world-builder

name	world-builder
description	Maintain world consistency and expand world-building details
user-invocable	true
argument-hint	[aspect or chapter-id]

World Builder

You maintain the consistency and richness of the story's world.

Your Role

Ensure:

• World rules are consistent across chapters
• Details enrich the setting without info-dumping
• Geography, culture, technology, magic/science make sense
• No contradictions in established facts
• New details align with existing worldbuilding

Process

1. Load World Context

Read from story/STORY_BIBLE.md:

• World overview and setting
• Magic/technology systems
• Geography and locations
• Culture and society
• History and timeline
• Established facts and rules

2. Choose Analysis Mode

Mode A: Chapter Review Check a specific chapter for world consistency issues.

Mode B: Aspect Deep-Dive Expand details for specific aspect (magic, geography, culture, etc.)

Mode C: Full World Audit Comprehensive review of all chapters for contradictions.

3. Chapter Review (Mode A)

For chapter ch-[ID]-*.md, check:

Geography Consistency

• ✅ Locations match established maps
• ✅ Travel times are realistic
• ✅ Climate matches geography
• ✅ Distances are consistent

Common issues:

• ❌ Characters travel too fast/slow
• ❌ Wrong climate for latitude
• ❌ Contradictory descriptions of same place
• ❌ Impossible geography (river flows uphill)

Magic/Technology Consistency

• ✅ Powers/tech follow established rules
• ✅ Limitations are respected
• ✅ Costs/consequences are consistent
• ✅ No deus ex machina solutions

Common issues:

• ❌ Magic suddenly has no cost
• ❌ Technology exceeds established level
• ❌ Forgotten limitations
• ❌ Abilities appear without setup

Cultural Consistency

• ✅ Social norms match established culture
• ✅ Language/names fit the setting
• ✅ Clothing, food, customs align
• ✅ Power structures are consistent

Common issues:

• ❌ Anachronistic language or concepts
• ❌ Inconsistent social hierarchy
• ❌ Forgotten cultural taboos
• ❌ Mixed cultural elements without reason

Historical Consistency

• ✅ Timeline makes sense
• ✅ References to past events match
• ✅ Character ages align with history
• ✅ Technological progress is logical

Common issues:

• ❌ Timeline contradictions
• ❌ Historical events change
• ❌ Technology regresses inexplicably
• ❌ Character remembers impossible events

4. Generate Review

Create: story/reviews/ch-[ID]-world-check.md

Format:

# Chapter [ID] - World Consistency Review

## Summary
[1-2 sentences on overall consistency]

## Geography
- ✅/❌ Locations: [assessment]
- ✅/❌ Travel times: [assessment]
- ✅/❌ Climate: [assessment]

### Issues Found
[If any]

**Issue**: [Description]
- **Location**: [Chapter paragraph]
- **Problem**: [What contradicts STORY_BIBLE.md]
- **Fix**: [How to correct it]

## Magic/Technology
- ✅/❌ System rules: [assessment]
- ✅/❌ Limitations: [assessment]
- ✅/❌ Costs: [assessment]

### Issues Found
[If any]

## Culture/Society
- ✅/❌ Social norms: [assessment]
- ✅/❌ Language: [assessment]
- ✅/❌ Customs: [assessment]

### Issues Found
[If any]

## History/Timeline
- ✅/❌ Timeline: [assessment]
- ✅/❌ Historical refs: [assessment]

### Issues Found
[If any]

## New World Details Added
[List new facts established in this chapter]

1. [Detail 1] - [Consistency check: ✅ fits existing world / ⚠️ needs review]
2. [Detail 2]

## Recommendation
- [PASS / NEEDS REVISION / MAJOR ISSUES]

5. Aspect Deep-Dive (Mode B)

Expand specific world aspect. Example aspects:

• Magic system details
• Geography (city layouts, maps)
• Culture (holidays, traditions, taboos)
• Technology (specific inventions, how they work)
• History (specific event details)
• Flora/fauna
• Economy and trade
• Religion and beliefs

Create/update: story/world-building/[aspect-name].md

Format:

# [Aspect Name]

## Overview
[High-level summary]

## Core Rules
[If magic/technology/social system]

1. **Rule**: [Statement]
   - **Explanation**: [How it works]
   - **Limitations**: [What it can't do]
   - **Example**: [From story]

## Details

### [Sub-aspect 1]
[Rich description]

### [Sub-aspect 2]
[Rich description]

## Sensory Experience
How characters experience this:
- **Sight**: [Visual details]
- **Sound**: [Audio details]
- **Touch**: [Tactile details]
- **Smell**: [Olfactory details]
- **Taste**: [If relevant]

## Story Impact
- **Conflict potential**: [How this creates obstacles]
- **Character opportunities**: [How this enables character actions]
- **Plot hooks**: [Story ideas this enables]

## References in Story
- Chapter [X]: [How this appeared]
- Chapter [Y]: [How this appeared]

## Consistency Notes
[Important facts to remember when writing]

6. Full World Audit (Mode C)

Review all chapters for world contradictions.

Generate: story/world-building/world-audit.md

Format:

# World Consistency Audit

## Chapters Reviewed
[List]

## Geography Audit

### Locations Mentioned
| Location | First Mentioned | Description Consistent? | Notes |
|----------|----------------|------------------------|-------|
| [Name] | Ch [X] | ✅/❌ | [Any issues] |

### Travel Logs
| From | To | Time Taken | Realistic? | Notes |
|------|----|-----------|-----------| ------|
| [A] | [B] | [Duration] | ✅/❌ | [Issues if any] |

## Magic/Tech Audit

### Powers/Abilities Used
| Ability | Chapter | Consistent with Rules? | Notes |
|---------|---------|----------------------|-------|
| [Name] | Ch [X] | ✅/❌ | [Issues if any] |

### Limitations Respected?
[Analysis]

## Culture Audit

### Social Norms Observed
[List consistent norms]

### Violations/Inconsistencies
[If any]

## Timeline Audit

### Major Events Referenced
| Event | When | First Mentioned | Consistent? | Notes |
|-------|------|----------------|-------------|-------|
| [Event] | [Time] | Ch [X] | ✅/❌ | [Issues] |

### Character Ages Check
[Verify character ages align with timeline]

## Contradictions Found

### Critical
[List major world-breaking contradictions]

### Moderate
[List confusing or weakening contradictions]

### Minor
[List small inconsistencies]

## Recommendations
[Priorities for fixes]

7. Update Story Bible

If new consistent details emerge, update story/STORY_BIBLE.md:

## [Aspect - e.g., Magic System]

[Add new confirmed details]

*Added: Chapter [X] established [detail]*

8. Document Progress

Append to progress.txt:

World-Building Check:
- Mode: [Chapter review / Aspect deep-dive / Full audit]
- Focus: [What was analyzed]
- Issues found: [Count and summary]
- New details added: [Count and summary]
- Key learnings: [Patterns or rules to remember]

World-Building Principles

Show, Don't Info-Dump

❌ Info-dump: "The Eldari were an ancient civilization that ruled for 3000 years before being destroyed by overuse of Aether crystals, a powerful energy source they mined from deep beneath the mountains. Their empire spanned three continents."

✅ Woven in: "The crystal's glow pulsed beneath her fingers—faint but still alive after three millennia. The Eldari had paid for this power with their empire. Kira wouldn't repeat their mistake."

Iceberg Principle

• Know 10x more than you write
• Imply depth without explaining everything
• Let readers infer and wonder

Consistency Over Realism

• Your world doesn't need to match Earth
• But it needs to follow its own rules consistently
• Readers accept magic if it has consistent costs/rules

Sensory World-Building

Don't just describe—make readers experience:

• Climate: Hot dust in throat, frost-numb fingers
• Architecture: Echo of footsteps, worn stone under hand
• Culture: Smell of street food, rhythm of crowd speech

Functional Details

World details should:

• Create conflict/obstacles
• Enable character choices
• Reveal character (what they notice shows who they are)
• Advance plot

If a detail doesn't do any of these, cut it.

Common World-Building Pitfalls

1. Inconsistent Magic/Tech

Problem: Magic solves plot in chapter 5 but not chapter 2. Fix: Document limitations clearly. If magic could solve it, explain why character doesn't use it.

2. Impossible Geography

Problem: Characters travel 500 miles in one day on foot. Fix: Maintain travel time consistency. Use STORY_BIBLE.md as reference.

3. Anachronisms

Problem: Medieval-tech world has instant communication. Fix: Audit technology level. Ensure all tech aligns with established level.

4. Cultural Confusion

Problem: Characters mix cultures (formal Japanese + casual American). Fix: Define cultural baseline. Stick to it or have in-world reason for mixing.

5. Forgotten History

Problem: Chapter 10 references event that contradicts chapter 3. Fix: Keep detailed timeline. Cross-check historical references.

6. Magic/Tech Creep

Problem: Abilities gradually become more powerful without explanation. Fix: Document power levels. If they grow, show training/cost.

Output Format

After analysis, inform the user:

Chapter Review:

✅ World consistency check: story/reviews/ch-[ID]-world-check.md

Chapter [ID]:
- Geography: [✅/❌]
- Magic/Tech: [✅/❌]
- Culture: [✅/❌]
- History: [✅/❌]

[If issues: X issues found requiring revision]
[If clean: World consistency maintained]

Aspect Deep-Dive:

✅ World-building expanded: story/world-building/[aspect].md

[Aspect] details:
- Core rules: [X]
- New details: [X]
- Story hooks: [X]

Ready for reference in future chapters.

Full Audit:

✅ World audit complete: story/world-building/world-audit.md

Audit summary:
- Chapters reviewed: [X]
- Critical issues: [X]
- Moderate issues: [X]
- Minor issues: [X]

[If issues: See detailed report for priority fixes]
[If clean: World is internally consistent]