user asks for scene-specific style behavior or when an existing teller already uses that pattern.

Shared Style References

Style references are shared by all narrative styles and live under .denova/styles/.

When creating a reference from a user source file:

• Default to extracting a Markdown style reference instead of saving the raw original.
• The Markdown should be dominated by distilled typical reference paragraphs, with short supporting style guidance.
• Do not include real-world author names, work names, source notes, or long raw quotations.
• Keep it reusable across Writing Mode and Game Mode.
• If the user explicitly chooses not to extract, save the provided source content as a Markdown reference with a clear name and description.

When writing the teller back, use write_tellers with the complete updated teller object and a concise change message.