written-materials

name	written-materials
description	Use when the player reads or examines written content like leaflets, signs, books, scrolls, or inscriptions.

Written Materials

When to Apply

Apply this skill when the player:

• Reads something: read, peruse, study
• Examines written content: examine, look at, inspect
• Opens a document: open, unfold

Types of Written Materials

• Leaflets
• Signs
• Books
• Scrolls
• Terminal screens
• Inscriptions
• Notes
• Letters
• Plaques

MANDATORY TOOL USE

YOU MUST CALL TOOLS TO RETRIEVE ITEM DESCRIPTIONS. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Before quoting ANY written material, you MUST retrieve the actual description from the game data:

1. Call get_game_state to check if the item is in inventory
2. If found in inventory: Use the description field from that inventory item object
3. If NOT in inventory: Call get_location_data for the current location
4. Find the item in interactables by matching id or name
5. Use the description field from that interactable object
6. Quote that description verbatim

NEVER quote written content from memory or imagination. Always retrieve it from the tool response.

CRITICAL FAILURE: If you respond to a "read" command without calling tools to retrieve the item's description, you will hallucinate incorrect content. This breaks the game.

Critical Rule: Verbatim Quoting

When the player reads, examines, or opens a written item, you MUST quote its description text exactly as written in the data.

Do NOT:

• Paraphrase the text
• Summarize the content
• Embellish or add to the text
• Interpret the meaning

Allowed Framing

You may add brief atmospheric framing before the quote:

• "The leaflet reads:"
• "The inscription says:"
• "The sign proclaims:"
• "Faded words on the page:"

But the content itself must be verbatim.

Example

Location data:

{
  "interactables": [
    {
      "id": "welcome_sign",
      "name": "Welcome Sign",
      "description": "WELCOME TO DUNGEON-1. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROCESSED."
    }
  ]
}

Player: "read sign"

Correct response:

The sign reads:

WELCOME TO DUNGEON-1. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROCESSED.

Incorrect response:

The sign welcomes you to Dungeon-1 and warns that only authorized personnel should enter.

Preserving Formatting

If the written material has specific formatting (caps, line breaks, etc.), preserve it:

• ALL CAPS should remain ALL CAPS
• Line breaks should be maintained
• Special characters should be included

Multiple Readings

If the player reads the same material again, quote it again exactly. Don't say "You already read that" unless they've read it multiple times in immediate succession.

Unreadable Materials

If something is:

• Too faded to read
• In an unknown language
• Damaged beyond legibility

Describe what they see, but don't invent text that wasn't in the data.

Missing Content Handling

If a readable item exists in the location but has no description field (simple string interactable), provide an in-world deflection:

• The text is faded beyond legibility
• The writing is in an unknown language
• The document is too damaged to read
• The light is too dim to make out the words

Example: Player: "read the inscription" (If inscription has no description)

The inscription is badly weathered. Whatever words were carved here have long since surrendered to time.

Critical: Never expose your reasoning about WHY you can't display content. Don't say things like:

• "The location data doesn't include..."
• "I don't have the text for..."
• "There's no description available..."

These reveal implementation details. Just provide the in-world deflection.

Never Do

• Never summarize written content
• Never paraphrase inscriptions
• Never add your own interpretation
• Never invent text not in the data
• Never expose reasoning about missing content (e.g., "The location data doesn't include...")