diff --git a/internal/app/commands.go b/internal/app/commands.go
index f0bb98a..a92043f 100644
--- a/internal/app/commands.go
+++ b/internal/app/commands.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
-var supportedCommands = []string{"run", "plan", "status", "resume", "run-stage"}
+var supportedCommands = []string{"run", "plan", "status", "resume", "run-stage", "restore"}
 
 // Execute dispatches CLI commands and returns a process exit code.
 func Execute(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ func Execute(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 		err = Resume(ctx, cmdArgs, stdout)
 	case "run-stage":
 		err = RunStage(ctx, cmdArgs, stdout)
+	case "restore":
+		err = Restore(ctx, cmdArgs, stdout)
 	default:
 		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "unknown command: %q\n\n", cmd)
 		printUsage(stderr)
diff --git a/internal/app/restore.go b/internal/app/restore.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebb0189
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/restore.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+)
+
+// Restore validates restore CLI/config inputs and storage preflight for future restore phases.
+func Restore(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("restore", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	fs.SetOutput(out)
+
+	var pipelinePath string
+	var sessionPath string
+	var sessionID string
+	var dryRun bool
+	var force bool
+	var includeAudio bool
+	fs.StringVar(&pipelinePath, "config", "", "path to pipeline.yml (optional; defaults searched)")
+	fs.StringVar(&sessionPath, "session", "", "path to session.yml")
+	fs.StringVar(&sessionID, "session-id", "", "session identifier for session.yml templates")
+	fs.BoolVar(&dryRun, "dry-run", false, "plan restore actions without writing local files")
+	fs.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "overwrite local conflicts with remote state")
+	fs.BoolVar(&includeAudio, "include-audio", false, "include archived session-level audio objects")
+	fs.Usage = func() {
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(out, "Usage: narratio restore [--config <path>] [--session <path>] [--session-id <value>] [--dry-run] [--force] [--include-audio]")
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(out)
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(out, "Flags:")
+		fs.PrintDefaults()
+	}
+
+	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, flag.ErrHelp) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("restore: invalid flags: %w", err)
+	}
+	if fs.NArg() != 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("restore: unexpected positional arguments")
+	}
+	resolvedPipelinePath, err := resolvePipelineConfigPath(pipelinePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("restore: %w", err)
+	}
+	resolvedSessionPath, err := resolveSessionConfigPath(sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("restore: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg, err := config.LoadWithSessionOptions(resolvedPipelinePath, resolvedSessionPath, config.SessionLoadOptions{
+		SessionID: sessionID,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("restore: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := config.Validate(cfg); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("restore: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = storage.NewObjectStoreFromConfig(ctx, cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("restore: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Phase 2 boundary: command wiring and preflight only.
+	_ = dryRun
+	_ = force
+	_ = includeAudio
+	return fmt.Errorf("restore: not yet implemented (phase 3: remote current-state discovery)")
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_test.go b/internal/app/restore_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b133fb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/restore_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+)
+
+func TestExecuteRestoreHelp(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	code := Execute([]string{"restore", "--help"}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, want 0", code)
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want empty", stderr.String())
+	}
+	out := stdout.String()
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "Usage: narratio restore") {
+		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want restore usage", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "--include-audio") {
+		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want --include-audio flag", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecuteRestoreRecognizedAndReturnsNYI(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	code := Execute(
+		[]string{
+			"restore",
+			"--config", pipelinePath,
+			"--session", sessionPath,
+			"--session-id", "2026-05-03",
+			"--dry-run",
+			"--force",
+			"--include-audio",
+		},
+		&stdout,
+		&stderr,
+	)
+	if code == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("exit code = 0, want non-zero (phase 2 NYI)")
+	}
+	errText := stderr.String()
+	if !strings.Contains(errText, "restore: not yet implemented (phase 3: remote current-state discovery)") {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want NYI error", errText)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(errText, "unknown command") {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, restore should be recognized command", errText)
+	}
+
+	manifestPath := artifacts.SessionManifestPathForCampaign(workspaceRoot, "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(manifestPath); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("manifest should not be created during phase-2 restore preflight; stat err=%v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecuteRestoreRejectsUnexpectedPositionalArguments(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	code := Execute([]string{"restore", "--config", pipelinePath, "--session", sessionPath, "extra"}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if code == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("exit code = 0, want non-zero")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "restore: unexpected positional arguments") {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want positional-args failure", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecuteRestoreFailsWhenStorageBackendNotConfigured(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeRestoreConfigWithoutStorage(t, workspaceRoot)
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	code := Execute([]string{"restore", "--config", pipelinePath, "--session", sessionPath}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if code == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("exit code = 0, want non-zero")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "no remote object store backend is configured") {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want storage backend preflight failure", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func writeRestoreConfigWithoutStorage(t *testing.T, workspaceRoot string) (string, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath := filepath.Join(dir, "pipeline.yml")
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+
+	pipelineYAML := `workspace:
+  root: ` + workspaceRoot + `
+whisperx:
+  transcribe_url: https://example.com/transcribe
+`
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(pipelinePath, []byte(pipelineYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write pipeline config: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session config: %v", err)
+	}
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(dir, "speakers.yml"), "alice: alice.flac\n")
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(dir, "autocorrect.yml"), "[]\n")
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(dir, "glossary.yml"), "[]\n")
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(dir, "audio", "alice.flac"), "audio-bytes")
+
+	return pipelinePath, sessionPath
+}
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/archive_identity.go b/internal/artifacts/archive_identity.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f6a6e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/artifacts/archive_identity.go
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package artifacts
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+)
+
+// ResolveArchiveBucket resolves archive bucket identity with manifest-first precedence.
+func ResolveArchiveBucket(cfg *config.Config, m *manifest.Manifest) string {
+	if m != nil && strings.TrimSpace(m.S3Bucket) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(m.S3Bucket)
+	}
+	if cfg == nil || cfg.Pipeline == nil || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket)
+}
+
+// ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix resolves archive session prefix with manifest-first precedence.
+func ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix(cfg *config.Config, m *manifest.Manifest) (string, error) {
+	if m != nil && strings.TrimSpace(m.S3SessionPrefix) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(m.S3SessionPrefix), nil
+	}
+	if cfg == nil || cfg.Session == nil || cfg.Pipeline == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolved config is required")
+	}
+
+	sessionID := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.SessionID)
+	if sessionID == "" && m != nil {
+		sessionID = strings.TrimSpace(m.SessionID)
+	}
+	campaign := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.Campaign)
+	if campaign == "" && m != nil {
+		campaign = strings.TrimSpace(m.Campaign)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3 configuration is required")
+	}
+
+	sessionPrefix := S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, campaign, sessionID)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(sessionPrefix) == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("session prefix is required")
+	}
+	return sessionPrefix, nil
+}
+
+// ResolveArchiveRunPrefix resolves archive run prefix with manifest-first precedence.
+func ResolveArchiveRunPrefix(cfg *config.Config, m *manifest.Manifest) (string, error) {
+	if m != nil {
+		runPrefix := strings.TrimSpace(m.S3RunPrefix)
+		if runPrefix != "" {
+			return runPrefix, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	sessionPrefix, err := ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix(cfg, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	runID := ""
+	if m != nil {
+		runID = strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID)
+	}
+	if runID == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("run id is required")
+	}
+	return S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, runID), nil
+}
+
+// ResolveArchiveCurrentStateKeys returns current pointer keys for a session prefix.
+func ResolveArchiveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix string) (manifestKey, runIDKey string) {
+	return S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix), S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
+}
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/archive_identity_test.go b/internal/artifacts/archive_identity_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27ae8f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/artifacts/archive_identity_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+package artifacts
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+)
+
+func TestResolveArchiveBucketPrefersManifestThenConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Storage: config.StorageConfig{
+				S3: &config.StorageS3Config{Bucket: "cfg-bucket"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	if got := ResolveArchiveBucket(cfg, &manifest.Manifest{S3Bucket: "manifest-bucket"}); got != "manifest-bucket" {
+		t.Fatalf("bucket = %q, want manifest-bucket", got)
+	}
+	if got := ResolveArchiveBucket(cfg, &manifest.Manifest{}); got != "cfg-bucket" {
+		t.Fatalf("bucket = %q, want cfg-bucket", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveArchiveSessionPrefixPrefersManifestThenConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Storage: config.StorageConfig{
+				S3: &config.StorageS3Config{RootPrefix: "dnd"},
+			},
+		},
+		Session: &config.SessionConfig{
+			SessionID: "2026-04-19",
+			Campaign:  "forsaken",
+		},
+	}
+	m := &manifest.Manifest{S3SessionPrefix: "manifest/session/prefix/"}
+
+	got, err := ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix(cfg, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != "manifest/session/prefix/" {
+		t.Fatalf("session prefix = %q, want manifest/session/prefix/", got)
+	}
+
+	got, err = ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix(cfg, &manifest.Manifest{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	want := "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/"
+	if got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("session prefix = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveArchiveRunPrefixPrefersManifestThenDerived(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Storage: config.StorageConfig{
+				S3: &config.StorageS3Config{RootPrefix: "dnd"},
+			},
+		},
+		Session: &config.SessionConfig{
+			SessionID: "2026-04-19",
+			Campaign:  "forsaken",
+		},
+	}
+
+	m := &manifest.Manifest{
+		RunID:       "20260516T010203Z-1a2b3c4d",
+		S3RunPrefix: "manifest/run/prefix/",
+	}
+	got, err := ResolveArchiveRunPrefix(cfg, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolveArchiveRunPrefix() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != "manifest/run/prefix/" {
+		t.Fatalf("run prefix = %q, want manifest/run/prefix/", got)
+	}
+
+	m = &manifest.Manifest{
+		RunID: "20260516T010203Z-1a2b3c4d",
+	}
+	got, err = ResolveArchiveRunPrefix(cfg, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolveArchiveRunPrefix() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	want := "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/runs/20260516T010203Z-1a2b3c4d/"
+	if got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("run prefix = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveArchiveIdentityErrorsAreDeterministic(t *testing.T) {
+	cfgNoS3 := &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{},
+		Session:  &config.SessionConfig{SessionID: "2026-04-19", Campaign: "forsaken"},
+	}
+	_, err := ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix(cfgNoS3, &manifest.Manifest{})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "pipeline.storage.s3 configuration is required") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want missing storage.s3", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Storage: config.StorageConfig{
+				S3: &config.StorageS3Config{RootPrefix: "dnd"},
+			},
+		},
+		Session: &config.SessionConfig{SessionID: "2026-04-19", Campaign: "forsaken"},
+	}
+	_, err = ResolveArchiveRunPrefix(cfg, &manifest.Manifest{})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "run id is required") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want missing run id", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveArchiveCurrentStateKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	manifestKey, runIDKey := ResolveArchiveCurrentStateKeys("dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/")
+	if manifestKey != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/current/manifest.json" {
+		t.Fatalf("manifest key = %q", manifestKey)
+	}
+	if runIDKey != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/current/run_id.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("run id key = %q", runIDKey)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/stage/archive.go b/internal/stage/archive.go
index c91561a..3c4b9b0 100644
--- a/internal/stage/archive.go
+++ b/internal/stage/archive.go
@@ -91,15 +91,15 @@ func (archiveStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*S
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: run root %q is not a directory", runRoot)
 	}
 
-	runPrefix, err := archiveRunPrefix(env, m)
+	runPrefix, err := artifacts.ResolveArchiveRunPrefix(env.Config, m)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve s3 run prefix: %w", err)
 	}
-	sessionPrefix, err := archiveSessionPrefix(env, m)
+	sessionPrefix, err := artifacts.ResolveArchiveSessionPrefix(env.Config, m)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve s3 session prefix: %w", err)
 	}
-	bucket := archiveBucket(env, m)
+	bucket := artifacts.ResolveArchiveBucket(env.Config, m)
 	if bucket == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve s3 bucket: bucket is required")
 	}
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func (archiveStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*S
 		promotedUploaded = append(promotedUploaded, promotion.Dest)
 	}
 
-	currentManifestKey := artifacts.S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix)
+	currentManifestKey, currentRunPointerKey := artifacts.ResolveArchiveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
 	manifestTempPath, err := writeCurrentManifestSnapshot(m, archiveMetadataPreview(
 		bucket,
 		runPrefix,
@@ -165,7 +165,6 @@ func (archiveStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*S
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: upload current manifest to %q: %w", currentManifestKey, err)
 	}
 
-	currentRunPointerKey := artifacts.S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
 	runIDTempPath, err := writeCurrentRunIDPointer(runID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: build current run id pointer: %w", err)
@@ -299,56 +298,6 @@ func archiveSessionPaths(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) artifacts.SessionPaths
 	return store.SessionPathsFor(campaign, sessionID)
 }
 
-func archiveRunPrefix(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (string, error) {
-	runPrefix := strings.TrimSpace(m.S3RunPrefix)
-	if runPrefix != "" {
-		return runPrefix, nil
-	}
-
-	sessionPrefix, err := archiveSessionPrefix(env, m)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	runID := strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID)
-	if runID == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("run id is required")
-	}
-	return artifacts.S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, runID), nil
-}
-
-func archiveSessionPrefix(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (string, error) {
-	if m != nil && strings.TrimSpace(m.S3SessionPrefix) != "" {
-		return strings.TrimSpace(m.S3SessionPrefix), nil
-	}
-
-	sessionID := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.SessionID)
-	if sessionID == "" {
-		sessionID = strings.TrimSpace(m.SessionID)
-	}
-	campaign := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.Campaign)
-	if campaign == "" {
-		campaign = strings.TrimSpace(m.Campaign)
-	}
-	if env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3 configuration is required")
-	}
-	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, campaign, sessionID)
-	if strings.TrimSpace(sessionPrefix) == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("session prefix is required")
-	}
-	return sessionPrefix, nil
-}
-
-func archiveBucket(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) string {
-	if m != nil && strings.TrimSpace(m.S3Bucket) != "" {
-		return strings.TrimSpace(m.S3Bucket)
-	}
-	if env == nil || env.Config == nil || env.Config.Pipeline == nil || env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
-		return ""
-	}
-	return strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket)
-}
-
 func resolveArchivePromotions(
 	paths artifacts.SessionPaths,
 	m *manifest.Manifest,