# Markup Guidelines

This file documents author-facing Ink tag conventions. The active parser normalizes tags into structured `StoryTag` objects before they reach the UI.

## Implemented Tag Forms

Use bracket tags for titles, filenames, and longer text:

```ink
#chapter[Eibenreith]
#image[statue.png](square)
#music[Kaiserpunk Waltz.mp3](crossfade, loop, lead=8)
#sfx[church-bells.ogg](max=8, fade)
#score[You reached an ending.]
#achievement[First Steps]
#alert[Try examining the room.]
```

Use colon tags for short identifiers, categories, and choice keys:

```ink
#action:movement
#key:l
#sort:last
#gated:noble
```

Bare flags are accepted as tags with no value:

```ink
#optional
```

## Choice Metadata

Choice tags are placed on the Ink choice they belong to:

```ink
* [__Schaue__: Aus dem Fenster.]
  #action:orientation
  #key:l
```

Implemented choice metadata:

- `#key:x`: reserves keyboard key `X` for the choice.
- `#letter[x]`: older equivalent for reserving keyboard key `X`.
- `#action:group` or `#action[group]`: stores a category/template hint.

The current UI renders all choices in one list. Explicit keys are assigned first; choices without explicit keys receive `A` through `Z` in visible order. Digits, grouping columns, stable shuffling, `#optional`, `#gated[...]`, and `#sort[...]` are documented authoring conventions or future metadata, not fully implemented UI behavior yet.

## Popup And End-State Tags

These tags may appear as Ink global tags, paragraph tags, or empty tag-only lines. They are dispatched through the same tag channel as media tags.

```ink
#score[You reached the quiet ending.]
#error[The story ended unexpectedly.]
#achievement[First Steps]
#alert[Try examining objects before using them.]
```

- `#score[...]`: intended ending. When the turn reaches `inputMode: end`, the UI shows a localized ending popup with the tag value as the optional message.
- `#error[...]`: unrecoverable ending. The UI shows a localized error popup with the tag value as the optional message. The Ink engine emits this automatically if Ink runs out of content without an explicit `#score[...]` or `#error[...]`.
- `#achievement[...]`: queued localized achievement popup while the game continues.
- `#alert[...]`: queued localized player hint/tutorial popup while the game continues.

## Existing Media And Structure Tags

```ink
#chapter[Title]
#section
#textblock
#image[filename.png](landscape)
#image[filename.png](portrait pause=2)
#image[filename.png](square lead=1.5)
#music[track.mp3](crossfade, loop, lead=4)
#sfx[file.ogg](max=8 fade fade-duration=2)
```

Asset filenames resolve relative to the configured image, music, and sound folders.