diff --git a/examples/loremipsum.md b/examples/loremipsum.md
index 9d82d30..48af7f4 100644
--- a/examples/loremipsum.md
+++ b/examples/loremipsum.md
@@ -41,20 +41,11 @@ populifer adeunt quicquam cum **ales** Ixion angulus placet reddere.
 ## Tractaque serpens arva quoque
 {:.center}
 
-### Unordered
+# Include
 
-+ Create a list by starting a line with `+`, `-`, or `*`
-- Marker character change forces new list start:
-* Ac tristique libero volutpat at jesrh hjsrh sejr hhsjehv sjtrhg jrdth
-+ Facilisis in pretium nisl aliquet
-- Nulla volutpat aliquam velit
-+ Very easy
+#[d1 :left](dragon.txt) #[d1 :center :mirror](dragon.txt) #[d1 :right](dragon.txt)
 
-### Ordered
-
-1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
-2. Consectetur adipiscing elit
-3. Integer molestie lorem at massa
+![[markdown.md]]
 
 Inprudens dum memor alma, casses dedi Sinuessa iam quid adicit
 `gate_truncate_wave`. [Geratur de](#salientia-iungit-contra-et), insolida
diff --git a/markdown_parser.py b/markdown_parser.py
index 6ed08be..a49086f 100644
--- a/markdown_parser.py
+++ b/markdown_parser.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import re
-from typing import Iterable, Iterator, List, Optional, Union
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Dict, Iterable, Iterator, List, Optional, Union
 
 from md_types import (
+    AsciiArtPayload,
+    AsciiArtPiece,
     BlockEvent,
     BlockKind,
     BlockQuotePayload,
@@ -27,6 +31,7 @@ PARA_OPEN_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*<p\b([^>]*)>\s*$", re.IGNORECASE)
 PARA_CLOSE_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*</p>\s*$", re.IGNORECASE)
 MMD_ATTR_LINE_RE = re.compile(r"^\{\s*:(.+)\}\s*$")
 MMD_ATTR_TAIL_RE = re.compile(r"(.*?)\s*\{\s*:(.+?)\}\s*$")
+ASCII_SENTINEL_PREFIX = "\u0000ASCII:"
 
 
 class MarkdownParser:
@@ -36,6 +41,7 @@ class MarkdownParser:
         self._paragraph_style_spec: Optional[StyleSpec] = None
         self._pending_block_style_spec: Optional[StyleSpec] = None
         self._last_stylable_block: bool = False
+        self._ascii_cache: Dict[str, List[str]] = {}
 
     def parse(self, lines: Iterable[str]) -> Iterator[Union[BlockEvent, StyleUpdateEvent]]:
         self._reset_state()
@@ -48,6 +54,23 @@ class MarkdownParser:
         for raw_line in iterator:
             line = raw_line.rstrip("\n")
 
+            if line.startswith(ASCII_SENTINEL_PREFIX):
+                event = self._flush_paragraph(current_paragraph)
+                if event is not None:
+                    yield event
+                current_paragraph = []
+                payload = self._build_ascii_payload(line)
+                style = self._combine_styles(self._current_style(), self._pending_block_style_spec)
+                self._pending_block_style_spec = None
+                self._last_stylable_block = True
+                yield BlockEvent(
+                    kind=BlockKind.CUSTOM_BLOCK,
+                    payload=payload,
+                    style=style,
+                    stylable=True,
+                )
+                continue
+
             if in_code_block:
                 if line.strip().startswith("```"):
                     event = self._flush_code_block(code_lines)
@@ -297,6 +320,69 @@ class MarkdownParser:
             stylable=False,
         )
 
+    def _build_ascii_payload(self, sentinel_line: str) -> AsciiArtPayload:
+        entries = self._decode_ascii_sentinel(sentinel_line)
+        pieces: List[AsciiArtPiece] = []
+        for entry in entries:
+            lines = self._load_ascii_art_lines(entry["path"])
+            pieces.append(
+                AsciiArtPiece(
+                    block_type=entry["type"],
+                    name=entry["name"],
+                    path=entry["path"],
+                    lines=lines,
+                    align=entry["align"],
+                )
+            )
+        return AsciiArtPayload(pieces=pieces)
+
+    def _decode_ascii_sentinel(self, line: str) -> List[Dict[str, str]]:
+        payload = line[len(ASCII_SENTINEL_PREFIX) :]
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(payload)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid ASCII sentinel payload: {payload}") from exc
+        if "pieces" in data and isinstance(data["pieces"], list):
+            raw_pieces = data["pieces"]
+        else:
+            raw_pieces = [data]
+        pieces: List[Dict[str, str]] = []
+        for entry in raw_pieces:
+            for key in ("type", "name", "path"):
+                if key not in entry:
+                    raise ValueError(f"ASCII sentinel missing '{key}' field: {payload}")
+            align = entry.get("align")
+            align_str = str(align) if align is not None else None
+            if align_str is not None:
+                align_lower = align_str.strip().lower()
+                if align_lower == "centre":
+                    align_lower = "center"
+                if align_lower not in {"left", "center", "right"}:
+                    align_lower = None
+            else:
+                align_lower = None
+            pieces.append(
+                {
+                    "type": str(entry["type"]),
+                    "name": str(entry["name"]),
+                    "path": str(entry["path"]),
+                    "align": align_lower,
+                }
+            )
+        return pieces
+
+    def _load_ascii_art_lines(self, path_str: str) -> List[str]:
+        cached = self._ascii_cache.get(path_str)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return list(cached)
+        path = Path(path_str)
+        if not path.exists():
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"ASCII art file '{path}' was not found.")
+        text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        lines = text.splitlines()
+        self._ascii_cache[path_str] = lines
+        return list(lines)
+
     def _make_base_style(self) -> BlockStyle:
         return BlockStyle(
             align=self._base_style.align,
diff --git a/md2txt.py b/md2txt.py
index 010170e..e115f91 100644
--- a/md2txt.py
+++ b/md2txt.py
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@ Convert Markdown into 80-column DOS-compatible plain text.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
+import json
 import re
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Iterable, List, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import Iterable, List, Optional, Set, Tuple
 
 from md_types import BlockStyle, FrontMatter
 from markdown_parser import MarkdownParser
@@ -16,6 +17,14 @@ from text_renderer import TextRenderer
 
 
 FRONTMATTER_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^---\s*$")
+INCLUDE_WIKILINK_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^\s*!\[\[(.+?)\]\]\s*$")
+INCLUDE_DIRECTIVE_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^\s*\{\s*\.include\s+(.+?)\s*\}\s*$")
+ASCII_BLOCK_PATTERN = re.compile(
+    r"^\s*#\[(?P<label>[^\]]+)\]\((?P<target>[^)]+)\)\s*(?P<attr>\{\s*:[^}]+\s*\})?\s*$"
+)
+ASCII_INLINE_PATTERN = re.compile(r"#\[(?P<label>[^\]]+)\]\((?P<target>[^)]+)\)")
+MMD_ATTR_TAIL_RE = re.compile(r"(.*?)\s*\{\s*:(.+?)\}\s*$")
+ASCII_SENTINEL_PREFIX = "\u0000ASCII:"
 
 
 def _parse_int(value: Optional[str], default: int = 0) -> int:
@@ -46,7 +55,10 @@ def convert_markdown(
     *,
     width: int,
     frontmatter: FrontMatter,
+    base_path: Optional[Path] = None,
 ) -> List[str]:
+    base_dir = (base_path or Path.cwd()).resolve()
+    expanded_lines = _expand_includes(list(lines), base_dir, set())
     base_style = BlockStyle(
         align="left",
         margin_left=max(0, frontmatter.margin_left),
@@ -54,11 +66,143 @@ def convert_markdown(
     )
     parser = MarkdownParser(base_style)
     renderer = TextRenderer(width=width, frontmatter=frontmatter)
-    for event in parser.parse(lines):
+    for event in parser.parse(expanded_lines):
         renderer.handle_event(event)
     return renderer.finalize()
 
 
+def _expand_includes(lines: List[str], base_dir: Path, include_stack: Set[Path]) -> List[str]:
+    expanded: List[str] = []
+    for line in lines:
+        ascii_segments = _extract_ascii_segments(line, base_dir)
+        if ascii_segments is not None:
+            for sentinel_line, attr_line in ascii_segments:
+                expanded.append(sentinel_line)
+                if attr_line is not None:
+                    expanded.append(attr_line)
+            continue
+        target = _extract_include_target(line)
+        if target is None:
+            expanded.append(line)
+            continue
+        target_path = (base_dir / target).resolve()
+        if target_path in include_stack:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Circular include detected for '{target_path}'.")
+        if not target_path.exists():
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Included file '{target_path}' was not found.")
+        include_stack.add(target_path)
+        included_lines = read_lines(target_path)
+        _, include_body = parse_frontmatter(included_lines)
+        included_content = _expand_includes(include_body, target_path.parent, include_stack)
+        expanded.extend(included_content)
+        include_stack.remove(target_path)
+    return expanded
+
+
+def _extract_include_target(line: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    stripped = line.rstrip("\n")
+    match = INCLUDE_WIKILINK_PATTERN.match(stripped)
+    if match:
+        return _normalize_include_target(match.group(1))
+    match = INCLUDE_DIRECTIVE_PATTERN.match(stripped)
+    if match:
+        return _normalize_include_target(match.group(1))
+    return None
+
+
+def _normalize_include_target(value: str) -> str:
+    trimmed = value.strip()
+    if len(trimmed) >= 2 and ((trimmed[0] == trimmed[-1]) and trimmed[0] in {"'", '"'}):
+        trimmed = trimmed[1:-1].strip()
+    return trimmed
+
+
+def _extract_ascii_segments(line: str, base_dir: Path) -> Optional[List[Tuple[str, Optional[str]]]]:
+    stripped_line = line.rstrip("\n")
+    block_match = ASCII_BLOCK_PATTERN.match(stripped_line)
+    if block_match:
+        label = block_match.group("label")
+        target = block_match.group("target")
+        attr_text = block_match.group("attr")
+        sentinel = _make_ascii_sentinel(label, target, base_dir)
+        attr_line = f"{attr_text}\n" if attr_text else None
+        return [(sentinel, attr_line)]
+
+    matches = list(ASCII_INLINE_PATTERN.finditer(stripped_line))
+    if not matches:
+        return None
+
+    pieces: List[dict] = []
+    last_end = 0
+    for match in matches:
+        prefix = stripped_line[last_end : match.start()]
+        if prefix.strip():
+            return None
+        label = match.group("label")
+        target = match.group("target")
+        block_type, block_name, align = _parse_ascii_label(label)
+        normalized_target = _normalize_include_target(target)
+        target_path = (base_dir / normalized_target).resolve()
+        if not target_path.exists():
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"ASCII art file '{target_path}' was not found.")
+        pieces.append(
+            {
+                "type": block_type,
+                "name": block_name,
+                "path": str(target_path),
+                "align": align,
+            }
+        )
+        last_end = match.end()
+
+    suffix = stripped_line[last_end:]
+    if suffix.strip():
+        return None
+
+    if not pieces:
+        return None
+
+    sentinel = f"{ASCII_SENTINEL_PREFIX}{json.dumps({'pieces': pieces})}\n"
+    return [(sentinel, None)]
+
+
+def _make_ascii_sentinel(label: str, target: str, base_dir: Path) -> str:
+    block_type, block_name, align = _parse_ascii_label(label)
+    normalized_target = _normalize_include_target(target)
+    target_path = (base_dir / normalized_target).resolve()
+    if not target_path.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"ASCII art file '{target_path}' was not found.")
+    payload = {
+        "pieces": [
+            {
+                "type": block_type,
+                "name": block_name,
+                "path": str(target_path),
+                "align": align,
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+    return f"{ASCII_SENTINEL_PREFIX}{json.dumps(payload)}\n"
+
+
+def _parse_ascii_label(label: str) -> Tuple[str, str, Optional[str]]:
+    tokens = label.strip().split()
+    non_colon: List[str] = []
+    align: Optional[str] = None
+    for token in tokens:
+        if token.startswith(":"):
+            tag = token[1:].strip().lower()
+            if tag in {"left", "right", "center", "centre"}:
+                align = "center" if tag in {"center", "centre"} else tag
+            # ignore other colon tags for now
+        else:
+            non_colon.append(token)
+
+    block_type = non_colon[0] if non_colon else "custom"
+    block_name = " ".join(non_colon[1:]) if len(non_colon) > 1 else ""
+    return block_type, block_name, align
+
+
 def parse_frontmatter(lines: List[str]) -> Tuple[FrontMatter, List[str]]:
     if not lines or not FRONTMATTER_PATTERN.match(lines[0]):
         return FrontMatter(), lines
@@ -145,7 +289,12 @@ def main(argv: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> int:
     args = parser.parse_args(argv)
     lines = read_lines(args.input_path)
     frontmatter, content = parse_frontmatter(lines)
-    converted_lines = convert_markdown(content, width=args.width, frontmatter=frontmatter)
+    converted_lines = convert_markdown(
+        content,
+        width=args.width,
+        frontmatter=frontmatter,
+        base_path=args.input_path.parent,
+    )
     write_output(args.output, converted_lines)
     return 0
 
diff --git a/md_types.py b/md_types.py
index 7f0e0d9..b681528 100644
--- a/md_types.py
+++ b/md_types.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class BlockKind(Enum):
     LIST_ITEM = "list_item"
     HORIZONTAL_RULE = "horizontal_rule"
     BLANK_LINE = "blank_line"
+    CUSTOM_BLOCK = "custom_block"
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -80,6 +81,20 @@ class ListItemPayload:
     ordered: bool
 
 
+@dataclass
+class AsciiArtPiece:
+    block_type: str
+    name: str
+    path: str
+    lines: List[str]
+    align: Optional[str] = None
+
+
+@dataclass
+class AsciiArtPayload:
+    pieces: List[AsciiArtPiece]
+
+
 @dataclass
 class BlockEvent:
     kind: BlockKind
diff --git a/text_renderer.py b/text_renderer.py
index 3231d78..ddf74c2 100644
--- a/text_renderer.py
+++ b/text_renderer.py
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ import re
 import string
 import textwrap
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Callable, Dict, List, Optional
+from typing import Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 from md_types import (
+    AsciiArtPayload,
+    AsciiArtPiece,
     BlockEvent,
     BlockKind,
     BlockQuotePayload,
@@ -136,6 +138,8 @@ class TextRenderer:
             self._render_horizontal_rule(event.style)
         elif event.kind is BlockKind.BLANK_LINE:
             self._render_blank_line()
+        elif event.kind is BlockKind.CUSTOM_BLOCK:
+            self._render_custom_block(event.payload, event.style)
         else:  # pragma: no cover - defensive default
             self._last_stylable_block = None
 
@@ -201,6 +205,161 @@ class TextRenderer:
         if self.paragraph_spacing == 0:
             self.output.append("")
 
+    def _render_custom_block(self, payload: AsciiArtPayload, style: BlockStyle) -> None:
+
+        def render(target_style: BlockStyle) -> List[str]:
+            return self._layout_ascii_pieces(payload.pieces, target_style)
+
+        lines = render(style)
+        self._emit_block(lines, stylable=True, render_fn=render, style=style)
+
+    def _layout_ascii_pieces(self, pieces: List[AsciiArtPiece], style: BlockStyle) -> List[str]:
+        if not pieces:
+            return []
+        if len(pieces) == 1:
+            piece = pieces[0]
+            return self._align_preformatted_lines(piece.lines, style, piece.align)
+
+        margin_left = min(max(style.margin_left, 0), self.width - 1)
+        margin_right = max(style.margin_right, 0)
+        available_width = max(1, self.width - margin_left - margin_right)
+
+        heights = [len(piece.lines) for piece in pieces]
+        max_height = max(heights) if heights else 0
+        widths = [self._ascii_piece_width(piece.lines) for piece in pieces]
+
+        positions = self._compute_ascii_positions(pieces, widths, available_width)
+        if positions is None:
+            # fall back to vertical stacking by aligning individually
+            result: List[str] = []
+            for piece in pieces:
+                result.extend(self._align_preformatted_lines(piece.lines, style, piece.align))
+            return result
+
+        canvas = [list(" " * available_width) for _ in range(max_height)]
+        for piece, pos, width in positions:
+            lines = piece.lines
+            for row_index in range(max_height):
+                if row_index >= len(lines):
+                    continue
+                line = lines[row_index]
+                for col_index, char in enumerate(line):
+                    target_index = pos + col_index
+                    if target_index >= available_width:
+                        break
+                    if char == " ":
+                        continue
+                    canvas[row_index][target_index] = char
+
+        prefix = " " * margin_left
+        result_lines: List[str] = []
+        for row in canvas:
+            content = "".join(row).rstrip()
+            result_lines.append(prefix + content)
+        return result_lines
+
+    def _compute_ascii_positions(
+        self,
+        pieces: List[AsciiArtPiece],
+        widths: List[int],
+        available_width: int,
+    ) -> Optional[List[Tuple[AsciiArtPiece, int, int]]]:
+        if available_width <= 0:
+            return None
+
+        gap = 4
+        left_cursor = 0
+        right_cursor = available_width
+        placement_map: Dict[int, Tuple[int, int]] = {}
+
+        # Categorise pieces by alignment preference
+        left_indices: List[int] = []
+        center_indices: List[int] = []
+        right_indices: List[int] = []
+
+        for index, piece in enumerate(pieces):
+            align = (piece.align or "left").lower()
+            if align == "right":
+                right_indices.append(index)
+            elif align == "center":
+                center_indices.append(index)
+            else:
+                left_indices.append(index)
+
+        for index in left_indices:
+            width = min(widths[index], available_width)
+            pos = left_cursor
+            left_cursor = min(available_width, pos + width + gap)
+            placement_map[index] = (pos, width)
+
+        for index in reversed(right_indices):
+            width = min(widths[index], available_width)
+            pos = max(0, right_cursor - width)
+            right_cursor = max(0, pos - gap)
+            placement_map[index] = (pos, width)
+
+        center_used = False
+        for index in center_indices:
+            width = min(widths[index], available_width)
+            pos = max(0, (available_width - width) // 2)
+            if center_used:
+                # shift to current left cursor if already used center
+                pos = left_cursor
+                left_cursor = min(available_width, pos + width + gap)
+            else:
+                center_used = True
+            placement_map[index] = (pos, width)
+
+        # Detect overlap; if found, abort to fallback
+        for i in range(len(pieces)):
+            if i not in placement_map:
+                continue
+            pos_i, width_i = placement_map[i]
+            end_i = pos_i + width_i
+            for j in range(i + 1, len(pieces)):
+                if j not in placement_map:
+                    continue
+                pos_j, width_j = placement_map[j]
+                if pos_i <= pos_j < end_i or pos_j <= pos_i < pos_j + width_j:
+                    return None
+
+        ordered_positions: List[Tuple[AsciiArtPiece, int, int]] = []
+        for index, piece in enumerate(pieces):
+            if index not in placement_map:
+                continue
+            pos, width = placement_map[index]
+            ordered_positions.append((piece, pos, width))
+        return ordered_positions
+
+    def _ascii_piece_width(self, lines: List[str]) -> int:
+        return max((len(line.rstrip("\n")) for line in lines), default=0)
+
+    def _align_preformatted_lines(
+        self,
+        lines: List[str],
+        style: BlockStyle,
+        explicit_align: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> List[str]:
+        if not lines:
+            return []
+        margin_left = min(max(style.margin_left, 0), self.width - 1)
+        margin_right = max(style.margin_right, 0)
+        available_width = max(1, self.width - margin_left - margin_right)
+        processed = [line.rstrip("\n") for line in lines]
+        block_width = max((len(line) for line in processed), default=0)
+        extra_space = max(0, available_width - block_width)
+        align = (explicit_align or style.align or "left").lower()
+        if align == "center" or align == "centre":
+            align_offset = extra_space // 2
+        elif align == "right":
+            align_offset = extra_space
+        else:
+            align_offset = 0
+        max_indent = max(0, self.width - block_width)
+        indent = min(margin_left + align_offset, max_indent)
+        indent_str = " " * indent
+        return [indent_str + line for line in processed]
+
     def _emit_block(
         self,
         lines: List[str],