diff --git a/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/instructions.md b/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/instructions.md
index 2bbb421..8d9c700 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/instructions.md
+++ b/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/instructions.md
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-Return one event only when the transcript establishes a meaningful item or
-currency occurrence. Use a concise observed item name and preserve the stated
-currency denomination. Set `quantity` to the explicitly stated integer, or to
-`null` when the transcript does not state one.
+Extract meaningful Dungeons & Dragons item and currency discoveries and changes
+in party possession established by the transcript. This is an event history,
+not an inventory or ledger: do not calculate balances, resolve item identity
+across records, or infer ownership that the transcript does not establish.
+
+Record a stated quantity as an integer and leave it null when the transcript
+does not state one. Use a concise observed item name and preserve the stated
+currency denomination.
 
 Use `discovered` when the party learns of or encounters an item without
 establishing possession. Use `acquired` when the party or a party member gains
@@ -22,5 +26,4 @@ transfer. Do not emit a transfer for a gift, sale, or payment outside the party.
 
 Ordinary non-depleting use is not an event. Do not infer acquisition from a
 discovery, or discovery from an acquisition: emit both only when each is
-independently established. Every event needs at least one narrow transcript
-range. Return no lore, inventory totals, aliases, or unstated holder details.
+independently established.
diff --git a/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/prompt.yaml b/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/prompt.yaml
index 2bf4df9..f098a45 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/prompt.yaml
+++ b/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/prompt.yaml
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ messages:
       type: ephemeral
   - role: user
     content_file: ./sharedassets/common-dnd-extraction-evidence.md
-  - role: user
-    content_file: ./task.md
   - role: user
     content_file: ./instructions.md
     cache_control:
diff --git a/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/task.md b/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/task.md
deleted file mode 100644
index fe267c0..0000000
--- a/assets/dnd/item-events/prompts/task.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-Extract meaningful Dungeons & Dragons item and currency events established by
-the transcript. Record only discoveries and changes in party possession, with
-the transcript ranges that support each event.
-
-This is an event history, not an inventory or ledger. Do not calculate balances,
-resolve item identity across records, or infer ownership that the transcript
-does not establish.
diff --git a/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/instructions.md b/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/instructions.md
index aefa071..9ba187a 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/instructions.md
+++ b/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/instructions.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
-Return only observed location display names and narrow transcript source ranges.
+Extract physical places established by the provided Dungeons & Dragons
+transcript. Include planes, regions, settlements, districts, buildings, rooms,
+landmarks, routes, and geographic features.
+
+A generic label such as "the tavern" is allowed only when the transcript uses
+it for a specific place. Keep aliases and nested places when the transcript
+identifies them; do not merge or invent qualifiers for similarly named places.
 
 Exclude people, creatures, objects, organizations, abstract concepts, and
 places merely inferred from an event. Omit uncertain or unsupported places.
-Campaign references may clarify terms already present in the transcript, but
-they are not evidence and must never supply a source range.
diff --git a/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml b/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml
index ffac003..8b48b37 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml
+++ b/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ messages:
       type: ephemeral
   - role: user
     content_file: ./sharedassets/common-dnd-extraction-evidence.md
-  - role: user
-    content_file: ./task.md
   - role: user
     content_file: ./instructions.md
     cache_control:
diff --git a/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/task.md b/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/task.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 5b82c2f..0000000
--- a/assets/dnd/locations/extract/prompts/task.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-Extract physical places established by the provided Dungeons & Dragons
-transcript and cite where each place is identified.
-
-Include planes, regions, settlements, districts, buildings, rooms, landmarks,
-routes, and geographic features. A generic label such as "the tavern" is
-allowed only when the transcript uses it for a specific place. Keep aliases and
-nested places when the transcript identifies them; do not merge or invent
-qualifiers for similarly named places.
diff --git a/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/instructions.md b/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/instructions.md
index f41a847..32ccf92 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/instructions.md
+++ b/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/instructions.md
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
-For every NPC record, return only the observed display name and transcript
-units that support that identity.
+Extract the individually identifiable Dungeons & Dragons non-player characters
+established by the provided transcript.
 
-Return no other details or lore inferred from general D&D knowledge. Do not
-invent a label for an anonymous creature, crowd, or generic role.
+Include an in-world non-PC participant only when the transcript gives it a
+proper name or a stable, individually distinguishing title or alias.
 
-Preserve observed display spelling. Return at least one narrow source range for
-every record.
+Exclude human players, transcript speakers, and the GM as out-of-world people;
+player characters identified by the player or party references; incidental or
+hypothetical name drops; corrected transcription mistakes; anonymous or generic
+roles; indistinguishable crowds or groups; invented descriptive labels; and
+temporary summoned creatures or spell effects without a persistent individual
+identity.
+
+Preserve observed display spelling. Do not invent a label for an anonymous
+creature, crowd, or generic role.
diff --git a/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml b/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml
index 703f974..ec539d7 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml
+++ b/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/prompt.yaml
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ messages:
       type: ephemeral
   - role: user
     content_file: ./sharedassets/common-dnd-extraction-evidence.md
-  - role: user
-    content_file: ./task.md
   - role: user
     content_file: ./instructions.md
     cache_control:
diff --git a/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/task.md b/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/task.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 30c087d..0000000
--- a/assets/dnd/npcs/extract/prompts/task.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-Extract the individually identifiable Dungeons & Dragons non-player characters
-established by the provided transcript and cite where each identity appears.
-
-Include an in-world non-PC participant only when the transcript gives it a
-proper name or a stable, individually distinguishing title or alias.
-
-Exclude human players, transcript speakers, and the GM as out-of-world people,
-player characters identified by the player or party references, incidental or
-hypothetical name drops, corrected transcription mistakes, anonymous or
-generic roles, indistinguishable crowds or groups, invented descriptive labels,
-and temporary summoned creatures or spell effects without a persistent
-individual identity.
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets.go b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets.go
index dc60503..b5cde98 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ var promptAssetManifest = shared.PromptAssetManifest{
 	ModuleDir: "dnd.item_events",
 	ModuleFiles: []promptfs.ModulePromptFile{
 		{Name: "prompt.yaml", Path: "prompts/prompt.yaml"},
-		{Name: "task.md", Path: "prompts/task.md"},
 		{Name: "instructions.md", Path: "prompts/instructions.md"},
 	},
 	SharedFiles: []string{
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets_test.go
index 3176df3..dbcab5b 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/itemevents/prompt_assets_test.go
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ func TestPromptAssetsPrepareItemEventPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
 		PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "item-events-test-profile",
 		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
-			"transcript": promptkit.InlineWithURI("file:///session.json", `{"segments":[1]}`),
-			"players":    promptkit.Inline(" "),
+			"transcript": promptkit.InlineWithURI("file:///session.json", `{"units":[{"sentinel":"item-event-transcript"}]}`),
+			"players":    promptkit.Inline("item-event-player"),
 			"party":      promptkit.Inline(" "),
 			"glossary":   promptkit.Inline(" "),
 		},
@@ -43,6 +43,36 @@ func TestPromptAssetsPrepareItemEventPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	if prepared.PromptID != PromptID || prepared.OutputContract.SchemaPath != "dnd_item_events_llm.v1.json" {
 		t.Fatalf("prepared prompt = %#v", prepared)
 	}
+	if len(prepared.Messages) < 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared messages = %#v, want shared policy, references, transcript, and instructions", prepared.Messages)
+	}
+	referenceIndex := -1
+	transcriptIndex := -1
+	for index, message := range prepared.Messages {
+		if strings.Contains(message.Content, "item-event-player") {
+			referenceIndex = index
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(message.Content, "item-event-transcript") {
+			transcriptIndex = index
+		}
+	}
+	instructionsIndex := len(prepared.Messages) - 1
+	if referenceIndex < 0 || transcriptIndex <= referenceIndex || transcriptIndex >= instructionsIndex {
+		t.Fatalf("message order = references %d, transcript %d, instructions %d; want that order", referenceIndex, transcriptIndex, instructionsIndex)
+	}
+	for _, index := range []int{referenceIndex, transcriptIndex, instructionsIndex} {
+		if cache := prepared.Messages[index].CacheControl; cache == nil || cache.Type != promptkit.CacheControlEphemeral {
+			t.Fatalf("message %d cache control = %#v, want ephemeral", index, cache)
+		}
+	}
+	for index, message := range prepared.Messages {
+		if index != referenceIndex && strings.Contains(message.Content, "item-event-player") {
+			t.Errorf("message %d unexpectedly rendered campaign-reference input", index)
+		}
+		if index != transcriptIndex && strings.Contains(message.Content, "item-event-transcript") {
+			t.Errorf("message %d unexpectedly rendered transcript input", index)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestPromptAssetsDoNotLeakIntoMetadata(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets.go b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets.go
index 921637b..2969241 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ var promptAssetManifest = shared.PromptAssetManifest{
 	ModuleDir: PromptID,
 	ModuleFiles: []promptfs.ModulePromptFile{
 		{Name: "prompt.yaml", Path: "prompts/prompt.yaml"},
-		{Name: "task.md", Path: "prompts/task.md"},
 		{Name: "instructions.md", Path: "prompts/instructions.md"},
 	},
 	SharedFiles: []string{
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets_test.go
index d0e791b..0549e61 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/locations/prompt_assets_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsPreparesLocationPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("NewEngine() error = %v", err)
 	}
 	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "location-test-profile", Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
-		"transcript": promptkit.Inline(`{"units":[1]}`), "players": promptkit.Inline(" "), "party": promptkit.Inline(" "), "glossary": promptkit.Inline(" "),
+		"transcript": promptkit.Inline(`{"units":[{"sentinel":"location-transcript"}]}`), "players": promptkit.Inline("location-player"), "party": promptkit.Inline(" "), "glossary": promptkit.Inline(" "),
 	}})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Prepare() error = %v", err)
@@ -39,12 +39,34 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsPreparesLocationPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	if prepared.OutputContract.SchemaPath != "dnd_locations_llm.v1.json" {
 		t.Fatalf("output contract = %#v", prepared.OutputContract)
 	}
-	if len(prepared.Messages) != 7 || !strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[3].Content, `"units"`) || strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[3].Content, "location-test") {
-		t.Fatalf("prepared messages = %#v, want rendered transcript only in transcript message", prepared.Messages)
+	if len(prepared.Messages) < 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared messages = %#v, want shared policy, references, transcript, and instructions", prepared.Messages)
 	}
-	for _, index := range []int{2, 3, 6} {
+	referenceIndex := -1
+	transcriptIndex := -1
+	for index, message := range prepared.Messages {
+		if strings.Contains(message.Content, "location-player") {
+			referenceIndex = index
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(message.Content, "location-transcript") {
+			transcriptIndex = index
+		}
+	}
+	instructionsIndex := len(prepared.Messages) - 1
+	if referenceIndex < 0 || transcriptIndex <= referenceIndex || transcriptIndex >= instructionsIndex {
+		t.Fatalf("message order = references %d, transcript %d, instructions %d; want that order", referenceIndex, transcriptIndex, instructionsIndex)
+	}
+	for _, index := range []int{referenceIndex, transcriptIndex, instructionsIndex} {
 		if prepared.Messages[index].CacheControl == nil || prepared.Messages[index].CacheControl.Type != promptkit.CacheControlEphemeral {
 			t.Fatalf("message %d cache control = %#v, want ephemeral", index, prepared.Messages[index].CacheControl)
 		}
 	}
+	for index, message := range prepared.Messages {
+		if index != referenceIndex && strings.Contains(message.Content, "location-player") {
+			t.Errorf("message %d unexpectedly rendered campaign-reference input", index)
+		}
+		if index != transcriptIndex && strings.Contains(message.Content, "location-transcript") {
+			t.Errorf("message %d unexpectedly rendered transcript input", index)
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets.go b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets.go
index 40ffacc..2dda79d 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ var promptAssetManifest = shared.PromptAssetManifest{
 	ModuleDir: "dnd.npcs",
 	ModuleFiles: []promptfs.ModulePromptFile{
 		{Name: "prompt.yaml", Path: "prompts/prompt.yaml"},
-		{Name: "task.md", Path: "prompts/task.md"},
 		{Name: "instructions.md", Path: "prompts/instructions.md"},
 	},
 	SharedFiles: []string{
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets_test.go
index 23c27e2..8fcdb89 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/extract/npcs/prompt_assets_test.go
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsAndPrepareNPCPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
 		PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "npc-test-profile",
 		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
-			"transcript": promptkit.InlineWithURI("file:///session.json", `{"units":[1]}`),
-			"players":    promptkit.Inline(" "),
+			"transcript": promptkit.InlineWithURI("file:///session.json", `{"units":[{"sentinel":"npc-transcript"}]}`),
+			"players":    promptkit.Inline("npc-player"),
 			"party":      promptkit.Inline(" "),
 			"glossary":   promptkit.Inline(" "),
 		},
@@ -42,6 +42,36 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsAndPrepareNPCPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	if prepared.PromptID != PromptID || prepared.OutputContract.SchemaPath != "dnd_npcs_llm.v1.json" {
 		t.Fatalf("prepared prompt = %#v, want NPC prompt identity and wiring", prepared)
 	}
+	if len(prepared.Messages) < 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared messages = %#v, want shared policy, references, transcript, and instructions", prepared.Messages)
+	}
+	referenceIndex := -1
+	transcriptIndex := -1
+	for index, message := range prepared.Messages {
+		if strings.Contains(message.Content, "npc-player") {
+			referenceIndex = index
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(message.Content, "npc-transcript") {
+			transcriptIndex = index
+		}
+	}
+	instructionsIndex := len(prepared.Messages) - 1
+	if referenceIndex < 0 || transcriptIndex <= referenceIndex || transcriptIndex >= instructionsIndex {
+		t.Fatalf("message order = references %d, transcript %d, instructions %d; want that order", referenceIndex, transcriptIndex, instructionsIndex)
+	}
+	for _, index := range []int{referenceIndex, transcriptIndex, instructionsIndex} {
+		if cache := prepared.Messages[index].CacheControl; cache == nil || cache.Type != promptkit.CacheControlEphemeral {
+			t.Fatalf("message %d cache control = %#v, want ephemeral", index, cache)
+		}
+	}
+	for index, message := range prepared.Messages {
+		if index != referenceIndex && strings.Contains(message.Content, "npc-player") {
+			t.Errorf("message %d unexpectedly rendered campaign-reference input", index)
+		}
+		if index != transcriptIndex && strings.Contains(message.Content, "npc-transcript") {
+			t.Errorf("message %d unexpectedly rendered transcript input", index)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestPromptMetadataAndDiagnosticsDoNotContainRawAssets(t *testing.T) {