diff --git a/src/context.h b/src/context.h
index 7ad1d64..54c4f99 100644
--- a/src/context.h
+++ b/src/context.h
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ typedef struct context {
     struct rect_primitive *render_queue_rectangles;
     struct circle_primitive *render_queue_circles;
 
-    struct audio_channel_pair *audio_channels;
+    struct mesh_batch *uncolored_mesh_batches; /* texture_cache reflected */
+    struct mesh_batch_item *uncolored_mesh_batches_loners; /* path reflected */
+
+    struct audio_channel_item *audio_channels;
     SDL_AudioDeviceID audio_device;
     int audio_stream_frequency;
     SDL_AudioFormat audio_stream_format;
diff --git a/src/game/scenes/ingame.c b/src/game/scenes/ingame.c
index 1bea67b..9958539 100644
--- a/src/game/scenes/ingame.c
+++ b/src/game/scenes/ingame.c
@@ -11,7 +11,29 @@ static void ingame_tick(struct state *state) {
     world_drawdef(scn->world);
     player_calc(scn->player);
 
-    get_audio_args("soundtrack")->volume -= 0.01f;
+    // unfurl_triangle("/assets/title.png",
+    //                 (t_fvec3){ 1250, 700, 0 },
+    //                 (t_fvec3){ 0, 800, 0 },
+    //                 (t_fvec3){ 0, 0, 0 },
+    //                 (t_shvec2){ 0, 360 },
+    //                 (t_shvec2){ 0, 0 },
+    //                 (t_shvec2){ 360, 0 });
+
+    unfurl_triangle("/assets/red.png",
+                    (t_fvec3){ 0, 0, 0 },
+                    (t_fvec3){ RENDER_BASE_WIDTH, 0, 0 },
+                    (t_fvec3){ RENDER_BASE_WIDTH, RENDER_BASE_HEIGHT, 0 },
+                    (t_shvec2){ 0, 0 },
+                    (t_shvec2){ 80, 0 },
+                    (t_shvec2){ 80, 80 });
+
+    unfurl_triangle("/assets/red.png",
+                    (t_fvec3){ RENDER_BASE_WIDTH, RENDER_BASE_HEIGHT, 0 },
+                    (t_fvec3){ 0, RENDER_BASE_HEIGHT, 0 },
+                    (t_fvec3){ 0, 0, 0 },
+                    (t_shvec2){ 80, 80 },
+                    (t_shvec2){ 0, 80 },
+                    (t_shvec2){ 0, 0 });
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index a41cb68..af5bfa2 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -44,6 +44,24 @@ static void poll_events(void) {
 }
 
 
+static void APIENTRY opengl_log(GLenum source,
+                                GLenum type,
+                                GLuint id,
+                                GLenum severity,
+                                GLsizei length,
+                                const GLchar* message,
+                                const void* userParam)
+{
+    (void)source;
+    (void)type;
+    (void)id;
+    (void)severity;
+    (void)userParam;
+
+    log_info("OpenGL: %.*s\n", length, message);
+}
+
+
 void main_loop(void) {
     /*
     if (!ctx.is_running) {
@@ -149,6 +167,7 @@ static bool initialize(void) {
 
     SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_CONTEXT_MAJOR_VERSION, 1);
     SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_CONTEXT_MINOR_VERSION, 5);
+    SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_CONTEXT_FLAGS, SDL_GL_CONTEXT_DEBUG_FLAG);
 
     /* init got far enough to create a window */
     ctx.window = SDL_CreateWindow("emerald",
@@ -178,6 +197,8 @@ static bool initialize(void) {
         goto fail;
     }
 
+    log_info("OpenGL context: %s\n", glGetString(GL_VERSION));
+
     /* might need this to have multiple windows */
     ctx.window_id = SDL_GetWindowID(ctx.window);
 
@@ -235,6 +256,12 @@ static bool initialize(void) {
     ctx.debug = false;
 #endif
 
+    /* hook up opengl debugging callback */
+    if (ctx.debug) {
+        glEnable(GL_DEBUG_OUTPUT);
+        glDebugMessageCallback(opengl_log, NULL);
+    }
+
     /* random seeding */
     /* SDL_GetPerformanceCounter returns some platform-dependent number. */
     /* it should vary between game instances. i checked! random enough for me. */
diff --git a/src/private/rendering.h b/src/private/rendering.h
index 2c1dee4..fcaa614 100644
--- a/src/private/rendering.h
+++ b/src/private/rendering.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "../util.h"
 
 #include <SDL2/SDL.h>
+#include <glad/glad.h>
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
@@ -31,4 +32,26 @@ struct circle_primitive {
     t_fvec2 position;
 };
 
+/* batch of primitives with overlapping properties */
+struct mesh_batch {
+    GLuint buffer; /* server side storage */
+    uint8_t *data; /* client side storage */
+    // size_t buffer_len; /* element count */
+};
+
+struct mesh_batch_item {
+    char *key;
+    struct mesh_batch value;
+};
+
+/* is structure that is in opengl vertex array */
+struct uncolored_space_triangle {
+    t_fvec3 v0;
+    t_shvec2 uv0;
+    t_fvec3 v1;
+    t_shvec2 uv1;
+    t_fvec3 v2;
+    t_shvec2 uv2;
+};
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/rendering.c b/src/rendering.c
index 734f679..7108981 100644
--- a/src/rendering.c
+++ b/src/rendering.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <stb_ds.h>
 #include <glad/glad.h>
 
+#include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <tgmath.h>
 
@@ -17,6 +18,12 @@ void render_queue_clear(void) {
     arrsetlen(ctx.render_queue_sprites, 0);
     arrsetlen(ctx.render_queue_rectangles, 0);
     arrsetlen(ctx.render_queue_circles, 0);
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < arrlenu(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches); ++i)
+        arrsetlen(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches[i].data, 0);
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < shlenu(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches_loners); ++i)
+        arrsetlen(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches_loners[i].value.data, 0);
 }
 
 
@@ -91,6 +98,78 @@ void push_circle(t_fvec2 position, float radius, t_color color) {
 }
 
 
+/* TODO: automatic handling of repeating textures */
+void unfurl_triangle(const char *path,
+                     t_fvec3 v0,
+                     t_fvec3 v1,
+                     t_fvec3 v2,
+                     t_shvec2 uv0,
+                     t_shvec2 uv1,
+                     t_shvec2 uv2)
+{
+    /* corrected atlas texture coordinates */
+    t_shvec2 uv0c, uv1c, uv2c;
+    struct mesh_batch *batch_p;
+
+    textures_load(&ctx.texture_cache, path);
+
+    const int atlas_index = textures_get_atlas_index(&ctx.texture_cache, path);
+    if (atlas_index == -1) {
+        /* loners span whole texture i assume */
+        uv0c = uv0;
+        uv1c = uv1;
+        uv2c = uv2;
+
+        batch_p = &shgetp(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches_loners, path)->value;
+
+    } else {
+        const size_t old_len = arrlenu(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches);
+        if ((size_t)atlas_index + 1 >= old_len) {
+            /* grow to accommodate texture cache atlases */
+            arrsetlen(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches, atlas_index + 1);
+
+            /* zero initialize it all, it's a valid state */
+            SDL_memset(&ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches[atlas_index],
+                       0,
+                       sizeof (struct mesh_batch) * ((atlas_index + 1) - old_len));
+        }
+
+        const SDL_Rect srcrect = ctx.texture_cache.hash[atlas_index].value.srcrect; /* TODO: does it work? */
+
+        /* fixed point galore */
+        const int16_t srcratx = (int16_t)srcrect.x * (INT16_MAX / TEXTURE_ATLAS_SIZE);
+        const int16_t srcratw = (int16_t)srcrect.w * (INT16_MAX / TEXTURE_ATLAS_SIZE);
+        const int16_t srcrath = (int16_t)srcrect.h * (INT16_MAX / TEXTURE_ATLAS_SIZE);
+        const int16_t srcraty = (int16_t)srcrect.y * (INT16_MAX / TEXTURE_ATLAS_SIZE); /* flip? */
+
+        uv0c.x = (int16_t)(srcratx + ((uint16_t)((uv0.x * (INT16_MAX / srcrect.w)) * srcratw) >> 7));
+        uv0c.y = (int16_t)(srcraty + ((uint16_t)((uv0.y * (INT16_MAX / srcrect.h)) * srcrath) >> 7));
+        uv1c.x = (int16_t)(srcratx + ((uint16_t)((uv1.x * (INT16_MAX / srcrect.w)) * srcratw) >> 7));
+        uv1c.y = (int16_t)(srcraty + ((uint16_t)((uv1.y * (INT16_MAX / srcrect.h)) * srcrath) >> 7));
+        uv2c.x = (int16_t)(srcratx + ((uint16_t)((uv2.x * (INT16_MAX / srcrect.w)) * srcratw) >> 7));
+        uv2c.y = (int16_t)(srcraty + ((uint16_t)((uv2.y * (INT16_MAX / srcrect.h)) * srcrath) >> 7));
+
+        batch_p = &ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches[atlas_index];
+    }
+
+    struct uncolored_space_triangle *data = (struct uncolored_space_triangle *)batch_p->data;
+    struct uncolored_space_triangle pack = {
+        .v0 = v0,
+        // .uv0 = uv0c,
+        .uv0 = { 0, 0 },
+        .v1 = v1,
+        // .uv1 = uv1c,
+        .uv1 = { INT16_MAX, 0 },
+        .v2 = v2,
+        // .uv2 = uv2c,
+        .uv2 = { INT16_MAX, INT16_MAX },
+    };
+    arrpush(data, pack);
+
+    batch_p->data = (uint8_t *)data;
+}
+
+
 /* compare functions for the sort in render_sprites */
 static int cmp_atlases(const void *a, const void *b) {
     int index_a = ((const struct sprite_primitive *)a)->atlas_index;
@@ -312,9 +391,6 @@ static void render_circle(struct circle_primitive *circle) {
 
 
 static void render_sprites(void) {
-    if (ctx.texture_cache.is_dirty)
-        textures_update_current_atlas(&ctx.texture_cache);
-
     sort_sprites(ctx.render_queue_sprites);
 
     for (size_t i = 0; i < arrlenu(ctx.render_queue_sprites); ++i) {
@@ -337,36 +413,120 @@ static void render_circles(void) {
 }
 
 
+static void draw_uncolored_space_traingle_batch(struct mesh_batch *batch) {
+    size_t data_len = arrlenu(batch->data);
+
+    /* create vertex array object */
+    if (batch->buffer == 0)
+        glGenBuffers(1, &batch->buffer);
+
+    glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, batch->buffer);
+
+    /* TODO: try using mapped buffers while building batches instead? */
+    /*       this way we could skip client side copy that is kept until commitment */
+    /*       alternatively we could commit glBufferSubData based on a threshold */
+
+    /* upload batched data */
+    glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER,
+                 data_len * sizeof (struct uncolored_space_triangle),
+                 batch->data,
+                 GL_STREAM_DRAW);
+
+    /* vertex specification*/
+    glEnableClientState(GL_VERTEX_ARRAY);
+    glVertexPointer(3,
+                    GL_FLOAT,
+                    offsetof(struct uncolored_space_triangle, v1),
+                    (void *)offsetof(struct uncolored_space_triangle, v0));
+
+    /* note: propagates further to where texture binding is done */
+    glEnableClientState(GL_TEXTURE_COORD_ARRAY);
+    glClientActiveTexture(GL_TEXTURE0);
+    glTexCoordPointer(2,
+                      GL_SHORT,
+                      offsetof(struct uncolored_space_triangle, v1),
+                      (void *)offsetof(struct uncolored_space_triangle, uv0));
+
+    // for (size_t i = 0; i < data_len; ++i) {
+    //     struct uncolored_space_triangle t = ((struct uncolored_space_triangle *)batch->data)[i];
+    //     log_info("{%i, %i, %i, %i, %i, %i}\n", t.uv0.x, t.uv0.y, t.uv1.x, t.uv1.y, t.uv2.x, t.uv2.y);
+    // }
+
+    /* commit for drawing */
+    glDrawArrays(GL_TRIANGLES, 0, 3 * (int)data_len);
+
+    glDisableClientState(GL_TEXTURE_COORD_ARRAY);
+    glDisableClientState(GL_VERTEX_ARRAY);
+
+    /* invalidate the buffer immediately */
+    glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0, NULL, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
+    glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
+}
+
+
 static void render_space(void) {
     glMatrixMode(GL_PROJECTION);
     glPushMatrix();
     glLoadIdentity();
     glOrtho(0, RENDER_BASE_WIDTH, RENDER_BASE_HEIGHT, 0, -1, 1);
 
-    glBegin(GL_TRIANGLES);
-    glColor4f(0.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
-    glVertex2f(300.0,210.0);
-    glVertex2f(340.0,215.0);
-    glVertex2f(320.0,250.0);
-    glEnd();
+    glUseProgramObjectARB(0);
+    glActiveTexture(GL_TEXTURE0);
+
+    /* solid white, no modulation */
+    glColor4f(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f);
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < arrlenu(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches); ++i) {
+        if (arrlenu(&ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches[i].data) > 0) {
+            SDL_Texture *const atlas = textures_get_atlas(&ctx.texture_cache, (int)i);
+            SDL_GL_BindTexture(atlas, NULL, NULL);
+            draw_uncolored_space_traingle_batch(&ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches[i]);
+            SDL_GL_UnbindTexture(atlas);
+        }
+    }
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < shlenu(ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches_loners); ++i) {
+        if (arrlenu(&ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches_loners[i].value.data) > 0) {
+            SDL_Texture *const atlas = textures_get_loner(&ctx.texture_cache,
+                                                          ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches_loners[i].key);
+            SDL_GL_BindTexture(atlas, NULL, NULL);
+            draw_uncolored_space_traingle_batch(&ctx.uncolored_mesh_batches_loners[i].value);
+            SDL_GL_UnbindTexture(atlas);
+        }
+    }
 
     glPopMatrix();
 }
 
 
 void render(void) {
+    if (ctx.texture_cache.is_dirty)
+        textures_update_current_atlas(&ctx.texture_cache);
+
     glClearColor((1.0f / 255) * 230,
                  (1.0f / 255) * 230,
                  (1.0f / 255) * 230, 1);
 
-    glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);
+    glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT |
+            GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT |
+            GL_STENCIL_BUFFER_BIT);
 
-    render_space();
+    // glDisable(GL_CULL_FACE);
+    // glDisable(GL_DEPTH_TEST);
+    glEnable(GL_BLEND);
+
+    /* TODO: write with no depth test, just fill it in */
     render_sprites();
     render_rectangles();
     render_circles();
 
-    // SDL_RenderPresent(ctx.renderer);
+    // glEnable(GL_CULL_FACE);
+    // glEnable(GL_DEPTH_TEST);
+    glDisable(GL_BLEND);
+
+    /* TODO: use depth test to optimize gui regions away */
+    render_space();
+
     SDL_RenderFlush(ctx.renderer);
     SDL_GL_SwapWindow(ctx.window);
 }
diff --git a/src/rendering.h b/src/rendering.h
index 018f79f..99b0a4f 100644
--- a/src/rendering.h
+++ b/src/rendering.h
@@ -35,6 +35,34 @@ void push_rectangle(t_frect rect, t_color color);
 /* pushes a filled circle onto the circle render queue */
 void push_circle(t_fvec2 position, float radius, t_color color);
 
+/* pushes a textured 3d triangle onto the render queue */
+/* vertices are in absolute coordinates, relative to world origin */
+/* texture coordinates are in pixels */
+void unfurl_triangle(const char *path,
+                     /* */
+                     t_fvec3 v0,
+                     t_fvec3 v1,
+                     t_fvec3 v2,
+                     t_shvec2 uv0,
+                     t_shvec2 uv1,
+                     t_shvec2 uv2);
+
+/* TODO: */
+/* pushes a colored textured 3d triangle onto the render queue */
+// void unfurl_colored_triangle(const char *path,
+//                              t_fvec3 v0,
+//                              t_fvec3 v1,
+//                              t_fvec3 v2,
+//                              t_shvec2 uv0,
+//                              t_shvec2 uv1,
+//                              t_shvec2 uv2,
+//                              t_color c0,
+//                              t_color c1,
+//                              t_color c2);
+
+/* TODO: billboarding */
+// http://www.lighthouse3d.com/opengl/billboarding/index.php?billCheat2
+
 /* renders the background, then the primitives in all render queues */
 void render(void);
 
diff --git a/src/textures.c b/src/textures.c
index ef26380..c202ff2 100644
--- a/src/textures.c
+++ b/src/textures.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 
-static SDL_Surface *image_to_surface(char *path) {
+static SDL_Surface *image_to_surface(const char *path) {
     SDL_RWops *handle = PHYSFSRWOPS_openRead(path);
     if (handle == NULL)
         goto fail;
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ void textures_dump_atlases(struct texture_cache *cache) {
 }
 
 
-void textures_load(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path) {
+void textures_load(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path) {
     /* no need to do anything if it was loaded already */
     if (shgeti(cache->hash, path) >= 0 || shgeti(cache->loner_hash, path) >= 0)
         return;
@@ -300,18 +300,19 @@ void textures_update_current_atlas(struct texture_cache *cache) {
 }
 
 
-SDL_Rect textures_get_srcrect(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path) {
+SDL_Rect textures_get_srcrect(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path) {
     struct texture_cache_item *texture = shgetp_null(cache->hash, path);
     if (texture == NULL) {
         CRY("Texture lookup failed.",
             "Tried to get texture that isn't loaded.");
         return (SDL_Rect){ 0, 0, 0, 0 };
     }
+
     return texture->value.srcrect;
 }
 
 
-int textures_get_atlas_index(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path) {
+int textures_get_atlas_index(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path) {
     struct texture_cache_item *texture = shgetp_null(cache->hash, path);
 
     /* it might be a loner texture */
@@ -339,7 +340,7 @@ SDL_Texture *textures_get_atlas(struct texture_cache *cache, int index) {
 }
 
 
-SDL_Texture *textures_get_loner(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path) {
+SDL_Texture *textures_get_loner(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path) {
     struct texture_cache_item *texture = shgetp_null(cache->loner_hash, path);
 
     if (texture == NULL) {
diff --git a/src/textures.h b/src/textures.h
index bff3cbb..7d6c7ea 100644
--- a/src/textures.h
+++ b/src/textures.h
@@ -51,25 +51,25 @@ void textures_dump_atlases(struct texture_cache *cache);
 /* loads an image if it isn't in the cache, otherwise a no-op. */
 /* can be called from anywhere at any time after init, useful if you want to */
 /* preload textures you know will definitely be used */
-void textures_load(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path);
+void textures_load(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path);
 
 /* repacks the current texture atlas based on the texture cache */
 void textures_update_current_atlas(struct texture_cache *cache);
 
 /* returns a rect in a texture cache atlas based on a path, for drawing */
 /* if the texture is not found, returns a zero-filled rect (so check w or h) */
-SDL_Rect textures_get_srcrect(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path);
+SDL_Rect textures_get_srcrect(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path);
 
 /* returns which atlas the texture in the path is in, starting from 0 */
 /* if the texture is not found, returns INT_MIN */
-int textures_get_atlas_index(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path);
+int textures_get_atlas_index(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path);
 
 /* returns a pointer to the atlas at `index` */
 /* if the index is out of bounds, returns NULL. */
 /* you can get the index via texture_get_atlas_index */
 SDL_Texture *textures_get_atlas(struct texture_cache *cache, int index);
 
-SDL_Texture *textures_get_loner(struct texture_cache *cache, char *path);
+SDL_Texture *textures_get_loner(struct texture_cache *cache, const char *path);
 
 /* returns the number of atlases in the cache */
 size_t textures_get_num_atlases(struct texture_cache *cache);
diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index bb90b3e..34c69df 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -109,6 +109,19 @@ typedef struct fvec2 {
 } t_fvec2;
 
 
+/* a point in some three dimension space (floating point) */
+/* y goes up, x goes to the right */
+typedef struct fvec3 {
+    float x, y, z;
+} t_fvec3;
+
+
+/* a point in some space (short) */
+typedef struct shvec2 {
+    short x, y;
+} t_shvec2;
+
+
 /* decrements an lvalue (which should be an int), stopping at 0 */
 /* meant for tick-based timers in game logic */
 /*