diff --git a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-10.md b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-10.md
index 99fcea4b..2f60351d 100644
--- a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-10.md
+++ b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-10.md
@@ -3,62 +3,44 @@
 ## Isabella Voss
 Location: The Great Hall, Blackthorn Keep.
 Physical: Extreme hemomantic exhaustion; fresh palm lacerations and shredded sleeves exposing forearm scarring; pale but conscious.
-Emotional: Vindicated and sovereign; she has shed her role as a pawn.
-Active obligations:
-- Protection of the Nightbloom survivors (ch-10) -- UNPAID
-- Life-debt to Damien Blackthorn (ch-10) -- UNPAID
-Open loops:
-- Isabella and Damien against Lord Malphas regarding the Heresy Declaration (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED
-Known secrets:
-- CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): She now houses the Nightbloom collective consciousness.
-- CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): Her blood-bond with Damien has permanently rewritten their magical signatures.
-Arc: 90% -- She has successfully destroyed the mechanism of her enslavement and claimed her power as a sovereign.
+Emotional: Vindicated and sovereign; regal.
+Active obligations: Protection of Nightbloom survivors (ch-10) -- UNPAID; Life-debt to Damien Blackthorn (ch-10) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Establishing legal precedent for "Blood-Sovereignty" (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED; Physical recovery from "Song of Thorns" backlash (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): Houses the Nightbloom collective consciousness; CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): Blood-bond with Damien has permanently rewritten their magical signatures.
+Arc: 90% -- She has successfully destroyed the mechanism of her enslavement and claimed her power.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## Damien Blackthorn
-Location: The center of the Great Hall, shielding Isabella.
-Physical: Sustained minor feedback lacerations; armor and skin stained with Isabella’s blood.
-Emotional: Fanatically devoted; protective of Isabella’s new order.
-Active obligations:
-- Isabella’s physical protection (ch-10) -- ONGOING
-Open loops:
-- Immediate martial response to his father’s guards (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED
-- Managing the Nightbloom retreat logistics (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED
-Known secrets:
-- CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): Prepared to kill Lord Malphas to secure Isabella’s safety.
-- CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): He perceives Isabella’s blood as the only source of truth in the Keep.
+Location: Kneeling in the Great Hall, Blackthorn Keep.
+Physical: Minor feedback lacerations; armor and skin stained with Isabella’s blood.
+Emotional: Fanatically devoted; protective.
+Active obligations: Isabella’s physical protection (ch-10) -- ONGOING; Formal challenge to House Blackthorn (ch-10) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Immediate martial response to his father’s guards (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED; Logistics of the Nightbloom retreat (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): Prepared to kill Lord Malphas to secure Isabella; CARRIED (ch-10--unresolved): Perceives Isabella’s blood as the only source of truth.
 Arc: 85% -- He has fully severed his psychological and legal ties to his father’s law.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## Lord Malphas Blackthorn
 Location: The High Dais, Great Hall.
-Physical: Shaking with fury; uninjured but diminished by the loss of the Binding’s power.
+Physical: Shaking with fury; uninjured but magically diminished.
 Emotional: Predatory, humiliated, and murderous.
-Active obligations: 
-- Elimination of Isabella and Damien (ch-10) -- UNPAID
-Open loops:
-- Issuing the Heresy Declaration and Keep lockdown (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED
+Active obligations: None.
+Open loops: Issuing the Heresy Declaration (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED; Locking down the Keep’s perimeter (ch-10) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: None.
 Arc: 80% -- Transitioned from a calculating tyrant to a desperate, overt villain.
 Permanent: YES
 
-## High Priest Malakor
-Location: The ritual platform, Great Hall.
-Physical: Trembling; catatonic.
-Emotional: Broken and despairing.
-Arc: 100% -- He has witnessed the collapse of his faith and remains in a state of holy apocalypse.
-Permanent: YES
-
 # World State: ch-10
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- High Priest Malakor (The Clergy): BROKEN -- Witnessed the destruction of the Great Binding -- Considers the event a divine apocalypse.
-- Blackthorn Guards (The Keep): DIVIDED -- Witnessed Damien defending Isabella -- Paralyzed by conflicting loyalties.
+- High Priest Malakor (Great Hall): BROKEN -- Witnessed the destruction of the Binding stones and views it as a holy apocalypse -- Paralyzed.
+- Blackthorn Guards (Great Hall): DIVIDED -- Witnessed Damien defending the enemy -- Hesitant to strike.
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
-- Nightbloom Coven: EXALTANT -- Isabella's internal "Song" has unified them into a singular insurgent body.
-- Blackthorn Council: DISARRAY -- The loss of the Annexation Treaty has created a catastrophic magical and financial deficit.
+- Nightbloom Coven: EXALTANT -- They are unified by Isabella’s internal "Song" and moving as a single insurgent body.
+- Blackthorn Council: DISARRAY -- The loss of the Annexation Treaty assets has created a catastrophic magical and financial deficit.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- The Sovereign Breach: COMPLETE -- The Great Binding is destroyed; all blood-annexation treaties are voided.
-- The Nightbloom Exodus: BEGUN -- Survivors are moving toward the exits of the Keep.
+- The Sovereign Breach: COMPLETE -- The Great Binding ritual and all associated blood-annexation treaties are void.
+- The Nightbloom Exodus: BEGUN -- Survivors are actively moving toward the Keep's exits.
 - The Heresy Declaration: PENDING -- Malphas is preparing to formalize the hunt for the rebels.
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