Editorial correction: ch-09 character state - Kaelen DECEASED (Ch09)

PASS 3 meta-cache produced wrong state. Kaelen DECEASED (Ch09) is correct:
held and collapsed the Obsidian Bridge with final mana-reserves.

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

the-starfall-accord/staging/character-state-ch-09.md

@@ -1,52 +1,53 @@
 # Character State: ch-09
 
 ## Mira
-Location: Great Hall, Ignis-Glacies Academy
-Physical: Mana-exhaustion; minor burns on forearms; mercury-grey eyes (Grey synthesis).
-Emotional: Grief-stricken but resolute; focused on the immediate threat.
-Active obligations: Owes the student body a defensive victory (ch-09) -- UNPAID.
-Open loops: Malchor's second wave approaching (ch-09) -- UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch08—unresolved): Knows the founders encoded a death-pact 300 years ago; Has Kaelen's farewell letter.
-Arc: 95% -- Kaelen's death catalyzed her transition from volatile fire to structured Grey shield.
-Permanent: YES (Mercury-grey eyes).
+Location: Great Hall, Ignis-Glacies Academy (The Reach)
+Physical: Severe mana-exhaustion; burns on forearms from resonance backlash; eyes permanently mercury-grey.
+Emotional: Grief-forged into steel. Kaelen's death transformed her fire into weapons-grade resolve. She is acting Chancellor.
+Active obligations: Owes the student body a victory (Ch09) -- BINDING.
+Open loops: Malchor's siege forces regrouping (Ch09) -- UNRESOLVED; Founders' death-pact (Ch08) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: Knows the founders encoded a 300-year death-pact. Knows Dorian signed knowing this. Has Kaelen's farewell letter.
+Arc: 95% -- Kaelen's death completed the transformation from chaos to purpose. She is now Chancellor.
+Permanent: YES (Mercury-grey eyes -- the Grey synthesis is her permanent state).
 
 ## Dorian Solas
-Location: Great Hall, Ignis-Glacies Academy
-Physical: Right arm silver-scarred; adrenaline crash; no new injuries.
-Emotional: Guilt-ridden; clinically detached mask is permanently shattered.
-Active obligations: Promised Kaelen to protect the remaining students (ch-09) -- UNPAID.
-Open loops: Malchor's second wave approaching (ch-09) -- UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch08—unresolved): Signed the Accord knowing the founders' death-pact was encoded; Has Kaelen's farewell letter.
-Arc: 98% -- Abandoned isolation to lead the unified student body.
-Permanent: YES (Clinical mask abandoned).
+Location: Great Hall, Ignis-Glacies Academy (The Reach)
+Physical: Right arm silver-scarred (old). Adrenaline crash, no new injuries.
+Emotional: Clinical mask PERMANENTLY DESTROYED. Grieving and defiant. Chose to stay.
+Active obligations: Promised Kaelen he would protect the students (Ch08) -- ACTIVE.
+Open loops: Malchor's Phase 2 siege (Ch09) -- UNRESOLVED; Founders' death-pact (Ch08) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch08): Signed the Accord knowing the founders' death-pact was encoded in it. Has Kaelen's farewell letter.
+Arc: 98% -- Kaelen's death completed Dorian's arc. He is no longer alone. He chose the Grey Union.
+Permanent: YES (Clinical mask permanently abandoned).
 
-## Kaelen — DECEASED (ch-09)
-Established: Collapsed the Obsidian Bridge while holding off Malchor’s vanguard, falling into the chasm to buy the Academy time.
-Legacy: His sacrifice unified the rival houses and provided the moral compass for the final resistance.
+## Kaelen -- DECEASED (Ch09)
+Established: Held the Obsidian Bridge approach alone against Malchor's Purifier vanguard; collapsed the Bridge with his final mana-reserves, sealing the chasm.
+Legacy: His sacrifice gave Mira and Dorian thirty minutes to rally 500 students. His farewell letters are the moral compass for the remainder of the war.
 
-## Aric — DECEASED (Ch04)
+## Aric -- DECEASED (Ch04)
 Established: Threw himself in front of a Starfall surge bolt to save Mira.
-Legacy: His empty chair serves as the symbol of sacrifice for the Union.
+Legacy: His empty chair remains a symbol of sacrifice for the Union.
 
 ## Elara
-Location: Great Hall, Ignis-Glacies Academy
-Physical: No injuries; coordinating student defensive lines.
-Emotional: Devastated but performing duties with clinical precision.
-Active obligations: Lead the student military resistance (ch-09) -- ACTIVE.
-Known secrets: Received Kaelen’s third farewell letter.
-Arc: 65% -- Stepped into the role of primary student commander.
+Location: Combat Med-Ward, Ignis-Glacies Academy
+Physical: High magical fatigue; no injuries.
+Emotional: Devastated by Kaelen's death; channeling grief into action as student commander.
+Active obligations: Lead the student resistance (Ch09) -- ACTIVE.
+Known secrets: Received Kaelen's farewell letter (one of three he left in the Archive).
+Arc: 70% -- Stepped up as student military commander after Kaelen's death.
 Permanent: NO.
 
 # World State: ch-09
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- High Inquisitor Malchor (Northern Pass): ENRAGED -- Vanguard lost at the Bridge; now regrouping with heavy siege magics for a terminal strike.
-- Voss (Retreating): COWARDLY -- Fled the front lines after the bridge collapse.
+- High Inquisitor Malchor (Northern Pass, regrouping): ENRAGED -- Vanguard destroyed at Obsidian Bridge. Planning second wave with Severance Key device.
+- Voss (retreating south): DEFEATED -- Fled after the Bridge collapse.
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
-- Imperial Ministry: AGGRESSIVE -- Viewing the Bridge collapse as an act of open rebellion.
-- Student Body: UNIFIED -- Pyre and Spire students are fighting in mixed units for the first time.
+- Imperial Ministry: FURIOUS AND ESCALATING -- Bridge collapse destroyed their vanguard. Second siege wave imminent.
+- Student Body (Ignis-Glacies Academy): UNIFIED AND BATTLE-READY -- 500 Pyre/Spire students drilled in Grey synthesis. Kaelen's death galvanized them.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- The Obsidian Siege Phase 2: IMMINENT -- Malchor is regrouping; second wave expected within the hour.
-- The Founders' Death-Pact: ACTIVE -- The magical trap is primed; Mira and Dorian must find a way to break it before the siege ends.
+- Obsidian Siege Phase 2: IMMINENT -- Malchor is regrouping with heavier forces and the Severance Key.
+- The Founding Death-Pact: REVEALED -- Mira and Dorian know the 300-year trap. Must nullify before Phase 2.
+- Kaelen's Letters: DELIVERED -- Mira, Dorian, and Elara each have their farewell letters.