Add incomplete Minecraft 26.3 port prototype

docs/MINECRAFT_26_3_PORT.md

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+# Minecraft 26.3 port status (issue #96)
+
+Checked 2026-10-26. Minecraft Java 26.3 is the newest stable Java release with
+NeoForge support. This is an engineering audit and the start of the port, **not
+a claim that a 26.3 Rivencraft JAR is ready**. The 1.21.1 build remains the
+release target until a separate 26.3 client and dedicated-server build passes.
+The user wants both Minecraft lines maintained after the port, not a one-time
+26.3 release. Gitea milestone "Dual-version support: 1.21.1 and 26.3"
+tracks issues #97–#103 under parent #96.
+
+## Version boundary
+
+Minecraft 26.3/NeoForge uses Java 25, while Rivencraft 1.21.1 uses Java 21.
+Build and publish separate artifacts; do not widen the Minecraft dependency
+range of the 1.21.1 JAR. The official [26.3 release notes](https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-java-edition-26-3),
+[NeoForge 26.3 Maven metadata](https://maven.neoforged.net/releases/net/neoforged/neoforge/maven-metadata.xml),
+[NeoForge Java 25 setting](https://github.com/neoforged/NeoForge/blob/26.3.x/gradle.properties),
+and [NeoForge migration primers](https://docs.neoforged.net/primer/docs/)
+are the version sources. NeoForge 26.3.0.99 is the newest listed stable build
+at the time of this check.
+
+## Dependency availability
+
+The entries below mean that a NeoForge 26.3 version is advertised by the
+project, not that its API or runtime behavior has been validated with
+Rivencraft. Recheck immediately before choosing versions for a port build.
+
+| Integration | Role in 1.21.1 | 26.3 availability | Port decision |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| [Dynamic Dimensions AR Edition](https://modrinth.com/mod/dynamic-dimensions-ar-edition) | Required runtime Age loading | No; 1.21.1 only | Keep it for 1.21.1. Use a Rivencraft-owned runtime-dimension backend for 26.3. |
+| [bad packets](https://modrinth.com/mod/badpackets) | Declared runtime dependency; no direct Java imports in Rivencraft | No advertised 26.3 version | Determine whether the new dimension backend needs it; otherwise remove it from the 26.3 artifact. Use NeoForge's own networking for Rivencraft packets. |
+| [JEI](https://modrinth.com/mod/jei) | Optional recipe/page guides | Yes | Port and test its plugin against the 26.3 API. |
+| [TerraBlender](https://modrinth.com/mod/terrablender) | Optional modded biome support | Yes | Port and verify biome discovery and Age generation. |
+| [Serene Seasons](https://modrinth.com/mod/serene-seasons) and [GlitchCore](https://modrinth.com/mod/glitchcore) | Optional seasons | Yes | Port and repeat the per-Age seasonal matrix. |
+| [Biomes O' Plenty](https://modrinth.com/mod/biomes-o-plenty) | Optional TerraBlender test addon | Yes | Test modded biome registration and decoration. |
+| [Ruins (Structure Spawning System)](https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/ruins-structure-spawning-system) | Optional authored ruins integration | Yes | Port and verify its generation hooks. |
+| [Create](https://modrinth.com/mod/create) / bundled Ponder | Optional scene renderer | No advertised 26.3 version | Use Rivencraft's existing legacy-animation preview fallback for this target until a compatible release exists. |
+| [Immersive Portals for (Neo)Forge](https://modrinth.com/mod/immersive-portals-neoforge) | Optional live views and portal teleport integration | No advertised 26.3 version | Use the fallback portal surface and normal Rivencraft linking. Do not claim live destination views on 26.3. |
+
+Ecliptic Seasons publishes 26.3, but Rivencraft's Ecliptic integration was
+deferred and is not a replacement for the current Serene integration.
+
+The alternatives checked for runtime Age loading do not meet the 26.3
+NeoForge requirement: [upstream Dynamic Dimensions](https://github.com/TeamGalacticraft/DynamicDimensions)
+and its [AR fork](https://github.com/dercodeKoenig/DynamicDimensions)
+have no published 26.3 branch or artifact;
+[DimLib](https://modrinth.com/mod/dimlib) is Fabric-only and stops at 1.21.1;
+and [DimensionsCore](https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/dimensionscore-dynamic-dimension-world-management)
+currently publishes only a Forge 1.20.1 file. Mods that add fixed dimensions
+or portals do not supply the arbitrary per-book runtime worlds Rivencraft
+needs. This is a search result, not proof that no other project exists.
+
+## 26.3 backend design
+
+The 26.3 port is a **fresh-save target**. It does not need to import 1.21.1
+Age worlds or migrate Dynamic Dimensions' saved registry data. The 1.21.1
+artifact will continue using that library. Within 26.3, however, a created
+Age must retain its identity, seed, chunks and access across save/restart.
+
+1. Keep the existing `AgeDimensionService`/`AgeDimensionBackend` boundary.
+   Implement a target-specific 26.3 backend without importing Dynamic
+   Dimensions or its seed mixin. The backend contract needs registration at
+   server start, create/load, unload and delete. Return a failure without
+   publishing a half-created Age if any step fails.
+2. At server startup, reconstruct all non-retired Ages from Rivencraft's
+   `AgeRegistrySavedData` **before** players can join. For a newly bound book,
+   register its unique `rivencraft:age/...` dimension and construct a
+   `ServerLevel` from its authored chunk generator, dimension type and saved
+   Age seed. The seed must feed chunk random state, not only `getSeed()`.
+3. Register the level with the server's level map and the appropriate
+   dimension registries, then synchronize the new dimension definition to
+   already-connected clients before sending a travel packet. Handle a
+   connecting client receiving every existing Age. Determine the minimal
+   26.3 registry and network hooks from the current NeoForge source; do not
+   assume `/reload` creates new running levels.
+4. Initialize world border, view/simulation distance, forced chunks, spawn
+   settings, per-Age data storage and tick/save lifecycle as a normal level.
+   On unload or retirement, refuse while players occupy the Age, move any
+   remaining entities safely, flush pending chunk writes, detach the level,
+   and synchronize removal. Retirement must not delete another Age's data.
+5. Review the MIT-licensed Dynamic Dimensions code as an implementation
+   reference. If any code is adapted, retain its copyright/license notice and
+   identify the derived files. Prefer the smallest backend Rivencraft needs
+   over a general-purpose library fork.
+
+The release gate is a 26.3 integrated-client **and** dedicated-server matrix:
+create two Ages with distinct seeds, explore chunks, travel while another
+client remains online, reconnect, restart, revisit saved chunks, reseed for
+future chunks, unload/reload, retire one Age without harming the other, and
+verify normal travel without optional mods. Then repeat relevant paths with
+available integrations. A failed synchronization must be reported and leave
+the player in their current level, not crash or strand them.
+
+## Implementation order
+
+1. Keep `AgeDimensionService` independent of a concrete runtime-dimension
+   implementation. The 1.21.1 Dynamic Dimensions calls now live in
+   `AgeDimensionBackend`; the `AgeDimensionSeedMixin` is 1.21.1-only.
+2. Create a separate 26.3/Java 25 build target. Replace the dimension backend,
+   then migrate the main sources through the official NeoForge primers. Do not
+   publish a partial JAR with missing Age generation.
+3. Port optional integration classes one at a time. Keep unavailable mods
+   optional and preserve their existing fallbacks. Upgrade JEI, TerraBlender,
+   Serene Seasons/GlitchCore, Biomes O' Plenty, and Ruins only in the 26.3
+   target; do not change the validated 1.21.1 dependency set.
+4. Run compile, data/resource validation, new-world Age generation, Age
+   save/restart/reload, direct and portal/book travel, client rendering, and
+   dedicated-server tests on both targets. Test without optional mods, then
+   with each available integration. Require an in-game check before release.
+
+The core blocker is **not** a version number change: 26.3 makes a major API
+jump and the required 1.21.1 runtime-dimension library has no 26.3 build.
+
+## Build isolation started in #97
+
+The repository root remains the playable 1.21.1/Java 21 build. A separate
+`ports/mc263` Gradle build now resolves NeoForge 26.3.0.99 and compiles with
+Java 25. The build workflow has separate Java 21 and Java 25 jobs. Its JAR
+task remains disabled; this does not satisfy #97's final artifact criteria.
+
+## First core slice in #98
+
+The 26.3 target now has real Rivencraft metadata and an entrypoint. It
+registers the Crystal Shard and Crystal Block with their reused 1.21.1
+textures/models plus the 26.3 item-model definitions. `build` passed, and a
+dedicated development server loaded the mod and reached `Done` with a new
+world and no optional mods. The server was then stopped. This validates only
+the entrypoint/registry/resource foundation. A development client also loaded
+Rivencraft and reloaded its resources without reported missing models or
+textures. The client logged the host's missing `libflite.so` narrator library;
+this is unrelated to Rivencraft. Both test processes were stopped after
+startup. This does **not** validate in-world client rendering or Age
+functionality. Age generators, data, networking, and client code still
+need migration; #98 remains open.
+
+## Runtime-level prototype in #99
+
+The 26.3 target has a first-party server-side runtime-level loader and a
+SavedData seed index. It constructs each level with a `LevelStem` seed override,
+publishes the level only after construction, and restores indexed Ages when
+the Overworld loads. A dedicated-server probe created two separate Ages with
+seeds `123456789` and `987654321`; after generating chunks, their terrain
+fingerprints differed (`2865094` and `3227421`). Both levels, their region
+files, seeds, and fingerprints survived a server restart, and the startup log
+shows restoration before `Done`. The temporary operator-only
+`rivencraft_port age` command exists solely to test this non-distributable
+port workspace.
+
+This is **not** issue #99 completion. The loader currently reuses the vanilla
+Overworld generator because issue #98 has not ported authored generators or
+Age definitions. The synchronized operator travel probe below does not port
+normal book travel. The 26.3 JAR task remains disabled.
+
+## Runtime client-catalog prototype in #100
+
+The 26.3 target now sends the current dimension-key catalog to each joining
+client and broadcasts a new catalog when a prototype Age is created or
+retired. Clients update their known-level set and acknowledge a version; the
+server's `rivencraft_port age enter <name>` probe refuses travel until that
+acknowledgement arrives and the target is still loaded. A stale acknowledgement
+does not satisfy the gate. This follows NeoForge's play-payload registration
+and client-handler separation. It is not a general dynamic-registry sync for
+authored dimension types, which have not been ported.
+
+The dedicated-server probe used two simultaneous 26.3 clients. Both
+acknowledged a newly created Age without reconnecting; a second client entered
+an existing runtime Age; a player saved inside an Age reconnected after server
+restart and remained there. The operator travel probe searches near origin for
+safe footing and creates a small Crystal Block platform if none is found.
+This probe is not the final book landing implementation.
+
+`rivencraft_port age retire <name>` refuses to retire an Age containing a
+player, then saves and closes it, removes it from the active index, and
+broadcasts the reduced catalog. On the dedicated test server, the client
+acknowledged creation and retirement even when they happened back-to-back; a
+late acknowledgement for the intermediate catalog was ignored. Travel to the
+retired Age was refused without moving the player, and retiring an occupied
+Age was refused. The #101 lifecycle slice below now archives exact Age data.
+
+This remains a **prototype**, not completion of #100: normal Linking and
+Descriptive Book travel, authored dimension-type/generator registration, full
+client registry synchronization, and an integrated-client regression pass
+must follow the core port. The 26.3 JAR remains disabled. The local test
+server was stopped after verification.
+
+## Runtime lifecycle prototype in #101
+
+The operator-only backend probe now supports `age unload`, `reload`, `reseed`,
+and `retire` in addition to `create`, `list`, `sample`, and `enter`. Unload and
+retirement refuse a level containing players. A full chunk/entity save and
+close handles other entities; Minecraft's shutdown-style ticket deactivation
+and startup-style activation preserve forced chunks across runtime reloads.
+The loaded-dimension catalog is rebroadcast after unload/reload/reseed and
+retirement, with stale acknowledgements ignored.
+
+On the dedicated server, a generated Age unloaded and reloaded with the same
+terrain fingerprint. Reseeding `lifetest` from `24680` to `13579` kept the
+previously generated origin fingerprint `2898472`; previously ungenerated
+chunks at offset 100 produced fingerprint `2897795`, identical to a fresh
+`13579` control Age and different from a fresh `24680` control (`2863099`).
+After restart, `lifetest` still reported seed `13579` and its original origin
+fingerprint. Three consecutive unload/reload cycles with a connected client
+completed; that client acknowledged the final catalog and intermediate stale
+acknowledgements were ignored. Unloading the player's current Age was refused.
+
+A force-loaded chunk and a summoned armor stand with UUID
+`[I; -872307724, 883641011, -1239011659, 796091120]` survived repeated
+runtime unload/reload and server restart. The entity could be queried again
+after its chunk finished loading. The probe retired a different Age,
+`seedcontrol`: only its directory moved to the sibling `world-retired-ages`
+archive, other Age directories stayed in place, and reloading/recreating the
+retired ID was refused after restart. A second archival probe exercised the
+tombstone-before-move sequence and again moved only its own directory. The
+tombstone is persisted before the archive move so an interrupted archival
+cannot silently revive an old Age; an ordinary move failure attempts to
+restore the index and level. Ten more consecutive unload/reload cycles
+completed on the dedicated server, with its open file-descriptor count steady
+at 218 before and after. That is a narrow smoke check, not proof of no leak.
+
+This still does **not** close #101. The prototype has not been integrated with
+normal books or the full 26.3 Age definition, nor has a long-running resource
+leak test or interrupted-archive recovery drill been completed. Its dev world
+and archive are under ignored `ports/mc263/build`, not a release save.
+
+## Optional-integration probe in #102
+
+On 2026-10-27, the published NeoForge 26.3 versions checked were JEI
+31.17.0.95, TerraBlender 26.3.0.0.9, Biomes O' Plenty 26.3.0.0.15,
+GlitchCore 26.3.0.0.5, and Serene Seasons 26.1.2.0.7 (its file is labelled
+for Minecraft 26.3). Ruins advertises 26.3.1NF. Create/Ponder and
+Immersive Portals still had no advertised compatible version. These are
+availability checks, not API-compatibility claims.
+
+The 26.3 development target now has the operator-only
+`/rivencraft_port compat` command. It reports loaded optional mod IDs and
+the count of registered biome keys by namespace, so integration smoke tests
+can distinguish a missing addon from a missing biome registration. It does
+not change Age generation. A clean dedicated server loaded with no optional
+mods and reported 67 vanilla biomes. A separate dedicated-server launch with
+TerraBlender, Biomes O' Plenty, GlitchCore, and Serene Seasons loaded all four;
+the probe reported 68 `biomesoplenty` biome keys, and TerraBlender logged its
+Overworld and Nether regions. Both launches stopped cleanly.
+
+Issue #102 remains open. The 26.3 target still lacks authored Ages, JEI
+guides, per-Age season policy, Ruins hooks, book previews and crystal portals,
+so the relevant integration and fallback acceptance tests cannot yet pass.
+The probe must not be mistaken for feature support. The existing 1.21.1
+integration code and dependencies remain unchanged.
+
+## First player-facing bridge in #104
+
+The 26.3 port now registers a Descriptive Book with the Legacy item texture
+and a persistent, network-synchronized Age-ID data component. The operator-only
+`/rivencraft_port age book <name>` probe grants a book for an already indexed
+Age; an unbound book does not create a world. Using the bound book calls the
+same server-authoritative, catalog-acknowledged landing path as the existing
+`age enter` probe. A missing or unloaded Age refuses travel. This avoids
+trusting a book-supplied seed or creating a new Age from a forged item.
+
+The dedicated-server smoke test still passed after this bridge, and a 26.3
+development client loaded the new item model and texture without a missing
+resource warning. The host still reports a missing Linux `libflite.so`
+narrator library; this is not a Rivencraft item error. The client was stopped.
+The player confirmed right-click travel in game. Book component persistence
+across restart still needs a player test; the headless smoke test cannot
+exercise it. To test the
+bridge in a disposable 26.3 world as an operator:
+
+1. `/rivencraft_port age create booktest 123456789`
+2. Wait for the Age catalog acknowledgement, then
+   `/rivencraft_port age book booktest`.
+3. Right-click the granted book and verify arrival in
+   `rivencraft:age/booktest`. Restart client and server, then use the same
+   book again and verify it targets the same saved Age.
+
+This is deliberately a **port probe**, not the final book workflow: the Book
+Binder, naming UI, GUI preview, automatic return link, dropped-book entity, authored Age
+plan, and Legacy landing rules are not yet connected. The bound book currently
+remains in hand after travel. Do not distribute this target or mark #104 done.
+For a local player test only, the normally disabled port JAR can be built with
+`./gradlew -p ports/mc263 build -PallowIncompletePortJar=true`; its filename
+retains `26.3-INCOMPLETE` and a `port-dev` version marker. This does not enable the normal
+release artifact or imply that the full mod has been ported.
+
+The first Prism test exposed a production-only catalog bug: Minecraft 26.3's
+`ClientPacketListener.levels()` returned an immutable set, and the client
+handler attempted to clear it. That threw `UnsupportedOperationException`
+before the client could acknowledge the Age, so book travel was refused. The
+handler now replaces the entire level set through a narrow access transformer
+and acknowledges only after replacement. The corrected local test JAR is
+`rivencraft-26.3-INCOMPLETE-0.0.0.1-port-dev.jar`. It built successfully;
+the player used that JAR to verify actual travel in game on 2026-10-27.
+
+### Linking Book return-path slice
+
+The separate 26.3 target now registers a Linking Book using the Legacy bound
+book sprite. `/rivencraft_port link book` grants an operator-only probe book
+bound to the player's exact current dimension, coordinates, and facing. Its
+destination is a persistent data component resolved by the server on use. A
+missing dimension, unacknowledged catalog, same-dimension target without
+Intra-Linking, out-of-bounds target, or obstructed arrival is rejected without
+moving the player. This path does **not** generate a landing platform.
+
+For a test, stand at an unobstructed spot in the Overworld and run
+`/rivencraft_port link book`. Create and bind an Age Descriptive Book using the
+steps above, travel into that Age, then right-click the Linking Book. It
+should return to the exact bound spot and facing. Same-dimension use should
+refuse. Repeat after a server restart to check component persistence. This
+slice is `0.0.0.2-port-dev` and remains explicitly incomplete: normal
+crafting/binding, modifiers, book GUI, origin-drop entity, and safe fallback
+are still unported. The probe book remains in inventory after travel.
+
+### Age-index durability after the first in-game return-link check
+
+The first return-link test exposed a recoverable prototype failure: Seamless
+Portals rejected a newly added runtime Age, the integrated server exited
+abnormally, and a second Age created just before the exit was not present in
+Rivencraft's saved index on restart. Its directory contained no saved chunks.
+The `0.0.0.3-port-dev` slice flushes the index synchronously before announcing
+newly created Ages to clients. It also flushes reseed changes. The dedicated
+server smoke test now checks that both new Age IDs are already in the on-disk
+index **before** it issues `stop`, then verifies both seeds/terrain after a
+restart. This closes the ordinary interrupted-shutdown gap but is not a
+substitute for a power-loss durability test or integration with other mods'
+dynamic-dimension catalogs.
+
+### Handheld Linking Book binding slice
+
+The `0.0.0.4-port-dev` target adds a client-only book screen using the Legacy
+book artwork. An unbound Linking Book accepts a player-chosen title; a
+serverbound packet binds the held book to the player's *current* dimension,
+coordinates and facing only after checking the book, title length and empty
+target. A bound book opens the same screen and uses a server-validated
+destination-panel click for travel. This replaces the earlier direct item-use
+probe. The panel is a visible placeholder, **not** a live snapshot. The
+rotating preview, completed book behavior (including origin drop), recipe,
+modifiers, stand handling and other port systems remain unported.
+
+To test this slice, use `/give @s rivencraft:linking_book` in a 26.3 test
+world, stand at the intended return point, right-click the unbound book, enter
+a name and bind. Travel to an Age, right-click the book again and click its
+right-hand destination panel. Verify the named book persists across restart,
+same-dimension travel is refused, and a replaced/removed held book cannot be
+bound or used by a delayed screen packet. Do not treat this partial target as
+a playable release.
+
+The first `0.0.0.4-port-dev` in-game right-click exposed a 26.3 screen API
+mistake: `Screen.extractRenderStateWithTooltipAndSubtitles` already calls
+`extractBackground`, so the screen's second call raised `Can only blur once per
+frame`. The `0.0.0.5-port-dev` fix removes that duplicate background call.
+The next in-game check found that a bound Linking Book's right-hand panel did
+not trigger travel: its target component was persistent but lacked a network
+codec, so the client screen could not identify the book as bound. The
+`0.0.0.6-port-dev` slice adds stream codecs for the Linking Book target and
+Descriptive Book Age ID. Server-side held-item and destination checks remain
+authoritative. This needs another in-game check before considering the slice
+validated.
+The `0.0.0.6-port-dev` retest showed the bound-book panel but left-clicking
+did not even close the GUI. Minecraft 26.3's primary mouse button is
+`InputConstants.MOUSE_BUTTON_LEFT` (value 1), while the port handler still
+checked the 1.21.1 value 0. The `0.0.0.7-port-dev` slice uses the 26.3
+constant. This still requires in-game verification of the full click/travel
+path.
+The player confirmed the `0.0.0.7-port-dev` bound Linking Book click/travel
+path passes in game on 2026-10-27. The 26.3 target remains incomplete and is
+not ready for a public release or closure of the parent port issue.
+
+## Verification of this first slice
+
+The 1.21.1 `compileJava` and `build` tasks passed offline after the backend
+extraction. The GameTest server ran 93 tests; 92 passed, while
+`twoblockdeskdropsonce` failed because breaking either desk half dropped zero
+desks instead of one. That desk failure is outside the dimension-backend edit
+and must be resolved or rechecked before a release. The 1.21.1 `build` task
+passed again after the 26.3 registry slice.

ports/mc263/README.md

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+# Minecraft 26.3 port workspace
+
+This is an **incomplete mod port** for issues #97–#103. It currently registers
+the Crystal Shard and Crystal Block to verify NeoForge 26.3 loading, block and
+item registration, and modern item resources. It also has a server-only
+runtime Age prototype: the operator-only `rivencraft_port age create <name>
+<seed>`, `list`, and `sample <name>` commands exercise separate vanilla-terrain
+levels with persisted seeds. Authored generators, book binding and client
+dimension synchronization are **not** ported, so it is not playable. Its JAR
+task is disabled. Do not upload output
+from this directory to Gitea, CurseForge, or Modrinth.
+
+From the repository root:
+
+```sh
+./gradlew -p ports/mc263 build
+```
+
+This standalone Gradle build uses Minecraft 26.3, NeoForge 26.3.0.99,
+ModDevGradle 2.0.148, and Java 25. The repository root remains the independent
+Minecraft 1.21.1/Java 21 build:
+
+```sh
+./gradlew build
+```
+
+Continue migrating the actual mod in issues #98–#101. Only enable JAR
+assembly once the dual-version validation in #103 is complete.
+
+The dedicated development server uses `build/run-server`, with its own world
+and properties. Set a nonconflicting `server-port` there before running if
+another Minecraft server is active. The prototype restores all indexed Ages
+during the Overworld load, before initial chunk preparation completes.

ports/mc263/build.gradle

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+plugins {
+    id 'java-library'
+    id 'net.neoforged.moddev' version '2.0.148'
+}
+
+group = 'net.dnorberg.rivencraft'
+version = mod_version
+
+base {
+    archivesName = "rivencraft-${minecraft_version}-INCOMPLETE"
+}
+
+java.toolchain.languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(25)
+
+neoForge {
+    version = project.neo_version
+    runs {
+        client {
+            client()
+            if (project.hasProperty('connectAddress')) {
+                programArgument '--quickPlayMultiplayer'
+                programArgument project.property('connectAddress').toString()
+            }
+            if (project.hasProperty('clientName')) {
+                programArgument '--username'
+                programArgument project.property('clientName').toString()
+                gameDirectory = project.layout.buildDirectory.dir('run-client-' + project.property('clientName')).get().asFile
+            }
+        }
+        server {
+            server()
+            gameDirectory = project.hasProperty('serverRunDir')
+                    ? file(project.property('serverRunDir').toString())
+                    : project.layout.buildDirectory.dir('run-server').get().asFile
+            programArgument '--nogui'
+        }
+    }
+    mods {
+        rivencraft {
+            sourceSet(sourceSets.main)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+def generateModMetadata = tasks.register('generateModMetadata', ProcessResources) {
+    def replaceProperties = [
+            mod_id: mod_id,
+            mod_name: mod_name,
+            mod_license: mod_license,
+            mod_version: mod_version,
+            neo_version: neo_version,
+            minecraft_version_range: minecraft_version_range,
+    ]
+    inputs.properties replaceProperties
+    expand replaceProperties
+    from 'src/main/templates'
+    into 'build/generated/sources/modMetadata'
+}
+sourceSets.main.resources.srcDir generateModMetadata
+neoForge.ideSyncTask generateModMetadata
+
+tasks.named('processResources', ProcessResources).configure {
+    // Reuse the existing sprite and base model without copying binary assets.
+    from('../../src/main/resources') {
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/item/crystal_shard.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/item/crystal_shard.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/item/descriptive_book.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/item/descriptive_book.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/item/linking_book.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/item/linking_book_bound.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/gui/bookui_cover.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/gui/notebook_pages.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/gui/bookui_pager.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/block/crystal_block.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/block/crystal_block.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/crystal_block.json'
+        include 'data/rivencraft/loot_table/blocks/crystal_block.json'
+    }
+}
+
+// This partial 26.3 port is not a playable release. An explicitly requested
+// local test JAR can be built with -PallowIncompletePortJar=true, but the
+// default build must never produce a distributable artifact.
+tasks.named('jar').configure {
+    enabled = providers.gradleProperty('allowIncompletePortJar').map(String::toBoolean).getOrElse(false)
+}
+
+tasks.withType(JavaCompile).configureEach {
+    options.encoding = 'UTF-8'
+}
+
+tasks.named('runServer').configure {
+    standardInput = System.in
+}

ports/mc263/gradle.properties

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx2G
+org.gradle.caching=true
+
+minecraft_version=26.3
+minecraft_version_range=[26.3]
+neo_version=26.3.0.99
+mod_id=rivencraft
+mod_name=Rivencraft
+mod_license=LGPL-3.0-or-later
+mod_version=0.0.0.7-port-dev

ports/mc263/settings.gradle

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+pluginManagement {
+    repositories {
+        gradlePluginPortal()
+    }
+}
+
+plugins {
+    id 'org.gradle.toolchains.foojay-resolver-convention' version '1.0.0'
+}
+
+rootProject.name = 'rivencraft-mc263-port'

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/Rivencraft.java

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft;
+
+import com.mojang.logging.LogUtils;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.RuntimeAgeBackend;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeCommands;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.AgeCatalogSync;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.DescriptiveBookItem;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkBookTarget;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkingBookItem;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network.PortBookNetworking;
+import net.minecraft.core.component.DataComponentType;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Block;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Blocks;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockBehaviour;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.BlockItem;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.Item;
+import net.neoforged.bus.api.IEventBus;
+import net.neoforged.fml.common.Mod;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.registries.DeferredBlock;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.registries.DeferredItem;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.registries.DeferredRegister;
+import java.util.function.Supplier;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.NeoForge;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+
+/** First 26.3 registry slice; gameplay remains in the 1.21.1 target for now. */
+@Mod(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+public final class Rivencraft {
+    public static final String MOD_ID = "rivencraft";
+    public static final Logger LOGGER = LogUtils.getLogger();
+    private static final DeferredRegister.Blocks BLOCKS = DeferredRegister.createBlocks(MOD_ID);
+    private static final DeferredRegister.Items ITEMS = DeferredRegister.createItems(MOD_ID);
+    private static final DeferredRegister.DataComponents COMPONENTS =
+            DeferredRegister.createDataComponents(Registries.DATA_COMPONENT_TYPE, MOD_ID);
+
+    public static final Supplier<DataComponentType<Identifier>> AGE_BOOK_ID = COMPONENTS.registerComponentType(
+            "age_book_id", builder -> builder.persistent(Identifier.CODEC)
+                    .networkSynchronized(Identifier.STREAM_CODEC));
+    public static final Supplier<DataComponentType<LinkBookTarget>> LINK_BOOK_TARGET = COMPONENTS.registerComponentType(
+            "link_book_target", builder -> builder.persistent(LinkBookTarget.CODEC)
+                    .networkSynchronized(LinkBookTarget.STREAM_CODEC));
+
+    public static final DeferredBlock<Block> CRYSTAL_BLOCK = BLOCKS.registerBlock("crystal_block",
+            Block::new, () -> BlockBehaviour.Properties.ofFullCopy(Blocks.AMETHYST_BLOCK));
+    public static final DeferredItem<BlockItem> CRYSTAL_BLOCK_ITEM = ITEMS.registerSimpleBlockItem(CRYSTAL_BLOCK);
+    public static final DeferredItem<Item> CRYSTAL_SHARD = ITEMS.registerSimpleItem("crystal_shard");
+    public static final DeferredItem<DescriptiveBookItem> DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK = ITEMS.registerItem(
+            "descriptive_book", DescriptiveBookItem::new, properties -> properties.stacksTo(1));
+    public static final DeferredItem<LinkingBookItem> LINKING_BOOK = ITEMS.registerItem(
+            "linking_book", LinkingBookItem::new, properties -> properties.stacksTo(1));
+
+    public Rivencraft(IEventBus modEventBus) {
+        BLOCKS.register(modEventBus);
+        ITEMS.register(modEventBus);
+        COMPONENTS.register(modEventBus);
+        NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.addListener(RuntimeAgeBackend::onLevelLoad);
+        NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.addListener(PortAgeCommands::register);
+        NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.addListener(AgeCatalogSync::onLogin);
+        NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.addListener(AgeCatalogSync::onLogout);
+        NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.addListener(AgeCatalogSync::onServerStopped);
+        modEventBus.addListener(AgeCatalogSync::registerPayloads);
+        modEventBus.addListener(PortBookNetworking::registerPayloads);
+        LOGGER.info("Initializing Rivencraft 26.3 port slice (not release-ready)");
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/age/AgeCatalogAckPayload.java

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.network.RegistryFriendlyByteBuf;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.ByteBufCodecs;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.StreamCodec;
+import net.minecraft.network.protocol.common.custom.CustomPacketPayload;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+
+/** Acknowledges the exact catalog version applied on the client main thread. */
+public record AgeCatalogAckPayload(int version) implements CustomPacketPayload {
+    public static final Type<AgeCatalogAckPayload> TYPE = new Type<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "age_catalog_ack"));
+    public static final StreamCodec<RegistryFriendlyByteBuf, AgeCatalogAckPayload> STREAM_CODEC = StreamCodec.composite(
+            ByteBufCodecs.VAR_INT, AgeCatalogAckPayload::version, AgeCatalogAckPayload::new
+    );
+
+    @Override
+    public Type<AgeCatalogAckPayload> type() {
+        return TYPE;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/age/AgeCatalogPayload.java

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.network.RegistryFriendlyByteBuf;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.ByteBufCodecs;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.StreamCodec;
+import net.minecraft.network.protocol.common.custom.CustomPacketPayload;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+
+/** Full server level catalog, sent on login and after a runtime Age is added. */
+public record AgeCatalogPayload(int version, List<Identifier> dimensions) implements CustomPacketPayload {
+    public static final Type<AgeCatalogPayload> TYPE = new Type<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "age_catalog"));
+    public static final StreamCodec<RegistryFriendlyByteBuf, AgeCatalogPayload> STREAM_CODEC = StreamCodec.composite(
+            ByteBufCodecs.VAR_INT, AgeCatalogPayload::version,
+            Identifier.STREAM_CODEC.apply(ByteBufCodecs.list()), AgeCatalogPayload::dimensions,
+            AgeCatalogPayload::new
+    );
+
+    public AgeCatalogPayload {
+        dimensions = List.copyOf(dimensions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Type<AgeCatalogPayload> type() {
+        return TYPE;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/age/AgeCatalogSync.java

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.IdentityHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.UUID;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.entity.player.PlayerEvent;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.server.ServerStoppedEvent;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.network.PacketDistributor;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.network.event.RegisterPayloadHandlersEvent;
+
+/** Refuses runtime-Age travel until the connected client confirms its catalog. */
+public final class AgeCatalogSync {
+    private static final Map<MinecraftServer, State> STATES = new IdentityHashMap<>();
+
+    private AgeCatalogSync() {
+    }
+
+    public static void registerPayloads(RegisterPayloadHandlersEvent event) {
+        var registrar = event.registrar("1");
+        registrar.playToClient(AgeCatalogPayload.TYPE, AgeCatalogPayload.STREAM_CODEC);
+        registrar.playToServer(AgeCatalogAckPayload.TYPE, AgeCatalogAckPayload.STREAM_CODEC,
+                (payload, context) -> {
+                    if (context.player() instanceof ServerPlayer player) acknowledge(player, payload.version());
+                });
+    }
+
+    public static void onLogin(PlayerEvent.PlayerLoggedInEvent event) {
+        if (event.getEntity() instanceof ServerPlayer player) {
+            try {
+                send(player);
+            } catch (RuntimeException exception) {
+                Rivencraft.LOGGER.error("Could not send initial Age catalog to {}; travel remains blocked",
+                        player.getName().getString(), exception);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static void onLogout(PlayerEvent.PlayerLoggedOutEvent event) {
+        if (event.getEntity() instanceof ServerPlayer player) {
+            State state = STATES.get(player.level().getServer());
+            if (state != null) state.acknowledged.remove(player.getUUID());
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static void onServerStopped(ServerStoppedEvent event) {
+        STATES.remove(event.getServer());
+    }
+
+    public static void onCatalogChanged(MinecraftServer server) {
+        State state = state(server);
+        state.version++;
+        state.acknowledged.clear();
+        for (ServerPlayer player : server.getPlayerList().getPlayers()) {
+            try {
+                send(player);
+            } catch (RuntimeException exception) {
+                Rivencraft.LOGGER.error("Could not send Age catalog to {}; travel remains blocked",
+                        player.getName().getString(), exception);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static boolean ready(ServerPlayer player, Identifier target) {
+        MinecraftServer server = player.level().getServer();
+        State state = state(server);
+        return state.version == state.acknowledged.getOrDefault(player.getUUID(), -1)
+                && server.levelKeys().stream().anyMatch(key -> key.identifier().equals(target));
+    }
+
+    private static void send(ServerPlayer player) {
+        MinecraftServer server = player.level().getServer();
+        State state = state(server);
+        state.acknowledged.remove(player.getUUID());
+        var dimensions = server.levelKeys().stream().map(key -> key.identifier()).sorted().toList();
+        PacketDistributor.sendToPlayer(player, new AgeCatalogPayload(state.version, dimensions));
+    }
+
+    private static void acknowledge(ServerPlayer player, int version) {
+        State state = state(player.level().getServer());
+        if (version != state.version) {
+            Rivencraft.LOGGER.warn("Ignoring stale Age catalog acknowledgement {} from {} (current {})",
+                    version, player.getName().getString(), state.version);
+            return;
+        }
+        state.acknowledged.put(player.getUUID(), version);
+        Rivencraft.LOGGER.info("Age catalog {} acknowledged by {}", version, player.getName().getString());
+    }
+
+    private static State state(MinecraftServer server) {
+        return STATES.computeIfAbsent(server, ignored -> new State());
+    }
+
+    private static final class State {
+        private int version = 1;
+        private final Map<UUID, Integer> acknowledged = new HashMap<>();
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/age/AgeLevelIndex.java

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import com.mojang.serialization.Codec;
+import com.mojang.serialization.codecs.RecordCodecBuilder;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedData;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedDataType;
+
+/** Server-owned seed index for the first-party 26.3 runtime-level prototype. */
+final class AgeLevelIndex extends SavedData {
+    private static final Codec<AgeLevelIndex> CODEC = RecordCodecBuilder.create(instance -> instance.group(
+            Codec.unboundedMap(Identifier.CODEC, Codec.LONG).fieldOf("ages").forGetter(index -> index.ages),
+            Identifier.CODEC.listOf().optionalFieldOf("retired", List.of())
+                    .forGetter(index -> List.copyOf(index.retired))
+    ).apply(instance, AgeLevelIndex::new));
+
+    static final SavedDataType<AgeLevelIndex> TYPE = new SavedDataType<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "runtime_ages"),
+            AgeLevelIndex::new,
+            CODEC
+    );
+
+    private final Map<Identifier, Long> ages;
+    private final Set<Identifier> retired;
+
+    private AgeLevelIndex() {
+        this.ages = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+        this.retired = new LinkedHashSet<>();
+    }
+
+    private AgeLevelIndex(Map<Identifier, Long> ages, List<Identifier> retired) {
+        this.ages = new LinkedHashMap<>(ages);
+        this.retired = new LinkedHashSet<>(retired);
+    }
+
+    Map<Identifier, Long> entries() {
+        return Map.copyOf(ages);
+    }
+
+    boolean contains(Identifier id) {
+        return ages.containsKey(id) || retired.contains(id);
+    }
+
+    Long seed(Identifier id) {
+        return ages.get(id);
+    }
+
+    void add(Identifier id, long seed) {
+        if (contains(id)) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Age already exists: " + id);
+        }
+        ages.put(id, seed);
+        setDirty();
+    }
+
+    void retire(Identifier id) {
+        if (ages.remove(id) == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Age not indexed: " + id);
+        retired.add(id);
+        setDirty();
+    }
+
+    void restoreAfterFailedRetirement(Identifier id, long seed) {
+        if (!retired.remove(id)) throw new IllegalStateException("Age is not retired: " + id);
+        ages.put(id, seed);
+        setDirty();
+    }
+
+    void reseed(Identifier id, long seed) {
+        if (!ages.containsKey(id)) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Age not indexed: " + id);
+        ages.put(id, seed);
+        setDirty();
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/age/PortAgeCommands.java

@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import com.mojang.brigadier.arguments.LongArgumentType;
+import com.mojang.brigadier.arguments.IntegerArgumentType;
+import com.mojang.brigadier.arguments.StringArgumentType;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkBookTarget;
+import net.minecraft.commands.Commands;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.core.component.DataComponents;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.util.Prediction;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.levelgen.Heightmap;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.RegisterCommandsEvent;
+import net.neoforged.fml.ModList;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.TreeMap;
+
+/** Operator-only backend and synchronized-travel probes, not normal book behavior. */
+public final class PortAgeCommands {
+    private PortAgeCommands() {
+    }
+
+    public static void register(RegisterCommandsEvent event) {
+        event.getDispatcher().register(Commands.literal("rivencraft_port")
+                .requires(Commands.hasPermission(Commands.LEVEL_ADMINS))
+                .then(Commands.literal("compat")
+                        .executes(context -> {
+                            StringBuilder mods = new StringBuilder("Optional mods: ");
+                            for (String id : new String[]{"jei", "terrablender", "biomesoplenty",
+                                    "sereneseasons", "glitchcore", "ruins", "create",
+                                    "ponder", "immersive_portals_core"}) {
+                                if (mods.length() > "Optional mods: ".length()) mods.append(", ");
+                                mods.append(id).append('=').append(ModList.get().isLoaded(id));
+                            }
+                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(mods.toString()), false);
+                            Map<String, Integer> biomeCounts = new TreeMap<>();
+                            context.getSource().getServer().registryAccess()
+                                    .lookupOrThrow(Registries.BIOME).listElementIds()
+                                    .forEach(key -> biomeCounts.merge(key.identifier().getNamespace(), 1, Integer::sum));
+                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                    "Registered biomes by namespace: " + biomeCounts), false);
+                            return 1;
+                        }))
+                .then(Commands.literal("link")
+                        .then(Commands.literal("book")
+                                .executes(context -> {
+                                    ServerPlayer player = context.getSource().getPlayerOrException();
+                                    ItemStack book = new ItemStack(Rivencraft.LINKING_BOOK.get());
+                                    LinkBookTarget target = LinkBookTarget.at(player);
+                                    book.set(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get(), target);
+                                    book.set(DataComponents.CUSTOM_NAME, Component.literal(
+                                            "Link to " + target.dimension()));
+                                    if (!player.getInventory().add(book)) player.drop(book, false, Prediction.SERVER_ONLY);
+                                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                            "Granted Linking Book bound to " + target.dimension() + " at "
+                                                    + player.blockPosition()), false);
+                                    return 1;
+                                })))
+                .then(Commands.literal("age")
+                        .then(Commands.literal("create")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .then(Commands.argument("seed", LongArgumentType.longArg())
+                                                .executes(context -> {
+                                                    String name = StringArgumentType.getString(context, "name");
+                                                    Identifier id = Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(
+                                                            Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "age/" + name);
+                                                    long seed = LongArgumentType.getLong(context, "seed");
+                                                    ServerLevel level;
+                                                    try {
+                                                        level = RuntimeAgeBackend.create(
+                                                                context.getSource().getServer(), id, seed);
+                                                    } catch (IllegalArgumentException | IllegalStateException exception) {
+                                                        context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal(exception.getMessage()));
+                                                        return 0;
+                                                    }
+                                                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                                            "Created " + id + " with seed " + level.getSeed()), true);
+                                                    return 1;
+                                                }))))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("list")
+                                .executes(context -> {
+                                    var ages = RuntimeAgeBackend.savedAges(context.getSource().getServer());
+                                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                            "Saved prototype Ages: " + ages), false);
+                                    return ages.size();
+                                }))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("retire")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .executes(context -> {
+                                            String name = StringArgumentType.getString(context, "name");
+                                            Identifier id = Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(
+                                                    Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "age/" + name);
+                                            try {
+                                                RuntimeAgeBackend.retire(context.getSource().getServer(), id);
+                                            } catch (IllegalArgumentException | IllegalStateException exception) {
+                                                context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal(exception.getMessage()));
+                                                return 0;
+                                            }
+                                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                                    "Retired " + id + "; exact Age data archived"), true);
+                                            return 1;
+                                        })))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("unload")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .executes(context -> {
+                                            Identifier id = ageId(context);
+                                            try {
+                                                RuntimeAgeBackend.unload(context.getSource().getServer(), id);
+                                            } catch (IllegalArgumentException | IllegalStateException exception) {
+                                                context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal(exception.getMessage()));
+                                                return 0;
+                                            }
+                                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Unloaded " + id), true);
+                                            return 1;
+                                        })))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("reload")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .executes(context -> {
+                                            Identifier id = ageId(context);
+                                            try {
+                                                RuntimeAgeBackend.reload(context.getSource().getServer(), id);
+                                            } catch (IllegalArgumentException | IllegalStateException exception) {
+                                                context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal(exception.getMessage()));
+                                                return 0;
+                                            }
+                                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Reloaded " + id), true);
+                                            return 1;
+                                        })))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("reseed")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .then(Commands.argument("seed", LongArgumentType.longArg())
+                                                .executes(context -> {
+                                                    Identifier id = ageId(context);
+                                                    long seed = LongArgumentType.getLong(context, "seed");
+                                                    try {
+                                                        RuntimeAgeBackend.reseed(context.getSource().getServer(), id, seed);
+                                                    } catch (IllegalArgumentException | IllegalStateException exception) {
+                                                        context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal(exception.getMessage()));
+                                                        return 0;
+                                                    }
+                                                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                                            "Reseeded " + id + " to " + seed + " for future chunks"), true);
+                                                    return 1;
+                                                }))))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("enter")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .executes(context -> {
+                                            ServerPlayer player = context.getSource().getPlayerOrException();
+                                            Identifier id = ageId(context);
+                                            String failure = PortAgeTravel.enter(player, id);
+                                            if (failure != null) {
+                                                context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal(failure));
+                                                return 0;
+                                            }
+                                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                                    "Entered " + id + " after Age catalog acknowledgement"), false);
+                                            return 1;
+                                        })))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("book")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .executes(context -> {
+                                            ServerPlayer player = context.getSource().getPlayerOrException();
+                                            Identifier id = ageId(context);
+                                            if (!RuntimeAgeBackend.savedAges(context.getSource().getServer()).containsKey(id)) {
+                                                context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("Age not active: " + id));
+                                                return 0;
+                                            }
+                                            ItemStack book = new ItemStack(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get());
+                                            book.set(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get(), id);
+                                            book.set(DataComponents.CUSTOM_NAME, Component.literal(
+                                                    StringArgumentType.getString(context, "name")));
+                                            if (!player.getInventory().add(book)) player.drop(book, false, Prediction.SERVER_ONLY);
+                                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                                    "Granted bound Descriptive Book for " + id), false);
+                                            return 1;
+                                        })))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("sample")
+                                .then(Commands.argument("name", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                        .executes(context -> sampleAge(context, 0))
+                                        .then(Commands.argument("chunkOffset", IntegerArgumentType.integer(0))
+                                                .executes(context -> sampleAge(context,
+                                                        IntegerArgumentType.getInteger(context, "chunkOffset"))))))));
+    }
+
+    private static int sampleAge(com.mojang.brigadier.context.CommandContext<net.minecraft.commands.CommandSourceStack> context,
+                                 int chunkOffset) {
+        Identifier id = ageId(context);
+        ServerLevel level = context.getSource().getServer().getLevel(
+                ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, id));
+        if (level == null) {
+            context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("Age not loaded: " + id));
+            return 0;
+        }
+        int fingerprint = 1;
+        for (int x = 0; x < 2; x++) {
+            for (int z = 0; z < 2; z++) {
+                int chunkX = chunkOffset + x * 4;
+                int chunkZ = chunkOffset + z * 4;
+                level.getChunk(chunkX, chunkZ);
+                fingerprint = 31 * fingerprint + level.getHeight(
+                        Heightmap.Types.WORLD_SURFACE, chunkX * 16, chunkZ * 16);
+            }
+        }
+        int result = fingerprint;
+        context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                id + " seed=" + level.getSeed() + " chunkOffset=" + chunkOffset + " terrain=" + result), false);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    private static Identifier ageId(com.mojang.brigadier.context.CommandContext<net.minecraft.commands.CommandSourceStack> context) {
+        return Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID,
+                "age/" + StringArgumentType.getString(context, "name"));
+    }
+
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/age/PortAgeTravel.java

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.Set;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Blocks;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.levelgen.Heightmap;
+
+/** Shared, server-authoritative landing for the 26.3 book and operator probe. */
+public final class PortAgeTravel {
+    private PortAgeTravel() {
+    }
+
+    public static String enter(ServerPlayer player, Identifier id) {
+        ServerLevel target = player.level().getServer().getLevel(ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, id));
+        if (target == null) return "Age not loaded: " + id;
+        if (!AgeCatalogSync.ready(player, id)) {
+            return "Age catalog not acknowledged by client; remaining in source dimension";
+        }
+        BlockPos landing = findLanding(target);
+        if (landing == null) return "No safe test landing available; remaining in source dimension";
+        boolean moved = player.teleportTo(target, landing.getX() + 0.5, landing.getY(), landing.getZ() + 0.5,
+                Set.of(), player.getYRot(), player.getXRot(), true);
+        return moved ? null : "Teleportation failed; remaining in source dimension";
+    }
+
+    private static BlockPos findLanding(ServerLevel target) {
+        for (int radius = 0; radius <= 16; radius++) {
+            for (int x = -radius; x <= radius; x++) {
+                for (int z = -radius; z <= radius; z++) {
+                    if (Math.max(Math.abs(x), Math.abs(z)) != radius) continue;
+                    int y = target.getHeight(Heightmap.Types.MOTION_BLOCKING, x, z);
+                    BlockPos foot = new BlockPos(x, y, z);
+                    BlockPos floor = foot.below();
+                    if (target.getBlockState(floor).isFaceSturdy(target, floor, Direction.UP)
+                            && target.getBlockState(foot).getCollisionShape(target, foot).isEmpty()
+                            && target.getBlockState(foot.above()).getCollisionShape(target, foot.above()).isEmpty()) {
+                        return foot;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        // The operator/book probe needs a deterministic landing even when
+        // origin is ocean or foliage. Final book landing rules are ported later.
+        int y = Math.max(64, target.getHeight(Heightmap.Types.MOTION_BLOCKING, 0, 0) + 2);
+        if (y + 2 >= target.getMaxY()) return null;
+        BlockPos foot = new BlockPos(0, y, 0);
+        for (int x = -1; x <= 1; x++) {
+            for (int z = -1; z <= 1; z++) {
+                target.setBlock(new BlockPos(x, y - 1, z), Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get().defaultBlockState(), 3);
+            }
+        }
+        target.setBlock(foot, Blocks.AIR.defaultBlockState(), 3);
+        target.setBlock(foot.above(), Blocks.AIR.defaultBlockState(), 3);
+        return foot;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/age/RuntimeAgeBackend.java

@@ -0,0 +1,269 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.AtomicMoveNotSupportedException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.LinkOption;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+import java.nio.file.StandardCopyOption;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.OptionalLong;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey;
+import net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.TicketStorage;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.biome.BiomeManager;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.dimension.LevelStem;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.storage.DerivedLevelData;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.storage.LevelResource;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.NeoForge;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.world.chunk.ForcedChunkManager;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.level.LevelEvent;
+
+/**
+ * Server-side runtime-level foundation for 26.3. Authored generators and
+ * dynamic client registry synchronization remain separate migration steps.
+ */
+public final class RuntimeAgeBackend {
+    private RuntimeAgeBackend() {
+    }
+
+    public static void onLevelLoad(LevelEvent.Load event) {
+        if (!(event.getLevel() instanceof ServerLevel overworld) || overworld.dimension() != Level.OVERWORLD) {
+            return;
+        }
+        MinecraftServer server = overworld.getServer();
+        AgeLevelIndex index = index(server);
+        for (Map.Entry<Identifier, Long> age : index.entries().entrySet()) {
+            try {
+                load(server, age.getKey(), age.getValue());
+            } catch (RuntimeException exception) {
+                Rivencraft.LOGGER.error("Could not restore Age {}. Its saved index remains intact.", age.getKey(), exception);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Creates a server level, then commits its identity only after successful construction. */
+    public static ServerLevel create(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id, long seed) {
+        checkServerThread(server);
+        ageName(id);
+        AgeLevelIndex index = index(server);
+        if (index.contains(id)) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Age already exists: " + id);
+        ServerLevel level = load(server, id, seed);
+        index.add(id, seed);
+        // A newly bound book may be used immediately. Persist its Age identity
+        // before publishing the catalog so a later crash cannot leave that
+        // book pointing at a world omitted from the on-disk index.
+        server.overworld().getDataStorage().saveAndJoin();
+        AgeCatalogSync.onCatalogChanged(server);
+        return level;
+    }
+
+    /** Unloads an Age only when no player remains; save(true) flushes other entities. */
+    public static void unload(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id) {
+        checkServerThread(server);
+        requireSeed(server, id);
+        unloadLoaded(server, id);
+        AgeCatalogSync.onCatalogChanged(server);
+    }
+
+    public static ServerLevel reload(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id) {
+        checkServerThread(server);
+        long seed = requireSeed(server, id);
+        ServerLevel level = load(server, id, seed);
+        AgeCatalogSync.onCatalogChanged(server);
+        return level;
+    }
+
+    /** Existing saved chunks stay in place; the replacement level uses the new seed. */
+    public static void reseed(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id, long seed) {
+        checkServerThread(server);
+        AgeLevelIndex index = index(server);
+        long previousSeed = requireSeed(server, id);
+        if (previousSeed == seed) return;
+        boolean loaded = server.getLevel(dimensionKey(id)) != null;
+        if (loaded) unloadLoaded(server, id);
+        try {
+            if (loaded) load(server, id, seed);
+            index.reseed(id, seed);
+            server.overworld().getDataStorage().saveAndJoin();
+            if (loaded) AgeCatalogSync.onCatalogChanged(server);
+        } catch (RuntimeException exception) {
+            if (loaded) {
+                try {
+                    load(server, id, previousSeed);
+                    AgeCatalogSync.onCatalogChanged(server);
+                } catch (RuntimeException rollbackFailure) {
+                    exception.addSuppressed(rollbackFailure);
+                }
+            }
+            throw exception;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Retires one unloaded Age and moves only its own storage to a recoverable archive. */
+    public static void retire(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id) {
+        checkServerThread(server);
+        String name = ageName(id);
+        AgeLevelIndex index = index(server);
+        long seed = requireSeed(server, id);
+        boolean loaded = server.getLevel(dimensionKey(id)) != null;
+        ArchivePaths paths = archivePaths(server, name);
+        if (loaded) unloadLoaded(server, id);
+        // Persist the tombstone before moving files: a crash mid-archive must
+        // not let an old book silently regenerate this identity.
+        index.retire(id);
+        try {
+            server.overworld().getDataStorage().saveAndJoin();
+            if (Files.exists(paths.live(), LinkOption.NOFOLLOW_LINKS)) {
+                Files.createDirectories(paths.archive().getParent());
+                try {
+                    Files.move(paths.live(), paths.archive(), StandardCopyOption.ATOMIC_MOVE);
+                } catch (AtomicMoveNotSupportedException exception) {
+                    Files.move(paths.live(), paths.archive());
+                }
+            }
+        } catch (IOException | RuntimeException exception) {
+            try {
+                index.restoreAfterFailedRetirement(id, seed);
+                server.overworld().getDataStorage().saveAndJoin();
+            } catch (RuntimeException rollbackFailure) {
+                exception.addSuppressed(rollbackFailure);
+            }
+            if (loaded) {
+                try {
+                    load(server, id, seed);
+                } catch (RuntimeException rollbackFailure) {
+                    exception.addSuppressed(rollbackFailure);
+                }
+            }
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Could not archive Age " + id, exception);
+        }
+        AgeCatalogSync.onCatalogChanged(server);
+        Rivencraft.LOGGER.info("Retired 26.3 prototype Age {} (archived at {})", id, paths.archive());
+    }
+
+    public static Map<Identifier, Long> savedAges(MinecraftServer server) {
+        checkServerThread(server);
+        return index(server).entries();
+    }
+
+    private static AgeLevelIndex index(MinecraftServer server) {
+        return server.overworld().getDataStorage().computeIfAbsent(AgeLevelIndex.TYPE);
+    }
+
+    private static void checkServerThread(MinecraftServer server) {
+        if (!server.isSameThread()) throw new IllegalStateException("Runtime Age operation outside server thread");
+    }
+
+    private static long requireSeed(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id) {
+        ageName(id);
+        Long seed = index(server).seed(id);
+        if (seed == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Age not active: " + id);
+        return seed;
+    }
+
+    private static String ageName(Identifier id) {
+        if (!id.getNamespace().equals(Rivencraft.MOD_ID) || !id.getPath().startsWith("age/")) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Expected a rivencraft:age/* dimension ID: " + id);
+        }
+        String name = id.getPath().substring("age/".length());
+        if (name.isBlank() || name.contains("/") || name.equals(".") || name.equals("..")) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Expected a single safe Age path segment: " + id);
+        }
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    private static ResourceKey<Level> dimensionKey(Identifier id) {
+        return ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, id);
+    }
+
+    private static void unloadLoaded(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id) {
+        ResourceKey<Level> key = dimensionKey(id);
+        ServerLevel level = server.getLevel(key);
+        if (level == null) throw new IllegalStateException("Age not loaded: " + id);
+        if (!level.players().isEmpty()) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Age still contains players; move them before unloading: " + id);
+        }
+        // Match the server shutdown sequence so forced tickets are persisted
+        // as inactive, rather than holding stale references to this level.
+        level.getChunkSource().deactivateTicketsOnClosing();
+        level.getChunkSource().tick(() -> true, false);
+        level.save(null, true, false);
+        try {
+            level.close();
+        } catch (IOException exception) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Could not close Age: " + id, exception);
+        }
+        server.levels.remove(key);
+        NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.post(new LevelEvent.Unload(level));
+        Rivencraft.LOGGER.info("Unloaded 26.3 prototype Age {}", id);
+    }
+
+    private static ArchivePaths archivePaths(MinecraftServer server, String name) {
+        Path world = server.getWorldPath(LevelResource.ROOT).toAbsolutePath().normalize();
+        Path dimensions = world.resolve("dimensions");
+        Path namespace = dimensions.resolve(Rivencraft.MOD_ID);
+        Path ageRoot = namespace.resolve("age");
+        Path live = ageRoot.resolve(name).normalize();
+        Path archiveRoot = world.getParent().resolve(world.getFileName() + "-retired-ages").normalize();
+        Path archive = archiveRoot.resolve(name).normalize();
+        if (!live.getParent().equals(ageRoot) || !archive.getParent().equals(archiveRoot)
+                || Files.isSymbolicLink(world) || Files.isSymbolicLink(dimensions)
+                || Files.isSymbolicLink(namespace) || Files.isSymbolicLink(ageRoot)
+                || Files.isSymbolicLink(live) || Files.isSymbolicLink(archiveRoot)
+                || Files.exists(archive, LinkOption.NOFOLLOW_LINKS)) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Unsafe or existing Age archive path for " + name);
+        }
+        return new ArchivePaths(live, archive);
+    }
+
+    private record ArchivePaths(Path live, Path archive) {
+    }
+
+    private static ServerLevel load(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id, long seed) {
+        ResourceKey<Level> key = ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, id);
+        if (server.getLevel(key) != null) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Level already loaded: " + id);
+
+        // This prototype uses vanilla Overworld terrain until issue #98 ports
+        // authored ChunkGenerators. LevelStem.seedOverride controls chunk random
+        // state as well as ServerLevel.getSeed() in NeoForge 26.3.
+        LevelStem overworldStem = server.registryAccess().lookupOrThrow(Registries.LEVEL_STEM)
+                .getValue(LevelStem.OVERWORLD);
+        if (overworldStem == null) throw new IllegalStateException("Missing Overworld LevelStem");
+        LevelStem stem = new LevelStem(overworldStem.type(), overworldStem.generator(), OptionalLong.of(seed));
+        long biomeZoomSeed = BiomeManager.obfuscateSeed(server.getWorldGenSettings().options().seed());
+        ServerLevel level = new ServerLevel(server, server.executor, server.storageSource,
+                new DerivedLevelData(server.getWorldData(), server.getWorldData().overworldData()),
+                key, stem, server.getWorldData().isDebugWorld(), biomeZoomSeed, List.of(), false);
+
+        // Publish only after the constructor succeeds. If the load event fails,
+        // roll back the map and close the newly opened chunk/entity stores.
+        try {
+            server.levels.put(key, level);
+            level.getWorldBorder().setAbsoluteMaxSize(server.getAbsoluteMaxWorldSize());
+            server.getPlayerList().addWorldborderListener(level);
+            NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.post(new LevelEvent.Load(level));
+            TicketStorage tickets = level.getDataStorage().get(TicketStorage.TYPE);
+            if (tickets != null) {
+                tickets.activateAllDeactivatedTickets();
+                ForcedChunkManager.activateAllDeactivatedTickets(level, tickets);
+            }
+            Rivencraft.LOGGER.info("Loaded 26.3 prototype Age {} with seed {}", id, seed);
+            return level;
+        } catch (RuntimeException exception) {
+            server.levels.remove(key);
+            try {
+                level.close();
+            } catch (IOException closeException) {
+                exception.addSuppressed(closeException);
+            }
+            throw exception;
+        }
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/client/AgeCatalogClient.java

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.client;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.AgeCatalogAckPayload;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.AgeCatalogPayload;
+import net.minecraft.client.multiplayer.ClientPacketListener;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
+import net.neoforged.api.distmarker.Dist;
+import net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent;
+import net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.client.network.event.RegisterClientPayloadHandlersEvent;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
+
+@EventBusSubscriber(modid = Rivencraft.MOD_ID, value = Dist.CLIENT)
+public final class AgeCatalogClient {
+    private AgeCatalogClient() {
+    }
+
+    @SubscribeEvent
+    public static void register(RegisterClientPayloadHandlersEvent event) {
+        event.register(AgeCatalogPayload.TYPE, (payload, context) -> {
+            if (!(context.listener() instanceof ClientPacketListener listener)) return;
+            listener.levels = payload.dimensions().stream()
+                    .map(id -> ResourceKey.<Level>create(Registries.DIMENSION, id))
+                    .collect(Collectors.toUnmodifiableSet());
+            context.reply(new AgeCatalogAckPayload(payload.version()));
+        });
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/client/PortBookInteractionHandler.java

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.client;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.client.Minecraft;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionResult;
+import net.neoforged.api.distmarker.Dist;
+import net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent;
+import net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.entity.player.PlayerInteractEvent;
+
+/** Opens screens only on the physical client, including integrated singleplayer. */
+@EventBusSubscriber(modid = Rivencraft.MOD_ID, value = Dist.CLIENT)
+public final class PortBookInteractionHandler {
+    private PortBookInteractionHandler() {
+    }
+
+    @SubscribeEvent
+    public static void onRightClickItem(PlayerInteractEvent.RightClickItem event) {
+        if (!event.getEntity().level().isClientSide()
+                || !event.getItemStack().is(Rivencraft.LINKING_BOOK.get())) return;
+        event.setCanceled(true);
+        event.setCancellationResult(InteractionResult.SUCCESS);
+        Minecraft.getInstance().setScreenAndShow(new PortLinkingBookScreen(
+                event.getHand(), event.getItemStack().copy()));
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/client/PortLinkingBookScreen.java

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.client;
+
+import com.mojang.blaze3d.platform.InputConstants;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network.BindLinkingBookPayload;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network.PortBookNetworking;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network.UseLinkingBookPayload;
+import net.minecraft.client.gui.GuiGraphicsExtractor;
+import net.minecraft.client.gui.components.Button;
+import net.minecraft.client.gui.components.EditBox;
+import net.minecraft.client.gui.screens.Screen;
+import net.minecraft.client.input.MouseButtonEvent;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.RenderPipelines;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionHand;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.client.network.ClientPacketDistributor;
+
+/** Minimal 26.3 book interaction using the Legacy artwork; live preview is not ported yet. */
+public final class PortLinkingBookScreen extends Screen {
+    private static final int WIDTH = 327;
+    private static final int HEIGHT = 199;
+    private static final int TEXT_COLOR = 0xFF3B281B;
+    private static final Identifier COVER = texture("bookui_cover.png");
+    private static final Identifier LEFT_PAGE = texture("notebook_pages.png");
+    private static final Identifier RIGHT_PANEL = texture("bookui_pager.png");
+
+    private final InteractionHand hand;
+    private final boolean bound;
+    private EditBox titleInput;
+
+    public PortLinkingBookScreen(InteractionHand hand, ItemStack book) {
+        super(book.getHoverName());
+        this.hand = hand;
+        bound = book.has(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void init() {
+        if (bound) return;
+        int left = (width - WIDTH) / 2;
+        int top = (height - HEIGHT) / 2;
+        titleInput = new EditBox(font, left + 40, top + 69, 110, 20,
+                Component.literal("Linking Book name"));
+        titleInput.setMaxLength(PortBookNetworking.MAX_BOOK_TITLE_LENGTH);
+        titleInput.setHint(Component.literal("Name this link"));
+        addRenderableWidget(titleInput);
+        setInitialFocus(titleInput);
+        addRenderableWidget(Button.builder(Component.literal("Bind"), button -> bind())
+                .bounds(left + 40, top + 100, 53, 20).build());
+        addRenderableWidget(Button.builder(Component.literal("Cancel"), button -> onClose())
+                .bounds(left + 97, top + 100, 53, 20).build());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void extractRenderState(GuiGraphicsExtractor graphics, int mouseX, int mouseY, float partialTick) {
+        int left = (width - WIDTH) / 2;
+        int top = (height - HEIGHT) / 2;
+        blit(graphics, COVER, left, top + 7, 34, 192, 152, 0);
+        blit(graphics, COVER, left + 34, top + 7, 103, 192, 49, 0);
+        blit(graphics, COVER, left + 137, top + 7, 4, 192, 45, 0);
+        blit(graphics, COVER, left + 141, top + 7, 186, 192, 0, 0);
+        if (bound) blit(graphics, LEFT_PAGE, left + 7, top, 156, 195, 0, 0);
+        blit(graphics, RIGHT_PANEL, left + 163, top, 156, 195, 0, 0);
+        graphics.text(font, title, left + 42, top + 29, TEXT_COLOR, false);
+        if (bound) {
+            graphics.fill(left + 173, top + 20, left + 305, top + 103, 0xFF15141D);
+            graphics.text(font, Component.literal("Destination preview"), left + 185, top + 47, 0xFFE9DFCB, false);
+            graphics.text(font, Component.literal("Click to link"), left + 205, top + 65, 0xFFE9DFCB, false);
+        } else {
+            graphics.text(font, Component.literal("Name this Linking Book"), left + 183, top + 39,
+                    TEXT_COLOR, false);
+        }
+        super.extractRenderState(graphics, mouseX, mouseY, partialTick);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean mouseClicked(MouseButtonEvent event, boolean doubleClick) {
+        if (bound && event.button() == InputConstants.MOUSE_BUTTON_LEFT) {
+            int left = (width - WIDTH) / 2;
+            int top = (height - HEIGHT) / 2;
+            if (event.x() >= left + 173 && event.x() < left + 305
+                    && event.y() >= top + 20 && event.y() < top + 103) {
+                ClientPacketDistributor.sendToServer(new UseLinkingBookPayload(hand == InteractionHand.OFF_HAND));
+                onClose();
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return super.mouseClicked(event, doubleClick);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isPauseScreen() {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private void bind() {
+        if (titleInput == null) return;
+        String name = titleInput.getValue().strip();
+        if (name.isEmpty()) return;
+        ClientPacketDistributor.sendToServer(new BindLinkingBookPayload(hand == InteractionHand.OFF_HAND, name));
+        onClose();
+    }
+
+    private static Identifier texture(String filename) {
+        return Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "textures/gui/" + filename);
+    }
+
+    private static void blit(GuiGraphicsExtractor graphics, Identifier texture, int x, int y,
+                             int width, int height, int u, int v) {
+        graphics.blit(RenderPipelines.GUI_TEXTURED, texture, x, y, u, v, width, height, 256, 256);
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/item/DescriptiveBookItem.java

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item;
+
+import java.util.function.Consumer;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeTravel;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionHand;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionResult;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.player.Player;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.Item;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.TooltipFlag;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.component.TooltipDisplay;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
+
+/** First 26.3 bound-book slice; authoring and the book GUI still need porting. */
+public final class DescriptiveBookItem extends Item {
+    public DescriptiveBookItem(Properties properties) {
+        super(properties);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isFoil(ItemStack stack) {
+        return stack.has(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get()) || super.isFoil(stack);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public InteractionResult use(Level level, Player player, InteractionHand hand) {
+        ItemStack stack = player.getItemInHand(hand);
+        Identifier id = stack.get(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get());
+        if (id == null) {
+            if (player instanceof ServerPlayer serverPlayer) {
+                serverPlayer.sendOverlayMessage(Component.literal("Unbound Descriptive Book; use the port's Age book probe"));
+            }
+            return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+        }
+        if (player instanceof ServerPlayer serverPlayer) {
+            String failure = PortAgeTravel.enter(serverPlayer, id);
+            serverPlayer.sendOverlayMessage(Component.literal(failure == null ? "Entered " + id : failure));
+        }
+        return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void appendHoverText(ItemStack stack, TooltipContext context, TooltipDisplay display,
+                                Consumer<Component> tooltip, TooltipFlag flag) {
+        Identifier id = stack.get(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get());
+        tooltip.accept(Component.literal(id == null ? "Unbound (26.3 port preview)" : "Age: " + id));
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/item/LinkBookTarget.java

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item;
+
+import com.mojang.serialization.Codec;
+import com.mojang.serialization.codecs.RecordCodecBuilder;
+import net.minecraft.network.RegistryFriendlyByteBuf;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.ByteBufCodecs;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.StreamCodec;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+
+/** Persistent destination captured when a 26.3 prototype Linking Book is bound. */
+public record LinkBookTarget(Identifier dimension, double x, double y, double z, float yaw, float pitch) {
+    public static final Codec<LinkBookTarget> CODEC = RecordCodecBuilder.create(instance -> instance.group(
+            Identifier.CODEC.fieldOf("dimension").forGetter(LinkBookTarget::dimension),
+            Codec.DOUBLE.fieldOf("x").forGetter(LinkBookTarget::x),
+            Codec.DOUBLE.fieldOf("y").forGetter(LinkBookTarget::y),
+            Codec.DOUBLE.fieldOf("z").forGetter(LinkBookTarget::z),
+            Codec.FLOAT.fieldOf("yaw").forGetter(LinkBookTarget::yaw),
+            Codec.FLOAT.fieldOf("pitch").forGetter(LinkBookTarget::pitch)
+    ).apply(instance, LinkBookTarget::new));
+    public static final StreamCodec<RegistryFriendlyByteBuf, LinkBookTarget> STREAM_CODEC = StreamCodec.composite(
+            Identifier.STREAM_CODEC, LinkBookTarget::dimension,
+            ByteBufCodecs.DOUBLE, LinkBookTarget::x,
+            ByteBufCodecs.DOUBLE, LinkBookTarget::y,
+            ByteBufCodecs.DOUBLE, LinkBookTarget::z,
+            ByteBufCodecs.FLOAT, LinkBookTarget::yaw,
+            ByteBufCodecs.FLOAT, LinkBookTarget::pitch,
+            LinkBookTarget::new);
+
+    public static LinkBookTarget at(ServerPlayer player) {
+        return new LinkBookTarget(player.level().dimension().identifier(),
+                player.getX(), player.getY(), player.getZ(), player.getYRot(), player.getXRot());
+    }
+
+    public boolean valid() {
+        return Double.isFinite(x) && Double.isFinite(y) && Double.isFinite(z)
+                && Float.isFinite(yaw) && Float.isFinite(pitch)
+                && Math.abs(x) <= 30_000_000 && Math.abs(z) <= 30_000_000;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/item/LinkingBookItem.java

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item;
+
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.function.Consumer;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.AgeCatalogSync;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionHand;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionResult;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.player.Player;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.Item;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.TooltipFlag;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.component.TooltipDisplay;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
+
+/** Handheld Linking Book; destination binding and travel are server-authoritative packets. */
+public final class LinkingBookItem extends Item {
+    public LinkingBookItem(Properties properties) {
+        super(properties);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isFoil(ItemStack stack) {
+        return stack.has(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get()) || super.isFoil(stack);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public InteractionResult use(Level level, Player player, InteractionHand hand) {
+        // Client-side interaction opens the book screen. A direct server-side
+        // item-use packet must never bypass the screen's validated payloads.
+        return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+    }
+
+    public static String travel(ServerPlayer player, LinkBookTarget destination) {
+        if (destination == null) return "Unbound Linking Book (26.3 port preview)";
+        if (!destination.valid()) return "Invalid Linking Book destination";
+        if (player.level().dimension().identifier().equals(destination.dimension())) {
+            return "Same-dimension linking requires an Intra-Linking page";
+        }
+        ServerLevel target = player.level().getServer().getLevel(
+                ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, destination.dimension()));
+        if (target == null) return "Destination dimension is unavailable: " + destination.dimension();
+        if (!AgeCatalogSync.ready(player, destination.dimension())) {
+            return "Destination catalog not acknowledged by client";
+        }
+        BlockPos feet = BlockPos.containing(destination.x(), destination.y(), destination.z());
+        if (feet.getY() < target.getMinY() || feet.getY() + 1 >= target.getMaxY()
+                || !target.getWorldBorder().isWithinBounds(feet)) {
+            return "Destination is outside the world bounds";
+        }
+        // Test the player's actual arrival volume: checking whole block shapes
+        // would incorrectly reject links bound while standing on a slab.
+        if (!target.noCollision(player, player.getBoundingBox().move(
+                destination.x() - player.getX(), destination.y() - player.getY(),
+                destination.z() - player.getZ()))) {
+            return "Linked destination is obstructed";
+        }
+        boolean moved = player.teleportTo(target, destination.x(), destination.y(), destination.z(),
+                Set.of(), destination.yaw(), destination.pitch(), true);
+        return moved ? null : "Teleportation failed";
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void appendHoverText(ItemStack stack, TooltipContext context, TooltipDisplay display,
+                                Consumer<Component> tooltip, TooltipFlag flag) {
+        LinkBookTarget target = stack.get(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get());
+        tooltip.accept(Component.literal(target == null ? "Unbound (26.3 port preview)"
+                : "Destination: " + target.dimension() + " (" + (int) target.x() + ", "
+                + (int) target.y() + ", " + (int) target.z() + ")"));
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/network/BindLinkingBookPayload.java

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.network.RegistryFriendlyByteBuf;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.ByteBufCodecs;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.StreamCodec;
+import net.minecraft.network.protocol.common.custom.CustomPacketPayload;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+
+public record BindLinkingBookPayload(boolean offhand, String title) implements CustomPacketPayload {
+    public static final Type<BindLinkingBookPayload> TYPE = new Type<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "bind_linking_book"));
+    public static final StreamCodec<RegistryFriendlyByteBuf, BindLinkingBookPayload> STREAM_CODEC = StreamCodec.composite(
+            ByteBufCodecs.BOOL, BindLinkingBookPayload::offhand,
+            ByteBufCodecs.stringUtf8(32), BindLinkingBookPayload::title,
+            BindLinkingBookPayload::new);
+
+    @Override
+    public Type<BindLinkingBookPayload> type() {
+        return TYPE;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/network/PortBookNetworking.java

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkBookTarget;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkingBookItem;
+import net.minecraft.core.component.DataComponents;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.sounds.SoundEvents;
+import net.minecraft.sounds.SoundSource;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionHand;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.network.event.RegisterPayloadHandlersEvent;
+
+/** Server-authoritative handheld Linking Book binding and travel. */
+public final class PortBookNetworking {
+    public static final int MAX_BOOK_TITLE_LENGTH = 32;
+
+    private PortBookNetworking() {
+    }
+
+    public static void registerPayloads(RegisterPayloadHandlersEvent event) {
+        var registrar = event.registrar("1");
+        registrar.playToServer(BindLinkingBookPayload.TYPE, BindLinkingBookPayload.STREAM_CODEC,
+                (payload, context) -> {
+                    if (context.player() instanceof ServerPlayer player) bind(player, payload);
+                });
+        registrar.playToServer(UseLinkingBookPayload.TYPE, UseLinkingBookPayload.STREAM_CODEC,
+                (payload, context) -> {
+                    if (context.player() instanceof ServerPlayer player) use(player, payload);
+                });
+    }
+
+    private static void bind(ServerPlayer player, BindLinkingBookPayload payload) {
+        ItemStack stack = player.getItemInHand(hand(payload.offhand()));
+        if (!stack.is(Rivencraft.LINKING_BOOK.get()) || stack.has(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get())) return;
+        String title = payload.title().strip();
+        if (title.isEmpty() || title.length() > MAX_BOOK_TITLE_LENGTH) return;
+        stack.set(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get(), LinkBookTarget.at(player));
+        stack.set(DataComponents.CUSTOM_NAME, Component.literal(title));
+        player.level().playSound(null, player.blockPosition(), SoundEvents.BOOK_PAGE_TURN,
+                SoundSource.PLAYERS, 1.0F, 1.0F);
+        player.sendOverlayMessage(Component.literal("Bound Linking Book: " + title));
+        player.containerMenu.broadcastChanges();
+    }
+
+    private static void use(ServerPlayer player, UseLinkingBookPayload payload) {
+        ItemStack stack = player.getItemInHand(hand(payload.offhand()));
+        if (!stack.is(Rivencraft.LINKING_BOOK.get())) return;
+        String failure = LinkingBookItem.travel(player, stack.get(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get()));
+        if (failure != null) player.sendOverlayMessage(Component.literal(failure));
+    }
+
+    private static InteractionHand hand(boolean offhand) {
+        return offhand ? InteractionHand.OFF_HAND : InteractionHand.MAIN_HAND;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/network/UseLinkingBookPayload.java

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.network.RegistryFriendlyByteBuf;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.ByteBufCodecs;
+import net.minecraft.network.codec.StreamCodec;
+import net.minecraft.network.protocol.common.custom.CustomPacketPayload;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+
+public record UseLinkingBookPayload(boolean offhand) implements CustomPacketPayload {
+    public static final Type<UseLinkingBookPayload> TYPE = new Type<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "use_linking_book"));
+    public static final StreamCodec<RegistryFriendlyByteBuf, UseLinkingBookPayload> STREAM_CODEC = StreamCodec.composite(
+            ByteBufCodecs.BOOL, UseLinkingBookPayload::offhand, UseLinkingBookPayload::new);
+
+    @Override
+    public Type<UseLinkingBookPayload> type() {
+        return TYPE;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/META-INF/accesstransformer.cfg

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# The 26.3 server has no public runtime-Level insertion API. Keep the
+# access surface restricted to the three fields used by RuntimeAgeBackend.
+public net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer levels
+public net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer storageSource
+public net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer executor
+# Minecraft 26.3 may expose an immutable level catalog. Replace the field
+# atomically when the server announces new runtime Ages instead of mutating it.
+public net.minecraft.client.multiplayer.ClientPacketListener levels

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/assets/rivencraft/items/crystal_block.json

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "model": {
+    "type": "minecraft:model",
+    "model": "rivencraft:block/crystal_block"
+  }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/assets/rivencraft/items/crystal_shard.json

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "model": {
+    "type": "minecraft:model",
+    "model": "rivencraft:item/crystal_shard"
+  }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/assets/rivencraft/items/descriptive_book.json

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "model": {
+    "type": "minecraft:model",
+    "model": "rivencraft:item/descriptive_book"
+  }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/assets/rivencraft/items/linking_book.json

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "model": {
+    "type": "minecraft:model",
+    "model": "rivencraft:item/linking_book_bound"
+  }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/assets/rivencraft/lang/en_us.json

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "item.rivencraft.crystal_shard": "Crystal Shard",
+  "item.rivencraft.descriptive_book": "Descriptive Book",
+  "item.rivencraft.linking_book": "Linking Book",
+  "block.rivencraft.crystal_block": "Crystal Block"
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/templates/META-INF/neoforge.mods.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+license="${mod_license}"
+issueTrackerURL="https://git.paddedcell.org/dnorberg/rivencraft/issues"
+
+[[mods]]
+modId="${mod_id}"
+version="${mod_version}"
+displayName="${mod_name} 26.3 Port Preview"
+displayURL="https://git.paddedcell.org/dnorberg/rivencraft"
+authors="dnorberg and contributors"
+description='''
+Incomplete Minecraft 26.3 development slice. Not for gameplay or distribution.
+'''
+
+[[dependencies.${mod_id}]]
+modId="neoforge"
+type="required"
+versionRange="[${neo_version},)"
+ordering="NONE"
+side="BOTH"
+
+[[dependencies.${mod_id}]]
+modId="minecraft"
+type="required"
+versionRange="${minecraft_version_range}"
+ordering="NONE"
+side="BOTH"

scripts/smoke_server_263.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Disposable, headless smoke check for the incomplete 26.3 runtime Age backend.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+repo_dir=$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)
+smoke_dir=$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/rivencraft-263-smoke.XXXXXX")
+server_dir="$smoke_dir/server"
+server_pid=
+input_fd=
+
+cleanup() {
+    if [[ -n "$server_pid" ]] && kill -0 "$server_pid" 2>/dev/null; then
+        if [[ -n "$input_fd" ]]; then printf 'stop\n' >&"$input_fd" || true; fi
+        wait "$server_pid" 2>/dev/null || true
+    fi
+    if [[ -n "$input_fd" ]]; then exec {input_fd}>&-; fi
+    rm -rf -- "$smoke_dir"
+}
+trap cleanup EXIT
+
+mkdir -p "$server_dir"
+printf 'eula=true\n' > "$server_dir/eula.txt"
+printf 'server-port=0\nonline-mode=false\nwhite-list=false\n' > "$server_dir/server.properties"
+
+wait_for_log() {
+    local log_file=$1 pattern=$2 seconds=$3
+    local tries=$((seconds * 4))
+    for ((i = 0; i < tries; i++)); do
+        if grep -Fq -- "$pattern" "$log_file" 2>/dev/null; then return 0; fi
+        if ! kill -0 "$server_pid" 2>/dev/null; then
+            printf 'Server exited before: %s\n' "$pattern" >&2
+            tail -80 "$log_file" >&2
+            return 1
+        fi
+        sleep 0.25
+    done
+    printf 'Timed out waiting for: %s\n' "$pattern" >&2
+    tail -80 "$log_file" >&2
+    return 1
+}
+
+start_server() {
+    local phase=$1
+    log_file="$smoke_dir/$phase.log"
+    fifo="$smoke_dir/$phase.stdin"
+    mkfifo "$fifo"
+    exec {input_fd}<>"$fifo"
+    "$repo_dir/gradlew" -p "$repo_dir/ports/mc263" runServer \
+        -PserverRunDir="$server_dir" --no-daemon < "$fifo" > "$log_file" 2>&1 &
+    server_pid=$!
+    wait_for_log "$log_file" 'Done (' 120
+}
+
+stop_server() {
+    printf 'stop\n' >&"$input_fd"
+    wait "$server_pid"
+    server_pid=
+    exec {input_fd}>&-
+    rm -- "$fifo"
+}
+
+send_and_wait() {
+    local command=$1 result=$2
+    printf '%s\n' "$command" >&"$input_fd"
+    wait_for_log "$log_file" "$result" 60
+}
+
+start_server first
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port compat' 'Registered biomes by namespace:'
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port age create smoke_alpha 123456789' 'Created rivencraft:age/smoke_alpha with seed 123456789'
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port age create smoke_beta 987654321' 'Created rivencraft:age/smoke_beta with seed 987654321'
+# The index must reach disk while the server is still running. A graceful
+# shutdown would hide the interrupted-save regression this checks.
+index_file="$server_dir/world/dimensions/minecraft/overworld/data/rivencraft/runtime_ages.dat"
+[[ -s "$index_file" ]] || {
+    printf 'Age index was not persisted before shutdown: %s\n' "$index_file" >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+gzip -dc "$index_file" | strings | grep -Fq 'rivencraft:age/smoke_alpha'
+gzip -dc "$index_file" | strings | grep -Fq 'rivencraft:age/smoke_beta'
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port age sample smoke_alpha' 'rivencraft:age/smoke_alpha seed=123456789 chunkOffset=0 terrain='
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port age sample smoke_beta' 'rivencraft:age/smoke_beta seed=987654321 chunkOffset=0 terrain='
+alpha_before=$(grep -F 'rivencraft:age/smoke_alpha seed=123456789 chunkOffset=0 terrain=' "$log_file" | tail -1 | sed 's/.*terrain=//')
+beta_before=$(grep -F 'rivencraft:age/smoke_beta seed=987654321 chunkOffset=0 terrain=' "$log_file" | tail -1 | sed 's/.*terrain=//')
+if [[ "$alpha_before" == "$beta_before" ]]; then
+    printf 'Different Age seeds produced the same terrain probe: %s\n' "$alpha_before" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+stop_server
+
+start_server restart
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port age list' 'smoke_alpha'
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port age sample smoke_alpha' 'rivencraft:age/smoke_alpha seed=123456789 chunkOffset=0 terrain='
+send_and_wait 'rivencraft_port age sample smoke_beta' 'rivencraft:age/smoke_beta seed=987654321 chunkOffset=0 terrain='
+alpha_after=$(grep -F 'rivencraft:age/smoke_alpha seed=123456789 chunkOffset=0 terrain=' "$log_file" | tail -1 | sed 's/.*terrain=//')
+beta_after=$(grep -F 'rivencraft:age/smoke_beta seed=987654321 chunkOffset=0 terrain=' "$log_file" | tail -1 | sed 's/.*terrain=//')
+[[ "$alpha_before" == "$alpha_after" && "$beta_before" == "$beta_after" ]] || {
+    printf 'Age terrain changed across restart: %s/%s -> %s/%s\n' \
+        "$alpha_before" "$beta_before" "$alpha_after" "$beta_after" >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+stop_server
+printf '26.3 dedicated-server smoke passed: two distinct Ages persisted across restart.\n'