diff --git a/content/treehouse/dev/chats.tree b/content/treehouse/dev/chats.tree
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30507ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/content/treehouse/dev/chats.tree
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+%% title = "testing ground for (chit)chats"
+   scripts = ["components/chat.js"]
+   styles = ["components/chat.css"]
+
+% id = "01HSR695VNDXRGPC3XCHS3A61V"
+- this is a test page for the treehouse's chat system.
+
+% cast = "chat js"
+  id = "01HSR695VNDYS0GDB527B9NPJS"
+  template = true
+- {% include_static chat/treehouse/dev/chats/test.json %}
diff --git a/crates/treehouse/src/cli/generate.rs b/crates/treehouse/src/cli/generate.rs
index de3001e..17c3887 100644
--- a/crates/treehouse/src/cli/generate.rs
+++ b/crates/treehouse/src/cli/generate.rs
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ impl Generator {
                 treehouse,
                 config,
                 &mut config_derived_data,
+                paths,
                 parsed_tree.file_id,
                 &roots.branches,
             );
diff --git a/crates/treehouse/src/html/tree.rs b/crates/treehouse/src/html/tree.rs
index 988b642..7961037 100644
--- a/crates/treehouse/src/html/tree.rs
+++ b/crates/treehouse/src/html/tree.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-use std::fmt::Write;
+use std::{borrow::Cow, fmt::Write};
 
 use pulldown_cmark::{BrokenLink, LinkType};
 use treehouse_format::pull::BranchKind;
 
 use crate::{
+    cli::Paths,
     config::{Config, ConfigDerivedData},
     html::EscapeAttribute,
     state::{FileId, Treehouse},
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ pub fn branch_to_html(
     treehouse: &mut Treehouse,
     config: &Config,
     config_derived_data: &mut ConfigDerivedData,
+    paths: &Paths<'_>,
     file_id: FileId,
     branch_id: SemaBranchId,
 ) {
@@ -49,6 +51,11 @@ pub fn branch_to_html(
     } else {
         "b"
     };
+    let component = if !branch.attributes.cast.is_empty() {
+        Cow::Owned(format!("{component} {}", branch.attributes.cast))
+    } else {
+        Cow::Borrowed(component)
+    };
 
     let linked_branch = if let Content::Link(link) = &branch.attributes.content {
         format!(" data-th-link=\"{}\"", EscapeHtml(link))
@@ -62,9 +69,19 @@ pub fn branch_to_html(
         ""
     };
 
+    let mut data_attributes = String::new();
+    for (key, value) in &branch.attributes.data {
+        write!(
+            data_attributes,
+            " data-{key}=\"{}\"",
+            EscapeAttribute(value)
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    }
+
     write!(
         s,
-        "<li data-cast=\"{component}\" class=\"{class}\" id=\"{}\"{linked_branch}{do_not_persist}>",
+        "<li data-cast=\"{component}\" class=\"{class}\" id=\"{}\"{linked_branch}{do_not_persist}{data_attributes}>",
         EscapeAttribute(&branch.html_id)
     )
     .unwrap();
@@ -136,7 +153,7 @@ pub fn branch_to_html(
             }
         };
         if branch.attributes.template {
-            final_markdown = mini_template::render(config, treehouse, &final_markdown);
+            final_markdown = mini_template::render(config, treehouse, paths, &final_markdown);
         }
         let markdown_parser = pulldown_cmark::Parser::new_with_broken_link_callback(
             &final_markdown,
@@ -204,7 +221,15 @@ pub fn branch_to_html(
                 let num_children = branch.children.len();
                 for i in 0..num_children {
                     let child_id = treehouse.tree.branch(branch_id).children[i];
-                    branch_to_html(s, treehouse, config, config_derived_data, file_id, child_id);
+                    branch_to_html(
+                        s,
+                        treehouse,
+                        config,
+                        config_derived_data,
+                        paths,
+                        file_id,
+                        child_id,
+                    );
                 }
                 s.push_str("</ul>");
             }
@@ -221,12 +246,21 @@ pub fn branches_to_html(
     treehouse: &mut Treehouse,
     config: &Config,
     config_derived_data: &mut ConfigDerivedData,
+    paths: &Paths<'_>,
     file_id: FileId,
     branches: &[SemaBranchId],
 ) {
     s.push_str("<ul>");
     for &child in branches {
-        branch_to_html(s, treehouse, config, config_derived_data, file_id, child);
+        branch_to_html(
+            s,
+            treehouse,
+            config,
+            config_derived_data,
+            paths,
+            file_id,
+            child,
+        );
     }
     s.push_str("</ul>");
 }
diff --git a/crates/treehouse/src/tree/attributes.rs b/crates/treehouse/src/tree/attributes.rs
index 6a317ca..025195c 100644
--- a/crates/treehouse/src/tree/attributes.rs
+++ b/crates/treehouse/src/tree/attributes.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 /// Top-level `%%` root attributes.
@@ -79,6 +81,14 @@ pub struct Attributes {
     /// debug mode.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub stage: Stage,
+
+    /// List of extra spells to cast on the branch.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub cast: String,
+
+    /// List of extra `data` attributes to add to the block.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub data: HashMap<String, String>,
 }
 
 /// Controls for block content presentation.
diff --git a/crates/treehouse/src/tree/mini_template.rs b/crates/treehouse/src/tree/mini_template.rs
index 947613e..3a1ae86 100644
--- a/crates/treehouse/src/tree/mini_template.rs
+++ b/crates/treehouse/src/tree/mini_template.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use std::ops::Range;
 
 use pulldown_cmark::escape::escape_html;
 
-use crate::{config::Config, state::Treehouse};
+use crate::{cli::Paths, config::Config, state::Treehouse};
 
 struct Lexer<'a> {
     input: &'a str,
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ impl<'a> Renderer<'a> {
         self.output.push_str(&self.lexer.input[token.range.clone()]);
     }
 
-    fn render(&mut self, config: &Config, treehouse: &Treehouse) {
+    fn render(&mut self, config: &Config, treehouse: &Treehouse, paths: &Paths<'_>) {
         let kind_of = |token: &Token| token.kind;
 
         while let Some(token) = self.lexer.next() {
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ impl<'a> Renderer<'a> {
                         match Self::render_template(
                             config,
                             treehouse,
+                            paths,
                             self.lexer.input[inside.as_ref().unwrap().range.clone()].trim(),
                         ) {
                             Ok(s) => match escaping {
@@ -192,22 +193,24 @@ impl<'a> Renderer<'a> {
     fn render_template(
         config: &Config,
         _treehouse: &Treehouse,
+        paths: &Paths<'_>,
         template: &str,
     ) -> Result<String, InvalidTemplate> {
         let (function, arguments) = template.split_once(' ').unwrap_or((template, ""));
         match function {
             "pic" => Ok(config.pic_url(arguments)),
-            "c++" => Ok("<script>alert(1)</script>".into()),
+            "include_static" => std::fs::read_to_string(paths.static_dir.join(arguments))
+                .map_err(|_| InvalidTemplate),
             _ => Err(InvalidTemplate),
         }
     }
 }
 
-pub fn render(config: &Config, treehouse: &Treehouse, input: &str) -> String {
+pub fn render(config: &Config, treehouse: &Treehouse, paths: &Paths<'_>, input: &str) -> String {
     let mut renderer = Renderer {
         lexer: Lexer::new(input),
         output: String::new(),
     };
-    renderer.render(config, treehouse);
+    renderer.render(config, treehouse, paths);
     renderer.output
 }
diff --git a/static/chat/treehouse/dev/chats/test.json b/static/chat/treehouse/dev/chats/test.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94bff5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/static/chat/treehouse/dev/chats/test.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+    "nodes": {
+        "init": {
+            "kind": "say",
+            "content": "hello! nice to meet you.",
+            "then": "question1"
+        },
+        "question1": {
+            "kind": "ask",
+            "questions": [
+                { "content": "Who are you?", "then": "whoAreYou" },
+                { "content": "What is this?", "then": "whatIsThis" }
+            ]
+        },
+        "whoAreYou": {
+            "kind": "say",
+            "content": "I'm liquidex. y'know, the guy running this place.",
+            "then": "question1"
+        },
+        "whatIsThis": {
+            "kind": "say",
+            "content": "this is a test of the treehouse dialogue system. basically, I made myself a little framework for writing conversations between characters, and this is a test page for it.",
+            "then": "whatIsThisQuestion"
+        },
+        "whatIsThisQuestion": {
+            "kind": "ask",
+            "questions": [
+                { "content": "Right.", "then": "question1" },
+                {
+                    "content": "\"Dialogues\", seriously? What, are you British?",
+                    "then": "british"
+                }
+            ]
+        },
+        "british": {
+            "kind": "say",
+            "content": "no, but I think British is pretty damn funny.",
+            "then": "question1"
+        },
+        "end": { "kind": "end" }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/static/css/components/chat.css b/static/css/components/chat.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2aaaf61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/static/css/components/chat.css
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+:root {
+    --icon-choose: url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTYiIGhlaWdodD0iMTYiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxNiAxNiIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTYgMTJMMTAgOEw2IDQiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzU1NDIzZSIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgo=');
+}
+
+@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
+    :root {
+        --icon-choose: url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTYiIGhlaWdodD0iMTYiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxNiAxNiIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTYgMTJMMTAgOEw2IDQiIHN0cm9rZT0iI2Q3Y2RiZiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgo=');
+    }
+}
+
+th-chat {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+}
+
+th-chat-said {
+    display: block;
+
+    border: 1px solid var(--border-1);
+    padding: 12px 16px;
+    margin: 8px 0;
+    border-radius: 8px;
+
+    max-width: 60%;
+}
+
+th-chat-asked {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: row-reverse;
+
+    &>button {
+        /* Reset <button> */
+        border: none;
+        background: none;
+        color: var(--text-color);
+        user-select: auto;
+
+        padding: 0.5em 0;
+        margin-right: 2rem;
+
+        --recursive-wght: 500;
+        text-decoration: underline;
+        text-align: right;
+        opacity: 80%;
+
+        cursor: pointer;
+        transition: opacity var(--transition-duration);
+
+        &.asked {
+            display: none;
+            opacity: 50%;
+        }
+
+        &[disabled] {
+            --recursive-wght: 600;
+            cursor: default;
+            opacity: 100%;
+            text-decoration: none;
+        }
+
+        &:hover {
+            opacity: 100%;
+        }
+
+        &::before {
+            content: '';
+            display: inline-block;
+            width: 16px;
+            height: 16px;
+            margin-right: 0.5em;
+            background-image: var(--icon-choose);
+            background-position: 50% 50%;
+            background-repeat: no-repeat;
+            opacity: 0%;
+            vertical-align: middle;
+            translate: -1em 0;
+            transition: opacity var(--transition-duration), translate var(--transition-duration);
+        }
+
+        &:hover::before, &[disabled]::before {
+            opacity: 50%;
+            translate: 0 0;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/static/css/main.css b/static/css/main.css
index 8568610..3c1dbeb 100644
--- a/static/css/main.css
+++ b/static/css/main.css
@@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ body::selection {
 body,
 pre,
 code,
-kbd {
+kbd,
+button {
     font-family: 'RecVar', sans-serif;
     font-size: 14px;
     line-height: 1.5;
diff --git a/static/js/components/chat.js b/static/js/components/chat.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e1f5ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/static/js/components/chat.js
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+import { addSpell, spell } from "treehouse/spells.js";
+import { Branch } from "treehouse/tree.js";
+
+const persistenceKey = "treehouse.chats";
+let persistentState = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(persistenceKey)) || {};
+
+persistentState.log ??= {};
+savePersistentState();
+
+function savePersistentState() {
+    localStorage.setItem(persistenceKey, JSON.stringify(persistentState));
+}
+
+class Chat extends HTMLElement {
+    constructor(branch) {
+        super();
+        this.branch = branch;
+    }
+
+    connectedCallback() {
+        this.id = spell(this.branch, Branch).namedID;
+        this.model = JSON.parse(spell(this.branch, Branch).branchContent.textContent);
+
+        this.state = new ChatState(this, this.model);
+        this.state.onInteract = () => {
+            persistentState.log[this.id] = this.state.log;
+            savePersistentState();
+        };
+        this.state.exec("init");
+
+        let log = persistentState.log[this.id];
+        if (log != null) {
+            this.state.replay(log);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+customElements.define("th-chat", Chat);
+
+class Said extends HTMLElement {
+    constructor({ content }) {
+        super();
+        this.content = content;
+    }
+
+    connectedCallback() {
+        this.innerHTML = this.content;
+        this.dispatchEvent(new Event(".animationsComplete"));
+    }
+}
+
+customElements.define("th-chat-said", Said);
+
+class Asked extends HTMLElement {
+    constructor({ content, alreadyAsked }) {
+        super();
+        this.content = content;
+        this.alreadyAsked = alreadyAsked;
+    }
+
+    connectedCallback() {
+        this.button = document.createElement("button");
+        this.button.innerHTML = this.content;
+        this.button.addEventListener("click", _ => {
+            this.dispatchEvent(new Event(".click"));
+        });
+        if (this.alreadyAsked) {
+            this.button.classList.add("asked");
+        }
+        this.appendChild(this.button);
+    }
+
+    interactionFinished() {
+        this.button.disabled = true;
+    }
+}
+
+customElements.define("th-chat-asked", Asked);
+
+class ChatState {
+    constructor(container, model) {
+        this.container = container;
+        this.model = model;
+        this.log = [];
+        this.results = {};
+        this.wereAsked = new Set();
+        this.onInteract = _ => {};
+    }
+
+    replay(log) {
+        for (let entry of log) {
+            this.interact(entry);
+        }
+    }
+
+    exec(name) {
+        let node = this.model.nodes[name];
+        let results = this.results[name];
+        this.results[name] = this[node.kind](name, node, results);
+    }
+
+    say(_, node) {
+        let said = new Said({ content: node.content });
+        said.addEventListener(".animationsComplete", _ => this.exec(node.then));
+        this.container.appendChild(said);
+    }
+
+    ask(name, node) {
+        let questions = [];
+        for (let i_ = 0; i_ < node.questions.length; ++i_) {
+            let i = i_;
+            let key = `${name}[${i}]`;
+
+            let question = node.questions[i];
+            let asked = new Asked({ content: question.content, alreadyAsked: this.wereAsked.has(key) });
+            asked.addEventListener(".click", _ => {
+                this.interact({
+                    kind: "ask.choose",
+                    name,
+                    option: i,
+                    key,
+                });
+            });
+            this.container.appendChild(asked);
+            questions[i] = asked;
+        }
+        return questions;
+    }
+
+    end() {}
+
+    interact(interaction) {
+        let node = this.model.nodes[interaction.name];
+
+        this.log.push(interaction);
+        this.onInteract();
+
+        switch (interaction.kind) {
+            case "ask.choose": {
+                if (this.wereAsked.has(interaction.key)) {
+                    this.log.pop();
+                }
+                this.wereAsked.add(interaction.key);
+
+                let questions = this.results[interaction.name];
+                let question = node.questions[interaction.option];
+                let asked = questions[interaction.option];
+                asked.interactionFinished();
+                this.exec(question.then);
+                for (let q of questions) {
+                    if (q != asked) {
+                        q.parentNode.removeChild(q);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+addSpell("chat", class {
+    constructor(branch) {
+        branch.replaceWith(new Chat(branch));
+    }
+});
diff --git a/static/js/spells.js b/static/js/spells.js
index 5d5236d..6a6dbd3 100644
--- a/static/js/spells.js
+++ b/static/js/spells.js
@@ -70,10 +70,12 @@ let mutationObserver = new MutationObserver(records => {
         // NOTE: Added nodes may contain children which also need to be processed.
         // Collect those that have [data-cast] on them and apply spells to them.
         for (let addedNode of record.addedNodes) {
-            if (addedNode.getAttribute("data-cast") != null) {
-                mutatedNodes.add(addedNode);
+            if (!(addedNode instanceof Text)) {
+                if (addedNode.getAttribute("data-cast") != null) {
+                    mutatedNodes.add(addedNode);
+                }
+                addedNode.querySelectorAll("[data-cast]").forEach(element => mutatedNodes.add(element));
             }
-            addedNode.querySelectorAll("[data-cast]").forEach(element => mutatedNodes.add(element));
         }
         applySpells(mutatedNodes);
     }
diff --git a/static/svg/dark/choose.svg b/static/svg/dark/choose.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d55d08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/static/svg/dark/choose.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+<svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+<path d="M6 12L10 8L6 4" stroke="#d7cdbf" stroke-width="2"/>
+</svg>
diff --git a/static/svg/light/choose.svg b/static/svg/light/choose.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41db106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/static/svg/light/choose.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+<svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+<path d="M6 12L10 8L6 4" stroke="#55423e" stroke-width="2"/>
+</svg>