:root{
    --bg:#0E1216;
    --panel:#161C22;
    --panel-2:#1D252D;
    --line:#2A343D;
    --line-soft:#212A32;
    --text:#D6DCE2;
    --muted:#8A96A0;
    --dim:#5C6771;
    --amber:#F0A62E;
    --amber-soft:rgba(240,166,46,.13);
    --red:#CE4A3B;
    --green:#5DA98E;
  }
  *{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;padding:0}
  html{scroll-behavior:smooth}
  body{
    background:var(--bg);color:var(--text);
    font-family:"Newsreader",Georgia,serif;font-size:18px;line-height:1.6;
    -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;overflow-x:hidden;
  }
  .mono{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;}
  .wrap{max-width:1180px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 30px;}
  .disp{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;}

  /* status bar */
  .statusbar{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;
    font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);}
  .statusbar .wrap{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;height:44px;gap:16px;}
  .statusbar .right{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;color:var(--dim);}
  .dot{width:7px;height:7px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--green);display:inline-block;box-shadow:0 0 8px var(--green);}
  @media(max-width:640px){.statusbar .sitecode{display:none}}

  /* hero */
  .hero{padding:74px 0 68px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
  .hero-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.15fr .85fr;gap:60px;align-items:center;}
  .eyebrow{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.24em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--amber);margin-bottom:26px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;}
  .eyebrow::before{content:"";width:36px;height:1px;background:var(--amber);display:inline-block;}
  h1.title{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase;
    font-size:clamp(2.8rem,6.4vw,4.9rem);line-height:1.0;letter-spacing:.12em;
    color:#F2F5F8;margin-bottom:28px;}
  .tagline{font-family:"Newsreader",serif;font-style:italic;font-size:clamp(1.15rem,2.3vw,1.5rem);
    color:var(--text);max-width:34ch;line-height:1.42;margin-bottom:30px;}
  .byline{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:13px;letter-spacing:.14em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);margin-bottom:40px;}
  .byline b{color:var(--text);font-weight:500;}
  .cta-row{display:flex;gap:14px;flex-wrap:wrap;}
  .btn{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:500;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.14em;
    font-size:14px;text-decoration:none;padding:15px 28px;border:1px solid var(--amber);
    color:#10151A;background:var(--amber);display:inline-block;transition:transform .15s ease,box-shadow .15s ease;}
  .btn:hover{transform:translateY(-2px);box-shadow:0 8px 24px rgba(240,166,46,.22);}
  .btn.ghost{background:transparent;color:var(--text);border-color:var(--line);}
  .btn.ghost:hover{border-color:var(--muted);box-shadow:none;}

  .cover-wrap{position:relative;justify-self:center;}
  .cover-wrap img{display:block;width:100%;max-width:400px;height:auto;
    border:1px solid var(--line);box-shadow:0 30px 70px rgba(0,0,0,.6);}
  .cover-wrap::after{content:"Cover art (temporary)";position:absolute;bottom:-30px;left:0;
    font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:10.5px;letter-spacing:.12em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--dim);}
  @media(max-width:840px){
    .hero-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:52px;}
    .cover-wrap{order:-1;}
    .cover-wrap img{max-width:320px;}
  }

  /* classification band (signature) */
  .band{background:var(--panel);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);padding:56px 0;}
  .band-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:.85fr 1.15fr;gap:48px;align-items:center;}
  .band .sec-label{margin-bottom:20px;}
  .band h2{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;
    font-size:clamp(1.5rem,3vw,2.1rem);line-height:1.12;color:#EDF1F5;margin-bottom:16px;}
  .band p{font-size:16.5px;color:#AEB6BE;max-width:42ch;}
  .band p b{color:var(--amber);font-weight:500;font-style:normal;}
  .rungs{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:12px;}
  .rung{border:1px solid var(--line-soft);background:var(--panel-2);padding:18px 16px;position:relative;}
  .rung .lvl{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:11px;color:var(--dim);letter-spacing:.1em;margin-bottom:22px;}
  .rung .nm{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.04em;
    font-weight:400;font-size:14px;line-height:1.15;color:var(--dim);}
  .rung .ind{position:absolute;top:16px;right:16px;width:9px;height:9px;border-radius:50%;background:#333C44;}
  .rung.active{border-color:var(--amber);background:var(--amber-soft);}
  .rung.active .lvl{color:var(--amber);}
  .rung.active .nm{color:var(--amber);}
  .rung.active .ind{background:var(--amber);box-shadow:0 0 10px var(--amber);animation:pulse 2.4s ease-in-out infinite;}
  .rung.top{border-color:rgba(206,74,59,.32);}
  .rung.top .ind{background:#4a2a26;}
  @keyframes pulse{0%,100%{opacity:1}50%{opacity:.32}}
  @media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.rung.active .ind{animation:none}html{scroll-behavior:auto}}
  @media(max-width:840px){
    .band-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:30px;}
    .rungs{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);}
  }

  /* section shell */
  section{padding:74px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
  .sec-label{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.2em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--amber);margin-bottom:28px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;}
  .sec-label::before{content:"//";color:var(--dim);}
  h2.head{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.05em;
    font-size:clamp(1.7rem,3.6vw,2.5rem);line-height:1.08;color:#EDF1F5;margin-bottom:28px;}

  /* synopsis */
  .synopsis p{max-width:64ch;margin-bottom:22px;font-size:19px;color:#C6CDD4;}
  .synopsis p.lead{font-size:22px;color:var(--text);}
  .synopsis .drop::first-letter{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;float:left;
    font-size:66px;line-height:.78;padding:8px 14px 0 0;color:var(--amber);}

  /* cast */
  .cast-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:18px;}
  .file{border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--panel);overflow:hidden;}
  .file .photo{width:100%;aspect-ratio:4/5;object-fit:cover;object-position:top center;display:block;
    filter:grayscale(100%);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
  .file .body{padding:22px 22px 26px;}
  .file .tag{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.14em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--dim);margin-bottom:16px;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;}
  .file h3{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:400;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;
    font-size:1.3rem;color:#EDF1F5;line-height:1;margin-bottom:6px;}
  .file .role{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:12px;color:var(--amber);letter-spacing:.06em;margin-bottom:14px;}
  .file p{font-size:15.5px;color:#B3BBC3;line-height:1.5;}
  @media(max-width:900px){.cast-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);}}
  @media(max-width:520px){.cast-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}}

  /* author */
  .author-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:.8fr 1.2fr;gap:48px;align-items:start;}
  .headshot{width:100%;height:auto;display:block;border:1px solid var(--line);
    filter:grayscale(100%);box-shadow:0 20px 50px rgba(0,0,0,.45);}
  .author-grid p{max-width:56ch;margin-bottom:20px;font-size:18.5px;color:#C6CDD4;}
  .placeholder{border-left:2px solid var(--amber);background:var(--amber-soft);padding:15px 18px;
    font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.6;color:#D9C9A6;letter-spacing:.02em;}
  @media(max-width:760px){.author-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}.headshot{max-width:260px;}}

  /* signup */
  .signup{background:var(--panel);}
  .signup .inner{max-width:640px;}
  .signup h2{margin-bottom:14px;}
  .signup .sub{color:var(--muted);margin-bottom:30px;font-size:18px;max-width:52ch;}
  .form-row{display:flex;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;}
  .form-row input{flex:1;min-width:220px;background:var(--bg);border:1px solid var(--line);color:var(--text);
    font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:14px;padding:15px 16px;letter-spacing:.02em;}
  .form-row input:focus{outline:2px solid var(--amber);outline-offset:1px;border-color:var(--amber);}
  .form-note{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:11px;color:var(--dim);margin-top:16px;letter-spacing:.04em;}
  #confirm{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:13px;margin-top:16px;display:none;letter-spacing:.03em;}

  /* footer */
  footer{padding:56px 0 62px;}
  .foot-grid{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:32px;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:end;}
  .stores{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap;}
  .store{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;
    color:var(--muted);border:1px solid var(--line);padding:11px 16px;text-decoration:none;transition:color .2s,border-color .2s;}
  .store:hover{color:var(--amber);border-color:var(--amber);}
  .disclaimer{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:11px;line-height:1.7;color:var(--dim);
    letter-spacing:.02em;max-width:62ch;margin-top:36px;padding-top:24px;border-top:1px solid var(--line-soft);}

/* ===== multi-page additions ===== */
.nav{position:sticky;top:0;z-index:60;background:rgba(14,18,22,.94);
  backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
.nav .wrap{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;height:58px;gap:20px;}
.nav .brand{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:400;text-transform:uppercase;
  letter-spacing:.2em;font-size:14px;color:#EDF1F5;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap;}
.nav .brand b{color:var(--amber);font-weight:400;}
.nav .links{display:flex;gap:26px;}
.nav .links a{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.12em;
  font-size:12.5px;color:var(--muted);text-decoration:none;padding:4px 0;
  border-bottom:1px solid transparent;transition:color .15s,border-color .15s;}
.nav .links a:hover{color:var(--text);}
.nav .links a.active{color:var(--amber);border-bottom-color:var(--amber);}
@media(max-width:560px){
  .nav .wrap{height:52px;gap:12px;}
  .nav .links{gap:15px;}
  .nav .brand{font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.12em;}
  .nav .links a{font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.06em;}
}

/* interior page header */
.page-head{padding:60px 0 44px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
.page-title{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase;
  letter-spacing:.1em;font-size:clamp(2.2rem,5.2vw,3.6rem);line-height:1.02;
  color:#F2F5F8;margin-bottom:18px;}
.page-head .lede{font-family:"Newsreader",serif;font-style:italic;
  font-size:clamp(1.1rem,2.2vw,1.4rem);color:var(--text);max-width:46ch;line-height:1.45;}

/* details strip */
.details{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:1px;background:var(--line);
  border:1px solid var(--line);margin-top:8px;}
.details .cell{background:var(--panel);padding:22px 20px;}
.details .k{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.16em;
  text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--dim);margin-bottom:8px;}
.details .v{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:.03em;color:var(--text);text-transform:uppercase;}
@media(max-width:720px){.details{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);}}

/* reading page */
.read{max-width:680px;margin:0 auto;padding:66px 0 30px;}
.read .chapter-tag{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.26em;
  text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--amber);text-align:center;margin-bottom:16px;}
.read .chapter-title{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase;
  letter-spacing:.1em;font-size:clamp(1.7rem,4vw,2.5rem);color:#EDF1F5;text-align:center;
  line-height:1.08;margin-bottom:12px;}
.read .dateline{font-family:"IBM Plex Mono",monospace;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.2em;
  text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);text-align:center;margin-bottom:48px;}
.read p{font-family:"Newsreader",serif;font-size:19px;line-height:1.75;color:#CDD4DA;
  margin:0;text-indent:1.7em;}
.read p.first{text-indent:0;}
.read p.first.open::first-letter{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;float:left;
  font-size:58px;line-height:.72;padding:10px 12px 0 0;color:var(--amber);}
.scene-break{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:11px;margin:32px 0;}
.scene-break span{width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--dim);}
.chapter-divider{border:0;border-top:1px solid var(--line);margin:76px auto;max-width:680px;}
.read-foot{max-width:680px;margin:0 auto;padding:12px 0 76px;text-align:center;}
.read-foot p{font-family:"Newsreader",serif;font-style:italic;color:var(--muted);
  font-size:18px;margin-bottom:26px;}

.center-cta{text-align:center;padding:64px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
.center-cta h2{font-family:"Jost",sans-serif;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase;
  letter-spacing:.06em;font-size:clamp(1.5rem,3vw,2.1rem);color:#EDF1F5;margin-bottom:14px;}
.center-cta p{color:var(--muted);max-width:48ch;margin:0 auto 28px;font-size:18px;}

.hp{position:absolute;left:-9999px;top:-9999px;height:0;overflow:hidden;}