diff --git a/assets/dnd/entity-reconciliation/schemas/dnd_entity_reconcile_llm.v1.json b/assets/dnd/entity-reconciliation/schemas/dnd_entity_reconcile_llm.v1.json
index 49fe3e7..a251924 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/entity-reconciliation/schemas/dnd_entity_reconcile_llm.v1.json
+++ b/assets/dnd/entity-reconciliation/schemas/dnd_entity_reconcile_llm.v1.json
@@ -14,9 +14,32 @@
         "properties": {
           "members": {
             "type": "array",
-            "items": {"type": "string"}
+            "items": {"$ref": "#/$defs/selector"}
           },
-          "canonical": {"type": "string"}
+          "canonical": {"$ref": "#/$defs/selector"}
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "$defs": {
+    "selector": {
+      "type": "object",
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "required": ["name", "source_refs"],
+      "properties": {
+        "name": {"type": "string", "minLength": 1},
+        "source_refs": {
+          "type": "array",
+          "minItems": 1,
+          "items": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "additionalProperties": false,
+            "required": ["start_unit_id", "end_unit_id"],
+            "properties": {
+              "start_unit_id": {"type": "integer", "minimum": 1},
+              "end_unit_id": {"type": "integer", "minimum": 1}
+            }
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/assets/dnd/shared/prompts/common-dnd-entity-reconciliation.md b/assets/dnd/shared/prompts/common-dnd-entity-reconciliation.md
index 04f60df..c45ff9b 100644
--- a/assets/dnd/shared/prompts/common-dnd-entity-reconciliation.md
+++ b/assets/dnd/shared/prompts/common-dnd-entity-reconciliation.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 Identify only well-supported duplicate groups among the supplied candidates.
 
-Candidate keys are opaque identifiers. Copy each selected key exactly. A group
-must contain at least two supplied keys, and its `canonical` key must be one of
-its members. Do not create keys, records, names, source references, evidence,
-or replacement values. Omit any uncertain or unsafe group.
+Return each selected candidate's supplied contextual descriptor exactly: its
+`name` and complete ordered `source_refs`. A group must contain at least two
+supplied descriptors, and its `canonical` descriptor must be one of its
+members. Do not invent names, ranges, records, evidence, or replacement values.
+Omit any uncertain or unsafe group.
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer.go
index e505106..8c0192a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	Key                   = "dnd/item-registry"
 	PromptID              = "dnd.item_registry.normalize"
-	normalizationPolicy   = "dnd.item_registry.normalize.v1"
+	normalizationPolicy   = "dnd.item_registry.normalize.v2"
 	semanticContextPolicy = "dnd.entity_reconcile.context.v1"
 	semanticContextRadius = 2
 	NormalizationPolicy   = normalizationPolicy
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer_test.go
index 408a2af..a4272f4 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/itemregistry/normalizer_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ func TestNormalizeAppliesSafeAliasProposal(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("merged item = %#v, warnings = %#v", merged, result.Warnings)
 	}
 	encoded := string(client.requests[0].Inputs["candidates"].Content) + string(client.requests[0].Inputs["transcript"].Content)
-	if strings.Contains(encoded, doc.ID) || !strings.Contains(encoded, "candidate-000001") || strings.Contains(encoded, merged.ID) {
+	if strings.Contains(encoded, doc.ID) || strings.Contains(encoded, "candidate-") || strings.Contains(encoded, merged.ID) || !strings.Contains(encoded, `"source_refs"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("private inputs = %s", encoded)
 	}
 }
@@ -261,7 +262,7 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsPreparesItemNormalizationPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: entityreconcile.SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "item-normalize-test", Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{"candidates": promptkit.Inline(`{"candidates":[{"key":"candidate-000001","name":"Rope","source_refs":[]}]}`), "transcript": promptkit.Inline(`{"windows":[{"units":[]}]}`)}})
+	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: entityreconcile.SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "item-normalize-test", Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{"candidates": promptkit.Inline(`{"candidates":[{"name":"Rope","source_refs":[{"start_unit_id":1,"end_unit_id":1}]}]}`), "transcript": promptkit.Inline(`{"windows":[{"units":[]}]}`)}})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -285,10 +286,51 @@ func (c *recordingNormalizerClient) CompleteStructured(_ context.Context, reques
 	if response == "" {
 		response = `{"duplicate_groups":[]}`
 	}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(response), output); err != nil {
+	content, err := contextualProposalResponse(response, request.Inputs["candidates"].Content)
+	if err != nil {
 		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
 	}
-	return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: json.RawMessage(response)}, nil
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(content, output); err != nil {
+		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
+	}
+	return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: content}, nil
+}
+
+func contextualProposalResponse(response string, candidateContent []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	if !strings.Contains(response, "candidate-") {
+		return []byte(response), nil
+	}
+	var selection struct {
+		DuplicateGroups []struct {
+			Members   []string `json:"members"`
+			Canonical string   `json:"canonical"`
+		} `json:"duplicate_groups"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(response), &selection); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var candidates struct {
+		Candidates []entityreconcile.Selector `json:"candidates"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(candidateContent, &candidates); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	selector := func(key string) entityreconcile.Selector {
+		index, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimPrefix(key, "candidate-"))
+		if err != nil || index < 1 || index > len(candidates.Candidates) {
+			return entityreconcile.Selector{Name: key, SourceRefs: []entityreconcile.SourceRange{}}
+		}
+		return candidates.Candidates[index-1].Clone()
+	}
+	proposal := entityreconcile.ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: make([]entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup, len(selection.DuplicateGroups))}
+	for index, group := range selection.DuplicateGroups {
+		members := make([]entityreconcile.Selector, len(group.Members))
+		for memberIndex, key := range group.Members {
+			members[memberIndex] = selector(key)
+		}
+		proposal.DuplicateGroups[index] = entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup{Members: members, Canonical: selector(group.Canonical)}
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(proposal)
 }
 
 func newNormalizer(t *testing.T, client contracts.StructuredLLMClient) *Normalizer {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer.go
index 5553c17..ea23bdb 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	Key                   = "dnd/location-registry"
 	PromptID              = "dnd.location_registry.normalize"
-	normalizationPolicy   = "dnd.location_registry.normalize.v1"
+	normalizationPolicy   = "dnd.location_registry.normalize.v2"
 	semanticContextPolicy = "dnd.entity_reconcile.context.v1"
 	semanticContextRadius = 2
 	NormalizationPolicy   = normalizationPolicy
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer_test.go
index f337062..665862a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/normalizer_test.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestNormalizePreparesOnlyExactDuplicatesAndRetainsSameNameAndNestedPlaces(t
 	}
 }
 
-func TestNormalizeAppliesSafeAliasGroupAndUsesOpaqueInputs(t *testing.T) {
+func TestNormalizeAppliesSafeAliasGroupAndUsesContextualInputs(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &recordingLocationNormalizerClient{response: `{"duplicate_groups":[{"members":["candidate-000001","candidate-000002"],"canonical":"candidate-000002"}]}`}
 	doc := semanticDocument()
 	input := dnd.LocationRegistry{Locations: []dnd.Location{
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func TestNormalizeAppliesSafeAliasGroupAndUsesOpaqueInputs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("merged location = %#v, warnings = %#v", merged, result.Warnings)
 	}
 	encoded := string(client.requests[0].Inputs["candidates"].Content) + string(client.requests[0].Inputs["transcript"].Content)
-	if strings.Contains(encoded, doc.ID) || !strings.Contains(encoded, "candidate-000001") || strings.Contains(encoded, merged.ID) {
+	if strings.Contains(encoded, doc.ID) || strings.Contains(encoded, "candidate-") || strings.Contains(encoded, merged.ID) || !strings.Contains(encoded, `"source_refs"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("private inputs = %s", encoded)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/prompt_assets_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/prompt_assets_test.go
index ad2a629..53ee279 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/prompt_assets_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/prompt_assets_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsPreparesLocationNormalizationPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: entityreconcile.SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "location-normalize-test", Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{"candidates": promptkit.Inline(`{"candidates":[{"key":"candidate-000001","name":"The Tavern","source_refs":[]}]}`), "transcript": promptkit.Inline(`{"windows":[{"units":[]}]}`)}})
+	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: entityreconcile.SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "location-normalize-test", Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{"candidates": promptkit.Inline(`{"candidates":[{"name":"The Tavern","source_refs":[{"start_unit_id":1,"end_unit_id":1}]}]}`), "transcript": promptkit.Inline(`{"windows":[{"units":[]}]}`)}})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsPreparesLocationNormalizationPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("message %d cache = %#v", index, prepared.Messages[index].CacheControl)
 		}
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[3].Content, "candidate-000001") || strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[3].Content, `"windows"`) {
+	if !strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[3].Content, `"The Tavern"`) || strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[3].Content, `"candidate-`) || strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[3].Content, `"windows"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("candidate message = %q", prepared.Messages[3].Content)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[4].Content, `"windows"`) || strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[4].Content, "candidate-000001") {
+	if !strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[4].Content, `"windows"`) || strings.Contains(prepared.Messages[4].Content, `"The Tavern"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("transcript message = %q", prepared.Messages[4].Content)
 	}
 	for index, message := range prepared.Messages {
-		if index != 3 && strings.Contains(message.Content, "candidate-000001") {
+		if index != 3 && strings.Contains(message.Content, `"The Tavern"`) {
 			t.Errorf("message %d unexpectedly rendered candidate input", index)
 		}
 		if index != 4 && strings.Contains(message.Content, `"windows"`) {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/test_helpers_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/test_helpers_test.go
index 08acb91..6a8e835 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/test_helpers_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/locationregistry/test_helpers_test.go
@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@ package locationregistry
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/core/source"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/contracts"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile"
 )
 
 type recordingLocationNormalizerClient struct {
@@ -25,10 +28,51 @@ func (c *recordingLocationNormalizerClient) CompleteStructured(_ context.Context
 	if response == "" {
 		response = `{"duplicate_groups":[]}`
 	}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(response), output); err != nil {
+	content, err := contextualProposalResponse(response, request.Inputs["candidates"].Content)
+	if err != nil {
 		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
 	}
-	return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: json.RawMessage(response)}, nil
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(content, output); err != nil {
+		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
+	}
+	return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: content}, nil
+}
+
+func contextualProposalResponse(response string, candidateContent []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	if !strings.Contains(response, "candidate-") {
+		return []byte(response), nil
+	}
+	var selection struct {
+		DuplicateGroups []struct {
+			Members   []string `json:"members"`
+			Canonical string   `json:"canonical"`
+		} `json:"duplicate_groups"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(response), &selection); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var candidates struct {
+		Candidates []entityreconcile.Selector `json:"candidates"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(candidateContent, &candidates); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	selector := func(key string) entityreconcile.Selector {
+		index, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimPrefix(key, "candidate-"))
+		if err != nil || index < 1 || index > len(candidates.Candidates) {
+			return entityreconcile.Selector{Name: key, SourceRefs: []entityreconcile.SourceRange{}}
+		}
+		return candidates.Candidates[index-1].Clone()
+	}
+	proposal := entityreconcile.ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: make([]entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup, len(selection.DuplicateGroups))}
+	for index, group := range selection.DuplicateGroups {
+		members := make([]entityreconcile.Selector, len(group.Members))
+		for memberIndex, key := range group.Members {
+			members[memberIndex] = selector(key)
+		}
+		proposal.DuplicateGroups[index] = entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup{Members: members, Canonical: selector(group.Canonical)}
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(proposal)
 }
 
 func newNormalizer(t *testing.T, client contracts.StructuredLLMClient) *Normalizer {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer.go
index d23edf1..5d9cd0a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	Key                   = "dnd/npc-registry"
 	PromptID              = "dnd.npc_registry.normalize"
-	normalizationPolicy   = "dnd.npc_registry.normalize.v3"
+	normalizationPolicy   = "dnd.npc_registry.normalize.v4"
 	semanticContextPolicy = "dnd.entity_reconcile.context.v1"
 	NormalizationPolicy   = normalizationPolicy
 
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer_test.go
index 1ab515a..125f809 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/normalizer_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -156,10 +157,51 @@ func (c *recordingNPCNormalizerClient) CompleteStructured(_ context.Context, req
 	if response == "" {
 		response = `{"duplicate_groups":[]}`
 	}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(response), output); err != nil {
+	content, err := contextualProposalResponse(response, request.Inputs["candidates"].Content)
+	if err != nil {
 		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
 	}
-	return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: json.RawMessage(response)}, nil
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(content, output); err != nil {
+		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
+	}
+	return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: content}, nil
+}
+
+func contextualProposalResponse(response string, candidateContent []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	if !strings.Contains(response, "candidate-") {
+		return []byte(response), nil
+	}
+	var selection struct {
+		DuplicateGroups []struct {
+			Members   []string `json:"members"`
+			Canonical string   `json:"canonical"`
+		} `json:"duplicate_groups"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(response), &selection); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var candidates struct {
+		Candidates []entityreconcile.Selector `json:"candidates"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(candidateContent, &candidates); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	selector := func(key string) entityreconcile.Selector {
+		index, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimPrefix(key, "candidate-"))
+		if err != nil || index < 1 || index > len(candidates.Candidates) {
+			return entityreconcile.Selector{Name: key, SourceRefs: []entityreconcile.SourceRange{}}
+		}
+		return candidates.Candidates[index-1].Clone()
+	}
+	proposal := entityreconcile.ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: make([]entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup, len(selection.DuplicateGroups))}
+	for index, group := range selection.DuplicateGroups {
+		members := make([]entityreconcile.Selector, len(group.Members))
+		for memberIndex, key := range group.Members {
+			members[memberIndex] = selector(key)
+		}
+		proposal.DuplicateGroups[index] = entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup{Members: members, Canonical: selector(group.Canonical)}
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(proposal)
 }
 
 func newNormalizer(t *testing.T, client contracts.StructuredLLMClient) *Normalizer {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/prompt_assets_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/prompt_assets_test.go
index ca24535..330a754 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/prompt_assets_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/prompt_assets_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func TestRegisterPromptAssetsPreparesNormalizationPrompt(t *testing.T) {
 	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
 		PromptID: PromptID, PromptVersion: entityreconcile.SchemaVersion, ProfileID: "normalize-test-profile",
 		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
-			"candidates": promptkit.Inline(`{"candidates":[{"key":"candidate-000001","name":"Mira","source_refs":[]}]}`),
+			"candidates": promptkit.Inline(`{"candidates":[{"name":"Mira","source_refs":[{"start_unit_id":1,"end_unit_id":1}]}]}`),
 			"transcript": promptkit.Inline(`{"windows":[{"units":[]}]}`),
 		},
 	})
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/semantic_normalizer_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/semantic_normalizer_test.go
index a308071..faab635 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/semantic_normalizer_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/normalize/npcregistry/semantic_normalizer_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package npcregistry
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"math"
 	"reflect"
@@ -174,8 +175,8 @@ func TestNormalizeDoesNotAccumulateSafeGroupsAcrossAttempts(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestNormalizeExcludesIneligibleRecordsFromSemanticGroups(t *testing.T) {
-	client := &recordingNPCNormalizerClient{response: `{"duplicate_groups":[{"members":["candidate-000001","candidate-000002"],"canonical":"candidate-000001"}]}`}
+func TestNormalizeRetainsRecordsWhenAProposalUsesAnUnknownDescriptor(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &recordingNPCNormalizerClient{response: `{"duplicate_groups":[{"members":["candidate-000001","unknown"],"canonical":"candidate-000001"}]}`}
 	normalizer := newNormalizer(t, client)
 	doc := semanticDocument()
 	input := dnd.NPCRegistry{NPCs: []dnd.NPC{
@@ -187,8 +188,8 @@ func TestNormalizeExcludesIneligibleRecordsFromSemanticGroups(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil || result.Retry == nil || len(result.Value.NPCs) != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("Normalize() = %#v, %v; want unchanged retry fallback", result, err)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(result.Retry.Message, "member_ineligible") || result.Value.NPCs[1].Name != "Broken" {
-		t.Fatalf("result = %#v, want ineligible record excluded but preserved", result)
+	if !strings.Contains(result.Retry.Message, "member_unknown") || result.Value.NPCs[1].Name != "Broken" {
+		t.Fatalf("result = %#v, want unknown descriptor rejected without dropping a record", result)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -206,8 +207,14 @@ func TestReconciliationCandidatesKeepEqualDisplayNamesDistinct(t *testing.T) {
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(keys, []string{"candidate-000001", "candidate-000002"}) || strings.Count(string(materials.Candidates.Content), `"The Guard"`) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("candidate keys and inputs = %#v, %s; want distinct equal-display candidates", keys, materials.Candidates.Content)
 	}
+	var candidateInput struct {
+		Candidates []entityreconcile.Selector `json:"candidates"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(materials.Candidates.Content, &candidateInput); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	assessment := materials.Assess(entityreconcile.ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup{{
-		Members: keys, Canonical: keys[1],
+		Members: candidateInput.Candidates, Canonical: candidateInput.Candidates[1],
 	}}})
 	groups := reconciliationGroups(assessment, keys)
 	if assessment.DiscardedGroups() != 0 || len(groups) != 1 || groups[0].canonical != 1 {
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/context.go b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/context.go
index 3840cd1..34e2ca6 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/context.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/context.go
@@ -22,13 +22,34 @@ type Candidate struct {
 	SourceRefs []source.SourceRef
 }
 
+// Selector identifies one candidate through its canonical name and source-free
+// evidence ranges. It is the complete model-facing candidate descriptor.
+type Selector struct {
+	Name       string        `json:"name"`
+	SourceRefs []SourceRange `json:"source_refs"`
+}
+
+// Clone returns an owned copy of the selector.
+func (s Selector) Clone() Selector {
+	s.SourceRefs = cloneSourceRanges(s.SourceRefs)
+	return s
+}
+
+// SourceRange is a source-free evidence coordinate used in a selector.
+type SourceRange struct {
+	StartUnitID int `json:"start_unit_id"`
+	EndUnitID   int `json:"end_unit_id"`
+}
+
 // Materials contains owned prompt inputs and opaque candidate-key mappings.
 type Materials struct {
 	Candidates contracts.LLMInputMaterial
 	Transcript contracts.LLMInputMaterial
 
-	candidateKeys []string
-	eligible      map[string]struct{}
+	candidateKeys     []string
+	eligible          map[string]struct{}
+	keyBySelector     map[string]string
+	collidedSelectors map[string]struct{}
 }
 
 // CandidateKeys returns all deterministic keys in candidate input order.
@@ -49,18 +70,7 @@ func (m Materials) EligibleCandidateKeys() []string {
 }
 
 type candidateInput struct {
-	Candidates []candidateView `json:"candidates"`
-}
-
-type candidateView struct {
-	Key        string               `json:"key"`
-	Name       string               `json:"name"`
-	SourceRefs []candidateSourceRef `json:"source_refs"`
-}
-
-type candidateSourceRef struct {
-	StartUnitID int `json:"start_unit_id"`
-	EndUnitID   int `json:"end_unit_id"`
+	Candidates []Selector `json:"candidates"`
 }
 
 type transcriptInput struct {
@@ -91,8 +101,10 @@ func BuildContext(doc *source.SourceDocument, candidates []Candidate, radius int
 		return Materials{}, false, fmt.Errorf("build entity reconciliation context: radius must not be negative")
 	}
 	materials := Materials{
-		candidateKeys: make([]string, len(candidates)),
-		eligible:      make(map[string]struct{}),
+		candidateKeys:     make([]string, len(candidates)),
+		eligible:          make(map[string]struct{}),
+		keyBySelector:     make(map[string]string),
+		collidedSelectors: make(map[string]struct{}),
 	}
 	for index := range candidates {
 		key := fmt.Sprintf(candidateKeyFormat, index+1)
@@ -103,7 +115,15 @@ func BuildContext(doc *source.SourceDocument, candidates []Candidate, radius int
 	}
 
 	index := source.NewDocumentIndex(doc)
-	views := make([]candidateView, 0, len(candidates))
+	type preparedCandidate struct {
+		key       string
+		selector  Selector
+		intervals []sourceInterval
+		lookupKey string
+	}
+	prepared := make([]preparedCandidate, 0, len(candidates))
+	selectorCounts := make(map[string]int, len(candidates))
+	views := make([]Selector, 0, len(candidates))
 	intervals := make([]sourceInterval, 0)
 	cited := make([]bool, len(doc.Units))
 	for candidateIndex, candidate := range candidates {
@@ -112,9 +132,23 @@ func BuildContext(doc *source.SourceDocument, candidates []Candidate, radius int
 			continue
 		}
 		key := materials.candidateKeys[candidateIndex]
-		materials.eligible[key] = struct{}{}
-		views = append(views, candidateView{Key: key, Name: candidate.Name, SourceRefs: references})
-		for _, interval := range candidateIntervals {
+		selector := Selector{Name: candidate.Name, SourceRefs: references}
+		lookupKey, err := selectorLookupKey(selector)
+		if err != nil {
+			return Materials{}, false, fmt.Errorf("build entity reconciliation context: invalid candidate material")
+		}
+		prepared = append(prepared, preparedCandidate{key: key, selector: selector, intervals: candidateIntervals, lookupKey: lookupKey})
+		selectorCounts[lookupKey]++
+	}
+	for _, candidate := range prepared {
+		if selectorCounts[candidate.lookupKey] != 1 {
+			materials.collidedSelectors[candidate.lookupKey] = struct{}{}
+			continue
+		}
+		materials.eligible[candidate.key] = struct{}{}
+		materials.keyBySelector[candidate.lookupKey] = candidate.key
+		views = append(views, candidate.selector.Clone())
+		for _, interval := range candidate.intervals {
 			for position := interval.start; position <= interval.end; position++ {
 				cited[position] = true
 			}
@@ -145,24 +179,56 @@ func BuildContext(doc *source.SourceDocument, candidates []Candidate, radius int
 	return materials, true, nil
 }
 
-func candidateReferences(index source.DocumentIndex, refs []source.SourceRef) ([]candidateSourceRef, []sourceInterval, bool) {
+func candidateReferences(index source.DocumentIndex, refs []source.SourceRef) ([]SourceRange, []sourceInterval, bool) {
 	if len(refs) == 0 {
 		return nil, nil, false
 	}
-	references := make([]candidateSourceRef, 0, len(refs))
-	intervals := make([]sourceInterval, 0, len(refs))
+	type referencedInterval struct {
+		reference SourceRange
+		interval  sourceInterval
+	}
+	prepared := make([]referencedInterval, 0, len(refs))
 	for _, ref := range refs {
 		if err := index.ValidateRef(ref); err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, false
 		}
 		start, _ := index.Position(ref.StartUnitID)
 		end, _ := index.Position(ref.EndUnitID)
-		references = append(references, candidateSourceRef{StartUnitID: ref.StartUnitID, EndUnitID: ref.EndUnitID})
-		intervals = append(intervals, sourceInterval{start: start, end: end})
+		prepared = append(prepared, referencedInterval{reference: SourceRange{StartUnitID: ref.StartUnitID, EndUnitID: ref.EndUnitID}, interval: sourceInterval{start: start, end: end}})
+	}
+	sort.Slice(prepared, func(left, right int) bool {
+		if prepared[left].interval.start != prepared[right].interval.start {
+			return prepared[left].interval.start < prepared[right].interval.start
+		}
+		return prepared[left].interval.end < prepared[right].interval.end
+	})
+	references := make([]SourceRange, 0, len(prepared))
+	intervals := make([]sourceInterval, 0, len(prepared))
+	for _, item := range prepared {
+		if len(references) > 0 && references[len(references)-1] == item.reference {
+			continue
+		}
+		references = append(references, item.reference)
+		intervals = append(intervals, item.interval)
 	}
 	return references, intervals, true
 }
 
+func selectorLookupKey(selector Selector) (string, error) {
+	content, err := json.Marshal(selector.Clone())
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return string(content), nil
+}
+
+func cloneSourceRanges(values []SourceRange) []SourceRange {
+	if len(values) == 0 {
+		return []SourceRange{}
+	}
+	return append([]SourceRange(nil), values...)
+}
+
 func coalesceIntervals(intervals []sourceInterval) []sourceInterval {
 	if len(intervals) == 0 {
 		return nil
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/entityreconcile_test.go b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/entityreconcile_test.go
index 5620c1d..767a764 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/entityreconcile_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/entityreconcile_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/santhosh-tekuri/jsonschema/v6"
 )
 
-func TestBuildContextUsesOpaqueKeysSourceOrderAndOwnedData(t *testing.T) {
+func TestBuildContextUsesContextualSelectorsSourceOrderAndOwnedData(t *testing.T) {
 	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{
 		{ID: 40, Kind: "narration", Text: "zero"},
 		{ID: 10, Kind: "speech", Text: "one", Metadata: map[string]any{"speaker": map[string]any{"name": "Mira"}}},
@@ -52,10 +52,10 @@ func TestBuildContextUsesOpaqueKeysSourceOrderAndOwnedData(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(materials.Candidates.Content, &candidatePayload); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if len(candidatePayload.Candidates) != 2 || candidatePayload.Candidates[0].Key != "candidate-000001" || candidatePayload.Candidates[1].Key != "candidate-000002" || candidatePayload.Candidates[0].Name != candidatePayload.Candidates[1].Name {
-		t.Fatalf("candidate payload = %#v, want distinct opaque keys for equal names", candidatePayload)
+	if len(candidatePayload.Candidates) != 2 || candidatePayload.Candidates[0].Name != candidatePayload.Candidates[1].Name || strings.Contains(string(materials.Candidates.Content), "candidate-") {
+		t.Fatalf("candidate payload = %#v, want contextual descriptors without keys", candidatePayload)
 	}
-	if got := candidatePayload.Candidates[0].SourceRefs[0]; got != (candidateSourceRef{StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 20}) {
+	if got := candidatePayload.Candidates[0].SourceRefs[0]; got != (SourceRange{StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 20}) {
 		t.Fatalf("candidate reference = %#v", got)
 	}
 
@@ -86,6 +86,50 @@ func TestBuildContextUsesOpaqueKeysSourceOrderAndOwnedData(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestBuildContextExcludesCollidingDescriptors(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 1}, {ID: 2}, {ID: 3}}}
+	candidates := []Candidate{
+		{Name: "The Tavern", SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 1}}},
+		{Name: "The Tavern", SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 1}}},
+		{Name: "The Market", SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 3, EndUnitID: 3}}},
+	}
+	materials, ready, err := BuildContext(doc, candidates, 0)
+	if err != nil || ready || len(materials.EligibleCandidateKeys()) != 1 || strings.Contains(string(materials.Candidates.Content), "The Tavern") {
+		t.Fatalf("BuildContext() = %#v, %t, %v", materials, ready, err)
+	}
+	assessment := materials.Assess(ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{
+		Members:   []Selector{{Name: "The Tavern", SourceRefs: []SourceRange{{StartUnitID: 1, EndUnitID: 1}}}, {Name: "The Market", SourceRefs: []SourceRange{{StartUnitID: 3, EndUnitID: 3}}}},
+		Canonical: Selector{Name: "The Market", SourceRefs: []SourceRange{{StartUnitID: 3, EndUnitID: 3}}},
+	}}})
+	if !hasIssue(assessment.Issues(), "member_ineligible") {
+		t.Fatalf("Assess() issues = %#v, want collided descriptor rejection", assessment.Issues())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAssessmentRejectsPartialAndReorderedDescriptors(t *testing.T) {
+	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 10}, {ID: 20}, {ID: 30}}}
+	materials, ready, err := BuildContext(doc, []Candidate{
+		{Name: "The Tavern", SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 20, EndUnitID: 20}, {SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}}},
+		{Name: "The Market", SourceRefs: []source.SourceRef{{SourceID: doc.ID, StartUnitID: 30, EndUnitID: 30}}},
+	}, 0)
+	if err != nil || !ready {
+		t.Fatalf("BuildContext() = %#v, %t, %v", materials, ready, err)
+	}
+	selectors := materialSelectors(t, materials)
+	for _, refs := range [][]SourceRange{
+		{{StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}},
+		{{StartUnitID: 20, EndUnitID: 20}, {StartUnitID: 10, EndUnitID: 10}},
+	} {
+		assessment := materials.Assess(ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{
+			Members:   []Selector{{Name: "The Tavern", SourceRefs: refs}, selectors[1]},
+			Canonical: selectors[1],
+		}}})
+		if !hasIssue(assessment.Issues(), "member_unknown") {
+			t.Fatalf("Assess(%#v) issues = %#v, want descriptor mismatch rejection", refs, assessment.Issues())
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestBuildContextExcludesUnsafeReferencesAndCoalescesAdjacentWindows(t *testing.T) {
 	doc := &source.SourceDocument{ID: "session", Units: []source.SourceUnit{{ID: 9}, {ID: 3}, {ID: 8}, {ID: 1}, {ID: 7}}}
 	candidates := []Candidate{
@@ -116,22 +160,21 @@ func TestBuildContextExcludesUnsafeReferencesAndCoalescesAdjacentWindows(t *test
 
 func TestAssessmentRejectsEveryUnsafeProposalCategory(t *testing.T) {
 	materials := preparedMaterials(t, 4, true)
-	keys := materials.CandidateKeys()
+	selectors := materialSelectors(t, materials)
 	unsafe := []struct {
 		name     string
 		response ProposalResponse
 		category string
 	}{
-		{"blank member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []string{"", keys[1]}, Canonical: keys[1]}}}, "member_blank"},
-		{"unknown member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []string{"candidate-999999", keys[1]}, Canonical: keys[1]}}}, "member_unknown"},
-		{"ineligible member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []string{keys[0], keys[3]}, Canonical: keys[0]}}}, "member_ineligible"},
-		{"repeated member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []string{keys[0], keys[0]}, Canonical: keys[0]}}}, "repeated_member"},
-		{"too small", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []string{keys[0]}, Canonical: keys[0]}}}, "fewer_than_two_members"},
-		{"canonical blank", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []string{keys[0], keys[1]}, Canonical: ""}}}, "canonical_blank"},
-		{"canonical not member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []string{keys[0], keys[1]}, Canonical: keys[2]}}}, "canonical_not_member"},
+		{"blank member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []Selector{{}, selectors[1]}, Canonical: selectors[1]}}}, "member_blank"},
+		{"unknown member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []Selector{{Name: "unknown", SourceRefs: []SourceRange{{StartUnitID: 99, EndUnitID: 99}}}, selectors[1]}, Canonical: selectors[1]}}}, "member_unknown"},
+		{"repeated member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []Selector{selectors[0], selectors[0]}, Canonical: selectors[0]}}}, "repeated_member"},
+		{"too small", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []Selector{selectors[0]}, Canonical: selectors[0]}}}, "fewer_than_two_members"},
+		{"canonical blank", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []Selector{selectors[0], selectors[1]}, Canonical: Selector{}}}}, "canonical_blank"},
+		{"canonical not member", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{{Members: []Selector{selectors[0], selectors[1]}, Canonical: selectors[2]}}}, "canonical_not_member"},
 		{"overlapping", ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{
-			{Members: []string{keys[0], keys[1]}, Canonical: keys[0]},
-			{Members: []string{keys[1], keys[2]}, Canonical: keys[2]},
+			{Members: []Selector{selectors[0], selectors[1]}, Canonical: selectors[0]},
+			{Members: []Selector{selectors[1], selectors[2]}, Canonical: selectors[2]},
 		}}, "overlapping_member"},
 	}
 	for _, test := range unsafe {
@@ -147,9 +190,10 @@ func TestAssessmentRejectsEveryUnsafeProposalCategory(t *testing.T) {
 func TestAssessmentReturnsNonOverlappingSafeGroupsAndDefensiveCopies(t *testing.T) {
 	materials := preparedMaterials(t, 4, false)
 	keys := materials.CandidateKeys()
+	selectors := materialSelectors(t, materials)
 	assessment := materials.Assess(ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: []DuplicateGroup{
-		{Members: []string{keys[1], keys[0]}, Canonical: keys[1]},
-		{Members: []string{keys[3], keys[2]}, Canonical: keys[2]},
+		{Members: []Selector{selectors[1], selectors[0]}, Canonical: selectors[1]},
+		{Members: []Selector{selectors[3], selectors[2]}, Canonical: selectors[2]},
 	}})
 	groups := assessment.SafeGroups()
 	if assessment.DiscardedGroups() != 0 || len(assessment.Issues()) != 0 || len(groups) != 2 {
@@ -183,12 +227,12 @@ func TestSharedResponseSchemaIsPrivateStrictAndRegisterableOnce(t *testing.T) {
 		valid bool
 	}{
 		{"empty groups", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{}}, true},
-		{"semantic proposal problem", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{""}, "canonical": ""}}}, true},
+		{"semantic proposal problem", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{map[string]any{"name": "Mira", "source_refs": []any{map[string]any{"start_unit_id": 1, "end_unit_id": 1}}}}, "canonical": map[string]any{"name": "Mira", "source_refs": []any{map[string]any{"start_unit_id": 1, "end_unit_id": 1}}}}}}, true},
 		{"missing groups", map[string]any{}, false},
 		{"unknown top level", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{}, "extra": true}, false},
-		{"replacement name", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{}, "canonical": "candidate-000001", "name": "replacement"}}}, false},
-		{"replacement evidence", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{}, "canonical": "candidate-000001", "source_refs": []any{}}}}, false},
-		{"wrong key type", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{1}, "canonical": "candidate-000001"}}}, false},
+		{"replacement name", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{}, "canonical": map[string]any{"name": "Mira", "source_refs": []any{}}, "name": "replacement"}}}, false},
+		{"missing selector evidence", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{}, "canonical": map[string]any{"name": "Mira"}}}}, false},
+		{"invalid range", map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []any{map[string]any{"name": "Mira", "source_refs": []any{map[string]any{"start_unit_id": 0, "end_unit_id": 1}}}}, "canonical": map[string]any{"name": "Mira", "source_refs": []any{}}}}}, false},
 	} {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			content, err := json.Marshal(test.value)
@@ -236,6 +280,15 @@ func preparedMaterials(t *testing.T, count int, includeIneligible bool) Material
 	return materials
 }
 
+func materialSelectors(t *testing.T, materials Materials) []Selector {
+	t.Helper()
+	var input candidateInput
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(materials.Candidates.Content, &input); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return input.Candidates
+}
+
 func cloneCandidates(input []Candidate) []Candidate {
 	output := make([]Candidate, len(input))
 	copy(output, input)
diff --git a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/proposal.go b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/proposal.go
index b3dcd8a..829e7fe 100644
--- a/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/proposal.go
+++ b/internal/modules/dnd/shared/entityreconcile/proposal.go
@@ -6,15 +6,16 @@ import (
 )
 
 // ProposalResponse is the private structured response exchanged with the
-// reconciliation prompt. It identifies candidates only by opaque keys.
+// reconciliation prompt. It identifies candidates by contextual selectors.
 type ProposalResponse struct {
 	DuplicateGroups []DuplicateGroup `json:"duplicate_groups"`
 }
 
-// DuplicateGroup proposes candidate keys that might denote one entity.
+// DuplicateGroup proposes contextual candidate descriptors that might denote
+// one entity.
 type DuplicateGroup struct {
-	Members   []string `json:"members"`
-	Canonical string   `json:"canonical"`
+	Members   []Selector `json:"members"`
+	Canonical Selector   `json:"canonical"`
 }
 
 // Issue identifies one unsafe proposal category without prescribing a warning
@@ -59,16 +60,13 @@ func (a Assessment) DiscardedGroups() int { return a.discardedGroups }
 // Issues returns the deterministic rejection categories in proposal order.
 func (a Assessment) Issues() []Issue { return append([]Issue(nil), a.issues...) }
 
-// Assess validates a proposal against the opaque keys created by BuildContext.
+// Assess resolves contextual descriptors to internal candidate keys, then
+// validates the proposal without exposing those keys to the model.
 func (m Materials) Assess(response ProposalResponse) Assessment {
-	all := make(map[string]struct{}, len(m.candidateKeys))
-	for _, key := range m.candidateKeys {
-		all[key] = struct{}{}
-	}
 	groups := make([]assessedGroup, len(response.DuplicateGroups))
 	issues := make([]Issue, 0)
 	for groupIndex, proposal := range response.DuplicateGroups {
-		groups[groupIndex] = assessGroup(proposal, all, m.eligible)
+		groups[groupIndex] = m.assessGroup(proposal)
 		for _, category := range groups[groupIndex].issues {
 			issues = append(issues, Issue{GroupIndex: groupIndex, Category: category})
 		}
@@ -115,12 +113,13 @@ type assessedGroup struct {
 	conflicting  bool
 }
 
-func assessGroup(proposal DuplicateGroup, all, eligible map[string]struct{}) assessedGroup {
+func (m Materials) assessGroup(proposal DuplicateGroup) assessedGroup {
 	issues := make([]string, 0)
 	members := make([]string, 0, len(proposal.Members))
 	seen := make(map[string]struct{}, len(proposal.Members))
-	for _, key := range proposal.Members {
-		if category := keyCategory(key, all, eligible); category != "" {
+	for _, selector := range proposal.Members {
+		key, category := m.selectorKey(selector)
+		if category != "" {
 			issues = append(issues, "member_"+category)
 			continue
 		}
@@ -131,31 +130,39 @@ func assessGroup(proposal DuplicateGroup, all, eligible map[string]struct{}) ass
 		seen[key] = struct{}{}
 		members = append(members, key)
 	}
-	canonicalCategory := keyCategory(proposal.Canonical, all, eligible)
+	canonical, canonicalCategory := m.selectorKey(proposal.Canonical)
 	if canonicalCategory != "" {
 		issues = append(issues, "canonical_"+canonicalCategory)
 	}
 	if len(members) < 2 {
 		issues = append(issues, "fewer_than_two_members")
 	}
-	if canonicalCategory == "" && !contains(members, proposal.Canonical) {
+	if canonicalCategory == "" && !contains(members, canonical) {
 		issues = append(issues, "canonical_not_member")
 	}
 	sort.Strings(members)
-	return assessedGroup{members: members, canonical: proposal.Canonical, issues: issues, locallyValid: len(issues) == 0}
+	return assessedGroup{members: members, canonical: canonical, issues: issues, locallyValid: len(issues) == 0}
 }
 
-func keyCategory(key string, all, eligible map[string]struct{}) string {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(key) == "" {
-		return "blank"
+func (m Materials) selectorKey(selector Selector) (string, string) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(selector.Name) == "" {
+		return "", "blank"
 	}
-	if _, ok := all[key]; !ok {
-		return "unknown"
+	lookupKey, err := selectorLookupKey(selector)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "unknown"
 	}
-	if _, ok := eligible[key]; !ok {
-		return "ineligible"
+	if _, collided := m.collidedSelectors[lookupKey]; collided {
+		return "", "ineligible"
 	}
-	return ""
+	key, ok := m.keyBySelector[lookupKey]
+	if !ok {
+		return "", "unknown"
+	}
+	if _, eligible := m.eligible[key]; !eligible {
+		return "", "ineligible"
+	}
+	return key, ""
 }
 
 func contains(values []string, want string) bool {
diff --git a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_grounded_test.go b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_grounded_test.go
index bdaf423..05f8f2a 100644
--- a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_grounded_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_grounded_test.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func TestNPCOutputGroundsSpellAndCombatConsumersThroughOneOperation(t *testing.T
 	for name, value := range map[string]string{
 		"extract:npc_registry:dnd/npc-registry:mapping_policy":            "dnd.npc_registry.extract_mapping.v2",
 		"normalize:npc_registry:dnd/npc-registry:identity_policy":         "dnd.npc_registry.identity.v1",
-		"normalize:npc_registry:dnd/npc-registry:normalization_policy":    "dnd.npc_registry.normalize.v3",
+		"normalize:npc_registry:dnd/npc-registry:normalization_policy":    "dnd.npc_registry.normalize.v4",
 		"normalize:npc_registry:dnd/npc-registry:semantic_context_policy": "dnd.entity_reconcile.context.v1:2",
 		"extract:spells:dnd/spells:mapping_policy":                        "dnd.spells.extract_mapping.v2",
 		"extract:combat:dnd/combat-turns:scene_gate_policy":               "dnd.combat_turns.scene_gate.v1",
diff --git a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_occurrences_runner_test.go b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_occurrences_runner_test.go
index 594626d..0e90b16 100644
--- a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_occurrences_runner_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_occurrences_runner_test.go
@@ -292,7 +292,14 @@ func (client *semanticNPCOccurrenceClient) CompleteStructured(_ context.Context,
 		}
 		payload = map[string]any{"npcs": []any{map[string]any{"name": name, "source_refs": []any{map[string]int{"start_unit_id": client.npcCalls, "end_unit_id": client.npcCalls}}}}}
 	case npcnormalize.PromptID:
-		payload = map[string]any{"duplicate_groups": []any{map[string]any{"members": []string{"candidate-000001", "candidate-000002"}, "canonical": "candidate-000001"}}}
+		content, err := contextualReconciliationContent([]byte(`{"duplicate_groups":[{"members":["candidate-000001","candidate-000002"],"canonical":"candidate-000001"}]}`), request.Inputs["candidates"].Content)
+		if err != nil {
+			return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(content, out); err != nil {
+			return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
+		}
+		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: content}, nil
 	case occurrenceextract.PromptID:
 		payload = map[string]any{"occurrences": []any{map[string]any{"npc_id": identity.DeriveID("Mira Thorn"), "name": "Mira Thorn", "kind": "dialogue", "source_refs": []any{map[string]int{"start_unit_id": 1, "end_unit_id": 1}}}}}
 	default:
diff --git a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_registry_runner_test.go b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_registry_runner_test.go
index 8e91089..89d713e 100644
--- a/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_registry_runner_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/integration/dnd_npc_registry_runner_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -266,6 +267,11 @@ func (client *fakeNPCProductionLLMClient) CompleteStructured(_ context.Context,
 			}
 			content = append([]byte(nil), client.normalizeResponses[index]...)
 		}
+		var err error
+		content, err = contextualReconciliationContent(content, req.Inputs["candidates"].Content)
+		if err != nil {
+			return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, err
+		}
 	default:
 		return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{}, fmt.Errorf("unexpected fake NPC prompt %q", req.PromptID)
 	}
@@ -275,6 +281,43 @@ func (client *fakeNPCProductionLLMClient) CompleteStructured(_ context.Context,
 	return contracts.StructuredCompletionResponse{Content: content}, nil
 }
 
+func contextualReconciliationContent(content, candidateContent []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	if !strings.Contains(string(content), "candidate-") {
+		return content, nil
+	}
+	var selection struct {
+		DuplicateGroups []struct {
+			Members   []string `json:"members"`
+			Canonical string   `json:"canonical"`
+		} `json:"duplicate_groups"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(content, &selection); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var candidates struct {
+		Candidates []entityreconcile.Selector `json:"candidates"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(candidateContent, &candidates); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	selector := func(key string) entityreconcile.Selector {
+		index, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimPrefix(key, "candidate-"))
+		if err != nil || index < 1 || index > len(candidates.Candidates) {
+			return entityreconcile.Selector{Name: key, SourceRefs: []entityreconcile.SourceRange{}}
+		}
+		return candidates.Candidates[index-1].Clone()
+	}
+	proposal := entityreconcile.ProposalResponse{DuplicateGroups: make([]entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup, len(selection.DuplicateGroups))}
+	for index, group := range selection.DuplicateGroups {
+		members := make([]entityreconcile.Selector, len(group.Members))
+		for memberIndex, key := range group.Members {
+			members[memberIndex] = selector(key)
+		}
+		proposal.DuplicateGroups[index] = entityreconcile.DuplicateGroup{Members: members, Canonical: selector(group.Canonical)}
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(proposal)
+}
+
 func (client *fakeNPCProductionLLMClient) requestCount(promptID string) int {
 	count := 0
 	for _, request := range client.requests {