diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ece7c1d..a3f6721 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ clean:
 	meson compile --clean -C builddir
 
 debug_test: build
-	gdb --nx -x .gdbinit --ex run --ex bt --ex q --args builddir/runtests -e
+	gdb --nx -x .gdbinit --ex run --ex bt --ex q --args builddir/runtests -e "[lighting]"
 
 win_installer:
 	powershell 'start "C:\Program Files (x86)\solicus\InstallForge\bin\ifbuilderenvx86.exe" scripts\win_installer.ifp'
diff --git a/ai.cpp b/ai.cpp
index c6b93e6..fa72b81 100644
--- a/ai.cpp
+++ b/ai.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ namespace ai {
 
   void init(std::string config_path) {
     if(!initialized) {
-      Config config(config_path);
+      auto config = settings::get(config_path);
 
       // profile specifies what keys (bitset indexes) are allowed
       // and how they map to the bitset of State
diff --git a/animation.cpp b/animation.cpp
index f0dd2c4..7075ba8 100644
--- a/animation.cpp
+++ b/animation.cpp
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ namespace animation {
 
   void init() {
     if(!initialized) {
-      Config animations("assets/animations.json");
-      Config config("assets/config.json");
+      auto animations = settings::get("animations");
+      auto config = settings::get("config");
       auto& sprites = config["sprites"];
 
       for(auto& [name, data] : animations.json().items()) {
diff --git a/assets/config.json b/assets/config.json
index abd8a82..1ebfcc2 100644
--- a/assets/config.json
+++ b/assets/config.json
@@ -265,5 +265,8 @@
     "text_size": 20,
     "label_size": 20,
     "font_file_name": "assets/text.otf"
+  },
+  "player": {
+    "hands": "male_hand"
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend.cpp b/backend.cpp
index ef0e8e3..d62904e 100644
--- a/backend.cpp
+++ b/backend.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ namespace sfml {
 
   guecs::Theme Backend::theme() {
     palette::init();
-    auto config = Config("assets/config.json")["theme"];
+    auto config = settings::Config("assets/config.json")["theme"];
 
     guecs::Theme theme {
       .BLACK=palette::get("gui/theme:black"),
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace sfml {
     theme.BG_COLOR = palette::get("gui/theme:bg_color");
     theme.BORDER_COLOR = palette::get("gui/theme:border_color");
     theme.BG_COLOR_DARK = palette::get("gui/theme:bg_color_dark");
-    theme.FONT_FILE_NAME = Config::path_to(config["font_file_name"]).string();
+    theme.FONT_FILE_NAME = settings::Config::path_to(config["font_file_name"]).string();
 
     return theme;
   }
diff --git a/components.hpp b/components.hpp
index 30336fb..1585645 100644
--- a/components.hpp
+++ b/components.hpp
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ namespace components {
   };
 
   struct GameConfig {
-    Config game;
-    Config enemies;
-    Config items;
-    Config tiles;
-    Config devices;
-    Config bosses;
-    Config rituals;
+    settings::Config game;
+    settings::Config enemies;
+    settings::Config items;
+    settings::Config tiles;
+    settings::Config devices;
+    settings::Config bosses;
+    settings::Config rituals;
   };
 
   struct Personality {
diff --git a/config.cpp b/config.cpp
index d549f3a..8fd53cf 100644
--- a/config.cpp
+++ b/config.cpp
@@ -2,51 +2,66 @@
 #include "dbc.hpp"
 #include <fmt/core.h>
 
-using nlohmann::json;
-using fmt::format;
+namespace settings {
+  using nlohmann::json;
+  using fmt::format;
 
-std::filesystem::path Config::BASE_DIR{"."};
+  std::filesystem::path Config::BASE_DIR{"."};
 
-Config::Config(const std::string src_path) : $src_path(src_path) {
-  auto path_to = Config::path_to($src_path);
-  dbc::check(std::filesystem::exists(path_to),
-      fmt::format("requested config file {} doesn't exist", path_to.string()));
-  std::ifstream infile(path_to);
-  $config = json::parse(infile);
-}
-
-nlohmann::json &Config::operator[](size_t key) {
-  return $config[key];
-}
-
-json &Config::operator[](const std::string &key) {
-  dbc::check($config.contains(key), fmt::format("ERROR in config, key {} doesn't exist.", key));
-  return $config[key];
-}
-
-std::wstring Config::wstring(const std::string main_key, const std::string sub_key) {
-  dbc::check($config.contains(main_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring main/key in config, main_key {} doesn't exist.", main_key));
-  dbc::check($config[main_key].contains(sub_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring in config, main_key/key {}/{} doesn't exist.", main_key, sub_key));
-
-  const std::string& str_val = $config[main_key][sub_key];
-  std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8_utf16<wchar_t>> $converter;
-  return $converter.from_bytes(str_val);
-}
-
-std::vector<std::string> Config::keys() {
-  std::vector<std::string> the_fucking_keys;
-
-  for(auto& [key, value] : $config.items()) {
-    the_fucking_keys.push_back(key);
+  Config::Config(const std::string src_path) : $src_path(src_path) {
+    auto path_to = Config::path_to($src_path);
+    dbc::check(std::filesystem::exists(path_to),
+        fmt::format("requested config file {} doesn't exist", path_to.string()));
+    std::ifstream infile(path_to);
+    $config = json::parse(infile);
   }
 
-  return the_fucking_keys;
-}
+  nlohmann::json &Config::operator[](size_t key) {
+    return $config[key];
+  }
 
-void Config::set_base_dir(const char *optarg) {
-  Config::BASE_DIR.assign(optarg);
-}
+  json &Config::operator[](const std::string &key) {
+    dbc::check($config.contains(key), fmt::format("ERROR in config, key {} doesn't exist.", key));
+    return $config[key];
+  }
 
-std::filesystem::path Config::path_to(const std::string& path) {
-  return Config::BASE_DIR / path;
+  std::wstring Config::wstring(const std::string main_key, const std::string sub_key) {
+    dbc::check($config.contains(main_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring main/key in config, main_key {} doesn't exist.", main_key));
+    dbc::check($config[main_key].contains(sub_key), fmt::format("ERROR wstring in config, main_key/key {}/{} doesn't exist.", main_key, sub_key));
+
+    const std::string& str_val = $config[main_key][sub_key];
+    std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8_utf16<wchar_t>> $converter;
+    return $converter.from_bytes(str_val);
+  }
+
+  std::vector<std::string> Config::keys() {
+    std::vector<std::string> the_fucking_keys;
+
+    for(auto& [key, value] : $config.items()) {
+      the_fucking_keys.push_back(key);
+    }
+
+    return the_fucking_keys;
+  }
+
+  void Config::set_base_dir(const char *optarg) {
+    Config::BASE_DIR.assign(optarg);
+  }
+
+  std::filesystem::path Config::path_to(const std::string& path) {
+    return Config::BASE_DIR / path;
+  }
+
+  Config get(const std::string& name) {
+    if(name.ends_with(".json")) {
+      return {name};
+    } else {
+      auto path = Config::BASE_DIR / fmt::format("assets/{}.json", name);
+
+      dbc::check(std::filesystem::exists(path), fmt::format(
+            "config file {} does not exist", path.string()));
+
+      return {path.string()};
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/config.hpp b/config.hpp
index d26f5a2..2512e3d 100644
--- a/config.hpp
+++ b/config.hpp
@@ -4,22 +4,26 @@
 #include <codecvt>
 #include <filesystem>
 
-struct Config {
-  static std::filesystem::path BASE_DIR;
-  nlohmann::json $config;
-  std::string $src_path;
+namespace settings {
+  struct Config {
+    static std::filesystem::path BASE_DIR;
+    nlohmann::json $config;
+    std::string $src_path;
 
-  Config(const std::string src_path);
+    Config(const std::string src_path);
 
-  Config(nlohmann::json config, std::string src_path)
-    : $config(config), $src_path(src_path) {}
+    Config(nlohmann::json config, std::string src_path)
+      : $config(config), $src_path(src_path) {}
 
-  nlohmann::json &operator[](size_t);
-  nlohmann::json &operator[](const std::string &key);
-  nlohmann::json &json() { return $config; };
-  std::wstring wstring(const std::string main_key, const std::string sub_key);
-  std::vector<std::string> keys();
+    nlohmann::json &operator[](size_t);
+    nlohmann::json &operator[](const std::string &key);
+    nlohmann::json &json() { return $config; };
+    std::wstring wstring(const std::string main_key, const std::string sub_key);
+    std::vector<std::string> keys();
 
-  static void set_base_dir(const char *optarg);
-  static std::filesystem::path path_to(const std::string& path);
-};
+    static void set_base_dir(const char *optarg);
+    static std::filesystem::path path_to(const std::string& path);
+  };
+
+  Config get(const std::string &name);
+}
diff --git a/game_level.cpp b/game_level.cpp
index c5fb221..243a16f 100644
--- a/game_level.cpp
+++ b/game_level.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 #include "components.hpp"
 #include "worldbuilder.hpp"
 #include "constants.hpp"
-#include "save.hpp"
 #include "systems.hpp"
 #include "components.hpp"
 #include "rituals.hpp"
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ inline shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> clone_load_world(shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World>
   auto world = make_shared<DinkyECS::World>();
 
   if(prev_world == nullptr) {
-    save::load_configs(*world);
+    GameDB::load_configs(*world);
   } else {
     prev_world->clone_into(*world);
   }
@@ -134,4 +133,16 @@ namespace GameDB {
     dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
     return current_level().player;
   }
+
+  void load_configs(DinkyECS::World &world) {
+    world.set_the<GameConfig>({
+        settings::get("config"),
+        settings::get("enemies"),
+        settings::get("items"),
+        settings::get("tiles"),
+        settings::get("devices"),
+        settings::get("bosses"),
+        settings::get("rituals")
+    });
+  }
 }
diff --git a/game_level.hpp b/game_level.hpp
index 6db3470..3cc50e7 100644
--- a/game_level.hpp
+++ b/game_level.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ namespace components {
   struct Position;
 }
 
-
 namespace GameDB {
   struct Level {
     size_t index;
@@ -31,4 +30,6 @@ namespace GameDB {
   std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> current_world();
   components::Position& player_position();
   DinkyECS::Entity the_player();
+
+  void load_configs(DinkyECS::World &world);
 }
diff --git a/gui/main_ui.cpp b/gui/main_ui.cpp
index 9c7cadf..5968e48 100644
--- a/gui/main_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/main_ui.cpp
@@ -11,12 +11,15 @@ namespace gui {
 
   MainUI::MainUI(sf::RenderWindow& window) :
     $window(window),
-    $rayview(std::make_shared<Raycaster>(RAY_VIEW_WIDTH, RAY_VIEW_HEIGHT)),
-    $hand(textures::get_sprite("female_hand")),
-    $hand_anim(animation::load("female_hand"))
+    $rayview(std::make_shared<Raycaster>(RAY_VIEW_WIDTH, RAY_VIEW_HEIGHT))
   {
     $window.setVerticalSyncEnabled(VSYNC);
     $window.setFramerateLimit(FRAME_LIMIT);
+
+    auto config = settings::get("config");
+
+    $hand = textures::get_sprite(config["player"]["hands"]);
+    $hand_anim = animation::load(config["player"]["hands"]);
   }
 
   void MainUI::dirty() {
@@ -34,7 +37,6 @@ namespace gui {
     $overlay_ui.init();
   }
 
-
   void MainUI::render() {
     if($needs_render) $rayview->render();
     $rayview->draw($window);
diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index 20ee840..b403ebc 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
     components::init();
     sfml::Backend backend;
     guecs::init(&backend);
-    ai::init("assets/ai.json");
+    ai::init("ai");
     animation::init();
     GameDB::init();
 
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9b8bacc..d4edac4 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ sources = [
   'rand.cpp',
   'raycaster.cpp',
   'rituals.cpp',
-  'save.cpp',
   'shaders.cpp',
   'shiterator.hpp',
   'sound.cpp',
diff --git a/palette.cpp b/palette.cpp
index 04823c8..f40bd2d 100644
--- a/palette.cpp
+++ b/palette.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace palette {
       COLOR.initialized = true;
 
       COLOR.config = json_file;
-      Config config(json_file);
+      auto config = settings::get(json_file);
       json& colors = config.json();
 
       for(auto [key, value_specs] : colors.items()) {
diff --git a/palette.hpp b/palette.hpp
index 03686d1..ff70da7 100644
--- a/palette.hpp
+++ b/palette.hpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 namespace palette {
   using std::string;
 
-  void init(const std::string &config="assets/palette.json");
+  void init(const std::string &config="palette");
 
   sf::Color get(const string &key);
 
diff --git a/rituals.hpp b/rituals.hpp
index 46cba11..197fa82 100644
--- a/rituals.hpp
+++ b/rituals.hpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace ritual {
   };
 
   struct Engine {
-    Config $config;
+    settings::Config $config;
     ai::AIProfile $profile;
     std::unordered_map<std::string, ai::Action> $actions;
     std::unordered_map<std::string, ai::State> $states;
diff --git a/save.cpp b/save.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index e91f21a..0000000
--- a/save.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-#include "save.hpp"
-#include <fstream>
-#include "dbc.hpp"
-#include <fmt/core.h>
-#include "config.hpp"
-#include <filesystem>
-
-using namespace components;
-using namespace fmt;
-
-void save::load_configs(DinkyECS::World &world) {
-  Config game("./assets/config.json");
-  Config enemies("./assets/enemies.json");
-  Config items("./assets/items.json");
-  Config tiles("./assets/tiles.json");
-  Config devices("./assets/devices.json");
-  Config bosses("./assets/bosses.json");
-  Config rituals("./assets/rituals.json");
-
-  world.set_the<GameConfig>({
-    game, enemies, items, tiles, devices, bosses, rituals
-  });
-}
diff --git a/save.hpp b/save.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 5e3df38..0000000
--- a/save.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-
-#include "components.hpp"
-#include "map.hpp"
-#include "dinkyecs.hpp"
-#include <filesystem>
-#include <string>
-#include <map>
-
-namespace save {
-  namespace fs = std::filesystem;
-
-  void load_configs(DinkyECS::World &world);
-}
diff --git a/shaders.cpp b/shaders.cpp
index dbc161f..be86529 100644
--- a/shaders.cpp
+++ b/shaders.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace shaders {
     if(!INITIALIZED) {
       dbc::check(sf::Shader::isAvailable(), "no shaders?!");
       INITIALIZED = true;
-      Config config("assets/shaders.json");
+      auto config = settings::get("shaders");
       bool good = load_shader("ERROR", config["ERROR"]);
       dbc::check(good, "Failed to load ERROR shader. Look in assets/shaders.json");
 
diff --git a/sound.cpp b/sound.cpp
index cf8c48a..369d0f3 100644
--- a/sound.cpp
+++ b/sound.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace sound {
 
   void init() {
     if(!initialized) {
-      Config assets("assets/config.json");
+      auto assets = settings::get("config");
 
       for(auto& el : assets["sounds"].items()) {
         load(el.key(), el.value());
diff --git a/tests/ai.cpp b/tests/ai.cpp
index 763aa44..0f55350 100644
--- a/tests/ai.cpp
+++ b/tests/ai.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ TEST_CASE("ai as a module like sound/sprites", "[ai]") {
 
 TEST_CASE("ai autowalker ai test", "[ai]") {
   ai::reset();
-  ai::init("assets/ai.json");
+  ai::init("ai");
   auto start = ai::load_state("Host::initial_state");
   auto goal = ai::load_state("Host::final_state");
   int enemy_count = 5;
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ TEST_CASE("ai autowalker ai test", "[ai]") {
 
 TEST_CASE("Confirm EntityAI behaves as expected", "[ai]") {
   ai::reset();
-  ai::init("assets/ai.json");
+  ai::init("ai");
   auto ai_start = ai::load_state("Enemy::initial_state");
   auto ai_goal = ai::load_state("Enemy::final_state");
 
diff --git a/tests/battle.cpp b/tests/battle.cpp
index 21498b1..a479b55 100644
--- a/tests/battle.cpp
+++ b/tests/battle.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ using namespace combat;
 
 TEST_CASE("battle operations fantasy", "[combat-battle]") {
   ai::reset();
-  ai::init("assets/ai.json");
+  ai::init("ai");
 
   auto ai_start = ai::load_state("Enemy::initial_state");
   auto ai_goal = ai::load_state("Enemy::final_state");
diff --git a/tests/components.cpp b/tests/components.cpp
index bafb750..3106c4f 100644
--- a/tests/components.cpp
+++ b/tests/components.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ TEST_CASE("confirm component loading works", "[components]") {
   DinkyECS::World world;
 
   for(auto test_data : test_list) {
-    Config config(test_data);
+    auto config = settings::get(test_data);
     auto data_list = config.json();
 
     for(auto& [key, data] : data_list.items()) {
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ TEST_CASE("confirm component loading works", "[components]") {
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("make sure json_mods works", "[components]") {
-  Config config("assets/bosses.json");
+  auto config = settings::get("bosses");
   // this confirms that loading something with an optional
   // field works with the json conversions in json_mods.hpp
   for(auto& comp_data : config["RAT_KING"]["components"]) {
diff --git a/tests/config.cpp b/tests/config.cpp
index 4b49d72..1ac674e 100644
--- a/tests/config.cpp
+++ b/tests/config.cpp
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #include <iostream>
 
 TEST_CASE("confirm basic config loader ops", "[config]") {
-  Config::set_base_dir("./");
-  Config config("assets/devices.json");
+  settings::Config::set_base_dir("./");
+  auto config = settings::get("devices");
   auto data_list = config.json();
   auto the_keys = config.keys();
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ TEST_CASE("confirm basic config loader ops", "[config]") {
     }
   }
 
-  Config indexed("tests/config_test.json");
+  auto indexed = settings::get("tests/config_test.json");
   auto& test_0 = indexed[0];
   REQUIRE(test_0["test"] == 0);
 
diff --git a/tests/loot.cpp b/tests/loot.cpp
index c7d52ee..d37f3e8 100644
--- a/tests/loot.cpp
+++ b/tests/loot.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ using namespace fmt;
 using namespace components;
 
 TEST_CASE("test the loot ui", "[loot]") {
-  Config items("assets/items.json");
+  auto items = settings::get("assets/items.json");
   DinkyECS::World world;
   auto torch = world.entity();
   auto& data = items["TORCH_BAD"];
diff --git a/textures.cpp b/textures.cpp
index 73af589..994c481 100644
--- a/textures.cpp
+++ b/textures.cpp
@@ -39,12 +39,12 @@ namespace textures {
   }
 
   void load_sprites() {
-    Config sprites("assets/config.json");
+    auto sprites = settings::get("config");
     bool smooth = sprites["graphics"]["smooth_textures"];
 
     load_sprite_textures(TMGR.sprite_textures, sprites["sprites"], smooth);
 
-    Config icons("assets/icons.json");
+    auto icons = settings::get("assets/icons.json");
     load_sprite_textures(TMGR.icon_textures, icons.json(), smooth);
   }
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace textures {
   }
 
   void load_tiles() {
-    Config assets("assets/tiles.json");
+    auto assets = settings::get("tiles");
     auto &tiles = assets.json();
 
     resize_shit(tiles.size());
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ namespace textures {
   }
 
   void load_map_tiles() {
-    Config config("./assets/map_tiles.json");
+    auto config = settings::get("map_tiles");
     json& tiles = config.json();
 
     for(auto tile : tiles) {
diff --git a/tools/arena.cpp b/tools/arena.cpp
index 40eb826..c2adf3e 100644
--- a/tools/arena.cpp
+++ b/tools/arena.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
     textures::init();
     sound::init();
-    ai::init("assets/ai.json");
+    ai::init("ai");
     animation::init();
 
     sound::mute(false);
diff --git a/tools/icongen.cpp b/tools/icongen.cpp
index 3ef2021..f83a44c 100644
--- a/tools/icongen.cpp
+++ b/tools/icongen.cpp
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ struct MapTileBuilder {
 
 void load_config(MapConfig& config, bool is_centered, std::string path, std::function<json&(json&)> finder)
 {
-  Config tiles(path);
+  auto tiles = settings::get(path);
 
   for(auto [key, val] : tiles.json().items()) {
     config.it.next();
@@ -248,13 +248,13 @@ int main() {
   palette::init();
   MapConfig config;
 
-  load_config(config, false, "./assets/tiles.json", [](json& val) -> json& {
+  load_config(config, false, "tiles", [](json& val) -> json& {
       return val;
   });
 
-  load_config(config, true, "./assets/items.json", component_display);
-  load_config(config, true, "./assets/devices.json", component_display);
-  load_config(config, true, "./assets/enemies.json", component_display);
+  load_config(config, true, "items", component_display);
+  load_config(config, true, "devices", component_display);
+  load_config(config, true, "enemies", component_display);
 
   fmt::println("-----------------------------------------");
   MapTileBuilder builder(ICONGEN_MAP_TILE_DIM, ICONGEN_MAP_TILE_DIM);
diff --git a/worldbuilder.cpp b/worldbuilder.cpp
index 176ed74..bdbc3a5 100644
--- a/worldbuilder.cpp
+++ b/worldbuilder.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ using namespace components;
 
 void WorldBuilder::stylize_rooms() {
   auto& tiles = $map.tiles();
-  Config style_config("assets/styles.json");
+  auto style_config = settings::get("styles");
   json& styles = style_config.json();
 
   for(auto& room : $map.rooms()) {