diff --git a/docs/roadmap/dnd-npc-interactions.md b/docs/roadmap/dnd-npc-interactions.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 34adc4a..0000000
--- a/docs/roadmap/dnd-npc-interactions.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,200 +0,0 @@
-# D&D NPC Interactions
-
-Status: Implemented
-
-The current durable and configuration contract is documented in the
-[D&D NPC interaction artifact](../integrations/dnd-npc-interaction-artifacts.md).
-
-## Purpose
-
-The normalized NPC registry intentionally answers only who was identified in a
-session. It does not answer whether an NPC was merely mentioned, participated
-in dialogue, or fought alongside or against the party. Add a separate,
-ordered NPC-interaction artifact for that occurrence-level information rather
-than expanding the identity registry.
-
-This feature preserves the minimal-extractor policy: the model identifies one
-bounded kind of interaction and its supporting transcript evidence. It does
-not summarize the interaction, infer relationships, or maintain NPC state.
-
-## Desired End State
-
-A D&D pipeline can run NPC extraction first and supply its accepted normalized
-registry to a later `dnd/npc-interactions` lane. The later lane emits an ordered
-list of evidenced interaction occurrences involving registry NPCs.
-
-The production identities should be:
-
-- extractor and normalizer key: `dnd/npc-interactions`;
-- artifact kind: `dnd/npc-interaction-list`;
-- durable schema ID: `notarius.dnd.npc_interactions`;
-- durable schema name: `notarius_dnd_npc_interactions_v1`;
-- durable schema version: `v1`; and
-- media type: `application/json`.
-
-The lane must use the existing D&D module organization, shared prompt assets,
-typed artifact pipeline, codec boundary, registration pattern, and default
-validator composition.
-
-## Artifact Contract
-
-The durable payload is an object containing an `interactions` array. The array
-may be empty. Each interaction contains exactly:
-
-- `name`: the canonical NPC name from the supplied registry;
-- `kind`: one value from the bounded interaction vocabulary; and
-- `source_refs`: one or more current-transcript ranges supporting both the NPC
-  identity and the classified interaction.
-
-Every object rejects unknown fields. The model-facing response should contain
-only the corresponding name, kind, and source-unit range candidates. Notarius
-attaches the current source identity deterministically; the model must not
-reproduce it.
-
-Do not add a separate interaction ID in the durable contract. Stable ordering,
-the canonical NPC name, the bounded kind, and exact evidence ranges are enough
-to identify and audit an occurrence for the present use cases. Revisit durable
-cross-artifact identity only with a concrete consumer requirement.
-
-## Interaction Vocabulary
-
-Use this closed vocabulary:
-
-| Kind | Meaning |
-| --- | --- |
-| `mentioned` | The NPC is referred to, but is not established as present or communicating in the evidenced passage. |
-| `noncombat_presence` | The NPC is present and relevant to the passage but does not meaningfully participate in dialogue or combat. |
-| `dialogue` | The NPC speaks, responds, or is directly engaged in a meaningful non-combat exchange. |
-| `combat_ally` | The NPC actively participates in combat on the party's side. |
-| `combat_opponent` | The NPC actively participates in combat against the party. |
-| `other` | The transcript clearly establishes a direct NPC occurrence that fits none of the preceding kinds. |
-
-`other` is a residual category for positively evidenced activity, not an
-escape hatch for uncertain classification. Omit a candidate when the
-transcript does not support one category.
-
-When activities overlap within one occurrence, apply this precedence:
-
-1. active combat participation outranks dialogue, presence, and mention;
-2. dialogue outranks non-combat presence and mention;
-3. non-combat presence outranks mention; and
-4. `other` applies only when none of the defined categories describes the
-   evidenced activity.
-
-Combat alignment is not resolved by precedence. An NPC cannot be both a combat
-ally and combat opponent in one occurrence; split the record when its alignment
-meaningfully changes.
-
-## Occurrence Boundaries And Ordering
-
-An occurrence represents one NPC, one interaction kind, and one locally
-coherent transcript passage. Combine repeated evidence only while it supports
-the same uninterrupted activity. Create separate occurrences when:
-
-- the interaction kind changes;
-- combat alignment changes;
-- a scene or meaningful absence separates repeated activity; or
-- the NPC is first mentioned and later becomes present.
-
-Extraction remains chunk-scoped, so an occurrence must not span accepted chunk
-boundaries. Merge and normalization must not semantically combine occurrences
-from different chunks.
-
-Order the durable list by the earliest valid source position. Use canonical
-name, interaction kind, and canonical source ranges as deterministic
-tie-breakers. Remove only exact duplicate records; do not use model judgment to
-collapse nearby occurrences.
-
-## NPC Grounding And Evidence
-
-The extractor declares the existing `npcs` reference slot and requires a bound,
-accepted NPC registry. The normal same-run configuration binds the normalized
-output of an earlier NPC lane through an ordered generated reference. Existing
-framework support for a compatible external registry may remain available, but
-must not weaken the artifact contract.
-
-Present the registry's names-only projection to the model. An emitted name must
-match one canonical registry name exactly after the registry's established
-lookup rules are applied, and the durable artifact retains that canonical
-display name. Do not copy NPC IDs or registry source references into an
-interaction.
-
-The registry establishes available identity, not occurrence. Every interaction
-must cite current transcript ranges that independently support both the NPC and
-the selected kind. Campaign references and generated artifacts may disambiguate
-a name, but they never become interaction evidence.
-
-If no registry NPC has an evidenced interaction, the correct artifact is an
-empty list. A missing, rejected, or incompatible required registry handoff is a
-pipeline dependency failure rather than a request to extract ungrounded names.
-
-## Prompt And Model Boundary
-
-Follow the established D&D prompt ordering and cache-boundary policy. Stable
-shared instructions, lane instructions, campaign references, and the NPC
-names-only projection precede the variable transcript. Factor wording shared
-with the spell and combat lanes into the existing shared asset pattern rather
-than creating nearly identical package-local messages.
-
-The prompt must:
-
-- define the closed vocabulary and precedence rules;
-- ask for occurrences involving only supplied registry NPCs;
-- distinguish mention from presence and dialogue;
-- require current-transcript evidence for identity and kind;
-- forbid summaries, relationship inference, sentiment, aliases, and invented
-  names; and
-- permit an empty result.
-
-Keep the private JSON Schema structural. Deterministic code owns canonical-name
-resolution, enum enforcement at the durable boundary, source-range validation,
-ordering, exact deduplication, and evidence invariants.
-
-## Validation And Quality
-
-Provide production validators and default chains at extraction and
-normalization boundaries consistent with the existing D&D artifacts. The
-append-only merge does not require a separate default validator chain.
-Deterministic validation must reject:
-
-- missing or extra fields;
-- empty or unrecognized NPC names;
-- names absent from the supplied registry;
-- unknown interaction kinds;
-- empty, malformed, out-of-source, or reversed evidence ranges; and
-- records whose evidence comes from a reference rather than the current
-  transcript.
-
-Any relatedness validator should remain warning-only unless evaluation
-demonstrates a reliable deterministic rejection rule. Diagnostics must be
-bounded and must not leak reference contents.
-
-Evaluate the lane on a small human-reviewed transcript set that includes every
-category, transitions between categories, multiple occurrences for one NPC,
-mentions followed by appearances, alignment changes, repeated evidence across
-chunks, and empty output. Review category agreement, evidence sufficiency,
-ordering, duplicate behavior, and reliability on the smaller models the
-application is intended to support. Treat model-output evaluation as a human
-development aid, not a brittle deterministic test oracle.
-
-## Documentation Outcomes
-
-When implemented, document the durable artifact in `docs/integrations/`, add
-the selectable module and validator contracts to configuration documentation,
-update the current module and pipeline internals, and provide a maintained
-ordered-pipeline example showing NPC extraction followed by interaction
-extraction. Future behavior must remain in this roadmap until it exists.
-
-## Non-Goals
-
-This scope does not:
-
-- add occurrence fields to the normalized NPC registry;
-- summarize dialogue, combat, or NPC behavior;
-- infer disposition, relationships, factions, motives, or persistent state;
-- identify player characters or anonymous groups as NPCs;
-- add scene participants or duplicate scene-description responsibilities;
-- reconcile NPC aliases or perform LLM-assisted semantic deduplication;
-- derive interaction records from registry evidence; or
-- introduce a DAG, concurrent cross-lane reconciliation, or a new reference
-  mechanism.
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer.go
index 3e31e59..5066f20 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer.go
@@ -14,12 +14,13 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/npcs/identity"
 	npcregistry "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/npcs/registry"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared/diagnostics"
 )
 
 const (
 	Key                 = "dnd/combat-turns"
-	normalizationPolicy = "dnd.combat_turns.normalize.v1"
+	normalizationPolicy = "dnd.combat_turns.normalize.v2"
 	NormalizationPolicy = normalizationPolicy
 
 	ReasonCodeActorCanonicalized   = "combat_actor_canonicalized"
@@ -109,7 +110,8 @@ func (n *Normalizer) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req contracts.TypedNormalize
 	if err != nil {
 		return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.CombatTurnList]{}, normalizerErrorf("resolve NPC registry: %w", err)
 	}
-	value, warnings := normalizeList(req.MergeOutput.Value, req.Source, npcRegistry)
+	order := shared.NewSourceRefOrder(req.Source)
+	value, warnings := normalizeList(req.MergeOutput.Value, req.Source, order, npcRegistry)
 	return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.CombatTurnList]{Value: value, Warnings: warnings}, nil
 }
 
@@ -125,7 +127,7 @@ type actorCanonicalization struct {
 	to   string
 }
 
-func normalizeList(input dnd.CombatTurnList, doc *source.SourceDocument, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.CombatTurnList, []contracts.Warning) {
+func normalizeList(input dnd.CombatTurnList, doc *source.SourceDocument, order shared.SourceRefOrder, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.CombatTurnList, []contracts.Warning) {
 	if input.CombatTurns == nil {
 		return dnd.CombatTurnList{}, nil
 	}
@@ -133,8 +135,8 @@ func normalizeList(input dnd.CombatTurnList, doc *source.SourceDocument, registr
 	records := make([]normalizedRecord, len(input.CombatTurns))
 	warnings := make([]contracts.Warning, 0)
 	for index, inputTurn := range input.CombatTurns {
-		turn, actorChange, refsChanged := normalizeTurn(inputTurn, registry)
-		earliest, hasEvidence := earliestSourcePosition(doc, turn)
+		turn, actorChange, refsChanged := normalizeTurn(inputTurn, order, registry)
+		earliest, hasEvidence := order.EarliestValid(turn.SourceRefs)
 		records[index] = normalizedRecord{
 			turn:        turn,
 			inputIndex:  index,
@@ -185,7 +187,7 @@ func normalizeList(input dnd.CombatTurnList, doc *source.SourceDocument, registr
 	return dnd.CombatTurnList{CombatTurns: output}, warnings
 }
 
-func normalizeTurn(input dnd.CombatTurn, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.CombatTurn, *actorCanonicalization, bool) {
+func normalizeTurn(input dnd.CombatTurn, order shared.SourceRefOrder, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.CombatTurn, *actorCanonicalization, bool) {
 	output := cloneCombatTurn(input)
 	output.Actor = identity.NormalizeDisplay(input.Actor)
 
@@ -198,7 +200,7 @@ func normalizeTurn(input dnd.CombatTurn, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.Co
 		actorChange = &actorCanonicalization{from: input.Actor, to: output.Actor}
 	}
 
-	canonicalRefs, _, _ := canonicalizeSourceRefs(input.SourceRefs)
+	canonicalRefs, _, _ := canonicalizeSourceRefs(order, input.SourceRefs)
 	output.SourceRefs = canonicalRefs
 	refsChanged := !sourceRefsEqual(input.SourceRefs, output.SourceRefs)
 	return output, actorChange, refsChanged
@@ -225,62 +227,9 @@ func sourceRefsEqual(left, right []source.SourceRef) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func canonicalizeSourceRefs(input []source.SourceRef) ([]source.SourceRef, bool, int) {
-	if input == nil {
-		return nil, false, 0
-	}
-
-	canonical := make([]source.SourceRef, len(input))
-	copy(canonical, input)
-	sort.SliceStable(canonical, func(left, right int) bool {
-		return sourceRefLess(canonical[left], canonical[right])
-	})
-
-	orderChanged := false
-	for index := range input {
-		if input[index] != canonical[index] {
-			orderChanged = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-
-	unique := make([]source.SourceRef, 0, len(canonical))
-	for _, ref := range canonical {
-		if len(unique) == 0 || unique[len(unique)-1] != ref {
-			unique = append(unique, ref)
-		}
-	}
-	return unique, orderChanged, len(input) - len(unique)
-}
-
-func sourceRefLess(left, right source.SourceRef) bool {
-	if left.SourceID != right.SourceID {
-		return left.SourceID < right.SourceID
-	}
-	if left.StartUnitID != right.StartUnitID {
-		return left.StartUnitID < right.StartUnitID
-	}
-	return left.EndUnitID < right.EndUnitID
-}
-
-func earliestSourcePosition(doc *source.SourceDocument, turn dnd.CombatTurn) (int, bool) {
-	if doc == nil {
-		return 0, false
-	}
-	earliest := 0
-	found := false
-	for _, ref := range turn.SourceRefs {
-		if source.ValidateRef(doc, ref) != nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		index, ok := source.UnitIndex(doc, ref.StartUnitID)
-		if !ok || (found && index >= earliest) {
-			continue
-		}
-		earliest = index
-		found = true
-	}
-	return earliest, found
+func canonicalizeSourceRefs(order shared.SourceRefOrder, input []source.SourceRef) ([]source.SourceRef, bool, int) {
+	canonical := order.Canonicalize(input)
+	return canonical, !sourceRefsEqual(input, canonical), len(input) - len(canonical)
 }
 
 type duplicateGroup struct {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer_test.go
index 0eeaae2..838f37a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/combatturns/normalizer_test.go
@@ -122,6 +122,34 @@ func TestNormalizeOrdersBySourcePositionAndCollapsesExactDuplicates(t *testing.T
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNormalizeUsesDocumentOrderForReferencesAndChronology(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 30}, {ID: 10}}}
+	input := dnd.CombatTurnList{CombatTurns: []dnd.CombatTurn{
+		validTurn("Borin", source.SourceRef{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}),
+		validTurn("Aria", source.SourceRef{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30}),
+		{Actor: "Goblin", TurnKind: dnd.CombatTurnKindTurn, SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{
+			{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+			{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30},
+			{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 999, EndUnitID: 999},
+		}},
+	}}
+	normalizer, err := New(Options{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	result, err := normalizer.Normalize(context.Background(), contracts.TypedNormalizeRequest[dnd.CombatTurnList]{Source: doc, MergeOutput: contracts.MergeArtifact[dnd.CombatTurnList]{Value: input}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Normalize() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := result.Value.CombatTurns; got[0].Actor != "Aria" || got[1].Actor != "Goblin" || got[2].Actor != "Borin" {
+		t.Fatalf("turn order = %#v, want source chronology", got)
+	}
+	refs := result.Value.CombatTurns[1].SourceRefs
+	if refs[0].StartUnitID != 30 || refs[1].StartUnitID != 10 || refs[2].StartUnitID != 999 {
+		t.Fatalf("turn source refs = %#v, want source-document order and invalid fallback", refs)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNormalizePreservesStableOrderForEqualEvidencePositions(t *testing.T) {
 	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 50}}}
 	input := dnd.CombatTurnList{CombatTurns: []dnd.CombatTurn{
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer.go
index 26ad37e..4f5cbd8 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer.go
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ func (n *Normalizer) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req contracts.TypedNormalize
 	if !registry.Bound() {
 		return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.NPCInteractionList]{}, normalizerErrorf("NPC registry reference is required")
 	}
-	value, warnings := normalizeList(req.MergeOutput.Value, req.Source, registry)
+	order := shared.NewSourceRefOrder(req.Source)
+	value, warnings := normalizeList(req.MergeOutput.Value, req.Source, order, registry)
 	return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.NPCInteractionList]{Value: value, Warnings: warnings}, nil
 }
 
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ type nameCanonicalization struct {
 	to   string
 }
 
-func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCInteractionList, doc *source.SourceDocument, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.NPCInteractionList, []contracts.Warning) {
+func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCInteractionList, doc *source.SourceDocument, order shared.SourceRefOrder, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.NPCInteractionList, []contracts.Warning) {
 	if input.Interactions == nil {
 		return dnd.NPCInteractionList{}, nil
 	}
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCInteractionList, doc *source.SourceDocument, reg
 	records := make([]normalizedRecord, len(input.Interactions))
 	warnings := make([]contracts.Warning, 0)
 	for index, inputInteraction := range input.Interactions {
-		interaction, nameChange, refsChanged := normalizeInteraction(inputInteraction, doc, registry)
+		interaction, nameChange, refsChanged := normalizeInteraction(inputInteraction, order, registry)
 		records[index] = normalizedRecord{interaction: interaction, inputIndex: index}
 		if nameChange != nil {
 			warnings = append(warnings, contracts.Warning{
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCInteractionList, doc *source.SourceDocument, reg
 	}
 
 	sort.SliceStable(records, func(left, right int) bool {
-		return interactionmodel.Less(doc, records[left].interaction, records[right].interaction)
+		return interactionmodel.Less(order, records[left].interaction, records[right].interaction)
 	})
 	for position, record := range records {
 		if position == record.inputIndex {
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCInteractionList, doc *source.SourceDocument, reg
 		diagnostics.LimitWarnings(warnings, "npc_interactions", ReasonCodeWarningsOmitted)
 }
 
-func normalizeInteraction(input dnd.NPCInteraction, doc *source.SourceDocument, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.NPCInteraction, *nameCanonicalization, bool) {
+func normalizeInteraction(input dnd.NPCInteraction, order shared.SourceRefOrder, registry *npcregistry.Registry) (dnd.NPCInteraction, *nameCanonicalization, bool) {
 	output := cloneInteraction(input)
 	if canonical, ok := registry.Lookup(identity.NormalizeDisplay(input.Name)); ok {
 		output.Name = canonical.Name
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ func normalizeInteraction(input dnd.NPCInteraction, doc *source.SourceDocument,
 	if input.Name != output.Name {
 		nameChange = &nameCanonicalization{from: input.Name, to: output.Name}
 	}
-	output.SourceRefs = interactionmodel.CanonicalizeSourceRefs(doc, input.SourceRefs)
+	output.SourceRefs = order.Canonicalize(input.SourceRefs)
 	return output, nameChange, !interactionmodel.SourceRefsEqual(input.SourceRefs, output.SourceRefs)
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer_test.go
index c6312eb..a25eed5 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcinteractions/normalizer_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestNormalizeCanonicalizesAndClones(t *testing.T) {
-	doc := testDocument()
+	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 30}, {ID: 10}}}
 	normalizer, err := New(Options{}, npcReferences(t))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("New() error = %v", err)
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestNormalizeCanonicalizesAndClones(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Normalize() error = %v", err)
 	}
 	got := result.Value.Interactions[0]
-	if got.Name != "Ária" || !reflect.DeepEqual(got.SourceRefs, []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}, {SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30}}) {
+	if got.Name != "Ária" || !reflect.DeepEqual(got.SourceRefs, []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30}, {SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}}) {
 		t.Fatalf("normalized interaction = %#v", got)
 	}
 	if !hasWarning(result.Warnings, ReasonCodeNameCanonicalized) || !hasWarning(result.Warnings, ReasonCodeSourceRefsNormalized) {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer.go
index 74f53e2..3a2979b 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
-	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -14,12 +13,13 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/pipeline"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/npcs/identity"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared/diagnostics"
 )
 
 const (
 	Key                 = "dnd/npcs"
-	normalizationPolicy = "dnd.npcs.normalize.v1"
+	normalizationPolicy = "dnd.npcs.normalize.v2"
 	NormalizationPolicy = normalizationPolicy
 
 	ReasonCodeNPCFieldsNormalized        = "npc_fields_normalized"
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ func (n *Normalizer) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req contracts.TypedNormalize
 	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
 		return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.NPCList]{}, normalizerErrorf("context error before normalize: %w", err)
 	}
-	value, warnings := normalizeList(req.MergeOutput.Value)
+	order := shared.NewSourceRefOrder(req.Source)
+	value, warnings := normalizeList(req.MergeOutput.Value, order)
 	return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.NPCList]{Value: value, Warnings: warnings}, nil
 }
 
@@ -77,14 +78,14 @@ type normalizedRecord struct {
 	npc dnd.NPC
 }
 
-func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCList) (dnd.NPCList, []contracts.Warning) {
+func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCList, order shared.SourceRefOrder) (dnd.NPCList, []contracts.Warning) {
 	if input.NPCs == nil {
 		return dnd.NPCList{}, nil
 	}
 	records := make([]normalizedRecord, len(input.NPCs))
 	warnings := make([]contracts.Warning, 0)
 	for index, inputNPC := range input.NPCs {
-		npc, fieldsChanged, referencesChanged := normalizeRecord(inputNPC)
+		npc, fieldsChanged, referencesChanged := normalizeRecord(inputNPC, order)
 		records[index] = normalizedRecord{npc: npc}
 		if fieldsChanged {
 			warnings = append(warnings, contracts.Warning{Scope: npcScope(index), ReasonCode: ReasonCodeNPCFieldsNormalized, Message: fmt.Sprintf("input index %d: NPC name normalized for %s", index, diagnostics.Quote(inputNPC.Name))})
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCList) (dnd.NPCList, []contracts.Warning) {
 	groups := canonicalNameGroups(records)
 	output := dnd.NPCList{NPCs: make([]dnd.NPC, 0, len(groups))}
 	for _, members := range groups {
-		consolidated, referencesChanged := consolidate(records, members)
+		consolidated, referencesChanged := consolidate(records, members, order)
 		retainedIndex := members[0]
 		output.NPCs = append(output.NPCs, consolidated)
 		if referencesChanged {
@@ -113,10 +114,10 @@ func normalizeList(input dnd.NPCList) (dnd.NPCList, []contracts.Warning) {
 	return output, warnings
 }
 
-func normalizeRecord(input dnd.NPC) (dnd.NPC, bool, bool) {
+func normalizeRecord(input dnd.NPC, order shared.SourceRefOrder) (dnd.NPC, bool, bool) {
 	output := cloneNPC(input)
 	output.Name = identity.NormalizeDisplay(input.Name)
-	output.SourceRefs, _, _ = canonicalizeSourceRefs(input.SourceRefs)
+	output.SourceRefs, _, _ = canonicalizeSourceRefs(order, input.SourceRefs)
 	output.ID = identity.DeriveID(output.Name)
 	return output, input.Name != output.Name, !reflect.DeepEqual(input.SourceRefs, output.SourceRefs)
 }
@@ -143,39 +144,20 @@ func canonicalNameGroups(records []normalizedRecord) [][]int {
 	return groups
 }
 
-func consolidate(records []normalizedRecord, members []int) (dnd.NPC, bool) {
+func consolidate(records []normalizedRecord, members []int, order shared.SourceRefOrder) (dnd.NPC, bool) {
 	output := cloneNPC(records[members[0]].npc)
 	originalRefs := cloneSourceRefs(output.SourceRefs)
 	for _, member := range members[1:] {
 		output.SourceRefs = append(output.SourceRefs, records[member].npc.SourceRefs...)
 	}
-	output.SourceRefs, _, _ = canonicalizeSourceRefs(output.SourceRefs)
+	output.SourceRefs, _, _ = canonicalizeSourceRefs(order, output.SourceRefs)
 	output.ID = identity.DeriveID(output.Name)
 	return output, !reflect.DeepEqual(originalRefs, output.SourceRefs)
 }
 
-func canonicalizeSourceRefs(input []source.SourceRef) ([]source.SourceRef, bool, int) {
-	if input == nil {
-		return nil, false, 0
-	}
-	canonical := cloneSourceRefs(input)
-	sort.SliceStable(canonical, func(left, right int) bool {
-		if canonical[left].SourceID != canonical[right].SourceID {
-			return canonical[left].SourceID < canonical[right].SourceID
-		}
-		if canonical[left].StartUnitID != canonical[right].StartUnitID {
-			return canonical[left].StartUnitID < canonical[right].StartUnitID
-		}
-		return canonical[left].EndUnitID < canonical[right].EndUnitID
-	})
-	orderChanged := !reflect.DeepEqual(input, canonical)
-	unique := make([]source.SourceRef, 0, len(canonical))
-	for _, ref := range canonical {
-		if len(unique) == 0 || unique[len(unique)-1] != ref {
-			unique = append(unique, ref)
-		}
-	}
-	return unique, orderChanged, len(input) - len(unique)
+func canonicalizeSourceRefs(order shared.SourceRefOrder, input []source.SourceRef) ([]source.SourceRef, bool, int) {
+	canonical := order.Canonicalize(input)
+	return canonical, !reflect.DeepEqual(input, canonical), len(input) - len(canonical)
 }
 
 func cloneSourceRefs(input []source.SourceRef) []source.SourceRef {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer_test.go
index a795fd4..98f2dfa 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcs/normalizer_test.go
@@ -61,6 +61,23 @@ func TestNormalizeNamesEvidenceAndIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNormalizeOrdersEvidenceBySourceDocumentPosition(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "source", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 30}, {ID: 10}}}
+	input := dnd.NPCList{NPCs: []dnd.NPC{{Name: "Lady Ash", SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 999, EndUnitID: 999},
+	}}}}
+	result, err := New(Options{}).Normalize(context.Background(), normalizeRequestWithSource(input, doc))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Normalize() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	got := result.Value.NPCs[0].SourceRefs
+	if got[0].StartUnitID != 30 || got[1].StartUnitID != 10 || got[2].StartUnitID != 999 {
+		t.Fatalf("source refs = %#v, want source-document order followed by invalid reference", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNormalizeConsolidatesCanonicalNamesOnlyAndUnionsEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 	input := dnd.NPCList{NPCs: []dnd.NPC{
 		{Name: " Captain Vale ", SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: "a", StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 1}}},
@@ -115,6 +132,12 @@ func normalizeRequest(value dnd.NPCList) contracts.TypedNormalizeRequest[dnd.NPC
 	return contracts.TypedNormalizeRequest[dnd.NPCList]{MergeOutput: contracts.MergeArtifact[dnd.NPCList]{Value: value}}
 }
 
+func normalizeRequestWithSource(value dnd.NPCList, doc *source.SourceDocument) contracts.TypedNormalizeRequest[dnd.NPCList] {
+	request := normalizeRequest(value)
+	request.Source = doc
+	return request
+}
+
 func hasWarning(warnings []contracts.Warning, reason, scope string) bool {
 	for _, warning := range warnings {
 		if warning.ReasonCode == reason && warning.Scope == scope {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer.go
index 72e0468..0e3dd4a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package spells
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -11,11 +10,16 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/contracts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/pipeline"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared"
 	spellcatalog "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/spells/catalog"
 	"golang.org/x/text/cases"
 )
 
-const Key = "dnd/spells"
+const (
+	Key                 = "dnd/spells"
+	normalizationPolicy = "dnd.spells.normalize.v1"
+	NormalizationPolicy = normalizationPolicy
+)
 
 const (
 	ReasonCodeSpellNameCanonicalized      = "spell_name_canonicalized"
@@ -65,9 +69,10 @@ func (n *Normalizer) ManifestMetadata() map[string]any {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return map[string]any{
-		"catalog_base_id":     n.effectiveCatalog.BaseID(),
-		"catalog_digest":      n.effectiveCatalog.Digest(),
-		"catalog_overlay_ids": append([]string(nil), n.effectiveCatalog.OverlayIDs()...),
+		"catalog_base_id":      n.effectiveCatalog.BaseID(),
+		"catalog_digest":       n.effectiveCatalog.Digest(),
+		"catalog_overlay_ids":  append([]string(nil), n.effectiveCatalog.OverlayIDs()...),
+		"normalization_policy": normalizationPolicy,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +80,10 @@ func (n *Normalizer) CheckpointFingerprints() []pipeline.CheckpointFingerprint {
 	if n == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return []pipeline.CheckpointFingerprint{{Name: "effective_catalog", Value: n.effectiveCatalog.Digest()}}
+	return []pipeline.CheckpointFingerprint{
+		{Name: "effective_catalog", Value: n.effectiveCatalog.Digest()},
+		{Name: "normalization_policy", Value: normalizationPolicy},
+	}
 }
 
 func (n *Normalizer) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req contracts.TypedNormalizeRequest[dnd.SpellList]) (contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.SpellList], error) {
@@ -89,13 +97,14 @@ func (n *Normalizer) Normalize(ctx context.Context, req contracts.TypedNormalize
 		return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.SpellList]{}, normalizerErrorf("context error before normalize: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	value, warnings := normalizeSpellList(req.MergeOutput.Value, n.effectiveCatalog)
+	order := shared.NewSourceRefOrder(req.Source)
+	value, warnings := normalizeSpellList(req.MergeOutput.Value, n.effectiveCatalog, order)
 	value, duplicateWarnings := collapseDuplicateSpellCasts(value, req.Source, n.effectiveCatalog)
 	warnings = append(warnings, duplicateWarnings...)
 	return contracts.TypedNormalizeResult[dnd.SpellList]{Value: value, Warnings: warnings}, nil
 }
 
-func normalizeSpellList(input dnd.SpellList, catalog spellcatalog.EffectiveCatalog) (dnd.SpellList, []contracts.Warning) {
+func normalizeSpellList(input dnd.SpellList, catalog spellcatalog.EffectiveCatalog, order shared.SourceRefOrder) (dnd.SpellList, []contracts.Warning) {
 	var warnings []contracts.Warning
 	if input.SpellCasts == nil {
 		return dnd.SpellList{}, nil
@@ -123,7 +132,7 @@ func normalizeSpellList(input dnd.SpellList, catalog spellcatalog.EffectiveCatal
 			})
 		}
 
-		canonicalRefs, orderChanged, duplicateCount := canonicalizeSourceRefs(inputCast.SourceRefs)
+		canonicalRefs, orderChanged, duplicateCount := canonicalizeSourceRefs(order, inputCast.SourceRefs)
 		cast.SourceRefs = canonicalRefs
 		if orderChanged || duplicateCount > 0 {
 			warnings = append(warnings, contracts.Warning{
@@ -147,42 +156,21 @@ func cloneSpellCast(input dnd.SpellCast) dnd.SpellCast {
 	return output
 }
 
-func canonicalizeSourceRefs(input []source.SourceRef) ([]source.SourceRef, bool, int) {
-	if input == nil {
-		return nil, false, 0
-	}
-
-	canonical := make([]source.SourceRef, len(input))
-	copy(canonical, input)
-	sort.SliceStable(canonical, func(left, right int) bool {
-		return sourceRefLess(canonical[left], canonical[right])
-	})
-
-	orderChanged := false
-	for index := range input {
-		if input[index] != canonical[index] {
-			orderChanged = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-
-	unique := make([]source.SourceRef, 0, len(canonical))
-	for _, ref := range canonical {
-		if len(unique) == 0 || unique[len(unique)-1] != ref {
-			unique = append(unique, ref)
-		}
-	}
-	return unique, orderChanged, len(input) - len(unique)
+func canonicalizeSourceRefs(order shared.SourceRefOrder, input []source.SourceRef) ([]source.SourceRef, bool, int) {
+	canonical := order.Canonicalize(input)
+	return canonical, !sourceRefsEqual(input, canonical), len(input) - len(canonical)
 }
 
-func sourceRefLess(left, right source.SourceRef) bool {
-	if left.SourceID != right.SourceID {
-		return left.SourceID < right.SourceID
+func sourceRefsEqual(left, right []source.SourceRef) bool {
+	if (left == nil) != (right == nil) || len(left) != len(right) {
+		return false
 	}
-	if left.StartUnitID != right.StartUnitID {
-		return left.StartUnitID < right.StartUnitID
+	for index := range left {
+		if left[index] != right[index] {
+			return false
+		}
 	}
-	return left.EndUnitID < right.EndUnitID
+	return true
 }
 
 type duplicateGroup struct {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer_test.go
index 1c90da5..5837741 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/spells/normalizer_test.go
@@ -106,12 +106,12 @@ func TestIdentityAndMetadataAreDefensive(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	fingerprints := normalizer.CheckpointFingerprints()
-	if len(fingerprints) != 1 || fingerprints[0].Name != "effective_catalog" || fingerprints[0].Value != normalizer.effectiveCatalog.Digest() {
-		t.Fatalf("fingerprints = %#v, want effective catalog fingerprint", fingerprints)
+	if len(fingerprints) != 2 || fingerprints[0].Name != "effective_catalog" || fingerprints[0].Value != normalizer.effectiveCatalog.Digest() || fingerprints[1] != (pipeline.CheckpointFingerprint{Name: "normalization_policy", Value: normalizationPolicy}) {
+		t.Fatalf("fingerprints = %#v, want catalog and normalization policy fingerprints", fingerprints)
 	}
 	fingerprints[0].Name = "changed"
 	fingerprints[0].Value = "changed"
-	if got := normalizer.CheckpointFingerprints(); len(got) != 1 || got[0].Name != "effective_catalog" || got[0].Value != normalizer.effectiveCatalog.Digest() {
+	if got := normalizer.CheckpointFingerprints(); len(got) != 2 || got[0].Name != "effective_catalog" || got[0].Value != normalizer.effectiveCatalog.Digest() || got[1] != (pipeline.CheckpointFingerprint{Name: "normalization_policy", Value: normalizationPolicy}) {
 		t.Fatalf("fingerprints were not defensive: %#v", got)
 	}
 
@@ -210,6 +210,26 @@ func TestNormalizeSortsAndDeduplicatesExactSourceReferences(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNormalizeOrdersReferencesBySourceDocumentPosition(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "source", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 30}, {ID: 10}}}
+	input := dnd.SpellList{SpellCasts: []dnd.SpellCast{{
+		Spell: "Cure Wounds",
+		SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{
+			{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+			{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30},
+			{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 999, EndUnitID: 999},
+		},
+	}}}
+	result, err := newNormalizer(t).Normalize(context.Background(), normalizeRequestWithSource(input, doc))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Normalize() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	got := result.Value.SpellCasts[0].SourceRefs
+	if got[0].StartUnitID != 30 || got[1].StartUnitID != 10 || got[2].StartUnitID != 999 {
+		t.Fatalf("normalized refs = %#v, want source-document order followed by invalid reference", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNormalizePreservesNilEmptyAndAdjacentOrOverlappingReferences(t *testing.T) {
 	normalizer := newNormalizer(t)
 	input := dnd.SpellList{SpellCasts: []dnd.SpellCast{
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/npcinteractions/canonical.go b/internal/modules/dnd/npcinteractions/canonical.go
index 66883ea..7925bf8 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/npcinteractions/canonical.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/npcinteractions/canonical.go
@@ -3,34 +3,15 @@
 package npcinteractions
 
 import (
-	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/core/source"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/npcs/identity"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared"
 )
 
-// CanonicalizeSourceRefs returns a cloned, document-ordered, de-duplicated
-// source-reference list.
-func CanonicalizeSourceRefs(doc *source.SourceDocument, input []source.SourceRef) []source.SourceRef {
-	if input == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	canonical := append([]source.SourceRef(nil), input...)
-	sort.SliceStable(canonical, func(left, right int) bool {
-		return SourceRefLess(doc, canonical[left], canonical[right])
-	})
-	unique := make([]source.SourceRef, 0, len(canonical))
-	for _, ref := range canonical {
-		if len(unique) == 0 || unique[len(unique)-1] != ref {
-			unique = append(unique, ref)
-		}
-	}
-	return unique
-}
-
 // SourceRefsEqual reports whether two source-reference lists have identical
 // representations and values.
 func SourceRefsEqual(left, right []source.SourceRef) bool {
@@ -45,39 +26,10 @@ func SourceRefsEqual(left, right []source.SourceRef) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-// SourceRefLess orders references by source identity and then by the source
-// document positions of their endpoints. Invalid endpoints sort after valid
-// endpoints and fall back to their literal IDs for deterministic diagnostics.
-func SourceRefLess(doc *source.SourceDocument, left, right source.SourceRef) bool {
-	if left.SourceID != right.SourceID {
-		return left.SourceID < right.SourceID
-	}
-	leftStart, leftStartOK := source.UnitIndex(doc, left.StartUnitID)
-	rightStart, rightStartOK := source.UnitIndex(doc, right.StartUnitID)
-	if leftStartOK != rightStartOK {
-		return leftStartOK
-	}
-	if leftStartOK && leftStart != rightStart {
-		return leftStart < rightStart
-	}
-	if left.StartUnitID != right.StartUnitID {
-		return left.StartUnitID < right.StartUnitID
-	}
-	leftEnd, leftEndOK := source.UnitIndex(doc, left.EndUnitID)
-	rightEnd, rightEndOK := source.UnitIndex(doc, right.EndUnitID)
-	if leftEndOK != rightEndOK {
-		return leftEndOK
-	}
-	if leftEndOK && leftEnd != rightEnd {
-		return leftEnd < rightEnd
-	}
-	return left.EndUnitID < right.EndUnitID
-}
-
 // Less defines the canonical order for NPC interaction occurrences.
-func Less(doc *source.SourceDocument, left, right dnd.NPCInteraction) bool {
-	leftPosition, leftHasEvidence := EarliestSourcePosition(doc, left)
-	rightPosition, rightHasEvidence := EarliestSourcePosition(doc, right)
+func Less(order shared.SourceRefOrder, left, right dnd.NPCInteraction) bool {
+	leftPosition, leftHasEvidence := order.EarliestValid(left.SourceRefs)
+	rightPosition, rightHasEvidence := order.EarliestValid(right.SourceRefs)
 	if leftHasEvidence != rightHasEvidence {
 		return leftHasEvidence
 	}
@@ -95,25 +47,7 @@ func Less(doc *source.SourceDocument, left, right dnd.NPCInteraction) bool {
 	if left.Kind != right.Kind {
 		return left.Kind < right.Kind
 	}
-	return sourceRefsLess(doc, left.SourceRefs, right.SourceRefs)
-}
-
-// EarliestSourcePosition returns the earliest valid cited position.
-func EarliestSourcePosition(doc *source.SourceDocument, interaction dnd.NPCInteraction) (int, bool) {
-	found := false
-	earliest := 0
-	for _, ref := range interaction.SourceRefs {
-		if source.ValidateRef(doc, ref) != nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		position, ok := source.UnitIndex(doc, ref.StartUnitID)
-		if !ok || (found && position >= earliest) {
-			continue
-		}
-		earliest = position
-		found = true
-	}
-	return earliest, found
+	return sourceRefsLess(order, left.SourceRefs, right.SourceRefs)
 }
 
 // ValidSourceRefs reports whether an interaction has non-empty, valid
@@ -144,12 +78,12 @@ func ExactIdentity(interaction dnd.NPCInteraction) string {
 	return key.String()
 }
 
-func sourceRefsLess(doc *source.SourceDocument, left, right []source.SourceRef) bool {
+func sourceRefsLess(order shared.SourceRefOrder, left, right []source.SourceRef) bool {
 	for index := 0; index < len(left) && index < len(right); index++ {
 		if left[index] == right[index] {
 			continue
 		}
-		return SourceRefLess(doc, left[index], right[index])
+		return order.Less(left[index], right[index])
 	}
 	return len(left) < len(right)
 }
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/source_ref_order.go b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/source_ref_order.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5685788
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/source_ref_order.go
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package shared
+
+import (
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/core/source"
+)
+
+// SourceRefOrder provides a stable snapshot of a source document's unit
+// ordering for source-reference comparison and canonicalization.
+type SourceRefOrder struct {
+	sourceID  string
+	positions map[int]int
+}
+
+// NewSourceRefOrder captures the source identity and unit positions from doc.
+func NewSourceRefOrder(doc *source.SourceDocument) SourceRefOrder {
+	if doc == nil {
+		return SourceRefOrder{}
+	}
+	positions := make(map[int]int, len(doc.Units))
+	for position, unit := range doc.Units {
+		if _, exists := positions[unit.ID]; !exists {
+			positions[unit.ID] = position
+		}
+	}
+	return SourceRefOrder{sourceID: doc.ID, positions: positions}
+}
+
+// Less orders references by source identity, then document positions when
+// available, and finally literal endpoint IDs.
+func (o SourceRefOrder) Less(left, right source.SourceRef) bool {
+	if left.SourceID != right.SourceID {
+		return left.SourceID < right.SourceID
+	}
+	positions := o.positionsFor(left.SourceID)
+	if lessEndpoint(positions, left.StartUnitID, right.StartUnitID) {
+		return true
+	}
+	if lessEndpoint(o.positions, right.StartUnitID, left.StartUnitID) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return lessEndpoint(positions, left.EndUnitID, right.EndUnitID)
+}
+
+// EarliestValid returns the earliest document position among valid refs.
+func (o SourceRefOrder) EarliestValid(refs []source.SourceRef) (int, bool) {
+	if len(refs) == 0 || o.sourceID == "" {
+		return 0, false
+	}
+	found := false
+	earliest := 0
+	for _, ref := range refs {
+		if ref.SourceID != o.sourceID || strings.TrimSpace(ref.SourceID) != ref.SourceID || ref.StartUnitID <= 0 || ref.EndUnitID <= 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		start, startOK := o.positions[ref.StartUnitID]
+		end, endOK := o.positions[ref.EndUnitID]
+		if !startOK || !endOK || start > end {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !found || start < earliest {
+			earliest = start
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	return earliest, found
+}
+
+// Canonicalize returns an owned, stable-sorted, exactly de-duplicated copy of
+// refs. It deliberately preserves invalid references for diagnostics.
+func (o SourceRefOrder) Canonicalize(refs []source.SourceRef) []source.SourceRef {
+	if refs == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	canonical := append([]source.SourceRef{}, refs...)
+	sort.SliceStable(canonical, func(left, right int) bool {
+		return o.Less(canonical[left], canonical[right])
+	})
+	unique := make([]source.SourceRef, 0, len(canonical))
+	for _, ref := range canonical {
+		if len(unique) == 0 || unique[len(unique)-1] != ref {
+			unique = append(unique, ref)
+		}
+	}
+	return unique
+}
+
+func (o SourceRefOrder) positionsFor(sourceID string) map[int]int {
+	if o.sourceID == "" || sourceID != o.sourceID {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return o.positions
+}
+
+func lessEndpoint(positions map[int]int, left, right int) bool {
+	leftPosition, leftOK := positions[left]
+	rightPosition, rightOK := positions[right]
+	if leftOK != rightOK {
+		return leftOK
+	}
+	if leftOK && leftPosition != rightPosition {
+		return leftPosition < rightPosition
+	}
+	return left < right
+}
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/source_ref_order_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/source_ref_order_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5e8614
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/source_ref_order_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package shared
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/core/source"
+)
+
+func TestSourceRefOrderUsesDocumentOrderAndLiteralFallbacks(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := unitRefSourceDocument(30, 10, 20)
+	order := NewSourceRefOrder(doc)
+
+	refs := []source.SourceRef{
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 999, EndUnitID: 999},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30},
+		{SourceID: "other", StartUnitID: 20, EndUnitID: 20},
+		{SourceID: "other", StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+	}
+	got := order.Canonicalize(refs)
+	want := []source.SourceRef{
+		{SourceID: "other", StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+		{SourceID: "other", StartUnitID: 20, EndUnitID: 20},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 999, EndUnitID: 999},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("Canonicalize() = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+	}
+	if order.Less(want[0], want[0]) {
+		t.Fatal("Less(ref, ref) = true, want false")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSourceRefOrderCanonicalizePreservesRepresentationAndOwnership(t *testing.T) {
+	order := NewSourceRefOrder(unitRefSourceDocument(3, 1, 2))
+	if got := order.Canonicalize(nil); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Canonicalize(nil) = %#v, want nil", got)
+	}
+	empty := []source.SourceRef{}
+	if got := order.Canonicalize(empty); got == nil || len(got) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Canonicalize(empty) = %#v, want owned empty slice", got)
+	}
+	input := []source.SourceRef{
+		{SourceID: "session-alpha", StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 2},
+		{SourceID: "session-alpha", StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 2},
+		{SourceID: "session-alpha", StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 3},
+	}
+	got := order.Canonicalize(input)
+	if len(got) != 2 || got[0] == got[1] {
+		t.Fatalf("Canonicalize() = %#v, want exact duplicate removed but distinct range retained", got)
+	}
+	got[0].StartUnitID = 99
+	if input[0].StartUnitID == 99 {
+		t.Fatal("Canonicalize() output aliases input")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSourceRefOrderSnapshotAndEarliestValid(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := unitRefSourceDocument(30, 10, 20)
+	order := NewSourceRefOrder(doc)
+	doc.Units[0].ID, doc.Units[1].ID = 10, 30
+	refs := []source.SourceRef{
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 20, EndUnitID: 20},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10},
+		{SourceID: "other", StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 1},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 999, EndUnitID: 999},
+		{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 20, EndUnitID: 30},
+	}
+	if position, ok := order.EarliestValid(refs); !ok || position != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("EarliestValid() = %d, %t, want 1, true", position, ok)
+	}
+	if position, ok := order.EarliestValid([]source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 20, EndUnitID: 30}}); ok || position != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("EarliestValid(invalid) = %d, %t, want 0, false", position, ok)
+	}
+	if position, ok := (SourceRefOrder{}).EarliestValid(refs); ok || position != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("zero EarliestValid() = %d, %t, want 0, false", position, ok)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator.go b/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator.go
index d7f27e6..c2d65ff 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/pipeline"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/npcs/identity"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared/diagnostics"
 	combatshape "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/shape"
 )
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	Key        = "normalize/dnd/combat-turns/invariants"
 	ReasonCode = "invalid_combat_turn_normalization"
-	policy     = "dnd.combat_turns.validator.normalized.v1"
+	policy     = "dnd.combat_turns.validator.normalized.v2"
 )
 
 type Options struct{}
@@ -50,14 +51,14 @@ func Validate(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.CombatTurnList) error {
 	if combatshape.Validate(value) != nil || !sourceRefsValid(doc, value) {
 		return nil
 	}
-	issues := issuesFor(doc, value)
+	issues := issuesFor(shared.NewSourceRefOrder(doc), value)
 	if len(issues) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("%s", diagnostics.Aggregate("invalid combat turn normalization", issues))
 }
 
-func issuesFor(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.CombatTurnList) []string {
+func issuesFor(order shared.SourceRefOrder, value dnd.CombatTurnList) []string {
 	issues := make([]string, 0)
 	seenIdentity := make(map[string]int)
 	previousPosition := -1
@@ -69,14 +70,14 @@ func issuesFor(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.CombatTurnList) []string {
 		for refIndex := 1; refIndex < len(turn.SourceRefs); refIndex++ {
 			previous := turn.SourceRefs[refIndex-1]
 			current := turn.SourceRefs[refIndex]
-			if sourceRefLess(current, previous) {
+			if order.Less(current, previous) {
 				issues = append(issues, fmt.Sprintf("%s.source_refs are not in canonical order at index %d", prefix, refIndex))
 			} else if current == previous {
 				issues = append(issues, fmt.Sprintf("%s.source_refs[%d] duplicates the previous reference", prefix, refIndex))
 			}
 		}
 
-		position, ok := earliestSourcePosition(doc, turn)
+		position, ok := order.EarliestValid(turn.SourceRefs)
 		if !ok {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -107,36 +108,6 @@ func sourceRefsValid(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.CombatTurnList) bool
 	return true
 }
 
-func sourceRefLess(left, right source.SourceRef) bool {
-	if left.SourceID != right.SourceID {
-		return left.SourceID < right.SourceID
-	}
-	if left.StartUnitID != right.StartUnitID {
-		return left.StartUnitID < right.StartUnitID
-	}
-	return left.EndUnitID < right.EndUnitID
-}
-
-func earliestSourcePosition(doc *source.SourceDocument, turn dnd.CombatTurn) (int, bool) {
-	if doc == nil {
-		return 0, false
-	}
-	earliest := 0
-	found := false
-	for _, ref := range turn.SourceRefs {
-		if source.ValidateRef(doc, ref) != nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		index, ok := source.UnitIndex(doc, ref.StartUnitID)
-		if !ok || (found && index >= earliest) {
-			continue
-		}
-		earliest = index
-		found = true
-	}
-	return earliest, found
-}
-
 func duplicateKey(turn dnd.CombatTurn) (string, bool) {
 	if len(turn.SourceRefs) == 0 {
 		return "", false
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator_test.go
index 8fc9658..912b403 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/validate/combatturns/invariants/validator_test.go
@@ -57,6 +57,24 @@ func TestValidateRejectsOwnedNormalizedInvariants(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestValidateUsesSourceDocumentOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 30}, {ID: 10}}}
+	value := dnd.CombatTurnList{CombatTurns: []dnd.CombatTurn{
+		{Actor: "Aria", TurnKind: dnd.CombatTurnKindTurn, SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}, {SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30}}},
+	}}
+	if err := Validate(doc, value); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not in canonical order") {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v, want document-order reference rejection", err)
+	}
+
+	value = dnd.CombatTurnList{CombatTurns: []dnd.CombatTurn{
+		{Actor: "Aria", TurnKind: dnd.CombatTurnKindTurn, SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}}},
+		{Actor: "Borin", TurnKind: dnd.CombatTurnKindTurn, SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30}}},
+	}}
+	if err := Validate(doc, value); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "out of chronological order") {
+		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v, want document-order chronology rejection", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestValidatorDefersShapeAndSourceReferenceFailures(t *testing.T) {
 	doc := invariantDocument()
 	shapeInvalid := normalizedList()
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/validate/npcinteractions/invariants/validator.go b/internal/modules/dnd/validate/npcinteractions/invariants/validator.go
index 36114e1..064d561 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/validate/npcinteractions/invariants/validator.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/validate/npcinteractions/invariants/validator.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd"
 	interactionmodel "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/npcinteractions"
 	npcregistry "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/npcs/registry"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared/diagnostics"
 	interactionshape "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/validate/npcinteractions/shape"
 )
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ func (v *Validator) Validate(_ context.Context, req contracts.TypedValidationReq
 	if !npcRegistry.Bound() {
 		return contracts.ValidationResult{Approved: false, ReasonCode: ReasonCode, Message: "invalid NPC interaction normalization: NPC registry reference is required"}, nil
 	}
-	issues := issuesFor(req.Source, req.Value, npcRegistry)
+	issues := issuesFor(req.Source, shared.NewSourceRefOrder(req.Source), req.Value, npcRegistry)
 	if len(issues) == 0 {
 		return contracts.ValidationResult{Approved: true}, nil
 	}
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ func allSourceRefsValid(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.NPCInteractionList
 	return true
 }
 
-func issuesFor(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.NPCInteractionList, npcRegistry *npcregistry.Registry) []string {
+func issuesFor(doc *source.SourceDocument, order shared.SourceRefOrder, value dnd.NPCInteractionList, npcRegistry *npcregistry.Registry) []string {
 	issues := make([]string, 0)
 	for index, interaction := range value.Interactions {
 		prefix := fmt.Sprintf("interactions[%d]", index)
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ func issuesFor(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.NPCInteractionList, npcRegi
 		for refIndex := 1; refIndex < len(interaction.SourceRefs); refIndex++ {
 			previous := interaction.SourceRefs[refIndex-1]
 			current := interaction.SourceRefs[refIndex]
-			if interactionmodel.SourceRefLess(doc, current, previous) {
+			if order.Less(current, previous) {
 				issues = append(issues, fmt.Sprintf("%s.source_refs are not in canonical order at index %d", prefix, refIndex))
 			} else if current == previous {
 				issues = append(issues, fmt.Sprintf("%s.source_refs[%d] duplicates the previous reference", prefix, refIndex))
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ func issuesFor(doc *source.SourceDocument, value dnd.NPCInteractionList, npcRegi
 	}
 
 	if !sort.SliceIsSorted(value.Interactions, func(left, right int) bool {
-		return interactionmodel.Less(doc, value.Interactions[left], value.Interactions[right])
+		return interactionmodel.Less(order, value.Interactions[left], value.Interactions[right])
 	}) {
 		issues = append(issues, "interactions are not in canonical order")
 	}
diff --git a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npcs_runner_test.go b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npcs_runner_test.go
index a9d7c43..76e718a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npcs_runner_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npcs_runner_test.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func TestRunnerProcessesSeriatimInputWithProductionDNDNPCPipeline(t *testing.T)
 		t.Fatalf("manifest lane = %#v, want NPC production composition", lane)
 	}
 	normalizerMetadata, ok := lane.Metadata["normalizer"].(map[string]any)
-	if !ok || normalizerMetadata["identity_policy"] != identity.Policy || normalizerMetadata["normalization_policy"] != "dnd.npcs.normalize.v1" {
+	if !ok || normalizerMetadata["identity_policy"] != identity.Policy || normalizerMetadata["normalization_policy"] != "dnd.npcs.normalize.v2" {
 		t.Fatalf("normalizer metadata = %#v, want identity and normalization policies", lane.Metadata)
 	}
 	var npcOutputFile *contracts.OutputFile