diff --git a/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..181918e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+class_name CreationDraft
+extends RefCounted
+## The creation screen's whole brain. Pure, node-free, headlessly testable.
+##
+## Stores exactly the seven things a creation Dictionary is made of, and nothing
+## derived. It CARRIES A SEED, NOT A STAT BLOCK — the screen shows the roll by
+## calling NewGame.roll_attributes(seed), the same function construct calls, so
+## the numbers on screen are the numbers the player gets and the screen still
+## never hands a number to anything (§2).
+##
+## It owns no rules of its own: errors() delegates to NewGame.validate. A second
+## copy of the rules is a second thing to keep in sync, and it would lose.
+##
+## §7: LCK is not here. Not a field, not an accessor, not a key. It is rolled
+## inside construct off the same seed, immediately after MAG, and never surfaces.
+
+const NewGame = preload("res://scripts/newgame/new_game.gd")
+const POOL := 3   # mirrors NewGame.SPEND_POOL; validate() is the authority
+
+var name: String = ""
+var race_id: String = ""
+var calling_id: String = ""
+var spend: Dictionary = {}      # {stat: int} — additive only
+var skills: Array = []          # the player's picks (NOT the race's grants)
+var bonus_skill: String = ""    # human only
+
+## NOT named `seed` — `seed()` is a global GDScript function and a member that
+## shadows it reads as a bug (and warns). The creation Dictionary's KEY is still
+## "seed"; only the GDScript identifier differs.
+var character_seed: int = 0
+
+
+static func fresh() -> CreationDraft:
+	## The ONE place non-determinism enters the entire pipeline — and what it
+	## produces is a seed, which is thereafter the character's anchor forever.
+	var d := CreationDraft.new()
+	d.character_seed = new_seed()
+	return d
+
+
+static func new_seed() -> int:
+	var rng := RandomNumberGenerator.new()
+	rng.randomize()
+	return int(rng.randi())
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------- the numbers
+
+func rolled() -> Dictionary:
+	return NewGame.roll_attributes(character_seed)
+
+
+func final() -> Dictionary:
+	var out := rolled()
+	for stat in spend:
+		out[stat] = int(out[stat]) + int(spend[stat])
+	return out
+
+
+func spent_total() -> int:
+	var total := 0
+	for stat in spend:
+		total += int(spend[stat])
+	return total
+
+
+func points_left() -> int:
+	return POOL - spent_total()
+
+
+func can_increment(stat: String) -> bool:
+	return Attributes.exists(stat) and points_left() > 0
+
+
+func increment(stat: String) -> void:
+	if not can_increment(stat):
+		return
+	spend[stat] = int(spend.get(stat, 0)) + 1
+
+
+func can_decrement(stat: String) -> bool:
+	## Removes only what YOU spent. "Additive only" is a rule about where the number
+	## can END UP — never below the roll — not about whether a mis-click is
+	## recoverable. Those are different things.
+	return int(spend.get(stat, 0)) > 0
+
+
+func decrement(stat: String) -> void:
+	if not can_decrement(stat):
+		return
+	var left := int(spend[stat]) - 1
+	if left <= 0:
+		spend.erase(stat)
+	else:
+		spend[stat] = left
+
+
+func reroll() -> void:
+	## A re-roll IS a new seed. Nothing else. The spend clears because points spent
+	## against a roll that no longer exists are meaningless; race, calling, skills
+	## and name survive because none of them came from the die.
+	##
+	## Note what the player is NOT told: the seed drives the five visible attributes
+	## AND the hidden Luck roll. Chase a 16 and you re-roll your Luck, blind, every
+	## time. That is §7 working exactly as designed. Say nothing.
+	character_seed = new_seed()
+	spend = {}
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------- the choices
+
+func set_race(id: String) -> void:
+	race_id = id
+	# A pick the new race GRANTS now buys nothing, and construct rejects it by name.
+	# Drop it here rather than let the player press a button into a 422.
+	var granted: Array = Races.granted_skills(id)
+	var kept: Array = []
+	for s in skills:
+		if s not in granted:
+			kept.append(s)
+	skills = kept
+	if not Races.wants_bonus_skill(id):
+		bonus_skill = ""
+
+
+func set_calling(id: String) -> void:
+	# The pool changed underneath the picks. Keeping them leaves the player holding
+	# an invalid draft he did not cause and cannot see.
+	if id != calling_id:
+		skills = []
+	calling_id = id
+
+
+func skill_pool() -> Array:
+	return Callings.skill_pool(calling_id)
+
+
+func picks_needed() -> int:
+	return Callings.skill_count(calling_id)
+
+
+func picks_left() -> int:
+	return picks_needed() - skills.size()
+
+
+func is_granted(skill: String) -> bool:
+	return skill in Races.granted_skills(race_id)
+
+
+func is_picked(skill: String) -> bool:
+	return skill in skills
+
+
+func can_pick(skill: String) -> bool:
+	if is_granted(skill):
+		return false
+	if skill not in skill_pool():
+		return false
+	return picks_left() > 0
+
+
+func toggle_skill(skill: String) -> void:
+	if is_picked(skill):
+		skills.erase(skill)
+		return
+	if can_pick(skill):
+		skills.append(skill)
+
+
+func wants_bonus_skill() -> bool:
+	return Races.wants_bonus_skill(race_id)
+
+
+func can_take_bonus(skill: String) -> bool:
+	if not wants_bonus_skill():
+		return false
+	if not Skills.exists(skill):
+		return false
+	return not is_granted(skill) and not is_picked(skill)
+
+
+func set_bonus_skill(skill: String) -> void:
+	if bonus_skill == skill:
+		bonus_skill = ""
+		return
+	if can_take_bonus(skill):
+		bonus_skill = skill
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------- the contract
+
+func to_creation() -> Dictionary:
+	## The plain Dictionary NewGame.construct takes. A saga (later) synthesizes one
+	## of these and skips this screen entirely — so it stays a plain Dictionary, and
+	## this scene must never become the only thing that can produce it.
+	return {
+		"name": name.strip_edges(),
+		"race_id": race_id,
+		"calling_id": calling_id,
+		"seed": character_seed,     # the DICT key stays "seed" — the contract is unchanged
+		"spend": spend.duplicate(),
+		"skills": skills.duplicate(),
+		"bonus_skill": bonus_skill,
+	}
+
+
+func errors(origin: Dictionary, world: ContentDB) -> Array:
+	## Delegates. The screen owns no second copy of the rules — it asks construct's
+	## validator what is wrong, and shows the answer.
+	return NewGame.validate(origin, world, to_creation())
+
+
+func is_complete(origin: Dictionary, world: ContentDB) -> bool:
+	return errors(origin, world).is_empty()
diff --git a/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd.uid b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4129624
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dkxuw5c4r6tld
diff --git a/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d498c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+extends "res://addons/gut/test.gd"
+
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")
+const NewGame = preload("res://scripts/newgame/new_game.gd")
+
+var world
+
+
+func before_each():
+	world = ContentDB.new()
+	world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+
+
+func _deserter() -> Dictionary:
+	return ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+
+
+func _draft() -> CreationDraft:
+	# A fixed seed, so every assertion below is reproducible.
+	var d := CreationDraft.new()
+	d.character_seed = 8675309
+	d.set_race("human")
+	d.set_calling("sellsword")
+	d.name = "Aldric"
+	return d
+
+
+func test_a_fresh_draft_has_a_seed_and_no_choices():
+	var d := CreationDraft.fresh()
+	assert_ne(d.character_seed, 0, "randomize() gave us the one bit of non-determinism there is")
+	assert_eq(d.spend, {})
+	assert_eq(d.skills, [])
+	assert_eq(d.bonus_skill, "")
+
+
+func test_rolled_is_exactly_what_new_game_will_roll():
+	var d := _draft()
+	assert_eq(d.rolled(), NewGame.roll_attributes(d.character_seed),
+		"the screen and construct must reach the same five numbers")
+
+
+func test_final_is_rolled_plus_spend():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.increment("str")
+	d.increment("str")
+	assert_eq(int(d.final()["str"]), int(d.rolled()["str"]) + 2)
+	assert_eq(int(d.final()["dex"]), int(d.rolled()["dex"]), "an unspent stat is untouched")
+
+
+func test_the_pool_is_three_and_the_fourth_point_does_not_exist():
+	var d := _draft()
+	assert_eq(d.points_left(), 3)
+	d.increment("str"); d.increment("dex"); d.increment("con")
+	assert_eq(d.points_left(), 0)
+	assert_false(d.can_increment("fth"))
+	d.increment("fth")
+	assert_eq(int(d.final()["fth"]), int(d.rolled()["fth"]), "the fourth point bought nothing")
+	assert_eq(d.spent_total(), 3)
+
+
+func test_minus_removes_only_what_you_spent_and_floors_at_the_roll():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.increment("str")
+	assert_true(d.can_decrement("str"))
+	d.decrement("str")
+	assert_eq(d.points_left(), 3)
+	assert_false(d.can_decrement("str"), "you cannot go below the roll — additive only")
+	d.decrement("str")
+	assert_eq(int(d.final()["str"]), int(d.rolled()["str"]))
+
+
+func test_reroll_changes_the_numbers_and_clears_the_spend_and_nothing_else():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.set_calling("cutpurse")
+	d.toggle_skill("stealth")
+	d.increment("dex")
+	var before := d.character_seed
+
+	d.reroll()
+
+	assert_ne(d.character_seed, before, "a re-roll IS a new seed — nothing else")
+	assert_eq(d.spend, {}, "points spent against a roll that no longer exists are meaningless")
+	assert_eq(d.calling_id, "cutpurse", "the calling survives")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, ["stealth"], "the picks survive")
+	assert_eq(d.name, "Aldric", "the name survives")
+
+
+func test_changing_calling_clears_the_picks():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, ["athletics"])
+	d.set_calling("hedge_mage")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, [], "the pool changed underneath them — stale picks are an invalid draft the player did not cause")
+
+
+func test_changing_race_drops_a_pick_the_new_race_now_grants():
+	# The elf/cutpurse case. An Elf is GRANTED perception; a Cutpurse who had
+	# picked it now holds a pick that "buys nothing" and construct rejects by name.
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.set_calling("cutpurse")
+	d.toggle_skill("perception")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, ["perception"])
+	d.set_race("elf")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, [], "the elf already has perception — the pick is dropped, not left to 422")
+
+
+func test_changing_race_off_human_clears_the_bonus_skill():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.set_bonus_skill("stealth")
+	assert_eq(d.bonus_skill, "stealth")
+	d.set_race("dwarf")
+	assert_eq(d.bonus_skill, "", "only a human gets a bonus skill")
+
+
+func test_a_granted_skill_cannot_be_picked():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.set_race("elf")
+	d.set_calling("cutpurse")
+	assert_true(d.is_granted("perception"))
+	assert_false(d.can_pick("perception"))
+	d.toggle_skill("perception")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, [], "the chip is inert, not merely styled to look inert")
+
+
+func test_picks_stop_at_the_calling_s_count():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.set_calling("sellsword")   # picks 2
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	d.toggle_skill("endurance")
+	assert_eq(d.picks_left(), 0)
+	d.toggle_skill("perception")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, ["athletics", "endurance"], "the third pick does not exist")
+
+
+func test_toggling_an_already_picked_skill_removes_it():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, [])
+
+
+func test_to_creation_round_trips_through_construct():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	d.toggle_skill("endurance")
+	d.set_bonus_skill("perception")
+	d.increment("str")
+
+	var res := NewGame.construct(_deserter(), world, d.to_creation())
+	assert_true(res["ok"], str(res["errors"]))
+	assert_eq(res["state"].sheet.attributes, d.final(),
+		"TRAP 1: what the screen SHOWED is what the player GOT — asserted across the pipeline")
+
+
+func test_errors_are_construct_s_errors_not_a_second_copy_of_the_rules():
+	var d := _draft()   # no skills picked yet
+	assert_gt(d.errors(_deserter(), world).size(), 0)
+	assert_false(d.is_complete(_deserter(), world))
+
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	d.toggle_skill("endurance")
+	d.set_bonus_skill("perception")
+	assert_eq(d.errors(_deserter(), world), [], "a legal draft has nothing wrong with it")
+	assert_true(d.is_complete(_deserter(), world))
+
+
+func test_an_unnamed_draft_is_not_complete():
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	d.toggle_skill("endurance")
+	d.set_bonus_skill("perception")
+	d.name = "   "
+	assert_false(d.is_complete(_deserter(), world), "a nameless character cannot enter the world")
+
+
+func test_the_draft_never_exposes_luck():
+	# §7 — no accessor, no field, no leak. The screen cannot show what it cannot reach.
+	var d := _draft()
+	assert_false("lck" in d.to_creation().get("spend", {}))
+	assert_false(d.to_creation().has("luck"))
+	assert_false(d.final().has("lck"))
+	assert_false(d.rolled().has("lck"))
diff --git a/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd.uid b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d154ce7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dqllxamt2tcgu