diff --git a/api/src/lib.rs b/api/src/lib.rs
index e250a13..5d15d22 100644
--- a/api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/api/src/lib.rs
@@ -178,6 +178,16 @@ impl ServiceCtx {
         });
     }
 
+    // A channel/target message sourced from one of our pseudo-clients (e.g. a
+    // bot answering a fantasy command, or BotServ SAY).
+    pub fn privmsg(&mut self, from: &str, to: &str, text: impl Into<String>) {
+        self.actions.push(NetAction::Privmsg {
+            from: from.to_string(),
+            to: to.to_string(),
+            text: text.into(),
+        });
+    }
+
     // Hand a registration to the engine to finish: its password derivation runs
     // off the reactor, then the engine commits it and answers `reply`.
     pub fn defer_register(&mut self, account: impl Into<String>, password: impl Into<String>, email: Option<String>, reply: RegReply) {
diff --git a/botserv/src/lib.rs b/botserv/src/lib.rs
index f374512..9abb503 100644
--- a/botserv/src/lib.rs
+++ b/botserv/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ mod bot;
 mod assign;
 #[path = "info.rs"]
 mod info;
+#[path = "say.rs"]
+mod say;
 
 pub struct BotServ {
     pub uid: String,
@@ -26,14 +28,16 @@ impl Service for BotServ {
         "Bot Services"
     }
 
-    fn on_command(&mut self, from: &Sender, args: &[&str], ctx: &mut ServiceCtx, _net: &dyn NetView, db: &mut dyn Store) {
+    fn on_command(&mut self, from: &Sender, args: &[&str], ctx: &mut ServiceCtx, net: &dyn NetView, db: &mut dyn Store) {
         let me = self.uid.as_str();
         match args.first().map(|s| s.to_ascii_uppercase()).as_deref() {
             Some("BOT") => bot::handle(me, from, args, ctx, db),
             Some("ASSIGN") => assign::handle(me, from, args, ctx, db, true),
             Some("UNASSIGN") => assign::handle(me, from, args, ctx, db, false),
             Some("INFO") => info::handle(me, from, args, ctx, db),
-            Some("HELP") | None => ctx.notice(me, from.uid, "BotServ keeps service bots for your channels: \x02ASSIGN\x02 <#channel> <bot> puts a bot in your channel, \x02UNASSIGN\x02 <#channel> removes it, \x02INFO\x02 <bot|#channel> shows details. Operators also have \x02BOT\x02 ADD|DEL|LIST."),
+            Some("SAY") => say::handle(me, from, args, ctx, net, db, false),
+            Some("ACT") => say::handle(me, from, args, ctx, net, db, true),
+            Some("HELP") | None => ctx.notice(me, from.uid, "BotServ keeps service bots for your channels: \x02ASSIGN\x02 <#channel> <bot> puts a bot in your channel, \x02UNASSIGN\x02 <#channel> removes it, \x02INFO\x02 <bot|#channel> shows details, \x02SAY\x02/\x02ACT\x02 <#channel> <text> speaks through the bot. Operators also have \x02BOT\x02 ADD|DEL|LIST."),
             Some(other) => ctx.notice(me, from.uid, format!("I don't know the command \x02{other}\x02. Try \x02HELP\x02.")),
         }
     }
diff --git a/botserv/src/say.rs b/botserv/src/say.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e652a37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/botserv/src/say.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+use fedserv_api::{NetView, Priv, Sender, ServiceCtx, Store};
+
+// SAY <#channel> <text> — make the channel's assigned bot say something.
+// ACT <#channel> <text> — the same, as a CTCP ACTION (/me).
+// Requires channel-operator access (founder, op, or a services admin).
+pub fn handle(me: &str, from: &Sender, args: &[&str], ctx: &mut ServiceCtx, net: &dyn NetView, db: &dyn Store, action: bool) {
+    let verb = if action { "ACT" } else { "SAY" };
+    if args.len() < 3 {
+        ctx.notice(me, from.uid, format!("Syntax: {verb} <#channel> <text>"));
+        return;
+    }
+    let chan = args[1];
+    let text = args[2..].join(" ");
+
+    let Some(info) = db.channel(chan) else {
+        ctx.notice(me, from.uid, format!("\x02{chan}\x02 isn't registered."));
+        return;
+    };
+    let allowed = from.privs.has(Priv::Admin) || from.account.is_some_and(|a| info.is_op(a));
+    if !allowed {
+        ctx.notice(me, from.uid, format!("Access denied — you need operator access in \x02{chan}\x02."));
+        return;
+    }
+    let Some(bot) = info.assigned_bot else {
+        ctx.notice(me, from.uid, format!("\x02{chan}\x02 has no bot assigned. Assign one with \x02ASSIGN\x02 {chan} <bot>."));
+        return;
+    };
+    let Some(botuid) = net.uid_by_nick(&bot) else {
+        ctx.notice(me, from.uid, format!("Bot \x02{bot}\x02 isn't on the network right now."));
+        return;
+    };
+    let botuid = botuid.to_string();
+    let payload = if action { format!("\x01ACTION {text}\x01") } else { text };
+    ctx.privmsg(&botuid, chan, payload);
+}
diff --git a/src/engine/mod.rs b/src/engine/mod.rs
index 35c19f5..81525fe 100644
--- a/src/engine/mod.rs
+++ b/src/engine/mod.rs
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ impl Engine {
                 let uid = format!("{}B{:05}", self.sid, self.next_bot_index);
                 self.next_bot_index += 1;
                 out.push(NetAction::IntroduceUser { uid: uid.clone(), nick: nick.clone(), ident: user.clone(), host: host.clone(), gecos: gecos.clone() });
+                self.network.bot_connect(nick, &uid);
                 self.bot_uids.insert(k, uid);
             }
         }
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ impl Engine {
             if let Some(uid) = self.bot_uids.remove(&k) {
                 out.push(NetAction::QuitUser { uid, reason: "Bot removed".to_string() });
             }
+            self.network.bot_forget(&k);
             self.bot_channels.retain(|(b, _)| *b != k); // its channel memberships go with it
         }
         // Join assigned channels, part unassigned ones (for still-live bots).
@@ -451,6 +453,7 @@ impl Engine {
         // Fresh link: forget bot uids minted on any previous connection.
         self.bot_uids.clear();
         self.bot_channels.clear();
+        self.network.clear_bots();
         self.next_bot_index = 0;
         let mut out = vec![NetAction::Burst];
         for svc in &self.services {
@@ -1739,6 +1742,57 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(out.iter().any(|a| matches!(a, NetAction::ServicePart { channel, .. } if channel == "#c")), "parts on unassign: {out:?}");
     }
 
+    // SAY/ACT speak through the channel's assigned bot, sourced from the bot's uid.
+    #[test]
+    fn botserv_say_speaks_through_bot() {
+        use fedserv_botserv::BotServ;
+        use fedserv_nickserv::NickServ;
+        let path = std::env::temp_dir().join("fedserv-bssay.jsonl");
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&path);
+        let mut db = Db::open(&path, "42S");
+        db.scram_iterations = 4096;
+        db.register("boss", "password1", None).unwrap();
+        db.register("rando", "password1", None).unwrap();
+        db.register_channel("#c", "boss").unwrap();
+        let mut e = Engine::new(
+            vec![
+                Box::new(NickServ { uid: "42SAAAAAA".into(), guest_nick: "Guest".into(), guest_seq: 0 }),
+                Box::new(BotServ { uid: "42SAAAAAD".into() }),
+            ],
+            db,
+        );
+        e.set_sid("42S".into());
+        let mut opers = std::collections::HashMap::new();
+        opers.insert("boss".to_string(), Privs::default().with(fedserv_api::Priv::Admin));
+        e.set_opers(opers);
+        let ns = |e: &mut Engine, uid: &str, t: &str| e.handle(NetEvent::Privmsg { from: uid.into(), to: "42SAAAAAA".into(), text: t.into() });
+        let bs = |e: &mut Engine, uid: &str, t: &str| e.handle(NetEvent::Privmsg { from: uid.into(), to: "42SAAAAAD".into(), text: t.into() });
+
+        e.handle(NetEvent::UserConnect { uid: "000AAAAAB".into(), nick: "boss".into(), host: "h".into() });
+        e.handle(NetEvent::UserConnect { uid: "000AAAAAR".into(), nick: "rando".into(), host: "h".into() });
+        ns(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "IDENTIFY password1");
+        ns(&mut e, "000AAAAAR", "IDENTIFY password1");
+        bs(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "BOT ADD Bendy bot serv.host Helper");
+        bs(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "ASSIGN #c Bendy");
+
+        // Founder SAY: a PRIVMSG to the channel sourced from the bot's uid.
+        let out = bs(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "SAY #c hello there");
+        assert!(
+            out.iter().any(|a| matches!(a, NetAction::Privmsg { from, to, text } if from.starts_with("42SB") && to == "#c" && text == "hello there")),
+            "bot says: {out:?}"
+        );
+        // ACT wraps the text in a CTCP ACTION.
+        let out = bs(&mut e, "000AAAAAB", "ACT #c waves");
+        assert!(
+            out.iter().any(|a| matches!(a, NetAction::Privmsg { text, .. } if text == "\x01ACTION waves\x01")),
+            "bot acts: {out:?}"
+        );
+        // A non-op can't drive the bot.
+        let out = bs(&mut e, "000AAAAAR", "SAY #c nope");
+        assert!(!out.iter().any(|a| matches!(a, NetAction::Privmsg { .. })), "non-op blocked: {out:?}");
+        assert!(out.iter().any(|a| matches!(a, NetAction::Notice { text, .. } if text.contains("Access denied"))), "denied notice: {out:?}");
+    }
+
     // MemoServ delivers a memo to an offline account and notifies them on login.
     #[test]
     fn memoserv_delivers_and_notifies_on_login() {
diff --git a/src/engine/state.rs b/src/engine/state.rs
index c26a2f3..866f982 100644
--- a/src/engine/state.rs
+++ b/src/engine/state.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ pub struct Network {
     channels: HashMap<String, Channel>, // keyed by lowercase name
     accounts: HashMap<String, String>, // UID -> logged-in account, until logout/quit
     seen: HashMap<String, Seen>,       // lowercase nick -> last activity
+    // Our own service bots (lowercase nick -> live uid). Kept separate from
+    // `users` so a reconnect can clear them wholesale without disturbing the
+    // uplink-sourced user map.
+    bots: HashMap<String, String>,
 }
 
 pub struct User {
@@ -49,9 +53,27 @@ impl Network {
         self.users.insert(uid.clone(), User { uid, nick, host });
     }
 
-    // Resolve a nick to its uid (case-insensitive).
+    // Resolve a nick to its uid (case-insensitive). Checks real users first,
+    // then our own service bots.
     pub fn uid_by_nick(&self, nick: &str) -> Option<&str> {
-        self.users.values().find(|u| u.nick.eq_ignore_ascii_case(nick)).map(|u| u.uid.as_str())
+        self.users
+            .values()
+            .find(|u| u.nick.eq_ignore_ascii_case(nick))
+            .map(|u| u.uid.as_str())
+            .or_else(|| self.bots.get(&nick.to_ascii_lowercase()).map(String::as_str))
+    }
+
+    // Track / forget one of our service bots by lowercase nick.
+    pub fn bot_connect(&mut self, nick: &str, uid: &str) {
+        self.bots.insert(nick.to_ascii_lowercase(), uid.to_string());
+    }
+
+    pub fn bot_forget(&mut self, nick_lc: &str) {
+        self.bots.remove(nick_lc);
+    }
+
+    pub fn clear_bots(&mut self) {
+        self.bots.clear();
     }
 
     pub fn host_of(&self, uid: &str) -> Option<&str> {