diff --git a/projects/binding-thread/staging/character-state-ch-04.md b/projects/binding-thread/staging/character-state-ch-04.md
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 Location: The Threshold, Core Drive-Spindle (Lockdown)
 Physical: Ocular hemorrhaging; left palm aperture pulsing violet; indigo staining reaching mid-bicep; persistent tremors; smell of lanolin and indigo dye.
 Emotional: Defiant; tactical; physically exhausted but mentally sharp; fatalistic.
-Active obligations: Owes Loom maintenance of the "Dirty Circuit" (ch-03)—UNPAID; owes Thorne biological stability via shared link (ch-03)—UNPAID.
-Open loops: Liora and Thorne vs. the Thirteenth Strand (ch-03)—UNRESOLVED; Liora vs. Conclave Purists' coup (ch-03)—UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-01): Witnessed her parents' souls unbound.
-Arc: 25%—Integrated the heretical Thirteenth Strand; chose to entwine life-thread with Thorne to stabilize the machine.
+Active obligations: Owes Loom maintenance of the "Dirty Circuit" (ch-04) -- UNPAID; owes Thorne biological stability via shared link (ch-04) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Liora and Thorne vs. the Thirteenth Strand (ch-04) -- UNRESOLVED; Liora vs. Conclave Purists' coup (ch-04) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-03—unresolved): Witnessed her parents' souls unbound -- Thorne and the Conclave do not know the full trauma.
+Arc: 25% -- Integrated the heretical Thirteenth Strand; chose to entwine life-thread with Thorne to stabilize the machine.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## Thorne Quill
 Location: Weaving Chamber, restraint chair.
-Physical: Organs vibrating with Loom frequency; skin etched with indigo ink-blood; metaphysical weight increased.
-Emotional: Seething; protective; hyper-attuned to the Loom's "voice."
-Active obligations: Owes Liora biological stabilization/anchor-weight (ch-03)—UNPAID.
-Open loops: Communication with Loom's consciousness (ch-03)—UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-03): Communicating with the Loom's sentient intent—hidden from Liora.
-Arc: 25%—Transitioned from disposable sacrifice to sentient, necessary anchor.
+Physical: Organs vibrating with Loom frequency; skin etched with indigo ink-blood; metaphysical weight increased; bound to Liora by a violet tether.
+Emotional: Hyper-attuned to the Loom; protective of Liora; seething with newfound power.
+Active obligations: Owes Liora biological stabilization/anchor-weight (ch-04) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Communication with Loom's consciousness (ch-04) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Known secrets: CARRIED (ch-03—unresolved): Communicating with the Loom's sentient intent -- hidden from Liora.
+Arc: 25% -- Transitioned from disposable sacrifice to sentient, necessary anchor for the Loom's stability.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## Elder Maros
 Location: High Observation Gallery.
 Physical: Leaning on bone-white cane; eyes clouded by indigo cataracts.
-Emotional: Politically panicked; manipulative.
-Active obligations: Owes Liora political protection from Purists (ch-03)—UNPAID.
-Open loops: Maros vs. imminent Purist mobilization (ch-03)—UNRESOLVED.
-Arc: 20%—Sanctioned heresy for personal/political survival.
-Permanent: YES
+Emotional: Politically panicked; manipulative; fearful of the Purist breach.
+Active obligations: Owes Liora political protection from Purists (ch-04) -- UNPAID.
+Open loops: Maros vs. imminent Purist mobilization (ch-04) -- UNRESOLVED.
+Arc: 20% -- Sanctioned heresy for personal/political survival; now a hostage to the ritual's success.
+Permanent: NO
 
 # World State: ch-04
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- Junior Binders (Core Spindle): Traumatized/Intrigued—witnessed the Thirteenth Strand binding; some sketching patterns.
-- Archival Guards (The Threshold): Hostile—transitioned from gatekeepers to jailers.
+- Junior Binders (Threshold): TRAUMATIZED/INTRIGUED -- Witnessed the Thirteenth Strand binding; some are compulsively sketching the forbidden patterns.
+- Archival Guards (Threshold): HOSTILE -- Transitioned from gatekeepers to jailers as the lockdown persists.
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
-- Conclave Purists: MILITANT—Viewing indigo flare as proof of corruption; mobilizing to breach the spindle.
-- The Stained: NASCENT—Underground Binders viewing Liora’s survival as evolution.
+- Conclave Purists: MILITANT -- Viewing indigo flare as proof of corruption; mobilizing to breach the spindle and "purge" the contamination.
+- The Stained: NASCENT -- Underground Binders viewing Liora’s survival as the first step in a necessary evolution.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- The Dirty Circuit: Stabilized by Liora-Thorne link; demanding constant resonance.
-- Indigo Contagion: Gravity fluctuations and violet light "bleeds" in upper galleries.
-- Lockdown Protocol: Core Spindle physically sealed; external communications severed.
+- The Dirty Circuit: Stabilized by Liora-Thorne link; demanding constant resonance and biological toll.
+- Indigo Contagion: Gravity fluctuations and violet light "bleeds" occurring in the upper galleries due to the Thirteenth Strand.
+- Lockdown Protocol: Core Spindle physically sealed; external communications severed; internal silos arming.
 - Loom Frequency: Achieved low-level sentience; audible/perceptible only to Thorne.
-- Ritual Outcome: The Thirteenth Strand is bound; the machine is functional but "stained."
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+- Ritual Outcome: The Thirteenth Strand is bound; the machine is functional but "stained" with a new, unpredictable energy.
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