feat: add information messages to SceneAppearance and enhance DirectorMessage

- Introduced `information_messages` to `SceneAppearance` for system notices. - Enhanced `DirectorMessage` with a new `subtype` property for categorization. - Updated UX elements to support new `BuildNoticeElement` for display-only messages. - Implemented color resolution for special message types, including information. - Refactored message color handling in frontend components to utilize new utility functions. - Added markdown rendering capabilities for plain text in UX elements. - Improved styling and behavior for various message types in the frontend.
2026-09-01 19:48:52 +02:00 · 2026-04-22 01:35:47 +03:00
parent d0a145e842
commit dfe2aedbb7
19 changed files with 1151 additions and 396 deletions
--- a/src/talemate/agents/director/modules/director-action-gameplay.json
+++ b/src/talemate/agents/director/modules/director-action-gameplay.json
@@ -710,28 +710,28 @@
  "inputs": [],
  "outputs": [
    {
-      "id": "15ecf58a-8fed-4aac-be58-ae43827fcc79",
+      "id": "d505505c-f22f-4d6c-97d5-cfc05d9c41e4",
      "name": "fn",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
      "socket_type": "function"
    },
    {
-      "id": "30586a55-e9e1-4b8b-9554-826f69abc196",
+      "id": "3b9e471a-c4ba-43e9-ab2a-829f21fe3434",
      "name": "name",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
      "socket_type": "str"
    },
    {
-      "id": "87b6031d-5d53-4397-b38c-5d9ee70a18b3",
+      "id": "5ad79ca7-370e-442b-a670-bfd9bcb38958",
      "name": "allow_multiple_calls",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
      "socket_type": "bool"
    },
    {
-      "id": "da949bec-6c74-4503-87d2-d78ce63572f5",
+      "id": "712b4cac-5fe5-42a8-aa1d-fa3caa50ba12",
      "name": "ai_callback",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
--- a/src/talemate/agents/director/modules/director-action-prompt-user.json
+++ b/src/talemate/agents/director/modules/director-action-prompt-user.json
--- a/src/talemate/agents/director/modules/director-action-update-context.json
+++ b/src/talemate/agents/director/modules/director-action-update-context.json
@@ -192,12 +192,13 @@
        "template": null,
        "max_calls": 8,
        "retries": 0,
-        "response_length": 4096
+        "response_length": 4096,
+        "max_concurrent": 3
      },
      "x": 1822,
      "y": 1760,
      "width": 228,
-      "height": 250,
+      "height": 274,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Focal",
@@ -663,7 +664,7 @@
      "x": 675,
      "y": 496,
      "width": 210,
-      "height": 193,
+      "height": 213,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "prompt/Jinja2Format",
@@ -1007,12 +1008,13 @@
      "id": "cfaec2dd-2c88-4087-8678-43cadd6c3226",
      "properties": {
        "name": "my_function",
-        "allow_multiple_calls": true
+        "allow_multiple_calls": true,
+        "allow_concurrent": false
      },
      "x": 420,
      "y": 1370,
      "width": 214,
-      "height": 102,
+      "height": 126,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Callback",
@@ -1073,41 +1075,18 @@
      "registry": "agents/director/chat/DirectorChatSubAction",
      "base_type": "core/Node"
    },
-    "d4071915-492a-41ac-b4f9-54e48a167c5c": {
-      "title": "[Update Context] Story Configuration",
-      "id": "d4071915-492a-41ac-b4f9-54e48a167c5c",
-      "properties": {
-        "group": "Update Context",
-        "action_id": "update_context.story_configuration",
-        "action_title": "Story Configuration",
-        "description_chat": "Make changes to the story / experience's configuration: Title, Description, Introduction, Content Classification, Story Intention, Scene Intention and Scene Type.\n\nManage Contextual Pins (add, update, remove pins of world entries).",
-        "description_scene_direction": "",
-        "instruction_examples": [
-          "Update the story intention to be more specific about the expected story's mature content."
-        ],
-        "availability": "both",
-        "force_enabled": false
-      },
-      "x": 860,
-      "y": 1970,
-      "width": 317,
-      "height": 246,
-      "collapsed": false,
-      "inherited": false,
-      "registry": "agents/director/chat/DirectorChatSubAction",
-      "base_type": "core/Node"
-    },
    "5e8fb08e-30c4-4c6a-97e0-8b4844598f4c": {
      "title": "AI Function Callback",
      "id": "5e8fb08e-30c4-4c6a-97e0-8b4844598f4c",
      "properties": {
        "name": "direct_context_change",
-        "allow_multiple_calls": true
+        "allow_multiple_calls": true,
+        "allow_concurrent": false
      },
      "x": 950,
      "y": 2279,
      "width": 214,
-      "height": 102,
+      "height": 126,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Callback",
@@ -1166,12 +1145,13 @@
      "id": "323899a1-ffba-4d63-af97-4a25f11bf00f",
      "properties": {
        "name": "my_function",
-        "allow_multiple_calls": true
+        "allow_multiple_calls": true,
+        "allow_concurrent": false
      },
      "x": 380,
      "y": 2520,
      "width": 214,
-      "height": 102,
+      "height": 126,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Callback",
@@ -1182,12 +1162,13 @@
      "id": "cdfcf3a5-ee6b-49f8-b1ad-078ba1100fd9",
      "properties": {
        "name": "my_function",
-        "allow_multiple_calls": true
+        "allow_multiple_calls": true,
+        "allow_concurrent": false
      },
      "x": 400,
      "y": 2850,
      "width": 214,
-      "height": 102,
+      "height": 126,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Callback",
@@ -1228,12 +1209,13 @@
      "id": "b90a792b-638e-45c3-9e33-c4951efbd76e",
      "properties": {
        "name": "my_function",
-        "allow_multiple_calls": true
+        "allow_multiple_calls": true,
+        "allow_concurrent": false
      },
      "x": 400,
      "y": 1690,
      "width": 214,
-      "height": 102,
+      "height": 126,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Callback",
@@ -1244,12 +1226,13 @@
      "id": "80265d56-f041-4b26-9468-2a0b38f886a2",
      "properties": {
        "name": "my_function",
-        "allow_multiple_calls": true
+        "allow_multiple_calls": true,
+        "allow_concurrent": false
      },
      "x": 410,
      "y": 1980,
      "width": 214,
-      "height": 102,
+      "height": 126,
      "collapsed": false,
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Callback",
@@ -1310,6 +1293,32 @@
      "inherited": false,
      "registry": "focal/Argument",
      "base_type": "core/Node"
+    },
+    "d4071915-492a-41ac-b4f9-54e48a167c5c": {
+      "title": "[Update Context] Story Configuration",
+      "id": "d4071915-492a-41ac-b4f9-54e48a167c5c",
+      "properties": {
+        "group": "Update Context",
+        "action_id": "update_context.story_configuration",
+        "action_title": "Story Configuration",
+        "description_chat": "Make changes to the story / experience's configuration: Title, Description, Introduction, Content Classification, Story Intention, Scene Intention and Scene Type.\n\nManage Contextual Pins (add, update, remove pins of world entries).",
+        "description_scene_direction": "",
+        "instruction_examples": [
+          "Update the story intention to be more specific about the expected story's mature content.",
+          "Change the scene type to `roleplay`. Julienne should explore the marketplace to see if she finds anything interesting.",
+          "Keep the scene type `roleplay` but update the goal. Lara and Gustav are discussing how to traverse the puzzle room."
+        ],
+        "availability": "both",
+        "force_enabled": false
+      },
+      "x": 860,
+      "y": 1970,
+      "width": 317,
+      "height": 246,
+      "collapsed": false,
+      "inherited": false,
+      "registry": "agents/director/chat/DirectorChatSubAction",
+      "base_type": "core/Node"
    }
  },
  "edges": {
@@ -1497,9 +1506,6 @@
    "328832ac-fdf5-49b7-9f22-23514f5a4f46.state": [
      "e9460323-7f9c-484b-a993-e351e8fd2762.item1"
    ],
-    "d4071915-492a-41ac-b4f9-54e48a167c5c.state": [
-      "e9460323-7f9c-484b-a993-e351e8fd2762.item2"
-    ],
    "5e8fb08e-30c4-4c6a-97e0-8b4844598f4c.callback": [
      "e9460323-7f9c-484b-a993-e351e8fd2762.item3"
    ],
@@ -1538,6 +1544,9 @@
    ],
    "b6e0f644-176c-4503-8f5f-511700a77bac.value": [
      "f16b6be4-f755-4999-ba41-64e630e4bb61.is_player"
+    ],
+    "d4071915-492a-41ac-b4f9-54e48a167c5c.state": [
+      "e9460323-7f9c-484b-a993-e351e8fd2762.item2"
    ]
  },
  "groups": [
@@ -1628,28 +1637,28 @@
  "inputs": [],
  "outputs": [
    {
-      "id": "e29e1b3b-6730-477b-9ac1-142f040f1534",
+      "id": "af480e2b-b458-43f8-b6d1-5b055bb465e3",
      "name": "fn",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
      "socket_type": "function"
    },
    {
-      "id": "0ab8ae79-5983-4f28-88eb-1ac093b1d670",
+      "id": "35f819dc-1a05-476f-bd58-dec8e6e6ef85",
      "name": "name",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
      "socket_type": "str"
    },
    {
-      "id": "dfba608b-296c-4ad1-a542-dcbeda406666",
+      "id": "4461c3b6-a329-4930-929b-0cecb0875a72",
      "name": "allow_multiple_calls",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
      "socket_type": "bool"
    },
    {
-      "id": "dd9c4401-57ea-4023-a5bc-d5b1112be388",
+      "id": "87ef9dea-d65f-4f58-9d44-fa54ee857d03",
      "name": "ai_callback",
      "optional": false,
      "group": null,
@@ -1704,6 +1713,18 @@
      "min": null,
      "max": null,
      "ephemeral": false
+    },
+    "allow_concurrent": {
+      "name": "allow_concurrent",
+      "description": "Whether the action can be called concurrently",
+      "type": "bool",
+      "default": false,
+      "choices": null,
+      "readonly": false,
+      "step": null,
+      "min": null,
+      "max": null,
+      "ephemeral": false
    }
  },
  "style": {
--- a/src/talemate/config/schema.py
+++ b/src/talemate/config/schema.py
@@ -565,6 +565,7 @@ class SceneAppearance(pydantic.BaseModel):
    context_investigation_messages: HidableHistoryMessageStyle = (
        HidableHistoryMessageStyle()
    )
+    information_messages: HistoryMessageStyle = HistoryMessageStyle()
    quotes: MarkupMessageStyle = MarkupMessageStyle()
    parentheses: MarkupMessageStyle = MarkupMessageStyle()
    brackets: MarkupMessageStyle = MarkupMessageStyle()
--- a/src/talemate/game/engine/nodes/scene.py
+++ b/src/talemate/game/engine/nodes/scene.py
@@ -944,6 +944,21 @@ class DirectorMessage(Node):
            description="Describes the director action",
            type="str",
            default="actor_instruction",
+            choices=[
+                "actor_instruction",
+                "user_direction",
+            ],
+        )
+
+        subtype = PropertyField(
+            name="subtype",
+            description="The subtype of the director message, used for further categorization of the message",
+            type="str",
+            default=UNRESOLVED,
+            choices=[
+                "function_call",
+                "user_direction",
+            ],
        )

    def __init__(self, title="Director Message", **kwargs):
@@ -955,18 +970,26 @@ class DirectorMessage(Node):
        self.add_input("meta", socket_type="dict", optional=True)
        self.add_input("character", socket_type="character", optional=True)
        self.add_input("action", socket_type="str", optional=True)
+        self.add_input("subtype", socket_type="str", optional=True)

        self.set_property("source", "ai")
        self.set_property("action", "actor_instruction")
+        self.set_property("subtype", UNRESOLVED)

        self.add_output("message", socket_type="message_object")
+        self.add_output("source", socket_type="str")
+        self.add_output("meta", socket_type="dict")
+        self.add_output("character", socket_type="character")
+        self.add_output("action", socket_type="str")
+        self.add_output("subtype", socket_type="str")

    async def run(self, state: GraphState):
-        message = self.get_input_value("message")
-        source = self.get_input_value("source")
-        action = self.get_input_value("action")
-        meta = self.get_input_value("meta")
-        character: "Character" = self.get_input_value("character")
+        message = self.normalized_input_value("message")
+        source = self.normalized_input_value("source")
+        action = self.normalized_input_value("action")
+        meta = self.normalized_input_value("meta")
+        subtype = self.normalized_input_value("subtype")
+        character: "Character" = self.normalized_input_value("character")

        extra = {}

@@ -974,13 +997,20 @@ class DirectorMessage(Node):
            extra["meta"] = meta

        message = scene_message.DirectorMessage(
-            message, source=source, action=action, **extra
+            message, source=source, action=action, subtype=subtype, **extra
        )

-        if character and character is not UNRESOLVED:
+        if character is not None:
            message.set_meta(character=character.name)

-        self.set_output_values({"message": message})
+        self.set_output_values({
+            "message": message,
+            "source": source,
+            "meta": meta,
+            "character": character,
+            "action": action,
+            "subtype": subtype,
+        })


@register("scene/message/UnpackMeta")
--- a/src/talemate/game/engine/nodes/ux.py
+++ b/src/talemate/game/engine/nodes/ux.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from talemate.game.engine.nodes.registry import register
 from talemate.game.engine.ux.schema import (
    UXChoiceElement,
    UXElement,
+    UXNoticeElement,
    UXSelection,
    UXTextInputElement,
 )
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ from talemate.util.ux import normalize_choices
 __all__ = [
    "BuildChoiceElement",
    "BuildTextInputElement",
+    "BuildNoticeElement",
    "StyleElement",
    "EmitElement",
 ]
@@ -133,7 +135,7 @@ class _BuildUxElementMixin:


 def _parse_ux_element(raw: Any) -> UXElement:
-    if isinstance(raw, (UXChoiceElement, UXTextInputElement)):
+    if isinstance(raw, (UXChoiceElement, UXTextInputElement, UXNoticeElement)):
        return raw
    return pydantic.TypeAdapter(UXElement).validate_python(raw)

@@ -416,6 +418,77 @@ class BuildTextInputElement(_BuildUxElementMixin, Node):
        )


+@register("ux/BuildNoticeElement")
+class BuildNoticeElement(_BuildUxElementMixin, Node):
+    """
+    Builds a notice (display-only) UX element payload.
+
+    Fire-and-forget: EmitElement emits and returns immediately. The frontend
+    renders the notice until the user dismisses it (when closable) or the
+    client-side timeout expires.
+
+    Inputs:
+    - state: any
+    - id: str (optional)
+    - closable: bool (optional)
+    - timeout_seconds: int (optional)
+    - title: str (optional)
+    - body: str (optional)
+
+    Outputs:
+    - state: any
+    - ux_id: str
+    - ux_element: dict
+    """
+
+    @pydantic.computed_field(description="Node style")
+    @property
+    def style(self) -> NodeStyle:
+        return NodeStyle(
+            node_color="#2d3a38",
+            title_color="#3a4d4a",
+            icon="F1B4F",
+        )
+
+    def __init__(self, title="Build Notice Element", **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(title=title, **kwargs)
+
+    class Fields:
+        closable = _UxBuildCommonFields.closable
+        timeout_seconds = _UxBuildCommonFields.timeout_seconds
+        element_title = _UxBuildCommonFields.element_title
+        element_body = _UxBuildCommonFields.element_body
+
+    def setup(self):
+        self._ux_build_setup_common()
+        self._ux_build_setup_tail_outputs()
+
+    async def run(self, state: GraphState):
+        state_value = self.get_input_value("state")
+        ux_id, closable, timeout_seconds, title, body = self._ux_build_resolve_common()
+
+        element = UXNoticeElement(
+            id=ux_id,
+            closable=closable,
+            timeout_seconds=timeout_seconds,
+            title=title,
+            body=body,
+        )
+
+        self.set_output_values(
+            {
+                "state": state_value,
+                "id": element.id,
+                "closable": element.closable,
+                "timeout_seconds": element.timeout_seconds,
+                "title": element.title or "",
+                "body": element.body or "",
+                "ux_id": element.id,
+                "ux_element": element.model_dump(),
+            }
+        )
+
+
@register("ux/StyleElement")
 class StyleElement(Node):
    """
@@ -461,15 +534,23 @@ class StyleElement(Node):
            type="str",
            default="",
        )
+        apply_scene_colors = PropertyField(
+            name="apply_scene_colors",
+            description="When true, the body text is rendered through the scene-message parser and gets its per-category colors (quotes/emphasis/parentheses/brackets). When false, body renders with markdown formatting but inherits the element's color.",
+            type="bool",
+            default=False,
+        )

    def setup(self):
        self.add_input("state")
        self.add_input("ux_element", socket_type="ux_element")
        self.add_input("tint", socket_type="str", optional=True)
        self.add_input("icon", socket_type="str", optional=True)
+        self.add_input("apply_scene_colors", socket_type="bool", optional=True)

        self.set_property("tint", "muted")
        self.set_property("icon", "")
+        self.set_property("apply_scene_colors", False)

        self.add_output("state", socket_type="any")
        self.add_output("ux_id", socket_type="str")
@@ -494,12 +575,18 @@ class StyleElement(Node):
            if self.get_input_socket("icon").source
            else self.get_property("icon")
        )
+        apply_scene_colors = (
+            self.normalized_input_value("apply_scene_colors")
+            if self.get_input_socket("apply_scene_colors").source
+            else self.get_property("apply_scene_colors")
+        )

        color = (str(tint).strip() if tint is not None else "") or None
        icon = (str(icon).strip() if icon is not None else "") or None

        element.color = color
        element.icon = icon
+        element.apply_scene_colors = bool(apply_scene_colors)

        # Always sync to meta for backward compatibility
        if element.color is None:
@@ -747,6 +834,9 @@ class EmitElement(Node):
        cancelled = False
        timed_out = False

+        # Kind dispatch — which await/selection machinery to run. This is not a
+        # "should we block" check (use element.blocking for that); it's which
+        # shape-specific protocol (choices list, text input) this kind speaks.
        if element.kind in ("choice", "text_input"):
            scene = active_scene.get()
            selection, timed_out, aborted = await self.wait_for_interaction(
--- a/src/talemate/game/engine/ux/schema.py
+++ b/src/talemate/game/engine/ux/schema.py
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@ import pydantic

 __all__ = [
    "UXElementBase",
-    "UXAwaitableElementBase",
+    "UXTimedElementBase",
    "UXChoice",
    "UXChoiceElement",
    "UXTextInputElement",
+    "UXNoticeElement",
    "UXElement",
    "UXSelection",
    "UXPresentPayload",
@@ -30,9 +31,21 @@ class UXElementBase(pydantic.BaseModel):
    # waiting node should be resumed as cancelled.
    closable: bool = True

+    # Whether the element blocks other scene input while present. Interactive
+    # elements (choice, text_input) block and are awaited by the backend;
+    # display-only elements (notice) do not and are fire-and-forget.
+    blocking: bool = True
+
    title: str | None = None
    body: str | None = None

+    # When true, the frontend renders `body` through the scene-message text
+    # parser, which paints its own per-category colors over the text
+    # (quotes/emphasis/parentheses/brackets). When false, body still renders
+    # markdown formatting but inherits the element's color. Authors flip this
+    # via the `ux/StyleElement` node.
+    apply_scene_colors: bool = False
+
    # Presentation hints for the frontend (Vuetify-style).
    # Kept optional for backward compatibility; frontend may also read these from `meta`.
    icon: str | None = None
@@ -41,13 +54,14 @@ class UXElementBase(pydantic.BaseModel):
    meta: dict[str, Any] = pydantic.Field(default_factory=dict)


-class UXAwaitableElementBase(UXElementBase):
+class UXTimedElementBase(UXElementBase):
    """
-    Base for UX elements that are awaitable and may timeout.
+    Base for UX elements that carry a timeout. For blocking elements the backend
+    enforces the timeout while awaiting the user; for non-blocking elements the
+    frontend uses it to drive a client-side auto-dismiss.
    """

-    # Timeout behavior for awaitable elements.
-    # 0 means no timeout (wait forever until user selects/cancels).
+    # 0 means no timeout.
    timeout_seconds: int = 0

    # When timeout_seconds > 0, the backend can stamp the start time so the frontend
@@ -66,14 +80,14 @@ class UXChoice(pydantic.BaseModel):
    disabled: bool = False


-class UXChoiceElement(UXAwaitableElementBase):
+class UXChoiceElement(UXTimedElementBase):
    kind: Literal["choice"] = "choice"
    choices: list[UXChoice] = pydantic.Field(default_factory=list)
    multi_select: bool = False
    default: str | list[str] | None = None


-class UXTextInputElement(UXAwaitableElementBase):
+class UXTextInputElement(UXTimedElementBase):
    kind: Literal["text_input"] = "text_input"

    # Render as textarea when true, single-line input when false.
@@ -89,8 +103,19 @@ class UXTextInputElement(UXAwaitableElementBase):
    trim: bool = True


+class UXNoticeElement(UXTimedElementBase):
+    """
+    Display-only UX element. Fire-and-forget: the backend emits it and moves on;
+    the frontend renders it until the user dismisses it (when closable) or the
+    client-side timeout expires.
+    """
+
+    kind: Literal["notice"] = "notice"
+    blocking: bool = False
+
+
 UXElement = Annotated[
-    Union[UXChoiceElement, UXTextInputElement],
+    Union[UXChoiceElement, UXTextInputElement, UXNoticeElement],
    pydantic.Field(discriminator="kind"),
 ]

--- a/src/talemate/scene_message.py
+++ b/src/talemate/scene_message.py
@@ -302,10 +302,10 @@ class NarratorMessage(SceneMessage):

@dataclass
 class DirectorMessage(SceneMessage):
-    action: str = "actor_instruction"
+    action: Literal["actor_instruction", "user_direction"] = "actor_instruction"
    source: str = "ai"
    typ = "director"
-    subtype: str | None = None
+    subtype: Literal["function_call", "user_direction"] | None = None

    @property
    def character_name(self) -> str:
--- a/src/talemate/util/colors.py
+++ b/src/talemate/util/colors.py
@@ -78,7 +78,14 @@ COLOR_MAP = {
 COLOR_NAMES = sorted(list(COLOR_MAP.keys()))
 COLORS = sorted(list(COLOR_MAP.values()))

-SPECIAL_COLOR_NAMES = ["narrator", "actor", "director", "time", "context_investigation"]
+SPECIAL_COLOR_NAMES = [
+    "narrator",
+    "actor",
+    "director",
+    "time",
+    "context_investigation",
+    "information",
+]

 ALL_COLOR_NAMES = SPECIAL_COLOR_NAMES + COLOR_NAMES

--- a/talemate_frontend/src/components/AppConfigAppearanceScene.vue
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/components/AppConfigAppearanceScene.vue
@@ -94,6 +94,12 @@
                            <span v-html="renderedContextInvestigationPreview">
                            </span>
                        </div>
+                        <div class="mt-3 d-flex align-center" :style="buildCssStyles('information_messages', config.information_messages)">
+                            <v-icon class="mr-2" :color="getColor('information_messages', config.information_messages?.color)">mdi-information-outline</v-icon>
+                            <span>
+                                A heads-up or system notice for the player.
+                            </span>
+                        </div>
                    </div>
                </v-card-text>
            </v-card>
@@ -108,6 +114,7 @@

 <script>
 import { SceneTextParser } from '@/utils/sceneMessageRenderer';
+import { DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS } from '@/utils/messageColors.js';

 export default {
    name: 'AppConfigAppearanceScene',
@@ -140,12 +147,12 @@ export default {
                }
                // Ensure new styling fields exist with defaults if missing
                if (!sceneConfig.quotes) {
-                    sceneConfig.quotes = { color: this.defaultColors.quotes, italic: false, bold: false, override_color: true };
+                    sceneConfig.quotes = { color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.quotes, italic: false, bold: false, override_color: true };
                } else if (sceneConfig.quotes.override_color === undefined) {
                    sceneConfig.quotes.override_color = true;
                }
                if (!sceneConfig.parentheses) {
-                    sceneConfig.parentheses = { color: this.defaultColors.parentheses, italic: true, bold: false, override_color: true, show: true };
+                    sceneConfig.parentheses = { color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.parentheses, italic: true, bold: false, override_color: true, show: true };
                } else {
                    if (sceneConfig.parentheses.override_color === undefined) {
                        sceneConfig.parentheses.override_color = true;
@@ -155,7 +162,7 @@ export default {
                    }
                }
                if (!sceneConfig.brackets) {
-                    sceneConfig.brackets = { color: this.defaultColors.brackets, italic: true, bold: false, override_color: true, show: true };
+                    sceneConfig.brackets = { color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.brackets, italic: true, bold: false, override_color: true, show: true };
                } else {
                    if (sceneConfig.brackets.override_color === undefined) {
                        sceneConfig.brackets.override_color = true;
@@ -165,7 +172,7 @@ export default {
                    }
                }
                if (!sceneConfig.emphasis) {
-                    sceneConfig.emphasis = { color: this.defaultColors.emphasis, italic: true, bold: false, override_color: true };
+                    sceneConfig.emphasis = { color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.emphasis, italic: true, bold: false, override_color: true };
                } else if (sceneConfig.emphasis.override_color === undefined) {
                    sceneConfig.emphasis.override_color = true;
                }
@@ -249,23 +256,13 @@ export default {
            colorPicker: null,
            color: "#000000",
            colorPickerTarget: null,
-            defaultColors: {
-                "narrator_messages": "#A180AE",
-                "actor_messages": "#B39DDB",
-                "director_messages": "#FF5722",
-                "time_messages": "#FFECB3",
-                "context_investigation_messages": "#D5C0A1",
-                "quotes": "#FFFFFF",
-                "parentheses": "#DB9DC2",
-                "brackets": "#DC5D5D",
-                "emphasis": "#B39DDB",
-            },
            typLabelMap: {
                "narrator_messages": "Narrator Messages",
                "actor_messages": "Actor Messages",
                "director_messages": "Director Messages",
                "time_messages": "Time Messages",
                "context_investigation_messages": "Context Investigations",
+                "information_messages": "Information Messages",
                "quotes": "Quotes",
                "parentheses": "Parentheses",
                "brackets": "Brackets",
@@ -280,6 +277,7 @@ export default {
                "actor_messages": true,
                "director_messages": true,
                "context_investigation_messages": true,
+                "information_messages": true,
                "quotes": true,
                "parentheses": true,
                "brackets": true,
@@ -292,6 +290,7 @@ export default {
                "director_messages": true,
                "time_messages": true,
                "context_investigation_messages": true,
+                "information_messages": true,
                "quotes": true,
                "parentheses": true,
                "brackets": true,
@@ -338,7 +337,11 @@ export default {
        getColor(typ, color) {
            // if color is None load the default color
            if (color === null) {
-                return this.defaultColors[typ];
+                // Message-type keys use the `_messages` suffix in the config UI
+                // (e.g. "narrator_messages") but DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS is
+                // keyed by bare type name — strip the suffix on lookup.
+                const key = typ.endsWith('_messages') ? typ.slice(0, -'_messages'.length) : typ;
+                return DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS[key];
            }
            return color;
        }
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/components/ContextInvestigationMessage.vue
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/components/ContextInvestigationMessage.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <template>
-  <v-alert  v-if="show" @mouseover="hovered=true" @mouseleave="hovered=false" @click="toggle()" class="clickable" variant="text" density="compact" :color="getMessageColor('context_investigation', null)">
+  <v-alert  v-if="show" @mouseover="hovered=true" @mouseleave="hovered=false" @click="toggle()" class="clickable" variant="text" density="compact" :color="getMessageColor('context_investigation')">
    <template v-slot:close>
      <v-btn size="small" icon variant="text" class="close-button" @click="deleteMessage" :disabled="uxLocked">
        <v-icon>mdi-close</v-icon>
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/components/DirectorMessage.vue
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/components/DirectorMessage.vue
@@ -1,40 +1,40 @@
 <template>
  <div v-if="subtype === 'user_direction'">
    <!-- player-authored direction (~ / ~~ input) -->
-    <v-alert class="clickable user-direction" variant="text" icon="mdi-account-voice" elevation="0" density="compact" color="deep-purple-lighten-2" @click:close="deleteMessage()" closable :disabled="uxLocked">
-      <span class="text-caption text-medium-emphasis mr-1">Player directs:</span>
-      <span class="director-text">{{ text }}</span>
+    <v-alert class="clickable user-direction mb-8 ml-8" variant="text" elevation="0" density="compact" :style="getMessageStyle('information')" @click:close="deleteMessage()" closable :disabled="uxLocked">
+      <div class="text-caption" :style="getMessageStyle('director')">Message to the director</div>
+      <div v-html="renderedText"></div>
    </v-alert>
  </div>
  <div v-else-if="character">
    <!-- actor instructions (character direction)-->
    <div class="director-container" v-if="show && minimized" >
-      <v-chip closable :color="getMessageColor('director', null)" class="clickable" @click:close="deleteMessage()" :disabled="uxLocked">
+      <v-chip closable :color="getMessageColor('director')" class="clickable" @click:close="deleteMessage()" :disabled="uxLocked">
        <v-icon class="mr-2">{{ icon }}</v-icon>
        <span @click="toggle()">{{ character }}</span>
      </v-chip>
    </div>
-    <v-alert v-else-if="show" class="clickable" variant="text" type="info" :icon="icon" :style="getMessageStyle('director')" elevation="0" density="compact" @click:close="deleteMessage()" :color="getMessageColor('director', null)">
+    <v-alert v-else-if="show" class="clickable" variant="text" type="info" :icon="icon" :style="getMessageStyle('director')" elevation="0" density="compact" @click:close="deleteMessage()" :color="getMessageColor('director')">
      <span v-if="direction_mode==='internal_monologue'">
        <!-- internal monologue -->
        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" class="text-decoration-underline" @click="toggle()">{{ character }}</span>
        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" class="ml-1" @click="toggle()">thinks</span>
-        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" class="director-text ml-1" @click="toggle()">{{ text }}</span>
+        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" class="director-text ml-1" @click="toggle()" v-html="renderedTextInline"></span>
      </span>
      <span v-else>
        <!-- director instructs -->
        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" @click="toggle()">Director instructs</span>
        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" class="ml-1 text-decoration-underline" @click="toggle()">{{ character }}</span>
-        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" class="director-text ml-1" @click="toggle()">{{ text }}</span>
+        <span :style="getMessageStyle('director')" class="director-text ml-1" @click="toggle()" v-html="renderedTextInline"></span>
      </span>

    </v-alert>
  </div>
  <div v-else-if="action">
-    <v-alert :color="getMessageColor('director', null)" variant="text" type="info" :icon="icon"
+    <v-alert :color="getMessageColor('director')" variant="text" type="info" :icon="icon"
    elevation="0" density="compact" >

-      <div>{{ text }}</div>
+      <div v-html="renderedText"></div>
      <div class="text-grey text-caption">{{ action }}</div>
    </v-alert>
  </div>
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@
 </template>
  
 <script>
+import { parseBlock, parseInline } from '@/utils/markdownRenderer.js';
+
 export default {
  data() {
    return {
@@ -58,6 +60,12 @@ export default {
      } else {
        return 'mdi-bullhorn-outline';
      }
+    },
+    renderedText() {
+      return parseBlock(this.text);
+    },
+    renderedTextInline() {
+      return parseInline(this.text);
    }
  },
  props: ['text', 'message_id', 'character', 'direction_mode', 'action', 'subtype', 'uxLocked', 'isLastMessage'],
@@ -79,6 +87,10 @@ export default {
  cursor: pointer;
 }

+.user-direction {
+  border-left: 3px solid rgb(var(--v-theme-mutedbg));
+}
+
 .director-container {
  margin-left: 10px;
 }
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/components/SceneMessages.vue
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/components/SceneMessages.vue
@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@ import ConfirmActionPrompt from './ConfirmActionPrompt.vue';
 import VisualAssetsMixin from './VisualAssetsMixin.js';
 import { isVisualAgentReady } from '../constants/visual.js';
 import { primaryModifierLabel } from '@/utils/keyboardModifiers';
+import {
+    getMessageColor as resolveMessageColor,
+    getMessageStyle as resolveMessageStyle,
+} from '@/utils/messageColors.js';

 const MESSAGE_FLAGS = {
    NONE: 0,
@@ -507,13 +511,6 @@ export default {
            primaryModifierLabel,
            messages: [],
            selectedForkMessageId: null,
-            defaultColors: {
-                "narrator": "#B39DDB",
-                "character": "#FFFFFF",
-                "director": "#FF5722",
-                "time": "#B39DDB",
-                "context_investigation": "#FFE0B2",
-            },
            // Track last effective asset ID per scope for "on_change" cadence
            lastEffectiveAssetIdByScope: {},
            // Debounce timer for reapplyMessageAssetCadence
@@ -642,12 +639,8 @@ export default {
    },
    methods: {

-        getMessageColor(typ,color) {
-            if(!this.appearanceConfig || !this.appearanceConfig.scene[`${typ}_messages`].color) {
-                return this.defaultColors[typ];
-            }
-
-            return color || this.appearanceConfig.scene[`${typ}_messages`].color;
+        getMessageColor(typ) {
+            return resolveMessageColor(this.appearanceConfig, typ);
        },

        getMessageTypeHidden(typ) {
@@ -664,16 +657,7 @@ export default {
        },

        getMessageStyle(typ) {
-            let styles = "";
-            let config = this.appearanceConfig.scene[`${typ}_messages`];
-            if (config.italic) {
-                styles += "font-style: italic;";
-            }
-            if (config.bold) {
-                styles += "font-weight: bold;";
-            }
-            styles += "color: " + this.getMessageColor(typ, config.color) + ";";
-            return styles;
+            return resolveMessageStyle(this.appearanceConfig, typ);
        },

        clear() {
@@ -1577,8 +1561,9 @@ export default {
                            type: 'ux',
                            element: el,
                        });
-                        // Track UX interaction start
-                        if (this.beginUxInteraction) {
+                        // Track UX interaction start — only for blocking elements.
+                        // Non-blocking (fire-and-forget) elements must not lock scene input.
+                        if (this.beginUxInteraction && el.blocking !== false) {
                            this.beginUxInteraction(id);
                        }
                        return;
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/components/UxElementMessage.vue
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/components/UxElementMessage.vue
@@ -12,21 +12,32 @@

    <v-card variant="text" class="ux-element-card">
      <v-card-title v-if="element?.title || alertIcon" class="d-flex align-center pa-0 mb-2">
-        <v-icon v-if="alertIcon" :color="alertColor" class="mr-2">{{ alertIcon }}</v-icon>
-        <span :class="`text-subtitle-1 font-weight-bold text-${alertColor}`">
+        <v-icon v-if="alertIcon" :color="resolvedColor || alertColor" class="mr-2">{{ alertIcon }}</v-icon>
+        <span :class="['text-subtitle-1', 'font-weight-bold', colorClass]" :style="colorStyle">
          {{ element?.title || defaultTitle() }}
        </span>
      </v-card-title>

      <v-card-text class="pa-0">
-        <div v-if="element?.body" class="text-body-2 mb-2 ux-element-body" v-html="renderedBody"></div>
+        <div
+          v-if="element?.body && applySceneColors"
+          class="text-body-2 mb-2 ux-element-body"
+          :style="colorStyle"
+          v-html="renderedBody"
+        ></div>
+        <div
+          v-else-if="element?.body"
+          :class="['text-body-2', 'mb-2', 'ux-element-body-plain', colorClass]"
+          :style="colorStyle"
+          v-html="renderedPlainBody"
+        ></div>

        <div v-if="hasTimeoutTimer" class="mb-2">
          <v-progress-linear
            :model-value="timeoutProgressPct"
            height="6"
            rounded
-            :color="alertColor"
+            :color="resolvedColor || alertColor"
            class="mb-1 ux-timeout-progress"
          />
        </div>
@@ -36,7 +47,7 @@
          :element="element"
          :ux-locked="uxLocked"
          :is-closable="isClosable"
-          :tint-color="alertColor"
+          :tint-color="resolvedColor || alertColor"
          @close="$emit('close', $event)"
        />

@@ -45,11 +56,13 @@
          :element="element"
          :ux-locked="uxLocked"
          :is-closable="isClosable"
-          :tint-color="alertColor"
+          :tint-color="resolvedColor || alertColor"
          @close="$emit('close', $event)"
        />

-        <div v-else class="text-body-2">
+        <!-- 'notice' has no child component: the container chrome above (title, body, icon, timeout bar) is the full render. -->
+
+        <div v-else-if="!isKnownKind" class="text-body-2">
          Unsupported UX element kind: {{ element?.kind }}
        </div>
      </v-card-text>
@@ -61,6 +74,8 @@
 import UxElementChoice from "./UxElementChoice.vue";
 import UxElementTextInput from "./UxElementTextInput.vue";
 import { SceneTextParser } from "@/utils/sceneMessageRenderer.js";
+import { isSpecialMessageColor } from "@/utils/messageColors.js";
+import { parseBlock as parsePlainMarkdown } from "@/utils/markdownRenderer.js";

 export default {
  name: "UxElementMessage",
@@ -82,7 +97,10 @@ export default {
      default: null,
    },
  },
-  inject: ["getWebsocket"],
+  inject: {
+    getWebsocket: { default: null },
+    getMessageColor: { default: null },
+  },
  emits: ["close"],
  data() {
    return {
@@ -98,6 +116,22 @@ export default {
    alertColor() {
      return this.element?.color || this.element?.meta?.color || "muted";
    },
+    resolvedColor() {
+      // Tints that name scene-message types (e.g. "director",
+      // "context_investigation") are resolved through getMessageColor so they
+      // honor the user's appearance config — same path DirectorMessage uses.
+      // Non-special tints (standard Vuetify palette names) return null and
+      // fall through to the `text-<color>` class.
+      if (!this.getMessageColor) return null;
+      if (!isSpecialMessageColor(this.alertColor)) return null;
+      return this.getMessageColor(this.alertColor) || null;
+    },
+    colorClass() {
+      return this.resolvedColor ? null : `text-${this.alertColor}`;
+    },
+    colorStyle() {
+      return this.resolvedColor ? { color: this.resolvedColor } : null;
+    },
    alertIcon() {
      const icon = this.element?.icon || this.element?.meta?.icon;
      return icon ? icon : undefined;
@@ -142,19 +176,38 @@ export default {
    parser() {
      const sceneConfig = this.appearanceConfig?.scene || {};
      const narratorStyles = sceneConfig.narrator_messages || {};
-      
+
+      // When the element carries a resolved scene-message color (e.g. a
+      // "director" tint resolves to the configured director color), use it as
+      // the parser's default/paragraph color instead of narrator's. Markup
+      // categories configured with override_color:false cascade to this
+      // default; categories with their own color keep it.
+      const defaultStyles = this.resolvedColor
+        ? { ...narratorStyles, color: this.resolvedColor }
+        : narratorStyles;
+
      return new SceneTextParser({
        quotes: sceneConfig.quotes,
        emphasis: sceneConfig.emphasis || narratorStyles,
        parentheses: sceneConfig.parentheses || narratorStyles,
        brackets: sceneConfig.brackets || narratorStyles,
-        default: narratorStyles,
+        default: defaultStyles,
      });
    },
    renderedBody() {
      if (!this.element?.body) return "";
      return this.parser.parse(this.element.body);
    },
+    renderedPlainBody() {
+      if (!this.element?.body) return "";
+      return parsePlainMarkdown(this.element.body);
+    },
+    isKnownKind() {
+      return ["choice", "text_input", "notice"].includes(this.element?.kind);
+    },
+    applySceneColors() {
+      return this.element?.apply_scene_colors === true;
+    },
  },
  watch: {
    hasTimeoutTimer: {
@@ -181,6 +234,7 @@ export default {
    defaultTitle() {
      if (this.element?.kind === "choice") return "Choose an option";
      if (this.element?.kind === "text_input") return "Enter text";
+      if (this.element?.kind === "notice") return "Notice";
      return "Interaction";
    },
    _startTimer() {
@@ -191,6 +245,11 @@ export default {
        // stop ticking once timer reaches zero
        if (this.hasTimeoutTimer && this.timeoutRemainingMs <= 0) {
          this._stopTimer();
+          // Non-blocking elements are fire-and-forget on the backend, so the
+          // client owns auto-dismissal when the timer expires.
+          if (this.element?.blocking === false) {
+            this.$emit("close", this.element?.id);
+          }
          return;
        }
        this._rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
@@ -205,16 +264,20 @@ export default {
    },
    cancel() {
      if (!this.isClosable) return;
-      const ws = this.getWebsocket();
-      if (ws && this.element?.id) {
-        ws.send(
-          JSON.stringify({
-            type: "ux",
-            action: "cancel",
-            ux_id: this.element.id,
-            kind: this.element?.kind,
-          })
-        );
+      // Only blocking elements have a backend waiter to cancel; for non-blocking
+      // elements, skip the ws round-trip to avoid leaving stale selection state.
+      if (this.element?.blocking !== false) {
+        const ws = this.getWebsocket();
+        if (ws && this.element?.id) {
+          ws.send(
+            JSON.stringify({
+              type: "ux",
+              action: "cancel",
+              ux_id: this.element.id,
+              kind: this.element?.kind,
+            })
+          );
+        }
      }
      this.$emit("close", this.element?.id);
    },
@@ -237,5 +300,39 @@ export default {
 .ux-element-body :deep(.scene-paragraph:last-child) {
  margin-bottom: 0;
 }
+
+/* Plain (non-scene-parsed) body: vanilla markdown, inherits the element color
+   but rendered subtly dimmer than the bold title for visual differentiation. */
+.ux-element-body-plain {
+  opacity: 0.82;
+}
+
+.ux-element-body-plain :deep(p) {
+  margin-bottom: 0.5em;
+}
+
+.ux-element-body-plain :deep(p:last-child) {
+  margin-bottom: 0;
+}
+
+/* Restore list markers — Vuetify's typography reset strips them inside alerts. */
+.ux-element-body :deep(ul),
+.ux-element-body-plain :deep(ul) {
+  list-style: disc;
+  padding-inline-start: 1.5em;
+  margin-bottom: 0.5em;
+}
+
+.ux-element-body :deep(ol),
+.ux-element-body-plain :deep(ol) {
+  list-style: decimal;
+  padding-inline-start: 1.5em;
+  margin-bottom: 0.5em;
+}
+
+.ux-element-body :deep(li),
+.ux-element-body-plain :deep(li) {
+  margin-bottom: 0.25em;
+}
 </style>

--- a/talemate_frontend/src/components/UxElementTextInput.vue
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/components/UxElementTextInput.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 <template>
-  <div>
+  <div class="text-grey-lighten-1">
    <div v-if="!isMultiline">
      <v-text-field
        v-model="text"
        density="compact"
        variant="outlined"
+        :color="tintColor"
        :placeholder="placeholder"
        hide-details
        @keydown.enter.prevent="submit"
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
        v-model="text"
        density="compact"
        variant="outlined"
+        :color="tintColor"
        :placeholder="placeholder"
        :rows="rows"
        hide-details
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/plugins/vuetify.js
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/plugins/vuetify.js
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ export default createVuetify({
          highlight5: colors.amber.lighten3,
          highlight6: colors.orange.lighten3,
          highlight7: colors.blue.lighten3,
+          subdued1: colors.indigo.darken2,
+          subdued2: colors.purple.darken2,
+          subdued3: colors.lightGreen.darken2,
+          subdued4: colors.red.darken2,
+          subdued5: colors.amber.darken2,
+          subdued6: colors.orange.darken2,
+          subdued7: colors.blue.darken2,
          persona: colors.pink.lighten3,
          dirty: colors.orange.lighten2,
          instructions: colors.orange.lighten4,
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/utils/markdownRenderer.js
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/utils/markdownRenderer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// Shared vanilla markdown renderer for scene-message components that render
+// plain markdown (no scene-parser extensions, no color injection). Using a
+// single instance keeps options consistent across components — callers that
+// want scene-aware parsing should use SceneTextParser instead.
+
+import { Marked } from "marked";
+
+const renderer = new Marked({ breaks: true, gfm: true });
+
+export function parseBlock(text) {
+  return renderer.parse(text ?? "");
+}
+
+export function parseInline(text) {
+  return renderer.parseInline(text ?? "");
+}
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/utils/messageColors.js
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/utils/messageColors.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// Scene-message color resolution.
+//
+// Single source of truth for the set of configurable "special" message color
+// types and how their effective color/style is resolved from the user's
+// appearance config. Mirrors talemate.util.colors.SPECIAL_COLOR_NAMES on the
+// backend — keep in sync.
+
+export const SPECIAL_MESSAGE_COLORS = [
+  "narrator",
+  "actor",
+  "director",
+  "time",
+  "context_investigation",
+  "information",
+];
+
+// Canonical default colors used both as the resolution fallback (when the
+// user has not configured a color) and as the reset target in the appearance
+// config UI. Keyed by bare type name — both message types (narrator, actor,
+// director, time, context_investigation, information) and markup types
+// (quotes, parentheses, brackets, emphasis).
+export const DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS = {
+  narrator: "#A180AE",
+  actor: "#B39DDB",
+  director: "#FF5722",
+  time: "#FFECB3",
+  context_investigation: "#D5C0A1",
+  information: "#BA8574",
+  quotes: "#FFFFFF",
+  parentheses: "#DB9DC2",
+  brackets: "#DC5D5D",
+  emphasis: "#B39DDB",
+};
+
+export function isSpecialMessageColor(name) {
+  return SPECIAL_MESSAGE_COLORS.includes(name);
+}
+
+// Resolve the effective color for a scene-message type against the user's
+// appearance config. Returns the configured color when set, otherwise the
+// canonical default.
+export function getMessageColor(appearanceConfig, typ) {
+  const cfg = appearanceConfig?.scene?.[`${typ}_messages`];
+  return cfg?.color || DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS[typ];
+}
+
+// Build an inline CSS style string (color + optional italic/bold) for a
+// scene-message type from the user's appearance config.
+export function getMessageStyle(appearanceConfig, typ) {
+  const cfg = appearanceConfig?.scene?.[`${typ}_messages`] || {};
+  let styles = "";
+  if (cfg.italic) styles += "font-style: italic;";
+  if (cfg.bold) styles += "font-weight: bold;";
+  styles += `color: ${getMessageColor(appearanceConfig, typ)};`;
+  return styles;
+}
--- a/talemate_frontend/src/utils/sceneMessageRenderer.js
+++ b/talemate_frontend/src/utils/sceneMessageRenderer.js
@@ -1,29 +1,30 @@
 import { marked, Marked } from 'marked';
+import { DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS } from './messageColors.js';

 const DEFAULTS = {
    quotes: {
-        color: "#FFFFFF",
+        color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.quotes,
        italic: false,
        bold: false,
    },
    parentheses: {
-        color: "#DB9DC2",
+        color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.parentheses,
        italic: false,
        bold: false,
    },
    brackets: {
-        color: "#DC5D5D",
+        color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.brackets,
        italic: false,
        bold: true,
    },
    emphasis: {
-        color: "#B39DDB",
-        italic: false,        
+        color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.emphasis,
+        italic: false,
        bold: false,
    },
    default: {
-        color: "#B39DDB",
-        italic: true,        
+        color: DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS.emphasis,
+        italic: true,
        bold: false,
    },
    prefix: {
@@ -33,19 +34,14 @@ const DEFAULTS = {
    },
 }

-// Default colors for different message types when no color is specified
-const MESSAGE_TYPE_DEFAULTS = {
-    context_investigation: "#D5C0A1",
-}
-
 export class SceneTextParser {
    constructor(config = {}) {
        // Determine default color:
        // 1. Use config.defaultColor if explicitly provided
-        // 2. Use message type default if messageType is specified
+        // 2. Use message type default from DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS if messageType is specified
        // 3. Otherwise use DEFAULTS.default.color
-        const defaultColor = config.defaultColor ?? 
-                            (config.messageType && MESSAGE_TYPE_DEFAULTS[config.messageType]) ?? 
+        const defaultColor = config.defaultColor ??
+                            (config.messageType && DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_COLORS[config.messageType]) ??
                            DEFAULTS.default.color;
        
        // Get the default message color from config.default if available