Merge M4-c: Title → Creation → Shell flow (the Main coordinator)

New Game now runs character creation and lands in the exploration shell as the CREATED character — HP/MP/purse/location/opening-narration all real. A script-first `Main` coordinator (scenes/Main.tscn, the main_scene) owns Title → Creation → Shell via instantiate → inject → add_child; the title is emit-only; the shell consumes an injected character (seed stays the F6 fallback). ⛨ saga fourth-path seam kept addable. Completes M4. Full suite 327/327; whole-branch review clean; human F5 smoke passed. Also adds the roadmap's next item (Ollama Cloud proxy provider + backend switch). Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
docs(roadmap): add Ollama Cloud provider + backend switch as the next item
2026-07-15 05:35:05 -05:00 · 2026-07-15 05:27:04 -05:00 · 2026-07-15 05:20:45 -05:00 · 2026-07-15 05:16:55 -05:00 · 2026-07-15 04:20:23 -05:00 · 2026-07-15 04:15:28 -05:00
55 changed files with 8066 additions and 217 deletions
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Local scratch — never versioned
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Ad-hoc F6 / smoke-test captures. Kept for the working session, not the repo.
+/screenshots/
+
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Godot 4.7 (client/)
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────
--- a/clean_superpowers.sh
+++ b/clean_superpowers.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/bin/env bash
+rm .superpowers/sdd/*.diff
+rm .superpowers/sdd/*.md
--- a/client/assets/theme/game_theme.tres
+++ b/client/assets/theme/game_theme.tres
@@ -1,13 +1,29 @@
 [gd_resource type="Theme" format=3]

 [ext_resource type="FontFile" path="res://assets/theme/fonts/ArchitectsDaughter-Regular.ttf" id="1_605w4"]
-[ext_resource type="FontFile" path="res://assets/theme/fonts/JetBrainsMono-VariableFont_wght.ttf" id="2_4lwr2"]
-[ext_resource type="FontFile" path="res://assets/theme/fonts/EBGaramond-VariableFont_wght.ttf" id="3_eckwq"]
+[ext_resource type="FontFile" path="res://assets/theme/fonts/EBGaramond-VariableFont_wght.ttf" id="2_4lwr2"]
+[ext_resource type="FontFile" path="res://assets/theme/fonts/JetBrainsMono-VariableFont_wght.ttf" id="3_eckwq"]
 [ext_resource type="FontFile" path="res://assets/theme/fonts/EBGaramond-Italic-VariableFont_wght.ttf" id="4_i0b23"]

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_cqbvn"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_cqbvn"]
+content_margin_left = 10.0
+content_margin_top = 16.0
+content_margin_right = 10.0
+content_margin_bottom = 14.0
+bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.7490196, 0.65882355, 0.47058824, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 12
+corner_radius_top_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 12

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_q5gpk"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_q5gpk"]
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_bbpmc"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -23,7 +39,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 3
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 3
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 3

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_bbpmc"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_73lme"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -39,7 +55,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 3
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 3
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 3

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_73lme"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_js3tr"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -55,7 +71,19 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 3
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 3
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 3

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_js3tr"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_ube3r"]
+content_margin_left = 8.0
+content_margin_top = 3.0
+content_margin_right = 8.0
+content_margin_bottom = 3.0
+bg_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.22745098, 0.20392157, 1)
+border_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.22745098, 0.20392157, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 5
+corner_radius_top_right = 5
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 5
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 5
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_2tooq"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -71,9 +99,9 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 4

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_ube3r"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_4kten"]

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_2tooq"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_p6wtm"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -89,7 +117,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 8

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_4kten"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_0fjdt"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -105,7 +133,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 8

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_p6wtm"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_ns3kg"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -121,7 +149,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 8

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_0fjdt"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_jly1r"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -137,7 +165,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 6
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 6
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 6

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_ns3kg"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_lw8lk"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -154,7 +182,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 6
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 6
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 6

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_jly1r"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_nh0e7"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -170,46 +198,14 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 8

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_lw8lk"]
-
-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_nh0e7"]
-content_margin_left = 12.0
-content_margin_top = 6.0
-content_margin_right = 12.0
-content_margin_bottom = 6.0
-bg_color = Color(0.9019608, 0.8509804, 0.72156864, 1)
-border_width_left = 1
-border_width_top = 1
-border_width_right = 1
-border_width_bottom = 1
-border_color = Color(0.3529412, 0.2627451, 0.14901961, 1)
-corner_radius_top_left = 8
-corner_radius_top_right = 8
-corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
-corner_radius_bottom_left = 8
-
-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_dtr07"]
-content_margin_left = 12.0
-content_margin_top = 6.0
-content_margin_right = 12.0
-content_margin_bottom = 6.0
-bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
-border_width_left = 1
-border_width_top = 1
-border_width_right = 1
-border_width_bottom = 1
-border_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5803922, 0.39215687, 1)
-corner_radius_top_left = 8
-corner_radius_top_right = 8
-corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
-corner_radius_bottom_left = 8
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_dtr07"]

 [sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_nmowx"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
 content_margin_bottom = 6.0
-bg_color = Color(0.8509804, 0.7882353, 0.63529414, 1)
+bg_color = Color(0.9019608, 0.8509804, 0.72156864, 1)
 border_width_left = 1
 border_width_top = 1
 border_width_right = 1
@@ -230,13 +226,45 @@ border_width_left = 1
 border_width_top = 1
 border_width_right = 1
 border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5803922, 0.39215687, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 8
+corner_radius_top_right = 8
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 8
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_ukblj"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.8509804, 0.7882353, 0.63529414, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.3529412, 0.2627451, 0.14901961, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 8
+corner_radius_top_right = 8
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 8
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 8
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_utt73"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
 border_color = Color(0.7490196, 0.65882355, 0.47058824, 1)
 corner_radius_top_left = 6
 corner_radius_top_right = 6
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 6
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 6

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_ukblj"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_5u8fh"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -252,7 +280,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 4

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_utt73"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_p0qbh"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -268,7 +296,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 4

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_5u8fh"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_6y6ak"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -284,7 +312,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 4

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_p0qbh"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_txxuc"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -300,7 +328,7 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 4

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_6y6ak"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_7d6ug"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -316,41 +344,53 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 4
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 4

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_txxuc"]
-
-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_7d6ug"]
-content_margin_left = 12.0
-content_margin_top = 6.0
-content_margin_right = 12.0
-content_margin_bottom = 6.0
-bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
-border_width_left = 1
-border_width_top = 1
-border_width_right = 1
-border_width_bottom = 1
-border_color = Color(0.79607844, 0.7137255, 0.5176471, 1)
-corner_radius_top_left = 14
-corner_radius_top_right = 14
-corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
-corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
-
 [sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_najyk"]
-content_margin_left = 12.0
-content_margin_top = 6.0
-content_margin_right = 12.0
-content_margin_bottom = 6.0
-bg_color = Color(0.9372549, 0.9019608, 0.8117647, 1)
-border_width_left = 1
-border_width_top = 1
-border_width_right = 1
-border_width_bottom = 1
-border_color = Color(0.79607844, 0.7137255, 0.5176471, 1)
-corner_radius_top_left = 14
-corner_radius_top_right = 14
-corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
-corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+content_margin_left = 10.0
+content_margin_top = 16.0
+content_margin_right = 10.0
+content_margin_bottom = 14.0
+bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
+border_width_left = 2
+border_width_top = 2
+border_width_right = 2
+border_width_bottom = 2
+border_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.41568628, 0.16470589, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 12
+corner_radius_top_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 12

 [sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_jtb1k"]
+content_margin_left = 9.0
+content_margin_top = 2.0
+content_margin_right = 9.0
+content_margin_bottom = 2.0
+bg_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.41568628, 0.16470589, 1)
+border_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.41568628, 0.16470589, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 5
+corner_radius_top_right = 5
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 5
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 5
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_wmbj4"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.8509804, 0.7882353, 0.63529414, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5803922, 0.39215687, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 12
+corner_radius_top_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 12
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_xdylb"]
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_pjnll"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -360,31 +400,95 @@ border_width_left = 1
 border_width_top = 1
 border_width_right = 1
 border_width_bottom = 1
-border_color = Color(0.7490196, 0.65882355, 0.47058824, 1)
-corner_radius_top_left = 14
-corner_radius_top_right = 14
-corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
-corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+border_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5803922, 0.39215687, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 12
+corner_radius_top_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 12

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_wmbj4"]
-
-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_xdylb"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_klelq"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
 content_margin_bottom = 6.0
-bg_color = Color(0.72156864, 0.32156864, 0.2901961, 1)
+bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
 border_width_left = 1
 border_width_top = 1
 border_width_right = 1
 border_width_bottom = 1
-border_color = Color(0.72156864, 0.32156864, 0.2901961, 1)
+border_color = Color(0.7490196, 0.65882355, 0.47058824, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 12
+corner_radius_top_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 12
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_i2sl5"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
+border_width_left = 3
+border_width_top = 3
+border_width_right = 3
+border_width_bottom = 3
+border_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.22745098, 0.20392157, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 12
+corner_radius_top_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 12
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 12
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_onsig"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.8509804, 0.7882353, 0.63529414, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5803922, 0.39215687, 1)
 corner_radius_top_left = 14
 corner_radius_top_right = 14
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 14

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_pjnll"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_gw0t7"]
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_88l5g"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.9019608, 0.8509804, 0.72156864, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.3529412, 0.2627451, 0.14901961, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_f8qac"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5803922, 0.39215687, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_u6gcs"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -400,7 +504,109 @@ corner_radius_top_right = 14
 corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 14

-[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_klelq"]
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_nufy3"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.41568628, 0.16470589, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.41568628, 0.16470589, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_0d7vs"]
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_3fnfk"]
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_2txdw"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.94509804, 0.9098039, 0.8235294, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.79607844, 0.7137255, 0.5176471, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_w7qkp"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.9372549, 0.9019608, 0.8117647, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.79607844, 0.7137255, 0.5176471, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_rthnr"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.9019608, 0.8509804, 0.72156864, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.7490196, 0.65882355, 0.47058824, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxEmpty" id="StyleBoxEmpty_ta3oh"]
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_ohwwq"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.72156864, 0.32156864, 0.2901961, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.72156864, 0.32156864, 0.2901961, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_ismtf"]
+content_margin_left = 12.0
+content_margin_top = 6.0
+content_margin_right = 12.0
+content_margin_bottom = 6.0
+bg_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.22745098, 0.20392157, 1)
+border_width_left = 1
+border_width_top = 1
+border_width_right = 1
+border_width_bottom = 1
+border_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.22745098, 0.20392157, 1)
+corner_radius_top_left = 14
+corner_radius_top_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
+corner_radius_bottom_left = 14
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_gs634"]
 content_margin_left = 12.0
 content_margin_top = 6.0
 content_margin_right = 12.0
@@ -417,80 +623,136 @@ corner_radius_bottom_right = 14
 corner_radius_bottom_left = 14

 [resource]
-default_font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+default_font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
 default_font_size = 18
+AbilityCard/base_type = &"PanelContainer"
+AbilityCard/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_cqbvn")
 Accent/base_type = &"Label"
 Accent/colors/font_color = Color(0.56078434, 0.41568628, 0.16470589, 1)
 Accent/font_sizes/font_size = 24
 Accent/fonts/font = ExtResource("1_605w4")
+CardBody/base_type = &"Label"
+CardBody/colors/font_color = Color(0.41568628, 0.3529412, 0.22745098, 1)
+CardBody/font_sizes/font_size = 14
+CardBody/fonts/font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
+CardTitle/base_type = &"Label"
+CardTitle/colors/font_color = Color(0.22745098, 0.18431373, 0.10980392, 1)
+CardTitle/font_sizes/font_size = 20
+CardTitle/fonts/font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
 Chip/base_type = &"Button"
 Chip/colors/font_color = Color(0.6039216, 0.56078434, 0.47058824, 1)
-Chip/font_sizes/font_size = 11
-Chip/fonts/font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
-Chip/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_cqbvn")
-Chip/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_q5gpk")
-Chip/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_bbpmc")
-Chip/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_73lme")
+Chip/font_sizes/font_size = 12
+Chip/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+Chip/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_q5gpk")
+Chip/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_bbpmc")
+Chip/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_73lme")
+Chip/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_js3tr")
+ChosenTag/base_type = &"Label"
+ChosenTag/colors/font_color = Color(0.9411765, 0.9019608, 0.8156863, 1)
+ChosenTag/font_sizes/font_size = 11
+ChosenTag/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+ChosenTag/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_ube3r")
 DarkPanel/base_type = &"PanelContainer"
-DarkPanel/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_js3tr")
+DarkPanel/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_2tooq")
 DockButton/base_type = &"Button"
 DockButton/colors/font_color = Color(0.7882353, 0.7411765, 0.6392157, 1)
-DockButton/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_ube3r")
-DockButton/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_2tooq")
-DockButton/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_4kten")
-DockButton/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_p6wtm")
+DockButton/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_4kten")
+DockButton/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_p6wtm")
+DockButton/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_0fjdt")
+DockButton/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_ns3kg")
 Heading/base_type = &"Label"
 Heading/colors/font_color = Color(0.22745098, 0.18431373, 0.10980392, 1)
 Heading/font_sizes/font_size = 34
-Heading/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+Heading/fonts/font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
 ItemTile/base_type = &"PanelContainer"
-ItemTile/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_0fjdt")
+ItemTile/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_jly1r")
 ItemTileEmpty/base_type = &"PanelContainer"
-ItemTileEmpty/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_ns3kg")
+ItemTileEmpty/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_lw8lk")
 Mono/base_type = &"Label"
 Mono/colors/font_color = Color(0.6039216, 0.56078434, 0.47058824, 1)
-Mono/font_sizes/font_size = 13
-Mono/fonts/font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
+Mono/font_sizes/font_size = 14
+Mono/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
 ParchmentButton/base_type = &"Button"
 ParchmentButton/colors/font_color = Color(0.2901961, 0.24705882, 0.17254902, 1)
 ParchmentButton/colors/font_disabled_color = Color(0.41568628, 0.3529412, 0.22745098, 1)
-ParchmentButton/styles/disabled = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_jly1r")
-ParchmentButton/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_lw8lk")
-ParchmentButton/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nh0e7")
-ParchmentButton/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_dtr07")
-ParchmentButton/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nmowx")
+ParchmentButton/styles/disabled = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nh0e7")
+ParchmentButton/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_dtr07")
+ParchmentButton/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nmowx")
+ParchmentButton/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_oi067")
+ParchmentButton/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_ukblj")
 ParchmentCard/base_type = &"PanelContainer"
-ParchmentCard/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_oi067")
+ParchmentCard/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_utt73")
 ParchmentInset/base_type = &"PanelContainer"
-ParchmentInset/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_ukblj")
+ParchmentInset/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_5u8fh")
 PrimaryCTA/base_type = &"Button"
 PrimaryCTA/colors/font_color = Color(0.9411765, 0.9019608, 0.8156863, 1)
 PrimaryCTA/colors/font_disabled_color = Color(0.6039216, 0.56078434, 0.47058824, 1)
-PrimaryCTA/styles/disabled = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_utt73")
-PrimaryCTA/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_5u8fh")
-PrimaryCTA/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_p0qbh")
-PrimaryCTA/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_6y6ak")
+PrimaryCTA/styles/disabled = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_p0qbh")
+PrimaryCTA/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_6y6ak")
+PrimaryCTA/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_txxuc")
+PrimaryCTA/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_7d6ug")
+PrimaryCard/base_type = &"PanelContainer"
+PrimaryCard/styles/panel = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_najyk")
+PrimaryTag/base_type = &"Label"
+PrimaryTag/colors/font_color = Color(0.9411765, 0.9019608, 0.8156863, 1)
+PrimaryTag/font_sizes/font_size = 10
+PrimaryTag/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+PrimaryTag/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_jtb1k")
 RichTextLabel/colors/default_color = Color(0.2901961, 0.24705882, 0.17254902, 1)
-RichTextLabel/font_sizes/normal_font_size = 20
+RichTextLabel/font_sizes/normal_font_size = 22
 RichTextLabel/fonts/italics_font = ExtResource("4_i0b23")
-RichTextLabel/fonts/normal_font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+RichTextLabel/fonts/normal_font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
+SectionLabel/base_type = &"Label"
+SectionLabel/colors/font_color = Color(0.5411765, 0.46666667, 0.28235295, 1)
+SectionLabel/font_sizes/font_size = 14
+SectionLabel/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+SelectCard/base_type = &"Button"
+SelectCard/colors/font_color = Color(0.22745098, 0.18431373, 0.10980392, 1)
+SelectCard/colors/font_disabled_color = Color(0.41568628, 0.3529412, 0.22745098, 1)
+SelectCard/styles/disabled = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_wmbj4")
+SelectCard/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_xdylb")
+SelectCard/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_pjnll")
+SelectCard/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_klelq")
+SelectCard/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_i2sl5")
+SkillChip/base_type = &"Button"
+SkillChip/colors/font_color = Color(0.3529412, 0.2627451, 0.14901961, 1)
+SkillChip/colors/font_disabled_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5803922, 0.39215687, 1)
+SkillChip/colors/font_hover_color = Color(0.3529412, 0.2627451, 0.14901961, 1)
+SkillChip/colors/font_pressed_color = Color(0.9411765, 0.9019608, 0.8156863, 1)
+SkillChip/font_sizes/font_size = 14
+SkillChip/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+SkillChip/styles/disabled = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_onsig")
+SkillChip/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_gw0t7")
+SkillChip/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_88l5g")
+SkillChip/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_f8qac")
+SkillChip/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_u6gcs")
+SkillChipGranted/base_type = &"Button"
+SkillChipGranted/colors/font_color = Color(0.9411765, 0.9019608, 0.8156863, 1)
+SkillChipGranted/colors/font_disabled_color = Color(0.9411765, 0.9019608, 0.8156863, 1)
+SkillChipGranted/font_sizes/font_size = 14
+SkillChipGranted/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+SkillChipGranted/styles/disabled = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nufy3")
+SkillChipGranted/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_0d7vs")
+SkillChipGranted/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nufy3")
+SkillChipGranted/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nufy3")
+SkillChipGranted/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_nufy3")
 Tab/base_type = &"Button"
 Tab/colors/font_color = Color(0.41568628, 0.3529412, 0.22745098, 1)
-Tab/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_txxuc")
-Tab/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_7d6ug")
-Tab/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_najyk")
-Tab/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_jtb1k")
+Tab/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_3fnfk")
+Tab/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_2txdw")
+Tab/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_w7qkp")
+Tab/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_rthnr")
 TabActive/base_type = &"Button"
 TabActive/colors/font_color = Color(0.9411765, 0.9019608, 0.8156863, 1)
-TabActive/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_wmbj4")
-TabActive/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_xdylb")
-TabActive/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_pjnll")
-TabActive/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_klelq")
+TabActive/styles/focus = SubResource("StyleBoxEmpty_ta3oh")
+TabActive/styles/hover = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_ohwwq")
+TabActive/styles/normal = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_ismtf")
+TabActive/styles/pressed = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_gs634")
 TitleKicker/base_type = &"Label"
 TitleKicker/colors/font_color = Color(0.6627451, 0.5176471, 0.24705882, 1)
 TitleKicker/font_sizes/font_size = 13
-TitleKicker/fonts/font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
+TitleKicker/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
 TitleLogo/base_type = &"Label"
 TitleLogo/colors/font_color = Color(0.9098039, 0.8666667, 0.78431374, 1)
 TitleLogo/font_sizes/font_size = 116
-TitleLogo/fonts/font = ExtResource("3_eckwq")
+TitleLogo/fonts/font = ExtResource("2_4lwr2")
--- a/client/docs/README.md
+++ b/client/docs/README.md
@@ -17,7 +17,15 @@ Cross-cutting design (anything touching both client and api) goes in the root [`
 Screens are **authored editor-first** — the layout lives in the `.tscn`, not in
 code. See ADR [0001](../../docs/adr/0001-editor-first-ui-scenes.md) for the why;
 this is the how. Reference: `scenes/shell/{MainWindowShell,SystemDock,NarrationBook}.tscn`
-+ `scripts/ui/shell/*.gd`.
+ `scripts/ui/shell/*.gd`, and `scenes/creation/CharacterCreation.tscn` +
+`scripts/ui/creation/{character_creation,creation_draft,creation_copy}.gd` (M4-b).
+
+- **Clickable cards are Buttons with `mouse_filter = 2` on every child.** A card that
+  holds a name, a blurb and a trait line is a `Button` (Button-base variation, so
+  `normal`/`hover`/`pressed` actually skin it) with a `VBoxContainer` of Labels inside.
+  Every child needs `mouse_filter = 2` (IGNORE) or the Label swallows the click and the
+  card never toggles. `pressed` on a `toggle_mode` Button *is* the "chosen" state — no
+  script-side stylebox swapping.

 - **The `.tscn` owns the tree.** Author every node in the editor: containers,
  panels, labels, buttons, art-slot placeholders. Assign the shared theme on the
--- a/client/project.godot
+++ b/client/project.godot
@@ -11,19 +11,15 @@ config_version=5
 [application]

 config/name="coc-rpg"
-config/version="0.01-alpha"
 config/description="AI-driven single-player party RPG. Code owns state. AI owns text."
-run/main_scene="res://scenes/title/TitleScreen.tscn"
+config/version="0.01-alpha"
+run/main_scene="res://scenes/Main.tscn"
 config/features=PackedStringArray("4.7")

 [display]

-; Design/logical canvas stays 1920x1080 (charter §16, mockups authored here).
 window/size/viewport_width=1920
 window/size/viewport_height=1080
-; Open a smaller 1600x900 window that scales the 1920x1080 canvas down, so it
-; doesn't fill the whole screen. canvas_items + keep aspect does the scaling.
-window/size/window_width_override=1600
-window/size/window_height_override=900
+window/size/window_width_override=1280
+window/size/window_height_override=720
 window/stretch/mode="canvas_items"
-window/stretch/aspect="keep"
--- a/client/scenes/Main.tscn
+++ b/client/scenes/Main.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://scripts/main.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="Main" type="Node"]
+script = ExtResource("1")
--- a/client/scenes/creation/CharacterCreation.tscn
+++ b/client/scenes/creation/CharacterCreation.tscn
--- a/client/scripts/canon_log/canon_log.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/canon_log/canon_log.gd
@@ -99,17 +99,17 @@ static func from_dict(d: Dictionary) -> CanonLog:
 	if v != SCHEMA_VERSION:
 		push_error("unsupported canon_log schema_version: %s" % v)
 		return null
-	var log := CanonLog.new()
-	log.player = LogPlayer.from_dict(d.get("player", {}))
-	log.location = LogLocation.from_dict(d.get("location", {}))
+	var out := CanonLog.new()
+	out.player = LogPlayer.from_dict(d.get("player", {}))
+	out.location = LogLocation.from_dict(d.get("location", {}))
 	for m in d.get("party", []):
-		log.party.append(PartyMember.from_dict(m))
+		out.party.append(PartyMember.from_dict(m))
 	for e in d.get("recent_events", []):
-		log.push_event(e)
+		out.push_event(e)
 	for f in d.get("established_facts", []):
-		log.add_fact(f)
+		out.add_fact(f)
 	for q in d.get("active_quests", []):
-		log.active_quests.append(Quest.from_dict(q))
+		out.active_quests.append(Quest.from_dict(q))
 	for h in d.get("humiliations", []):
-		log.humiliations.append(Humiliation.from_dict(h))
-	return log
+		out.humiliations.append(Humiliation.from_dict(h))
+	return out
--- a/client/scripts/main.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/main.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+class_name Main
+extends Node
+## The single home for the game's screen sequence: Title → Creation → Shell.
+## Script-first by design — a pure coordinator with no Control layout, so ADR 0001's
+## editor-first rule does not apply (that rule governs layout scenes). It owns one
+## ContentDB + one DmService and swaps screens via instantiate → inject → add_child,
+## the injection seam change_scene_to_file cannot provide.
+##
+## §2: the flow carries only plain data; NewGame.construct re-rolls the character
+## from the creation seed itself. ⛨ saga: _show_creation and _start_campaign are
+## separate, so a fourth entry path is an added arm, not surgery on existing edges.
+
+const HttpTransport = preload("res://scripts/net/http_transport.gd")
+
+const TITLE := preload("res://scenes/title/TitleScreen.tscn")
+const CREATION := preload("res://scenes/creation/CharacterCreation.tscn")
+const SHELL := preload("res://scenes/shell/MainWindowShell.tscn")
+
+# Injection seams — set BETWEEN instantiate() and add_child(), as the shell/creation
+# do for their own deps. _ready builds the real ones when nothing was supplied.
+var world: ContentDB = null
+var service: DmService = null
+var origin: Dictionary = {}
+
+var _current: Node = null
+var _http: HTTPRequest
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	if world == null:
+		world = ContentDB.new()
+		world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	if origin.is_empty():
+		origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	if service == null:
+		_http = HTTPRequest.new()
+		add_child(_http)
+		service = DmService.new(HttpTransport.new(_http), FallbackLibrary.new())
+	_show_title()
+
+
+func _show(next: PackedScene, inject: Callable) -> void:
+	## The one swap primitive. inject runs after instantiate() (which does NOT run
+	## _ready) and before add_child (which does) — the injection window. The outgoing
+	## screen is queue_free'd (deferred): a signal handler must never free the node
+	## still executing up its own call stack.
+	var old := _current
+	var screen := next.instantiate()
+	inject.call(screen)
+	_current = screen
+	add_child(screen)
+	if old != null:
+		old.queue_free()
+
+
+func _show_title() -> void:
+	_show(TITLE, func(s): s.menu_activated.connect(_on_menu))
+
+
+func _show_creation() -> void:
+	_show(CREATION, func(s):
+		s.world = world
+		s.origin = origin
+		s.creation_confirmed.connect(_start_campaign))
+
+
+func _show_shell(log: CanonLog, state: GameState) -> void:
+	_show(SHELL, func(s):
+		s.service = service
+		s.injected_log = log
+		s.injected_state = state)
+
+
+func _on_menu(id: StringName) -> void:
+	match id:
+		&"new_game":
+			_show_creation()
+		&"quit":
+			get_tree().quit()
+		_:
+			pass  # continue / load land in later milestones (M9); inert for now
+
+
+func _start_campaign(creation: Dictionary) -> void:
+	## Takes a plain Dictionary — does NOT assume it came from the creation screen, so
+	## a saga can synthesize one and call this directly (skipping creation).
+	var result := NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)
+	if not result.get("ok", false):
+		# Unreachable via the UI (the CTA gates on validate), but §2 forbids trusting
+		# the caller and §13 forbids surfacing an error. Log and stay put.
+		push_error("Main: construct rejected a creation: %s" % str(result.get("errors", [])))
+		return
+	_show_shell(result["log"], result["state"])
--- a/client/scripts/main.gd.uid
+++ b/client/scripts/main.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://du7rwup648n60
--- a/client/scripts/newgame/new_game.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/newgame/new_game.gd
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ static func construct(origin: Dictionary, world: ContentDB, creation: Dictionary

 	# The RNG ORDER is part of the contract: five attributes in a fixed order, then
 	# Luck. Change the order and every existing seed produces a different character.
-	var attrs: Dictionary = {}
-	for stat in Attributes.IDS:
-		attrs[stat] = _roll_attribute(rng)
+	# roll_attributes() is the ONE implementation — the creation screen calls the same
+	# function to DISPLAY the roll, so what the player saw is what he gets (§2/§10).
+	var attrs: Dictionary = _roll_five(rng)

 	var bc: Dictionary = origin.get("build_constraints", {})
 	state.luck_base = Luck.roll_base(rng, int(bc.get("luck_modifier", 0)))
@@ -58,31 +58,31 @@ static func construct(origin: Dictionary, world: ContentDB, creation: Dictionary
 	sheet.mp = sheet.max_mp()
 	state.sheet = sheet

-	var log := CanonLog.new()
-	log.player = LogPlayer.new(str(creation.get("name", "")), sheet.race_id,
+	var canon := CanonLog.new()
+	canon.player = LogPlayer.new(str(creation.get("name", "")), sheet.race_id,
 		sheet.calling_id, state.luck_descriptor())

 	var loc: Dictionary = world.location(origin["start_location_id"])
-	log.set_location(loc.get("id", ""), loc.get("name", ""))
+	canon.set_location(loc.get("id", ""), loc.get("name", ""))

 	var overrides: Dictionary = origin.get("disposition_overrides", {})
 	var companion_ids := {}
 	for c in world.companions():
 		companion_ids[c["id"]] = true
-		log.party.append(PartyMember.new(c["id"], c.get("name", ""), int(overrides.get(c["id"], 0))))
+		canon.party.append(PartyMember.new(c["id"], c.get("name", ""), int(overrides.get(c["id"], 0))))
 	for npc_id in overrides:
 		if not companion_ids.has(npc_id):
 			state.set_npc_disposition(npc_id, int(overrides[npc_id]))

 	for line in origin.get("situation", []):
-		log.push_event(line)
+		canon.push_event(line)
 	for fact in origin.get("opening_facts", []):
-		log.add_fact(fact)
+		canon.add_fact(fact)

 	var quest_id: Variant = origin.get("start_quest_id", null)
 	if quest_id != null:
 		var qd: Dictionary = world.quest(quest_id)
-		log.active_quests.append(Quest.new(qd.get("id", ""), qd.get("name", ""), "active",
+		canon.active_quests.append(Quest.new(qd.get("id", ""), qd.get("name", ""), "active",
 			qd.get("objective", "")))

 	# inventory grants -> game state (NOT the log). §2. grant() routes currency to the
@@ -90,7 +90,31 @@ static func construct(origin: Dictionary, world: ContentDB, creation: Dictionary
 	for g in origin.get("inventory_grants", []):
 		state.grant(g.get("item_id", ""), int(g.get("qty", 0)))

-	return {"ok": true, "errors": [], "log": log, "state": state}
+	return {"ok": true, "errors": [], "log": canon, "state": state}
+
+
+static func roll_attributes(character_seed: int) -> Dictionary:
+	## PUBLIC and PURE. The creation screen calls this to SHOW the roll; construct
+	## calls it to BUILD it. One implementation, so the two can never disagree.
+	## NO DEFAULT PARAMETERS (traps.md #2) — a defaulted arg turns a wrong-arity
+	## call into a silent miscompile that binds the wrong value into the wrong slot.
+	var rng := RandomNumberGenerator.new()
+	rng.seed = character_seed
+	return _roll_five(rng)
+
+
+static func _roll_five(rng: RandomNumberGenerator) -> Dictionary:
+	var attrs: Dictionary = {}
+	for stat in Attributes.IDS:
+		attrs[stat] = _roll_attribute(rng)
+	return attrs
+
+
+static func validate(origin: Dictionary, world: ContentDB, creation: Dictionary) -> Array:
+	## PUBLIC. The creation screen gates its CTA on this, so the player cannot press
+	## his way into a rejection. construct() still calls it and still does not trust
+	## its caller — the screen is a caller like any other. NO DEFAULT PARAMETERS.
+	return _validate(origin, world, creation)


 static func _roll_attribute(rng: RandomNumberGenerator) -> int:
--- a/client/scripts/state/currency.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/state/currency.gd
@@ -31,10 +31,12 @@ static func format(copper: int) -> String:
 		return "0c"
 	var parts: Array[String] = []
 	var left := copper
-	var gold := left / GOLD          # int division
+	@warning_ignore("integer_division")  # denomination math — the remainder is carried, not lost
+	var gold := left / GOLD
 	if gold > 0:
 		parts.append("%dg" % gold)
 		left -= gold * GOLD
+	@warning_ignore("integer_division")
 	var silver := left / SILVER
 	if silver > 0:
 		parts.append("%ds" % silver)
--- a/client/scripts/theme/build_game_theme.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/theme/build_game_theme.gd
@@ -41,11 +41,33 @@ static func build_theme() -> Theme:
 	_dock_button(theme)
 	_parchment_button(theme)
 	_chip(theme)
+	_section_label(theme)
+	_select_card(theme)
+	_skill_chip(theme)
+	_skill_chip_granted(theme)
+	_tags_and_primary(theme)
 	_tiles(theme)
 	_cards_and_panels(theme)
 	return theme


+static func _pill(bg: Color, radius: int, margin_x: int, margin_y: int) -> StyleBoxFlat:
+	# A BADGE, not a card. _flat() bakes in the 12/6 content margin every panel and
+	# button on the sheet wants — on a 9px "PRIMARY" flag that padding is most of the
+	# control, which is what made the badge swallow the ability card's rolled value.
+	# The mock's flags are padding:2px 9px (PRIMARY) and 3px 8px (CHOSEN).
+	var s := StyleBoxFlat.new()
+	s.bg_color = bg
+	s.border_color = bg
+	s.set_border_width_all(0)
+	s.set_corner_radius_all(radius)
+	s.content_margin_left = margin_x
+	s.content_margin_right = margin_x
+	s.content_margin_top = margin_y
+	s.content_margin_bottom = margin_y
+	return s
+
+
 static func _flat(bg: Color, border: Color, width := 1, radius := 4) -> StyleBoxFlat:
 	var s := StyleBoxFlat.new()
 	s.bg_color = bg
@@ -77,8 +99,22 @@ static func _fonts(theme: Theme) -> void:
 	# Mono chrome role.
 	theme.set_type_variation(ThemeKeys.MONO, "Label")
 	theme.set_font(&"font", ThemeKeys.MONO, load(MONO))
-	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", ThemeKeys.MONO, 13)
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", ThemeKeys.MONO, 14)
 	theme.set_color(&"font_color", ThemeKeys.MONO, Palette.MUTED_MONO)
+	# Card type — the name + blurb inside a select-card. These sit ON PARCHMENT, so
+	# they take INK, not CREAM. Godot's built-in default Label colour is WHITE, and a
+	# Label left bare inherits it: the race and calling names shipped invisible on the
+	# parchment sheet for exactly that reason. There is no such thing as an unstyled
+	# Label on this sheet — every one of them names a role. (mock: 19px/17px #3a2f1c
+	# title, 13px italic-serif #6a5a3a blurb.)
+	theme.set_type_variation(ThemeKeys.CARD_TITLE, "Label")
+	theme.set_font(&"font", ThemeKeys.CARD_TITLE, serif)
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", ThemeKeys.CARD_TITLE, 20)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", ThemeKeys.CARD_TITLE, Palette.INK_HEADING)
+	theme.set_type_variation(ThemeKeys.CARD_BODY, "Label")
+	theme.set_font(&"font", ThemeKeys.CARD_BODY, serif)
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", ThemeKeys.CARD_BODY, 14)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", ThemeKeys.CARD_BODY, Palette.INK_MUTED)


 static func _title_type(theme: Theme) -> void:
@@ -103,7 +139,7 @@ static func _rich_text(theme: Theme) -> void:
 	# (the narration book, later quest briefs/dialogue) reads dark serif ink from here.
 	theme.set_font(&"normal_font", "RichTextLabel", load(SERIF))
 	theme.set_font(&"italics_font", "RichTextLabel", load(SERIF_ITALIC))
-	theme.set_font_size(&"normal_font_size", "RichTextLabel", 20)
+	theme.set_font_size(&"normal_font_size", "RichTextLabel", 22)
 	theme.set_color(&"default_color", "RichTextLabel", Palette.INK_BODY)


@@ -175,10 +211,112 @@ static func _chip(theme: Theme) -> void:
 	theme.set_stylebox(&"pressed", k, _flat(Color(Palette.MUTED_MONO, 0.32), Palette.MUTED_MONO, 1, 3))
 	theme.set_stylebox(&"focus", k, StyleBoxEmpty.new())
 	theme.set_font(&"font", k, load(MONO))
-	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", k, 11)
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", k, 12)
 	theme.set_color(&"font_color", k, Palette.MUTED_MONO)


+static func _section_label(theme: Theme) -> void:
+	# The mono section headers on the parchment sheet (RACE / CALLING / NAME …).
+	# Mono's own colour is for dark surfaces; on parchment it needs the muted ink.
+	theme.set_type_variation(ThemeKeys.SECTION_LABEL, "Label")
+	theme.set_font(&"font", ThemeKeys.SECTION_LABEL, load(MONO))
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", ThemeKeys.SECTION_LABEL, 14)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", ThemeKeys.SECTION_LABEL, Palette.INK_LABEL_MUTED)
+
+
+static func _select_card(theme: Theme) -> void:
+	# Race + calling cards. Button-base (a PanelContainer variation's lone `panel`
+	# stylebox does not skin a Button — ADR 0001). `pressed` IS the CHOSEN state:
+	# the card is a toggle in a ButtonGroup, so `pressed` persists after the click.
+	var k := ThemeKeys.SELECT_CARD
+	theme.set_type_variation(k, "Button")
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"normal", k, _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_CARD, Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER, 1, 12))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"hover", k, _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_INSET, Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER_3, 1, 12))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"pressed", k, _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_CARD, Palette.BLOOD, 3, 12))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"disabled", k, _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_INSET_2, Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER_3, 1, 12))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"focus", k, StyleBoxEmpty.new())
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", k, Palette.INK_HEADING)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_disabled_color", k, Palette.INK_MUTED)
+
+
+static func _skill_chip(theme: Theme) -> void:
+	# A proficiency chip is a TOGGLE with three states the player must be able to
+	# read at a glance: unpicked (parchment), picked (crimson), and granted-by-race
+	# (dim + inert — the elf already has perception, so the chip cannot be pressed).
+	var k := ThemeKeys.SKILL_CHIP
+	theme.set_type_variation(k, "Button")
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"normal", k, _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_CARD, Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER_3, 1, 14))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"hover", k, _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_INSET, Palette.INK_LABEL, 1, 14))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"pressed", k, _flat(Palette.BLOOD, Palette.BLOOD, 1, 14))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"disabled", k, _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_INSET_2, Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER_3, 1, 14))
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"focus", k, StyleBoxEmpty.new())
+	theme.set_font(&"font", k, load(MONO))
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", k, 14)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", k, Palette.INK_LABEL)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_pressed_color", k, Palette.CREAM_BRIGHT)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_hover_color", k, Palette.INK_LABEL)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_disabled_color", k, Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER_3)
+
+
+static func _skill_chip_granted(theme: Theme) -> void:
+	# The FOURTH skill-chip state, split out of SkillChip's dim `disabled` look. A
+	# race-GRANTED skill (the elf already has perception) must read "you already have
+	# this" — OWNED — not "unavailable". So: a solid gold fill with cream text (the
+	# binding prefixes a ✓), where the pool-is-spent chips keep the plain dim disabled.
+	# It is inert like a disabled chip, so every interactive state paints the owned box.
+	var k := ThemeKeys.SKILL_CHIP_GRANTED
+	theme.set_type_variation(k, "Button")
+	var owned := _flat(Palette.INK_GOLD, Palette.INK_GOLD, 1, 14)
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"normal", k, owned)
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"hover", k, owned)
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"pressed", k, owned)
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"disabled", k, owned)
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"focus", k, StyleBoxEmpty.new())
+	theme.set_font(&"font", k, load(MONO))
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", k, 14)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", k, Palette.CREAM_BRIGHT)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_disabled_color", k, Palette.CREAM_BRIGHT)
+
+
+static func _tags_and_primary(theme: Theme) -> void:
+	# The two little flags that ride on a card's top edge, and the gold ring the
+	# calling's primary attribute wears. Label takes a `normal` stylebox in Godot 4.
+	var chosen := ThemeKeys.CHOSEN_TAG
+	theme.set_type_variation(chosen, "Label")
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"normal", chosen, _pill(Palette.BLOOD, 5, 8, 3))
+	theme.set_font(&"font", chosen, load(MONO))
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", chosen, 11)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", chosen, Palette.CREAM_BRIGHT)
+
+	var primary_tag := ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_TAG
+	theme.set_type_variation(primary_tag, "Label")
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"normal", primary_tag, _pill(Palette.INK_GOLD, 5, 9, 2))
+	theme.set_font(&"font", primary_tag, load(MONO))
+	theme.set_font_size(&"font_size", primary_tag, 10)
+	theme.set_color(&"font_color", primary_tag, Palette.CREAM_BRIGHT)
+
+	# The ability card in both states. It is NOT a plain ParchmentCard: it wears the PRIMARY
+	# flag on its top edge, and _flat()'s 6px top margin puts the "STR" key label directly
+	# under the badge — they collided. The mock's card is padding:16px 10px 14px, and that
+	# 16px IS the headroom the badge needs. ParchmentCard cannot simply be retuned: the
+	# shell shares it, and the shell has no badge.
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"panel", ThemeKeys.ABILITY_CARD,
+		_ability_card(Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER, 1))
+	theme.set_type_variation(ThemeKeys.ABILITY_CARD, "PanelContainer")
+	theme.set_type_variation(ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_CARD, "PanelContainer")
+	theme.set_stylebox(&"panel", ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_CARD,
+		_ability_card(Palette.INK_GOLD, 2))
+
+
+static func _ability_card(border: Color, width: int) -> StyleBoxFlat:
+	var s := _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_CARD, border, width, 12)
+	s.content_margin_top = 16
+	s.content_margin_bottom = 14
+	s.content_margin_left = 10
+	s.content_margin_right = 10
+	return s
+
+
 static func _tiles(theme: Theme) -> void:
 	var filled := _flat(Palette.PARCHMENT_INSET, Palette.PARCHMENT_BORDER, 2, 6)
 	theme.set_type_variation(ThemeKeys.ITEM_TILE, "PanelContainer")
--- a/client/scripts/theme/palette.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/theme/palette.gd
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ const INK_BODY := Color("4a3f2c")
 const INK_MUTED := Color("6a5a3a")
 const INK_LABEL := Color("5a4326")
 const INK_GOLD := Color("8f6a2a")
+const INK_LABEL_MUTED := Color("8a7748")   # section labels on parchment (creation sheet)

 # --- Text on dark ---
 const CREAM := Color("e8ddc8")
--- a/client/scripts/theme/theme_keys.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/theme/theme_keys.gd
@@ -16,6 +16,17 @@ const ITEM_TILE_EMPTY := &"ItemTileEmpty"
 const PARCHMENT_CARD := &"ParchmentCard"
 const PARCHMENT_INSET := &"ParchmentInset"
 const DARK_PANEL := &"DarkPanel"
+const SELECT_CARD := &"SelectCard"     # race/calling card: a Button whose `pressed` is CHOSEN
+const SKILL_CHIP := &"SkillChip"       # toggle: unpicked / picked / can't-pick-now (dim)
+const SKILL_CHIP_GRANTED := &"SkillChipGranted"  # a race-GRANTED skill: owned (gold + ✓), inert
+const CHOSEN_TAG := &"ChosenTag"       # the little crimson "CHOSEN" flag
+const PRIMARY_TAG := &"PrimaryTag"     # the little gold "PRIMARY" flag
+const PRIMARY_CARD := &"PrimaryCard"   # the ability card ringed as the calling's primary
+const ABILITY_CARD := &"AbilityCard"   # ...and its UNringed state. Not ParchmentCard: the
+                                       # ability card carries a badge on its top edge and
+                                       # needs the headroom for it (mock padding-top 16 vs
+                                       # the generic card's 6), and ParchmentCard is shared
+                                       # with the shell.

 ## Font roles (Label type-variations carrying a font, not a stylebox). Kept
 ## separate from ALL below, which is stylebox variations + their base type only.
@@ -24,6 +35,40 @@ const ACCENT := &"Accent"
 const MONO := &"Mono"
 const TITLE_LOGO := &"TitleLogo"
 const TITLE_KICKER := &"TitleKicker"
+const SECTION_LABEL := &"SectionLabel"
+const CARD_TITLE := &"CardTitle"   # a select-card's name, dark ink ON PARCHMENT
+const CARD_BODY := &"CardBody"     # a select-card's blurb, muted ink ON PARCHMENT
+
+## Every FONT role + the base Control type it decorates. Deliberately NOT folded
+## into ALL — ALL's "stylebox variations only" contract is relied on elsewhere
+## (test_every_variation_resolves, and the styleboxes the screens set). Kept as a
+## second enumerable set so a guard that means "every variation the builder
+## touches" can iterate BOTH and never silently cover only half of them: the
+## drift guard used to iterate ALL alone, so a font, a font size or a font colour
+## could change in the builder and the committed .tres stay stale, suite green.
+const FONT_ROLES := {
+	HEADING: "Label",
+	ACCENT: "Label",
+	MONO: "Label",
+	TITLE_LOGO: "Label",
+	TITLE_KICKER: "Label",
+	SECTION_LABEL: "Label",
+	CARD_TITLE: "Label",
+	CARD_BODY: "Label",
+}
+
+## Base Control types the builder styles DIRECTLY — no set_type_variation is
+## ever called for these, so a fresh Theme reports get_type_variation_base("")
+## for them. Kept as its own set (not folded into ALL or FONT_ROLES) because a
+## base type is not a variation: nothing sets `theme_type_variation` to
+## "RichTextLabel" anywhere, the node's own class name is the lookup key.
+## Today: RichTextLabel, the builder's prose voice (mock README Typography:
+## serif body/italic emphasis) — the creation screen's origin panel and
+## calling detail panel are RichTextLabels rendering this styling directly,
+## i.e. every line of DM prose the screen shows.
+const BASE_TYPES := {
+	&"RichTextLabel": true,
+}

 ## Every variation name + the base Control type it decorates. The builder and the
 ## test both iterate this so they can never drift apart.
@@ -39,4 +84,11 @@ const ALL := {
 	PARCHMENT_CARD: "PanelContainer",
 	PARCHMENT_INSET: "PanelContainer",
 	DARK_PANEL: "PanelContainer",
+	SELECT_CARD: "Button",
+	SKILL_CHIP: "Button",
+	SKILL_CHIP_GRANTED: "Button",
+	CHOSEN_TAG: "Label",
+	PRIMARY_TAG: "Label",
+	PRIMARY_CARD: "PanelContainer",
+	ABILITY_CARD: "PanelContainer",
 }
--- a/client/scripts/ui/creation/character_creation.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/character_creation.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,304 @@
+class_name CharacterCreation
+extends Control
+## The creation screen (mock: Character Creation). Layout is authored in
+## CharacterCreation.tscn — open it in the editor to arrange it (ADR 0001). This
+## script does on-load work only: @onready refs, signal wiring, and binding the
+## draft into AUTHORED nodes. It creates no nodes and it owns no rules.
+##
+## Every rule lives in CreationDraft; every display string derived from a rules
+## table lives in CreationCopy; the prose lives in ContentDB. This file is glue.
+##
+## §2: the screen never hands an attribute value to anything. It emits a seed and
+## four choices, and NewGame.construct re-rolls from that seed itself.
+## §7: LCK appears nowhere here. Five ability cards. Never six.
+
+signal creation_confirmed(creation: Dictionary)
+
+## Shown under the CTA when the draft is legal. When it is NOT legal, the first
+## validation error takes this slot instead — the player is told what is wrong, in
+## the same place, in the same dry voice. §13: even the nag is content.
+const CTA_HINT := "no second chances out there"
+
+## Injection seams — set BETWEEN instantiate() and add_child(), as the shell does
+## for DmService. _ready builds the real ones when nothing was supplied.
+var world: ContentDB = null
+var origin: Dictionary = {}
+
+var draft: CreationDraft
+
+var _race_cards: Array = []
+var _calling_cards: Array = []
+var _pool_chips: Array = []
+var _bonus_chips: Array = []
+var _ability_cards: Array = []
+
+@onready var _plate_name: Label = $Split/Bay/Col/Nameplate/Name
+@onready var _plate_sub: Label = $Split/Bay/Col/Nameplate/Sub
+@onready var _origin_text: RichTextLabel = $Split/Bay/Col/OriginCard/Box/Text
+@onready var _race_row: HBoxContainer = $Split/Sheet/Body/RaceSection/Cards
+@onready var _calling_row: HBoxContainer = $Split/Sheet/Body/CallingSection/Cards
+@onready var _detail_blurb: RichTextLabel = $Split/Sheet/Body/CallingSection/Detail/Box/Blurb
+@onready var _detail_mech: Label = $Split/Sheet/Body/CallingSection/Detail/Box/Mechanics
+@onready var _pool_row: HBoxContainer = $Split/Sheet/Body/SkillSection/PoolRow
+@onready var _pool_count: Label = $Split/Sheet/Body/SkillSection/PoolRow/Count
+@onready var _bonus_row: HFlowContainer = $Split/Sheet/Body/SkillSection/BonusRow
+@onready var _ability_row: HBoxContainer = $Split/Sheet/Body/AbilitySection/Cards
+@onready var _points: Label = $Split/Sheet/Body/AbilitySection/Head/Points
+@onready var _reroll: Button = $Split/Sheet/Body/AbilitySection/Head/Reroll
+@onready var _name_edit: LineEdit = $Split/Sheet/Body/Footer/NameBox/NameEdit
+@onready var _enter: Button = $Split/Sheet/Body/Footer/CtaBox/Enter
+@onready var _error: Label = $Split/Sheet/Body/Footer/CtaBox/Error
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	# The .tscn root has a fixed size and NO full-rect anchors — a root Control run
+	# via F6 is not sized by full-rect anchors and collapses to (0,0) (the M3-a bug).
+	_fit_to_viewport()
+	get_viewport().size_changed.connect(_fit_to_viewport)
+
+	if world == null:
+		world = ContentDB.new()
+		world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	if origin.is_empty():
+		origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+
+	_collect_authored_nodes()
+	_wire()
+
+	draft = CreationDraft.fresh()
+	draft.set_race(Races.IDS[0])
+	var allowed := _allowed_callings()
+	if not allowed.is_empty():
+		draft.set_calling(allowed[0])
+	# A degenerate origin (zero allowed callings, or no build_constraints at all)
+	# leaves calling_id unset rather than crashing — §13, never an error thrown
+	# at the player. The CTA simply stays disabled; there is no calling to invent.
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _fit_to_viewport() -> void:
+	size = get_viewport_rect().size
+
+
+func _allowed_callings() -> Array:
+	## The ORIGIN gates the callings. The screen does not hardcode seven — a later
+	## origin may allow fewer, and construct would reject a calling it disallows.
+	var allowed: Array = origin.get("build_constraints", {}).get("allowed_callings", [])
+	var out: Array = []
+	for id in Callings.IDS:          # Callings.IDS fixes the ORDER; the origin fixes the SET
+		if id in allowed:
+			out.append(id)
+	return out
+
+
+func _collect_authored_nodes() -> void:
+	# Fixed authored nodes, gathered — never created (ADR 0001). Spares hide.
+	for i in range(4):
+		_race_cards.append(_race_row.get_node("Race%d" % i))
+	for i in range(7):
+		_calling_cards.append(_calling_row.get_node("Calling%d" % i))
+	for i in range(6):
+		_pool_chips.append(_pool_row.get_node("Pool%d" % i))
+	for i in range(9):
+		_bonus_chips.append(_bonus_row.get_node("Bonus%d" % i))
+	for i in range(5):
+		_ability_cards.append(_ability_row.get_node("Ab%d" % i))
+
+
+func _wire() -> void:
+	for i in range(_race_cards.size()):
+		_race_cards[i].pressed.connect(_on_race_pressed.bind(i))
+	for i in range(_calling_cards.size()):
+		_calling_cards[i].pressed.connect(_on_calling_pressed.bind(i))
+	for i in range(_pool_chips.size()):
+		_pool_chips[i].pressed.connect(_on_pool_pressed.bind(i))
+	for i in range(_bonus_chips.size()):
+		_bonus_chips[i].pressed.connect(_on_bonus_pressed.bind(i))
+	for i in range(_ability_cards.size()):
+		var card: PanelContainer = _ability_cards[i]
+		card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Minus").pressed.connect(_on_minus_pressed.bind(i))
+		card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Plus").pressed.connect(_on_plus_pressed.bind(i))
+	_reroll.pressed.connect(_on_reroll_pressed)
+	_name_edit.text_changed.connect(_on_name_changed)
+	_enter.pressed.connect(_on_enter_pressed)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------- input -> draft
+
+func _on_race_pressed(i: int) -> void:
+	draft.set_race(Races.IDS[i])
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_calling_pressed(i: int) -> void:
+	var allowed := _allowed_callings()
+	if i >= allowed.size():
+		return
+	draft.set_calling(allowed[i])
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_pool_pressed(i: int) -> void:
+	var pool := draft.skill_pool()
+	if i < pool.size():
+		draft.toggle_skill(pool[i])
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_bonus_pressed(i: int) -> void:
+	draft.set_bonus_skill(Skills.IDS[i])
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_plus_pressed(i: int) -> void:
+	draft.increment(Attributes.IDS[i])
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_minus_pressed(i: int) -> void:
+	draft.decrement(Attributes.IDS[i])
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_reroll_pressed() -> void:
+	draft.reroll()
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_name_changed(text: String) -> void:
+	draft.name = text
+	_bind()
+
+
+func _on_enter_pressed() -> void:
+	if not draft.is_complete(origin, world):
+		return
+	creation_confirmed.emit(draft.to_creation())
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------- draft -> nodes
+
+func _bind() -> void:
+	_bind_races()
+	_bind_callings()
+	_bind_skills()
+	_bind_abilities()
+	_bind_bay()
+	_bind_cta()
+
+
+func _bind_races() -> void:
+	for i in range(_race_cards.size()):
+		var id: String = Races.IDS[i]
+		var card: Button = _race_cards[i]
+		card.get_node("Box/Name").text = str(world.race(id).get("name", id.capitalize()))
+		card.get_node("Box/Blurb").text = str(world.race(id).get("blurb", ""))
+		card.get_node("Box/Trait").text = CreationCopy.race_trait(id)
+		card.button_pressed = (id == draft.race_id)
+		card.get_node("Tag").visible = card.button_pressed
+
+
+func _bind_callings() -> void:
+	var allowed := _allowed_callings()
+	for i in range(_calling_cards.size()):
+		var card: Button = _calling_cards[i]
+		if i >= allowed.size():
+			card.visible = false          # a spare authored slot: hide it (ADR 0001)
+			continue
+		var id: String = allowed[i]
+		card.visible = true
+		card.get_node("Box/Name").text = str(world.calling(id).get("name", id.capitalize()))
+		card.get_node("Box/Chip").text = Callings.primary(id).to_upper()
+		card.button_pressed = (id == draft.calling_id)
+		card.get_node("Tag").visible = card.button_pressed
+
+	_detail_blurb.text = "[i]%s[/i]" % str(world.calling(draft.calling_id).get("blurb", ""))
+	_detail_mech.text = CreationCopy.calling_detail(draft.calling_id)
+
+
+func _bind_skills() -> void:
+	var pool := draft.skill_pool()
+	_pool_count.text = "%d of %d chosen" % [draft.skills.size(), draft.picks_needed()]
+	for i in range(_pool_chips.size()):
+		var chip: Button = _pool_chips[i]
+		if i >= pool.size():
+			chip.visible = false
+			continue
+		var skill: String = pool[i]
+		var granted := draft.is_granted(skill)
+		chip.visible = true
+		# A granted skill reads as OWNED (gold + ✓ via SkillChipGranted), not merely
+		# disabled — otherwise it looks identical to a "picks are spent" chip and reads
+		# as "unavailable" rather than "you already have this".
+		chip.theme_type_variation = ThemeKeys.SKILL_CHIP_GRANTED if granted else ThemeKeys.SKILL_CHIP
+		chip.text = ("✓ " + CreationCopy.skill_label(skill)) if granted else CreationCopy.skill_label(skill)
+		chip.button_pressed = draft.is_picked(skill)
+		# Inert when the race already granted it, or when the picks are spent.
+		chip.disabled = granted or (not draft.is_picked(skill) and not draft.can_pick(skill))
+
+	_bonus_row.visible = draft.wants_bonus_skill()
+	for i in range(_bonus_chips.size()):
+		var skill: String = Skills.IDS[i]
+		var chip: Button = _bonus_chips[i]
+		chip.text = CreationCopy.skill_label(skill)
+		chip.button_pressed = (draft.bonus_skill == skill)
+		chip.disabled = not draft.can_take_bonus(skill) and draft.bonus_skill != skill
+
+
+func _bind_abilities() -> void:
+	var rolled := draft.rolled()
+	var final := draft.final()
+	var primary := Callings.primary(draft.calling_id)
+	_points.text = "points left: %d" % draft.points_left()
+
+	for i in range(_ability_cards.size()):
+		var stat: String = Attributes.IDS[i]
+		var card: PanelContainer = _ability_cards[i]
+		var spent := int(draft.spend.get(stat, 0))
+		card.get_node("Box/Key").text = stat.to_upper()
+		card.get_node("Box/Value").text = str(int(final[stat]))
+		card.get_node("Box/Rolled").text = "rolled %d%s" % [
+			int(rolled[stat]), (" +%d" % spent) if spent > 0 else ""]
+		card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Plus").disabled = not draft.can_increment(stat)
+		card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Minus").disabled = not draft.can_decrement(stat)
+		# Overlay/Tag, not Tag: the ability card is a PanelContainer, and a Container
+		# force-fits every child it has — which stretched the badge across the card and
+		# parked it on top of the rolled value. The Control overlay is not a Container,
+		# so the badge's anchors survive and it rides the card's top edge (ADR 0001).
+		card.get_node("Overlay/Tag").visible = (stat == primary)
+		card.theme_type_variation = ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_CARD if stat == primary else ThemeKeys.ABILITY_CARD
+
+
+func _bind_bay() -> void:
+	var shown_name := draft.name.strip_edges()
+	_plate_name.text = shown_name if shown_name != "" else "Nameless"
+	_plate_sub.text = "%s · %s" % [
+		str(world.race(draft.race_id).get("name", "")),
+		str(world.calling(draft.calling_id).get("name", "")),
+	]
+	_origin_text.text = "[i]%s[/i]" % _origin_prose()
+
+
+func _origin_prose() -> String:
+	## The DM sizes you up — authored, not an AI call. The DM's real entrance is the
+	## shell's opening narration, one screen later, at the first moment where speaking
+	## means something (§13: authored text is CONTENT, not error handling).
+	var race: Dictionary = world.race(draft.race_id)
+	var calling: Dictionary = world.calling(draft.calling_id)
+	# A missing fragment degrades to the blurb rather than crashing. The content
+	# parity test stops that from ever shipping; this stops it from ever exploding.
+	var race_frag := str(race.get("fragment", race.get("blurb", "")))
+	var calling_frag := str(calling.get("fragment", calling.get("blurb", "")))
+	return "%s Now you carry a %s's work — %s" % [
+		race_frag, str(calling.get("name", "")).to_lower(), calling_frag]
+
+
+func _bind_cta() -> void:
+	## The errors array is the VALIDATOR's, written for code. What lands on the
+	## label is CreationCopy's, written for the player — "choose two more
+	## proficiencies", not "hedge_mage picks 2 skills, got 0" (§13). The mapping is
+	## in the presentation layer on purpose: NewGame.validate's strings are a
+	## contract, and this screen is not the only thing that reads them.
+	var errors := draft.errors(origin, world)
+	_enter.disabled = not errors.is_empty()
+	_error.text = CreationCopy.error_line(str(errors[0]), draft) if not errors.is_empty() else CTA_HINT
--- a/client/scripts/ui/creation/character_creation.gd.uid
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/character_creation.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://3cxsq82gjlfk
--- a/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_copy.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_copy.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+class_name CreationCopy
+extends RefCounted
+## Display strings for the creation screen, DERIVED from the rules tables.
+##
+## Prose lives in content (blurbs, fragments). NUMBERS LIVE IN CODE. The card reads
+## both and repeats neither. A hit die written into a JSON — or typed into a string
+## literal here — is a second source of truth, and it will eventually disagree with
+## the table. Every number below is read from Callings/Races/Skills at call time, so
+## retuning a calling retunes its card.
+##
+## §7: nothing here may mention Luck, in any form. §2: presentation only.
+
+const ARMOR_WORD := {
+	"none": "no armour",
+	"light": "light armour",
+	"medium": "medium armour",
+	"heavy": "heavy armour",
+}
+
+## The one line the player reads when the draft will not hold. §13: a fallback is
+## CONTENT, not error handling — so even an error nobody anticipated speaks in the
+## DM's voice rather than showing him a validator's grammar.
+const UNSPOKEN := "something in this does not hold — look again"
+
+const NUMBER_WORD := {
+	1: "one", 2: "two", 3: "three", 4: "four", 5: "five",
+	6: "six", 7: "seven", 8: "eight", 9: "nine",
+}
+
+
+static func calling_detail(id: String) -> String:
+	## e.g. "d8 · light armour · MP (FTH) · saves DEX + MAG · picks 4 skills · talent backstab"
+	if not Callings.exists(id):
+		return ""
+	var saves: Array = []
+	for s in Callings.saves(id):
+		saves.append(s.to_upper())
+	return "d%d · %s · %s · saves %s · picks %d skills · talent %s" % [
+		Callings.hit_die(id),
+		armor_word(id),
+		resource_word(id),
+		" + ".join(saves),
+		Callings.skill_count(id),
+		talent_word(id),
+	]
+
+
+static func talent_word(id: String) -> String:
+	## second_wind -> "second wind". Four of the seven talent IDS carry an
+	## underscore, and the card printed the raw id: the player read "talent
+	## second_wind" off the calling card. Ids are snake_case; humans are not — the
+	## same reason skill_label() exists. Read from the table at call time, so
+	## retuning a talent retunes the card.
+	return Callings.talent(id).replace("_", " ")
+
+
+static func armor_word(id: String) -> String:
+	## The card says "no armour", not "none". Public so the test can assert against
+	## the DERIVED word rather than the raw table value — "none" is not a substring
+	## of "no armour", and asserting on the raw value only ever passed by accident.
+	return ARMOR_WORD.get(Callings.armor(id), Callings.armor(id))
+
+
+static func resource_word(id: String) -> String:
+	## Martials live on cooldowns; casters on a pool off their casting stat.
+	if not Callings.is_caster(id):
+		return "cooldowns"
+	return "MP (%s)" % Callings.casting_stat(id).to_upper()
+
+
+static func race_trait(id: String) -> String:
+	## e.g. "+1 to every save · +1 skill of choice" / "Poison resist · Nightsight"
+	if not Races.exists(id):
+		return ""
+	var parts: Array = []
+	if Races.save_bonus(id) > 0:
+		parts.append("+%d to every save" % Races.save_bonus(id))
+	for s in Races.granted_skills(id):
+		parts.append(skill_label(s).capitalize())
+	if Races.poison_save_bonus(id) > 0:
+		parts.append("Poison resist")
+	if Races.flag(id, "nightsight"):
+		parts.append("Nightsight")
+	if Races.flag(id, "claws"):
+		parts.append("Claws")
+	if Races.flag(id, "keen_scent"):
+		parts.append("Keen scent")
+	if Races.wants_bonus_skill(id):
+		parts.append("+1 skill of choice")
+	return " · ".join(parts)
+
+
+static func skill_label(skill: String) -> String:
+	## sleight_of_hand -> "sleight of hand". Ids are snake_case; humans are not.
+	return skill.replace("_", " ")
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------- §13: the nag
+
+static func error_line(error: String, draft: CreationDraft) -> String:
+	## The validator's diagnostics are written for whoever is reading the errors
+	## array — "hedge_mage picks 2 skills, got 0", "unresolved ref: item:x". They are
+	## a CONTRACT (other code reads those strings), so they are not rewritten; they
+	## are TRANSLATED, here, in the presentation layer, where translating them
+	## belongs. What the player reads on the second screen of the game is authored
+	## copy: dry, second person, flat. Never an id, never a compiler's grammar (§13).
+	##
+	## Anything unmapped degrades to UNSPOKEN — never the raw string, never blank.
+	if error.begins_with("player name is required"):
+		return "name yourself"
+	if error.begins_with("unknown race"):
+		return "decide what blood you carry"
+	if error.begins_with("unknown calling"):
+		return "decide what you do for coin"
+	if error.begins_with("calling not allowed by origin"):
+		return "that trade is closed to you — you left it behind"
+	if error.contains(" picks ") and error.contains(" skills, got "):
+		return _proficiency_line(draft)
+	if error.begins_with("duplicate skill pick"):
+		return "you have taken the same proficiency twice"
+	if error.contains(" is not in the ") and error.ends_with(" pool"):
+		return "your calling never taught you that"
+	if error.contains(" is already granted by "):
+		return "you have that one already — it buys you nothing"
+	if error.contains(" must choose a bonus skill"):
+		return "one more proficiency, any of them — take it"
+	if error.begins_with("unknown bonus skill"):
+		return "no one here would call that a skill"
+	if error.begins_with("bonus skill ") and error.ends_with(" is already proficient"):
+		return "you have that one already — take another"
+	if error.contains(" does not get a bonus skill"):
+		return "your blood grants no proficiency of its own"
+	return UNSPOKEN
+
+
+static func _proficiency_line(draft: CreationDraft) -> String:
+	## "choose two more proficiencies". The NUMBER is derived — Callings.skill_count
+	## is the rules table's business and the copy asks it, every time, rather than
+	## carrying a second copy of it that would one day disagree.
+	var left: int = draft.picks_left()
+	if left <= 0:
+		return "you have taken more proficiencies than your calling can carry"
+	if left == 1:
+		return "choose one more proficiency"
+	return "choose %s more proficiencies" % number_word(left)
+
+
+static func number_word(n: int) -> String:
+	return str(NUMBER_WORD.get(n, n))
--- a/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_copy.gd.uid
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_copy.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://rm6bkgstenf1
--- a/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+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.
+
+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:
+	## NewGame.SPEND_POOL is the ONE authority on the pool's size. A local copy of the
+	## number would be a second thing to keep in sync, and this class's whole contract
+	## is that it keeps none.
+	return NewGame.SPEND_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
+	# The mirror of can_take_bonus's `not is_picked(skill)`. Without it the guard is
+	# one-directional: take athletics as the human's bonus, then pick it AGAIN from
+	# the calling's pool, and the draft is invalid ("bonus skill athletics is already
+	# proficient") — the player holding an invalid draft he did not cause and cannot
+	# see, which is the exact thing set_calling's comment forbids. The chip goes inert
+	# instead; the bonus row is right there and the player can hand it back.
+	if skill == bonus_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()
--- a/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd.uid
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dkxuw5c4r6tld
--- a/client/scripts/ui/shell/main_window_shell.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/shell/main_window_shell.gd
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ extends Control
 const HttpTransport = preload("res://scripts/net/http_transport.gd")

 var service: DmService = null  # injection seam; real HttpTransport built if null
+var injected_log: CanonLog = null    # injection seam; _build_seed_log() if null (F6/standalone)
+var injected_state: GameState = null # injection seam; ShellState.seed() if null

 var _state: ShellState
 var _log: CanonLog
@@ -40,8 +42,10 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	_fit_to_viewport()
 	get_viewport().size_changed.connect(_fit_to_viewport)

-	_state = ShellState.seed()
-	_log = _build_seed_log()
+	# The injected character wins; the seed calls are the F6/standalone fallback —
+	# same shape as `service == null` building a real transport below.
+	_state = ShellState.for_character(injected_state, injected_log) if injected_state != null else ShellState.seed()
+	_log = injected_log if injected_log != null else _build_seed_log()
 	_bind_state()

 	if service == null:
--- a/client/scripts/ui/shell/shell_state.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/shell/shell_state.gd
@@ -34,3 +34,19 @@ static func seed() -> ShellState:
 	s.location_label = "THE LOWER WARD"
 	s.dock_open = true
 	return s
+
+
+static func for_character(state: GameState, log: CanonLog) -> ShellState:
+	## The real HUD state for a constructed character. Vitals + location come from
+	## the character (§2 — code owns them); turn_order/consumables/round_label are
+	## still seed() placeholders because combat (M5) and inventory (M7) own those.
+	var s := ShellState.seed()   # start from the placeholders, then overwrite what is real
+	s.vitals = {
+		"hp": state.sheet.hp,
+		"hp_max": state.sheet.max_hp(),
+		"mp": state.sheet.mp,
+		"mp_max": state.sheet.max_mp(),
+		"purse_copper": state.purse_copper,
+	}
+	s.location_label = log.location.name
+	return s
--- a/client/scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ extends Control

 signal menu_activated(id: StringName)

-const SHELL := "res://scenes/shell/MainWindowShell.tscn"
-
 var _rows: Array = []
 var _sel: int = 0

@@ -44,7 +42,6 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	_wire_row_mouse()

 	_footer_left.text = Version.new().footer()
-	menu_activated.connect(_on_menu_activated)
 	_update_selection()


@@ -128,16 +125,6 @@ func _activate(i: int) -> void:
 	menu_activated.emit(_rows[i].get_meta("action"))


-func _on_menu_activated(id: StringName) -> void:
-	match id:
-		&"new_game":
-			get_tree().change_scene_to_file(SHELL)
-		&"quit":
-			get_tree().quit()
-		_:
-			pass  # inert placeholder — the screen lands in a later milestone
-
-
 func _update_selection() -> void:
 	for i in range(_rows.size()):
 		var row: Control = _rows[i]
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_character_creation_screen.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_character_creation_screen.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,761 @@
+extends "res://addons/gut/test.gd"
+
+const SCENE := "res://scenes/creation/CharacterCreation.tscn"
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")
+const NewGame = preload("res://scripts/newgame/new_game.gd")
+
+
+func _world() -> ContentDB:
+	var w := ContentDB.new()
+	w.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	return w
+
+
+func _screen() -> CharacterCreation:
+	# Inject origin + world BEFORE _ready (add_child) — instantiate() does not run
+	# _ready(), add_child does. Same seam the shell uses for DmService.
+	var node = load(SCENE).instantiate()
+	node.world = _world()
+	node.origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	add_child_autofree(node)
+	return node
+
+
+func _screen_with_origin(origin: Dictionary) -> CharacterCreation:
+	# Same seam as _screen(), but with an origin the CALLER controls — used to
+	# prove the calling-gate actually gates, which the real "deserter" origin
+	# (all 7 callings allowed) cannot do: 7 shown == 7 allowed is trivially true
+	# whether or not the hide branch in _bind_callings exists at all.
+	var node = load(SCENE).instantiate()
+	node.world = _world()
+	node.origin = origin
+	add_child_autofree(node)
+	return node
+
+
+func _complete_a_valid_draft(s: CharacterCreation) -> void:
+	## Drives the draft to a legal state by pressing the same AUTHORED NODES a
+	## player's clicks fire — not by calling the _on_*_pressed handlers directly.
+	## Calling the handler proves the handler works; it proves nothing about
+	## _wire() actually connecting the node's `pressed` signal to it. Pressing the
+	## node is the only path that exercises both at once.
+	s._name_edit.text = "Aldric"
+	s._on_name_changed("Aldric")  # LineEdit.text_changed is not raised by setting .text in a test.
+
+	s._race_cards[Races.IDS.find("human")].pressed.emit()
+	s._calling_cards[s._allowed_callings().find("sellsword")].pressed.emit()
+
+	var pool: Array = s.draft.skill_pool()
+	for i in range(pool.size()):
+		s._pool_chips[i].pressed.emit()
+
+	for i in range(Skills.IDS.size()):
+		if s.draft.can_take_bonus(Skills.IDS[i]):
+			s._bonus_chips[i].pressed.emit()
+			break
+
+
+func test_screen_applies_theme_and_fits_viewport():
+	var packed = load(SCENE)
+	assert_true(packed is PackedScene)
+	var s := _screen()
+	assert_true(s is Control)
+	assert_true(s.theme is Theme, "the screen pulls the shared theme")
+
+	# The .tscn root is authored at exactly 1920x1080 (project.godot's viewport
+	# size too) — assert_gt(s.size.x, 0.0) passes on the AUTHORED offsets alone,
+	# even with _fit_to_viewport() and its size_changed connection deleted
+	# outright. Prove the fit is actually live: change the window's reported
+	# resolution to something that is NOT 1920x1080 and assert the root followed.
+	#
+	# get_viewport().size / get_window().size do not move get_viewport_rect() —
+	# this project runs with window/stretch/mode="canvas_items", so a Control's
+	# visible rect tracks content_scale_size, not the raw window pixel size.
+	# content_scale_size is the property that actually reaches Viewport.size_changed
+	# here, headless included.
+	var win := s.get_window()
+	var original_scale_size: Vector2i = win.content_scale_size
+	win.content_scale_size = Vector2i(1600, 900)
+	assert_eq(s.size, Vector2(1600, 900),
+		"the root must follow a resize through _fit_to_viewport()'s size_changed hook (the M3-a collapse guard)")
+	win.content_scale_size = original_scale_size
+	assert_eq(s.size, Vector2(1920, 1080), "restoring the viewport must restore the root, or later tests see a stale size")
+
+
+func test_a_draft_exists_with_a_seed_on_load():
+	var s := _screen()
+	assert_not_null(s.draft)
+	assert_ne(s.draft.character_seed, 0)
+
+
+func test_five_ability_cards_never_six():
+	# §7 — LCK has no card, no row, no tooltip. The player must never be able to
+	# CALCULATE that he is cursed.
+	#
+	# _ability_cards is populated by _collect_authored_nodes() looping
+	# `range(5)` — that loop is 5 by construction and would stay 5 even if the
+	# .tscn grew a 6th card. Assert against the SCENE's actual children instead.
+	var s := _screen()
+	assert_eq(s._ability_cards.size(), 5)
+	assert_eq(s._ability_row.get_child_count(), 5,
+		"five authored ability cards — the scene, not the script's range()")
+	assert_null(s._ability_row.get_node_or_null("Ab5"),
+		"there is no sixth ability card, and there never is (§7)")
+	for card in s._ability_cards:
+		assert_false(card.name.to_lower().contains("lck"))
+
+
+func test_no_node_on_the_screen_says_luck():
+	# Sweep every Control, not just Label — RichTextLabel (_origin_text,
+	# _detail_blurb, the only two nodes rendering authored ContentDB prose)
+	# extends Control, not Label, and a `find_children(..., "Label", ...)` filter
+	# never looks at it. Buttons (`text`) and the LineEdit (`placeholder_text`)
+	# are swept too.
+	#
+	# The two RichTextLabels render race.fragment / calling.fragment /
+	# calling.blurb, which DIFFER per race and per calling. Checking only the
+	# default binding (human + sellsword) means a "luck" in, say, the Reaver's
+	# blurb or the Beastfolk's fragment would reach the screen and never be seen.
+	# Rebind across every race x every allowed calling (the deserter origin used
+	# by _screen() allows all 7, so this is a full 4 x 7 = 28-combination sweep).
+	var s := _screen()
+	var checked_a_rich_text_label := false
+	var combos_checked := 0
+
+	# The word "luck" is not the only thing that leaks Luck. Luck.BANDS holds the
+	# DESCRIPTORS — "the dice are kind today" — and a descriptor on this screen is
+	# strictly worse than the number: the player would re-roll until his Luck read
+	# well, which is Luck made CALCULABLE, the precise §7 failure. It is structurally
+	# unreachable today (the screen holds no GameState and the draft has no LCK), and
+	# it costs three lines to keep it that way.
+	var forbidden: Array = ["luck", "lck"]
+	for band in Luck.BANDS:
+		forbidden.append(str(band["text"]).to_lower())
+
+	for race_i in range(Races.IDS.size()):
+		s._race_cards[race_i].pressed.emit()
+		var allowed: Array = s._allowed_callings()
+		for calling_i in range(allowed.size()):
+			s._calling_cards[calling_i].pressed.emit()
+			combos_checked += 1
+			var combo := "%s + %s" % [Races.IDS[race_i], allowed[calling_i]]
+
+			for node in s.find_children("*", "Control", true, false):
+				if node is RichTextLabel:
+					checked_a_rich_text_label = true
+				for prop in ["text", "placeholder_text", "tooltip_text"]:
+					var value: Variant = node.get(prop)
+					if typeof(value) != TYPE_STRING:
+						continue
+					var lowered: String = value.to_lower()
+					for word in forbidden:
+						assert_false(lowered.contains(word),
+							"%s.%s leaks Luck (§7) at %s: '%s'" % [node.name, prop, combo, word])
+
+			# `checked_a_rich_text_label` alone only proves the sweep REACHED a
+			# RichTextLabel, not that it had anything in it — an empty label would
+			# pass the Luck check for a reason that has nothing to do with §7.
+			#
+			# But _bind_bay() and _bind_callings() both wrap their prose in BBCode
+			# italics ("[i]%s[/i]"), and _origin_prose() always emits the literal
+			# connective " Now you carry a %s's work — " even when every fragment is
+			# blank. So `"[i][/i]".strip_edges().is_empty()` is FALSE — the wrapper
+			# alone would pass this guard even if ContentDB served nothing at all.
+			# Assert the labels render the WORLD's own strings, not just non-blankness.
+			var race_id: String = Races.IDS[race_i]
+			var calling_id: String = allowed[calling_i]
+			var race_frag: String = str(s.world.race(race_id).get("fragment", s.world.race(race_id).get("blurb", "")))
+			var calling_frag: String = str(s.world.calling(calling_id).get("fragment", s.world.calling(calling_id).get("blurb", "")))
+			var calling_blurb: String = str(s.world.calling(calling_id).get("blurb", ""))
+
+			assert_false(race_frag.strip_edges().is_empty(),
+				"race %s has no fragment (or blurb) to render — the content itself must not be blank" % race_id)
+			assert_false(calling_frag.strip_edges().is_empty(),
+				"calling %s has no fragment (or blurb) to render — the content itself must not be blank" % calling_id)
+			assert_false(calling_blurb.strip_edges().is_empty(),
+				"calling %s has no blurb to render — the content itself must not be blank" % calling_id)
+
+			assert_true(s._origin_text.text.contains(race_frag),
+				"the DM panel must render %s's own fragment, not just non-empty BBCode, at %s" % [race_id, combo])
+			assert_true(s._origin_text.text.contains(calling_frag),
+				"the DM panel must render %s's own fragment, not just non-empty BBCode, at %s" % [calling_id, combo])
+			assert_true(s._detail_blurb.text.contains(calling_blurb),
+				"the detail panel must render %s's own blurb, not just non-empty BBCode, at %s" % [calling_id, combo])
+
+	assert_true(checked_a_rich_text_label,
+		"the sweep must actually reach the RichTextLabels or it is checking nothing")
+	assert_eq(combos_checked, Races.IDS.size() * Callings.IDS.size(),
+		"every race must be checked against every allowed calling — 4 x 7, not just the default binding")
+
+
+func test_only_the_origin_s_allowed_callings_are_shown():
+	# The deserter origin allows all 7 callings, so against it "shown == allowed"
+	# is a trivial 7 == 7 that would stay green even with the hide branch in
+	# _bind_callings deleted outright. Use a RESTRICTIVE origin, deliberately out
+	# of Callings.IDS order, so the gate is doing real work.
+	var allowed := ["bonesetter", "sellsword", "cutpurse"]
+	var s := _screen_with_origin({"build_constraints": {"allowed_callings": allowed}})
+
+	var expected_order: Array = []
+	for id in Callings.IDS:              # Callings.IDS fixes the ORDER
+		if id in allowed:                 # the origin fixes the SET
+			expected_order.append(id)
+	assert_eq(expected_order.size(), 3)
+
+	var shown := 0
+	for i in range(s._calling_cards.size()):
+		var card: Button = s._calling_cards[i]
+		if i < expected_order.size():
+			assert_true(card.visible, "calling %s must be shown" % expected_order[i])
+			var expected_name: String = str(
+				s.world.calling(expected_order[i]).get("name", expected_order[i].capitalize()))
+			assert_eq(card.get_node("Box/Name").text, expected_name,
+				"visible cards must appear in Callings.IDS order, not the origin's list order")
+			shown += 1
+		else:
+			assert_false(card.visible,
+				"a calling the origin disallows stays hidden, not deleted")
+
+	assert_eq(shown, 3)
+
+
+func test_the_deserter_origin_shows_all_seven_callings():
+	var s := _screen()
+	var shown := 0
+	for card in s._calling_cards:
+		if card.visible:
+			shown += 1
+	assert_eq(shown, 7)
+
+
+func test_a_degenerate_origin_disables_entry_without_throwing():
+	# §13 — a degrade, never a crash. An origin with no build_constraints at all
+	# (or an empty allowed_callings list) must leave the draft with no calling to
+	# invent, every calling card hidden, and the CTA disabled — quietly.
+	#
+	# NOT {} — CharacterCreation._ready() treats an EMPTY origin Dictionary as
+	# "none supplied" and substitutes the deserter origin (`origin.is_empty()`),
+	# which allows all 7 callings and is not degenerate at all. A non-empty
+	# Dictionary that simply carries no build_constraints is the real degenerate
+	# case §13's comment in the source describes.
+	var s := _screen_with_origin({"id": "test-degenerate-origin"})
+	assert_eq(s.draft.calling_id, "",
+		"no allowed callings means no calling to default into")
+	for card in s._calling_cards:
+		assert_false(card.visible, "every calling card hides when none are allowed")
+	assert_true(s._enter.disabled, "a calling-less draft can never be legal")
+
+
+func test_authored_node_counts_match_the_rules_tables():
+	# _collect_authored_nodes() hardcodes 4/7/6/9/5. A table growing (a 5th race,
+	# an 8th calling, a 10th skill) must go red HERE, before a binder silently
+	# under-renders or indexes a table out of range at runtime.
+	var s := _screen()
+	assert_eq(s._race_cards.size(), Races.IDS.size())
+	assert_eq(s._calling_cards.size(), Callings.IDS.size())
+	assert_eq(s._bonus_chips.size(), Skills.IDS.size())
+	assert_eq(s._ability_cards.size(), Attributes.IDS.size())
+	# The pool row's 6 is the WIDEST calling's skill pool, not a table length —
+	# assert it covers every calling, so a 7-wide pool added later goes red
+	# instead of silently dropping a chip.
+	for id in Callings.IDS:
+		assert_true(s._pool_chips.size() >= Callings.skill_pool(id).size(),
+			"the pool row must fit %s's skill pool" % id)
+
+	# The above ties the SCRIPT's arrays to the tables. It says nothing about the
+	# SCENE — an orphan authored card (a stray "Race4" nobody wired or hid) would
+	# render, unbound and visible, with every assertion above still green. Tie the
+	# rows' actual child counts to the same tables.
+	assert_eq(s._race_row.get_child_count(), Races.IDS.size(),
+		"an orphan authored race card would sit here, unbound and visible")
+	assert_eq(s._calling_row.get_child_count(), Callings.IDS.size(),
+		"an orphan authored calling card would sit here, unbound and visible")
+	# BonusRow's first child is its own section Label ("HUMAN — ONE MORE, ANY
+	# SKILL") — not a chip — so its total is one MORE than Skills.IDS.size().
+	assert_eq(s._bonus_row.get_child_count(), Skills.IDS.size() + 1,
+		"an orphan authored bonus chip would sit here, unbound and visible")
+
+	# PoolRow was the one row the sweep above forgot — a stray authored "Pool6" would
+	# render unbound and visible with every assertion so far still green, which is
+	# exactly the bug this test exists to catch. Its count is not a table LENGTH: it
+	# is the widest calling's pool (plus its own "Count" label, which is not a chip),
+	# so derive that from the rules table rather than writing 6 down again.
+	var widest := 0
+	for id in Callings.IDS:
+		widest = maxi(widest, Callings.skill_pool(id).size())
+	assert_eq(widest, s._pool_chips.size(), "the pool row must hold exactly the widest calling's pool")
+	assert_eq(s._pool_row.get_child_count(), widest + 1,
+		"an orphan authored pool chip would sit here, unbound and visible (PoolRow also holds its Count label)")
+	assert_null(s._pool_row.get_node_or_null("Pool%d" % widest),
+		"there is no chip past the widest calling's pool — a stray Pool%d renders unbound" % widest)
+	assert_eq(s._pool_count.get_parent(), s._pool_row, "the +1 above is the Count label, and nothing else")
+
+
+func test_cta_is_disabled_until_the_draft_is_legal():
+	var s := _screen()
+	assert_true(s._enter.disabled, "an empty draft cannot enter the world")
+	assert_ne(s._error.text, CharacterCreation.CTA_HINT, "the screen says WHY, dryly")
+	assert_ne(s._error.text.strip_edges(), "")
+
+	_complete_a_valid_draft(s)
+	assert_false(s._enter.disabled)
+	assert_eq(s._error.text, CharacterCreation.CTA_HINT,
+		"a legal draft gets the mock's line back, not a blank")
+
+
+func test_the_nag_under_the_cta_is_authored_copy_and_never_a_validator_string():
+	# §13. The label used to read `str(errors[0])` — so the second screen of the game
+	# showed the player "sellsword picks 2 skills, got 0". Drive the screen through
+	# every invalid state it can actually reach, by pressing the nodes, and pin what
+	# the label says. Anchored to the authored phrases themselves: "contains no
+	# underscore" alone would pass on a blank label, or on the wrong copy.
+	var s := _screen()          # human + sellsword, nameless, nothing picked
+	var seen: Array = []
+
+	assert_eq(s._error.text, "name yourself", "the first thing missing is a name")
+	seen.append(s._error.text)
+
+	s._name_edit.text = "Aldric"
+	s._on_name_changed("Aldric")   # LineEdit.text_changed is not raised by setting .text
+	assert_eq(s._error.text, "choose two more proficiencies",
+		"the sellsword picks 2 and has none — and the two is DERIVED from Callings.skill_count")
+	seen.append(s._error.text)
+
+	s._pool_chips[0].pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.skills.size(), 1, "the pick landed, or the line below is about nothing")
+	assert_eq(s._error.text, "choose one more proficiency", "one is singular")
+	seen.append(s._error.text)
+
+	s._pool_chips[1].pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.skills.size(), 2)
+	assert_eq(s._error.text, "one more proficiency, any of them — take it",
+		"the human's bonus skill, in the Margreave's voice, not 'human must choose a bonus skill'")
+	seen.append(s._error.text)
+
+	for i in range(Skills.IDS.size()):
+		if s.draft.can_take_bonus(Skills.IDS[i]):
+			s._bonus_chips[i].pressed.emit()
+			break
+	assert_eq(s._error.text, CharacterCreation.CTA_HINT, "a legal draft gets the mock's line back")
+
+	# Nothing above may be an engineering string, and none of them may repeat.
+	assert_eq(seen.size(), 4)
+	for line in seen:
+		assert_false(line.contains("_"), "a snake_case id reached the player: %s" % line)
+		assert_false(line.contains("got "), "the validator's grammar reached the player: %s" % line)
+	var unique := {}
+	for line in seen:
+		unique[line] = true
+	assert_eq(unique.size(), 4, "each invalid state says a DIFFERENT thing — the nag is telling him what is missing")
+
+
+func test_a_skill_taken_as_the_bonus_goes_inert_in_the_calling_s_pool():
+	# The one-directional guard: can_take_bonus() refused an already-PICKED skill, but
+	# can_pick() ignored the bonus. Human + Sellsword, take athletics as the bonus,
+	# then press athletics in the pool — the chip was live and the pick LANDED, leaving
+	# a draft NewGame.validate rejects ("bonus skill athletics is already proficient").
+	var s := _screen()          # human + sellsword
+	var pool: Array = s.draft.skill_pool()
+	var athletics_i: int = pool.find("athletics")
+	var bonus_i: int = Skills.IDS.find("athletics")
+	assert_ne(athletics_i, -1, "athletics must be in the sellsword's pool or this proves nothing")
+	assert_false(s._pool_chips[athletics_i].disabled, "the chip starts live, or the assertion below is trivially true")
+
+	s._bonus_chips[bonus_i].pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.bonus_skill, "athletics")
+	assert_true(s._pool_chips[athletics_i].disabled,
+		"a skill the bonus already bought must render INERT in the pool")
+
+	# Button.pressed fires even on a disabled Button — the rule lives in the draft, not
+	# in the styling, so press it and prove the pick does not land.
+	s._pool_chips[athletics_i].pressed.emit()
+	assert_false(s.draft.is_picked("athletics"), "the pick must not land")
+	assert_false("bonus skill athletics is already proficient" in s.draft.errors(s.origin, s.world),
+		"the player must not be able to press his way into an invalid draft")
+
+	# And it is recoverable: hand the bonus back and the chip is live again.
+	s._bonus_chips[bonus_i].pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.bonus_skill, "")
+	assert_false(s._pool_chips[athletics_i].disabled, "handing the bonus back makes the pool chip live")
+	s._pool_chips[athletics_i].pressed.emit()
+	assert_true(s.draft.is_picked("athletics"))
+
+
+func test_pressing_enter_emits_exactly_the_draft_s_creation_dict():
+	var s := _screen()
+	_complete_a_valid_draft(s)
+	watch_signals(s)
+	s._enter.pressed.emit()
+	assert_signal_emitted_with_parameters(s, "creation_confirmed", [s.draft.to_creation()])
+
+
+func test_the_screen_never_constructs_the_character():
+	# The flow is M4-c's job, and a saga later synthesizes the same Dictionary and
+	# skips this scene entirely. The screen PRODUCES the dict; it does not spend it.
+	var s := _screen()
+	assert_false(s.has_method("construct"))
+
+
+func test_the_displayed_scores_are_the_draft_s_scores():
+	var s := _screen()
+	_complete_a_valid_draft(s)
+
+	# A fresh, unspent draft has final() == rolled() for EVERY stat, so comparing
+	# the Value label against final() alone cannot tell a `final`/`rolled` swap in
+	# the ability binder apart from the real thing. Spend a point — by pressing
+	# the actual Plus BUTTON, not _on_plus_pressed, so a broken _wire() would also
+	# be caught here — so final() and rolled() diverge and the assertion below has
+	# to actually choose one.
+	var spent_stat: String = Attributes.IDS[0]
+	s._ability_cards[0].get_node("Box/Buttons/Plus").pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(int(s.draft.spend.get(spent_stat, 0)), 1, "the spend actually landed")
+
+	var rolled: Dictionary = s.draft.rolled()
+	var final: Dictionary = s.draft.final()
+	assert_eq(int(final[spent_stat]), int(rolled[spent_stat]) + 1,
+		"spending a point must move final away from rolled, or nothing below distinguishes them")
+
+	for i in range(Attributes.IDS.size()):
+		var stat: String = Attributes.IDS[i]
+		var card = s._ability_cards[i]
+		var value_label: Label = card.get_node("Box/Value")
+		var rolled_label: Label = card.get_node("Box/Rolled")
+		assert_eq(value_label.text, str(int(final[stat])),
+			"%s's Value must show final(), not rolled()" % stat)
+
+		var spent: int = int(s.draft.spend.get(stat, 0))
+		var expected_rolled_text: String = "rolled %d%s" % [
+			int(rolled[stat]), (" +%d" % spent) if spent > 0 else ""]
+		assert_eq(rolled_label.text, expected_rolled_text,
+			"%s's Rolled sub-label must show the roll and the spend, nothing else covers it" % stat)
+
+
+func test_reroll_changes_what_is_on_screen():
+	var s := _screen()
+	# Spend a point BEFORE the re-roll, by pressing the actual Plus button — a
+	# fresh draft's pool already reads "points left: 3" with nothing spent, so
+	# asserting that value after reroll alone proves nothing about whether
+	# reroll() actually clears the spend.
+	s._ability_cards[0].get_node("Box/Buttons/Plus").pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s._points.text, "points left: 2", "the spend landed before the reroll")
+
+	var before := s.draft.character_seed
+	s._reroll.pressed.emit()
+	assert_ne(s.draft.character_seed, before)
+	assert_eq(s._points.text, "points left: 3", "a re-roll returns the pool")
+
+
+func test_pressing_a_race_card_sets_the_draft_s_race():
+	# Nothing in the suite ever emits a card's `pressed` signal — every existing
+	# test called _on_race_pressed directly. A mis-wired card (bound to the wrong
+	# index, or not connected at all — see _wire()) would leave every other test
+	# green. Press the elf card itself.
+	var s := _screen()
+	var elf_i: int = Races.IDS.find("elf")
+	s._race_cards[elf_i].pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.race_id, "elf",
+		"the CARD's pressed signal must reach the draft through _wire()")
+	assert_true(s._race_cards[elf_i].get_node("Tag").visible, "the chosen card shows its tag")
+
+
+func test_pressing_a_calling_card_sets_the_draft_s_calling():
+	var s := _screen()
+	var idx: int = s._allowed_callings().find("cutpurse")
+	s._calling_cards[idx].pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.calling_id, "cutpurse",
+		"the CARD's pressed signal must reach the draft through _wire()")
+
+
+func test_pressing_a_pool_chip_toggles_the_skill():
+	var s := _screen()
+	var pool: Array = s.draft.skill_pool()
+	var skill: String = pool[0]
+	s._pool_chips[0].pressed.emit()
+	assert_true(s.draft.is_picked(skill),
+		"the CHIP's pressed signal must reach toggle_skill through _wire()")
+	s._pool_chips[0].pressed.emit()
+	assert_false(s.draft.is_picked(skill), "pressing it again toggles it back off")
+
+
+func test_pressing_a_bonus_chip_sets_the_bonus_skill():
+	var s := _screen()  # human is the default race, and wants a bonus skill
+	var idx := -1
+	for i in range(Skills.IDS.size()):
+		if s.draft.can_take_bonus(Skills.IDS[i]):
+			idx = i
+			break
+	assert_ne(idx, -1, "the default draft (human) must have a takeable bonus skill")
+	s._bonus_chips[idx].pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.bonus_skill, Skills.IDS[idx],
+		"the CHIP's pressed signal must reach set_bonus_skill through _wire()")
+
+
+func test_pressing_the_minus_button_returns_a_spent_point():
+	# Nothing else in the suite ever presses Minus — every prior test only ever
+	# spent points, never gave one back.
+	var s := _screen()
+	var stat: String = Attributes.IDS[0]
+	var card = s._ability_cards[0]
+	card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Plus").pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(int(s.draft.spend.get(stat, 0)), 1)
+
+	card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Minus").pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(int(s.draft.spend.get(stat, 0)), 0,
+		"the MINUS button's pressed signal must reach the draft through _wire()")
+	assert_eq(s._points.text, "points left: 3")
+
+
+func test_minus_is_disabled_at_the_rolled_floor_plus_at_the_spent_pool():
+	var s := _screen()
+	var card = s._ability_cards[0]
+	var plus: Button = card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Plus")
+	var minus: Button = card.get_node("Box/Buttons/Minus")
+
+	assert_true(minus.disabled, "nothing has been spent yet — minus must be inert at the rolled floor")
+	plus.pressed.emit()
+	assert_false(minus.disabled, "a spent point makes minus live again")
+
+	# Drain the whole pool (SPEND_POOL == 3) into this one stat. points_left() is
+	# POOL-wide, not per-card, so every Plus on the screen must go inert together.
+	# A BOUNDED loop, deliberately — `while points_left() > 0` would hang forever
+	# if _wire() were ever broken (the press would never reach the draft), turning
+	# a guard meant to catch that exact bug into a stuck test run instead of a red one.
+	var pool_size: int = s.draft.points_left()
+	for i in range(pool_size + 1):
+		plus.pressed.emit()
+	assert_eq(s.draft.points_left(), 0)
+	assert_true(plus.disabled, "the pool is spent — this card's Plus must go inert")
+	var other_plus: Button = s._ability_cards[1].get_node("Box/Buttons/Plus")
+	assert_true(other_plus.disabled, "points_left() is pool-wide — every card's Plus disables together")
+
+
+func test_a_race_granted_skill_chip_is_inert_and_so_is_a_chip_once_picks_are_spent():
+	# Two real binder behaviours in one chip's line
+	# (chip.disabled = draft.is_granted(skill) or (not is_picked(skill) and not can_pick(skill)))
+	# that nothing in the suite observed. Elf grants "perception"; Cutpurse's pool
+	# has 6 skills (one of them "perception") and needs 4 picks — the only
+	# race/calling pairing where both halves of that OR are exercised at once.
+	var s := _screen()
+	s._race_cards[Races.IDS.find("elf")].pressed.emit()
+	var cutpurse_i: int = s._allowed_callings().find("cutpurse")
+	s._calling_cards[cutpurse_i].pressed.emit()
+
+	var pool: Array = s.draft.skill_pool()
+	var perception_i: int = pool.find("perception")
+	assert_ne(perception_i, -1, "cutpurse's pool must include perception for this test to mean anything")
+	assert_true(s._pool_chips[perception_i].disabled,
+		"a race-granted skill must be inert — the player already has it for free")
+
+	# Spend every pick on the OTHER skills in the pool, leaving exactly one behind.
+	var picked := 0
+	var left_behind_i := -1
+	for i in range(pool.size()):
+		if i == perception_i:
+			continue
+		if picked < s.draft.picks_needed():
+			s._pool_chips[i].pressed.emit()
+			picked += 1
+		else:
+			left_behind_i = i
+	assert_eq(picked, s.draft.picks_needed(), "the pool must actually be spent for this test to mean anything")
+	assert_ne(left_behind_i, -1, "cutpurse's pool must be wider than its pick count for this test to mean anything")
+	assert_true(s._pool_chips[left_behind_i].disabled,
+		"once the picks are spent, the remaining UNPICKED chip must go inert too")
+	assert_false(s._pool_chips[perception_i].button_pressed,
+		"the granted chip was never toggled — it was inert from the start")
+
+
+func test_bonus_row_shows_only_for_the_race_that_wants_one():
+	# _bonus_row.visible = draft.wants_bonus_skill() — nothing in the suite checks
+	# this. Human wants a bonus skill; the other three races do not.
+	var s := _screen()  # default race is human
+	assert_true(s._bonus_row.visible, "human wants a bonus skill choice")
+
+	for race_id in ["elf", "dwarf", "beastfolk"]:
+		s._race_cards[Races.IDS.find(race_id)].pressed.emit()
+		assert_false(s._bonus_row.visible, "%s does not want a bonus skill choice" % race_id)
+
+	s._race_cards[Races.IDS.find("human")].pressed.emit()
+	assert_true(s._bonus_row.visible, "switching back to a bonus-wanting race must show the row again")
+
+
+func test_ability_card_surfaces_the_calling_s_primary_stat():
+	# The RACE card's Tag is checked (test_pressing_a_race_card_sets_the_draft_s_race);
+	# the ability card's equivalent — Tag.visible and theme_type_variation marking
+	# which of the five stats is the calling's primary — is not.
+	var s := _screen()
+	var idx: int = s._allowed_callings().find("cutpurse")
+	s._calling_cards[idx].pressed.emit()
+	var primary: String = Callings.primary("cutpurse")
+	assert_eq(primary, "dex", "cutpurse's primary must be dex for this test to mean anything")
+
+	for i in range(Attributes.IDS.size()):
+		var stat: String = Attributes.IDS[i]
+		var card: PanelContainer = s._ability_cards[i]
+		var is_primary := (stat == primary)
+		assert_eq(card.get_node("Overlay/Tag").visible, is_primary,
+			"%s's Tag must show only when it is the calling's primary stat" % stat)
+		var expected_variation: StringName = ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_CARD if is_primary else ThemeKeys.ABILITY_CARD
+		assert_eq(card.theme_type_variation, expected_variation,
+			"%s's card style must reflect whether it is the primary stat" % stat)
+
+
+func test_pressing_enter_on_an_illegal_draft_emits_nothing():
+	# _on_enter_pressed's early-out (`if not draft.is_complete(): return`) is the
+	# one branch in the file nothing else in the suite enters — every other Enter
+	# test first drives the draft to a legal state. Button.pressed still fires even
+	# on a disabled Button, so the early-out must be proven explicitly.
+	var s := _screen()
+	assert_true(s._enter.disabled, "an empty draft must start illegal, or this test proves nothing")
+	watch_signals(s)
+	s._enter.pressed.emit()
+	assert_signal_not_emitted(s, "creation_confirmed",
+		"an illegal draft must never reach creation_confirmed, even when Enter fires anyway")
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------- the screen a human actually has to read
+
+## Luminance gap a Label must clear against the surface it is drawn on. Every styled
+## Label on the sheet measures >= 0.419 (the dimmest is SectionLabel's ink); an UNSTYLED
+## Label — Godot's built-in Label colour is WHITE — measures 0.112 on parchment. The
+## threshold sits in that gap, nearer the failure so it cannot be squeaked past.
+const MIN_CONTRAST := 0.30
+
+
+func _labels_under(n: Node, out: Array = []) -> Array:
+	for c in n.get_children():
+		if c is Label:
+			out.append(c)
+		_labels_under(c, out)
+	return out
+
+
+func _laid_out() -> void:
+	## Geometry assertions are meaningless until the container tree has actually sorted.
+	## On the frame add_child() runs, a race card reports 102px wide and its autowrapped
+	## blurb reports a 2508px minimum height (one unwrapped line) — numbers that would
+	## make a size guard fail for the wrong reason, or pass for one.
+	await get_tree().process_frame
+	await get_tree().process_frame
+
+
+func test_no_label_on_the_parchment_sheet_is_unreadable():
+	# The race and calling names, and the race blurbs, SHIPPED INVISIBLE: 15 Labels were
+	# left with no type-variation, so they inherited Godot's default Label colour — white
+	# — and rendered white-on-parchment. The trait line beneath them was the only readable
+	# string on the card. Nothing in the suite could see it, because every assertion was
+	# about text CONTENT, and the content was correct. It was the colour that was wrong.
+	#
+	# This is TOTAL: no Label is skipped. A Label that paints its own background (the
+	# CHOSEN / PRIMARY pills) is judged against THAT background rather than the sheet, so
+	# it is checked, not exempted — a whitelist here would be the same hole traps.md #16
+	# describes, where the guard's own `continue` covered the gap it was hunting.
+	var s := _screen()
+	var sheet: Control = s.get_node("Split/Sheet")
+	var parchment := Palette.SHEET_TOP.get_luminance()
+
+	var checked := 0
+	for lab in _labels_under(sheet):
+		var col: Color = lab.get_theme_color(&"font_color")
+		var bg := parchment
+		var surface := "the parchment sheet"
+		var sb: StyleBox = lab.get_theme_stylebox(&"normal")
+		if sb is StyleBoxFlat and (sb as StyleBoxFlat).bg_color.a > 0.0:
+			bg = (sb as StyleBoxFlat).bg_color.get_luminance()
+			surface = "its own pill"
+		checked += 1
+		assert_gt(absf(col.get_luminance() - bg), MIN_CONTRAST,
+			"'%s' (variation '%s') is unreadable on %s: text luminance %.3f vs surface %.3f" % [
+				lab.name, str(lab.theme_type_variation), surface, col.get_luminance(), bg])
+
+	# 15 Labels carried the bug. If this sweep ever walks fewer than that it has stopped
+	# reaching the cards, and a green result would mean nothing.
+	assert_gt(checked, 15, "the sweep must actually reach the sheet's labels, not an empty subtree")
+
+
+func test_the_primary_badge_rides_the_card_edge_instead_of_covering_the_roll():
+	# The ability card is a PanelContainer. A Container FORCE-FITS its children, so the
+	# badge's authored anchors were dead letters: it stretched to the card's full content
+	# width (200 of 224px) and centred itself vertically, straight across the rolled value
+	# — measured, not guessed. Nesting it under a plain Control (NOT a Container) restores
+	# absolute positioning. These three assertions are the three ways that regressed.
+	var s := _screen()
+	_complete_a_valid_draft(s)
+	await _laid_out()
+	var primary: String = Callings.primary("sellsword")
+	var i: int = Attributes.IDS.find(primary)
+	assert_gt(i, -1, "the sellsword's primary must be a real attribute, or this test proves nothing")
+
+	var card: PanelContainer = s._ability_cards[i]
+	var tag: Label = card.get_node("Overlay/Tag")
+	var value: Label = card.get_node("Box/Value")
+	assert_true(tag.visible, "the primary card must show its badge, or the geometry below is untested")
+
+	var tag_r := tag.get_global_rect()
+	var card_r := card.get_global_rect()
+	var value_r := value.get_global_rect()
+
+	assert_lt(tag_r.position.y, card_r.position.y,
+		"the badge must RIDE the card's top edge, not sit inside the card")
+	assert_lt(tag_r.size.x, card_r.size.x * 0.6,
+		"the badge is a flag, not a banner — it stretched to the card's full width (%.0f of %.0f)" % [
+			tag_r.size.x, card_r.size.x])
+	assert_false(tag_r.intersects(value_r),
+		"the badge is covering the rolled value: badge %s vs value %s" % [tag_r, value_r])
+
+
+func test_no_card_overflows_its_own_border():
+	# "+1 skill of choice" and "Claws · Keen scent" rendered BELOW the race card's bottom
+	# border: the card's height is a fixed custom_minimum_size, and its Box is anchored
+	# inside it rather than being a container child — so content CANNOT push the card
+	# taller, it just spills out. Every card must be authored tall enough for its own text.
+	var s := _screen()
+	await _laid_out()
+	var cards: Array = []
+	cards.append_array(s._race_cards)
+	cards.append_array(s._calling_cards)
+	assert_gt(cards.size(), 4, "no cards reached the sweep")
+
+	# Measure against the CARD, never against the Box's own size. Godot clamps a Control's
+	# size UP to its combined minimum, so box.size.y is forced equal to the very number it
+	# would be compared against — `needed <= box.size.y` is a tautology that stays green
+	# with the card at its original, overflowing 108px. It was written that way first and
+	# it passed against the bug it names (traps.md: a green suite is evidence only if the
+	# test can fail). The card's height is the thing the text actually spills out of.
+	for card in cards:
+		var box: VBoxContainer = card.get_node("Box")
+		var needed := box.get_combined_minimum_size().y
+		# The Box is anchored inside the card; offset_bottom is negative, so this is the
+		# card's height less its top and bottom insets.
+		var available: float = card.size.y - box.offset_top + box.offset_bottom
+		assert_lte(needed, available,
+			"'%s' overflows its card: content needs %.0fpx, the card leaves %.0fpx" % [
+				box.get_node("Name").text, needed, available])
+
+
+func test_the_hint_label_advertises_the_floor_the_roll_actually_enforces():
+	# The label used to say "rolled 3d6" and stop there, but the roll is maxi(8, 3d6)
+	# (new_game.gd) — so a player who rolled low read a label that looked like it was
+	# lying to him. The label now names the floor, and this pins it TO THE CODE.
+	#
+	# The floor is OBSERVED, never hardcoded: roll a deterministic spread of seeds and
+	# take the minimum the player can actually be dealt. Retune maxi(8, ..) to 7 and the
+	# observed floor becomes 7, the label still claims 8, and this goes red. Delete the
+	# clamp and the floor falls to 3 — red. Reword the label past the claim — red.
+	#
+	# It costs the phrase "never below N": reword that and update this string, do not
+	# delete the guard. The number must keep coming from the roll.
+	var observed_floor := 99
+	for seed_value in range(1, 201):  # deterministic — no RNG in the test itself
+		for stat in Attributes.IDS:
+			observed_floor = mini(observed_floor, int(NewGame.roll_attributes(seed_value)[stat]))
+
+	# ~16% of 3d6 lands at or under 7, so across 1000 rolls the minimum is the CLAMP,
+	# not the luck of the draw. Assert the clamp is actually binding rather than trusting
+	# that: an unclamped 3d6 reaches 3, and a floor at or below 3 would make the pin vacuous.
+	assert_true(observed_floor > 3,
+		"the roll's minimum is %d — the clamp is not binding, so the label's floor claim is a lie" % observed_floor)
+
+	var hint: Label = _screen().get_node("Split/Sheet/Body/AbilitySection/Head/Hint")
+	assert_string_contains(hint.text, "never below %d" % observed_floor)
+	assert_string_contains(hint.text, "3d6")
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_character_creation_screen.gd.uid
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_character_creation_screen.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dmliumgn42tv8
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_content_db.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_content_db.gd
@@ -130,3 +130,51 @@ func test_blurb_content_carries_no_mechanics():
 				"nightsight", "claws", "keen_scent"]:
 			assert_false(db.races[id].has(banned),
 				"%s.json leaks the mechanic '%s' — that lives in Races" % [id, banned])
+
+
+func test_every_race_and_calling_carries_a_fragment():
+	# The DM origin panel (M4-b) composes race.fragment + calling.fragment. A
+	# missing one degrades to the blurb at runtime rather than crashing — but it
+	# must never SHIP missing, so the suite is where it fails.
+	#
+	# The composition is "{race.fragment} Now you carry a {Calling}'s work —
+	# {calling.fragment}", so three shape rules make all 28 pairings legal
+	# sentences: a race fragment opens a sentence (uppercase) and closes it (.);
+	# a calling fragment continues one after the em dash (lowercase) and closes
+	# it (.). Guard them here — a future author adding a calling gets a signal,
+	# not a subtly ungrammatical DM.
+	for id in Races.IDS:
+		assert_true(db.race(id).has("fragment"), "race %s has no fragment" % id)
+		var race_fragment := str(db.race(id).get("fragment", "")).strip_edges()
+		assert_ne(race_fragment, "", "race %s has an empty fragment" % id)
+		assert_eq(race_fragment.substr(0, 1), race_fragment.substr(0, 1).to_upper(),
+			"race %s: fragment opens the composition, so it must start uppercase" % id)
+		assert_true(race_fragment.ends_with("."),
+			"race %s: fragment must end with '.' — a sentence precedes 'Now you carry…'" % id)
+	for id in Callings.IDS:
+		assert_true(db.calling(id).has("fragment"), "calling %s has no fragment" % id)
+		var calling_fragment := str(db.calling(id).get("fragment", "")).strip_edges()
+		assert_ne(calling_fragment, "", "calling %s has an empty fragment" % id)
+		assert_eq(calling_fragment.substr(0, 1), calling_fragment.substr(0, 1).to_lower(),
+			"calling %s: fragment follows an em dash, so it must start lowercase" % id)
+		assert_true(calling_fragment.ends_with("."),
+			"calling %s: fragment must end with '.' — it closes the composition" % id)
+
+
+func test_no_calling_is_named_with_a_vowel():
+	# The fourth shape rule of that same composition, and the one that breaks SILENTLY.
+	# CharacterCreation._origin_prose() hardcodes the article:
+	#     "%s Now you carry a %s's work — %s"
+	# All seven callings are consonant-initial, so all 28 compositions read correctly
+	# today and nothing anywhere would notice an eighth. Add "an Auger" and every
+	# Auger in the game gets "Now you carry a auger's work" on the DM panel — no
+	# error, no test, just a DM who cannot speak. Fail HERE, where the author is.
+	var vowels := ["a", "e", "i", "o", "u"]
+	for id in Callings.IDS:
+		var calling_name := str(db.calling(id).get("name", "")).strip_edges()
+		assert_ne(calling_name, "", "calling %s has no name" % id)
+		assert_false(calling_name.substr(0, 1).to_lower() in vowels,
+			("calling %s is named '%s'. The DM origin panel composes "
+			+ "\"Now you carry a %s's work\" with the article HARDCODED as \"a\" "
+			+ "(CharacterCreation._origin_prose) — a vowel-initial calling needs \"an\". "
+			+ "Change the template first, then this guard.") % [id, calling_name, calling_name.to_lower()])
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_creation_copy.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_copy.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+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(race := "human", calling := "sellsword") -> CreationDraft:
+	var d := CreationDraft.new()
+	d.character_seed = 8675309
+	d.set_race(race)
+	d.set_calling(calling)
+	d.name = "Aldric"
+	return d
+
+
+func test_calling_detail_reads_the_table_rather_than_repeating_it():
+	# The guard that fails if anyone types "d8" into a string literal. If someone
+	# retunes the Cutpurse's hit die, this test keeps passing and the CARD FOLLOWS —
+	# which is the whole point. A hardcoded line would go red here.
+	#
+	# The talent is asserted through the DERIVED phrase ("talent second wind"), not
+	# the raw id ("second_wind") the card used to print — but it is still read from
+	# Callings.talent() at assert time, so hardcoding a talent into the format string
+	# still goes red (traps.md #7: anchor to the full derived phrase).
+	for id in Callings.IDS:
+		var line := CreationCopy.calling_detail(id)
+		assert_string_contains(line, "d%d" % Callings.hit_die(id))
+		assert_string_contains(line, CreationCopy.armor_word(id))
+		assert_string_contains(line, "talent %s" % CreationCopy.talent_word(id))
+		assert_string_contains(line, "picks %d skills" % Callings.skill_count(id))
+		for s in Callings.saves(id):
+			assert_string_contains(line, s.to_upper())
+
+
+func test_the_talent_is_humanised_and_no_card_line_shows_a_raw_id():
+	# The player read "talent second_wind" off the Sellsword's card. Four of the seven
+	# talents carry an underscore — the card printed the ID.
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.talent_word("sellsword"), "second wind")
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.talent_word("cutpurse"), "backstab", "an underscore-free talent is untouched")
+
+	var underscored := 0
+	for id in Callings.IDS:
+		if Callings.talent(id).contains("_"):
+			underscored += 1
+		assert_false(CreationCopy.calling_detail(id).contains("_"),
+			"%s's card line shows a raw snake_case id: %s" % [id, CreationCopy.calling_detail(id)])
+	assert_eq(underscored, 4,
+		"four talents carry an underscore — if that ever hits zero this guard stops guarding")
+
+
+func test_casters_show_a_pool_and_martials_show_cooldowns():
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.calling_detail("hedge_mage"), "MP (MAG)")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.calling_detail("bonesetter"), "MP (FTH)")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.calling_detail("sellsword"), "cooldowns")
+	assert_false(CreationCopy.calling_detail("sellsword").contains("MP"))
+
+
+func test_race_trait_lines_are_derived_from_the_race_table():
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("human"), "every save")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("human"), "skill of choice")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("elf"), "Perception")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("elf"), "Nightsight")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("dwarf"), "Poison")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("dwarf"), "Nightsight")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("beastfolk"), "Claws")
+	assert_string_contains(CreationCopy.race_trait("beastfolk"), "Keen scent")
+
+
+func test_every_race_has_a_non_empty_trait_line():
+	for id in Races.IDS:
+		assert_ne(CreationCopy.race_trait(id).strip_edges(), "", "%s has no trait line" % id)
+
+
+func test_skill_labels_are_human_readable():
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.skill_label("sleight_of_hand"), "sleight of hand")
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.skill_label("faith_lore"), "faith lore")
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.skill_label("stealth"), "stealth")
+
+
+func test_nothing_in_the_copy_mentions_luck():
+	# §7 — the player must never be able to CALCULATE that he is cursed.
+	for id in Callings.IDS:
+		assert_false(CreationCopy.calling_detail(id).to_lower().contains("luck"))
+		assert_false(CreationCopy.calling_detail(id).to_lower().contains("lck"))
+	for id in Races.IDS:
+		assert_false(CreationCopy.race_trait(id).to_lower().contains("luck"))
+		assert_false(CreationCopy.race_trait(id).to_lower().contains("lck"))
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------- §13: the nag
+
+func test_the_nag_is_authored_copy_not_the_validator_s_grammar():
+	# §13. The exact strings a human must be able to judge, pinned. Anchored to the
+	# authored phrase itself — asserting only "no underscore" would pass on any
+	# string that happens to have none, including a blank one.
+	var human := _draft("human", "sellsword")
+	human.name = ""
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.error_line("player name is required", human), "name yourself")
+
+	# "sellsword picks 2 skills, got 0" -> the count is DERIVED from the rules table.
+	assert_eq(Callings.skill_count("sellsword"), 2, "the sellsword picks 2, or the line below means nothing")
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.error_line("sellsword picks 2 skills, got 0", human),
+		"choose two more proficiencies")
+	human.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.error_line("sellsword picks 2 skills, got 1", human),
+		"choose one more proficiency", "one is singular, and the number is never hardcoded")
+
+	# The same error against a calling that picks FOUR must say four — the proof the
+	# number comes from Callings.skill_count and not from a literal "two".
+	var thief := _draft("dwarf", "cutpurse")
+	assert_eq(Callings.skill_count("cutpurse"), 4, "the cutpurse picks 4, or the line below means nothing")
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.error_line("cutpurse picks 4 skills, got 0", thief),
+		"choose four more proficiencies")
+
+	assert_eq(CreationCopy.error_line("human must choose a bonus skill", human),
+		"one more proficiency, any of them — take it")
+
+
+func test_an_unmapped_error_still_speaks_in_voice():
+	# §13: "write fallbacks as content, not as error handling." An error nobody
+	# anticipated (broken content; a spend the screen cannot produce) must never put
+	# the raw string on the label, and must never blank it either.
+	var d := _draft()
+	for raw in ["unresolved ref: item:ghost_blade", "seed is required and must be an integer",
+			"spend exceeds the pool of 3 (got 5)", "cannot spend on 'lck' — not an attribute"]:
+		var line := CreationCopy.error_line(raw, d)
+		assert_eq(line, CreationCopy.UNSPOKEN, "an unmapped error degrades to the authored fallback: %s" % raw)
+		assert_ne(line, raw)
+	assert_ne(CreationCopy.UNSPOKEN.strip_edges(), "", "the fallback is CONTENT — it is never blank")
+	assert_false(CreationCopy.UNSPOKEN.contains("_"))
+
+
+func _is_deliberately_unmapped(raw: String) -> bool:
+	# The shapes error_line has NO authored line for, on purpose, because the
+	# screen structurally cannot produce them (CreationDraft always emits an
+	# int seed and a spend built only from increment/decrement, which can
+	# never exceed the pool or name a non-attribute) — a malformed seed or
+	# spend, or a broken content reference, is not a player mistake to voice
+	# in character; test_an_unmapped_error_still_speaks_in_voice already pins
+	# the fallback for exactly this set. Named by the validator's own prefixes
+	# so this stays independent of error_line's internals.
+	return (raw.begins_with("unresolved ref:")
+		or raw.begins_with("seed is required")
+		or raw.begins_with("spend")
+		or raw.begins_with("cannot spend on")
+		or raw == "skills must be an array")
+
+
+func test_no_error_the_validator_can_raise_reaches_the_player_raw():
+	# Sweep EVERY error NewGame.validate actually produces for a draft the screen can
+	# be driven into (plus the hostile shapes only a saga could hand it), and assert
+	# the player never sees the id, the underscore, or the validator's grammar — AND,
+	# for every shape error_line actually has an authored line for, that the line
+	# fired rather than silently falling through to the generic UNSPOKEN fallback.
+	#
+	# CreationCopy.UNSPOKEN ("something in this does not hold — look again") is
+	# itself non-blank, isn't the raw string, has no underscore, and has no "got " —
+	# so the four checks below cannot tell "correctly mapped to its authored line"
+	# from "silently fell through." Without the UNSPOKEN check, renaming a validator
+	# string in new_game.gd so an error_line branch stops matching would leave every
+	# error line reading the generic fallback, suite green.
+	var d := _draft()
+	var hostiles: Array = [
+		{"name": "", "skills": [], "bonus_skill": ""},               # nameless, unpicked
+		{"skills": ["athletics"]},                                   # too few
+		{"skills": ["athletics", "athletics"]},                      # duplicate
+		{"skills": ["athletics", "sorcery"]},                        # not in the pool
+		{"race_id": "elf", "skills": ["athletics", "perception"], "bonus_skill": ""},  # granted already
+		{"bonus_skill": ""},                                         # human, no bonus
+		{"bonus_skill": "athletics", "skills": ["athletics", "endurance"]},  # bonus == a pick
+		{"bonus_skill": "swimming"},                                 # no such skill
+		{"race_id": "dwarf", "bonus_skill": "stealth"},              # dwarf gets none
+		{"race_id": "orc"}, {"calling_id": "paladin"},               # off the tables
+		{"seed": "8675309"}, {"spend": {"lck": 3}}, {"spend": {"str": 9}},
+	]
+	var base := {
+		"name": "Aldric", "race_id": "human", "calling_id": "sellsword", "seed": 8675309,
+		"spend": {}, "skills": ["athletics", "endurance"], "bonus_skill": "perception",
+	}
+
+	var seen := 0
+	var mapped_seen := 0
+	for h in hostiles:
+		var creation := base.duplicate(true)
+		for k in h:
+			creation[k] = h[k]
+		var errors: Array = NewGame.validate(_deserter(), world, creation)
+		assert_gt(errors.size(), 0, "hostile creation %s must actually be invalid, or it guards nothing" % str(h))
+		for e in errors:
+			seen += 1
+			var raw := str(e)
+			var line: String = CreationCopy.error_line(raw, d)
+			assert_ne(line.strip_edges(), "", "'%s' put a BLANK line on the label" % raw)
+			assert_ne(line, raw, "'%s' reached the player raw" % raw)
+			assert_false(line.contains("_"), "'%s' put a snake_case id on the label: %s" % [raw, line])
+			assert_false(line.contains("got "), "'%s' put the validator's grammar on the label: %s" % [raw, line])
+
+			if not _is_deliberately_unmapped(raw):
+				mapped_seen += 1
+				assert_ne(line, CreationCopy.UNSPOKEN,
+					"'%s' has an authored error_line branch but silently fell through to the generic fallback" % raw)
+	assert_gt(seen, 12, "the sweep must actually reach a spread of errors, not one or two")
+	assert_gt(mapped_seen, 8, "the sweep must actually exercise error_line's mapped branches, not just the deliberately-unmapped ones")
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_creation_copy.gd.uid
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_copy.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://bvb87ime573x4
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,241 @@
+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_the_bonus_skill_cannot_also_be_picked_from_the_pool():
+	# The guard was one-directional: can_take_bonus() refused a skill already PICKED,
+	# but can_pick() did not consider the bonus. Human + Sellsword, take athletics as
+	# the bonus, then press athletics in the Sellsword's pool — the pick landed and
+	# the draft went invalid ("bonus skill athletics is already proficient"), which is
+	# precisely the invalid draft "he did not cause and cannot see" that set_calling's
+	# comment forbids.
+	var d := _draft()                      # human + sellsword; athletics is in the pool
+	d.set_bonus_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(d.bonus_skill, "athletics")
+	assert_true("athletics" in d.skill_pool(), "athletics must be in the sellsword's pool or this proves nothing")
+
+	assert_false(d.can_pick("athletics"), "the chip must be INERT, not merely styled to look inert")
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, [], "the pick must not land while athletics is the bonus skill")
+
+	# ...and the draft the press would have produced is exactly the one construct rejects.
+	d.skills = ["athletics", "endurance"]   # what the bug let the player build
+	assert_true("bonus skill athletics is already proficient" in d.errors(_deserter(), world),
+		"this IS the invalid draft the guard exists to prevent")
+
+
+func test_the_other_direction_still_holds_a_picked_skill_cannot_become_the_bonus():
+	# The half of the guard that already worked. Kept beside its mirror so the two
+	# can never drift apart again.
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, ["athletics"])
+	assert_false(d.can_take_bonus("athletics"))
+	d.set_bonus_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(d.bonus_skill, "", "a picked skill must not also be taken as the bonus")
+
+
+func test_handing_back_the_bonus_skill_makes_the_pool_chip_live_again():
+	# The inert chip is recoverable — the bonus row is right there. Without this the
+	# fix above would be a dead end the player could walk into and not walk out of.
+	var d := _draft()
+	d.set_bonus_skill("athletics")
+	assert_false(d.can_pick("athletics"))
+	d.set_bonus_skill("athletics")          # pressing the chosen bonus chip clears it
+	assert_eq(d.bonus_skill, "")
+	assert_true(d.can_pick("athletics"), "handing the bonus back must make the pool chip live")
+	d.toggle_skill("athletics")
+	assert_eq(d.skills, ["athletics"])
+
+
+func test_to_creation_carries_exactly_the_seven_contract_keys():
+	# §2, stated as a test rather than as a comment. The screen emits a seed and four
+	# choices; it never hands construct a NUMBER. test_pressing_enter_emits_exactly_
+	# the_draft_s_creation_dict compares the emitted dict to to_creation() — both
+	# sides move together, so adding an "attributes" key there breaks nothing. This
+	# pins the contract itself: seven keys, no more, no fewer.
+	var d := _draft()
+	var keys: Array = d.to_creation().keys()
+	keys.sort()
+	assert_eq(keys, ["bonus_skill", "calling_id", "name", "race_id", "seed", "skills", "spend"],
+		"the creation contract is exactly seven keys — an eighth (an 'attributes' block, say) is the §2 breach")
+
+
+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"))
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd.uid
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_creation_draft.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dqllxamt2tcgu
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_main.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_main.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+extends "res://addons/gut/test.gd"
+
+const SCENE := "res://scenes/Main.tscn"
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")
+const FakeTransport = preload("res://tests/doubles/fake_transport.gd")
+const DmResponse = preload("res://scripts/net/dm_response.gd")
+
+
+func _flow() -> Node:
+	# Inject fakes BEFORE _ready (add_child): a real world + a network-free service,
+	# so the shell's initial narrate never touches HTTP.
+	var node = load(SCENE).instantiate()
+	var world = ContentDB.new()
+	world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	node.world = world
+	node.origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	var transport = FakeTransport.new()
+	transport.set_response(DmResponse.ok(200, {"prose": "Rain on the cobbles."}))
+	node.service = DmService.new(transport, FallbackLibrary.new())
+	add_child_autofree(node)
+	return node
+
+
+func _creation() -> Dictionary:
+	return {
+		"name": "Dagnet", "race_id": "human", "calling_id": "sellsword",
+		"seed": 8675309, "spend": {},
+		"skills": ["athletics", "endurance"], "bonus_skill": "perception",
+	}
+
+
+func test_boots_into_the_title():
+	var flow := _flow()
+	assert_true(flow._current is TitleScreen, "Main opens on the title")
+
+
+func test_new_game_shows_creation():
+	var flow := _flow()
+	flow._current.emit_signal("menu_activated", &"new_game")
+	assert_true(flow._current is CharacterCreation, "new game routes to creation")
+
+
+func test_confirming_creation_reaches_the_shell_as_the_created_character():
+	var flow := _flow()
+	flow._current.emit_signal("menu_activated", &"new_game")
+	flow._current.emit_signal("creation_confirmed", _creation())
+	assert_true(flow._current is MainWindowShell, "creation routes to the shell")
+	assert_eq(flow._current._log.player.name, "Dagnet",
+		"the CREATED character flowed through — not a seed, not a swap alone")
+
+
+func _assert_stays_on_creation(bad: Dictionary, why: String) -> void:
+	var flow := _flow()
+	flow._current.emit_signal("menu_activated", &"new_game")
+	# Drive the REAL signal with an invalid dict. The CTA gates this out via the UI,
+	# but §2 forbids Main trusting the caller and §13 forbids surfacing an error.
+	flow._current.emit_signal("creation_confirmed", bad)
+	assert_false(flow._current is MainWindowShell, "a failed construct never reaches the shell (§13): %s" % why)
+	assert_true(flow._current is CharacterCreation, "the player stays on the valid creation screen: %s" % why)
+
+
+func test_construct_failure_empty_name_stays_on_creation():
+	var bad := _creation()
+	bad["name"] = ""            # empty name fails NewGame.validate
+	_assert_stays_on_creation(bad, "empty name")
+
+
+func test_construct_failure_bad_calling_stays_on_creation():
+	var bad := _creation()
+	bad["calling_id"] = "bard"  # NPC-only / not a real calling — fails NewGame.validate
+	_assert_stays_on_creation(bad, "unknown calling")
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_main.gd.uid
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_main.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://17abdh3almry
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_main_window_shell.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_main_window_shell.gd
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ extends "res://addons/gut/test.gd"
 const SCENE := "res://scenes/shell/MainWindowShell.tscn"
 const FakeTransport = preload("res://tests/doubles/fake_transport.gd")
 const DmResponse = preload("res://scripts/net/dm_response.gd")
+const NewGame = preload("res://scripts/newgame/new_game.gd")
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")


 func _shell() -> MainWindowShell:
@@ -47,3 +49,36 @@ func test_shell_seed_player_has_a_real_race_and_calling():
 	assert_true(Races.exists(node._log.player.race_id), "seed race must be a real race")
 	assert_true(Callings.exists(node._log.player.calling_id), "seed calling must be a real calling")
 	assert_ne(node._log.player.luck_descriptor, "", "the descriptor must not be lost to an arg-slot shift")
+
+
+func _built_character():
+	var world = ContentDB.new()
+	world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	var origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	var creation := {
+		"name": "Aldric", "race_id": "human", "calling_id": "sellsword",
+		"seed": 8675309, "spend": {},
+		"skills": ["athletics", "endurance"], "bonus_skill": "perception",
+	}
+	return NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)
+
+
+func _shell_with_character(res) -> MainWindowShell:
+	var node = load(SCENE).instantiate()
+	var transport = FakeTransport.new()
+	transport.set_response(DmResponse.ok(200, {"prose": "Rain on the cobbles."}))
+	node.service = DmService.new(transport, FallbackLibrary.new())
+	node.injected_log = res["log"]
+	node.injected_state = res["state"]
+	add_child_autofree(node)
+	return node
+
+
+func test_shell_shows_the_injected_character_not_the_seed():
+	var res = _built_character()
+	assert_true(res["ok"], str(res["errors"]))
+	var node := _shell_with_character(res)
+	assert_same(node._log, res["log"], "the injected canon log drives narration")
+	var expected := "HP %d / %d" % [res["state"].sheet.hp, res["state"].sheet.max_hp()]
+	assert_eq(node._hp.text, expected, "HP label derives from the real sheet")
+	assert_ne(node._hp.text, "HP 42 / 60", "NOT the seed's Vexcca vitals")
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_new_game.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_new_game.gd
@@ -300,3 +300,86 @@ func test_non_companion_override_goes_to_state_not_log():
 	for m in res["log"].to_dict()["party"]:
 		assert_ne(m["id"], "oda_fenn")
 	assert_eq(res["log"].party_member("brannoc_thane").disposition, 40)
+
+
+func test_roll_attributes_is_pure_and_seeded():
+	# Same seed, same five. The screen shows these; construct builds from them.
+	var a := NewGame.roll_attributes(8675309)
+	var b := NewGame.roll_attributes(8675309)
+	assert_eq(a, b)
+	assert_eq(a.keys(), Attributes.IDS, "the five rows, in the contract's order")
+	assert_false(a.has("lck"), "LCK is not an attribute and never leaves construct (§7)")
+
+
+func test_roll_attributes_holds_the_floor_of_eight():
+	# Sweep enough seeds that a straight 3d6 would certainly have rolled below 8
+	# somewhere. (GUT has no assert_gte — assert_true on the comparison.)
+	var lowest := 999
+	for s in range(400):
+		for stat in Attributes.IDS:
+			lowest = mini(lowest, int(NewGame.roll_attributes(s)[stat]))
+	assert_true(lowest >= 8, "the floor broke: something rolled %d" % lowest)
+	assert_eq(lowest, 8, "the floor should actually BITE across 2000 rolls, not sit unused")
+
+
+func test_construct_builds_exactly_what_roll_attributes_showed():
+	# TRAP 1 (traps.md): this is the load-bearing claim of the creation SCREEN —
+	# "the numbers you saw are the numbers you got". Asserting that two fresh
+	# rolls agree would pass even if construct kept its own second implementation
+	# of the die. This asserts across the PIPELINE: what roll_attributes returns,
+	# plus the spend, IS what construct puts on the sheet.
+	var spend := {"str": 2, "con": 1}
+	var res := _build(_creation({"seed": 4242, "spend": spend}))
+	assert_true(res["ok"], str(res["errors"]))
+
+	var shown := NewGame.roll_attributes(4242)
+	var expected := {}
+	for stat in Attributes.IDS:
+		expected[stat] = int(shown[stat]) + int(spend.get(stat, 0))
+
+	assert_eq(res["state"].sheet.attributes, expected)
+
+
+func test_construct_ignores_an_attribute_block_handed_to_it():
+	# §2 — "code owns state" — stated as a TEST, not as a comment. Every other test
+	# here feeds construct a well-behaved creation dict, so nothing in the suite ever
+	# proves construct REFUSES a number: a construct that trusted creation["attributes"]
+	# would pass all of them. Hand it a hostile one — an 18 in every stat — and assert
+	# the sheet is still, exactly, roll_attributes(seed) + spend.
+	var spend := {"str": 2, "con": 1}
+	var hostile := _creation({
+		"seed": 4242,
+		"spend": spend,
+		"attributes": {"str": 18, "dex": 18, "con": 18, "fth": 18, "mag": 18},
+	})
+	var res := _build(hostile)
+	assert_true(res["ok"], str(res["errors"]))
+
+	var shown := NewGame.roll_attributes(4242)
+	var expected := {}
+	for stat in Attributes.IDS:
+		expected[stat] = int(shown[stat]) + int(spend.get(stat, 0))
+	assert_eq(res["state"].sheet.attributes, expected,
+		"construct re-rolls from the SEED — a stat block handed to it is not state, it is noise (§2)")
+
+	# And the hostile block is not merely ignored on the sheet — it never becomes state
+	# anywhere else either. `res["log"].to_dict().has("attributes")` (the old check here)
+	# was already false before this test's action ran: LogPlayer.to_dict() has no such
+	# TOP-LEVEL key on any code path, hostile block or not, so it could never fail — delete
+	# construct's whole §2 guard and this stayed green. Assert the player row's exact key
+	# SET instead (sorted — insertion order in LogPlayer.to_dict() isn't the contract):
+	# it feeds the AI (§2/§7), so a stray "attributes", "str", or anything else reaching it
+	# is a real leak, and this is what actually fails if one does.
+	var player_keys: Array = res["log"].to_dict()["player"].keys()
+	player_keys.sort()
+	assert_eq(player_keys, ["calling_id", "luck_descriptor", "name", "race_id"],
+		"the canon-log player row carries a key beyond name/race_id/calling_id/luck_descriptor — numeric state reached the AI-facing log (§2/§7)")
+
+
+func test_validate_is_public_and_agrees_with_construct():
+	var bad := _creation({"calling_id": "paladin"})
+	var errors := NewGame.validate(_deserter(), world, bad)
+	assert_gt(errors.size(), 0)
+	var res := _build(bad)
+	assert_false(res["ok"])
+	assert_eq(res["errors"], errors, "the screen must be told exactly what construct would reject")
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_shell_state.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_shell_state.gd
@@ -1,5 +1,46 @@
 extends "res://addons/gut/test.gd"

+const NewGame = preload("res://scripts/newgame/new_game.gd")
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")
+
+
+func _built():
+	var world = ContentDB.new()
+	world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	var origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	var creation := {
+		"name": "Aldric", "race_id": "human", "calling_id": "sellsword",
+		"seed": 8675309, "spend": {},
+		"skills": ["athletics", "endurance"], "bonus_skill": "perception",
+	}
+	return NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)
+
+
+func test_for_character_derives_vitals_and_location_from_the_real_character():
+	var res = _built()
+	assert_true(res["ok"], str(res["errors"]))
+	var state = res["state"]
+	var log = res["log"]
+	var s := ShellState.for_character(state, log)
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["hp"], state.sheet.hp, "hp from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["hp_max"], state.sheet.max_hp(), "hp_max from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["mp"], state.sheet.mp, "mp from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["mp_max"], state.sheet.max_mp(), "mp_max from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["purse_copper"], state.purse_copper, "purse from origin grants (47c)")
+	assert_eq(s.location_label, log.location.name, "location from the canon log")
+	assert_ne(s.vitals["hp_max"], 60, "NOT the seed's hardcoded 60 — this is a real L1 sheet")
+
+
+func test_for_character_keeps_the_seed_placeholders_for_combat_and_inventory():
+	# turn_order/consumables/round_label have no real source yet (M5/M7 own them);
+	# for_character must reuse seed()'s placeholders, not invent its own.
+	var res = _built()
+	var s := ShellState.for_character(res["state"], res["log"])
+	var seed := ShellState.seed()
+	assert_eq(s.turn_order.size(), seed.turn_order.size(), "turn rail is still the placeholder")
+	assert_eq(s.consumables, seed.consumables, "consumables are still the placeholder")
+	assert_eq(s.round_label, seed.round_label, "round label is still the placeholder")
+

 func test_turn_entry_holds_fields():
 	var e := TurnEntry.new("DW", 12, &"ally")
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_theme_resource.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_theme_resource.gd
@@ -29,22 +29,166 @@ func test_default_font_is_set():
 	assert_true(t.default_font is FontFile)


+func _guarded_variations() -> Array:
+	# EVERY variation OR BASE TYPE the builder touches — the stylebox variations
+	# (ThemeKeys.ALL), the six font roles (ThemeKeys.FONT_ROLES), AND the base
+	# types the builder styles directly with no variation on top
+	# (ThemeKeys.BASE_TYPES — today just RichTextLabel). ALL and FONT_ROLES
+	# deliberately exclude each other's half by their own docstrings; missing
+	# BASE_TYPES here left RichTextLabel's two fonts, its font size and its
+	# font colour — the ONLY things rendering DM prose on the creation screen —
+	# unguarded against a stale .tres. traps.md #12, the third miss: iterating
+	# ALL alone, then ALL+FONT_ROLES, both still left a gap "covers everything"
+	# did not actually cover.
+	var out: Array = ThemeKeys.ALL.keys()
+	out.append_array(ThemeKeys.FONT_ROLES.keys())
+	out.append_array(ThemeKeys.BASE_TYPES.keys())
+	return out
+
+
+func test_the_drift_guard_covers_every_variation_the_builder_touches():
+	# The guard below is only as good as the set it walks. Pin that set to the
+	# builder's own output: every variation the fresh Theme carries a stylebox, a
+	# font, a font size or a font colour for MUST be in _guarded_variations(), or
+	# it can drift unwatched. A new variation added to the builder and forgotten in
+	# ThemeKeys goes red here rather than sitting unguarded forever.
+	var fresh: Theme = Builder.build_theme()
+	var guarded := _guarded_variations()
+	for variation in fresh.get_type_list():
+		var touched := (not fresh.get_stylebox_list(variation).is_empty()
+			or not fresh.get_font_list(variation).is_empty()
+			or not fresh.get_font_size_list(variation).is_empty()
+			or not fresh.get_color_list(variation).is_empty())
+		if not touched:
+			continue
+		if fresh.get_type_variation_base(variation) == &"":
+			# "" means one of two things, and they must be told apart, not both
+			# waved through: (a) a KNOWN base type the builder styles directly
+			# with no set_type_variation (RichTextLabel today — registered in
+			# ThemeKeys.BASE_TYPES), or (b) a type nobody ever registered at
+			# all — styled with set_stylebox/set_font/set_color but never
+			# given a set_type_variation, which reports the same "" and used
+			# to slip through this `continue` forever. The old guard could not
+			# tell these apart because it treated "" as "definitely (a)" and
+			# skipped it unconditionally — the exact whitelist that let
+			# RichTextLabel through in the first place (traps.md #12, third
+			# miss). Assert (a); anything else IS (b) and must be named.
+			assert_true(variation in ThemeKeys.BASE_TYPES,
+				("the builder styles %s directly (no set_type_variation) and it is not in " +
+				"ThemeKeys.BASE_TYPES — add it there, or if it should be a real variation, " +
+				"give it a set_type_variation(...) base so ALL/FONT_ROLES can guard it") % variation)
+			continue
+		assert_true(variation in guarded,
+			"the builder styles the variation %s but no drift guard walks it — add it to ThemeKeys.ALL or ThemeKeys.FONT_ROLES" % variation)
+
+
 func test_committed_tres_matches_builder():
 	# Catches "palette/builder changed but nobody regenerated game_theme.tres."
 	# Preloading the builder script and calling its static build_theme() does
 	# NOT run _init() (that only fires on .new()), so this is side-effect-free.
+	#
+	# Drives its checks off ThemeKeys.ALL *and* ThemeKeys.FONT_ROLES so every
+	# variation is guarded, not just whichever three someone remembered to hardcode
+	# here — and not just the stylebox half. For each variation: every stylebox
+	# state, every font, every font size and every font colour the builder actually
+	# set is compared. Nothing the builder never touches is asserted on.
 	var fresh: Theme = Builder.build_theme()
 	var committed: Theme = load(THEME_PATH)

-	var checks := [
-		[ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_CTA, &"normal"],
-		[ThemeKeys.PARCHMENT_CARD, &"panel"],
-		[ThemeKeys.DARK_PANEL, &"panel"],
-	]
-	for pair in checks:
-		var variation: StringName = pair[0]
-		var state: StringName = pair[1]
-		var fresh_box: StyleBoxFlat = fresh.get_stylebox(state, variation)
-		var committed_box: StyleBoxFlat = committed.get_stylebox(state, variation)
-		assert_eq(fresh_box.bg_color, committed_box.bg_color,
-			"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s bg_color drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+	# Theme-LEVEL defaults (build_game_theme.gd:69-70) live on the Theme object
+	# itself, not under any type or variation, so no per-variation loop below
+	# ever reaches them — they need their own comparison or a changed
+	# default_font_size (18 -> anything) ships silently. Font by resource_path,
+	# not the Resource: load() caches, so two references to the same .ttf are
+	# `==` even when the builder swapped fonts, unless the .tres happens to
+	# still point at the same file.
+	assert_eq(committed.default_font.resource_path, fresh.default_font.resource_path,
+		"stale game_theme.tres — theme.default_font drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd")
+	assert_eq(committed.default_font_size, fresh.default_font_size,
+		"stale game_theme.tres — theme.default_font_size drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd")
+
+	for variation in _guarded_variations():
+		for state in fresh.get_stylebox_list(variation):
+			assert_true(committed.has_stylebox(state, variation),
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s stylebox is missing entirely; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+			var fresh_box: StyleBox = fresh.get_stylebox(state, variation)
+			var committed_box: StyleBox = committed.get_stylebox(state, variation)
+			assert_eq(committed_box.get_class(), fresh_box.get_class(),
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s stylebox type drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+
+			if fresh_box is StyleBoxFlat:
+				var f: StyleBoxFlat = fresh_box
+				var c: StyleBoxFlat = committed_box
+				assert_eq(c.bg_color, f.bg_color,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s bg_color drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.border_color, f.border_color,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s border_color drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.border_width_left, f.border_width_left,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s border_width_left drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.border_width_top, f.border_width_top,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s border_width_top drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.border_width_right, f.border_width_right,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s border_width_right drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.border_width_bottom, f.border_width_bottom,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s border_width_bottom drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.corner_radius_top_left, f.corner_radius_top_left,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s corner_radius_top_left drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.corner_radius_top_right, f.corner_radius_top_right,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s corner_radius_top_right drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.corner_radius_bottom_right, f.corner_radius_bottom_right,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s corner_radius_bottom_right drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+				assert_eq(c.corner_radius_bottom_left, f.corner_radius_bottom_left,
+					"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s corner_radius_bottom_left drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, state])
+
+		# The FONT half — the whole reason this guard could not fail against a font
+		# role. Compare the font's resource_path, not the Resource: `load()` caches,
+		# so two references to the same .ttf are the same instance and `==` would be
+		# true even when the builder swapped SERIF for MONO... only if the .tres
+		# happened to point at the same file anyway. The path is the thing that drifts.
+		for font_name in fresh.get_font_list(variation):
+			assert_true(committed.has_font(font_name, variation),
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s font is missing entirely; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, font_name])
+			var fresh_font: Font = fresh.get_font(font_name, variation)
+			var committed_font: Font = committed.get_font(font_name, variation)
+			assert_eq(committed_font.resource_path, fresh_font.resource_path,
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s font drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, font_name])
+
+		for size_name in fresh.get_font_size_list(variation):
+			assert_true(committed.has_font_size(size_name, variation),
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s font size is missing entirely; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, size_name])
+			assert_eq(committed.get_font_size(size_name, variation), fresh.get_font_size(size_name, variation),
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s font size drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, size_name])
+
+		for color_name in fresh.get_color_list(variation):
+			assert_true(committed.has_color(color_name, variation),
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s colour is missing entirely; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, color_name])
+			var fresh_color: Color = fresh.get_color(color_name, variation)
+			var committed_color: Color = committed.get_color(color_name, variation)
+			assert_eq(committed_color, fresh_color,
+				"stale game_theme.tres — %s/%s drifted from the builder; re-run build_game_theme.gd" % [variation, color_name])
+
+
+func test_creation_variations_exist_with_the_states_the_screen_needs():
+	var t: Theme = load(THEME_PATH)
+
+	# A race/calling card is a Button that must show a CHOSEN state.
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"normal", ThemeKeys.SELECT_CARD))
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"hover", ThemeKeys.SELECT_CARD))
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"pressed", ThemeKeys.SELECT_CARD), "pressed IS the chosen ring")
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"disabled", ThemeKeys.SELECT_CARD), "an origin may disallow a calling")
+
+	# A skill chip is a toggle with three states: unpicked, picked, and granted-so-inert.
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"normal", ThemeKeys.SKILL_CHIP))
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"pressed", ThemeKeys.SKILL_CHIP))
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"disabled", ThemeKeys.SKILL_CHIP))
+
+	# The tags and the primary ring.
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"normal", ThemeKeys.CHOSEN_TAG))
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"normal", ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_TAG))
+	assert_true(t.has_stylebox(&"panel", ThemeKeys.PRIMARY_CARD))
+
+
+func test_section_label_is_a_font_role_on_parchment():
+	var t: Theme = load(THEME_PATH)
+	assert_true(t.has_font(&"font", ThemeKeys.SECTION_LABEL))
+	assert_eq(t.get_color(&"font_color", ThemeKeys.SECTION_LABEL), Palette.INK_LABEL_MUTED)
--- a/client/tests/unit/test_title_screen.gd
+++ b/client/tests/unit/test_title_screen.gd
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ func test_up_from_first_wraps_to_last():

 func test_new_game_and_quit_emit_their_action():
 	var t := _title()
-	# Isolate the signal seam so the test does not actually change scene / quit.
-	t.menu_activated.disconnect(t._on_menu_activated)
+	# Title is emit-only now: no internal handler to isolate. Just watch the emit.
 	watch_signals(t)
 	t._activate(_index_of(t, &"new_game"))
 	assert_signal_emitted_with_parameters(t, "menu_activated", [&"new_game"])
--- a/content/world/callings/bloodsworn.json
+++ b/content/world/callings/bloodsworn.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "bloodsworn", "name": "Bloodsworn", "blurb": "You made a bargain with one of the Seven and it was accepted. The power is real. So is the ledger, and it is not settled." }
+{ "id": "bloodsworn", "name": "Bloodsworn", "blurb": "You made a bargain with one of the Seven and it was accepted. The power is real. So is the ledger, and it is not settled.", "fragment": "something answered when you called it, and it has been keeping accounts ever since." }
--- a/content/world/callings/bonesetter.json
+++ b/content/world/callings/bonesetter.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "bonesetter", "name": "Bonesetter", "blurb": "The Warden is distant and does not explain himself. Still — you set the bone, you say the words, and often enough the rot does not take. Often enough." }
+{ "id": "bonesetter", "name": "Bonesetter", "blurb": "The Warden is distant and does not explain himself. Still — you set the bone, you say the words, and often enough the rot does not take. Often enough.", "fragment": "you are the one they wake at the third hour, and when it goes the other way you wash the body yourself and answer the door again the next night." }
--- a/content/world/callings/cutpurse.json
+++ b/content/world/callings/cutpurse.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "cutpurse", "name": "Cutpurse", "blurb": "Purses, locks, confidences — you have taken all three. The trick was never the hands. It was knowing which pocket was worth it." }
+{ "id": "cutpurse", "name": "Cutpurse", "blurb": "Purses, locks, confidences — you have taken all three. The trick was never the hands. It was knowing which pocket was worth it.", "fragment": "you pick your man and take what he will not miss until morning, and the towns where you picked wrong still have your description at the gate." }
--- a/content/world/callings/hedge_mage.json
+++ b/content/world/callings/hedge_mage.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "hedge_mage", "name": "Hedge-Mage", "blurb": "No tower took you. What you know, you got from a book you should not have had and a teacher who is not alive to confirm it." }
+{ "id": "hedge_mage", "name": "Hedge-Mage", "blurb": "No tower took you. What you know, you got from a book you should not have had and a teacher who is not alive to confirm it.", "fragment": "you taught yourself the rest where nobody would come looking, and the scars are from the parts the book got wrong." }
--- a/content/world/callings/reaver.json
+++ b/content/world/callings/reaver.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "reaver", "name": "Reaver", "blurb": "They hire you when they want a door opened and do not care about the door. You do not wear plate. You have never needed it." }
+{ "id": "reaver", "name": "Reaver", "blurb": "They hire you when they want a door opened and do not care about the door. You do not wear plate. You have never needed it.", "fragment": "they send for you when the talking is finished, and they make a point of being somewhere else when you arrive." }
--- a/content/world/callings/sellsword.json
+++ b/content/world/callings/sellsword.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "sellsword", "name": "Sellsword", "blurb": "You fight for money. You are good at it, and the work has never once run out." }
+{ "id": "sellsword", "name": "Sellsword", "blurb": "You fight for money. You are good at it, and the work has never once run out.", "fragment": "you sell the swing and let the man paying keep the reasons." }
--- a/content/world/callings/trapper.json
+++ b/content/world/callings/trapper.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "trapper", "name": "Trapper", "blurb": "You worked the treelines until the treelines ran out of anything worth taking. A snare does the waiting for you, and you have learned to wait." }
+{ "id": "trapper", "name": "Trapper", "blurb": "You worked the treelines until the treelines ran out of anything worth taking. A snare does the waiting for you, and you have learned to wait.", "fragment": "you learned to sit still in the wet dark until something else made the mistake." }
--- a/content/world/races/beastfolk.json
+++ b/content/world/races/beastfolk.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "beastfolk", "name": "Beastfolk", "blurb": "Claws you did not ask for and a nose you cannot switch off. Every gate you pass, someone decides what you are before you speak." }
+{ "id": "beastfolk", "name": "Beastfolk", "blurb": "Claws you did not ask for and a nose you cannot switch off. Every gate you pass, someone decides what you are before you speak.", "fragment": "Most towns will take your coin and still want you outside the walls by dark. You stopped taking that personally a long time ago." }
--- a/content/world/races/dwarf.json
+++ b/content/world/races/dwarf.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "dwarf", "name": "Dwarf", "blurb": "You have drunk worse and survived worse. The rot that takes other men tends to think better of it." }
+{ "id": "dwarf", "name": "Dwarf", "blurb": "You have drunk worse and survived worse. The rot that takes other men tends to think better of it.", "fragment": "You came up in stone and cold water, among folk who bury their dead deep and do not speak of them again." }
--- a/content/world/races/elf.json
+++ b/content/world/races/elf.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "elf", "name": "Elf", "blurb": "You see in the dark and you notice things. Neither has made you popular in a town that would rather not be noticed." }
+{ "id": "elf", "name": "Elf", "blurb": "You see in the dark and you notice things. Neither has made you popular in a town that would rather not be noticed.", "fragment": "You come from a people the Margreave tolerates from a distance, and you have never been in a room where that was not clear." }
--- a/content/world/races/human.json
+++ b/content/world/races/human.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "id": "human", "name": "Human", "blurb": "Short-lived, adaptable, everywhere. The Margreave is mostly yours, for whatever that has been worth." }
+{ "id": "human", "name": "Human", "blurb": "Short-lived, adaptable, everywhere. The Margreave is mostly yours, for whatever that has been worth.", "fragment": "You were born in one of the Margreave's thousand small towns, and it let you go without asking where." }
--- a/docs/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap.md
@@ -36,18 +36,25 @@ M0–M2 built the **engine** (the contract, the client, the server loop, bounded
 | **M1 — Prove the server loop** ✅ | A real model sits behind `/dm/narrate` and the pipeline is reusable. |
 | **M2 — Prove aliveness** ✅ | **Does bounded AI dialogue feel alive?** — answered; bounded NPC dialogue + DM loop live-proven. |
 | **M3 — Visual foundation & shell** ✅ | The `Theme` + the exploration HUD; every screen inherits the look and lives in the shell. |
-| **M4 — Character creation** ◀ *here* | The player enters the world; the proven stat/Luck model gets its UI. |
+| **M4 — Character creation** ✅ | The player enters the world; the proven stat/Luck model gets its UI. |
 | **M5 — Tactical combat (gridless)** | Real stakes: the Combat HUD turn manager. |
 | **M6 — Dialogue screen** | The proven NPC free-text loop inside the mock's conversation UI. |
 | **M7 — Inventory & character sheet** | State the player can see and manage. |
 | **M8 — World systems** | World-map travel, a shop economy, the quest log. |
 | **M9 — Framing, AI-flavor & persistence** | Title/pause, save/load, and the Improviser/Banter/Luck-drift roles + fallback sweep. |

-### Landed out of band
+**▶ Next (before M5):** *Provider flexibility — Ollama Cloud + a backend switch* (in **Landed / planned out of band**, below). A laptop-dev enabler: it lets the proxy serve the same Ollama-hosted models over an API key from any machine, so development continues away from the homelab. Not a game-screen milestone — a cross-cutting infra item taken now because the alternative is a laptop with no AI.

-Not every item is a milestone. These shipped on their own because a later milestone
-would have been more expensive to build on top of the old shape.
+### Landed / planned out of band

+Not every item is a milestone. Some shipped on their own because a later milestone
+would have been more expensive to build on top of the old shape; some are planned
+cross-cutting work that does not belong to a single screen.
+
+- ▶ **Provider flexibility — Ollama Cloud + a backend switch** *(next; not yet specced — a future session builds it).* Development spans two machines: a desktop with the homelab Ollama, and a laptop with no homelab reach. Today the proxy's model-call pipeline (M1) only knows a **local** Ollama, so the laptop has no AI at all. This adds **Ollama Cloud** as a backend so the same Ollama-hosted models are reachable over an **API key** from anywhere, and a **switch** to flip between `local-ollama` (desktop, free/offline) and `ollama-cloud` (laptop) — and the door stays open for prod's Replicate (§4) as a third backend.
+  - **§4 is load-bearing — the key and the provider choice live server-side, in the proxy.** The client never holds an API key and never learns which backend serves a role (§4). Concretely: extend the proxy's Ollama httpx client (M1) to target an **Ollama-compatible cloud endpoint** with an **`Authorization: Bearer <key>`** header, the key read from the proxy's environment / `.env`, never a client binary. The "flip a switch" is a **proxy config/env** value selecting the backend (endpoint + key + per-role model ids) — this is the M1 role→model routing config growing a *backend* axis, a deploy/config change, not a client patch, exactly as §4 intends.
+  - **The client's Settings-button angle (reconcile, don't silently adopt):** the "config file surfaced by the title **Settings** button" is a real feature, but under §4 it splits in two. **Legit client setting:** the **proxy base URL / profile** (§4 lets the client know *one base URL*) — a persisted client config choosing "laptop proxy" vs "desktop proxy," editable via the M9 Settings screen. **NOT a client setting:** the AI **provider and API key** — those stay in the proxy; the Settings screen must never hold the key or pick the backend, or the §4 boundary leaks into a shippable binary. So the honest "flip a switch" is *two* switches — a proxy-side provider/key config (this item, the immediate laptop-dev enabler) and a client-side base-URL/profile that **folds into M9's settings + persistence**. For laptop work right now, only the proxy switch is needed.
+  - *§2: text (the provider serves text; the client stays provider-agnostic) · depends on the M1 pipeline · goal: AI on any machine, switchable — and a proxy that is already multi-backend before Replicate (§4) arrives.*
 - ✅ **Currency — copper with real denominations** ([spec](superpowers/specs/2026-07-12-currency-copper-design.md)). `1g = 100s = 10,000c`, **stored entirely in copper** as one `GameState.purse_copper` int, formatted only at the display edge (`◈ 3s 47c`). `coin.json` → `copper`/`silver`/`gold`. Money is **not** an inventory item: `give_item`/`accept_item` carry no quantity and `gifts_given` is a global one-shot, so a lone `copper` id would have been givable once, for one copper, per campaign — the denominations are **move tokens** instead (`give_item(gold)` = +10,000c), routed to the purse and never into `inventory`, so money cannot surface in an inventory grid by construction. Taken before M7 while `content/world/items/` held two files. **Prices remain M8's content BOM — nothing is priced yet.** *§2: state · goal: money that means something.*
 - ✅ **A move applies at most once per reply** — found by the review of the above. `TagExtractor` returns *every* tag occurrence and `MoveValidator` is a membership test, so a model repeating a tag N times picked an amount **in unary** (§2 breach: the AI choosing a number). Now deduped by (name, id) across a reply, and `adjust_disposition`'s `MAX_DELTA` caps the reply's **net** swing rather than each tag — it was per-tag, so three `+15`s moved standing by 45, the exact "wholesale swing" the constant forbids. *§2: state · goal: the bounded vocabulary stays bounded.*

@@ -71,14 +78,14 @@ Each screen is recreated as a Godot 4.7 Control-node scene against the mockups (
 ### M3 — Visual foundation & shell ✅
 - ✅ **Shared `Theme`** — palette tokens, the three font families, and reusable styleboxes (parchment card, dark panel, primary CTA, tab, item tile, tag/chip) from the mock README as a Godot `Theme` resource. Every screen pulls from it; build it first so the look is one system. Merged to `dev`. *§2: n/a (presentation) · depends on nothing · goal: one consistent visual identity.*
 - ✅ **Main Window shell (2a)** — the exploration HUD: isometric world-view slot + the permanent DM "narration book" (wired to the proven `/dm/narrate` loop + considering-state), the turn-order rail, minimap slot, the slide-in system dock (Inventory/Character/Quest/Map/Party/Spellbook toggles), and the bottom command bar (HP/MP/gold, consumables, End Turn). The frame everything else lives in. **Established the editor-first UI-scene convention** (ADR [0001](adr/0001-editor-first-ui-scenes.md); how-to in `client/docs/README.md`) and added Button-base `DockButton`/`ParchmentButton` + a base `RichTextLabel` prose style to the theme. *§2: state (client owns the HUD, consumes DM text) · depends on the DM loop (M2) · goal: the game's main screen, on screen.*
- ○ **Title screen** — new game / continue / load / settings; the entry point. Author it editor-first (ADR 0001). **⛨ saga:** a fourth entry path (*begin the next campaign of an existing saga*) lands later — don't build it, just don't hardcode the flow as `new game → creation → world` so it can't be added. *§2: n/a · depends on the Theme · goal: first impression, into the world.*
+- ✅ **Title screen** — new game / continue / load / settings; the entry point. Author it editor-first (ADR 0001). Built and committed (`a77bf03`, `f071392`); this entry was stale — the roadmap had not caught up and M4-c would have been misled into thinking it still had to build one. **⛨ saga:** a fourth entry path (*begin the next campaign of an existing saga*) lands later — don't build it, just don't hardcode the flow as `new game → creation → world` so it can't be added. *§2: n/a · depends on the Theme · goal: first impression, into the world.*

 ### M4 — Character creation
 *Content it consumes → [BOM](../content/roadmap.md#2-bill-of-materials): calling blurbs + the Bloodsworn's patron choice (fixed); origins (variable). **~4 pieces.***
 - ✅ **Creation model (M4-a)** — the rules a character is made of, no UI ([spec](superpowers/specs/2026-07-12-creation-model-design.md)). Race/calling/skill **mechanics** are static tables in code (`client/scripts/rules/`); their **blurbs** are hand-written content (`content/world/{callings,races}/`, loaded by `ContentDB`, parity-tested), so the content BOM does not block the engine. `CharacterSheet` **stores only what was rolled or chosen** (attributes, race, calling, skills, current hp/mp) and **derives** the rest (`max_hp`, `ac`, `save`, `skill_bonus`, `spell_dc`) — so no derived number can drift from its inputs, and M5's level curve is a function change rather than a stored-field migration. **`NewGame.construct` carries a seed, not a stat block:** it rebuilds the RNG and rolls the attributes itself, so it never trusts a number handed to it (§2), and the same seed yields an identical character, hidden Luck included (§10) — pinned by a golden-vector test. The roll is **3d6 with a hard floor of 8** (straight 3d6 puts ~9% on a primary the +3 pool cannot rescue; a character bad at the one thing he is *for* is the "fine" §7 forbids). **LCK is unspendable, not merely hidden.** Open seams marked honestly: `ac()` is `10 + DEX` until armor exists (M7), `max_mp()` is a `TUNABLE` placeholder (M5 owns the curve), L1 talents are id stubs (M5). **Live-proven end-to-end** (2026-07-12): a beastfolk cutpurse built by the pipeline → canon log → schema validation → `Player: Vexcca, a beastfolk cutpurse` in the digest (no numeric Luck, no stats, no snake_case id) → real narration from qwen3.5. 250 client tests, 76 api (live layer included). *§2: state · goal: the character exists in code.*
 - ✅ **Contract migration** — the two contract migrations this milestone owed have **landed**: the canon log's `player` block is now `{name, race_id, calling_id, luck_descriptor}` (the Narrator/NPCs describe the player as e.g. "a beastfolk cutpurse"), and an origin's build-constraints key is now `allowed_callings` (`content/origins/deserter.json` lists all seven real calling ids; the pre-migration key and its two dead class ids are gone from the codebase). Schemas, docs, fixtures, and the world-building skill's content template all agree.
- ○ **Character creation UI (M4-b)** — the mock's screen over our proven model: race + calling cards, six stats with **LCK hidden entirely** (§7), 3d6 floors, the **+3 additive-only spend-up** pool (§8, matches the `character-creation-stats` model), live origin blurb + nameplate. **The class-name reconcile is settled** — all seven callings are named (Sellsword · **Reaver** · Cutpurse · Trapper · Hedge-Mage · Bonesetter · **Bloodsworn**; [races/classes spec](superpowers/specs/2026-07-11-races-and-classes-design.md) §4). Feeds new-game canon-log construction (already built, and already emits `race_id` + `calling_id` per the migration above). **⛨ saga:** `NewGame.construct` takes `creation` as a plain `Dictionary` — keep it that way. The creation *scene* produces that dict but must not become the only thing that can (a saga synthesizes it and skips the UI). *§2: state · depends on the creation model (M0) + Theme · goal: build a character.*
- ○ **Title → creation → shell flow (M4-c)** — wire the title screen's *new game* path into character creation and on into the M3 shell, without hardcoding a `new game → creation → world` linear flow (the saga's fourth entry path, §M3, must still be addable later). *§2: n/a (flow) · depends on M4-b + the Title screen (M3) · goal: a playable start-to-shell loop.*
+- ✅ **Character creation UI (M4-b)** — the mock's screen over M4-a's model: four race cards and seven nameplate calling cards (blurb + mechanics shown only for the *chosen* calling), the **+3 additive spend pool** with `−` flooring at the rolled base, proficiency chips gated by the chosen calling's pool (plus the Human bonus-skill row), five ability cards — **never six, and the word "luck" appears nowhere on the screen** (§7) — and the DM origin panel composing race + calling fragments. Five mock/model reconciles settled in the spec's §4 (skill picking added, seven callings not five, blurb-on-chosen-only, `+`/`−` both present, the portrait `‹ ›` arrows cut for lacking art). **Architecture:** a pure, node-free `CreationDraft` (`RefCounted`) holds every rule — changing calling clears stale skill picks, changing race drops a now-granted pick, re-roll clears the spend and only the spend, `errors()` delegates to `NewGame.validate` rather than keeping a second copy of the rules; `CreationCopy` is a pure static formatter that derives every display string (hit die, armour word, saves, skill count) from the `Races`/`Callings`/`Skills` tables, so retuning a calling retunes its card without touching a string literal; the `.tscn` owns the layout per ADR 0001 and `character_creation.gd` only binds. **The §2 property holds without the screen having to be trustworthy:** the screen shows its five numbers by calling the same newly-public `NewGame.roll_attributes(seed)` that `construct` calls internally — the screen never hands a number to anything, only a seed and four choices; `construct` rolls the identical attributes again, itself, off the same seed. Re-roll is unlimited (the floor of 8 already prevents a dead primary), and every re-roll silently re-rolls the hidden LCK draw riding the same RNG stream — the screen says nothing about this, ever. Emits `creation_confirmed(creation: Dictionary)`; does not call `construct` itself, so a saga can synthesize the same Dictionary later and skip the scene entirely. **Test count: 250 → 302.** **The honest seams:** three rounds of adversarial review found ten guard-shaped assertions across this milestone that could not fail against the bug they named (substring collisions, a BBCode wrapper masking an empty ContentDB, a test asserting the script's own loop bound, a trivial origin fixture, assertions already true before the action under test ran, a theme-drift guard checking three hardcoded variations instead of all of them, a `Label` sweep that missed `RichTextLabel`, and tests that called handlers directly instead of pressing nodes) — all rewritten against the actual artifact and reverted-and-reconfirmed-red per `docs/traps.md`'s standard; the new species are folded into that file. *§2: state · depends on the creation model (M0) + Theme · goal: build a character.*
+- ✅ **Title → creation → shell flow (M4-c)** — the *new game* path is wired end-to-end ([spec](superpowers/specs/2026-07-15-m4c-title-creation-shell-flow-design.md)). A script-first **`Main`** coordinator node (`scenes/Main.tscn`, now the `main_scene`) owns the Title → Creation → Shell sequence in one file, swapping screens via **instantiate → inject → add_child** — the injection seam `change_scene_to_file` cannot provide, and the reason it, not a linear chain, holds the flow. The **Title became emit-only** (it announces `menu_activated`; the coordinator routes it — it no longer knows what comes next), and the **shell stopped faking a character**: new `injected_log`/`injected_state` seams + a `ShellState.for_character(state, log)` factory mean the created character's **HP/MP/purse, location, and opening narration are real** (`seed()`/`_build_seed_log()` stay as the F6/standalone fallback, exactly like `service == null`). The flow carries only a plain `creation` Dictionary; `NewGame.construct` re-rolls the character from its seed itself (§2). **⛨ saga honored structurally:** `_show_creation()` and `_start_campaign(creation)` are separate methods, so the fourth entry path ("begin the next campaign of an existing saga") is an *added `menu_activated` arm* that synthesizes a Dictionary and calls `_start_campaign` directly — no existing edge changes. **§13:** a `construct` that returns `{ok:false}` (unreachable via the CTA gate, but the coordinator distrusts its caller anyway) logs and stays on creation — never a crash, never a half-built shell. Built subagent-per-task with a per-task + final whole-branch review; every new guard reverted-and-reconfirmed-red per `docs/traps.md`. **Test count: 302 → 327.** The coordinator was named `Main` (not `GameFlow`) so the boot scene is self-evident; `TitleScreen` is unchanged and shown *by* `Main`. *§2: n/a (flow) · depends on M4-b + the Title screen (M3) · goal: a playable start-to-shell loop.*

 ### M5 — Tactical combat (gridless)
 *Content it consumes → [BOM](../content/roadmap.md#2-bill-of-materials): abilities for the 3 POC classes (fixed); 1 enemy family (4 units) + boss, **tier 1** (variable per tier). **~15 pieces.***
--- a/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-07-13-character-creation-ui.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-07-13-character-creation-ui.md
--- a/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-07-15-m4c-title-creation-shell-flow.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-07-15-m4c-title-creation-shell-flow.md
@@ -0,0 +1,615 @@
+# M4-c — Title → Creation → Shell Flow Implementation Plan
+
+> **For agentic workers:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task. Steps use checkbox (`- [ ]`) syntax for tracking.
+
+**Goal:** Wire the title screen's *new game* path through character creation and into the exploration shell, with the created character flowing all the way through — HP/MP/purse/location/opening-narration all real.
+
+**Architecture:** A new script-first `GameFlow` root node becomes the `main_scene` and owns the Title → Creation → Shell sequence in one file, swapping screens via `instantiate()` → inject → `add_child()` (the injection seam that `change_scene_to_file` cannot provide). The title becomes emit-only; the shell gains `injected_log`/`injected_state` seams and stops self-seeding on the real path (its `seed()`/`_build_seed_log()` stay as the F6/standalone fallback).
+
+**Tech Stack:** Godot 4.7, GDScript, GUT 9.7 for tests.
+
+**Spec:** [`docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-15-m4c-title-creation-shell-flow-design.md`](../specs/2026-07-15-m4c-title-creation-shell-flow-design.md)
+
+## Global Constraints
+
+- **§2 (code owns state):** the flow carries only plain data; `NewGame.construct` re-rolls the character from the creation seed itself. No task hands a computed stat between screens.
+- **⛨ saga:** do NOT weld `new game → creation → shell` into one unit. `_show_creation()` and `_start_campaign(creation)` stay separate methods so a fourth entry path is an added `menu_activated` arm, not surgery on existing edges.
+- **§13:** a failure never reaches the player as an error. A `construct` that returns `{ok:false}` logs and aborts the transition; it never crashes or shows a half-built shell.
+- **No autoloads / no new global state.** Use the existing injection-seam pattern (set a property between `instantiate()` and `add_child()`).
+- **ADR 0001 (editor-first UI):** applies to *Control layout* scenes. `GameFlow` is a pure coordinator with no layout, so it is script-first by design — this is not a violation.
+- **traps.md discipline:** every new guard must be reverted-and-watched-red before acceptance. Drive screens by emitting their real signals, never by calling handlers directly.
+- **Test runner:** whole suite `./run_tests.sh` (from `client/`, ~4s). Single file: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_NAME.gd`. Single method: add `-gunit_test_name=test_method`.
+- All paths below are relative to `client/` unless noted.
+
+---
+
+## File Structure
+
+**New:**
+- `scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd` — the coordinator: owns `world`/`service`/`origin`, holds the Title→Creation→Shell sequence, one `_show` swap primitive.
+- `scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn` — one `Node` with `game_flow.gd` attached. The new `main_scene`.
+- `tests/unit/test_game_flow.gd` — flow tests (new game reaches shell as the created character; construct-failure stays put).
+
+**Modified:**
+- `scripts/ui/shell/shell_state.gd` — add `for_character(state, log)` factory.
+- `scripts/ui/shell/main_window_shell.gd` — add `injected_log`/`injected_state` seams; seed calls become fallbacks.
+- `scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd` — emit-only (drop `const SHELL`, `_on_menu_activated`, the self-connect).
+- `project.godot` — `run/main_scene` → `GameFlow.tscn`.
+- `tests/unit/test_shell_state.gd` — `for_character` test.
+- `tests/unit/test_main_window_shell.gd` — injected-path test.
+- `tests/unit/test_title_screen.gd` — drop the `_on_menu_activated` disconnect (it no longer exists).
+
+---
+
+## Task 1: `ShellState.for_character` factory
+
+Derive real HUD vitals + location from a constructed character, keeping the turn-order/consumables/round placeholders honest (combat=M5, inventory=M7 own those).
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `scripts/ui/shell/shell_state.gd`
+- Test: `tests/unit/test_shell_state.gd`
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: `GameState` (`.sheet.hp`, `.sheet.max_hp()`, `.sheet.mp`, `.sheet.max_mp()`, `.purse_copper`), `CanonLog` (`.location.name`), `NewGame.construct` (test only).
+- Produces: `static func ShellState.for_character(state: GameState, log: CanonLog) -> ShellState`.
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing test**
+
+Add to `tests/unit/test_shell_state.gd`:
+
+```gdscript
+const NewGame = preload("res://scripts/newgame/new_game.gd")
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")
+
+
+func _built():
+	var world = ContentDB.new()
+	world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	var origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	var creation := {
+		"name": "Aldric", "race_id": "human", "calling_id": "sellsword",
+		"seed": 8675309, "spend": {},
+		"skills": ["athletics", "endurance"], "bonus_skill": "perception",
+	}
+	return NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)
+
+
+func test_for_character_derives_vitals_and_location_from_the_real_character():
+	var res = _built()
+	assert_true(res["ok"], str(res["errors"]))
+	var state = res["state"]
+	var log = res["log"]
+	var s := ShellState.for_character(state, log)
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["hp"], state.sheet.hp, "hp from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["hp_max"], state.sheet.max_hp(), "hp_max from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["mp"], state.sheet.mp, "mp from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["mp_max"], state.sheet.max_mp(), "mp_max from the sheet")
+	assert_eq(s.vitals["purse_copper"], state.purse_copper, "purse from origin grants (47c)")
+	assert_eq(s.location_label, log.location.name, "location from the canon log")
+	assert_ne(s.vitals["hp_max"], 60, "NOT the seed's hardcoded 60 — this is a real L1 sheet")
+
+
+func test_for_character_keeps_the_seed_placeholders_for_combat_and_inventory():
+	# turn_order/consumables/round_label have no real source yet (M5/M7 own them);
+	# for_character must reuse seed()'s placeholders, not invent its own.
+	var res = _built()
+	var s := ShellState.for_character(res["state"], res["log"])
+	var seed := ShellState.seed()
+	assert_eq(s.turn_order.size(), seed.turn_order.size(), "turn rail is still the placeholder")
+	assert_eq(s.consumables, seed.consumables, "consumables are still the placeholder")
+	assert_eq(s.round_label, seed.round_label, "round label is still the placeholder")
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_shell_state.gd`
+Expected: FAIL — `Invalid call. Nonexistent function 'for_character' in base 'RefCounted (ShellState)'`.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Write minimal implementation**
+
+Add to `scripts/ui/shell/shell_state.gd` (after `seed()`):
+
+```gdscript
+static func for_character(state: GameState, log: CanonLog) -> ShellState:
+	## The real HUD state for a constructed character. Vitals + location come from
+	## the character (§2 — code owns them); turn_order/consumables/round_label are
+	## still seed() placeholders because combat (M5) and inventory (M7) own those.
+	var s := seed()   # start from the placeholders, then overwrite what is real
+	s.vitals = {
+		"hp": state.sheet.hp,
+		"hp_max": state.sheet.max_hp(),
+		"mp": state.sheet.mp,
+		"mp_max": state.sheet.max_mp(),
+		"purse_copper": state.purse_copper,
+	}
+	s.location_label = log.location.name
+	return s
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run test to verify it passes**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_shell_state.gd`
+Expected: PASS (existing seed tests + 2 new tests).
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Re-break to prove the guard (traps.md)**
+
+Temporarily change `"hp_max": state.sheet.max_hp()` to `"hp_max": 60`. Run the test.
+Expected: FAIL on `test_for_character_derives_vitals_and_location_from_the_real_character` (both the `==` and the `assert_ne 60`). Revert the change; re-run; PASS.
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add client/scripts/ui/shell/shell_state.gd client/tests/unit/test_shell_state.gd
+git commit -m "feat(m4c): ShellState.for_character derives vitals+location from the real character"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 2: Shell consumes an injected character
+
+Add the `injected_log`/`injected_state` seams; make the seed calls fallbacks. The seed path stays fully working for F6/standalone.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `scripts/ui/shell/main_window_shell.gd:21-23` (seams) and `:43-44` (fallback wiring)
+- Test: `tests/unit/test_main_window_shell.gd`
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: `ShellState.for_character(state, log)` (Task 1).
+- Produces: shell public seams `injected_log: CanonLog`, `injected_state: GameState`, set before `add_child` (mirrors the existing `service` seam).
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing test**
+
+Add to `tests/unit/test_main_window_shell.gd`:
+
+```gdscript
+const NewGame = preload("res://scripts/newgame/new_game.gd")
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")
+
+
+func _built_character():
+	var world = ContentDB.new()
+	world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	var origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	var creation := {
+		"name": "Aldric", "race_id": "human", "calling_id": "sellsword",
+		"seed": 8675309, "spend": {},
+		"skills": ["athletics", "endurance"], "bonus_skill": "perception",
+	}
+	return NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)
+
+
+func _shell_with_character(res) -> MainWindowShell:
+	var node = load(SCENE).instantiate()
+	var transport = FakeTransport.new()
+	transport.set_response(DmResponse.ok(200, {"prose": "Rain on the cobbles."}))
+	node.service = DmService.new(transport, FallbackLibrary.new())
+	node.injected_log = res["log"]
+	node.injected_state = res["state"]
+	add_child_autofree(node)
+	return node
+
+
+func test_shell_shows_the_injected_character_not_the_seed():
+	var res = _built_character()
+	assert_true(res["ok"], str(res["errors"]))
+	var node := _shell_with_character(res)
+	assert_same(node._log, res["log"], "the injected canon log drives narration")
+	var expected := "HP %d / %d" % [res["state"].sheet.hp, res["state"].sheet.max_hp()]
+	assert_eq(node._hp.text, expected, "HP label derives from the real sheet")
+	assert_ne(node._hp.text, "HP 42 / 60", "NOT the seed's Vexcca vitals")
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_main_window_shell.gd`
+Expected: FAIL — `Invalid set index 'injected_log'` (the property does not exist yet).
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Write minimal implementation**
+
+In `scripts/ui/shell/main_window_shell.gd`, add the seams next to `service` (currently line 21):
+
+```gdscript
+var service: DmService = null  # injection seam; real HttpTransport built if null
+var injected_log: CanonLog = null    # injection seam; _build_seed_log() if null (F6/standalone)
+var injected_state: GameState = null # injection seam; ShellState.seed() if null
+```
+
+Then in `_ready()` replace the two seed lines (currently lines 43-44):
+
+```gdscript
+	_state = ShellState.seed()
+	_log = _build_seed_log()
+```
+
+with:
+
+```gdscript
+	# The injected character wins; the seed calls are the F6/standalone fallback —
+	# same shape as `service == null` building a real transport below.
+	_state = ShellState.for_character(injected_state, injected_log) if injected_state != null else ShellState.seed()
+	_log = injected_log if injected_log != null else _build_seed_log()
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run test to verify it passes**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_main_window_shell.gd`
+Expected: PASS (existing seed/fallback tests still green — they inject only `service`, so both seams stay null and the seed path runs — plus the new injected test).
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Re-break to prove the guard (traps.md)**
+
+Temporarily force the seed path: change the `_state`/`_log` lines to always use `ShellState.seed()` / `_build_seed_log()`. Run the test.
+Expected: FAIL on `test_shell_shows_the_injected_character_not_the_seed` (`_log` mismatch + `HP 42 / 60`). Revert; re-run; PASS.
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add client/scripts/ui/shell/main_window_shell.gd client/tests/unit/test_main_window_shell.gd
+git commit -m "feat(m4c): shell consumes an injected character (seed stays the F6 fallback)"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 3: Title becomes emit-only
+
+Strip the title's knowledge of what comes next. It already emits `menu_activated(id)`; the coordinator will route it.
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd` (remove `const SHELL`, `_on_menu_activated`, the self-connect)
+- Test: `tests/unit/test_title_screen.gd:39-47`
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: nothing new.
+- Produces: `TitleScreen` emits `menu_activated(id: StringName)` and does not self-route (no scene changes, no quit from within the screen).
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Update the test first (it currently disconnects a method we are deleting)**
+
+In `tests/unit/test_title_screen.gd`, replace `test_new_game_and_quit_emit_their_action` (lines 39-47) with:
+
+```gdscript
+func test_new_game_and_quit_emit_their_action():
+	var t := _title()
+	# Title is emit-only now: no internal handler to isolate. Just watch the emit.
+	watch_signals(t)
+	t._activate(_index_of(t, &"new_game"))
+	assert_signal_emitted_with_parameters(t, "menu_activated", [&"new_game"])
+	t._activate(_index_of(t, &"quit"))
+	assert_signal_emitted_with_parameters(t, "menu_activated", [&"quit"])
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_title_screen.gd`
+Expected: PASS still (the removed `disconnect` line was the only thing that would break — but `_on_menu_activated` still exists right now, so this test passes both before and after the edit). To get a real red first, temporarily rename `_activate`'s emit target — SKIP; instead this task's red/green is driven by Step 4 after the source change. Proceed to Step 3.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Make the title emit-only**
+
+In `scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd`:
+
+1. Delete `const SHELL := "res://scenes/shell/MainWindowShell.tscn"` (line 12).
+2. In `_ready()`, delete the line `menu_activated.connect(_on_menu_activated)` (line 47).
+3. Delete the entire `_on_menu_activated` function (lines 131-138):
+
+```gdscript
+func _on_menu_activated(id: StringName) -> void:
+	match id:
+		&"new_game":
+			get_tree().change_scene_to_file(SHELL)
+		&"quit":
+			get_tree().quit()
+		_:
+			pass  # inert placeholder — the screen lands in a later milestone
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run the full suite**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_title_screen.gd`
+Expected: PASS. `test_new_game_and_quit_emit_their_action` still asserts the emit; nothing self-routes.
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Verify the title no longer references downstream scenes**
+
+Run: `grep -n "SHELL\|change_scene\|_on_menu_activated" client/scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd`
+Expected: no matches. (This is the proof the screen is emit-only; it cannot be a runtime assert.)
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add client/scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd client/tests/unit/test_title_screen.gd
+git commit -m "feat(m4c): title screen is emit-only (routing moves to GameFlow)"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 4: `GameFlow` coordinator
+
+The single home for the Title → Creation → Shell sequence. Injection seams on `world`/`service`/`origin` keep it headless-testable.
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd`
+- Create: `scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn`
+- Test: `tests/unit/test_game_flow.gd`
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: `TitleScreen.menu_activated(id)`, `CharacterCreation` seams (`world`, `origin`) + signal `creation_confirmed(creation)`, `NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation) -> {ok, errors, log, state}`, `MainWindowShell` seams (`service`, `injected_log`, `injected_state`).
+- Produces: `GameFlow` node with public seams `world: ContentDB`, `service: DmService`, `origin: Dictionary`, and `_current: Node` (the active screen, read by tests).
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing test**
+
+Create `tests/unit/test_game_flow.gd`:
+
+```gdscript
+extends "res://addons/gut/test.gd"
+
+const SCENE := "res://scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn"
+const ContentDB = preload("res://scripts/content/content_db.gd")
+const FakeTransport = preload("res://tests/doubles/fake_transport.gd")
+const DmResponse = preload("res://scripts/net/dm_response.gd")
+
+
+func _flow() -> Node:
+	# Inject fakes BEFORE _ready (add_child): a real world + a network-free service,
+	# so the shell's initial narrate never touches HTTP.
+	var node = load(SCENE).instantiate()
+	var world = ContentDB.new()
+	world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	node.world = world
+	node.origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	var transport = FakeTransport.new()
+	transport.set_response(DmResponse.ok(200, {"prose": "Rain on the cobbles."}))
+	node.service = DmService.new(transport, FallbackLibrary.new())
+	add_child_autofree(node)
+	return node
+
+
+func _creation() -> Dictionary:
+	return {
+		"name": "Dagnet", "race_id": "human", "calling_id": "sellsword",
+		"seed": 8675309, "spend": {},
+		"skills": ["athletics", "endurance"], "bonus_skill": "perception",
+	}
+
+
+func test_boots_into_the_title():
+	var flow := _flow()
+	assert_true(flow._current is TitleScreen, "GameFlow opens on the title")
+
+
+func test_new_game_shows_creation():
+	var flow := _flow()
+	flow._current.emit_signal("menu_activated", &"new_game")
+	assert_true(flow._current is CharacterCreation, "new game routes to creation")
+
+
+func test_confirming_creation_reaches_the_shell_as_the_created_character():
+	var flow := _flow()
+	flow._current.emit_signal("menu_activated", &"new_game")
+	flow._current.emit_signal("creation_confirmed", _creation())
+	assert_true(flow._current is MainWindowShell, "creation routes to the shell")
+	assert_eq(flow._current._log.player.name, "Dagnet",
+		"the CREATED character flowed through — not a seed, not a swap alone")
+
+
+func _assert_stays_on_creation(bad: Dictionary, why: String) -> void:
+	var flow := _flow()
+	flow._current.emit_signal("menu_activated", &"new_game")
+	# Drive the REAL signal with an invalid dict. The CTA gates this out via the UI,
+	# but §2 forbids GameFlow trusting the caller and §13 forbids surfacing an error.
+	flow._current.emit_signal("creation_confirmed", bad)
+	assert_false(flow._current is MainWindowShell, "a failed construct never reaches the shell (§13): %s" % why)
+	assert_true(flow._current is CharacterCreation, "the player stays on the valid creation screen: %s" % why)
+
+
+func test_construct_failure_empty_name_stays_on_creation():
+	var bad := _creation()
+	bad["name"] = ""            # empty name fails NewGame.validate
+	_assert_stays_on_creation(bad, "empty name")
+
+
+func test_construct_failure_bad_calling_stays_on_creation():
+	var bad := _creation()
+	bad["calling_id"] = "bard"  # NPC-only / not a real calling — fails NewGame.validate
+	_assert_stays_on_creation(bad, "unknown calling")
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run test to verify it fails**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_game_flow.gd`
+Expected: FAIL — the scene `res://scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn` does not exist yet (load returns null).
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Write the coordinator script**
+
+Create `scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd`:
+
+```gdscript
+class_name GameFlow
+extends Node
+## The single home for the game's screen sequence: Title → Creation → Shell.
+## Script-first by design — a pure coordinator with no Control layout, so ADR 0001's
+## editor-first rule does not apply (that rule governs layout scenes). It owns one
+## ContentDB + one DmService and swaps screens via instantiate → inject → add_child,
+## the injection seam change_scene_to_file cannot provide.
+##
+## §2: the flow carries only plain data; NewGame.construct re-rolls the character
+## from the creation seed itself. ⛨ saga: _show_creation and _start_campaign are
+## separate, so a fourth entry path is an added arm, not surgery on existing edges.
+
+const HttpTransport = preload("res://scripts/net/http_transport.gd")
+
+const TITLE := preload("res://scenes/title/TitleScreen.tscn")
+const CREATION := preload("res://scenes/creation/CharacterCreation.tscn")
+const SHELL := preload("res://scenes/shell/MainWindowShell.tscn")
+
+# Injection seams — set BETWEEN instantiate() and add_child(), as the shell/creation
+# do for their own deps. _ready builds the real ones when nothing was supplied.
+var world: ContentDB = null
+var service: DmService = null
+var origin: Dictionary = {}
+
+var _current: Node = null
+var _http: HTTPRequest
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	if world == null:
+		world = ContentDB.new()
+		world.load_from(ContentDB.default_content_root())
+	if origin.is_empty():
+		origin = ContentDB.load_json(ContentDB.origin_path("deserter"))
+	if service == null:
+		_http = HTTPRequest.new()
+		add_child(_http)
+		service = DmService.new(HttpTransport.new(_http), FallbackLibrary.new())
+	_show_title()
+
+
+func _show(next: PackedScene, inject: Callable) -> void:
+	## The one swap primitive. inject runs after instantiate() (which does NOT run
+	## _ready) and before add_child (which does) — the injection window. The outgoing
+	## screen is queue_free'd (deferred): a signal handler must never free the node
+	## still executing up its own call stack.
+	var old := _current
+	var screen := next.instantiate()
+	inject.call(screen)
+	_current = screen
+	add_child(screen)
+	if old != null:
+		old.queue_free()
+
+
+func _show_title() -> void:
+	_show(TITLE, func(s): s.menu_activated.connect(_on_menu))
+
+
+func _show_creation() -> void:
+	_show(CREATION, func(s):
+		s.world = world
+		s.origin = origin
+		s.creation_confirmed.connect(_start_campaign))
+
+
+func _show_shell(log: CanonLog, state: GameState) -> void:
+	_show(SHELL, func(s):
+		s.service = service
+		s.injected_log = log
+		s.injected_state = state)
+
+
+func _on_menu(id: StringName) -> void:
+	match id:
+		&"new_game":
+			_show_creation()
+		&"quit":
+			get_tree().quit()
+		_:
+			pass  # continue / load land in later milestones (M9); inert for now
+
+
+func _start_campaign(creation: Dictionary) -> void:
+	## Takes a plain Dictionary — does NOT assume it came from the creation screen, so
+	## a saga can synthesize one and call this directly (skipping creation).
+	var result := NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)
+	if not result.get("ok", false):
+		# Unreachable via the UI (the CTA gates on validate), but §2 forbids trusting
+		# the caller and §13 forbids surfacing an error. Log and stay put.
+		push_error("GameFlow: construct rejected a creation: %s" % str(result.get("errors", [])))
+		return
+	_show_shell(result["log"], result["state"])
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Create the scene**
+
+Create `scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn` — a single `Node` with the script attached. Author it in the editor (New Scene → Node → attach `res://scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd` → save as `res://scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn`), or write the file directly:
+
+```
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://coc_gameflow"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="GameFlow" type="Node"]
+script = ExtResource("1")
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Run test to verify it passes**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh -gselect=test_game_flow.gd`
+Expected: PASS — boots into title; new_game → creation; creation_confirmed → shell with `player.name == "Dagnet"`; both construct-failure parameterizations stay on creation.
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Re-break to prove the guards (traps.md)**
+
+1. In `_start_campaign`, temporarily delete the `if not result.get("ok"...)` early return. Run `test_game_flow.gd` → `test_construct_failure_empty_name_stays_on_creation` and `test_construct_failure_bad_calling_stays_on_creation` must FAIL (a rejected construct reaches the shell). Revert.
+2. In `test_confirming_creation...`, temporarily change the created name to `"Dagnet"` → assert against `"Aldric"`. Run → FAIL (proves the name assertion reads the real flowed character, not a constant). Revert.
+
+- [ ] **Step 7: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add client/scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd client/scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn client/tests/unit/test_game_flow.gd
+git commit -m "feat(m4c): GameFlow coordinator wires title -> creation -> shell"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Task 5: Make `GameFlow` the entry point + smoke the whole loop
+
+Flip `main_scene` and confirm the real, non-injected boot path start-to-shell (ADR 0001: the final visual gate is a person).
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `project.godot` (`run/main_scene`)
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: everything above.
+- Produces: the shipped boot path — launching the client opens the title; *new game* leads through creation into a shell showing the created character.
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Flip the main scene**
+
+In `project.godot`, change:
+
+```
+run/main_scene="res://scenes/title/TitleScreen.tscn"
+```
+
+to:
+
+```
+run/main_scene="res://scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn"
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run the full suite**
+
+Run: `./run_tests.sh`
+Expected: PASS. All prior tests + the new Task 1/2/4 tests. Note the new total (was 319; +~7 new tests).
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Manual smoke (human/visual gate — ADR 0001)**
+
+Launch the client (F5 in the editor, or `godot --path client`). Verify the *real* path with no injected fakes:
+1. The **title** appears (embers, gold rule).
+2. Select **New Game** → the **character creation** screen appears (four race cards, seven calling cards, five ability cards, no "luck").
+3. Build a legal character, give a name, press **Enter the World**.
+4. The **shell** appears; the DM narration book opens on *this* character's scene (grounded in the deserter origin — Greywater, the desertion), and the command bar HP/MP/purse reflect the built character (not Vexcca's 42/60, ◈3s 47c).
+
+Record the result. If narration shows the degraded fallback (API down), that is acceptable — the character/vitals must still be the created one.
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add client/project.godot
+git commit -m "feat(m4c): GameFlow is the main scene — title->creation->shell is the boot path"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Self-Review
+
+**Spec coverage:**
+- §1 problem (title skips creation; shell fakes) → Tasks 3, 2, 5. ✓
+- §3.1 GameFlow (owns world/service/origin, `_show`, sequence table, saga seam) → Task 4. ✓
+- §3.2 title emit-only → Task 3. ✓
+- §3.3 creation unchanged → no task (correct — it already emits). ✓
+- §3.4 shell seams + `ShellState.for_character` → Tasks 1, 2. ✓
+- §4 data flow → exercised by Task 4's shell-reached-as-created-character test. ✓
+- §5 error handling → Task 4's `test_construct_failure_{empty_name,bad_calling}_stays_on_creation` + re-break. ✓
+- §6 testing (real signals, name-proves-flow, injected vitals, for_character unit, construct-failure) → Tasks 1,2,4. ✓
+- §3.1 main_scene flip → Task 5. ✓
+- ⛨ saga seam (separate `_show_creation`/`_start_campaign`) → Task 4 script. ✓
+
+**Placeholder scan:** none — every step has concrete code/commands.
+
+**Type consistency:** `for_character(state, log)` defined Task 1, consumed Task 2 (via shell `_ready`) and Task 4 (via shell). `injected_log`/`injected_state` defined Task 2, set in Task 4's `_show_shell`. `_current`, `_start_campaign(creation)`, `_show_creation()` consistent across Task 4 script + test. `NewGame.construct` return keys (`ok`/`errors`/`log`/`state`) match the real signature. ✓
--- a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-13-character-creation-ui-design.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-13-character-creation-ui-design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,340 @@
+# M4-b — the character creation screen
+
+**Date:** 2026-07-13
+**Status:** approved, ready for planning
+**Charter:** §2 (code owns state), §7 (Luck), §8 (stats), §10 (seeding), §13 (authored
+fallback is content), §15 (button-driven), §16 (editor-first UI), §18 (git)
+**Consumes:** [M4-a — the creation model](2026-07-12-creation-model-design.md). Everything
+here is a screen over rules that already exist and are already tested.
+**Mock:** `mockups/Character Creation.dc.html` — the UI bible, and where it and the model
+disagree, §4 below records the decision.
+**Roadmap:** M4, split **M4-a (the model, done) → M4-b (this: the screen) → M4-c (the
+title→creation→shell flow)**.
+
+---
+
+## 1. What this is
+
+The mock's creation screen, over M4-a's proven model. The player picks a race and a
+calling, sees five rolled attributes (LCK never), spends a pool of three points, chooses
+proficiencies, types a name, and presses ENTER THE WORLD.
+
+**It makes no AI calls.** Not one. The DM's real entrance is the shell's opening narration
+one screen later (M4-c). This screen is authored text and local rules end to end, and runs
+with no proxy and no model reachable.
+
+**It does not construct the character.** It emits a creation `Dictionary` and M4-c calls
+`NewGame.construct`. The scene is a producer of that Dictionary, never the only possible
+producer — the saga guardrail M4-a wrote down.
+
+---
+
+## 2. What is actually there today (verified at `b4b72e4`)
+
+- `NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)` is built, seeded and tested. It takes a
+  **seed, not a stat block**, rolls the five attributes itself in a fixed order, then rolls
+  LCK off the same RNG, applies `spend`, race grants, calling picks, and returns
+  `{ok, errors, log, state}`.
+- `_validate` is **private**. `_roll_attribute` is **private** and called in a loop inside
+  `construct`.
+- `Races` (4), `Callings` (7), `Skills` (9), `Attributes` (5) are static tables in
+  `client/scripts/rules/`. `CharacterSheet` stores inputs and derives the rest.
+- `ContentDB` loads `content/world/races/` and `callings/`. Each JSON carries
+  `{id, name, blurb}` and **no mechanics** — the M4-a split.
+- The theme has a `Chip` variation (`ThemeKeys.CHIP`) and a `PrimaryCTA`. Both were built
+  for a single visual state.
+- `TitleScreen` exists and `MainWindowShell` exists. Nothing connects them to creation —
+  that is M4-c.
+
+---
+
+## 3. Architecture
+
+Three units, one of which is a scene.
+
+| File | Responsibility |
+|---|---|
+| `client/scenes/creation/CharacterCreation.tscn` | **new.** The screen. Editor-authored tree, theme on the root (ADR 0001). |
+| `client/scripts/ui/creation/character_creation.gd` | **new.** The binder. `@onready` refs, click → draft, draft → nodes. **No rules.** |
+| `client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_draft.gd` | **new.** `CreationDraft` — pure, node-free. Every rule the screen enforces. |
+| `client/scripts/ui/creation/creation_copy.gd` | **new.** `CreationCopy` — pure, static. Formats *mechanics* into display strings by reading the rules tables. |
+| `client/scripts/newgame/new_game.gd` | `roll_attributes()` and `validate()` become **public**; `construct` calls `roll_attributes` instead of its own loop. |
+| `content/world/{races,callings}/*.json` | Each gains a `fragment` (§6). |
+| `client/scripts/theme/build_game_theme.gd` + `theme_keys.gd` | Chip `pressed`/`disabled`, CTA `disabled` (§7). |
+
+**Why a `CreationDraft` and not logic in the scene script.** ADR 0001 already decided this:
+the script binds, it does not reason. A draft that is a plain `RefCounted` makes every rule
+("can a Human re-pick a skill his race already granted?") answerable headlessly, with no
+scene tree, which is the difference between a rule that is tested and a rule that is
+merely written. `ShellState` is the same pattern; this follows it.
+
+---
+
+## 4. Where the mock and the model disagree — and what wins
+
+The mock predates the seven callings and the skill system. It is a **UI bible, not a rules
+bible.** Five reconciles, all decided:
+
+| # | The mock says | We do | Why |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| 1 | No skill picking at all | **A skills section** — chips, N of a pool | `construct` *rejects* a creation dict without exactly `Callings.skill_count(id)` legal picks. Without the UI the pools do nothing, every Cutpurse is identical, and we ship a validation rule no player exercises. |
+| 2 | Five callings | **Seven**, nameplate cards | The seven are named and settled (races/classes spec §4). |
+| 3 | Blurb on every calling card | **Blurb on the *chosen* calling only** | Seven blurbs shouting at once is a menu you skim, not a choice. See §5. |
+| 4 | `+` only on the spend | **`+` and `−`** | "Additive only" constrains where the number lands, not whether a mis-click is recoverable. A `−` that floors at the rolled base produces a dict `construct` already accepts. The mock did not think about mis-clicks; this is a bug in it, not a position it took. |
+| 5 | `‹ ›` arrows on the portrait | **Cut** | They cycle model variants. We have neither art nor a portrait field on `CharacterSheet`. Two buttons that do nothing are worse than none. The dashed art slot stays (ADR 0001 — art slots are placeholders). |
+
+The **"THE DM SIZES YOU UP" panel is authored, not an AI call** (§6). The **re-roll is
+unlimited**, as mocked (§8).
+
+---
+
+## 5. Layout — variant C
+
+1920×1080. The mock's split holds: a 660px dark portrait bay on the left, a 1260px
+parchment sheet on the right.
+
+**Left bay:** kicker (`WHO WILL YOU BE?`), the dashed character-model art slot, the
+nameplate (`{name or "Nameless"}` · `{Race} · {Calling}`), and the DM origin card.
+
+**Right sheet, top to bottom:**
+
+- Header — *Create Your Character* / `THE WORLD HAS REAL PROBLEMS AND DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU`
+- **RACE** — four cards (name, blurb, derived trait line). Selected card gets the crimson
+  border + `CHOSEN` tag.
+- **CALLING** — **seven nameplate cards in one row: name + primary-stat chip, no blurb.**
+  Beneath the row, a detail panel for the *chosen* calling carrying **its blurb and its
+  mechanics together**:
+  `d8 · light armour · cooldowns · saves DEX + MAG · picks 4 skills · talent backstab`
+- **PROFICIENCIES** — chips. The chosen calling's pool, `N of N chosen`, plus (Human only) a
+  second row over all nine skills for the bonus pick.
+- **ABILITY SCORES** — five cards (STR DEX CON FTH MAG — **never LCK**), each with the final
+  value, `rolled X +Y`, and `−`/`+`. `points left: N`, the `⟳ re-roll` button, and the dry
+  line *rolled 3d6 — that roll is your floor, spend up only*. The calling's primary stat
+  gets the `PRIMARY` ring.
+- **Footer** — the name field and ENTER THE WORLD.
+
+**Why C.** The CALLING block becomes the visual mirror of the PROFICIENCIES block below it:
+*pick, and the consequence appears.* One blurb, for the thing you chose, in a panel that
+exists because you chose it. It also buys ~70px and kills the cramped-italic problem that
+seven 157px cards create. Worst case for vertical space is **Human + Cutpurse** (the bonus
+row appears *and* the pool is the widest in the game, 4 of 6) — it fits inside 1080 with
+room.
+
+**LCK appears nowhere on this screen.** Not as a number, not as a descriptor, not as a
+hidden tooltip. §7.
+
+---
+
+## 6. The DM origin panel is authored
+
+The panel composes, exactly as the mock does:
+
+> `{race.fragment}` Now you carry a `{calling.name}`'s work — `{calling.fragment}`
+
+Each race and calling JSON gains a **`fragment`**:
+
+```json
+{ "id": "cutpurse", "name": "Cutpurse",
+  "blurb": "Purses, locks, confidences — you have taken all three. …",
+  "fragment": "quick fingers, quicker exits, and a knife for the rest." }
+```
+
+Eleven fragments — four races, seven callings. **Real prose, not stubs**, authored through
+the **world-building skill** so they carry the world's voice. A fragment a shade too warm
+poisons the first screen the player ever sees.
+
+**Why not a live Narrator call.** The player clicks race and calling cards a dozen times
+while fiddling; that is a dozen calls with a spinner between them, against §14's "cache
+aggressively, pre-generate." Worse, it asks the AI to narrate a character *nothing has
+happened to yet* — there is no scene, no event, nothing to narrate. §13 is explicit that
+authored text is **content**, not error handling; the DM's voice does not require a model
+behind it to be the DM's voice. The DM's real entrance is the shell's opening narration,
+one screen later, at the first moment where speaking means something.
+
+**Degradation:** a missing `fragment` falls back to the `blurb`. The parity test (§9)
+prevents that from ever shipping, but the screen does not crash on it.
+
+---
+
+## 7. Mechanics are derived, never written twice
+
+`CreationCopy` is a pure static formatter that reads `Races` / `Callings` / `Skills` and
+returns display strings:
+
+- **Race trait line** — `+1 to every save · +1 skill of choice` (human),
+  `Poison resist · nightsight` (dwarf), …
+- **Calling detail line** — `d8 · light armour · cooldowns · saves DEX + MAG · picks 4 skills · talent backstab`
+
+**Prose lives in content; numbers live in code; the card reads both.** A hit die written
+into a JSON is a hit die that will eventually disagree with the table. If someone retunes
+the Cutpurse's d8, the card follows — because the card never knew the number.
+
+**Theme additions.** A skill chip has three states — unpicked, picked, and *granted by your
+race so it cannot be picked* — which is a `Button` in `toggle_mode` needing
+`normal`/`pressed`/`disabled` styleboxes. The existing `Chip` is a display badge with no
+`disabled` and no selected look, and the race/calling cards need a "chosen" crimson-ring
+state that nothing in the theme has. (`PrimaryCTA` **already** carries `disabled` +
+`font_disabled_color` — the CTA needs nothing new.) The new variations are added to
+**`build_game_theme.gd`** + `theme_keys.gd` and the `.tres` **regenerated** — never
+hand-edited, no hex in a scene or script (the M3-a rule).
+
+---
+
+## 8. The draft, the seed, and the data flow
+
+### `CreationDraft`
+
+Stores exactly what a creation Dictionary is made of, and nothing derived:
+
+```gdscript
+var name: String
+var race_id: String
+var calling_id: String
+var seed: int
+var spend: Dictionary       # {stat: int} — additive only
+var skills: Array           # the player's picks
+var bonus_skill: String     # human only
+```
+
+**The interaction rules** — where a creation screen actually gets buggy, so they are stated
+rather than discovered:
+
+- **Changing calling clears the skill picks.** The pool changed underneath them; keeping
+  stale picks leaves the player holding an invalid draft he did not cause and cannot see.
+- **Changing race drops a now-granted pick.** An Elf is granted `perception`; a Cutpurse who
+  had picked it now holds a pick that "buys nothing" and `construct` rejects by name.
+  `set_race` drops it, and clears `bonus_skill` if the new race is not Human.
+- **Re-roll clears the spend, and only the spend.** Race, calling, skills and name survive.
+  Points spent against a roll that no longer exists are meaningless.
+- **`−` floors at the rolled base.** It removes only what you added.
+- **`errors()` delegates to `NewGame.validate`.** The screen owns no second copy of the
+  rules. It asks, and shows the answer.
+
+### The seed — and why the screen can show numbers without owning them
+
+```
+randomize() ──> seed ──┬──> draft.rolled()  ────────>  the five numbers ON SCREEN
+                       │      (NewGame.roll_attributes)
+                       │
+                       └──> creation Dictionary ──> NewGame.construct
+                                                        │
+                                                        └──> rolls them AGAIN, itself
+                                                             ──> CharacterSheet
+```
+
+The screen and `construct` reach the same five numbers by calling **the same pure function
+on the same seed** — but the screen never *hands* a number to anything. It hands over a seed
+and four choices. **§2 holds without the screen having to be trustworthy**, which is the only
+kind of holding that counts.
+
+`randomize()` is the one place non-determinism enters the entire pipeline, and what it
+produces is the seed — which is thereafter the character's determinism anchor.
+
+**This forces two small M4-a changes:**
+
+- **`roll_attributes(seed: int) -> Dictionary`** — public, pure. `construct` **calls it**
+  rather than keeping its own loop, so there is exactly one implementation of the roll.
+- **`validate(origin, world, creation) -> Array`** — today's `_validate`, made public, so
+  the screen can gate the button on the real rules.
+
+**Neither takes a default parameter.** See §9, trap 2.
+
+### Re-roll is unlimited
+
+As mocked. The floor of 8 already prevents the dead-primary "fine" §7 forbids, so limiting
+re-rolls buys no protection — it only adds friction and calls it grit.
+
+And it earns something. The seed drives the five visible attributes **and the hidden LCK
+roll**, which comes off the same RNG immediately after MAG. A player who re-rolls twenty
+times chasing a 16 STR is, on every press, blindly re-rolling his Luck. He cannot see it, he
+cannot count it, and he will never know what he traded away. That is the superstition §7 is
+built to produce, and the seeding decision M4-a already made hands it to us for free.
+
+**The screen says nothing about this, ever.** The `⟳ re-roll` button and the dry subtitle are
+all the player is told.
+
+### Exit
+
+The screen emits **`creation_confirmed(creation: Dictionary)`**. It does **not** call
+`construct` — the flow is M4-c's job, and a saga later synthesizes the same Dictionary and
+skips the scene entirely.
+
+`origin` and `world` are **injected** the way the shell injects `DmService`: settable between
+`instantiate()` and `add_child()`, with `_ready` loading the deserter origin and a real
+`ContentDB` when nothing was supplied. Tests stay hermetic, and the origin's
+`allowed_callings` gates which calling cards appear rather than the screen hardcoding seven.
+
+**ENTER THE WORLD is disabled while `errors()` is non-empty**, with the first error printed
+dry beneath it — *choose two more proficiencies*, *name your character*. The player cannot
+press his way into a rejection.
+
+---
+
+## 9. Testing
+
+All headless (GUT, `client/run_tests.sh`) except the visual gate. `traps.md` records two bugs
+M4-a shipped **past a green suite**; both have a direct analogue here, so the guard is named,
+not hoped for.
+
+### Trap 1 — a regression test that cannot fail is not a regression test
+
+The load-bearing claim of this entire screen is **the numbers you saw are the numbers you
+got.** The lazy test builds a `CreationDraft`, builds a `CharacterSheet`, and asserts both
+roll the same — which passes even if the screen and `construct` hold two separate roll
+implementations that merely agree today.
+
+**The real test asserts across the pipeline:**
+
+```gdscript
+var draft := CreationDraft.new()   # seed S, calling, spend
+var result := NewGame.construct(origin, world, draft.to_creation())
+assert_eq(result.state.sheet.attributes, draft.final())
+```
+
+Re-implement the roll in either place and it goes red. Per `traps.md`: before accepting the
+work, **re-break it and watch the test fail.**
+
+### Trap 2 — GDScript defaults turn an arity change into a silent miscompile
+
+`validate` and `roll_attributes` become public. **Neither gets a default parameter on any
+argument.** A wrong-arity call to a defaulted function compiles clean and binds the wrong
+values — exactly how M4-a shipped a player block of four empty strings into the live shell,
+past a grep that came back clean. Required args only.
+
+### The rest
+
+- **`CreationDraft`** (no scene tree): re-roll clears the spend and only the spend; changing
+  calling clears the picks; changing race drops a now-granted pick and clears a non-Human's
+  bonus skill; `−` floors at the rolled base; the fourth point cannot be spent; a granted
+  skill cannot be picked; `to_creation()` round-trips into `construct` cleanly.
+- **`CreationCopy`**: for **all seven** callings the detail line *contains*
+  `"d%d" % Callings.hit_die(id)` and that calling's actual saves — the guard that fails if
+  anyone types `d8` into a string literal instead of reading the table. Same for the four
+  race trait lines.
+- **`NewGame`**: same seed → same five attributes; the floor of 8 holds at the bottom of the
+  die; `validate` returns the same errors `construct` would reject with.
+- **The scene**: mounts with an injected origin + `ContentDB`; nodes are non-zero; the CTA is
+  disabled on a fresh draft and enabled on a complete one; `creation_confirmed` emits exactly
+  `draft.to_creation()`.
+- **Content parity** (extends the existing test): every id in `Races.IDS` / `Callings.IDS` has
+  a content file with a **non-empty `fragment`**.
+- **§7 guard**: no LCK value, descriptor, or accessor is reachable from the creation scene.
+
+### The visual gate
+
+Headless GUT proves the nodes mount and the bindings run. **It cannot prove the screen looks
+like the mock.** ADR 0001 is explicit that this gate is a **human F6 eyeball**, and this is
+the screen where that matters most.
+
+---
+
+## 10. Out of scope
+
+- **Title → creation → shell wiring** — M4-c, next.
+- **Portrait art and the `‹ ›` arrows** — no art, no portrait field.
+- **Origin *selection*** — the deserter is the only origin. The screen is *handed* one; it
+  does not choose.
+- **Persisting the creation seed past creation** — M9 saves the sheet, and the sheet *is* the
+  character.
+- **Any AI call.** The DM's entrance is the shell, one screen later.
+- **The MP curve and the level curve** — M5, deferred by the races/classes spec.
--- a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-15-m4c-title-creation-shell-flow-design.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-15-m4c-title-creation-shell-flow-design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+# M4-c — Title → creation → shell flow
+
+**Milestone:** M4-c (roadmap §M4). **Date:** 2026-07-15.
+**§2 side:** n/a (flow orchestration — code owns it, no AI).
+**Depends on:** the Title screen (M3), the creation screen (M4-b), the creation
+model `NewGame.construct` (M4-a), the shell (M3-a).
+**Goal it advances:** a playable start-to-shell loop — the player builds a
+character and lands in the exploration shell as *that* character.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Problem
+
+The flow from the title screen into the game is fictional in two places:
+
+1. **Title skips creation.** `title_screen.gd`'s `new_game` item does
+   `get_tree().change_scene_to_file(SHELL)` — it jumps straight to the shell and
+   never touches the creation screen.
+2. **The shell fakes a character.** `main_window_shell.gd._build_seed_log()`
+   hardcodes "Vexcca, a human sellsword" and `ShellState.seed()` hardcodes her
+   vitals. The shell has never consumed a real, created character.
+
+Meanwhile the creation screen already emits `creation_confirmed(creation)` and
+`NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation)` already returns
+`{ok, log: CanonLog, state: GameState}` — the two objects the shell needs. Nothing
+connects the emit to the construct to the shell.
+
+M4-c wires those three edges: **Title → Creation → Shell**, with the created
+character flowing all the way through.
+
+### Constraints
+
+- **⛨ saga (roadmap §M3/§M4):** do NOT hardcode a linear
+  `new game → creation → world` flow as one welded unit. The saga's fourth entry
+  path — "begin the next campaign of an existing saga" — must be addable later
+  without rewriting existing edges.
+- **§2:** the screen never hands game state upward. `construct` re-rolls the
+  character from the creation seed itself; the flow only carries plain data.
+- **§13:** a failure never surfaces to the player as an error.
+- **No new global state.** The codebase uses an injection-seam pattern
+  (`instantiate()` → set property → `add_child()`), not autoloads. There are zero
+  autoloads today; this milestone adds none.
+
+---
+
+## 2. Approach (chosen)
+
+**A flow coordinator node.** A new script-first root `Node`, `GameFlow`, becomes
+the `main_scene`. It owns one `ContentDB` and the current screen (its only child),
+and it holds the entire Title → Creation → Shell sequence in one file.
+
+Rejected alternatives:
+
+- **Autoload handoff singleton** — keep `change_scene_to_file` everywhere, carry
+  the character in a global. Smallest screen diff, but smears the flow across three
+  handlers + global mutable state, fighting the no-hardcoded-flow constraint and
+  cutting against the injection-seam pattern.
+- **Screens instantiate their own successor** — hardcodes the flow *into* the
+  screens and couples them; worst for the saga constraint.
+
+The coordinator is the only option where the sequence is a single editable object
+(saga-friendly) and it reuses the existing injection seam (no global state).
+
+---
+
+## 3. Components
+
+### 3.1 `GameFlow` (new)
+
+- **Files:** `client/scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd`,
+  `client/scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn` (a trivial one-node scene).
+- **Type:** script-first `Node`. It has no Control layout, so ADR 0001's
+  editor-first rule does not apply — that rule governs *Control layout* scenes;
+  this is a pure coordinator. (Noted explicitly so a reviewer does not read the
+  code-built structure as an ADR 0001 violation.)
+- **Owns:**
+  - `world: ContentDB` — loaded once in `_ready` (`ContentDB.default_content_root()`).
+  - `service: DmService` — built once and injected into the shell, so the shell's
+    own `service == null` fallback is not needed on the real path (it stays for
+    F6/standalone).
+  - `origin: Dictionary` — the deserter origin (the single origin that exists).
+  - the current child screen.
+- **`main_scene`:** `project.godot` `run/main_scene` changes from
+  `res://scenes/title/TitleScreen.tscn` to `res://scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn`.
+
+**The one swap primitive:**
+
+```gdscript
+func _show(next: PackedScene, inject: Callable) -> void:
+    # free current child, instantiate next, run the injection seam, then add.
+    for c in get_children():
+        c.queue_free()
+    var screen := next.instantiate()
+    inject.call(screen)        # set injected properties BEFORE add_child (_ready)
+    add_child(screen)
+```
+
+`inject` is the seam: it runs after `instantiate()` (which does NOT run `_ready`)
+and before `add_child()` (which does) — the same window the tests use. This is
+precisely what `change_scene_to_file` cannot provide.
+
+**The sequence (the whole table lives here):**
+
+| Step | Trigger | GameFlow method |
+|---|---|---|
+| boot | `_ready()` | `_show_title()` |
+| title | `menu_activated(&"new_game")` | `_show_creation()` |
+| title | `menu_activated(&"quit")` | `get_tree().quit()` |
+| creation | `creation_confirmed(creation)` | `_start_campaign(creation)` |
+
+- `_show_title()` → `_show(TITLE, func(s): s.menu_activated.connect(_on_menu))`.
+- `_show_creation()` → `_show(CREATION, func(s): s.world = world; s.origin = origin;
+  s.creation_confirmed.connect(_start_campaign))`.
+- `_start_campaign(creation: Dictionary)` → call `NewGame.construct`; on success
+  `_show_shell(result.log, result.state)`; on failure see §5.
+- `_show_shell(log, state)` → `_show(SHELL, func(s): s.service = service;
+  s.injected_log = log; s.injected_state = state)`.
+
+**Saga seam:** `_show_creation()` and `_start_campaign(creation)` are deliberately
+separate. `_start_campaign` takes a plain Dictionary and does not assume the
+creation came from the screen. The saga's fourth path becomes a new
+`menu_activated` arm that synthesizes a `creation` Dict and calls
+`_start_campaign` directly, skipping the creation screen — no existing edge
+changes.
+
+### 3.2 `title_screen.gd` (modified)
+
+Becomes **emit-only**. It already emits `menu_activated(id)`. Remove:
+
+- `const SHELL`,
+- the `new_game` and `quit` bodies of `_on_menu_activated` (and the now-dead
+  `_on_menu_activated` connection if it holds nothing else).
+
+The screen no longer knows what comes after it. Its atmosphere/selection/input
+behavior is untouched.
+
+### 3.3 `character_creation.gd` (unchanged)
+
+No change. It already accepts injected `world`/`origin` and already emits
+`creation_confirmed(draft.to_creation())`. M4-b left the signal dangling for
+exactly this milestone to connect.
+
+### 3.4 `main_window_shell.gd` + `ShellState` (modified)
+
+Two new injection seams on the shell, mirroring `service`:
+
+```gdscript
+var injected_log: CanonLog = null
+var injected_state: GameState = null
+```
+
+In `_ready()`, the seed calls become fallbacks (same shape as `service == null`):
+
+```gdscript
+_state = ShellState.for_character(injected_state, injected_log) if injected_state \
+         else ShellState.seed()
+_log   = injected_log if injected_log else _build_seed_log()
+```
+
+New factory **`ShellState.for_character(state: GameState, log: CanonLog)`**:
+
+- `vitals.hp / hp_max` ← `state.sheet.hp / state.sheet.max_hp()`
+- `vitals.mp / mp_max` ← `state.sheet.mp / state.sheet.max_mp()`
+- `vitals.purse_copper` ← `state.purse_copper`
+- `location_label` ← `log.location.name`
+- `turn_order`, `consumables`, `round_label` ← **the same placeholders `seed()`
+  uses** (combat = M5, inventory = M7 own these; not M4-c's to invent).
+
+`_build_seed_log()` and `ShellState.seed()` **stay** — they are the F6/standalone
+fallback, unchanged. On the real path the injected objects win and the created
+character's vitals, location, and opening narration (via the injected log) are all
+real.
+
+---
+
+## 4. Data flow
+
+```
+project.godot main_scene = GameFlow.tscn
+   │
+GameFlow._ready → loads ContentDB (world), origin (deserter), builds DmService
+   │  _show_title
+TitleScreen ──menu_activated(&"new_game")──▶ GameFlow._show_creation
+   │  inject world + origin
+CharacterCreation ──creation_confirmed(creation)──▶ GameFlow._start_campaign
+   │  NewGame.construct(origin, world, creation) → {ok, log, state}
+   │  inject log + state + service
+MainWindowShell  (vitals/location/narration all from the real character)
+```
+
+`creation` is a plain Dictionary carrying `{name, race_id, calling_id, seed,
+spend, skills, bonus_skill}`. `construct` re-rolls the attributes and Luck from
+`seed` itself (§2/§10) — the flow never carries a computed stat.
+
+---
+
+## 5. Error handling (§13)
+
+`NewGame.construct` returns `{ok: false, errors}` on invalid input. Through the UI
+this is **unreachable** — `character_creation._bind_cta` disables the CTA on any
+`NewGame.validate` error, so `creation_confirmed` only fires on a legal draft. But
+§2 requires `construct` to distrust its caller, and so does `GameFlow`:
+
+- On `result.ok == false`, `_start_campaign` **logs the errors and returns** —
+  it does not swap to the shell. The player remains on the valid creation screen.
+- No crash, no half-built shell reaches the player.
+
+This path exists to be handled, not hit; a test drives it deliberately (§6).
+
+---
+
+## 6. Testing
+
+All new guards get the revert-and-watch-it-go-red treatment per
+[`docs/traps.md`](../../traps.md). Drive screens by emitting their **real
+signals**, never by calling handlers (traps.md: tests that called handlers
+instead of pressing nodes).
+
+1. **GameFlow flow — new game reaches the shell as the created character.**
+   Instantiate GameFlow with an injected fake `world`/`origin`/`service`; let it
+   show the title; `emit_signal("menu_activated", &"new_game")` → assert the child
+   is a `CharacterCreation`. Build a valid `creation` Dict for a known character
+   (e.g. name "Dagnet"), `emit_signal("creation_confirmed", creation)` → assert
+   the child is a `MainWindowShell` **and its canon log player name == "Dagnet"**.
+   The name assertion proves the character flowed through, not merely that a scene
+   swapped. *Re-break:* feed a Dict whose name differs from the asserted one and
+   watch it go red.
+
+2. **Shell injected path — vitals derive from the real sheet.** Inject a
+   `log`+`state` for a character with a known HP (distinct from the seed's 42/60);
+   `add_child`; assert the `HP` label reads the injected HP. *Re-break:* force the
+   `seed()` branch and watch it fail.
+
+3. **`ShellState.for_character` unit.** Vitals + location derive from the passed
+   `state`/`log`; `turn_order`/`consumables`/`round_label` equal `seed()`'s
+   placeholders. *Re-break:* change one derived field's source and watch the
+   assertion fail.
+
+4. **Construct-failure stays on creation (§5).** Drive `_start_campaign` with a
+   `creation` Dict that fails `validate`; assert no `MainWindowShell` is added and
+   the flow is unchanged. *Re-break:* make `_start_campaign` transition
+   unconditionally and watch this go red.
+
+5. **Title is emit-only.** Assert `title_screen.gd` no longer references a shell
+   scene path and emits `menu_activated` (the existing title test may already
+   cover the emit; extend it to assert the routing bodies are gone).
+
+---
+
+## 7. Scope boundary
+
+**In:** the three flow edges; the character flowing through them; the shell's
+vitals + location + narration deriving from the real character; the emit-only
+title; error handling for the unreachable construct failure.
+
+**Out (owned elsewhere):**
+- Origin selection UI — deserter is the single origin; the seam accepts one origin
+  now and a choice later.
+- Save/load, continue, load — M9.
+- Quit-confirmation dialog.
+- Any HUD field beyond vitals + location (turn order = M5, consumables = M7).
+- The saga's fourth entry path itself — this milestone only keeps it *addable*.
+
+---
+
+## 8. Files
+
+**New:**
+- `client/scripts/ui/flow/game_flow.gd`
+- `client/scenes/flow/GameFlow.tscn`
+- `client/tests/unit/test_game_flow.gd`
+
+**Modified:**
+- `client/project.godot` — `run/main_scene` → `GameFlow.tscn`
+- `client/scripts/ui/title/title_screen.gd` — emit-only
+- `client/scripts/ui/shell/main_window_shell.gd` — `injected_log`/`injected_state`
+  seams + fallback wiring
+- `client/scripts/ui/shell/shell_state.gd` — `for_character(state, log)` factory
+- `client/tests/unit/test_main_window_shell.gd` — injected-path test
+- `client/tests/unit/test_shell_state.gd` — `for_character` test
+- `client/tests/unit/test_title_screen.gd` — emit-only assertions
--- a/docs/traps.md
+++ b/docs/traps.md
@@ -119,6 +119,251 @@ nothing changed that you did not intend.

 ---

+## 7. An assertion can pass because one string happens to sit inside another
+
+**M4-b.** `assert_string_contains(line, Callings.armor(id))` checked that a calling's
+detail line mentioned its armour — using the **raw** table value (`"light"`, `"none"`),
+not the word the card actually prints (`"light armour"`, `"no armour"`). For
+light/medium/heavy this passed **by accident**: `"light"` is a substring of `"light
+armour"`. It broke only on the Hedge-Mage, the one calling with `armor: "none"`, because
+`"none"` is not a substring of `"no armour"`. Delete the Hedge-Mage and the bug goes
+dormant and silent — nothing else in the roster would ever expose it.
+
+The same species, same milestone: `assert_string_contains(line, str(Callings.skill_count(id)))`
+could not fail for the Reaver — its skill count is 2, and `"2"` is already sitting inside
+`"d12"` (its hit die). Hardcoding the wrong skill count in the card would still pass, satisfied
+by a digit in an unrelated number.
+
+**The guard:** anchor the assertion to the **full derived phrase** the code actually
+produces (`CreationCopy.armor_word(id)`, `"picks %d skills" % Callings.skill_count(id)`),
+never to a bare fragment that might coincidentally be present for the wrong reason. If an
+assertion would still pass with the code deleted and a different, unrelated number
+substituted, it is checking overlap, not correctness.
+
+---
+
+## 8. A wrapper can hide the void it was supposed to catch
+
+**M4-b.** A §7 sweep asserted every race×calling combination's DM-panel prose was
+non-empty — the guard meant to catch a blank `ContentDB` leaking onto the one screen that
+must never show a raw error. But the binder wraps prose in BBCode (`"[i]%s[/i]"`) and the
+origin panel always emits its own literal connective (`" Now you carry a %s's work — "`)
+even when every authored fragment and blurb is blank. `"[i][/i]".strip_edges().is_empty()`
+reads `false` regardless of what content actually rendered. The 28-combination sweep was
+proving the *wrapper* is non-empty, not that the guard against a blank `ContentDB` held.
+
+**The guard:** when a value is always wrapped in a fixed template before display, assert
+that the render **contains the payload's own string** (and that the payload's own string
+is itself non-blank) — never just that the wrapped result is non-empty. A non-empty
+assertion downstream of a non-empty literal proves nothing.
+
+---
+
+## 9. A test that asserts the script's own loop bound, not the artifact
+
+**M4-b.** `test_five_ability_cards_never_six` asserted `_ability_cards.size() == 5` — but
+that array is filled by the binder's own `for i in range(5)`, so it is exactly 5 **by
+construction**, independent of what the scene actually contains. An `Ab5` node could be
+added to the `.tscn` and this test stayed green while a sixth ability card — the exact
+regression §7 exists to prevent — rendered on screen.
+
+**The guard:** interrogate the artifact, not the code that reads it.
+`get_node_or_null("Ab5")` must be null, or `get_child_count()` on the authored container
+must equal the expected count. A test whose only source of truth is a literal in the same
+file it is meant to be guarding is not a test of that file.
+
+---
+
+## 10. A guard whose only fixture makes it trivially true
+
+**M4-b.** `test_only_the_origin_s_allowed_callings_are_shown` checked that shown calling
+cards equal the origin's `allowed_callings`. The only origin in the game (the deserter)
+allows all seven callings, and cards default to visible — so the assertion was `7 == 7`
+no matter what the hiding logic did. **Deleting the entire hide branch left the test
+green.**
+
+**The guard:** a gating rule needs a fixture that actually gates. Inject a restrictive
+origin (the injection seam for `origin`/`ContentDB` already existed for exactly this) that
+allows a strict subset, and assert the excluded cards are absent. A test with only the
+permissive case in play is not testing the restrictive path at all.
+
+---
+
+## 11. An assertion that was already true before the action under test ran
+
+**M4-b.** A re-roll test asserted `"points left: 3"` **after** calling re-roll — but a
+freshly-constructed draft already reads 3 points left. Removing `spend = {}` from
+`reroll()` entirely left the test green, because the assertion never depended on the
+reset actually happening.
+
+The same species bit a displayed-scores test harder: it asserted the ability cards show
+`draft.final()` values, but spent zero points before checking — so `final() == rolled()`
+and a binder bug that read `rolled` instead of `final` (arguably the single most obvious
+possible bug in a point-buy panel) passed clean.
+
+**The guard:** drive the state away from its default before asserting the reset or the
+derivation. Spend a point, *then* re-roll and check the pool refilled. Spend a point,
+*then* check the card shows the spent value, not the rolled one. If the assertion would
+already hold on a brand-new object with no action taken, the test has not exercised
+anything.
+
+---
+
+## 12. A "covers everything" claim that covers three things
+
+**M4-b.** `test_committed_tres_matches_builder` is the drift guard between the theme
+builder and the committed `.tres` artifact — the thing that stops "changed the palette,
+forgot to regenerate" from shipping silently. The plan described it as iterating
+`ThemeKeys.ALL`. It did not: it checked a hardcoded list of exactly three
+variation/state pairs, so every variation added since — including all five this
+milestone added for the creation screen — could drift from its generator with the test
+still green.
+
+**It took three fixes, and that is the actual lesson.**
+
+- **Fix 1** replaced the hardcoded three with `ThemeKeys.ALL`. Still could not fail: `ALL`,
+  *by its own docstring*, holds stylebox variations only — it deliberately excludes the six
+  **font roles**. Change a palette colour used only by a font role, skip the regen, ship a
+  stale theme, green.
+- **Fix 2** added `FONT_ROLES` and iterated both. Still could not fail: the builder also
+  styles some **base types** directly (`RichTextLabel`'s font, italics font, size and
+  colour), and those are in neither set. `RichTextLabel` is what renders every line of DM
+  prose on the creation screen.
+- **Fix 2 also added a meta-guard** — a test that walks the builder's own output and fails
+  if it styles anything that no set covers. That guard was written *specifically* to make a
+  third miss impossible. It contained this:
+
+  ```gdscript
+  if fresh.get_type_variation_base(variation) == &"":
+      continue        # a BASE type, not a variation
+  ```
+
+  **The meta-guard's one exemption was exactly the gap it existed to catch.**
+
+**The guard:** when a guard is described as covering "every X," check that it enumerates
+`X.ALL` (or equivalent) rather than a literal list someone wrote down once — and then check
+what `X.ALL` actually *contains*, because a set's name is not its contents. Make the failure
+message name the specific variation and property that drifted; a guard that only says "theme
+mismatch" does not tell the next person which of forty checks failed.
+
+**And the harder lesson: a guard-of-a-guard with an exemption in it is not a guard.** If you
+write a meta-test to prove a set is complete, every `continue` and every `if … : return` in
+it is a hole you are cutting on purpose. Assert on the exempted case instead of skipping it,
+or you have built the very thing you were trying to prevent, one level up, where nobody will
+look for it.
+
+---
+
+## 13. A node-type sweep that misses the types that matter most
+
+**M4-b.** The §7 Luck-invisibility guard swept `find_children("*", "Label", ...)` across
+the creation screen looking for the word "luck." `RichTextLabel` does **not** extend
+`Label` in Godot's class hierarchy — and the two `RichTextLabel` nodes on the screen were
+the only nodes rendering authored prose (the DM origin panel and the calling detail
+panel), i.e. the single likeliest place for a stray "luck" to leak onto the screen. The
+sweep also missed every `Button` (whose text is a property, not a child Label) and
+`LineEdit.placeholder_text`.
+
+**The guard:** a sweep for "does this string appear anywhere on screen" must walk
+`Control` and check every text-bearing property that type can hold (`text`, `.text` on
+buttons, `placeholder_text`, `bbcode_text`), not one Label subclass. Naming the node type
+you filtered on is not the same as covering the node types that carry the content you care
+about.
+
+---
+
+## 14. A test that calls the handler instead of pressing the button
+
+**M4-b.** Every interaction test for the creation screen invoked `_on_race_pressed(i)` /
+`_on_calling_pressed(i)` / etc. directly. **Commenting out `_wire()` entirely — the method
+that connects every button's `pressed` signal to its handler — left the whole suite
+green**, because no test ever went through the signal. A mis-bound `bind(i)` (wrong card
+wired to the wrong index) would have been equally invisible.
+
+**The guard:** drive the interaction through the actual node —
+`button.pressed.emit()` (or, for a real click, `button.pressing`/`gui_input`) — not the
+handler function. This covers the wiring *and* the index binding for free, and it is the
+only way a test can tell you a button that looks correct in the editor is inert at
+runtime.
+
+---
+
+## 15. GUT can skip a test file with a warning, not a failure
+
+**M4-b.** A new `class_name`-declaring script (`CreationDraft`, `CreationCopy`) needs
+Godot's `.godot/` import cache rebuilt before GUT can resolve the global class name from a
+sibling test file. Until that happens, the test file fails to parse and GUT **silently
+skips it with a `WARNING`**, not a failure — and the run still prints `All tests passed!`,
+at the **old** test count. A TDD RED phase against a brand-new global class can therefore
+be **fake**: you believe you watched the new test fail, but it never ran at all.
+
+**The guard:** check the test **count**, every time, not the green banner text. If a
+change was supposed to add N tests and the total didn't move, the suite lied by omission.
+`rm -rf .godot && ./run_tests.sh` forces the cache rebuild if a new file seems to be
+missing.
+
+---
+
+## 16. A test can hang instead of fail
+
+**M4-b.** The natural way to write "drain the point-buy pool" in a test is
+`while draft.points_left() > 0: plus.pressed.emit()`. Run that against a broken `_wire()`
+(trap 14) and `points_left()` never changes — the loop **never terminates**, and the test
+runner hangs instead of reporting a failure.
+
+**The guard:** bounded `for` loops only, with an explicit iteration cap well above the
+expected count, and an assertion after the loop that the expected end-state was actually
+reached. A test that can hang is worse than a test that can silently pass — it costs a
+human a wall-clock timeout to even learn something is wrong.
+
+---
+
+## 17. Asserting against a value the engine derives from the thing under test
+
+**M4-b, the F6 pass.** The race cards were authored 108px tall, and their text — the
+trait line — visibly rendered *below the card's bottom border* in the running game. The
+guard written for it read:
+
+```gdscript
+var needed := box.get_combined_minimum_size().y   # 114
+assert_lte(needed, box.size.y)                    # box.size.y is ALSO 114
+```
+
+It passed. Not against the fix — **against the bug.** The card was put back to its
+overflowing 108px and the suite stayed green, 29/29.
+
+The reason is a Godot rule that is easy to forget: **`Control.size` is clamped UP to
+`get_combined_minimum_size()`.** The `Box` is anchored inside the card, so a 108px card
+leaves it 82px of room — but the Box does not *become* 82px tall. It reports 114, its own
+minimum, and quietly overflows the card's border. So the assertion compared 114 against
+114: `needed <= box.size.y` is not a size check at all, it is `x <= x`. It could never
+have failed, for any card, at any height.
+
+**The guard:** assert against the container that actually *clips* — the card — not
+against the child, whose size the engine has already reconciled with the very number you
+are testing:
+
+```gdscript
+var available: float = card.size.y - box.offset_top + box.offset_bottom  # 82
+assert_lte(needed, available)                                            # 114 <= 82 -> RED
+```
+
+The general shape: **if the engine derives B from A, then `assert(A <= B)` is a
+tautology, not a test.** Layout, min-size, and any auto-fitted value are all A-and-B.
+Reach for a number the engine computed from a *different* source — the parent, the
+authored constant, the viewport — or the assertion is checking that arithmetic works.
+
+Related: this is trap 11's family (an assertion already true before the action ran), but
+it is worse — this one is true *by construction*, so no amount of driving state can
+redeem it.
+
+**Corollary, same fix:** geometry assertions are meaningless before the container tree has
+sorted. On the frame `add_child()` runs, a race card reports **102px** wide and its
+autowrapped blurb reports a **2508px** minimum height. `await get_tree().process_frame`
+twice, or the guard fails for a reason that has nothing to do with the bug.
+
+---
+
 ## The checklist this all reduces to

 - Can the new test **fail**? Re-break the code and watch it. If it can't fail, it isn't a test.
@@ -127,3 +372,24 @@ nothing changed that you did not intend.
 - Anything the **model can emit**? Ask what happens if it emits it *twice*.
 - Any fact written down **twice**? Guard every copy — including docs and tooling.
 - Touched **content**? Check the generated tree and the build.
+- Does an assertion string appear **only as a fragment** of another string? Anchor to the
+  full derived phrase.
+- Is the value under test **always wrapped** in a fixed template first? Assert on the
+  payload, not the wrapper.
+- Could the assertion be reading a bound the **test's own setup** guarantees, rather than
+  the artifact under test?
+- Does the fixture make the guard's condition **trivially true** regardless of the logic
+  it claims to check?
+- Would the assertion **already hold before the action under test runs**? Drive state away
+  from its default first.
+- Does "covers everything" actually **iterate the full set**, or a hardcoded sample of it?
+- Does a node-type sweep account for **every type** that can carry the content, not just
+  the common one?
+- Does the test **press the node** (emit the real signal), or call the handler directly?
+- Did the test **count** move by the expected amount — not just the green banner?
+- Can the test **hang** on a broken precondition? Bound every loop.
+- Is the assertion's right-hand side **derived by the engine from its left-hand side**
+  (`Control.size` vs `get_combined_minimum_size()`)? Then it is `x <= x`. Measure against
+  the parent that clips, not the child that reports.
+- Is it a **geometry** assertion? Let the container tree sort first, or it measures an
+  unlaid-out node.