diff --git a/matrix/api.js b/matrix/api.js
index dbc39bc..846ea64 100644
--- a/matrix/api.js
+++ b/matrix/api.js
@@ -91,6 +91,18 @@ async function sendEvent(roomID, type, content, mxid) {
    return root.event_id
 }
 
+async function profileSetDisplayname(mxid, displayname) {
+   await mreq.mreq("PUT", path(`/client/v3/profile/${mxid}/displayname`, mxid), {
+      displayname
+   })
+}
+
+async function profileSetAvatarUrl(mxid, avatar_url) {
+   await mreq.mreq("PUT", path(`/client/v3/profile/${mxid}/avatar_url`, mxid), {
+      avatar_url
+   })
+}
+
 module.exports.path = path
 module.exports.register = register
 module.exports.createRoom = createRoom
@@ -99,3 +111,5 @@ module.exports.inviteToRoom = inviteToRoom
 module.exports.getAllState = getAllState
 module.exports.sendState = sendState
 module.exports.sendEvent = sendEvent
+module.exports.profileSetDisplayname = profileSetDisplayname
+module.exports.profileSetAvatarUrl = profileSetAvatarUrl
diff --git a/matrix/file.js b/matrix/file.js
index 077d527..4578d4a 100644
--- a/matrix/file.js
+++ b/matrix/file.js
@@ -17,7 +17,14 @@ const inflight = new Map()
  * @param {string} path
  */
 async function uploadDiscordFileToMxc(path) {
-	const url = DISCORD_IMAGES_BASE + path
+	let url
+	if (path.startsWith("http")) {
+		// TODO: this is cheating to make seed.js easier. due a refactor or a name change since it's not soley for discord?
+		// possibly could be good to save non-discord external URLs under a user-specified key rather than simply using the url?
+		url = path
+	} else {
+		url = DISCORD_IMAGES_BASE + path
+	}
 
 	// Are we uploading this file RIGHT NOW? Return the same inflight promise with the same resolution
 	let existing = inflight.get(url)
diff --git a/seed.js b/seed.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d84ca8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// @ts-check
+
+const assert = require("assert")
+const sqlite = require("better-sqlite3")
+const HeatSync = require("heatsync")
+
+const config = require("./config")
+const passthrough = require("./passthrough")
+const db = new sqlite("db/ooye.db")
+
+const sync = new HeatSync({watchFS: false})
+
+Object.assign(passthrough, { config, sync, db })
+
+const api = require("./matrix/api")
+const file = require("./matrix/file")
+const reg = require("./matrix/read-registration")
+
+;(async () => {
+	// ensure registration is correctly set...
+
+	// test connection to homeserver...
+
+	// upload initial images...
+	const avatarUrl = await file.uploadDiscordFileToMxc("https://cadence.moe/friends/out_of_your_element_rev_2.jpg")
+
+	// set profile data on homeserver...
+	await api.profileSetDisplayname(`@${reg.sender_localpart}:cadence.moe`, "Out Of Your Element")
+	await api.profileSetAvatarUrl(`@${reg.sender_localpart}:cadence.moe`, avatarUrl)
+
+	// database ddl...
+
+	// add initial rows to database, like adding the bot to sim...
+
+})()
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index bf0023e..2c44bb3 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ const config = require("../config")
 const passthrough = require("../passthrough")
 const db = new sqlite("db/ooye.db")
 
-// @ts-ignore
 const sync = new HeatSync({watchFS: false})
 
 Object.assign(passthrough, { config, sync, db })