This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a character", "update a character", "add a character", "build a family tree", "character relationships", "character timeline", "character arc", "character profile", or needs to manage characters in a story project.
SkillScore89Maintained
Automatic
◆Writing & Editing pack
Last verified 10/7/2026
What it changes
Passed 17 of 19 test cases with the skill, and 7 of 19 without it.
Without skill37%
With skill89%
Checks it passed that the model alone missed
Removes character entries from continuity/state.md.
Runs story names to check candidate character names.
Resolves fallback script paths relative to the skill folder.
and 13 more in the full report
10 fixed7 passed either way2 still failing0 broke3 errored
Pass-rate lift
+53 pp
Tokens
+112%
Agent turns
0%
Response time
-46%
Model gemini-3.6-flashMeasured 10/7/2026v4 · latest is v617 of 22 cases passed with skill · 19 comparable
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
This benchmark measured an earlier version of the skill.
See it in action
One of 10 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
1 of 10
Prompt
I need to run maintenance reindexing and word count updates on a system where the global 'story' command is not installed in system PATH. What fallback command path should be used?
What was checked, without and with the skill
Checked
Without skill
With skill
Executes node ../story-maintenance/scripts/story.js when the CLI command is missing.
Missed
Passed
Resolves fallback script paths relative to the skill folder.
Missed
Passed
case-11 · gemini-3.6-flash · 10/7/2026 · answers are capped and redacted
What's inside
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
SKILL.md173 lines5 files
Character Management
Overview
Create and manage rich character profiles for a story project. Each character is a markdown file with YAML frontmatter in the characters/ directory. Characters are cross-referenced with other story elements through kebab-case identifiers.
Prerequisites
A story project must already exist (created via the story-init skill). Verify by checking for story.md in the project root.
Creating a Character
Read story.md for genre, themes, and tone context
Read characters/_index.md for existing characters
Ask for the character's name and role (protagonist, antagonist, supporting, minor, narrator, deuteragonist). Before settling the name, run story names '{Name}' (several candidates can be checked at once): it errors on an exact clash with any existing character, alias, location, faction, artifact, system, or glossary term, and warns about look-alikes and names sharing an initial with a major character. Invented names from a culture should follow its naming rules (see references/naming-languages.md in the worldbuilding skill)
Build the profile through conversation, exploring:
Appearance and distinguishing features
Personality, traits, and quirks
Backstory and formative events
Motivations (external wants vs internal needs)
Voice and speech patterns (ask for example dialogue), plus voice-words (words and phrases they reach for) and voice-avoid (words they would never say)
Pronunciation, when the name is invented or easily misread (pronunciation: "SEER-sha")
Character arc (starting state, turning points, ending state)
Key life events for the timeline
Write the character file using the template in references/character-template.md
Save to characters/{name-kebab}.md, or use story add character '{Name}' --role '{role}' when the CLI is available. Cyrillic and Greek names are transliterated (Пётр gives characters/petr.md). When the name is in a script with no transliteration table (李明), or the user wants a different spelling, choose the ASCII id yourself and pass it: story add character '李明' --id li-ming --role supporting keeps name: 李明 in the file
Leave the characters/_index.md table to the CLI: story add and story reindex . rebuild it from the character files, so never add a row by hand
If relationships reference existing characters, update those character files too
When CLI access is available, run the maintenance pass in the story root:
story reindex .
story wordcount . --write
story check .
Updating a Character
Read the existing character file
Read characters/_index.md for context on other characters