diff --git a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-01.md b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-01.md
index df386d69..98589292 100644
--- a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-01.md
+++ b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-01.md
@@ -2,49 +2,49 @@
 
 ## Isabella Voss
 Location: High Dais, Blackthorn Keep
-Physical: Hemomantic exhaustion; silk gloves saturated with blood; internal lashing from the Peace Vow; wrist scarring.
+Physical: Hemomantic exhaustion; silk gloves saturated with hidden blood; internal lashing from the Peace Vow; fresh wrist scarring.
 Emotional: Managed defiance; hyper-vigilant; performing a “regal correction” mask.
-Active obligations: Owes Damien Blackthorn a sanctioned heir (ch-01) — UNPAID; Owes Lord Reginald Thorne the Voss bloodline assets (ch-01) — UNPAID.
-Open loops: Survival of the wedding night (ch-01) — UNRESOLVED; Secrecy of hemomantic scarring from Reginald (ch-01) — UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01--unresolved): Bleeding beneath gloves; CARRIED (ch-01--unresolved): Severity of scarring hidden from Elders; CARRIED (ch-01--unresolved): Using her mother’s death as a template for survival.
-Arc: 15% — Transitioned from POW to legally bound hostage-bride via the Blood Contract.
+Active obligations: Owes Damien Blackthorn a sanctioned heir (Ch01) -- UNPAID; Owes Lord Reginald Thorne the Voss bloodline assets (Ch01) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Isabella and Damien wedding night survival (Ch01) -- UNRESOLVED; Secrecy of hemomantic scarring from Reginald (Ch01) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch01--unresolved): Bleeding beneath gloves; CARRIED (Ch01--unresolved): Severity of scarring hidden from Elders; CARRIED (Ch01--unresolved): Using her mother’s death as a template for survival.
+Arc: 15% -- Transitioned from POW to legally bound hostage-bride via the Blood Contract.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## Damien Blackthorn
 Location: High Dais, Blackthorn Keep
-Physical: Predatory vitality; no injuries.
+Physical: No injuries; predatory vitality.
 Emotional: Cruelly intrigued; focused on dismantling Isabella’s composure.
-Active obligations: Owes Isabella protection/containment (ch-01) — UNPAID.
-Open loops: Testing the limits of Isabella's Hemomancy (ch-01) — UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01--unresolved): Suspects Isabella is hiding hemomantic bleeding/scarring from the Elders.
-Arc: 08% — Established as primary tormentor and shadow-husband.
+Active obligations: Owes Isabella protection and containment (Ch01) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Damien testing the limits of Isabella's Hemomancy (Ch01) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch01--unresolved): Suspects Isabella is hiding hemomantic bleeding/scarring from the Elders.
+Arc: 08% -- Established as primary tormentor and shadow-husband.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## Lord Reginald Thorne
 Location: High Dais, Blackthorn Keep
-Physical: Aged, commanding presence; no injuries.
+Physical: Aged, commanding presence.
 Emotional: Triumphant; viewing the Voss bloodline as a harvestable resource.
-Active obligations: Overseeing integration of Voss assets (ch-01) — UNPAID.
-Open loops: Monitoring the "unmarked vessel" clause (ch-01) — UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01--unresolved): Plans to discard/sacrifice Isabella once a viable heir is produced.
-Arc: 05% — Architect of the Annexation.
+Active obligations: Overseeing integration of Voss assets (Ch01) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Monitoring of the "unmarked vessel" clause (Ch01) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch01--unresolved): Plans to discard/sacrifice Isabella once a viable heir is produced.
+Arc: 05% -- Architect of the Annexation.
 Permanent: YES
 
-## Elara Voss -- DECEASED (Prior)
-Established: Executed for breaking a blood vow before the start of the narrative.
-Legacy: Her death serves as Isabella’s primary trauma and provides the restrictive template for her survival tactics.
+## Elara Voss -- DECEASED (Ch01)
+Established: Witnessed execution for breaking a coven vow.
+Legacy: Her death serves as a template for Isabella's survival and fuels her terror of disloyalty.
 
 # World State: ch-01
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- Blackthorn Court (Blackthorn Keep): DERISIVE — Witnessed Isabella’s forced submission; view her as a conquered trophy.
+- Blackthorn Court (Keep): DERISIVE -- Witnessed Isabella’s forced submission -- Viewed her as a conquered trophy and enemy asset.
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
-- Nightbloom Coven: SILENT — Traded Isabella for peace under the Treaty of Thorns.
-- Blackthorn Coven: IMPERIAL — View the marriage as the formal annexation of enemy assets.
+- Nightbloom Coven: SILENT -- Traded Isabella for peace under the Treaty of Thorns.
+- Blackthorn Coven: IMPERIAL -- View the marriage as the formal annexation of enemy assets.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- The Peace Vow: ACTIVE — Magical pulse enforcing non-aggression; punishes Isabella’s dissent with internal lashes.
-- The Binding Ritual: COMPLETE — Magical ceremony linking the Voss and Blackthorn lines.
-- The Treaty of Thorns: ACTIVE — Diplomatic framework mandating the union to end the inter-coven war.
-- The Annexation: COMPLETE — Formal absorption of Nightbloom assets via the marriage contract.
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+- The Peace Vow: ACTIVE -- Magical pulse enforcing non-aggression; punishes Isabella’s dissent with internal lashes.
+- The Binding Ritual: COMPLETE -- Magical ceremony linking the Voss and Blackthorn lines.
+- The Treaty of Thorns: ACTIVE -- Diplomatic framework mandating the union to end the inter-coven war.
+- The Annexation: COMPLETE -- Formal absorption of Nightbloom assets via the marriage contract.
\ No newline at end of file