staging: character-state-ch-12.md task=4ddbbe20-93ae-4514-92b9-0a59388876a3

projects/echoes-of-the-forest/staging/character-state-ch-12.md

@@ -1,44 +1,43 @@
 # Character State: ch-12
 
 ## Elara Vance
-Location: The Inner Sanctum of the Heart-Root/Threshold.
-Physical: Glowing silver-white Sigil on right palm; moderate spiritual exhaustion; lingering bruising on ribs; mud-stained clothing.
-Emotional: Transcendent but weary; feels a heavy sense of responsibility for the forest's restoration.
-Active obligations: Owes Kaelen protection (ch-06)—UNPAID.
-Open loops: Elara/Council regarding blight origins (ch-06)—UNRESOLVED (Possesses evidence of Council's failed experiments).
-Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch-10--unresolved): The Blight's origin is tied to the Council’s early failed experiments.
-Arc: 100%—Fully accepted her role as the Voice of the Forest, transitioning from a reactive survivor to a proactive weaver of the new era.
+Location: Inner Sanctum of the Heart-Root / Threshold
+Physical: Silver-white Sigil permanently bonded to right palm; severe spiritual exhaustion; bruised ribs; mud-stained clothing
+Emotional: Transcendent but weary; heavy sense of responsibility
+Active obligations: Owes Kaelen protection (Ch-06) -- UNPAID
+Open loops: Elara and Council regarding Blight origins (Ch-12) -- UNRESOLVED
+Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch-11--unresolved): Knows Council’s role in Blight origin -- Kaelen/Villagers do not know
+Arc: 100% -- Fully transitioned from reactive survivor to the proactive Voice of the Forest, accepting the irreversible Vessel role.
 Permanent: YES
 
 ## Kaelen
-Location: The Threshold of the Heart-Root.
-Physical: Left arm mangled and heavily scarred; weak and pale; resting against a stone pillar; stable but requires long-term recovery.
-Emotional: Contemplative and stoic; finds peace in his new identity as a guardian rather than a deserter.
-Active obligations: None.
-Open loops: Kaelen/Missing Grove map (ch-02)—UNRESOLVED.
-Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch-11--unresolved): Last of the Sun-Guard bloodline—Elara remains unaware. 
-Arc: 100%—Completed his redemption arc; fully committed to protecting the Vessel and the Heart-Root.
+Location: Threshold of the Heart-Root
+Physical: Left arm severely mangled and scarred; weak and pale; stable but recovering
+Emotional: Stoic; at peace with his identity as a guardian
+Active obligations: None
+Open loops: None
+Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch-11--unresolved): Sun-Guard bloodline secret -- Elara does not know; CARRIED (Ch-02--unresolved): Grove map location -- Unknown
+Arc: 100% -- Redemption finalized through the protection of the Heart-Root and the Vessel.
 Permanent: YES
 
-## Thorne Blackroot -- DECEASED (ch-11)
-Established: Severed from the Blight's power, his body calcified completely and shattered into fine, inert dust as the Heart-Root's pulse reclaimed the sanctum.
-Legacy: His death marks the final collapse of the Circle of Thorns' influence and the purification of the site he sought to corrupt.
+## Thorne Blackroot -- DECEASED (Ch-11)
+Established: Severed from the Blight's power, his body calcified and shattered into inert dust.
+Legacy: The Circle of Thorns' influence is extinguished and the sanctum is purified.
+
+---
 
 # World State: ch-12
 
 ## NPC Memory
-- **The Forest Spirits** (Elderwood): VIBRANT—They are actively reshaping the environment, singing through the wind and guiding new growth.
-- **Survivors of Oakhaven** (Oakhaven): CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC—Seeing the sky clear for the first time in years; they are beginning to question the old Council's silence.
+- Council Survivors (Oakhaven): PARANOID -- Facing public exposure of their corruption -- Likely to face a political reckoning.
+- Forest Spirits (Elderwood): VIBRANT -- Singing new growth into existence -- Rapidly reclaiming the environment.
 
 ## Faction Attitudes
-- **Circle of Thorns**: EXTINCT—No magical resonance or leaders remains; the few remaining scouts have fled into the deep wilds.
-- **Council of Oakhaven**: PARIAHS—As the corruption clears, their past actions are coming under intense scrutiny by the village survivors.
+- Circle of Thorns: Extinct -- Scattered and powerless following Thorne's death and the Heart-Root's awakening.
+- Council of Oakhaven: Disgraced -- Authority collapsing as truth of the Blight's origin spreads among survivors.
+- Oakhaven Survivors: Hopeful -- Optimism returning as the sky clears, though wary of the remaining leadership.
 
 ## Active World Events
-- **The Great Weaving**: ONGOING—Magical reforestation is rapidly reclaiming the scorched lands surrounding the Heart-Root.
-- **The Council's Reckoning**: EMERGING—Political tension in Oakhaven as the truth about the Blight's origin begins to spread among the refugees.
-
-## Canon Artifacts/Key Items
-- **The Sigil**: Permanently bonded to Elara; serves as the primary conduit for Elderwood magic.
-- **The Heart-Root**: AWAKENED—The pulse of the forest is steady and expanding.
-- **Sunstone Shard**: INERT—A plain stone with no remaining magical utility.
+- The Great Weaving: Ongoing; Elderwood magic is actively purifying scorched lands and restoring biodiversity.
+- The Heart-Root Awakening: Permanent; the stabilized pulse is holding the Blight at bay and expanding the "safe" zone.
+- Political Reckoning: Emerging; tension rises in Oakhaven as the survivors demand answers regarding the Council's complicity.