diff --git a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-05.md b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-05.md
index de4d9135..801e2d23 100644
--- a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-05.md
+++ b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-05.md
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@
 
 ## Isabella Voss
 Location: The High Tower solar, Blackthorn Keep.
-Physical: Recovering from magical exhaustion; wrists bandaged; blood-ink pact glowing faintly beneath the skin of her forearm.
+Physical: Recovering from magical exhaustion; wrists bandaged; blood-ink pact glowing faintly.
 Emotional: Calculating, performatively submissive, and secretly triumphant.
 Active obligations: 
 - Owes Damien a sanctioned heir (ch-01) — UNPAID.
 - Owes Reginald Thorne Voss bloodline assets (ch-01) — UNPAID.
 - Bound to Damien’s safety via blood-ink (ch-02) — UNPAID.
 Open loops:
-- Managing the "Blood Tithe" demanded by Malakor without revealing its magical properties (ch-04) — ACTIVE.
-- Scaling the "false consummation" ruse (ch-03) — ACTIVE.
+- Isabella and Malakor "Blood Tithe" negotiation (ch-04) — ACTIVE.
+- Isabella/Damien "false consummation" ruse (ch-03) — ACTIVE.
 Known secrets: 
 - CARRIED (ch-02--unresolved): Severity of her scarring — Damien.
 - CARRIED (ch-02--unresolved): Using Damien’s blood as a magic anchor — Damien.
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Active obligations:
 - Owes Isabella protection/containment (ch-01) — UNPAID.
 - Bound to Isabella’s safety by the blood-ink pact (ch-02) — UNPAID.
 Open loops: 
-- Shielding Isabella from his father’s mounting impatience (ch-03) — UNRESOLVED.
+- Damien shielding Isabella from Lord Malphas (ch-03) — UNRESOLVED.
 Known secrets: 
 - CARRIED (ch-02--unresolved): Isabella is an "Unmarked Vessel" violation — Malphas/Malakor.
 - CARRIED (ch-02--unresolved): Isabella fuels magic with intentional bloodletting — Malphas.
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ Permanent: NO
 # World State: ch-05
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- High Priest Malakor (Blackthorn Coven): Livid and suspicious — Blocked again by Damien; plotting "medical" isolation of Isabella.
-- Lord Malphas Blackthorn (Blackthorn Keep): Aggressive — Demanding Voss blood-keys; frustrated by delays.
+- High Priest Malakor (Blackthorn Coven): LIVID — Blocked by Damien during the solar confrontation — Plotting Isabella's isolation.
+- Lord Malphas Blackthorn (Blackthorn Keep): AGGRESSIVE — Demanding Voss blood-keys — Frustrated by Isabella's lack of "submission."
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
-- Blackthorn Coven: Deeply suspicious — Rumors of Damien's complicity grow amid Isabella's unbroken psyche.
-- Nightbloom Coven: Fractured and leaderless — Awaiting Isabella's signals.
+- Blackthorn Coven: SUSPICIOUS — Rumors of Damien's complicity grow amid Isabella's unbroken psyche.
+- Nightbloom Coven: FRACTURED — Awaiting Isabella's signals while leaderless.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- The Blood Tithe: ESCALATING — Formal demand persists, heightening hemomancy exposure risk.
-- The Peace Vow: ACTIVE — Blocks violence, enables coercion.
-- The Treaty of Thorns: ACTIVE — Drives Nightbloom absorption.
\ No newline at end of file
+- The Blood Tithe: ESCALATING — Formal demand for Voss essence heightens hemomancy exposure risk.
+- The Peace Vow: ACTIVE — Blocks physical violence while enabling coercion.
+- The Treaty of Thorns: ACTIVE — Drives the ongoing absorption of Nightbloom assets.
\ No newline at end of file