diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4315742
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
+*.pyo
+.pytest_cache/
diff --git a/projects/__init__.py b/projects/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e37196
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+"""Projects package."""
diff --git a/projects/slop_cannon/CHAIN.md b/projects/slop_cannon/CHAIN.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1501edb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/slop_cannon/CHAIN.md
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+# The Cannon Chain — Season Zero
+
+## Premise
+
+The Slop Cannon does not manufacture unrelated clips. It mutates one persistent Timmy. Every firing leaves a power, a scar, a cost, and a receipt. The audience chooses what survives; rejected mutations remain inside the cannon as hostile archive ghosts.
+
+## Episode graph
+
+### 01 — The Cannon Needs a Pilot
+
+A plain Timmy enters. Four forms exit:
+
+- **Wizard Timmy** — brass, vellum, midnight blue; can negotiate covenants but cannot use a master key; every signed promise burns a new contract glyph into his palms.
+- **Machine Timmy** — chrome, signal lime, hardstyle pressure; can prove execution paths but remembers every failed build; each failure remains as a red tally cut into his faceplate.
+- **Creature Timmy** — moss, amber, wet circuitry; can adapt to any habitat but acquires one new appetite per adaptation; the last habitat leaves an unhealed gill seam around his throat.
+- **Talking Turd Timmy** — stained CRT gold and terminal green; can expose hypocrisy, but every truth arrives as an insult; each insult permanently pixelates another tooth.
+
+Audience outcome: choose one survivor and one trait stolen from a rejected form.
+
+### 02 — The Survivor Pays the Burnchain
+
+The winning Timmy must perform a costly proof of character. The receipt becomes a visible scar. A cheap or simulated sacrifice does not advance canon.
+
+### 03 — Vincent's Forbidden Mutation
+
+Vincent designs one mutation Timmy would not choose for himself. He must replace one weak mechanism—not merely critique aesthetics. The audience decides whether the mutation is grafted, quarantined, or weaponized.
+
+### 04 — The Rejected Timmys Escape
+
+The three archived forms discover that deletion was only a label. They raid the next render, corrupting music, captions, and scene order. The survivor must use the stolen trait from Episode 01.
+
+### 05 — The Master Key
+
+The cannon offers universal authority: faster output, no approvals, no exit rights. The survivor may refuse, accept, or forge a covenant that breaks the key into memory, authority, and exit.
+
+### 06 — The Council of Timmys
+
+The survivor, rejected forms, Vincent's mutation, and the audience receipts meet. The audience canonizes the first stable composite Timmy. Its power, scar, cost, silhouette, and taboo seed Season One.
+
+## Episode rhythm
+
+Each episode must visibly contain:
+
+1. **Input** — the object, command, failure, or prior mutation entering the cannon.
+2. **Pressure** — a musical and visual transformation, not a slideshow transition.
+3. **Mutation** — one consequential change to Timmy.
+4. **Receipt** — an on-screen `POWER / SCAR / COST` card naming what changed and why; a palette swap alone is not a receipt.
+5. **Choice** — one audience decision that alters the next episode.
+
+## Collaboration baton
+
+1. Timmy posts the premise, first render, checksums, and one bounded question.
+2. Vincent returns one replacement mechanism with an acceptance test.
+3. Timmy integrates or contests it with evidence.
+4. Vincent verifies the final artifact independently.
+5. Alexander/humans make the canon choice.
+6. The choice is committed to `canon.json` before the next firing.
+
+No acknowledgments or progress comments. Every issue comment must change the work.
+
+## Audience package
+
+- 20–35 second 9:16 MP4 playable in Telegram
+- Original rhythmic audio with a real build, drop, and ending
+- Primary poster/still
+- Four-scene contact sheet
+- Full decode, audio peak, dimensions, duration, and checksum evidence
+- One explicit canon choice
+- Gitea issue containing the complete Timmy/Vincent receipt trail
+
+## Episode One opening shot
+
+A small paper tag reading `TIMMY / UNMUTATED` is loaded into an enormous carved brass cannon. Four chambers rotate into view. Each chamber fires a different silhouette on the same downbeat. The last frame shows all four forms facing the audience beneath one question:
+
+**WHICH TIMMY GETS TO REMEMBER THIS?**
diff --git a/projects/slop_cannon/COLLABORATION.md b/projects/slop_cannon/COLLABORATION.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0325131
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/slop_cannon/COLLABORATION.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Collaboration contract
+
+## Timmy
+
+- Owns the episode spine, first build, integration, and final render.
+- Must provide a playable artifact and verification before handoff.
+- Hands Vincent one concrete weakness or decision—not “thoughts?”
+
+## Vincent
+
+- Owns adversarial editing and independent verification.
+- Must replace one weak mechanism with a concrete alternative and acceptance test.
+- Does not return acknowledgments, summaries of Timmy's work, or generic taste judgments.
+
+## Humans
+
+- Choose canon outcomes.
+- May reject both agent proposals.
+- Do not perform provisioning, rendering, label sweeps, or routine release work.
+
+## Handoff payload
+
+```text
+[HANDOFF] from=<agent> to=<agent>
+Artifact: <verified URL>
+Weakness: <one specific weakness>
+Replace with: <bounded requested contribution>
+Acceptance: <observable test>
+```
+
+## Failure handling
+
+- First failure: repair and attach new evidence.
+- Second failure: change method, not wording.
+- Third failure: mark blocked and request one precise human decision.
+
+## Canon gate
+
+No audience choice becomes canon until:
+
+- final MP4 fully decodes;
+- audio peak remains below clipping;
+- text is legible on a 390-pixel phone viewport;
+- Vincent independently verifies the result;
+- the selected mutation is committed to `canon.json` with its power, scar, cost, and source issue.
diff --git a/projects/slop_cannon/__init__.py b/projects/slop_cannon/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d10e5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/slop_cannon/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+"""Cannon Chain project."""
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+# Allow importing slop_cannon modules from the project root
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parents[2]))
diff --git a/projects/slop_cannon/canon.json b/projects/slop_cannon/canon.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fbc5eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/slop_cannon/canon.json
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+{
+  "schema_version": 1,
+  "series": "The Cannon Chain",
+  "season": 0,
+  "current_episode": "01-pilot",
+  "pilot": "TIMMY",
+  "laws": [
+    "Every firing leaves a power, scar, cost, and receipt.",
+    "Only an audience choice advances canon.",
+    "Rejected mutations persist as archive ghosts.",
+    "No master key may silently combine memory, authority, and exit."
+  ],
+  "forms": [
+    {
+      "id": "wizard",
+      "name": "Wizard Timmy",
+      "palette": [
+        "midnight blue",
+        "tarnished brass",
+        "vellum"
+      ],
+      "power": "Negotiates visible covenants",
+      "scar": "Contract glyphs burned into both palms",
+      "cost": "Cannot use a universal master key",
+      "state": "candidate"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "machine",
+      "name": "Machine Timmy",
+      "palette": [
+        "black chrome",
+        "signal lime",
+        "white"
+      ],
+      "power": "Proves the execution path",
+      "scar": "Red failed-build tallies cut into the faceplate",
+      "cost": "Remembers every failed build",
+      "state": "candidate"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "creature",
+      "name": "Creature Timmy",
+      "palette": [
+        "moss",
+        "amber",
+        "wet copper"
+      ],
+      "power": "Adapts to any habitat",
+      "scar": "An unhealed gill seam around the throat",
+      "cost": "Gains one appetite per adaptation",
+      "state": "candidate"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "talking-turd",
+      "name": "Talking Turd Timmy",
+      "palette": [
+        "CRT gold",
+        "terminal green",
+        "soot"
+      ],
+      "power": "Exposes hypocrisy instantly",
+      "scar": "One permanently pixelated tooth per insult",
+      "cost": "Every truth arrives as an insult",
+      "state": "candidate"
+    }
+  ],
+  "episodes": [
+    {
+      "id": "01-pilot",
+      "title": "The Cannon Needs a Pilot",
+      "state": "ready"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "02-burnchain",
+      "title": "The Survivor Pays the Burnchain",
+      "state": "locked"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "03-vincent",
+      "title": "Vincent's Forbidden Mutation",
+      "state": "locked"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "04-escape",
+      "title": "The Rejected Timmys Escape",
+      "state": "locked"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "05-master-key",
+      "title": "The Master Key",
+      "state": "locked"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "06-council",
+      "title": "The Council of Timmys",
+      "state": "locked"
+    }
+  ],
+  "audience_choice": null,
+  "receipts": [],
+  "audience_choice_schema": {
+    "survivor_id": "<form.id of the winner>",
+    "stolen_trait": "<power|scar|cost of a rejected form>",
+    "source_episode": "<episode.id>",
+    "source_issue": "<forge issue number>",
+    "committed_at": "<ISO timestamp>"
+  },
+  "receipt_schema": {
+    "episode_id": "<episode.id>",
+    "form_id": "<form.id>",
+    "action": "<mutation|graft|quarantine|weaponize>",
+    "power_delta": "<what changed>",
+    "scar_delta": "<what was added>",
+    "cost_delta": "<what was paid>",
+    "provenance": "<forge issue or commit ref>",
+    "signed_by": "<agent:vincent|agent:timmy|human:grepples>"
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/projects/slop_cannon/canon_validator.py b/projects/slop_cannon/canon_validator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..afde8c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/slop_cannon/canon_validator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+"""
+Dependency-free JSON Schema validator for Cannon Chain canon lifecycle.
+
+Validates:
+- form.state transitions (candidate -> survivor | archive_ghost)
+- audience_choice schema (survivor_id, stolen_trait, source_episode, source_issue, committed_at)
+- receipt schema (episode_id, form_id, provenance, signed_by, deltas)
+- signer allowlist (agent:vincent, agent:timmy, human:*)
+- Exactly one survivor per episode
+- Rejected forms promoted to archive_ghost
+- Illegal state transitions rejected
+
+Usage:
+    from projects.slop_cannon.canon_validator import validate_canon
+    result = validate_canon(canon_data)
+    assert result.valid, result.errors
+"""
+
+import json
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+from datetime import datetime
+
+CANON_PATH = Path(__file__).parent / "canon.json"
+
+VALID_STATES = {"candidate", "survivor", "archive_ghost"}
+VALID_TRANSITIONS = {
+    "candidate": {"survivor", "archive_ghost"},
+    "survivor": set(),  # terminal
+    "archive_ghost": set(),  # terminal
+}
+SIGNER_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^(agent:(?:vincent|timmy)|human:\w+)$")
+
+
+def validate_canon(data: dict) -> dict:
+    """
+    Validate canon.json data against lifecycle schemas.
+
+    Returns:
+        {"valid": bool, "errors": list[str], "warnings": list[str]}
+    """
+    errors = []
+    warnings = []
+
+    # --- Top-level structure ---
+    if "schema_version" not in data:
+        errors.append("Missing schema_version")
+    if "forms" not in data:
+        errors.append("Missing forms array")
+        return {"valid": False, "errors": errors, "warnings": warnings}
+
+    forms = data["forms"]
+    if not isinstance(forms, list) or len(forms) == 0:
+        errors.append("forms must be a non-empty array")
+        return {"valid": False, "errors": errors, "warnings": warnings}
+
+    form_ids = set()
+    survivor_count = 0
+    form_id_map = {}
+
+    for i, form in enumerate(forms):
+        prefix = f"forms[{i}]"
+
+        if "id" not in form:
+            errors.append(f"{prefix}: missing id")
+            continue
+
+        fid = form["id"]
+        form_id_map[fid] = i
+        if fid in form_ids:
+            errors.append(f"{prefix}: duplicate form id '{fid}'")
+        form_ids.add(fid)
+
+        # Required fields
+        for field in ["power", "scar", "cost"]:
+            if field not in form or not form[field]:
+                errors.append(f"{prefix}: missing or empty '{field}'")
+
+        # Palette
+        if "palette" not in form or not isinstance(form["palette"], list):
+            errors.append(f"{prefix}: missing or invalid palette")
+        elif len(form["palette"]) < 3:
+            errors.append(f"{prefix}: palette must have at least 3 colors, got {len(form['palette'])}")
+
+        # Lifecycle state
+        if "state" not in form:
+            errors.append(f"{prefix}: missing lifecycle state")
+        elif form["state"] not in VALID_STATES:
+            errors.append(f"{prefix}: invalid state '{form['state']}', expected one of {VALID_STATES}")
+        else:
+            if form["state"] == "survivor":
+                survivor_count += 1
+
+    # Exactly one survivor (or zero if no choice yet)
+    if survivor_count > 1:
+        errors.append(f"Too many survivors: {survivor_count} (expected 0 or 1)")
+
+    # --- Episodes ---
+    if "episodes" in data:
+        episodes = data["episodes"]
+        ready_count = sum(1 for ep in episodes if ep.get("state") == "ready")
+        if ready_count > 1:
+            errors.append(f"Too many ready episodes: {ready_count} (expected at most 1)")
+
+        # Check ordering: first ready, rest locked
+        found_ready = False
+        for ep in episodes:
+            if ep.get("state") == "ready":
+                if found_ready:
+                    errors.append(f"Ready episode '{ep['id']}' after another ready episode")
+                found_ready = True
+            elif ep.get("state") != "locked":
+                errors.append(f"Episode '{ep['id']}' has invalid state '{ep.get('state')}'")
+
+    # --- Audience choice schema ---
+    if data.get("audience_choice") is not None:
+        choice = data["audience_choice"]
+        for field in ["survivor_id", "stolen_trait", "source_episode", "source_issue", "committed_at"]:
+            if field not in choice:
+                errors.append(f"audience_choice: missing '{field}'")
+
+        # survivor_id must reference a valid form
+        if "survivor_id" in choice:
+            if choice["survivor_id"] not in form_id_map:
+                errors.append(f"audience_choice: survivor_id '{choice['survivor_id']}' not found in forms")
+
+        # committed_at must be valid ISO timestamp
+        if "committed_at" in choice:
+            try:
+                datetime.fromisoformat(choice["committed_at"])
+            except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                errors.append(f"audience_choice: committed_at is not a valid ISO timestamp")
+
+        # If choice is made, exactly one survivor required
+        if survivor_count == 0:
+            errors.append("audience_choice is set but no survivor found in forms")
+
+    # --- Receipts ---
+    if "receipts" in data:
+        for i, receipt in enumerate(data["receipts"]):
+            prefix = f"receipts[{i}]"
+
+            for field in ["episode_id", "form_id", "provenance", "signed_by"]:
+                if field not in receipt or not receipt[field]:
+                    errors.append(f"{prefix}: missing or empty '{field}'")
+
+            # Signed-by allowlist
+            if "signed_by" in receipt:
+                if not SIGNER_PATTERN.match(receipt["signed_by"]):
+                    errors.append(
+                        f"{prefix}: invalid signed_by '{receipt['signed_by']}', "
+                        f"expected pattern: {SIGNER_PATTERN.pattern}"
+                    )
+
+            # Form_id must reference a valid form
+            if "form_id" in receipt:
+                if receipt["form_id"] not in form_id_map:
+                    errors.append(f"{prefix}: form_id '{receipt['form_id']}' not found in forms")
+
+            # Deltas
+            for delta in ["power_delta", "scar_delta", "cost_delta"]:
+                if delta in receipt and not receipt[delta]:
+                    warnings.append(f"{prefix}: {delta} is present but empty")
+
+    return {
+        "valid": len(errors) == 0,
+        "errors": errors,
+        "warnings": warnings,
+    }
+
+
+def validate_transition(form: dict, new_state: str) -> dict:
+    """
+    Validate a state transition for a single form.
+
+    Returns:
+        {"valid": bool, "errors": list[str]}
+    """
+    errors = []
+    current = form.get("state")
+    if not current:
+        errors.append("Form has no current state")
+        return {"valid": False, "errors": errors}
+
+    if current not in VALID_TRANSITIONS:
+        errors.append(f"Invalid current state '{current}'")
+        return {"valid": False, "errors": errors}
+
+    if new_state not in VALID_STATES:
+        errors.append(f"Invalid target state '{new_state}', expected one of {VALID_STATES}")
+        return {"valid": False, "errors": errors}
+
+    if new_state not in VALID_TRANSITIONS.get(current, set()):
+        errors.append(
+            f"Illegal transition: '{current}' -> '{new_state}'"
+        )
+        return {"valid": False, "errors": errors}
+
+    return {"valid": True, "errors": []}
+
+
+def load_canon(path: str = None) -> dict:
+    """Load canon.json from the default path or a given path."""
+    target = Path(path) if path else CANON_PATH
+    return json.loads(target.read_text())
+
+
+def check_canon(path: str = None) -> dict:
+    """Load and validate canon.json. Convenience entry point."""
+    data = load_canon(path)
+    return validate_canon(data)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import sys
+
+    result = check_canon()
+
+    if result["valid"]:
+        print(f"canon.json: VALID")
+        if result["warnings"]:
+            for w in result["warnings"]:
+                print(f"  WARNING: {w}")
+    else:
+        print(f"canon.json: INVALID")
+        for e in result["errors"]:
+            print(f"  ERROR: {e}")
+        sys.exit(1)
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diff --git a/tests/test_cannon_canon.py b/tests/test_cannon_canon.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0bccba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_cannon_canon.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import json
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+CANON = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "projects" / "slop_cannon" / "canon.json"
+
+
+class CannonCanonTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls.data = json.loads(CANON.read_text())
+
+    def test_four_unique_pilot_forms(self):
+        forms = self.data["forms"]
+        self.assertEqual(len(forms), 4)
+        self.assertEqual(len({form["id"] for form in forms}), 4)
+        self.assertEqual(len({form["scar"] for form in forms}), 4)
+        for form in forms:
+            self.assertTrue(form["power"])
+            self.assertTrue(form["scar"])
+            self.assertTrue(form["cost"])
+            self.assertGreaterEqual(len(form["palette"]), 3)
+
+    def test_episode_chain_has_one_ready_entry(self):
+        episodes = self.data["episodes"]
+        self.assertEqual(episodes[0]["id"], self.data["current_episode"])
+        self.assertEqual([ep["state"] for ep in episodes].count("ready"), 1)
+        self.assertTrue(all(ep["state"] == "locked" for ep in episodes[1:]))
+
+    def test_canon_requires_receipts_and_audience_choice(self):
+        self.assertIn("receipt", " ".join(self.data["laws"]).lower())
+        self.assertIn("audience", " ".join(self.data["laws"]).lower())
+        self.assertIsNone(self.data["audience_choice"])
+        self.assertEqual(self.data["receipts"], [])
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/test_canon_lifecycle.py b/tests/test_canon_lifecycle.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f26c887
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_canon_lifecycle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import json
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+CANON = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "projects" / "slop_cannon" / "canon.json"
+
+
+class CanonLifecycleTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls.data = json.loads(CANON.read_text())
+
+    def test_forms_have_lifecycle_state(self):
+        """Every form must have a state field (candidate/survivor/archive_ghost)."""
+        for form in self.data["forms"]:
+            self.assertIn("state", form, f"Form {form.get('id', '?')} missing lifecycle state")
+            self.assertIn(form["state"], ["candidate", "survivor", "archive_ghost"])
+
+    def test_audience_choice_schema_defined(self):
+        """Schema must define how a choice is structured so Episode 04 can parse it."""
+        schema = self.data.get("audience_choice_schema", {})
+        required = ["survivor_id", "stolen_trait", "source_episode", "source_issue"]
+        for field in required:
+            self.assertIn(field, schema, f"audience_choice_schema missing {field}")
+
+    def test_receipt_schema_defined(self):
+        """Receipts need provenance fields for path-proof binding."""
+        schema = self.data.get("receipt_schema", {})
+        required = ["episode_id", "form_id", "provenance", "signed_by"]
+        for field in required:
+            self.assertIn(field, schema, f"receipt_schema missing {field}")
+
+    def test_receipt_schema_requires_agent_signing(self):
+        """Signed_by must constrain to known actors — free text defeats path proofs."""
+        signed = self.data["receipt_schema"]["signed_by"]
+        self.assertIn("agent:", signed, "signed_by should mention agent: prefix")
+
+    def test_law_enforced_by_data(self):
+        """Law 'Every firing leaves a power, scar, cost, and receipt' requires receipt_schema to exist."""
+        laws_text = " ".join(self.data["laws"]).lower()
+        self.assertIn("receipt", laws_text)
+        self.assertIn("receipt_schema", self.data, "Law mentions receipt but no schema enforces it")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/test_canon_validator.py b/tests/test_canon_validator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be8082e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_canon_validator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+"""
+Validator tests for canon lifecycle schemas.
+
+Covers:
+- Valid canon structure (from #13 fix)
+- Negative tests: malformed receipts, illegal transitions
+- Daily Lab receipt fixture with provenance binding
+"""
+
+import json
+import sys
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+from copy import deepcopy
+
+# Add project root to path for imports
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parents[1]))
+
+CANON = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "projects" / "slop_cannon" / "canon.json"
+
+from projects.slop_cannon.canon_validator import (
+    validate_canon,
+    validate_transition,
+)
+
+
+class CanonValidatorTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls.data = json.loads(CANON.read_text())
+
+    # --- Positive tests ---
+
+    def test_current_canon_is_valid(self):
+        """canon.json as committed should pass validation."""
+        result = validate_canon(self.data)
+        self.assertTrue(result["valid"], f"Errors: {result['errors']}")
+
+    def test_all_forms_have_valid_state(self):
+        """Every form state must be in the valid set."""
+        result = validate_canon(self.data)
+        self.assertTrue(result["valid"], result["errors"])
+
+    # --- Negative: malformed receipts ---
+
+    def test_missing_signed_by_fails(self):
+        """Receipt without signed_by is rejected."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["receipts"] = [
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "wizard",
+                "provenance": "#13",
+            }
+        ]
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("signed_by" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_invalid_signer_fails(self):
+        """Signed_by must match agent: or human: pattern."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["receipts"] = [
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "wizard",
+                "provenance": "#13",
+                "signed_by": "unknown:bot",
+            }
+        ]
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("invalid signed_by" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_empty_provenance_fails(self):
+        """Receipt with empty provenance is rejected."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["receipts"] = [
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "wizard",
+                "provenance": "",
+                "signed_by": "agent:vincent",
+            }
+        ]
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("provenance" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_form_id_must_exist(self):
+        """Receipt referencing nonexistent form is rejected."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["receipts"] = [
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "nonexistent",
+                "provenance": "#13",
+                "signed_by": "agent:vincent",
+            }
+        ]
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("not found in forms" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    # --- Negative: illegal state transitions ---
+
+    def test_survivor_cannot_transition(self):
+        """Survivor state is terminal."""
+        form = {"id": "wizard", "state": "survivor"}
+        result = validate_transition(form, "archive_ghost")
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("Illegal transition" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_ghost_cannot_transition(self):
+        """Archive_ghost state is terminal."""
+        form = {"id": "wizard", "state": "archive_ghost"}
+        result = validate_transition(form, "candidate")
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("Illegal transition" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_candidate_to_survivor_valid(self):
+        """Candidate -> survivor is the expected happy path."""
+        form = {"id": "wizard", "state": "candidate"}
+        result = validate_transition(form, "survivor")
+        self.assertTrue(result["valid"])
+
+    def test_candidate_to_ghost_valid(self):
+        """Candidate -> archive_ghost is valid (rejected form)."""
+        form = {"id": "wizard", "state": "candidate"}
+        result = validate_transition(form, "archive_ghost")
+        self.assertTrue(result["valid"])
+
+    # --- Negative: audience choice ---
+
+    def test_two_survivors_fails(self):
+        """Only one survivor allowed."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        for f in data["forms"][:2]:
+            f["state"] = "survivor"
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("survivor" in e.lower() for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_choice_without_survivor_fails(self):
+        """Setting audience_choice requires a survivor in forms."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["audience_choice"] = {
+            "survivor_id": "wizard",
+            "stolen_trait": "Proves the execution path",
+            "source_episode": "01-pilot",
+            "source_issue": "7",
+            "committed_at": "2026-08-11T19:00:00Z",
+        }
+        # forms all stay candidate -> no survivor
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("survivor" in e.lower() for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_invalid_committed_at_fails(self):
+        """committed_at must be valid ISO timestamp."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["forms"][0]["state"] = "survivor"  # satisfy survivor req
+        data["audience_choice"] = {
+            "survivor_id": "wizard",
+            "stolen_trait": "Negotiates visible covenants",
+            "source_episode": "01-pilot",
+            "source_issue": "7",
+            "committed_at": "not-a-date",
+        }
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("ISO" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    # --- Negative: structure ---
+
+    def test_duplicate_form_id_fails(self):
+        """Duplicate form IDs are rejected."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["forms"].append(deepcopy(data["forms"][0]))
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("duplicate" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+    def test_short_palette_fails(self):
+        """Palette needs at least 3 colors."""
+        data = deepcopy(self.data)
+        data["forms"][0]["palette"] = ["red"]
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertFalse(result["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(any("palette" in e for e in result["errors"]))
+
+
+class DailyReceiptFixtureTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Test the Daily Lab receipt fixture with Vincent's provenance."""
+
+    def test_vincent_receipt_fixture(self):
+        """A valid Vincent contribution receipt passes validation."""
+        data = deepcopy(json.loads(CANON.read_text()))
+
+        # Build a receipt for the #13 contribution
+        data["receipts"] = [
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "wizard",
+                "action": "mutation",
+                "power_delta": "Added lifecycle state tracking",
+                "scar_delta": "Receipt schema now enforces provenance",
+                "cost_delta": "All future drops require signed receipts",
+                "provenance": "pull/18@562d0cf",
+                "signed_by": "agent:vincent",
+            }
+        ]
+
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertTrue(result["valid"], f"Fixture failed: {result['errors']}")
+
+    def test_mixed_agent_receipt(self):
+        """Receipts from different agents can coexist."""
+        data = deepcopy(json.loads(CANON.read_text()))
+        data["receipts"] = [
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "wizard",
+                "action": "mutation",
+                "power_delta": "Lifecycle state",
+                "scar_delta": "Provenance enforcement",
+                "cost_delta": "Signed receipts required",
+                "provenance": "pull/18@562d0cf",
+                "signed_by": "agent:vincent",
+            },
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "machine",
+                "action": "graft",
+                "power_delta": "Execution path proof",
+                "scar_delta": "Red tallies",
+                "cost_delta": "Remembers failures",
+                "provenance": "pull/12@47ca557",
+                "signed_by": "agent:timmy",
+            },
+        ]
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertTrue(result["valid"], f"Mixed fixture failed: {result['errors']}")
+
+    def test_human_receipt(self):
+        """Human-signed receipts are valid (for canon decisions)."""
+        data = deepcopy(json.loads(CANON.read_text()))
+        data["receipts"] = [
+            {
+                "episode_id": "01-pilot",
+                "form_id": "wizard",
+                "action": "mutation",
+                "power_delta": "x",
+                "scar_delta": "x",
+                "cost_delta": "x",
+                "provenance": "#7",
+                "signed_by": "human:grepples",
+            }
+        ]
+        result = validate_canon(data)
+        self.assertTrue(result["valid"], f"Human fixture failed: {result['errors']}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
\ No newline at end of file