Spec Locations

Tooling (Novelaire)

• Use spec__query / spec__get to find and read existing entries before creating new ids.
• Use spec__propose to generate a reviewable diff; apply with spec__apply only after approval.
• Do not write canon artifacts into this skill directory; assets/ is for templates only.

Purpose

spec/locations/ is the reusability + continuity layer for places: the same location should not “change skin” between chapters, and its rules should constrain action.

It exists to:

• prevent spatial continuity errors (layouts, access, travel time, security)
• make scenes feel grounded (stable sensory + functional details)
• encode “place rules” that create tension (dangers, constraints, entrances/exits)

Module contract (Owns / Requires / Provides)

Owns

• Reusable locations and their stable constraints: layout anchors, access rules, dangers, entry/exit logic.

Does not own

• Broad geography/culture baselines → spec/world/
• Security/power mechanics → spec/system/ (locations can reference them)
• Who controls the place → spec/factions/ (locations reference ownership/access policy)

Requires (upstream)

• Usually spec/world/ for travel/communication plausibility.
• Often spec/factions/ for access rules and enforcement.

Provides (downstream)

• Spatial constraints that make scenes believable and prevent “teleporting rules”.

Definition of done (minimum viable)

For any location that will recur, the entry should include:

• Stable anchors (what the reader can picture consistently)
• Entry/exit and access rules (who can enter, how, what checks)
• Consequences/dangers (what triggers escalation)
• Navigation constraints if relevant (chokepoints, surveillance, blind spots)

What belongs here (and what doesn’t)

Belongs in spec/locations/:

• a reusable place and its stable facts (layout, key landmarks, typical crowd, security)
• access/entry rules (who can enter, how, what checks exist)
• dangers/limitations (what you cannot do there; what triggers consequences)
• navigation anchors (entrances/exits, chokepoints, surveillance blind spots if relevant)

Does not belong in spec/locations/:

• broad geography/culture baselines → spec/world/
• system mechanics powers → spec/system/
• plot beats for a single chapter → outline/fine-outline

Outputs

• Spec entry files under spec/locations/ (one location per file), each beginning with YAML frontmatter containing a stable id.
• Use assets/templates/location-entry.md as the default structure.

How to write location entries

• Encode constraints: “cannot do X here because…; if Y then consequence Z”.
• Keep stable details small but consistent (useful for reuse).
• Use the spec workflow tools (spec__propose / spec__apply) instead of editing spec files directly.

Downstream use (anchors)

When outline/fine-outline depends on location rules (access, danger, travel, security), add an anchor @spec:<id> pointing back to the relevant location entry. Anchors are constraints, not provenance.

References

• Questions to ask (minimal): references/QUESTIONS.md
• Common pitfalls + fixes: references/PITFALLS.md
• Locations Gate checklist (PASS/WARN/FAIL oriented): references/GATE.md

Self-check

• Could you reuse this location in multiple chapters without contradictions?
• Are access rules and consequences explicit enough to constrain action?
• Did you accidentally record a one-off scene beat instead of stable place canon?