diff --git a/docs/cli.md b/docs/cli.md
index 700432f..d0de5c1 100644
--- a/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/cli.md
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ Valid stage names:
 - `polish`
 - `normalize`
 - `trim`
+- `render`
 - `analyze`
 - `publish`
 - `notify`
diff --git a/docs/config.md b/docs/config.md
index 648dfaf..64e4480 100644
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -98,6 +98,12 @@ publish:
     - source: narratio.transcript.final_trimmed
       dest: transcripts/final.trimmed.json
       required: true
+    - source: narratio.transcript.final_markdown
+      dest: transcripts/final.md
+      required: true
+    - source: narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown
+      dest: transcripts/final.trimmed.md
+      required: true
     - source: narratio.artifact.session_recap
       dest: artifacts/session_recap.md
       required: true
@@ -138,7 +144,7 @@ Rules:
 | `pipeline.cache.s3_audio` | bool | No | `true` |
 | `pipeline.publish.enabled` | bool | No | `true` |
 | `pipeline.publish.upload_run` | bool | No | `true` |
-| `pipeline.publish.outputs[]` | list | No | defaults to final trimmed transcript output |
+| `pipeline.publish.outputs[]` | list | No | defaults to final trimmed JSON plus final and final-trimmed Markdown outputs |
 | `pipeline.publish.outputs[].source` | string | Yes (per rule) | must reference built-in or configured artifact source |
 | `pipeline.publish.outputs[].dest` | string | Conditional | derived if omitted and source supports derivation |
 | `pipeline.publish.outputs[].required` | bool | No | `true` |
@@ -188,6 +194,12 @@ Rules:
 | `pipeline.trim.bounds.render_debug` | bool | No | `false` |
 | `pipeline.trim.bounds.render_output_path` | string | Conditional | required when `render_debug` is true |
 | `pipeline.trim.seriatim.report` | bool | No | `false` |
+| `pipeline.render.enabled` | bool | No | `true` |
+| `pipeline.render.format` | string | No | `markdown` (only supported value) |
+| `pipeline.render.title` | string | No | empty (falls back to `session.title` when set) |
+| `pipeline.render.include_timestamps` | bool | No | `true` |
+| `pipeline.render.include_segment_ids` | bool | No | `false` |
+| `pipeline.render.include_metadata` | bool | No | `false` |
 | `pipeline.scriptorium.binary` | string | No | `scriptorium` |
 | `pipeline.scriptorium.config_path` | string | No | empty |
 | `pipeline.scriptorium.timeout` | duration | No | `10m` |
diff --git a/docs/integrations/seriatim.md b/docs/integrations/seriatim.md
index 491c341..33821a1 100644
--- a/docs/integrations/seriatim.md
+++ b/docs/integrations/seriatim.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Integration: Seriatim
 
 ## Purpose
-Define the Seriatim adapter contract used by `merge`, `normalize`, and `trim`.
+Define the Seriatim adapter contract used by `merge`, `normalize`, `trim`, and `render`.
 
 ## Adapter Boundary
 Interface:
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Interface:
   - `Run(ctx, MergeRequest)`
   - `Normalize(ctx, NormalizeRequest)`
   - `Trim(ctx, TrimRequest)`
+  - `Render(ctx, RenderRequest)`
 
 Primary implementation:
 - `internal/adapters/seriatim/SubprocessRunner`
@@ -18,11 +19,13 @@ Execution modes:
 - `seriatim merge`
 - `seriatim normalize`
 - `seriatim trim`
+- `seriatim render`
 
 ## Request/Result Contracts
 - `MergeRequest`/`MergeResult`: multi-input merge to base transcript, optional report.
 - `NormalizeRequest`/`NormalizeResult`: transcript normalization with explicit schema.
 - `TrimRequest`/`TrimResult`: transcript trimming with required keep selector.
+- `RenderRequest`/`RenderResult`: transcript-to-markdown rendering with explicit format and render booleans.
 
 Results include output/log/config paths, timing, exit code, and metadata.
 
@@ -36,9 +39,11 @@ Runner construction validates:
 Invocation fails on:
 - missing required request paths/inputs;
 - invalid normalize schema override;
+- unsupported render format;
 - subprocess failure;
-- invalid JSON outputs;
-- missing `segments` array for normalize/trim transcript outputs.
+- invalid JSON outputs for merge/normalize/trim;
+- missing `segments` array for normalize/trim transcript outputs;
+- empty render output files.
 
 When report paths are provided/enabled, report files must parse as JSON.
 
@@ -49,7 +54,7 @@ When report paths are provided/enabled, report files must parse as JSON.
 - adapter does not write manifests or choose stage inputs.
 
 ## Config Mapping
-Config fields consumed through runner/stage wiring are under `pipeline.seriatim.*`.
+Config fields consumed through runner/stage wiring are under `pipeline.seriatim.*` and `pipeline.render.*`.
 
 Maintained examples with Seriatim config:
 - `examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml`
diff --git a/docs/internal/README.md b/docs/internal/README.md
index 0c0f34f..5c12387 100644
--- a/docs/internal/README.md
+++ b/docs/internal/README.md
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@ Canonical stage order from `internal/stage.All()`:
 4. `polish`
 5. `normalize`
 6. `trim`
-7. `analyze`
-8. `publish`
-9. `notify` (placeholder)
+7. `render`
+8. `analyze`
+9. `publish`
+10. `notify` (placeholder)
 
 `notify` is currently a placeholder stage with optional notifier call behavior; it has no persisted pipeline outputs.
 
@@ -39,5 +40,6 @@ Canonical stage order from `internal/stage.All()`:
 - `stage-polish.md`
 - `stage-normalize.md`
 - `stage-trim.md`
+- `stage-render.md`
 - `stage-analyze.md`
 - `stage-publish.md`
diff --git a/docs/internal/artifacts.md b/docs/internal/artifacts.md
index 7bec623..fe32855 100644
--- a/docs/internal/artifacts.md
+++ b/docs/internal/artifacts.md
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ Define canonical artifact IDs, runtime catalog behavior, source resolution rules
 - `narratio.transcript.polished` -> `transcripts/polished.json` (`polish`)
 - `narratio.transcript.final` -> `transcripts/final.json` (`normalize`)
 - `narratio.transcript.final_trimmed` -> `transcripts/final.trimmed.json` (`trim`)
+- `narratio.transcript.final_markdown` -> `transcripts/final.md` (`render`)
+- `narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown` -> `transcripts/final.trimmed.md` (`render`)
 - `narratio.bounds.session` -> `artifacts/session_bounds.json` (`trim`)
 
 ## Configured and Previous-Session Sources
@@ -53,7 +55,8 @@ Previous-session sources (`narratio.previous_session.artifact.*`):
 
 Validation by content type:
 
-- transcript built-ins: JSON with top-level `segments` array;
+- transcript JSON built-ins: JSON with top-level `segments` array;
+- transcript Markdown built-ins: non-empty text file;
 - bounds built-in: valid JSON;
 - configured/previous-session artifact files: non-empty text file.
 
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md b/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md
index 1181d23..0be9861 100644
--- a/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Supported source families:
 ## Failure Semantics
 - required missing configured/previous-session inputs fail.
 - missing required previous-session source includes prepare rerun guidance.
+- missing required `narratio.transcript.final_markdown` or `narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown` inputs includes render rerun guidance.
 - dependency cycles or unavailable required dependencies fail.
 - adapter validation failures fail stage.
 
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-publish.md b/docs/internal/stage-publish.md
index 208bd0c..d5e4f19 100644
--- a/docs/internal/stage-publish.md
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-publish.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 Upload run/session outputs to object storage and atomically advance remote current state.
 
 ## Inputs
-- successful prerequisite stages: `prepare`, `transcribe`, `merge`, `polish`, `normalize`, `trim`, `analyze`
+- successful prerequisite stages: `prepare`, `transcribe`, `merge`, `polish`, `normalize`, `trim`, `render`, `analyze`
 - run root `runs/{run_id}/**`
 - publish output rules (`pipeline.publish.outputs`)
 - effective publish locks (static + remote merged lock set)
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-render.md b/docs/internal/stage-render.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9ba806
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-render.md
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Stage: render
+
+## Purpose
+Render Markdown transcript artifacts from normalized JSON transcripts via Seriatim.
+
+## Inputs
+- `narratio.transcript.final` (`transcripts/final.json`)
+- `narratio.transcript.final_trimmed` (`transcripts/final.trimmed.json`)
+
+## Outputs
+- `narratio.transcript.final_markdown` -> `transcripts/final.md`
+- `narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown` -> `transcripts/final.trimmed.md`
+
+## Key Behavior
+- uses `pipeline.render` settings (enabled/format/title/booleans).
+- resolves inputs manifest-first, then canonical fallback.
+- writes run-local outputs first, then materializes canonical session outputs.
+- records input provenance, output paths, adapter metadata, logs, and generated config refs.
+- skips with stage metadata when `pipeline.render.enabled=false`.
+
+## Failure Semantics
+- missing normalized input fails with normalize rerun guidance.
+- missing trimmed input fails with trim rerun guidance.
+- adapter/subprocess failure fails stage.
+- empty render output files fail validation.
+
+## Invariants
+- only `format: markdown` is supported.
+- render stage owns production of built-in Markdown transcript sources.
diff --git a/docs/operations.md b/docs/operations.md
index a943ad8..49a6296 100644
--- a/docs/operations.md
+++ b/docs/operations.md
@@ -73,9 +73,10 @@ Canonical stage order:
 4. `polish`
 5. `normalize`
 6. `trim`
-7. `analyze`
-8. `publish`
-9. `notify`
+7. `render`
+8. `analyze`
+9. `publish`
+10. `notify`
 
 Execution rules:
 
@@ -245,5 +246,6 @@ Rules:
 
 - Local and S3 audio modes are mutually exclusive.
 - Publish requires prerequisite stages through analyze to be succeeded.
+- Markdown publish defaults require render outputs (`transcripts/final.md` and `transcripts/final.trimmed.md`).
 - Restore requires configured object storage and committed remote current state.
 - Storage-backed commands load filesystem secrets before object-store initialization.
diff --git a/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml b/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
index 0aa8cb6..ba6e5b5 100644
--- a/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ publish:
     - source: narratio.transcript.final_trimmed
       dest: transcripts/final.trimmed.json
       required: true
+    - source: narratio.transcript.final_markdown
+      dest: transcripts/final.md
+      required: true
+    - source: narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown
+      dest: transcripts/final.trimmed.md
+      required: true
     - source: narratio.artifact.session_recap
       dest: artifacts/session_recap.md
       required: true
diff --git a/examples/pipeline.production.yml b/examples/pipeline.production.yml
index 41701c9..affae6d 100644
--- a/examples/pipeline.production.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.production.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ publish:
     - source: narratio.transcript.final_trimmed
       dest: transcripts/final.trimmed.json
       required: true
+    - source: narratio.transcript.final_markdown
+      dest: transcripts/final.md
+      required: true
+    - source: narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown
+      dest: transcripts/final.trimmed.md
+      required: true
     - source: narratio.artifact.session_recap
       dest: artifacts/session_recap.md
       required: true
diff --git a/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go b/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go
index 91d2bd0..db6d8bc 100644
--- a/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go
@@ -1002,6 +1002,8 @@ func TestExecutePublishLoadsRemoteLocks(t *testing.T) {
 		_ = stageName
 	}
 	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workRoot, "transcripts", "final.trimmed.json"), `{"segments":[]}`)
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workRoot, "transcripts", "final.md"), "# final\n")
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workRoot, "transcripts", "final.trimmed.md"), "# final trimmed\n")
 
 	var stdout bytes.Buffer
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
diff --git a/internal/app/runner_test.go b/internal/app/runner_test.go
index 71fc7ce..67e83f9 100644
--- a/internal/app/runner_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/runner_test.go
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ func TestExecuteStagesPublishSkipsRequiredUnselectedConfiguredOutput(t *testing.
 	manifestPath := manifestPathFor(cfg)
 	seed := manifest.New(cfg.Session.SessionID, time.Now().UTC())
 	seed.Campaign = cfg.Session.Campaign
-	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim"} {
+	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render"} {
 		seed.MarkStageSucceeded(stageName, time.Now().UTC(), nil)
 	}
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(manifestPath), 0o755); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/artifactpolicy/policy_test.go b/internal/artifactpolicy/policy_test.go
index a669b95..3d32b99 100644
--- a/internal/artifactpolicy/policy_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifactpolicy/policy_test.go
@@ -67,6 +67,14 @@ func TestResolvePublishedDestination(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("built-in destination = %q, want transcripts/final.trimmed.json", got)
 	}
 
+	got, err = ResolvePublishedDestination("narratio.transcript.final_markdown", "", configured)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolvePublishedDestination(markdown built-in) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != "transcripts/final.md" {
+		t.Fatalf("markdown built-in destination = %q, want transcripts/final.md", got)
+	}
+
 	got, err = ResolvePublishedDestination("narratio.artifact.session_recap", "", configured)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("ResolvePublishedDestination(configured) error = %v", err)
@@ -103,6 +111,7 @@ func TestDescribeScriptoriumInputSource(t *testing.T) {
 		wantErrLike string
 	}{
 		{name: "built in", source: "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed", wantKind: SourceKindBuiltIn},
+		{name: "built in markdown", source: "narratio.transcript.final_markdown", wantKind: SourceKindBuiltIn},
 		{name: "configured", source: "narratio.artifact.session_recap", wantKind: SourceKindConfiguredArtifact, wantKey: "session_recap"},
 		{name: "previous", source: "narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap", wantKind: SourceKindPreviousArtifact, wantKey: "session_recap", wantPrev: true},
 		{name: "invalid previous", source: "narratio.previous_session.artifact.", wantErr: ErrInvalidPreviousSessionSource},
diff --git a/internal/config/defaults.go b/internal/config/defaults.go
index aa1eab5..0898fda 100644
--- a/internal/config/defaults.go
+++ b/internal/config/defaults.go
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ const (
 // Callers should copy this slice before mutating.
 var DefaultPublishOutputs = []PublishOutputRule{
 	{Source: artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmed, Dest: PathTranscriptFinalTrimmed},
+	{Source: artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptFinalMarkdown, Dest: artifactmodel.TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown},
+	{Source: artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown, Dest: artifactmodel.TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown},
 }
 
 // DefaultPipelineConfigSearchPaths defines the default search order for
diff --git a/internal/config/scriptorium_test.go b/internal/config/scriptorium_test.go
index c9acdf6..f8c732e 100644
--- a/internal/config/scriptorium_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/scriptorium_test.go
@@ -200,6 +200,21 @@ func TestScriptoriumLoadAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
         transcript:
           source: narratio.transcript.final_trimmed
           required: true
+`,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "markdown built in artifact source is accepted",
+			scriptoriumYAML: `scriptorium:
+  binary: scriptorium
+  artifacts:
+    session_recap:
+      enabled: true
+      prompt_id: dnd.session_recap
+      output_path: artifacts/session_recap.md
+      inputs:
+        transcript_markdown:
+          source: narratio.transcript.final_markdown
+          required: true
 `,
 		},
 		{
diff --git a/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go b/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go
index 013b79f..a883ecb 100644
--- a/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go
@@ -179,18 +179,29 @@ func TestSpoolAndPublishDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	if cfg.Pipeline.Publish.UploadRun == nil || !*cfg.Pipeline.Publish.UploadRun {
 		t.Fatalf("publish.upload_run = %#v, want true", cfg.Pipeline.Publish.UploadRun)
 	}
-	if len(cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs len = %d, want 1 default", len(cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs))
+	if len(cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs len = %d, want 3 defaults", len(cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs))
 	}
-	item := cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs[0]
-	if item.Required == nil || !*item.Required {
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[0].required = %#v, want true", item.Required)
+	wantBySource := map[string]string{
+		"narratio.transcript.final_trimmed":          "transcripts/final.trimmed.json",
+		"narratio.transcript.final_markdown":         "transcripts/final.md",
+		"narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown": "transcripts/final.trimmed.md",
 	}
-	if item.Source != "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed" {
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[0].source = %q, want narratio.transcript.final_trimmed", item.Source)
+	for i, item := range cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs {
+		if item.Required == nil || !*item.Required {
+			t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[%d].required = %#v, want true", i, item.Required)
+		}
+		wantDest, ok := wantBySource[item.Source]
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[%d].source = %q, want known default source", i, item.Source)
+		}
+		if item.Dest != wantDest {
+			t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[%d].dest = %q, want %q", i, item.Dest, wantDest)
+		}
+		delete(wantBySource, item.Source)
 	}
-	if item.Dest != "transcripts/final.trimmed.json" {
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[0].dest = %q, want transcripts/final.trimmed.json", item.Dest)
+	if len(wantBySource) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("missing default publish outputs for sources: %#v", wantBySource)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -337,6 +348,15 @@ publish:
 `,
 			wantDest: "artifacts/session_recap.md",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "markdown built in derives canonical destination",
+			pipelineYML: testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+publish:
+  outputs:
+    - source: narratio.transcript.final_markdown
+`,
+			wantDest: "transcripts/final.md",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
diff --git a/internal/stage/analyze.go b/internal/stage/analyze.go
index 6f40658..4725d93 100644
--- a/internal/stage/analyze.go
+++ b/internal/stage/analyze.go
@@ -670,6 +670,12 @@ func resolveScriptoriumInput(
 				return "", false, nil, fmt.Errorf("normalized transcript input is unavailable; run normalize stage first")
 			case artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmed:
 				return "", false, nil, fmt.Errorf("trimmed transcript input is unavailable; run trim stage first")
+			case artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown, artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown:
+				return "", false, nil, fmt.Errorf(
+					"rendered markdown transcript input is unavailable for source %q; run narratio run-stage --force render %s",
+					descriptor.Source.ID,
+					paths.SessionID,
+				)
 			default:
 				return "", false, nil, nil
 			}
diff --git a/internal/stage/analyze_test.go b/internal/stage/analyze_test.go
index 00f0235..99e11cc 100644
--- a/internal/stage/analyze_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/analyze_test.go
@@ -961,6 +961,31 @@ func TestAnalyzeSupportsNormalizedTranscriptSourceWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestAnalyzeSupportsRenderedMarkdownTranscriptSourceWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, fake := setupAnalyzeEnv(t)
+	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)
+	markdownPath := filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.md")
+	writeAnalyzeFile(t, markdownPath, "# Session Transcript\n")
+
+	artifact := env.Config.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Artifacts["session_recap"]
+	artifact.Inputs["transcript"] = config.ScriptoriumInputConfig{
+		Source:   "narratio.transcript.final_markdown",
+		Required: true,
+	}
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Artifacts["session_recap"] = artifact
+
+	_, err := (analyzeStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(fake.RunRequests) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("run requests = %d, want 1", len(fake.RunRequests))
+	}
+	if fake.RunRequests[0].InputPaths["transcript"] != markdownPath {
+		t.Fatalf("transcript input = %q, want markdown transcript path", fake.RunRequests[0].InputPaths["transcript"])
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAnalyzeSupportsCanonicalNormalizedTranscriptSourceFromManifestOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	env, m, fake := setupAnalyzeEnv(t)
 	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)
@@ -1045,6 +1070,42 @@ func TestAnalyzeFailsWhenNormalizedTranscriptMissing(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestAnalyzeFailsWhenRenderedMarkdownTranscriptMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := setupAnalyzeEnv(t)
+	artifact := env.Config.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Artifacts["session_recap"]
+	artifact.Inputs["transcript"] = config.ScriptoriumInputConfig{
+		Source:   "narratio.transcript.final_markdown",
+		Required: true,
+	}
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Artifacts["session_recap"] = artifact
+
+	_, err := (analyzeStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "run narratio run-stage --force render") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want render guidance", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAnalyzeFailsWhenRenderedTrimmedMarkdownTranscriptMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := setupAnalyzeEnv(t)
+	artifact := env.Config.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Artifacts["session_recap"]
+	artifact.Inputs["transcript"] = config.ScriptoriumInputConfig{
+		Source:   "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown",
+		Required: true,
+	}
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Artifacts["session_recap"] = artifact
+
+	_, err := (analyzeStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "run narratio run-stage --force render") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want render guidance", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAnalyzeFailsWhenProcessedTranscriptInvalidJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	env, m, _ := setupAnalyzeEnv(t)
 	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)
diff --git a/internal/stage/publish.go b/internal/stage/publish.go
index 1107c42..3820042 100644
--- a/internal/stage/publish.go
+++ b/internal/stage/publish.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ var publishPrerequisiteStages = []string{
 	"polish",
 	"normalize",
 	"trim",
+	"render",
 	"analyze",
 }