diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2fc9346d1..3226ba0c5 100755
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ help: ## print this help
 		| awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":[^:]*?## "}; {printf "\033[36m%-30s\033[0m %s\n", $$1, $$2}'
 
 git-push: ## push to both gitlab and github (this assumes you have both remotes set up)
-	git push gitlab ${GIT_BRANCH}
 	git push github ${GIT_BRANCH}
+	git push gitlab ${GIT_BRANCH}
 
 # from https://gist.github.com/amitchhajer/4461043#gistcomment-2349917
 git-stats: ## print git contributor line counts (approx, for fun)
diff --git a/src/Bot.ts b/src/Bot.ts
index d7e604fba..7f01c6260 100644
--- a/src/Bot.ts
+++ b/src/Bot.ts
@@ -375,9 +375,6 @@ export class Bot extends BaseService<BotData> implements Service {
 
   /**
    * Log an otherwise-unhandled but non-fatal error (typically leaked from one of the observables).
-   *
-   * Note: this method is already bound, so it can be passed with `this.looseError`. Using that requires
-   * `tslint:disable:no-unbound-method` as well.
    */
   protected looseError(err: Error) {
     this.logger.error(err, 'bot stream did not handle error');
diff --git a/src/controller/AccountController.ts b/src/controller/AccountController.ts
index a54da2bd7..41d188c22 100644
--- a/src/controller/AccountController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/AccountController.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ export class AccountController extends BaseController<AccountControllerData> imp
     return this.reply(ctx, results);
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_GRANT, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getGrantHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   @Handler(NOUN_ACCOUNT, CommandVerb.Create)
   public async createAccount(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
     if (!this.data.join.allow && !this.checkGrants(ctx, 'account:create')) {
@@ -89,7 +94,7 @@ export class AccountController extends BaseController<AccountControllerData> imp
     const name = cmd.getHeadOrDefault('name', ctx.name);
     const existing = await this.userRepository.count({ name });
     if (existing > 0) {
-      return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.account.account.create.exists', {
+      return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('account-create.exists', {
         name,
       }));
     }
@@ -106,7 +111,7 @@ export class AccountController extends BaseController<AccountControllerData> imp
     }));
 
     const jwt = await this.createToken(user);
-    return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.account.account.create.success', {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('account-create.success', {
       jwt,
       name,
     }));
@@ -119,7 +124,7 @@ export class AccountController extends BaseController<AccountControllerData> imp
     const name = user.name;
 
     if (cmd.getHeadOrDefault('confirm', 'no') !== 'yes') {
-      const completion = createCompletion(cmd, 'confirm', this.locale.translate('service.controller.account.account.delete.confirm', {
+      const completion = createCompletion(cmd, 'confirm', this.translate('account-delete.confirm', {
         name,
       }));
       await this.bot.executeCommand(completion);
@@ -131,12 +136,17 @@ export class AccountController extends BaseController<AccountControllerData> imp
     });
 
     const jwt = await this.createToken(user);
-    return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.account.account.delete.success', {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('account-delete.success', {
       jwt,
       name,
     }));
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_ACCOUNT, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getAccountHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   @Handler(NOUN_SESSION, CommandVerb.Create)
   public async createSession(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
     const jwt = cmd.getHead('token');
@@ -155,7 +165,7 @@ export class AccountController extends BaseController<AccountControllerData> imp
     const source = this.getSourceOrFail(ctx);
     const session = await source.createSession(ctx.uid, user);
     this.logger.debug({ session, user }, 'created session');
-    return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.account.session.create.success'));
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('session-create.success'));
   }
 
   @Handler(NOUN_SESSION, CommandVerb.Get)
@@ -171,6 +181,11 @@ export class AccountController extends BaseController<AccountControllerData> imp
     return this.reply(ctx, session.toString());
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_SESSION, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getSessionHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   protected async createToken(user: User): Promise<string> {
     const issued = this.clock.getSeconds();
     const expires = issued + this.data.token.duration;
diff --git a/src/controller/BaseController.ts b/src/controller/BaseController.ts
index d60c01de5..f6feecb83 100644
--- a/src/controller/BaseController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/BaseController.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ import { BotService, INJECT_LOCALE } from 'src/BotService';
 import { getHandlerOptions, HandlerOptions } from 'src/controller';
 import { Controller, ControllerData, ControllerOptions } from 'src/controller/Controller';
 import { User } from 'src/entity/auth/User';
-import { Command } from 'src/entity/Command';
+import { Command, CommandVerb } from 'src/entity/Command';
 import { Context } from 'src/entity/Context';
 import { Message } from 'src/entity/Message';
 import { Listener } from 'src/listener/Listener';
-import { Locale } from 'src/locale';
+import { Locale, TranslateOptions } from 'src/locale';
 import { ServiceModule } from 'src/module/ServiceModule';
 import { ServiceDefinition } from 'src/Service';
 import { applyTransforms } from 'src/transform/helpers';
@@ -181,4 +181,23 @@ export abstract class BaseController<TData extends ControllerData> extends BotSe
     }
     return user;
   }
+
+  protected translate(key: string, options: TranslateOptions = {}): string {
+    return this.locale.translate(`service.${this.kind}.${key}`, options);
+  }
+
+  protected defaultHelp(cmd: Command): string {
+    const data = {
+      data: this.data,
+    };
+    const desc = this.translate('help.desc', data);
+
+    if (cmd.has('topic')) {
+      const topic = cmd.getHead('topic');
+      const topicDesc = this.translate(`help.${topic}`, data);
+      return `${desc}\n${topicDesc}`;
+    }
+
+    return desc;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/CompletionController.ts b/src/controller/CompletionController.ts
index 19314f870..91dd7d277 100644
--- a/src/controller/CompletionController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/CompletionController.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export class CompletionController extends BaseController<CompletionControllerDat
     }));
 
     this.logger.debug({ context, fragment }, 'creating fragment for later completion');
-    return this.reply(context, this.locale.translate('service.controller.completion.fragment.prompt', {
+    return this.reply(context, this.translate('create.prompt', {
       id: fragment.id,
       key,
       msg,
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export class CompletionController extends BaseController<CompletionControllerDat
 
     const fragment = await this.getFragment(ctx, id);
     if (isNil(fragment)) {
-      return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.completion.fragment.missing'));
+      return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('update.missing'));
     }
 
     this.logger.debug({ fragment, parserId: fragment.parserId }, 'attempting to complete fragment');
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ export class CompletionController extends BaseController<CompletionControllerDat
     await this.bot.executeCommand(...commands);
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_FRAGMENT, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   protected async createContext(maybeCtx?: Context) {
     const ctx = mustExist(maybeCtx);
     if (isNil(ctx.target)) {
diff --git a/src/controller/CountController.ts b/src/controller/CountController.ts
index 3c80fc104..16ba3a87f 100644
--- a/src/controller/CountController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/CountController.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ export class CountController extends BaseController<CountControllerData> impleme
     await this.counterRepository.save(counter);
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_COUNTER, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   public async findOrCreateCounter(name: string, roomId: string): Promise<Counter> {
     const counter = await this.counterRepository.findOne({
       where: {
diff --git a/src/controller/DiceController.ts b/src/controller/DiceController.ts
index 6cccc52b9..12a871a44 100644
--- a/src/controller/DiceController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/DiceController.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { CheckRBAC, Handler } from 'src/controller';
 import { BaseController } from 'src/controller/BaseController';
 import { Controller, ControllerData, ControllerOptions } from 'src/controller/Controller';
 import { Command, CommandVerb } from 'src/entity/Command';
+import { Context } from 'src/entity/Context';
 import { mustExist } from 'src/utils';
 
 const DICE_MINIMUM = 1;
@@ -41,9 +42,14 @@ export class DiceController extends BaseController<DiceControllerData> implement
     this.logger.debug({ count, sides }, 'handling dice results');
     const sum = results.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);
 
-    return this.reply(mustExist(cmd.context), this.locale.translate('service.controller.dice.roll.create', {
+    return this.reply(mustExist(cmd.context), this.translate('create.success', {
       results,
       sum,
     }));
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_ROLL, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/EchoController.ts b/src/controller/EchoController.ts
index 42a8ad54d..8bb7b58d3 100644
--- a/src/controller/EchoController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/EchoController.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { CheckRBAC, Handler } from 'src/controller';
 import { BaseController } from 'src/controller/BaseController';
 import { Controller, ControllerData, ControllerOptions } from 'src/controller/Controller';
 import { Command, CommandVerb } from 'src/entity/Command';
+import { Context } from 'src/entity/Context';
 
 export const NOUN_ECHO = 'echo';
 
@@ -18,8 +19,13 @@ export class EchoController extends BaseController<EchoControllerData> implement
 
   @Handler(NOUN_ECHO, CommandVerb.Create)
   @CheckRBAC()
-  public async createEcho(cmd: Command): Promise<void> {
+  public async createEcho(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
     this.logger.debug({ cmd }, 'echoing command');
     return this.transformJSON(cmd, {});
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_ECHO, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/LearnController.ts b/src/controller/LearnController.ts
index 05238c164..9fa885ac2 100644
--- a/src/controller/LearnController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/LearnController.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export class LearnController extends BaseController<LearnControllerData> impleme
     }
 
     await this.keywordRepository.save(keyword);
-    return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.learn.keyword.create', {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('create.success', {
       key,
     }));
   }
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export class LearnController extends BaseController<LearnControllerData> impleme
       id: keyword.id,
       key,
     });
-    return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.learn.keyword.delete', {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('delete.success', {
       key,
     }));
   }
@@ -115,4 +115,9 @@ export class LearnController extends BaseController<LearnControllerData> impleme
     await this.bot.executeCommand(merged);
     return;
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_KEYWORD, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/MathController.ts b/src/controller/MathController.ts
index 2bbf46831..b6014bd98 100644
--- a/src/controller/MathController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/MathController.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ export class MathController extends BaseController<MathControllerData> implement
     return this.reply(ctx, body);
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_MATH, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   protected solve(expr: string, scope: object): string {
     try {
       const body = this.math.eval(expr, scope);
@@ -56,7 +61,7 @@ export class MathController extends BaseController<MathControllerData> implement
 
       return formatResult(body, scope, this.data.format);
     } catch (err) {
-      return this.locale.translate('service.controller.math.math.error', {
+      return this.translate('create.error', {
         msg: err.message,
       });
     }
diff --git a/src/controller/PickController.ts b/src/controller/PickController.ts
index 3e5034e76..dac2914c2 100644
--- a/src/controller/PickController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/PickController.ts
@@ -42,4 +42,9 @@ export class PickController extends BaseController<PickControllerData> implement
     this.logger.debug({ count, data, list, puck }, 'picking item');
     return this.reply(ctx, puck.join(','));
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_PICK, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/SearchController.ts b/src/controller/SearchController.ts
index 03d073db1..c86cd1515 100644
--- a/src/controller/SearchController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/SearchController.ts
@@ -54,4 +54,9 @@ export class SearchController extends BaseController<SearchControllerData> imple
 
     return this.transformJSON(cmd, response);
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_SEARCH, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/SedController.ts b/src/controller/SedController.ts
index df6ec60b9..8b67489d4 100644
--- a/src/controller/SedController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/SedController.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export class SedController extends BaseController<SedControllerData> implements
     const parts = expr.match(/\/((?:[^\\]|\\.)*)\/((?:[^\\]|\\.)*)\/([gmiuy]*)/);
     if (isNil(parts)) {
       this.logger.debug({ expr }, 'invalid input.');
-      return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.sed.invalid'));
+      return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('create.invalid'));
     }
 
     this.logger.debug({ parts }, 'fetching messages');
@@ -47,12 +47,17 @@ export class SedController extends BaseController<SedControllerData> implements
         }
       }
 
-      return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.sed.missing'));
+      return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('create.missing'));
     } catch (error) {
       this.logger.error('Failed to fetch messages.');
     }
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_SED, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   private async processMessage(message: Message, command: Command, parts: RegExpMatchArray): Promise<boolean> {
     if (doesExist(message.context) && doesExist(command.context) && message.context.channel.thread === command.context.channel.thread) {
       return false;
diff --git a/src/controller/TimeController.ts b/src/controller/TimeController.ts
index b57f7797d..67ef2a673 100644
--- a/src/controller/TimeController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/TimeController.ts
@@ -36,8 +36,13 @@ export class TimeController extends BaseController<TimeControllerData> implement
     const zone = cmd.getHeadOrDefault('zone', this.data.zone);
 
     this.logger.debug({ locale, time, zone }, 'handling time');
-    return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.time.get', {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('get.success', {
       time,
     }));
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_TIME, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/TokenController.ts b/src/controller/TokenController.ts
index 916307650..7789aac5c 100644
--- a/src/controller/TokenController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/TokenController.ts
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export class TokenController extends BaseController<TokenControllerData> impleme
     const user = this.getUserOrFail(ctx);
     const before = cmd.getHeadOrNumber('before', this.clock.getSeconds());
     if (cmd.getHeadOrDefault('confirm', 'no') !== 'yes') {
-      const completion = createCompletion(cmd, 'confirm', this.locale.translate('service.controller.token.delete.confirm', {
+      const completion = createCompletion(cmd, 'confirm', this.translate('delete.confirm', {
         before,
         name: user.name,
       }));
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export class TokenController extends BaseController<TokenControllerData> impleme
       subject: Equal(mustExist(user.id)),
     });
 
-    return this.reply(ctx, `tokens deleted`);
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('delete.success'));
   }
 
   @Handler(NOUN_TOKEN, CommandVerb.Get)
@@ -97,13 +97,13 @@ export class TokenController extends BaseController<TokenControllerData> impleme
         });
         return this.reply(ctx, JSON.stringify(data));
       } catch (err) {
-        return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.token.get.invalid', {
+        return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('get.invalid', {
           msg: err.message,
         }));
       }
     } else {
       if (isNil(ctx.token)) {
-        return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.token.get.missing'));
+        return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('get.missing'));
       } else {
         return this.reply(ctx, ctx.token.toString());
       }
@@ -122,4 +122,9 @@ export class TokenController extends BaseController<TokenControllerData> impleme
 
     return this.reply(ctx, JSON.stringify(tokens));
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_TOKEN, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/UserController.ts b/src/controller/UserController.ts
index 2b422d668..1aef95229 100644
--- a/src/controller/UserController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/UserController.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { isNil } from 'lodash';
 import { Inject } from 'noicejs';
-import { Connection, In, Repository } from 'typeorm';
+import { In, Repository } from 'typeorm';
 
 import { INJECT_STORAGE } from 'src/BotService';
 import { CheckRBAC, Handler } from 'src/controller';
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ export class UserController extends BaseController<UserControllerData> implement
       },
     });
     if (isNil(role)) {
-      return this.reply(ctx, this.locale.translate('service.controller.user.role.missing'));
+      return this.reply(ctx, this.translate('role-get.missing', {
+        name,
+      }));
     } else {
       return this.reply(ctx, role.toString());
     }
@@ -68,6 +70,11 @@ export class UserController extends BaseController<UserControllerData> implement
     return this.reply(ctx, roleText);
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_ROLE, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getRoleHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   @Handler(NOUN_USER, CommandVerb.Create)
   @CheckRBAC()
   public async createUser(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
@@ -126,4 +133,9 @@ export class UserController extends BaseController<UserControllerData> implement
     const updatedUser = await this.userRepository.save(user);
     return this.reply(ctx, updatedUser.toString());
   }
+
+  @Handler(NOUN_USER, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getUserHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/controller/WeatherController.ts b/src/controller/WeatherController.ts
index 365784bc6..0cfbe3771 100644
--- a/src/controller/WeatherController.ts
+++ b/src/controller/WeatherController.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ export class WeatherController extends BaseController<WeatherControllerData> imp
     }
   }
 
+  @Handler(NOUN_WEATHER, CommandVerb.Help)
+  public async getHelp(cmd: Command, ctx: Context): Promise<void> {
+    return this.reply(ctx, this.defaultHelp(cmd));
+  }
+
   public async requestWeather(location: string): Promise<WeatherReply> {
     const query = this.getQuery(location);
     this.logger.debug({ location, query, root: this.data.api.root }, 'requesting weather data from API');
diff --git a/src/locale/en.yml b/src/locale/en.yml
index 982af5855..2e2044716 100644
--- a/src/locale/en.yml
+++ b/src/locale/en.yml
@@ -1,46 +1,168 @@
 translation:
   service:
-    controller:
-      account:
-        account:
-          create:
-            exists: "user {{ name }} already exists"
-            success: "user {{ name }} joined, sign in token: {{ jwt }}"
-          delete:
-            confirm: "please confirm deleting all tokens for {{ name }}"
-            success: "revoked tokens for {{ name }}, new sign in token: {{ jwt }}"
-        session:
-          create:
-            success: signed in
-      completion:
-        fragment:
-          missing: fragment not found
-          prompt: "complete {{ id }} with {{ key }}: {{ msg }}"
-      dice:
-        roll:
-          create: "the results of your rolls were: {{ results }}. The sum is {{ sum }}"
-      learn:
-        keyword:
-          create: "learned keyword {{ key }}"
-          delete: "deleted keyword {{ key }}"
-      math:
-        math:
-          error: "error evaluating math: {{ msg }}"
-      sed:
+    account-controller:
+      account-create:
+        exists: "user {{ name }} already exists"
+        success: "user {{ name }} joined, sign in token: {{ jwt }}"
+      account-delete:
+        confirm: "please confirm deleting all tokens for {{ name }}"
+        success: "revoked tokens for {{ name }}, new sign in token: {{ jwt }}"
+      session-create:
+        success: signed in
+      help:
+        warn: Should only be executed in a private channel.
+        desc: >-
+          The account controller handles registering new users, sign in for existing
+          users, revoking sign in tokens, and checking grants.
+        account-create:
+          Register a new account and issue a sign in token.
+          $t(service.account-controller.help.warn)
+        account-delete: >-
+          Revoke all tokens for an account.
+          $t(service.account-controller.help.warn)
+        grant-get: >-
+          Check if a grant is allowed.
+        grant-list: >-
+          Given a grant with `?` placeholder, list all valid grants for that position.
+        session-create: >-
+          Log in with the given token.
+          $t(service.account-controller.help.warn)
+    completion-controller:
+      create:
+        prompt: "complete {{ id }} with {{ key }}: {{ msg }}"
+      update:
+        missing: fragment not found
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The completion controller saves fragment commands for users to
+          complete later.
+        create: >-
+          Create a command fragment to be completed and executed later.
+          Typically executed by other services or parsers upon finding a
+          missing field.
+        update: >-
+          Provide the next field for a fragment and attempt to parse it
+          again. This may complete and execute the original command or it
+          may prompt the user to complete another field.
+    count-controller:
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The count controller keeps track of counters for users and messages,
+          tracking their reputation or score over time.
+        get: >-
+          The GET verb is a catch-all for the counter.
+          The `count` field can be set to `++` or `--` to increment or decrement
+          a counter, `ls` to list the existing counters (scoped by channel), or
+          a number (positive or negative integer) by which to change the counter.
+    dice-controller:
+      create:
+        success: "the results of your rolls were: {{ results }}. The sum is {{ sum }}"
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The dice controller rolls dice.
+        create: >-
+          Create a new set of dice and roll them, replying with each die and the
+          sum.
+    echo-controller:
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The echo controller transforms the incoming messages and replies to the
+          user.
+        create: >-
+          Create a new echo and reply to the user.
+    learn-controller:
+      create:
+        success: "learned keyword {{ key }}"
+      delete:
+        success: "deleted keyword {{ key }}"
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The learn controller saves commands to be executed later with a keyword.
+        create: >-
+          Save a new command and the keyword that will execute it.
+        delete: >-
+          Delete a stored command and keyword.
+        update: >-
+          Execute a stored command by keyword.
+    math-controller:
+      create:
+        error: "error evaluating math: {{ msg }}"
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The math controller solves mathematical expressions.
+        create: >-
+          Create a new expression and solve it.
+    search-controller:
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The search controller runs a search, via REST, and formats the results.
+        get: >-
+          Get search results for the keyword in {{ data.field }}.
+    sed-controller:
+      create:
         invalid: "invalid input expression. Please use `!!s/e/d/[flags]`"
-        missing: no messages found!
-      time:
-        get: "current time is: {{ time }}"
-      token:
-        delete:
-          confirm: "please confirm deleting tokens for {{ name }} from before {{ before }}"
-          success: tokens deleted
-        get:
-          invalid: "error validating token: {{ msg }}"
-          missing: session must have been created with a token
-      user:
-        role:
-          missing: role not found
+        missing: "no messages found!"
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The sed controller performs regex replacement on previous messages and
+          posts the results.
+        create: >-
+          Create a new replacement. This should be a `s/e/d/` expression, with
+          optional regex flags following.
+    time-controller:
+      get:
+        success: "current time is: {{ time }}"
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The time controller is not able to control time, but can report it.
+        get: >-
+          Get the time in a particular locale and zone.
+    token-controller:
+      delete:
+        confirm: "please confirm deleting tokens for {{ name }} from before {{ before }}"
+        success: tokens deleted
+      get:
+        invalid: "error validating token: {{ msg }}"
+        missing: session must have been created with a token
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The token controller handles CRUD and validation for JWTs.
+        create: >-
+          Create a new token with the specified grants.
+        delete: >-
+          Delete tokens from before the specified date.
+        get: >-
+          Get payload of the current token or the token field.
+        list: >-
+          List tokens for the current user.
+    user-controller:
+      role-get:
+        missing: "role {{ name }} not found"
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The user controller provides CRUD operations for users and roles.
+        role-create: >-
+          Create a new role with the specified grants.
+        role-get: >-
+          Get a role and its grants.
+        role-list: >-
+          List the available roles.
+        user-create: >-
+          Create a new user with the specified roles.
+        user-delete: >-
+          Delete a user.
+        user-get: >-
+          Get a user and their roles.
+        user-list: >-
+          List the registered users.
+        user-update: >-
+          Update a user's roles.
+    weather-controller:
+      help:
+        desc: >-
+          The weather controller, somewhat like the time controller, reports the weather.
+        get: >-
+          Get the current weather report in a location.
 
   error:
     grant:
diff --git a/src/locale/index.ts b/src/locale/index.ts
index 2da0460d0..7e71f5fb2 100644
--- a/src/locale/index.ts
+++ b/src/locale/index.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ export interface LocaleOptions {
   lang: string;
 }
 
+export type TranslateOptions= i18next.TranslationOptions;
+
 export class Locale implements ServiceLifecycle {
   protected readonly lang: string;
   protected translator?: i18next.TranslationFunction;
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ export class Locale implements ServiceLifecycle {
     /* noop */
   }
 
-  public translate(key: string, options: i18next.TranslationOptions = {}): string {
+  public translate(key: string, options: TranslateOptions = {}): string {
     const t = mustExist(this.translator);
     return t(key, options);
   }