diff --git a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-01.md b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-01.md
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--- a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/character-state-ch-01.md
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@@ -2,43 +2,43 @@
 
 ## Queen Seraphine
 Location: The Glass Border, Aethelgard Frontier
-Physical: Minor sensory strain from Hemomancy; no physical injuries.
+Physical: No injuries; experiencing minor sensory strain from high-order Hemomancy.
 Emotional: Calculated desperation and ancestral weight.
 Active obligations: owes Aldric Thorne a response to the Bilateral Seal (ch-01) -- UNPAID
 Open loops: [Seraphine & Aldric] The terms of the Sanguine Marriage (ch-01) -- UNRESOLVED
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01—unresolved): knows the Blight has already breached the inner glass-line -- the Lowen-Court
-Arc: 05% -- Accepted the necessity of a radical union with a rival bloodline to ensure her kingdom's survival.
+Known secrets: knows the Blight has already breached the inner glass-line -- the Lowen-Court
+Arc: 05% -- Acknowledged that the Valerius bloodline cannot survive the Blight through isolation alone.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## King Aldric
 Location: The Glass Border, Neutral Parley Zone
-Physical: Subtle tremors in hands; death-like pallor following use of Sanguine Sovereignty.
+Physical: No injuries; slight tremors in hands following the display of Sanguine Sovereignty.
 Emotional: Stoic and tactically expectant.
 Active obligations: owes Seraphine protection for her remaining border villages via the Seal (ch-01) -- UNPAID
 Open loops: [Aldric & the Lowen-Court] Internal dissent regarding the marriage to a Valerius (ch-01) -- UNRESOLVED
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01—unresolved): knows the true rate of the Blight's acceleration exceeds official reports -- Queen Seraphine
-Arc: 05% -- Formally proposed a Sanguine Marriage to bridge a decade-long diplomatic void.
+Known secrets: knows the true rate of the Blight's acceleration exceeds official reports -- Queen Seraphine
+Arc: 05% -- Committed to a radical political union to forestall his kingdom’s total collapse.
 Permanent: YES
 
-## Captain Kaelen
+## Captain Kaelen 
 Location: The Glass Border, Royal Guard Perimeter
-Physical: High fatigue; no injuries.
+Physical: No injuries; high fatigue.
 Emotional: Deeply wary and professionally alert.
 Active obligations: owes Seraphine his life and absolute silence (ch-00) -- UNPAID
 Open loops: [Kaelen & Seraphine] Safety of the extraction route (ch-01) -- RESOLVED
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01—unresolved): knows Seraphine’s physical stamina is flagging -- The Court
+Known secrets: knows Seraphine’s physical stamina is flagging -- The Court
 Arc: 02% -- Witnessed the first formal diplomatic contact with the "Enemy" in a decade.
 Permanent: NO
 
 # World State: ch-01
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- High Priestess Malcorra (The Crimson Cathedral): HOSTILE -- Sent a silent warning through the blood-link during the parley -- Seraphine is being watched for any sign of "heretical" weakness.
+- High Priestess Malcorra (The Crimson Cathedral): HOSTILE -- She sent a silent warning through the blood-link during the parley -- Seraphine is being watched for any sign of "heretical" weakness.
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
 - The Crimson Monarchy (Lowen-Court): Pragmatic but Bitter -- They view the Valerius line as brittle, yet necessary for the Bilateral Seal's strength.
 - The Crimson Throne (Aethelgard): Xenophobic and Terrified -- They see any deal with Aldric as a surrender of their pure blood-right.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- The Great Blight: Advancing rapidly through the Aethelgard frontier; village of Oakhaven confirmed lost.
+- The Great Blight: Advancing rapidly through the Aethelgard frontier; village of Oakhaven confirmed lost in ch-01.
 - The Sanguine Parley: Formal proposal of the Bilateral Seal initiated; 48-hour deadline for a response established.
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