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+# Character State: ch-08
+
+## Elara Vance
+Location: The Root-Path, beyond the Stone Sanctum.
+Physical: Severe spiritual exhaustion; wincing from bruised ribs; palms scarred by the Sigil's heat.
+Emotional: Resolute but wary; mourning the loss of the Sanctum's silence.
+Active obligations: owes Kaelen protection (ch-06) -- UNPAID; owes Thalric a debt of legacy (ch-05) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Elara/Council regarding blight origins (ch-06) -- UNRESOLVED; Elara/Root-Key destination (ch-08) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-06--unresolved): knows the Council’s silence covers the blight’s true origin -- Kaelen does not know.
+Arc: 80% -- Accepted the Root-Key and the necessity of leaving the Sanctum’s safety to confront the Heart-Root.
+Permanent: YES
+
+## Kaelen
+Location: The Root-Path, beyond the Stone Sanctum.
+Physical: Sustained deep laceration on left forearm; soot-stained skin; hand steady while holding the Sunstone.
+Emotional: Intensely protective; grimly focused on the path ahead.
+Active obligations: owes Elara a life-debt (ch-04) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Kaelen/Sunstone full potential (ch-06) -- UNRESOLVED; Kaelen/Missing Grove map (ch-02) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-03--unresolved): his desertion was triggered by a vision -- Elara does not know.
+Arc: 75% -- Transitioned from a defender of a location to a guardian of the Vessel's journey, abandoning the Sanctum's walls.
+Permanent: YES
+
+## Thorne Blackroot
+Location: The Overlook, Ash-Fields.
+Physical: Face heavily bandaged with blackened cloth; right arm braced in jagged wood; coughing blood.
+Emotional: Vengeful and desperate; feeling the Blight's "thirst" more acutely.
+Active obligations: owes the Circle of Thorns a "Harvest" (ch-06) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Thorne/Blight sentience (ch-06) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-06--unresolved): Knows the Vessel ritual can be inverted to feed the Blight -- Elara does not know.
+Arc: 55% -- Narrowly escaped the Sanctum’s backlash and committed his remaining life-force to the final interception.
+Permanent: YES
+
+# World State: ch-08
+
+## NPC Memory
+- Forest Spirits (Deep Hearth): AGITATED -- The removal of the Root-Key caused the Sanctum's wards to flicker -- They now require the Vessel to succeed or the site will collapse.
+- Blight-Walkers (The Perimeter): HUNGRY -- Sensed the movement of the Sunstone into the open and are converging on the Root-Path.
+
+## Faction Attitudes
+- Circle of Thorns: BLOODTHIRSTY -- Enraged by the failure at the Sanctum; they are now hunting the Vessel in the open.
+- Council of Oakhaven: PANICKED -- They have realized the Ritual has moved into its final, uncontrollable stage.
+
+## Active World Events
+- The Great Blight: ACCELERATING -- No longer checked by the Sanctum's static wards; tendrils are following the Root-Key’s resonance.
+- The Vessel Ritual: STAGE FOUR (THE PILGRIMAGE) -- ACTIVE; The Root-Key has been claimed; the protagonists have exited the Stone Sanctum.
+
+## Canon Artifacts/Key Items
+- The Sigil: Burning with a constant, painful amber light on Elara’s palm.
+- Sunstone Shard: Used as a beacon and weapon; its light is narrower but more piercing.
+- Root-Key: Pulsing in Elara’s pack; it hums with a vibration that guides them toward the Heart-Root.
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