diff --git a/docs/internal/artifacts.md b/docs/internal/artifacts.md
index 87885fb..0d04525 100644
--- a/docs/internal/artifacts.md
+++ b/docs/internal/artifacts.md
@@ -173,17 +173,13 @@ authority markers.
 
 For a new-protocol current state, the pointer-selected immutable commit is the
 complete restore authority. Callers receive its declared object identities and
-must not supplement them by listing mutable session prefixes. The legacy reader
-is intentionally separate and remains migration-only support.
+must not supplement them by listing mutable session prefixes.
 
 The reader opens each small control object directly and enforces owner-specific
 limits before decoding: 64 KiB for the mutable commit pointer, 4 MiB for the
-immutable commit manifest, and 8 MiB for the selected session manifest. Legacy
-compatibility applies a 4 KiB limit to `current/run_id.txt` and the same 8 MiB
-manifest limit to `current/manifest.json`. These are exposed as
-`MaxCurrentCommitPointerBytes`, `MaxRemoteCommitManifestBytes`,
-`MaxRemoteSessionManifestBytes`, `MaxLegacyCurrentRunPointerBytes`, and
-`MaxLegacyCurrentManifestBytes`.
+immutable commit manifest, and 8 MiB for the selected session manifest. These
+are exposed as `MaxCurrentCommitPointerBytes`,
+`MaxRemoteCommitManifestBytes`, and `MaxRemoteSessionManifestBytes`.
 
 Each read uses the generation and size metadata returned with its opened body.
 Actual bytes remain subject to a limit-plus-one read even if size metadata is
@@ -228,8 +224,7 @@ Caller policy is intentionally outside artifacts helpers:
 New publication creates run-scoped immutable objects, including
 `runs/{run_id}/commit.json` and `runs/{run_id}/session-manifest.json`. The sole
 mutable selector is `current/commit-pointer.json`; readers verify its selected
-commit and declared object generations/checksums. Legacy current-pair loading
-is confined to `current_state_legacy.go` for migration only.
+commit and declared object generations/checksums.
 
 Campaign, session, and Narratio run IDs are validated as portable opaque
 segments at configuration and artifact boundaries before they can be used in a
diff --git a/docs/internal/command-restore.md b/docs/internal/command-restore.md
index a73dd79..3d1dee3 100644
--- a/docs/internal/command-restore.md
+++ b/docs/internal/command-restore.md
@@ -100,9 +100,7 @@ Audio restore path:
   loaded at discovery; later pointer changes cannot add objects or substitute a
   different run into its plan;
 - a verified `current/commit-pointer.json` and its selected immutable commit
-  establish new-protocol remote commitment; coherent legacy
-  `current/run_id.txt` plus `current/manifest.json` remains read-only migration
-  support;
+  establish remote commitment; when absent, republish the session;
 - restore does not execute pipeline stages.
 
 ## Implementation And Tests
diff --git a/docs/internal/manifest.md b/docs/internal/manifest.md
index a602b3c..0f47d83 100644
--- a/docs/internal/manifest.md
+++ b/docs/internal/manifest.md
@@ -153,9 +153,8 @@ binds that object by checksum, size, and generation. Readers strictly reject
 unknown fields, version mismatches, pointer/commit identity mismatches, and
 objects that do not match their declaration.
 
-The reader retains a temporary, clearly isolated compatibility path for a
-coherent legacy `current/manifest.json` plus `current/run_id.txt` pair. That
-path is removable after migration and is never used to write new state.
+An absent commit pointer means no remote state is published. Republish to
+establish a current immutable snapshot.
 
 ## Persistence Semantics
 
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-publish.md b/docs/internal/stage-publish.md
index 18d740c..4acad18 100644
--- a/docs/internal/stage-publish.md
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-publish.md
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Exact remote placement and the operator workflow belong in
 - creates one complete immutable source-to-destination mapping before upload;
 - uploads and verifies every declared immutable object and the commit manifest;
 - updates `current/commit-pointer.json` exactly once, last; and
-- does not write the legacy `current/manifest.json` or `current/run_id.txt` pair.
+- writes only the selected `current/commit-pointer.json` control record.
 - rechecks remote lock state immediately before the pointer update. A newly
   committed lock aborts selection, leaving any uploaded immutable attempt
   unselected.
diff --git a/docs/operations.md b/docs/operations.md
index 253ed71..2767f6e 100644
--- a/docs/operations.md
+++ b/docs/operations.md
@@ -379,10 +379,9 @@ commit by version, checksum, size, and storage generation; committed artifacts
 are also checksum- and generation-bound. Readers accept this contract now and
 strictly reject mismatched or unknown data.
 
-Legacy reads are limited to a coherent `current/manifest.json` and
-`current/run_id.txt` pair; a torn pair is rejected. New publication does not
-write that pair and remote commit state does not carry local
-`current_pointer_written` metadata.
+When the pointer is absent, remote state is not published; republish the
+session to establish a committed snapshot. Remote commit state does not carry
+local `current_pointer_written` metadata.
 
 ## Publish Locks
 
diff --git a/docs/roadmap/implementation.md b/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
index 93be24b..10ecb55 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ explicitly derived value.
 
 ## Stage 4 — Make Remote Current State Commit-Only
 
-**Status: Pending**
+**Status: Completed**
 
 ### Goal
 
diff --git a/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go b/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go
index d237df1..7c1cc84 100644
--- a/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go
@@ -1078,7 +1078,8 @@ func TestExecuteStatusReportsRemoteArtifactCatalog(t *testing.T) {
 `)
 	fake := &storage.FakeBackend{}
 	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03")
-	manifestKey, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
+	manifestKey := artifacts.S3RunSessionManifestKey(sessionPrefix, "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4")
+	runIDKey := artifacts.S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
 	trimmedKey := artifacts.S3PublishedOutputKey(sessionPrefix, "transcripts/final.trimmed.json")
 	fullKey := artifacts.S3PublishedOutputKey(sessionPrefix, "transcripts/full.json")
 	lockKey := artifacts.S3SessionLocksKey(sessionPrefix)
@@ -1174,7 +1175,7 @@ func TestExecuteStatusReportsMissingRemoteCurrentStateWithoutFailing(t *testing.
 	if code != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", code, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "Remote publish: missing or unavailable: remote current run pointer missing") {
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "Remote publish: missing or unavailable: remote current commit pointer missing") {
 		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want missing remote current-state line", stdout.String())
 	}
 }
@@ -1199,7 +1200,7 @@ func TestExecuteStatusReportsPreviousStateReadinessWithoutFailing(t *testing.T)
 	if code != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", code, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "Previous-session artifacts: unavailable: remote current run pointer missing") {
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "Previous-session artifacts: unavailable: remote current commit pointer missing") {
 		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want previous readiness unavailable line", stdout.String())
 	}
 }
@@ -1257,8 +1258,8 @@ func TestExecuteSessionValidateReportsPreviousStateFindingAndReturnsFindingError
 	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "ERROR previous") {
 		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want previous finding error", stdout.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "remote current run pointer missing") {
-		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want missing run pointer finding", stdout.String())
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "remote current commit pointer missing") {
+		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want missing commit pointer finding", stdout.String())
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "validation error(s)") {
 		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want finding error summary", stderr.String())
diff --git a/internal/app/operator_inspection.go b/internal/app/operator_inspection.go
index 71f9a30..96edc7b 100644
--- a/internal/app/operator_inspection.go
+++ b/internal/app/operator_inspection.go
@@ -171,16 +171,11 @@ func inspectPreviousArtifactReadiness(
 	paths := artifacts.NewLocalStore(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root).SessionPathsFor(cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
 	plan, err := previouscache.Resolve(ctx, cfg, paths, requirements, store)
 	if err != nil {
-		var pointerMissing *artifacts.CurrentRunPointerMissingError
-		var manifestMissing *artifacts.CurrentManifestMissingError
+		var pointerMissing *artifacts.CurrentCommitPointerMissingError
 		if errors.As(err, &pointerMissing) {
 			out.Err = fmt.Errorf("remote %w", pointerMissing)
 			return out
 		}
-		if errors.As(err, &manifestMissing) {
-			out.Err = fmt.Errorf("remote %w", manifestMissing)
-			return out
-		}
 		out.Err = fmt.Errorf("remote %w", err)
 		return out
 	}
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_commit_test.go b/internal/app/restore_commit_test.go
index 951ea4e..41dd071 100644
--- a/internal/app/restore_commit_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/restore_commit_test.go
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ func seedCommittedRestoreSnapshot(t *testing.T, cfg *config.Config, fake *storag
 	for _, relative := range paths {
 		key := artifacts.S3RunRelativeDestinationKey(artifacts.S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, runID), relative)
 		fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: key, Data: outputs[relative]})
-		artifactsByKey = append(artifactsByKey, remoteRestoreArtifact(fake, artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypePublishedOutput, "narratio.test", key))
+		artifactsByKey = append(artifactsByKey, remoteRestoreArtifact(fake, artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypePublishedOutput, "narratio.test."+strings.ReplaceAll(relative, "/", "."), key))
 	}
 	commit := artifacts.RemoteCommitManifest{
 		FormatVersion: artifacts.RemoteCommitFormatVersion,
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_discovery.go b/internal/app/restore_discovery.go
index b2cfdcc..1bf4f33 100644
--- a/internal/app/restore_discovery.go
+++ b/internal/app/restore_discovery.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 type RemoteCurrentState struct {
 	Bucket             string
 	SessionPrefix      string
-	CurrentRunIDKey    string
 	CurrentManifestKey string
 	RunID              string
 	SessionID          string
@@ -55,7 +54,6 @@ func discoverRemoteCurrentState(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, store s
 	return &RemoteCurrentState{
 		Bucket:             bucket,
 		SessionPrefix:      sessionPrefix,
-		CurrentRunIDKey:    current.CurrentRunIDKey,
 		CurrentManifestKey: current.CurrentManifestKey,
 		RunID:              current.RunID,
 		SessionID:          strings.TrimSpace(current.Manifest.SessionID),
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_discovery_test.go b/internal/app/restore_discovery_test.go
index 55e5b0b..020bb82 100644
--- a/internal/app/restore_discovery_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/restore_discovery_test.go
@@ -3,244 +3,27 @@ package app
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
-	"io"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 )
 
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateSuccess(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: restoreManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, cfg.Session.Campaign)})
-
-	state, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("discoverRemoteCurrentState() error = %v", err)
+func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateRequiresCommittedPointer(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := &config.Config{Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{Storage: config.StorageConfig{S3: &config.StorageS3Config{Bucket: "test-bucket", RootPrefix: "dnd"}}}, Session: &config.SessionConfig{Campaign: "sample-campaign", SessionID: "2026-05-03"}}
+	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, &storage.FakeBackend{})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("discoverRemoteCurrentState() error = nil, want missing committed pointer")
 	}
-	if state.RunID != "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4" {
-		t.Fatalf("run id = %q, want 20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4", state.RunID)
-	}
-	if state.SessionPrefix != sessionPrefix {
-		t.Fatalf("session prefix = %q, want %q", state.SessionPrefix, sessionPrefix)
-	}
-	if state.CurrentRunIDKey != runIDKey {
-		t.Fatalf("current run id key = %q, want %q", state.CurrentRunIDKey, runIDKey)
-	}
-	if state.CurrentManifestKey != manifestKey {
-		t.Fatalf("current manifest key = %q, want %q", state.CurrentManifestKey, manifestKey)
-	}
-	if state.Manifest == nil {
-		t.Fatal("manifest is nil")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateMissingRunPointerFails(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "remote current run pointer missing") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want missing run pointer failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateEmptyRunPointerFails(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte(" \n\t")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: restoreManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, cfg.Session.Campaign)})
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is empty") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want empty run pointer failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateMissingManifestFails(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, _, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "remote current manifest missing") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want missing manifest failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateInvalidManifestFails(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: []byte("{invalid json")})
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "remote current manifest decode failed") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want manifest decode failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateSessionMismatchFails(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: restoreManifestJSON(t, "wrong-session", cfg.Session.Campaign)})
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not match expected session_id") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want session mismatch failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateCampaignMismatchFails(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: restoreManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, "wrong-campaign")})
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not match expected campaign") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want campaign mismatch failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateEmptyCampaignFails(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: restoreManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, "")})
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "campaign is required") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want empty campaign failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDiscoverRemoteCurrentStateUsesCurrentKeysUnderSessionPrefix(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := restoreDiscoveryConfig()
-	sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey := restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg)
-	base := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	store := &captureObjectStore{delegate: base}
-
-	base.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	base.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: restoreManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, cfg.Session.Campaign)})
-
-	_, err := discoverRemoteCurrentState(context.Background(), cfg, store)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("discoverRemoteCurrentState() error = %v", err)
-	}
-
-	expectedRunKey := fmt.Sprintf("%scurrent/run_id.txt", sessionPrefix)
-	expectedManifestKey := fmt.Sprintf("%scurrent/manifest.json", sessionPrefix)
-	if !containsString(store.readKeys, expectedRunKey) {
-		t.Fatalf("read keys = %#v, want run pointer key %q", store.readKeys, expectedRunKey)
-	}
-	if !containsString(store.readKeys, expectedManifestKey) {
-		t.Fatalf("read keys = %#v, want manifest key %q", store.readKeys, expectedManifestKey)
-	}
-}
-
-type captureObjectStore struct {
-	delegate     storage.ObjectStore
-	existsKeys   []string
-	readKeys     []string
-	downloadKeys []string
-}
-
-func (s *captureObjectStore) List(ctx context.Context, prefix string) ([]storage.ObjectInfo, error) {
-	return s.delegate.List(ctx, prefix)
-}
-
-func (s *captureObjectStore) Read(ctx context.Context, key string) (storage.ObjectInfo, io.ReadCloser, error) {
-	s.readKeys = append(s.readKeys, key)
-	return s.delegate.Read(ctx, key)
-}
-
-func (s *captureObjectStore) Download(ctx context.Context, key, localPath string) error {
-	s.downloadKeys = append(s.downloadKeys, key)
-	return s.delegate.Download(ctx, key, localPath)
-}
-
-func (s *captureObjectStore) Upload(ctx context.Context, localPath, key string, opts storage.UploadOptions) (storage.ObjectInfo, error) {
-	return s.delegate.Upload(ctx, localPath, key, opts)
-}
-
-func (s *captureObjectStore) UploadConditional(ctx context.Context, source io.Reader, key string, opts storage.UploadOptions, condition storage.WriteCondition) (storage.ObjectInfo, error) {
-	return s.delegate.UploadConditional(ctx, source, key, opts, condition)
-}
-
-func (s *captureObjectStore) Exists(ctx context.Context, key string) (bool, error) {
-	s.existsKeys = append(s.existsKeys, key)
-	return s.delegate.Exists(ctx, key)
-}
-
-func restoreDiscoveryConfig() *config.Config {
-	return &config.Config{
-		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
-			Storage: config.StorageConfig{
-				S3: &config.StorageS3Config{
-					Bucket:     "my-dnd-archive",
-					RootPrefix: "dnd",
-				},
-			},
-		},
-		Session: &config.SessionConfig{
-			SessionID: "2026-05-03",
-			Campaign:  "sample-campaign",
-		},
-	}
-}
-
-func restoreDiscoveryKeys(cfg *config.Config) (sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey string) {
-	sessionPrefix = artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
-	manifestKey, runIDKey = artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
-	return sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey
 }
 
 func restoreManifestJSON(t *testing.T, sessionID, campaign string) []byte {
 	t.Helper()
 	now := time.Date(2026, 5, 19, 23, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC).Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
-	payload := map[string]any{
-		"schema_version": "narratio.session-manifest.v1",
-		"session_id":     sessionID,
-		"campaign":       campaign,
-		"run_id":         "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4",
-		"created_at":     now,
-		"updated_at":     now,
-		"stages":         map[string]any{},
-	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(payload)
+	data, err := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"schema_version": "narratio.session-manifest.v1", "session_id": sessionID, "campaign": campaign, "run_id": "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4", "created_at": now, "updated_at": now, "stages": map[string]any{}})
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("marshal manifest payload: %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("marshal manifest: %v", err)
 	}
 	return append(data, '\n')
 }
-
-func containsString(values []string, target string) bool {
-	for _, value := range values {
-		if value == target {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_execution_test.go b/internal/app/restore_execution_test.go
index a5866d2..65a86b6 100644
--- a/internal/app/restore_execution_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/restore_execution_test.go
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ func TestExecuteRestoreNonDryRunRestoresDurableFiles(t *testing.T) {
 	seedRestoreObject(fake, sessionPrefix+"audio/alice.flac", []byte("remote-audio"))
 	seedRestoreObject(fake, runIDKey, []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n"))
 	seedRestoreObject(fake, manifestKey, restoreManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, cfg.Session.Campaign))
+	seedCommittedRestoreSnapshot(t, cfg, fake, "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4", map[string][]byte{
+		"transcripts/full.json":      []byte(`{"segments":[1,2,3]}`),
+		"artifacts/session_recap.md": []byte("# recap\n"),
+		"audio/alice.flac":           []byte("remote-audio"),
+	})
 
 	restoreWithStoreAndRealPhases(t, fake)
 
@@ -159,7 +164,8 @@ func TestExecuteRestoreIncludeAudioUsesCacheAfterWorkspaceDeletion(t *testing.T)
 	if code != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("first restore exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", code, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if got := fakeDownloadCount(fake, audioKey); got != 1 {
+	committedAudioKey := artifacts.S3RunRelativeDestinationKey(artifacts.S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4"), "audio/alice.flac")
+	if got := fakeDownloadCount(fake, committedAudioKey); got != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("audio downloads after first restore = %d, want 1", got)
 	}
 	sessionRoot := artifacts.SessionWorkDirForCampaign(workspaceRoot, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
@@ -174,7 +180,7 @@ func TestExecuteRestoreIncludeAudioUsesCacheAfterWorkspaceDeletion(t *testing.T)
 	if code != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("second restore exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", code, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if got := fakeDownloadCount(fake, audioKey); got != 1 {
+	if got := fakeDownloadCount(fake, committedAudioKey); got != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("audio downloads after cached restore = %d, want still 1", got)
 	}
 	mustReadEquals(t, filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "audio", "alice.flac"), "remote-audio")
@@ -598,13 +604,8 @@ func seedRestoreCommittedState(t *testing.T, fake *storage.FakeBackend, pipeline
 		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
 	}
 
-	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
-	manifestKey, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
-
-	seedRestoreObject(fake, runIDKey, []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n"))
-	seedRestoreObject(fake, manifestKey, restoreManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, cfg.Session.Campaign))
-
-	return cfg, sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey
+	current := seedCommittedRestoreSnapshot(t, cfg, fake, "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4", nil)
+	return cfg, current.SessionPrefix, current.CurrentManifestKey, artifacts.S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(current.SessionPrefix)
 }
 
 func appendRestoreWorkflowPreviousInputConfig(t *testing.T, pipelinePath, sessionPath string) {
@@ -636,10 +637,7 @@ func seedRestorePreviousCurrent(t *testing.T, fake *storage.FakeBackend, cfg *co
 
 func seedRestorePreviousCurrentManifestOnly(t *testing.T, fake *storage.FakeBackend, cfg *config.Config) {
 	t.Helper()
-	previousPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
-	manifestKey, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(previousPrefix)
 	previousRunID := "20260426T010203Z-a1b2c3d4"
-	seedRestoreObject(fake, runIDKey, []byte(previousRunID+"\n"))
 
 	m := manifest.New(cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID, nowUTC())
 	m.Campaign = cfg.Session.Campaign
@@ -648,7 +646,22 @@ func seedRestorePreviousCurrentManifestOnly(t *testing.T, fake *storage.FakeBack
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("marshal previous restore manifest: %v", err)
 	}
-	seedRestoreObject(fake, manifestKey, append(data, '\n'))
+	manifestData := append(data, '\n')
+	previousPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
+	manifestKey := artifacts.S3RunSessionManifestKey(previousPrefix, previousRunID)
+	seedRestoreObject(fake, manifestKey, manifestData)
+	commit := artifacts.RemoteCommitManifest{FormatVersion: artifacts.RemoteCommitFormatVersion, Campaign: cfg.Session.Campaign, SessionID: cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID, RunID: previousRunID, Artifacts: []artifacts.RemoteArtifact{{Type: artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypeSessionManifest, Source: "session.manifest", DestinationKey: manifestKey, SHA256: restoreCommitSHA256(manifestData), Size: int64(len(manifestData)), Generation: fake.Objects[manifestKey].ETag}}}
+	commitData, err := artifacts.EncodeRemoteCommitManifest(commit)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("encode previous restore commit: %v", err)
+	}
+	commitKey := artifacts.S3RunCommitKey(previousPrefix, previousRunID)
+	seedRestoreObject(fake, commitKey, commitData)
+	pointerData, err := artifacts.EncodeCurrentCommitPointer(artifacts.CurrentCommitPointer{FormatVersion: artifacts.RemoteCommitFormatVersion, Campaign: cfg.Session.Campaign, SessionID: cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID, RunID: previousRunID, CommitKey: commitKey, CommitSHA256: restoreCommitSHA256(commitData), CommitSize: int64(len(commitData)), CommitGeneration: fake.Objects[commitKey].ETag})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("encode previous restore pointer: %v", err)
+	}
+	seedRestoreObject(fake, artifacts.S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(previousPrefix), pointerData)
 }
 
 func mustReadEquals(t *testing.T, path, want string) {
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_plan_test.go b/internal/app/restore_plan_test.go
index 8d4d528..90bccc3 100644
--- a/internal/app/restore_plan_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/restore_plan_test.go
@@ -351,7 +351,71 @@ func TestRestorePlanTraversalUnsafeKeyFails(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func seedRestoreObject(store *storage.FakeBackend, key string, data []byte) {
+	if strings.HasSuffix(key, "/current/commit-pointer.json") {
+		if _, exists := store.Objects[key]; exists {
+			return
+		}
+	}
 	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: key, Data: data})
+	for pointerKey, pointerObject := range store.Objects {
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(pointerKey, "/current/commit-pointer.json") || key == pointerKey {
+			continue
+		}
+		pointer, err := artifacts.DecodeCurrentCommitPointer(pointerObject.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		commitObject, ok := store.Objects[pointer.CommitKey]
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		commit, err := artifacts.DecodeRemoteCommitManifest(commitObject.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		runPrefix := strings.TrimSuffix(pointer.CommitKey, "commit.json")
+		sessionPrefix := strings.TrimSuffix(runPrefix, "runs/"+pointer.RunID+"/")
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(key, sessionPrefix) {
+			continue
+		}
+		destination := key
+		if strings.HasPrefix(key, sessionPrefix) && !strings.HasPrefix(key, runPrefix) {
+			destination = runPrefix + strings.TrimPrefix(key, sessionPrefix)
+			store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: destination, Data: data})
+		}
+		typeID := artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypePublishedOutput
+		source := "narratio.test"
+		if destination == artifacts.S3RunSessionManifestKey(sessionPrefix, pointer.RunID) {
+			typeID, source = artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypeSessionManifest, "session.manifest"
+		} else if relative := strings.TrimPrefix(destination, runPrefix); strings.HasPrefix(relative, "artifacts/") {
+			name := strings.TrimSuffix(strings.TrimPrefix(relative, "artifacts/"), filepath.Ext(relative))
+			source = artifacts.ConfiguredArtifactSourceID(name)
+		}
+		artifact := remoteRestoreArtifact(store, typeID, source, destination)
+		replaced := false
+		for index := range commit.Artifacts {
+			if commit.Artifacts[index].DestinationKey == destination {
+				commit.Artifacts[index] = artifact
+				replaced = true
+			}
+		}
+		if !replaced {
+			commit.Artifacts = append(commit.Artifacts, artifact)
+		}
+		commitData, err := artifacts.EncodeRemoteCommitManifest(*commit)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: pointer.CommitKey, Data: commitData})
+		commitObject = store.Objects[pointer.CommitKey]
+		pointer.CommitSHA256 = restoreCommitSHA256(commitData)
+		pointer.CommitSize = int64(len(commitData))
+		pointer.CommitGeneration = commitObject.ETag
+		pointerData, err := artifacts.EncodeCurrentCommitPointer(*pointer)
+		if err == nil {
+			store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: pointerKey, Data: pointerData})
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func actionRelPaths(actions []RestoreAction) []string {
@@ -402,12 +466,10 @@ func configureRestorePlanPreviousRequirement(cfg *config.Config, required bool)
 func restorePlanCurrentState(t *testing.T, cfg *config.Config) *RemoteCurrentState {
 	t.Helper()
 	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
-	manifestKey, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
 	return &RemoteCurrentState{
 		Bucket:             "test-bucket",
 		SessionPrefix:      sessionPrefix,
-		CurrentManifestKey: manifestKey,
-		CurrentRunIDKey:    runIDKey,
+		CurrentManifestKey: artifacts.S3RunSessionManifestKey(sessionPrefix, "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4"),
 		RunID:              "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4",
 		SessionID:          cfg.Session.SessionID,
 		Campaign:           cfg.Session.Campaign,
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_recovery_test.go b/internal/app/restore_recovery_test.go
index 6d8b1d7..65c107f 100644
--- a/internal/app/restore_recovery_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/restore_recovery_test.go
@@ -95,8 +95,9 @@ func TestForcedRestoreRetryClearsIncompleteMarker(t *testing.T) {
 	sessionRoot := artifacts.SessionWorkDirForCampaign(workspaceRoot, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
 	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "artifacts", "session_recap.md"), "local recap\n")
 	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "transcripts", "full.json"), "local transcript\n")
+	committedTranscriptKey := artifacts.S3RunRelativeDestinationKey(artifacts.S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4"), "transcripts/full.json")
 	fake.DownloadHook = func(call storage.FakeDownloadCall) error {
-		if call.Key == transcriptKey {
+		if call.Key == committedTranscriptKey {
 			return context.Canceled
 		}
 		return nil
diff --git a/internal/app/session_oriented_cli_test.go b/internal/app/session_oriented_cli_test.go
index c80132b..7e8f5c0 100644
--- a/internal/app/session_oriented_cli_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/session_oriented_cli_test.go
@@ -232,7 +232,8 @@ func TestExecuteSessionSubcommandsAcceptPositionalSessionID(t *testing.T) {
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
 	fake := &storage.FakeBackend{}
 	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03")
-	manifestKey, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
+	manifestKey := artifacts.S3RunSessionManifestKey(sessionPrefix, "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4")
+	runIDKey := artifacts.S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
 	fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
 	fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: restoreManifestJSON(t, "2026-05-03", "sample-campaign")})
 	var storeInitCalls int
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/current_state.go b/internal/artifacts/current_state.go
index dd3332b..2a5ff4f 100644
--- a/internal/artifacts/current_state.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/current_state.go
@@ -11,37 +11,23 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	ErrCurrentRunPointerMissing = errors.New("current run pointer missing")
-	ErrCurrentManifestMissing   = errors.New("current manifest missing")
+	ErrCurrentCommitPointerMissing = errors.New("current commit pointer missing")
 )
 
-type CurrentRunPointerMissingError struct {
+type CurrentCommitPointerMissingError struct {
 	Key string
 }
 
-func (e *CurrentRunPointerMissingError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %q", ErrCurrentRunPointerMissing, e.Key)
+func (e *CurrentCommitPointerMissingError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %q; republish this session to establish committed remote state", ErrCurrentCommitPointerMissing, e.Key)
 }
 
-func (e *CurrentRunPointerMissingError) Unwrap() error {
-	return ErrCurrentRunPointerMissing
-}
-
-type CurrentManifestMissingError struct {
-	Key string
-}
-
-func (e *CurrentManifestMissingError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %q", ErrCurrentManifestMissing, e.Key)
-}
-
-func (e *CurrentManifestMissingError) Unwrap() error {
-	return ErrCurrentManifestMissing
+func (e *CurrentCommitPointerMissingError) Unwrap() error {
+	return ErrCurrentCommitPointerMissing
 }
 
 type CurrentState struct {
 	SessionPrefix      string
-	CurrentRunIDKey    string
 	CurrentManifestKey string
 	CurrentPointerKey  string
 	RunID              string
@@ -77,10 +63,10 @@ func LoadCurrentState(
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("check current commit pointer %q: %w", pointerKey, err)
 	}
-	if pointerExists {
-		return loadCommittedCurrentState(ctx, store, prefix, pointerKey, validation)
+	if !pointerExists {
+		return nil, &CurrentCommitPointerMissingError{Key: pointerKey}
 	}
-	return loadLegacyCurrentState(ctx, store, prefix, validation)
+	return loadCommittedCurrentState(ctx, store, prefix, pointerKey, validation)
 }
 
 func ValidateCurrentStateIdentity(state *CurrentState, validation CurrentStateValidation) error {
@@ -95,12 +81,12 @@ func ValidateCurrentStateIdentity(state *CurrentState, validation CurrentStateVa
 	manifestRunID := strings.TrimSpace(state.Manifest.RunID)
 	if manifestCampaign != "" {
 		if err := ValidateSessionIdentity(manifestCampaign, manifestSessionID); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("current manifest contains unsafe legacy identities; migrate remote state before use: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("current manifest contains unsafe identities: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 	if manifestRunID != "" {
 		if err := ValidateRunIdentity(manifestRunID); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("current manifest contains an unsafe legacy run id; migrate remote state before use: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("current manifest contains an unsafe run id: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -133,7 +119,7 @@ func ValidateCurrentStateIdentity(state *CurrentState, validation CurrentStateVa
 		if manifestRunID != expectedRunID {
 			return fmt.Errorf(
 				"current run pointer %q references run %q but current manifest run_id is %q",
-				state.CurrentRunIDKey,
+				state.CurrentPointerKey,
 				expectedRunID,
 				manifestRunID,
 			)
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/current_state_commit.go b/internal/artifacts/current_state_commit.go
index f07558b..067dc84 100644
--- a/internal/artifacts/current_state_commit.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/current_state_commit.go
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ func loadCommittedCurrentState(
 
 	state := &CurrentState{
 		SessionPrefix:      sessionPrefix,
-		CurrentRunIDKey:    pointerKey,
 		CurrentPointerKey:  pointerKey,
 		CurrentManifestKey: sessionManifest.DestinationKey,
 		RunID:              commit.RunID,
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/current_state_legacy.go b/internal/artifacts/current_state_legacy.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 3f01663..0000000
--- a/internal/artifacts/current_state_legacy.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,96 +0,0 @@
-package artifacts
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"strings"
-
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
-)
-
-const (
-	// MaxLegacyCurrentRunPointerBytes bounds the compatibility run selector.
-	MaxLegacyCurrentRunPointerBytes int64 = 4 << 10
-	// MaxLegacyCurrentManifestBytes bounds the compatibility session manifest.
-	MaxLegacyCurrentManifestBytes int64 = MaxRemoteSessionManifestBytes
-)
-
-// This file is temporary compatibility support for sessions published before
-// immutable current commits. It can be removed after legacy remote state is migrated.
-
-func loadLegacyCurrentState(
-	ctx context.Context,
-	store storage.ObjectStore,
-	sessionPrefix string,
-	validation CurrentStateValidation,
-) (*CurrentState, error) {
-	currentManifestKey, currentRunIDKey := ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
-	runID, err := loadLegacyCurrentRunPointer(ctx, store, currentRunIDKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	m, err := loadLegacyCurrentManifest(ctx, store, currentManifestKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	state := &CurrentState{
-		SessionPrefix:      sessionPrefix,
-		CurrentRunIDKey:    currentRunIDKey,
-		CurrentManifestKey: currentManifestKey,
-		RunID:              runID,
-		Manifest:           m,
-	}
-	if err := ValidateCurrentStateIdentity(state, validation); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return state, nil
-}
-
-func loadLegacyCurrentRunPointer(ctx context.Context, store storage.ObjectStore, currentRunIDKey string) (string, error) {
-	key := strings.TrimSpace(currentRunIDKey)
-	if key == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("current run pointer key is required")
-	}
-
-	_, data, err := readCurrentStateControlObject(ctx, store, key, "legacy current run pointer", MaxLegacyCurrentRunPointerBytes)
-	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
-			return "", &CurrentRunPointerMissingError{Key: key}
-		}
-		return "", err
-	}
-	runID := strings.TrimSpace(string(data))
-	if runID == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("current run pointer %q is empty", key)
-	}
-	if err := ValidateRunIdentity(runID); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("current run pointer %q contains an unsafe legacy run id; migrate remote state before use: %w", key, err)
-	}
-	return runID, nil
-}
-
-func loadLegacyCurrentManifest(ctx context.Context, store storage.ObjectStore, currentManifestKey string) (*manifest.Manifest, error) {
-	key := strings.TrimSpace(currentManifestKey)
-	if key == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("current manifest key is required")
-	}
-
-	_, data, err := readCurrentStateControlObject(ctx, store, key, "legacy current manifest", MaxLegacyCurrentManifestBytes)
-	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
-			return nil, &CurrentManifestMissingError{Key: key}
-		}
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	m, err := (&manifest.LocalStore{}).LoadReader(ctx, bytes.NewReader(data))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("current manifest decode failed: %w", err)
-	}
-	return m, nil
-}
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/current_state_test.go b/internal/artifacts/current_state_test.go
index 0a272d9..5582868 100644
--- a/internal/artifacts/current_state_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/current_state_test.go
@@ -4,175 +4,22 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
 )
 
-func TestLoadCurrentStateMissingRunPointer(t *testing.T) {
+func TestLoadCurrentStateRequiresCommitPointer(t *testing.T) {
 	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{})
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("LoadCurrentState() error = nil, want missing run pointer error")
+	prefix := S3SessionPrefix("dnd", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03")
+	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, prefix, CurrentStateValidation{})
+	var missing *CurrentCommitPointerMissingError
+	if !errors.As(err, &missing) || !errors.Is(err, ErrCurrentCommitPointerMissing) {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadCurrentState() error = %v, want missing commit pointer", err)
 	}
-	var missing *CurrentRunPointerMissingError
-	if !errors.As(err, &missing) {
-		t.Fatalf("errors.As(err, *CurrentRunPointerMissingError) = false; err=%v", err)
-	}
-	if !errors.Is(err, ErrCurrentRunPointerMissing) {
-		t.Fatalf("errors.Is(err, ErrCurrentRunPointerMissing) = false; err=%v", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateMissingManifest(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, _, runIDKey := testCurrentStateKeys()
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{})
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("LoadCurrentState() error = nil, want missing manifest error")
-	}
-	var missing *CurrentManifestMissingError
-	if !errors.As(err, &missing) {
-		t.Fatalf("errors.As(err, *CurrentManifestMissingError) = false; err=%v", err)
-	}
-	if !errors.Is(err, ErrCurrentManifestMissing) {
-		t.Fatalf("errors.Is(err, ErrCurrentManifestMissing) = false; err=%v", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateEmptyRunPointerFails(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := testCurrentStateKeys()
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte(" \n\t")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: testManifestJSON(t, "2026-05-03", "sample-campaign", "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4")})
-
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{})
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is empty") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want empty run pointer failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateMalformedManifestFails(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := testCurrentStateKeys()
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: []byte("{invalid json")})
-
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{})
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "current manifest decode failed") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want manifest decode failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateCampaignMismatchFails(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	seedCurrentState(t, store, "2026-05-03", "wrong-campaign", "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4")
-
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{
-		ExpectedCampaign: "sample-campaign",
-	})
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not match expected campaign") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want campaign mismatch failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateSessionMismatchFails(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	seedCurrentState(t, store, "wrong-session", "sample-campaign", "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4")
-
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{
-		ExpectedSessionID: "2026-05-03",
-	})
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not match expected session_id") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want session mismatch failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateRunIDMismatchFails(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	seedCurrentState(t, store, "2026-05-03", "sample-campaign", "different-run-id")
-
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{
-		ValidateRunID: true,
-	})
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "current manifest run_id") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want run mismatch failure", err)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateReadsCoherentLegacyPair(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	seedCurrentState(t, store, "2026-05-03", "sample-campaign", "20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4")
-
-	state, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{
-		ExpectedCampaign:  "sample-campaign",
-		ExpectedSessionID: "2026-05-03",
-		ValidateRunID:     true,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("LoadCurrentState() error = %v", err)
-	}
-	if state.Commit != nil || state.Pointer != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("legacy current state unexpectedly includes immutable commit data: %#v", state)
-	}
-	if len(store.Downloads) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("legacy current-state downloads = %#v, want direct bounded reads", store.Downloads)
-	}
-	wantReads := []string{state.CurrentRunIDKey, state.CurrentManifestKey}
-	if len(store.Reads) != len(wantReads) {
-		t.Fatalf("legacy current-state reads = %#v, want %q", store.Reads, wantReads)
-	}
-	for index, want := range wantReads {
-		if store.Reads[index].Key != want {
-			t.Fatalf("legacy current-state read %d = %q, want %q", index, store.Reads[index].Key, want)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCurrentStateControlObjectLimitsAcceptExactAndRejectLimitPlusOne(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name     string
-		category string
-		key      string
-		limit    int64
-	}{
-		{name: "commit pointer", category: "current commit pointer", key: "current/commit-pointer.json", limit: MaxCurrentCommitPointerBytes},
-		{name: "commit manifest", category: "remote commit manifest", key: "runs/run/commit.json", limit: MaxRemoteCommitManifestBytes},
-		{name: "session manifest", category: "committed session manifest", key: "runs/run/session-manifest.json", limit: MaxRemoteSessionManifestBytes},
-		{name: "legacy run pointer", category: "legacy current run pointer", key: "current/run_id.txt", limit: MaxLegacyCurrentRunPointerBytes},
-		{name: "legacy manifest", category: "legacy current manifest", key: "current/manifest.json", limit: MaxLegacyCurrentManifestBytes},
-	}
-	for _, test := range tests {
-		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-			exact := strings.Repeat("x", int(test.limit))
-			store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: test.key, Data: []byte(exact)})
-			_, data, err := readCurrentStateControlObject(context.Background(), store, test.key, test.category, test.limit)
-			if err != nil || string(data) != exact {
-				t.Fatalf("exact-limit read data length=%d error=%v", len(data), err)
-			}
-
-			store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: test.key, Data: []byte(exact + "x")})
-			_, _, err = readCurrentStateControlObject(context.Background(), store, test.key, test.category, test.limit)
-			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), test.category) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), test.key) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), fmt.Sprint(test.limit)) {
-				t.Fatalf("limit-plus-one error = %v, want category, key, and limit", err)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestLoadCurrentStateRejectsTornLegacyPair(t *testing.T) {
-	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	seedCurrentState(t, store, "2026-05-03", "sample-campaign", "different-run-id")
-
-	_, err := LoadCurrentState(context.Background(), store, testCurrentSessionPrefix(), CurrentStateValidation{ValidateRunID: true})
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "current manifest run_id") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want torn legacy pair rejection", err)
+	if missing.Key != S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(prefix) {
+		t.Fatalf("missing pointer key = %q", missing.Key)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -180,32 +27,14 @@ func testCurrentSessionPrefix() string {
 	return S3SessionPrefix("dnd", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03")
 }
 
-func testCurrentStateKeys() (sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey string) {
-	sessionPrefix = testCurrentSessionPrefix()
-	manifestKey, runIDKey = ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix)
-	return sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey
-}
-
-func seedCurrentState(t *testing.T, store *storage.FakeBackend, sessionID, campaign, manifestRunID string) {
-	t.Helper()
-	_, manifestKey, runIDKey := testCurrentStateKeys()
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n")})
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: testManifestJSON(t, sessionID, campaign, manifestRunID)})
-}
-
 func testManifestJSON(t *testing.T, sessionID, campaign, runID string) []byte {
 	t.Helper()
 	now := time.Date(2026, 5, 19, 23, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC).Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
-	payload := map[string]any{
-		"schema_version": "narratio.session-manifest.v1",
-		"session_id":     sessionID,
-		"campaign":       campaign,
-		"run_id":         runID,
-		"created_at":     now,
-		"updated_at":     now,
-		"stages":         map[string]any{},
-	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(payload)
+	data, err := json.Marshal(map[string]any{
+		"schema_version": "narratio.session-manifest.v1", "session_id": sessionID,
+		"campaign": campaign, "run_id": runID, "created_at": now, "updated_at": now,
+		"stages": map[string]any{},
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("marshal manifest payload: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/publish_identity.go b/internal/artifacts/publish_identity.go
index c3b3e0e..d8ad350 100644
--- a/internal/artifacts/publish_identity.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/publish_identity.go
@@ -76,8 +76,3 @@ func ResolvePublishRunPrefix(cfg *config.Config, m *manifest.Manifest) (string,
 	}
 	return S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, runID), nil
 }
-
-// ResolveCurrentStateKeys returns current pointer keys for a session prefix.
-func ResolveCurrentStateKeys(sessionPrefix string) (manifestKey, runIDKey string) {
-	return S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix), S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
-}
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/publish_identity_test.go b/internal/artifacts/publish_identity_test.go
index 7dc90dc..655a2c1 100644
--- a/internal/artifacts/publish_identity_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/publish_identity_test.go
@@ -118,13 +118,3 @@ func TestResolvePublishIdentityErrorsAreDeterministic(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want missing run id", err)
 	}
 }
-
-func TestResolveCurrentStateKeys(t *testing.T) {
-	manifestKey, runIDKey := ResolveCurrentStateKeys("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/artifacts/s3_keys.go b/internal/artifacts/s3_keys.go
index b7501dc..c7940d9 100644
--- a/internal/artifacts/s3_keys.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/s3_keys.go
@@ -46,18 +46,6 @@ func S3SessionLocksKey(sessionPrefix string) string {
 	return path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), "locks.yml")
 }
 
-// S3CurrentManifestKey returns the current manifest pointer key.
-// Format: {session_prefix}/current/manifest.json
-func S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix string) string {
-	return path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), config.S3CurrentSegment, config.S3ManifestFile)
-}
-
-// S3CurrentRunPointerKey returns the current run pointer key.
-// Format: {session_prefix}/current/run_id.txt
-func S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix string) string {
-	return path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), config.S3CurrentSegment, config.S3RunIDFile)
-}
-
 // S3RunCommitKey returns the immutable commit manifest key for one run.
 // Format: {session_prefix}/runs/{run_id}/commit.json
 func S3RunCommitKey(sessionPrefix, runID string) string {
diff --git a/internal/artifacts/s3_keys_test.go b/internal/artifacts/s3_keys_test.go
index 5362d6f..a31ee6e 100644
--- a/internal/artifacts/s3_keys_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/s3_keys_test.go
@@ -39,16 +39,6 @@ func TestS3KeyConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("session manifest key = %q, want %q", got, want)
 	}
 
-	runPointer := S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
-	if runPointer != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/current/run_id.txt" {
-		t.Fatalf("run pointer key = %q", runPointer)
-	}
-
-	manifestKey := S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix)
-	if manifestKey != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/current/manifest.json" {
-		t.Fatalf("manifest key = %q", manifestKey)
-	}
-
 	commitPointer := S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
 	if commitPointer != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/current/commit-pointer.json" {
 		t.Fatalf("commit pointer key = %q", commitPointer)
diff --git a/internal/previouscache/previouscache.go b/internal/previouscache/previouscache.go
index 10946a8..9f57eed 100644
--- a/internal/previouscache/previouscache.go
+++ b/internal/previouscache/previouscache.go
@@ -106,9 +106,8 @@ func Resolve(
 		ValidateRunID:     true,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		var runPointerMissing *artifacts.CurrentRunPointerMissingError
-		var manifestMissing *artifacts.CurrentManifestMissingError
-		if errors.As(err, &runPointerMissing) || errors.As(err, &manifestMissing) {
+		var pointerMissing *artifacts.CurrentCommitPointerMissingError
+		if errors.As(err, &pointerMissing) {
 			if len(requiredNames) > 0 {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("required previous-session artifacts unavailable: remote %w", err)
 			}
diff --git a/internal/previouscache/previouscache_test.go b/internal/previouscache/previouscache_test.go
index bb405ac..3a52e7e 100644
--- a/internal/previouscache/previouscache_test.go
+++ b/internal/previouscache/previouscache_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 func TestBuildPlanResolvesPublishedArtifactFromPreviousManifest(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg, paths := previousCacheTestConfig(t)
 	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	seedPreviousCurrent(t, store, cfg, previousManifestWithOutput(t, cfg, "artifacts/session_recap.md", []string{"artifacts/session_recap.md"}))
+	seedCommittedPreviousState(t, store, cfg, previousManifestWithOutput(t, cfg, "artifacts/session_recap.md", []string{"artifacts/session_recap.md"}), []artifacts.RemoteArtifact{committedPublishedArtifactForTest("narratio.artifact.session_recap", "artifacts/session_recap.md", []byte("# recap\n"), "recap-generation")})
 	previousPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
 	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: previousPrefix + "artifacts/session_recap.md", Data: []byte("# recap\n")})
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestBuildPlanResolvesPublishedArtifactFromPreviousManifest(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuildPlanFallsBackToConfiguredOutputPath(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg, paths := previousCacheTestConfig(t)
 	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	seedPreviousCurrent(t, store, cfg, previousManifestWithOutput(t, cfg, "", nil))
+	seedCommittedPreviousState(t, store, cfg, previousManifestWithOutput(t, cfg, "", nil), []artifacts.RemoteArtifact{committedPublishedArtifactForTest("narratio.artifact.session_recap", "artifacts/session_recap.md", []byte("# recap\n"), "recap-generation")})
 	previousPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
 	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: previousPrefix + "artifacts/session_recap.md", Data: []byte("# recap\n")})
 
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestResolveDoesNotUseCommittedBasenameFallback(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestResolveRejectsAmbiguousLegacyCandidates(t *testing.T) {
+func TestResolveRejectsUndeclaredPublishedCandidates(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg, paths := previousCacheTestConfig(t)
 	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
 	seedPreviousCurrent(t, store, cfg, previousManifestWithOutput(t, cfg, "artifacts/session_recap.md", []string{"archive/session_recap.md"}))
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ func TestResolveRejectsAmbiguousLegacyCandidates(t *testing.T) {
 	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: prefix + "archive/session_recap.md", Data: []byte("published candidate")})
 
 	_, err := Resolve(context.Background(), cfg, paths, []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement{{Name: "session_recap", Required: true}}, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "matches multiple published candidates") {
-		t.Fatalf("Resolve() error = %v, want legacy ambiguity error", err)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "object missing from published candidate keys") {
+		t.Fatalf("Resolve() error = %v, want undeclared-candidate error", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func TestBuildPlanValidatesPreviousManifestIdentity(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := BuildPlan(context.Background(), cfg, paths, []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement{
 		{Name: "session_recap", Required: true},
 	}, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not match expected session_id") {
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "identity does not match") {
 		t.Fatalf("BuildPlan() error = %v, want identity validation error", err)
 	}
 }
@@ -199,17 +199,14 @@ func TestBuildPlanMissingCurrentRunPointerFailsRequiredRequirements(t *testing.T
 	_, err := BuildPlan(context.Background(), cfg, paths, []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement{
 		{Name: "session_recap", Required: true},
 	}, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `required previous-session artifacts unavailable: remote current run pointer missing`) {
-		t.Fatalf("BuildPlan() error = %v, want required missing run pointer error", err)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `required previous-session artifacts unavailable: remote current commit pointer missing`) {
+		t.Fatalf("BuildPlan() error = %v, want required missing commit pointer error", err)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestBuildPlanMissingCurrentManifestSkipsOptionalRequirements(t *testing.T) {
+func TestBuildPlanMissingCurrentCommitPointerSkipsOptionalRequirements(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg, paths := previousCacheTestConfig(t)
 	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	previousPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
-	_, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(previousPrefix)
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("previous-run\n")})
 
 	plan, err := BuildPlan(context.Background(), cfg, paths, []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement{
 		{Name: "session_recap", Required: false},
@@ -222,18 +219,15 @@ func TestBuildPlanMissingCurrentManifestSkipsOptionalRequirements(t *testing.T)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestBuildPlanMissingCurrentManifestFailsRequiredRequirements(t *testing.T) {
+func TestBuildPlanMissingCurrentCommitPointerFailsRequiredRequirements(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg, paths := previousCacheTestConfig(t)
 	store := &storage.FakeBackend{}
-	previousPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
-	_, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(previousPrefix)
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("previous-run\n")})
 
 	_, err := BuildPlan(context.Background(), cfg, paths, []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement{
 		{Name: "session_recap", Required: true},
 	}, store)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `required previous-session artifacts unavailable: remote current manifest missing`) {
-		t.Fatalf("BuildPlan() error = %v, want required missing manifest error", err)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `required previous-session artifacts unavailable: remote current commit pointer missing`) {
+		t.Fatalf("BuildPlan() error = %v, want required missing commit pointer error", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -265,14 +259,26 @@ func previousCacheTestConfig(t *testing.T) (*config.Config, artifacts.SessionPat
 
 func seedPreviousCurrent(t *testing.T, store *storage.FakeBackend, cfg *config.Config, m *manifest.Manifest) {
 	t.Helper()
-	previousPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
-	manifestKey, runIDKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(previousPrefix)
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runIDKey, Data: []byte("previous-run\n")})
 	data, err := marshalManifestForPreviousCacheTest(m)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("marshal manifest: %v", err)
 	}
-	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: data})
+	prefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
+	manifestKey := artifacts.S3RunSessionManifestKey(prefix, m.RunID)
+	manifestGeneration := "manifest-generation"
+	commit := artifacts.RemoteCommitManifest{FormatVersion: artifacts.RemoteCommitFormatVersion, Campaign: cfg.Session.Campaign, SessionID: cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID, RunID: m.RunID, Artifacts: []artifacts.RemoteArtifact{{Type: artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypeSessionManifest, Source: "session.manifest", DestinationKey: manifestKey, SHA256: sha256ForPreviousCacheTest(data), Size: int64(len(data)), Generation: manifestGeneration}}}
+	commitData, err := artifacts.EncodeRemoteCommitManifest(commit)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("encode previous commit: %v", err)
+	}
+	commitKey := artifacts.S3RunCommitKey(prefix, m.RunID)
+	pointerData, err := artifacts.EncodeCurrentCommitPointer(artifacts.CurrentCommitPointer{FormatVersion: artifacts.RemoteCommitFormatVersion, Campaign: cfg.Session.Campaign, SessionID: cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID, RunID: m.RunID, CommitKey: commitKey, CommitSHA256: sha256ForPreviousCacheTest(commitData), CommitSize: int64(len(commitData)), CommitGeneration: "commit-generation"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("encode previous pointer: %v", err)
+	}
+	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: artifacts.S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(prefix), Data: pointerData})
+	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: commitKey, Data: commitData, ETag: "commit-generation"})
+	store.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: manifestKey, Data: data, ETag: manifestGeneration})
 }
 
 func previousManifestWithOutput(t *testing.T, cfg *config.Config, rel string, publishedPaths []string) *manifest.Manifest {
diff --git a/internal/stage/prepare_previous_test.go b/internal/stage/prepare_previous_test.go
index 4ae19f3..2f0fabd 100644
--- a/internal/stage/prepare_previous_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/prepare_previous_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package stage
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ func TestHydratePreviousSessionArtifactsFailsMissingRequiredArtifact(t *testing.
 	}
 	seedPreviousCurrentState(t, env, fake, previousStateSeedOptions{
 		includeRunPointerObject: true,
+		includeManifestObject:   true,
 		includeArtifactObject:   false,
 	})
 
@@ -175,8 +178,8 @@ func TestHydratePreviousSessionArtifactsRespectsCurrentCommitMarker(t *testing.T
 	})
 
 	_, err := hydratePreviousSessionArtifacts(context.Background(), env, sessionPaths, requirements)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "remote current run pointer missing") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want current run pointer missing failure", err)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "remote current commit pointer missing") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want current commit pointer missing failure", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -218,9 +221,6 @@ func TestHydratePreviousSessionArtifactsUsesExplicitStorageKeys(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("hydratePreviousSessionArtifacts() error = %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if !containsString(capture.existsKeys, seed.ArtifactKey) {
-		t.Fatalf("exists keys = %#v, want %q", capture.existsKeys, seed.ArtifactKey)
-	}
 	if !containsString(capture.accessKeys, seed.RunPointerKey) {
 		t.Fatalf("access keys = %#v, want %q", capture.accessKeys, seed.RunPointerKey)
 	}
@@ -268,7 +268,8 @@ func seedPreviousCurrentState(
 	campaign := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.Campaign)
 	rootPrefix := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix)
 	previousSessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(rootPrefix, campaign, previousSessionID)
-	manifestKey, runPointerKey := artifacts.ResolveCurrentStateKeys(previousSessionPrefix)
+	manifestKey := artifacts.S3RunSessionManifestKey(previousSessionPrefix, "20260510T010203Z-a1b2c3d4")
+	runPointerKey := artifacts.S3CurrentCommitPointerKey(previousSessionPrefix)
 
 	previousRunID := "20260510T010203Z-a1b2c3d4"
 	previousSessionRoot := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "work", campaign, previousSessionID)
@@ -282,12 +283,6 @@ func seedPreviousCurrentState(
 		artifactLocalPath,
 	)
 
-	if options.includeRunPointerObject || (!options.includeRunPointerObject && !options.includeManifestObject && !options.includeArtifactObject) {
-		fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{
-			Key:  runPointerKey,
-			Data: []byte(previousRunID + "\n"),
-		})
-	}
 	if options.includeManifestObject || options.includeArtifactObject {
 		fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{
 			Key:  manifestKey,
@@ -295,7 +290,7 @@ func seedPreviousCurrentState(
 		})
 	}
 
-	artifactKey := artifacts.S3PublishedOutputKey(previousSessionPrefix, "artifacts/session_recap.md")
+	artifactKey := artifacts.S3RunRelativeDestinationKey(artifacts.S3RunPrefix(previousSessionPrefix, previousRunID), "artifacts/session_recap.md")
 	if options.includeArtifactObject {
 		body := options.artifactBody
 		if body == "" {
@@ -306,6 +301,27 @@ func seedPreviousCurrentState(
 			Data: []byte(body),
 		})
 	}
+	if options.includeRunPointerObject || (!options.includeRunPointerObject && !options.includeManifestObject && !options.includeArtifactObject) {
+		manifestObject := fake.Objects[manifestKey]
+		entries := []artifacts.RemoteArtifact{{Type: artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypeSessionManifest, Source: "session.manifest", DestinationKey: manifestKey, SHA256: preparePreviousSHA256(previousManifest), Size: int64(len(previousManifest)), Generation: manifestObject.ETag}}
+		if options.includeArtifactObject {
+			artifactObject := fake.Objects[artifactKey]
+			entries = append(entries, artifacts.RemoteArtifact{Type: artifacts.RemoteArtifactTypePublishedOutput, Source: artifacts.ConfiguredArtifactSourceID("session_recap"), DestinationKey: artifactKey, SHA256: preparePreviousSHA256(artifactObject.Data), Size: int64(len(artifactObject.Data)), Generation: artifactObject.ETag})
+		}
+		commit := artifacts.RemoteCommitManifest{FormatVersion: artifacts.RemoteCommitFormatVersion, Campaign: campaign, SessionID: previousSessionID, RunID: previousRunID, Artifacts: entries}
+		commitData, err := artifacts.EncodeRemoteCommitManifest(commit)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("encode previous commit: %v", err)
+		}
+		commitKey := artifacts.S3RunCommitKey(previousSessionPrefix, previousRunID)
+		fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: commitKey, Data: commitData})
+		commitObject := fake.Objects[commitKey]
+		pointerData, err := artifacts.EncodeCurrentCommitPointer(artifacts.CurrentCommitPointer{FormatVersion: artifacts.RemoteCommitFormatVersion, Campaign: campaign, SessionID: previousSessionID, RunID: previousRunID, CommitKey: commitKey, CommitSHA256: preparePreviousSHA256(commitData), CommitSize: int64(len(commitData)), CommitGeneration: commitObject.ETag})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("encode previous pointer: %v", err)
+		}
+		fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: runPointerKey, Data: pointerData})
+	}
 
 	return previousStateSeedResult{
 		PreviousSessionPrefix: previousSessionPrefix,
@@ -316,6 +332,11 @@ func seedPreviousCurrentState(
 	}
 }
 
+func preparePreviousSHA256(data []byte) string {
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(data)
+	return hex.EncodeToString(sum[:])
+}
+
 func previousHydrationFixture(t *testing.T) (*Env, artifacts.SessionPaths, *storage.FakeBackend) {
 	t.Helper()
 	env, m := setupPrepareEnv(t)
diff --git a/internal/stage/prepare_test.go b/internal/stage/prepare_test.go
index d2dd5d0..f0fb695 100644
--- a/internal/stage/prepare_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/prepare_test.go
@@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ func TestPrepareStageRerunOverwritesPreviousCache(t *testing.T) {
 
 	fake := &storage.FakeBackend{}
 	env.ObjectStore = fake
-	seed := seedPreviousCurrentState(t, env, fake, previousStateSeedOptions{
+	seedPreviousCurrentState(t, env, fake, previousStateSeedOptions{
 		includeRunPointerObject: true,
 		includeArtifactObject:   true,
 		artifactBody:            "# old recap\n",
@@ -810,7 +810,11 @@ func TestPrepareStageRerunOverwritesPreviousCache(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.PreviousArtifactsDir, "stale.txt"), "stale")
-	fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: seed.ArtifactKey, Data: []byte("# new recap\n")})
+	seedPreviousCurrentState(t, env, fake, previousStateSeedOptions{
+		includeRunPointerObject: true,
+		includeArtifactObject:   true,
+		artifactBody:            "# new recap\n",
+	})
 
 	if _, err := (prepareStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("second prepare run error = %v", err)