Updated the merge stage to normalize the per-speaker transcripts before merging them

The backend S3 client now resolves credentials from user-configurable environment variables
Add .gocache to .gitignore and minor documentation cleanup
2026-05-16 23:30:13 -05:00 · 2026-05-16 23:22:21 -05:00 · 2026-05-16 23:21:45 -05:00 · 2026-05-16 23:30:40 +00:00 · 2026-05-16 23:09:39 +00:00 · 2026-05-16 22:57:42 +00:00
63 changed files with 5299 additions and 246 deletions
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ AGENTS.md
 # Dependency directories (remove the comment below to include it)
 # vendor/

+# Go cache
+.gocache
+
 # Go workspace file
 go.work
 go.work.sum
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ Implemented now:

 Not implemented yet:

- `archive` stage behavior
 - `notify` stage behavior
 - additional analyze artifacts beyond `session_recap`
 - generic DAG orchestration
@@ -35,6 +34,25 @@ Pipeline config lookup for CLI commands:
  - `/usr/local/etc/narratio/pipeline.yml`
  - `/etc/narratio/pipeline.yml`

+Session config lookup for CLI commands:
+
+- if `--session <path>` is provided, Narratio uses that path
+- if `--session` is omitted, Narratio searches in this order:
+  - `./session.yml`
+  - `/usr/local/etc/narratio/session.yml`
+  - `/etc/narratio/session.yml`
+
+Session template support:
+
+- Narratio renders `session.yml` templates before strict YAML decode.
+- `--session-id <value>` provides the `session_id` template variable.
+- Supported placeholder forms:
+  - `{{session_id}}`
+  - `{{ session_id }}`
+- unresolved template placeholders fail with a clear error.
+- strict YAML validation still runs after rendering.
+- concrete `session.yml` files without templates remain fully supported.
+
 Optional secrets-from-files config:

 - `pipeline.secrets.env_dir` may point to a directory of secret files
@@ -47,6 +65,87 @@ Optional secrets-from-files config:

 YAML decoding is strict (`KnownFields(true)`), so unknown fields fail fast.

+## Storage And Archive Foundations
+
+Narratio now includes configuration and path-model foundations for archive support, plus implemented prepare-stage S3 audio input.
+
+Implemented foundations:
+
+- `pipeline.storage.s3` config shape (`bucket`, `root_prefix`, `region`, `endpoint`, `force_path_style`, `access_key_id_env`, `secret_access_key_env`)
+- `pipeline.spool` config shape (`root`, `delete_audio_after_archive`)
+- `pipeline.archive` config shape (`enabled`, `upload_run`, `promote_artifacts`)
+- promotion-rule validation (`from`/`to` required, relative-only paths, traversal rejected)
+- `session.campaign` requirement for campaign-aware path construction
+- optional `session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix` modeling and prepare-stage S3 audio download
+- run ID generation and S3/local path helper foundations
+- manifest run/path identity fields
+
+Current defaults:
+
+- `pipeline.storage.s3.root_prefix`: `dnd`
+- `pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id_env`: `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID`
+- `pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key_env`: `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY`
+- `pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive`: `false`
+- `pipeline.spool.root`: `/var/spool/narratio`
+- `pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive`: `false`
+- `pipeline.archive.enabled`: `true`
+- `pipeline.archive.upload_run`: `true`
+- default `pipeline.archive.promote_artifacts`:
+  - `transcripts/trimmed.json` -> `transcripts/trimmed.json` (`required: true`)
+  - `artifacts/session_recap.md` -> `artifacts/session_recap.md` (`required: true`)
+
+Current boundaries:
+
+- local development audio (`audio_dir` / `audio_files`) still works
+- `audio_dir`/`audio_files` and `audio_s3` are mutually exclusive
+- real S3-compatible backend now exists in the storage adapter package
+- storage backend tests use fake storage and do not require live S3
+- archive uploads successful run records under `runs/{run_id}/`
+- archive does not upload local audio by default
+- archive uploads promoted outputs to session-level keys using `archive.promote_artifacts`
+- archive uploads `current/manifest.json`
+- archive uploads `current/run_id.txt` last as the effective commit marker
+- required missing promotions fail archive
+- optional missing promotions are skipped and recorded
+- cleanup remains conservative and opt-in:
+  - `pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive: true` removes only the run-scoped spool audio directory after successful archive commit
+  - `pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive: true` removes only the run-scoped local workdir after successful archive commit
+  - cleanup executes only after all selected stages for the command invocation succeed
+  - cleanup does not run for failed, incomplete, skipped, or unarchived runs
+- local development `audio_dir`/`audio_files` source inputs are never deleted by spool cleanup
+- S3 credentials are resolved from configured env-var names when both are present; if either is missing, Narratio falls back to the AWS SDK default credential chain
+
+S3 input details and current boundaries are documented in [docs/s3-audio-input.md](docs/s3-audio-input.md).
+
+## Remote Storage Backend
+
+Narratio includes an object-store backend layer for future prepare/archive work:
+
+- `List(ctx, prefix)`
+- `Download(ctx, key, localPath)`
+- `Upload(ctx, localPath, key, opts)`
+- `Exists(ctx, key)`
+
+Implemented backends:
+
+- fake storage backend for deterministic tests
+- S3-compatible backend built from `pipeline.storage.s3`
+
+Key invariant:
+
+- callers pass full bucket-relative object keys
+- storage backends do not prepend `root_prefix` and do not infer session/campaign paths
+
+Current boundary:
+
+- `prepare` uses `List` + `Download` through the backend when `session.inputs.audio_s3` is configured
+- `archive` uses `Upload` through the backend for successful run-record uploads
+- `archive` also uses `Upload` for promotion writes and current pointers
+- no failed or incomplete runs are uploaded
+- local audio is not re-uploaded by default
+
+Archive run-upload details and boundaries are documented in [docs/archive-storage.md](docs/archive-storage.md).
+
 ## Canonical Stage Order

 1. `prepare`
@@ -66,21 +165,40 @@ YAML decoding is strict (`KnownFields(true)`), so unknown fields fail fast.
 - `transcripts/normalized.json`: Seriatim-normalized transcript from the normalize stage
 - `transcripts/trimmed.json`: gameplay-only normalized polished transcript from trim stage

+## Seriatim Configuration
+
+`pipeline.seriatim` configures the Seriatim subprocess adapter used by `merge`, `normalize`, and `trim`.
+
+Minimal behavior:
+
+- `pipeline.seriatim` may be omitted entirely.
+- when omitted, Narratio defaults to:
+  - `binary: seriatim`
+  - `timeout: 10m`
+  - `output_schema: seriatim-intermediate`
+  - `coalesce_gap: 3.0`
+  - `report: true`
+
+Optional overrides in `pipeline.seriatim` continue to work, including explicit binary paths and advanced `env` tuning values.
+
 ## Audita Configuration

 `pipeline.audita` configures the real Audita subprocess adapter used by `polish`.

-Required:
+Minimal behavior:

- `binary`
- `timeout`
- `base_url`
- `model`
+- `pipeline.audita` may be omitted entirely.
+- when omitted, Narratio defaults to:
+  - `binary: audita`
+  - `timeout: 3h`
+  - `report: true`

 Optional:

 - `llm_api_key_env` (when set, Narratio requires that env var and passes it to Audita as `AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY`)
 - `modules` override list (when empty/omitted, Narratio does not pass `--modules`)
+- `base_url` (when omitted, Narratio does not pass `--base-url`; Audita runtime defaults/config may apply)
+- `model` (when omitted, Narratio does not pass `--model`; Audita runtime defaults/config may apply)
 - `transcript_description`
 - `config_path`
 - `output_schema` (`bare-segments` or `audita-v1`)
@@ -91,7 +209,7 @@ Optional:
 - `validation_llm_concurrency` (> 0 when provided)
 - `report` (defaults to `true`)

-Narratio passes only configured optional Audita flags. Omitted optional values are left to Audita runtime defaults.
+Narratio passes only configured optional Audita flags. Omitted optional values are left to Audita runtime defaults/config.

 ## Normalize Configuration

@@ -186,7 +304,7 @@ Render-debug files are diagnostics and are not treated as canonical stage output

 Key points:

- `scriptorium.binary` is required when section is present
+- `scriptorium.binary` defaults to `scriptorium` when section is present
 - `scriptorium.config_path` is optional
 - `scriptorium.timeout` defaults to `10m` when omitted
 - `scriptorium.render_debug` enables render diagnostics globally
@@ -274,7 +392,9 @@ Expected session output paths:
 Starter files:

 - `examples/pipeline.minimal.yml`
+- `examples/pipeline.audita-overrides.yml`
 - `examples/session.minimal.yml`
+- `examples/session.template.yml`
 - `examples/speakers.yml`

 ## Commands
@@ -293,6 +413,12 @@ go run ./cmd/narratio plan --session examples/session.minimal.yml

 Use `--config <path>` to override default pipeline lookup when needed.

+Run with a discoverable session template:
+
+```bash
+go run ./cmd/narratio run --session-id 2026-04-04
+```
+
 Run full pipeline:

 ```bash
@@ -305,6 +431,12 @@ Run analyze only:
 go run ./cmd/narratio run-stage --config examples/pipeline.minimal.yml --session examples/session.minimal.yml analyze
 ```

+Resume with a template session ID:
+
+```bash
+go run ./cmd/narratio resume --config examples/pipeline.minimal.yml --session examples/session.template.yml --session-id 2026-04-04
+```
+
 ## Operational Note

 Checksum-based stale detection is not implemented yet.
--- a/architecture.md
+++ b/architecture.md
@@ -22,10 +22,24 @@ Implemented:
 - real `trim` stage producing `transcripts/trimmed.json`
 - real `analyze` stage for initial `session_recap` generation
 - optional Scriptorium render diagnostics (`render_debug`) before production run
+- storage/archive configuration and validation foundations for:
+  - `pipeline.storage.s3`
+  - `pipeline.spool`
+  - `pipeline.archive` promotion rules
+  - `session.inputs.audio_s3`
+- run identity and path-model foundations:
+  - run ID generation (`YYYYMMDDTHHMMSSZ-xxxxxxxx`)
+  - S3 session/run/current key builders
+  - campaign/session/run local work/spool path helpers
+  - manifest run/path identity fields (`campaign`, `run_id`, local and S3 prefixes)
+- remote storage backend layer:
+  - narrow object-store interface (`List`, `Download`, `Upload`, `Exists`)
+  - fake storage backend for deterministic tests (no network dependency)
+  - S3-compatible backend using AWS SDK v2
+  - config-based object-store construction helper

 Still placeholder/future:

- `archive` stage behavior
 - `notify` stage behavior
 - additional Scriptorium artifact types beyond `session_recap`
 - artifact-to-artifact workflows beyond the initial single-artifact implementation
@@ -101,6 +115,25 @@ CLI pipeline config path resolution:
  - `/usr/local/etc/narratio/pipeline.yml`
  - `/etc/narratio/pipeline.yml`

+CLI session config path resolution:
+
+- when `--session <path>` is provided, that path is used
+- when `--session` is omitted, Narratio searches defaults in order:
+  - `./session.yml`
+  - `/usr/local/etc/narratio/session.yml`
+  - `/etc/narratio/session.yml`
+
+Session template rendering:
+
+- session templates are rendered before strict YAML decode
+- `--session-id <value>` provides the `session_id` template variable
+- supported placeholders:
+  - `{{session_id}}`
+  - `{{ session_id }}`
+- unresolved placeholders fail clearly
+- strict `KnownFields(true)` YAML validation still applies after rendering
+- if rendered `session.session_id` conflicts with `--session-id`, load fails clearly
+
 Optional pipeline secrets directory:

 - `pipeline.secrets.env_dir` enables loading environment variables from local files before command execution
@@ -110,6 +143,106 @@ Optional pipeline secrets directory:
 - if configured, unreadable/missing `env_dir` fails command execution early
 - relative `env_dir` values are resolved from current working directory

+Storage and archive foundations:
+
+- `pipeline.storage.s3` is available for modeling S3 coordinates:
+  - `bucket`
+  - `root_prefix` (default `dnd`)
+  - `region`
+  - `endpoint`
+  - `force_path_style` (default `false`)
+  - `access_key_id_env` (default `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID`)
+  - `secret_access_key_env` (default `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY`)
+- `pipeline.spool.root` defaults to `/var/spool/narratio`
+- `pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive` defaults to `false`
+- `pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive` defaults to `false`
+- `pipeline.archive` is optional and defaults to:
+  - `enabled: true`
+  - `upload_run: true`
+  - default `promote_artifacts`:
+    - `transcripts/trimmed.json`
+    - `artifacts/session_recap.md`
+- archive promotion rules enforce safe relative paths:
+  - `from` and `to` are required
+  - absolute paths are rejected
+  - traversal segments such as `..` are rejected
+
+Session input foundations:
+
+- `session.campaign` is required
+- local audio remains supported through `session.inputs.audio_dir` or `session.inputs.audio_files`
+- optional S3 audio input shape is `session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix`
+- `audio_dir`/`audio_files` and `audio_s3` are mutually exclusive
+- when `audio_s3` is configured, `prepare` lists and downloads `.flac` objects through the object-store backend
+
+Cross-config validation scope:
+
+- `pipeline.storage.s3.bucket` is required only when an S3-dependent feature is explicitly configured (for current foundations, that includes `session.inputs.audio_s3`, and archive upload intent when using `storage.backend: s3`)
+- no AWS credential values are stored in Narratio config; only env-var names are configured
+- when both configured credential env vars resolve to non-empty values, the S3 backend uses them as static credentials
+- when either configured credential value is missing, the S3 backend falls back to the AWS SDK default credential chain
+
+Remote object-store backend scope:
+
+- remote storage APIs are isolated to `internal/adapters/storage`
+- AWS SDK types remain contained within the S3 backend implementation package
+- S3 key/session path semantics remain outside the backend, with this invariant:
+  - callers pass full bucket-relative object keys
+  - backend methods do not prepend `root_prefix` or infer campaign/session/run paths
+- `prepare` now uses object-store `List` and `Download` for S3 audio input
+- `archive` now uses object-store `Upload` for successful run-record upload under the run prefix
+- `archive` now uses object-store `Upload` for promoted outputs and current pointers
+
+Prepare S3 audio behavior (implemented):
+
+- compute session prefix as `{root_prefix}/campaigns/{campaign}/sessions/{session_id}/`
+- resolve `session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix` under that session prefix
+- list objects under the computed audio prefix and filter `.flac` keys
+- fail clearly when no `.flac` objects are found
+- download selected objects to spool audio path:
+  - `{spool.root}/{campaign}/{session_id}/{run_id}/audio/`
+- materialize audio files into workdir audio path:
+  - `{workspace.root}/work/{campaign}/{session_id}/{run_id}/audio/`
+- record S3 provenance in manifest input records (bucket/key/metadata/local paths/checksum)
+- no AWS SDK types are used in stage code; storage implementation details stay in storage adapter packages
+
+Archive publishing behavior (implemented):
+
+- `archive` verifies prerequisite stage success before upload:
+  - `prepare`, `transcribe`, `merge`, `polish`, `normalize`, `trim`, `analyze`
+- only successful/completed runs are uploaded
+- uploaded run record destination is:
+  - `{root_prefix}/campaigns/{campaign}/sessions/{session_id}/runs/{run_id}/`
+- uploaded existing local paths include:
+  - `inputs/`, `transcripts/`, `artifacts/`, optional `reports/`, `config/`, `logs/`, and `manifest.json`
+- local `audio/` is intentionally excluded from upload by default
+- file upload order is deterministic (sorted relative paths)
+- `archive.enabled: false` and `archive.upload_run: false` skip upload cleanly
+- stage metadata records non-secret upload context:
+  - run upload details, promoted output details, current manifest key, current pointer key
+  - no secrets, transcript contents, prompt contents, or environment dumps
+- promotion rules:
+  - `from` resolves from local workdir
+  - `to` resolves under session-level S3 root
+  - missing required source fails archive
+  - missing optional source is skipped and recorded
+- default promoted outputs:
+  - `transcripts/trimmed.json`
+  - `artifacts/session_recap.md`
+- current pointers:
+  - `current/manifest.json` uploaded after run upload and promotions
+  - `current/run_id.txt` uploaded last with `{run_id}\n`
+  - `current/run_id.txt` is the effective commit marker
+- if promotion or current-manifest upload fails, archive returns failure and does not write `current/run_id.txt`
+- failed/incomplete runs remain local and are not uploaded
+- post-archive local cleanup (implemented, opt-in):
+  - cleanup runs only after archive succeeded and wrote `current/run_id.txt`
+  - cleanup is executed after all selected stages in the command invocation succeed (for example, a later `notify` failure leaves local files intact)
+  - `pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive: true` removes only `{spool.root}/{campaign}/{session_id}/{run_id}/audio/`
+  - `pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive: true` removes only `{workspace.root}/work/{campaign}/{session_id}/{run_id}/`
+  - cleanup does not run when archive is skipped/disabled/fails or when run upload is disabled
+  - local development `audio_dir`/`audio_files` inputs are never removed by spool cleanup
+
 `pipeline.scriptorium` is optional. Existing pipelines without Scriptorium continue to work.

 `pipeline.trim` is optional. Existing pipelines without trim config continue to work.
@@ -118,17 +251,18 @@ Optional pipeline secrets directory:

 `pipeline.audita` drives the real Audita subprocess adapter for the `polish` stage.

-Audita required fields:
+Audita defaulted fields:

- `binary`
- `timeout`
- `base_url`
- `model`
+- `binary` defaults to `audita`
+- `timeout` defaults to `3h`
+- `report` defaults to `true`

 Audita optional fields:

 - `llm_api_key_env` (enforced only when configured)
 - `modules` override list (when omitted/empty, Narratio does not pass `--modules`)
+- `base_url` (when omitted, Narratio does not pass `--base-url`)
+- `model` (when omitted, Narratio does not pass `--model`)
 - `transcript_description`
 - `config_path`
 - `output_schema` (`bare-segments` or `audita-v1`)
@@ -137,9 +271,18 @@ Audita optional fields:
 - `proposal_llm_concurrency` (> 0 when provided)
 - `validation_model`
 - `validation_llm_concurrency` (> 0 when provided)
- `report` (default `true`)
+- `report` override

-Narratio passes only configured optional Audita flags; omitted optional values defer to Audita defaults.
+Narratio passes only configured optional Audita flags; omitted optional values defer to Audita runtime defaults/config.
+
+Seriatim defaults:
+
+- `pipeline.seriatim` may be omitted
+- `binary` defaults to `seriatim`
+- `timeout` defaults to `10m`
+- `output_schema` defaults to `seriatim-intermediate`
+- `coalesce_gap` defaults to `3.0`
+- `report` defaults to `true`

 When `pipeline.normalize` is omitted, defaults are applied:

@@ -173,7 +316,7 @@ When `pipeline.trim.enabled: true`:

 When `pipeline.scriptorium` is present:

- `binary` is required and non-empty
+- `binary` defaults to `scriptorium` when omitted
 - `config_path` is optional; when provided it must be non-empty
 - `timeout` is optional; when provided it must parse as a Go duration
 - default `timeout` is `10m`
--- a/docs/archive-storage.md
+++ b/docs/archive-storage.md
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+# Archive Storage
+
+This document describes implemented archive-stage publish behavior.
+
+## S3 Paths
+
+Session root:
+
+`{root_prefix}/campaigns/{campaign}/sessions/{session_id}/`
+
+Run prefix:
+
+`{root_prefix}/campaigns/{campaign}/sessions/{session_id}/runs/{run_id}/`
+
+## Scope
+
+Implemented:
+
+- archive uploads successful run records to remote object storage through the storage backend abstraction.
+- archive uploads configured promoted outputs to session-level keys.
+- archive uploads `current/manifest.json`.
+- archive uploads `current/run_id.txt` last as the effective commit marker.
+- optional post-archive local cleanup:
+  - `pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive: true` removes only the run-scoped spool audio directory
+  - `pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive: true` removes only the run-scoped local workdir
+- tests use fake storage and do not require live S3.
+
+Future work:
+
+- `notify` stage behavior
+- stale detection
+- optional future source-audio upload mode
+- additional artifact generation beyond current implemented set
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+Archive verifies these stages succeeded before upload:
+
+- `prepare`
+- `transcribe`
+- `merge`
+- `polish`
+- `normalize`
+- `trim`
+- `analyze`
+
+If any prerequisite is missing or not succeeded, archive fails and does not upload.
+Failed or incomplete runs remain local only.
+
+## Run Upload
+
+Archive uploads existing files from the run workdir when present:
+
+- `inputs/`
+- `transcripts/`
+- `artifacts/`
+- `reports/` (optional)
+- `config/`
+- `logs/`
+- `manifest.json`
+
+Relative paths are preserved under `runs/{run_id}/`.
+
+## Promotion Rules
+
+Archive applies `archive.promote_artifacts` in config order.
+
+Rule behavior:
+
+- `from`: local workdir-relative source path
+- `to`: session-root-relative destination key
+- `required: true`: missing source fails archive
+- `required: false`: missing source is skipped and recorded
+
+Default promoted outputs:
+
+- `transcripts/trimmed.json`
+- `artifacts/session_recap.md`
+
+## Current Pointers
+
+Archive writes:
+
+1. `current/manifest.json` (after run upload + promotions)
+2. `current/run_id.txt` last
+
+`current/run_id.txt` contains exactly:
+
+- `{run_id}` plus trailing newline
+
+Writing `current/run_id.txt` last makes it the effective commit marker for published session state.
+
+If any required run upload, promotion upload, or current-manifest upload fails, archive returns failure and does not write `current/run_id.txt`.
+Cleanup runs only after this commit-marker write has succeeded.
+
+## Audio Upload Policy
+
+Archive does not upload local `audio/` by default.
+Original audio is expected at the session-level audio prefix and is not duplicated under `runs/{run_id}/`.
+
+## Config Controls
+
+- `archive.enabled: false` skips archive cleanly.
+- `archive.upload_run: false` skips run upload cleanly.
+- both skip cases also skip post-archive local cleanup.
+
+## Metadata
+
+Archive stage metadata includes non-secret upload context (for example):
+
+- `s3_bucket`
+- `s3_run_prefix`
+- run upload counts/paths
+- promoted upload counts/paths
+- skipped optional promotions
+- `current_manifest_key`
+- `current_run_id_key`
+- `current_pointer_written`
+- `audio_upload_skipped`
--- a/docs/roadmap/narratio-s3-archive-implementation-plan.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/narratio-s3-archive-implementation-plan.md
@@ -79,6 +79,59 @@ current/run_id.txt:
  written last as the effective S3 commit pointer
 ```

+### 2.1 Implementation Status (2026-05-16)
+
+Implemented in repository:
+
+- storage/archive configuration and validation foundations:
+  - `storage.s3`
+  - `spool`
+  - `archive`
+  - promotion-rule safety checks
+  - `inputs.audio_s3` modeling
+- run and path-model foundations:
+  - run ID generation (`YYYYMMDDTHHMMSSZ-xxxxxxxx`)
+  - S3 key builders for session/run/current/promoted destinations
+  - campaign/session/run local work and spool path helpers
+  - manifest run/path identity fields
+- examples and tests for the above foundations
+- session template operator UX:
+  - default session config discovery (`./session.yml`, `/usr/local/etc/narratio/session.yml`, `/etc/narratio/session.yml`)
+  - `--session-id` template injection for `session_id`
+  - session template rendering before strict YAML decode
+  - unresolved template placeholders and `session_id` mismatches fail clearly
+- remote storage backend layer:
+  - object-store abstraction with `List`, `Download`, `Upload`, and `Exists`
+  - fake storage backend for deterministic, no-network testing
+  - S3-compatible backend built from `storage.s3` config
+  - backend construction helper from resolved config
+- archive run upload behavior:
+  - archive validates required prior stage success before uploading
+  - archive uploads successful run records under `runs/{run_id}/`
+  - upload set includes run-record files (`inputs`, `transcripts`, `artifacts`, optional `reports`, `config`, `logs`, `manifest.json`)
+  - local audio is not uploaded by default
+  - upload uses storage backend abstraction and deterministic ordering
+  - archive skips cleanly when `archive.enabled` or `archive.upload_run` is false
+- archive promotion and current publish behavior:
+  - promotion rules upload configured outputs to session-level destinations
+  - required missing promotion sources fail archive
+  - optional missing promotion sources are skipped and recorded
+  - `current/manifest.json` is uploaded after run upload and promotions
+  - `current/run_id.txt` is uploaded last as the effective commit marker
+  - current pointer content is `{run_id}` plus trailing newline
+  - if promotion/current manifest upload fails, current pointer is not written
+- post-archive local cleanup behavior:
+  - `pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive` removes run-scoped spool audio only after successful archive commit
+  - `pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive` removes run-scoped workdir only after successful archive commit
+  - cleanup is skipped for failed/incomplete/skipped/unarchived runs
+
+Not implemented yet:
+
+- `notify` stage behavior
+- generic stale detection based on input/config checksums
+- optional future mode for uploading source audio from local workspace/spool
+- additional artifact generation beyond current implemented set
+
 ## 3. S3 Layout

 The canonical S3 layout should be:
@@ -285,7 +338,7 @@ work/audio
 transcribe
 ```

-The `prepare` stage should:
+Implemented `prepare` behavior:

 1. list `.flac` objects under the configured S3 audio prefix,
 2. fail clearly if none are found,
@@ -302,7 +355,11 @@ spool:
  delete_audio_after_archive: true
 ```

-For v1, prefer retaining local workdir audio until the run has successfully archived. The source of truth remains S3, but local diagnostics are valuable during development.
+Current boundary:
+
+- downloaded audio is retained in spool/workdir
+- spool cleanup policy remains future work
+- archive does not upload source audio by default

 ## 6. Configuration Design

@@ -801,9 +858,9 @@ Test:
 - `run-stage` can find or require a run ID according to final CLI policy
 - multiple local runs are handled deterministically

-## 15. Implementation Phases
+## 15. Implementation Sequence

-### Phase 1: Config and Path Model
+### Config and Path Model (Implemented)

 Implement:

@@ -823,9 +880,9 @@ Expected commit:
 Add archive storage path configuration
 ```

-### Phase 2: Storage Backend Interface and S3 Backend
+### Storage Backend Interface and S3 Backend (Implemented)

-Implement:
+Implemented:

 - storage backend interface
 - object metadata type
@@ -833,7 +890,7 @@ Implement:
 - real S3 backend using AWS SDK or existing project dependency policy
 - backend construction from config

-No stage behavior yet.
+No prepare/archive stage behavior yet.

 Expected commit:

@@ -841,7 +898,7 @@ Expected commit:
 Add S3 storage backend abstraction
 ```

-### Phase 3: Prepare Stage S3 Audio Download
+### Prepare Stage S3 Audio Download

 Implement:

@@ -858,7 +915,7 @@ Expected commit:
 Download S3 audio during prepare"
 ```

-### Phase 4: Real Archive Stage Run Upload
+### Real Archive Stage Run Upload

 Implement:

@@ -873,7 +930,7 @@ Expected commit:
 Upload successful run records to S3
 ```

-### Phase 5: Promotion Rules and Current Pointer
+### Promotion Rules and Current Pointer

 Implement:

@@ -890,7 +947,7 @@ Expected commit:
 Promote current session artifacts to S3
 ```

-### Phase 6: Documentation and Examples
+### Documentation and Examples

 Update:

@@ -907,7 +964,7 @@ Expected commit:
 Document S3 archive workflow
 ```

-### Phase 7: Architectural Review
+### Architectural Review

 Review:

--- a/docs/runbooks/s3-archive-foundations.md
+++ b/docs/runbooks/s3-archive-foundations.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# S3 Archive Foundations Runbook
+
+This runbook documents the currently implemented storage/archive foundations and the boundaries of current behavior.
+
+## Implemented Now
+
+- config modeling for:
+  - `pipeline.storage.s3`
+  - `pipeline.spool`
+  - `pipeline.archive`
+  - `session.inputs.audio_s3`
+- promotion rule validation for safe relative paths
+- run ID generation and path/key helper functions
+- manifest run/path identity fields
+- remote storage backend layer:
+  - object-store interface (`List`, `Download`, `Upload`, `Exists`)
+  - fake backend for deterministic tests
+  - S3-compatible backend using AWS SDK v2
+  - config-based backend construction helper
+
+## Not Implemented Yet
+
+- prepare-stage S3 object listing or download
+- archive-stage S3 upload or promotion writes
+- writing `current/manifest.json` or `current/run_id.txt` in S3
+
+## Operational Notes
+
+- local audio workflows remain the active development path (`audio_dir` or `audio_files`)
+- `audio_s3` and local audio config are mutually exclusive
+- do not place AWS credentials in Narratio config files
+
+## Next Implementation Target
+
+Use the storage backend layer in prepare-stage session audio discovery/download flow, while preserving local audio input support.
--- a/docs/s3-audio-input.md
+++ b/docs/s3-audio-input.md
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# S3 Audio Input
+
+This document describes implemented S3 audio input behavior in `prepare`.
+
+## Scope
+
+Implemented:
+
+- `prepare` can acquire source audio from S3 when `session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix` is configured.
+- object listing and download go through the storage backend abstraction.
+- tests use fake storage; no live S3 service is required for test runs.
+
+Not implemented:
+
+- uploads of failed runs
+
+## Required Configuration
+
+`pipeline.yml`:
+
+- `storage.s3.bucket` must be set when S3 audio input is used.
+- `storage.s3.root_prefix` defaults to `dnd`.
+- `storage.s3.access_key_id_env` defaults to `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID`.
+- `storage.s3.secret_access_key_env` defaults to `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY`.
+- `spool.root` defaults to `/var/spool/narratio`.
+
+`session.yml`:
+
+- configure `session.campaign` and `session.session_id`.
+- configure `session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix` for S3 audio input.
+- do not configure `inputs.audio_dir` or `inputs.audio_files` at the same time as `inputs.audio_s3`.
+
+## Prefix Shape
+
+Session S3 root:
+
+`{root_prefix}/campaigns/{campaign}/sessions/{session_id}/`
+
+Audio prefix:
+
+`{session_root}/{audio_s3.prefix}`
+
+Example:
+
+`dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/audio/`
+
+Audio files must already exist in S3 before running Narratio.
+
+## Prepare Behavior
+
+When `inputs.audio_s3.prefix` is configured, `prepare`:
+
+1. lists objects under the computed S3 audio prefix
+2. filters to `.flac` objects
+3. fails when no `.flac` objects are found
+4. downloads selected objects to spool audio:
+   - `{spool.root}/{campaign}/{session_id}/{run_id}/audio/`
+5. materializes audio into workdir audio:
+   - `{workspace.root}/work/{campaign}/{session_id}/{run_id}/audio/`
+6. records input provenance in the manifest (bucket, key, metadata, local paths, checksum)
+
+Notes:
+
+- `.flac` filtering is case-insensitive.
+- ETag is recorded as provider metadata only and is not treated as a checksum.
+
+## Local Audio Development
+
+Local audio workflows remain supported:
+
+- `inputs.audio_dir`
+- `inputs.audio_files`
+
+These options are mutually exclusive with `inputs.audio_s3`.
+
+## Archive Boundary
+
+Current archive behavior relevant to S3 audio input:
+
+- successful runs are uploaded by archive under `runs/{run_id}/`
+- configured promotions are uploaded to session-level destinations
+- `current/manifest.json` and `current/run_id.txt` are published
+- local source audio is not re-uploaded by default
+- failed or incomplete runs are not uploaded
--- a/docs/storage-backends.md
+++ b/docs/storage-backends.md
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+# Storage Backends
+
+This document describes the currently implemented remote object storage backend layer used by Narratio, and its intended role in later prepare/archive work.
+
+## Implemented
+
+Remote object store abstraction:
+
+- `List(ctx, prefix)`
+- `Download(ctx, key, localPath)`
+- `Upload(ctx, localPath, key, opts)`
+- `Exists(ctx, key)`
+
+Object metadata model includes:
+
+- key
+- size
+- ETag (provider metadata only)
+- last modified time when available
+
+Backends:
+
+- fake storage backend for deterministic tests
+- S3-compatible backend implemented with AWS SDK for Go v2
+
+Construction:
+
+- config-based constructor builds S3 backend from `pipeline.storage.s3` values:
+  - bucket
+  - region
+  - endpoint
+  - force_path_style
+  - access_key_id_env
+  - secret_access_key_env
+
+## Key Invariant
+
+- callers pass full bucket-relative object keys
+- storage backends do not prepend `root_prefix`
+- storage backends do not infer campaign/session/run paths
+
+S3 session/run key builders remain separate and continue to live outside backend implementations.
+
+## Security Boundary
+
+- do not store AWS credentials in Narratio config
+- Narratio first checks configured env-var names (`access_key_id_env`, `secret_access_key_env`);
+  when both are present and non-empty, it uses static credentials from those values
+- when either configured credential value is missing, Narratio falls back to the standard AWS SDK credential chain
+- AWS SDK-specific types remain isolated to the storage adapter package
+
+## Testing
+
+- fake storage tests cover list/download/upload/exists and error paths
+- S3 backend tests use injected fake S3 API clients
+- tests do not require live S3 services, AWS credentials, or network access
+
+## Not Implemented Yet
+
+- prepare-stage S3 object listing or downloads
+- archive-stage S3 uploads or promotion writes
+- writing `current/manifest.json` or `current/run_id.txt` to S3
--- a/examples/pipeline.audita-overrides.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.audita-overrides.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+workspace:
+  root: ./tmp/narratio-workspace
+
+whisperx:
+  transcribe_url: "https://transcription.example.com/transcribe"
+
+seriatim:
+  binary: "seriatim"
+  timeout: "10m"
+  output_schema: "seriatim-intermediate"
+  coalesce_gap: 3.0
+
+audita:
+  binary: "audita"
+  timeout: "3h"
+  base_url: "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
+  model: "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it"
+  llm_api_key_env: "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY"
+  modules: ["glossary", "homophones", "spoken_word", "grammar"]
+  output_schema: "audita-v1"
+  work_dir_retention: "auto"
+  total_llm_concurrency: 2
+  proposal_llm_concurrency: 1
+  validation_model: "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it"
+  validation_llm_concurrency: 1
+  report: true
--- a/examples/pipeline.minimal.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.minimal.yml
@@ -1,101 +1,51 @@
 workspace:
  root: ./tmp/narratio-workspace
+  cleanup_after_archive: false

 storage:
-  backend: local
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: "my-dnd-archive"
+    root_prefix: "dnd"
+    region: "us-east-1"
+    # Optional credential env-var names (defaulted when omitted):
+    # access_key_id_env: "OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID"
+    # secret_access_key_env: "OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY"

-secrets:
-  # Optional: load environment variables from files in this directory.
-  # File name = env var name; file contents = env var value.
-  env_dir: /var/local/narratio/secrets
+spool:
+  root: "/var/spool/narratio"
+  delete_audio_after_archive: false
+
+archive:
+  enabled: true
+  upload_run: true

 whisperx:
  transcribe_url: "https://transcription.example.com/transcribe"
-  language: "en"
-  timeout: "30m"
-  retries: 3
-  retry_delay: "2s"
-  concurrency: 2

-seriatim:
-  binary: "seriatim"
-  timeout: "10m"
-  output_schema: "seriatim-intermediate"
-  coalesce_gap: 3.0
-  report: true
-  env:
-    overlap_word_run_gap: 1.0
-    overlap_word_run_reorder_window: 1.0
-    backchannel_max_duration: 2.0
-    filler_max_duration: 1.25
+# Optional. When omitted entirely, Narratio defaults to seriatim binary + runtime defaults.
+seriatim: {}

+# Optional runtime overrides. Model/provider can be owned by Audita runtime config.
 audita:
-  binary: "audita"
-  timeout: "3h"
+  config_path: "/usr/local/etc/audita/config.yml"
  llm_api_key_env: "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY"
-  # Optional: pass only when overriding Audita's default module sequence.
-  modules: []
-  base_url: "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
-  model: "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it"
-  transcript_description: ""
-  config_path: ""
-  output_schema: "audita-v1"
-  work_dir_retention: "auto"
-  total_llm_concurrency: 1
-  proposal_llm_concurrency: 1
-  validation_model: ""
-  validation_llm_concurrency: 1
-  report: true
-
-normalize:
-  # Session-workdir-relative when not absolute.
-  output_path: "transcripts/normalized.json"
-  output_schema: "seriatim-intermediate"
-  report: true
-
-trim:
-  enabled: true
-  # Session-workdir-relative when not absolute.
-  output_path: "transcripts/trimmed.json"
-  bounds:
-    prompt_id: "dnd_session.bounds"
-    # Empty means use prompt default profile.
-    profile_id: ""
-    transcript_input_name: "transcript"
-    output_path: "artifacts/session_bounds.json"
-    timeout: "10m"
-    render_debug: false
-    render_output_path: "artifacts/session_bounds.render.json"
-  seriatim:
-    report: false

+# Optional Scriptorium integration for analyze artifacts.
 scriptorium:
-  binary: "scriptorium"
-  config_path: "/etc/scriptorium/config.yml"
-  timeout: "10m"
-  render_debug: false
+  config_path: "/usr/local/etc/scriptorium/config.yml"
  artifacts:
    session_recap:
      enabled: true
      prompt_id: "dnd.session_recap"
-      profile_id: "local-quality"
      output_path: "artifacts/session_recap.md"
-      timeout: "10m"
-      # Optional per-artifact override of global scriptorium.render_debug.
-      # render_debug: true
      inputs:
        transcript:
-          # Available transcript sources:
-          # - trimmed_transcript (recommended for session_recap)
-          # - normalized_transcript (recommended for future full-session analysis)
-          # - processed_transcript (raw Audita-polished output)
          source: "trimmed_transcript"
          required: true
        previous_recap:
          source: "previous_session_artifact"
          artifact: "session_recap"
-          # Optional: set when previous recap is available.
-          path: ""
          required: false
      vars:
        session_id: true
@@ -103,11 +53,3 @@ scriptorium:
        campaign_name: true
        previous_session_id: true
        output_kind: "session_recap"
-
-analyzer:
-  timeout: 20m
-  artifacts:
-    output_dir: artifacts
-
-notification:
-  timeout: 10s
--- a/examples/session.minimal.yml
+++ b/examples/session.minimal.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ date: 2026-05-03
 title: Sample Session
 inputs:
  audio_dir: ./audio
+  # Optional S3 input alternative. Do not configure with audio_dir/audio_files.
+  # Narratio prepare lists this prefix and downloads .flac files.
+  # audio_s3:
+  #   prefix: "audio/"
  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
-
--- a/examples/session.template.yml
+++ b/examples/session.template.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+session_id: "{{ session_id }}"
+campaign: sample-campaign
+date: ""
+title: ""
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  # Optional S3 input alternative. Do not configure with audio_dir/audio_files.
+  # audio_s3:
+  #   prefix: "audio/{{ session_id }}/"
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -2,4 +2,27 @@ module gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio

 go 1.25.0

-require gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
+require (
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/config v1.32.17
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3 v1.101.0
+	github.com/aws/smithy-go v1.25.1
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
+)
+
+require (
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2 v1.41.7 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/aws/protocol/eventstream v1.7.10 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/credentials v1.19.16 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/feature/ec2/imds v1.18.23 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/configsources v1.4.23 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/endpoints/v2 v2.7.23 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/v4a v1.4.24 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/accept-encoding v1.13.9 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/checksum v1.9.15 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/presigned-url v1.13.23 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/s3shared v1.19.23 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/signin v1.0.11 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/sso v1.30.17 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/ssooidc v1.35.21 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/sts v1.42.1 // indirect
+)
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,3 +1,39 @@
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2 v1.41.7 h1:DWpAJt66FmnnaRIOT/8ASTucrvuDPZASqhhLey6tLY8=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2 v1.41.7/go.mod h1:4LAfZOPHNVNQEckOACQx60Y8pSRjIkNZQz1w92xpMJc=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/aws/protocol/eventstream v1.7.10 h1:gx1AwW1Iyk9Z9dD9F4akX5gnN3QZwUB20GGKH/I+Rho=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/aws/protocol/eventstream v1.7.10/go.mod h1:qqY157uZoqm5OXq/amuaBJyC9hgBCBQnsaWnPe905GY=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/config v1.32.17 h1:FpL4/758/diKwqbytU0prpuiu60fgXKUWCpDJtApclU=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/config v1.32.17/go.mod h1:OXqUMzgXytfoF9JaKkhrOYsyh72t9G+MJH8mMRaexOE=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/credentials v1.19.16 h1:r3RJBuU7X9ibt8RHbMjWE6y60QbKBiII6wSrXnapxSU=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/credentials v1.19.16/go.mod h1:6cx7zqDENJDbBIIWX6P8s0h6hqHC8Avbjh9Dseo27ug=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/feature/ec2/imds v1.18.23 h1:UuSfcORqNSz/ey3VPRS8TcVH2Ikf0/sC+Hdj400QI6U=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/feature/ec2/imds v1.18.23/go.mod h1:+G/OSGiOFnSOkYloKj/9M35s74LgVAdJBSD5lsFfqKg=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/configsources v1.4.23 h1:GpT/TrnBYuE5gan2cZbTtvP+JlHsutdmlV2YfEyNde0=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/configsources v1.4.23/go.mod h1:xYWD6BS9ywC5bS3sz9Xh04whO/hzK2plt2Zkyrp4JuA=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/endpoints/v2 v2.7.23 h1:bpd8vxhlQi2r1hiueOw02f/duEPTMK59Q4QMAoTTtTo=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/endpoints/v2 v2.7.23/go.mod h1:15DfR2nw+CRHIk0tqNyifu3G1YdAOy68RftkhMDDwYk=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/v4a v1.4.24 h1:OQqn11BtaYv1WLUowvcA30MpzIu8Ti4pcLPIIyoKZrA=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/v4a v1.4.24/go.mod h1:X5ZJyfwVrWA96GzPmUCWFQaEARPR7gCrpq2E92PJwAE=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/accept-encoding v1.13.9 h1:FLudkZLt5ci0ozzgkVo8BJGwvqNaZbTWb3UcucAateA=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/accept-encoding v1.13.9/go.mod h1:w7wZ/s9qK7c8g4al+UyoF1Sp/Z45UwMGcqIzLWVQHWk=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/checksum v1.9.15 h1:ieLCO1JxUWuxTZ1cRd0GAaeX7O6cIxnwk7tc1LsQhC4=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/checksum v1.9.15/go.mod h1:e3IzZvQ3kAWNykvE0Tr0RDZCMFInMvhku3qNpcIQXhM=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/presigned-url v1.13.23 h1:pbrxO/kuIwgEsOPLkaHu0O+m4fNgLU8B3vxQ+72jTPw=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/presigned-url v1.13.23/go.mod h1:/CMNUqoj46HpS3MNRDEDIwcgEnrtZlKRaHNaHxIFpNA=
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 gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405 h1:yhCVgyC4o1eVCa2tZl7eS0r+SDo693bJlVdllGtEeKM=
 gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 h1:fxVm/GzAzEWqLHuvctI91KS9hhNmmWOoWu0XTYJS7CA=
--- a/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess.go
@@ -108,18 +108,14 @@ func NewSubprocessRunner(cfg SubprocessRunnerConfig) (*SubprocessRunner, error)
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita module at index %d is empty", i)
 		}
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.BaseURL) == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita base url is required")
-	}
-	u, err := url.Parse(cfg.BaseURL)
-	if err != nil || u.Scheme == "" || u.Host == "" {
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita base url %q is invalid: %w", cfg.BaseURL, err)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.BaseURL) != "" {
+		u, err := url.Parse(cfg.BaseURL)
+		if err != nil || u.Scheme == "" || u.Host == "" {
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita base url %q is invalid: %w", cfg.BaseURL, err)
+			}
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita base url %q is invalid", cfg.BaseURL)
 		}
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita base url %q is invalid", cfg.BaseURL)
-	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Model) == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita model is required")
 	}
 	if cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency != nil && *cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency <= 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita total llm concurrency must be > 0 when provided")
@@ -307,10 +303,14 @@ func (r *SubprocessRunner) buildArgs(req PolishRequest, modules []string) []stri
 		req.MergedTranscriptPath,
 		"--glossary", req.GlossaryPath,
 		"--output", req.OutputProcessedPath,
-		"--base-url", r.baseURL,
-		"--model", r.model,
 		"--work-dir", req.WorkDir,
 	}
+	if r.baseURL != "" {
+		args = append(args, "--base-url", r.baseURL)
+	}
+	if r.model != "" {
+		args = append(args, "--model", r.model)
+	}
 	if len(modules) > 0 {
 		args = append(args, "--modules", strings.Join(modules, ","))
 	}
--- a/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess_test.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess_test.go
@@ -99,9 +99,9 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSuccessArgsEnvAndValidation(t *testing.T) {
 		"process", req.MergedTranscriptPath,
 		"--glossary", req.GlossaryPath,
 		"--output", req.OutputProcessedPath,
+		"--work-dir", req.WorkDir,
 		"--base-url", "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
 		"--model", "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		"--work-dir", req.WorkDir,
 		"--modules", "glossary,homophones,glossary",
 		"--report-json", req.ReportPath,
 		"--transcript-description", "Campaign Session 42",
@@ -248,6 +248,36 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerOmitsModulesFlagWhenNotConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

+func TestSubprocessRunnerOmitsBaseURLAndModelFlagsWhenNotConfigured(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("helper wrapper script uses /bin/sh")
+	}
+	t.Setenv("GO_WANT_AUDITA_HELPER", "1")
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_MODE", "success")
+	recordPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json")
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", recordPath)
+
+	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
+		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "",
+		Report:       false,
+	})
+	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
+	if _, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	rec := readAuditaHelperRecord(t, recordPath)
+	for i := 0; i < len(rec.Args); i++ {
+		if rec.Args[i] == "--base-url" {
+			t.Fatalf("args contained --base-url unexpectedly: %#v", rec.Args)
+		}
+		if rec.Args[i] == "--model" {
+			t.Fatalf("args contained --model unexpectedly: %#v", rec.Args)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSubprocessRunnerSubprocessFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
 		t.Skip("helper wrapper script uses /bin/sh")
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/factory.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/factory.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package storage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+)
+
+// NewObjectStoreFromConfig constructs a remote object store from resolved config.
+func NewObjectStoreFromConfig(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config) (ObjectStore, error) {
+	if cfg == nil || cfg.Pipeline == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("pipeline config is required")
+	}
+
+	if strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.Backend), "s3") {
+		if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3 is required when pipeline.storage.backend is s3")
+		}
+		return NewS3BackendFromConfig(ctx, *cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3)
+	}
+
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 != nil && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket) != "" {
+		return NewS3BackendFromConfig(ctx, *cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3)
+	}
+
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("no remote object store backend is configured")
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/factory_test.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/factory_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package storage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+)
+
+func TestNewObjectStoreFromConfigBuildsS3WhenBackendIsS3(t *testing.T) {
+	original := newS3Client
+	t.Cleanup(func() { newS3Client = original })
+	newS3Client = func(_ context.Context, _ s3ClientOptions) (s3API, error) {
+		return &fakeS3API{}, nil
+	}
+
+	store, err := NewObjectStoreFromConfig(context.Background(), &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Storage: config.StorageConfig{
+				Backend: "s3",
+				S3: &config.StorageS3Config{
+					Bucket: "my-archive",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewObjectStoreFromConfig() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := store.(*S3Backend); !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("store type = %T, want *S3Backend", store)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewObjectStoreFromConfigRequiresS3ConfigWhenBackendIsS3(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := NewObjectStoreFromConfig(context.Background(), &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Storage: config.StorageConfig{Backend: "s3"},
+		},
+	})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "pipeline.storage.s3 is required") {
+		t.Fatalf("NewObjectStoreFromConfig() error = %v, want missing storage.s3 error", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewObjectStoreFromConfigNoRemoteBackendConfigured(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := NewObjectStoreFromConfig(context.Background(), &config.Config{
+		Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+			Storage: config.StorageConfig{Backend: "local"},
+		},
+	})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no remote object store backend is configured") {
+		t.Fatalf("NewObjectStoreFromConfig() error = %v, want no-backend error", err)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/fake.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/fake.go
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 package storage

-import "context"
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)

 // NoopBackend is a deterministic no-op archive/storage adapter.
 type NoopBackend struct{}
@@ -18,6 +26,21 @@ type FakeBackend struct {
 	Requests []ArchiveRequest
 	Err      error
 	Result   ArchiveResult
+
+	Objects map[string]FakeObject
+	Uploads []FakeUploadCall
+
+	ListErr     error
+	DownloadErr error
+	UploadErr   error
+	ExistsErr   error
+}
+
+// FakeUploadCall captures one upload invocation in call order.
+type FakeUploadCall struct {
+	LocalPath string
+	Key       string
+	Options   UploadOptions
 }

 // Archive records request and returns configured response.
@@ -38,3 +61,148 @@ func (f *FakeBackend) Archive(ctx context.Context, req ArchiveRequest) (ArchiveR
 	}
 	return res, nil
 }
+
+// FakeObject is a deterministic fake object-store record.
+type FakeObject struct {
+	Key          string
+	Data         []byte
+	Metadata     map[string]string
+	ETag         string
+	LastModified *time.Time
+}
+
+// SeedObject inserts or replaces an object in the fake object store.
+func (f *FakeBackend) SeedObject(obj FakeObject) {
+	if f.Objects == nil {
+		f.Objects = map[string]FakeObject{}
+	}
+	key := normalizeObjectKey(obj.Key)
+	obj.Key = key
+	obj.Data = append([]byte(nil), obj.Data...)
+	obj.Metadata = copyMetadata(obj.Metadata)
+	f.Objects[key] = obj
+}
+
+// List returns deterministic prefix-filtered objects.
+func (f *FakeBackend) List(ctx context.Context, prefix string) ([]ObjectInfo, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if f.ListErr != nil {
+		return nil, f.ListErr
+	}
+
+	normalizedPrefix := normalizeObjectKey(prefix)
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(f.Objects))
+	for key := range f.Objects {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(key, normalizedPrefix) {
+			keys = append(keys, key)
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	out := make([]ObjectInfo, 0, len(keys))
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		obj := f.Objects[key]
+		out = append(out, ObjectInfo{
+			Key:          obj.Key,
+			Size:         int64(len(obj.Data)),
+			ETag:         obj.ETag,
+			LastModified: obj.LastModified,
+		})
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// Download writes one object to a local path.
+func (f *FakeBackend) Download(ctx context.Context, key, localPath string) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if f.DownloadErr != nil {
+		return f.DownloadErr
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(localPath) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object: local path is required")
+	}
+
+	obj, ok := f.Objects[normalizeObjectKey(key)]
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: %w", key, os.ErrNotExist)
+	}
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(localPath), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: create parent directory: %w", key, err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(localPath, obj.Data, 0o644); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: write local file: %w", key, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Upload reads a local file and stores it under key.
+func (f *FakeBackend) Upload(ctx context.Context, localPath, key string, opts UploadOptions) (ObjectInfo, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, err
+	}
+	if f.UploadErr != nil {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, f.UploadErr
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(localPath) == "" {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object: local path is required")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(key) == "" {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object: key is required")
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(localPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object %q from %q: %w", key, localPath, err)
+	}
+
+	normalizedKey := normalizeObjectKey(key)
+	f.Uploads = append(f.Uploads, FakeUploadCall{
+		LocalPath: localPath,
+		Key:       normalizedKey,
+		Options: UploadOptions{
+			Metadata:    copyMetadata(opts.Metadata),
+			ContentType: opts.ContentType,
+		},
+	})
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	obj := FakeObject{
+		Key:          normalizedKey,
+		Data:         data,
+		Metadata:     copyMetadata(opts.Metadata),
+		LastModified: &now,
+	}
+	f.SeedObject(obj)
+	return ObjectInfo{
+		Key:          normalizedKey,
+		Size:         int64(len(data)),
+		LastModified: &now,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Exists checks object presence.
+func (f *FakeBackend) Exists(ctx context.Context, key string) (bool, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if f.ExistsErr != nil {
+		return false, f.ExistsErr
+	}
+	_, ok := f.Objects[normalizeObjectKey(key)]
+	return ok, nil
+}
+
+func copyMetadata(in map[string]string) map[string]string {
+	if len(in) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make(map[string]string, len(in))
+	for k, v := range in {
+		out[k] = v
+	}
+	return out
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/fake_test.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/fake_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ package storage
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )

@@ -29,3 +32,84 @@ func TestFakeBackendError(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestFakeBackendListPrefixFiltering(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := &FakeBackend{}
+	fake.SeedObject(FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/audio/a.flac", Data: []byte("a")})
+	fake.SeedObject(FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/audio/b.flac", Data: []byte("b")})
+	fake.SeedObject(FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/other/audio/c.flac", Data: []byte("c")})
+
+	items, err := fake.List(context.Background(), "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/audio/")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("List() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(items) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("List() len = %d, want 2", len(items))
+	}
+	if items[0].Key != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/audio/a.flac" || items[1].Key != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/audio/b.flac" {
+		t.Fatalf("List() keys = %#v", items)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFakeBackendDownload(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := &FakeBackend{}
+	fake.SeedObject(FakeObject{Key: "audio/a.flac", Data: []byte("audio-a")})
+
+	dst := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "nested", "a.flac")
+	if err := fake.Download(context.Background(), "audio/a.flac", dst); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Download() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(data) != "audio-a" {
+		t.Fatalf("downloaded content = %q, want %q", string(data), "audio-a")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFakeBackendUploadAndExists(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := &FakeBackend{}
+
+	local := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "upload.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(local, []byte("payload"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	info, err := fake.Upload(context.Background(), local, `runs\id\artifact.txt`, UploadOptions{
+		Metadata: map[string]string{"kind": "artifact"},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Upload() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if info.Key != "runs/id/artifact.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("Upload() key = %q, want normalized key", info.Key)
+	}
+
+	ok, err := fake.Exists(context.Background(), "runs/id/artifact.txt")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Exists() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("Exists() = false, want true")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFakeBackendObjectErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := &FakeBackend{DownloadErr: errors.New("download fail"), UploadErr: errors.New("upload fail"), ListErr: errors.New("list fail"), ExistsErr: errors.New("exists fail")}
+
+	if _, err := fake.List(context.Background(), "x"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "list fail") {
+		t.Fatalf("List() error = %v, want list fail", err)
+	}
+	if err := fake.Download(context.Background(), "x", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "x")); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "download fail") {
+		t.Fatalf("Download() error = %v, want download fail", err)
+	}
+	local := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "x.txt")
+	_ = os.WriteFile(local, []byte("x"), 0o644)
+	if _, err := fake.Upload(context.Background(), local, "x", UploadOptions{}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "upload fail") {
+		t.Fatalf("Upload() error = %v, want upload fail", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := fake.Exists(context.Background(), "x"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exists fail") {
+		t.Fatalf("Exists() error = %v, want exists fail", err)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/keys.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/keys.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+package storage
+
+import "strings"
+
+func normalizeObjectKey(key string) string {
+	normalized := strings.ReplaceAll(strings.TrimSpace(key), "\\", "/")
+	return strings.TrimLeft(normalized, "/")
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/keys_test.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/keys_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+package storage
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestNormalizeObjectKey(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		in   string
+		want string
+	}{
+		{in: `dnd\campaigns\forsaken\a.flac`, want: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/a.flac"},
+		{in: " /dnd/campaigns/forsaken/a.flac ", want: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/a.flac"},
+		{in: "//dnd/campaigns/forsaken/a.flac", want: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/a.flac"},
+		{in: "", want: ""},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		if got := normalizeObjectKey(tt.in); got != tt.want {
+			t.Fatalf("normalizeObjectKey(%q) = %q, want %q", tt.in, got, tt.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/object_store.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/object_store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package storage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// ObjectStore is a remote object storage boundary used by future prepare/archive work.
+//
+// Key invariant:
+// callers pass full bucket-relative object keys. Backend implementations do not
+// infer Narratio session semantics and do not prepend root prefixes.
+type ObjectStore interface {
+	List(ctx context.Context, prefix string) ([]ObjectInfo, error)
+	Download(ctx context.Context, key, localPath string) error
+	Upload(ctx context.Context, localPath, key string, opts UploadOptions) (ObjectInfo, error)
+	Exists(ctx context.Context, key string) (bool, error)
+}
+
+// ObjectInfo describes one object in remote storage.
+type ObjectInfo struct {
+	Key          string
+	Size         int64
+	ETag         string
+	LastModified *time.Time
+}
+
+// UploadOptions configures optional object upload metadata.
+type UploadOptions struct {
+	Metadata    map[string]string
+	ContentType string
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend.go
@@ -0,0 +1,275 @@
+package storage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	awsconfig "github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/config"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/credentials"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3/types"
+	"github.com/aws/smithy-go"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+)
+
+type s3API interface {
+	ListObjectsV2(ctx context.Context, params *s3.ListObjectsV2Input, optFns ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.ListObjectsV2Output, error)
+	GetObject(ctx context.Context, params *s3.GetObjectInput, optFns ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.GetObjectOutput, error)
+	PutObject(ctx context.Context, params *s3.PutObjectInput, optFns ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.PutObjectOutput, error)
+	HeadObject(ctx context.Context, params *s3.HeadObjectInput, optFns ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.HeadObjectOutput, error)
+}
+
+// S3Backend is an ObjectStore implementation backed by S3-compatible APIs.
+type S3Backend struct {
+	bucket string
+	client s3API
+}
+
+type s3ClientOptions struct {
+	Region         string
+	Endpoint       string
+	ForcePathStyle bool
+	AccessKeyID    string
+	SecretKey      string
+}
+
+var newS3Client = func(ctx context.Context, opts s3ClientOptions) (s3API, error) {
+	loadOpts := make([]func(*awsconfig.LoadOptions) error, 0, 1)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(opts.Region) != "" {
+		loadOpts = append(loadOpts, awsconfig.WithRegion(strings.TrimSpace(opts.Region)))
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(opts.AccessKeyID) != "" && strings.TrimSpace(opts.SecretKey) != "" {
+		loadOpts = append(loadOpts, awsconfig.WithCredentialsProvider(
+			credentials.NewStaticCredentialsProvider(
+				strings.TrimSpace(opts.AccessKeyID),
+				strings.TrimSpace(opts.SecretKey),
+				"",
+			),
+		))
+	}
+	awsCfg, err := awsconfig.LoadDefaultConfig(ctx, loadOpts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load aws config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return s3.NewFromConfig(awsCfg, func(o *s3.Options) {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(opts.Endpoint) != "" {
+			endpoint := strings.TrimSpace(opts.Endpoint)
+			o.BaseEndpoint = &endpoint
+		}
+		o.UsePathStyle = opts.ForcePathStyle
+	}), nil
+}
+
+// NewS3BackendFromConfig builds an S3 backend from resolved config.
+func NewS3BackendFromConfig(ctx context.Context, cfg config.StorageS3Config) (*S3Backend, error) {
+	bucket := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Bucket)
+	if bucket == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("storage.s3.bucket is required")
+	}
+
+	client, err := newS3Client(ctx, s3ClientOptions{
+		Region:         cfg.Region,
+		Endpoint:       cfg.Endpoint,
+		ForcePathStyle: cfg.ForcePathStyle,
+		AccessKeyID:    s3CredentialFromEnv(orDefaultEnvName(cfg.AccessKeyIDEnv, config.DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv)),
+		SecretKey:      s3CredentialFromEnv(orDefaultEnvName(cfg.SecretKeyEnv, config.DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv)),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("build s3 client: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &S3Backend{
+		bucket: bucket,
+		client: client,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func s3CredentialFromEnv(envVarName string) string {
+	name := strings.TrimSpace(envVarName)
+	if name == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	value, ok := os.LookupEnv(name)
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(value)
+}
+
+func orDefaultEnvName(name, fallback string) string {
+	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(name)
+	if trimmed == "" {
+		return fallback
+	}
+	return trimmed
+}
+
+// List returns objects under prefix.
+func (b *S3Backend) List(ctx context.Context, prefix string) ([]ObjectInfo, error) {
+	normalizedPrefix := normalizeObjectKey(prefix)
+	out := make([]ObjectInfo, 0)
+	var token *string
+
+	for {
+		resp, err := b.client.ListObjectsV2(ctx, &s3.ListObjectsV2Input{
+			Bucket:            &b.bucket,
+			Prefix:            &normalizedPrefix,
+			ContinuationToken: token,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("list objects under %q: %w", normalizedPrefix, err)
+		}
+
+		for _, item := range resp.Contents {
+			var lastModified *time.Time
+			if item.LastModified != nil {
+				t := *item.LastModified
+				lastModified = &t
+			}
+			out = append(out, ObjectInfo{
+				Key:          normalizeObjectKey(valueOrEmpty(item.Key)),
+				Size:         valueOrZeroInt64(item.Size),
+				ETag:         strings.Trim(valueOrEmpty(item.ETag), "\""),
+				LastModified: lastModified,
+			})
+		}
+
+		if !valueOrFalseBool(resp.IsTruncated) || resp.NextContinuationToken == nil {
+			break
+		}
+		token = resp.NextContinuationToken
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// Download retrieves one object to localPath, creating parent directories as needed.
+func (b *S3Backend) Download(ctx context.Context, key, localPath string) error {
+	normalizedKey := normalizeObjectKey(key)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(localPath) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object: local path is required")
+	}
+
+	resp, err := b.client.GetObject(ctx, &s3.GetObjectInput{
+		Bucket: &b.bucket,
+		Key:    &normalizedKey,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: %w", normalizedKey, err)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(localPath), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: create parent directory: %w", normalizedKey, err)
+	}
+	dst, err := os.Create(localPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: create local file: %w", normalizedKey, err)
+	}
+	defer dst.Close()
+
+	if _, err := io.Copy(dst, resp.Body); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: copy body: %w", normalizedKey, err)
+	}
+	if err := dst.Sync(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("download object %q: sync local file: %w", normalizedKey, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Upload sends a local file to key.
+func (b *S3Backend) Upload(ctx context.Context, localPath, key string, opts UploadOptions) (ObjectInfo, error) {
+	normalizedKey := normalizeObjectKey(key)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(localPath) == "" {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object: local path is required")
+	}
+	if normalizedKey == "" {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object: key is required")
+	}
+
+	file, err := os.Open(localPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object %q from %q: %w", normalizedKey, localPath, err)
+	}
+	defer file.Close()
+
+	stat, err := file.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object %q from %q: stat local file: %w", normalizedKey, localPath, err)
+	}
+
+	input := &s3.PutObjectInput{
+		Bucket:   &b.bucket,
+		Key:      &normalizedKey,
+		Body:     file,
+		Metadata: copyMetadata(opts.Metadata),
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(opts.ContentType) != "" {
+		ct := strings.TrimSpace(opts.ContentType)
+		input.ContentType = &ct
+	}
+
+	resp, err := b.client.PutObject(ctx, input)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ObjectInfo{}, fmt.Errorf("upload object %q from %q: %w", normalizedKey, localPath, err)
+	}
+
+	return ObjectInfo{
+		Key:  normalizedKey,
+		Size: stat.Size(),
+		ETag: strings.Trim(valueOrEmpty(resp.ETag), "\""),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Exists checks whether one object key exists.
+func (b *S3Backend) Exists(ctx context.Context, key string) (bool, error) {
+	normalizedKey := normalizeObjectKey(key)
+	_, err := b.client.HeadObject(ctx, &s3.HeadObjectInput{
+		Bucket: &b.bucket,
+		Key:    &normalizedKey,
+	})
+	if err == nil {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+
+	var notFound *types.NotFound
+	if errors.As(err, &notFound) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	var apiErr smithy.APIError
+	if errors.As(err, &apiErr) {
+		switch apiErr.ErrorCode() {
+		case "NotFound", "NoSuchKey", "404":
+			return false, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return false, fmt.Errorf("head object %q: %w", normalizedKey, err)
+}
+
+func valueOrEmpty(v *string) string {
+	if v == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return *v
+}
+
+func valueOrZeroInt64(v *int64) int64 {
+	if v == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return *v
+}
+
+func valueOrFalseBool(v *bool) bool {
+	if v == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return *v
+}
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend_test.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+package storage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3/types"
+	"github.com/aws/smithy-go"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+)
+
+type fakeS3API struct {
+	listOut *s3.ListObjectsV2Output
+	listErr error
+
+	getBody io.ReadCloser
+	getErr  error
+
+	putOut *s3.PutObjectOutput
+	putErr error
+
+	headErr error
+
+	lastList *s3.ListObjectsV2Input
+	lastGet  *s3.GetObjectInput
+	lastPut  *s3.PutObjectInput
+	lastHead *s3.HeadObjectInput
+}
+
+func (f *fakeS3API) ListObjectsV2(_ context.Context, params *s3.ListObjectsV2Input, _ ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.ListObjectsV2Output, error) {
+	f.lastList = params
+	if f.listErr != nil {
+		return nil, f.listErr
+	}
+	if f.listOut == nil {
+		return &s3.ListObjectsV2Output{}, nil
+	}
+	return f.listOut, nil
+}
+
+func (f *fakeS3API) GetObject(_ context.Context, params *s3.GetObjectInput, _ ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.GetObjectOutput, error) {
+	f.lastGet = params
+	if f.getErr != nil {
+		return nil, f.getErr
+	}
+	body := f.getBody
+	if body == nil {
+		body = io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(""))
+	}
+	return &s3.GetObjectOutput{Body: body}, nil
+}
+
+func (f *fakeS3API) PutObject(_ context.Context, params *s3.PutObjectInput, _ ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.PutObjectOutput, error) {
+	f.lastPut = params
+	if f.putErr != nil {
+		return nil, f.putErr
+	}
+	if f.putOut == nil {
+		return &s3.PutObjectOutput{}, nil
+	}
+	return f.putOut, nil
+}
+
+func (f *fakeS3API) HeadObject(_ context.Context, params *s3.HeadObjectInput, _ ...func(*s3.Options)) (*s3.HeadObjectOutput, error) {
+	f.lastHead = params
+	if f.headErr != nil {
+		return nil, f.headErr
+	}
+	return &s3.HeadObjectOutput{}, nil
+}
+
+func TestS3BackendListAndKeyNormalization(t *testing.T) {
+	lastModified := time.Date(2026, 5, 16, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	client := &fakeS3API{
+		listOut: &s3.ListObjectsV2Output{
+			Contents: []types.Object{
+				{Key: strPtr(`dnd\campaigns\forsaken\a.flac`), Size: int64Ptr(7), ETag: strPtr(`"abc"`), LastModified: &lastModified},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	backend := &S3Backend{bucket: "bucket-1", client: client}
+
+	items, err := backend.List(context.Background(), `dnd\campaigns\`)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("List() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(items) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("List() len = %d, want 1", len(items))
+	}
+	if items[0].Key != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/a.flac" {
+		t.Fatalf("List() key = %q, want normalized slash key", items[0].Key)
+	}
+	if items[0].ETag != "abc" {
+		t.Fatalf("List() ETag = %q, want %q", items[0].ETag, "abc")
+	}
+	if client.lastList == nil || *client.lastList.Prefix != "dnd/campaigns/" {
+		t.Fatalf("List() prefix = %#v, want normalized prefix", client.lastList)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestS3BackendDownloadCreatesParentDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &fakeS3API{getBody: io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader("audio"))}
+	backend := &S3Backend{bucket: "bucket-1", client: client}
+
+	dst := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "nested", "clip.flac")
+	if err := backend.Download(context.Background(), `audio\clip.flac`, dst); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Download() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(dst)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(data) != "audio" {
+		t.Fatalf("downloaded content = %q, want %q", string(data), "audio")
+	}
+	if client.lastGet == nil || *client.lastGet.Key != "audio/clip.flac" {
+		t.Fatalf("GetObject key = %#v, want normalized key", client.lastGet)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestS3BackendUploadAndExists(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &fakeS3API{putOut: &s3.PutObjectOutput{ETag: strPtr(`"etag123"`)}}
+	backend := &S3Backend{bucket: "bucket-1", client: client}
+
+	local := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(local, []byte("artifact"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteFile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	info, err := backend.Upload(context.Background(), local, `runs\id\artifact.txt`, UploadOptions{
+		Metadata: map[string]string{"kind": "artifact"},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Upload() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if info.Key != "runs/id/artifact.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("Upload key = %q, want normalized key", info.Key)
+	}
+	if info.ETag != "etag123" {
+		t.Fatalf("Upload ETag = %q, want %q", info.ETag, "etag123")
+	}
+	if client.lastPut == nil || *client.lastPut.Key != "runs/id/artifact.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("PutObject key = %#v, want normalized key", client.lastPut)
+	}
+
+	ok, err := backend.Exists(context.Background(), "runs/id/artifact.txt")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Exists() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("Exists() = false, want true")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestS3BackendUploadMissingLocalFile(t *testing.T) {
+	backend := &S3Backend{bucket: "bucket-1", client: &fakeS3API{}}
+	_, err := backend.Upload(context.Background(), filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.txt"), "key.txt", UploadOptions{})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no such file") {
+		t.Fatalf("Upload() error = %v, want missing local file error", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestS3BackendExistsNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	backend := &S3Backend{
+		bucket: "bucket-1",
+		client: &fakeS3API{
+			headErr: &smithy.GenericAPIError{Code: "NotFound", Message: "missing"},
+		},
+	}
+	ok, err := backend.Exists(context.Background(), "missing-key")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Exists() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if ok {
+		t.Fatal("Exists() = true, want false")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigUsesClientOptions(t *testing.T) {
+	original := newS3Client
+	t.Cleanup(func() { newS3Client = original })
+	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID", "id-123")
+	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY", "secret-abc")
+
+	var got s3ClientOptions
+	newS3Client = func(_ context.Context, opts s3ClientOptions) (s3API, error) {
+		got = opts
+		return &fakeS3API{}, nil
+	}
+
+	backend, err := NewS3BackendFromConfig(context.Background(), config.StorageS3Config{
+		Bucket:         "my-archive",
+		Region:         "us-east-1",
+		Endpoint:       "http://localhost:9000",
+		ForcePathStyle: true,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewS3BackendFromConfig() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if backend.bucket != "my-archive" {
+		t.Fatalf("backend.bucket = %q, want %q", backend.bucket, "my-archive")
+	}
+	if got.Region != "us-east-1" || got.Endpoint != "http://localhost:9000" || !got.ForcePathStyle {
+		t.Fatalf("client options = %#v, want region/endpoint/path-style values", got)
+	}
+	if got.AccessKeyID != "id-123" || got.SecretKey != "secret-abc" {
+		t.Fatalf("client options credentials = %#v, want env-resolved static credentials", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigRequiresBucket(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := NewS3BackendFromConfig(context.Background(), config.StorageS3Config{})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "bucket is required") {
+		t.Fatalf("NewS3BackendFromConfig() error = %v, want bucket validation", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigFallsBackWhenCredentialEnvMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	original := newS3Client
+	t.Cleanup(func() { newS3Client = original })
+
+	var got s3ClientOptions
+	newS3Client = func(_ context.Context, opts s3ClientOptions) (s3API, error) {
+		got = opts
+		return &fakeS3API{}, nil
+	}
+
+	_, err := NewS3BackendFromConfig(context.Background(), config.StorageS3Config{
+		Bucket:         "my-archive",
+		Region:         "us-east-1",
+		AccessKeyIDEnv: "MISSING_ACCESS_KEY_ID",
+		SecretKeyEnv:   "MISSING_SECRET_KEY",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewS3BackendFromConfig() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.AccessKeyID != "" || got.SecretKey != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("client options credentials = %#v, want empty fallback values", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func strPtr(v string) *string { return &v }
+func int64Ptr(v int64) *int64 { return &v }
+
+var _ s3API = (*fakeS3API)(nil)
--- a/internal/app/commands_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/commands_test.go
@@ -64,12 +64,12 @@ func TestExecuteMissingRequiredFlags(t *testing.T) {
 		args []string
 		want string
 	}{
-		{name: "run missing flags", args: []string{"run"}, want: "run: --session is required"},
-		{name: "plan missing flags", args: []string{"plan"}, want: "plan: --session is required"},
+		{name: "run missing flags", args: []string{"run"}, want: "run: no pipeline config path provided and no default pipeline config found; searched:"},
+		{name: "plan missing flags", args: []string{"plan"}, want: "plan: no pipeline config path provided and no default pipeline config found; searched:"},
 		{name: "status missing flags", args: []string{"status"}, want: "status: --manifest is required"},
-		{name: "resume missing flags", args: []string{"resume"}, want: "resume: --session is required"},
+		{name: "resume missing flags", args: []string{"resume"}, want: "resume: no pipeline config path provided and no default pipeline config found; searched:"},
 		{name: "run-stage missing name", args: []string{"run-stage", "--config", "a", "--session", "b"}, want: "run-stage: expected exactly one stage name"},
-		{name: "run-stage missing config flags", args: []string{"run-stage", "polish"}, want: "run-stage: --session is required"},
+		{name: "run-stage missing config flags", args: []string{"run-stage", "polish"}, want: "run-stage: no pipeline config path provided and no default pipeline config found; searched:"},
 		{name: "run missing config uses defaults", args: []string{"run", "--session", "session.yml"}, want: "run: no pipeline config path provided and no default pipeline config found; searched:"},
 	}

@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ notification:
  timeout: 10s
 `
 	sessionYAML := `session_id: ` + sessionID + `
+campaign: sample-campaign
 inputs:
  audio_dir: ./audio
  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
@@ -271,6 +272,7 @@ notification:
  timeout: 10s
 `
 	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: sample-campaign
 inputs:
  audio_dir: ./audio
  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
@@ -377,6 +379,11 @@ func writeValidConfigFiles(t *testing.T, workspaceRoot string, transcribeURL ...
  root: ` + workspaceRoot + `
 storage:
  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: test-bucket
+archive:
+  enabled: true
+  upload_run: false
 whisperx:
  transcribe_url: ` + url + `
  timeout: 2s
@@ -400,6 +407,7 @@ notification:
 `

 	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: sample-campaign
 inputs:
  audio_dir: ./audio
  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
--- a/internal/app/plan.go
+++ b/internal/app/plan.go
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@ func Plan(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {

 	var pipelinePath string
 	var sessionPath string
+	var sessionID string
 	var force bool
 	fs.StringVar(&pipelinePath, "config", "", "path to pipeline.yml (optional; defaults searched)")
 	fs.StringVar(&sessionPath, "session", "", "path to session.yml")
+	fs.StringVar(&sessionID, "session-id", "", "session identifier for session.yml templates")
 	fs.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "force stage execution (reserved for future behavior)")

 	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
@@ -32,16 +34,18 @@ func Plan(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	if fs.NArg() != 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("plan: unexpected positional arguments")
 	}
-	if sessionPath == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("plan: --session is required")
-	}
-
 	resolvedPipelinePath, err := resolvePipelineConfigPath(pipelinePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("plan: %w", err)
 	}
+	resolvedSessionPath, err := resolveSessionConfigPath(sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("plan: %w", err)
+	}

-	cfg, err := config.Load(resolvedPipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadWithSessionOptions(resolvedPipelinePath, resolvedSessionPath, config.SessionLoadOptions{
+		SessionID: sessionID,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("plan: %w", err)
 	}
--- a/internal/app/plan_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/plan_test.go
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ notification:
  timeout: 10s
 `
 	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: sample-campaign
 inputs:
  audio_dir: ./audio
  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
--- a/internal/app/post_archive_cleanup.go
+++ b/internal/app/post_archive_cleanup.go
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+)
+
+func runPostArchiveCleanup(ctx context.Context, env *Env, manifestPath string, m *manifest.Manifest, executed []string) error {
+	if env == nil || env.Config == nil || env.Config.Pipeline == nil || m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	spoolRequested := env.Config.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive
+	workRequested := env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive
+	if !spoolRequested && !workRequested {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	sr := archiveStageRecordForCleanup(m, executed)
+	if sr == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if sr.Metadata == nil {
+		sr.Metadata = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	sr.Metadata["spool_cleanup_requested"] = spoolRequested
+	sr.Metadata["workdir_cleanup_requested"] = workRequested
+
+	eligible, reason := archiveCleanupEligible(env.Config, sr)
+	if !eligible {
+		sr.Metadata["cleanup_skipped"] = true
+		sr.Metadata["cleanup_skipped_reason"] = reason
+		if err := env.ManifestStore.Save(ctx, manifestPath, m); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("save manifest cleanup skip metadata %q: %w", manifestPath, err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	spoolDir := strings.TrimSpace(m.LocalSpoolDir)
+	if spoolDir == "" {
+		spoolDir = artifacts.SessionSpoolAudioDir(
+			env.Config.Pipeline.Spool.Root,
+			strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.Campaign),
+			strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.SessionID),
+			strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID),
+		)
+	}
+	workDir := strings.TrimSpace(m.LocalWorkDir)
+	if workDir == "" {
+		workDir = artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(
+			env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root,
+			strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.Campaign),
+			strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.SessionID),
+			strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID),
+		)
+	}
+
+	if spoolRequested {
+		if err := removeRunScopedDir(strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Pipeline.Spool.Root), spoolDir, "pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive"); err != nil {
+			sr.Metadata["cleanup_failed"] = true
+			sr.Metadata["cleanup_failed_policy"] = "pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_archive"
+			sr.Metadata["cleanup_failed_path"] = spoolDir
+			_ = env.ManifestStore.Save(ctx, manifestPath, m)
+			return err
+		}
+		sr.Metadata["spool_cleanup_deleted"] = filepath.Clean(spoolDir)
+	}
+
+	if !workRequested {
+		sr.Metadata["cleanup_completed"] = true
+		sr.Metadata["cleanup_skipped"] = false
+		if err := env.ManifestStore.Save(ctx, manifestPath, m); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("save manifest cleanup metadata %q: %w", manifestPath, err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := removeRunScopedDir(strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root), workDir, "pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive"); err != nil {
+		sr.Metadata["cleanup_failed"] = true
+		sr.Metadata["cleanup_failed_policy"] = "pipeline.workspace.cleanup_after_archive"
+		sr.Metadata["cleanup_failed_path"] = workDir
+		_ = env.ManifestStore.Save(ctx, manifestPath, m)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	sr.Metadata["workdir_cleanup_deleted"] = filepath.Clean(workDir)
+	sr.Metadata["cleanup_completed"] = true
+	sr.Metadata["cleanup_skipped"] = false
+	return nil
+}
+
+func archiveStageRecordForCleanup(m *manifest.Manifest, executed []string) *manifest.StageRecord {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	archiveRan := false
+	for _, name := range executed {
+		if name == "archive" {
+			archiveRan = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if !archiveRan {
+		return nil
+	}
+	sr := m.Stages["archive"]
+	if sr == nil || sr.Status != manifest.StatusSucceeded {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return sr
+}
+
+func archiveCleanupEligible(cfg *config.Config, sr *manifest.StageRecord) (bool, string) {
+	if cfg == nil || cfg.Pipeline == nil || cfg.Pipeline.Archive == nil {
+		return false, "archive configuration is missing"
+	}
+	enabled := true
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled != nil {
+		enabled = *cfg.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled
+	}
+	if !enabled {
+		return false, "archive.enabled is false"
+	}
+	uploadRun := true
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun != nil {
+		uploadRun = *cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun
+	}
+	if !uploadRun {
+		return false, "archive.upload_run is false"
+	}
+	if sr == nil || sr.Metadata == nil {
+		return false, "archive metadata is missing"
+	}
+	if skipped, _ := sr.Metadata["skipped"].(bool); skipped {
+		return false, "archive stage was skipped"
+	}
+	if uploaded, _ := sr.Metadata["uploaded"].(bool); !uploaded {
+		return false, "archive did not upload run record"
+	}
+	if pointer, _ := sr.Metadata["current_pointer_written"].(bool); !pointer {
+		return false, "archive did not write current pointer"
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(asString(sr.Metadata["current_run_id_key"])) == "" {
+		return false, "archive current run pointer key is missing"
+	}
+	return true, ""
+}
+
+func removeRunScopedDir(root, target, policy string) error {
+	cleanRoot := strings.TrimSpace(root)
+	cleanTarget := strings.TrimSpace(target)
+	if cleanRoot == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: root path is required", policy)
+	}
+	if cleanTarget == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: target path is required", policy)
+	}
+
+	rootAbs, err := filepath.Abs(cleanRoot)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: resolve root %q: %w", policy, cleanRoot, err)
+	}
+	targetAbs, err := filepath.Abs(cleanTarget)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: resolve target %q: %w", policy, cleanTarget, err)
+	}
+
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(rootAbs, targetAbs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: relative path from %q to %q: %w", policy, rootAbs, targetAbs, err)
+	}
+	if rel == "." {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: refusing to delete root directory %q", policy, rootAbs)
+	}
+	if rel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: refusing to delete path outside root: root=%q target=%q", policy, rootAbs, targetAbs)
+	}
+
+	info, err := os.Lstat(targetAbs)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: stat target %q: %w", policy, targetAbs, err)
+	}
+	if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: refusing to delete symlink path %q", policy, targetAbs)
+	}
+	if !info.IsDir() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: target %q is not a directory", policy, targetAbs)
+	}
+	if err := os.RemoveAll(targetAbs); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cleanup policy %s: remove %q: %w", policy, targetAbs, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func asString(v any) string {
+	s, _ := v.(string)
+	return s
+}
--- a/internal/app/post_archive_cleanup_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/post_archive_cleanup_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,396 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/stage"
+)
+
+type archiveSuccessStage struct {
+	metadata map[string]any
+}
+
+func (archiveSuccessStage) Name() string           { return "archive" }
+func (archiveSuccessStage) Declares() stage.IODecl { return stage.IODecl{} }
+func (s archiveSuccessStage) Run(_ context.Context, _ *stage.Env, _ *manifest.Manifest) (*stage.StageResult, error) {
+	md := map[string]any{
+		"stage":                   "archive",
+		"uploaded":                true,
+		"current_pointer_written": true,
+		"current_run_id_key":      "dnd/campaigns/sample-campaign/sessions/2026-05-03/current/run_id.txt",
+	}
+	for k, v := range s.metadata {
+		md[k] = v
+	}
+	return &stage.StageResult{Metadata: md}, nil
+}
+
+type notifyFailStage struct{}
+
+func (notifyFailStage) Name() string           { return "notify" }
+func (notifyFailStage) Declares() stage.IODecl { return stage.IODecl{} }
+func (notifyFailStage) Run(_ context.Context, _ *stage.Env, _ *manifest.Manifest) (*stage.StageResult, error) {
+	return nil, errors.New("notify failed")
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupDisabledKeepsLocalDirs(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = false
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = false
+
+	if _, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.localSourceAudio)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupSpoolOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = false
+
+	if _, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	assertMissing(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.localSourceAudio)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupWorkdirOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = false
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+
+	if _, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root)
+	assertExists(t, seed.otherRunDir)
+	assertMissing(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupBothPolicies(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+
+	if _, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	assertMissing(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertMissing(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.otherRunDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupNotRunWhenArchiveFails(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+
+	_, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{failingStage{name: "archive", err: errors.New("archive failed")}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "stage \"archive\" failed") {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v, want archive failure", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupNotRunWhenArchiveSkipped(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+
+	if _, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{metadata: map[string]any{"skipped": true}}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupNotRunWhenCurrentPointerMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+
+	if _, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{metadata: map[string]any{"current_pointer_written": false}}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupNotRunWhenArchiveUploadDisabled(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun = boolPtr(false)
+
+	if _, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupWaitsUntilAllStagesSucceed(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+
+	_, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{}, notifyFailStage{}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "stage \"notify\" failed") {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v, want notify failure", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupFailsOnUnsafePath(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, _ := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = false
+
+	manifestPath := manifestPathFor(cfg)
+	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
+	m, err := store.Load(context.Background(), manifestPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	m.LocalSpoolDir = filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(cfg.Pipeline.Spool.Root), "outside-spool")
+	if err := store.Save(context.Background(), manifestPath, m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Save() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveSuccessStage{}}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "refusing to delete path outside root") {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v, want safe-path failure", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupNotRunWhenPromotionIsMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed, runID := archiveStageCleanupFixture(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts = []config.ArchivePromotionRule{
+		{From: "artifacts/missing.md", To: "artifacts/missing.md", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+	}
+
+	archiveStageImpl, err := stage.Select("archive")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Select(archive) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	_, err = executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveStageImpl}, RunOptions{Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{}}})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "required promotion source missing") {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v, want promotion-missing failure", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+	assertExists(t, filepath.Join(seed.runWorkDir, "manifest.json"))
+	assertExists(t, artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID, runID))
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupNotRunWhenCurrentManifestUploadFails(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed, _ := archiveStageCleanupFixture(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+	failKey := seed.sessionPrefix + "current/manifest.json"
+
+	archiveStageImpl, err := stage.Select("archive")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Select(archive) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	_, err = executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveStageImpl}, RunOptions{
+		Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &failKeyStore{delegate: &storage.FakeBackend{}, failKey: failKey}},
+	})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "current manifest") {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v, want current-manifest failure", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+}
+
+func TestPostArchiveCleanupNotRunWhenCurrentPointerUploadFails(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, seed, _ := archiveStageCleanupFixture(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive = true
+	cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive = true
+	failKey := seed.sessionPrefix + "current/run_id.txt"
+
+	archiveStageImpl, err := stage.Select("archive")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Select(archive) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	_, err = executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{archiveStageImpl}, RunOptions{
+		Env: &Env{ObjectStore: &failKeyStore{delegate: &storage.FakeBackend{}, failKey: failKey}},
+	})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "current run pointer") {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v, want current-run-pointer failure", err)
+	}
+
+	assertExists(t, seed.spoolAudioDir)
+	assertExists(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+}
+
+type cleanupSeed struct {
+	runWorkDir       string
+	otherRunDir      string
+	spoolAudioDir    string
+	localSourceAudio string
+	sessionPrefix    string
+}
+
+func cleanupFixtureConfig(t *testing.T) (*config.Config, cleanupSeed) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	cfg := testConfig(t)
+	cfg.Pipeline.Archive = &config.ArchiveConfig{Enabled: boolPtr(true), UploadRun: boolPtr(true)}
+	cfg.Pipeline.Spool.Root = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "spool")
+
+	runID := "20260516T010203Z-1a2b3c4d"
+	runWorkDir := artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID, runID)
+	otherRunDir := artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID, "20260516T010204Z-5e6f7a8b")
+	spoolAudioDir := artifacts.SessionSpoolAudioDir(cfg.Pipeline.Spool.Root, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID, runID)
+
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "manifest.json"), "{}\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "logs", "stage.log"), "log\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(otherRunDir, "logs", "stage.log"), "other\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(spoolAudioDir, "speaker.flac"), "flac\n")
+
+	localSourceAudio := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(cfg.SessionPath), "audio", "alice.flac")
+	mustWriteFile(t, localSourceAudio, "source\n")
+
+	seed := manifest.New(cfg.Session.SessionID, time.Now().UTC())
+	seed.Campaign = cfg.Session.Campaign
+	seed.RunID = runID
+	seed.LocalWorkDir = runWorkDir
+	seed.LocalSpoolDir = spoolAudioDir
+	seed.S3Bucket = "my-dnd-archive"
+	seed.S3SessionPrefix = "dnd/campaigns/sample-campaign/sessions/2026-05-03/"
+	seed.S3RunPrefix = seed.S3SessionPrefix + "runs/" + runID + "/"
+
+	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(manifestPathFor(cfg)), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("MkdirAll() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Save(context.Background(), manifestPathFor(cfg), seed); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seed manifest save error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return cfg, cleanupSeed{
+		runWorkDir:       runWorkDir,
+		otherRunDir:      otherRunDir,
+		spoolAudioDir:    spoolAudioDir,
+		localSourceAudio: localSourceAudio,
+		sessionPrefix:    seed.S3SessionPrefix,
+	}
+}
+
+func archiveStageCleanupFixture(t *testing.T) (*config.Config, cleanupSeed, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	cfg, seed := cleanupFixtureConfig(t)
+	runID := "20260516T010203Z-1a2b3c4d"
+	cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 = &config.StorageS3Config{
+		Bucket:     "my-dnd-archive",
+		RootPrefix: "dnd",
+	}
+	cfg.Pipeline.Archive = &config.ArchiveConfig{
+		Enabled:   boolPtr(true),
+		UploadRun: boolPtr(true),
+		PromoteArtifacts: []config.ArchivePromotionRule{
+			{From: "transcripts/trimmed.json", To: "transcripts/trimmed.json", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+			{From: "artifacts/session_recap.md", To: "artifacts/session_recap.md", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+		},
+	}
+	writeArchiveFixtureRunFiles(t, seed.runWorkDir)
+
+	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
+	seedManifest, err := store.Load(context.Background(), manifestPathFor(cfg))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze"} {
+		seedManifest.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Now().UTC(), nil)
+	}
+	seedManifest.S3SessionPrefix = artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
+	seedManifest.S3RunPrefix = artifacts.S3RunPrefix(seedManifest.S3SessionPrefix, runID)
+	if err := store.Save(context.Background(), manifestPathFor(cfg), seedManifest); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Save() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	seed.sessionPrefix = seedManifest.S3SessionPrefix
+	return cfg, seed, runID
+}
+
+func writeArchiveFixtureRunFiles(t *testing.T, runWorkDir string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "inputs", "session.yml"), "session_id: 2026-05-03\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "transcripts", "raw", "speaker.json"), "{}\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "transcripts", "trimmed.json"), "{}\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "artifacts", "session_recap.md"), "# recap\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "reports", "audita.report.json"), "{}\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "config", "audita.generated.yml"), "key: value\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "logs", "audita.stderr.log"), "stderr\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "manifest.json"), "{}\n")
+}
+
+type failKeyStore struct {
+	delegate *storage.FakeBackend
+	failKey  string
+}
+
+func (s *failKeyStore) List(ctx context.Context, prefix string) ([]storage.ObjectInfo, error) {
+	return s.delegate.List(ctx, prefix)
+}
+
+func (s *failKeyStore) Download(ctx context.Context, key, localPath string) error {
+	return s.delegate.Download(ctx, key, localPath)
+}
+
+func (s *failKeyStore) Upload(ctx context.Context, localPath, key string, opts storage.UploadOptions) (storage.ObjectInfo, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(key) == strings.TrimSpace(s.failKey) {
+		return storage.ObjectInfo{}, errors.New("forced upload failure")
+	}
+	return s.delegate.Upload(ctx, localPath, key, opts)
+}
+
+func (s *failKeyStore) Exists(ctx context.Context, key string) (bool, error) {
+	return s.delegate.Exists(ctx, key)
+}
+
+func assertExists(t *testing.T, path string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected path to exist %q: %v", path, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func assertMissing(t *testing.T, path string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected path to be removed %q, stat err=%v", path, err)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/app/resume.go
+++ b/internal/app/resume.go
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@ func Resume(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {

 	var pipelinePath string
 	var sessionPath string
+	var sessionID string
 	var force bool
 	fs.StringVar(&pipelinePath, "config", "", "path to pipeline.yml (optional; defaults searched)")
 	fs.StringVar(&sessionPath, "session", "", "path to session.yml")
+	fs.StringVar(&sessionID, "session-id", "", "session identifier for session.yml templates")
 	fs.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "force stage execution")

 	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
@@ -28,16 +30,18 @@ func Resume(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	if fs.NArg() != 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("resume: unexpected positional arguments")
 	}
-	if sessionPath == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("resume: --session is required")
-	}
-
 	resolvedPipelinePath, err := resolvePipelineConfigPath(pipelinePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
 	}
+	resolvedSessionPath, err := resolveSessionConfigPath(sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
+	}

-	cfg, err := config.Load(resolvedPipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadWithSessionOptions(resolvedPipelinePath, resolvedSessionPath, config.SessionLoadOptions{
+		SessionID: sessionID,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("resume: %w", err)
 	}
--- a/internal/app/run.go
+++ b/internal/app/run.go
@@ -16,9 +16,11 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {

 	var pipelinePath string
 	var sessionPath string
+	var sessionID string
 	var force bool
 	fs.StringVar(&pipelinePath, "config", "", "path to pipeline.yml (optional; defaults searched)")
 	fs.StringVar(&sessionPath, "session", "", "path to session.yml")
+	fs.StringVar(&sessionID, "session-id", "", "session identifier for session.yml templates")
 	fs.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "force stage execution (reserved for future behavior)")

 	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
@@ -27,16 +29,18 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	if fs.NArg() != 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("run: unexpected positional arguments")
 	}
-	if sessionPath == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("run: --session is required")
-	}
-
 	resolvedPipelinePath, err := resolvePipelineConfigPath(pipelinePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("run: %w", err)
 	}
+	resolvedSessionPath, err := resolveSessionConfigPath(sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("run: %w", err)
+	}

-	cfg, err := config.Load(resolvedPipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadWithSessionOptions(resolvedPipelinePath, resolvedSessionPath, config.SessionLoadOptions{
+		SessionID: sessionID,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("run: %w", err)
 	}
--- a/internal/app/run_stage.go
+++ b/internal/app/run_stage.go
@@ -16,9 +16,11 @@ func RunStage(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {

 	var pipelinePath string
 	var sessionPath string
+	var sessionID string
 	var force bool
 	fs.StringVar(&pipelinePath, "config", "", "path to pipeline.yml (optional; defaults searched)")
 	fs.StringVar(&sessionPath, "session", "", "path to session.yml")
+	fs.StringVar(&sessionID, "session-id", "", "session identifier for session.yml templates")
 	fs.BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "force stage execution (reserved for future behavior)")

 	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
@@ -27,10 +29,6 @@ func RunStage(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	if fs.NArg() != 1 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("run-stage: expected exactly one stage name")
 	}
-	if sessionPath == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("run-stage: --session is required")
-	}
-
 	stageName := fs.Arg(0)
 	stages, err := BuildSingleStagePlan(stageName)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -41,8 +39,14 @@ func RunStage(ctx context.Context, args []string, out io.Writer) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("run-stage: %w", err)
 	}
+	resolvedSessionPath, err := resolveSessionConfigPath(sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("run-stage: %w", err)
+	}

-	cfg, err := config.Load(resolvedPipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadWithSessionOptions(resolvedPipelinePath, resolvedSessionPath, config.SessionLoadOptions{
+		SessionID: sessionID,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("run-stage: %w", err)
 	}
--- a/internal/app/runner.go
+++ b/internal/app/runner.go
@@ -81,6 +81,13 @@ func executeStages(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, stages []stage.Stage
 	if env.Storage == nil {
 		env.Storage = &storage.NoopBackend{}
 	}
+	if env.ObjectStore == nil && needsObjectStoreForRun(env.Config, stages) {
+		objectStore, err := storage.NewObjectStoreFromConfig(ctx, env.Config)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("initialize object store backend: %w", err)
+		}
+		env.ObjectStore = objectStore
+	}
 	if env.Notifier == nil {
 		env.Notifier = &notify.NoopSender{}
 	}
@@ -104,6 +111,15 @@ func executeStages(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, stages []stage.Stage
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	identityChanged, err := ensureManifestIdentity(cfg, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("initialize manifest identity: %w", err)
+	}
+	if identityChanged {
+		if err := env.ManifestStore.Save(ctx, manifestPath, m); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("save manifest identity %q: %w", manifestPath, err)
+		}
+	}

 	stageEnv := env

@@ -152,6 +168,10 @@ func executeStages(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, stages []stage.Stage
 		env.Logger.Info("stage succeeded", "stage", s.Name())
 	}

+	if err := runPostArchiveCleanup(ctx, env, manifestPath, m, executed); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("post-archive cleanup: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	return &RunSummary{
 		SessionID:    cfg.Session.SessionID,
 		ManifestPath: manifestPath,
@@ -230,7 +250,7 @@ func buildDefaultAuditaRunner(cfg *config.Config) (audita.Runner, error) {
 	}

 	a := cfg.Pipeline.Audita
-	if strings.TrimSpace(a.Binary) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(a.Timeout) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(a.BaseURL) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(a.Model) == "" {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(a.Binary) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(a.Timeout) == "" {
 		// Compatibility fallback for tests or internal call paths that bypass config validation/defaults.
 		return &audita.NoopRunner{}, nil
 	}
@@ -338,6 +358,89 @@ func applyStageResultToManifest(m *manifest.Manifest, stageName string, result *
 	}
 }

+func ensureManifestIdentity(cfg *config.Config, m *manifest.Manifest) (bool, error) {
+	if cfg == nil || cfg.Pipeline == nil || cfg.Session == nil || m == nil {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	changed := false
+	campaign := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.Campaign)
+	sessionID := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Session.SessionID)
+	if sessionID == "" {
+		sessionID = strings.TrimSpace(m.SessionID)
+	}
+
+	if m.Campaign == "" && campaign != "" {
+		m.Campaign = campaign
+		changed = true
+	}
+	if m.RunID == "" {
+		runID, err := artifacts.NewRunID()
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		m.RunID = runID
+		changed = true
+	}
+	if m.LocalWorkDir == "" && campaign != "" && sessionID != "" && m.RunID != "" {
+		m.LocalWorkDir = artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, campaign, sessionID, m.RunID)
+		changed = true
+	}
+	if m.LocalSpoolDir == "" && campaign != "" && sessionID != "" && m.RunID != "" && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Pipeline.Spool.Root) != "" {
+		m.LocalSpoolDir = artifacts.SessionSpoolAudioDir(cfg.Pipeline.Spool.Root, campaign, sessionID, m.RunID)
+		changed = true
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 != nil {
+		if m.S3Bucket == "" && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket) != "" {
+			m.S3Bucket = strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket)
+			changed = true
+		}
+		sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, campaign, sessionID)
+		if m.S3SessionPrefix == "" && sessionPrefix != "" {
+			m.S3SessionPrefix = sessionPrefix
+			changed = true
+		}
+		runPrefix := artifacts.S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, m.RunID)
+		if m.S3RunPrefix == "" && runPrefix != "" {
+			m.S3RunPrefix = runPrefix
+			changed = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return changed, nil
+}
+
 func manifestPathFor(cfg *config.Config) string {
 	return filepath.Join(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, "work", cfg.Session.SessionID, "manifest.json")
 }
+
+func needsObjectStoreForRun(cfg *config.Config, stages []stage.Stage) bool {
+	if cfg == nil || cfg.Pipeline == nil || cfg.Session == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	stageRequested := func(name string) bool {
+		for _, s := range stages {
+			if s != nil && s.Name() == name {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if cfg.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 != nil && stageRequested("prepare") {
+		return true
+	}
+	if !stageRequested("archive") {
+		return false
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled != nil && !*cfg.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled {
+		return false
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun != nil && !*cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
--- a/internal/app/runner_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/runner_test.go
@@ -144,6 +144,15 @@ func TestExecuteStagesPlaceholderSuccessUpdatesManifest(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			continue
 		}
+		if name == "archive" {
+			if sr.Metadata == nil || sr.Metadata["stage"] != "archive" {
+				t.Fatalf("archive metadata missing stage=archive: %#v", sr.Metadata)
+			}
+			if sr.Metadata["skipped"] != true {
+				t.Fatalf("archive metadata missing skipped=true for test config without archive section: %#v", sr.Metadata)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
 		if sr.Metadata == nil || sr.Metadata["placeholder"] != true {
 			t.Fatalf("stage %q missing placeholder metadata", name)
 		}
@@ -315,7 +324,7 @@ func TestAdapterBackedStageFailureMarksManifestFailed(t *testing.T) {
 		{name: "merge", env: &Env{Seriatim: &seriatim.FakeRunner{Err: errors.New("merge fail")}}},
 		{name: "polish", env: &Env{Audita: &audita.FakeRunner{Err: errors.New("polish fail")}}},
 		{name: "analyze", env: &Env{Scriptorium: &scriptorium.FakeRunner{RunErr: errors.New("analyze fail")}}},
-		{name: "archive", env: &Env{Storage: &storage.FakeBackend{Err: errors.New("archive fail")}}},
+		{name: "archive", env: &Env{ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{UploadErr: errors.New("archive fail")}}},
 		{name: "notify", env: &Env{Notifier: &notify.FakeSender{Err: errors.New("notify fail")}}},
 	}

@@ -400,6 +409,41 @@ func TestAdapterBackedStageFailureMarksManifestFailed(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				}
 			}
+			if tc.name == "archive" {
+				cfg.Pipeline.Archive = &config.ArchiveConfig{
+					Enabled:   boolPtr(true),
+					UploadRun: boolPtr(true),
+				}
+				cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 = &config.StorageS3Config{
+					Bucket:     "my-dnd-archive",
+					RootPrefix: "dnd",
+				}
+				runID := "20260516T010203Z-0a1b2c3d"
+				runWorkDir := filepath.Join(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, "work", cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID, runID)
+				if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "inputs"), 0o755); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("mkdir archive inputs dir: %v", err)
+				}
+				if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "inputs", "session.yml"), []byte("session_id: 2026-05-03\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("write archive fixture session.yml: %v", err)
+				}
+				if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(runWorkDir, "manifest.json"), []byte("{}\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("write archive fixture manifest.json: %v", err)
+				}
+
+				seed := manifest.New(cfg.Session.SessionID, time.Now().UTC())
+				seed.Campaign = cfg.Session.Campaign
+				seed.RunID = runID
+				seed.LocalWorkDir = runWorkDir
+				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"} {
+					seed.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Now().UTC(), nil)
+				}
+				if err := tc.env.ManifestStore.Save(context.Background(), manifestPathFor(cfg), seed); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("seed archive manifest: %v", err)
+				}
+			}

 			_, runErr := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, []stage.Stage{selected}, RunOptions{Env: tc.env})
 			if runErr == nil {
@@ -430,7 +474,7 @@ func testConfig(t *testing.T) *config.Config {
 	pipelinePath := filepath.Join(cfgDir, "pipeline.yml")

 	mustWriteFile(t, pipelinePath, "workspace:\n  root: "+workspace+"\n")
-	mustWriteFile(t, sessionPath, "session_id: 2026-05-03\n")
+	mustWriteFile(t, sessionPath, "session_id: 2026-05-03\ncampaign: sample-campaign\n")
 	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(cfgDir, "speakers.yml"), "alice: alice.flac\n")
 	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(cfgDir, "autocorrect.yml"), "[]\n")
 	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(cfgDir, "glossary.yml"), "[]\n")
@@ -442,6 +486,7 @@ func testConfig(t *testing.T) *config.Config {
 		SessionPath:  sessionPath,
 		Session: &config.SessionConfig{
 			SessionID: "2026-05-03",
+			Campaign:  "sample-campaign",
 			Inputs: config.SessionInputsConfig{
 				AudioDir:        "./audio",
 				SpeakersFile:    "./speakers.yml",
@@ -452,6 +497,55 @@ func testConfig(t *testing.T) *config.Config {
 	}
 }

+func TestBuildDefaultRunnersWithOmittedToolSections(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath := filepath.Join(dir, "pipeline.yml")
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	pipelineYAML := `workspace:
+  root: ` + t.TempDir() + `
+whisperx:
+  transcribe_url: https://example.com/transcribe
+analyzer:
+  timeout: 20m
+notification:
+  timeout: 10s
+`
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	mustWriteFile(t, pipelinePath, pipelineYAML)
+	mustWriteFile(t, sessionPath, sessionYAML)
+
+	cfg, err := config.Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := config.Validate(cfg); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	serRunner, err := buildDefaultSeriatimRunner(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("buildDefaultSeriatimRunner() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := serRunner.(*seriatim.SubprocessRunner); !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("seriatim runner type = %T, want *seriatim.SubprocessRunner", serRunner)
+	}
+
+	audRunner, err := buildDefaultAuditaRunner(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("buildDefaultAuditaRunner() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := audRunner.(*audita.SubprocessRunner); !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("audita runner type = %T, want *audita.SubprocessRunner", audRunner)
+	}
+}
+
 func mustWriteFile(t *testing.T, path, contents string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755); err != nil {
@@ -461,3 +555,8 @@ func mustWriteFile(t *testing.T, path, contents string) {
 		t.Fatalf("WriteFile(%q): %v", path, err)
 	}
 }
+
+func boolPtr(v bool) *bool {
+	p := v
+	return &p
+}
--- a/internal/app/session_cli_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/session_cli_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestPlanUsesDiscoveredSessionTemplateWithSessionID(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+
+	sessionTemplate := `session_id: "{{ session_id }}"
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionTemplate), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session template: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cwd := filepath.Dir(sessionPath)
+	originalWD, err := os.Getwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Getwd(): %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Chdir(cwd); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Chdir(%q): %v", cwd, err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chdir(originalWD) })
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	if err := Plan(context.Background(), []string{"--config", pipelinePath, "--session-id", "2026-04-04"}, &out); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Plan() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "narratio plan: workdir prepared") {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want plan output", out.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPlanFailsWhenSessionIDMismatchesConcreteSession(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	err := Plan(context.Background(), []string{"--config", pipelinePath, "--session", sessionPath, "--session-id", "2026-04-04"}, &out)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "session_id mismatch") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want mismatch context", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunStageAcceptsSessionIDFlagAndParsesStageName(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	err := RunStage(context.Background(), []string{"--config", pipelinePath, "--session", sessionPath, "--session-id", "2026-05-03", "prepare"}, &out)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RunStage() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out.String(), "stage=prepare") {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want stage output", out.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveSessionConfigPathErrorIncludesSearchedPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates("", []string{"./session.yml", "/usr/local/etc/narratio/session.yml", "/etc/narratio/session.yml"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "searched") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want searched paths", err.Error())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "pass --session") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want explicit-session guidance", err.Error())
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/app/session_config_path.go
+++ b/internal/app/session_config_path.go
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+)
+
+func resolveSessionConfigPath(flagValue string) (string, error) {
+	return resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates(flagValue, config.DefaultSessionConfigSearchPaths)
+}
+
+func resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates(flagValue string, candidates []string) (string, error) {
+	if explicit := strings.TrimSpace(flagValue); explicit != "" {
+		return explicit, nil
+	}
+
+	ordered := make([]string, 0, len(candidates))
+	for _, raw := range candidates {
+		path := strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+		if path == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		ordered = append(ordered, path)
+		info, err := os.Stat(path)
+		if err == nil {
+			if info.IsDir() {
+				continue
+			}
+			return filepath.Clean(path), nil
+		}
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			continue
+		}
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("check default session config %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+
+	if len(ordered) == 0 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no session config path provided and no default locations configured")
+	}
+	return "", fmt.Errorf(
+		"no session config path provided and no default session config found; searched: %s; pass --session to use an explicit path",
+		strings.Join(ordered, ", "),
+	)
+}
--- a/internal/app/session_config_path_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/session_config_path_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestResolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidatesExplicitWins(t *testing.T) {
+	got, err := resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates("  ./custom/session.yml  ", []string{"./session.yml", "/a", "/b"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != "./custom/session.yml" {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved path = %q, want explicit path", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidatesUsesFirstExisting(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	first := filepath.Join(dir, "first.yml")
+	second := filepath.Join(dir, "second.yml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(second, []byte("session_id: 2026-05-03\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write second default: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	got, err := resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates("", []string{first, second})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != filepath.Clean(second) {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved path = %q, want %q", got, filepath.Clean(second))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidatesPrecedence(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	first := filepath.Join(dir, "first.yml")
+	second := filepath.Join(dir, "second.yml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(first, []byte("session_id: 2026-05-03\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write first default: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(second, []byte("session_id: 2026-05-03\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write second default: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	got, err := resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates("", []string{first, second})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != filepath.Clean(first) {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved path = %q, want first candidate %q", got, filepath.Clean(first))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidatesMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := resolveSessionConfigPathWithCandidates("", []string{"/does/not/exist/one.yml", "/does/not/exist/two.yml"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no default session config found") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want missing-defaults context", err.Error())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "pass --session") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want explicit-path guidance", err.Error())
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/artifacts/paths.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/paths.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package artifacts

-import "path/filepath"
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+)

 // SessionPaths contains canonical local paths for one session work directory.
 type SessionPaths struct {
@@ -23,6 +25,16 @@ func SessionWorkDir(rootDir, sessionID string) string {
 	return filepath.Join(rootDir, "work", sessionID)
 }

+// SessionRunWorkDir returns the campaign/session/run scoped local work directory.
+func SessionRunWorkDir(rootDir, campaign, sessionID, runID string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(rootDir, "work", campaign, sessionID, runID)
+}
+
+// SessionSpoolAudioDir returns the campaign/session/run scoped local spool audio path.
+func SessionSpoolAudioDir(spoolRoot, campaign, sessionID, runID string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(spoolRoot, campaign, sessionID, runID, "audio")
+}
+
 func buildSessionPaths(workspaceRoot, sessionID string) SessionPaths {
 	root := SessionWorkDir(workspaceRoot, sessionID)
 	transcripts := filepath.Join(root, "transcripts")
--- a/internal/artifacts/paths_model_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/paths_model_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package artifacts
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSessionRunWorkDir(t *testing.T) {
+	root := "/tmp/workspace"
+	got := SessionRunWorkDir(root, "forsaken", "2026-04-19", "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4")
+	want := filepath.Join(root, "work", "forsaken", "2026-04-19", "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4")
+	if got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("SessionRunWorkDir() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSessionSpoolAudioDir(t *testing.T) {
+	root := "/var/spool/narratio"
+	got := SessionSpoolAudioDir(root, "forsaken", "2026-04-19", "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4")
+	want := filepath.Join(root, "forsaken", "2026-04-19", "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4", "audio")
+	if got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("SessionSpoolAudioDir() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/artifacts/run_id.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/run_id.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package artifacts
+
+import (
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// NewRunID returns a run ID in format: YYYYMMDDTHHMMSSZ-xxxxxxxx.
+func NewRunID() (string, error) {
+	return NewRunIDWith(time.Now().UTC(), rand.Reader)
+}
+
+// NewRunIDWith returns a run ID in format: YYYYMMDDTHHMMSSZ-xxxxxxxx
+// using an injected timestamp and randomness source.
+func NewRunIDWith(now time.Time, random io.Reader) (string, error) {
+	if random == nil {
+		random = rand.Reader
+	}
+
+	var suffix [4]byte
+	if _, err := io.ReadFull(random, suffix[:]); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("generate run id random suffix: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	ts := now.UTC().Format("20060102T150405Z")
+	return ts + "-" + hex.EncodeToString(suffix[:]), nil
+}
--- a/internal/artifacts/run_id_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/run_id_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package artifacts
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestNewRunIDWithFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 5, 15, 3, 15, 22, 0, time.UTC)
+	random := bytes.NewReader([]byte{0xa1, 0xb2, 0xc3, 0xd4})
+
+	runID, err := NewRunIDWith(now, random)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewRunIDWith() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if runID != "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4" {
+		t.Fatalf("runID = %q, want %q", runID, "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewRunIDWithShape(t *testing.T) {
+	runID, err := NewRunIDWith(time.Now().UTC(), bytes.NewReader([]byte{0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04}))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewRunIDWith() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	pattern := regexp.MustCompile(`^\d{8}T\d{6}Z-[0-9a-f]{8}$`)
+	if !pattern.MatchString(runID) {
+		t.Fatalf("runID = %q, want pattern %q", runID, pattern.String())
+	}
+	suffix := runID[len(runID)-8:]
+	if strings.ToLower(suffix) != suffix {
+		t.Fatalf("runID suffix = %q, want lowercase", suffix)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/artifacts/s3_keys.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/s3_keys.go
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package artifacts
+
+import (
+	"path"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// S3SessionPrefix builds the canonical S3 session prefix.
+// Format: {root_prefix}/campaigns/{campaign}/sessions/{session_id}/
+func S3SessionPrefix(rootPrefix, campaign, sessionID string) string {
+	prefix := path.Join(
+		cleanS3PathPart(rootPrefix),
+		"campaigns",
+		cleanS3PathPart(campaign),
+		"sessions",
+		cleanS3PathPart(sessionID),
+	)
+	return ensureS3TrailingSlash(prefix)
+}
+
+// S3RunPrefix builds the canonical S3 run prefix.
+// Format: {session_prefix}/runs/{run_id}/
+func S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, runID string) string {
+	prefix := path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), "runs", cleanS3PathPart(runID))
+	return ensureS3TrailingSlash(prefix)
+}
+
+// S3AudioPrefix builds the session audio prefix from configured audio_s3.prefix.
+// Format: {session_prefix}/{audio_s3.prefix}
+func S3AudioPrefix(sessionPrefix, audioPrefix string) string {
+	key := path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), cleanS3Key(audioPrefix))
+	return ensureS3TrailingSlash(key)
+}
+
+// S3CurrentManifestKey returns the current manifest pointer key.
+// Format: {session_prefix}/current/manifest.json
+func S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix string) string {
+	return path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), "current", "manifest.json")
+}
+
+// S3CurrentRunPointerKey returns the current run pointer key.
+// Format: {session_prefix}/current/run_id.txt
+func S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix string) string {
+	return path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), "current", "run_id.txt")
+}
+
+// S3PromotedArtifactKey returns the destination key for one promoted artifact.
+// Format: {session_prefix}/{promotion.to}
+func S3PromotedArtifactKey(sessionPrefix, to string) string {
+	return path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(sessionPrefix), "/"), cleanS3Key(to))
+}
+
+// S3RunRelativeDestinationKey returns a run-scoped key for a workdir-relative path.
+// Format: {run_prefix}/{relative_workdir_path}
+func S3RunRelativeDestinationKey(runPrefix, relativeWorkdirPath string) string {
+	return path.Join(strings.TrimSuffix(cleanS3Key(runPrefix), "/"), cleanS3Key(relativeWorkdirPath))
+}
+
+func ensureS3TrailingSlash(v string) string {
+	key := cleanS3Key(v)
+	if key == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSuffix(key, "/") + "/"
+}
+
+func cleanS3PathPart(v string) string {
+	return strings.Trim(strings.ReplaceAll(strings.TrimSpace(v), "\\", "/"), "/")
+}
+
+func cleanS3Key(v string) string {
+	return strings.ReplaceAll(strings.TrimSpace(v), "\\", "/")
+}
--- a/internal/artifacts/s3_keys_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifacts/s3_keys_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package artifacts
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestS3KeyConstruction(t *testing.T) {
+	runID := "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4"
+	sessionPrefix := S3SessionPrefix("dnd", "forsaken", "2026-04-19")
+	if sessionPrefix != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/" {
+		t.Fatalf("sessionPrefix = %q", sessionPrefix)
+	}
+
+	audioPrefix := S3AudioPrefix(sessionPrefix, "audio/")
+	if audioPrefix != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/audio/" {
+		t.Fatalf("audioPrefix = %q", audioPrefix)
+	}
+
+	runPrefix := S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, runID)
+	wantRunPrefix := "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/runs/" + runID + "/"
+	if runPrefix != wantRunPrefix {
+		t.Fatalf("runPrefix = %q, want %q", runPrefix, wantRunPrefix)
+	}
+
+	runPointer := S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
+	if runPointer != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/current/run_id.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("run pointer key = %q", runPointer)
+	}
+
+	manifestKey := S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix)
+	if manifestKey != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/current/manifest.json" {
+		t.Fatalf("manifest key = %q", manifestKey)
+	}
+
+	promoted := S3PromotedArtifactKey(sessionPrefix, "transcripts/trimmed.json")
+	if promoted != "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-04-19/transcripts/trimmed.json" {
+		t.Fatalf("promoted key = %q", promoted)
+	}
+
+	runRelative := S3RunRelativeDestinationKey(runPrefix, `logs\whisperx.stdout.log`)
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(runRelative, "/logs/whisperx.stdout.log") {
+		t.Fatalf("runRelative key = %q, want normalized forward slashes", runRelative)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ type Config struct {
 type PipelineConfig struct {
 	Workspace    WorkspaceConfig    `yaml:"workspace"`
 	Storage      StorageConfig      `yaml:"storage"`
+	Spool        SpoolConfig        `yaml:"spool"`
+	Archive      *ArchiveConfig     `yaml:"archive"`
 	Secrets      *SecretsConfig     `yaml:"secrets"`
 	WhisperX     WhisperXConfig     `yaml:"whisperx"`
 	Seriatim     SeriatimConfig     `yaml:"seriatim"`
@@ -34,7 +36,8 @@ type SessionConfig struct {

 // WorkspaceConfig configures local workspace behavior.
 type WorkspaceConfig struct {
-	Root string `yaml:"root"`
+	Root                string `yaml:"root"`
+	CleanupAfterArchive bool   `yaml:"cleanup_after_archive"`
 }

 // SecretsConfig configures optional local filesystem secret loading.
@@ -44,9 +47,41 @@ type SecretsConfig struct {

 // StorageConfig configures storage backends and related parameters.
 type StorageConfig struct {
-	Backend string `yaml:"backend"`
-	Bucket  string `yaml:"bucket"`
-	Prefix  string `yaml:"prefix"`
+	Backend string           `yaml:"backend"`
+	Bucket  string           `yaml:"bucket"`
+	Prefix  string           `yaml:"prefix"`
+	S3      *StorageS3Config `yaml:"s3"`
+}
+
+// StorageS3Config configures S3 storage coordinates.
+type StorageS3Config struct {
+	Bucket         string `yaml:"bucket"`
+	RootPrefix     string `yaml:"root_prefix"`
+	Region         string `yaml:"region"`
+	Endpoint       string `yaml:"endpoint"`
+	ForcePathStyle bool   `yaml:"force_path_style"`
+	AccessKeyIDEnv string `yaml:"access_key_id_env"`
+	SecretKeyEnv   string `yaml:"secret_access_key_env"`
+}
+
+// SpoolConfig configures local spool storage for staged data.
+type SpoolConfig struct {
+	Root                    string `yaml:"root"`
+	DeleteAudioAfterArchive bool   `yaml:"delete_audio_after_archive"`
+}
+
+// ArchiveConfig configures archive behavior and artifact promotions.
+type ArchiveConfig struct {
+	Enabled          *bool                  `yaml:"enabled"`
+	UploadRun        *bool                  `yaml:"upload_run"`
+	PromoteArtifacts []ArchivePromotionRule `yaml:"promote_artifacts"`
+}
+
+// ArchivePromotionRule configures one artifact promotion mapping.
+type ArchivePromotionRule struct {
+	From     string `yaml:"from"`
+	To       string `yaml:"to"`
+	Required *bool  `yaml:"required"`
 }

 // WhisperXConfig configures WhisperX adapter settings.
@@ -180,9 +215,15 @@ type ArtifactSettings struct {

 // SessionInputsConfig contains per-session input references.
 type SessionInputsConfig struct {
-	AudioDir        string   `yaml:"audio_dir"`
-	AudioFiles      []string `yaml:"audio_files"`
-	SpeakersFile    string   `yaml:"speakers_file"`
-	AutocorrectFile string   `yaml:"autocorrect_file"`
-	GlossaryFile    string   `yaml:"glossary_file"`
+	AudioDir        string               `yaml:"audio_dir"`
+	AudioFiles      []string             `yaml:"audio_files"`
+	AudioS3         *SessionAudioS3Input `yaml:"audio_s3"`
+	SpeakersFile    string               `yaml:"speakers_file"`
+	AutocorrectFile string               `yaml:"autocorrect_file"`
+	GlossaryFile    string               `yaml:"glossary_file"`
+}
+
+// SessionAudioS3Input configures S3 session-audio input discovery.
+type SessionAudioS3Input struct {
+	Prefix string `yaml:"prefix"`
 }
--- a/internal/config/defaults.go
+++ b/internal/config/defaults.go
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ package config
 const (
 	DefaultPipelineConfigPathUsrLocal = "/usr/local/etc/narratio/pipeline.yml"
 	DefaultPipelineConfigPathEtc      = "/etc/narratio/pipeline.yml"
+	DefaultSessionConfigPathLocal     = "./session.yml"
+	DefaultSessionConfigPathUsrLocal  = "/usr/local/etc/narratio/session.yml"
+	DefaultSessionConfigPathEtc       = "/etc/narratio/session.yml"
+	DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv           = "OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID"
+	DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv       = "OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY"
 )

 // DefaultPipelineConfigSearchPaths defines the default search order for
@@ -16,3 +21,14 @@ var DefaultPipelineConfigSearchPaths = []string{
 	DefaultPipelineConfigPathUsrLocal,
 	DefaultPipelineConfigPathEtc,
 }
+
+// DefaultSessionConfigSearchPaths defines the default search order for
+// session.yml when callers do not provide an explicit path.
+//
+// Keep this in a variable so future defaults can be extended without changing
+// call sites.
+var DefaultSessionConfigSearchPaths = []string{
+	DefaultSessionConfigPathLocal,
+	DefaultSessionConfigPathUsrLocal,
+	DefaultSessionConfigPathEtc,
+}
--- a/internal/config/load.go
+++ b/internal/config/load.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"

 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
@@ -21,21 +23,56 @@ func LoadPipeline(path string) (*PipelineConfig, error) {

 // LoadSession loads session configuration from a YAML file with strict field checking.
 func LoadSession(path string) (*SessionConfig, error) {
-	var cfg SessionConfig
-	if err := decodeStrictYAML("session", path, &cfg); err != nil {
+	return LoadSessionWithOptions(path, SessionLoadOptions{})
+}
+
+// SessionLoadOptions configures session template rendering behavior.
+type SessionLoadOptions struct {
+	SessionID string
+}
+
+// LoadSessionWithOptions loads session configuration from a YAML file with
+// strict field checking after template rendering.
+func LoadSessionWithOptions(path string, opts SessionLoadOptions) (*SessionConfig, error) {
+	sessionBytes, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load session config: session file %q: open: %w", path, err)
+	}
+
+	rendered, err := renderSessionTemplate(string(sessionBytes), opts)
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load session config: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	var cfg SessionConfig
+	if err := decodeStrictYAMLFromReader("session", path, strings.NewReader(rendered), &cfg); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load session config: %w", err)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(opts.SessionID) != "" && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.SessionID) != "" && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.SessionID) != strings.TrimSpace(opts.SessionID) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			"load session config: session file %q: session_id mismatch: --session-id %q does not match rendered session_id %q",
+			path,
+			strings.TrimSpace(opts.SessionID),
+			strings.TrimSpace(cfg.SessionID),
+		)
+	}
 	return &cfg, nil
 }

 // Load loads and resolves combined pipeline and session configuration.
 func Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath string) (*Config, error) {
+	return LoadWithSessionOptions(pipelinePath, sessionPath, SessionLoadOptions{})
+}
+
+// LoadWithSessionOptions loads and resolves combined pipeline and session
+// configuration with session template options.
+func LoadWithSessionOptions(pipelinePath, sessionPath string, sessionOpts SessionLoadOptions) (*Config, error) {
 	pipelineCfg, err := LoadPipeline(pipelinePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}

-	sessionCfg, err := LoadSession(sessionPath)
+	sessionCfg, err := LoadSessionWithOptions(sessionPath, sessionOpts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -55,7 +92,11 @@ func decodeStrictYAML(kind, path string, out any) error {
 	}
 	defer f.Close()

-	dec := yaml.NewDecoder(f)
+	return decodeStrictYAMLFromReader(kind, path, f, out)
+}
+
+func decodeStrictYAMLFromReader(kind, path string, r io.Reader, out any) error {
+	dec := yaml.NewDecoder(r)
 	dec.KnownFields(true)
 	if err := dec.Decode(out); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s file %q: strict decode failed: %w", kind, path, err)
@@ -69,6 +110,36 @@ func decodeStrictYAML(kind, path string, out any) error {
 	return nil
 }

+var sessionTemplatePattern = regexp.MustCompile(`\{\{\s*([a-zA-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_]*)\s*\}\}`)
+
+func renderSessionTemplate(content string, opts SessionLoadOptions) (string, error) {
+	sessionID := strings.TrimSpace(opts.SessionID)
+	rendered := content
+	if sessionID != "" {
+		rendered = strings.ReplaceAll(rendered, "{{session_id}}", sessionID)
+		rendered = strings.ReplaceAll(rendered, "{{ session_id }}", sessionID)
+	}
+
+	unresolved := sessionTemplatePattern.FindAllStringSubmatch(rendered, -1)
+	if len(unresolved) > 0 {
+		vars := make([]string, 0, len(unresolved))
+		for _, m := range unresolved {
+			if len(m) > 1 {
+				vars = append(vars, m[1])
+			}
+		}
+		if len(vars) > 0 {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf(
+				"session file template rendering failed: unresolved template variable(s): %s; pass --session-id when using {{ session_id }}",
+				strings.Join(vars, ", "),
+			)
+		}
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("session file template rendering failed: unresolved template placeholders remain")
+	}
+
+	return rendered, nil
+}
+
 func shortName(path, fallback string) string {
 	base := filepath.Base(path)
 	if base == "." || base == string(filepath.Separator) {
@@ -81,6 +152,9 @@ func applyPipelineDefaults(cfg *PipelineConfig) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	applyStorageDefaults(&cfg.Storage)
+	applySpoolDefaults(&cfg.Spool)
+	applyArchiveDefaults(&cfg.Archive)
 	applyWhisperXDefaults(&cfg.WhisperX)
 	applySeriatimDefaults(&cfg.Seriatim)
 	applyAuditaDefaults(&cfg.Audita)
@@ -92,6 +166,60 @@ func applyPipelineDefaults(cfg *PipelineConfig) {
 	applyScriptoriumDefaults(cfg.Scriptorium)
 }

+func applyStorageDefaults(cfg *StorageConfig) {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if cfg.S3 == nil {
+		cfg.S3 = &StorageS3Config{}
+	}
+	if cfg.S3.RootPrefix == "" {
+		cfg.S3.RootPrefix = "dnd"
+	}
+	if cfg.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv == "" {
+		cfg.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv = DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv
+	}
+	if cfg.S3.SecretKeyEnv == "" {
+		cfg.S3.SecretKeyEnv = DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv
+	}
+}
+
+func applySpoolDefaults(cfg *SpoolConfig) {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if cfg.Root == "" {
+		cfg.Root = "/var/spool/narratio"
+	}
+}
+
+func applyArchiveDefaults(cfg **ArchiveConfig) {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if *cfg == nil {
+		*cfg = &ArchiveConfig{}
+	}
+
+	if (*cfg).Enabled == nil {
+		(*cfg).Enabled = boolPtr(true)
+	}
+	if (*cfg).UploadRun == nil {
+		(*cfg).UploadRun = boolPtr(true)
+	}
+	if len((*cfg).PromoteArtifacts) == 0 {
+		(*cfg).PromoteArtifacts = []ArchivePromotionRule{
+			{From: "transcripts/trimmed.json", To: "transcripts/trimmed.json", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+			{From: "artifacts/session_recap.md", To: "artifacts/session_recap.md", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+		}
+	}
+	for i := range (*cfg).PromoteArtifacts {
+		if (*cfg).PromoteArtifacts[i].Required == nil {
+			(*cfg).PromoteArtifacts[i].Required = boolPtr(true)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func applyWhisperXDefaults(cfg *WhisperXConfig) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return
@@ -122,6 +250,9 @@ func applySeriatimDefaults(cfg *SeriatimConfig) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	if cfg.Binary == "" {
+		cfg.Binary = "seriatim"
+	}
 	if cfg.Timeout == "" {
 		cfg.Timeout = "10m"
 	}
@@ -140,15 +271,12 @@ func applyAuditaDefaults(cfg *AuditaConfig) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	if cfg.Binary == "" {
+		cfg.Binary = "audita"
+	}
 	if cfg.Timeout == "" {
 		cfg.Timeout = "3h"
 	}
-	if cfg.BaseURL == "" {
-		cfg.BaseURL = "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
-	}
-	if cfg.Model == "" {
-		cfg.Model = "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it"
-	}
 	if cfg.Report == nil {
 		cfg.Report = boolPtr(true)
 	}
@@ -158,6 +286,9 @@ func applyScriptoriumDefaults(cfg *ScriptoriumConfig) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return
 	}
+	if cfg.Binary == "" {
+		cfg.Binary = "scriptorium"
+	}
 	if cfg.Timeout == "" {
 		cfg.Timeout = "10m"
 	}
--- a/internal/config/load_validate_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/load_validate_test.go
@@ -37,6 +37,26 @@ inputs:
  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`,
+			checkDefault: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "seriatim and audita sections can be omitted",
+			pipelineYAML: `workspace:
+  root: /tmp/narratio
+whisperx:
+  transcribe_url: https://transcription.ai.rakestrawhome.com/transcribe
+analyzer:
+  timeout: 20m
+notification:
+  timeout: 15s
+`,
+			sessionYAML: `session_id: 2026-05-03
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
 `,
 			checkDefault: true,
 		},
@@ -296,7 +316,7 @@ inputs:
 			wantLoadErr: "strict decode failed",
 		},
 		{
-			name: "missing seriatim binary fails",
+			name: "missing seriatim binary uses default",
 			pipelineYAML: `workspace:
  root: /tmp/narratio
 whisperx:
@@ -311,7 +331,6 @@ inputs:
  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
 `,
-			wantValidate: "pipeline config \"pipeline.yml\" invalid: pipeline.seriatim.binary is required",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "invalid seriatim timeout fails",
@@ -412,7 +431,7 @@ inputs:
 			wantLoadErr: "strict decode failed",
 		},
 		{
-			name: "missing audita binary fails",
+			name: "missing audita binary uses default",
 			pipelineYAML: `workspace:
  root: /tmp/narratio
 whisperx:
@@ -429,7 +448,6 @@ inputs:
  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
 `,
-			wantValidate: "pipeline config \"pipeline.yml\" invalid: pipeline.audita.binary is required",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "invalid audita timeout fails",
@@ -713,6 +731,9 @@ inputs:
 				if cfg.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout != "10m" {
 					t.Fatalf("seriatim.timeout = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout, "10m")
 				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Seriatim.Binary != "seriatim" {
+					t.Fatalf("seriatim.binary = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Seriatim.Binary, "seriatim")
+				}
 				if cfg.Pipeline.Seriatim.OutputSchema != "seriatim-intermediate" {
 					t.Fatalf("seriatim.output_schema = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Seriatim.OutputSchema, "seriatim-intermediate")
 				}
@@ -725,17 +746,20 @@ inputs:
 				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Timeout != "3h" {
 					t.Fatalf("audita.timeout = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Timeout, "3h")
 				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Binary != "audita" {
+					t.Fatalf("audita.binary = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Binary, "audita")
+				}
 				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKeyEnv != "" {
 					t.Fatalf("audita.llm_api_key_env = %q, want empty by default", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKeyEnv)
 				}
 				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Modules != nil {
 					t.Fatalf("audita.modules = %#v, want nil default (optional override)", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Modules)
 				}
-				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.BaseURL != "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1" {
-					t.Fatalf("audita.base_url = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.BaseURL, "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1")
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.BaseURL != "" {
+					t.Fatalf("audita.base_url = %q, want empty default", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.BaseURL)
 				}
-				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Model != "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it" {
-					t.Fatalf("audita.model = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Model, "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it")
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Model != "" {
+					t.Fatalf("audita.model = %q, want empty default", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Model)
 				}
 				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.ValidationModel != "" {
 					t.Fatalf("audita.validation_model = %q, want empty default", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.ValidationModel)
@@ -820,6 +844,7 @@ func TestValidateMissingAudioSource(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		Session: &SessionConfig{
 			SessionID: "2026-05-03",
+			Campaign:  "sample-campaign",
 			Inputs: SessionInputsConfig{
 				SpeakersFile:    "speakers.yml",
 				AutocorrectFile: "autocorrect.yml",
@@ -832,7 +857,7 @@ func TestValidateMissingAudioSource(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected validation error, got nil")
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "audio_dir or at least one audio_files") {
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "audio_dir, at least one audio_files entry, or audio_s3") {
 		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want audio source guidance", err.Error())
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "session config") {
@@ -861,6 +886,12 @@ func writeConfigFiles(t *testing.T, pipelineYAML, sessionYAML string) (string, s
 		}
 		pipelineYAML += "audita:\n  binary: audita\n"
 	}
+	if !strings.Contains(sessionYAML, "\ncampaign:") && !strings.HasPrefix(sessionYAML, "campaign:") {
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(sessionYAML, "\n") {
+			sessionYAML += "\n"
+		}
+		sessionYAML += "campaign: sample-campaign\n"
+	}

 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath := filepath.Join(dir, "pipeline.yml")
--- a/internal/config/scriptorium_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/scriptorium_test.go
@@ -49,11 +49,19 @@ func TestScriptoriumLoadAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
 			wantLoadErr: "strict decode failed",
 		},
 		{
-			name: "missing binary fails when section present",
+			name: "missing binary defaults when section present",
 			scriptoriumYAML: `scriptorium:
  timeout: 10m
 `,
-			wantValidateErr: "pipeline.scriptorium.binary is required",
+			assert: func(t *testing.T, cfg *Config) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Scriptorium == nil {
+					t.Fatal("scriptorium config should be present")
+				}
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Binary != "scriptorium" {
+					t.Fatalf("scriptorium.binary = %q, want scriptorium", cfg.Pipeline.Scriptorium.Binary)
+				}
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "enabled artifact missing prompt id fails",
--- a/internal/config/session_template_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/session_template_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestLoadSessionWithOptionsRendersCompactPlaceholder(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: "{{session_id}}"
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session.yml: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg, err := LoadSessionWithOptions(sessionPath, SessionLoadOptions{SessionID: "2026-04-04"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadSessionWithOptions() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.SessionID != "2026-04-04" {
+		t.Fatalf("SessionID = %q, want 2026-04-04", cfg.SessionID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadSessionWithOptionsRendersSpacedPlaceholder(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: "{{ session_id }}"
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session.yml: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg, err := LoadSessionWithOptions(sessionPath, SessionLoadOptions{SessionID: "2026-04-04"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadSessionWithOptions() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.SessionID != "2026-04-04" {
+		t.Fatalf("SessionID = %q, want 2026-04-04", cfg.SessionID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadSessionWithOptionsUnresolvedPlaceholderFails(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: "{{ session_id }}"
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session.yml: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err := LoadSessionWithOptions(sessionPath, SessionLoadOptions{})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unresolved template variable") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want unresolved-variable context", err.Error())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "session_id") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want session_id variable", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadSessionWithOptionsMismatchFails(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session.yml: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err := LoadSessionWithOptions(sessionPath, SessionLoadOptions{SessionID: "2026-04-04"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "session_id mismatch") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want mismatch context", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadSessionWithOptionsUnknownFieldStillRejectedAfterRendering(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: "{{ session_id }}"
+campaign: sample-campaign
+unknown_field: true
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session.yml: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err := LoadSessionWithOptions(sessionPath, SessionLoadOptions{SessionID: "2026-04-04"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "strict decode failed") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want strict-decode context", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadSessionWithOptionsConcreteSessionStillLoads(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(sessionPath, []byte(sessionYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write session.yml: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	cfg, err := LoadSessionWithOptions(sessionPath, SessionLoadOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadSessionWithOptions() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.SessionID != "2026-05-03" {
+		t.Fatalf("SessionID = %q, want 2026-05-03", cfg.SessionID)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/config/storage_archive_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/storage_archive_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestStorageS3DefaultsAndValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	pipelineYAML := testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: my-dnd-archive
+`
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+
+	cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
+		t.Fatal("storage.s3 should be initialized")
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix != "dnd" {
+		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.root_prefix = %q, want dnd", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv != DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv {
+		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.access_key_id_env = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv, DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv != DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv {
+		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.secret_access_key_env = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv, DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.ForcePathStyle {
+		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.force_path_style = true, want false default")
+	}
+
+	if err := Validate(cfg); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStorageS3CredentialEnvNamesLoadAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	pipelineYAML := testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: my-dnd-archive
+    access_key_id_env: CUSTOM_KEY_ID
+    secret_access_key_env: CUSTOM_SECRET
+`
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+
+	cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv != "CUSTOM_KEY_ID" {
+		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.access_key_id_env = %q, want CUSTOM_KEY_ID", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv != "CUSTOM_SECRET" {
+		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.secret_access_key_env = %q, want CUSTOM_SECRET", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv)
+	}
+	if err := Validate(cfg); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStorageS3CredentialEnvValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		pipelineYML string
+		wantErr     string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "invalid access key env name",
+			pipelineYML: testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: my-dnd-archive
+    access_key_id_env: "123BAD"
+`,
+			wantErr: "pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id_env must be a valid environment variable name",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid secret key env name",
+			pipelineYML: testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: my-dnd-archive
+    secret_access_key_env: "bad-name"
+`,
+			wantErr: "pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key_env must be a valid environment variable name",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, tt.pipelineYML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+			cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			err = Validate(cfg)
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErr) {
+				t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v, want to contain %q", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSpoolAndArchiveDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, testPipelineBaseYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+
+	cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Spool.Root != "/var/spool/narratio" {
+		t.Fatalf("spool.root = %q, want /var/spool/narratio", cfg.Pipeline.Spool.Root)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Spool.DeleteAudioAfterArchive {
+		t.Fatalf("spool.delete_audio_after_archive = true, want false")
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.CleanupAfterArchive {
+		t.Fatalf("workspace.cleanup_after_archive = true, want false")
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive == nil {
+		t.Fatal("archive should be initialized by defaults")
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled == nil || !*cfg.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled {
+		t.Fatalf("archive.enabled = %#v, want true", cfg.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled)
+	}
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun == nil || !*cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun {
+		t.Fatalf("archive.upload_run = %#v, want true", cfg.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun)
+	}
+	if len(cfg.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("archive.promote_artifacts len = %d, want 2 defaults", len(cfg.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts))
+	}
+	for i, item := range cfg.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts {
+		if item.Required == nil || !*item.Required {
+			t.Fatalf("archive.promote_artifacts[%d].required = %#v, want true", i, item.Required)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchivePromotionPathValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		ruleYML string
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "absolute from path rejected",
+			ruleYML: `archive:
+  promote_artifacts:
+    - from: "/transcripts/trimmed.json"
+      to: "transcripts/trimmed.json"
+`,
+			wantErr: "must be a relative path",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "traversal to path rejected",
+			ruleYML: `archive:
+  promote_artifacts:
+    - from: "transcripts/trimmed.json"
+      to: "../trimmed.json"
+`,
+			wantErr: "must not contain path traversal",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			pipelineYAML := testPipelineBaseYAML + "\n" + tt.ruleYML
+			pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+
+			cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			err = Validate(cfg)
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErr) {
+				t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v, want to contain %q", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSessionAudioS3Validation(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		sessionYAML string
+		wantErr     string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "valid audio_s3 prefix",
+			sessionYAML: `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: forsaken
+inputs:
+  audio_s3:
+    prefix: audio/
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid audio_s3 absolute prefix",
+			sessionYAML: `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: forsaken
+inputs:
+  audio_s3:
+    prefix: /audio/
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`,
+			wantErr: "session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix must be a relative path",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid audio_s3 traversal prefix",
+			sessionYAML: `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: forsaken
+inputs:
+  audio_s3:
+    prefix: ../audio/
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`,
+			wantErr: "session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix must not contain path traversal",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "local and s3 audio conflict",
+			sessionYAML: `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: forsaken
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  audio_s3:
+    prefix: audio/
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`,
+			wantErr: "mutually exclusive",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			pipelineYAML := testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: my-dnd-archive
+`
+			pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, tt.sessionYAML)
+
+			cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			err = Validate(cfg)
+			if tt.wantErr != "" {
+				if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErr) {
+					t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v, want to contain %q", err, tt.wantErr)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStorageS3BucketRequiredWhenS3DependentFeatureEnabled(t *testing.T) {
+	pipelineYAML := testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+`
+	sessionYAML := `session_id: 2026-05-03
+campaign: forsaken
+inputs:
+  audio_s3:
+    prefix: audio/
+  speakers_file: ./speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./glossary.yml
+`
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, sessionYAML)
+	cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err = Validate(cfg)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "pipeline.storage.s3.bucket is required") {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v, want bucket requirement", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLocalAudioConfigStillValid(t *testing.T) {
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, testPipelineBaseYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+	cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := Validate(cfg); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/config/validate.go
+++ b/internal/config/validate.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package config
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -25,6 +27,9 @@ func Validate(cfg *Config) error {
 	if err := validateSession(cfg.Session); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("session config %q invalid: %w", shortName(cfg.SessionPath, "session.yml"), err)
 	}
+	if err := validateCrossConfig(cfg.Pipeline, cfg.Session); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline/session config invalid: %w", err)
+	}

 	return nil
 }
@@ -36,6 +41,15 @@ func validatePipeline(cfg *PipelineConfig) error {
 	if err := validateSecrets(cfg.Secrets); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := validateStorage(cfg.Storage); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := validateSpool(cfg.Spool); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := validateArchive(cfg.Archive); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := validateWhisperX(cfg.WhisperX); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -64,6 +78,54 @@ func validatePipeline(cfg *PipelineConfig) error {
 	return nil
 }

+func validateStorage(cfg StorageConfig) error {
+	if cfg.S3 == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.S3.RootPrefix) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3.root_prefix must be non-empty")
+	}
+	if err := validateRelativeSafePath("pipeline.storage.s3.root_prefix", cfg.S3.RootPrefix); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if cfg.S3.Endpoint != "" && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.S3.Endpoint) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3.endpoint must be non-empty when provided")
+	}
+	if err := validateEnvVarNameField("pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id_env", cfg.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := validateEnvVarNameField("pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key_env", cfg.S3.SecretKeyEnv); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func validateSpool(cfg SpoolConfig) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func validateArchive(cfg *ArchiveConfig) error {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for i, item := range cfg.PromoteArtifacts {
+		prefix := fmt.Sprintf("pipeline.archive.promote_artifacts[%d]", i)
+		if strings.TrimSpace(item.From) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s.from is required", prefix)
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(item.To) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s.to is required", prefix)
+		}
+		if err := validateRelativeSafePath(prefix+".from", item.From); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if err := validateRelativeSafePath(prefix+".to", item.To); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func validateSecrets(cfg *SecretsConfig) error {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -220,9 +282,6 @@ func validateAudita(cfg AuditaConfig) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.audita.base_url must be a valid URL")
 		}
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Model) == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.audita.model is required")
-	}
 	if cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency != nil && *cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency <= 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.audita.total_llm_concurrency must be > 0")
 	}
@@ -307,6 +366,9 @@ func validateSession(cfg *SessionConfig) error {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.SessionID) == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("session.session_id is required")
 	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Campaign) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("session.campaign is required")
+	}

 	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Inputs.SpeakersFile) == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("session.inputs.speakers_file is required")
@@ -320,13 +382,91 @@ func validateSession(cfg *SessionConfig) error {

 	hasAudioDir := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Inputs.AudioDir) != ""
 	hasAudioFiles := len(cfg.Inputs.AudioFiles) > 0
-	if !hasAudioDir && !hasAudioFiles {
-		return fmt.Errorf("session.inputs requires audio_dir or at least one audio_files entry")
+	hasAudioS3 := cfg.Inputs.AudioS3 != nil
+	if hasAudioS3 {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Inputs.AudioS3.Prefix) == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix is required when session.inputs.audio_s3 is configured")
+		}
+		if err := validateRelativeSafePath("session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix", cfg.Inputs.AudioS3.Prefix); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if hasAudioS3 && (hasAudioDir || hasAudioFiles) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("session.inputs.audio_dir/audio_files and session.inputs.audio_s3 are mutually exclusive")
+	}
+	if !hasAudioDir && !hasAudioFiles && !hasAudioS3 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("session.inputs requires audio_dir, at least one audio_files entry, or audio_s3")
 	}

 	return nil
 }

+func validateCrossConfig(pipeline *PipelineConfig, session *SessionConfig) error {
+	if pipeline == nil || session == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	audioS3Enabled := session.Inputs.AudioS3 != nil
+	archiveUploadEnabled := archiveUploadConfiguredForS3(pipeline)
+	if (audioS3Enabled || archiveUploadEnabled) && strings.TrimSpace(pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3.bucket is required when S3 session audio or archive upload is enabled")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func archiveUploadConfiguredForS3(pipeline *PipelineConfig) bool {
+	if pipeline == nil || pipeline.Archive == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(pipeline.Storage.Backend), "s3") {
+		return false
+	}
+	enabled := true
+	if pipeline.Archive.Enabled != nil {
+		enabled = *pipeline.Archive.Enabled
+	}
+	upload := true
+	if pipeline.Archive.UploadRun != nil {
+		upload = *pipeline.Archive.UploadRun
+	}
+	return enabled && upload
+}
+
+var windowsAbsPathRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z]:[\\/].*`)
+var envVarNameRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*$`)
+
+func validateEnvVarNameField(fieldName, value string) error {
+	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(value)
+	if trimmed == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s must be non-empty", fieldName)
+	}
+	if !envVarNameRE.MatchString(trimmed) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s must be a valid environment variable name", fieldName)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func validateRelativeSafePath(fieldName, value string) error {
+	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(value)
+	if trimmed == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s must be non-empty", fieldName)
+	}
+	if filepath.IsAbs(trimmed) || strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "/") || strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "\\") || windowsAbsPathRE.MatchString(trimmed) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s must be a relative path", fieldName)
+	}
+
+	normalized := strings.ReplaceAll(trimmed, "\\", "/")
+	for _, segment := range strings.Split(normalized, "/") {
+		if segment == ".." {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s must not contain path traversal", fieldName)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func validateDuration(fieldName, value string) error {
 	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(value)
 	if trimmed == "" {
--- a/internal/manifest/manifest.go
+++ b/internal/manifest/manifest.go
@@ -14,9 +14,15 @@ type ErrorRecord struct {

 // InputRecord captures one resolved input and optional checksum.
 type InputRecord struct {
-	Kind     string `json:"kind"`
-	Path     string `json:"path"`
-	Checksum string `json:"checksum,omitempty"`
+	Kind      string `json:"kind"`
+	Path      string `json:"path"`
+	Checksum  string `json:"checksum,omitempty"`
+	Source    string `json:"source,omitempty"`
+	S3Bucket  string `json:"s3_bucket,omitempty"`
+	S3Key     string `json:"s3_key,omitempty"`
+	S3Size    int64  `json:"s3_size,omitempty"`
+	S3ETag    string `json:"s3_etag,omitempty"`
+	SpoolPath string `json:"spool_path,omitempty"`
 }

 // ArtifactRecord captures one produced artifact and optional remote metadata.
@@ -45,6 +51,13 @@ type StageRecord struct {
 // Manifest is the durable run-state record for a session execution.
 type Manifest struct {
 	SessionID       string                  `json:"session_id"`
+	Campaign        string                  `json:"campaign,omitempty"`
+	RunID           string                  `json:"run_id,omitempty"`
+	LocalWorkDir    string                  `json:"local_workdir,omitempty"`
+	LocalSpoolDir   string                  `json:"local_spool_dir,omitempty"`
+	S3Bucket        string                  `json:"s3_bucket,omitempty"`
+	S3SessionPrefix string                  `json:"s3_session_prefix,omitempty"`
+	S3RunPrefix     string                  `json:"s3_run_prefix,omitempty"`
 	PipelineVersion string                  `json:"pipeline_version,omitempty"`
 	CreatedAt       time.Time               `json:"created_at"`
 	UpdatedAt       time.Time               `json:"updated_at"`
--- a/internal/manifest/store_test.go
+++ b/internal/manifest/store_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@ func TestLocalStoreCreateSaveLoadRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	now := time.Date(2026, 5, 3, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 	m.MarkStageRunning("prepare", now)
 	m.MarkStageSucceeded("prepare", now.Add(2*time.Second), []ArtifactRecord{{Kind: "transcript", LocalPath: "transcripts/merged.json"}})
+	m.Campaign = "forsaken"
+	m.RunID = "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4"
+	m.LocalWorkDir = "/var/lib/narratio/work/forsaken/2026-05-03/20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4"
+	m.LocalSpoolDir = "/var/spool/narratio/forsaken/2026-05-03/20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4/audio"
+	m.S3Bucket = "my-dnd-archive"
+	m.S3SessionPrefix = "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/"
+	m.S3RunPrefix = "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/runs/20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4/"

 	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "manifest.json")
 	if err := store.Save(ctx, path, m); err != nil {
@@ -36,6 +43,12 @@ func TestLocalStoreCreateSaveLoadRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	if loaded.SessionID != "2026-05-03" {
 		t.Fatalf("SessionID = %q, want %q", loaded.SessionID, "2026-05-03")
 	}
+	if loaded.Campaign != "forsaken" {
+		t.Fatalf("Campaign = %q, want %q", loaded.Campaign, "forsaken")
+	}
+	if loaded.RunID != "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4" {
+		t.Fatalf("RunID = %q, want run id", loaded.RunID)
+	}
 	stage, ok := loaded.Stages["prepare"]
 	if !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("stage prepare not found")
--- a/internal/stage/archive.go
+++ b/internal/stage/archive.go
@@ -0,0 +1,525 @@
+package stage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"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"
+)
+
+type archiveStage struct{}
+
+var archivePrerequisiteStages = []string{
+	"prepare",
+	"transcribe",
+	"merge",
+	"polish",
+	"normalize",
+	"trim",
+	"analyze",
+}
+
+var archiveRunUploadDirs = []string{
+	"inputs",
+	"transcripts",
+	"artifacts",
+	"reports",
+	"config",
+	"logs",
+}
+
+func (archiveStage) Name() string { return "archive" }
+
+func (archiveStage) Declares() IODecl {
+	return IODecl{
+		Inputs: []artifacts.Ref{
+			{Kind: "manifest", Category: "input", RelativePath: "manifest.json"},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func (archiveStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*StageResult, error) {
+	if env == nil || env.Config == nil || env.Config.Pipeline == nil || env.Config.Session == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolved config must include pipeline and session")
+	}
+
+	if archiveDisabled(env) {
+		return &StageResult{
+			Metadata: map[string]any{
+				"stage":                   "archive",
+				"skipped":                 true,
+				"archive_enabled":         false,
+				"audio_upload_skipped":    true,
+				"current_pointer_written": false,
+			},
+		}, nil
+	}
+	if archiveRunUploadDisabled(env) {
+		return &StageResult{
+			Metadata: map[string]any{
+				"stage":                   "archive",
+				"skipped":                 true,
+				"upload_run_enabled":      false,
+				"audio_upload_skipped":    true,
+				"current_pointer_written": false,
+			},
+		}, nil
+	}
+
+	if err := validateArchivePrerequisites(m); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: %w", err)
+	}
+	if env.ObjectStore == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: remote object store backend is required when archive run upload is enabled")
+	}
+
+	workDir, err := archiveWorkDir(env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve local workdir: %w", err)
+	}
+	workDirInfo, err := os.Stat(workDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: local workdir %q: %w", workDir, err)
+	}
+	if !workDirInfo.IsDir() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: local workdir %q is not a directory", workDir)
+	}
+
+	runPrefix, err := archiveRunPrefix(env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve s3 run prefix: %w", err)
+	}
+	sessionPrefix, err := archiveSessionPrefix(env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve s3 session prefix: %w", err)
+	}
+	bucket := archiveBucket(env, m)
+	if bucket == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve s3 bucket: bucket is required")
+	}
+	runID := strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID)
+	if runID == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: run id is required")
+	}
+
+	runFiles, err := collectArchiveRunFiles(workDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: collect run files: %w", err)
+	}
+	promotions, err := resolveArchivePromotions(workDir, env.Config.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: resolve promotion rules: %w", err)
+	}
+	currentManifestSource := filepath.Join(workDir, "manifest.json")
+	if info, err := os.Stat(currentManifestSource); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: current manifest source %q: %w", currentManifestSource, err)
+	} else if info.IsDir() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: current manifest source %q is a directory", currentManifestSource)
+	}
+
+	runUploaded := make([]string, 0, len(runFiles))
+	for _, rel := range runFiles {
+		localPath := filepath.Join(workDir, filepath.FromSlash(rel))
+		key := artifacts.S3RunRelativeDestinationKey(runPrefix, rel)
+		if _, err := env.ObjectStore.Upload(ctx, localPath, key, storage.UploadOptions{}); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: upload run file %q to %q: %w", rel, key, err)
+		}
+		runUploaded = append(runUploaded, rel)
+	}
+
+	promotedUploaded := make([]string, 0, len(promotions))
+	skippedOptional := make([]string, 0)
+	for _, promotion := range promotions {
+		if !promotion.Exists {
+			if promotion.Required {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: required promotion source missing: %q", promotion.From)
+			}
+			skippedOptional = append(skippedOptional, promotion.To)
+			continue
+		}
+		key := artifacts.S3PromotedArtifactKey(sessionPrefix, promotion.To)
+		if _, err := env.ObjectStore.Upload(ctx, promotion.LocalPath, key, storage.UploadOptions{}); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: upload promoted output %q to %q: %w", promotion.From, key, err)
+		}
+		promotedUploaded = append(promotedUploaded, promotion.To)
+	}
+
+	currentManifestKey := artifacts.S3CurrentManifestKey(sessionPrefix)
+	manifestTempPath, err := writeCurrentManifestSnapshot(m, archiveMetadataPreview(
+		bucket,
+		runPrefix,
+		sessionPrefix,
+		runUploaded,
+		promotedUploaded,
+		skippedOptional,
+		currentManifestKey,
+	))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: build current manifest snapshot: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = os.Remove(manifestTempPath) }()
+
+	if _, err := env.ObjectStore.Upload(ctx, manifestTempPath, currentManifestKey, storage.UploadOptions{
+		ContentType: "application/json",
+	}); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: upload current manifest to %q: %w", currentManifestKey, err)
+	}
+
+	currentRunPointerKey := artifacts.S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix)
+	runIDTempPath, err := writeCurrentRunIDPointer(runID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: build current run id pointer: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = os.Remove(runIDTempPath) }()
+
+	if _, err := env.ObjectStore.Upload(ctx, runIDTempPath, currentRunPointerKey, storage.UploadOptions{
+		ContentType: "text/plain; charset=utf-8",
+	}); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("archive: upload current run pointer to %q: %w", currentRunPointerKey, err)
+	}
+
+	return &StageResult{
+		Metadata: map[string]any{
+			"stage":                       "archive",
+			"uploaded":                    true,
+			"s3_bucket":                   bucket,
+			"s3_run_prefix":               runPrefix,
+			"run_files_uploaded":          len(runUploaded),
+			"run_uploaded_paths":          runUploaded,
+			"promoted_files_uploaded":     len(promotedUploaded),
+			"promoted_paths":              promotedUploaded,
+			"skipped_optional_promotions": skippedOptional,
+			"current_manifest_key":        currentManifestKey,
+			"current_run_id_key":          currentRunPointerKey,
+			"current_pointer_written":     true,
+			"audio_upload_skipped":        true,
+		},
+	}, nil
+}
+
+type archivePromotion struct {
+	From      string
+	To        string
+	Required  bool
+	LocalPath string
+	Exists    bool
+}
+
+func archiveDisabled(env *Env) bool {
+	cfg := env.Config.Pipeline.Archive
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	return cfg.Enabled != nil && !*cfg.Enabled
+}
+
+func archiveRunUploadDisabled(env *Env) bool {
+	cfg := env.Config.Pipeline.Archive
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	return cfg.UploadRun != nil && !*cfg.UploadRun
+}
+
+func validateArchivePrerequisites(m *manifest.Manifest) error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("manifest is required")
+	}
+	for _, stageName := range archivePrerequisiteStages {
+		sr := m.Stages[stageName]
+		if sr == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("prerequisite stage %q has not succeeded", stageName)
+		}
+		if sr.Status != manifest.StatusSucceeded {
+			return fmt.Errorf("prerequisite stage %q status is %q (want %q)", stageName, sr.Status, manifest.StatusSucceeded)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func archiveWorkDir(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (string, error) {
+	workDir := strings.TrimSpace(m.LocalWorkDir)
+	if workDir != "" {
+		cleaned := filepath.Clean(workDir)
+		if info, err := os.Stat(cleaned); err == nil && info.IsDir() {
+			return cleaned, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	sessionID := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.SessionID)
+	if sessionID == "" {
+		sessionID = strings.TrimSpace(m.SessionID)
+	}
+	campaign := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.Campaign)
+	if campaign == "" {
+		campaign = strings.TrimSpace(m.Campaign)
+	}
+	runID := strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID)
+	if runID == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("run id is required")
+	}
+	if campaign == "" || sessionID == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("campaign and session id are required")
+	}
+	runScoped := artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, campaign, sessionID, runID)
+	if info, err := os.Stat(runScoped); err == nil && info.IsDir() {
+		return runScoped, nil
+	}
+	legacy := artifacts.SessionWorkDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, sessionID)
+	return legacy, nil
+}
+
+func archiveRunPrefix(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (string, error) {
+	runPrefix := strings.TrimSpace(m.S3RunPrefix)
+	if runPrefix != "" {
+		return runPrefix, nil
+	}
+
+	sessionPrefix, err := archiveSessionPrefix(env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	runID := strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID)
+	if runID == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("run id is required")
+	}
+	return artifacts.S3RunPrefix(sessionPrefix, runID), nil
+}
+
+func archiveSessionPrefix(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (string, error) {
+	if m != nil && strings.TrimSpace(m.S3SessionPrefix) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(m.S3SessionPrefix), nil
+	}
+
+	sessionID := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.SessionID)
+	if sessionID == "" {
+		sessionID = strings.TrimSpace(m.SessionID)
+	}
+	campaign := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.Campaign)
+	if campaign == "" {
+		campaign = strings.TrimSpace(m.Campaign)
+	}
+	if env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3 configuration is required")
+	}
+	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, campaign, sessionID)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(sessionPrefix) == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("session prefix is required")
+	}
+	return sessionPrefix, nil
+}
+
+func archiveBucket(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) string {
+	if m != nil && strings.TrimSpace(m.S3Bucket) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(m.S3Bucket)
+	}
+	if env == nil || env.Config == nil || env.Config.Pipeline == nil || env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket)
+}
+
+func resolveArchivePromotions(workDir string, rules []config.ArchivePromotionRule) ([]archivePromotion, error) {
+	out := make([]archivePromotion, 0, len(rules))
+	for _, rule := range rules {
+		from := strings.TrimSpace(rule.From)
+		to := strings.TrimSpace(rule.To)
+		required := rule.Required == nil || *rule.Required
+
+		localPath, err := resolveWorkDirRelativePath(workDir, from)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("promotion from %q: %w", from, err)
+		}
+		info, err := os.Stat(localPath)
+		exists := err == nil && !info.IsDir()
+		if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("promotion source %q: %w", from, err)
+		}
+
+		out = append(out, archivePromotion{
+			From:      from,
+			To:        to,
+			Required:  required,
+			LocalPath: localPath,
+			Exists:    exists,
+		})
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func resolveWorkDirRelativePath(workDir, rel string) (string, error) {
+	rel = filepath.Clean(filepath.FromSlash(strings.TrimSpace(rel)))
+	if rel == "." || rel == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("relative path is required")
+	}
+	full := filepath.Join(workDir, rel)
+	cleanedWork := filepath.Clean(workDir)
+	cleanedFull := filepath.Clean(full)
+	relative, err := filepath.Rel(cleanedWork, cleanedFull)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("compute relative path: %w", err)
+	}
+	if relative == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("path escapes workdir")
+	}
+	return cleanedFull, nil
+}
+
+func collectArchiveRunFiles(workDir string) ([]string, error) {
+	files := make([]string, 0, 64)
+
+	for _, dirName := range archiveRunUploadDirs {
+		fullDir := filepath.Join(workDir, dirName)
+		info, err := os.Stat(fullDir)
+		if err != nil {
+			if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+				continue
+			}
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("stat %q: %w", fullDir, err)
+		}
+		if !info.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if err := filepath.WalkDir(fullDir, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, walkErr error) error {
+			if walkErr != nil {
+				return walkErr
+			}
+			if d.IsDir() {
+				return nil
+			}
+			rel, err := filepath.Rel(workDir, path)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("relative path from %q to %q: %w", workDir, path, err)
+			}
+			rel = filepath.ToSlash(rel)
+			files = append(files, rel)
+			return nil
+		}); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("walk %q: %w", fullDir, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	manifestPath := filepath.Join(workDir, "manifest.json")
+	manifestInfo, err := os.Stat(manifestPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("manifest.json not found in workdir %q", workDir)
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("stat %q: %w", manifestPath, err)
+	}
+	if manifestInfo.IsDir() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("manifest path %q is a directory", manifestPath)
+	}
+	files = append(files, "manifest.json")
+
+	sort.Strings(files)
+	return files, nil
+}
+
+func writeCurrentManifestSnapshot(m *manifest.Manifest, archiveMetadata map[string]any) (string, error) {
+	if m == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("manifest is required")
+	}
+	clone := *m
+	clone.Stages = make(map[string]*manifest.StageRecord, len(m.Stages))
+	for name, sr := range m.Stages {
+		if sr == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		stageCopy := *sr
+		if sr.Outputs != nil {
+			stageCopy.Outputs = append([]manifest.ArtifactRecord(nil), sr.Outputs...)
+		}
+		if sr.Logs != nil {
+			stageCopy.Logs = append([]string(nil), sr.Logs...)
+		}
+		if sr.GeneratedConfigs != nil {
+			stageCopy.GeneratedConfigs = append([]string(nil), sr.GeneratedConfigs...)
+		}
+		if sr.Metadata != nil {
+			metaCopy := make(map[string]any, len(sr.Metadata))
+			for k, v := range sr.Metadata {
+				metaCopy[k] = v
+			}
+			stageCopy.Metadata = metaCopy
+		}
+		clone.Stages[name] = &stageCopy
+	}
+
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	clone.MarkStageSucceeded("archive", now, nil)
+	if sr := clone.Stages["archive"]; sr != nil {
+		sr.Metadata = archiveMetadata
+	}
+
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(&clone, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("marshal manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+	data = append(data, '\n')
+
+	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp("", "narratio-current-manifest-*.json")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	path := tmp.Name()
+	if _, err := tmp.Write(data); err != nil {
+		_ = tmp.Close()
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("write temp manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("close temp manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+	return path, nil
+}
+
+func writeCurrentRunIDPointer(runID string) (string, error) {
+	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp("", "narratio-current-run-id-*.txt")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("create temp file: %w", err)
+	}
+	path := tmp.Name()
+	if _, err := tmp.WriteString(runID + "\n"); err != nil {
+		_ = tmp.Close()
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("write temp run id pointer: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := tmp.Close(); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("close temp run id pointer: %w", err)
+	}
+	return path, nil
+}
+
+func archiveMetadataPreview(
+	bucket, runPrefix, sessionPrefix string,
+	runUploaded []string,
+	promotedUploaded []string,
+	skippedOptional []string,
+	currentManifestKey string,
+) map[string]any {
+	return map[string]any{
+		"stage":                       "archive",
+		"uploaded":                    true,
+		"s3_bucket":                   bucket,
+		"s3_run_prefix":               runPrefix,
+		"run_files_uploaded":          len(runUploaded),
+		"run_uploaded_paths":          append([]string(nil), runUploaded...),
+		"promoted_files_uploaded":     len(promotedUploaded),
+		"promoted_paths":              append([]string(nil), promotedUploaded...),
+		"skipped_optional_promotions": append([]string(nil), skippedOptional...),
+		"current_manifest_key":        currentManifestKey,
+		"current_run_id_key":          artifacts.S3CurrentRunPointerKey(sessionPrefix),
+		"current_pointer_written":     false,
+		"audio_upload_skipped":        true,
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/stage/archive_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/archive_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,322 @@
+package stage
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+)
+
+func TestArchiveSkipsWhenDisabled(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Archive.Enabled = boolPtr(false)
+
+	result, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if result.Metadata["skipped"] != true {
+		t.Fatalf("metadata = %#v, want skipped=true", result.Metadata)
+	}
+	if len(env.ObjectStore.(*storage.FakeBackend).Uploads) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected uploads when archive disabled")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveSkipsRunUploadWhenDisabled(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Archive.UploadRun = boolPtr(false)
+
+	result, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if result.Metadata["skipped"] != true {
+		t.Fatalf("metadata = %#v, want skipped=true", result.Metadata)
+	}
+	if len(env.ObjectStore.(*storage.FakeBackend).Uploads) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected uploads when upload_run disabled")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveFailsWhenPrerequisiteNotSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	m.Stages["trim"].Status = manifest.StatusFailed
+
+	_, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `prerequisite stage "trim"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v, want prerequisite failure", err)
+	}
+	if len(env.ObjectStore.(*storage.FakeBackend).Uploads) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected uploads on prerequisite failure")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveUploadsRunRecordPromotionsAndCurrentPointer(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	fake := env.ObjectStore.(*storage.FakeBackend)
+
+	result, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	runPrefix := m.S3RunPrefix
+	sessionPrefix := m.S3SessionPrefix
+	wantRunUploads := []string{
+		"artifacts/session_recap.md",
+		"config/audita.generated.yml",
+		"inputs/session.yml",
+		"logs/audita.stderr.log",
+		"manifest.json",
+		"reports/audita.report.json",
+		"transcripts/raw/speaker.json",
+		"transcripts/trimmed.json",
+	}
+	for _, rel := range wantRunUploads {
+		key := runPrefix + rel
+		if _, ok := fake.Objects[key]; !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("missing run upload key %q", key)
+		}
+	}
+
+	trimmedKey := sessionPrefix + "transcripts/trimmed.json"
+	recapKey := sessionPrefix + "artifacts/session_recap.md"
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[trimmedKey]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("missing promoted key %q", trimmedKey)
+	}
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[recapKey]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("missing promoted key %q", recapKey)
+	}
+
+	currentManifestKey := sessionPrefix + "current/manifest.json"
+	currentRunIDKey := sessionPrefix + "current/run_id.txt"
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[currentManifestKey]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("missing current manifest key %q", currentManifestKey)
+	}
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[currentRunIDKey]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("missing current run pointer key %q", currentRunIDKey)
+	}
+	if got := string(fake.Objects[currentRunIDKey].Data); got != m.RunID+"\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("run pointer contents = %q, want %q", got, m.RunID+"\\n")
+	}
+
+	audioKey := runPrefix + "audio/speaker.flac"
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[audioKey]; ok {
+		t.Fatalf("audio key %q should not be uploaded", audioKey)
+	}
+
+	uploads := fake.Uploads
+	if len(uploads) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected uploads")
+	}
+	if uploads[len(uploads)-1].Key != currentRunIDKey {
+		t.Fatalf("last upload key = %q, want current run pointer key %q", uploads[len(uploads)-1].Key, currentRunIDKey)
+	}
+
+	if result.Metadata["current_pointer_written"] != true {
+		t.Fatalf("metadata = %#v, want current_pointer_written=true", result.Metadata)
+	}
+	if result.Metadata["promoted_files_uploaded"] != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("metadata promoted_files_uploaded = %#v, want 2", result.Metadata["promoted_files_uploaded"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveUsesCustomPromotionRules(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, workDir := archiveFixture(t)
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts = []config.ArchivePromotionRule{
+		{From: "transcripts/trimmed.json", To: "published/trimmed.json", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+		{From: "artifacts/session_recap.md", To: "published/recap.md", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+	}
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "published", "ignored.txt"), "ignore\n")
+
+	_, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	fake := env.ObjectStore.(*storage.FakeBackend)
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[m.S3SessionPrefix+"published/trimmed.json"]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("missing custom promoted trimmed key")
+	}
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[m.S3SessionPrefix+"published/recap.md"]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("missing custom promoted recap key")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveSkipsOptionalMissingPromotion(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts = []config.ArchivePromotionRule{
+		{From: "transcripts/trimmed.json", To: "transcripts/trimmed.json", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+		{From: "artifacts/optional.md", To: "artifacts/optional.md", Required: boolPtr(false)},
+	}
+
+	result, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	got, _ := result.Metadata["skipped_optional_promotions"].([]string)
+	want := []string{"artifacts/optional.md"}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("skipped_optional_promotions = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveFailsWhenRequiredPromotionMissing(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Archive.PromoteArtifacts = []config.ArchivePromotionRule{
+		{From: "artifacts/missing.md", To: "artifacts/missing.md", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+	}
+
+	_, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "required promotion source missing") {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v, want required promotion missing failure", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveDoesNotWriteCurrentPointerWhenPromotionUploadFails(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	fake := env.ObjectStore.(*storage.FakeBackend)
+	trimmedKey := m.S3SessionPrefix + "transcripts/trimmed.json"
+
+	origUploadErr := fake.UploadErr
+	fake.UploadErr = nil
+	failingKey := trimmedKey
+	fake.Uploads = nil
+
+	originalUpload := fake.Upload
+	_ = originalUpload
+	// Use UploadErr toggle by checking call sequence in postcondition.
+	// First failure point is promotion upload; simulate by setting error immediately before promotion key write.
+	// We cannot hook FakeBackend per-key without changing public behavior; use dedicated backend wrapper instead.
+	env.ObjectStore = &promotionFailingStore{delegate: fake, failKey: failingKey}
+
+	_, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "promoted output") {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v, want promotion upload failure", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[m.S3SessionPrefix+"current/run_id.txt"]; ok {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected current pointer write on promotion failure")
+	}
+	fake.UploadErr = origUploadErr
+}
+
+func TestArchiveDoesNotWriteCurrentPointerWhenCurrentManifestUploadFails(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	fake := env.ObjectStore.(*storage.FakeBackend)
+	env.ObjectStore = &promotionFailingStore{delegate: fake, failKey: m.S3SessionPrefix + "current/manifest.json"}
+
+	_, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "current manifest") {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v, want current manifest upload failure", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := fake.Objects[m.S3SessionPrefix+"current/run_id.txt"]; ok {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected current pointer write when current manifest upload fails")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArchiveFailsWithoutObjectStore(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m, _ := archiveFixture(t)
+	env.ObjectStore = nil
+
+	_, err := archiveStage{}.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "object store") {
+		t.Fatalf("Run() error = %v, want object store backend failure", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func archiveFixture(t *testing.T) (*Env, *manifest.Manifest, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	runID := "20260516T010203Z-1a2b3c4d"
+	campaign := "forsaken"
+	sessionID := "2026-04-19"
+	workDir := filepath.Join(root, "work", campaign, sessionID, runID)
+
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "inputs", "session.yml"), "session_id: 2026-04-19\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "transcripts", "raw", "speaker.json"), "{}\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "transcripts", "trimmed.json"), "{}\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "artifacts", "session_recap.md"), "# recap\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "reports", "audita.report.json"), "{}\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "config", "audita.generated.yml"), "key: value\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "logs", "audita.stderr.log"), "stderr\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "audio", "speaker.flac"), "flac")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(workDir, "manifest.json"), "{}\n")
+
+	m := manifest.New(sessionID, time.Date(2026, 5, 16, 1, 2, 3, 0, time.UTC))
+	m.Campaign = campaign
+	m.RunID = runID
+	m.LocalWorkDir = workDir
+	m.S3Bucket = "my-dnd-archive"
+	m.S3SessionPrefix = artifacts.S3SessionPrefix("dnd", campaign, sessionID)
+	m.S3RunPrefix = artifacts.S3RunPrefix(m.S3SessionPrefix, runID)
+	for _, name := range archivePrerequisiteStages {
+		m.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Date(2026, 5, 16, 1, 2, 3, 0, time.UTC), nil)
+	}
+
+	env := &Env{
+		Config: &config.Config{
+			Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+				Workspace: config.WorkspaceConfig{Root: root},
+				Storage: config.StorageConfig{
+					S3: &config.StorageS3Config{
+						Bucket:     "my-dnd-archive",
+						RootPrefix: "dnd",
+					},
+				},
+				Archive: &config.ArchiveConfig{
+					Enabled:   boolPtr(true),
+					UploadRun: boolPtr(true),
+					PromoteArtifacts: []config.ArchivePromotionRule{
+						{From: "transcripts/trimmed.json", To: "transcripts/trimmed.json", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+						{From: "artifacts/session_recap.md", To: "artifacts/session_recap.md", Required: boolPtr(true)},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			Session: &config.SessionConfig{
+				SessionID: sessionID,
+				Campaign:  campaign,
+			},
+		},
+		ObjectStore: &storage.FakeBackend{},
+	}
+	return env, m, workDir
+}
+
+type promotionFailingStore struct {
+	delegate *storage.FakeBackend
+	failKey  string
+}
+
+func (s *promotionFailingStore) List(ctx context.Context, prefix string) ([]storage.ObjectInfo, error) {
+	return s.delegate.List(ctx, prefix)
+}
+
+func (s *promotionFailingStore) Download(ctx context.Context, key, localPath string) error {
+	return s.delegate.Download(ctx, key, localPath)
+}
+
+func (s *promotionFailingStore) Upload(ctx context.Context, localPath, key string, opts storage.UploadOptions) (storage.ObjectInfo, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(key) == strings.TrimSpace(s.failKey) {
+		return storage.ObjectInfo{}, errors.New("forced upload failure")
+	}
+	return s.delegate.Upload(ctx, localPath, key, opts)
+}
+
+func (s *promotionFailingStore) Exists(ctx context.Context, key string) (bool, error) {
+	return s.delegate.Exists(ctx, key)
+}
+
+func boolPtr(v bool) *bool {
+	p := v
+	return &p
+}
--- a/internal/stage/merge.go
+++ b/internal/stage/merge.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
+	"time"

 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/seriatim"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
@@ -86,10 +87,15 @@ func (mergeStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*Sta
 	stderrPath := filepath.Join(paths.LogsDir, "seriatim.stderr.log")
 	genCfgPath := filepath.Join(paths.ConfigDir, "seriatim.generated.yml")

+	normalizedInputs, normalizeLogs, normalizeConfigs, normalizeMeta, err := normalizeMergeInputs(ctx, env, inputs, paths)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	reportEnabled := env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Report != nil && *env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Report
 	req := seriatim.MergeRequest{
 		GeneratedConfigPath:        genCfgPath,
-		InputTranscriptPaths:       inputs,
+		InputTranscriptPaths:       normalizedInputs,
 		OutputMergedTranscriptPath: mergedPath,
 		ReportPath:                 "",
 		SpeakersPath:               speakersPath,
@@ -146,8 +152,11 @@ func (mergeStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*Sta

 	meta := map[string]any{
 		"stage":                    "merge",
-		"input_transcripts_count":  len(inputs),
+		"input_transcripts_count":  len(normalizedInputs),
 		"input_transcript_paths":   inputs,
+		"normalized_inputs_count":  len(normalizedInputs),
+		"normalized_input_paths":   normalizedInputs,
+		"normalize_inputs":         normalizeMeta,
 		"output_schema":            env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.OutputSchema,
 		"coalesce_gap":             coalesceGap,
 		"report_enabled":           reportEnabled,
@@ -172,12 +181,93 @@ func (mergeStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*Sta

 	return &StageResult{
 		Outputs:          outputs,
-		Logs:             []string{stdoutPath, stderrPath},
-		GeneratedConfigs: []string{genCfgPath},
+		Logs:             append(normalizeLogs, stdoutPath, stderrPath),
+		GeneratedConfigs: append(normalizeConfigs, genCfgPath),
 		Metadata:         meta,
 	}, nil
 }

+type normalizeMergeInputMeta struct {
+	InputPath         string `json:"input_path"`
+	OutputPath        string `json:"output_path"`
+	StdoutLogPath     string `json:"stdout_log_path"`
+	StderrLogPath     string `json:"stderr_log_path"`
+	GeneratedConfig   string `json:"generated_config_path"`
+	DurationMs        int64  `json:"duration_ms"`
+	ExitCode          int    `json:"exit_code"`
+	InvokedBinary     string `json:"invoked_binary"`
+	OutputSchema      string `json:"output_schema"`
+	AdapterReportPath string `json:"adapter_report_path,omitempty"`
+	AdapterOutputPath string `json:"adapter_output_path,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func normalizeMergeInputs(ctx context.Context, env *Env, rawInputs []string, paths artifacts.SessionPaths) ([]string, []string, []string, []normalizeMergeInputMeta, error) {
+	normalizedInputs := make([]string, 0, len(rawInputs))
+	logs := make([]string, 0, len(rawInputs)*2)
+	configs := make([]string, 0, len(rawInputs))
+	meta := make([]normalizeMergeInputMeta, 0, len(rawInputs))
+
+	var timeout time.Duration
+	timeoutRaw := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout)
+	if timeoutRaw != "" {
+		parsed, err := time.ParseDuration(timeoutRaw)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("merge: parse seriatim timeout %q: %w", env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Timeout, err)
+		}
+		timeout = parsed
+	}
+	for _, input := range rawInputs {
+		base := strings.TrimSuffix(filepath.Base(input), filepath.Ext(input))
+		outPath := filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsRawDir, "normalized", base+".normalized.json")
+		stdoutPath := filepath.Join(paths.LogsDir, "seriatim.normalize."+base+".stdout.log")
+		stderrPath := filepath.Join(paths.LogsDir, "seriatim.normalize."+base+".stderr.log")
+		cfgPath := filepath.Join(paths.ConfigDir, "seriatim.normalize."+base+".generated.yml")
+
+		req := seriatim.NormalizeRequest{
+			Binary:               env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.Binary,
+			InputTranscriptPath:  input,
+			OutputNormalizedPath: outPath,
+			OutputSchema:         env.Config.Pipeline.Seriatim.OutputSchema,
+			ReportPath:           "",
+			StdoutLogPath:        stdoutPath,
+			StderrLogPath:        stderrPath,
+			GeneratedConfigPath:  cfgPath,
+			Timeout:              timeout,
+		}
+		res, err := env.Seriatim.Normalize(ctx, req)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("merge: normalize input %q failed: %w", input, err)
+		}
+
+		finalOutputPath := outPath
+		if strings.TrimSpace(res.OutputNormalizedPath) != "" {
+			finalOutputPath = strings.TrimSpace(res.OutputNormalizedPath)
+		}
+		if err := validateTranscriptJSONFile(finalOutputPath); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("merge: normalized transcript %q invalid (input %q): %w", finalOutputPath, input, err)
+		}
+
+		normalizedInputs = append(normalizedInputs, finalOutputPath)
+		logs = append(logs, stdoutPath, stderrPath)
+		configs = append(configs, cfgPath)
+		meta = append(meta, normalizeMergeInputMeta{
+			InputPath:         input,
+			OutputPath:        finalOutputPath,
+			StdoutLogPath:     stdoutPath,
+			StderrLogPath:     stderrPath,
+			GeneratedConfig:   cfgPath,
+			DurationMs:        res.Duration.Milliseconds(),
+			ExitCode:          res.ExitCode,
+			InvokedBinary:     res.InvokedBinary,
+			OutputSchema:      res.OutputSchema,
+			AdapterReportPath: res.ReportPath,
+			AdapterOutputPath: res.OutputNormalizedPath,
+		})
+	}
+
+	return normalizedInputs, logs, configs, meta, nil
+}
+
 func discoverRawTranscripts(m *manifest.Manifest, paths artifacts.SessionPaths) ([]string, error) {
 	fromManifest := make([]string, 0)
 	if m != nil && m.Stages != nil {
--- a/internal/stage/merge_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/merge_test.go
@@ -54,6 +54,17 @@ func TestMergeStageMergesRawTranscriptsAndRecordsMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(req.InputTranscriptPaths) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("input transcripts = %#v, want 2", req.InputTranscriptPaths)
 	}
+	if len(fake.NormalizeRequests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("normalize requests = %#v, want 2", fake.NormalizeRequests)
+	}
+	if fake.NormalizeRequests[0].InputTranscriptPath != inA || fake.NormalizeRequests[1].InputTranscriptPath != inB {
+		t.Fatalf("normalize request inputs = %#v", fake.NormalizeRequests)
+	}
+	for _, mergeIn := range req.InputTranscriptPaths {
+		if !strings.Contains(mergeIn, filepath.Join("transcripts", "raw", "normalized")) {
+			t.Fatalf("merge input path = %q, want normalized input path", mergeIn)
+		}
+	}

 	if len(result.Outputs) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("outputs len = %d, want 2", len(result.Outputs))
@@ -64,11 +75,11 @@ func TestMergeStageMergesRawTranscriptsAndRecordsMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	if result.Outputs[1].Kind != "seriatim_report" {
 		t.Fatalf("output[1] kind = %q, want seriatim_report", result.Outputs[1].Kind)
 	}
-	if len(result.Logs) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("logs = %#v, want 2 paths", result.Logs)
+	if len(result.Logs) != 6 {
+		t.Fatalf("logs = %#v, want 6 paths (4 normalize + 2 merge)", result.Logs)
 	}
-	if len(result.GeneratedConfigs) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("generated configs = %#v, want 1 path", result.GeneratedConfigs)
+	if len(result.GeneratedConfigs) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("generated configs = %#v, want 3 paths (2 normalize + 1 merge)", result.GeneratedConfigs)
 	}

 	meta := result.Metadata
@@ -84,6 +95,12 @@ func TestMergeStageMergesRawTranscriptsAndRecordsMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	if meta["input_transcripts_count"] != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("metadata input_transcripts_count = %#v, want 2", meta["input_transcripts_count"])
 	}
+	if meta["normalized_inputs_count"] != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("metadata normalized_inputs_count = %#v, want 2", meta["normalized_inputs_count"])
+	}
+	if _, ok := meta["normalize_inputs"]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("metadata normalize_inputs missing: %#v", meta)
+	}
 }

 func TestMergeStageFailsWhenNoRawTranscripts(t *testing.T) {
@@ -152,6 +169,9 @@ func TestMergeStageFallsBackToRawDirectoryWhenTranscribeOutputsMissing(t *testin
 	if len(fake.Requests) != 1 || len(fake.Requests[0].InputTranscriptPaths) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("fallback inputs = %#v", fake.Requests)
 	}
+	if len(fake.NormalizeRequests) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("normalize requests = %#v, want 1", fake.NormalizeRequests)
+	}
 }

 func TestMergeStageResolvesWorkspaceQualifiedManifestOutputsWithoutDuplication(t *testing.T) {
@@ -180,8 +200,51 @@ func TestMergeStageResolvesWorkspaceQualifiedManifestOutputsWithoutDuplication(t
 	if len(got) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("input transcript paths = %#v, want len 1", got)
 	}
-	if got[0] != filepath.Clean(rawPath) {
-		t.Fatalf("resolved transcript path = %q, want %q", got[0], filepath.Clean(rawPath))
+	if !strings.Contains(got[0], filepath.Join("transcripts", "raw", "normalized")) {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved transcript path = %q, want normalized path under transcripts/raw/normalized", got[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMergeStageFailsWhenNormalizeAdapterFails(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m := setupMergeEnv(t)
+	paths := env.ArtifactStore.SessionPaths(m.SessionID)
+	in := filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsRawDir, "alice.json")
+	writeFile(t, in, `{"segments":[]}`)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.InputsDir, "speakers.yml"), "match: []\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.InputsDir, "autocorrect.yml"), "rules: []\n")
+	env.Seriatim = &seriatim.FakeRunner{NormalizeErr: context.DeadlineExceeded}
+
+	_, err := (mergeStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "normalize input") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMergeStageFailsWhenNormalizedOutputInvalid(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m := setupMergeEnv(t)
+	paths := env.ArtifactStore.SessionPaths(m.SessionID)
+	in := filepath.Join(paths.TranscriptsRawDir, "alice.json")
+	writeFile(t, in, `{"segments":[]}`)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.InputsDir, "speakers.yml"), "match: []\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(paths.InputsDir, "autocorrect.yml"), "rules: []\n")
+
+	badNormalized := filepath.Join(paths.ArtifactsDir, "bad.normalized.json")
+	writeFile(t, badNormalized, "not-json")
+	env.Seriatim = &seriatim.FakeRunner{
+		NormalizeResult: seriatim.NormalizeResult{
+			OutputNormalizedPath: badNormalized,
+		},
+	}
+
+	_, err := (mergeStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "normalized transcript") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %q", err.Error())
 	}
 }

@@ -211,8 +274,8 @@ func TestMergeStageResolvesSessionRelativeManifestOutputs(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(got) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("input transcript paths = %#v, want len 1", got)
 	}
-	if got[0] != filepath.Clean(rawPath) {
-		t.Fatalf("resolved transcript path = %q, want %q", got[0], filepath.Clean(rawPath))
+	if !strings.Contains(got[0], filepath.Join("transcripts", "raw", "normalized")) {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved transcript path = %q, want normalized path under transcripts/raw/normalized", got[0])
 	}
 }

--- a/internal/stage/placeholders.go
+++ b/internal/stage/placeholders.go
@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@ package stage
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"path/filepath"

 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/notify"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/storage"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifacts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
 )
@@ -47,25 +45,7 @@ func (s placeholderStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifes
 		return result, nil
 	}

-	paths := env.ArtifactStore.SessionPaths(sessionID)
-
 	switch s.name {
-	case "archive":
-		if env.Storage != nil {
-			req := storage.ArchiveRequest{
-				SessionID:    sessionID,
-				ManifestPath: paths.ManifestPath,
-				Items: []storage.ArchiveItem{{
-					Kind:      "artifact",
-					LocalPath: filepath.Join(paths.ArtifactsDir, "session-log.md"),
-					RemoteKey: "sessions/" + sessionID + "/artifacts/session-log.md",
-				}},
-			}
-			_, err := env.Storage.Archive(ctx, req)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("placeholder archive adapter call failed: %w", err)
-			}
-		}
 	case "notify":
 		if env.Notifier != nil {
 			req := notify.SendRequest{
@@ -95,7 +75,7 @@ func All() []Stage {
 		normalizeStage{},
 		trimStage{},
 		analyzeStage{},
-		placeholderStage{name: "archive"},
+		archiveStage{},
 		placeholderStage{name: "notify"},
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/stage/placeholders_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/placeholders_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,19 @@ func TestStagesReturnExpectedMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 		Config: &config.Config{
 			SessionPath:  sessionPath,
 			PipelinePath: pipelinePath,
-			Pipeline:     &config.PipelineConfig{Workspace: config.WorkspaceConfig{Root: root}},
+			Pipeline: &config.PipelineConfig{
+				Workspace: config.WorkspaceConfig{Root: root},
+				Storage: config.StorageConfig{
+					S3: &config.StorageS3Config{
+						Bucket:     "my-dnd-archive",
+						RootPrefix: "dnd",
+					},
+				},
+				Archive: &config.ArchiveConfig{
+					Enabled:   boolPtr(true),
+					UploadRun: boolPtr(true),
+				},
+			},
 			Session: &config.SessionConfig{
 				SessionID: "2026-05-03",
 				Inputs: config.SessionInputsConfig{
@@ -66,10 +78,24 @@ func TestStagesReturnExpectedMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 		Audita:        af,
 		Scriptorium:   sc,
 		Storage:       st,
+		ObjectStore:   st,
 		Notifier:      nf,
 	}

 	m := manifest.New("2026-05-03", time.Now().UTC())
+	for _, name := range []string{"prepare", "transcribe", "merge", "polish", "normalize", "trim", "analyze"} {
+		m.MarkStageSucceeded(name, time.Now().UTC(), nil)
+	}
+	m.RunID = "20260516T000000Z-abcdef12"
+	m.Campaign = "sample-campaign"
+	m.LocalWorkDir = filepath.Join(root, "work", "sample-campaign", "2026-05-03", m.RunID)
+	m.S3RunPrefix = "dnd/campaigns/sample-campaign/sessions/2026-05-03/runs/" + m.RunID + "/"
+	m.S3Bucket = "my-dnd-archive"
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(m.LocalWorkDir, "inputs"), 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("mkdir workdir inputs: %v", err)
+	}
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(m.LocalWorkDir, "inputs", "session.yml"), "session_id: 2026-05-03\n")
+	writeStageTestFile(t, filepath.Join(m.LocalWorkDir, "manifest.json"), "{}\n")
 	for _, s := range stages {
 		result, err := s.Run(context.Background(), env, m)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -150,6 +176,15 @@ func TestStagesReturnExpectedMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			continue
 		}
+		if s.Name() == "archive" {
+			if result.Metadata["stage"] != "archive" {
+				t.Fatalf("archive metadata = %#v, want stage=archive", result.Metadata)
+			}
+			if result.Metadata["uploaded"] != true {
+				t.Fatalf("archive metadata = %#v, want uploaded=true", result.Metadata)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
 		if result.Metadata["placeholder"] != true {
 			t.Fatalf("stage %q missing placeholder metadata", s.Name())
 		}
@@ -167,8 +202,11 @@ func TestStagesReturnExpectedMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(sc.RunRequests) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("scriptorium run calls = %d, want 0 when scriptorium config is absent", len(sc.RunRequests))
 	}
-	if len(st.Requests) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("storage calls = %d, want 1", len(st.Requests))
+	if len(st.Requests) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("storage archive calls = %d, want 0", len(st.Requests))
+	}
+	if _, ok := st.Objects["dnd/campaigns/sample-campaign/sessions/2026-05-03/runs/"+m.RunID+"/manifest.json"]; !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("archive upload missing manifest key in fake object store")
 	}
 	if len(nf.Requests) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("notify calls = %d, want 1", len(nf.Requests))
@@ -181,7 +219,6 @@ func TestPlaceholderAdapterErrorPropagation(t *testing.T) {
 		env       *Env
 		wantErr   string
 	}{
-		{stageName: "archive", env: &Env{Storage: &storage.FakeBackend{Err: errors.New("sterr")}}, wantErr: "archive"},
 		{stageName: "notify", env: &Env{Notifier: &notify.FakeSender{Err: errors.New("nerr")}}, wantErr: "notify"},
 	}

--- a/internal/stage/prepare.go
+++ b/internal/stage/prepare.go
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ import (
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"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"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ func (prepareStage) Declares() IODecl {
 	}
 }

-func (prepareStage) Run(_ context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*StageResult, error) {
+func (prepareStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*StageResult, error) {
 	if env == nil || env.Config == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("prepare: stage environment config is required")
 	}
@@ -89,13 +91,12 @@ func (prepareStage) Run(_ context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*Sta
 		}
 	}

-	resolvedAudio, err := resolveAudioFiles(sessionDir, env.Config.Session.Inputs)
+	resolvedLocalAudio, useS3Audio, err := resolveAudioInputs(sessionDir, env.Config.Session.Inputs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("prepare: resolve audio inputs: %w", err)
 	}

-	copiedByDest := map[string]string{}
-	inputs := make([]manifest.InputRecord, 0, 5+len(resolvedAudio))
+	inputs := make([]manifest.InputRecord, 0, 5+len(resolvedLocalAudio))
 	registerInput := func(kind, path, checksum string) {
 		inputs = append(inputs, manifest.InputRecord{Kind: kind, Path: path, Checksum: checksum})
 	}
@@ -134,19 +135,14 @@ func (prepareStage) Run(_ context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*Sta
 		registerInput(cfgFile.kind, cfgFile.dst, checksum)
 	}

-	for _, src := range resolvedAudio {
-		base := filepath.Base(src)
-		if prev, exists := copiedByDest[base]; exists && prev != src {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("prepare: duplicate audio basename %q from %q and %q", base, prev, src)
+	if useS3Audio {
+		if err := materializeS3AudioInputs(ctx, env, m, sessionID, &inputs); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("prepare: materialize s3 audio: %w", err)
 		}
-		copiedByDest[base] = src
-
-		dst := filepath.Join(paths.AudioDir, base)
-		checksum, err := copyFileIfChanged(env.ArtifactStore, src, dst)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("prepare: materialize audio %q: %w", base, err)
+	} else {
+		if err := materializeLocalAudioInputs(env, paths, resolvedLocalAudio, registerInput); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("prepare: %w", err)
 		}
-		registerInput("audio", dst, checksum)
 	}

 	sort.Slice(inputs, func(i, j int) bool {
@@ -162,7 +158,7 @@ func (prepareStage) Run(_ context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*Sta
 			"prepared":             true,
 			"stage":                "prepare",
 			"inputs_count":         len(inputs),
-			"audio_files_resolved": len(resolvedAudio),
+			"audio_files_resolved": countAudioInputs(inputs),
 		},
 	}, nil
 }
@@ -171,7 +167,23 @@ func renderResolvedPipeline(cfg *config.PipelineConfig) ([]byte, error) {
 	return yaml.Marshal(cfg)
 }

-func resolveAudioFiles(sessionDir string, inputs config.SessionInputsConfig) ([]string, error) {
+func resolveAudioInputs(sessionDir string, inputs config.SessionInputsConfig) ([]string, bool, error) {
+	hasLocal := strings.TrimSpace(inputs.AudioDir) != "" || len(inputs.AudioFiles) > 0
+	if inputs.AudioS3 != nil {
+		if hasLocal {
+			return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("audio_dir/audio_files and audio_s3 are mutually exclusive")
+		}
+		return nil, true, nil
+	}
+
+	local, err := resolveLocalAudioFiles(sessionDir, inputs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false, err
+	}
+	return local, false, nil
+}
+
+func resolveLocalAudioFiles(sessionDir string, inputs config.SessionInputsConfig) ([]string, error) {
 	if len(inputs.AudioFiles) > 0 {
 		out := make([]string, 0, len(inputs.AudioFiles))
 		for _, p := range inputs.AudioFiles {
@@ -223,6 +235,142 @@ func resolveAudioFiles(sessionDir string, inputs config.SessionInputsConfig) ([]
 	return out, nil
 }

+func materializeLocalAudioInputs(env *Env, paths artifacts.SessionPaths, resolvedAudio []string, registerInput func(kind, path, checksum string)) error {
+	copiedByDest := map[string]string{}
+	for _, src := range resolvedAudio {
+		base := filepath.Base(src)
+		if prev, exists := copiedByDest[base]; exists && prev != src {
+			return fmt.Errorf("duplicate audio basename %q from %q and %q", base, prev, src)
+		}
+		copiedByDest[base] = src
+
+		dst := filepath.Join(paths.AudioDir, base)
+		checksum, err := copyFileIfChanged(env.ArtifactStore, src, dst)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("materialize audio %q: %w", base, err)
+		}
+		registerInput("audio", dst, checksum)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func materializeS3AudioInputs(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest, sessionID string, inputs *[]manifest.InputRecord) error {
+	if env.ObjectStore == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("s3 audio input requires object store backend")
+	}
+	if env.Config == nil || env.Config.Pipeline == nil || env.Config.Session == nil || env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3 == nil || env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("s3 audio input requires pipeline.storage.s3 and session.inputs.audio_s3 configuration")
+	}
+
+	campaign := strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Session.Campaign)
+	if campaign == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("session campaign is required for s3 audio input")
+	}
+	runID := strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID)
+	if runID == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("run id is required for s3 audio input")
+	}
+
+	sessionPrefix := artifacts.S3SessionPrefix(env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, campaign, sessionID)
+	audioPrefix := artifacts.S3AudioPrefix(sessionPrefix, env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioS3.Prefix)
+	objects, err := env.ObjectStore.List(ctx, audioPrefix)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("list s3 audio objects under %q: %w", audioPrefix, err)
+	}
+
+	audioObjects := make([]storage.ObjectInfo, 0, len(objects))
+	for _, obj := range objects {
+		key := strings.TrimSpace(obj.Key)
+		if key == "" || strings.HasSuffix(key, "/") {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !isFlac(key) {
+			continue
+		}
+		audioObjects = append(audioObjects, obj)
+	}
+	sort.Slice(audioObjects, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return audioObjects[i].Key < audioObjects[j].Key
+	})
+	if len(audioObjects) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("no .flac files found under s3 audio prefix %q", audioPrefix)
+	}
+
+	spoolAudioDir := strings.TrimSpace(m.LocalSpoolDir)
+	if spoolAudioDir == "" {
+		spoolAudioDir = artifacts.SessionSpoolAudioDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Spool.Root, campaign, sessionID, runID)
+	}
+	workAudioDir := filepath.Join(pathsWorkDirForManifest(env, m, sessionID), "audio")
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(spoolAudioDir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create spool audio directory %q: %w", spoolAudioDir, err)
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(workAudioDir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create work audio directory %q: %w", workAudioDir, err)
+	}
+
+	seenBase := map[string]string{}
+	for _, obj := range audioObjects {
+		base := path.Base(obj.Key)
+		if prev, exists := seenBase[base]; exists && prev != obj.Key {
+			return fmt.Errorf("duplicate s3 audio basename %q from %q and %q", base, prev, obj.Key)
+		}
+		seenBase[base] = obj.Key
+
+		spoolPath := filepath.Join(spoolAudioDir, base)
+		if err := env.ObjectStore.Download(ctx, obj.Key, spoolPath); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("download s3 audio object %q: %w", obj.Key, err)
+		}
+
+		workPath := filepath.Join(workAudioDir, base)
+		checksum, err := copyFileIfChanged(env.ArtifactStore, spoolPath, workPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("materialize downloaded audio %q: %w", base, err)
+		}
+
+		*inputs = append(*inputs, manifest.InputRecord{
+			Kind:      "audio",
+			Path:      workPath,
+			Checksum:  checksum,
+			Source:    "s3",
+			S3Bucket:  strings.TrimSpace(env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.Bucket),
+			S3Key:     obj.Key,
+			S3Size:    obj.Size,
+			S3ETag:    obj.ETag,
+			SpoolPath: spoolPath,
+		})
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func countAudioInputs(inputs []manifest.InputRecord) int {
+	count := 0
+	for _, in := range inputs {
+		if in.Kind == "audio" {
+			count++
+		}
+	}
+	return count
+}
+
+func pathsWorkDirForManifest(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest, sessionID string) string {
+	if env == nil || env.Config == nil || env.Config.Pipeline == nil || env.Config.Session == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if m != nil && strings.TrimSpace(m.LocalWorkDir) != "" {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(m.LocalWorkDir)
+	}
+	runID := ""
+	if m != nil {
+		runID = strings.TrimSpace(m.RunID)
+	}
+	if runID != "" {
+		return artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, env.Config.Session.Campaign, sessionID, runID)
+	}
+	return artifacts.SessionWorkDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, sessionID)
+}
+
 func resolvePath(baseDir, p string) (string, error) {
 	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(p)
 	if trimmed == "" {
--- a/internal/stage/prepare_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/prepare_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"

+	"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"
@@ -150,6 +151,139 @@ func TestPrepareStageIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

+func TestPrepareStageS3AudioDownloadAndMaterialization(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m := setupPrepareEnv(t)
+	env.Config.Session.Campaign = "forsaken"
+	env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioDir = ""
+	env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioFiles = nil
+	env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 = &config.SessionAudioS3Input{Prefix: "audio/"}
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Spool = config.SpoolConfig{Root: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "spool")}
+	env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3 = &config.StorageS3Config{Bucket: "my-dnd-archive", RootPrefix: "dnd"}
+	m.RunID = "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4"
+	m.LocalWorkDir = artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, "forsaken", m.SessionID, m.RunID)
+	m.LocalSpoolDir = artifacts.SessionSpoolAudioDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Spool.Root, "forsaken", m.SessionID, m.RunID)
+
+	fake := &storage.FakeBackend{}
+	fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/audio/alice.flac", Data: []byte("alice")})
+	fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/audio/bob.FLAC", Data: []byte("bob")})
+	fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/audio/ignore.txt", Data: []byte("x")})
+	env.ObjectStore = fake
+
+	result, err := (prepareStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare.Run() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if result == nil || result.Metadata["audio_files_resolved"] != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("result metadata = %#v, want audio_files_resolved=2", result)
+	}
+
+	aliceWork := filepath.Join(m.LocalWorkDir, "audio", "alice.flac")
+	bobWork := filepath.Join(m.LocalWorkDir, "audio", "bob.FLAC")
+	aliceSpool := filepath.Join(m.LocalSpoolDir, "alice.flac")
+	bobSpool := filepath.Join(m.LocalSpoolDir, "bob.FLAC")
+	for _, p := range []string{aliceWork, bobWork, aliceSpool, bobSpool} {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(p); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected file %q: %v", p, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	audioInputs := 0
+	for _, in := range m.Inputs {
+		if in.Kind != "audio" {
+			continue
+		}
+		audioInputs++
+		if in.Source != "s3" {
+			t.Fatalf("audio input source = %q, want s3", in.Source)
+		}
+		if in.S3Bucket != "my-dnd-archive" {
+			t.Fatalf("audio input bucket = %q", in.S3Bucket)
+		}
+		if in.S3Key == "" || in.SpoolPath == "" || in.Checksum == "" {
+			t.Fatalf("audio input missing provenance: %#v", in)
+		}
+	}
+	if audioInputs != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("audio input count = %d, want 2", audioInputs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrepareStageS3AudioFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		setup     func(env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest, fake *storage.FakeBackend)
+		wantError string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "no flac files",
+			setup: func(_ *Env, _ *manifest.Manifest, fake *storage.FakeBackend) {
+				fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/audio/readme.txt", Data: []byte("x")})
+			},
+			wantError: "no .flac files found",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "list error",
+			setup: func(_ *Env, _ *manifest.Manifest, fake *storage.FakeBackend) {
+				fake.ListErr = os.ErrPermission
+			},
+			wantError: "list s3 audio objects",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "download error",
+			setup: func(_ *Env, _ *manifest.Manifest, fake *storage.FakeBackend) {
+				fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/audio/alice.flac", Data: []byte("alice")})
+				fake.DownloadErr = os.ErrPermission
+			},
+			wantError: "download s3 audio object",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "basename collision",
+			setup: func(_ *Env, _ *manifest.Manifest, fake *storage.FakeBackend) {
+				fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/audio/a/alice.flac", Data: []byte("a")})
+				fake.SeedObject(storage.FakeObject{Key: "dnd/campaigns/forsaken/sessions/2026-05-03/audio/b/alice.flac", Data: []byte("b")})
+			},
+			wantError: "duplicate s3 audio basename",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			env, m := setupPrepareEnv(t)
+			env.Config.Session.Campaign = "forsaken"
+			env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioDir = ""
+			env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioFiles = nil
+			env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 = &config.SessionAudioS3Input{Prefix: "audio/"}
+			env.Config.Pipeline.Spool = config.SpoolConfig{Root: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "spool")}
+			env.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3 = &config.StorageS3Config{Bucket: "my-dnd-archive", RootPrefix: "dnd"}
+			m.RunID = "20260515T031522Z-a1b2c3d4"
+			m.LocalWorkDir = artifacts.SessionRunWorkDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, "forsaken", m.SessionID, m.RunID)
+			m.LocalSpoolDir = artifacts.SessionSpoolAudioDir(env.Config.Pipeline.Spool.Root, "forsaken", m.SessionID, m.RunID)
+
+			fake := &storage.FakeBackend{}
+			tt.setup(env, m, fake)
+			env.ObjectStore = fake
+
+			_, err := (prepareStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantError) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, want %q", err, tt.wantError)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrepareStageAudioSourceConflictFails(t *testing.T) {
+	env, m := setupPrepareEnv(t)
+	root := filepath.Dir(env.Config.SessionPath)
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "audio", "a.flac"), "a")
+	env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioDir = "./audio"
+	env.Config.Session.Inputs.AudioS3 = &config.SessionAudioS3Input{Prefix: "audio/"}
+
+	_, err := (prepareStage{}).Run(context.Background(), env, m)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "mutually exclusive") {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want mutually exclusive error", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func setupPrepareEnv(t *testing.T) (*Env, *manifest.Manifest) {
 	t.Helper()
 	workspace := t.TempDir()
@@ -170,6 +304,7 @@ func setupPrepareEnv(t *testing.T) (*Env, *manifest.Manifest) {
 		PipelinePath: pipelinePath,
 		Session: &config.SessionConfig{
 			SessionID: "2026-05-03",
+			Campaign:  "sample-campaign",
 			Inputs: config.SessionInputsConfig{
 				AudioDir:        "./audio",
 				SpeakersFile:    "./speakers.yml",
--- a/internal/stage/stage.go
+++ b/internal/stage/stage.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type Env struct {
 	Scriptorium scriptorium.Runner
 	Analyzer    analyzer.Runner
 	Storage     storage.Backend
+	ObjectStore storage.ObjectStore
 	Notifier    notify.Sender
 }
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Eric Rakestraw	539601bd16	Updated the merge stage to normalize the per-speaker transcripts before merging them All checks were successful ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline was successful Details	2026-05-16 23:30:13 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	6ca1c8d6b0	The backend S3 client now resolves credentials from user-configurable environment variables	2026-05-16 23:22:21 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	4b7b50981b	Add .gocache to .gitignore and minor documentation cleanup	2026-05-16 23:21:45 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	33f7ae8f2e	Simplify downstream tool configuration All checks were successful ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline was successful Details	2026-05-16 23:30:40 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	d5a9ad38f8	Add post-archive cleanup policies	2026-05-16 23:09:39 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	6fbefb9867	Add session discovery and template support	2026-05-16 22:57:42 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	1665359486	Added a locally generated UX progress report	2026-05-16 20:11:20 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	03f2543927	Created a UX status report	2026-05-16 20:09:53 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	fe9c348092	Document and review S3 archive workflow	2026-05-16 15:24:44 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	f7f8f1a949	Promote current session artifacts to storage	2026-05-16 15:01:01 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	d40c91acde	Upload successful run records to storage	2026-05-16 14:43:29 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	ed4dcf1ef7	Updated go.mod	2026-05-16 09:34:43 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	24cce49a70	Download S3 audio during prepare	2026-05-16 14:33:42 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	1e6db89dd4	Add remote storage backend	2026-05-16 14:22:04 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	0454296c81	Add archive storage path configuration	2026-05-16 14:11:59 +00:00