diff --git a/content/commands/motd.toml b/content/commands/motd.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29a4c8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/content/commands/motd.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+name = "motd"
+aliases = ["message"]
+help = "display the message of the day"
+mode = "*"
+message = """
+=== Message of the Day ===
+
+Welcome to the MUD!
+
+This is a procedurally generated world with seamless terrain wrapping.
+Use cardinal directions (n, s, e, w) or diagonals (ne, nw, se, sw) to move.
+
+Type 'help' for a list of commands.
+Type 'fly' to toggle flying mode and soar over mountains and water.
+
+Have fun exploring!
+"""
diff --git a/src/mudlib/content.py b/src/mudlib/content.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85c108e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mudlib/content.py
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+"""Content loading from TOML files."""
+
+import importlib
+import logging
+import tomllib
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import cast
+
+from mudlib.commands import CommandDefinition, CommandHandler
+from mudlib.player import Player
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def _resolve_handler(handler_ref: str) -> CommandHandler:
+    """Resolve a handler reference string to a callable.
+
+    Args:
+        handler_ref: String in format "module.path:function_name"
+
+    Returns:
+        The resolved callable
+
+    Raises:
+        ImportError: If the module cannot be imported
+        AttributeError: If the function doesn't exist in the module
+    """
+    if ":" not in handler_ref:
+        msg = (
+            f"Handler reference must be in format 'module:function', got: {handler_ref}"
+        )
+        raise ValueError(msg)
+
+    module_path, func_name = handler_ref.split(":", 1)
+    module = importlib.import_module(module_path)
+    handler = getattr(module, func_name)
+
+    if not callable(handler):
+        msg = f"Handler reference {handler_ref} is not callable"
+        raise TypeError(msg)
+
+    return cast(CommandHandler, handler)
+
+
+def _make_message_handler(message: str) -> CommandHandler:
+    """Create a handler that sends a fixed message to the player.
+
+    Args:
+        message: The message text to send
+
+    Returns:
+        An async handler function
+    """
+
+    async def handler(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
+        player.writer.write(message.strip() + "\r\n")
+        await player.writer.drain()
+
+    return handler
+
+
+def load_command(path: Path) -> CommandDefinition:
+    """Load a command definition from a TOML file.
+
+    Args:
+        path: Path to the .toml file
+
+    Returns:
+        CommandDefinition instance
+
+    Raises:
+        KeyError: If required fields are missing
+        ValueError: If neither handler nor message is specified
+        TypeError: If handler or message fields have wrong types
+        ImportError: If handler reference cannot be resolved
+    """
+    with open(path, "rb") as f:
+        data = tomllib.load(f)
+
+    name = data["name"]
+
+    # Determine the handler
+    handler_ref = data.get("handler")
+    message = data.get("message")
+
+    if handler_ref and message:
+        msg = "Command definition cannot specify both 'handler' and 'message'"
+        raise ValueError(msg)
+
+    if not handler_ref and not message:
+        msg = "Command definition must specify either 'handler' or 'message'"
+        raise ValueError(msg)
+
+    # Validate types
+    if handler_ref and not isinstance(handler_ref, str):
+        msg = f"'handler' must be a string in {path}"
+        raise TypeError(msg)
+
+    if message and not isinstance(message, str):
+        msg = f"'message' must be a string in {path}"
+        raise TypeError(msg)
+
+    handler: CommandHandler
+    if handler_ref:
+        handler = _resolve_handler(handler_ref)
+    else:
+        # message must be a string here since we checked it's not None
+        handler = _make_message_handler(cast(str, message))
+
+    # Optional fields with defaults
+    aliases = data.get("aliases", [])
+    mode = data.get("mode", "normal")
+    help_text = data.get("help", "")
+
+    return CommandDefinition(
+        name=name,
+        handler=handler,
+        aliases=aliases,
+        mode=mode,
+        help=help_text,
+    )
+
+
+def load_commands(directory: Path) -> list[CommandDefinition]:
+    """Load all command definitions from a directory.
+
+    Args:
+        directory: Path to directory containing .toml files
+
+    Returns:
+        List of CommandDefinition instances
+    """
+    commands = []
+
+    for path in directory.glob("*.toml"):
+        try:
+            commands.append(load_command(path))
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.warning("failed to load command from %s: %s", path, e)
+
+    return commands
diff --git a/src/mudlib/server.py b/src/mudlib/server.py
index 27a3c24..8459f3c 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/server.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/server.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import mudlib.commands.fly
 import mudlib.commands.look
 import mudlib.commands.movement
 import mudlib.commands.quit
+from mudlib.content import load_commands
 from mudlib.effects import clear_expired
 from mudlib.player import Player, players
 from mudlib.world.terrain import World
@@ -189,6 +190,15 @@ async def run_server() -> None:
     mudlib.commands.look.world = _world
     mudlib.commands.movement.world = _world
 
+    # Load content-defined commands from TOML files
+    content_dir = pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "content" / "commands"
+    if content_dir.exists():
+        log.info("loading content from %s", content_dir)
+        content_commands = load_commands(content_dir)
+        for cmd_def in content_commands:
+            mudlib.commands.register(cmd_def)
+            log.debug("registered content command: %s", cmd_def.name)
+
     # connect_maxwait: how long to wait for telnet option negotiation (CHARSET
     # etc) before starting the shell. default is 4.0s which is painful.
     # MUD clients like tintin++ reject CHARSET immediately via MTTS, but
diff --git a/tests/test_content_loader.py b/tests/test_content_loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59591e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_content_loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,314 @@
+"""Tests for content loading from TOML files."""
+
+import logging
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from mudlib.content import load_command, load_commands
+from mudlib.player import Player
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_writer():
+    writer = MagicMock()
+    writer.write = MagicMock()
+    writer.drain = AsyncMock()
+    return writer
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_reader():
+    return MagicMock()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def player(mock_reader, mock_writer):
+    return Player(name="TestPlayer", x=5, y=5, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
+
+
+def test_load_command_with_handler_reference():
+    """Test loading a command with a Python handler reference."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "shout"
+aliases = ["yell"]
+help = "shout a message to nearby players"
+mode = "normal"
+handler = "mudlib.commands.look:cmd_look"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        defn = load_command(tmp_path)
+        assert defn.name == "shout"
+        assert defn.aliases == ["yell"]
+        assert defn.help == "shout a message to nearby players"
+        assert defn.mode == "normal"
+        assert callable(defn.handler)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_command_with_message():
+    """Test loading a command that just sends a message."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "rules"
+aliases = ["info"]
+help = "display the server rules"
+mode = "*"
+message = \"\"\"
+Welcome to the MUD!
+1. Be respectful
+2. No cheating
+\"\"\"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        defn = load_command(tmp_path)
+        assert defn.name == "rules"
+        assert defn.aliases == ["info"]
+        assert defn.help == "display the server rules"
+        assert defn.mode == "*"
+        assert callable(defn.handler)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_message_command_sends_text(player, mock_writer):
+    """Test that a message command actually sends the text to the player."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "motd"
+message = "Welcome to the server!\\nEnjoy your stay."
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        defn = load_command(tmp_path)
+        await defn.handler(player, "")
+
+        assert mock_writer.write.called
+        written_text = mock_writer.write.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "Welcome to the server!" in written_text
+        assert "Enjoy your stay." in written_text
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_commands_from_directory():
+    """Test loading multiple command definitions from a directory."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
+        tmp_path = Path(tmpdir)
+
+        # Create two command files
+        (tmp_path / "cmd1.toml").write_text("""
+name = "cmd1"
+message = "Command 1"
+""")
+        (tmp_path / "cmd2.toml").write_text("""
+name = "cmd2"
+message = "Command 2"
+""")
+
+        # Create a non-toml file that should be ignored
+        (tmp_path / "readme.txt").write_text("This is not a command")
+
+        commands = load_commands(tmp_path)
+
+        assert len(commands) == 2
+        names = {cmd.name for cmd in commands}
+        assert names == {"cmd1", "cmd2"}
+
+
+def test_load_command_missing_name():
+    """Test that missing name field raises an error."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+message = "Hello"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+            load_command(tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_command_missing_handler_and_message():
+    """Test that a command without handler or message raises an error."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "broken"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        match_msg = "must specify either 'handler' or 'message'"
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=match_msg):
+            load_command(tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_command_bad_handler_reference():
+    """Test that an invalid handler reference raises an error."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "broken"
+handler = "nonexistent.module:function"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises((ImportError, ModuleNotFoundError)):
+            load_command(tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_command_defaults():
+    """Test that optional fields have sensible defaults."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "simple"
+message = "Hello"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        defn = load_command(tmp_path)
+        assert defn.name == "simple"
+        assert defn.aliases == []
+        assert defn.help == ""
+        assert defn.mode == "normal"
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_command_both_handler_and_message():
+    """Test that specifying both handler and message raises an error."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "broken"
+handler = "mudlib.commands.look:cmd_look"
+message = "Hello"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        match_msg = "cannot specify both 'handler' and 'message'"
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=match_msg):
+            load_command(tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_command_handler_wrong_type():
+    """Test that non-string handler field raises TypeError."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "broken"
+handler = 123
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        match_msg = "'handler' must be a string"
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match=match_msg):
+            load_command(tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_command_message_wrong_type():
+    """Test that non-string message field raises TypeError."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "broken"
+message = 456
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        match_msg = "'message' must be a string"
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match=match_msg):
+            load_command(tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_message_whitespace_handling(player, mock_writer):
+    """Test message stripping removes outer whitespace, keeps internal formatting."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "formatted"
+message = \"\"\"
+
+First line
+  Indented line
+Last line
+
+\"\"\"
+""")
+        f.flush()
+        tmp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        defn = load_command(tmp_path)
+        await defn.handler(player, "")
+
+        assert mock_writer.write.called
+        written_text = mock_writer.write.call_args[0][0]
+        # Outer whitespace should be stripped
+        assert not written_text.startswith("\n")
+        # But internal formatting should be preserved
+        assert "First line\n  Indented line\nLast line" in written_text
+    finally:
+        tmp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_commands_logs_broken_files(caplog):
+    """Test that load_commands logs warnings for broken TOML files."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
+        tmp_path = Path(tmpdir)
+
+        # Create a valid command file
+        (tmp_path / "valid.toml").write_text("""
+name = "valid"
+message = "OK"
+""")
+
+        # Create a broken command file (missing required field)
+        (tmp_path / "broken.toml").write_text("""
+name = "broken"
+""")
+
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING):
+            commands = load_commands(tmp_path)
+
+        # Should load the valid one only
+        assert len(commands) == 1
+        assert commands[0].name == "valid"
+
+        # Should log warning about the broken file
+        warnings = [r.message for r in caplog.records]
+        assert any("failed to load command from" in msg for msg in warnings)
+        assert any("broken.toml" in msg for msg in warnings)