Crucible Outliner Skill

Crucible Outliner

Transform Crucible planning documents into detailed chapter-by-chapter outlines with proper narrative craft.

Before Starting

Read these references based on the outlining phase:

references/beat-to-chapter-mapping.md — How 36 beats map to chapters
references/narrative-craft.md — Foreshadowing, pacing, scene structure
references/outline-templates.md — Chapter and scene outline formats

Questioning Rules

ALWAYS use AskUserQuestion tool for all user questions (provides interactive UI)
Max 4 options per question (tool limit) + "Other" is automatic
Max 4 questions per AskUserQuestion call
Reference user's story elements by name (characters, places, etc.)
Save state after each chapter outline

CRITICAL: Use the AskUserQuestion tool, NOT plain text A/B/C options.

Required Inputs

The user must have completed Crucible planning. Request uploads of:

Crucible Thesis (required first) — Core elements: burden, fire, constellation, theme
Strand Maps (required) — Quest, Fire, Constellation arcs
Forge Point Blueprints (required) — The convergence crises
Constellation Bible (as needed) — Character details
Mercy Ledger (as needed) — Setup/payoff tracking
World Forge (as needed) — Setting details

Workflow

Phase 1: SETUP → Load planning docs, confirm scope, establish parameters
Phase 2: STRUCTURE → Map beats to chapters, identify act breaks
Phase 3: CHAPTERS → Outline each chapter through questions
Phase 4: CRAFT → Add foreshadowing threads, verify payoffs
Phase 5: COMPILE → Generate final outline documents

Phase 1: Setup

Load Planning Documents

Request the Crucible Thesis first:

To begin outlining, I need your Crucible planning documents.

Please upload your **Crucible Thesis** (or paste its contents).
This contains your core elements: burden, fire, constellation, theme, etc.

After receiving, extract and confirm:

Theme
Burden type
Fire nature
Core bond
Dark mirror connection
Surrender moment
Blade's purpose

Confirm Scope

Use AskUserQuestion to confirm scope:

{
  "questions": [
    {
      "header": "Book Type",
      "question": "Which book are we outlining?",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Standalone novel", "description": "A single, complete novel"},
        {"label": "Book in series", "description": "Part of a larger series (specify which book)"},
        {"label": "Series overview", "description": "Full series overview first, then individual books"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    },
    {
      "header": "Chapter Count",
      "question": "What is your target chapter count?",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Standard (20-25)", "description": "Typical novel length"},
        {"label": "Compact (15-20)", "description": "Tighter, faster-paced structure"},
        {"label": "Extended (25-35)", "description": "More room for subplot development"},
        {"label": "Story dictates", "description": "Let the narrative determine chapter count"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    }
  ]
}

Initialize Project

python scripts/init_outline.py "./outline-project" "Title" "Book X of Y"

Phase 2: Structure

Map Beats to Chapters

Using references/beat-to-chapter-mapping.md, establish the chapter skeleton:

For standard 20-25 chapter book:

| Movement | Beats | Chapters | % of Book | |----------|-------|----------|-----------| | I. Ignition | 1-6 | 1-5 | 10% | | II. First Tempering | 7-14 | 6-10 | 20% | | III. Scattering | 15-22 | 11-16 | 25% | | IV. Brightest Burning | 23-28 | 17-21 | 25% | | V. Final Forging | 29-34 | 22-24 | 15% | | Coda | 35-36 | 25 | 5% |

Present the proposed structure:

**Proposed Chapter Structure for [Title]**

MOVEMENT I — IGNITION (Chapters 1-5)
• Ch 1: [Beat 1 - The Unlit Forge]
• Ch 2: [Beats 2-3 - Dual Arrival + First Spark]
• Ch 3: [Beat 4 - The Burden Chosen]
• Ch 4: [Beat 5 - First Constellation]
• Ch 5: [Beat 6 - IGNITION FORGE POINT]

[Continue for all movements...]

Use AskUserQuestion to confirm:
```json
{
  "questions": [
    {
      "header": "Structure",
      "question": "Does this chapter structure work for your story?",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Approve structure", "description": "Proceed with this chapter layout"},
        {"label": "Adjust count", "description": "Modify the number of chapters"},
        {"label": "Discuss sections", "description": "Talk through specific movements or chapters"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    }
  ]
}

Request Additional Documents

Based on which movement is being outlined, request relevant docs:

Movements I-II: Request Forge Point 0 and 1 blueprints
Movement III: Request Forge Point 2, Mercy Ledger
Movement IV: Request Forge Point 3, Dark Mirror Profile
Movement V: Request Forge Point Apex, full Constellation Bible

Phase 3: Chapter Outlining

Question Format for Each Chapter

For each chapter, work through:

**CHAPTER [X]: [Working Title]**
Beat(s): [Which Crucible beats this covers]
Strand Focus: [Quest/Fire/Constellation]
POV: [If dual/multiple POV]

**1. OPENING**
Where does the reader enter this chapter?
A) Immediate action/tension
B) Character reflection/interiority  
C) World/setting establishment
D) Dialogue/interaction
E) Time skip from previous chapter
F) Other (describe)

**2. CORE SCENES**
What must happen in this chapter? (Select all that apply)
A) [Beat-specific requirement from Crucible]
B) [Beat-specific requirement]
C) Foreshadowing plant for [future payoff]
D) Character development moment
E) World-building revelation
F) Other (describe)

**3. CHAPTER TURN**
How does this chapter end?
A) Cliffhanger — immediate tension
B) Revelation — new information changes everything
C) Decision point — character commits to action
D) Emotional beat — feeling resonates into next chapter
E) Question raised — reader needs to know what's next
F) Other (describe)

Scene-Level Detail

For each scene within a chapter:

**SCENE [X.Y]**

**Goal:** What must this scene accomplish?
**Conflict:** What opposes the goal?
**Disaster/Turn:** How does it shift?

**Characters present:** 
**Location:**
**Tone/Mood:**
**Key dialogue/moments:**
**Plants/Payoffs:** 
  - Sets up: [future scene]
  - Pays off: [previous setup]

Save Progress After Each Chapter

python scripts/save_outline.py "./outline-project"

Phase 4: Narrative Craft Layer

After completing chapter skeletons, add craft elements:

Foreshadowing Threads

Using references/narrative-craft.md, track:

**FORESHADOWING TRACKER**

Thread: [Description]
├── Plant: Chapter [X], Scene [Y] — [How it's planted]
├── Water: Chapter [X] — [How it's reinforced]  
└── Payoff: Chapter [X], Scene [Y] — [How it resolves]

Required threads for Crucible stories:

Mercy → Unexpected Agents (each mercy must plant, payoff in finale)
Dark Mirror reveals (antagonist philosophy shown before confrontation)
Fire mastery path (surrender lesson foreshadowed before mastery moment)
Constellation fracture/repair (betrayal foreshadowed, bond-holds foreshadowed)

Pacing Verification

Check chapter-by-chapter:

Tension curve (rising overall with valleys for rest)
Strand rotation (no strand absent 3+ chapters)
Emotional variety (not all dark, not all light)

Verify Forge Points

Each Forge Point chapter must have:

[ ] All three strands in crisis
[ ] Clear sacrifice made
[ ] Irreversible change
[ ] Forward momentum into next movement

Phase 5: Compile

Generate Outline Documents

python scripts/compile_outline.py "./outline-project"

Creates:

outline/
├── master-outline.md          # Full book outline
├── chapter-summaries.md       # Quick reference
├── scene-breakdown.md         # Detailed scene list
├── foreshadowing-tracker.md   # Plant/payoff tracking
├── character-threads.md       # Per-character arcs
└── by-chapter/
    ├── ch01-outline.md
    ├── ch02-outline.md
    └── ...

Present to User

✅ **Outline Complete: [Title]**

📄 [View Master Outline](computer:///path/outline/master-outline.md)
📄 [View Chapter Summaries](computer:///path/outline/chapter-summaries.md)
📄 [View Scene Breakdown](computer:///path/outline/scene-breakdown.md)
📄 [View Foreshadowing Tracker](computer:///path/outline/foreshadowing-tracker.md)

Use AskUserQuestion for next steps:
```json
{
  "questions": [
    {
      "header": "Next Steps",
      "question": "What would you like to do next?",
      "options": [
        {"label": "Review chapters", "description": "Review and adjust specific chapters"},
        {"label": "Outline next book", "description": "Continue to next book in series"},
        {"label": "Begin drafting", "description": "Start writing prose from this outline"},
        {"label": "Add scene detail", "description": "Expand detail on specific scenes"}
      ],
      "multiSelect": false
    }
  ]
}

Multi-Book Series Handling

For series, outline books in order. Track:

Cross-Book Elements:

Mercy plants in Book X → Payoffs in Book Y
Character arcs spanning multiple books
Foreshadowing threads that span books
Series-level pacing (which book is darkest, etc.)

Before outlining Book 2+, request:

Previous book outline(s)
Updated character states
Unresolved threads list

Questioning Principles

Max 2-3 questions per message — Don't overwhelm
Always offer "Other" option — User knows their story
Reference their documents — Use their character names, places, elements
Explain the "why" — Brief context for why this choice matters
Save state frequently — After each chapter or major decision

Agent Skills: Crucible Outliner

Skill Files