diff --git a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/polished/character-state-ch-01-final.md b/projects/crimson-vows/staging/polished/character-state-ch-01-final.md
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--- a/projects/crimson-vows/staging/polished/character-state-ch-01-final.md
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@@ -1,49 +1,49 @@
 # Character State: ch-01
 
 ## Isabella Voss
-Location: Blackthorn Keep, High Dais
-Physical: Hemomantic exhaustion; silk gloves saturated with blood; internal "lashing" from the Peace Vow; fresh wrist scarring hidden by lace.
-Emotional: Managed defiance; hyper-vigilant; performing a "regal correction" mask.
-Active obligations: Compliance for the binding ritual — PAID; Marriage to Damien Blackthorn — PAID; Production of a sanctioned heir — UNPAID.
-Open loops: Survival of the wedding night — UNRESOLVED; Maintaining the "Undamaged Vessel" facade — UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: Actively bleeding beneath gloves; severity hidden from Elders; Using her mother’s execution as a survival template.
-Arc: 15% -- Transitioned from prisoner-of-war to legally bound hostage-bride.
-Permanent: YES
+- **Location:** Blackthorn Keep, High Dais.
+- **Physical:** Hemomantic exhaustion; silk gloves saturated with blood; internal "lashing" from the Peace Vow; fresh wrist scarring hidden by lace.
+- **Emotional:** Managed defiance; hyper-vigilant; performing a "regal correction" mask.
+- **Active Obligations:** Compliance for binding ritual (PAID); Marriage to Damien (PAID); Production of sanctioned heir (UNPAID).
+- **Open Loops:** Survival of the wedding night; maintaining "Undamaged Vessel" facade.
+- **Known Secrets:** Actively bleeding beneath gloves; severity of hemomantic scarring hidden from Elders; using her mother’s death as a template for survival.
+- **Arc:** 15% — Transitioned from POW to legally bound hostage-bride via the Blood Contract.
 
 ## Damien Blackthorn
-Location: Blackthorn Keep, The Great Hall
-Physical: Predatory vitality; no injuries.
-Emotional: Cruelly intrigued; focused on dismantling Isabella’s composure.
-Active obligations: Presenting the "vassal-bride" to the Elders — PAID; Protection/Containment of Isabella — UNPAID.
-Open loops: Testing the limits of Isabella’s Hemomancy — UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: Aware Isabella is hiding hemomantic scarring/bleeding.
-Arc: 08% -- Established as primary tormentor and shadow-husband.
-Permanent: YES
+- **Location:** Blackthorn Keep, High Dais.
+- **Physical:** Predatory vitality; no injuries.
+- **Emotional:** Cruelly intrigued; focused on dismantling Isabella’s composure.
+- **Active Obligations:** Presenting the "vassal-bride" to Elders (PAID); Protection/Containment of Isabella (UNPAID).
+- **Open Loops:** Testing the limits of Isabella’s Hemomancy.
+- **Known Secrets:** Aware Isabella is hiding hemomantic bleeding/scarring.
+- **Arc:** 08% — Established as primary tormentor and shadow-husband during public annexation.
 
 ## Lord Reginald Thorne
-Location: Blackthorn Keep, High Dais
-Physical: Aged, commanding presence.
-Emotional: Triumphant; acquisitive.
-Active obligations: Overseeing integration of the Voss bloodline — UNPAID.
-Open loops: Monitoring the "unmarked vessel" clause — UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: Views Isabella as a pawn to be discarded once an heir is produced.
-Arc: 05% -- Architect of the diplomatic annexation.
-Permanent: YES
+- **Location:** Blackthorn Keep, High Dais.
+- **Physical:** Aged, commanding; aura of acquisitive power.
+- **Emotional:** Triumphant; views the Nightbloom lineage as a resource to be harvested.
+- **Active Obligations:** Overseeing integration of Voss bloodline (UNPAID).
+- **Open Loops:** Monitoring the "unmarked vessel" clause for breeding viability.
+- **Known Secrets:** Plans to discard Isabella once a viable heir is produced.
+- **Arc:** 05% — Architect of the diplomatic annexation.
 
 # World State: ch-01
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- Blackthorn Court: DERISIVE — Witnessed Isabella’s forced submission and the blood-soaked gloves. View her as a conquered trophy.
+- **Blackthorn Court:** DERISIVE. Witnessed Isabella’s forced submission; view her as a conquered trophy and a "broken" witch.
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
-- Nightbloom Coven: SILENT — Isabella feels abandoned by her kin for the sake of a fragile peace.
-- Blackthorn Coven: IMPERIAL — The marriage is treated as a legal and magical annexation of enemy assets.
+- **Nightbloom Coven:** SILENT. Isabella feels abandoned by her kin in exchange for a fragile peace.
+- **Blackthorn Coven:** IMPERIAL. The marriage is treated as a legal and magical annexation of enemy assets.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- The Peace Vow: ACTIVE — Magical pulse enforcing non-aggression; punishes Isabella’s internal dissent with physical pain.
-- The Transition: COMPLETE — Isabella is legally and physically isolated within Blackthorn territory following the signing.
+- **The Peace Vow:** ACTIVE. A magical pulse enforcing non-aggression; punishes Isabella’s internal dissent with physical pain (the "lashing").
+- **The Transition:** COMPLETE. Isabella is legally and physically isolated within Blackthorn territory.
 
 ## Objects/Artifacts
-- Blood-Soaked Silk Gloves: Hiding hemomantic scarring from the Elders.
-- The Binding Contract: High-tier hemomantic artifact; legalizes the annexation of Nightbloom magic.
-- Vow-Sealed Locket: Isabella’s last link to her lineage; hidden talisman.
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+- **Blood-Soaked Silk Gloves:** Hiding hemomantic scarring from the Elders.
+- **The Binding Contract:** High-tier hemomantic artifact; legalizes the annexation of Nightbloom magic.
+- **Vow-Sealed Locket:** Isabella’s last link to her lineage; hidden talisman.
+
+## Lore Note
+- **Hemomantic Scars:** Visible marks of used power that the Blackthorn Elders view as "damage" to a vessel's breeding purity, necessitating Isabella's deception.
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