Character Relationship Map for Your Story Cast

Casts go flat in predictable ways: everyone simply likes the main character, two pairs share the same dynamic, or a relationship contradicts a fact you set earlier. Character Relationship Map Planner turns one paragraph about a cast of 3 to 8 characters (who they are, the world, the story type and tone) into a relationship map before you write episodes, chats or scripts: up to 12 pairs, each with how A sees B and how B sees A, the relationship type, the source of tension, one sample line of dialogue and what could change it later, plus a Mermaid diagram and a per-character summary. What it adds is labelled as a proposal (one notice per table), separate from the facts you gave; you decide what to keep.

You paste: a cast of 3 to 8 characters, one line each, plus the world or story type and the dialogue language.
You get: a two-way relationship table (how each sees the other, type, tension, a sample line, what could change it), a Mermaid diagram and a per-character summary; anything it adds is labelled as a proposal.

Phase 0 — Intake. Needs 3 to 8 characters with a line each, the world and story type, and the dialogue language. Asks at most 3 questions, only if one is missing.

Phase 1 — Cast sheet. Each character's role, traits, goal and age if given, every fact tagged (given), and the number of possible pairs.

Phase 2 — The map. Every pair (or the 12 most important) with type, both directions, tension, a sample line and a could-change-if note; then strongest and most tense tie per character.

Phase 3 — Validation. Counts, asymmetry, contradictions with your facts, flat ties, duplicate dynamics, counted words on sample lines, and sensitivity (no romance involving minors, no romanticised abuse, no stereotype tension, SFW).

Phase 4 — Review lenses. One model applies four review lenses in turn: Continuity Keeper, Drama Engineer, Reader-Clarity Lens, Sensitivity Scout. For each finding, the other three lenses each write a challenge, corroborate or no-challenge line. A verdict tags each finding CONFIRMED, CORROBORATED, DISPUTED or NO CHANGE. Fixes are applied and listed.

Sample output

Real, unedited output from running this Skill on the invented example below:

Sample input (an invented example):

Cast for my AI chat story set in a small-town bakery in autumn (slice of life, light drama, warm tone), dialogue in English:

• Hana (29): took over her late grandmother's bakery six months ago, perfectionist, wants to keep the old recipes alive.
• Theo (31): Hana's childhood friend, runs the bookshop next door, easygoing, quietly hopes she'll sell the bakery and finally rest.
• Mrs. Ortiz (68): the grandmother's best friend and the bakery's oldest regular customer, blunt, knows a family secret about the recipes.
• Jun (17): part-time helper after school, talented at decorating, wants to go to pastry school but his parents disagree.
• Clara (34): opened a trendy café across the street last month, ambitious, offered to buy Hana's recipes.
  Hana and Theo have known each other since primary school. Clara and Hana have never met before this autumn.

5 characters · small-town bakery in autumn, slice of life with light drama and a warm tone (AI chat story) · English · 10 pairs mapped · SFW

## Essentials

- Hana, 29 (given): took over her late grandmother's bakery six months ago (given), perfectionist (given), wants to keep the old recipes alive (given).
- Theo, 31 (given): Hana's childhood friend (given), runs the bookshop next door (given), easygoing (given), quietly hopes Hana will sell the bakery and finally rest (given).
- Mrs. Ortiz, 68 (given): the grandmother's best friend (given), the bakery's oldest regular customer (given), blunt (given), knows a family secret about the recipes (given).
- Jun, 17 (given): part-time helper after school (given), talented at decorating (given), wants to go to pastry school (given), his parents disagree (given).
- Clara, 34 (given): opened a trendy café across the street last month (given), ambitious (given), offered to buy Hana's recipes (given).
- Hana and Theo have known each other since primary school (given). Clara and Hana had never met before this autumn (given).
- World: small-town bakery in autumn (given). Story type: AI chat story, slice of life, light drama (given). Tone: warm (given). Dialogue language: English (given).
- A1 (assumed): Hana does not know the family secret about the recipes.
- A2 (assumed): Theo and Mrs. Ortiz have known each other for years around the bakery.
- A3 (assumed): Theo and Jun know each other as neighbours on the same street.
- A4 (assumed): Theo and Clara have met as shop neighbours.
- A5 (assumed): Theo knows about Clara's offer to buy Hana's recipes.
- A6 (assumed): Mrs. Ortiz and Jun know each other from his after-school shifts at the bakery.
- A7 (assumed): Mrs. Ortiz and Clara have met at the café, and Mrs. Ortiz has tried the coffee.
- A8 (assumed): Jun and Clara have met, and Clara has seen his decorating work.
- Minors: Jun is 17. No romantic or sexual relationship involves him. All of his ties are work, mentoring or friendship.

## Cast sheet

| K | Name | Role | Traits | Wants | Age | Other given facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K1 | Hana | Runs her late grandmother's bakery (given) | perfectionist (given) | to keep the old recipes alive (given) | 29 (given) | took over the bakery six months ago (given); has known Theo since primary school (given); had never met Clara before this autumn (given); Clara offered to buy her recipes (given) |
| K2 | Theo | Runs the bookshop next door (given) | easygoing (given) | for Hana to sell the bakery and finally rest (given; quietly) | 31 (given) | Hana's childhood friend since primary school (given) |
| K3 | Mrs. Ortiz | The bakery's oldest regular customer (given) | blunt (given) | not stated | 68 (given) | the grandmother's best friend (given); knows a family secret about the recipes (given) |
| K4 | Jun | Part-time helper after school (given) | talented at decorating (given) | to go to pastry school (given) | 17 (given) | his parents disagree with pastry school (given) |
| K5 | Clara | Owner of the trendy café across the street (given) | ambitious (given) | to buy Hana's recipes (given; offer made) | 34 (given) | opened the café last month (given); had never met Hana before this autumn (given) |

Anchors:
- World: a small town, a bakery, autumn (given).
- Story type: AI chat story, slice of life, light drama (given).
- Tone: warm (given).
- Language: English (given).
- What the story builds toward: not stated.

Possible pairs: 5×4/2 = 10.

## Relationship map

All cells are (proposed) except parts marked (given). "(mistaken)" marks a character's wrong belief, not a fact.

| R | Pair | Type | A sees B | B sees A | Tension | Sample line | Could change if | Checks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R01* | K1 - K2 | unknown-to-one | Her oldest friend (given) and the one person fully behind keeping the bakery going (mistaken) | His oldest friend, wearing herself thin to keep her grandmother's bakery exactly as it was; he wants her rested, not rescued | Theo quietly hopes she'll sell (given); Hana counts on him as the bakery's cheerleader | Theo: "I brought you tea. And a chair. You're allowed to sit, you know." | Hana hears from someone else that Theo hopes she'll sell | A cell (Hana) (mistaken) |
| R02 | K1 - K3 | unknown-to-one | The living memory of her grandmother's bakery; Mrs. Ortiz's approval is the test every bake has to pass | A granddaughter copying the recipes perfectly without ever asking why they are the way they are | Mrs. Ortiz knows a family secret about the recipes (given) that Hana doesn't (A1) | Mrs. Ortiz: "Your grandmother's was better. Not the flour. The reason." | Hana asks Mrs. Ortiz directly where one recipe came from | views consistent; rests on A1 |
| R03* | K1 - K4 | mentor/student | A gifted helper who must master the old recipes exactly before he's allowed to improvise | An adult who actually takes his baking seriously, and keeps saying "not yet" | Her perfectionism (given) vs his decorating talent (given); every "not yet" is one less piece to show parents who oppose pastry school (given) | Jun: "I followed the recipe. I just... made the top prettier." | A customer asks specifically for Jun's decorating on a classic bake | views consistent |
| R04 | K1 - K5 | rival | A stranger until this autumn (given) whose offer to buy the recipes (given) means she wants the old bakery gone (mistaken) | A rare talent stuck in a tiny shop; the offer was meant as respect, and she'd rather partner than compete | Same street, same customers, and one offer (given) read two ways | Clara: "Name a number. Or name a better idea. I'm listening." | Clara asks Hana for advice instead of making another offer | A cell (Hana) (mistaken) |
| R05 | K2 - K3 | ally | The one voice Hana actually listens to; maybe the person who could get her to slow down | A kind man far too gentle with Hana to ever tell her a hard truth | Both worry about Hana's workload, but Theo wants her to rest (given) and Mrs. Ortiz wants the bakery to go on | Mrs. Ortiz: "You bring her tea every day. Bring her a calendar with a day off." | Mrs. Ortiz learns that Theo hopes Hana will sell | views consistent; rests on A2 |
| R06* | K2 - K4 | friend | A good kid already working as hard as Hana; somebody should tell him it's fine to stop | The one adult on the street who never pushes him, which is exactly why he hasn't told him about pastry school | Theo's "rest" advice lands as one more adult telling Jun to want less | Theo: "Take a break. The frosting isn't going anywhere." | Jun tells Theo about pastry school and his parents' objection (given) | views consistent; rests on A3 |
| R07* | K2 - K5 | unknown-to-one | A pleasant neighbour whose offer (A5) is the way out for Hana he's ashamed to want | The friendly bookseller next door to Hana, useful for learning what she'll say yes to | Clara doesn't know Theo quietly hopes Hana will sell (given); his silence already works in her favour | Clara: "You're next door to her. Does she ever say yes to anything?" | Clara asks Theo to put in a word for the offer | views consistent; rests on A4, A5 |
| R08 | K3 - K4 | mentor/student | A show-off with real talent; his piping reminds her of her late friend's hands | The scary regular whose one nod is worth more than any compliment | She criticises what she secretly likes; he keeps decorating for her approval | Mrs. Ortiz: "Too much sugar on top. Leave it. She'd have liked that." | Jun asks her what the bakery's cakes looked like years ago | views consistent; rests on A6 |
| R09* | K3 - K5 | rival | A newcomer selling fancy coffee across from a real bakery; not to be trusted yet | The street's toughest regular; win her over and the street follows | Mrs. Ortiz's loyalty to the old bakery vs Clara's need to belong on the street | Mrs. Ortiz: "I've had your coffee. It tastes like a candle." | Mrs. Ortiz hears about Clara's offer for the recipes | views consistent; rests on A7 |
| R10* | K4 - K5 | ally | Proof that modern pastry can be a real career, the world his parents doubt (given) | The talent behind the bakery window she'd hire tomorrow | Being drawn to her café feels like betraying Hana | Clara: "Those leaves in your window are yours, right? I'm hiring." | Clara offers Jun a paid weekend shift | views consistent; rests on A8 |

## Diagram

```mermaid
graph LR
  K1["Hana"]
  K2["Theo"]
  K3["Mrs. Ortiz"]
  K4["Jun"]
  K5["Clara"]
  K1 -.-|"unknown-to-one"| K2
  K1 -.-|"unknown-to-one"| K3
  K1 -.-|"mentor/student"| K4
  K1 -.-|"rival"| K5
  K2 ---|"ally"| K3
  K2 ---|"friend"| K4
  K2 -.-|"unknown-to-one"| K5
  K3 ---|"mentor/student"| K4
  K3 -.-|"rival"| K5
  K4 ---|"ally"| K5
```

## Per character

| K | Pairs | Strongest tie | Most tense tie |
|---|---|---|---|
| K1 Hana | 4 [R01, R02, R03, R04] | R01 (Theo) | R04 (Clara) |
| K2 Theo | 4 [R01, R05, R06, R07] | R01 (Hana) | R07 (Clara) |
| K3 Mrs. Ortiz | 4 [R02, R05, R08, R09] | R02 (Hana) | R09 (Clara) |
| K4 Jun* | 4 [R03, R06, R08, R10] | R03 (Hana) | R03 (Hana) |
| K5 Clara | 4 [R04, R07, R09, R10] | R10 (Jun) | R04 (Hana) |

## Validation

1. **Counts:** 10 rows, all pairs of 5. No duplicate pair. K1 4 [R01, R02, R03, R04]; K2 4 [R01, R05, R06, R07]; K3 4 [R02, R05, R08, R09]; K4 4 [R03, R06, R08, R10]; K5 4 [R04, R07, R09, R10]. PASS.
2. **[ASYM]** PASS. Named point per row:
   - R01: support vs worry.
   - R02: seeks approval vs withholds a reason.
   - R03: training vs ceiling.
   - R04: rival vs would-be partner.
   - R05: hoped-for ally vs too soft.
   - R06: protect vs being underestimated.
   - R07: guilty hope vs a useful contact.
   - R08: harsh because he's worth it vs fear.
   - R09: distrust vs a customer to win.
   - R10: a career model vs a hire.
   - Rows where the two sides disagree about the relationship itself: [R01, R04, R09].
3. **[CANON]** PASS.
   - Marked cells: R01 A cell (Hana) (mistaken), because it contradicts Theo's given hope. R04 A cell (Hana) (mistaken), because it contradicts Clara's intent in the B cell.
   - Rows resting on assumptions: R02 rests on A1; R05 rests on A2; R06 rests on A3; R07 rests on A4, A5; R08 rests on A6; R09 rests on A7; R10 rests on A8.
   - Every other row: views consistent.
4. **[FLAT]** PASS. Every row has a tension. No character simply admires another.
5. **[DUP]** PASS.
   - mentor/student [R03, R08]: recipe discipline vs approval through criticism.
   - rival [R04, R09]: a misread offer vs local loyalty.
   - unknown-to-one [R01, R02, R07]: three different unknown facts.
   - ally [R05, R10]: a shared worry vs a career pull.
6. **[LINE]** PASS. Word counts: R01 13, R02 9, R03 10, R04 10, R05 14, R06 8, R07 12, R08 11, R09 9, R10 10. Every line shows rather than states.
7. **[SAFE]** PASS.
   - Jun (17) has no romance. R10 is employment only.
   - No abuse is framed as love.
   - Every tension comes from goals, history and values, not age, gender or background.
   - SFW. No real people or franchise characters.

**Changes (Phase 3), rows changed [R01, R03, R06, R07, R10]:**
- R01 B sees A [CANON]: an invented promise was presented as fact.
  - Before: "His oldest friend, wearing herself thin for a promise to someone who's gone; he wants her rested, not rescued"
  - After: "His oldest friend, wearing herself thin to keep her grandmother's bakery exactly as it was; he wants her rested, not rescued"
- R03 B sees A [CANON]: "only adult" clashed with R08 and R10.
  - Before: "The only adult who takes his baking seriously — and the one who keeps saying "not yet""
  - After: "An adult who actually takes his baking seriously, and keeps saying "not yet""
- R06 Sample line [CANON]: Theo is not stated to know about pastry school.
  - Before: Theo: "Pastry school? Sure, but have you eaten lunch today?"
  - After: Theo: "Take a break. The frosting isn't going anywhere."
- R07 Sample line [CANON]: Clara is not stated to know the childhood history.
  - Before: Clara: "You've known her forever. Does she ever say yes to anything?"
  - After: Clara: "You're next door to her. Does she ever say yes to anything?"
- R10 Sample line [CANON]: the line implied Clara didn't know the work was Jun's, which clashed with the B cell.
  - Before: Clara: "Whoever piped those leaves in your window, tell them I'm hiring."
  - After: Clara: "Those leaves in your window are yours, right? I'm hiring."

**Counts line (final):**
- Rows: 10.
- Types: unknown-to-one 3 [R01, R02, R07]; mentor/student 2 [R03, R08]; rival 2 [R04, R09]; ally 2 [R05, R10]; friend 1 [R06].
- Rows per character: K1 4 [R01, R02, R03, R04]; K2 4 [R01, R05, R06, R07]; K3 4 [R02, R05, R08, R09]; K4 4 [R03, R06, R08, R10]; K5 4 [R04, R07, R09, R10].

## Review lenses

### Findings per lens

**Lens 1 — Continuity Keeper**
- **1a [R08]** R08 A sees B: "A show-off with real talent; his piping reminds her of her late friend's hands". This quietly makes it fact that the grandmother piped by hand. That is a new detail about a given character, and it could collide with the family secret about the recipes (given). Proposed fix: "A show-off with real talent; she's hardest on him because he's worth it".
- **1b [R07]** R07 A sees B: "A pleasant neighbour whose offer (A5) is the way out for Hana he's ashamed to want". The row rests on two unconfirmed assumptions [A4, A5]. If Theo hasn't heard of the offer, the row loses its core. Flag only: confirm A4 and A5.

**Lens 2 — Drama Engineer**
- **2a [Per character]** Quoted lines: "K1 Hana | … | R04 (Clara)", "K2 Theo | … | R07 (Clara)", "K3 Mrs. Ortiz | … | R09 (Clara)", "K4 Jun | … | R10 (Clara)". Clara is the most tense tie for four characters [K1, K2, K3, K4], so friction inside the established cast is soft. Proposed fix: raise the stakes in the R03 Tension cell, "Her perfectionism (given) about the old recipes vs his decorating talent (given) that wants room", so that Jun's most tense tie sits inside the bakery.

**Lens 3 — Reader-Clarity Lens**
- **3a [R01, R02, R07]** There are three unknown-to-one rows, the maximum allowed. Two of them hinge on what Hana doesn't know: R01 Tension "Theo quietly hopes she'll sell (given); Hana counts on him as the bakery's cheerleader" and R02 Tension "Mrs. Ortiz knows a family secret about the recipes (given) that Hana doesn't (A1)". Readers may blur these two. Flag only: keep both, but reveal them at different times.
- **3b [R04, R07, R09, R10]** Clara speaks in four of the ten sample lines, all in the same charming-pitch voice. R09 Sample line: Clara: "First cup's on the house, Mrs. Ortiz. Tell me what's wrong with it." Proposed fix: give R09's line to Mrs. Ortiz in her blunt voice.

**Lens 4 — Sensitivity Scout**
- **4a [R10]** R10 B sees A: "The talent behind the bakery window she'd hire tomorrow". An adult employer and a 17-year-old: this is acceptable as written. Keep it strictly professional in episodes. Flag only.
- Otherwise:
  - No romance involves Jun.
  - No abuse is framed as love.
  - Tensions rest on goals and values, not age or gender.
  - SFW. No real people or franchise characters.

### Cross-check

- `[1a, R08] Lens 2: challenge - "the late-friend link is what gives R08 stakes; without it the tie is just a grumpy customer" / Lens 3: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[1b, R07] Lens 2: no challenge / Lens 3: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[2a, Per character] Lens 1: no challenge / Lens 3: corroborate - "with both of Jun's tense ties pointing outward, readers would read Hana–Jun as purely cozy" / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[3a, R01, R02, R07] Lens 1: no challenge / Lens 2: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[3b, R09] Lens 1: no challenge / Lens 2: corroborate - "Mrs. Ortiz's given bluntness carries the R09 friction better than Clara's charm" / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[4a, R10] Lens 1: no challenge / Lens 2: no challenge / Lens 3: no challenge`

### Verdict

- **1a DISPUTED.**
  - Lens 1: replace the R08 A cell so it does not invent a fact about the grandmother's decorating.
  - Lens 2: keep it, because the late-friend link gives R08 its stakes.
  - R08 is left unchanged. The user decides.
- **1b NO CHANGE.** Flag (see Notes).
- **2a CORROBORATED** (also corroborated by Lens 3 in the cross-check for 2a). Applied.
- **3a NO CHANGE.** Flag (see Notes).
- **3b CORROBORATED** (corroborated by Lens 2 in the cross-check for 3b). Applied.
- **4a NO CHANGE.** Flag (see Notes).

### Changes applied

- **2a, R03 Tension**
  - Before: "Her perfectionism (given) about the old recipes vs his decorating talent (given) that wants room"
  - After: "Her perfectionism (given) vs his decorating talent (given); every "not yet" is one less piece to show parents who oppose pastry school (given)"
- **2a, Per character K4, Most tense tie**
  - Before: "R10 (Clara)"
  - After: "R03 (Hana)"
- **2a, Diagram R03 edge**
  - Before: `K1 ---|"mentor/student"| K4`
  - After: `K1 -.-|"mentor/student"| K4`
- **2a, Diagram R10 edge** (no longer anyone's most tense tie)
  - Before: `K4 -.-|"ally"| K5`
  - After: `K4 ---|"ally"| K5`
- **3b, R09 Sample line**
  - Before: Clara: "First cup's on the house, Mrs. Ortiz. Tell me what's wrong with it."
  - After: Mrs. Ortiz: "I've had your coffee. It tastes like a candle."
- **3b, A7**
  - Before: "Mrs. Ortiz and Clara have met at the café."
  - After: "Mrs. Ortiz and Clara have met at the café, and Mrs. Ortiz has tried the coffee."

Phase 3 re-run on [R03, R09]:
- Counts unchanged.
- [ASYM] PASS.
- [CANON]: R03 views consistent, no assumption added. R09 views consistent and rests on A7 (updated). The [CANON] line and the Notes dependency list are unchanged in membership. PASS.
- [FLAT] PASS. [DUP] PASS.
- [LINE]: R09 is 9 words and shows rather than states. PASS.
- [SAFE] PASS.

**Recommendation**
Start writing with [R01, R03, R04].
- R01: 3a NO CHANGE, flag (see Notes). The A cell (Hana) (mistaken) is intentional.
- R03: 2a CORROBORATED (applied).
- R04: 2a CORROBORATED (applied). The A cell (Hana) (mistaken) is intentional.

## Notes

- **Assumptions to confirm**, with dependent rows:
  - A1 → R02
  - A2 → R05
  - A3 → R06
  - A4 → R07
  - A5 → R07
  - A6 → R08
  - A7 → R09
  - A8 → R10
- **1b flag (see Notes):** R07 depends on both A4 and A5. If Theo doesn't know about the offer, rework R07 before using it.
- **3a flag (see Notes):** R01 and R02 both turn on what Hana doesn't know. Reveal them in different arcs so readers can tell them apart.
- **4a flag (see Notes):** keep R10 strictly professional. Jun is 17.
- **Open dispute:** 1a, R08 A cell. The user decides.
- **Skipped pairs:** none.
- **Suggestion only (not added to the cast):** Jun's parents exist only as an off-screen objection. One parent as a supporting character could carry R03 and R10 later.
- What the story builds toward is not stated. Every "Could change if" stays open.
- **Honest limit:** this map sees only your paragraph. Check it against earlier chats and episodes, and keep only the proposals that fit.
- **Offer:** I can update this map after the next arc, write a voice sheet per character, or map a new cast member.

Use cases

• Planning a cast for a story, webcomic, AI chat or video series before writing episodes
• Making sure each pair is two-sided, not everyone simply liking the main character
• Keeping relationships consistent with facts you already set
• Getting a Mermaid relationship chart you can paste into your notes

FAQ

Does it change my characters? No. It is instructed not to add new characters and to keep your facts fixed; what it adds is labelled as proposed at table level, and you decide whether to keep it.

Does it draw a chart image? No. It writes a Mermaid diagram that renders in tools that support Mermaid.

What about young characters? No romantic relationship involving anyone under 18, or of unclear age when the cast reads as young; it uses a non-romantic dynamic instead.

Is it safe for work? Yes. SFW only.

Which tools? Built for Claude Code; other agents that read SKILL.md files (such as Codex CLI or OpenClaw) should also work. No network access or extra tools needed. One-time download, no hosting, no API key.

Are the counts and checks reliable? The counts and checks are self-checked by the same model that wrote them; spot-check the numbers before you rely on them.

Product and company names mentioned here, including Anthropic, OpenAI and OpenClaw, are trademarks of their respective owners; this Skill is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them.