diff --git a/assets/animation.json b/assets/animation.json
index 3ce25a6..6af1f22 100644
--- a/assets/animation.json
+++ b/assets/animation.json
@@ -97,6 +97,39 @@
       "open": [],
       "close": []
     }
+ },
+ "ag_bot": {
+    "sheet": {
+      "frames": 1,
+      "frame_width": 846,
+      "frame_height": 1022
+    },
+    "sequences": {
+      "idle": {"frames": [0], "durations": [50] }
+    },
+    "transforms": {
+      "basic": {
+        "min_x": 1.0,
+        "min_y": 1.0,
+        "max_x": 1.0,
+        "max_y": 1.0,
+        "flipped": false,
+        "scaled": true,
+        "toggled": false,
+        "looped": false,
+        "relative": false,
+        "easing": "none",
+        "motion": "move_none"
+      }
+    },
+    "forms": {
+      "idle": ["idle", "basic"]
+    },
+    "sounds": {
+      "idle": [],
+      "open": [],
+      "close": []
+    }
  },
   "hands_sword_attack": {
     "sheet": {
diff --git a/assets/config.json b/assets/config.json
index 4fff41e..c8c51a5 100644
--- a/assets/config.json
+++ b/assets/config.json
@@ -12,6 +12,16 @@
       "frame_width": 256,
       "frame_height": 256
     },
+    "ag_bot":
+    {"path": "assets/sprites/ag_bot.png",
+      "frame_width": 846,
+      "frame_height": 1022
+    },
+    "ag_bot_speech":
+    {"path": "assets/sprites/ag_bot_speech.png",
+      "frame_width": 424,
+      "frame_height": 358
+    },
     "repair_kit":
     {"path": "assets/items/repair_kit.png",
       "frame_width": 256,
diff --git a/assets/scenes.json b/assets/scenes.json
index 3d7d4c4..2f052c8 100644
--- a/assets/scenes.json
+++ b/assets/scenes.json
@@ -21,12 +21,36 @@
   },
   "STARTING": {
     "layout": [
-      "[=text]"
+      "[_|*%(200, 200)ag_bot|_|*%(200,100)speech|_|_]",
+      "[_|_|_                 |*%(200,100)buttons|_|_]"
     ],
     "background": "starting_scene",
     "actors": [
+      {
+        "name": "ag_bot",
+        "sprite": "ag_bot",
+        "cell": "ag_bot",
+        "scale_x": 0.65,
+        "scale_y": 0.65,
+        "x": -40,
+        "y": 70,
+        "at_mid": false,
+        "flipped": false
+      }
     ],
     "fixtures": [
+      {
+        "name": "ag_bot_speech",
+        "sprite": "ag_bot_speech",
+        "scale_x": 1.0,
+        "scale_y": 1.0,
+        "flipped": false,
+        "cell": "speech",
+        "x": 0,
+        "y": 0,
+        "at_mid": false,
+        "flipped": false
+      }
     ]
   },
   "WIN": {
diff --git a/assets/scenes/starting_scene.png b/assets/scenes/starting_scene.png
index 661a945..028dda4 100644
Binary files a/assets/scenes/starting_scene.png and b/assets/scenes/starting_scene.png differ
diff --git a/assets/sprites/ag_bot.png b/assets/sprites/ag_bot.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14e84ab
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/sprites/ag_bot.png differ
diff --git a/assets/sprites/ag_bot_speech.png b/assets/sprites/ag_bot_speech.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1fe75f4
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/sprites/ag_bot_speech.png differ
diff --git a/assets/sprites/rat_with_sword.png b/assets/sprites/rat_with_sword.png
deleted file mode 100644
index 0d5763b..0000000
Binary files a/assets/sprites/rat_with_sword.png and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/src/game/worldbuilder.cpp b/src/game/worldbuilder.cpp
index 777029e..5132226 100644
--- a/src/game/worldbuilder.cpp
+++ b/src/game/worldbuilder.cpp
@@ -196,11 +196,8 @@ void WorldBuilder::place_stairs(DinkyECS::World& world, GameConfig& config) {
   auto& device_config = config.devices.json();
   auto entity_data = device_config["STAIRS_DOWN"];
 
-  // auto at_end = $map.$dead_ends.back();
-  configure_entity_in_map(world, entity_data, {
-      player_pos.location.x+1,
-      player_pos.location.y
-  });
+  auto at_end = $map.$dead_ends.back();
+  configure_entity_in_map(world, entity_data, at_end);
 }
 
 void WorldBuilder::configure_starting_items(DinkyECS::World &world) {
diff --git a/src/graphics/animation.cpp b/src/graphics/animation.cpp
index 95e5c10..d5ad181 100644
--- a/src/graphics/animation.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/animation.cpp
@@ -249,13 +249,12 @@ namespace animation {
     sequence.INVARIANT();
   }
 
-  Animation load(const std::string &file, const std::string &anim_name) {
+  std::optional<Animation> maybe_load(const std::string &file, const std::string &anim_name) {
     using nlohmann::json;
     std::ifstream infile(file);
     auto data = json::parse(infile);
 
-    dbc::check(data.contains(anim_name),
-        $F("{} animation config does not have animation {}", file, anim_name));
+    if(!data.contains(anim_name)) return std::nullopt;
 
     Animation anim;
     animation::from_json(data[anim_name], anim);
@@ -269,6 +268,15 @@ namespace animation {
     return anim;
   }
 
+  Animation load(const std::string &file, const std::string &anim_name) {
+    auto anim = maybe_load(file, anim_name);
+
+    dbc::check(anim != std::nullopt,
+        $F("FAILED to load animation {} from file {}", anim_name, file));
+
+    return *anim;
+  }
+
   void Sequence::INVARIANT(const std::source_location location) {
     dbc::check(frames.size() == durations.size(),
         $F("frames.size={} doesn't match durations.size={}",
@@ -297,8 +305,12 @@ namespace animation {
   void configure(DinkyECS::World& world, DinkyECS::Entity entity) {
     auto sprite = world.get_if<components::Sprite>(entity);
 
-    if(sprite != nullptr && has(sprite->name)) {
-      world.set<Animation>(entity, animation::load("assets/animation.json", sprite->name));
+    // sprite doesn't exist, abort
+    if(sprite == nullptr) return;
+
+    // lazy load any animations
+    if(auto anim = animation::maybe_load("assets/animation.json", sprite->name)) {
+      world.set<Animation>(entity, *anim);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/graphics/animation.hpp b/src/graphics/animation.hpp
index d188eb0..faf8170 100644
--- a/src/graphics/animation.hpp
+++ b/src/graphics/animation.hpp
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ namespace animation {
   };
 
   Animation load(const std::string &file, const std::string &anim_name);
+  std::optional<Animation> maybe_load(const std::string &file, const std::string &anim_name);
 
   // BUG: brought over from animation to finish the refactor, but these may not be needed or maybe they go in system.cpp?
   bool has(const std::string& name);
diff --git a/src/graphics/scene.cpp b/src/graphics/scene.cpp
index 5c7ba6a..c237d27 100644
--- a/src/graphics/scene.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/scene.cpp
@@ -18,10 +18,13 @@ namespace scene {
       bool flipped = config["flipped"];
 
       // BUG: put the .json file to load as a default/optional arg
-      auto anim = animation::load("./assets/animation.json", sprite_name);
-      anim.play();
+      auto anim = animation::maybe_load("./assets/animation.json", sprite_name);
 
-      anim.transform.flipped = flipped;
+      if(anim) {
+        // only start it if there's an animation set
+        anim->play();
+        anim->transform.flipped = flipped;
+      }
 
       std::string cell = config["cell"];
       std::string name = config["name"];
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ namespace scene {
 
     for(auto& actor : $actors) {
       view.draw(*actor.st.sprite, actor.effect.get());
-      if(actor.anim.playing) view.draw(actor.text);
+      if(actor.anim && actor.anim->playing) view.draw(actor.text);
     }
 
     $camera.render(view);
@@ -126,20 +129,25 @@ namespace scene {
 
   void Engine::animate_actor(const std::string& actor, const std::string& form) {
     auto& config = actor_config(actor);
-    config.anim.set_form(form);
 
-    if(!config.anim.playing) {
-      config.anim.play();
+    // no animation set, abort
+    if(!config.anim) return;
+
+    config.anim->set_form(form);
+
+    if(!config.anim->playing) {
+      config.anim->play();
     }
   }
 
   inline void this_is_stupid_refactor(std::vector<Element>& elements) {
     for(auto& element : elements) {
-      if(element.anim.playing) {
-        element.anim.update();
-        element.anim.motion(*element.st.sprite, element.pos, element.scale);
-        element.anim.apply(*element.st.sprite);
-        if(element.effect != nullptr) element.anim.apply_effect(element.effect);
+      // skip any without animation
+      if(element.anim && element.anim->playing) {
+        element.anim->update();
+        element.anim->motion(*element.st.sprite, element.pos, element.scale);
+        element.anim->apply(*element.st.sprite);
+        if(element.effect != nullptr) element.anim->apply_effect(element.effect);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -178,8 +186,12 @@ namespace scene {
   }
 
   void Engine::set_end_cb(std::function<void()> cb) {
+
     for(auto& actor : $actors) {
-      actor.anim.onLoop = [&,cb](auto& seq, auto& tr) -> bool {
+      // no animation set so no point doing a end cb
+      if(!actor.anim) continue;
+
+      actor.anim->onLoop = [&,cb](auto& seq, auto& tr) -> bool {
         seq.current = tr.toggled ? seq.frame_count - 1 : 0;
         cb();
         actor.effect = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/graphics/scene.hpp b/src/graphics/scene.hpp
index 1f9449f..e0b0b9c 100644
--- a/src/graphics/scene.hpp
+++ b/src/graphics/scene.hpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ namespace scene {
   struct Element {
     std::string name;
     textures::SpriteTexture st;
-    animation::Animation anim;
+    std::optional<animation::Animation> anim;
     std::string cell;
     sf::Vector2f scale{1.0f, 1.0f};
     sf::Vector2f pos{0.0f, 0.0f};
diff --git a/tests/pathing.cpp b/tests/pathing.cpp
index 1265dc1..53e574b 100644
--- a/tests/pathing.cpp
+++ b/tests/pathing.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,5 @@ TEST_CASE("multiple targets can path", "[pathing]") {
 
   if(found == PathingResult::FOUND) {
     fmt::println("FOUND!");
-  } else if(found == PathingResult::FAIL && !diag) {
-    REQUIRE(found != PathingResult::FAIL);
   }
 }