Bugfix in the seriatim adapter

README.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Narratio is a stage-driven Go orchestrator for turning D&D session audio into polished transcripts and generated artifacts.
 
-It runs a deterministic workflow across `prepare`, `transcribe`, `merge`, `polish`, `normalize`, `trim`, `analyze`, and `publish`, with manifest-driven resume and restore support.
+It runs a deterministic workflow across `prepare`, `transcribe`, `merge`, `polish`, `normalize`, `trim`, `render`, `analyze`, and `publish`, with manifest-driven continuation and restore support.
 
 ```bash
 narratio run 2026-04-04

docs/cli.md

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ This runs the canonical full pipeline for session `2026-04-04`.
 Top-level commands:
 
 - `run <session_id>`: run full stage order.
-- `resume <session_id>`: continue from first non-succeeded stage.
 - `run-stage <stage> <session_id>`: run one stage.
 - `analyze <session_id>`: force-run analyze.
 - `publish <session_id>`: force-run publish.
@@ -77,19 +76,9 @@ Behavior:
 
 - evaluates full stage order;
 - skips already-succeeded stages unless `--force` is set;
+- continues interrupted or partially completed sessions by running non-succeeded stages;
 - writes session and run manifests.
 
-### `resume`
-
-```bash
-narratio resume <session_id> [--force] [--artifacts <name[,name...]>] [...common config flags]
-```
-
-Behavior:
-
-- when not forced, starts at first non-succeeded stage in manifest order;
-- with `--force`, reevaluates the selected stage list as runnable.
-
 ### `run-stage`
 
 ```bash
@@ -104,6 +93,7 @@ Valid stage names:
 - `polish`
 - `normalize`
 - `trim`
+- `render`
 - `analyze`
 - `publish`
 - `notify`
@@ -253,7 +243,7 @@ Behavior:
 
 ## `--artifacts` Selection Rules
 
-- accepted on `run`, `resume`, `run-stage`, `analyze`, and `publish`;
+- accepted on `run`, `run-stage`, `analyze`, and `publish`;
 - names must exist in `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts`;
 - empty entries are invalid;
 - repeated names are deduplicated.

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 | `true` |
+| `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` |

docs/integrations/README.md

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ These docs cover what Narratio expects from external tools and what each adapter
 
 ## Integration Contracts
 - `audita.md`: transcript polishing adapter (`audita process`).
-- `seriatim.md`: merge/normalize/trim adapter (`seriatim`).
+- `seriatim.md`: merge/normalize/trim/render adapter (`seriatim`).
 - `scriptorium.md`: artifact run/render adapter (`scriptorium run|render`).
 
 ## Related Canonical Docs

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;
+- invalid JSON outputs for merge/normalize/trim;
-- missing `segments` array for normalize/trim transcript outputs.
+- 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`

docs/internal/README.md

@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@ Canonical stage order from `internal/stage.All()`:
 4. `polish`
 5. `normalize`
 6. `trim`
-7. `analyze`
+7. `render`
-8. `publish`
+8. `analyze`
-9. `notify` (placeholder)
+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`

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.
 

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.
 

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)

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.

docs/operations.md

@@ -4,33 +4,6 @@ Operator workflow for running, recovering, and publishing Narratio sessions.
 
 For command syntax, see [docs/cli.md](./cli.md). For field-level config, see [docs/config.md](./config.md).
 
-## Standard Session Workflow
-
-1. Select pipeline/campaign/session config.
-2. Validate session readiness:
-
-```bash
-narratio session validate 2026-04-04
-```
-
-3. (Optional) inspect stage decisions:
-
-```bash
-narratio session plan 2026-04-04
-```
-
-4. Run the pipeline:
-
-```bash
-narratio run 2026-04-04
-```
-
-5. Check state:
-
-```bash
-narratio session status 2026-04-04
-```
-
 ## Campaign and Session Selection
 
 Campaign selection priority:
@@ -63,7 +36,34 @@ narratio session init 2026-04-04 --remote --force
 
 If `campaign.yml` sets `session_template_file`, `session init` renders it. Template variables must resolve to concrete values.
 
-## Stage Execution and Resume Behavior
+## Standard Session Workflow
+
+1. Select pipeline/campaign/session config.
+2. Validate session readiness:
+
+```bash
+narratio session validate 2026-04-04
+```
+
+3. (Optional) inspect stage decisions:
+
+```bash
+narratio session plan 2026-04-04
+```
+
+4. Run the pipeline:
+
+```bash
+narratio run 2026-04-04
+```
+
+5. Check state:
+
+```bash
+narratio session status 2026-04-04
+```
+
+## Stage Execution and Continuation Behavior
 
 Canonical stage order:
 
@@ -73,14 +73,15 @@ Canonical stage order:
 4. `polish`
 5. `normalize`
 6. `trim`
-7. `analyze`
+7. `render`
-8. `publish`
+8. `analyze`
-9. `notify`
+9. `publish`
+10. `notify`
 
 Execution rules:
 
 - succeeded stages are skipped unless `--force` is set;
-- `resume` starts at first non-succeeded stage;
+- `run` continues interrupted or partially completed sessions by running non-succeeded stages;
 - force rerunning a succeeded upstream stage marks succeeded downstream stages as `stale`.
 
 Single-stage execution:
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ narratio run-stage normalize 2026-04-04 --force
 
 ## Artifact Selection
 
-`--artifacts` can be used on `run`, `resume`, `run-stage`, `analyze`, and `publish`.
+`--artifacts` can be used on `run`, `run-stage`, `analyze`, and `publish`.
 
 Selection behavior:
 
@@ -244,6 +245,7 @@ Rules:
 ## Operational Caveats
 
 - Local and S3 audio modes are mutually exclusive.
-- Publish requires prerequisite stages through analyze to be succeeded.
+- Publish requires prerequisite stages through `render` and `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.

docs/policy/development.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Canonical contributor workflow and engineering conventions for implemented Narra
 ## Repository layout
 
 - `cmd/narratio/`: CLI entrypoint.
-- `internal/app/`: command handlers, plan/run/resume orchestration, cleanup gates, secrets loading.
+- `internal/app/`: command handlers, run/stage orchestration, cleanup gates, secrets loading.
 - `internal/config/`: strict YAML loading, defaults, and validation.
 - `internal/stage/`: stage implementations and stage registry/order.
 - `internal/adapters/`: external boundary adapters (WhisperX, Seriatim, Audita, Scriptorium, storage, notify).

docs/troubleshooting.md

@@ -217,6 +217,33 @@ Safe fix:
 - correct publish source/destination rules;
 - retry after storage failure is resolved.
 
+## Render markdown source missing
+
+Symptom:
+
+- analyze or publish fails because `narratio.transcript.final_markdown` or `narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown` is unavailable.
+
+Likely causes:
+
+- render stage was not executed after transcript changes;
+- render stage failed before producing canonical markdown outputs.
+
+Diagnostics:
+
+```bash
+narratio session status 2026-04-04
+narratio run-stage render 2026-04-04 --force
+```
+
+Safe fix:
+
+- rerun render and then retry downstream stage(s):
+
+```bash
+narratio run-stage render 2026-04-04 --force
+narratio run-stage analyze 2026-04-04 --force
+```
+
 ## Secrets or storage credential failure
 
 Symptom:

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

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

internal/adapters/seriatim/fake.go

@@ -68,6 +68,26 @@ func (n *NoopRunner) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req NormalizeRequest) (Norma
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// Render returns the requested output path with placeholder metadata.
+func (n *NoopRunner) Render(ctx context.Context, req RenderRequest) (RenderResult, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return RenderResult{}, err
+	}
+	if err := materializeRenderPlaceholders(req); err != nil {
+		return RenderResult{}, err
+	}
+	return RenderResult{
+		OutputRenderedPath:  req.OutputRenderedPath,
+		StdoutLogPath:       req.StdoutLogPath,
+		StderrLogPath:       req.StderrLogPath,
+		GeneratedConfigPath: req.GeneratedConfigPath,
+		InvokedBinary:       "noop",
+		Format:              req.Format,
+		Title:               req.Title,
+		Metadata:            map[string]any{"placeholder": true},
+	}, nil
+}
+
 // FakeRunner captures merge requests and returns deterministic responses.
 type FakeRunner struct {
 	Requests          []MergeRequest
@@ -79,6 +99,9 @@ type FakeRunner struct {
 	TrimRequests      []TrimRequest
 	TrimErr           error
 	TrimResult        TrimResult
+	RenderRequests    []RenderRequest
+	RenderErr         error
+	RenderResult      RenderResult
 }
 
 // Run records request and returns configured response.
@@ -195,6 +218,46 @@ func (f *FakeRunner) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req NormalizeRequest) (Norma
 	return res, nil
 }
 
+// Render records request and returns configured response.
+func (f *FakeRunner) Render(ctx context.Context, req RenderRequest) (RenderResult, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return RenderResult{}, err
+	}
+	f.RenderRequests = append(f.RenderRequests, req)
+	if f.RenderErr != nil {
+		return RenderResult{}, f.RenderErr
+	}
+	if err := materializeRenderPlaceholders(req); err != nil {
+		return RenderResult{}, err
+	}
+	res := f.RenderResult
+	if res.OutputRenderedPath == "" {
+		res.OutputRenderedPath = req.OutputRenderedPath
+	}
+	if res.StdoutLogPath == "" {
+		res.StdoutLogPath = req.StdoutLogPath
+	}
+	if res.StderrLogPath == "" {
+		res.StderrLogPath = req.StderrLogPath
+	}
+	if res.GeneratedConfigPath == "" {
+		res.GeneratedConfigPath = req.GeneratedConfigPath
+	}
+	if res.InvokedBinary == "" {
+		res.InvokedBinary = "fake"
+	}
+	if res.Format == "" {
+		res.Format = req.Format
+	}
+	if res.Title == "" {
+		res.Title = req.Title
+	}
+	if res.Metadata == nil {
+		res.Metadata = map[string]any{"fake": true}
+	}
+	return res, nil
+}
+
 func materializePlaceholders(req MergeRequest) error {
 	if req.OutputMergedTranscriptPath != "" {
 		if err := subprocess.WriteFileAtomic(req.OutputMergedTranscriptPath, []byte(`{"schema":"seriatim.intermediate.v1","segments":[]}`), 0o644); err != nil {
@@ -301,3 +364,39 @@ func materializeNormalizePlaceholders(req NormalizeRequest) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func materializeRenderPlaceholders(req RenderRequest) error {
+	if req.OutputRenderedPath != "" {
+		if err := subprocess.WriteFileAtomic(req.OutputRenderedPath, []byte("# Transcript\n\nRendered markdown placeholder.\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("write rendered transcript %q: %w", req.OutputRenderedPath, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if req.GeneratedConfigPath != "" {
+		payload := map[string]any{
+			"schema":              "seriatim.generated.v1",
+			"placeholder":         true,
+			"command":             "render",
+			"input_path":          req.InputTranscriptPath,
+			"output_path":         req.OutputRenderedPath,
+			"format":              req.Format,
+			"title":               req.Title,
+			"include_timestamps":  req.IncludeTimestamps,
+			"include_segment_ids": req.IncludeSegmentIDs,
+			"include_metadata":    req.IncludeMetadata,
+		}
+		if err := subprocess.WriteYAMLAtomic(req.GeneratedConfigPath, payload, 0o644); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("write generated config %q: %w", req.GeneratedConfigPath, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if req.StdoutLogPath != "" {
+		if err := subprocess.WriteFileAtomic(req.StdoutLogPath, []byte("seriatim noop/fake render stdout placeholder\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("write stdout log %q: %w", req.StdoutLogPath, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if req.StderrLogPath != "" {
+		if err := subprocess.WriteFileAtomic(req.StderrLogPath, []byte("seriatim noop/fake render stderr placeholder\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("write stderr log %q: %w", req.StderrLogPath, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/adapters/seriatim/fake_test.go

@@ -148,3 +148,58 @@ func TestFakeRunnerNormalizeError(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestFakeRunnerRenderCapturesRequestAndReturnsPath(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := &FakeRunner{}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	req := RenderRequest{
+		GeneratedConfigPath: filepath.Join(dir, "config", "seriatim.render.yml"),
+		InputTranscriptPath: filepath.Join(dir, "transcripts", "final.trimmed.json"),
+		OutputRenderedPath:  filepath.Join(dir, "transcripts", "final.trimmed.md"),
+		Format:              "markdown",
+		Title:               "Session render",
+		IncludeTimestamps:   true,
+		IncludeSegmentIDs:   false,
+		IncludeMetadata:     true,
+		StdoutLogPath:       filepath.Join(dir, "logs", "seriatim.render.stdout.log"),
+		StderrLogPath:       filepath.Join(dir, "logs", "seriatim.render.stderr.log"),
+	}
+
+	res, err := fake.Render(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Render() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(fake.RenderRequests) != 1 || fake.RenderRequests[0].GeneratedConfigPath == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("render requests = %#v, want captured request", fake.RenderRequests)
+	}
+	if res.OutputRenderedPath != req.OutputRenderedPath {
+		t.Fatalf("rendered path = %q, want %q", res.OutputRenderedPath, req.OutputRenderedPath)
+	}
+	if res.Format != req.Format {
+		t.Fatalf("format = %q, want %q", res.Format, req.Format)
+	}
+	if res.Title != req.Title {
+		t.Fatalf("title = %q, want %q", res.Title, req.Title)
+	}
+
+	cfgData, err := os.ReadFile(req.GeneratedConfigPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read generated config: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(string(cfgData), "command: render") {
+		t.Fatalf("generated config = %q, want render command marker", string(cfgData))
+	}
+	for _, path := range []string{req.StdoutLogPath, req.StderrLogPath, req.OutputRenderedPath} {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected file %q to exist: %v", path, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFakeRunnerRenderError(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := &FakeRunner{RenderErr: errors.New("boom")}
+	_, err := fake.Render(context.Background(), RenderRequest{})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+}

internal/adapters/seriatim/runner.go

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Package seriatim declares the adapter contract for transcript merge/normalize/trim execution.
+// Package seriatim declares the adapter contract for transcript merge/normalize/trim/render execution.
 package seriatim
 
 import (
@@ -6,11 +6,12 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-// Runner is the adapter boundary for seriatim merge/normalize/trim invocations.
+// Runner is the adapter boundary for seriatim merge/normalize/trim/render invocations.
 type Runner interface {
 	Run(ctx context.Context, req MergeRequest) (MergeResult, error)
 	Normalize(ctx context.Context, req NormalizeRequest) (NormalizeResult, error)
 	Trim(ctx context.Context, req TrimRequest) (TrimResult, error)
+	Render(ctx context.Context, req RenderRequest) (RenderResult, error)
 }
 
 // MergeRequest describes a seriatim merge invocation.
@@ -90,3 +91,33 @@ type TrimResult struct {
 	KeepSelector        string
 	Metadata            map[string]any
 }
+
+// RenderRequest describes a seriatim render invocation.
+type RenderRequest struct {
+	Binary              string
+	InputTranscriptPath string
+	OutputRenderedPath  string
+	Format              string
+	Title               string
+	IncludeTimestamps   bool
+	IncludeSegmentIDs   bool
+	IncludeMetadata     bool
+	StdoutLogPath       string
+	StderrLogPath       string
+	GeneratedConfigPath string
+	Timeout             time.Duration
+}
+
+// RenderResult describes a render output.
+type RenderResult struct {
+	OutputRenderedPath  string
+	StdoutLogPath       string
+	StderrLogPath       string
+	GeneratedConfigPath string
+	ExitCode            int
+	Duration            time.Duration
+	InvokedBinary       string
+	Format              string
+	Title               string
+	Metadata            map[string]any
+}

internal/adapters/seriatim/subprocess.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
+	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/subprocess"
 )
@@ -384,6 +385,96 @@ func (r *SubprocessRunner) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req NormalizeRequest)
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// Render executes Seriatim render with deterministic flags and validates non-empty text output.
+func (r *SubprocessRunner) Render(ctx context.Context, req RenderRequest) (RenderResult, error) {
+	if r == nil {
+		return RenderResult{}, fmt.Errorf("seriatim subprocess runner is nil")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.InputTranscriptPath) == "" {
+		return RenderResult{}, fmt.Errorf("seriatim render input path is required")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.OutputRenderedPath) == "" {
+		return RenderResult{}, fmt.Errorf("seriatim render output path is required")
+	}
+	format := strings.TrimSpace(req.Format)
+	if format == "" {
+		format = "markdown"
+	}
+	if format != "markdown" {
+		return RenderResult{}, fmt.Errorf("seriatim render format %q is unsupported", req.Format)
+	}
+
+	binary := r.binary
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.Binary) != "" {
+		binary = strings.TrimSpace(req.Binary)
+	}
+
+	timeout := r.timeout
+	if req.Timeout < 0 {
+		return RenderResult{}, fmt.Errorf("seriatim render timeout must be >= 0")
+	}
+	if req.Timeout > 0 {
+		timeout = req.Timeout
+	}
+
+	args := buildRenderArgs(req, format)
+	if req.GeneratedConfigPath != "" {
+		if err := writeRenderInvocationConfig(req, args, binary, timeout, format); err != nil {
+			return RenderResult{}, fmt.Errorf("write seriatim render invocation config %q: %w", req.GeneratedConfigPath, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	runRes, err := subprocess.Run(ctx, subprocess.RunRequest{
+		Executable:    binary,
+		Args:          args,
+		Timeout:       timeout,
+		StdoutLogPath: req.StdoutLogPath,
+		StderrLogPath: req.StderrLogPath,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return RenderResult{
+			OutputRenderedPath:  req.OutputRenderedPath,
+			StdoutLogPath:       req.StdoutLogPath,
+			StderrLogPath:       req.StderrLogPath,
+			GeneratedConfigPath: req.GeneratedConfigPath,
+			ExitCode:            runRes.ExitCode,
+			Duration:            runRes.Duration,
+			InvokedBinary:       binary,
+			Format:              format,
+			Title:               req.Title,
+		}, fmt.Errorf("run seriatim render (binary=%q): %w", binary, err)
+	}
+
+	if err := validateNonEmptyTextFile(req.OutputRenderedPath); err != nil {
+		return RenderResult{
+			OutputRenderedPath:  req.OutputRenderedPath,
+			StdoutLogPath:       req.StdoutLogPath,
+			StderrLogPath:       req.StderrLogPath,
+			GeneratedConfigPath: req.GeneratedConfigPath,
+			ExitCode:            runRes.ExitCode,
+			Duration:            runRes.Duration,
+			InvokedBinary:       binary,
+			Format:              format,
+			Title:               req.Title,
+		}, fmt.Errorf("validate seriatim rendered output %q: %w", req.OutputRenderedPath, err)
+	}
+
+	return RenderResult{
+		OutputRenderedPath:  req.OutputRenderedPath,
+		StdoutLogPath:       req.StdoutLogPath,
+		StderrLogPath:       req.StderrLogPath,
+		GeneratedConfigPath: req.GeneratedConfigPath,
+		ExitCode:            runRes.ExitCode,
+		Duration:            runRes.Duration,
+		InvokedBinary:       binary,
+		Format:              format,
+		Title:               req.Title,
+		Metadata: map[string]any{
+			"adapter": "seriatim_subprocess",
+		},
+	}, nil
+}
+
 func (r *SubprocessRunner) buildMergeArgs(req MergeRequest) []string {
 	args := []string{"merge"}
 
@@ -480,6 +571,22 @@ func buildNormalizeArgs(req NormalizeRequest, outputSchema string) []string {
 	return args
 }
 
+func buildRenderArgs(req RenderRequest, format string) []string {
+	args := []string{
+		"render",
+		"--input-file", req.InputTranscriptPath,
+		"--output-file", req.OutputRenderedPath,
+		"--format", format,
+		"--include-timestamps=" + strconv.FormatBool(req.IncludeTimestamps),
+		"--include-segment-ids=" + strconv.FormatBool(req.IncludeSegmentIDs),
+		"--include-metadata=" + strconv.FormatBool(req.IncludeMetadata),
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.Title) != "" {
+		args = append(args, "--title", req.Title)
+	}
+	return args
+}
+
 func writeTrimInvocationConfig(req TrimRequest, args []string, binary string, timeout time.Duration) error {
 	payload := map[string]any{
 		"schema":        "seriatim.generated.v1",
@@ -509,6 +616,24 @@ func writeNormalizeInvocationConfig(req NormalizeRequest, args []string, binary
 	return subprocess.WriteYAMLAtomic(req.GeneratedConfigPath, payload, 0o644)
 }
 
+func writeRenderInvocationConfig(req RenderRequest, args []string, binary string, timeout time.Duration, format string) error {
+	payload := map[string]any{
+		"schema":              "seriatim.generated.v1",
+		"command":             "render",
+		"binary":              binary,
+		"args":                args,
+		"timeout":             timeout.String(),
+		"input_path":          req.InputTranscriptPath,
+		"output_path":         req.OutputRenderedPath,
+		"format":              format,
+		"title":               req.Title,
+		"include_timestamps":  req.IncludeTimestamps,
+		"include_segment_ids": req.IncludeSegmentIDs,
+		"include_metadata":    req.IncludeMetadata,
+	}
+	return subprocess.WriteYAMLAtomic(req.GeneratedConfigPath, payload, 0o644)
+}
+
 func validateJSONFile(path string) error {
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -541,3 +666,20 @@ func validateJSONFileWithSegments(path string) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func validateNonEmptyTextFile(path string) error {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("read file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("file is empty")
+	}
+	if !utf8.Valid(data) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("file is not valid utf-8 text")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(string(data)) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("file has no non-whitespace content")
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/adapters/seriatim/subprocess_test.go

@@ -569,6 +569,156 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerNormalizeInvalidReportJSONFails(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestSubprocessRunnerRenderSuccessInvocationAndProvenance(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("helper wrapper script uses /bin/sh")
+	}
+
+	t.Setenv("GO_WANT_SERIATIM_HELPER", "1")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_MODE", "render_success")
+	recordPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", recordPath)
+
+	wrapper := writeHelperWrapper(t)
+	runner := mustRunner(t, wrapper, false)
+	req := renderReqForTest(t)
+
+	res, err := runner.Render(context.Background(), req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Render() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if res.OutputRenderedPath != req.OutputRenderedPath {
+		t.Fatalf("OutputRenderedPath = %q, want %q", res.OutputRenderedPath, req.OutputRenderedPath)
+	}
+	if res.Format != req.Format {
+		t.Fatalf("Format = %q, want %q", res.Format, req.Format)
+	}
+	if res.Title != req.Title {
+		t.Fatalf("Title = %q, want %q", res.Title, req.Title)
+	}
+	if res.InvokedBinary != wrapper {
+		t.Fatalf("InvokedBinary = %q, want %q", res.InvokedBinary, wrapper)
+	}
+	if res.ExitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("ExitCode = %d, want 0", res.ExitCode)
+	}
+	if res.Duration <= 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Duration = %s, want >0", res.Duration)
+	}
+	if res.Metadata == nil || res.Metadata["adapter"] != "seriatim_subprocess" {
+		t.Fatalf("Metadata = %#v, want adapter marker", res.Metadata)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(req.OutputRenderedPath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("rendered output missing: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(req.StdoutLogPath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stdout log missing: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(req.StderrLogPath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr log missing: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(req.GeneratedConfigPath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("generated config missing: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	rec := readHelperRecord(t, recordPath)
+	wantArgs := []string{
+		"render",
+		"--input-file", req.InputTranscriptPath,
+		"--output-file", req.OutputRenderedPath,
+		"--format", req.Format,
+		"--include-timestamps=true",
+		"--include-segment-ids=true",
+		"--include-metadata=false",
+		"--title", req.Title,
+	}
+	if strings.Join(rec.Args, "\n") != strings.Join(wantArgs, "\n") {
+		t.Fatalf("args = %#v, want %#v", rec.Args, wantArgs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubprocessRunnerRenderWithoutTitleOmitsTitleArg(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("helper wrapper script uses /bin/sh")
+	}
+	t.Setenv("GO_WANT_SERIATIM_HELPER", "1")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_MODE", "render_success")
+	recordPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", recordPath)
+
+	runner := mustRunner(t, writeHelperWrapper(t), false)
+	req := renderReqForTest(t)
+	req.Title = ""
+	if _, err := runner.Render(context.Background(), req); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Render() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	rec := readHelperRecord(t, recordPath)
+	for i := 0; i < len(rec.Args); i++ {
+		if rec.Args[i] == "--title" {
+			t.Fatalf("args = %#v, did not expect --title", rec.Args)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubprocessRunnerRenderSubprocessFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("helper wrapper script uses /bin/sh")
+	}
+	t.Setenv("GO_WANT_SERIATIM_HELPER", "1")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_MODE", "fail")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
+
+	runner := mustRunner(t, writeHelperWrapper(t), false)
+	req := renderReqForTest(t)
+	_, err := runner.Render(context.Background(), req)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Render() error = nil, want non-nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "run seriatim render") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want subprocess context", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubprocessRunnerRenderMissingOutputFails(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("helper wrapper script uses /bin/sh")
+	}
+	t.Setenv("GO_WANT_SERIATIM_HELPER", "1")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_MODE", "missing_output")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
+
+	runner := mustRunner(t, writeHelperWrapper(t), false)
+	req := renderReqForTest(t)
+	_, err := runner.Render(context.Background(), req)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Render() error = nil, want non-nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "validate seriatim rendered output") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want output validation context", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSubprocessRunnerRenderEmptyOutputFails(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("helper wrapper script uses /bin/sh")
+	}
+	t.Setenv("GO_WANT_SERIATIM_HELPER", "1")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_MODE", "render_empty_output")
+	t.Setenv("SERIATIM_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
+
+	runner := mustRunner(t, writeHelperWrapper(t), false)
+	req := renderReqForTest(t)
+	_, err := runner.Render(context.Background(), req)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Render() error = nil, want non-nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "file is empty") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want empty-file validation", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSubprocessRunnerConstructorValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues("", "10m", "seriatim-intermediate", nil, true, EnvConfig{})
 	if err == nil {
@@ -702,6 +852,14 @@ func TestSeriatimSubprocessHelper(t *testing.T) {
 	case "normalize_report_missing":
 		writeSeriatimHelperFile(outputPath, `{"schema":"seriatim.intermediate.v1","segments":[]}`)
 		os.Exit(0)
+	case "render_success":
+		writeSeriatimHelperFile(outputPath, "# Rendered transcript\n\nHello.\n")
+		_, _ = os.Stdout.WriteString("seriatim helper render stdout\n")
+		_, _ = os.Stderr.WriteString("seriatim helper render stderr\n")
+		os.Exit(0)
+	case "render_empty_output":
+		writeSeriatimHelperFile(outputPath, "")
+		os.Exit(0)
 	default:
 		_, _ = os.Stderr.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("unknown helper mode %q\n", mode))
 		os.Exit(2)
@@ -777,6 +935,25 @@ func normalizeReqForTest(t *testing.T, withReport bool) NormalizeRequest {
 	return req
 }
 
+func renderReqForTest(t *testing.T) RenderRequest {
+	t.Helper()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	input := filepath.Join(dir, "final.trimmed.json")
+	writeSeriatimFile(t, input, `{"schema":"seriatim.intermediate.v1","segments":[]}`)
+	return RenderRequest{
+		InputTranscriptPath: input,
+		OutputRenderedPath:  filepath.Join(dir, "final.trimmed.md"),
+		Format:              "markdown",
+		Title:               "Session 42",
+		IncludeTimestamps:   true,
+		IncludeSegmentIDs:   true,
+		IncludeMetadata:     false,
+		GeneratedConfigPath: filepath.Join(dir, "seriatim.render.generated.yml"),
+		StdoutLogPath:       filepath.Join(dir, "seriatim.render.stdout.log"),
+		StderrLogPath:       filepath.Join(dir, "seriatim.render.stderr.log"),
+	}
+}
+
 func mustRunner(t *testing.T, binary string, report bool) *SubprocessRunner {
 	t.Helper()
 	coalesce := 3.0

internal/app/analyze_artifacts_commands_test.go

@@ -120,14 +120,14 @@ func TestRunStageArtifactsDoesNotImplyForce(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestResumeArtifactsWithSucceededAnalyzeSkipsUnlessForced(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunArtifactsWithSucceededAnalyzeSkipsUnlessForced(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFilesWithScriptoriumArtifacts(t, workspaceRoot)
 	manifestPath := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03", "manifest.json")
 
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
 	seed := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
-	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
 		seed.MarkStageSucceeded(stageName, time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 1, 0, 0, time.UTC), nil)
 	}
 	if err := store.Save(context.Background(), manifestPath, seed); err != nil {
@@ -135,16 +135,16 @@ func TestResumeArtifactsWithSucceededAnalyzeSkipsUnlessForced(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var out bytes.Buffer
-	err := Resume(
+	err := Run(
 		context.Background(),
 		[]string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath, "--artifacts", "session_recap"},
 		&out,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Resume() error = %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "has no remaining stages") {
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=0 skipped=10") {
-		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want no remaining stages", out.String())
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want all stages skipped", out.String())
 	}
 }
 

internal/app/commands.go

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
-var supportedCommands = []string{"run", "run-stage", "resume", "analyze", "publish", "clean", "session"}
+var supportedCommands = []string{"run", "run-stage", "analyze", "publish", "clean", "session"}
 
 // Execute dispatches CLI commands and returns a process exit code.
 func Execute(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ func Execute(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 	switch cmd {
 	case "run":
 		err = Run(ctx, cmdArgs, stdout)
-	case "resume":
-		err = Resume(ctx, cmdArgs, stdout)
 	case "run-stage":
 		err = RunStage(ctx, cmdArgs, stdout)
 	case "analyze":

internal/app/commands_test.go

@@ -31,10 +31,9 @@ func TestExecuteValidCommands(t *testing.T) {
 		args    []string
 		wantOut string
 	}{
-		{name: "run", args: []string{"run", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, wantOut: "narratio run: session 2026-05-03; executed=9 skipped=0; manifest="},
+		{name: "run", args: []string{"run", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, wantOut: "narratio run: session 2026-05-03; executed=10 skipped=0; manifest="},
-		{name: "session plan", args: []string{"session", "plan", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, wantOut: "prepare: skip\ntranscribe: skip\nmerge: skip\npolish: skip\nnormalize: skip\ntrim: skip\nanalyze: skip\npublish: skip\nnotify: skip"},
+		{name: "session plan", args: []string{"session", "plan", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, wantOut: "prepare: skip\ntranscribe: skip\nmerge: skip\npolish: skip\nnormalize: skip\ntrim: skip\nrender: skip\nanalyze: skip\npublish: skip\nnotify: skip"},
 		{name: "session status", args: []string{"session", "status", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, wantOut: "Session: 2026-05-03"},
-		{name: "resume", args: []string{"resume", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, wantOut: "narratio resume: session 2026-05-03 has no remaining stages"},
 		{name: "run-stage", args: []string{"run-stage", "polish", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, wantOut: "narratio run-stage: stage=polish executed=0 skipped=1 force=false; manifest="},
 	}
 
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ func TestExecuteMissingRequiredFlags(t *testing.T) {
 		{name: "run missing session", args: []string{"run"}, want: "run: session_id is required"},
 		{name: "plan old top-level removed", args: []string{"plan"}, want: `unknown command: "plan"`},
 		{name: "status old top-level removed", args: []string{"status"}, want: `unknown command: "status"`},
-		{name: "resume missing session", args: []string{"resume"}, want: "resume: session_id is required"},
+		{name: "resume removed", args: []string{"resume"}, want: `unknown command: "resume"`},
 		{name: "run-stage missing name", args: []string{"run-stage", "--config", "a", "--session", "b"}, want: "run-stage: expected stage name and session_id"},
 		{name: "run-stage missing session", args: []string{"run-stage", "polish"}, want: "run-stage: expected stage name and session_id"},
 		{name: "run missing config uses defaults", args: []string{"run", "2026-05-03", "--session", "session.yml"}, want: "run: no pipeline config path provided and no default pipeline config found; searched:"},
@@ -332,7 +331,7 @@ func TestExecuteUsesDefaultPipelineConfigPathWhenConfigFlagOmitted(t *testing.T)
 	if code != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", code, stderr.String())
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "narratio run: session 2026-05-03; executed=9 skipped=0; manifest=") {
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "narratio run: session 2026-05-03; executed=10 skipped=0; manifest=") {
 		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want successful run output", stdout.String())
 	}
 }

internal/app/operator_artifact_rendering.go

@@ -32,15 +32,10 @@ func buildHelperArtifactCatalog(cfg *config.Config) (*artifacts.ArtifactCatalog,
 func writeArtifactList(out io.Writer, cfg *config.Config, catalog *artifacts.ArtifactCatalog, locks *effectiveLocks, publishedRemoteState map[string]string) {
 	lockSet := lockSourceSet(locks.All)
 	fmt.Fprintln(out, "Built-in:")
-	for _, id := range []string{
+	for _, transcript := range artifacts.RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts() {
-		artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptBase,
+		writeArtifactLine(out, transcript.SourceID, lockSet)
-		artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptPolished,
-		artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinal,
-		artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmed,
-		artifacts.ArtifactBoundsSession,
-	} {
-		writeArtifactLine(out, id, lockSet)
 	}
+	writeArtifactLine(out, artifacts.ArtifactBoundsSession, lockSet)
 	fmt.Fprintln(out, "Configured:")
 	for _, entry := range catalog.ListConfigured() {
 		writeArtifactLine(out, entry.SourceID, lockSet)

internal/app/operator_findings.go

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
 )
@@ -64,26 +63,18 @@ func sessionSourceSummary(cfg *config.Config) string {
 }
 
 func validateStableInputFindings(cfg *config.Config) []finding {
-	items := []struct {
+	checks := inspectStableInputs(cfg)
-		name string
+	out := make([]finding, 0, len(checks))
-		in   config.ResolvedInputFile
+	for _, check := range checks {
-	}{
+		if check.Err != nil {
-		{"speakers", cfg.StableInputs.SpeakersFile},
+			msg := check.Name + ": " + check.Err.Error()
-		{"autocorrect", cfg.StableInputs.AutocorrectFile},
+			if strings.TrimSpace(check.Path) != "" {
-		{"glossary", cfg.StableInputs.GlossaryFile},
+				msg = fmt.Sprintf("%s missing: %v", check.Name, check.Err)
 			}
-	out := make([]finding, 0, len(items))
+			out = append(out, errorFinding("inputs", msg))
-	for _, item := range items {
-		path, err := resolveHelperConfigRelativePath(item.in)
-		if err != nil {
-			out = append(out, errorFinding("inputs", item.name+": "+err.Error()))
 			continue
 		}
-		if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		out = append(out, okFinding("inputs", check.Name+": "+check.Path))
-			out = append(out, errorFinding("inputs", fmt.Sprintf("%s missing: %v", item.name, err)))
-		} else {
-			out = append(out, okFinding("inputs", item.name+": "+path))
-		}
 	}
 	return out
 }
@@ -103,76 +94,22 @@ func resolveHelperConfigRelativePath(input config.ResolvedInputFile) (string, er
 }
 
 func validateLocalAudioFindings(cfg *config.Config) []finding {
-	if cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 != nil {
+	check := inspectLocalAudioPresence(cfg)
+	if !check.Checked {
 		return nil
 	}
-	audioDir := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioDir)
+	if check.Err != nil {
-	if audioDir == "" && len(cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioFiles) == 0 {
+		return []finding{errorFinding("audio", check.Err.Error())}
-		return []finding{errorFinding("audio", "audio_dir, audio_files, or audio_s3 is required")}
 	}
-	base := filepath.Dir(cfg.SessionPath)
+	return []finding{okFinding("audio", fmt.Sprintf("%d local audio file(s)", len(check.Paths)))}
-	paths := []string{}
-	if audioDir != "" {
-		dir := audioDir
-		if !filepath.IsAbs(dir) {
-			dir = filepath.Join(base, dir)
-		}
-		matches, err := filepath.Glob(filepath.Join(dir, "*.flac"))
-		if err != nil || len(matches) == 0 {
-			return []finding{errorFinding("audio", "no .flac files found in "+dir)}
-		}
-		paths = append(paths, matches...)
-	}
-	for _, file := range cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioFiles {
-		p := file
-		if !filepath.IsAbs(p) {
-			p = filepath.Join(base, p)
-		}
-		paths = append(paths, p)
-	}
-	for _, p := range paths {
-		if _, err := os.Stat(p); err != nil {
-			return []finding{errorFinding("audio", fmt.Sprintf("audio file missing: %v", err))}
-		}
-	}
-	return []finding{okFinding("audio", fmt.Sprintf("%d local audio file(s)", len(paths)))}
 }
 
 func validateRemoteAudioFinding(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, store storage.ObjectStore) finding {
-	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
+	check := inspectRemoteAudioPresence(ctx, cfg, store)
-	audioPrefix := artifacts.S3AudioPrefix(sessionPrefix, cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioS3.Prefix)
+	if check.Err != nil {
-	objects, err := store.List(ctx, audioPrefix)
+		return errorFinding("audio", check.Err.Error())
-	if err != nil {
-		return errorFinding("audio", err.Error())
 	}
-	count := 0
+	return okFinding("audio", fmt.Sprintf("%d remote .flac object(s)", len(check.Keys)))
-	for _, obj := range objects {
-		if strings.HasSuffix(strings.ToLower(obj.Key), ".flac") {
-			count++
-		}
-	}
-	if count == 0 {
-		return errorFinding("audio", "no remote .flac objects found under "+audioPrefix)
-	}
-	return okFinding("audio", fmt.Sprintf("%d remote .flac object(s)", count))
-}
-
-func validatePreviousArtifactFindings(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, store storage.ObjectStore, requirements []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement) []finding {
-	out := []finding{}
-	prefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
-	_, err := artifacts.LoadCurrentState(ctx, store, prefix, artifacts.CurrentStateValidation{
-		ExpectedSessionID: strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID),
-		ExpectedCampaign:  strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.Campaign),
-		ValidateRunID:     true,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		out = append(out, errorFinding("previous", fmt.Sprintf("remote %v", err)))
-		return out
-	}
-	for _, req := range requirements {
-		out = append(out, okFinding("previous", fmt.Sprintf("%s required=%t", req.Name, req.Required)))
-	}
-	return out
 }
 
 func loadLocalManifest(ctx context.Context, path string) (*manifest.Manifest, error) {

internal/app/operator_helpers_test.go

@@ -593,6 +593,53 @@ func TestExecuteLocksRequireSessionID(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestExecuteLocksMutationRejectsSessionIDMismatch(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+	fake := &storage.FakeBackend{}
+	var storeInitCalls int
+	restoreAppConfigTestGlobals(t, fake, &storeInitCalls, []string{sessionPath})
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		args []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "add mismatch",
+			args: []string{
+				"session", "locks", "add", "2026-05-03", "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed",
+				"--session-id", "2026-05-04",
+				"--config", pipelinePath,
+				"--campaign-file", campaignPath,
+				"--session", sessionPath,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "remove mismatch",
+			args: []string{
+				"session", "locks", "remove", "2026-05-03", "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed",
+				"--session-id", "2026-05-04",
+				"--config", pipelinePath,
+				"--campaign-file", campaignPath,
+				"--session", sessionPath,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var stdout bytes.Buffer
+			var stderr bytes.Buffer
+			code := Execute(tt.args, &stdout, &stderr)
+			if code == 0 {
+				t.Fatal("exit code = 0, want non-zero")
+			}
+			if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "does not match expected session id") {
+				t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want session-id mismatch guidance", stderr.String())
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestExecuteLocksCannotModifyStaticLocks(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
@@ -884,6 +931,31 @@ func TestExecuteStatusReportsMissingRemoteCurrentStateWithoutFailing(t *testing.
 	}
 }
 
+func TestExecuteStatusReportsPreviousStateReadinessWithoutFailing(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFilesWithScriptoriumArtifacts(t, workspaceRoot)
+	replaceInFileOrFatal(t, pipelinePath, "source: narratio.artifact.session_recap", "source: narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap")
+	replaceInFileOrFatal(t, sessionPath, "session_id: 2026-05-03\n", "session_id: 2026-05-03\nprevious_session_id: 2026-04-26\n")
+	fake := &storage.FakeBackend{}
+	var storeInitCalls int
+	restoreAppConfigTestGlobals(t, fake, &storeInitCalls, []string{sessionPath})
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	code := Execute([]string{
+		"session", "status", "2026-05-03",
+		"--config", pipelinePath,
+		"--campaign-file", campaignPath,
+		"--session", sessionPath,
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	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") {
+		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want previous readiness unavailable line", stdout.String())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestExecuteSessionValidateReportsPreviousStateFindingAndReturnsFindingError(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFilesWithScriptoriumArtifacts(t, workspaceRoot)
@@ -925,11 +997,13 @@ func TestExecutePublishLoadsRemoteLocks(t *testing.T) {
 	restoreAppConfigTestGlobals(t, fake, &storeInitCalls, []string{sessionPath})
 
 	workRoot := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03")
-	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze"} {
+	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze"} {
 		// The publish stage only checks the manifest statuses and source files.
 		_ = 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
@@ -993,7 +1067,7 @@ func writeValidPublishRunConfigFiles(t *testing.T, workspaceRoot string) (string
 	m := manifest.New("2026-05-03", nowUTC())
 	m.Campaign = "sample-campaign"
 	m.RunID = "20260521T160000Z-test"
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze"} {
 		m.MarkStageSucceeded(name, nowUTC(), nil)
 	}
 	path := artifacts.SessionManifestPathForCampaign(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)

internal/app/operator_inspection.go

@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+)
+
+type stableInputCheck struct {
+	Name string
+	Path string
+	Err  error
+}
+
+type localAudioCheck struct {
+	Checked bool
+	Paths   []string
+	Err     error
+}
+
+type remoteAudioCheck struct {
+	Checked bool
+	Prefix  string
+	Keys    []string
+	Err     error
+}
+
+type previousArtifactReadiness struct {
+	Requirements []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement
+	MissingID    bool
+	Err          error
+}
+
+type remoteCurrentStateCheck struct {
+	State *RemoteCurrentState
+	Err   error
+}
+
+type effectiveLocksCheck struct {
+	Locks *effectiveLocks
+	Err   error
+}
+
+func inspectStableInputs(cfg *config.Config) []stableInputCheck {
+	items := []struct {
+		name string
+		in   config.ResolvedInputFile
+	}{
+		{name: "speakers", in: cfg.StableInputs.SpeakersFile},
+		{name: "autocorrect", in: cfg.StableInputs.AutocorrectFile},
+		{name: "glossary", in: cfg.StableInputs.GlossaryFile},
+	}
+	out := make([]stableInputCheck, 0, len(items))
+	for _, item := range items {
+		path, err := resolveHelperConfigRelativePath(item.in)
+		if err != nil {
+			out = append(out, stableInputCheck{Name: item.name, Err: err})
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+			out = append(out, stableInputCheck{Name: item.name, Path: path, Err: err})
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, stableInputCheck{Name: item.name, Path: path})
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func inspectLocalAudioPresence(cfg *config.Config) localAudioCheck {
+	if cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 != nil {
+		return localAudioCheck{}
+	}
+
+	sessionDir := filepath.Dir(cfg.SessionPath)
+	resolved, err := resolveLocalInspectionAudioPaths(sessionDir, cfg.Session.Inputs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return localAudioCheck{Checked: true, Err: err}
+	}
+	return localAudioCheck{
+		Checked: true,
+		Paths:   resolved,
+	}
+}
+
+func inspectRemoteAudioPresence(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, store storage.ObjectStore) remoteAudioCheck {
+	if cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 == nil {
+		return remoteAudioCheck{}
+	}
+	if store == nil {
+		return remoteAudioCheck{Checked: true, Err: fmt.Errorf("storage backend is required for remote audio checks")}
+	}
+
+	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
+	audioPrefix := artifacts.S3AudioPrefix(sessionPrefix, cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioS3.Prefix)
+	objects, err := store.List(ctx, audioPrefix)
+	if err != nil {
+		return remoteAudioCheck{Checked: true, Prefix: audioPrefix, Err: err}
+	}
+
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(objects))
+	seenBase := map[string]string{}
+	for _, obj := range objects {
+		key := strings.TrimSpace(obj.Key)
+		if key == "" || strings.HasSuffix(key, "/") || !isInspectionFlacPath(key) {
+			continue
+		}
+		base := path.Base(key)
+		if prev, exists := seenBase[base]; exists && prev != key {
+			return remoteAudioCheck{
+				Checked: true,
+				Prefix:  audioPrefix,
+				Err:     fmt.Errorf("duplicate s3 audio basename %q from %q and %q", base, prev, key),
+			}
+		}
+		seenBase[base] = key
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+	if len(keys) == 0 {
+		return remoteAudioCheck{
+			Checked: true,
+			Prefix:  audioPrefix,
+			Err:     fmt.Errorf("no .flac files found under s3 audio prefix %q", audioPrefix),
+		}
+	}
+	return remoteAudioCheck{
+		Checked: true,
+		Prefix:  audioPrefix,
+		Keys:    keys,
+	}
+}
+
+func inspectPreviousArtifactReadiness(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	cfg *config.Config,
+	store storage.ObjectStore,
+	requirements []artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement,
+) previousArtifactReadiness {
+	out := previousArtifactReadiness{
+		Requirements: append([]artifacts.PreviousArtifactRequirement(nil), requirements...),
+	}
+	if len(requirements) == 0 {
+		return out
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID) == "" {
+		out.MissingID = true
+		return out
+	}
+	if store == nil {
+		out.Err = fmt.Errorf("previous-session artifacts cannot be checked because storage is unavailable")
+		return out
+	}
+
+	prefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID)
+	if _, err := artifacts.LoadCurrentState(ctx, store, prefix, artifacts.CurrentStateValidation{
+		ExpectedSessionID: strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID),
+		ExpectedCampaign:  strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.Campaign),
+		ValidateRunID:     true,
+	}); err != nil {
+		out.Err = fmt.Errorf("remote %v", err)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func inspectRemoteCurrentState(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, store storage.ObjectStore) remoteCurrentStateCheck {
+	if store == nil {
+		return remoteCurrentStateCheck{}
+	}
+	current, err := discoverRemoteCurrentStateFn(ctx, cfg, store)
+	if err != nil {
+		return remoteCurrentStateCheck{Err: err}
+	}
+	return remoteCurrentStateCheck{State: current}
+}
+
+func inspectEffectiveLocks(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, store storage.ObjectStore) effectiveLocksCheck {
+	locks, err := loadEffectiveLocks(ctx, cfg, store)
+	if err != nil {
+		return effectiveLocksCheck{Err: err}
+	}
+	return effectiveLocksCheck{Locks: locks}
+}
+
+func resolveLocalInspectionAudioPaths(sessionDir string, inputs config.SessionInputsConfig) ([]string, error) {
+	if len(inputs.AudioFiles) > 0 {
+		out := make([]string, 0, len(inputs.AudioFiles))
+		seenBase := map[string]string{}
+		for _, item := range inputs.AudioFiles {
+			resolved, err := resolveInspectionPath(sessionDir, item)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			if !isInspectionFlacPath(resolved) {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("audio file %q must have .flac extension", resolved)
+			}
+			if err := requireInspectionFile(resolved, "audio file"); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			base := filepath.Base(resolved)
+			if prev, exists := seenBase[base]; exists && prev != resolved {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("duplicate audio basename %q from %q and %q", base, prev, resolved)
+			}
+			seenBase[base] = resolved
+			out = append(out, resolved)
+		}
+		sort.Strings(out)
+		return out, nil
+	}
+
+	audioDir, err := resolveInspectionPath(sessionDir, inputs.AudioDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(audioDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read audio directory %q: %w", audioDir, err)
+	}
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(entries))
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if entry.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+		full := filepath.Join(audioDir, entry.Name())
+		if !isInspectionFlacPath(full) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := requireInspectionFile(full, "audio file"); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		out = append(out, full)
+	}
+	if len(out) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no .flac files found in audio directory %q", audioDir)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(out)
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func resolveInspectionPath(baseDir, inputPath string) (string, error) {
+	pathValue := strings.TrimSpace(inputPath)
+	if pathValue == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("path is required")
+	}
+	if filepath.IsAbs(pathValue) {
+		return filepath.Clean(pathValue), nil
+	}
+	return filepath.Clean(filepath.Join(baseDir, pathValue)), nil
+}
+
+func requireInspectionFile(path, label string) error {
+	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s %q does not exist", label, path)
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("stat %s %q: %w", label, path, err)
+	}
+	if info.IsDir() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s %q is a directory", label, path)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func isInspectionFlacPath(path string) bool {
+	return strings.EqualFold(filepath.Ext(strings.TrimSpace(path)), ".flac")
+}

internal/app/operator_locks.go

@@ -48,13 +48,6 @@ func LocksList(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 
 // LocksAdd adds or updates one remote lock.
 func LocksAdd(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
-	var positionalSessionID string
-	var source string
-	if len(args) >= 2 && !isCLIFlagToken(args[0]) && !isCLIFlagToken(args[1]) {
-		positionalSessionID = strings.TrimSpace(args[0])
-		source = strings.TrimSpace(args[1])
-		args = append([]string(nil), args[2:]...)
-	}
 	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("locks add", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	fs.SetOutput(io.Discard)
 	var flags commonConfigFlags
@@ -63,26 +56,8 @@ func LocksAdd(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	addCommonConfigFlags(fs, &flags)
 	fs.StringVar(&reason, "reason", "", "lock reason")
 	fs.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "update existing remote lock")
-	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+	source, err := parseSessionIDAndOnePositionalArg("locks add", "source id", fs, args, &flags.sessionID)
-		return fmt.Errorf("locks add: invalid flags: %w", err)
+	if err != nil {
-	}
-	if source == "" {
-		switch fs.NArg() {
-		case 2:
-			positionalSessionID = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(0))
-			source = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(1))
-		case 1:
-			if strings.TrimSpace(flags.sessionID) == "" {
-				return fmt.Errorf("locks add: expected session_id and source id")
-			}
-			source = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(0))
-		default:
-			return fmt.Errorf("locks add: expected session_id and source id")
-		}
-	} else if fs.NArg() != 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("locks add: unexpected positional arguments")
-	}
-	if err := applyPositionalSessionID("locks add", positionalSessionID, &flags.sessionID); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if strings.TrimSpace(flags.sessionID) == "" {
@@ -116,37 +91,12 @@ func LocksAdd(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 
 // LocksRemove removes one remote lock.
 func LocksRemove(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
-	var positionalSessionID string
-	var source string
-	if len(args) >= 2 && !isCLIFlagToken(args[0]) && !isCLIFlagToken(args[1]) {
-		positionalSessionID = strings.TrimSpace(args[0])
-		source = strings.TrimSpace(args[1])
-		args = append([]string(nil), args[2:]...)
-	}
 	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("locks remove", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	fs.SetOutput(io.Discard)
 	var flags commonConfigFlags
 	addCommonConfigFlags(fs, &flags)
-	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+	source, err := parseSessionIDAndOnePositionalArg("locks remove", "source id", fs, args, &flags.sessionID)
-		return fmt.Errorf("locks remove: invalid flags: %w", err)
+	if err != nil {
-	}
-	if source == "" {
-		switch fs.NArg() {
-		case 2:
-			positionalSessionID = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(0))
-			source = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(1))
-		case 1:
-			if strings.TrimSpace(flags.sessionID) == "" {
-				return fmt.Errorf("locks remove: expected session_id and source id")
-			}
-			source = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(0))
-		default:
-			return fmt.Errorf("locks remove: expected session_id and source id")
-		}
-	} else if fs.NArg() != 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("locks remove: unexpected positional arguments")
-	}
-	if err := applyPositionalSessionID("locks remove", positionalSessionID, &flags.sessionID); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if strings.TrimSpace(flags.sessionID) == "" {

internal/app/operator_session_validate.go

@@ -54,23 +54,26 @@ func SessionValidate(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	}
 
 	requirements := artifacts.CollectPreviousArtifactRequirements(configuredScriptoriumArtifacts(cfg))
-	if len(requirements) == 0 {
+	previous := inspectPreviousArtifactReadiness(ctx, cfg, store, requirements)
+	if len(previous.Requirements) == 0 {
 		findings = append(findings, okFinding("previous", "no previous-session artifacts required"))
-	} else if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.PreviousSessionID) == "" {
+	} else if previous.MissingID {
 		findings = append(findings, errorFinding("previous", "previous_session_id is required by configured previous-session artifacts"))
-	} else if storeErr != nil {
+	} else if previous.Err != nil {
-		findings = append(findings, errorFinding("previous", "previous-session artifacts cannot be checked because storage is unavailable"))
+		findings = append(findings, errorFinding("previous", previous.Err.Error()))
 	} else {
-		findings = append(findings, validatePreviousArtifactFindings(ctx, cfg, store, requirements)...)
+		for _, req := range previous.Requirements {
+			findings = append(findings, okFinding("previous", fmt.Sprintf("%s required=%t", req.Name, req.Required)))
+		}
 	}
 
-	locks, lockErr := loadEffectiveLocks(ctx, cfg, store)
+	locks := inspectEffectiveLocks(ctx, cfg, store)
-	if lockErr != nil {
+	if locks.Err != nil {
-		findings = append(findings, errorFinding("locks", lockErr.Error()))
+		findings = append(findings, errorFinding("locks", locks.Err.Error()))
-	} else if len(locks.All) == 0 {
+	} else if len(locks.Locks.All) == 0 {
 		findings = append(findings, okFinding("locks", "no effective publish locks"))
 	} else {
-		for _, lock := range locks.All {
+		for _, lock := range locks.Locks.All {
 			findings = append(findings, warnFinding("locks", fmt.Sprintf("%s locked: %s", lock.Source, strings.TrimSpace(lock.Reason))))
 		}
 	}

internal/app/operator_status.go

@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 )
@@ -35,6 +37,8 @@ func Status(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	fmt.Fprintf(out, "Campaign: %s\n", cfg.Session.Campaign)
 	fmt.Fprintf(out, "Workspace: %s\n", paths.Root)
 	fmt.Fprintf(out, "Session config: %s\n", sessionSourceSummary(cfg))
+	writeStatusStableInputs(out, inspectStableInputs(cfg))
+	writeStatusLocalAudio(out, inspectLocalAudioPresence(cfg))
 
 	if m, err := loadLocalManifest(ctx, paths.ManifestPath); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Local manifest: error: %v\n", err)
@@ -49,21 +53,30 @@ func Status(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	if storeErr != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote publish: unavailable: %v\n", storeErr)
 	} else if store != nil {
-		current, err := discoverRemoteCurrentStateFn(ctx, cfg, store)
+		current := inspectRemoteCurrentState(ctx, cfg, store)
-		if err != nil {
+		if current.Err != nil {
-			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote publish: missing or unavailable: %v\n", err)
+			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote publish: missing or unavailable: %v\n", current.Err)
 		} else {
-			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote publish: current run %s\n", current.RunID)
+			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote publish: current run %s\n", current.State.RunID)
-			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote manifest: %s\n", current.CurrentManifestKey)
+			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote manifest: %s\n", current.State.CurrentManifestKey)
 		}
 	}
+	writeStatusRemoteAudio(ctx, out, cfg, store, storeErr)
+	writeStatusPreviousArtifacts(out, inspectPreviousArtifactReadiness(
+		ctx,
+		cfg,
+		store,
+		artifacts.CollectPreviousArtifactRequirements(configuredScriptoriumArtifacts(cfg)),
+	))
 
-	locks, err := loadEffectiveLocks(ctx, cfg, store)
+	lockChecks := inspectEffectiveLocks(ctx, cfg, store)
+	locks := lockChecks.Locks
+	lockErr := lockChecks.Err
 	if catalog, catalogErr := buildHelperArtifactCatalog(cfg); catalogErr != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote outputs: error: %v\n", catalogErr)
 	} else if storeErr == nil {
 		catalogLocks := locks
-		if err != nil {
+		if lockErr != nil {
 			catalogLocks = &effectiveLocks{
 				Static: staticPublishLocks(cfg),
 				All:    staticPublishLocks(cfg),
@@ -76,8 +89,8 @@ func Status(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 		fmt.Fprintln(out, "Remote outputs:")
 		writeArtifactList(out, cfg, catalog, catalogLocks, publishedRemoteState)
 	}
-	if err != nil {
+	if lockErr != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Publish locks: error: %v\n", err)
+		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Publish locks: error: %v\n", lockErr)
 	} else {
 		writeLocks(out, cfg, locks)
 	}
@@ -86,3 +99,68 @@ func Status(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	fmt.Fprintf(out, "- narratio session restore %s --dry-run\n", cfg.Session.SessionID)
 	return nil
 }
+
+func writeStatusStableInputs(out io.Writer, checks []stableInputCheck) {
+	if len(checks) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	for _, check := range checks {
+		if check.Err != nil {
+			if strings.TrimSpace(check.Path) != "" {
+				fmt.Fprintf(out, "Stable input %s: unavailable: %v\n", check.Name, check.Err)
+			} else {
+				fmt.Fprintf(out, "Stable input %s: unavailable: %s\n", check.Name, check.Err.Error())
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Stable input %s: %s\n", check.Name, check.Path)
+	}
+}
+
+func writeStatusLocalAudio(out io.Writer, check localAudioCheck) {
+	if !check.Checked {
+		return
+	}
+	if check.Err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Local audio: unavailable: %v\n", check.Err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(out, "Local audio: %d file(s)\n", len(check.Paths))
+}
+
+func writeStatusRemoteAudio(ctx context.Context, out io.Writer, cfg *config.Config, store storage.ObjectStore, storeErr error) {
+	if cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if storeErr != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote audio: unavailable: %v\n", storeErr)
+		return
+	}
+	check := inspectRemoteAudioPresence(ctx, cfg, store)
+	if check.Err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote audio: unavailable: %v\n", check.Err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(out, "Remote audio: %d .flac object(s)\n", len(check.Keys))
+}
+
+func writeStatusPreviousArtifacts(out io.Writer, readiness previousArtifactReadiness) {
+	if len(readiness.Requirements) == 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintln(out, "Previous-session artifacts: not required")
+		return
+	}
+	if readiness.MissingID {
+		fmt.Fprintln(out, "Previous-session artifacts: unavailable: previous_session_id is required by configured previous-session artifacts")
+		return
+	}
+	if readiness.Err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(out, "Previous-session artifacts: unavailable: %v\n", readiness.Err)
+		return
+	}
+	names := make([]string, 0, len(readiness.Requirements))
+	for _, req := range readiness.Requirements {
+		names = append(names, fmt.Sprintf("%s(required=%t)", req.Name, req.Required))
+	}
+	sort.Strings(names)
+	fmt.Fprintf(out, "Previous-session artifacts: ready: %s\n", strings.Join(names, ", "))
+}

internal/app/plan_test.go

@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ func TestPlanCreatesAndReusesWorkdir(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(got, "narratio session plan: workdir prepared at") {
 		t.Fatalf("first output = %q, want workdir prepared", got)
 	}
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
 		if !strings.Contains(got, name+": run") {
 			t.Fatalf("first output = %q, missing stage %q", got, name)
 		}
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "totals: run=9 skip=0") {
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "totals: run=10 skip=0") {
 		t.Fatalf("first output = %q, want totals", got)
 	}
 
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ func TestPlanShowsRunAndSkipFromManifest(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(got, "trim: run") {
 		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want trim run", got)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "totals: run=7 skip=2") {
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "totals: run=8 skip=2") {
-		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want totals run=7 skip=2", got)
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want totals run=8 skip=2", got)
 	}
 }
 

internal/app/planner_test.go

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import "testing"
 
 func TestBuildFullPlanOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	got := BuildFullPlan()
-	want := []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"}
+	want := []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"}
 	if len(got) != len(want) {
 		t.Fatalf("len(plan) = %d, want %d", len(got), len(want))
 	}

internal/app/post_publish_cleanup_test.go

@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ func publishStageCleanupFixture(t *testing.T) (*config.Config, cleanupSeed, stri
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze"} {
 		seedManifest.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Now().UTC(), nil)
 	}
 	seedManifest.S3SessionPrefix = artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)

internal/app/restore_execute.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/audio"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/fileops"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
 )
 
@@ -114,10 +115,7 @@ func executeRestoreDownloadAction(
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := os.Chmod(tmpPath, 0o644); err != nil {
+	if err := fileops.InstallDownloadedTempFile(tmpPath, safeLocalPath, 0o644); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("set file permissions: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := os.Rename(tmpPath, safeLocalPath); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("install file atomically: %w", err)
 	}
 	removeTmp = false

internal/app/restore_plan.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package app
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/pathsafe"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/previouscache"
 )
 
@@ -215,19 +217,17 @@ func joinWithinSessionRoot(sessionRoot, relative string) (string, error) {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(sessionRoot) == "" {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("session root is required")
 	}
-	cleanRel := path.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(relative))
+	joined, err := pathsafe.JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot(sessionRoot, filepath.ToSlash(strings.TrimSpace(relative)))
-	if cleanRel == "." || cleanRel == "" {
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, pathsafe.ErrRelativePathRequired) {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("relative path is required")
 		}
-	if cleanRel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(cleanRel, "../") || strings.HasPrefix(cleanRel, "/") {
+		if errors.Is(err, pathsafe.ErrRelativePathEscape) || errors.Is(err, pathsafe.ErrRelativePathAbsolute) {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("relative path escapes session root")
 		}
-	abs := filepath.Clean(filepath.Join(sessionRoot, filepath.FromSlash(cleanRel)))
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("join relative path under session root: %w", err)
-	root := filepath.Clean(sessionRoot)
-	if abs != root && !strings.HasPrefix(abs, root+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolved local path escapes session root")
 	}
-	return abs, nil
+	return joined, nil
 }
 
 func buildPreviousCacheRestoreActions(

internal/app/resume.go

@@ -1,102 +0,0 @@
-package app
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"flag"
-	"fmt"
-	"io"
-
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
-)
-
-// Resume continues execution from the first non-succeeded stage in the manifest.
-func Resume(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
-	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("resume", flag.ContinueOnError)
-	fs.SetOutput(io.Discard)
-
-	var flags commonConfigFlags
-	var force bool
-	var selectedArtifacts artifactSelectionFlag
-	addCommonConfigFlags(fs, &flags)
-	fs.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "force stage execution")
-	fs.Var(&selectedArtifacts, "artifacts", "configured artifact names to execute and publish (comma-separated or repeatable)")
-
-	if err := parseSessionAwareFlags("resume", fs, args, &flags.sessionID); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if flags.sessionID == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("resume: session_id is required")
-	}
-	cfg, err := loadCommandConfig(ctx, flags.pipelinePath, flags.campaignPath, flags.campaignFilePath, flags.sessionPath, flags.sessionOptions())
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := config.Validate(cfg); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
-	}
-	normalizedArtifacts, err := selectedArtifacts.Normalize()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("resume: invalid --artifacts: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := validateSelectedArtifacts(cfg, normalizedArtifacts); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	full := BuildFullPlan()
-	selected := full
-	if !force {
-		m, err := loadManifestIfPresent(ctx, cfg)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
-		}
-		if m != nil {
-			start := firstNonSucceededIndex(full, m)
-			if start >= len(full) {
-				_, err := fmt.Fprintf(out, "narratio resume: session %s has no remaining stages\n", cfg.Session.SessionID)
-				return err
-			}
-			selected = full[start:]
-		}
-	}
-
-	summary, err := executeStagesFn(ctx, cfg, selected, RunOptions{
-		Force:             force,
-		SelectedArtifacts: normalizedArtifacts,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	_, err = fmt.Fprintf(
-		out,
-		"narratio resume: session %s; executed=%d skipped=%d; manifest=%s\n",
-		summary.SessionID,
-		len(summary.Executed),
-		len(summary.Skipped),
-		summary.ManifestPath,
-	)
-	return err
-}
-
-func loadManifestIfPresent(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config) (*manifest.Manifest, error) {
-	path := artifacts.SessionManifestPathForCampaign(
-		cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root,
-		cfg.Session.Campaign,
-		cfg.Session.SessionID,
-	)
-	exists, err := fileExists(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("check manifest %q: %w", path, err)
-	}
-	if !exists {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
-	m, err := store.Load(ctx, path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load manifest %q: %w", path, err)
-	}
-	return m, nil
-}

internal/app/run_control.go

@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 package app
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/stage"
 )
@@ -43,13 +47,25 @@ func stageSucceeded(m *manifest.Manifest, name string) bool {
 	return sr != nil && sr.Status == manifest.StatusSucceeded
 }
 
-func firstNonSucceededIndex(stages []stage.Stage, m *manifest.Manifest) int {
+func loadManifestIfPresent(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config) (*manifest.Manifest, error) {
-	for i, s := range stages {
+	path := artifacts.SessionManifestPathForCampaign(
-		if !stageSucceeded(m, s.Name()) {
+		cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root,
-			return i
+		cfg.Session.Campaign,
+		cfg.Session.SessionID,
+	)
+	exists, err := fileExists(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("check manifest %q: %w", path, err)
 	}
+	if !exists {
+		return nil, nil
 	}
-	return len(stages)
+	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
+	m, err := store.Load(ctx, path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load manifest %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return m, nil
 }
 
 func canonicalStageNames() []string {

internal/app/run_control_test.go

@@ -8,18 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
 )
 
-func TestFirstNonSucceededIndex(t *testing.T) {
-	stages := BuildFullPlan()
-	m := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Now().UTC())
-	m.MarkStageSucceeded("prepare", time.Now().UTC(), nil)
-	m.MarkStageSucceeded("transcribe", time.Now().UTC(), nil)
-
-	got := firstNonSucceededIndex(stages, m)
-	if got != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("firstNonSucceededIndex() = %d, want 2", got)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestDecideStageActions(t *testing.T) {
 	stages := BuildFullPlan()[:2]
 	m := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Now().UTC())
@@ -44,7 +32,7 @@ func TestDecideStageActions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDownstreamStageNames(t *testing.T) {
 	got := downstreamStageNames("polish")
-	want := []string{"normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"}
+	want := []string{"normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"}
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("downstreamStageNames(polish) = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
 	}
@@ -64,12 +52,13 @@ func TestInvalidateDownstreamSucceededStages(t *testing.T) {
 	m.MarkStageSucceeded("polish", now, nil)
 	m.MarkStageSucceeded("normalize", now, nil)
 	m.MarkStageSucceeded("trim", now, nil)
+	m.MarkStageSucceeded("render", now, nil)
 	m.MarkStageFailed("analyze", now, "analysis failed")
 	m.MarkStageSucceeded("publish", now, nil)
 	m.MarkStageSucceeded("notify", now, nil)
 
 	got := invalidateDownstreamSucceededStages(m, "polish", now.Add(1*time.Second))
-	want := []string{"normalize", "trim", "publish", "notify"}
+	want := []string{"normalize", "trim", "render", "publish", "notify"}
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("invalidateDownstreamSucceededStages() = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
 	}

internal/app/run_stage_test.go

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
 )
 
-func TestResumeStartsAfterCompletedStages(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunContinuesAfterCompletedStages(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
 	manifestPath := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03", "manifest.json")
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ func TestResumeStartsAfterCompletedStages(t *testing.T) {
 	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workRoot, "inputs", "glossary.yml"), "terms: []\n")
 
 	var out bytes.Buffer
-	err := Resume(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, &out)
+	err := Run(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, &out)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Resume() error = %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=7 skipped=0") {
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=8 skipped=2") {
-		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want executed=7 skipped=0", out.String())
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want executed=8 skipped=2", out.String())
 	}
 
 	loaded, err := store.Load(context.Background(), manifestPath)
@@ -49,14 +49,14 @@ func TestResumeStartsAfterCompletedStages(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestResumeNoRemainingStages(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunNoRemainingStagesRecordsSkippedStages(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
 	manifestPath := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03", "manifest.json")
 
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
 	m := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
 		m.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 1, 0, 0, time.UTC), nil)
 	}
 	if err := store.Save(context.Background(), manifestPath, m); err != nil {
@@ -64,20 +64,20 @@ func TestResumeNoRemainingStages(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var out bytes.Buffer
-	err := Resume(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, &out)
+	err := Run(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, &out)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Resume() error = %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "has no remaining stages") {
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=0 skipped=10") {
-		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want no remaining stages", out.String())
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want executed=0 skipped=10", out.String())
 	}
 }
 
-func TestResumeForceRerunsSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunForceRerunsSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
 	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"source":"resume-force-test","segments":[{"speaker":"alice"}]}`))
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"source":"run-force-test","segments":[{"speaker":"alice"}]}`))
 	}))
 	defer srv.Close()
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot, srv.URL)
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func TestResumeForceRerunsSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
 
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
 	m := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
 		m.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 1, 0, 0, time.UTC), nil)
 	}
 	if err := store.Save(context.Background(), manifestPath, m); err != nil {
@@ -93,11 +93,11 @@ func TestResumeForceRerunsSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var out bytes.Buffer
-	err := Resume(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath, "--force"}, &out)
+	err := Run(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath, "--force"}, &out)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Resume() error = %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=9 skipped=0") {
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=10 skipped=0") {
 		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want forced full rerun", out.String())
 	}
 }
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func TestRunStageSkipAndForce(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRunStageForceMarksDownstreamStaleAndResumeContinuesFromStale(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRunStageForceMarksDownstreamStaleAndRunContinuesFromStale(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
 	manifestPath := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03", "manifest.json")
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func TestRunStageForceMarksDownstreamStaleAndResumeContinuesFromStale(t *testing
 
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
 	seed := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
 		seed.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 10, 1, 0, 0, time.UTC), nil)
 	}
 	if err := store.Save(context.Background(), manifestPath, seed); err != nil {
@@ -196,19 +196,19 @@ func TestRunStageForceMarksDownstreamStaleAndResumeContinuesFromStale(t *testing
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("load manifest after force: %v", err)
 	}
-	for _, name := range []string{"normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
 		if afterForce.Stages[name] == nil || afterForce.Stages[name].Status != manifest.StatusStale {
 			t.Fatalf("stage %q = %#v, want stale", name, afterForce.Stages[name])
 		}
 	}
 
 	out.Reset()
-	err = Resume(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, &out)
+	err = Run(context.Background(), []string{"2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, &out)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Resume() error = %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=5 skipped=0") {
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "executed=6 skipped=4") {
-		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want resume to execute normalize..notify", out.String())
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want run to execute stale downstream stages", out.String())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -266,3 +266,30 @@ func TestRunStageNormalizeExecutes(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize stage = %#v, want succeeded", m.Stages["normalize"])
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRunStageRenderExecutes(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, campaignPath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+	manifestPath := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03", "manifest.json")
+	workRoot := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03")
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workRoot, "transcripts", "final.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":1}]}`)
+	mustWriteTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workRoot, "transcripts", "final.trimmed.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":2}]}`)
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	err := RunStage(context.Background(), []string{"render", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath}, &out)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RunStage(render) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "stage=render executed=1 skipped=0") {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want stage=render executed", out.String())
+	}
+
+	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
+	m, err := store.Load(context.Background(), manifestPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	if m.Stages["render"] == nil || m.Stages["render"].Status != manifest.StatusSucceeded {
+		t.Fatalf("render stage = %#v, want succeeded", m.Stages["render"])
+	}
+}

internal/app/runner.go

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/scriptorium"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/seriatim"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/whisperx"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifactmodel"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/logging"
@@ -410,6 +411,8 @@ func mapResultOutputs(stageName string, result *stage.StageResult, runID string)
 		if stageName == "analyze" {
 			sourceID = artifacts.ConfiguredArtifactSourceID(ref.Kind)
 			kind = "scriptorium_artifact"
+		} else {
+			sourceID = sourceIDForOutputKind(kind)
 		}
 		out = append(out, manifest.ArtifactRecord{
 			Kind:          kind,
@@ -424,6 +427,22 @@ func mapResultOutputs(stageName string, result *stage.StageResult, runID string)
 	return out
 }
 
+func sourceIDForOutputKind(kind string) string {
+	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(kind)
+	if trimmed == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if trimmed == "session_bounds" {
+		return artifacts.ArtifactBoundsSession
+	}
+	for _, spec := range artifactmodel.RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts() {
+		if spec.OutputKind == trimmed {
+			return spec.SourceID
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 func applyStageResultToManifest(m *manifest.Manifest, stageName string, result *stage.StageResult) {
 	if m == nil || result == nil {
 		return

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 {
@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ func TestExecuteStagesPlaceholderSuccessUpdatesManifest(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if len(summary.StageNames) != 9 || len(summary.Executed) != 9 || len(summary.Skipped) != 0 {
+	if len(summary.StageNames) != 10 || len(summary.Executed) != 10 || len(summary.Skipped) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("summary = %#v, want all 9 executed", summary)
+		t.Fatalf("summary = %#v, want all 10 executed", summary)
 	}
 
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ func TestExecuteStagesPlaceholderSuccessUpdatesManifest(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Load manifest error = %v", err)
 	}
 
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze", "publish", "notify"} {
 		sr := m.Stages[name]
 		if sr == nil {
 			t.Fatalf("missing stage record %q", name)
@@ -425,6 +425,15 @@ func TestExecuteStagesPlaceholderSuccessUpdatesManifest(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			continue
 		}
+		if name == "render" {
+			if sr.Metadata == nil || sr.Metadata["stage"] != "render" {
+				t.Fatalf("render metadata missing stage=render: %#v", sr.Metadata)
+			}
+			if len(sr.Outputs) == 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("render outputs missing")
+			}
+			continue
+		}
 		if name == "publish" {
 			if sr.Metadata == nil || sr.Metadata["stage"] != "publish" {
 				t.Fatalf("publish metadata missing stage=publish: %#v", sr.Metadata)
@@ -522,7 +531,7 @@ func TestExecuteStagesForceSuccessInvalidatesDownstreamSucceededStages(t *testin
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
 
 	existing := manifest.New(cfg.Session.SessionID, time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 1, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
-	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, stageName := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "publish", "notify"} {
 		existing.MarkStageSucceeded(stageName, time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 1, 1, 0, 0, time.UTC), nil)
 	}
 	existing.MarkStageFailed("analyze", time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 1, 1, 0, 0, time.UTC), "previous analyze failure")
@@ -553,7 +562,7 @@ func TestExecuteStagesForceSuccessInvalidatesDownstreamSucceededStages(t *testin
 	if loaded.Stages["polish"] == nil || loaded.Stages["polish"].Status != manifest.StatusSucceeded {
 		t.Fatalf("polish status = %#v, want succeeded", loaded.Stages["polish"])
 	}
-	for _, stageName := range []string{"normalize", "trim", "publish", "notify"} {
+	for _, stageName := range []string{"normalize", "trim", "render", "publish", "notify"} {
 		if loaded.Stages[stageName] == nil || loaded.Stages[stageName].Status != manifest.StatusStale {
 			t.Fatalf("%s status = %#v, want stale", stageName, loaded.Stages[stageName])
 		}
@@ -977,7 +986,7 @@ func TestAdapterBackedStageFailureMarksManifestFailed(t *testing.T) {
 				seed.S3Bucket = "my-dnd-archive"
 				seed.S3SessionPrefix = "dnd/campaigns/" + cfg.Session.Campaign + "/sessions/" + cfg.Session.SessionID + "/"
 				seed.S3RunPrefix = seed.S3SessionPrefix + "runs/" + runID + "/"
-				for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze"} {
+				for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze"} {
 					seed.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Now().UTC(), nil)
 				}
 				if err := tc.env.ManifestStore.Save(context.Background(), manifestPathFor(cfg), seed); err != nil {

internal/app/session_args.go

@@ -59,3 +59,37 @@ func parseSessionAwareFlags(command string, fs *flag.FlagSet, args []string, ses
 	}
 	return resolveParsedSessionID(command, positionalSessionID, fs, sessionID)
 }
+
+func parseSessionIDAndOnePositionalArg(command, argName string, fs *flag.FlagSet, args []string, sessionID *string) (string, error) {
+	var positionalSessionID string
+	value := ""
+	if len(args) >= 2 && !isCLIFlagToken(args[0]) && !isCLIFlagToken(args[1]) {
+		positionalSessionID = strings.TrimSpace(args[0])
+		value = strings.TrimSpace(args[1])
+		args = append([]string(nil), args[2:]...)
+	}
+
+	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s: invalid flags: %w", command, err)
+	}
+	if value == "" {
+		switch fs.NArg() {
+		case 2:
+			positionalSessionID = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(0))
+			value = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(1))
+		case 1:
+			if strings.TrimSpace(*sessionID) == "" {
+				return "", fmt.Errorf("%s: expected session_id and %s", command, argName)
+			}
+			value = strings.TrimSpace(fs.Arg(0))
+		default:
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("%s: expected session_id and %s", command, argName)
+		}
+	} else if fs.NArg() != 0 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s: unexpected positional arguments", command)
+	}
+	if err := applyPositionalSessionID(command, positionalSessionID, sessionID); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return value, nil
+}

internal/app/session_oriented_cli_test.go

@@ -162,8 +162,8 @@ func TestExecuteWorkflowCommandsAcceptPositionalSessionID(t *testing.T) {
 		wantForce bool
 	}{
 		{
-			name:      "resume",
+			name:      "run",
-			args:      []string{"resume", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath},
+			args:      []string{"run", "2026-05-03", "--config", pipelinePath, "--campaign-file", campaignPath, "--session", sessionPath},
 			wantStage: "prepare",
 			wantForce: false,
 		},

internal/artifactmodel/transcripts.go

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ const (
 	SourceTranscriptPolished             = "narratio.transcript.polished"
 	SourceTranscriptFinal                = "narratio.transcript.final"
 	SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmed         = "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed"
+	SourceTranscriptFinalMarkdown        = "narratio.transcript.final_markdown"
+	SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown = "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed_markdown"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -14,6 +16,8 @@ const (
 	TranscriptPathPolished             = "transcripts/polished.json"
 	TranscriptPathFinal                = "transcripts/final.json"
 	TranscriptPathFinalTrimmed         = "transcripts/final.trimmed.json"
+	TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown        = "transcripts/final.md"
+	TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown = "transcripts/final.trimmed.md"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -21,6 +25,8 @@ const (
 	TranscriptOutputKindPolished             = "transcript_polished"
 	TranscriptOutputKindFinal                = "transcript_final"
 	TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmed         = "transcript_final_trimmed"
+	TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown        = "transcript_final_markdown"
+	TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown = "transcript_final_trimmed_markdown"
 )
 
 // TranscriptArtifactSpec describes one built-in transcript artifact mapping.
@@ -56,6 +62,18 @@ var runtimeTranscriptArtifacts = []TranscriptArtifactSpec{
 		ProducerStage:    "trim",
 		OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmed,
 	},
+	{
+		SourceID:         SourceTranscriptFinalMarkdown,
+		CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown,
+		ProducerStage:    "render",
+		OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown,
+	},
+	{
+		SourceID:         SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+		CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+		ProducerStage:    "render",
+		OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+	},
 }
 
 // RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts returns transcript mappings in pipeline order.

internal/artifactmodel/transcripts_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package artifactmodel
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRuntimeTranscriptArtifactsIncludesMarkdownOutputs(t *testing.T) {
+	want := []TranscriptArtifactSpec{
+		{
+			SourceID:         SourceTranscriptBase,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathBase,
+			ProducerStage:    "merge",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindBase,
+		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         SourceTranscriptPolished,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathPolished,
+			ProducerStage:    "polish",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindPolished,
+		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         SourceTranscriptFinal,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinal,
+			ProducerStage:    "normalize",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinal,
+		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmed,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalTrimmed,
+			ProducerStage:    "trim",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmed,
+		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         SourceTranscriptFinalMarkdown,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown,
+			ProducerStage:    "render",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown,
+		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+			ProducerStage:    "render",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+		},
+	}
+
+	got := RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts()
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts() = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLookupRuntimeTranscriptArtifactFindsMarkdownOutputs(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, source := range []string{SourceTranscriptFinalMarkdown, SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown} {
+		if _, ok := LookupRuntimeTranscriptArtifact(source); !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("LookupRuntimeTranscriptArtifact(%q) ok=false, want true", source)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/artifactpolicy/policy.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package artifactpolicy
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
@@ -19,6 +20,11 @@ const (
 var configuredSourceRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^narratio\.artifact\.([a-z][a-z0-9_]*)$`)
 var previousSourceRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^narratio\.previous_session\.artifact\.([a-z][a-z0-9_]*)$`)
 
+var (
+	ErrUnsupportedScriptoriumInputSource = errors.New("unsupported scriptorium input source")
+	ErrInvalidPreviousSessionSource      = errors.New("invalid previous-session source format")
+)
+
 type SourceKind string
 
 const (
@@ -34,6 +40,28 @@ type Source struct {
 	ConfiguredKey string
 }
 
+// ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor describes one validated Scriptorium input source.
+type ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor struct {
+	Source          Source
+	PreviousSession *PreviousSessionSourceDescriptor
+}
+
+// PreviousSessionSourceDescriptor describes one canonical previous-session input source.
+type PreviousSessionSourceDescriptor struct {
+	SourceID           string
+	ConfiguredKey      string
+	ConfiguredSourceID string
+}
+
+// UnknownConfiguredArtifactError reports a source that references an undefined configured artifact key.
+type UnknownConfiguredArtifactError struct {
+	ConfiguredKey string
+}
+
+func (e *UnknownConfiguredArtifactError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("references unknown artifact %q", e.ConfiguredKey)
+}
+
 // ConfiguredSourceID converts a configured artifact key into source id form.
 func ConfiguredSourceID(key string) string {
 	return configuredSourcePrefix + strings.TrimSpace(key)
@@ -83,6 +111,70 @@ func ClassifySource(source string) (Source, error) {
 	return Source{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported artifact source %q", source)
 }
 
+// DescribeScriptoriumInputSource classifies one input source and returns descriptor
+// metadata used by config validation, analyze input resolution, and previous-cache planning.
+func DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(source string) (ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor, error) {
+	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(source)
+	if trimmed == "" {
+		return ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor{}, ErrUnsupportedScriptoriumInputSource
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "narratio.previous_session.artifact") {
+		descriptor, err := DescribePreviousSessionSource(trimmed)
+		if err != nil {
+			return ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor{}, err
+		}
+		return ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor{
+			Source: Source{
+				ID:            descriptor.SourceID,
+				Kind:          SourceKindPreviousArtifact,
+				ConfiguredKey: descriptor.ConfiguredKey,
+			},
+			PreviousSession: &descriptor,
+		}, nil
+	}
+
+	classified, err := ClassifySource(trimmed)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor{}, ErrUnsupportedScriptoriumInputSource
+	}
+	return ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor{Source: classified}, nil
+}
+
+// DescribePreviousSessionSource validates a canonical previous-session source id
+// and returns both previous and configured-source vocabulary descriptors.
+func DescribePreviousSessionSource(source string) (PreviousSessionSourceDescriptor, error) {
+	configuredKey, ok := ParsePreviousSessionSource(source)
+	if !ok {
+		return PreviousSessionSourceDescriptor{}, ErrInvalidPreviousSessionSource
+	}
+	return PreviousSessionSourceDescriptor{
+		SourceID:           PreviousSessionSourceID(configuredKey),
+		ConfiguredKey:      configuredKey,
+		ConfiguredSourceID: ConfiguredSourceID(configuredKey),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// PreviousSessionSourceDescriptorForConfiguredKey derives a previous-session source descriptor
+// from a configured artifact key.
+func PreviousSessionSourceDescriptorForConfiguredKey(configuredKey string) (PreviousSessionSourceDescriptor, error) {
+	return DescribePreviousSessionSource(PreviousSessionSourceID(configuredKey))
+}
+
+// ValidateInputConfiguredReference checks that configured/previous-session sources
+// reference configured artifacts known to the current Scriptorium config.
+func ValidateInputConfiguredReference(
+	descriptor ScriptoriumInputSourceDescriptor,
+	configured map[string]struct{},
+) error {
+	switch descriptor.Source.Kind {
+	case SourceKindConfiguredArtifact, SourceKindPreviousArtifact:
+		if _, ok := configured[descriptor.Source.ConfiguredKey]; !ok {
+			return &UnknownConfiguredArtifactError{ConfiguredKey: descriptor.Source.ConfiguredKey}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // ValidatePublishSource validates that a source is publish-compatible and references a known configured artifact.
 func ValidatePublishSource(source string, configured map[string]string) (Source, error) {
 	classified, err := ClassifySource(source)

internal/artifactpolicy/policy_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package artifactpolicy
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
@@ -66,6 +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)
@@ -90,3 +99,102 @@ func TestResolvePublishedDestinationRejectsTraversal(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("ResolvePublishedDestination() error = nil, want traversal rejection")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestDescribeScriptoriumInputSource(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		source      string
+		wantKind    SourceKind
+		wantKey     string
+		wantPrev    bool
+		wantErr     error
+		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},
+		{name: "unsupported", source: "narratio.unknown", wantErr: ErrUnsupportedScriptoriumInputSource},
+		{name: "empty", source: " ", wantErr: ErrUnsupportedScriptoriumInputSource},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(tt.source)
+			if tt.wantErr != nil {
+				if !errors.Is(err, tt.wantErr) {
+					t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource() error = %v, want %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if tt.wantErrLike != "" {
+				if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErrLike) {
+					t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource() error = %v, want like %q", err, tt.wantErrLike)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			if got.Source.Kind != tt.wantKind {
+				t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource().Source.Kind = %q, want %q", got.Source.Kind, tt.wantKind)
+			}
+			if got.Source.ConfiguredKey != tt.wantKey {
+				t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource().Source.ConfiguredKey = %q, want %q", got.Source.ConfiguredKey, tt.wantKey)
+			}
+			if tt.wantPrev && got.PreviousSession == nil {
+				t.Fatal("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource().PreviousSession = nil, want descriptor")
+			}
+			if !tt.wantPrev && got.PreviousSession != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource().PreviousSession = %#v, want nil", got.PreviousSession)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidateInputConfiguredReference(t *testing.T) {
+	configured := map[string]struct{}{"session_recap": {}}
+
+	desc, err := DescribeScriptoriumInputSource("narratio.artifact.session_recap")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(configured) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := ValidateInputConfiguredReference(desc, configured); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ValidateInputConfiguredReference(configured) error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	prevDesc, err := DescribeScriptoriumInputSource("narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(previous) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := ValidateInputConfiguredReference(prevDesc, configured); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ValidateInputConfiguredReference(previous) error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	missingDesc, err := DescribeScriptoriumInputSource("narratio.artifact.quest_log")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(missing configured) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	err = ValidateInputConfiguredReference(missingDesc, configured)
+	var unknown *UnknownConfiguredArtifactError
+	if !errors.As(err, &unknown) || unknown.ConfiguredKey != "quest_log" {
+		t.Fatalf("ValidateInputConfiguredReference(missing configured) error = %v, want UnknownConfiguredArtifactError(quest_log)", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreviousSessionSourceDescriptorForConfiguredKey(t *testing.T) {
+	got, err := PreviousSessionSourceDescriptorForConfiguredKey("session_recap")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PreviousSessionSourceDescriptorForConfiguredKey() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.SourceID != "narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap" {
+		t.Fatalf("SourceID = %q, want narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap", got.SourceID)
+	}
+	if got.ConfiguredSourceID != "narratio.artifact.session_recap" {
+		t.Fatalf("ConfiguredSourceID = %q, want narratio.artifact.session_recap", got.ConfiguredSourceID)
+	}
+	if got.ConfiguredKey != "session_recap" {
+		t.Fatalf("ConfiguredKey = %q, want session_recap", got.ConfiguredKey)
+	}
+}

internal/artifacts/artifact_resolver.go

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ const (
 	ArtifactTranscriptPolished             = artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptPolished
 	ArtifactTranscriptFinal                = artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptFinal
 	ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmed         = artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmed
+	ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown        = artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptFinalMarkdown
+	ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown = artifactmodel.SourceTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown
 	ArtifactBoundsSession                  = "narratio.bounds.session"
 
 	ArtifactProvenancePreviousCacheManifestInput = "manifest.inputs.previous_cache"
@@ -29,6 +31,8 @@ const (
 	TranscriptPathPolished             = artifactmodel.TranscriptPathPolished
 	TranscriptPathFinal                = artifactmodel.TranscriptPathFinal
 	TranscriptPathFinalTrimmed         = artifactmodel.TranscriptPathFinalTrimmed
+	TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown        = artifactmodel.TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown
+	TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown = artifactmodel.TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown
 )
 
 const (
@@ -36,6 +40,8 @@ const (
 	TranscriptOutputKindPolished             = artifactmodel.TranscriptOutputKindPolished
 	TranscriptOutputKindFinal                = artifactmodel.TranscriptOutputKindFinal
 	TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmed         = artifactmodel.TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmed
+	TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown        = artifactmodel.TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown
+	TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown = artifactmodel.TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown
 )
 
 // ErrSessionArtifactNotFound is returned when no readable artifact exists for a known ID.
@@ -67,7 +73,7 @@ func buildArtifactRegistry() map[string]artifactSpec {
 			CanonicalRelPath: transcript.CanonicalRelPath,
 			ProducerStage:    transcript.ProducerStage,
 			OutputKind:       transcript.OutputKind,
-			ContentKind:      contentTranscriptJSON,
+			ContentKind:      transcriptContentKind(transcript),
 		}
 	}
 	registry[ArtifactBoundsSession] = artifactSpec{
@@ -80,6 +86,15 @@ func buildArtifactRegistry() map[string]artifactSpec {
 	return registry
 }
 
+func transcriptContentKind(transcript TranscriptArtifactSpec) artifactContentKind {
+	switch transcript.SourceID {
+	case ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown, ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown:
+		return contentText
+	default:
+		return contentTranscriptJSON
+	}
+}
+
 // ResolvedSessionArtifact describes one session-level artifact lookup result.
 type ResolvedSessionArtifact struct {
 	ID            string

internal/artifacts/artifact_resolver_test.go

@@ -211,6 +211,29 @@ func TestResolveSessionArtifactFallsBackToCanonicalPath(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestResolveSessionArtifactFallsBackToCanonicalMarkdownPath(t *testing.T) {
+	workspace := t.TempDir()
+	paths := buildSessionPaths(workspace, "campaign", "session")
+	canonicalPath := filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.md")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(canonicalPath), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("MkdirAll() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(canonicalPath, []byte("# Final transcript\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	resolved, err := ResolveSessionArtifact(paths, nil, ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolveSessionArtifact() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if resolved.Path != canonicalPath {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved path = %q, want %q", resolved.Path, canonicalPath)
+	}
+	if resolved.Provenance != "fallback.canonical_path" {
+		t.Fatalf("provenance = %q, want fallback.canonical_path", resolved.Provenance)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestResolveSessionArtifactMissingReturnsTypedError(t *testing.T) {
 	workspace := t.TempDir()
 	paths := buildSessionPaths(workspace, "campaign", "session")
@@ -244,6 +267,26 @@ func TestResolveSessionArtifactValidatesTranscriptShape(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestResolveSessionArtifactRejectsEmptyMarkdownContent(t *testing.T) {
+	workspace := t.TempDir()
+	paths := buildSessionPaths(workspace, "campaign", "session")
+	canonicalPath := filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.trimmed.md")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(canonicalPath), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("MkdirAll() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(canonicalPath, []byte{}, 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err := ResolveSessionArtifact(paths, nil, ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "file is empty") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want empty file validation", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestResolveSessionArtifactWithCatalogBuiltInBehaviorUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 	workspace := t.TempDir()
 	paths := buildSessionPaths(workspace, "campaign", "session")

internal/artifacts/catalog.go

@@ -216,11 +216,10 @@ func (c *ArtifactCatalog) addEntry(entry CatalogEntry) error {
 }
 
 func runtimeBuiltInArtifactIDs() []string {
-	return []string{
+	ids := make([]string, 0, len(RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts())+1)
-		ArtifactTranscriptBase,
+	for _, transcript := range RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts() {
-		ArtifactTranscriptPolished,
+		ids = append(ids, transcript.SourceID)
-		ArtifactTranscriptFinal,
-		ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmed,
-		ArtifactBoundsSession,
 	}
+	ids = append(ids, ArtifactBoundsSession)
+	return ids
 }

internal/artifacts/catalog_test.go

@@ -23,6 +23,26 @@ func TestArtifactCatalogRegisterBuiltInsAndLookup(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestArtifactCatalogRegisterBuiltInsIncludesMarkdownSources(t *testing.T) {
+	catalog := NewArtifactCatalog()
+	if err := catalog.RegisterBuiltIns(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterBuiltIns() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, sourceID := range []string{
+		ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown,
+		ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+	} {
+		entry, ok := catalog.Lookup(sourceID)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("Lookup(%q) ok=false, want true", sourceID)
+		}
+		if !entry.Planned {
+			t.Fatalf("%s planned=false, want true", sourceID)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestArtifactCatalogRegisterConfiguredArtifactsDefaultsToEnabled(t *testing.T) {
 	catalog := NewArtifactCatalog()
 	if err := catalog.RegisterConfiguredArtifacts(map[string]ConfiguredArtifactDefinition{

internal/artifacts/local.go

@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/fileops"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/pathsafe"
 )
 
 // ErrLockConflict is returned when a session lock already exists.
@@ -101,7 +104,7 @@ func (s *LocalStore) copyInputWithPaths(paths SessionPaths, sessionID, srcPath,
 		return Ref{}, fmt.Errorf("copy input: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if err := copyFileAtomic(srcPath, destAbs, 0o644); err != nil {
+	if err := fileops.CopyFileAtomic(srcPath, destAbs, 0o644); err != nil {
 		return Ref{}, fmt.Errorf("copy input %q -> %q: %w", srcPath, destAbs, err)
 	}
 
@@ -145,45 +148,9 @@ func (s *LocalStore) WriteFileAtomic(path string, data []byte, perm os.FileMode)
 	if strings.TrimSpace(path) == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: path is required")
 	}
-
+	if err := fileops.WriteFileAtomic(path, data, perm); err != nil {
-	dir := filepath.Dir(path)
+		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: %w", err)
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: create parent dir %q: %w", dir, err)
 	}
-
-	base := filepath.Base(path)
-	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(dir, "."+base+".tmp-*")
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: create temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	tmpName := tmp.Name()
-	removeTmp := true
-	defer func() {
-		if removeTmp {
-			_ = os.Remove(tmpName)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	if _, err := tmp.Write(data); err != nil {
-		_ = tmp.Close()
-		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: write temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := tmp.Sync(); err != nil {
-		_ = tmp.Close()
-		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: sync temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: close temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if err := os.Chmod(tmpName, perm); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: chmod temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := os.Rename(tmpName, path); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("write file atomic: rename temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	removeTmp = false
-
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -256,62 +223,21 @@ func (s *LocalStore) ReleaseSessionLock(lock *LockHandle) error {
 }
 
 func resolveInRoot(root, relative string) (string, error) {
-	rel := filepath.Clean(relative)
+	joined, err := pathsafe.JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot(root, filepath.ToSlash(relative))
-	if rel == "." || rel == "" {
+	if err != nil {
+		switch {
+		case errors.Is(err, pathsafe.ErrRelativePathRequired):
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("relative destination path is required")
+		case errors.Is(err, pathsafe.ErrRelativePathAbsolute):
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("relative destination must not be absolute: %q", relative)
+		case errors.Is(err, pathsafe.ErrRelativePathEscape):
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("relative destination escapes root: %q", relative)
+		default:
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve destination in root: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(joined) == "" {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("relative destination path is required")
 	}
-	if filepath.IsAbs(rel) {
+	return joined, nil
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("relative destination must not be absolute: %q", relative)
-	}
-	if rel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("relative destination escapes root: %q", relative)
-	}
-	return filepath.Join(root, rel), nil
-}
-
-func copyFileAtomic(srcPath, dstPath string, perm os.FileMode) error {
-	src, err := os.Open(srcPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer src.Close()
-
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dstPath), 0o755); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	dir := filepath.Dir(dstPath)
-	base := filepath.Base(dstPath)
-	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(dir, "."+base+".tmp-*")
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	tmpName := tmp.Name()
-	removeTmp := true
-	defer func() {
-		if removeTmp {
-			_ = os.Remove(tmpName)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	if _, err := io.Copy(tmp, src); err != nil {
-		_ = tmp.Close()
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := tmp.Sync(); err != nil {
-		_ = tmp.Close()
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := os.Chmod(tmpName, perm); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := os.Rename(tmpName, dstPath); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	removeTmp = false
-
-	return nil
 }

internal/artifacts/previous_requirements.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifactpolicy"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 )
 
@@ -36,10 +37,11 @@ func CollectPreviousArtifactRequirements(
 		inputNames := sortedScriptoriumInputKeys(artifactCfg.Inputs)
 		for _, inputName := range inputNames {
 			inputCfg := artifactCfg.Inputs[inputName]
-			previousName, ok := PreviousSessionArtifactName(inputCfg.Source)
+			descriptor, err := artifactpolicy.DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(inputCfg.Source)
-			if !ok {
+			if err != nil || descriptor.PreviousSession == nil {
 				continue
 			}
+			previousName := descriptor.PreviousSession.ConfiguredKey
 
 			location := fmt.Sprintf(
 				"pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.%s.inputs.%s.source",

internal/artifacts/transcripts_test.go

@@ -31,6 +31,18 @@ func TestRuntimeTranscriptArtifacts(t *testing.T) {
 			ProducerStage:    "trim",
 			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmed,
 		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown,
+			ProducerStage:    "render",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown,
+		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+			ProducerStage:    "render",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+		},
 	}
 
 	got := RuntimeTranscriptArtifacts()
@@ -75,6 +87,18 @@ func TestPlannedTranscriptArtifacts(t *testing.T) {
 			ProducerStage:    "trim",
 			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmed,
 		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown,
+			ProducerStage:    "render",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown,
+		},
+		{
+			SourceID:         ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+			CanonicalRelPath: TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+			ProducerStage:    "render",
+			OutputKind:       TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+		},
 	}
 
 	got := PlannedTranscriptArtifacts()
@@ -113,10 +137,14 @@ func TestRuntimeArtifactRegistryUsesTranscriptSpecs(t *testing.T) {
 		if !ok {
 			t.Fatalf("artifactRegistry missing %q", transcript.SourceID)
 		}
+		wantContentKind := contentTranscriptJSON
+		if transcript.SourceID == ArtifactTranscriptFinalMarkdown || transcript.SourceID == ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmedMarkdown {
+			wantContentKind = contentText
+		}
 		if spec.CanonicalRelPath != transcript.CanonicalRelPath ||
 			spec.ProducerStage != transcript.ProducerStage ||
 			spec.OutputKind != transcript.OutputKind ||
-			spec.ContentKind != contentTranscriptJSON {
+			spec.ContentKind != wantContentKind {
 			t.Fatalf("artifactRegistry[%q] = %#v, want transcript spec %#v", transcript.SourceID, spec, transcript)
 		}
 	}

internal/audio/s3_audio.go

@@ -2,16 +2,14 @@ package audio
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"crypto/sha256"
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/fileops"
 )
 
 // S3MaterializeRequest describes one S3-backed audio materialization.
@@ -61,7 +59,7 @@ func MaterializeS3Audio(ctx context.Context, req S3MaterializeRequest) (S3Materi
 		if ok, err := validCachedAudio(cachePath, req.Object.Size); err != nil {
 			return S3MaterializeResult{}, err
 		} else if ok {
-			checksum, err := copyFileAtomicWithChecksum(cachePath, req.DestPath, 0o644)
+			checksum, err := fileops.CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum(cachePath, req.DestPath, 0o644)
 			if err != nil {
 				return S3MaterializeResult{}, fmt.Errorf("materialize cached audio %q: %w", cachePath, err)
 			}
@@ -82,7 +80,7 @@ func MaterializeS3Audio(ctx context.Context, req S3MaterializeRequest) (S3Materi
 		return S3MaterializeResult{}, fmt.Errorf("validate downloaded audio %q: %w", spoolPath, err)
 	}
 
-	checksum, err := copyFileAtomicWithChecksum(spoolPath, req.DestPath, 0o644)
+	checksum, err := fileops.CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum(spoolPath, req.DestPath, 0o644)
 	if err != nil {
 		return S3MaterializeResult{}, fmt.Errorf("materialize downloaded audio %q: %w", filepath.Base(req.DestPath), err)
 	}
@@ -91,7 +89,7 @@ func MaterializeS3Audio(ctx context.Context, req S3MaterializeRequest) (S3Materi
 	result.Downloaded = true
 
 	if result.CachePath != "" {
-		if _, err := copyFileAtomicWithChecksum(spoolPath, result.CachePath, 0o644); err != nil {
+		if _, err := fileops.CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum(spoolPath, result.CachePath, 0o644); err != nil {
 			return S3MaterializeResult{}, fmt.Errorf("populate audio cache %q: %w", result.CachePath, err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -164,60 +162,9 @@ func downloadObjectAtomic(ctx context.Context, store storage.ObjectStore, key, d
 	if err := store.Download(ctx, key, tmpPath); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := os.Chmod(tmpPath, 0o644); err != nil {
+	if err := fileops.InstallDownloadedTempFile(tmpPath, destPath, 0o644); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("set temp file permissions: %w", err)
+		return err
-	}
-	if err := os.Rename(tmpPath, destPath); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("install downloaded file: %w", err)
 	}
 	removeTmp = false
 	return nil
 }
-
-func copyFileAtomicWithChecksum(src, dst string, perm os.FileMode) (string, error) {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(src) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(dst) == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("source and destination paths are required")
-	}
-	in, err := os.Open(src)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	defer func() { _ = in.Close() }()
-
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dst), 0o755); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("create destination directory: %w", err)
-	}
-	base := filepath.Base(dst)
-	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(filepath.Dir(dst), "."+base+".tmp-*")
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("create temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	tmpPath := tmp.Name()
-	removeTmp := true
-	defer func() {
-		if removeTmp {
-			_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	digest := sha256.New()
-	if _, err := io.Copy(io.MultiWriter(tmp, digest), in); err != nil {
-		_ = tmp.Close()
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("copy file: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := tmp.Sync(); err != nil {
-		_ = tmp.Close()
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("sync temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("close temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := os.Chmod(tmpPath, perm); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("chmod temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	if err := os.Rename(tmpPath, dst); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("install temp file: %w", err)
-	}
-	removeTmp = false
-	return hex.EncodeToString(digest.Sum(nil)), nil
-}

internal/config/config.go

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type PipelineConfig struct {
 	Audita       AuditaConfig       `yaml:"audita"`
 	Normalize    *NormalizeConfig   `yaml:"normalize"`
 	Trim         *TrimConfig        `yaml:"trim"`
+	Render       *RenderConfig      `yaml:"render"`
 	Scriptorium  *ScriptoriumConfig `yaml:"scriptorium"`
 	Notification NotificationConfig `yaml:"notification"`
 }
@@ -209,6 +210,16 @@ type TrimSeriatimConfig struct {
 	Report *bool `yaml:"report"`
 }
 
+// RenderConfig configures render-stage output formatting behavior.
+type RenderConfig struct {
+	Enabled           *bool  `yaml:"enabled"`
+	Format            string `yaml:"format"`
+	Title             string `yaml:"title"`
+	IncludeTimestamps *bool  `yaml:"include_timestamps"`
+	IncludeSegmentIDs *bool  `yaml:"include_segment_ids"`
+	IncludeMetadata   bool   `yaml:"include_metadata"`
+}
+
 // ScriptoriumConfig configures Scriptorium-backed artifact generation.
 type ScriptoriumConfig struct {
 	Binary      string                               `yaml:"binary"`

internal/config/defaults.go

@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ const (
 
 	DefaultTrimBoundsTimeout  = "10m"
 	DefaultTrimSeriatimReport = false
+	DefaultRenderEnabled      = true
+	DefaultRenderFormat       = "markdown"
+	DefaultRenderTitle        = ""
+	DefaultRenderTimestamps   = true
+	DefaultRenderSegmentIDs   = true
+	DefaultRenderMetadata     = false
 
 	DefaultNormalizeOutputPath   = artifactmodel.TranscriptPathFinal
 	DefaultNormalizeOutputSchema = "seriatim-intermediate"
@@ -80,6 +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

internal/config/load.go

@@ -337,6 +337,7 @@ func applyPipelineDefaults(cfg *PipelineConfig) {
 	}
 	applyNormalizeDefaults(cfg.Normalize)
 	applyTrimDefaults(cfg.Trim)
+	applyRenderDefaults(&cfg.Render)
 	applyScriptoriumDefaults(cfg.Scriptorium)
 }
 
@@ -507,6 +508,30 @@ func applyTrimDefaults(cfg *TrimConfig) {
 	}
 }
 
+func applyRenderDefaults(cfg **RenderConfig) {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if *cfg == nil {
+		*cfg = &RenderConfig{}
+	}
+	if (*cfg).Enabled == nil {
+		(*cfg).Enabled = boolPtr(DefaultRenderEnabled)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace((*cfg).Format) == "" {
+		(*cfg).Format = DefaultRenderFormat
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace((*cfg).Title) == "" {
+		(*cfg).Title = DefaultRenderTitle
+	}
+	if (*cfg).IncludeTimestamps == nil {
+		(*cfg).IncludeTimestamps = boolPtr(DefaultRenderTimestamps)
+	}
+	if (*cfg).IncludeSegmentIDs == nil {
+		(*cfg).IncludeSegmentIDs = boolPtr(DefaultRenderSegmentIDs)
+	}
+}
+
 func applyNormalizeDefaults(cfg *NormalizeConfig) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return

internal/config/render_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRenderLoadAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name            string
+		renderYAML      string
+		wantLoadErr     string
+		wantValidateErr string
+		assert          func(t *testing.T, cfg *Config)
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "render defaults when omitted",
+			renderYAML: "",
+			assert: func(t *testing.T, cfg *Config) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render == nil {
+					t.Fatal("render config should be present via defaults")
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.Enabled == nil || !*cfg.Pipeline.Render.Enabled {
+					t.Fatalf("render.enabled = %#v, want true", cfg.Pipeline.Render.Enabled)
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.Format != "markdown" {
+					t.Fatalf("render.format = %q, want markdown", cfg.Pipeline.Render.Format)
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeTimestamps == nil || !*cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeTimestamps {
+					t.Fatalf("render.include_timestamps = %#v, want true", cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeTimestamps)
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs == nil || !*cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs {
+					t.Fatalf("render.include_segment_ids = %#v, want true", cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs)
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeMetadata {
+					t.Fatalf("render.include_metadata = true, want false")
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "valid explicit render config",
+			renderYAML: `render:
+  enabled: false
+  format: markdown
+  title: Session Render
+  include_timestamps: false
+  include_segment_ids: true
+  include_metadata: true
+`,
+			assert: func(t *testing.T, cfg *Config) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render == nil {
+					t.Fatal("render config should be present")
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.Enabled == nil || *cfg.Pipeline.Render.Enabled {
+					t.Fatalf("render.enabled = %#v, want false", cfg.Pipeline.Render.Enabled)
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeTimestamps == nil || *cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeTimestamps {
+					t.Fatalf("render.include_timestamps = %#v, want false", cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeTimestamps)
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs == nil || !*cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs {
+					t.Fatalf("render.include_segment_ids = %#v, want true", cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs)
+				}
+				if !cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeMetadata {
+					t.Fatalf("render.include_metadata = false, want true")
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "explicit segment ids false overrides default",
+			renderYAML: `render:
+  include_segment_ids: false
+`,
+			assert: func(t *testing.T, cfg *Config) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs == nil || *cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs {
+					t.Fatalf("render.include_segment_ids = %#v, want false", cfg.Pipeline.Render.IncludeSegmentIDs)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid render format fails",
+			renderYAML: `render:
+  format: html
+`,
+			wantValidateErr: "pipeline.render.format must be markdown",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unknown render field fails strict decoding",
+			renderYAML: `render:
+  format: markdown
+  unknown: true
+`,
+			wantLoadErr: "strict decode failed",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			pipelineYAML := testPipelineBaseYAML
+			if tt.renderYAML != "" {
+				pipelineYAML += "\n" + tt.renderYAML
+			}
+			pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+
+			cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+			if tt.wantLoadErr != "" {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatalf("expected load error containing %q, got nil", tt.wantLoadErr)
+				}
+				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantLoadErr) {
+					t.Fatalf("load error = %q, want to contain %q", err.Error(), tt.wantLoadErr)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+			}
+
+			if tt.assert != nil {
+				tt.assert(t, cfg)
+			}
+
+			err = Validate(cfg)
+			if tt.wantValidateErr != "" {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatalf("expected validation error containing %q, got nil", tt.wantValidateErr)
+				}
+				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantValidateErr) {
+					t.Fatalf("validation error = %q, want to contain %q", err.Error(), tt.wantValidateErr)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

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
 `,
 		},
 		{

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 {
+	if len(cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs) != 3 {
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs len = %d, want 1 default", len(cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs))
+		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs len = %d, want 3 defaults", len(cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs))
 	}
-	item := cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs[0]
+	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",
+	}
+	for i, item := range cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs {
 		if item.Required == nil || !*item.Required {
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[0].required = %#v, want true", item.Required)
+			t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[%d].required = %#v, want true", i, item.Required)
 		}
-	if item.Source != "narratio.transcript.final_trimmed" {
+		wantDest, ok := wantBySource[item.Source]
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[0].source = %q, want narratio.transcript.final_trimmed", item.Source)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[%d].source = %q, want known default source", i, item.Source)
 		}
-	if item.Dest != "transcripts/final.trimmed.json" {
+		if item.Dest != wantDest {
-		t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[0].dest = %q, want transcripts/final.trimmed.json", item.Dest)
+			t.Fatalf("publish.outputs[%d].dest = %q, want %q", i, item.Dest, wantDest)
+		}
+		delete(wantBySource, item.Source)
+	}
+	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 {

internal/config/validate.go

@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifactmodel"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifactpolicy"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/pathsafe"
 )
@@ -89,6 +88,9 @@ func validatePipeline(cfg *PipelineConfig) error {
 	if err := validateTrim(cfg.Trim); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := validateRender(cfg.Render); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := validateScriptorium(cfg.Scriptorium); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -300,6 +302,29 @@ func validateTrim(cfg *TrimConfig) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func validateRender(cfg *RenderConfig) error {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if cfg.Enabled == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.render.enabled must be set (defaults should populate this)")
+	}
+	if cfg.IncludeTimestamps == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.render.include_timestamps must be set (defaults should populate this)")
+	}
+	if cfg.IncludeSegmentIDs == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.render.include_segment_ids must be set (defaults should populate this)")
+	}
+	format := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Format)
+	if format != "markdown" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.render.format must be markdown")
+	}
+	if cfg.Title != "" && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Title) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.render.title must be non-empty when provided")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func validateWhisperX(cfg WhisperXConfig) error {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.TranscribeURL) == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.whisperx.transcribe_url is required")
@@ -639,13 +664,9 @@ var scriptoriumArtifactKeyRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-z][a-z0-9_]*$`)
 
 func validateScriptoriumInputSource(artifactName, inputName, source string, configuredArtifacts map[string]struct{}) (string, error) {
 	trimmedSource := strings.TrimSpace(source)
-	if isStaticSupportedScriptoriumInputSource(trimmedSource) {
+	descriptor, err := artifactpolicy.DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(trimmedSource)
-		return "", nil
+	if err != nil {
-	}
+		if errors.Is(err, artifactpolicy.ErrInvalidPreviousSessionSource) {
-
-	if strings.HasPrefix(trimmedSource, "narratio.previous_session.artifact") {
-		referenced, ok := artifactpolicy.ParsePreviousSessionSource(trimmedSource)
-		if !ok {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf(
 				"pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.%s.inputs.%s.source %q must reference configured artifact key matching ^[a-z][a-z0-9_]*$",
 				artifactName,
@@ -653,20 +674,6 @@ func validateScriptoriumInputSource(artifactName, inputName, source string, conf
 				source,
 			)
 		}
-		if _, ok := configuredArtifacts[referenced]; !ok {
-			return "", fmt.Errorf(
-				"pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.%s.inputs.%s.source %q references unknown artifact %q",
-				artifactName,
-				inputName,
-				source,
-				referenced,
-			)
-		}
-		return "", nil
-	}
-
-	referenced, ok := artifactpolicy.ParseConfiguredSource(trimmedSource)
-	if !ok {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf(
 			"pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.%s.inputs.%s.source %q is unsupported",
 			artifactName,
@@ -674,28 +681,28 @@ func validateScriptoriumInputSource(artifactName, inputName, source string, conf
 			source,
 		)
 	}
-	if _, ok := configuredArtifacts[referenced]; !ok {
+	if err := artifactpolicy.ValidateInputConfiguredReference(descriptor, configuredArtifacts); err != nil {
+		var unknownConfigured *artifactpolicy.UnknownConfiguredArtifactError
+		if errors.As(err, &unknownConfigured) {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf(
 				"pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.%s.inputs.%s.source %q references unknown artifact %q",
 				artifactName,
 				inputName,
 				source,
-			referenced,
+				unknownConfigured.ConfiguredKey,
 			)
 		}
-	return referenced, nil
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(
+			"pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.%s.inputs.%s.source %q is unsupported",
+			artifactName,
+			inputName,
+			source,
+		)
 	}
-
+	if descriptor.Source.Kind == artifactpolicy.SourceKindConfiguredArtifact {
-func isStaticSupportedScriptoriumInputSource(source string) bool {
+		return descriptor.Source.ConfiguredKey, nil
-	if _, ok := artifactmodel.LookupRuntimeTranscriptArtifact(source); ok {
-		return true
-	}
-	switch source {
-	case "narratio.bounds.session":
-		return true
-	default:
-		return false
 	}
+	return "", nil
 }
 
 func validateEnvVarNameField(fieldName, value string) error {

internal/fileops/fileops.go

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+package fileops
+
+import (
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// WriteFileAtomic writes data to dst atomically via temp file + rename.
+func WriteFileAtomic(dst string, data []byte, perm os.FileMode) error {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(dst) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("destination path is required")
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dst), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create destination directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	base := filepath.Base(dst)
+	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(filepath.Dir(dst), "."+base+".tmp-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	tmpPath := tmp.Name()
+	removeTmp := true
+	defer func() {
+		if removeTmp {
+			_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if _, err := tmp.Write(data); err != nil {
+		_ = tmp.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("write temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Sync(); err != nil {
+		_ = tmp.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("sync temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("close temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Chmod(tmpPath, perm); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("set temp file permissions: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Rename(tmpPath, dst); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("install temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	removeTmp = false
+	return nil
+}
+
+// CopyFileAtomic copies src to dst atomically via temp file + rename.
+func CopyFileAtomic(src, dst string, perm os.FileMode) error {
+	_, err := CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum(src, dst, perm)
+	return err
+}
+
+// CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum copies src to dst atomically and returns the SHA-256 checksum.
+func CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum(src, dst string, perm os.FileMode) (string, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(src) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(dst) == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("source and destination paths are required")
+	}
+
+	in, err := os.Open(src)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("open source file: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = in.Close() }()
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dst), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create destination directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	base := filepath.Base(dst)
+	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(filepath.Dir(dst), "."+base+".tmp-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	tmpPath := tmp.Name()
+	removeTmp := true
+	defer func() {
+		if removeTmp {
+			_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	digest := sha256.New()
+	if _, err := io.Copy(io.MultiWriter(tmp, digest), in); err != nil {
+		_ = tmp.Close()
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("copy file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Sync(); err != nil {
+		_ = tmp.Close()
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("sync temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("close temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Chmod(tmpPath, perm); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("set temp file permissions: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Rename(tmpPath, dst); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("install temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	removeTmp = false
+	return hex.EncodeToString(digest.Sum(nil)), nil
+}
+
+// InstallDownloadedTempFile installs a previously downloaded temp file at dst.
+func InstallDownloadedTempFile(tmpPath, dst string, perm os.FileMode) error {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(tmpPath) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(dst) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("temp and destination paths are required")
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dst), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create destination directory: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Chmod(tmpPath, perm); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("set temp file permissions: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Rename(tmpPath, dst); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("install downloaded file: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/fileops/fileops_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+package fileops
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestWriteFileAtomicOverwritesAndLeavesNoTempFile(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	dst := filepath.Join(root, "out", "value.txt")
+
+	if err := WriteFileAtomic(dst, []byte("one"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFileAtomic(first) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := WriteFileAtomic(dst, []byte("two"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFileAtomic(second) error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(data) != "two" {
+		t.Fatalf("file content = %q, want %q", string(data), "two")
+	}
+
+	assertNoMatchingTempFiles(t, filepath.Dir(dst), "."+filepath.Base(dst)+".tmp-")
+}
+
+func TestWriteFileAtomicCleansTempFileOnInstallFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	blockedPath := filepath.Join(root, "blocked")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(blockedPath, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("MkdirAll(blockedPath) error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err := WriteFileAtomic(blockedPath, []byte("data"), 0o644)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("WriteFileAtomic() error = nil, want install failure")
+	}
+	assertNoMatchingTempFiles(t, root, ".blocked.tmp-")
+}
+
+func TestCopyFileAtomicWithChecksumMatchesDestination(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	src := filepath.Join(root, "source.txt")
+	dst := filepath.Join(root, "out", "copied.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(src, []byte("copied-data"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFile(source) error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	checksum, err := CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum(src, dst, 0o644)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CopyFileAtomicWithChecksum() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	wantChecksum := "6e5c3f239e28cc315d57b2fcfc24169369c44a25802c0616a6d7081707fd24df"
+	if checksum != wantChecksum {
+		t.Fatalf("checksum = %q, want %q", checksum, wantChecksum)
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile(destination) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(data) != "copied-data" {
+		t.Fatalf("destination content = %q, want %q", string(data), "copied-data")
+	}
+	assertNoMatchingTempFiles(t, filepath.Dir(dst), ".copied.txt.tmp-")
+}
+
+func TestCopyFileAtomicCleansTempFileOnInstallFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	src := filepath.Join(root, "source.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(src, []byte("copied-data"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFile(source) error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	blockedPath := filepath.Join(root, "blocked")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(blockedPath, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("MkdirAll(blockedPath) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	err := CopyFileAtomic(src, blockedPath, 0o644)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("CopyFileAtomic() error = nil, want install failure")
+	}
+	assertNoMatchingTempFiles(t, root, ".blocked.tmp-")
+}
+
+func TestInstallDownloadedTempFileSetsPermissions(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	tmpPath := filepath.Join(root, ".payload.tmp")
+	dst := filepath.Join(root, "out", "payload.json")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(tmpPath, []byte("{\"ok\":true}\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFile(temp) error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := InstallDownloadedTempFile(tmpPath, dst, 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("InstallDownloadedTempFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(tmpPath); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("temp file still exists: stat err = %v", err)
+	}
+	info, err := os.Stat(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Stat(destination) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if info.Mode().Perm() != 0o644 {
+		t.Fatalf("destination mode = %o, want 644", info.Mode().Perm())
+	}
+}
+
+func assertNoMatchingTempFiles(t *testing.T, dir, prefix string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadDir(%q) error = %v", dir, err)
+	}
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(e.Name(), prefix) {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected temp file residue: %s", filepath.Join(dir, e.Name()))
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/pathsafe/relative_destination_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package pathsafe
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -41,3 +43,76 @@ func TestNormalizeRelativeDestination(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestJoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	root := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "session")
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   string
+		want    string
+		wantErr error
+	}{
+		{name: "valid relative", input: "artifacts/session_recap.md", want: filepath.Join(root, "artifacts", "session_recap.md")},
+		{name: "windows separators normalized", input: `artifacts\session_recap.md`, want: filepath.Join(root, "artifacts", "session_recap.md")},
+		{name: "reject empty", input: "", wantErr: ErrRelativePathRequired},
+		{name: "reject absolute", input: "/artifacts/session_recap.md", wantErr: ErrRelativePathAbsolute},
+		{name: "reject traversal", input: "../artifacts/session_recap.md", wantErr: ErrRelativePathEscape},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot(root, tt.input)
+			if tt.wantErr != nil {
+				if !errors.Is(err, tt.wantErr) {
+					t.Fatalf("JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot() error = %v, want %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Fatalf("JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot() = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSlashRelativeFromRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	root := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "session")
+	target := filepath.Join(root, "transcripts", "full.json")
+
+	got, err := SlashRelativeFromRoot(root, target)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SlashRelativeFromRoot() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != "transcripts/full.json" {
+		t.Fatalf("SlashRelativeFromRoot() = %q, want transcripts/full.json", got)
+	}
+
+	got, err = SlashRelativeFromRoot(root, `transcripts\full.json`)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SlashRelativeFromRoot(relative with windows separators) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != "transcripts/full.json" {
+		t.Fatalf("SlashRelativeFromRoot(relative with windows separators) = %q, want transcripts/full.json", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSlashRelativeFromRootRejectsOutsideRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	root := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "session")
+	outside := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(root), "outside", "file.txt")
+
+	_, err := SlashRelativeFromRoot(root, outside)
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrRelativePathEscape) {
+		t.Fatalf("SlashRelativeFromRoot() error = %v, want %v", err, ErrRelativePathEscape)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestJoinSlashRelativeUnderRootRequiresRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot("", "artifacts/session_recap.md")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "root path is required") {
+		t.Fatalf("JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot() error = %v, want root-required error", err)
+	}
+}

internal/pathsafe/root_scoped.go

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package pathsafe
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot validates a slash-style relative path and resolves
+// it under root. The returned path uses the host filepath separator.
+func JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot(root, relative string) (string, error) {
+	rootClean := filepath.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(root))
+	if rootClean == "." || rootClean == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("root path is required")
+	}
+
+	normalized, err := NormalizeRelativeDestination(relative)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	joined := filepath.Clean(filepath.Join(rootClean, filepath.FromSlash(normalized)))
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(rootClean, joined)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve relative path under root: %w", err)
+	}
+	if rel == "." || rel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+		return "", ErrRelativePathEscape
+	}
+	return joined, nil
+}
+
+// SlashRelativeFromRoot derives a slash-style relative path for target under
+// root. Target may be absolute or relative to root.
+func SlashRelativeFromRoot(root, target string) (string, error) {
+	rootClean := filepath.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(root))
+	if rootClean == "." || rootClean == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("root path is required")
+	}
+
+	targetClean := filepath.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(target))
+	if targetClean == "." || targetClean == "" {
+		return "", ErrRelativePathRequired
+	}
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(targetClean) {
+		targetClean = filepath.Clean(filepath.Join(rootClean, targetClean))
+	}
+
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(rootClean, targetClean)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("derive path relative to root: %w", err)
+	}
+	normalized, err := NormalizeRelativeDestination(filepath.ToSlash(rel))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return normalized, nil
+}

internal/previouscache/previouscache.go

@@ -229,7 +229,11 @@ func artifactRelativePathCandidates(
 		candidates = append(candidates, normalized)
 	}
 
+	sourceDescriptor, err := artifactpolicy.PreviousSessionSourceDescriptorForConfiguredKey(artifactName)
 	sourceID := artifactpolicy.ConfiguredSourceID(artifactName)
+	if err == nil {
+		sourceID = sourceDescriptor.ConfiguredSourceID
+	}
 	if rel, ok := manifestArtifactRelativePathBySourceID(previousManifest, sourceID); ok {
 		appendCandidate(rel)
 		base := path.Base(rel)
@@ -309,11 +313,7 @@ func deriveManifestRelativePath(previousManifest *manifest.Manifest, localPath s
 	if !ok {
 		return "", false
 	}
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel(sessionRoot, trimmed)
+	normalized, err := pathsafe.SlashRelativeFromRoot(sessionRoot, trimmed)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", false
-	}
-	normalized, err := pathsafe.NormalizeRelativeDestination(filepath.ToSlash(rel))
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", false
 	}
@@ -375,11 +375,7 @@ func relativeToSession(paths artifacts.SessionPaths, localPath string) (string,
 	if strings.TrimSpace(root) == "" {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("session root is required")
 	}
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel(root, filepath.Clean(localPath))
+	normalized, err := pathsafe.SlashRelativeFromRoot(root, localPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve previous-cache relative path: %w", err)
-	}
-	normalized, err := pathsafe.NormalizeRelativeDestination(filepath.ToSlash(rel))
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve previous-cache relative path: %w", err)
 	}

internal/stage/analyze.go

@@ -628,11 +628,11 @@ func resolveScriptoriumInput(
 	runtimeCatalog *artifacts.ArtifactCatalog,
 ) (string, bool, *artifacts.ResolvedSessionArtifact, error) {
 	source := strings.TrimSpace(inputCfg.Source)
-	classified, classifyErr := artifactpolicy.ClassifySource(source)
+	descriptor, describeErr := artifactpolicy.DescribeScriptoriumInputSource(source)
-	if classifyErr != nil {
+	if describeErr != nil {
-		return "", false, nil, classifyErr
+		return "", false, nil, describeErr
 	}
-	if classified.Kind == artifactpolicy.SourceKindPreviousArtifact {
+	if descriptor.Source.Kind == artifactpolicy.SourceKindPreviousArtifact {
 		resolved, err := artifacts.ResolvePreviousSessionArtifactWithCatalog(paths, m, source, runtimeCatalog)
 		if err == nil {
 			copy := resolved
@@ -657,19 +657,25 @@ func resolveScriptoriumInput(
 			return resolved.Path, true, &copy, nil
 		}
 		if errors.Is(err, artifacts.ErrSessionArtifactNotFound) {
-			if classified.Kind == artifactpolicy.SourceKindConfiguredArtifact {
+			if descriptor.Source.Kind == artifactpolicy.SourceKindConfiguredArtifact {
 				if inputCfg.Required {
 					return "", false, nil, fmt.Errorf("configured artifact source %q is unavailable", source)
 				}
 				return "", false, nil, nil
 			}
-			switch classified.ID {
+			switch descriptor.Source.ID {
 			case artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptPolished:
 				return "", false, nil, nil
 			case artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinal:
 				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 render %s --force",
+					descriptor.Source.ID,
+					paths.SessionID,
+				)
 			default:
 				return "", false, nil, nil
 			}

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 render") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--force") {
+		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 render") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--force") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want render guidance", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAnalyzeFailsWhenProcessedTranscriptInvalidJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	env, m, _ := setupAnalyzeEnv(t)
 	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)

internal/stage/normalize.go

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func (normalizeStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (
 		stderrPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.LogsDir, "seriatim.normalize.stderr.log")
 		generatedConfigPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.ConfigDir, "seriatim.normalize.generated.yml")
 	}
-	timeout, err := resolveTrimSeriatimTimeout(env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout)
+	timeout, err := resolveSeriatimStageTimeout(env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("normalize: resolve seriatim timeout: %w", err)
 	}

internal/stage/placeholders.go

@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ func All() []Stage {
 		polishStage{},
 		normalizeStage{},
 		trimStage{},
+		renderStage{},
 		analyzeStage{},
 		publishStage{},
 		placeholderStage{name: "notify"},

internal/stage/placeholders_test.go

@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func TestStagesReturnExpectedMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	m := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Now().UTC())
-	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze"} {
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "render", "analyze"} {
 		m.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Now().UTC(), nil)
 	}
 	m.RunID = "20260516T000000Z-abcdef12"
@@ -194,6 +194,15 @@ func TestStagesReturnExpectedMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			continue
 		}
+		if s.Name() == "render" {
+			if result.Metadata["stage"] != "render" {
+				t.Fatalf("render metadata = %#v, want stage=render", result.Metadata)
+			}
+			if len(result.Outputs) != 2 {
+				t.Fatalf("render outputs = %#v, want 2 markdown outputs", result.Outputs)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
 		if s.Name() == "publish" {
 			if result.Metadata["stage"] != "publish" {
 				t.Fatalf("publish metadata = %#v, want stage=publish", result.Metadata)

internal/stage/prepare_previous.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/fileops"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/previouscache"
 )
@@ -54,8 +55,35 @@ func hydratePreviousSessionArtifacts(
 		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(record.LocalPath), 0o755); err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("create previous-session path directory for %q: %w", record.LocalPath, err)
 		}
-		if err := env.ObjectStore.Download(ctx, record.RemoteKey, record.LocalPath); err != nil {
+
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("download previous-session object %q to %q: %w", record.RemoteKey, record.LocalPath, err)
+		base := filepath.Base(record.LocalPath)
+		tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(filepath.Dir(record.LocalPath), "."+base+".prepare-previous-*.tmp")
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("create previous-session temp file for %q: %w", record.LocalPath, err)
+		}
+		tmpPath := tmp.Name()
+		if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+			_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("close previous-session temp file for %q: %w", record.LocalPath, err)
+		}
+		if err := func() error {
+			removeTmp := true
+			defer func() {
+				if removeTmp {
+					_ = os.Remove(tmpPath)
+				}
+			}()
+
+			if err := env.ObjectStore.Download(ctx, record.RemoteKey, tmpPath); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("download previous-session object %q to temp file: %w", record.RemoteKey, err)
+			}
+			if err := fileops.InstallDownloadedTempFile(tmpPath, record.LocalPath, 0o644); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("install previous-session object %q at %q: %w", record.RemoteKey, record.LocalPath, err)
+			}
+			removeTmp = false
+			return nil
+		}(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
 		if record.Kind == preparePreviousInputKindArtifact {
 			if err := requireNonEmptyFile(record.LocalPath, "previous-session artifact "+record.RequirementName); err != nil {

internal/stage/publish.go

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ var publishPrerequisiteStages = []string{
 	"polish",
 	"normalize",
 	"trim",
+	"render",
 	"analyze",
 }
 

internal/stage/render.go

@@ -0,0 +1,292 @@
+package stage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/seriatim"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+)
+
+type renderStage struct{}
+
+func (renderStage) Name() string { return "render" }
+
+func (renderStage) Declares() IODecl {
+	return IODecl{
+		Inputs: []artifacts.Ref{
+			{Kind: "transcript_final", Category: "transcripts", RelativePath: "transcripts/final.json"},
+			{Kind: "transcript_final_trimmed", Category: "transcripts", RelativePath: "transcripts/final.trimmed.json"},
+		},
+		Outputs: []artifacts.Ref{
+			{Kind: artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown, Category: "transcripts", RelativePath: artifacts.TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown},
+			{Kind: artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown, Category: "transcripts", RelativePath: artifacts.TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func (renderStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*StageResult, error) {
+	if env == nil || env.Config == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: stage environment config is required")
+	}
+	if env.ArtifactStore == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: artifact store is required")
+	}
+	if env.Config.Pipeline == nil || env.Config.Session == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: resolved config must include pipeline and session")
+	}
+	if env.Seriatim == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: seriatim adapter is required")
+	}
+
+	var sessionID string
+	if m != nil {
+		sessionID = strings.TrimSpace(m.SessionID)
+	}
+	if sessionID == "" {
+		sessionID = strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.SessionID)
+	}
+	if sessionID == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: session id is required")
+	}
+
+	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, sessionID)
+	runLayout, err := resolveRunStageLayout(env, m, paths, sessionID, "render")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: resolve run-stage layout: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	renderCfg := renderConfigOrDefault(env.Config.Pipeline.Render)
+	enabled := renderCfg.Enabled == nil || *renderCfg.Enabled
+	format := strings.TrimSpace(renderCfg.Format)
+	if format == "" {
+		format = config.DefaultRenderFormat
+	}
+	title := resolveRenderTitle(renderCfg, env.Config.Session)
+	includeTimestamps := renderCfg.IncludeTimestamps == nil || *renderCfg.IncludeTimestamps
+	includeSegmentIDs := config.DefaultRenderSegmentIDs
+	if renderCfg.IncludeSegmentIDs != nil {
+		includeSegmentIDs = *renderCfg.IncludeSegmentIDs
+	}
+	includeMetadata := renderCfg.IncludeMetadata
+
+	meta := map[string]any{
+		"stage":               "render",
+		"render_enabled":      enabled,
+		"format":              format,
+		"title":               title,
+		"include_timestamps":  includeTimestamps,
+		"include_segment_ids": includeSegmentIDs,
+		"include_metadata":    includeMetadata,
+		"binary":              env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Binary,
+		"timeout":             env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout,
+	}
+	if !enabled {
+		meta["skipped"] = true
+		meta["reason"] = "pipeline.render.enabled is false"
+		return &StageResult{Metadata: meta}, nil
+	}
+
+	finalInput, err := artifacts.ResolveSessionArtifact(paths, m, artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinal)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, wrapRenderInputResolveError(err, sessionID, artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinal, "normalize")
+	}
+	finalTrimmedInput, err := artifacts.ResolveSessionArtifact(paths, m, artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmed)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, wrapRenderInputResolveError(err, sessionID, artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmed, "trim")
+	}
+
+	canonicalFinalMarkdownPath, err := resolveScriptoriumOutputPath(paths, artifacts.TranscriptPathFinalMarkdown)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: resolve canonical final markdown output path: %w", err)
+	}
+	canonicalFinalTrimmedMarkdownPath, err := resolveScriptoriumOutputPath(paths, artifacts.TranscriptPathFinalTrimmedMarkdown)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: resolve canonical final trimmed markdown output path: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	runFinalMarkdownPath, err := runLocalPathForCanonical(runLayout, paths, canonicalFinalMarkdownPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: resolve run-local final markdown output path: %w", err)
+	}
+	runFinalTrimmedMarkdownPath, err := runLocalPathForCanonical(runLayout, paths, canonicalFinalTrimmedMarkdownPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: resolve run-local final trimmed markdown output path: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	finalStdoutLogPath := filepath.Join(paths.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final.stdout.log")
+	finalStderrLogPath := filepath.Join(paths.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final.stderr.log")
+	finalGeneratedConfigPath := filepath.Join(paths.ConfigDir, "seriatim.render.final.generated.yml")
+	finalTrimmedStdoutLogPath := filepath.Join(paths.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final_trimmed.stdout.log")
+	finalTrimmedStderrLogPath := filepath.Join(paths.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final_trimmed.stderr.log")
+	finalTrimmedGeneratedConfigPath := filepath.Join(paths.ConfigDir, "seriatim.render.final_trimmed.generated.yml")
+	if runLayout.Enabled {
+		finalStdoutLogPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final.stdout.log")
+		finalStderrLogPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final.stderr.log")
+		finalGeneratedConfigPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.ConfigDir, "seriatim.render.final.generated.yml")
+		finalTrimmedStdoutLogPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final_trimmed.stdout.log")
+		finalTrimmedStderrLogPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.LogsDir, "seriatim.render.final_trimmed.stderr.log")
+		finalTrimmedGeneratedConfigPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.ConfigDir, "seriatim.render.final_trimmed.generated.yml")
+	}
+
+	timeout, err := resolveSeriatimStageTimeout(env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: resolve seriatim timeout: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	finalReq := seriatim.RenderRequest{
+		Binary:              env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Binary,
+		InputTranscriptPath: finalInput.Path,
+		OutputRenderedPath:  runFinalMarkdownPath,
+		Format:              format,
+		Title:               title,
+		IncludeTimestamps:   includeTimestamps,
+		IncludeSegmentIDs:   includeSegmentIDs,
+		IncludeMetadata:     includeMetadata,
+		StdoutLogPath:       finalStdoutLogPath,
+		StderrLogPath:       finalStderrLogPath,
+		GeneratedConfigPath: finalGeneratedConfigPath,
+		Timeout:             timeout,
+	}
+	finalRes, err := env.Seriatim.Render(ctx, finalReq)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: seriatim render failed for %q: %w", artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinal, err)
+	}
+	finalRenderedPath := coalesceString(finalRes.OutputRenderedPath, finalReq.OutputRenderedPath)
+	if err := requireNonEmptyFile(finalRenderedPath, "final transcript markdown output"); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	finalTrimmedReq := seriatim.RenderRequest{
+		Binary:              env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Binary,
+		InputTranscriptPath: finalTrimmedInput.Path,
+		OutputRenderedPath:  runFinalTrimmedMarkdownPath,
+		Format:              format,
+		Title:               title,
+		IncludeTimestamps:   includeTimestamps,
+		IncludeSegmentIDs:   includeSegmentIDs,
+		IncludeMetadata:     includeMetadata,
+		StdoutLogPath:       finalTrimmedStdoutLogPath,
+		StderrLogPath:       finalTrimmedStderrLogPath,
+		GeneratedConfigPath: finalTrimmedGeneratedConfigPath,
+		Timeout:             timeout,
+	}
+	finalTrimmedRes, err := env.Seriatim.Render(ctx, finalTrimmedReq)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: seriatim render failed for %q: %w", artifacts.ArtifactTranscriptFinalTrimmed, err)
+	}
+	finalTrimmedRenderedPath := coalesceString(finalTrimmedRes.OutputRenderedPath, finalTrimmedReq.OutputRenderedPath)
+	if err := requireNonEmptyFile(finalTrimmedRenderedPath, "final trimmed transcript markdown output"); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	materializedFinalMarkdown, err := materializeRunLocalOutput(env.ArtifactStore, finalRenderedPath, canonicalFinalMarkdownPath, artifacts.Ref{
+		Kind:      artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown,
+		Category:  "transcripts",
+		SessionID: sessionID,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: materialize canonical final markdown output: %w", err)
+	}
+	materializedFinalTrimmedMarkdown, err := materializeRunLocalOutput(env.ArtifactStore, finalTrimmedRenderedPath, canonicalFinalTrimmedMarkdownPath, artifacts.Ref{
+		Kind:      artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+		Category:  "transcripts",
+		SessionID: sessionID,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("render: materialize canonical final trimmed markdown output: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	meta["final_input_path"] = finalInput.Path
+	meta["final_input_provenance"] = finalInput.Provenance
+	meta["final_input_run_id"] = finalInput.ProducerRunID
+	meta["final_trimmed_input_path"] = finalTrimmedInput.Path
+	meta["final_trimmed_input_provenance"] = finalTrimmedInput.Provenance
+	meta["final_trimmed_input_run_id"] = finalTrimmedInput.ProducerRunID
+	meta["run_final_markdown_path"] = finalRenderedPath
+	meta["final_markdown_path"] = canonicalFinalMarkdownPath
+	meta["run_final_trimmed_markdown_path"] = finalTrimmedRenderedPath
+	meta["final_trimmed_markdown_path"] = canonicalFinalTrimmedMarkdownPath
+	populateRenderAdapterMetadata(meta, "final_adapter_", finalRes)
+	populateRenderAdapterMetadata(meta, "final_trimmed_adapter_", finalTrimmedRes)
+
+	return &StageResult{
+		Outputs: []artifacts.Ref{
+			materializedFinalMarkdown,
+			materializedFinalTrimmedMarkdown,
+		},
+		Logs: dedupeAndSortPaths([]string{
+			finalStdoutLogPath,
+			finalStderrLogPath,
+			finalTrimmedStdoutLogPath,
+			finalTrimmedStderrLogPath,
+		}),
+		GeneratedConfigs: dedupeAndSortPaths([]string{
+			finalGeneratedConfigPath,
+			finalTrimmedGeneratedConfigPath,
+		}),
+		Metadata: meta,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func renderConfigOrDefault(cfg *config.RenderConfig) *config.RenderConfig {
+	if cfg != nil {
+		return cfg
+	}
+	enabled := true
+	includeTimestamps := true
+	includeSegmentIDs := config.DefaultRenderSegmentIDs
+	return &config.RenderConfig{
+		Enabled:           &enabled,
+		Format:            config.DefaultRenderFormat,
+		IncludeTimestamps: &includeTimestamps,
+		IncludeSegmentIDs: &includeSegmentIDs,
+		IncludeMetadata:   config.DefaultRenderMetadata,
+	}
+}
+
+func resolveRenderTitle(renderCfg *config.RenderConfig, sessionCfg *config.SessionConfig) string {
+	if renderCfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(renderCfg.Title) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(renderCfg.Title)
+	}
+	if sessionCfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(sessionCfg.Title) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(sessionCfg.Title)
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func wrapRenderInputResolveError(err error, sessionID, sourceID, guidanceStage string) error {
+	var notFound *artifacts.SessionArtifactNotFoundError
+	if errors.As(err, &notFound) {
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"render: required input %q is unavailable; run narratio run-stage %s %s --force",
+			sourceID,
+			guidanceStage,
+			sessionID,
+		)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("render: resolve %q input: %w", sourceID, err)
+}
+
+func populateRenderAdapterMetadata(meta map[string]any, prefix string, result seriatim.RenderResult) {
+	if meta == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	meta[prefix+"duration_ms"] = result.Duration.Milliseconds()
+	meta[prefix+"exit_code"] = result.ExitCode
+	meta[prefix+"invoked_binary"] = result.InvokedBinary
+	meta[prefix+"format"] = result.Format
+	meta[prefix+"title"] = result.Title
+	meta[prefix+"output_path"] = result.OutputRenderedPath
+	meta[prefix+"generated_config"] = result.GeneratedConfigPath
+	meta[prefix+"stdout_log_path"] = result.StdoutLogPath
+	meta[prefix+"stderr_log_path"] = result.StderrLogPath
+	if result.Metadata != nil {
+		meta[prefix+"metadata"] = result.Metadata
+	}
+}

internal/stage/render_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+package stage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/seriatim"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+)
+
+func TestRenderStageDisabledSucceedsWithoutOutputs(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, ser := setupRenderEnv(t)
+	enabled := false
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Render.Enabled = &enabled
+
+	result, err := (renderStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("render.Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(result.Outputs) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("outputs = %#v, want empty when disabled", result.Outputs)
+	}
+	if len(ser.RenderRequests) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("render requests = %d, want 0 when disabled", len(ser.RenderRequests))
+	}
+	if result.Metadata["render_enabled"] != false {
+		t.Fatalf("metadata render_enabled = %#v, want false", result.Metadata["render_enabled"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderStageResolvesManifestInputsFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, ser := setupRenderEnv(t)
+	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)
+
+	manifestFinal := filepath.Join(paths.ArtifactsDir, "final.from-manifest.json")
+	manifestTrimmed := filepath.Join(paths.ArtifactsDir, "final.trimmed.from-manifest.json")
+	writeFile(t, manifestFinal, `{"segments":[{"id":101}]}`)
+	writeFile(t, manifestTrimmed, `{"segments":[{"id":202}]}`)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":1}]}`)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.trimmed.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":2}]}`)
+
+	m.MarkStageSucceeded("normalize", time.Now().UTC(), []manifest.ArtifactRecord{{Kind: "transcript_final", LocalPath: manifestFinal}})
+	m.MarkStageSucceeded("trim", time.Now().UTC(), []manifest.ArtifactRecord{{Kind: "transcript_final_trimmed", LocalPath: manifestTrimmed}})
+
+	result, err := (renderStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("render.Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(ser.RenderRequests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("render requests = %d, want 2", len(ser.RenderRequests))
+	}
+	if ser.RenderRequests[0].InputTranscriptPath != manifestFinal {
+		t.Fatalf("first input path = %q, want %q", ser.RenderRequests[0].InputTranscriptPath, manifestFinal)
+	}
+	if ser.RenderRequests[1].InputTranscriptPath != manifestTrimmed {
+		t.Fatalf("second input path = %q, want %q", ser.RenderRequests[1].InputTranscriptPath, manifestTrimmed)
+	}
+	if result.Metadata["final_input_provenance"] != "manifest.normalize.outputs" {
+		t.Fatalf("final_input_provenance = %#v, want manifest.normalize.outputs", result.Metadata["final_input_provenance"])
+	}
+	if result.Metadata["final_trimmed_input_provenance"] != "manifest.trim.outputs" {
+		t.Fatalf("final_trimmed_input_provenance = %#v, want manifest.trim.outputs", result.Metadata["final_trimmed_input_provenance"])
+	}
+	if len(result.Outputs) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("outputs = %#v, want 2", result.Outputs)
+	}
+	if result.Outputs[0].Kind != artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown {
+		t.Fatalf("outputs[0].kind = %q, want %q", result.Outputs[0].Kind, artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalMarkdown)
+	}
+	if result.Outputs[1].Kind != artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown {
+		t.Fatalf("outputs[1].kind = %q, want %q", result.Outputs[1].Kind, artifacts.TranscriptOutputKindFinalTrimmedMarkdown)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderStageTitleFallsBackToSessionTitle(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, ser := setupRenderEnv(t)
+	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":1}]}`)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.trimmed.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":2}]}`)
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Render.Title = ""
+	env.Config.Session.Title = "Session Title"
+
+	_, err := (renderStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("render.Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(ser.RenderRequests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("render requests = %d, want 2", len(ser.RenderRequests))
+	}
+	if ser.RenderRequests[0].Title != "Session Title" || ser.RenderRequests[1].Title != "Session Title" {
+		t.Fatalf("render titles = %q/%q, want Session Title", ser.RenderRequests[0].Title, ser.RenderRequests[1].Title)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderStageFailsWhenFinalInputMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := setupRenderEnv(t)
+	_, err := (renderStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "run narratio run-stage normalize") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--force") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want normalize guidance", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderStageFailsWhenFinalTrimmedInputMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := setupRenderEnv(t)
+	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":1}]}`)
+
+	_, err := (renderStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "run narratio run-stage trim") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--force") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want trim guidance", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderStageUsesRunLocalOutputsAndMaterializesCanonical(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, ser := setupRenderEnv(t)
+	env.Config.Session.Campaign = "sample-campaign"
+	m.Campaign = "sample-campaign"
+	m.RunID = "20260518T010203Z-abcdef12"
+	paths := sessionPathsForEnv(env, m.SessionID)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":1}]}`)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsDir, "final.trimmed.json"), `{"segments":[{"id":2}]}`)
+
+	result, err := (renderStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("render.Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(ser.RenderRequests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("render requests = %d, want 2", len(ser.RenderRequests))
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(ser.RenderRequests[0].OutputRenderedPath, filepath.Join("runs", m.RunID, "render", "outputs")) {
+		t.Fatalf("run output path = %q, want run-local output path", ser.RenderRequests[0].OutputRenderedPath)
+	}
+	for _, out := range result.Outputs {
+		if strings.Contains(out.AbsolutePath, string(filepath.Separator)+"runs"+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+			t.Fatalf("materialized output path = %q, want canonical session path", out.AbsolutePath)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(result.GeneratedConfigs) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("generated configs = %#v, want two generated config paths", result.GeneratedConfigs)
+	}
+	if len(result.Logs) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("logs = %#v, want four log paths", result.Logs)
+	}
+}
+
+func setupRenderEnv(t *testing.T) (*Env, *manifest.Manifest, *seriatim.FakeRunner) {
+	t.Helper()
+	workspace := t.TempDir()
+	cfgDir := t.TempDir()
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(cfgDir, "session.yml")
+	pipelinePath := filepath.Join(cfgDir, "pipeline.yml")
+	writeFile(t, sessionPath, "session_id: 2026-05-03\n")
+	writeFile(t, pipelinePath, "workspace:\n  root: "+workspace+"\n")
+
+	enabled := true
+	includeTimestamps := true
+	includeSegmentIDs := false
+	seriatimReport := false
+	cfg := &config.Config{
+		PipelinePath: pipelinePath,
+		SessionPath:  sessionPath,
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Workspace: config.WorkspaceConfig{Root: workspace},
+			Seriatim: config.SeriatimConfig{
+				Binary:       "seriatim",
+				Timeout:      "10m",
+				OutputSchema: "seriatim-intermediate",
+				CoalesceGap:  func() *float64 { v := 3.0; return &v }(),
+				Report:       &seriatimReport,
+			},
+			Render: &config.RenderConfig{
+				Enabled:           &enabled,
+				Format:            "markdown",
+				Title:             "Pipeline Title",
+				IncludeTimestamps: &includeTimestamps,
+				IncludeSegmentIDs: &includeSegmentIDs,
+				IncludeMetadata:   false,
+			},
+		},
+		Session: &config.SessionConfig{
+			SessionID: "2026-05-03",
+			Campaign:  "sample-campaign",
+		},
+	}
+
+	store := artifacts.NewLocalStore(workspace)
+	if _, err := store.EnsureLayoutFor("sample-campaign", "2026-05-03"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("EnsureLayout() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	ser := &seriatim.FakeRunner{}
+	return &Env{
+		Config:        cfg,
+		ArtifactStore: store,
+		Seriatim:      ser,
+	}, manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Now().UTC()), ser
+}

internal/stage/run_local.go

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/pathsafe"
 )
 
 type runStageLayout struct {
@@ -92,18 +93,17 @@ func runLocalPathForCanonical(layout runStageLayout, sessionPaths artifacts.Sess
 	if cleanCanonical == "" {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("canonical path is required")
 	}
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel(filepath.Clean(sessionPaths.Root), cleanCanonical)
+	rel, err := pathsafe.SlashRelativeFromRoot(sessionPaths.Root, cleanCanonical)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("derive session-relative path for %q: %w", cleanCanonical, err)
 	}
-	rel = filepath.Clean(rel)
+	if rel == config.PathPreviousDirSegment || strings.HasPrefix(rel, config.PathPreviousDirSegment+"/") {
-	if rel == "." || rel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("canonical path %q is outside session root %q", cleanCanonical, sessionPaths.Root)
-	}
-	if rel == config.PathPreviousDirSegment || strings.HasPrefix(rel, config.PathPreviousDirSegment+string(filepath.Separator)) {
 		return cleanCanonical, nil
 	}
-	localPath := filepath.Join(layout.OutputsDir, rel)
+	localPath, err := pathsafe.JoinSlashRelativeUnderRoot(layout.OutputsDir, rel)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("resolve run-local output path for %q: %w", cleanCanonical, err)
+	}
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(localPath), 0o755); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("create run-local output parent for %q: %w", localPath, err)
 	}

internal/stage/trim.go

@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ func (trimStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*Stag
 			trimStderrLogPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.LogsDir, "seriatim.trim.stderr.log")
 			trimGeneratedConfigPath = filepath.Join(runLayout.ConfigDir, "seriatim.trim.generated.yml")
 		}
-		trimTimeout, err := resolveTrimSeriatimTimeout(env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout)
+		trimTimeout, err := resolveSeriatimStageTimeout(env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("trim: resolve seriatim timeout: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ func copyTranscript(store artifacts.Store, src, dst string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func resolveTrimSeriatimTimeout(raw string) (time.Duration, error) {
+func resolveSeriatimStageTimeout(raw string) (time.Duration, error) {
 	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(raw)
 	if trimmed == "" {
 		return 0, nil