diff --git a/lazarus/README.md b/lazarus/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cc6b6428
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# Lazarus Pit v2.0 — Cells, Invites, and Teaming
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```bash
+# Summon a single agent
+python3 -m lazarus.cli summon allegro Timmy_Foundation/timmy-config#262
+
+# Form a team
+python3 -m lazarus.cli team allegro+ezra Timmy_Foundation/timmy-config#262
+
+# Invite a guest bot
+python3 -m lazarus.cli invite <cell_id> bot:kimi observer
+
+# Check status
+python3 -m lazarus.cli status
+
+# Close / destroy
+python3 -m lazarus.cli close <cell_id>
+python3 -m lazarus.cli destroy <cell_id>
+```
+
+## Architecture
+
+```
+lazarus/
+├── cell.py              # Cell model, registry, filesystem packager
+├── operator_ctl.py      # summon, invite, team, status, close, destroy
+├── cli.py               # CLI entrypoint
+├── backends/
+│   ├── base.py          # Backend abstraction
+│   └── process_backend.py
+└── tests/
+    └── test_cell.py     # Isolation + lifecycle tests
+```
+
+## Design Invariants
+
+1. **One cell, one project target**
+2. **Cells cannot read each other's `HERMES_HOME` by default**
+3. **Guests join with least privilege**
+4. **Destroyed cells are scrubbed from disk**
+5. **All cell state is persisted in SQLite registry**
+
+## Cell Lifecycle
+
+```
+proposed -> active -> idle -> closing -> archived -> destroyed
+```
+
+## Roles
+
+- `executor` — read/write code, run tools, push commits
+- `observer` — read-only access
+- `director` — can close cells and publish back to Gitea
diff --git a/lazarus/__init__.py b/lazarus/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..128a2a6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+"""Lazarus Pit v2.0 — Multi-Agent Resurrection & Teaming Arena."""
+from .cell import Cell, CellState, CellRole
+from .operator_ctl import OperatorCtl
+
+__all__ = ["Cell", "CellState", "CellRole", "OperatorCtl"]
diff --git a/lazarus/backends/__init__.py b/lazarus/backends/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a1ce7dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/backends/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+"""Cell execution backends for Lazarus Pit."""
+from .base import Backend, BackendResult
+from .process_backend import ProcessBackend
+
+__all__ = ["Backend", "BackendResult", "ProcessBackend"]
diff --git a/lazarus/backends/base.py b/lazarus/backends/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5b3621ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/backends/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+"""
+Backend abstraction for Lazarus Pit cells.
+
+Every backend must implement the same contract so that cells,
+teams, and operators do not need to know how a cell is actually running.
+"""
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Optional
+
+
+@dataclass
+class BackendResult:
+    success: bool
+    stdout: str = ""
+    stderr: str = ""
+    pid: Optional[int] = None
+    message: str = ""
+
+
+class Backend(ABC):
+    """Abstract cell backend."""
+
+    name: str = "abstract"
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def spawn(self, cell_id: str, hermes_home: str, command: list, env: Optional[dict] = None) -> BackendResult:
+        """Spawn the cell process/environment."""
+        ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def probe(self, cell_id: str) -> BackendResult:
+        """Check if the cell is alive and responsive."""
+        ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def logs(self, cell_id: str, tail: int = 50) -> BackendResult:
+        """Return recent logs from the cell."""
+        ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def close(self, cell_id: str) -> BackendResult:
+        """Gracefully close the cell."""
+        ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def destroy(self, cell_id: str) -> BackendResult:
+        """Forcefully destroy the cell and all runtime state."""
+        ...
diff --git a/lazarus/backends/process_backend.py b/lazarus/backends/process_backend.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9820c381
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/backends/process_backend.py
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+"""
+Process backend for Lazarus Pit.
+
+Fastest spawn/teardown. Isolation comes from unique HERMES_HOME
+and independent Python process. No containers required.
+"""
+
+import os
+import signal
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional
+
+from .base import Backend, BackendResult
+
+
+class ProcessBackend(Backend):
+    name = "process"
+
+    def __init__(self, log_dir: Optional[str] = None):
+        self.log_dir = Path(log_dir or "/tmp/lazarus-logs")
+        self.log_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        self._pids: dict = {}
+
+    def _log_path(self, cell_id: str) -> Path:
+        return self.log_dir / f"{cell_id}.log"
+
+    def spawn(self, cell_id: str, hermes_home: str, command: list, env: Optional[dict] = None) -> BackendResult:
+        log_path = self._log_path(cell_id)
+        run_env = dict(os.environ)
+        run_env["HERMES_HOME"] = hermes_home
+        if env:
+            run_env.update(env)
+
+        try:
+            with open(log_path, "a") as log_file:
+                proc = subprocess.Popen(
+                    command,
+                    env=run_env,
+                    stdout=log_file,
+                    stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
+                    cwd=hermes_home,
+                )
+            self._pids[cell_id] = proc.pid
+            return BackendResult(
+                success=True,
+                pid=proc.pid,
+                message=f"Spawned {cell_id} with pid {proc.pid}",
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            return BackendResult(success=False, stderr=str(e), message=f"Spawn failed: {e}")
+
+    def probe(self, cell_id: str) -> BackendResult:
+        pid = self._pids.get(cell_id)
+        if not pid:
+            return BackendResult(success=False, message="No known pid for cell")
+        try:
+            os.kill(pid, 0)
+            return BackendResult(success=True, pid=pid, message="Process is alive")
+        except OSError:
+            return BackendResult(success=False, pid=pid, message="Process is dead")
+
+    def logs(self, cell_id: str, tail: int = 50) -> BackendResult:
+        log_path = self._log_path(cell_id)
+        if not log_path.exists():
+            return BackendResult(success=True, stdout="", message="No logs yet")
+        try:
+            lines = log_path.read_text().splitlines()
+            return BackendResult(
+                success=True,
+                stdout="\n".join(lines[-tail:]),
+                message=f"Returned last {tail} lines",
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            return BackendResult(success=False, stderr=str(e), message=f"Log read failed: {e}")
+
+    def close(self, cell_id: str) -> BackendResult:
+        pid = self._pids.get(cell_id)
+        if not pid:
+            return BackendResult(success=False, message="No known pid for cell")
+        try:
+            os.kill(pid, signal.SIGTERM)
+            return BackendResult(success=True, pid=pid, message="Sent SIGTERM")
+        except OSError as e:
+            return BackendResult(success=False, stderr=str(e), message=f"Close failed: {e}")
+
+    def destroy(self, cell_id: str) -> BackendResult:
+        res = self.close(cell_id)
+        log_path = self._log_path(cell_id)
+        if log_path.exists():
+            log_path.unlink()
+        self._pids.pop(cell_id, None)
+        return BackendResult(
+            success=res.success,
+            pid=res.pid,
+            message=f"Destroyed {cell_id}",
+        )
diff --git a/lazarus/cell.py b/lazarus/cell.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9741cce9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/cell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+"""
+Cell model for Lazarus Pit v2.0.
+
+A cell is a bounded execution/living space for one or more participants
+on a single project target. Cells are isolated by filesystem, credentials,
+and optionally process/container boundaries.
+"""
+
+import json
+import shutil
+import uuid
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field, asdict
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from enum import Enum, auto
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Set
+
+
+class CellState(Enum):
+    PROPOSED = "proposed"
+    ACTIVE = "active"
+    IDLE = "idle"
+    CLOSING = "closing"
+    ARCHIVED = "archived"
+    DESTROYED = "destroyed"
+
+
+class CellRole(Enum):
+    EXECUTOR = "executor"    # Can read/write code, run tools, push commits
+    OBSERVER = "observer"    # Read-only cell access
+    DIRECTOR = "director"    # Can assign, close, publish back to Gitea
+
+
+@dataclass
+class CellMember:
+    identity: str           # e.g. "agent:allegro", "bot:kimi", "human:Alexander"
+    role: CellRole
+    joined_at: str
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Cell:
+    cell_id: str
+    project: str            # e.g. "Timmy_Foundation/timmy-config#262"
+    owner: str              # e.g. "human:Alexander"
+    backend: str            # "process", "venv", "docker", "remote"
+    state: CellState
+    created_at: str
+    ttl_minutes: int
+    members: List[CellMember] = field(default_factory=list)
+    hermes_home: Optional[str] = None
+    workspace_path: Optional[str] = None
+    shared_notes_path: Optional[str] = None
+    shared_artifacts_path: Optional[str] = None
+    decisions_path: Optional[str] = None
+    archived_at: Optional[str] = None
+    destroyed_at: Optional[str] = None
+
+    def is_expired(self) -> bool:
+        if self.state in (CellState.CLOSING, CellState.ARCHIVED, CellState.DESTROYED):
+            return False
+        created = datetime.fromisoformat(self.created_at.replace("Z", "+00:00"))
+        return datetime.now().astimezone() > created + timedelta(minutes=self.ttl_minutes)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> dict:
+        d = asdict(self)
+        d["state"] = self.state.value
+        d["members"] = [
+            {**asdict(m), "role": m.role.value} for m in self.members
+        ]
+        return d
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, d: dict) -> "Cell":
+        d = dict(d)
+        d["state"] = CellState(d["state"])
+        d["members"] = [
+            CellMember(
+                identity=m["identity"],
+                role=CellRole(m["role"]),
+                joined_at=m["joined_at"],
+            )
+            for m in d.get("members", [])
+        ]
+        return cls(**d)
+
+
+class CellRegistry:
+    """SQLite-backed registry of all cells."""
+
+    def __init__(self, db_path: Optional[str] = None):
+        self.db_path = Path(db_path or "/root/.lazarus_registry.sqlite")
+        self.db_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        self._init_db()
+
+    def _init_db(self):
+        import sqlite3
+        with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path)) as conn:
+            conn.execute(
+                """
+                CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS cells (
+                    cell_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+                    project TEXT NOT NULL,
+                    owner TEXT NOT NULL,
+                    backend TEXT NOT NULL,
+                    state TEXT NOT NULL,
+                    created_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+                    ttl_minutes INTEGER NOT NULL,
+                    members TEXT,
+                    hermes_home TEXT,
+                    workspace_path TEXT,
+                    shared_notes_path TEXT,
+                    shared_artifacts_path TEXT,
+                    decisions_path TEXT,
+                    archived_at TEXT,
+                    destroyed_at TEXT
+                )
+                """
+            )
+
+    def save(self, cell: Cell):
+        import sqlite3
+        with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path)) as conn:
+            conn.execute(
+                """
+                INSERT OR REPLACE INTO cells (
+                    cell_id, project, owner, backend, state, created_at, ttl_minutes,
+                    members, hermes_home, workspace_path, shared_notes_path,
+                    shared_artifacts_path, decisions_path, archived_at, destroyed_at
+                ) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+                """,
+                (
+                    cell.cell_id,
+                    cell.project,
+                    cell.owner,
+                    cell.backend,
+                    cell.state.value,
+                    cell.created_at,
+                    cell.ttl_minutes,
+                    json.dumps(cell.to_dict()["members"]),
+                    cell.hermes_home,
+                    cell.workspace_path,
+                    cell.shared_notes_path,
+                    cell.shared_artifacts_path,
+                    cell.decisions_path,
+                    cell.archived_at,
+                    cell.destroyed_at,
+                ),
+            )
+
+    def load(self, cell_id: str) -> Optional[Cell]:
+        import sqlite3
+        with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path)) as conn:
+            row = conn.execute(
+                "SELECT * FROM cells WHERE cell_id = ?", (cell_id,)
+            ).fetchone()
+        if not row:
+            return None
+        keys = [
+            "cell_id", "project", "owner", "backend", "state", "created_at",
+            "ttl_minutes", "members", "hermes_home", "workspace_path",
+            "shared_notes_path", "shared_artifacts_path", "decisions_path",
+            "archived_at", "destroyed_at",
+        ]
+        d = dict(zip(keys, row))
+        d["members"] = json.loads(d["members"])
+        return Cell.from_dict(d)
+
+    def list_active(self) -> List[Cell]:
+        import sqlite3
+        with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path)) as conn:
+            rows = conn.execute(
+                "SELECT * FROM cells WHERE state NOT IN ('destroyed', 'archived')"
+            ).fetchall()
+        keys = [
+            "cell_id", "project", "owner", "backend", "state", "created_at",
+            "ttl_minutes", "members", "hermes_home", "workspace_path",
+            "shared_notes_path", "shared_artifacts_path", "decisions_path",
+            "archived_at", "destroyed_at",
+        ]
+        cells = []
+        for row in rows:
+            d = dict(zip(keys, row))
+            d["members"] = json.loads(d["members"])
+            cells.append(Cell.from_dict(d))
+        return cells
+
+    def delete(self, cell_id: str):
+        import sqlite3
+        with sqlite3.connect(str(self.db_path)) as conn:
+            conn.execute("DELETE FROM cells WHERE cell_id = ?", (cell_id,))
+
+
+class CellPackager:
+    """Creates and destroys per-cell filesystem isolation."""
+
+    ROOT = Path("/tmp/lazarus-cells")
+
+    def __init__(self, root: Optional[str] = None):
+        self.root = Path(root or self.ROOT)
+
+    def create(self, cell_id: str, backend: str = "process") -> Cell:
+        cell_home = self.root / cell_id
+        workspace = cell_home / "workspace"
+        shared_notes = cell_home / "shared" / "notes.md"
+        shared_artifacts = cell_home / "shared" / "artifacts"
+        decisions = cell_home / "shared" / "decisions.jsonl"
+        hermes_home = cell_home / ".hermes"
+
+        for p in [workspace, shared_artifacts, hermes_home]:
+            p.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        if not shared_notes.exists():
+            shared_notes.write_text(f"# Cell {cell_id} — Shared Notes\n\n")
+
+        if not decisions.exists():
+            decisions.write_text("")
+
+        now = datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat()
+        return Cell(
+            cell_id=cell_id,
+            project="",
+            owner="",
+            backend=backend,
+            state=CellState.PROPOSED,
+            created_at=now,
+            ttl_minutes=60,
+            hermes_home=str(hermes_home),
+            workspace_path=str(workspace),
+            shared_notes_path=str(shared_notes),
+            shared_artifacts_path=str(shared_artifacts),
+            decisions_path=str(decisions),
+        )
+
+    def destroy(self, cell_id: str) -> bool:
+        cell_home = self.root / cell_id
+        if cell_home.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(cell_home)
+            return True
+        return False
diff --git a/lazarus/cli.py b/lazarus/cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c8195fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""CLI entrypoint for Lazarus Pit operator control surface."""
+
+import json
+import sys
+
+from .operator_ctl import OperatorCtl
+
+
+def main():
+    ctl = OperatorCtl()
+    result = ctl.run_cli(sys.argv[1:])
+    print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))
+    sys.exit(0 if result.get("success") else 1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/lazarus/operator_ctl.py b/lazarus/operator_ctl.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..468c17cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/operator_ctl.py
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+"""
+Operator control surface for Lazarus Pit v2.0.
+
+Provides the command grammar and API for:
+  summon, invite, team, status, close, destroy
+"""
+
+import json
+import uuid
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from typing import Dict, List, Optional
+
+from .cell import Cell, CellMember, CellPackager, CellRegistry, CellRole, CellState
+from .backends.process_backend import ProcessBackend
+
+
+class OperatorCtl:
+    """The operator's command surface for the Lazarus Pit."""
+
+    def __init__(self, registry: Optional[CellRegistry] = None, packager: Optional[CellPackager] = None):
+        self.registry = registry or CellRegistry()
+        self.packager = packager or CellPackager()
+        self.backend = ProcessBackend()
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Commands
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def summon(self, agent: str, project: str, owner: str = "human:Alexander", backend: str = "process", ttl_minutes: int = 60) -> dict:
+        """Summon a single agent into a fresh resurrection cell."""
+        cell_id = f"laz-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
+        cell = self.packager.create(cell_id, backend=backend)
+        cell.project = project
+        cell.owner = owner
+        cell.ttl_minutes = ttl_minutes
+        cell.state = CellState.ACTIVE
+        cell.members.append(CellMember(
+            identity=f"agent:{agent}",
+            role=CellRole.EXECUTOR,
+            joined_at=datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat(),
+        ))
+
+        # Spawn a simple keep-alive process (real agent bootstrap would go here)
+        res = self.backend.spawn(
+            cell_id=cell_id,
+            hermes_home=cell.hermes_home,
+            command=["python3", "-c", "import time; time.sleep(86400)"],
+        )
+
+        self.registry.save(cell)
+        return {
+            "success": res.success,
+            "cell_id": cell_id,
+            "project": project,
+            "agent": agent,
+            "backend": backend,
+            "pid": res.pid,
+            "message": res.message,
+        }
+
+    def invite(self, cell_id: str, guest: str, role: str, invited_by: str = "human:Alexander") -> dict:
+        """Invite a guest bot or human into an active cell."""
+        cell = self.registry.load(cell_id)
+        if not cell:
+            return {"success": False, "message": f"Cell {cell_id} not found"}
+        if cell.state not in (CellState.PROPOSED, CellState.ACTIVE, CellState.IDLE):
+            return {"success": False, "message": f"Cell {cell_id} is not accepting invites (state={cell.state.value})"}
+
+        role_enum = CellRole(role)
+        cell.members.append(CellMember(
+            identity=guest,
+            role=role_enum,
+            joined_at=datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat(),
+        ))
+        cell.state = CellState.ACTIVE
+        self.registry.save(cell)
+        return {
+            "success": True,
+            "cell_id": cell_id,
+            "guest": guest,
+            "role": role_enum.value,
+            "invited_by": invited_by,
+            "message": f"Invited {guest} as {role_enum.value} to {cell_id}",
+        }
+
+    def team(self, agents: List[str], project: str, owner: str = "human:Alexander", backend: str = "process", ttl_minutes: int = 120) -> dict:
+        """Form a multi-agent team in one cell against a project."""
+        cell_id = f"laz-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
+        cell = self.packager.create(cell_id, backend=backend)
+        cell.project = project
+        cell.owner = owner
+        cell.ttl_minutes = ttl_minutes
+        cell.state = CellState.ACTIVE
+
+        for agent in agents:
+            cell.members.append(CellMember(
+                identity=f"agent:{agent}",
+                role=CellRole.EXECUTOR,
+                joined_at=datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat(),
+            ))
+
+        res = self.backend.spawn(
+            cell_id=cell_id,
+            hermes_home=cell.hermes_home,
+            command=["python3", "-c", "import time; time.sleep(86400)"],
+        )
+
+        self.registry.save(cell)
+        return {
+            "success": res.success,
+            "cell_id": cell_id,
+            "project": project,
+            "agents": agents,
+            "backend": backend,
+            "pid": res.pid,
+            "message": res.message,
+        }
+
+    def status(self, cell_id: Optional[str] = None) -> dict:
+        """Show status of one cell or all active cells."""
+        if cell_id:
+            cell = self.registry.load(cell_id)
+            if not cell:
+                return {"success": False, "message": f"Cell {cell_id} not found"}
+            probe = self.backend.probe(cell_id)
+            return {
+                "success": True,
+                "cell": cell.to_dict(),
+                "probe": probe.message,
+                "expired": cell.is_expired(),
+            }
+
+        active = self.registry.list_active()
+        cells = []
+        for cell in active:
+            probe = self.backend.probe(cell.cell_id)
+            cells.append({
+                "cell_id": cell.cell_id,
+                "project": cell.project,
+                "backend": cell.backend,
+                "state": cell.state.value,
+                "members": [m.identity for m in cell.members],
+                "probe": probe.message,
+                "expired": cell.is_expired(),
+            })
+        return {"success": True, "active_cells": cells}
+
+    def close(self, cell_id: str, closed_by: str = "human:Alexander") -> dict:
+        """Gracefully close a cell."""
+        cell = self.registry.load(cell_id)
+        if not cell:
+            return {"success": False, "message": f"Cell {cell_id} not found"}
+
+        res = self.backend.close(cell_id)
+        cell.state = CellState.CLOSING
+        self.registry.save(cell)
+        return {
+            "success": res.success,
+            "cell_id": cell_id,
+            "message": f"Closed {cell_id} by {closed_by}",
+        }
+
+    def destroy(self, cell_id: str, destroyed_by: str = "human:Alexander") -> dict:
+        """Forcefully destroy a cell and all runtime state."""
+        cell = self.registry.load(cell_id)
+        if not cell:
+            return {"success": False, "message": f"Cell {cell_id} not found"}
+
+        res = self.backend.destroy(cell_id)
+        self.packager.destroy(cell_id)
+        cell.state = CellState.DESTROYED
+        cell.destroyed_at = datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat()
+        self.registry.save(cell)
+        return {
+            "success": True,
+            "cell_id": cell_id,
+            "message": f"Destroyed {cell_id} by {destroyed_by}",
+        }
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # CLI helpers
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def run_cli(self, args: List[str]) -> dict:
+        if not args:
+            return self.status()
+        cmd = args[0]
+        if cmd == "summon" and len(args) >= 3:
+            return self.summon(agent=args[1], project=args[2])
+        if cmd == "invite" and len(args) >= 4:
+            return self.invite(cell_id=args[1], guest=args[2], role=args[3])
+        if cmd == "team" and len(args) >= 3:
+            agents = args[1].split("+")
+            project = args[2]
+            return self.team(agents=agents, project=project)
+        if cmd == "status":
+            return self.status(cell_id=args[1] if len(args) > 1 else None)
+        if cmd == "close" and len(args) >= 2:
+            return self.close(cell_id=args[1])
+        if cmd == "destroy" and len(args) >= 2:
+            return self.destroy(cell_id=args[1])
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "message": (
+                "Unknown command. Usage:\n"
+                "  lazarus summon <agent> <project>\n"
+                "  lazarus invite <cell_id> <guest> <role>\n"
+                "  lazarus team <agent1+agent2> <project>\n"
+                "  lazarus status [cell_id]\n"
+                "  lazarus close <cell_id>\n"
+                "  lazarus destroy <cell_id>\n"
+            )
+        }
diff --git a/lazarus/tests/__init__.py b/lazarus/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2d7dbf2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/tests/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+"""Tests for Lazarus Pit."""
diff --git a/lazarus/tests/test_cell.py b/lazarus/tests/test_cell.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5382eb82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lazarus/tests/test_cell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Tests for Lazarus Pit cell isolation and registry."""
+
+import os
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
+
+from lazarus.cell import Cell, CellMember, CellPackager, CellRegistry, CellRole, CellState
+from lazarus.operator_ctl import OperatorCtl
+from lazarus.backends.process_backend import ProcessBackend
+
+
+class TestCellPackager(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.tmpdir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.packager = CellPackager(root=self.tmpdir.name)
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self.tmpdir.cleanup()
+
+    def test_create_isolated_paths(self):
+        cell = self.packager.create("laz-test-001", backend="process")
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(cell.hermes_home))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(cell.workspace_path))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isfile(cell.shared_notes_path))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(cell.shared_artifacts_path))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isfile(cell.decisions_path))
+
+    def test_destroy_cleans_paths(self):
+        cell = self.packager.create("laz-test-002", backend="process")
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(cell.hermes_home))
+        self.packager.destroy("laz-test-002")
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(cell.hermes_home))
+
+    def test_cells_are_separate(self):
+        c1 = self.packager.create("laz-a", backend="process")
+        c2 = self.packager.create("laz-b", backend="process")
+        self.assertNotEqual(c1.hermes_home, c2.hermes_home)
+        self.assertNotEqual(c1.workspace_path, c2.workspace_path)
+
+
+class TestCellRegistry(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.tmpdir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.registry = CellRegistry(db_path=os.path.join(self.tmpdir.name, "registry.sqlite"))
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self.tmpdir.cleanup()
+
+    def test_save_and_load(self):
+        cell = Cell(
+            cell_id="laz-reg-001",
+            project="Timmy_Foundation/test#1",
+            owner="human:Alexander",
+            backend="process",
+            state=CellState.ACTIVE,
+            created_at=datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat(),
+            ttl_minutes=60,
+            members=[CellMember("agent:allegro", CellRole.EXECUTOR, datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat())],
+        )
+        self.registry.save(cell)
+        loaded = self.registry.load("laz-reg-001")
+        self.assertEqual(loaded.cell_id, "laz-reg-001")
+        self.assertEqual(loaded.members[0].role, CellRole.EXECUTOR)
+
+    def test_list_active(self):
+        for sid, state in [("a", CellState.ACTIVE), ("b", CellState.DESTROYED)]:
+            cell = Cell(
+                cell_id=f"laz-{sid}",
+                project="test",
+                owner="human:Alexander",
+                backend="process",
+                state=state,
+                created_at=datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat(),
+                ttl_minutes=60,
+            )
+            self.registry.save(cell)
+        active = self.registry.list_active()
+        ids = {c.cell_id for c in active}
+        self.assertIn("laz-a", ids)
+        self.assertNotIn("laz-b", ids)
+
+    def test_ttl_expiry(self):
+        created = (datetime.now().astimezone() - timedelta(minutes=61)).isoformat()
+        cell = Cell(
+            cell_id="laz-exp",
+            project="test",
+            owner="human:Alexander",
+            backend="process",
+            state=CellState.ACTIVE,
+            created_at=created,
+            ttl_minutes=60,
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(cell.is_expired())
+
+    def test_ttl_not_expired(self):
+        cell = Cell(
+            cell_id="laz-ok",
+            project="test",
+            owner="human:Alexander",
+            backend="process",
+            state=CellState.ACTIVE,
+            created_at=datetime.now().astimezone().isoformat(),
+            ttl_minutes=60,
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(cell.is_expired())
+
+
+class TestOperatorCtl(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.tmpdir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.ctl = OperatorCtl(
+            registry=CellRegistry(db_path=os.path.join(self.tmpdir.name, "registry.sqlite")),
+            packager=CellPackager(root=self.tmpdir.name),
+        )
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        # Destroy any cells we created
+        for cell in self.ctl.registry.list_active():
+            self.ctl.destroy(cell.cell_id)
+        self.tmpdir.cleanup()
+
+    def test_summon_creates_cell(self):
+        res = self.ctl.summon("allegro", "Timmy_Foundation/test#1")
+        self.assertTrue(res["success"])
+        self.assertIn("cell_id", res)
+        cell = self.ctl.registry.load(res["cell_id"])
+        self.assertEqual(cell.members[0].identity, "agent:allegro")
+        self.assertEqual(cell.state, CellState.ACTIVE)
+        # Clean up
+        self.ctl.destroy(res["cell_id"])
+
+    def test_team_creates_multi_agent_cell(self):
+        res = self.ctl.team(["allegro", "ezra"], "Timmy_Foundation/test#2")
+        self.assertTrue(res["success"])
+        cell = self.ctl.registry.load(res["cell_id"])
+        self.assertEqual(len(cell.members), 2)
+        identities = {m.identity for m in cell.members}
+        self.assertEqual(identities, {"agent:allegro", "agent:ezra"})
+        self.ctl.destroy(res["cell_id"])
+
+    def test_invite_adds_guest(self):
+        res = self.ctl.summon("allegro", "Timmy_Foundation/test#3")
+        cell_id = res["cell_id"]
+        invite = self.ctl.invite(cell_id, "bot:kimi", "observer")
+        self.assertTrue(invite["success"])
+        cell = self.ctl.registry.load(cell_id)
+        roles = {m.identity: m.role for m in cell.members}
+        self.assertEqual(roles["bot:kimi"], CellRole.OBSERVER)
+        self.ctl.destroy(cell_id)
+
+    def test_status_shows_active_cells(self):
+        res = self.ctl.summon("allegro", "Timmy_Foundation/test#4")
+        status = self.ctl.status()
+        self.assertTrue(status["success"])
+        ids = {c["cell_id"] for c in status["active_cells"]}
+        self.assertIn(res["cell_id"], ids)
+        self.ctl.destroy(res["cell_id"])
+
+    def test_close_then_destroy(self):
+        res = self.ctl.summon("allegro", "Timmy_Foundation/test#5")
+        cell_id = res["cell_id"]
+        close_res = self.ctl.close(cell_id)
+        self.assertTrue(close_res["success"])
+        destroy_res = self.ctl.destroy(cell_id)
+        self.assertTrue(destroy_res["success"])
+        cell = self.ctl.registry.load(cell_id)
+        self.assertEqual(cell.state, CellState.DESTROYED)
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(cell.hermes_home))
+
+    def test_destroy_scrubs_filesystem(self):
+        res = self.ctl.summon("allegro", "Timmy_Foundation/test#6")
+        cell_id = res["cell_id"]
+        cell = self.ctl.registry.load(cell_id)
+        hermes = cell.hermes_home
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isdir(hermes))
+        self.ctl.destroy(cell_id)
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(hermes))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()