diff --git a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/polished/character-state-ch-14-final.md b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/polished/character-state-ch-14-final.md
index d5d024c0..a12a4665 100644
--- a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/polished/character-state-ch-14-final.md
+++ b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/polished/character-state-ch-14-final.md
@@ -1,53 +1,50 @@
-# FULL MODE STATE EXTRACTION — CHAPTER 14 (POLISHED)
+# CHAPTER 14 POLISHED — CANONICAL STATE EXTRACTION
 
-## Character State: ch-14
+## Character State: ch-14 [FINAL]
 
 **Isabella Voss**
-- Location: Far side Obsidian Bridge, valley edge
-- Physical: Severe hemomantic scarring; bleeding sensory organs; unconscious; profound exhaustion
-- Emotional: Transcendent agony; resolute; protective
-- Arc Status: 100% COMPLETE — Transformed into living anchor of displaced species; severed Voss blood-debt permanently
-- Active Obligations: Protection of Nightbloom survivors (ACTIVE) | Life-debt to Damien (UNPAID)
-- Unresolved: Integration of Nightbloom Song | Evolution mechanics of new species
-- Carried Secret: Holds collective consciousness in marrow — Council unaware
-- Permanent Change: YES
+- **Location:** Far side Obsidian Bridge, valley edge
+- **Physical:** Severe hemomantic scarring; bleeding sensory organs; unconscious; profound exhaustion
+- **Emotional:** Transcendent agony; resolute; protective
+- **Arc Status:** COMPLETE — Transformed into living anchor of displaced species; severed Voss blood-debt permanently
+- **Active Obligations:** Protection of Nightbloom survivors (ACTIVE) | Life-debt to Damien (UNPAID)
+- **Carried Secret:** Holds collective consciousness in marrow — Council unaware
+- **Permanent Change:** YES — No longer purely vampire; threshold-crossed
 
 **Damien Blackthorn**
-- Location: Center Obsidian Bridge, rear-guard position
-- Physical: Broken ribs; deep abdominal wound; heavy blood loss; shattered armor; collapsing
-- Emotional: Grim defiance; protective; accepting sacrifice
-- Arc Status: 100% COMPLETE — Shield that breaks House Blackthorn's power; scion to martyr
-- Active Obligations: Isabella's protection (ACTIVE)
-- Carried Secret: Patricide preparation now irrelevant; loyalty realigned to Collective
-- Permanent Change: YES
+- **Location:** Center Obsidian Bridge, rear-guard position
+- **Physical:** Broken ribs; deep abdominal wound; heavy blood loss; shattered armor; collapsing
+- **Emotional:** Grim defiance; protective; accepting sacrifice
+- **Arc Status:** COMPLETE — Shield that breaks House Blackthorn's tyranny; scion to martyr
+- **Carried Secret:** Patricide intention now irrelevant; loyalty realigned to Collective
+- **Permanent Change:** YES — Redemption sealed through sacrifice
 
 **Lord Malphas Blackthorn**
-- Location: Great Hall High Dais, catatonic
-- Physical: Magically hollowed; immobile
-- Emotional: Non-existent; shattered
-- Arc Status: 95% COMPLETE — Hollowed relic of dying era
-- Carried Secret: Lineage magically sterile — Council unaware
-- Permanent Change: YES
+- **Location:** Great Hall High Dais, catatonic
+- **Physical:** Magically hollowed; immobile
+- **Emotional:** Erased
+- **Arc Status:** COMPLETE — Relic of dying era; lineage magically sterile (Council unaware)
+- **Permanent Change:** YES — Power effectively dead
 
 ---
 
-## World State: ch-14
+## World State: ch-14 [FINAL]
 
-**Active Events (CONCLUDING)**
-- Obsidian Bridge Skirmish: Final stand; Damien rear-guard; bridge fracturing
-- The Violet Bleed: Keep's magical foundation collapsing; valley tremors intensifying
-- Nightbloom Exodus: Collective consciousness fleeing; stabilizing under Isabella's subconscious guidance
+**Critical Events [CONCLUDING]**
+- Obsidian Bridge final stand; structure fracturing under combat and magic
+- The Violet Bleed: Keep's foundation collapsing; valley tremors cascading
+- Nightbloom Exodus: Collective consciousness successfully stabilized under Isabella's subconscious guidance
 
 **Faction Status**
-- Blackthorn Council: AGGRESSIVE/FRACTURED — Scorched-earth policy; power base decaying; abandoned Malphas
-- The Collective: FRAGILE/EMERGENT — Unified mind vulnerable but stabilizing; no longer human or vampire
+- **Blackthorn Council:** Fractured; power base irreversibly decaying; abandoned patriarch
+- **The Collective:** Emergent but fragile; unified consciousness vulnerable yet stabilizing
 
 **Permanent World Changes**
-- ✓ Severing of the Vow: Blackthorn-Voss blood-tie shattered (physical + magical)
-- ✓ Exodus of the Song: Valley power source departed; Keep decay assured
-- ✓ Birth of the Collective: New species emerged; bound by shared consciousness, not blood oaths
-- ✓ House Blackthorn: Magical foundation crumbling; era ending
+- ✓ Voss-Blackthorn blood-tie severed (physical + magical)
+- ✓ Valley power source departed; Keep decay assured
+- ✓ New species born: Nightbloom Collective (consciousness-bound, not blood-oath bound)
+- ✓ House Blackthorn: Magical era ending
 
-**NPC Memory Update**
-- Blackthorn Council: Now aware they failed; power irreversibly declining
-- Nightbloom Survivors: Successfully evolved; crossed the threshold
\ No newline at end of file
+**Threshold Achieved:** The old world of blood vows and inherited duty has conclusively ended. Isabella's choice to anchor the Collective—rather than surrender to either coven—represents a third path: self-chosen obligation over imposed destiny.
+
+**Story Status:** Ch. 14 complete. Major arc threads resolved. Aftermath and integration remain.
\ No newline at end of file