diff --git a/client/index.html b/client/index.html
index 002014f..32eece7 100644
--- a/client/index.html
+++ b/client/index.html
@@ -31,45 +31,7 @@
         class="hidden"
         aria-label="Chat Grid, press arrows to move."
       ></canvas>
-      <div id="instructions" class="hidden">
-        <h2>Help</h2>
-
-        <h3>Movement</h3>
-        <p><b>Arrow Keys:</b> Move</p>
-        <p><b>C:</b> Speak coordinates</p>
-        <p><b>Escape:</b> Disconnect/cancel</p>
-
-        <h3>Users, Nickname, and Chat</h3>
-        <p><b>L:</b> Locate nearest user</p>
-        <p><b>Shift+L:</b> List users</p>
-        <p><b>Shift+U:</b> Speak connected users</p>
-        <p><b>N:</b> Change nickname</p>
-        <p><b>Slash:</b> Start chat</p>
-        <p><b>Comma / Period:</b> Previous/next message</p>
-        <p><b>Less Than / Greater Than:</b> First/last message</p>
-
-        <h3>Items</h3>
-        <p><b>I:</b> Locate nearest item</p>
-        <p><b>Shift+I:</b> List items</p>
-        <p><b>A:</b> Add item</p>
-        <p><b>O:</b> Edit item properties</p>
-        <p><b>Shift+O:</b> Read all item properties</p>
-        <p><b>D:</b> Pick up/drop item</p>
-        <p><b>Shift+D:</b> Delete item</p>
-        <p><b>U:</b> Use item</p>
-
-        <h3>Audio</h3>
-        <p><b>P:</b> Ping server</p>
-        <p><b>M:</b> Mute/unmute yourself</p>
-        <p><b>Shift+M:</b> Toggle stereo/mono output</p>
-        <p><b>! (Shift+1):</b> Toggle loopback monitor</p>
-        <p><b>1:</b> Toggle voice layer</p>
-        <p><b>2:</b> Toggle item sounds layer</p>
-        <p><b>3:</b> Toggle media layer</p>
-        <p><b>4:</b> Toggle world layer (other users)</p>
-        <p><b>E:</b> Select voice effect</p>
-        <p><b>Dash or Equals:</b> Lower/raise active effect value</p>
-      </div>
+      <div id="instructions" class="hidden"></div>
 
       <footer id="appFooter">
         <small id="appVersion">Another AI experiment with Jage. Version</small>
diff --git a/client/public/help.json b/client/public/help.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb9afe3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/public/help.json
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+{
+  "sections": [
+    {
+      "title": "Movement",
+      "items": [
+        { "keys": "Arrow Keys", "description": "Move" },
+        { "keys": "C", "description": "Speak coordinates" },
+        { "keys": "Escape", "description": "Disconnect/cancel" }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "title": "Users, Nickname, and Chat",
+      "items": [
+        { "keys": "L", "description": "Locate nearest user" },
+        { "keys": "Shift+L", "description": "List users" },
+        { "keys": "Shift+U", "description": "Speak connected users" },
+        { "keys": "N", "description": "Change nickname" },
+        { "keys": "Slash", "description": "Start chat" },
+        { "keys": "Comma / Period", "description": "Previous/next message" },
+        { "keys": "Less Than / Greater Than", "description": "First/last message" }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "title": "Items",
+      "items": [
+        { "keys": "I", "description": "Locate nearest item" },
+        { "keys": "Shift+I", "description": "List items" },
+        { "keys": "A", "description": "Add item" },
+        { "keys": "O", "description": "Edit item properties" },
+        { "keys": "Shift+O", "description": "Read all item properties" },
+        { "keys": "D", "description": "Pick up/drop item" },
+        { "keys": "Shift+D", "description": "Delete item" },
+        { "keys": "U", "description": "Use item" }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "title": "Audio",
+      "items": [
+        { "keys": "P", "description": "Ping server" },
+        { "keys": "M", "description": "Mute/unmute yourself" },
+        { "keys": "Shift+M", "description": "Toggle stereo/mono output" },
+        { "keys": "! (Shift+1)", "description": "Toggle loopback monitor" },
+        { "keys": "1", "description": "Toggle voice layer" },
+        { "keys": "2", "description": "Toggle item sounds layer" },
+        { "keys": "3", "description": "Toggle media layer" },
+        { "keys": "4", "description": "Toggle world layer (other users)" },
+        { "keys": "E", "description": "Select voice effect" },
+        { "keys": "Dash or Equals", "description": "Lower/raise active effect value" }
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index 5eab948..642107e 100644
--- a/client/public/version.js
+++ b/client/public/version.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.21 R104";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.21 R105";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/main.ts b/client/src/main.ts
index 7a80677..779c5d6 100644
--- a/client/src/main.ts
+++ b/client/src/main.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,20 @@ type ChangelogData = {
   sections: ChangelogSection[];
 };
 
+type HelpItem = {
+  keys: string;
+  description: string;
+};
+
+type HelpSection = {
+  title: string;
+  items: HelpItem[];
+};
+
+type HelpData = {
+  sections: HelpSection[];
+};
+
 type AudioLayerState = {
   voice: boolean;
   item: boolean;
@@ -245,6 +259,7 @@ audio.setOutputMode(outputMode);
 
 loadEffectLevels();
 loadAudioLayerState();
+void loadHelp();
 void loadChangelog();
 
 function requiredById<T extends HTMLElement>(id: string): T {
@@ -297,6 +312,42 @@ function setUpdatesExpanded(expanded: boolean): void {
   dom.updatesPanel.classList.toggle('hidden', !expanded);
 }
 
+function renderHelp(help: HelpData): void {
+  dom.instructions.innerHTML = '';
+  const heading = document.createElement('h2');
+  heading.textContent = 'Help';
+  dom.instructions.appendChild(heading);
+  for (const section of help.sections) {
+    const sectionHeading = document.createElement('h3');
+    sectionHeading.textContent = section.title;
+    dom.instructions.appendChild(sectionHeading);
+    for (const item of section.items) {
+      const line = document.createElement('p');
+      const keys = document.createElement('b');
+      keys.textContent = `${item.keys}:`;
+      line.appendChild(keys);
+      line.append(` ${item.description}`);
+      dom.instructions.appendChild(line);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+async function loadHelp(): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(withBase('help.json'), { cache: 'no-store' });
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const help = (await response.json()) as HelpData;
+    if (!Array.isArray(help.sections) || help.sections.length === 0) {
+      return;
+    }
+    renderHelp(help);
+  } catch {
+    // Keep existing/static help if loading fails.
+  }
+}
+
 function renderChangelog(changelog: ChangelogData): void {
   dom.updatesPanel.innerHTML = '';
   for (const section of changelog.sections) {
diff --git a/server/app/client.py b/server/app/client.py
index 481c831..84c379a 100644
--- a/server/app/client.py
+++ b/server/app/client.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Client connection model used by the signaling server."""
+
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass
@@ -7,6 +9,8 @@ from websockets.asyncio.server import ServerConnection
 
 @dataclass
 class ClientConnection:
+    """Represents one connected websocket client and its world state."""
+
     websocket: ServerConnection
     id: str
     nickname: str = "user..."
@@ -14,4 +18,6 @@ class ClientConnection:
     y: int = 20
 
     def summary(self) -> dict[str, str | int]:
+        """Return a compact serializable snapshot for logs/diagnostics."""
+
         return {"id": self.id, "nickname": self.nickname, "x": self.x, "y": self.y}
diff --git a/server/app/config.py b/server/app/config.py
index 108d491..4b660f7 100644
--- a/server/app/config.py
+++ b/server/app/config.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Configuration models and loader for the signaling server."""
+
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -7,29 +9,41 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
 
 class ServerConfigSection(BaseModel):
+    """Bind address and port options for websocket serving."""
+
     bind_ip: str = "127.0.0.1"
     port: int = 8765
 
 
 class NetworkConfigSection(BaseModel):
+    """Network transport and safety limits."""
+
     max_message_bytes: int = Field(default=2_000_000, gt=0)
     allow_insecure_ws: bool = True
 
 
 class TlsConfigSection(BaseModel):
+    """TLS certificate/key file configuration."""
+
     cert_file: str = ""
     key_file: str = ""
 
 
 class LoggingConfigSection(BaseModel):
+    """Runtime logging verbosity options."""
+
     level: str = "INFO"
 
 
 class StorageConfigSection(BaseModel):
+    """Persistent state file location."""
+
     state_file: str = "runtime/items.json"
 
 
 class AppConfig(BaseModel):
+    """Top-level application configuration document."""
+
     server: ServerConfigSection = ServerConfigSection()
     network: NetworkConfigSection = NetworkConfigSection()
     tls: TlsConfigSection = TlsConfigSection()
@@ -38,6 +52,8 @@ class AppConfig(BaseModel):
 
 
 def load_config(path: Path | None) -> AppConfig:
+    """Load and validate config TOML, applying defaults and TLS checks."""
+
     if path is None:
         return AppConfig()
 
diff --git a/server/app/item_catalog.py b/server/app/item_catalog.py
index eeb0580..e601399 100644
--- a/server/app/item_catalog.py
+++ b/server/app/item_catalog.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Server-side catalog of global item type definitions and defaults."""
+
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass
@@ -51,6 +53,8 @@ CLOCK_TIME_ZONE_OPTIONS: tuple[str, ...] = (
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class ItemDefinition:
+    """Global behavior and defaults shared by all instances of one item type."""
+
     default_title: str
     capabilities: tuple[str, ...]
     use_sound: str | None
@@ -93,10 +97,14 @@ ITEM_DEFINITIONS: dict[ItemType, ItemDefinition] = {
 
 
 def get_item_definition(item_type: ItemType) -> ItemDefinition:
+    """Return catalog definition for a known item type."""
+
     return ITEM_DEFINITIONS[item_type]
 
 
 def get_item_use_cooldown_ms(item_type: ItemType) -> int:
+    """Return validated global use cooldown in milliseconds for an item type."""
+
     definition = get_item_definition(item_type)
     cooldown_ms = definition.use_cooldown_ms
     if isinstance(cooldown_ms, int) and cooldown_ms > 0:
diff --git a/server/app/item_service.py b/server/app/item_service.py
index 148c17b..1d00b3e 100644
--- a/server/app/item_service.py
+++ b/server/app/item_service.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Item persistence, hydration, and local mutation helpers."""
+
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
@@ -16,16 +18,24 @@ LOGGER = logging.getLogger("chgrid.server")
 
 
 class ItemService:
+    """Owns world-item storage, lifecycle, and persistence to disk."""
+
     def __init__(self, state_file: Path | None = None):
+        """Create service and eagerly load persisted state when configured."""
+
         self.state_file = state_file
         self.items: dict[str, WorldItem] = {}
         self.load_state()
 
     @staticmethod
     def now_ms() -> int:
+        """Return current Unix time in milliseconds."""
+
         return int(time.time() * 1000)
 
     def default_item(self, client: ClientConnection, item_type: Literal["radio_station", "dice", "wheel", "clock"]) -> WorldItem:
+        """Create a new server-authoritative item at the caller's position."""
+
         item_def = get_item_definition(item_type)
         now = self.now_ms()
         return WorldItem(
@@ -46,22 +56,32 @@ class ItemService:
         )
 
     def add_item(self, item: WorldItem) -> None:
+        """Insert or replace an item in in-memory state."""
+
         self.items[item.id] = item
 
     def remove_item(self, item_id: str) -> None:
+        """Remove an item by id when present."""
+
         if item_id in self.items:
             del self.items[item_id]
 
     def find_carried_item(self, client_id: str) -> WorldItem | None:
+        """Return the currently carried item for a client, if any."""
+
         for item in self.items.values():
             if item.carrierId == client_id:
                 return item
         return None
 
     def items_on_square(self, x: int, y: int) -> list[WorldItem]:
+        """Return non-carried items occupying a specific world coordinate."""
+
         return [item for item in self.items.values() if item.carrierId is None and item.x == x and item.y == y]
 
     def drop_carried_items_for_disconnect(self, client: ClientConnection) -> list[WorldItem]:
+        """Drop all items carried by a disconnected client onto their last tile."""
+
         changed: list[WorldItem] = []
         for item in self.items.values():
             if item.carrierId == client.id:
@@ -73,6 +93,8 @@ class ItemService:
         return changed
 
     def load_state(self) -> None:
+        """Load persisted item instances and rehydrate global fields from catalog."""
+
         if not self.state_file:
             return
         try:
@@ -108,6 +130,8 @@ class ItemService:
             LOGGER.warning("failed to load persisted item state from %s: %s", self.state_file, exc)
 
     def save_state(self) -> None:
+        """Persist instance-only item data to configured state file."""
+
         if not self.state_file:
             return
         try:
diff --git a/server/app/models.py b/server/app/models.py
index 4b7c416..38c7cba 100644
--- a/server/app/models.py
+++ b/server/app/models.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Pydantic packet and entity models shared across server message handling."""
+
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from typing import Literal
diff --git a/server/app/server.py b/server/app/server.py
index 422d4e5..6d86e0d 100644
--- a/server/app/server.py
+++ b/server/app/server.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Websocket signaling server for chat, presence, and item interactions."""
+
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
@@ -55,6 +57,8 @@ RADIO_CHANNEL_IDS = {"stereo", "mono", "left", "right"}
 
 
 class SignalingServer:
+    """Coordinates websocket clients, signaling, and authoritative item actions."""
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         host: str,
@@ -64,6 +68,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
         max_message_size: int = 2_000_000,
         state_file: Path | None = None,
     ):
+        """Initialize runtime state, TLS context, and item service."""
+
         self.host = host
         self.port = port
         self.max_message_size = max_message_size
@@ -74,12 +80,18 @@ class SignalingServer:
 
     @property
     def items(self) -> dict[str, WorldItem]:
+        """Expose current item map owned by the item service."""
+
         return self.item_service.items
 
     def _nickname_key(self, nickname: str) -> str:
+        """Normalize nickname for case-insensitive comparisons."""
+
         return nickname.casefold()
 
     def _is_nickname_taken(self, nickname: str, exclude_client_id: str | None = None) -> bool:
+        """Check whether nickname is already used by another active client."""
+
         wanted = self._nickname_key(nickname)
         for other in self.clients.values():
             if exclude_client_id is not None and other.id == exclude_client_id:
@@ -90,10 +102,14 @@ class SignalingServer:
 
     @staticmethod
     def _item_type_label(item: WorldItem) -> str:
+        """Return user-facing item type wording for chat/status strings."""
+
         return "radio" if item.type == "radio_station" else item.type
 
     @staticmethod
     def _normalize_clock_timezone(value: object) -> str:
+        """Normalize timezone input to one of supported clock zones."""
+
         token = str(value or "").strip()
         if token in CLOCK_TIME_ZONE_OPTIONS:
             return token
@@ -101,6 +117,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
 
     @staticmethod
     def _parse_clock_use_24_hour(value: object) -> bool | None:
+        """Parse bool-like clock format values (`on/off`, `true/false`, etc.)."""
+
         if isinstance(value, bool):
             return value
         if isinstance(value, (int, float)):
@@ -115,6 +133,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
 
     @classmethod
     def _format_clock_display_time(cls, params: dict) -> str:
+        """Render current clock text based on item timezone/format params."""
+
         tz_name = cls._normalize_clock_timezone(params.get("timeZone"))
         use_24_hour = cls._parse_clock_use_24_hour(params.get("use24Hour"))
         if use_24_hour is None:
@@ -133,6 +153,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
         message: str,
         item_id: str | None = None,
     ) -> None:
+        """Send a structured item action result to one client."""
+
         await self._send(
             client.websocket,
             ItemActionResultPacket(
@@ -145,9 +167,13 @@ class SignalingServer:
         )
 
     async def _broadcast_item(self, item: WorldItem) -> None:
+        """Broadcast a full item snapshot update to all connected clients."""
+
         await self._broadcast(ItemUpsertPacket(type="item_upsert", item=item))
 
     async def start(self) -> None:
+        """Start websocket serving and run until cancelled."""
+
         protocol = "wss" if self._ssl_context else "ws"
         LOGGER.info("starting signaling server on %s://%s:%d", protocol, self.host, self.port)
         async with serve(
@@ -160,6 +186,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
             await asyncio.Future()
 
     async def _handle_client(self, websocket: ServerConnection) -> None:
+        """Handle one websocket client's connect/message/disconnect lifecycle."""
+
         client = ClientConnection(websocket=websocket, id=str(uuid.uuid4()))
         self.clients[websocket] = client
         LOGGER.info("client connected id=%s total=%d", client.id, len(self.clients))
@@ -191,6 +219,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
                 )
 
     async def _send_welcome(self, client: ClientConnection) -> None:
+        """Send initial world snapshot to a newly connected client."""
+
         users = [
             RemoteUser(id=other.id, nickname=other.nickname, x=other.x, y=other.y)
             for ws, other in self.clients.items()
@@ -211,6 +241,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
         others_message: str,
         delay_seconds: float = 3.0,
     ) -> None:
+        """Delay then publish wheel result text to self and other users."""
+
         await asyncio.sleep(delay_seconds)
         await self._broadcast(
             BroadcastChatMessagePacket(type="chat_message", message=others_message, system=True),
@@ -223,6 +255,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
             )
 
     async def _handle_message(self, client: ClientConnection, raw_message: str) -> None:
+        """Decode, validate, and route one inbound client packet."""
+
         try:
             payload = json.loads(raw_message)
         except json.JSONDecodeError:
@@ -754,12 +788,16 @@ class SignalingServer:
         )
 
     async def _broadcast(self, packet: object, exclude: ServerConnection | None = None) -> None:
+        """Broadcast one packet to all clients except an optional websocket."""
+
         for websocket in list(self.clients.keys()):
             if websocket is exclude:
                 continue
             await self._send(websocket, packet)
 
     async def _send(self, websocket: ServerConnection, packet: object) -> None:
+        """Send one packet to one websocket, swallowing per-client send failures."""
+
         try:
             if hasattr(packet, "model_dump"):
                 data = packet.model_dump(exclude_none=True)
@@ -770,6 +808,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
             LOGGER.debug("send failure: %s", exc)
 
     def _find_by_id(self, client_id: str) -> ClientConnection | None:
+        """Resolve a client id to an active connection."""
+
         for client in self.clients.values():
             if client.id == client_id:
                 return client
@@ -777,6 +817,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
 
     @staticmethod
     def _build_ssl_context(cert: str | None, key: str | None) -> ssl.SSLContext | None:
+        """Create TLS server context when cert/key are configured."""
+
         if not cert or not key:
             return None
         context = ssl.SSLContext(ssl.PROTOCOL_TLS_SERVER)
@@ -785,6 +827,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
 
 
 def run() -> None:
+    """CLI entrypoint for running the signaling server process."""
+
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="chgrid signaling server")
     parser.add_argument("--config", default="config.toml")
     parser.add_argument("--host", default=None)
diff --git a/server/main.py b/server/main.py
index 72838f9..925beae 100644
--- a/server/main.py
+++ b/server/main.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+"""Executable wrapper for running the signaling server."""
+
 from app.server import run