chapter 9 is complete, updated the rest of the chapters to final, updates to supporting docs

characters/jonael-carterson.md

@@ -92,7 +92,8 @@
 
 | Chapter | Development | Category |
 |---------|-------------|----------|
-| — | *Not yet introduced* | — |
+| Ch06 | First appearance — Phelan buys gear at Carterson's Supplies. Carter classifies customers on sight, knows the Barrows, asks about "the third door on the second floor," adds extra ward-resistance compound. Tells Phelan to come back after. | Introduction |
+| Ch09 | Back-room workshop revealed (forge-and-inscription). Working on throwing knives with focusing channels for unnamed client. Phelan's bracelet-enhanced Flaw Sight catches convergence flaw — dumps fix (convergence angle, staggered channel depths, 12% efficiency gain). Carter shifts from shopkeeper to craftsman peer. Gives Phelan store credit. Notices bracelet, doesn't push. | Relationship deepened |
 
 ### Book 2
 <!-- Future -->

characters/ledger.md

@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+# Ledger — Character Bible
+
+*Guild Intelligence*
+
+---
+
+## Core Identity
+
+- **Alias:** Ledger
+- **Real Name:** Unknown
+- **Age:** ~50 (gray hair, described as ~50 in Ch04)
+- **Occupation:** Guild of Necessary Services — intelligence/assessment role
+- **First Appearance:** Ch04 (unnamed, "The Observer"), Ch09 (formally introduced as Ledger)
+
+---
+
+## Physical Description
+
+- Medium height, lean build
+- Gray hair (~50 years old)
+- Arms often crossed (observation posture)
+- Contained energy — nothing wasted in movement or expression
+- Eyes that watch for what others miss
+
+---
+
+## Personality
+
+### Core Traits
+- Reads people the way Phelan reads magical workings — patiently, precisely, never revealing the full picture
+- Collects data without needing confessions
+- Probes without accusation — questions steer toward the information he wants while appearing conversational
+- Shifts registers smoothly (e.g., from interrogation to herb recommendations without missing a beat)
+- Genuine interest in Phelan — which is the worst kind of attention
+
+### How He Processes People
+- Behavioral analysis through observed data: physical condition, timing, quality of work, what people don't say
+- Notes the verdenshade's intact root systems as evidence of composure under pressure
+- Watches Phelan not count his payment and files both possible interpretations (trust or exhaustion)
+- Either has access to guild intelligence on Gavren's farewell parcel, or can diagnose specific herb needs by reading symptoms — either way, unsettling
+
+### Relationship With Emotion
+- Expressions are architectural — "not a smile, the architecture of one, dismantled before it reached the surface"
+- Courtesy or positioning — you can't tell which, and that's the point
+
+---
+
+## Skills & Competencies
+
+- Herbalism knowledge (prescribes thornwell root for migraine residue, feverwort for muscle fatigue)
+- Interrogation through conversation — adversarial-beneath-politeness
+- Behavioral pattern recognition
+- Guild intelligence network access (scope unknown)
+- Assessment of field operatives (physical condition, capability, honesty)
+
+---
+
+## Role in Guild
+
+- Sat on Phelan's interview panel as "The Observer" — the one with nothing in front of him, arms crossed, watching for what others missed
+- Phelan identified him as "the most dangerous person in the room" on sight (Ch04)
+- Now serves as Phelan's direct contact for job debriefs
+- Handles delivery and payment for completed jobs
+- Likely a senior intelligence role — knows the Barrows well enough that his questions have subtext
+
+---
+
+## Relationships
+
+| Character | Relationship | Status (Current) |
+|-----------|-------------|-------------------|
+| Phelan Varrant | Guild contact / assessor | Adversarial-beneath-politeness; building a file on Phelan |
+| The Center Man | Guild panel colleague | Professional (Ch04) |
+| The Questioner | Guild panel colleague | Professional (Ch04) |
+
+---
+
+## Relationship With Phelan
+
+- Noticed Phelan's pause on the combat magic question during the interview (Ch04)
+- Probes directly about fire workings vs. "basic defensive training" in Ch09 debrief
+- Notes that Phelan's build + exhaustion level makes purely physical combat with resonance crawlers implausible
+- Reads the quality of Phelan's verdenshade harvesting as behavioral data
+- Watches Phelan recalculate the commission without comment
+- Asks "Is there anything else to report?" — knows the answer may be incomplete
+- Does not push. Collects data. Waits.
+
+---
+
+## Key Quotes
+
+- "Pleasure to see you again, Varrant. We never exchanged formalities. I'm known as Ledger." (Ch09)
+- "You should think about choosing one." (on guild aliases, Ch09)
+- "Most practitioners with standard defensive training don't solo three resonance crawlers in a confined underground environment and walk out with nothing worse than a neck wound." (Ch09)
+
+---
+
+## Character Progression
+
+*Tracks how Ledger evolves as the story progresses. Each entry is canon once the corresponding chapter is finalized.*
+
+### Book 1
+
+| Chapter | Development | Category |
+|---------|-------------|----------|
+| Ch04 | Unnamed — "The Observer" on interview panel. Noticed combat magic pause. Phelan identifies him as "the most dangerous person in the room." | Introduction |
+| Ch09 | Formally introduces himself as Ledger. Guild alias convention. Debriefs Phelan on Barrows job. Probes combat magic, reads physical state, notes verdenshade quality. Pays 32 silvers (commission applied). | Relationship established |
+
+### Book 2
+<!-- Future -->
+
+### Book 3
+<!-- Future -->
+
+---
+
+## Open Questions
+
+- [ ] What is Ledger's real name?
+- [ ] What is his exact role in the guild hierarchy? (Intelligence chief? Assessment specialist?)
+- [ ] How much does he already know about Phelan's true capabilities?
+- [ ] Does he know about the second floor of the Barrows?
+- [ ] What is the extent of the guild's intelligence network under his control?

characters/supporting-cast.md

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Recurring characters have their own files. Minor characters are tracked in the t
 | Jonael Carterson | `jonael-carterson.md` | The Exasperated Partner |
 | Leon D'Nardis | `leon-dnardis.md` | The Morally Gray Friend |
 | Devod Fields | `devod-fields.md` | The Comic Relief Who Is Unexpectedly Competent |
+| Ledger | `ledger.md` | Guild Intelligence |
 
 ---