diff --git a/hecl/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/CMakeLists.txt
index 790ad9356..07d5c9360 100644
--- a/hecl/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,11 +5,10 @@ add_definitions(-DUNICODE=1 -D_UNICODE=1 -D_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS=1 /wd4267 /wd
 else()
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11 -Wno-multichar -fno-exceptions")
 endif()
-set(HECL_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include)
+list(APPEND HECL_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/blender)
 set(ATHENA_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/extern/Athena/include)
 set(LOG_VISOR_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/extern/LogVisor/include)
 set(ANGELSCRIPT_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/extern/AngelScript/angelscript/include)
-set(LIBPNG_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/extern/libpng)
 set(SQUISH_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/extern/libSquish)
 add_definitions(-DAS_USE_NAMESPACE=1 -DAS_NO_EXCEPTIONS=1)
 add_subdirectory(extern)
diff --git a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp
index 1aa45bb5f..86b7fb46e 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp
+++ b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@
 #include <LogVisor/LogVisor.hpp>
 #include "BlenderConnection.hpp"
 
-static LogVisor::LogModule Log("BlenderConnection");
+namespace HECL
+{
+
+LogVisor::LogModule BlenderLog("BlenderConnection");
+BlenderConnection* SharedBlenderConnection = nullptr;
 
 #ifdef __APPLE__
 #define DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN "/Applications/Blender.app/Contents/MacOS/blender"
@@ -28,7 +32,7 @@ size_t BlenderConnection::_readLine(char* buf, size_t bufSz)
     {
         if (readBytes >= bufSz)
         {
-            Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "Pipe buffer overrun\n");
+            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "Pipe buffer overrun\n");
             *(buf-1) = '\0';
             return bufSz - 1;
         }
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ size_t BlenderConnection::_readLine(char* buf, size_t bufSz)
         }
     }
 err:
-    Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
+    BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -81,7 +85,7 @@ size_t BlenderConnection::_writeLine(const char* buf)
 #endif
     return (size_t)ret;
 err:
-    Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
+    BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -98,7 +102,7 @@ size_t BlenderConnection::_readBuf(char* buf, size_t len)
 #endif
     return ret;
 err:
-    Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
+    BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -115,7 +119,7 @@ size_t BlenderConnection::_writeBuf(const char* buf, size_t len)
 #endif
     return ret;
 err:
-    Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
+    BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -257,27 +261,27 @@ BlenderConnection::BlenderConnection(bool silenceBlender)
     if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOLAUNCH"))
     {
         _closePipe();
-        Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "Unable to launch blender");
+        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "Unable to launch blender");
     }
     else if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOBLENDER"))
     {
         _closePipe();
         if (blenderBin)
-            Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s' or '%s'"),
+            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s' or '%s'"),
                        blenderBin, DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN);
         else
-            Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s'"),
+            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s'"),
                        DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN);
     }
     else if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOADDON"))
     {
         _closePipe();
-        Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "HECL addon not installed within blender");
+        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "HECL addon not installed within blender");
     }
     else if (strcmp(lineBuf, "READY"))
     {
         _closePipe();
-        Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "read '%s' from blender; expected 'READY'", lineBuf);
+        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "read '%s' from blender; expected 'READY'", lineBuf);
     }
     _writeLine("ACK");
 
@@ -288,7 +292,20 @@ BlenderConnection::~BlenderConnection()
     _closePipe();
 }
 
-bool BlenderConnection::openBlend(const std::string& path)
+bool BlenderConnection::createBlend(const SystemString& path)
+{
+    _writeLine(("CREATE" + path).c_str());
+    char lineBuf[256];
+    _readLine(lineBuf, sizeof(lineBuf));
+    if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "FINISHED"))
+    {
+        m_loadedBlend = path;
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+bool BlenderConnection::openBlend(const SystemString& path)
 {
     _writeLine(("OPEN" + path).c_str());
     char lineBuf[256];
@@ -313,7 +330,7 @@ bool BlenderConnection::cookBlend(std::function<char*(uint32_t)> bufGetter,
     _readLine(lineBuf, sizeof(lineBuf));
     if (strcmp(expectedType.c_str(), lineBuf))
     {
-        Log.report(LogVisor::Error, "expected '%s' to contain '%s' not '%s'",
+        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::Error, "expected '%s' to contain '%s' not '%s'",
                    m_loadedBlend.c_str(), expectedType.c_str(), lineBuf);
         return false;
     }
@@ -331,7 +348,7 @@ bool BlenderConnection::cookBlend(std::function<char*(uint32_t)> bufGetter,
     if (!strcmp("SUCCESS", lineBuf))
         return true;
     else if (!strcmp("EXCEPTION", lineBuf))
-        Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "blender script exception");
+        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "blender script exception");
 
     return false;
 }
@@ -342,3 +359,5 @@ void BlenderConnection::quitBlender()
     char lineBuf[256];
     _readLine(lineBuf, sizeof(lineBuf));
 }
+
+}
diff --git a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp
index 134361314..8d1253ee9 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp
+++ b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <mutex>
 
+#include "HECL/HECL.hpp"
+
+namespace HECL
+{
+
+extern LogVisor::LogModule BlenderLog;
+extern class BlenderConnection* SharedBlenderConnection;
+
 class BlenderConnection
 {
     std::mutex m_lock;
@@ -35,7 +43,8 @@ public:
     BlenderConnection(bool silenceBlender=false);
     ~BlenderConnection();
 
-    bool openBlend(const std::string& path);
+    bool createBlend(const SystemString& path);
+    bool openBlend(const SystemString& path);
     enum CookPlatform
     {
         CP_MODERN = 0,
@@ -54,23 +63,34 @@ public:
         struct StreamBuf : std::streambuf
         {
             BlenderConnection* m_parent;
+            std::string m_lineBuf;
             StreamBuf(BlenderConnection* parent) : m_parent(parent) {}
             StreamBuf(const StreamBuf& other) = delete;
             StreamBuf(StreamBuf&& other) = default;
             int_type overflow(int_type ch)
             {
-                if (ch != traits_type::eof())
+                if (ch != traits_type::eof() && ch != '\n')
                 {
-                    char_type chi = ch;
-                    m_parent->_writeBuf(&chi, 1);
+                    m_lineBuf += char_type(ch);
+                    return ch;
                 }
+                m_parent->_writeLine(m_lineBuf.c_str());
+                char readBuf[16];
+                m_parent->_readLine(readBuf, 16);
+                if (strcmp(readBuf, "OK"))
+                    BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "error sending '%s' to blender", m_lineBuf.c_str());
+                m_lineBuf.clear();
                 return ch;
             }
         } m_sbuf;
         PyOutStream(BlenderConnection* parent)
         : m_lk(parent->m_lock), m_parent(parent), m_sbuf(parent), std::ostream(&m_sbuf)
         {
-            m_parent->_writeBuf("\033PYBEGIN\n", 9);
+            m_parent->_writeLine("PYBEGIN");
+            char readBuf[16];
+            m_parent->_readLine(readBuf, 16);
+            if (strcmp(readBuf, "READY"))
+                BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "unable to open PyOutStream with blender");
         }
     public:
         PyOutStream(const PyOutStream& other) = delete;
@@ -80,7 +100,13 @@ public:
         ~PyOutStream()
         {
             if (m_parent)
-                m_parent->_writeBuf("\033PYEND\n", 7);
+            {
+                m_parent->_writeLine("PYEND");
+                char readBuf[16];
+                m_parent->_readLine(readBuf, 16);
+                if (strcmp(readBuf, "DONE"))
+                    BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "unable to close PyOutStream with blender");
+            }
         }
     };
     inline PyOutStream beginPythonOut()
@@ -89,6 +115,20 @@ public:
     }
 
     void quitBlender();
+
+    static inline BlenderConnection& SharedConnection()
+    {
+        if (!SharedBlenderConnection)
+            SharedBlenderConnection = new BlenderConnection();
+        return *SharedBlenderConnection;
+    }
+
+    static inline void Shutdown()
+    {
+        delete SharedBlenderConnection;
+    }
 };
 
+}
+
 #endif // BLENDERCONNECTION_HPP
diff --git a/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt
index 07fad3d35..4d5b8055e 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
+list(APPEND PY_SOURCES
+     addon/__init__.py
+     addon/hmdl/__init__.py
+     addon/hmdl/HMDLMesh.py
+     addon/hmdl/HMDLShader.py
+     addon/hmdl/HMDLSkin.py
+     addon/hmdl/HMDLTxtr.py
+     addon/sact/__init__.py
+     addon/sact/SACTAction.py
+     addon/sact/SACTEvent.py
+     addon/sact/SACTSubtype.py)
+
 add_library(HECLBlender
             BlenderConnection.cpp
-            BlenderConnection.hpp)
+            BlenderConnection.hpp
+            blendershell.py
+            ${PY_SOURCES})
diff --git a/hecl/blender/blendershell.py b/hecl/blender/blendershell.py
index 909d7f080..1754160e8 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/blendershell.py
+++ b/hecl/blender/blendershell.py
@@ -55,6 +55,33 @@ while True:
         else:
             writepipeline(b'CANCELLED')
 
+    elif cmdline[0] == b'CREATE':
+        bpy.context.user_preferences.filepaths.save_version = 0
+        if 'FINISHED' in bpy.ops.wm.save_as_mainfile(filepath=cmdline[1].decode()):
+            writepipeline(b'FINISHED')
+        else:
+            writepipeline(b'CANCELLED')
+
+    elif cmdline[0] == b'PYBEGIN':
+        writepipeline(b'READY')
+        globals = dict()
+        locals = dict()
+        while True:
+            try:
+                line = readpipeline()
+                if line == b'PYEND':
+                    writepipeline(b'DONE')
+                    break
+                co = compile(line+'\n', '<HECL>', 'single')
+                exec(co, globals, locals)
+            except Exception as e:
+                writepipeline(b'EXCEPTION')
+                break
+            writepipeline(b'OK')
+
+    elif cmdline[0] == b'PYEND':
+        writepipeline(b'ERROR')
+
     else:
         hecl.command(cmdline, writepipeline, writepipebuf)
 
diff --git a/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt
index 98d8cd61f..2a71927e8 100644
--- a/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -31,5 +31,6 @@ endif()
 
 target_link_libraries(hecl
     ${WHOLE_START} HECLDatabaseInit ${DATA_SPEC_LIBS} ${WHOLE_END}
-    HECLDatabase HECLCommon AthenaCore AngelScript NOD LogVisor png squish blowfish z lzo2
+    HECLDatabase HECLBlender HECLCommon AthenaCore AngelScript NOD
+    LogVisor png squish blowfish z lzo2
 )
diff --git a/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp b/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp
index 9e237f77a..60a0a0644 100644
--- a/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp
+++ b/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp
@@ -22,11 +22,21 @@ public:
     ToolExtract(const ToolPassInfo& info)
     : ToolBase(info)
     {
-        if (!info.project)
-            LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "hecl extract must be ran within a project directory");
         if (!m_info.args.size())
             LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "hecl extract needs a source path as its first argument");
 
+        if (!info.project)
+        {
+            /* Get name from input file and init project there */
+            std::string baseFile = info.args[0];
+            size_t slashPos = baseFile.rfind(_S('/'));
+            if (slashPos == HECL::SystemString::npos)
+                slashPos = baseFile.rfind(_S('\\'));
+            if (slashPos != HECL::SystemString::npos)
+                baseFile.assign(baseFile.g
+            LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "hecl extract must be ran within a project directory");
+        }
+
         m_einfo.srcpath = m_info.args[0];
         m_einfo.extractArgs.reserve(info.args.size() - 1);
         m_einfo.force = info.force;
diff --git a/hecl/driver/main.cpp b/hecl/driver/main.cpp
index 8924cc065..190d2aa63 100644
--- a/hecl/driver/main.cpp
+++ b/hecl/driver/main.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <regex>
 #include <list>
 #include "HECL/Database.hpp"
+#include "../blender/BlenderConnection.hpp"
 #include "LogVisor/LogVisor.hpp"
 
 LogVisor::LogModule LogModule("HECLDriver");
@@ -64,30 +65,13 @@ static const HECL::SystemRegex regOPEN(_S("-o([^\"]*|\\S*)"), std::regex::ECMASc
 static const HECL::SystemRegex regVERBOSE(_S("-v(v*)"), std::regex::ECMAScript|std::regex::optimize);
 static const HECL::SystemRegex regFORCE(_S("-f"), std::regex::ECMAScript|std::regex::optimize);
 
-#include "../blender/BlenderConnection.hpp"
-
 static LogVisor::LogModule AthenaLog("Athena");
 static void AthenaExc(const Athena::error::Level& level, const char* file,
                       const char*, int line, const char* fmt, ...)
 {
-    LogVisor::Level vLevel = LogVisor::Info;
-    switch (level)
-    {
-    case Athena::error::MESSAGE:
-        vLevel = LogVisor::Info;
-        break;
-    case Athena::error::WARNING:
-        vLevel = LogVisor::Warning;
-        break;
-    case Athena::error::ERROR:
-        vLevel = LogVisor::Error;
-        break;
-    case Athena::error::FATAL:
-        vLevel = LogVisor::FatalError;
-    }
     va_list ap;
     va_start(ap, fmt);
-    AthenaLog.reportSource(vLevel, file, line, fmt, ap);
+    AthenaLog.reportSource(LogVisor::Level(level), file, line, fmt, ap);
     va_end(ap);
 }
 
@@ -105,9 +89,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char** argv)
     LogVisor::RegisterConsoleLogger();
     atSetExceptionHandler(AthenaExc);
 
-    //CBlenderConnection bconn(false);
-    //return 0;
-
     /* Basic usage check */
     if (argc == 1)
     {
@@ -265,12 +246,14 @@ int main(int argc, const char** argv)
     int retval = tool->run();
     if (LogVisor::ErrorCount > ErrorRef)
     {
+        HECL::BlenderConnection::Shutdown();
 #if WIN_PAUSE
         system("PAUSE");
 #endif
         return -1;
     }
 
+    HECL::BlenderConnection::Shutdown();
 #if WIN_PAUSE
     system("PAUSE");
 #endif
diff --git a/hecl/extern/Athena b/hecl/extern/Athena
index 99b6df7cc..83cc8fe3c 160000
--- a/hecl/extern/Athena
+++ b/hecl/extern/Athena
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 99b6df7cc1192f95f64acb531bf6ab7ea2cdabeb
+Subproject commit 83cc8fe3c35c23cfdb207a2267cf73a0e7d014da
diff --git a/hecl/extern/RetroCommon b/hecl/extern/RetroCommon
index 450a53fd2..80cc3cc27 160000
--- a/hecl/extern/RetroCommon
+++ b/hecl/extern/RetroCommon
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 450a53fd246cb1dd815acf272604137d9a00ac2a
+Subproject commit 80cc3cc277c57d86d9bc8ef2784f68ad95028e9c
diff --git a/hecl/extern/libpng/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/extern/libpng/CMakeLists.txt
index c651c1e97..61b42c631 100644
--- a/hecl/extern/libpng/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/extern/libpng/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+if(NOT WIN32)
+find_library(PNG_LIB png)
+endif()
+
+if(WIN32 OR PNG_LIB STREQUAL PNG_LIB-NOTFOUND)
+message("-- Using HECL's built-in libpng")
 include_directories(${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR})
 add_library(png
     png.h
@@ -22,4 +28,7 @@ add_library(png
     pngwio.c
     pngwrite.c
     pngwtran.c
-    pngwutil.c)
\ No newline at end of file
+    pngwutil.c)
+
+set(LIBPNG_INCLUDE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} CACHE PATH "PNG include path" FORCE)
+endif()