Rename cutscenesystemrefs_t to cutsceneref_t, cutsceneRefsReset to cutsceneRefReset, and cutscenerefs.c/.h to cutsceneref.c/.h

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <[email protected]>

assets/battle/moves.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+  "moves": {
+    "fire": {
+      // Target flags
+      "enemies": true,
+      "allies": true,
+      "multiple": false,
+      "self": true,
+      "default": "enemy",
+      "target": "SINGLE_ENEMY"
+    },
+
+    "slash": {
+      "enemies": true,
+      "allies": true,
+      "self": false,
+      "default": "enemy",
+      "target": "SINGLE_ENEMY"
+    }
+  }
+}

assets/cutscenes/battle/moves/fire.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+  "items": [
+    {
+      "type": "MODAL",
+      "title": "Fire",
+      "message": "A burst of flame scorches the target."
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "WAIT",
+      "seconds": 2
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "MODAL_CLOSE"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE",
+      "fighter": "target",
+      "amount": 12
+    }
+  ]
+}

assets/cutscenes/battle/moves/slash.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+  "items": [
+    {
+      "type": "MODAL",
+      "title": "Slash",
+      "message": "A quick blade strike cuts across the target."
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "WAIT",
+      "seconds": 2
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "MODAL_CLOSE"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE",
+      "fighter": "target",
+      "amount": 8
+    }
+  ]
+}

assets/cutscenes/battletest.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+  "items": [
+    {
+      "type": "BATTLE_START",
+      "enemies": [
+        {
+          "attack": 8, "defense": 4, "magic": 0, "speed": 5, "luck": 2,
+          "healthMax": 30, "mpMax": 0,
+          "abilities": ["fire"]
+        },
+        {
+          "attack": 6, "defense": 3, "magic": 0, "speed": 7, "luck": 2,
+          "healthMax": 20, "mpMax": 0
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}

assets/cutscenes/initial.jsonc

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     },
     {
       "type": "CUTSCENE",
-      "name": "main_menu"
+      "name": "cutscenes/main_menu.jsonc"
     }
   ]
 }

assets/cutscenes/new_game.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  // Placeholder for the new-game intro flow - just shows a modal for now.
+  "items": [
+    {
+      "type": "MODAL",
+      "title": "New Game",
+      "message": "This is a placeholder for the new game intro.",
+      "blocking": true
+    }
+  ]
+}

assets/items/items.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "items": {
+    "potion": { "type": "MEDICINE" },
+    "potato": { "type": "FOOD" },
+    "apple": { "type": "FOOD" }
+  }
+}

assets/locale/en_US.po

@@ -73,6 +73,12 @@ msgstr "Select Save"
 msgid "ui.select_save.empty"
 msgstr "Empty Slot"
 
+msgid "ui.select_save.corrupt"
+msgstr "Corrupted Save"
+
+msgid "ui.select_save.corrupt_warning"
+msgstr "This save file is corrupted and could not be loaded. Please contact support if this issue persists."
+
 msgid "ui.select_save.slot_format"
 msgstr "%s  Lv.%d  %s"
 
@@ -260,6 +266,10 @@ msgstr "loading"
 msgid "ui.autosave.saving"
 msgstr "SAVING"
 
+
+#
+# Items
+#
 msgid "item.potion.name"
 msgstr "Potion"
 
@@ -267,4 +277,13 @@ msgid "item.potato.name"
 msgstr "Potato"
 
 msgid "item.apple.name"
-msgstr "Apple"
+msgstr "Apple"
+
+#
+# Moves
+#
+msgid "move.fire.name"
+msgstr "Fire"
+
+msgid "move.slash.name"
+msgstr "Slash"

assets/maps/overworld/chunks/chunk_0_0_0.json

@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"tiles":[[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],null,null,null,null,null,[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],null,null,null,null,null,[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],null,null,null,null,null,[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[6,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[7,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[8,0],[4,0],[4,0],[4,0],[12,0],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[8,0],[4,0],[4,0],[9,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0]],"meshes":[{"file":"house_5_3.dmf","pos":[1,1,0]}],"entities":[{"type":"global","globalId":3,"pos":[8,8,1]},{"type":"item","itemId":1,"quantity":1,"pos":[12,2,0]}],"areas":[{"min":[11,3,0],"max":[16,9,10],"callbackId":1,"notify":3,"trigger":6}]}
+{"tiles":[[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],null,null,null,null,null,[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],null,null,null,null,null,[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],null,null,null,null,null,[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[6,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[2,0],[7,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[8,0],[4,0],[4,0],[4,0],[12,0],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[3,0],[1,1],[1,1],[5,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[8,0],[4,0],[4,0],[9,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0],[1,0]],"meshes":[{"file":"house_5_3.dmf","pos":[1,1,0]}],"entities":[{"type":"global","globalId":3,"pos":[8,8,1]},{"type":"global","globalId":4,"pos":[12,2,0]}],"areas":[{"min":[11,3,0],"max":[16,9,10],"callbackId":1,"notify":3,"trigger":6}]}

assets/party.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+  "members": {
+    "hero": {
+      "attack": 10,
+      "defense": 5,
+      "magic": 0,
+      "speed": 10,
+      "luck": 0,
+      "healthMax": 30,
+      "mpMax": 10
+    },
+    "companion": {
+      "attack": 8,
+      "defense": 6,
+      "magic": 4,
+      "speed": 8,
+      "luck": 1,
+      "healthMax": 25,
+      "mpMax": 15
+    }
+  }
+}

assets/story/storyflag.jsonc

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "flags": {
+    "test": {
+      "initial": true
+    },
+    "test2": {
+      "initial": 1
+    }
+  }
+}

cmake/targets/linux.cmake

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ target_link_libraries(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME} PUBLIC
 )
 
 set(DUSK_BACKTRACE ON CACHE BOOL "Enable backtrace support for assert failures.")
+set(DUSK_TRACK_MEMORY ON CACHE BOOL "Track memoryAllocate() call sites to help find memory leaks.")
 
 # Define platform-specific macros.
 target_compile_definitions(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME} PUBLIC

src/dusk/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ if(DUSK_BACKTRACE)
   )
 endif()
 
+if(DUSK_TRACK_MEMORY)
+  target_compile_definitions(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME} PUBLIC
+    DUSK_TRACK_MEMORY
+  )
+endif()
+
 # Includes
 target_include_directories(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC

src/dusk/asset/assetdsk.h

@@ -12,13 +12,16 @@
 // "DSK2" - distinct from a plain zip's "PK\x03\x04" so a stray plain zip
 // never gets misread as a valid dusk.dsk.
 #define ASSET_DSK_MAGIC_SIZE 4
-#define ASSET_DSK_MAGIC "DSK2"
+#define ASSET_DSK_MAGIC "DSK"
 #define ASSET_DSK_VERSION 2
 
-// magic(4) + version(4) + size(4) + checksum(4), all little-endian
-// regardless of host - see assetDskParseHeader. The zip archive itself
-// starts immediately after, at ASSET_DSK_HEADER_SIZE.
-#define ASSET_DSK_HEADER_SIZE 16
+// Magic + version + size + checksum
+#define ASSET_DSK_HEADER_SIZE ( \
+  ASSET_DSK_MAGIC_SIZE + \
+  sizeof(uint32_t) + \
+  sizeof(uint32_t) + \
+  sizeof(uint32_t) \
+)
 
 /**
  * Parsed dusk.dsk (DSK2 format) header. dusk.dsk is a single uncompressed

src/dusk/asset/loader/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -17,6 +17,5 @@ add_subdirectory(locale)
 add_subdirectory(json)
 add_subdirectory(chunk)
 add_subdirectory(dmf)
-add_subdirectory(cutscene)
 add_subdirectory(wav)
 add_subdirectory(mp3)

src/dusk/asset/loader/assetloader.c

@@ -52,12 +52,6 @@ assetloadercallbacks_t ASSET_LOADER_CALLBACKS[ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_COUNT] = {
     .dispose = assetChunkDispose
   },
 
-  [ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_CUTSCENE] = {
-    .loadSync = assetCutsceneLoaderSync,
-    .loadAsync = assetCutsceneLoaderAsync,
-    .dispose = assetCutsceneDispose
-  },
-
   [ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_WAV] = {
     .loadSync = assetWavLoaderSync,
     .loadAsync = assetWavLoaderAsync,

src/dusk/asset/loader/assetloader.h

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 #include "asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.h"
 #include "asset/loader/json/assetjsonloader.h"
 #include "asset/loader/chunk/assetchunkloader.h"
-#include "asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.h"
 #include "asset/loader/wav/assetwavloader.h"
 #include "asset/loader/mp3/assetmp3loader.h"
 
@@ -27,7 +26,6 @@ typedef enum {
   ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_LOCALE,
   ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_JSON,
   ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_CHUNK,
-  ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_CUTSCENE,
   ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_WAV,
   ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_MP3,
 
@@ -42,7 +40,6 @@ typedef union {
   assetlocaleloaderloading_t locale;
   assetjsonloaderloading_t json;
   assetchunkloaderloading_t chunk;
-  assetcutsceneloaderloading_t cutscene;
   assetwavloaderloading_t wav;
   assetmp3loaderloading_t mp3;
 } assetloaderloading_t;
@@ -55,7 +52,6 @@ typedef union {
   assetlocaleoutput_t locale;
   assetjsonoutput_t json;
   assetchunkoutput_t chunk;
-  assetcutsceneoutput_t cutscene;
   assetwavoutput_t wav;
   assetmp3output_t mp3;
 } assetloaderoutput_t;
@@ -66,7 +62,6 @@ typedef union {
   assetlocaleloaderinput_t locale;
   assetjsonloaderinput_t json;
   assetchunkloaderinput_t chunk;
-  assetcutsceneloaderinput_t cutscene;
   assetwavloaderinput_t wav;
   assetmp3loaderinput_t mp3;
 } assetloaderinput_t;

src/dusk/asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.c

@@ -1,225 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#include "assetcutsceneloader.h"
-#include "assert/assert.h"
-#include "util/memory.h"
-#include "util/string.h"
-#include "asset/loader/assetloading.h"
-#include "asset/loader/assetentry.h"
-#include "asset/loader/assetloader.h"
-#include "asset/asset.h"
-#include "rpg/cutscene/item/json/cutscenejsonpauseflags.h"
-
-errorret_t assetCutsceneParseItem(
-  assetloading_t *loading,
-  yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset,
-  const uint8_t index
-) {
-  if(!yyjson_is_obj(itemObj)) {
-    assetLoaderErrorThrow(
-      loading,
-      "Cutscene item %u is not an object",
-      (uint32_t)index
-    );
-  }
-
-  const char_t *typeName = yyjson_get_str(yyjson_obj_get(itemObj, "type"));
-  if(!cutsceneItemLookupType(typeName, &item->type)) {
-    assetLoaderErrorThrow(
-      loading,
-      "Cutscene item %u: missing/unsupported item type %s",
-      (uint32_t)index,
-      typeName
-    );
-  }
-
-  cutsceneitemloadcallback_t *load = CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS[item->type].load;
-  if(load == NULL) {
-    assetLoaderErrorThrow(
-      loading, "Cutscene item %u: unhandled item type %u", (uint32_t)index,
-      (uint32_t)item->type
-    );
-  }
-
-  errorret_t result = load(itemObj, item, pool, poolOffset);
-  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
-    loading->entry->state = ASSET_ENTRY_STATE_ERROR;
-    errorChain(result);
-  }
-
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-size_t assetCutsceneComputePoolSize(yyjson_val *itemsArr) {
-  size_t size = 0;
-  yyjson_arr_iter iter = yyjson_arr_iter_with(itemsArr);
-  yyjson_val *itemVal;
-  while((itemVal = yyjson_arr_iter_next(&iter)) != NULL) {
-    const char_t *typeName = yyjson_get_str(yyjson_obj_get(itemVal, "type"));
-    cutsceneitemtype_t type;
-    if(!cutsceneItemLookupType(typeName, &type)) continue;
-
-    cutsceneitempoolsizecallback_t *poolSize =
-      CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS[type].poolSize;
-    if(poolSize == NULL) continue;
-
-    size = cutsceneJsonPoolAlign(size) + poolSize(itemVal);
-  }
-  return size;
-}
-
-void assetCutsceneFreeParsed(assetcutsceneoutput_t *out) {
-  if(out->items != NULL) {
-    memoryFree(out->items);
-    out->items = NULL;
-  }
-  if(out->pool != NULL) {
-    memoryFree(out->pool);
-    out->pool = NULL;
-  }
-  if(out->doc != NULL) {
-    yyjson_doc_free(out->doc);
-    out->doc = NULL;
-  }
-}
-
-errorret_t assetCutsceneLoaderAsync(assetloading_t *loading) {
-  assertNotNull(loading, "Loading cannot be NULL");
-  assertNotMainThread("Should be called from an async thread.");
-
-  if(
-    loading->loading.cutscene.state != ASSET_CUTSCENE_LOADING_STATE_READ_FILE
-  ) {
-    errorOk();
-  }
-
-  assertNull(loading->loading.cutscene.buffer, "Buffer already defined?");
-
-  assetfile_t *file = &loading->loading.cutscene.file;
-  assetLoaderErrorChain(loading,
-    assetFileInit(file, loading->entry->name, NULL, NULL)
-  );
-
-  if(file->size > ASSET_CUTSCENE_FILE_SIZE_MAX) {
-    assetLoaderErrorThrow(
-      loading, "Cutscene JSON exceeds maximum allowed size"
-    );
-  }
-
-  size_t fileSize = (size_t)file->size;
-  uint8_t *buffer = memoryAllocate(fileSize);
-  assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetFileOpen(file));
-  assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetFileRead(file, buffer, fileSize));
-  assertTrue(
-    file->lastRead == file->size,
-    "Failed to read entire cutscene file."
-  );
-  assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetFileClose(file));
-  assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetFileDispose(file));
-
-  loading->loading.cutscene.buffer = buffer;
-  loading->loading.cutscene.size = fileSize;
-  loading->loading.cutscene.state = ASSET_CUTSCENE_LOADING_STATE_PARSE;
-  loading->entry->state = ASSET_ENTRY_STATE_PENDING_SYNC;
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-errorret_t assetCutsceneLoaderSync(assetloading_t *loading) {
-  assertNotNull(loading, "Loading cannot be NULL");
-  assertTrue(loading->type == ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_CUTSCENE, "Invalid type.");
-  assertIsMainThread("Must be called from the main thread.");
-
-  if(loading->loading.cutscene.state == ASSET_CUTSCENE_LOADING_STATE_INITIAL) {
-    loading->loading.cutscene.state = ASSET_CUTSCENE_LOADING_STATE_READ_FILE;
-    loading->entry->state = ASSET_ENTRY_STATE_PENDING_ASYNC;
-    errorOk();
-  }
-
-  assetcutsceneoutput_t *out = &loading->entry->data.cutscene;
-  uint8_t *buffer = loading->loading.cutscene.buffer;
-  assertNotNull(buffer, "Cutscene data should have been loaded by now.");
-  size_t bufferSize = loading->loading.cutscene.size;
-
-  yyjson_doc *doc = yyjson_read(
-    (char *)buffer, bufferSize,
-    YYJSON_READ_ALLOW_COMMENTS | YYJSON_READ_ALLOW_TRAILING_COMMAS
-  );
-  memoryFree(buffer);
-  loading->loading.cutscene.buffer = NULL;
-
-  if(doc == NULL) {
-    assetLoaderErrorThrow(loading, "Failed to parse cutscene JSON");
-  }
-  out->doc = doc;
-
-  yyjson_val *root = yyjson_doc_get_root(doc);
-  yyjson_val *itemsArr = yyjson_obj_get(root, "items");
-  if(!yyjson_is_arr(itemsArr)) {
-    assetCutsceneFreeParsed(out);
-    assetLoaderErrorThrow(loading, "Cutscene JSON is missing an 'items' array");
-  }
-
-  size_t itemCount = yyjson_arr_size(itemsArr);
-  if(itemCount > UINT8_MAX) {
-    assetCutsceneFreeParsed(out);
-    assetLoaderErrorThrow(loading, "Cutscene has more than 255 items");
-  }
-
-  cutscenepause_t pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_DEFAULT;
-  yyjson_val *pauseArr = yyjson_obj_get(root, "pause");
-  if(yyjson_is_arr(pauseArr)) {
-    if(!cutsceneJsonParsePauseFlags(pauseArr, &pause)) {
-      assetCutsceneFreeParsed(out);
-      assetLoaderErrorThrow(
-        loading, "Cutscene JSON has an invalid 'pause' flag"
-      );
-    }
-  }
-
-  out->items = memoryAllocate(itemCount * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
-  memoryZero(out->items, itemCount * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
-
-  size_t poolSize = assetCutsceneComputePoolSize(itemsArr);
-  out->pool = poolSize > 0 ? memoryAllocate(poolSize) : NULL;
-
-  size_t poolOffset = 0;
-  yyjson_arr_iter itemIter = yyjson_arr_iter_with(itemsArr);
-  yyjson_val *itemVal;
-  uint8_t index = 0;
-  while((itemVal = yyjson_arr_iter_next(&itemIter)) != NULL) {
-    errorret_t itemResult = assetCutsceneParseItem(
-      loading, itemVal, &out->items[index], out->pool, &poolOffset, index
-    );
-    if(errorIsNotOk(itemResult)) {
-      assetCutsceneFreeParsed(out);
-      errorChain(itemResult);
-    }
-    index++;
-  }
-
-  out->cutscene.items = out->items;
-  out->cutscene.itemCount = (uint8_t)itemCount;
-  out->cutscene.pause = pause;
-  out->cutscene.dataSize = 0;
-
-  loading->entry->state = ASSET_ENTRY_STATE_LOADED;
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-errorret_t assetCutsceneDispose(assetentry_t *entry) {
-  assertNotNull(entry, "Entry cannot be NULL");
-  assertTrue(entry->type == ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_CUTSCENE, "Invalid type.");
-  assertIsMainThread("Must be called from the main thread.");
-
-  assetCutsceneFreeParsed(&entry->data.cutscene);
-
-  errorOk();
-}

src/dusk/asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.h

@@ -1,106 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#pragma once
-#include "asset/assetfile.h"
-#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h"
-#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
-#include "rpg/cutscene/item/json/cutscenejsonpool.h"
-#include "yyjson.h"
-
-#define ASSET_CUTSCENE_FILE_SIZE_MAX (1024 * 64)
-
-typedef struct assetloading_s assetloading_t;
-typedef struct assetentry_s assetentry_t;
-
-typedef struct {
-  void *nothing;
-} assetcutsceneloaderinput_t;
-
-typedef enum {
-  ASSET_CUTSCENE_LOADING_STATE_INITIAL,
-  ASSET_CUTSCENE_LOADING_STATE_READ_FILE,
-  ASSET_CUTSCENE_LOADING_STATE_PARSE
-} assetcutsceneloadingstate_t;
-
-typedef struct {
-  assetfile_t file;
-  assetcutsceneloadingstate_t state;
-  uint8_t *buffer;
-  size_t size;
-} assetcutsceneloaderloading_t;
-
-typedef struct {
-  cutscene_t cutscene;
-  cutsceneitem_t *items;
-  uint8_t *pool;
-  yyjson_doc *doc;
-} assetcutsceneoutput_t;
-
-/**
- * Parses one cutscene item object into item, writing any pool-backed
- * array data (entityWalkTo positions, mapAreaWait areaIds) into pool at
- * *poolOffset and advancing it. Every field/enum name is validated as
- * real (untrusted, authored) file content - failures are real errors, not
- * asserts. Dispatches to the matching type's Load callback (see
- * CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS in rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h) - the
- * per-type parsing logic itself lives there now, colocated with that
- * type's runtime behavior.
- *
- * @param loading Loading information for the asset being loaded.
- * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
- * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Base pointer of the entry's pool allocation (may be NULL if
- * assetCutsceneComputePoolSize returned 0).
- * @param poolOffset In/out cursor into pool.
- * @param index Index of this item within the cutscene, for error messages.
- * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
- */
-errorret_t assetCutsceneParseItem(
-  assetloading_t *loading,
-  yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset,
-  const uint8_t index
-);
-
-/**
- * Frees whatever of out->items/out->pool/out->doc is currently non-NULL
- * and clears them - shared by both the normal disposer and every parse
- * failure path's cleanup.
- *
- * @param out The output to free.
- */
-void assetCutsceneFreeParsed(assetcutsceneoutput_t *out);
-
-/**
- * Asynchronous loader for cutscene assets. Reads the raw JSONC file bytes
- * into the loading buffer so the sync phase can parse without blocking the
- * main thread on I/O.
- *
- * @param loading Loading information for the asset being loaded.
- * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the load operation.
- */
-errorret_t assetCutsceneLoaderAsync(assetloading_t *loading);
-
-/**
- * Synchronous loader for cutscene assets. Parses the JSONC previously read
- * by the async phase into a heap-allocated cutsceneitem_t array + pool.
- *
- * @param loading Loading information for the asset being loaded.
- * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the load operation.
- */
-errorret_t assetCutsceneLoaderSync(assetloading_t *loading);
-
-/**
- * Disposer for cutscene assets.
- *
- * @param entry Asset entry containing the cutscene data to dispose.
- * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the dispose operation.
- */
-errorret_t assetCutsceneDispose(assetentry_t *entry);

src/dusk/audio/mixer/audiomixerchannel.h

@@ -12,11 +12,10 @@
 
 // Forward-declared rather than including asset/asset.h - this header only
 // ever needs a pointer to it, and pulling in the full asset module here
-// creates a real include cycle for anything that reaches this header via
-// asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.h (asset.h -> ... ->
-// assetloader.h -> assetcutsceneloader.h -> cutscene.h -> cutsceneitem.h
-// -> the audio cutscene items -> this header -> asset/asset.h again,
-// mid-parse). audiomixerchannel.c itself still includes the full header.
+// risks an include cycle for anything that reaches this header via a
+// cutscene item (cutscene.h -> cutsceneitem.h -> the audio cutscene items
+// -> this header -> asset/asset.h, mid-parse). audiomixerchannel.c itself
+// still includes the full header.
 typedef struct assetentry_s assetentry_t;
 
 typedef struct audiostream_s audiostream_t;

src/dusk/engine/engine.c

@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ errorret_t engineInit(const int32_t argc, const char_t **argv) {
   errorChain(localeManagerInit());
   errorChain(displayInit());
   errorChain(audioInit());
-  errorChain(uiInit());
   errorChain(rpgInit());
+  errorChain(uiInit());
   #ifdef DUSK_NETWORK
     errorChain(networkInit());
   #endif
@@ -108,5 +108,7 @@ errorret_t engineDispose(void) {
   errorChain(assetDispose());
   perfDispose();
 
+  memoryCheckUnfreed();
+
   errorOk();
 }

src/dusk/rpg/battle/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC
     battle.c
-    battlefighter.c
     party.c
 )
 
-# Subdirs
-add_subdirectory(testbattle)
+add_subdirectory(fighter)
+add_subdirectory(move)
+add_subdirectory(state)

src/dusk/rpg/battle/battle.c

@@ -9,320 +9,71 @@
 #include "assert/assert.h"
 #include "util/memory.h"
 #include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+#include "scene/scene.h"
 
 battle_t BATTLE;
 
 void battleInit(void) {
   memoryZero(&BATTLE, sizeof(battle_t));
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
-    BATTLE.fighters[i].id = i;
-  }
-}
-
-uint8_t battleGetAvailableFighter(void) {
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
-    if(BATTLE.fighters[i].status == BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NULL) return i;
-  }
-
-  return 0xFF;
-}
-
-battlefighter_t *battleAddFighter(
-  const battlefighterteam_t team,
-  const battlefightercontroller_t controller,
-  const battlefighterstats_t stats,
-  const uint16_t healthMax,
-  const uint16_t mpMax
-) {
-  const uint8_t index = battleGetAvailableFighter();
-  if(index == 0xFF) return NULL;
-
-  battlefighter_t *fighter = &BATTLE.fighters[index];
-  battleFighterInit(fighter, team, controller, stats, healthMax, mpMax);
-  return fighter;
 }
 
 void battleStart(
-  const battleencountertype_t encounterType,
-  const bool_t fleeAvailable
+  battlefighter_t *fighters[BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT]
 ) {
-  assertTrue(encounterType < BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_COUNT, "Invalid encounter type");
+  assertNotNull(fighters, "Fighters cannot be NULL");
 
-  BATTLE.encounterType = encounterType;
-  BATTLE.fleeAvailable = fleeAvailable;
-  BATTLE.result = BATTLE_RESULT_NONE;
-  BATTLE.round = 1;
-
-  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_OPENING);
-}
-
-void battleDispose(void) {
-  battleInit();
-}
-
-battlefighter_t *battleGetCurrentFighter(void) {
-  if(BATTLE.state != BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION) return NULL;
-  if(BATTLE.selectionIndex >= BATTLE.executionCount) return NULL;
-  return &BATTLE.fighters[BATTLE.executionOrder[BATTLE.selectionIndex]];
-}
-
-uint8_t battleGetAliveCount(const battlefighterteam_t team) {
-  uint8_t count = 0;
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
-    if(BATTLE.fighters[i].team != team) continue;
-    if(!battleFighterIsAlive(&BATTLE.fighters[i])) continue;
-    count++;
-  }
-  return count;
-}
-
-void battleResolveAttack(
-  battlefighter_t *attacker,
-  battlefighter_t *defender
-) {
-  assertNotNull(attacker, "Attacker cannot be NULL");
-  assertNotNull(defender, "Defender cannot be NULL");
-
-  const int32_t rawDamage =
-    (int32_t)attacker->stats.attack - (int32_t)defender->stats.defense;
-  const uint16_t damage = rawDamage > 0 ? (uint16_t)rawDamage : 1;
-
-  defender->health = damage >= defender->health ? 0 : defender->health - damage;
-  if(defender->health == 0) defender->status = BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_DEAD;
-}
-
-battleresult_t battleCheckResult(void) {
-  if(BATTLE.result != BATTLE_RESULT_NONE) return BATTLE.result;
-
-  if(battleGetAliveCount(BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY) == 0) {
-    battleSetResult(BATTLE_RESULT_LOSS);
-  } else if(battleGetAliveCount(BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY) == 0) {
-    battleSetResult(BATTLE_RESULT_WIN);
-  }
-
-  return BATTLE.result;
-}
-
-void battleQueueAction(
-  const uint8_t fighterIndex,
-  const battleactiontype_t type,
-  const uint8_t targetIndex
-) {
-  battleaction_t *action = &BATTLE.actions[fighterIndex];
-  action->type = type;
-  action->targetIndex = targetIndex;
-
-  if(BATTLE.onActionDecided != NULL) {
-    BATTLE.onActionDecided(&BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex], action);
-  }
-}
-
-void battlePlayerAttack(const uint8_t targetIndex) {
-  battlefighter_t *fighter = battleGetCurrentFighter();
-  if(fighter == NULL) return;
-  if(targetIndex >= BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX) return;
-  if(!battleFighterIsAlive(&BATTLE.fighters[targetIndex])) return;
-
-  battleQueueAction(fighter->id, BATTLE_ACTION_ATTACK, targetIndex);
-  BATTLE.selectionIndex++;
-  battleAdvanceSelection();
-}
-
-void battlePlayerFlee(void) {
-  battlefighter_t *fighter = battleGetCurrentFighter();
-  if(fighter == NULL) return;
-  if(!BATTLE.fleeAvailable) return;
-
-  battleSetResult(BATTLE_RESULT_FLED);
-}
-
-void battleUpdate(void) {
-  if(BATTLE.state == BATTLE_STATE_NONE) return;
-  if(BATTLE.state == BATTLE_STATE_ENDED) return;
-  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause & CUTSCENE_PAUSE_BATTLE) return;
-
-  switch(BATTLE.state) {
-    case BATTLE_STATE_OPENING:
-      battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND);
-      break;
-
-    case BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND:
-      battleUpdatePreRound();
-      break;
-
-    case BATTLE_STATE_AI_SELECTION:
-      battleUpdateAiSelection();
-      break;
-
-    case BATTLE_STATE_MOVES_EXECUTING:
-      battleUpdateMovesExecuting();
-      break;
-
-    case BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND:
-      battleUpdatePostRound();
-      break;
-
-    default:
-      // BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION: waits on battlePlayerAttack/Flee.
-      // BATTLE_STATE_NONE/ENDED: handled above.
-      break;
-  }
-}
-
-void battleBuildExecutionOrder(const bool_t applyEncounterBias) {
-  BATTLE.executionCount = 0;
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
-    if(!battleFighterIsAlive(&BATTLE.fighters[i])) continue;
-    BATTLE.executionOrder[BATTLE.executionCount++] = i;
-  }
-
-  // Insertion sort by speed descending -- fine for BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX.
-  for(uint8_t i = 1; i < BATTLE.executionCount; i++) {
-    const uint8_t key = BATTLE.executionOrder[i];
-    const uint16_t keySpeed = BATTLE.fighters[key].stats.speed;
-
-    int8_t j = (int8_t)i - 1;
-    while(
-      j >= 0 &&
-      BATTLE.fighters[BATTLE.executionOrder[j]].stats.speed < keySpeed
-    ) {
-      BATTLE.executionOrder[j + 1] = BATTLE.executionOrder[j];
-      j--;
+  #if DUSK_ASSERTIONS
+    // Must be at least two non null fighter present, may need to ensure they
+    // are from seperate teams also.
+    uint8_t nonNullCount = 0;
+    for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT; i++) {
+      if(fighters[i] != NULL) nonNullCount++;
     }
-    BATTLE.executionOrder[j + 1] = key;
-  }
+    assertTrue(nonNullCount >= 2, "Must have at least two fighters");
+  #endif
 
-  if(!applyEncounterBias) return;
-
-  if(BATTLE.encounterType == BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_PLAYER_ADVANTAGE) {
-    battleMoveTeamFirst(BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY);
-  } else if(BATTLE.encounterType == BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_BACK_ATTACK) {
-    battleMoveTeamFirst(BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY);
-  }
-}
-
-void battleMoveTeamFirst(const battlefighterteam_t team) {
-  uint8_t sorted[BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX];
-  uint8_t count = 0;
-
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE.executionCount; i++) {
-    if(BATTLE.fighters[BATTLE.executionOrder[i]].team != team) continue;
-    sorted[count++] = BATTLE.executionOrder[i];
-  }
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE.executionCount; i++) {
-    if(BATTLE.fighters[BATTLE.executionOrder[i]].team == team) continue;
-    sorted[count++] = BATTLE.executionOrder[i];
-  }
 
+  // TODO: I may not need to zero entire battle.
+  memoryZero(&BATTLE, sizeof(battle_t));
   memoryCopy(
-    BATTLE.executionOrder, sorted, sizeof(uint8_t) * BATTLE.executionCount
+    BATTLE.fighters,
+    fighters,
+    sizeof(battlefighter_t *) * BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT
   );
-}
 
-battlefighter_t *battleAIChooseTarget(const battlefighter_t *fighter) {
-  const battlefighterteam_t enemyTeam =
-    fighter->team == BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY ?
-      BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY : BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY;
+  // Enter the opening state.
+  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_OPENING);
 
-  battlefighter_t *weakest = NULL;
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
-    battlefighter_t *candidate = &BATTLE.fighters[i];
-    if(candidate->team != enemyTeam) continue;
-    if(!battleFighterIsAlive(candidate)) continue;
-    if(weakest == NULL || candidate->health < weakest->health) {
-      weakest = candidate;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return weakest;
+  // Change scene
+  sceneSet(SCENE_TYPE_BATTLE);
 }
 
 void battleSetState(const battlestate_t next) {
-  const battlestate_t previous = BATTLE.state;
+  assertTrue(next < BATTLE_STATE_COUNT, "Invalid battle state");
+  assertNotNull(BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[next].init, "Missing state init function");
+  assertNotNull(BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[next].update, "Missing state update function");
+  assertNotNull(BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[next].dispose, "Missing state dispose function");
+
+  if(BATTLE.state != BATTLE_STATE_NULL) {
+    BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE.state].dispose();
+  }
   BATTLE.state = next;
-  if(BATTLE.onStateChanged != NULL) BATTLE.onStateChanged(previous, next);
+  BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE.state].init();
 }
 
-void battleSetResult(const battleresult_t result) {
-  BATTLE.result = result;
-  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_ENDED);
+void battleUpdate(void) {
+  if(BATTLE.state == BATTLE_STATE_NULL) return;
+  assertTrue(BATTLE.state < BATTLE_STATE_COUNT, "Invalid battle state");
+  assertNotNull(BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE.state].update, "Missing state update function");
+
+  BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE.state].update();
 }
 
-bool_t battleFighterNeedsDecision(
-  const uint8_t fighterIndex,
-  const battlefightercontroller_t controller
-) {
-  return battleFighterIsAlive(&BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex])
-    && BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex].controller == controller
-    && BATTLE.actions[fighterIndex].type == BATTLE_ACTION_NONE;
-}
+void battleDispose(void) {
+  if(BATTLE.state == BATTLE_STATE_NULL) return;
+  assertTrue(BATTLE.state < BATTLE_STATE_COUNT, "Invalid battle state");
+  assertNotNull(BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE.state].dispose, "Missing state dispose function");
 
-void battleAdvanceSelection(void) {
-  while(BATTLE.selectionIndex < BATTLE.executionCount) {
-    const uint8_t fighterIndex = BATTLE.executionOrder[BATTLE.selectionIndex];
-    if(
-      battleFighterNeedsDecision(fighterIndex, BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER)
-    ) {
-      return;
-    }
-    BATTLE.selectionIndex++;
-  }
-
-  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_AI_SELECTION);
-}
-
-void battleUpdatePreRound(void) {
-  // No need to clear BATTLE.actions here: every living fighter's action is
-  // unconditionally reset to BATTLE_ACTION_NONE as it's processed in
-  // battleUpdateMovesExecuting, and round 1 starts pre-zeroed by
-  // battleInit(). Clearing it here would also wipe out any action a
-  // cutscene force-queued while parked at BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND.
-  battleBuildExecutionOrder(BATTLE.round == 1);
-
-  BATTLE.selectionIndex = 0;
-  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION);
-  battleAdvanceSelection();
-}
-
-void battleUpdateAiSelection(void) {
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE.executionCount; i++) {
-    const uint8_t fighterIndex = BATTLE.executionOrder[i];
-    if(
-      !battleFighterNeedsDecision(fighterIndex, BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_AI)
-    ) continue;
-
-    battlefighter_t *target =
-      battleAIChooseTarget(&BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex]);
-    if(target == NULL) continue;
-
-    battleQueueAction(fighterIndex, BATTLE_ACTION_ATTACK, target->id);
-  }
-
-  BATTLE.executionIndex = 0;
-  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_MOVES_EXECUTING);
-}
-
-void battleUpdateMovesExecuting(void) {
-  if(BATTLE.executionIndex >= BATTLE.executionCount) {
-    battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  const uint8_t fighterIndex = BATTLE.executionOrder[BATTLE.executionIndex++];
-  battlefighter_t *fighter = &BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex];
-  if(!battleFighterIsAlive(fighter)) return;
-
-  battleaction_t *action = &BATTLE.actions[fighterIndex];
-  if(action->type == BATTLE_ACTION_ATTACK) {
-    battlefighter_t *target = &BATTLE.fighters[action->targetIndex];
-    if(battleFighterIsAlive(target)) battleResolveAttack(fighter, target);
-  }
-  action->type = BATTLE_ACTION_NONE;
-
-  battleCheckResult();
-}
-
-void battleUpdatePostRound(void) {
-  BATTLE.round++;
-  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND);
-}
+  BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE.state].dispose();
+  memoryZero(&BATTLE, sizeof(battle_t));
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/battle.h

@@ -6,89 +6,38 @@
  */
 
 #pragma once
-#include "battlefighter.h"
-
-#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX 8
-
-typedef enum {
-  BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_REGULAR,
-  BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_PLAYER_ADVANTAGE,
-  BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_BACK_ATTACK,
-
-  BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_COUNT
-} battleencountertype_t;
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighter.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/move/battlemove.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/move/battlemoveaction.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterpos.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/state/battlestate.h"
 
 typedef enum {
   BATTLE_RESULT_NONE,
   BATTLE_RESULT_WIN,
   BATTLE_RESULT_LOSS,
   BATTLE_RESULT_FLED,
-
   BATTLE_RESULT_COUNT
 } battleresult_t;
 
-// Where BATTLE currently is within a round. A cutscene can pause progression
-// (CUTSCENE_PAUSE_BATTLE) and use CUTSCENE_BATTLE_WAIT_STATE to synchronize
-// with any of these, or CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FORCE_ACTION to decide a fighter's
-// action ahead of PLAYER_SELECTION/AI_SELECTION reaching them.
-typedef enum {
-  BATTLE_STATE_NONE, // Battle inactive.
-
-  BATTLE_STATE_OPENING, // Entered once by battleStart().
-  BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND, // Rebuilds execution order, clears the action queue.
-  BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION, // Waits on battlePlayerAttack/Flee.
-  BATTLE_STATE_AI_SELECTION, // Auto-queues every undecided AI fighter.
-  BATTLE_STATE_MOVES_EXECUTING, // Resolves one queued action per update.
-  BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND, // Round wrap-up; loops back to PRE_ROUND.
-
-  BATTLE_STATE_ENDED, // Terminal for WIN/LOSS/FLED alike -- see BATTLE.result.
-
-  BATTLE_STATE_COUNT
-} battlestate_t;
-
-typedef enum {
-  BATTLE_ACTION_NONE, // No action decided yet for this fighter this round.
-  BATTLE_ACTION_ATTACK,
-
-  BATTLE_ACTION_COUNT
-} battleactiontype_t;
-
 typedef struct {
-  battleactiontype_t type;
-  uint8_t targetIndex; // Meaningful for BATTLE_ACTION_ATTACK.
-} battleaction_t;
+  battlefighter_t *fighters[BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT];
 
-typedef void (*battlestatechangedcallback_t)(
-  const battlestate_t previous,
-  const battlestate_t next
-);
+  // Order of who gets to act.
+  uint8_t fighterOrder[BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT];
+  uint8_t fighterOrderCount;
 
-typedef void (*battleactiondecidedcallback_t)(
-  const battlefighter_t *fighter,
-  const battleaction_t *action
-);
+  // Actions to be executed.
+  battlemoveaction_t actionsPending[BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT];
+  uint8_t actionsPendingCount;
 
-typedef struct {
   battlestate_t state;
-  battlefighter_t fighters[BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX];
-  battleaction_t actions[BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX];
+  battlestatedata_t stateData;
 
-  battleencountertype_t encounterType;
-  bool_t fleeAvailable;
+  // Set once a side has been wiped out (see cutsceneBattlePostMoveStart)
+  // or the player has fled (see battleStateSelectionPlayerFlee). Stays
+  // BATTLE_RESULT_NONE for the rest of the battle otherwise.
   battleresult_t result;
-
-  // Fighter indices (into fighters[]), sorted for the current round.
-  uint8_t executionOrder[BATTLE_FIGHTER_COUNT_MAX];
-  uint8_t executionCount;
-  uint8_t executionIndex;
-  uint16_t round;
-
-  // Cursor into executionOrder used by BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION to find
-  // the next player-controlled fighter that still needs a decision.
-  uint8_t selectionIndex;
-
-  battlestatechangedcallback_t onStateChanged;
-  battleactiondecidedcallback_t onActionDecided;
 } battle_t;
 
 extern battle_t BATTLE;
@@ -99,215 +48,28 @@ extern battle_t BATTLE;
 void battleInit(void);
 
 /**
- * Gets an available (unused) fighter slot index.
- *
- * @return The index of an available fighter slot, or 0xFF if none are
- *         available.
- */
-uint8_t battleGetAvailableFighter(void);
-
-/**
- * Adds a fighter to the battle in the next available slot.
- *
- * @param team The team the fighter belongs to.
- * @param controller Who makes decisions for the fighter.
- * @param stats The fighter's base combat stats.
- * @param healthMax The fighter's maximum health.
- * @param mpMax The fighter's maximum mp.
- * @return Pointer to the newly added fighter, or NULL if the battle is
- *         already full.
- */
-battlefighter_t *battleAddFighter(
-  const battlefighterteam_t team,
-  const battlefightercontroller_t controller,
-  const battlefighterstats_t stats,
-  const uint16_t healthMax,
-  const uint16_t mpMax
-);
-
-/**
- * Starts the battle: enters BATTLE_STATE_OPENING and marks the battle
- * active. Call once every fighter has been added via battleAddFighter.
- *
- * @param encounterType Determines the opening round's execution order.
- * @param fleeAvailable Whether the party may attempt to flee this battle.
+ * Starts a battle.
+ * 
+ * @param fighters Fighters in the battle.
  */
 void battleStart(
-  const battleencountertype_t encounterType,
-  const bool_t fleeAvailable
+  battlefighter_t *fighters[BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT]
 );
 
 /**
- * Disposes of the battle, clearing all fighters and marking it inactive.
- */
-void battleDispose(void);
-
-/**
- * Returns the fighter currently awaiting a player decision.
- *
- * @return Pointer to the fighter awaiting a decision, or NULL if the battle
- *         isn't in BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION or every player-controlled
- *         fighter has already decided.
- */
-battlefighter_t *battleGetCurrentFighter(void);
-
-/**
- * Returns the number of living fighters on a team.
- *
- * @param team The team to count.
- * @return Count of living fighters on that team.
- */
-uint8_t battleGetAliveCount(const battlefighterteam_t team);
-
-/**
- * Resolves a physical attack from attacker onto defender: damage is the
- * attacker's attack stat minus the defender's defense stat (minimum 1),
- * subtracted from the defender's health. The defender is marked dead
- * once health reaches 0.
- *
- * @param attacker The attacking fighter.
- * @param defender The defending fighter.
- */
-void battleResolveAttack(
-  battlefighter_t *attacker,
-  battlefighter_t *defender
-);
-
-/**
- * Checks whether the battle has been won or lost, transitioning to
- * BATTLE_STATE_ENDED and updating BATTLE.result if so. Does nothing if a
- * result has already been set (e.g. by a successful flee).
- *
- * @return The battle's current result.
- */
-battleresult_t battleCheckResult(void);
-
-/**
- * Queues an action for a fighter to perform once BATTLE_STATE_MOVES_EXECUTING
- * reaches them this round, overwriting any action already queued for that
- * fighter. Fires BATTLE.onActionDecided.
- *
- * @param fighterIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the deciding fighter.
- * @param type The type of action to perform.
- * @param targetIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the target, meaningful
- *        for BATTLE_ACTION_ATTACK.
- */
-void battleQueueAction(
-  const uint8_t fighterIndex,
-  const battleactiontype_t type,
-  const uint8_t targetIndex
-);
-
-/**
- * Submits the currently-selecting fighter's attack against a target, if the
- * battle is in BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION and awaiting a decision.
- * Queues the action and advances the selection cursor.
- *
- * @param targetIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the target.
- */
-void battlePlayerAttack(const uint8_t targetIndex);
-
-/**
- * Submits a flee attempt for the currently-selecting fighter, if the battle
- * is in BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION and fleeing is available for this
- * battle. Always succeeds, ending the battle with BATTLE_RESULT_FLED.
- */
-void battlePlayerFlee(void);
-
-/**
- * Updates the battle simulation for one frame, dispatching on BATTLE.state.
- * No-op if the battle isn't active, has already ended, or
- * CUTSCENE_PAUSE_BATTLE is set.
- */
-void battleUpdate(void);
-
-/**
- * Rebuilds BATTLE.executionOrder/executionCount from every currently living
- * fighter, sorted by speed descending.
- *
- * @param applyEncounterBias If true, reorders the freshly speed-sorted
- * queue so BATTLE.encounterType's favoured team goes first (used only
- * for the opening round).
- */
-void battleBuildExecutionOrder(const bool_t applyEncounterBias);
-
-/**
- * Stably partitions BATTLE.executionOrder so every fighter on the given team
- * comes first, preserving each side's relative (speed-sorted) order.
- *
- * @param team The team to move to the front of the execution order.
- */
-void battleMoveTeamFirst(const battlefighterteam_t team);
-
-/**
- * Picks an AI target for fighter: the lowest-health living fighter on
- * the opposing team.
- *
- * @param fighter The AI-controlled fighter choosing a target.
- * @return The chosen target, or NULL if the opposing team has no
- *         living fighters.
- */
-battlefighter_t *battleAIChooseTarget(const battlefighter_t *fighter);
-
-/**
- * Sets BATTLE.state and fires BATTLE.onStateChanged with the previous and
- * new state.
+ * Transitions the battle to a new state: disposes the current state (if
+ * any) and initializes next.
  *
  * @param next The state to transition to.
  */
 void battleSetState(const battlestate_t next);
 
 /**
- * Sets BATTLE.result and transitions to BATTLE_STATE_ENDED.
- *
- * @param result The result to end the battle with.
+ * Updates the battle system.
  */
-void battleSetResult(const battleresult_t result);
+void battleUpdate(void);
 
 /**
- * Checks whether a fighter is a live, undecided candidate for the given
- * controller -- i.e. whether PLAYER_SELECTION or AI_SELECTION should still
- * be deciding an action for it this round.
- *
- * @param fighterIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters to check.
- * @param controller The controller PLAYER_SELECTION/AI_SELECTION is
- *        currently deciding for.
- * @return True if the fighter is alive, matches controller, and has no
- *         action queued yet.
+ * Disposes of the battle, clearing all fighters and marking it inactive.
  */
-bool_t battleFighterNeedsDecision(
-  const uint8_t fighterIndex,
-  const battlefightercontroller_t controller
-);
-
-/**
- * Advances BATTLE.selectionIndex to the next player-controlled fighter that
- * still needs a decision, or transitions to BATTLE_STATE_AI_SELECTION once
- * none remain.
- */
-void battleAdvanceSelection(void);
-
-/**
- * Handles BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND: rebuilds the execution order and moves on
- * to BATTLE_STATE_PLAYER_SELECTION, positioning the selection cursor.
- */
-void battleUpdatePreRound(void);
-
-/**
- * Handles BATTLE_STATE_AI_SELECTION: queues an attack for every undecided
- * AI-controlled fighter, then moves on to BATTLE_STATE_MOVES_EXECUTING.
- */
-void battleUpdateAiSelection(void);
-
-/**
- * Handles BATTLE_STATE_MOVES_EXECUTING: resolves one queued action from
- * BATTLE.executionOrder per call, or transitions to BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND
- * once every fighter this round has been processed.
- */
-void battleUpdateMovesExecuting(void);
-
-/**
- * Handles BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND: advances BATTLE.round and transitions
- * back to BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND.
- */
-void battleUpdatePostRound(void);
+void battleDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/battlefighter.c

@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#include "battlefighter.h"
-#include "assert/assert.h"
-#include "util/memory.h"
-
-void battleFighterInit(
-  battlefighter_t *fighter,
-  const battlefighterteam_t team,
-  const battlefightercontroller_t controller,
-  const battlefighterstats_t stats,
-  const uint16_t healthMax,
-  const uint16_t mpMax
-) {
-  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter pointer cannot be NULL");
-  assertTrue(team < BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_COUNT, "Invalid fighter team");
-  assertTrue(
-    controller < BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_COUNT,
-    "Invalid fighter controller"
-  );
-
-  const uint8_t id = fighter->id;
-  memoryZero(fighter, sizeof(battlefighter_t));
-  fighter->id = id;
-  fighter->status = BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL;
-  fighter->team = team;
-  fighter->controller = controller;
-  fighter->stats = stats;
-  fighter->healthMax = healthMax;
-  fighter->health = healthMax;
-  fighter->mpMax = mpMax;
-  fighter->mp = mpMax;
-}
-
-bool_t battleFighterIsAlive(const battlefighter_t *fighter) {
-  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter pointer cannot be NULL");
-  return fighter->status == BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL;
-}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/battlefighter.h

@@ -1,87 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#pragma once
-#include "error/error.h"
-
-// An empty status means the slot in BATTLE.fighters is unused.
-typedef enum {
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NULL,
-
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL,
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_DEAD,
-
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_COUNT
-} battlefighterstatus_t;
-
-typedef enum {
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY,
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY,
-
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_COUNT
-} battlefighterteam_t;
-
-typedef enum {
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER,
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_AI,
-
-  BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_COUNT
-} battlefightercontroller_t;
-
-// Base combat stats, kept separate from the resource pools (health/mp) on
-// battlefighter_t so that equipment/buffs can later modify them without
-// touching current health/mp state.
-typedef struct {
-  uint16_t attack;
-  uint16_t defense;
-  uint16_t magic;
-  uint16_t speed;
-  uint16_t luck;
-} battlefighterstats_t;
-
-typedef struct {
-  uint8_t id;
-  battlefighterstatus_t status;
-  battlefighterteam_t team;
-  battlefightercontroller_t controller;
-
-  uint16_t health;
-  uint16_t healthMax;
-  uint16_t mp;
-  uint16_t mpMax;
-
-  battlefighterstats_t stats;
-} battlefighter_t;
-
-/**
- * Initializes a battle fighter in place, filling health/mp to their maximum
- * values and setting its status to normal.
- *
- * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to initialize.
- * @param team The team the fighter belongs to.
- * @param controller Who makes decisions for the fighter.
- * @param stats The fighter's base combat stats.
- * @param healthMax The fighter's maximum health.
- * @param mpMax The fighter's maximum mp.
- */
-void battleFighterInit(
-  battlefighter_t *fighter,
-  const battlefighterteam_t team,
-  const battlefightercontroller_t controller,
-  const battlefighterstats_t stats,
-  const uint16_t healthMax,
-  const uint16_t mpMax
-);
-
-/**
- * Returns true if the fighter is in a state where it can still act (i.e.
- * is not dead).
- *
- * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to check.
- * @returns True if the fighter can act.
- */
-bool_t battleFighterIsAlive(const battlefighter_t *fighter);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 # This software is released under the MIT License.
 # https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
 
+# Sources
 target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC
-    assetcutsceneloader.c
+    battlefighter.c
 )

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighter.c

@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlefighter.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+#include "util/memory.h"
+
+errorret_t battleFighterParseStatField(
+  yyjson_val *obj,
+  const char_t *key,
+  uint16_t *out
+) {
+  yyjson_val *val = yyjson_obj_get(obj, key);
+  if(!yyjson_is_int(val)) {
+    errorThrow("Fighter: missing/invalid '%s'", key);
+  }
+
+  const int64_t num = yyjson_get_sint(val);
+  if(num < 0 || num > UINT16_MAX) {
+    errorThrow("Fighter: '%s' must be between 0 and %u", key, UINT16_MAX);
+  }
+
+  *out = (uint16_t)num;
+  errorOk();
+}
+
+errorret_t battleFighterParseOptionalIntField(
+  yyjson_val *obj,
+  const char_t *key,
+  const int32_t defaultValue,
+  int32_t *out
+) {
+  yyjson_val *val = yyjson_obj_get(obj, key);
+  if(val == NULL) {
+    *out = defaultValue;
+    errorOk();
+  }
+
+  if(!yyjson_is_int(val)) errorThrow("Fighter: invalid '%s'", key);
+  *out = (int32_t)yyjson_get_sint(val);
+  errorOk();
+}
+
+errorret_t battleFighterParse(battlefighter_t *fighter, yyjson_val *obj) {
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(obj, "JSON object cannot be NULL");
+
+  int32_t teamNum;
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseOptionalIntField(
+    obj, "team", BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY, &teamNum
+  ));
+  if(teamNum < 0 || teamNum >= BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_COUNT) {
+    errorThrow("Fighter: invalid 'team'");
+  }
+
+  int32_t controllerNum;
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseOptionalIntField(
+    obj, "controller", BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER, &controllerNum
+  ));
+  if(controllerNum < 0 || controllerNum >= BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_COUNT) {
+    errorThrow("Fighter: invalid 'controller'");
+  }
+
+  battlefighterstats_t stats;
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseStatField(obj, "attack", &stats.attack));
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseStatField(obj, "defense", &stats.defense));
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseStatField(obj, "magic", &stats.magic));
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseStatField(obj, "speed", &stats.speed));
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseStatField(obj, "luck", &stats.luck));
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseStatField(obj, "healthMax", &stats.healthMax));
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseStatField(obj, "mpMax", &stats.mpMax));
+
+  battleFighterInit(
+    fighter, (battlefighterteam_t)teamNum,
+    (battlefightercontroller_t)controllerNum, stats
+  );
+
+  int32_t statusNum;
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseOptionalIntField(
+    obj, "status", BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL, &statusNum
+  ));
+  if(statusNum < 0 || statusNum >= BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_COUNT) {
+    errorThrow("Fighter: invalid 'status'");
+  }
+  fighter->status = (battlefighterstatus_t)statusNum;
+
+  int32_t health;
+  errorChain(
+    battleFighterParseOptionalIntField(obj, "health", stats.healthMax, &health)
+  );
+  if(health < 0 || health > stats.healthMax) {
+    errorThrow("Fighter: 'health' out of range");
+  }
+  fighter->stats.health = (uint16_t)health;
+
+  int32_t mp;
+  errorChain(battleFighterParseOptionalIntField(obj, "mp", stats.mpMax, &mp));
+  if(mp < 0 || mp > stats.mpMax) {
+    errorThrow("Fighter: 'mp' out of range");
+  }
+  fighter->stats.mp = (uint16_t)mp;
+
+  yyjson_val *abilities = yyjson_obj_get(obj, "abilities");
+  if(abilities != NULL) {
+    if(
+      !yyjson_is_arr(abilities) ||
+      yyjson_arr_size(abilities) > BATTLE_FIGHTER_ABILITY_COUNT_MAX
+    ) {
+      errorThrow(
+        "Fighter: 'abilities' must have 0-%u entries",
+        BATTLE_FIGHTER_ABILITY_COUNT_MAX
+      );
+    }
+
+    yyjson_arr_iter iter = yyjson_arr_iter_with(abilities);
+    yyjson_val *abilityVal;
+    while((abilityVal = yyjson_arr_iter_next(&iter)) != NULL) {
+      const char_t *name = yyjson_get_str(abilityVal);
+      battlemoveid_t ability =
+        name == NULL ? BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL : battleMoveGetIdByName(name);
+      if(ability == BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL) {
+        errorThrow("Fighter: invalid entry in 'abilities'");
+      }
+      battleFighterAbilityAdd(fighter, ability);
+    }
+  }
+
+  errorOk();
+}
+
+yyjson_mut_val *battleFighterSerialize(
+  const battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  yyjson_mut_doc *doc
+) {
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(doc, "Doc cannot be NULL");
+
+  yyjson_mut_val *obj = yyjson_mut_obj(doc);
+
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "team", fighter->team);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "controller", fighter->controller);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "status", fighter->status);
+
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "attack", fighter->stats.attack);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "defense", fighter->stats.defense);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "magic", fighter->stats.magic);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "speed", fighter->stats.speed);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "luck", fighter->stats.luck);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "healthMax", fighter->stats.healthMax);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "mpMax", fighter->stats.mpMax);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "health", fighter->stats.health);
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_uint(doc, obj, "mp", fighter->stats.mp);
+
+  yyjson_mut_val *abilities = yyjson_mut_arr(doc);
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < fighter->abilityCount; i++) {
+    yyjson_mut_arr_add_str(doc, abilities, BATTLE_MOVES[fighter->abilities[i]].name);
+  }
+  yyjson_mut_obj_add_val(doc, obj, "abilities", abilities);
+
+  return obj;
+}
+
+void battleFighterInit(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const battlefighterteam_t team,
+  const battlefightercontroller_t controller,
+  const battlefighterstats_t stats
+) {
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter pointer cannot be NULL");
+  assertTrue(team < BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_COUNT, "Invalid fighter team");
+  assertTrue(
+    controller < BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_COUNT,
+    "Invalid fighter controller"
+  );
+
+  const uint8_t id = fighter->id;
+  memoryZero(fighter, sizeof(battlefighter_t));
+  fighter->id = id;
+  fighter->status = BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL;
+  fighter->team = team;
+  fighter->controller = controller;
+  fighter->stats = stats;
+  fighter->stats.health = stats.healthMax;
+  fighter->stats.mp = stats.mpMax;
+}
+
+bool_t battleFighterIsAlive(const battlefighter_t *fighter) {
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter pointer cannot be NULL");
+  return fighter->status == BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL;
+}
+
+void battleFighterAbilityAdd(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const battlemoveid_t ability
+) {
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter pointer cannot be NULL");
+  assertTrue(
+    fighter->abilityCount < BATTLE_FIGHTER_ABILITY_COUNT_MAX,
+    "Fighter already has the maximum number of abilities"
+  );
+
+  fighter->abilities[fighter->abilityCount++] = ability;
+}
+
+void battleFighterDamage(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const uint16_t amount
+) {
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter pointer cannot be NULL");
+
+  fighter->stats.health =
+    amount >= fighter->stats.health ? 0 : fighter->stats.health - amount;
+  if(fighter->stats.health == 0) fighter->status = BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_DEAD;
+}
+
+void battleFighterHeal(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const uint16_t amount
+) {
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter pointer cannot be NULL");
+  if(!battleFighterIsAlive(fighter)) return;
+
+  const uint32_t healed = (uint32_t)fighter->stats.health + amount;
+  fighter->stats.health = healed > fighter->stats.healthMax
+    ? fighter->stats.healthMax : (uint16_t)healed;
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighter.h

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "error/error.h"
+#include "yyjson.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/move/battlemove.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterstatus.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterteam.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefightercontroller.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterstats.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterpos.h"
+
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_ABILITY_COUNT_MAX 8
+
+typedef struct battlefighter_s {
+  uint8_t id;
+  battlefighterstatus_t status;
+  battlefighterteam_t team;
+  battlefightercontroller_t controller;
+
+
+  battlefighterstats_t stats;
+  
+  battlemoveid_t abilities[BATTLE_FIGHTER_ABILITY_COUNT_MAX];
+  battlemoveid_t abilityCount;
+} battlefighter_t;
+
+/**
+ * Initializes a battle fighter in place, filling health/mp to the maximum
+ * values carried on stats and setting its status to normal.
+ *
+ * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to initialize.
+ * @param team The team the fighter belongs to.
+ * @param controller Who makes decisions for the fighter.
+ * @param stats The fighter's base combat stats, including healthMax/mpMax.
+ */
+void battleFighterInit(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const battlefighterteam_t team,
+  const battlefightercontroller_t controller,
+  const battlefighterstats_t stats
+);
+
+/**
+ * Generic battlefighter_t parser, shared by every place that builds a
+ * fighter from JSON (party.jsonc roster members, BATTLE_START enemy
+ * definitions, save-file party members) - see battleFighterSerialize for
+ * the inverse. Reads 'team'/'controller'/'status' as ints (each optional,
+ * defaulting to ALLY/PLAYER/NORMAL respectively - a caller that needs a
+ * different team/controller, e.g. BATTLE_START's enemies, sets those
+ * fields on fighter after this returns), 'attack'/'defense'/'magic'/
+ * 'speed'/'luck'/'healthMax'/'mpMax' as required ints in [0, UINT16_MAX],
+ * 'health'/'mp' as optional ints defaulting to healthMax/mpMax (a fresh
+ * fighter), and an optional 'abilities' array of move name strings. Does
+ * not touch fighter->id - set it (or leave it) before calling, same as
+ * battleFighterInit.
+ *
+ * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to fill in.
+ * @param obj The JSON object to read fields from.
+ * @return Error if a required field is missing/invalid, or an abilities
+ * entry doesn't name a real move.
+ */
+errorret_t battleFighterParse(battlefighter_t *fighter, yyjson_val *obj);
+
+/**
+ * Inverse of battleFighterParse: builds a new JSON object (not yet
+ * attached anywhere - the caller attaches it, e.g. via
+ * yyjson_mut_arr_add_val/yyjson_mut_obj_add_val) with every field
+ * battleFighterParse reads except id (see its doc comment for why).
+ *
+ * @param fighter The fighter to serialize.
+ * @param doc The mutable document to allocate the object in.
+ * @return The newly built object.
+ */
+yyjson_mut_val *battleFighterSerialize(
+  const battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  yyjson_mut_doc *doc
+);
+
+/**
+ * Returns true if the fighter is in a state where it can still act (i.e.
+ * is not dead).
+ *
+ * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to check.
+ * @returns True if the fighter can act.
+ */
+bool_t battleFighterIsAlive(const battlefighter_t *fighter);
+
+/**
+ * Appends an ability to the fighter's ability list.
+ *
+ * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to add the ability to.
+ * @param ability The ability to add.
+ */
+void battleFighterAbilityAdd(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const battlemoveid_t ability
+);
+
+/**
+ * Subtracts amount from the fighter's health (floored at 0), marking it
+ * dead once health reaches 0.
+ *
+ * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to damage.
+ * @param amount The amount of damage to apply.
+ */
+void battleFighterDamage(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const uint16_t amount
+);
+
+/**
+ * Adds amount to the fighter's health (capped at healthMax). No-op if the
+ * fighter isn't alive -- healing can't revive a dead fighter.
+ *
+ * @param fighter Pointer to the fighter to heal.
+ * @param amount The amount to heal.
+ */
+void battleFighterHeal(
+  battlefighter_t *fighter,
+  const uint16_t amount
+);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefightercontroller.h

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "error/error.h"
+
+typedef enum {
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_NONE,
+  
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER,
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_AI,
+
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_COUNT
+} battlefightercontroller_t;

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterpos.h

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ * 
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef uint8_t battlefighterpos_t;
+
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(x) ((battlefighterpos_t)(x))
+
+// Left (Enemy side)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_0 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(0)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_1 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(1)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_2 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(2)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_3 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(3)
+
+// Right (Ally side)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_4 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(4)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_5 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(5)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_6 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(6)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_7 BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(7)
+
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT (BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_7 + 1)
+
+// Sentinels resolved by battleStateExecutingInit against the currently
+// resolving action, for cutscene items authored inside a move's own
+// cutscene (e.g. cutscenes/battle/moves/slash.jsonc) that need to refer
+// to "whoever is being hit"/"whoever is attacking" without knowing their
+// concrete BATTLE.fighters index ahead of time.
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(0xFE)
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_USER BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS(0xFD)

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterspecies.h

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterstats.h"
+
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_SPECIES_NAME_MAX 16
+#define BATTLE_FIGHTER_SPECIES_COUNT_MAX 250
+
+typedef uint8_t battlespeciesid_t;
+
+#define BATTLE_SPECIES_ID_NULL ((battlespeciesid_t)0)
+
+typedef struct {
+  char_t name[BATTLE_FIGHTER_SPECIES_NAME_MAX];
+  battlefighterstats_t baseStats;
+} battlefighterspecies_t;

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterstats.h

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+  uint16_t health;
+  uint16_t mp;
+  
+  uint16_t healthMax;
+  uint16_t mpMax;
+  uint16_t attack;
+  uint16_t defense;
+  uint16_t magic;
+  uint16_t speed;
+  uint16_t luck;
+} battlefighterstats_t;

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterstatus.h

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef enum {
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NULL,
+
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL,
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_DEAD,
+
+  // Poisoned, burned, confused, etc.
+
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_COUNT
+} battlefighterstatus_t;

src/dusk/rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterteam.h

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /**
  * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- * 
+ *
  * This software is released under the MIT License.
  * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
  */
@@ -8,4 +8,9 @@
 #pragma once
 #include "dusk.h"
 
-typedef uint8_t storyflagvalue_t;
+typedef enum {
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY,
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY,
+
+  BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_COUNT
+} battlefighterteam_t;

src/dusk/rpg/battle/move/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@
 # Sources
 target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC
-    testbattle.c
+    battlemove.c
 )

src/dusk/rpg/battle/move/battlemove.c

@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlemove.h"
+#include "asset/asset.h"
+#include "asset/loader/assetloader.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+#include "util/memory.h"
+#include "util/string.h"
+#include <string.h>
+
+battleability_t BATTLE_MOVES[BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT_MAX];
+uint8_t BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT;
+
+errorret_t battleMoveInit(void) {
+  memoryZero(BATTLE_MOVES, sizeof(BATTLE_MOVES));
+  BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT = BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL + 1;// Reserve NULL.
+
+  // Get moves JSON.
+  assetentry_t *entry = assetLock(
+    "battle/moves.jsonc", ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_JSON, NULL
+  );
+  errorret_t ret = assetRequireLoaded(entry);
+  if(errorIsNotOk(ret)) {
+    assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+    errorChain(ret);
+  }
+
+  yyjson_val *root = yyjson_doc_get_root(entry->data.json);
+  yyjson_val *moves = yyjson_obj_get(root, "moves");
+  yyjson_obj_iter iter = yyjson_obj_iter_with(moves);
+  yyjson_val *key;
+  while((key = yyjson_obj_iter_next(&iter))) {
+    if(BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT >= BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT_MAX) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow(
+        "Battle move: too many moves defined (max %u)",
+        (uint32_t)BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT_MAX
+      );
+    }
+
+    battlemoveid_t id = BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT++;
+    battleability_t *move = &BATTLE_MOVES[id];
+
+    // Name
+    if(!yyjson_is_str(key)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move: keys in 'moves' must be strings");
+    }
+    const char_t *name = yyjson_get_str(key);
+    stringCopy(move->name, name, BATTLE_MOVE_NAME_MAX);
+
+    if(strlen(name) >= BATTLE_MOVE_NAME_MAX) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow(
+        "Battle move '%s': name must be less than %u characters",
+        name, (uint32_t)BATTLE_MOVE_NAME_MAX
+      );
+    }
+
+    // Must me object
+    yyjson_val *val = yyjson_obj_iter_get_val(key);
+    if(!yyjson_is_obj(val)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move '%s': value must be an object", name);
+    }
+
+    // Valid targets
+    yyjson_val *enemies = yyjson_obj_get(val, "enemies");
+    if(enemies != NULL && !yyjson_is_bool(enemies)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move '%s': 'enemies' must be a boolean", name);
+    }
+    yyjson_val *allies = yyjson_obj_get(val, "allies");
+    if(allies != NULL && !yyjson_is_bool(allies)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move '%s': 'allies' must be a boolean", name);
+    }
+    yyjson_val *multiple = yyjson_obj_get(val, "multiple");
+    if(multiple != NULL && !yyjson_is_bool(multiple)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move '%s': 'multiple' must be a boolean", name);
+    }
+    yyjson_val *self = yyjson_obj_get(val, "self");
+    if(self != NULL && !yyjson_is_bool(self)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move '%s': 'self' must be a boolean", name);
+    }
+
+    battletarget_t target = 0;
+    if(yyjson_get_bool(enemies)) target |= BATTLE_TARGET_ENEMIES;
+    if(yyjson_get_bool(allies)) target |= BATTLE_TARGET_ALLIES;
+    if(yyjson_get_bool(multiple)) target |= BATTLE_TARGET_MULTIPLE;
+    if(yyjson_get_bool(self)) target |= BATTLE_TARGET_SELF;
+    move->target = target;
+    if(move->target == 0) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move '%s': missing target type", name);
+    }
+
+    // Default target (optional)
+    yyjson_val *defaultVal = yyjson_obj_get(val, "default");
+    if(defaultVal != NULL && !yyjson_is_str(defaultVal)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move '%s': 'default' must be a string", name);
+    }
+
+    const char_t *defaultTarget = yyjson_get_str(defaultVal);
+    if(defaultTarget == NULL) {
+      move->targetDefault = 0;
+    } else if(stringCompareInsensitive(defaultTarget, "enemy") == 0) {
+      move->targetDefault = BATTLE_TARGET_ENEMIES;
+    } else if(stringCompareInsensitive(defaultTarget, "ally") == 0) {
+      move->targetDefault = BATTLE_TARGET_ALLIES;
+    } else if(stringCompareInsensitive(defaultTarget, "self") == 0) {
+      move->targetDefault = BATTLE_TARGET_SELF;
+    } else {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow("Battle move %s has invalid default target.", name);
+    }
+  }
+
+  assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+  errorOk();
+}
+
+battlemoveid_t battleMoveGetIdByName(const char_t *name) {
+  assertNotNull(name, "name must not be NULL");
+
+  for(battlemoveid_t id = BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL + 1; id < BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT; id++) {
+    if(stringEquals(BATTLE_MOVES[id].name, name)) return id;
+  }
+
+  return BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL;
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/move/battlemove.h

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "asset/asset.h"
+#include "battletarget.h"
+
+typedef uint8_t battlemoveid_t;
+
+#define BATTLE_MOVE_NAME_MAX 16
+#define BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT_MAX 250
+
+#define BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL ((battlemoveid_t)0)
+
+extern uint8_t BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT;
+
+typedef struct {
+  char_t name[BATTLE_MOVE_NAME_MAX];
+  battletarget_t target;
+  battletarget_t targetDefault;
+} battleability_t;
+
+extern battleability_t BATTLE_MOVES[BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT_MAX];
+
+/**
+ * Initializes the battle move subsystem, loading assets/battle/moves.jsonc.
+ *
+ * @return Any error that occurs.
+ */
+errorret_t battleMoveInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Finds a move's id by name (exact match).
+ *
+ * @param name The move name to search for.
+ * @return The matching move's id, or BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL if not found.
+ */
+battlemoveid_t battleMoveGetIdByName(const char_t *name);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/move/battlemoveaction.h

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "rpg/battle/move/battlemove.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterpos.h"
+
+typedef struct battlefighter_s battlefighter_t;
+
+typedef struct {
+  battlemoveid_t move;
+  battlefighterpos_t targets[BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT];
+  battlefighter_t *user;
+} battlemoveaction_t;

src/dusk/rpg/battle/move/battletarget.h

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ * 
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef uint8_t battletarget_t;
+
+#define BATTLE_TARGET_ENEMIES (1 << 0)
+#define BATTLE_TARGET_ALLIES (1 << 1)
+#define BATTLE_TARGET_MULTIPLE (1 << 2)
+#define BATTLE_TARGET_SELF (1 << 3)

src/dusk/rpg/battle/party.c

@@ -8,56 +8,134 @@
 #include "party.h"
 #include "assert/assert.h"
 #include "util/memory.h"
+#include "util/string.h"
+#include "save/save.h"
+#include "asset/asset.h"
+#include "asset/loader/assetloader.h"
 
-party_t PARTY;
+errorret_t partyInit(party_t *party) {
+  assertNotNull(party, "Party cannot be NULL");
 
-void partyInit(void) {
-  memoryZero(&PARTY, sizeof(party_t));
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
-    PARTY.members[i].id = i;
-  }
+  memoryZero(party, sizeof(party_t));
   for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX; i++) {
-    PARTY.order[i] = PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY;
+    party->order[i] = PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY;
   }
+
+  assetentry_t *entry = assetLock("party.jsonc", ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_JSON, NULL);
+  errorret_t result = assetRequireLoaded(entry);
+  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
+    assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+    errorChain(result);
+  }
+
+  yyjson_val *root = yyjson_doc_get_root(entry->data.json);
+  yyjson_val *members = yyjson_obj_get(root, "members");
+  if(!yyjson_is_obj(members)) {
+    assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+    errorThrow("party.jsonc: missing/invalid 'members' object");
+  }
+
+  const size_t memberCount = yyjson_obj_size(members);
+  if(memberCount > PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX) {
+    assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+    errorThrow(
+      "party.jsonc: defines more than PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX (%u) members",
+      PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX
+    );
+  }
+
+  uint8_t idx = 0;
+  yyjson_val *key;
+  yyjson_val *memberObj;
+  yyjson_obj_iter iter = yyjson_obj_iter_with(members);
+  while((key = yyjson_obj_iter_next(&iter))) {
+    memberObj = yyjson_obj_iter_get_val(key);
+
+    if(yyjson_get_len(key) >= PARTY_KEY_LENGTH_MAX) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorThrow(
+        "party.jsonc: member key '%s' exceeds PARTY_KEY_LENGTH_MAX (%u)",
+        yyjson_get_str(key), PARTY_KEY_LENGTH_MAX
+      );
+    }
+
+    stringCopy(party->keys[idx], yyjson_get_str(key), PARTY_KEY_LENGTH_MAX - 1);
+
+    battlefighter_t *member = &party->members[idx];
+    member->id = idx;
+    errorret_t parseResult = battleFighterParse(member, memberObj);
+    if(errorIsNotOk(parseResult)) {
+      assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+      errorChain(parseResult);
+    }
+
+    idx++;
+  }
+
+  assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+
+  // TEST: only the first defined member starts active, in the first party
+  // position - replace once there's a real starting-party/character-
+  // creation flow. Deliberately separate from the roster seeding above:
+  // order (not a member's presence in the roster) is what determines who's
+  // currently in the party.
+  if(memberCount > 0) party->order[0] = 0;
+
+  errorOk();
 }
 
-uint8_t partyGetAvailableMember(void) {
+uint8_t partyGetMemberIndexByKey(const char_t *key) {
+  assertNotNull(key, "Key cannot be NULL");
+
+  const party_t *party = &SAVE.slot.party;
   for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
-    if(PARTY.members[i].status == BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NULL) return i;
+    if(stringEquals(party->keys[i], key)) return i;
   }
 
-  return 0xFF;
+  return PARTY_MEMBER_NOT_FOUND;
 }
 
-battlefighter_t *partyAddMember(
-  const battlefighterstats_t stats,
-  const uint16_t healthMax,
-  const uint16_t mpMax
-) {
-  const uint8_t index = partyGetAvailableMember();
-  if(index == 0xFF) return NULL;
+const char_t *partyGetMemberKey(const uint8_t memberIndex) {
+  assertTrue(memberIndex < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX, "Invalid party member index");
+  return SAVE.slot.party.keys[memberIndex];
+}
 
-  battlefighter_t *member = &PARTY.members[index];
-  battleFighterInit(
-    member, BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY, BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER,
-    stats, healthMax, mpMax
+bool_t partyIsMemberActive(const uint8_t memberIndex) {
+  assertTrue(memberIndex < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX, "Invalid party member index");
+
+  const party_t *party = &SAVE.slot.party;
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX; i++) {
+    if(party->order[i] == memberIndex) return true;
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+void partyAddMember(const uint8_t memberIndex) {
+  assertTrue(memberIndex < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX, "Invalid party member index");
+
+  party_t *party = &SAVE.slot.party;
+  assertTrue(
+    party->members[memberIndex].status != BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NULL,
+    "Member does not exist in the roster"
   );
 
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX; i++) {
-    if(PARTY.order[i] != PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY) continue;
-    PARTY.order[i] = index;
-    break;
-  }
+  if(partyIsMemberActive(memberIndex)) return;
 
-  return member;
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX; i++) {
+    if(party->order[i] != PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY) continue;
+    party->order[i] = memberIndex;
+    return;
+  }
 }
 
 battlefighter_t *partyGetOrderMember(const uint8_t slot) {
   assertTrue(slot < PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX, "Invalid party order slot");
 
-  const uint8_t index = PARTY.order[slot];
+  party_t *party = &SAVE.slot.party;
+  const uint8_t index = party->order[slot];
   if(index == PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY) return NULL;
-  return &PARTY.members[index];
+  return &party->members[index];
 }
 
 void partySetOrder(const uint8_t slot, const uint8_t memberIndex) {
@@ -67,5 +145,44 @@ void partySetOrder(const uint8_t slot, const uint8_t memberIndex) {
     "Invalid party member index"
   );
 
-  PARTY.order[slot] = memberIndex;
+  SAVE.slot.party.order[slot] = memberIndex;
+}
+
+void partyRemoveMember(const uint8_t memberIndex) {
+  assertTrue(memberIndex < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX, "Invalid party member index");
+
+  party_t *party = &SAVE.slot.party;
+
+  uint8_t removedSlot = PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY;
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX; i++) {
+    if(party->order[i] != memberIndex) continue;
+    removedSlot = i;
+    break;
+  }
+  if(removedSlot == PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY) return;
+
+  for(uint8_t i = removedSlot; i < PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX - 1; i++) {
+    party->order[i] = party->order[i + 1];
+  }
+  party->order[PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX - 1] = PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY;
+}
+
+void partyHealMember(const uint8_t memberIndex) {
+  assertTrue(memberIndex < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX, "Invalid party member index");
+
+  battlefighter_t *member = &SAVE.slot.party.members[memberIndex];
+  if(member->status == BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NULL) return;
+
+  member->status = BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NORMAL;
+  member->stats.health = member->stats.healthMax;
+  member->stats.mp = member->stats.mpMax;
+}
+
+void partyHealAll(void) {
+  const party_t *party = &SAVE.slot.party;
+
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX; i++) {
+    if(party->members[i].status == BATTLE_FIGHTER_STATUS_NULL) continue;
+    partyHealMember(i);
+  }
 }

src/dusk/rpg/battle/party.h

@@ -6,55 +6,80 @@
  */
 
 #pragma once
-#include "battlefighter.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighter.h"
+#include "yyjson.h"
 
-#define PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX 4
-#define PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX 3
+#define PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX 10
+#define PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX 4
+#define PARTY_KEY_LENGTH_MAX 32
 #define PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY 0xFF
+#define PARTY_MEMBER_NOT_FOUND 0xFF
 
 typedef struct {
   battlefighter_t members[PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX];
-
-  // Maps an active battle slot to the roster member filling it, or
-  // PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY if the slot is unfilled. Only the first
-  // PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX of the PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX roster members
-  // can be in the active lineup at once.
+  char_t keys[PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX][PARTY_KEY_LENGTH_MAX];
   uint8_t order[PARTY_ACTIVE_SIZE_MAX];
 } party_t;
 
-extern party_t PARTY;
-
 /**
- * Initializes the party system with an empty roster and order.
- */
-void partyInit(void);
-
-/**
- * Gets an available (unused) party member slot index.
+ * Initializes party with an empty order, then seeds every roster slot
+ * directly from party.jsonc's "members" object (each key/value pair fills
+ * the next members[]/keys[] slot in the object's iteration order, key
+ * copied into keys[] and value parsed via battleFighterParse) - unlike
+ * partyAddMember, this never touches order itself except for one
+ * placeholder default: if party.jsonc defines at least one member,
+ * order[0] is set to 0 (the first member starts active in the first party
+ * position). Replace this default once there's a real starting-party/
+ * character-creation flow.
  *
- * @return The index of an available slot, or 0xFF if the party is full.
+ * @param party The party to initialize.
+ * @return Error if party.jsonc fails to load/parse, defines more members
+ * than PARTY_MEMBER_COUNT_MAX has room for, or a key exceeds
+ * PARTY_KEY_LENGTH_MAX.
  */
-uint8_t partyGetAvailableMember(void);
+errorret_t partyInit(party_t *party);
 
 /**
- * Adds a member to the party roster in the next available slot. Party
- * members are always allies controlled by the player. If there is a
- * free active order slot, the new member is placed into it.
+ * Looks up a roster member's index by its party.jsonc key (see
+ * party_t.keys).
  *
- * @param stats The member's base combat stats.
- * @param healthMax The member's maximum health.
- * @param mpMax The member's maximum mp.
- * @return Pointer to the newly added party member, or NULL if the party is
- *         already full.
+ * @param key The member's key to search for.
+ * @return The matching roster index, or PARTY_MEMBER_NOT_FOUND if no
+ * member has that key.
  */
-battlefighter_t *partyAddMember(
-  const battlefighterstats_t stats,
-  const uint16_t healthMax,
-  const uint16_t mpMax
-);
+uint8_t partyGetMemberIndexByKey(const char_t *key);
 
 /**
- * Gets the roster member currently occupying an active order slot.
+ * Gets a roster member's party.jsonc key by index (see party_t.keys).
+ *
+ * @param memberIndex The roster member index to query.
+ * @return The member's key - "" if memberIndex is past however many
+ * members party.jsonc actually defines.
+ */
+const char_t *partyGetMemberKey(const uint8_t memberIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Checks whether memberIndex currently occupies a slot in the current save
+ * slot's party order (i.e. is actively in the party right now).
+ *
+ * @param memberIndex The roster member index to check.
+ * @return True if memberIndex appears anywhere in order.
+ */
+bool_t partyIsMemberActive(const uint8_t memberIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Adds an existing roster member (see partyInit - every roster slot
+ * always exists once initialized) to the current save slot's active party
+ * order, in the first free order slot. No-op if memberIndex is already
+ * active, or if there is no free order slot.
+ *
+ * @param memberIndex The roster member index to activate.
+ */
+void partyAddMember(const uint8_t memberIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Gets the roster member currently occupying an active order slot in the
+ * current save slot's party.
  *
  * @param slot The active order slot to query.
  * @return Pointer to the member in that slot, or NULL if the slot is
@@ -63,11 +88,39 @@ battlefighter_t *partyAddMember(
 battlefighter_t *partyGetOrderMember(const uint8_t slot);
 
 /**
- * Assigns a roster member to an active order slot, replacing whatever
- * was there. Use PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY to clear a slot.
+ * Assigns a roster member to an active order slot in the current save
+ * slot's party, replacing whatever was there. Use PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY to
+ * clear a slot.
  *
  * @param slot The active order slot to assign.
  * @param memberIndex The roster member index to place there, or
  *        PARTY_ORDER_EMPTY to clear the slot.
  */
 void partySetOrder(const uint8_t slot, const uint8_t memberIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Removes memberIndex from the current save slot's active party order -
+ * the roster member itself is untouched (it still exists, per partyInit;
+ * it's simply no longer active) - shifting every later order entry down
+ * one slot to close the gap, so order stays packed with no holes between
+ * active members. No-op if memberIndex isn't currently active.
+ *
+ * @param memberIndex The roster member index to deactivate.
+ */
+void partyRemoveMember(const uint8_t memberIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Fully restores a roster member's health/mp to their max and clears a
+ * dead status back to normal - unlike battleFighterHeal, this can revive
+ * a dead member (there's no combat context here to keep them down). No-op
+ * if the slot is empty.
+ *
+ * @param memberIndex The roster member index to heal.
+ */
+void partyHealMember(const uint8_t memberIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Calls partyHealMember for every occupied slot in the current save
+ * slot's party roster.
+ */
+void partyHealAll(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+#
+# This software is released under the MIT License.
+# https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+# Sources
+target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
+  PUBLIC
+    battlestate.c
+    battlestateopening.c
+    battlestatepreround.c
+    battlestateselection.c
+    battlestateexecuting.c
+    battlestatepostround.c
+    battlestatelost.c
+    battlestatewon.c
+    battlestatefled.c
+    battlestateending.c
+)

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestate.c

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestate.h"
+
+battlestatefunctions_t BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE_STATE_COUNT] = {
+  [BATTLE_STATE_NULL] = { 0 },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_OPENING] = {
+    .init = battleStateOpeningInit,
+    .update = battleStateOpeningUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStateOpeningDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND] = {
+    .init = battleStatePreRoundInit,
+    .update = battleStatePreRoundUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStatePreRoundDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION] = {
+    .init = battleStateSelectionInit,
+    .update = battleStateSelectionUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStateSelectionDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING] = {
+    .init = battleStateExecutingInit,
+    .update = battleStateExecutingUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStateExecutingDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND] = {
+    .init = battleStatePostRoundInit,
+    .update = battleStatePostRoundUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStatePostRoundDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_LOST] = {
+    .init = battleStateLostInit,
+    .update = battleStateLostUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStateLostDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_WON] = {
+    .init = battleStateWonInit,
+    .update = battleStateWonUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStateWonDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_FLED] = {
+    .init = battleStateFledInit,
+    .update = battleStateFledUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStateFledDispose
+  },
+
+  [BATTLE_STATE_ENDING] = {
+    .init = battleStateEndingInit,
+    .update = battleStateEndingUpdate,
+    .dispose = battleStateEndingDispose
+  }
+};

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestate.h

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ * 
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "battlestateopening.h"
+#include "battlestatepreround.h"
+#include "battlestateselection.h"
+#include "battlestateexecuting.h"
+#include "battlestatepostround.h"
+#include "battlestatelost.h"
+#include "battlestatewon.h"
+#include "battlestatefled.h"
+#include "battlestateending.h"
+
+typedef enum {
+  // No active battle.
+  BATTLE_STATE_NULL,
+
+  // Battle hasn't actually started yet, equiv to trainer intro in Pokemon.
+  BATTLE_STATE_OPENING,
+  // Pre round, anything that happens before AI or Player can act.
+  BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND,
+  // Player is deciding what to do, waiting for their input
+  BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION,
+  // Currently executing the moves.
+  BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING,
+  // Post round, anything that happens after AI or Player has acted, loops back
+  // after this point
+  BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND,
+  // Battle has ended with a player loss
+  BATTLE_STATE_LOST,
+  // Battle has ended with a player win
+  BATTLE_STATE_WON,
+  // Battle has ended with a player fleeing
+  BATTLE_STATE_FLED,
+  // Battle state is done, this is fade out or whatever.
+  BATTLE_STATE_ENDING,
+
+  BATTLE_STATE_COUNT
+} battlestate_t;
+
+typedef union {
+  battlestateopening_t opening;
+  battlestatepreround_t preRound;
+  battlestateselection_t selection;
+  battlestateexecuting_t executing;
+  battlestatepostround_t postRound;
+  battlestatelost_t lost;
+  battlestatewon_t won;
+  battlestatefled_t fled;
+  battlestateending_t ending;
+} battlestatedata_t;
+
+typedef struct {
+  void (*init)();
+  void (*update)();
+  void (*dispose)();
+} battlestatefunctions_t;
+
+extern battlestatefunctions_t BATTLE_STATE_FUNCTIONS[BATTLE_STATE_COUNT];

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateending.c

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestateending.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
+#include "scene/scene.h"
+
+void battleStateEndingInit(void) {
+  // Tear down the battle and hand control back to the overworld. The
+  // overworld scene keeps no state of its own in scenedata_t (player/map
+  // state lives in the separate global entity/map systems, untouched by
+  // switching to/from SCENE_TYPE_BATTLE), so there's nothing else to
+  // restore here.
+  battleDispose();
+  sceneSet(SCENE_TYPE_OVERWORLD);
+}
+
+void battleStateEndingUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStateEndingDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateending.h

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestateending_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_ENDING. Disposes the battle
+ * (see battleDispose) and switches back to SCENE_TYPE_OVERWORLD.
+ */
+void battleStateEndingInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_ENDING for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStateEndingUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_ENDING.
+ */
+void battleStateEndingDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateexecuting.c

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestateexecuting.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h"
+#include "asset/assetfile.h"
+#include "ui/overlay/uifatalerror.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+#include "util/string.h"
+
+
+void battleStateExecutingResolveFighterIndex(
+  battlefighterpos_t *fighterIndex,
+  const uint8_t userIndex,
+  const battlemoveaction_t *action
+) {
+  if(*fighterIndex == BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET) {
+    *fighterIndex = action->targets[0];
+  } else if(*fighterIndex == BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_USER) {
+    *fighterIndex = userIndex;
+  }
+}
+
+void battleStateExecutingInit(void) {
+  cutsceneitem_t items[BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING_ITEMS_MAX];
+  uint8_t itemsCount = 0;
+
+  // For each action (just queued during selection). actionsPending is
+  // indexed by fighter position, not sequentially, so scan every position
+  // and stop early once every pending action has been processed.
+  uint8_t processed = 0;
+  for(
+    uint8_t i = 0;
+    i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT && processed < BATTLE.actionsPendingCount;
+    i++
+  ) {
+    // Get action.
+    battlemoveaction_t *action = &BATTLE.actionsPending[i];
+    if(action->move == BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL) continue;
+    processed++;
+
+    assertTrue(action->move < BATTLE_MOVE_COUNT, "Invalid move id");
+    
+    // Get ability.
+    battleability_t *ability = &BATTLE_MOVES[action->move];
+    assertStrLenMin(ability->name, 1, "Invalid move name");
+
+    // Determine cutscene path
+    char_t path[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
+    stringFormat(
+      path, ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX - 1,
+      "cutscenes/battle/moves/%s.jsonc", ability->name
+    );
+
+    // Load and parse the move's cutscene straight into the tail of items.
+    const uint8_t moveItemsStart = itemsCount;
+    cutscene_t scene;
+    errorret_t result = cutsceneLoadParse(
+      path, &scene, &items[itemsCount],
+      BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING_ITEMS_MAX - itemsCount
+    );
+    if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
+      errorCatch(errorPrint(result));
+      uiFatalErrorOpen(NULL);
+      continue;
+    }
+    itemsCount += scene.itemCount;
+
+    // Resolve BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET/USER sentinels against this
+    // action, now that its user/target fighters are known.
+    for(uint8_t j = moveItemsStart; j < itemsCount; j++) {
+      cutsceneitem_t *moveItem = &items[j];
+      if(moveItem->type == CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE) {
+        battleStateExecutingResolveFighterIndex(
+          &moveItem->battleFighterDamage.fighterIndex, i, action
+        );
+      } else if(moveItem->type == CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL) {
+        battleStateExecutingResolveFighterIndex(
+          &moveItem->battleFighterHeal.fighterIndex, i, action
+        );
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Insert end of attack cutscene item.
+    items[itemsCount++] = (cutsceneitem_t){
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_POST_MOVE
+    };
+
+    // This action has now been resolved - clear it so it isn't
+    // re-executed (and doesn't block re-selection) next round.
+    action->move = BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL;
+  }
+  BATTLE.actionsPendingCount = 0;
+
+  // After all moves completed, transition to pre-round for next round.
+  items[itemsCount++] = (cutsceneitem_t){
+    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_SET_STATE,
+    .battleSetState = { .state = BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND }
+  };
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, itemsCount);
+}
+
+void battleStateExecutingUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStateExecutingDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateexecuting.h

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterpos.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/move/battlemoveaction.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestateexecuting_t;
+
+#define BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING_ITEMS_MAX 64
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING.
+ */
+void battleStateExecutingInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Resolves a BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET/BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_USER sentinel
+ * (as parsed onto a BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE/BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL item inside
+ * a move's own cutscene) against the action currently being resolved
+ * into cutscene items. Leaves fighterIndex untouched if it's already a
+ * concrete BATTLE.fighters index.
+ *
+ * @param fighterIndex The field to resolve in place.
+ * @param userIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the fighter performing
+ * the action.
+ * @param action The action being resolved.
+ */
+void battleStateExecutingResolveFighterIndex(
+  battlefighterpos_t *fighterIndex,
+  const uint8_t userIndex,
+  const battlemoveaction_t *action
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStateExecutingUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING.
+ */
+void battleStateExecutingDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatefled.c

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestatefled.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+
+void battleStateFledInit(void) {
+  const cutsceneitem_t items[] = {
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_TEXT,
+      .text = { .text = "Got away safely!" }
+    },
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_SET_STATE,
+      .battleSetState = { .state = BATTLE_STATE_ENDING }
+    }
+  };
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, sizeof(items) / sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+}
+
+void battleStateFledUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStateFledDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatefled.h

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestatefled_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_FLED. Queues a textbox
+ * announcing the escape, then transitions to BATTLE_STATE_ENDING once
+ * dismissed.
+ */
+void battleStateFledInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_FLED for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStateFledUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_FLED.
+ */
+void battleStateFledDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatelost.c

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestatelost.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+
+void battleStateLostInit(void) {
+  const cutsceneitem_t items[] = {
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_TEXT,
+      .text = { .text = "You were defeated..." }
+    },
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_SET_STATE,
+      .battleSetState = { .state = BATTLE_STATE_ENDING }
+    }
+  };
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, sizeof(items) / sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+}
+
+void battleStateLostUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStateLostDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatelost.h

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestatelost_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_LOST. Queues a textbox
+ * announcing the loss, then transitions to BATTLE_STATE_ENDING once
+ * dismissed.
+ */
+void battleStateLostInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_LOST for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStateLostUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_LOST.
+ */
+void battleStateLostDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateopening.c

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestateopening.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+
+void battleStateOpeningInit(void) {
+  const cutsceneitem_t items[] = {
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_SET_STATE,
+      .battleSetState = { .state = BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND }
+    }
+  };
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, sizeof(items) / sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+}
+
+void battleStateOpeningUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStateOpeningDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateopening.h

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestateopening_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_OPENING.
+ */
+void battleStateOpeningInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_OPENING for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStateOpeningUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_OPENING.
+ */
+void battleStateOpeningDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatepostround.c

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestatepostround.h"
+
+void battleStatePostRoundInit(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStatePostRoundUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStatePostRoundDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatepostround.h

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestatepostround_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND.
+ */
+void battleStatePostRoundInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStatePostRoundUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_POST_ROUND.
+ */
+void battleStatePostRoundDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatepreround.c

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestatepreround.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+
+void battleStatePreRoundInit(void) {
+  // TODO: Determine selection order and who gets to act.
+  BATTLE.fighterOrderCount = 0;
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT; i++) {
+    if(BATTLE.fighters[i] == NULL) continue;
+    if(!battleFighterIsAlive(BATTLE.fighters[i])) continue;
+    BATTLE.fighterOrder[BATTLE.fighterOrderCount++] = i;
+  }
+
+  // Queue up the set state and wait for selection to stop cutscene ending.
+  cutsceneitem_t items[] = {
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_SET_STATE,
+      .battleSetState = { .state = BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION }
+    },
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_WAIT_SELECTION
+    }
+  };
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, sizeof(items) / sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+}
+
+void battleStatePreRoundUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStatePreRoundDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatepreround.h

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestatepreround_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND.
+ */
+void battleStatePreRoundInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStatePreRoundUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_PRE_ROUND.
+ */
+void battleStatePreRoundDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateselection.c

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestateselection.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+
+void battleStateSelectionInit(void) {
+  BATTLE.stateData.selection.selectionIndex = 0;
+}
+
+bool_t battleStateSelectionFighterHasDecided(const uint8_t fighterIndex) {
+  assertTrue(fighterIndex < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT, "Fighter OOB");
+  return BATTLE.actionsPending[fighterIndex].move != BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL;
+}
+
+bool_t battleStateSelectionFighterNeedsDecision(const uint8_t fighterIndex) {
+  assertTrue(fighterIndex < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT, "Fighter OOB");
+
+  battlefighter_t *fighter = BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex];
+  if(fighter == NULL) return false;
+  if(!battleFighterIsAlive(fighter)) return false;
+
+  return !battleStateSelectionFighterHasDecided(fighterIndex);
+}
+
+bool_t battleStateSelectionIsComplete(void) {
+  return BATTLE.stateData.selection.selectionIndex >= BATTLE.fighterOrderCount;
+}
+
+void battleStateSelectionAiDecide(const uint8_t fighterIndex) {
+  battlefighter_t *fighter = BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex];
+  const battlefighterteam_t enemyTeam =
+    fighter->team == BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY ?
+      BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY : BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY;
+
+  // Simple placeholder AI: attack the first living fighter on the
+  // opposing team. No move variety or target scoring yet.
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT; i++) {
+    battlefighter_t *candidate = BATTLE.fighters[i];
+    if(candidate == NULL) continue;
+    if(candidate->team != enemyTeam) continue;
+    if(!battleFighterIsAlive(candidate)) continue;
+
+    battleStateSelectionQueueAttack(fighterIndex, i);
+    return;
+  }
+}
+
+void battleStateSelectionUpdate(void) {
+  battlestateselection_t *state = &BATTLE.stateData.selection;
+
+  // Are we still waiting for a selection?
+  while(state->selectionIndex < BATTLE.fighterOrderCount) {
+    const uint8_t fighterIndex = BATTLE.fighterOrder[state->selectionIndex];
+
+    // Is this fighter still owed a decision?
+    if(!battleStateSelectionFighterNeedsDecision(fighterIndex)) {
+      state->selectionIndex++;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    // Players will act on their own.
+    battlefighter_t *fighter = BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex];
+    if(fighter->controller != BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_AI) return;
+
+    battleStateSelectionAiDecide(fighterIndex);
+    state->selectionIndex++;
+  }
+}
+
+void battleStateSelectionDispose(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStateSelectionQueueAttack(
+  const uint8_t fighterIndex,
+  const uint8_t targetIndex
+) {
+  assertTrue(fighterIndex < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT, "Fighter OOB");
+  assertTrue(targetIndex < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT, "Target OOB");
+  assertNotNull(BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex], "Fighter cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(BATTLE.fighters[targetIndex], "Target cannot be NULL");
+
+  const battlemoveid_t move = battleMoveGetIdByName("slash");
+  assertTrue(move != BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL, "Missing 'slash' battle move");
+
+  battlemoveaction_t *action = &BATTLE.actionsPending[fighterIndex];
+  if(action->move == BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL) BATTLE.actionsPendingCount++;
+  action->move = move;
+  action->targets[0] = targetIndex;
+  action->user = BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex];
+}
+
+battlefighter_t *battleStateSelectionGetCurrentFighter(void) {
+  if(BATTLE.state != BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION) return NULL;
+
+  const uint8_t index = BATTLE.stateData.selection.selectionIndex;
+  if(index >= BATTLE.fighterOrderCount) return NULL;
+
+  return BATTLE.fighters[BATTLE.fighterOrder[index]];
+}
+
+void battleStateSelectionPlayerAttack(const uint8_t targetIndex) {
+  battlefighter_t *fighter = battleStateSelectionGetCurrentFighter();
+  if(fighter == NULL) return;
+
+  const uint8_t selectionIndex = BATTLE.stateData.selection.selectionIndex;
+  const uint8_t fighterIndex = BATTLE.fighterOrder[selectionIndex];
+  battleStateSelectionQueueAttack(fighterIndex, targetIndex);
+  BATTLE.stateData.selection.selectionIndex++;
+}
+
+void battleStateSelectionGoBack(void) {
+  battlestateselection_t *state = &BATTLE.stateData.selection;
+  uint8_t index = state->selectionIndex;
+
+  while(index > 0) {
+    index--;
+
+    const uint8_t fighterIndex = BATTLE.fighterOrder[index];
+    battlefighter_t *fighter = BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex];
+    if(fighter == NULL) continue;
+    if(fighter->controller != BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER) continue;
+    if(!battleStateSelectionFighterHasDecided(fighterIndex)) continue;
+
+    battlemoveaction_t *action = &BATTLE.actionsPending[fighterIndex];
+    action->move = BATTLE_MOVE_ID_NULL;
+    BATTLE.actionsPendingCount--;
+
+    state->selectionIndex = index;
+    return;
+  }
+}
+
+void battleStateSelectionPlayerFlee(void) {
+  battlefighter_t *fighter = battleStateSelectionGetCurrentFighter();
+  if(fighter == NULL) return;
+
+  BATTLE.result = BATTLE_RESULT_FLED;
+  battleSetState(BATTLE_STATE_FLED);
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestateselection.h

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighter.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+  // Cursor into BATTLE.fighters (by position index) for the fighter
+  // currently deciding a move this round.
+  uint8_t selectionIndex;
+} battlestateselection_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION.
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION for one frame: auto-decides (see
+ * battleStateSelectionAiDecide) for every AI-controlled fighter the
+ * cursor passes, stopping once it reaches a player-controlled fighter
+ * awaiting input (see battleStateSelectionGetCurrentFighter). Once every
+ * position has decided, BATTLE_WAIT_SELECTION (see
+ * cutsceneBattleWaitSelectionUpdate) queues the move to
+ * BATTLE_STATE_EXECUTING.
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION.
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionDispose(void);
+
+/**
+ * Checks whether the fighter at fighterIndex has already queued a move
+ * this round.
+ *
+ * @param fighterIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters to check.
+ * @return True if an action is already pending for this fighter.
+ */
+bool_t battleStateSelectionFighterHasDecided(const uint8_t fighterIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Checks whether the fighter at fighterIndex is a live, undecided
+ * candidate that BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION should still be deciding a move
+ * for.
+ *
+ * @param fighterIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters to check.
+ * @return True if the fighter is alive and has no move queued yet.
+ */
+bool_t battleStateSelectionFighterNeedsDecision(const uint8_t fighterIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Decides and queues a move for an AI-controlled fighter: currently
+ * always a basic attack against the first living fighter on the
+ * opposing team (see battleStateSelectionQueueAttack). No-ops if there's
+ * no living target (the battle should already be over by then via
+ * BATTLE_POST_MOVE).
+ *
+ * @param fighterIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the deciding fighter.
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionAiDecide(const uint8_t fighterIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Checks whether every fighter in BATTLE.fighterOrder has decided a move
+ * this round.
+ *
+ * @return True once the selection cursor has passed every fighter.
+ */
+bool_t battleStateSelectionIsComplete(void);
+
+/**
+ * Queues a basic attack (the "slash" move) from fighterIndex against
+ * targetIndex.
+ *
+ * @param fighterIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the deciding fighter.
+ * @param targetIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the target.
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionQueueAttack(
+  const uint8_t fighterIndex,
+  const uint8_t targetIndex
+);
+
+/**
+ * Returns the fighter currently awaiting a decision in
+ * BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION.
+ *
+ * @return Pointer to the fighter awaiting a decision, or NULL if the
+ *         battle isn't in BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION or every position has
+ *         already decided.
+ */
+battlefighter_t *battleStateSelectionGetCurrentFighter(void);
+
+/**
+ * Submits the currently-selecting fighter's attack against a target, if
+ * the battle is in BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION and awaiting a decision. Queues
+ * the move and advances the selection cursor.
+ *
+ * @param targetIndex Index into BATTLE.fighters of the target.
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionPlayerAttack(const uint8_t targetIndex);
+
+/**
+ * Ends the battle immediately with BATTLE_STATE_FLED, if the battle is in
+ * BATTLE_STATE_SELECTION and awaiting a decision.
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionPlayerFlee(void);
+
+/**
+ * Rewinds the selection cursor to the nearest earlier player-controlled
+ * fighter that has already decided a move this round, clearing its
+ * pending action so it can be re-decided. AI-decided fighters along the
+ * way are left alone (skipped over, not rewound onto). No-ops if there's
+ * no such fighter (e.g. already at the first decision of the round).
+ */
+void battleStateSelectionGoBack(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatewon.c

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "battlestatewon.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+
+void battleStateWonInit(void) {
+  const cutsceneitem_t items[] = {
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_TEXT,
+      .text = { .text = "You won the battle!" }
+    },
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_SET_STATE,
+      .battleSetState = { .state = BATTLE_STATE_ENDING }
+    }
+  };
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, sizeof(items) / sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+}
+
+void battleStateWonUpdate(void) {
+
+}
+
+void battleStateWonDispose(void) {
+
+}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/state/battlestatewon.h

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+
+} battlestatewon_t;
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle enters BATTLE_STATE_WON. Queues a textbox
+ * announcing the win, then transitions to BATTLE_STATE_ENDING once
+ * dismissed.
+ */
+void battleStateWonInit(void);
+
+/**
+ * Updates BATTLE_STATE_WON for one frame.
+ */
+void battleStateWonUpdate(void);
+
+/**
+ * Called when the battle leaves BATTLE_STATE_WON.
+ */
+void battleStateWonDispose(void);

src/dusk/rpg/battle/testbattle/testbattle.c

@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#include "testbattle.h"
-#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
-#include "scene/scene.h"
-
-void testBattleStart(void) {
-  battleInit();
-
-  const battlefighterstats_t allyOneStats =
-    { .attack = 10, .defense = 5, .magic = 0, .speed = 10, .luck = 0 };
-  const battlefighterstats_t allyTwoStats =
-    { .attack = 8, .defense = 4, .magic = 0, .speed = 8, .luck = 0 };
-  const battlefighterstats_t enemyOneStats =
-    { .attack = 6, .defense = 3, .magic = 0, .speed = 6, .luck = 0 };
-  const battlefighterstats_t enemyTwoStats =
-    { .attack = 7, .defense = 3, .magic = 0, .speed = 5, .luck = 0 };
-
-  battleAddFighter(
-    BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY, BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER,
-    allyOneStats, 30, 10
-  );
-  battleAddFighter(
-    BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY, BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_PLAYER,
-    allyTwoStats, 25, 10
-  );
-  battleAddFighter(
-    BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY, BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_AI,
-    enemyOneStats, 20, 5
-  );
-  battleAddFighter(
-    BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ENEMY, BATTLE_FIGHTER_CONTROLLER_AI,
-    enemyTwoStats, 20, 5
-  );
-
-  battleStart(BATTLE_ENCOUNTER_REGULAR, true);
-  sceneSet(SCENE_TYPE_BATTLE);
-}

src/dusk/rpg/battle/testbattle/testbattle.h

@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#pragma once
-#include "error/error.h"
-
-/**
- * TEMPORARY test hook: sets up a hardcoded mock battle and switches to the
- * battle scene, so the battle scene (camera/fighters/HUD) can be seen and
- * played without a real encounter trigger yet.
- */
-void testBattleStart(void);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 # Sources
 target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC
+    cutscene.c
+    cutsceneref.c
     cutscenesystem.c
 )
 

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.c

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2025 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "cutscene.h"
+#include "item/json/cutscenejsonpauseflags.h"
+#include "util/memory.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+#include "asset/asset.h"
+#include "asset/loader/assetloader.h"
+
+errorret_t cutsceneParseItem(
+  yyjson_val *itemObj,
+  cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  const uint8_t index
+) {
+  assertNotNull(itemObj, "Item object cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(item, "Item cannot be NULL");
+
+  if(!yyjson_is_obj(itemObj)) {
+    errorThrow("Cutscene item %u is not an object", (uint32_t)index);
+  }
+
+  const char_t *typeName = yyjson_get_str(yyjson_obj_get(itemObj, "type"));
+  if(!cutsceneItemLookupType(typeName, &item->type)) {
+    errorThrow(
+      "Cutscene item %u: missing/unsupported item type %s",
+      (uint32_t)index, typeName
+    );
+  }
+
+  cutsceneitemloadcallback_t *load = CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS[item->type].load;
+  if(load == NULL) {
+    errorThrow(
+      "Cutscene item %u: unhandled item type %u",
+      (uint32_t)index, (uint32_t)item->type
+    );
+  }
+
+  errorret_t result = load(itemObj, item);
+  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) errorChain(result);
+
+  errorOk();
+}
+
+size_t cutsceneCountItems(yyjson_doc *doc) {
+  assertNotNull(doc, "Doc cannot be NULL");
+
+  yyjson_val *root = yyjson_doc_get_root(doc);
+  yyjson_val *itemsArr = yyjson_obj_get(root, "items");
+  if(!yyjson_is_arr(itemsArr)) return 0;
+  return yyjson_arr_size(itemsArr);
+}
+
+errorret_t cutsceneParseDoc(
+  yyjson_doc *doc,
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  size_t itemsMax
+) {
+  assertNotNull(doc, "Doc cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(scene, "Scene cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(items, "Items cannot be NULL");
+  assertTrue(itemsMax > 0, "Items max cannot be 0");
+
+  yyjson_val *root = yyjson_doc_get_root(doc);
+  yyjson_val *itemsArr = yyjson_obj_get(root, "items");
+  if(!yyjson_is_arr(itemsArr)) {
+    errorThrow("Cutscene JSON is missing an 'items' array");
+  }
+
+  size_t itemCount = yyjson_arr_size(itemsArr);
+  if(itemCount > itemsMax) {
+    errorThrow("Cutscene has more items than its target buffer allows");
+  }
+
+  cutscenepause_t pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_DEFAULT;
+  yyjson_val *pauseArr = yyjson_obj_get(root, "pause");
+  if(yyjson_is_arr(pauseArr)) {
+    if(!cutsceneJsonParsePauseFlags(pauseArr, &pause)) {
+      errorThrow("Cutscene JSON has an invalid 'pause' flag");
+    }
+  }
+
+  memoryZero(items, itemCount * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+
+  yyjson_arr_iter itemIter = yyjson_arr_iter_with(itemsArr);
+  yyjson_val *itemVal;
+  uint8_t index = 0;
+  while((itemVal = yyjson_arr_iter_next(&itemIter)) != NULL) {
+    errorret_t itemResult = cutsceneParseItem(itemVal, &items[index], index);
+    if(errorIsNotOk(itemResult)) errorChain(itemResult);
+    index++;
+  }
+
+  scene->itemCount = (uint8_t)itemCount;
+  scene->itemsMax = itemsMax;
+  scene->pause = pause;
+
+  errorOk();
+}
+
+void cutsceneAppendAt(
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  const uint8_t atIndex,
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const uint8_t count
+) {
+  assertNotNull(scene, "Scene cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(items, "Items cannot be NULL");
+  assertTrue(count > 0, "Count cannot be 0");
+  assertTrue(atIndex <= scene->itemCount, "atIndex out of bounds");
+  assertTrue(
+    (size_t)scene->itemCount + count <= scene->itemsMax,
+    "Cutscene item append exceeds itemsMax"
+  );
+
+  const size_t tailCount = (size_t)scene->itemCount - atIndex;
+  if(tailCount > 0) {
+    memoryMove(
+      &scene->items[atIndex + count],
+      &scene->items[atIndex],
+      tailCount * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t)
+    );
+  }
+  memoryCopy(&scene->items[atIndex], items, count * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+  scene->itemCount += count;
+}
+
+void cutsceneAppend(
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const uint8_t count
+) {
+  cutsceneAppendAt(scene, scene->itemCount, items, count);
+}
+
+void cutsceneAppendNext(
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  const uint8_t currentIndex,
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const uint8_t count
+) {
+  cutsceneAppendAt(scene, (uint8_t)(currentIndex + 1), items, count);
+}
+
+errorret_t cutsceneLoadParse(
+  const char_t *path,
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const size_t itemsMax
+) {
+  assertNotNull(path, "Path cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(scene, "Scene cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(items, "Items cannot be NULL");
+
+  // Lock the asset, require it loaded.
+  assetentry_t *entry = assetLock(path, ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_JSON, NULL);
+  errorret_t result = assetRequireLoaded(entry);
+  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
+    assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+    errorChain(result);
+  }
+
+  // Parse the loaded JSON
+  errorret_t parseResult = cutsceneParseDoc(
+    entry->data.json, scene, items, itemsMax
+  );
+
+  // Free up the asset entry.
+  assetUnlockEntry(entry);
+  errorChain(parseResult);
+
+  errorOk();
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscene.h

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /**
  * Copyright (c) 2025 Dominic Masters
- * 
+ *
  * This software is released under the MIT License.
  * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
  */
@@ -10,504 +10,145 @@
 #include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenepause.h"
 
 typedef struct cutscene_s {
-  const cutsceneitem_t *items;
+  cutsceneitem_t *items;
   uint8_t itemCount;
+  // Capacity of items - see cutsceneAppend/cutsceneAppendAt/
+  // cutsceneAppendNext, which assert against this rather than taking a
+  // capacity parameter of their own. Set once, either by cutsceneParseDoc
+  // (to whatever itemsMax it was given) or by whoever declares a
+  // C-authored cutscene_t directly (to items' true array capacity, which
+  // may be larger than itemCount to leave room for a later append/insert).
+  size_t itemsMax;
   cutscenepause_t pause;
-
-  // Size in bytes of this cutscene's custom user data, carved out of
-  // CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data while the cutscene is running.
-  size_t dataSize;
 } cutscene_t;
 
-#define CUTSCENE(NAME, SIZE, PAUSE_TYPE, ...) \
-  static const cutsceneitem_t CUTSCENE_##NAME##_ITEMS[] = { __VA_ARGS__ }; \
-  static const cutscene_t CUTSCENE_##NAME = { \
-    .items = CUTSCENE_##NAME##_ITEMS, \
-    .itemCount = sizeof(CUTSCENE_##NAME##_ITEMS) / sizeof(cutsceneitem_t), \
-    .pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_##PAUSE_TYPE, \
-    .dataSize = SIZE \
-  };
+/**
+ * Parses one cutscene item object into item. Every field/enum name is
+ * validated as real (untrusted, authored) file content - failures are
+ * real errors, not asserts. Dispatches to the matching type's Load
+ * callback (see CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS in item/cutsceneitem.h) - the
+ * per-type parsing logic itself lives there, colocated with that type's
+ * runtime behavior.
+ *
+ * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
+ * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
+ * @param index Index of this item within the cutscene, for error messages.
+ * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
+ */
+errorret_t cutsceneParseItem(
+  yyjson_val *itemObj,
+  cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  const uint8_t index
+);
 
-#define CUTSCENE_REFERENCE(CUTSCENE) \
-  &CUTSCENE_##CUTSCENE
+/**
+ * Counts how many entries are in doc's top-level "items" array, without
+ * parsing any of them - e.g. so a caller that wants to malloc its own
+ * items array instead of using a fixed one could size it first (we don't
+ * do that ourselves, but the option stays open).
+ *
+ * @param doc Already-parsed JSON document.
+ * @return Number of entries in "items", or 0 if it's missing/not an array.
+ */
+size_t cutsceneCountItems(yyjson_doc *doc);
 
-#define CUTSCENE_TEXT(TEXT) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_TEXT, .text = { .text = TEXT } }
+/**
+ * Parses doc's "items" (and optional "pause") into items, and updates
+ * scene's itemCount/itemsMax/pause - scene->items is left untouched, since
+ * the caller already points it at items. Purely a parser: doesn't touch
+ * the asset system, doesn't lock/load anything, and doesn't take
+ * ownership of doc - the caller is responsible for both loading doc
+ * beforehand and for its lifetime afterward (though as of cutscene items
+ * owning their own string fields by value, nothing parsed here actually
+ * needs doc to survive past this call returning).
+ *
+ * @param doc Already-parsed JSON document to read from.
+ * @param scene Destination scene - itemCount/itemsMax/pause are
+ * overwritten.
+ * @param items Destination item array, capacity itemsMax.
+ * @param itemsMax Capacity of items.
+ * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
+ */
+errorret_t cutsceneParseDoc(
+  yyjson_doc *doc,
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  size_t itemsMax
+);
 
-#define CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI(TEXT, X, Y, Z, DURATION) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_TEXT_MINI, \
-    .textMini = { \
-      .text = TEXT, \
-      .position = { X, Y, Z }, \
-      .duration = DURATION \
-    } \
-  }
+/**
+ * Inserts items into scene->items starting at atIndex, growing
+ * scene->itemCount. Every existing item from atIndex onward shifts right
+ * by count to make room. Asserts if this would exceed scene->itemsMax.
+ *
+ * @param scene Cutscene to insert into.
+ * @param atIndex Index the first inserted item should end up at - must be
+ * <= scene->itemCount.
+ * @param items Items to insert, copied in order.
+ * @param count Number of entries in items.
+ */
+void cutsceneAppendAt(
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  const uint8_t atIndex,
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const uint8_t count
+);
 
-#define CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_HIDE(INDEX) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_TEXT_MINI_HIDE, \
-    .textMiniHide = { .index = INDEX } \
-  }
+/**
+ * Same as cutsceneAppendAt, but always inserts at the end of
+ * scene->items.
+ *
+ * @param scene Cutscene to append to.
+ * @param items Items to append, copied in order.
+ * @param count Number of entries in items.
+ */
+void cutsceneAppend(
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const uint8_t count
+);
 
-#define CUTSCENE_WAIT(WAIT) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_WAIT, .wait = WAIT }
+/**
+ * Same as cutsceneAppendAt, but inserts right after currentIndex (i.e. at
+ * currentIndex + 1) instead of at a literal index - e.g. pass
+ * CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem to make these items run immediately after
+ * the currently-executing one. currentIndex may be 0xFF (nothing has run
+ * yet), which wraps to insert at index 0, matching that sentinel's usual
+ * meaning elsewhere in the cutscene system.
+ *
+ * @param scene Cutscene to insert into.
+ * @param currentIndex Index to insert after.
+ * @param items Items to insert, copied in order.
+ * @param count Number of entries in items.
+ */
+void cutsceneAppendNext(
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  const uint8_t currentIndex,
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const uint8_t count
+);
 
-// A named, otherwise no-op position in the item list that cutsceneGoTo
-// can jump execution straight to. NAME is matched with stringEquals,
-// not pointer identity, so it's safe to use separate string literals
-// with the same contents at the marker and at each call site.
-#define CUTSCENE_MARKER(NAME) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MARKER, .marker = { .name = NAME } }
-
-// Restarts the currently running cutscene from its first item,
-// preserving whatever interact/interacted entities triggered it.
-#define CUTSCENE_RESTART() \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_RESTART }
-
-// Blocks the cutscene here indefinitely - it never completes on its own,
-// only cutsceneGoTo (called externally, e.g. from a UI callback) can move
-// execution past it.
-#define CUTSCENE_IDLE() \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_IDLE }
-
-// Opens a full-screen UI panel (e.g. the main menu) declaratively, then
-// immediately continues on to whatever follows this item.
-#define CUTSCENE_UI_SHOW(SCREEN) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_UI_SHOW, .uiShow = { .screen = SCREEN } }
-
-// Requests a switch to a different SCENE_TYPE via sceneSet, then
-// immediately continues on to whatever follows this item - the switch
-// itself doesn't happen until the next sceneUpdate() tick, so it does
-// not take effect this frame.
-#define CUTSCENE_SCENE(TYPE) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SCENE, .sceneChange = { .type = TYPE } }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_CUTSCENE(CUTSCENE) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_CUTSCENE, \
-    .cutscene = CUTSCENE_REFERENCE(CUTSCENE) \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_CALLBACK(CALLBACK) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_CALLBACK, .callback = CALLBACK }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_PRINT(TEXT) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_PRINT, .print = { .text = TEXT } }
-
-// Shows a message-only modal (no option buttons) and immediately
-// continues on to whatever follows this item - it does not wait for
-// the dialog to be dismissed. Script the rest of the interaction (e.g.
-// CUTSCENE_CALLBACK to kick off work, CUTSCENE_WAIT, then
-// CUTSCENE_MODAL_CLOSE) as later items in the same cutscene.
-// TITLE and MESSAGE are each displayed as-is unless they match a
-// locale message ID, in which case the translated string is shown
-// instead - see uiModalLocalize.
-#define CUTSCENE_MODAL(TITLE, MESSAGE) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL, \
-    .modal = { .title = TITLE, .message = MESSAGE } \
-  }
-
-// Shows a modal with option buttons and immediately continues on, same
-// as CUTSCENE_MODAL - it does not block waiting for a selection.
-// Back/cancel input is disabled while it's open (see
-// uiMenuSetDisableBack), so it must be dismissed by picking one; CALLBACK
-// then fires with the selected option index once the dialog closes.
-// Option labels are passed as trailing arguments, e.g.
-// CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS(title, message, callback, "Retry", "Cancel") -
-// their strings are not copied by this item, so they must stay valid
-// until the modal opens (string literals are fine). Like TITLE and
-// MESSAGE, each option is translated if it matches a locale message ID.
-#define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS(TITLE, MESSAGE, CALLBACK, ...) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL, \
-    .modal = { \
-      .title = TITLE, .message = MESSAGE, \
-      .options = (const char_t *[]){ __VA_ARGS__ }, \
-      .optionCount = (uint8_t)( \
-        sizeof((const char_t *[]){ __VA_ARGS__ }) / sizeof(const char_t *) \
-      ), \
-      .callback = CALLBACK \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// Same as CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS, but fixed to exactly one option and
-// MARKER1 to jump straight to via cutsceneGoTo once it's selected - no
-// callback function to write. Does not fall through to whatever follows
-// this item, so MARKER1 must be scripted elsewhere in the same cutscene.
-#define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_ONE(TITLE, MESSAGE, OPTION1, MARKER1) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS, \
-    .modalOptionsMarkers = { \
-      .title = TITLE, .message = MESSAGE, \
-      .options = { OPTION1 }, \
-      .markers = { MARKER1 }, \
-      .optionCount = 1 \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// Same as CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS, but fixed to exactly two options,
-// jumping straight to OPTION1_MARKER or OPTION2_MARKER via cutsceneGoTo
-// once the corresponding option is selected - no callback function to
-// write. Does not fall through to whatever follows this item, so both
-// markers must be scripted elsewhere in the same cutscene.
-#define CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS_TWO( \
-  TITLE, MESSAGE, OPTION1, OPTION1_MARKER, OPTION2, OPTION2_MARKER \
-) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS, \
-    .modalOptionsMarkers = { \
-      .title = TITLE, .message = MESSAGE, \
-      .options = { OPTION1, OPTION2 }, \
-      .markers = { OPTION1_MARKER, OPTION2_MARKER }, \
-      .optionCount = 2 \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// Closes the currently open modal (if any). Useful when a modal was
-// opened outside of a blocking CUTSCENE_MODAL item (e.g. directly via
-// uiModalOpen) and this cutscene just needs to dismiss it and continue
-// on to whatever follows this item in the sequence.
-#define CUTSCENE_MODAL_CLOSE() \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_CLOSE }
-
-// Opens the on-screen keyboard and blocks the cutscene until it closes,
-// then caches whatever was typed - see cutsceneSystemGetTextCache to
-// read it back afterwards. __VA_ARGS__ are uikeyboardopen_t designated
-// initializers, e.g. CUTSCENE_KEYBOARD(.cancel = true, .maxLength = 8).
-#define CUTSCENE_KEYBOARD(...) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_KEYBOARD, \
-    .keyboard = { .open = { __VA_ARGS__ } } \
-  }
-
-// (Re)requests an available save device and jumps straight to
-// SUCCESS_MARKER or FAILURE_MARKER once it resolves, same as a
-// CUTSCENE_MODAL_OPTIONS callback - it does not fall through to
-// whatever follows this item, so both markers must be scripted
-// elsewhere in the same cutscene.
-#define CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK(SUCCESS_MARKER, FAILURE_MARKER) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK, \
-    .saveDeviceCheck = { \
-      .successMarker = SUCCESS_MARKER, \
-      .failureMarker = FAILURE_MARKER \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// (Re)loads every save slot via saveLoadAllSlots() and jumps straight to
-// SUCCESS_MARKER or FAILURE_MARKER once it resolves, same shape as
-// CUTSCENE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK - it does not fall through to whatever
-// follows this item, so both markers must be scripted elsewhere in the
-// same cutscene.
-#define CUTSCENE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS(SUCCESS_MARKER, FAILURE_MARKER) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS, \
-    .saveLoadAllSlots = { \
-      .successMarker = SUCCESS_MARKER, \
-      .failureMarker = FAILURE_MARKER \
-    } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_WALK_TO(ENTITY_INDEX, X, Y, Z) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_WALK_TO, \
-    .entityWalkTo = { \
-      .entityIndex = ENTITY_INDEX, \
-      .positions = (const worldpos_t[]){ { X, Y, Z } }, \
-      .count = 1, \
-      .walkAround = true \
-    } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_WALK_PATH(NAME, ENTITY_INDEX, ...) \
-  static const worldpos_t CUTSCENE_##NAME##_POSITIONS[] = { __VA_ARGS__ }; \
-  static const cutsceneitem_t CUTSCENE_##NAME = { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_WALK_TO, \
-    .entityWalkTo = { \
-      .entityIndex = ENTITY_INDEX, \
-      .positions = CUTSCENE_##NAME##_POSITIONS, \
-      .count = sizeof(CUTSCENE_##NAME##_POSITIONS) / sizeof(worldpos_t), \
-      .walkAround = true \
-    } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_REMOVE(ENTITY_INDEX) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_REMOVE, \
-    .entityRemove = { .entityIndex = ENTITY_INDEX } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_ADD(TYPE, X, Y, Z) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_ADD, \
-    .entityAdd = { .entityType = TYPE, .position = { X, Y, Z } } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_TURN(ENTITY_INDEX, DIRECTION) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_TURN, \
-    .entityTurn = { .entityIndex = ENTITY_INDEX, .direction = DIRECTION } \
-  }
-
-// Walks ENTITY_INDEX to stand beside TARGET_ENTITY_INDEX, offset by
-// (OFFSET_X, OFFSET_Y) on the 2D plane. The destination Z is resolved
-// from nearby terrain each frame, so ramps between the two entities are
-// accounted for automatically.
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_WALK_TO_ENTITY( \
-  ENTITY_INDEX, TARGET_ENTITY_INDEX, OFFSET_X, OFFSET_Y \
-) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_WALK_TO_ENTITY, \
-    .entityWalkToEntity = { \
-      .entityIndex = ENTITY_INDEX, \
-      .targetEntityIndex = TARGET_ENTITY_INDEX, \
-      .offsetX = OFFSET_X, \
-      .offsetY = OFFSET_Y \
-    } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_TELEPORT(ENTITY_INDEX, X, Y, Z) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ENTITY_TELEPORT, \
-    .entityTeleport = { .entityIndex = ENTITY_INDEX, .target = { X, Y, Z } } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_FADE(FROM, TO, DURATION, EASING) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_FADE, \
-    .fade = { .from = FROM, .to = TO, .duration = DURATION, .easing = EASING } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_FADE_TO_BLACK(DURATION) \
-  CUTSCENE_FADE(COLOR_TRANSPARENT_BLACK, COLOR_BLACK, DURATION, EASING_LINEAR)
-
-#define CUTSCENE_FADE_FROM_BLACK(DURATION) \
-  CUTSCENE_FADE(COLOR_BLACK, COLOR_TRANSPARENT_BLACK, DURATION, EASING_LINEAR)
-
-#define CUTSCENE_FADE_TO_WHITE(DURATION) \
-  CUTSCENE_FADE(COLOR_TRANSPARENT_WHITE, COLOR_WHITE, DURATION, EASING_LINEAR)
-
-#define CUTSCENE_FADE_FROM_WHITE(DURATION) \
-  CUTSCENE_FADE(COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_TRANSPARENT_WHITE, DURATION, EASING_LINEAR)
-
-#define CUTSCENE_EMOJI(ENTITY_INDEX, EMOJI_TYPE, DURATION) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_EMOJI, \
-    .emoji = { \
-      .entityIndex = ENTITY_INDEX, \
-      .emojiType = EMOJI_TYPE, \
-      .duration = DURATION \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// AMOUNT ranges 0 (no shake) to 4 (three tiles): 1 is half a tile, 2 is
-// a full tile, 3 is two tiles, and 4 is three tiles.
-#define CUTSCENE_SHAKE(AMOUNT, DURATION) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SHAKE, \
-    .shake = { .amount = AMOUNT, .duration = DURATION } \
-  }
-
-// Waits until BATTLE.state reaches STATE. Put this BEFORE
-// CUTSCENE_SET_PAUSE(CUTSCENE_PAUSE_BATTLE), not after -- pausing first
-// freezes BATTLE.state wherever it already is, so it would never reach
-// STATE on its own to satisfy the wait. Waiting unpaused, then pausing the
-// moment it's satisfied, catches the battle right at STATE before it can
-// advance further.
-#define CUTSCENE_BATTLE_WAIT_STATE(STATE) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_WAIT_STATE, \
-    .battleWaitState = { .state = STATE } \
-  }
-
-// Immediately queues an attack for FIGHTER_INDEX against TARGET_INDEX,
-// bypassing normal player/AI selection for that fighter this round.
-#define CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FORCE_ACTION(FIGHTER_INDEX, TARGET_INDEX) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_FORCE_ACTION, \
-    .battleForceAction = { \
-      .fighterIndex = FIGHTER_INDEX, .targetIndex = TARGET_INDEX \
-    } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_SET_PAUSE(FLAGS) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SET_PAUSE, .setPause = (FLAGS) }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_ITEM_GIVE(ITEM_ID, QUANTITY) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_ITEM_GIVE, \
-    .itemGive = { .item = ITEM_ID, .quantity = QUANTITY } \
-  }
-
-// Runs all listed items simultaneously and waits until all are done.
-// Concurrent items cannot be nested inside another CUTSCENE_CONCURRENT.
-#define CUTSCENE_CONCURRENT(...) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_CONCURRENT, \
-    .concurrent = { \
-      .items = (const cutsceneitem_t[]){ __VA_ARGS__ }, \
-      .count = (uint8_t)( \
-        sizeof((cutsceneitem_t[]){ __VA_ARGS__ }) / \
-        sizeof(cutsceneitem_t) \
-      ) \
-    } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_MAP_AREA_ADD( \
-  MIN_X, MIN_Y, MIN_Z, MAX_X, MAX_Y, MAX_Z, CALLBACK, NOTIFY, TRIGGER \
-) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MAP_AREA_ADD, \
-    .mapAreaAdd = { \
-      .min = { MIN_X, MIN_Y, MIN_Z }, \
-      .max = { MAX_X, MAX_Y, MAX_Z }, \
-      .callback = CALLBACK, \
-      .notify = NOTIFY, \
-      .trigger = TRIGGER \
-    } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_MAP_AREA_REMOVE(AREA_ID) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MAP_AREA_REMOVE, \
-    .mapAreaRemove = { .areaId = AREA_ID } \
-  }
-
-// Waits until any one of the given map area IDs has its callback invoked.
-// Accepts CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED in place of a literal area ID.
-#define CUTSCENE_MAP_AREA_WAIT(...) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MAP_AREA_WAIT, \
-    .mapAreaWait = { \
-      .areaIds = (const uint8_t[]){ __VA_ARGS__ }, \
-      .count = (uint8_t)( \
-        sizeof((const uint8_t[]){ __VA_ARGS__ }) / sizeof(uint8_t) \
-      ) \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// Adds a map area, waits for it to be triggered once, then removes it
-// before the cutscene continues. Uses a no-op callback since the wait is
-// driven by the area's trigger count rather than callback logic.
-#define CUTSCENE_MAP_AREA_TRIGGER_ONCE( \
-  MIN_X, MIN_Y, MIN_Z, MAX_X, MAX_Y, MAX_Z, NOTIFY, TRIGGER \
-) \
-  CUTSCENE_MAP_AREA_ADD( \
-    MIN_X, MIN_Y, MIN_Z, MAX_X, MAX_Y, MAX_Z, \
-    mapAreaNoopCallback, NOTIFY, TRIGGER \
-  ), \
-  CUTSCENE_MAP_AREA_WAIT(CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED), \
-  CUTSCENE_MAP_AREA_REMOVE(CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED)
-
-// Longhand - every audioMixerQueuePlay() parameter. See
-// CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PLAY_SIMPLE/CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PLAY_LOOPED below for the
-// shorthands.
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PLAY( \
-  FILE, CHANNEL, VOLUME, PAN, LOOPING, LOOP_COUNT, LOOP_START, LOOP_TO \
-) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_PLAY, \
-    .audioPlay = { \
-      .file = FILE, \
-      .channel = CHANNEL, \
-      .volume = VOLUME, \
-      .pan = PAN, \
-      .looping = LOOPING, \
-      .loopCount = LOOP_COUNT, \
-      .loopStart = LOOP_START, \
-      .loopTo = LOOP_TO \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// Shorthand: play FILE on CHANNEL once, full volume, centered (0.0f, same
-// as AUDIO_STREAM_CENTER), no loop.
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PLAY_SIMPLE(FILE, CHANNEL) \
-  CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PLAY(FILE, CHANNEL, 1.0f, 0.0f, false, 0, -1.0f, 0.0f)
-
-// Shorthand: play FILE on CHANNEL looping the whole clip forever, full
-// volume, centered (0.0f, same as AUDIO_STREAM_CENTER).
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PLAY_LOOPED(FILE, CHANNEL) \
-  CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PLAY(FILE, CHANNEL, 1.0f, 0.0f, true, 0, -1.0f, 0.0f)
-
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_STOP(CHANNEL) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_STOP, .audioStopChannel = CHANNEL }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_PAUSE(CHANNEL) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_PAUSE, .audioPauseChannel = CHANNEL }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_RESUME(CHANNEL) \
-  { .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_RESUME, .audioResumeChannel = CHANNEL }
-
-// Longhand - starts CHANNEL fading from FROM to TO over DURATION seconds,
-// eased by EASING. Doesn't wait for it - pair with
-// CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE_WAIT(CHANNEL) to block until it finishes. See
-// CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE_OUT/CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE_IN below for the shorthands;
-// use this directly for a custom range, e.g.
-// CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE(CHANNEL, 1.0f, 0.3f, 5.0f, EASING_LINEAR) to fade
-// down to "playing quietly" rather than silent.
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE(CHANNEL, FROM, TO, DURATION, EASING) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_FADE, \
-    .audioFade = { \
-      .channel = CHANNEL, \
-      .from = FROM, \
-      .to = TO, \
-      .duration = DURATION, \
-      .easing = EASING \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// Shorthand: fade CHANNEL from full volume to silent over DURATION seconds.
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE_OUT(CHANNEL, DURATION) \
-  CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE(CHANNEL, 1.0f, 0.0f, DURATION, EASING_LINEAR)
-
-// Shorthand: fade CHANNEL from silent to full volume over DURATION seconds.
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE_IN(CHANNEL, DURATION) \
-  CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE(CHANNEL, 0.0f, 1.0f, DURATION, EASING_LINEAR)
-
-// Waits until CHANNEL's fade (started elsewhere by CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE)
-// has finished - a no-op wait if CHANNEL isn't fading.
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_FADE_WAIT(CHANNEL) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_FADE_WAIT, \
-    .audioFadeWaitChannel = CHANNEL \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_SET_PAN(CHANNEL, PAN) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_SET_PAN, \
-    .audioSetPan = { .channel = CHANNEL, .pan = PAN } \
-  }
-
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_SET_LOOP( \
-  CHANNEL, LOOPING, LOOP_COUNT, LOOP_START, LOOP_TO \
-) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_SET_LOOP, \
-    .audioSetLoop = { \
-      .channel = CHANNEL, \
-      .looping = LOOPING, \
-      .loopCount = LOOP_COUNT, \
-      .loopStart = LOOP_START, \
-      .loopTo = LOOP_TO \
-    } \
-  }
-
-// Combined form of CUTSCENE_AUDIO_SET_PAN + CUTSCENE_AUDIO_SET_LOOP, for
-// setting both at once rather than as two separate items.
-#define CUTSCENE_AUDIO_SET( \
-  CHANNEL, PAN, LOOPING, LOOP_COUNT, LOOP_START, LOOP_TO \
-) \
-  { \
-    .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_AUDIO_SET, \
-    .audioSet = { \
-      .channel = CHANNEL, \
-      .pan = PAN, \
-      .looping = LOOPING, \
-      .loopCount = LOOP_COUNT, \
-      .loopStart = LOOP_START, \
-      .loopTo = LOOP_TO \
-    } \
-  }
+/**
+ * Loads a cutscene JSON asset by path and parses it into scene/items (see
+ * cutsceneParseDoc) - the common "lock the asset, require it loaded,
+ * parse its 'items' array, unlock it again" sequence shared by every
+ * place that resolves a cutscene by file path (cutsceneSystemLoad,
+ * cutsceneCutsceneResolve, cutsceneInsertResolveAndSplice,
+ * battleStateExecutingInit, cutsceneSystemGoTo's reload). Purely propagates the
+ * error on failure (like cutsceneParseDoc) - this is core cutscene logic,
+ * not UI, so it doesn't reach for uiFatalErrorOpen itself; each caller
+ * decides how to surface the failure (typically errorCatch(errorPrint())
+ * + uiFatalErrorOpen(NULL), same as any other asset load failure).
+ *
+ * @param path Asset path of the cutscene JSON file to load.
+ * @param scene Destination scene - itemCount/itemsMax/pause overwritten.
+ * @param items Destination item array, capacity itemsMax.
+ * @param itemsMax Capacity of items.
+ * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the load/parse.
+ */
+errorret_t cutsceneLoadParse(
+  const char_t *path,
+  cutscene_t *scene,
+  cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const size_t itemsMax
+);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutsceneref.c

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "cutsceneref.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+
+void cutsceneRefReset(
+  cutsceneref_t *refs,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+) {
+  assertNotNull(refs, "Refs cannot be null");
+
+  refs->entityInteract = interact;
+  refs->entityInteracted = interacted;
+  refs->entityLastCreated = NULL;
+  refs->entityLastRef = NULL;
+  refs->areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_REF_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
+  refs->textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_REF_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutsceneref.h

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "dusk.h"
+
+typedef struct entity_s entity_t;
+
+#define CUTSCENE_REF_AREA_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFF)
+#define CUTSCENE_REF_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFA)
+
+typedef struct {
+  entity_t *entityInteract;
+  entity_t *entityInteracted;
+  entity_t *entityLastCreated;
+  entity_t *entityLastRef;
+  uint8_t areaLastCreated;
+  uint8_t textMiniLastCreated;
+} cutsceneref_t;
+
+/**
+ * Resets refs to an empty state.
+ *
+ * @param refs Refs to reset.
+ * @param interact The entity that initiated the interaction, or NULL.
+ * @param interacted The entity being interacted with, or NULL.
+ */
+void cutsceneRefReset(
+  cutsceneref_t *refs,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.c

@@ -10,89 +10,15 @@
 #include "util/memory.h"
 #include "util/string.h"
 #include "assert/assert.h"
-#include "asset/asset.h"
 #include "ui/overlay/uifatalerror.h"
+#include "save/slot/saveslot.h"
 
 cutscenesystem_t CUTSCENE_SYSTEM;
 
 void cutsceneSystemInit() {
   memoryZero(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM, sizeof(cutscenesystem_t));
-}
-
-void cutsceneSystemPrepare(
-  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
-  entity_t *interact,
-  entity_t *interacted
-) {
-  assertTrue(
-    cutscene->dataSize < CUTSCENE_SYSTEM_SIZE_MAX,
-    "Cutscene data size exceeds CUTSCENE_SYSTEM_SIZE_MAX"
-  );
-
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = cutscene;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = cutscene->pause;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract = interact;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted = interacted;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0xFF;// Set to 0xFF so Next wraps to 0.
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
-}
-
-void cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene) {
-  cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
-}
-
-void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
-  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
-  entity_t *interact,
-  entity_t *interacted
-) {
-  cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, interact, interacted);
-  cutsceneSystemNext();
-}
-
-void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(
-  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
-  const char_t *marker
-) {
-  cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
-  cutsceneGoTo(marker);
-}
-
-void cutsceneSystemLoad(const char_t *file) {
-  char_t path[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
-  stringFormat(path, sizeof(path), "cutscenes/%s", file);
-
-  assetentry_t *entry = assetLock(path, ASSET_LOADER_TYPE_CUTSCENE, NULL);
-  errorret_t result = assetRequireLoaded(entry);
-  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
-    errorCatch(errorPrint(result));
-    uiFatalErrorOpen(NULL);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(&entry->data.cutscene.cutscene);
-}
-
-void cutsceneRestart(void) {
-  assertNotNull(
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneRestart called with no cutscene running"
-  );
-
-  // A restart is the same logical run trying again (e.g. retrying a failed
-  // save-device check), not a fresh unrelated start, so it should not
-  // silently drop a completion callback the caller already armed.
-  cutscenecallback_t onComplete = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete;
-  cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene,
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract,
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted
-  );
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = onComplete;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene.items = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedItems;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene.itemsMax = CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX;
 }
 
 void cutsceneSystemUpdate() {
@@ -102,42 +28,158 @@ void cutsceneSystemUpdate() {
   if(cutsceneItemUpdate(item, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data)) cutsceneSystemNext();
 }
 
-void cutsceneSystemNext() {
-  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return;
+void cutsceneSystemDispose() {
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = NULL;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NONE;
+  cutsceneRefReset(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs, NULL, NULL);
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] = '\0';
+}
 
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem++;
+void cutsceneSystemPrepare(
+  cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+) {
+  assertNotNull(cutscene, "Cutscene cannot be NULL");
 
-  // End of the cutscene?
-  if(
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem >= CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount
-  ) {
-    // Saved and cleared before firing so a callback that immediately
-    // starts another cutscene (or sets its own onComplete) isn't clobbered
-    // by this function's own cleanup running after it - same reentrancy
-    // hazard as uiFocusPop, see src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c.
-    cutscenecallback_t onComplete = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete;
-    void *userData = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.userData;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = cutscene;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = cutscene->pause;
+  cutsceneRefReset(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs, interact, interacted);
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
 
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0xFF;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NONE;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = NULL;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
+  // cutsceneNext will cause overflow to index 0 (intentional).
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE;
 
-    if(onComplete != NULL) onComplete(userData);
+  // Clear loaded file if cutscene not running from file.
+  if(cutscene != &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene) {
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] = '\0';
+  }
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(cutscene_t *cutscene) {
+  cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
+  cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+) {
+  assertNotNull(cutscene, "Cutscene cannot be NULL");
+  assertTrue(
+    cutscene->itemCount <= cutscene->itemsMax,
+    "Cutscene itemCount exceeds itemsMax"
+  );
+
+  // Prep cutscene, save it to the save slot, and advance, aka overflow to 0.
+  cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, interact, interacted);
+  saveSlotSetCurrentCutscene(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile);
+  cutsceneSystemNext();
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(
+  cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  const char_t *marker
+) {
+  assertNotNull(marker, "Marker cannot be NULL");
+
+  // Restarts the cutscene
+  cutsceneSystemPrepare(cutscene, NULL, NULL);
+  cutsceneSystemGoTo(marker);
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const size_t itemCount
+) {
+  assertNotNull(items, "Items cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene,
+    "cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext called with no cutscene running"
+  );
+  cutsceneAppendNext(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem, items, itemCount
+  );
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemInsertItems(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const size_t itemCount
+) {
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, itemCount);
+  cutsceneSystemNext();
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemInsertCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene) {
+  assertNotNull(cutscene, "Cutscene cannot be NULL");
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItems(cutscene->items, cutscene->itemCount);
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemClearAfter(const uint8_t index) {
+  assertNotNull(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene,
+    "cutsceneSystemClearAfter called with no cutscene running"
+  );
+  assertTrue(
+    index < CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount,
+    "cutsceneSystemClearAfter index out of range"
+  );
+
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount = index + 1;
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemLoad(const char_t *file) {
+  assertNotNull(file, "File cannot be NULL");
+
+  // Take a copy of file, as it may be a part of the cutscene itself.
+  char_t fileCopy[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
+  stringCopy(fileCopy, file, ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX - 1);
+
+  // Load the cutscene asset, parse it, and start it.
+  errorret_t result = cutsceneLoadParse(
+    fileCopy, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene, CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedItems,
+    CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX
+  );
+  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
+    errorCatch(errorPrint(result));
+    uiFatalErrorOpen(NULL);
     return;
   }
+  
+  // Store the loaded file so we can restart if needed.
+  stringCopy(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile, fileCopy, ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX - 1);
+  cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene);
+}
 
-  // Start item.
-  const cutsceneitem_t *item = cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
-  memset(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data, 0, sizeof(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data));
-  cutsceneItemStart(item, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data);
+void cutsceneRestart(void) {
+  assertNotNull(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneRestart called with no cutscene running"
+  );
+  assertTrue(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene,
+    "cutsceneRestart called with a cutscene not loaded from file"
+  );
+  assertTrue(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] != '\0',
+    "cutsceneRestart called with no loaded file"
+  );
+  
+  // Copy the refs and callbacks
+  cutscenecallback_t onComplete = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete;
+  cutsceneref_t refs = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs;
+
+  // Reload the file.
+  char_t file[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
+  stringCopy(file, CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile, ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX - 1);
+  cutsceneSystemLoad(file);
+
+  // Restore the refs and callbacks.
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = onComplete;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs = refs;
 }
 
 void cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete(cutscenecallback_t onComplete) {
@@ -148,60 +190,33 @@ void cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete(cutscenecallback_t onComplete) {
   CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = onComplete;
 }
 
-void cutsceneGoTo(const char_t *name) {
-  assertNotNull(
-    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneGoTo called with no cutscene running"
-  );
-
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount; i++) {
-    const cutsceneitem_t *item = &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->items[i];
-    if(
-      item->type == CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MARKER &&
-      stringEquals(item->marker.name, name)
-    ) {
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = i;
-      memoryZero(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data, sizeof(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data));
-      cutsceneItemStart(item, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data);
-      return;
-    }
-  }
-
-  assertTrue(false, "cutsceneGoTo: no marker found with that name");
-}
-
-const cutsceneitem_t * cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem() {
-  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return NULL;
-
-  return &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->items[CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem];
-}
-
 entity_t * cutsceneSystemGetEntity(const uint8_t entityIndex) {
   entity_t *entity;
 
   if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT used but no interact entity is set"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteract;
   } else if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED used but no interacted entity is set"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityInteracted;
   } else if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastCreated,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED used but no entity has been created"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastCreated;
   } else if(entityIndex == CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF) {
     assertNotNull(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef,
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastRef,
       "CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF used but no entity has been referenced"
     );
-    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef;
+    entity = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastRef;
   } else {
     assertTrue(
       entityIndex < ENTITY_COUNT,
@@ -210,29 +225,30 @@ entity_t * cutsceneSystemGetEntity(const uint8_t entityIndex) {
     entity = &ENTITIES[entityIndex];
   }
 
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = entity;
+  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.entityLastRef = entity;
   return entity;
 }
 
 uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(const uint8_t areaId) {
-  if(areaId == CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED) {
+  if(areaId == CUTSCENE_REF_AREA_LAST_CREATED) {
     assertTrue(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated != CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED,
-      "CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED used but no map area has been created"
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated != CUTSCENE_REF_AREA_LAST_CREATED,
+      "CUTSCENE_REF_AREA_LAST_CREATED used but no map area has been created"
     );
-    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated;
+    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.areaLastCreated;
   }
   return areaId;
 }
 
 uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetTextMiniId(const uint8_t index) {
-  if(index == CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED) {
+  if(index == CUTSCENE_REF_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED) {
     assertTrue(
-      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated != CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED,
-      "CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED used but no mini textbox has been "
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.textMiniLastCreated !=
+        CUTSCENE_REF_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED,
+      "CUTSCENE_REF_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED used but no mini textbox has been "
       "shown"
     );
-    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated;
+    return CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.refs.textMiniLastCreated;
   }
   return index;
 }
@@ -242,21 +258,101 @@ const char_t * cutsceneSystemGetTextCache(void) {
 }
 
 void cutsceneSystemSetTextCache(const char_t *text) {
+  assertNotNull(text, "Text cannot be NULL");
+
   stringCopy(
     CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache, text, CUTSCENE_TEXT_CACHE_MAX - 1
   );
 }
 
-void cutsceneSystemDispose() {
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0xFF;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NONE;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteract = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityInteracted = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastCreated = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef = NULL;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.areaLastCreated = CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textMiniLastCreated = CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED;
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache[0] = '\0';
-  CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete = NULL;
+void cutsceneSystemNext() {
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return;
+
+  // Pop the just-finished item off the front.
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem == CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE) {
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0;
+  } else {
+    cutscene_t *scene = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene;
+    const size_t tailCount = (size_t)scene->itemCount - 1;
+    if(tailCount > 0) {
+      memoryMove(
+        &scene->items[0], &scene->items[1], tailCount * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t)
+      );
+    }
+    scene->itemCount--;
+  }
+
+  // End of the cutscene?
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->itemCount == 0) {
+    cutscenecallback_t onComplete = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.onComplete;
+
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene = NULL;
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.pause = CUTSCENE_PAUSE_NONE;
+
+    if(onComplete != NULL) onComplete(NULL);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Start next (now current) item
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item = cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
+  memset(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data, 0, sizeof(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data));
+  cutsceneItemStart(item, &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data);
+}
+
+void cutsceneSystemGoTo(const char_t *name) {
+  assertNotNull(name, "Name cannot be NULL");
+  assertNotNull(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene, "cutsceneSystemGoTo called with no cutscene running"
+  );
+  assertTrue(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene,
+    "cutsceneSystemGoTo requires the running cutscene file reference (1)"
+  );
+  assertTrue(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile[0] != '\0',
+    "cutsceneSystemGoTo requires the running cutscene file reference (2)"
+  );
+
+  cutscene_t freshScene = { .items = CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.gotoScratchItems };
+  errorret_t result = cutsceneLoadParse(
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedFile, &freshScene, CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.gotoScratchItems,
+    CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX
+  );
+  if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
+    errorCatch(errorPrint(result));
+    uiFatalErrorOpen(NULL);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Search for the marker with the given name...
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < freshScene.itemCount; i++) {
+    const cutsceneitem_t *item = &freshScene.items[i];
+    if(
+      item->type != CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MARKER ||
+      !stringEquals(item->marker.name, name)
+    ) continue;
+
+    // Found, so splice the cutscene at that point and start it, the remaining
+    // items being the rest of the cutscene after the marker.
+    const uint8_t remaining = freshScene.itemCount - i;
+    memoryCopy(
+      CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedItems, &freshScene.items[i],
+      remaining * sizeof(cutsceneitem_t)
+    );
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedScene.itemCount = remaining;
+    CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem = 0;
+
+    memoryZero(&CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data, sizeof(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data));
+    cutsceneItemStart(
+      &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.loadedItems[0], &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.data
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  assertTrue(false, "cutsceneSystemGoTo: no marker found with that name");
+}
+
+const cutsceneitem_t * cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem() {
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) return NULL;
+  return &CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene->items[0];
 }

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h

@@ -1,57 +1,48 @@
 /**
  * Copyright (c) 2025 Dominic Masters
- * 
+ *
  * This software is released under the MIT License.
  * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
  */
 
 #pragma once
 #include "cutscene.h"
+#include "cutsceneref.h"
 
-typedef struct entity_s entity_t;
+#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT ((uint8_t)0xFE)
+#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED ((uint8_t)0xFD)
+#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFC)
+#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF ((uint8_t)0xFB)
+#define CUTSCENE_CURRENT_ITEM_NONE ((uint8_t)0xFF)
 
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT      ((uint8_t)0xFE)
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED    ((uint8_t)0xFD)
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED  ((uint8_t)0xFC)
-#define CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF      ((uint8_t)0xFB)
-#define CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED    ((uint8_t)0xFF)
-#define CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED ((uint8_t)0xFA)
-
-// Maximum number of bytes a running cutscene may request via
-// cutscene_t.dataSize.
-#define CUTSCENE_SYSTEM_SIZE_MAX 8192
-
-// Size of CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache - keep >= UI_KEYBOARD_TEXT_MAX (see
-// ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.h) so text entered via a
-// CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_KEYBOARD item is never truncated caching it here.
 #define CUTSCENE_TEXT_CACHE_MAX 64
+#define CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX 128
+#define CUTSCENE_INSERT_ITEMS_MAX 16
 
 typedef struct {
-  const cutscene_t *scene;
+  cutscene_t *scene;
   uint8_t currentItem;
   cutscenepause_t pause;
-  entity_t *entityInteract;
-  entity_t *entityInteracted;
-  entity_t *entityLastCreated;
-  entity_t *entityLastRef;
-  uint8_t areaLastCreated;
-  uint8_t textMiniLastCreated;
 
-  // Free-form text cache, e.g. holding whatever was last typed via a
-  // CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_KEYBOARD item - see cutsceneSystemGetTextCache/
-  // cutsceneSystemSetTextCache. Not tied to any one item type; any item
-  // may read or write it.
+  cutsceneref_t refs;
+
+  // Free-form text cache for the running cutscene - see
+  // cutsceneSystemGetTextCache/cutsceneSystemSetTextCache.
   char_t textCache[CUTSCENE_TEXT_CACHE_MAX];
 
-  // Data (used by the current item).
+  // Runtime data for the current item.
   cutsceneitemdata_t data;
 
-  // Custom user data for the running cutscene, sized per-scene by
-  // cutscene_t.dataSize.
-  uint8_t userData[CUTSCENE_SYSTEM_SIZE_MAX];
-
   // See cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete.
   cutscenecallback_t onComplete;
+
+  // Cache and storage used for the dynamically loaded cutscenes.
+  cutsceneitem_t loadedItems[CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX];
+  cutscene_t loadedScene;
+  char_t loadedFile[ASSET_FILE_NAME_MAX];
+  
+  // Cutscene items scratch, mostly used for CUTSCENE_INSERT items.
+  cutsceneitem_t gotoScratchItems[CUTSCENE_LOADED_ITEMS_MAX];
 } cutscenesystem_t;
 
 extern cutscenesystem_t CUTSCENE_SYSTEM;
@@ -61,12 +52,32 @@ extern cutscenesystem_t CUTSCENE_SYSTEM;
  */
 void cutsceneSystemInit();
 
+/**
+ * Disposes of the cutscene system, stopping any active cutscene.
+ */
+void cutsceneSystemDispose();
+
+/**
+ * Resets CUTSCENE_SYSTEM to run cutscene from its first item, binding
+ * interact/interacted entities. Does not itself advance to the first item.
+ *
+ * @param cutscene Pointer to the cutscene to prepare.
+ * @param interact The entity that initiated the interaction (player), or
+ * NULL.
+ * @param interacted The entity being interacted with (NPC), or NULL.
+ */
+void cutsceneSystemPrepare(
+  cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  entity_t *interact,
+  entity_t *interacted
+);
+
 /**
  * Start a cutscene with no bound entities.
  *
  * @param cutscene Pointer to the cutscene to start.
  */
-void cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene);
+void cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(cutscene_t *cutscene);
 
 /**
  * Start a cutscene with the two entities that triggered it.
@@ -76,74 +87,95 @@ void cutsceneSystemStartCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene);
  * @param interacted  The entity that was interacted with (NPC).
  */
 void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneWith(
-  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  cutscene_t *cutscene,
   entity_t *interact,
   entity_t *interacted
 );
 
 /**
  * Starts a cutscene with no bound entities, jumping straight to the
- * CUTSCENE_MARKER item with the given name instead of running from the
- * first item - as if cutsceneGoTo(marker) had been called immediately
- * after cutsceneSystemStartCutscene. Asserts if no marker with that
- * name exists in the cutscene.
+ * marker with the given name instead of running from the first item.
+ * Asserts if no marker with that name exists.
  *
  * @param cutscene Pointer to the cutscene to start.
- * @param marker Marker name to jump to, matched with stringEquals.
+ * @param marker Marker name to jump to.
  */
 void cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(
-  const cutscene_t *cutscene,
+  cutscene_t *cutscene,
   const char_t *marker
 );
 
 /**
- * Locks, loads and immediately starts a cutscene asset by file name,
- * e.g. cutsceneSystemLoad("main_menu.jsonc") loads and starts
- * assets/cutscenes/main_menu.jsonc - same lock/assetRequireLoaded/start
- * sequence as sceneInitialInit's INITIAL_CUTSCENE_ENTRY. The entry is
- * locked forever (never unlocked), same lifetime convention as
- * LOCALE.entry - it's fine to call this again later for the same file,
- * it'll just resolve to the same already-loaded entry. Opens the fatal
- * error overlay (see uiFatalErrorOpen) instead of starting anything if
- * the asset fails to load.
+ * Splices items into the running cutscene so that items[0] becomes the
+ * very next item, without otherwise disturbing the currently-running
+ * item's progress.
  *
- * @param file Cutscene file name (with .jsonc extension), relative to
- * assets/cutscenes/.
+ * @param items Items to splice in.
+ * @param itemCount Number of items in items.
+ */
+void cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const size_t itemCount
+);
+
+/**
+ * Splices items into the running cutscene right after the current item
+ * (see cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext), then immediately advances into the
+ * first spliced item.
+ *
+ * @param items Items to splice in.
+ * @param itemCount Number of items in items.
+ */
+void cutsceneSystemInsertItems(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *items,
+  const size_t itemCount
+);
+
+/**
+ * Splices cutscene's items into the running cutscene.
+ *
+ * @param cutscene The cutscene whose items to splice in.
+ */
+void cutsceneSystemInsertCutscene(const cutscene_t *cutscene);
+
+/**
+ * Discards every item queued after index (e.g. index 0 keeps only the
+ * currently-running item and drops everything spliced in behind it),
+ * without disturbing index's own progress - e.g. so a callback that
+ * decides the rest of a batch-spliced sequence is now moot (a battle
+ * ending mid-round, with other fighters' still-queued move cutscenes and
+ * the round's trailing state transition left behind) can drop it before
+ * splicing in its own follow-up items, instead of leaving it to run
+ * afterward against torn-down state.
+ *
+ * @param index Index to keep - everything after it is discarded. Must be
+ * < the running cutscene's current item count.
+ */
+void cutsceneSystemClearAfter(const uint8_t index);
+
+/**
+ * Loads and immediately starts a cutscene asset by file name.
+ *
+ * @param file Cutscene file name.
  */
 void cutsceneSystemLoad(const char_t *file);
 
 /**
- * Restarts the currently running cutscene from its first item,
- * preserving whatever interact/interacted entities triggered it.
- * Asserts if no cutscene is running.
+ * Restarts the currently running cutscene. Will perform a load if the cutscene
+ * was initially from a file.
  */
 void cutsceneRestart(void);
 
 /**
  * Sets a native callback to fire once when the currently running cutscene
- * finishes by running off the end of its item list. A fresh
- * cutsceneSystemStartCutscene* call clears any previously set callback, so
- * call this again after starting a new cutscene to arm it - but
- * cutsceneRestart() preserves whatever was armed, since a restart (e.g.
- * retrying a failed check) is the same logical run trying again, not a new
- * one. Invoked with CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.userData, same as CUTSCENE_CALLBACK.
+ * finishes.
  *
- * Exists so a runtime-loaded cutscene file (which can't store a native
- * function pointer) can still hand off to native code once it's done,
- * without needing a whole name->function registry: the file just ends
- * normally, and whoever started it supplies what happens next.
- *
- * @param onComplete Callback to fire on natural completion. May be NULL
- * to clear a previously set one.
+ * @param onComplete Callback to fire on completion.
  */
 void cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete(cutscenecallback_t onComplete);
 
 /**
  * Resolves a raw entity index (or sentinel) to an entity pointer.
- * Handles CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACT, CUTSCENE_ENTITY_INTERACTED,
- * CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_CREATED and CUTSCENE_ENTITY_LAST_REF.
- * Updates CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.entityLastRef to the resolved entity.
- * Asserts the resolved entity is within bounds.
  *
  * @param entityIndex Raw entity index or sentinel value.
  * @returns Pointer to the resolved entity.
@@ -151,7 +183,7 @@ void cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete(cutscenecallback_t onComplete);
 entity_t * cutsceneSystemGetEntity(const uint8_t entityIndex);
 
 /**
- * Resolves a raw map area ID (or CUTSCENE_AREA_LAST_CREATED sentinel) to
+ * Resolves a raw map area ID (or CUTSCENE_REF_AREA_LAST_CREATED sentinel) to
  * a concrete map area ID.
  *
  * @param areaId Raw map area ID or sentinel value.
@@ -160,7 +192,7 @@ entity_t * cutsceneSystemGetEntity(const uint8_t entityIndex);
 uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(const uint8_t areaId);
 
 /**
- * Resolves a raw mini textbox slot index (or CUTSCENE_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED
+ * Resolves a raw mini textbox slot index (or CUTSCENE_REF_TEXT_MINI_LAST_CREATED
  * sentinel) to a concrete UI_TEXTBOX_MINI_LIST slot index.
  *
  * @param index Raw slot index or sentinel value.
@@ -169,23 +201,17 @@ uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetAreaId(const uint8_t areaId);
 uint8_t cutsceneSystemGetTextMiniId(const uint8_t index);
 
 /**
- * Returns CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache - whatever was last written there via
- * cutsceneSystemSetTextCache (e.g. by a CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_KEYBOARD item
- * once its keyboard closes). Empty ("") if nothing has been cached yet
- * for the running cutscene.
+ * Returns the running cutscene's cached text - see
+ * cutsceneSystemSetTextCache. Empty ("") if nothing has been cached yet.
  *
  * @returns The cached text.
  */
 const char_t * cutsceneSystemGetTextCache(void);
 
 /**
- * Overwrites CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.textCache with a copy of text. Any item may
- * call this - it isn't tied to any one item type - so later items can
- * read back whatever the caller wants to pass along, up to
- * CUTSCENE_TEXT_CACHE_MAX - 1 characters.
+ * Overwrites the running cutscene's cached text.
  *
- * @param text The text to cache; copied internally, safe to be
- * transient. Must not exceed CUTSCENE_TEXT_CACHE_MAX - 1 characters.
+ * @param text The text to cache; copied internally.
  */
 void cutsceneSystemSetTextCache(const char_t *text);
 
@@ -195,16 +221,12 @@ void cutsceneSystemSetTextCache(const char_t *text);
 void cutsceneSystemNext();
 
 /**
- * Jumps the running cutscene directly to the CUTSCENE_MARKER item with
- * the given name and starts it immediately, as if cutsceneSystemNext()
- * had advanced straight to it. Intended to be called from within
- * another item's start/update (e.g. a CUTSCENE_CALLBACK) to implement
- * flow control. Asserts if no cutscene is running or no marker with
- * that name exists in it.
+ * Jumps to a cutscene marker directly. If the cutscene is a loaded cutscene,
+ * this will result in it being reloaded (due to unshift nature of cutscenes).
  *
- * @param name Marker name to search for, matched with stringEquals.
+ * @param name Marker name to search for.
  */
-void cutsceneGoTo(const char_t *name);
+void cutsceneSystemGoTo(const char_t *name);
 
 /**
  * Update the cutscene system for one frame.
@@ -217,8 +239,3 @@ void cutsceneSystemUpdate();
  * @return Pointer to the current cutscene item.
  */
 const cutsceneitem_t * cutsceneSystemGetCurrentItem();
-
-/**
- * Disposes of the cutscene system, stopping any active cutscene.
- */
-void cutsceneSystemDispose();

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -20,3 +20,5 @@ add_subdirectory(battle)
 add_subdirectory(save)
 add_subdirectory(audio)
 add_subdirectory(json)
+add_subdirectory(story)
+add_subdirectory(party)

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiofade.c

@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioFadeUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioFadeLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   audiomixerchannel_t channelValue;
   if(!cutsceneJsonLookupAudioChannel(

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiofade.h

@@ -48,13 +48,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioFadeUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_FADE needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_FADE needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioFadeLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiofadewait.c

@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioFadeWaitUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioFadeWaitLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   return cutsceneJsonLoadAudioChannelOnly(itemObj, &item->audioFadeWaitChannel);
 }

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiofadewait.h

@@ -28,13 +28,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioFadeWaitUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_FADE_WAIT needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_FADE_WAIT needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioFadeWaitLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiopause.c

@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioPauseUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioPauseLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   return cutsceneJsonLoadAudioChannelOnly(itemObj, &item->audioPauseChannel);
 }

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiopause.h

@@ -37,13 +37,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioPauseUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_PAUSE needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_PAUSE needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioPauseLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudioplay.c

@@ -34,9 +34,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioPlayUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioPlayLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   if(!cutsceneJsonCopyString(
     itemObj, "file", NULL, item->audioPlay.file, AUDIO_PATH_MAX

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudioplay.h

@@ -50,13 +50,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioPlayUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_PLAY needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_PLAY needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioPlayLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudioresume.c

@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioResumeUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioResumeLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   return cutsceneJsonLoadAudioChannelOnly(itemObj, &item->audioResumeChannel);
 }

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudioresume.h

@@ -37,13 +37,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioResumeUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_RESUME needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_RESUME needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioResumeLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudioset.c

@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioSetUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioSetLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   audiomixerchannel_t channelValue;
   if(!cutsceneJsonLookupAudioChannel(

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudioset.h

@@ -49,13 +49,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioSetUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_SET needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_SET needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioSetLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiosetloop.c

@@ -32,9 +32,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioSetLoopUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioSetLoopLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   audiomixerchannel_t channelValue;
   if(!cutsceneJsonLookupAudioChannel(

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiosetloop.h

@@ -46,13 +46,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioSetLoopUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_SET_LOOP needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_SET_LOOP needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioSetLoopLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiosetpan.c

@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioSetPanUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioSetPanLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   audiomixerchannel_t channelValue;
   if(!cutsceneJsonLookupAudioChannel(

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiosetpan.h

@@ -43,13 +43,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioSetPanUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_SET_PAN needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_SET_PAN needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioSetPanLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiostop.c

@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioStopUpdate(
 
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioStopLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 ) {
   return cutsceneJsonLoadAudioChannelOnly(itemObj, &item->audioStopChannel);
 }

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/audio/cutsceneaudiostop.h

@@ -37,13 +37,9 @@ bool_t cutsceneAudioStopUpdate(
  *
  * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
  * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (AUDIO_STOP needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (AUDIO_STOP needs no pool storage).
  * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
  */
 errorret_t cutsceneAudioStopLoad(
   yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
 );

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@
 
 target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC
-    cutscenestartbattle.c
-    cutscenebattlewaitstate.c
-    cutscenebattleforceaction.c
+    cutscenebattlestart.c
+    cutscenebattlesetstate.c
+    cutscenebattlewaitselection.c
+    cutscenebattlepostmove.c
+    cutscenebattlefighterdamage.c
+    cutscenebattlefighterheal.c
 )

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlefighterdamage.c

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/json/cutscenejsonfield.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+#include "util/string.h"
+
+#define CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_REF_MAX 16
+
+void cutsceneBattleFighterDamageStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  const cutscenebattlefighterdamage_t *damage = &item->battleFighterDamage;
+  assertTrue(
+    damage->fighterIndex < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT,
+    "fighterIndex sentinel was never resolved"
+  );
+  battlefighter_t *fighter = BATTLE.fighters[damage->fighterIndex];
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter cannot be NULL");
+
+  battleFighterDamage(fighter, damage->amount);
+}
+
+bool_t cutsceneBattleFighterDamageUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  return true;
+}
+
+errorret_t cutsceneBattleFighterDamageLoad(
+  yyjson_val *itemObj,
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
+) {
+  char_t fighterRef[CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_REF_MAX];
+  if(!cutsceneJsonCopyString(
+    itemObj, "fighter", NULL, fighterRef, CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_REF_MAX
+  )) {
+    errorThrow("Cutscene item (BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE): missing 'fighter'");
+  }
+  if(stringEquals(fighterRef, "target")) {
+    item->battleFighterDamage.fighterIndex = BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET;
+  } else if(stringEquals(fighterRef, "user")) {
+    item->battleFighterDamage.fighterIndex = BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_USER;
+  } else {
+    errorThrow(
+      "Cutscene item (BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE): 'fighter' must be "
+      "'target' or 'user'"
+    );
+  }
+
+  const int32_t amount = cutsceneJsonGetInt(itemObj, "amount", -1);
+  if(amount < 0 || amount > UINT16_MAX) {
+    errorThrow(
+      "Cutscene item (BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE): invalid/missing 'amount'"
+    );
+  }
+  item->battleFighterDamage.amount = (uint16_t)amount;
+
+  errorOk();
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlefighterdamage.h

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitembase.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterpos.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+  // Index into BATTLE.fighters of the fighter to damage, or one of
+  // BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET/BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_USER, resolved against
+  // the currently-executing action by battleStateExecutingInit before
+  // this item ever runs.
+  battlefighterpos_t fighterIndex;
+  uint16_t amount;
+} cutscenebattlefighterdamage_t;
+
+/**
+ * Starts a BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE item, applying the configured damage to
+ * BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex] immediately.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ */
+void cutsceneBattleFighterDamageStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates a BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE item (always completes immediately).
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ * @returns true always.
+ */
+bool_t cutsceneBattleFighterDamageUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Parses a BATTLE_FIGHTER_DAMAGE cutscene item's JSON fields into item.
+ *
+ * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
+ * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
+ * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
+ */
+errorret_t cutsceneBattleFighterDamageLoad(
+  yyjson_val *itemObj,
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
+);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlefighterheal.c

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/json/cutscenejsonfield.h"
+#include "assert/assert.h"
+#include "util/string.h"
+
+#define CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_REF_MAX 16
+
+void cutsceneBattleFighterHealStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  const cutscenebattlefighterheal_t *heal = &item->battleFighterHeal;
+  assertTrue(
+    heal->fighterIndex < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT,
+    "fighterIndex sentinel was never resolved"
+  );
+  battlefighter_t *fighter = BATTLE.fighters[heal->fighterIndex];
+  assertNotNull(fighter, "Fighter cannot be NULL");
+
+  battleFighterHeal(fighter, heal->amount);
+}
+
+bool_t cutsceneBattleFighterHealUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  return true;
+}
+
+errorret_t cutsceneBattleFighterHealLoad(
+  yyjson_val *itemObj,
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
+) {
+  char_t fighterRef[CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_REF_MAX];
+  if(!cutsceneJsonCopyString(
+    itemObj, "fighter", NULL, fighterRef, CUTSCENE_BATTLE_FIGHTER_REF_MAX
+  )) {
+    errorThrow("Cutscene item (BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL): missing 'fighter'");
+  }
+  if(stringEquals(fighterRef, "target")) {
+    item->battleFighterHeal.fighterIndex = BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET;
+  } else if(stringEquals(fighterRef, "user")) {
+    item->battleFighterHeal.fighterIndex = BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_USER;
+  } else {
+    errorThrow(
+      "Cutscene item (BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL): 'fighter' must be "
+      "'target' or 'user'"
+    );
+  }
+
+  const int32_t amount = cutsceneJsonGetInt(itemObj, "amount", -1);
+  if(amount < 0 || amount > UINT16_MAX) {
+    errorThrow(
+      "Cutscene item (BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL): invalid/missing 'amount'"
+    );
+  }
+  item->battleFighterHeal.amount = (uint16_t)amount;
+
+  errorOk();
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlefighterheal.h

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitembase.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/fighter/battlefighterpos.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+  // Index into BATTLE.fighters of the fighter to heal, or one of
+  // BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_TARGET/BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_USER, resolved against
+  // the currently-executing action by battleStateExecutingInit before
+  // this item ever runs.
+  battlefighterpos_t fighterIndex;
+  uint16_t amount;
+} cutscenebattlefighterheal_t;
+
+/**
+ * Starts a BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL item, applying the configured heal to
+ * BATTLE.fighters[fighterIndex] immediately.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ */
+void cutsceneBattleFighterHealStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates a BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL item (always completes immediately).
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ * @returns true always.
+ */
+bool_t cutsceneBattleFighterHealUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Parses a BATTLE_FIGHTER_HEAL cutscene item's JSON fields into item.
+ *
+ * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
+ * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
+ * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
+ */
+errorret_t cutsceneBattleFighterHealLoad(
+  yyjson_val *itemObj,
+  cutsceneitem_t *item
+);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattleforceaction.c

@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
-
-void cutsceneBattleForceActionStart(
-  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
-) {
-  battleQueueAction(
-    item->battleForceAction.fighterIndex, BATTLE_ACTION_ATTACK,
-    item->battleForceAction.targetIndex
-  );
-}
-
-bool_t cutsceneBattleForceActionUpdate(
-  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
-) {
-  return true;
-}
-
-errorret_t cutsceneBattleForceActionLoad(
-  yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
-) {
-  item->battleForceAction.fighterIndex =
-    (uint8_t)yyjson_get_int(yyjson_obj_get(itemObj, "fighterIndex"));
-  item->battleForceAction.targetIndex =
-    (uint8_t)yyjson_get_int(yyjson_obj_get(itemObj, "targetIndex"));
-
-  errorOk();
-}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattleforceaction.h

@@ -1,56 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#pragma once
-#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
-#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitembase.h"
-
-typedef struct {
-  uint8_t fighterIndex;
-  uint8_t targetIndex;
-} cutscenebattleforceaction_t;
-
-/**
- * Starts a battle force-action step: immediately queues an attack for the
- * given fighter against the given target, bypassing normal player/AI
- * selection for that fighter this round.
- *
- * @param item The cutscene item.
- * @param data Runtime data storage.
- */
-void cutsceneBattleForceActionStart(
-  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
-);
-
-/**
- * Updates a battle force-action step (always completes immediately).
- *
- * @param item The cutscene item.
- * @param data Runtime data storage.
- * @returns true always.
- */
-bool_t cutsceneBattleForceActionUpdate(
-  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
-);
-
-/**
- * Parses a BATTLE_FORCE_ACTION cutscene item's JSON fields into item.
- *
- * @param itemObj The item's JSON object.
- * @param item Destination item, already zeroed by the caller.
- * @param pool Unused (BATTLE_FORCE_ACTION needs no pool storage).
- * @param poolOffset Unused (BATTLE_FORCE_ACTION needs no pool storage).
- * @return Error code indicating success or failure of the parse.
- */
-errorret_t cutsceneBattleForceActionLoad(
-  yyjson_val *itemObj,
-  cutsceneitem_t *item,
-  uint8_t *pool,
-  size_t *poolOffset
-);

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlepostmove.c

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "rpg/battle/battle.h"
+#include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
+#include "console/console.h"
+
+void cutsceneBattlePostMoveStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  consolePrint("BATTLE_POST_MOVE\n");
+
+  // Once a result has already been decided (e.g. the player fled), there
+  // is nothing left to check.
+  if(BATTLE.result != BATTLE_RESULT_NONE) return;
+
+  bool_t allyAlive = false;
+  bool_t enemyAlive = false;
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < BATTLE_FIGHTER_POS_COUNT; i++) {
+    battlefighter_t *fighter = BATTLE.fighters[i];
+    if(fighter == NULL) continue;
+    if(!battleFighterIsAlive(fighter)) continue;
+
+    if(fighter->team == BATTLE_FIGHTER_TEAM_ALLY) allyAlive = true;
+    else enemyAlive = true;
+  }
+
+  if(allyAlive && enemyAlive) return;
+
+  BATTLE.result = allyAlive ? BATTLE_RESULT_WIN : BATTLE_RESULT_LOSS;
+
+  // Drop the rest of this round's already-spliced items (other fighters'
+  // still-pending move cutscenes, the trailing BATTLE_SET_STATE(PRE_ROUND) -
+  // see battleStateExecutingInit) - the battle is over, so none of that
+  // should run against the WON/LOST/ENDING transition about to replace it.
+  cutsceneSystemClearAfter(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.currentItem);
+
+  const cutsceneitem_t items[] = {
+    {
+      .type = CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_BATTLE_SET_STATE,
+      .battleSetState = {
+        .state = allyAlive ? BATTLE_STATE_WON : BATTLE_STATE_LOST
+      }
+    }
+  };
+  cutsceneSystemInsertItemsNext(items, sizeof(items) / sizeof(cutsceneitem_t));
+}
+
+bool_t cutsceneBattlePostMoveUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  return true;
+}

src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/battle/cutscenebattlepostmove.h

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitembase.h"
+
+/**
+ * Starts a BATTLE_POST_MOVE item. Runs after each queued move's cutscene
+ * finishes: checks whether every ally or every enemy fighter has been
+ * knocked out and, if so, sets BATTLE.result and splices in a
+ * BATTLE_SET_STATE to BATTLE_STATE_WON/LOST. No-ops the health check if
+ * BATTLE.result is already set (e.g. the player fled). Not
+ * JSON-authorable -- constructed dynamically by battleStateExecutingInit.
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ */
+void cutsceneBattlePostMoveStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates a BATTLE_POST_MOVE item (always completes immediately).
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ * @returns true always.
+ */
+bool_t cutsceneBattlePostMoveUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);