Port libraries, crystal portals and instability decay to 26.3 beta

README.md

@@ -19,11 +19,14 @@ independent Sun/Moon controls, multiple bodies and eclipses, seeded biome and
 feature completion, and random structure selection. Nether/End noise-biome
 materials now follow their native rules. Books now have Legacy-style spreads,
 animated fallback panels and saved destination labels; lectern stands, open-book
-drops, page collections, stations and basic progression are also ported.
+drops, page collections, stations and basic progression are also ported. The latest
+beta adds Age libraries, crystal portals with animated fallback surfaces, saved
+instability scoring/provider selection, potion providers and four-color decay.
+Full writing recovery, live material profiling and other hazards remain pending.
 The beta does not yet provide full
 1.21.1 gameplay or optional-integration parity.
 See the [26.3 beta guide](ports/mc263/README.md) and
-[latest beta release notes](ports/mc263/RELEASE_NOTES_1.0.1.115-beta.1.md).
+[latest beta release notes](ports/mc263/RELEASE_NOTES_1.0.1.120-beta.1.md).
 Keep the builds and their saves separate, and back up worlds before updating.
 
 ## Getting started

docs/MINECRAFT_26_3_PORT.md

@@ -2169,3 +2169,160 @@ Server stopped and temporary world removed. Manual checks: Q/inventory toss,
 death/Disarm, broken stand, full-inventory delivery/retrieval, open-book visual
 orientation, motion, ownership/pickup, component preservation and restart. Root
 1.21.1 remains unchanged and #114 stays open until both tracks are complete.
+
+## Handheld Link Panel resource policy
+
+`1.0.1.116-beta.1` adapts root WritingInkService and the configurable
+`writing.link_panel_ink_cost` (2 default, 1–16 allowed). The item delegates the
+server transaction to the service; Writing Desk cost reads also use its shared
+getter. Mixer cost remains independently fixed at one ink per Link Panel.
+Unsynchronized LOCAL config is not consulted for client affordability prediction;
+the server validates both inputs and constructs outputs before mutation.
+
+Build passed. No additional server fixtures were added; the user offered manual
+validation. Check default/custom cost, insufficient ink, final bottle, both hands,
+stacked/full-inventory inputs and dedicated-server cost differing from the client.
+Root 1.21.1 is unchanged; no commit/push/publication was performed.
+
+## Library discovery port
+
+`1.0.1.117-beta.1` ports MystcraftLibraryFeature from the 1.21.1 implementation,
+using the shared schematic/loot table and final five-stand orientation. Natural
+placement runs after all vanilla/authored decoration via the Age feature wrapper,
+with the same bounded footprint, candidate RNG/spacing, slope/footing and obstruction
+rules. The wrapper now applies to every runtime Age; Cave terrain disables libraries
+as in root. Existing chunks are not rewritten and vanilla Overworld generation is
+not modified.
+
+A separate saved writing map holds the original symbol list for AGE_ONLY loot,
+avoiding expansion of the already-large backend index record. Creation stores it
+before constructing/publishing the level; the wrapper captures an immutable list
+and serializes library flags/list in its codec. Reload reconstructs the same pool.
+LEGACY is the default; AGE_ONLY uses known distinct written IDs. Full random-page
+policy integration remains pending. The snapshot list does not alter generation
+traits or the book's original contents.
+
+Added operator placement, session-only spacing override, cheap candidate reporting,
+current-chunk probe/loot inspection and a locator restricted to loaded nearby chunks.
+The locator checks a clear, dry, footed aisle; it never performs a mass remote
+chunk-generation search. Explicit test placement checks empty space and entities.
+
+Build passed; shared schematic/Sealed Notebook loot packaging verified. Dedicated
+server startup passed. The user offered manual testing, so generation/loot checks
+were handed over before running them. Temporary server stopped and world removed.
+No new test fixture, commit or publication. This is a substantial discovery-system
+slice; instability/recovery, crystal portals and remaining optional integrations
+remain the other large parity gaps.
+
+
+## .118 crystal portal gameplay port
+
+The player confirmed .117 library generation and retracted the missing-library report.
+Ported the 1.21.1 Book Receptacle, bounded crystal flood/tension network, portal
+surface ownership and orientation, activation protection checks and rollback, removal
+cleanup, queued transport and cooldown. Reused existing crystal, portal and receptacle
+assets, recipe and progression node. The book renderer retains all final six mounting
+orientations and explicitly clears its extracted presence when the book is removed.
+
+Player traversal uses existing Linking/Descriptive Book paths, with portal audio
+precedence. Descriptive arrival resolution is now shared; no separate portal offset
+or generated exit position is introduced. Existing Intra-Linking, Disarm, momentum,
+client Age acknowledgement, Return Link configuration and progression remain in force.
+Non-player traversal uses modern TeleportTransition, collision/permission checks,
+and the same landing resolver. A shared Disarm helper supports container/horse/mob
+inventory and equipment without requiring the old protected-method mixin.
+
+Book and owner pointers use modern ValueInput/ValueOutput and update packets. Startup
+waits for loaded frame chunks; periodic bounded reconciliation retains root's cleanup
+of disconnected cells, staggered every 200 ticks per holder. The surface remains the
+animated facing-only fallback, tinted to the saved destination sky. Live portal views
+are still optional integration work, not advertised as ported.
+
+Build/resources and dedicated-server startup passed. A command-seeded 3x3 opening
+verified exact-coordinate entity transport, persistence and traversal after restart,
+and support-removal teardown/open-book recovery. Player interaction and client visuals
+are handed over for manual testing. Temporary server stopped/world deleted; no new
+permanent GameTest, commit, push or publication. Version: 1.0.1.118-beta.1.
+
+
+## .119 instability foundation and status-effect gameplay
+
+The player passed .118. Ported the complete five-deck catalog and deterministic
+provider selection from 1.21.1. Separate modern codec SavedData freezes new Ages'
+scoring contributions, seed, selected providers/levels and an enabled flag. Older
+Ages remain neutral. Creation-time scoring currently covers Bright Lighting,
+Accelerated, all three Corrupted sizes, ignored Cave weather/celestial modifiers,
+excess/biome-forced structures and additional suns. Original page indices are retained.
+Corrupted Pages now bind and contribute their Legacy costs; existing redacted rendering
+is reused. The new Abandoned Camps structure follows the same modern-structure costs.
+
+Adapted the bounded occupied-Age scheduler and the 18 local/global/general/hostile
+potion providers, preserving 1.21.1 defaults, effect durations, level-based amplifiers,
+sky exposure and Survival/Adventure targeting. The owned-instance lease system revokes
+only Rivencraft's effects on exit/disable/shutdown, preserving other sources. Runtime
+uses already-loaded chunks and shared per-Age work budgets; failed providers receive
+a temporary quarantine. The config retains server ownership and can disable providers
+without rerolling stored plans.
+
+OP-only `/rivencraft_port instability` supplies status/breakdown, persistent enabled
+control, session-only score override/reset and one-provider pulses. Pulse output tracks
+successful application separately from attempted work so event-cancelled effects are
+not reported as applied. No scoring data is sent to player book/Binder UI. Unimplemented
+hazards stay selected with an explicit status; they are never replaced or rerolled.
+
+Build/startup passed. Temporary dedicated-server checks verified neutral creation,
+provider selection at a test score, Poison application/duration, immediate owned-effect
+revocation, unrelated stronger-effect retention, local-versus-global roof behavior,
+enabled-state persistence and test-score reset across restart. Server stopped/world
+deleted; no new permanent GameTests, commit, push or publication. Manual checks cover
+authored Corrupted/Accelerated/lighting score contributions, automatic player-occupied
+scheduling, Survival/Creative policy, exit cleanup and hostile buffs. Version .119.
+
+Still pending: full writing grammar recovery/penalties, live block abundance, decay,
+lightning/explosions, meteors, burning and erosion, plus optional integration parity.
+
+
+## .120 colored decay gameplay
+
+The player passed .119. Ported the 1.21.1 DecayBlock, four provider handlers and bounded
+frontier persistence. Reused all four active 16x16 block textures/models and the
+protected-block tag. Modern adaptation uses BreakBlockEvent, Value/codec SavedData,
+ChunkPos accessors, loaded-chunk lookup and server-side magic damage for White.
+No decay item/recipe/drop is added.
+
+Provider metadata now distinguishes world-mutating handlers, so world_mutation gates
+decay independently of potion policy. Defaults remain enabled/four neighbor attempts,
+one successful conversion per call under the shared scheduler budget. Conversion
+hardness/air/color odds, infrastructure/BE/fluid/unbreakable protection, positioned
+fake-player claim events and placement rollback are retained from 1.21.1.
+
+The instability record adds an optional first resolved spawn, preserving old records'
+scores/plans and enable flags. Shared Descriptive Book landing resolution records it
+once; decay protects the same +/-4 horizontal and -2..+4 vertical region as root.
+Older Ages record this on the next book/portal arrival; OP status exposes the point.
+Frontiers and attempt counters live in each Age, capped at 1,024 positions per color.
+
+Added OP-only `/rivencraft_port instability decay <color> [1..32 attempts]`, reporting
+actual changes and nearby tracked positions. Existing generic pulses now report block
+as well as entity actions. Invalid input/out-of-Age commands use proper command errors.
+White block contact damage retains root's decay/world_mutation policy; disabling an
+Age scheduler stops spread but does not remove existing decay or alter its block form.
+
+Build/startup passed. All four colors seeded/spread through bounded command pulses.
+A full restart retained each frontier and advanced attempts from 32 to 40 while Red
+continued growing. Bedrock and water generated empty frontiers, and the saved Age
+disable blocked further provider changes. Textures verified 16x16. A stationary NoAI
+sheep did not exercise the stepping hook, so White stepping damage remains a player
+manual check, alongside visuals, arrival protection, normal scheduler/claim integration.
+Server stopped/test world removed; no permanent tests, commit, push or publication.
+Version: 1.0.1.120-beta.1. Other hazards, full writing recovery and live abundance
+profiling remain pending.
+
+
+## .120 release sign-off
+
+The user passed .120 and authorized commit, push and publication of the accumulated
+.116–.120 work. Both target builds passed. Consolidated release notes distinguish
+implemented libraries, fallback crystal portals and partial instability/decay from
+remaining gameplay and optional-integration parity. Tracking issues #98/#102/#104
+remain open; #114 still requires the matching 1.21.1 fix.

ports/mc263/README.md

@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ author Standard, Amplified, Island, Flat, Void, or Cave terrain with supported
 biome-distribution pages, selected material/vegetation/structure features, and
 independent Age weather and lighting, multiple authored or seeded celestial
 bodies and eclipses, biome/material completion, and random features/structures.
-Instability, crystal portals, remaining discovery/stations, writing recovery and optional
+Crystal portals and libraries are ported. Instability scoring/provider selection,
-integration parity remain unfinished. The latest published beta is
+status effects and colored decay are partially ported; remaining hazards, live material profiling,
-[1.0.1.115-beta.1](RELEASE_NOTES_1.0.1.115-beta.1.md).
+remaining discovery/stations, writing recovery and optional integrations remain unfinished. The latest published beta is
+[1.0.1.120-beta.1](RELEASE_NOTES_1.0.1.120-beta.1.md).
 Use a test world and keep a backup; do not
 substitute this JAR for the 1.21.1 mod or import 1.21.1 saves.
 
@@ -1891,3 +1892,253 @@ offered to perform the remaining validation, so no further automated restart run
 was started. Server stopped and world removed. Shared issue #114 remains open:
 1.21.1 implementation and manual client validation are pending. Nothing committed
 or published.
+
+### Configurable handheld Link Panel ink cost
+
+The local `1.0.1.116-beta.1` slice ports root WritingInkService and its
+`writing.link_panel_ink_cost` option in `config/rivencraft-local.toml`.
+The allowed range is 1–16, default 2. Preparing a baseline Link Panel by hand
+consumes one Paper and that many ink units; insufficient ink changes neither
+input. A drained vial returns a vanilla Glass Bottle. Stacked inputs and
+inventory-full give/drop behavior retain the root transaction rules. The
+Ink Mixer still consumes exactly one ink unit and one Paper per panel, separately
+from this setting. Writing Desk symbol-copy cost uses the shared service getter.
+
+Handheld client prediction checks only eligible item types and a valid nonempty
+vial; the server uses its own configured cost to accept/refuse and consume inputs.
+This avoids relying on unsynchronized LOCAL config for client affordability.
+No new recipe, packet, Page variant or progression award is introduced.
+
+The build passed. Following the player's offer to do testing, no test server
+or new fixtures were started for this small resource-policy port. In game, check
+two ink per panel by default; then set `link_panel_ink_cost = 4` under `[writing]`
+and restart to check four ink per panel, insufficient-ink refusal, last-use bottle,
+both hands and stacked/full-inventory cases. Confirm the Mixer still costs one
+ink. On a dedicated server, change the server's value; the client need not match.
+Nothing committed, pushed or published.
+
+### Age library discovery
+
+The local `1.0.1.117-beta.1` slice ports the 1.21.1 library discovery system:
+the existing 11×11×11 schematic, five stocked lecterns, chest loot, deterministic
+32-chunk-region spread and the terrain/obstruction checks. Libraries generate
+at the end of decoration in newly generated, non-Cave Age chunks. The footprint
+stays inside its candidate chunk. Trees/foliage can be cleared, while fluids,
+block entities, solid obstructions, excessive slopes and absent sturdy footing
+reject placement. Vanilla Overworld generation is unchanged. Old chunks are
+not revisited; existing Ages gain libraries only in eligible new chunks.
+
+`[libraries] loot_mode` in `config/rivencraft-local.toml` defaults to `LEGACY`:
+writing supplies and possible Sealed Notebooks in chests, with random symbol
+Pages on five lecterns. `AGE_ONLY` limits new library chest/lectern Pages to
+known symbols written into that Age, using distinct IDs. Page-free Ages then
+have no symbol loot and the stands display ordinary Books, matching root.
+The original written list is saved independently and copied into the generator
+before generation, then restored on reload. It does not change the book's writing,
+seed, folder or other trait completion. Older Ages without this saved list have
+an empty Age-only pool. The broader random-page eligibility policy remains a
+separate unported system. The Legacy pool may include currently unsupported red
+pages, like the existing Sealed Notebook pool.
+
+Operator tools under `/rivencraft_port library`:
+- `test_place`: place a raised library in clear space ahead, without overwriting
+  existing blocks/entities. A console source may supply position via `execute`.
+- `nearest_loaded`: teleport into the nearest marked library aisle in loaded
+  chunks within 16 chunks. It checks footing/fluids/collision and does not scan
+  or generate remote chunks.
+- `test_spacing 1` through `32`: session-only increased candidate density in an
+  Age, for new chunks only. `32` restores normal spacing; restart clears overrides.
+- `candidate`: report the closest deterministic candidate without loading it;
+  eligibility is still required and a library is not guaranteed.
+- `probe`: identify a marked library or explain current-chunk placement rejection.
+- `inspect_loot`: materialize the current chunk's library chest as opening it would,
+  then print contents and the number of stands in that chunk.
+
+Build passed and the schematic/loot resources were verified in the JAR. A local
+dedicated server started with the data; at the player's request it was stopped
+before generation/loot tests. Its world was deleted. The player will check actual
+natural placement, five lectern pages and orientation/retrieval, chest loot/Sealed
+Notebook opening, both loot modes, locator/test tools and persistence after restart.
+No new GameTest fixtures were added. No commit, push or publication was made.
+
+
+## Beta .118 — crystal portals and Book Receptacles
+
+The player confirmed natural library generation in .117; the earlier missing-library
+report was withdrawn. .118 adapts the complete fallback crystal network from 1.21.1:
+
+- Book Receptacles mount on any of the six faces of Crystal Blocks, with the final
+  1.21.1 model/book orientations. Eight Crystal Blocks surrounding an empty crafting
+  square craft one receptacle; its recipe unlocks on obtaining a Crystal Block.
+- Insert a bound Linking or Descriptive Book into a valid connected crystal frame.
+  The Legacy tension/flood algorithm accepts supported irregular openings, using
+  the same 16-block radius, 2,048-crystal and 1,024-surface limits. Placement respects
+  NeoForge protection events and rolls back rejected activation.
+- Empty-hand interaction removes the book and closes the portal. Breaking its
+  support or holder closes it and drops the book as the recoverable open-book entity.
+- Player travel delegates to the existing book transport, catalog acknowledgement,
+  safe landing, Link Panel effects and configured Return Link handling. Descriptive
+  Books share the exact same landing resolver with portals. Linking Books retain
+  their exact coordinates, facing and same-dimension Intra-Linking requirement.
+- Non-player transport uses the same target rules, collision checks and momentum
+  rotation. Disarm refuses loose items and leaves container contents/eligible mob
+  equipment behind. The shared Disarm helper also replaces the player-only loop.
+- Queued collision travel waits until the entering movement packet is complete.
+  A 40-tick session-only cooldown prevents repeated traversal. Portal owner pointers,
+  the one stored book, and destination sky tint persist and synchronize to clients.
+  Startup waits for required frame chunks before repair. Loaded networks receive a
+  staggered bounded maintenance pass every 200 ticks, without generating chunks.
+- The animated fallback only renders its two facing surfaces. Its tint follows the
+  destination sky, including authored colors and the 1.21.1 Nether/End palette.
+  Optional live destination views remain part of the integration port; installing
+  another portal mod alone does not hide this fallback.
+- Successful activation awards the restored Open Portal advancement.
+
+Validation: build and dedicated-server startup passed. A small command-seeded
+crystal ring verified persisted book/owner data, entity collision travel to exact
+saved coordinates before and after a full server restart, and removal/drop cleanup
+when the support was broken. This was not a substitute for player-driven activation:
+the player should test book insertion/removal, the six model orientations, both book
+types and their Link Panel effects, survival/creative item handling, frame edits,
+reopening after restart, and travel with destination chunks initially unloaded.
+The temporary server was stopped and its world deleted. No new permanent GameTests,
+commit, push or publication.
+
+
+## Beta .119 — saved instability and status-effect providers
+
+The player passed .118 crystal portal testing. This slice begins the major instability
+port using the 1.21.1 scoring rules, complete Legacy card catalog, deterministic deck
+selection, bounded scheduler and potion-provider implementation.
+
+New Ages save creation-time contributions and selected provider IDs/levels in separate
+Overworld SavedData (`rivencraft/instability`), alongside an independent enabled flag.
+Creation saves this with the Age identity before catalog publication. Reload and
+configuration changes do not reroll the frozen plan. Older Ages remain neutral rather
+than being rescored. No score or provider detail is added to player books or Binder UI.
+
+The first scoring set includes Bright Lighting (+500, also when seed-completed),
+Accelerated (+1,000 each), Corrupted Medium (+1,000), Small (+2,000) and Large (+0),
+Cave-ineffective weather/celestial modifiers (+100 each), structure occurrences after
+the first three (+100 each), authored structures forced into non-native biomes (+100
+per occurrence), and growing costs for the third and later suns (+1,000, +2,000, ...).
+The same structure policy includes the new 26.3 Abandoned Camps page. Corrupted Pages
+are now implemented in authoring/creative availability; they retain animated redacted
+text and supply instability rather than a terrain decoration.
+
+All five Legacy decks and card costs/copy counts are retained. Scoring rounds down to
+500 before selecting/shuffling from the Age seed. Unported hazard cards remain selected
+and are reported as unavailable; no replacement reroll biases the deck toward potions.
+Writing-recovery penalties, live valuable-material profiling, decay, lightning,
+explosions, meteors, burning and erosion remain later slices. This is not yet full
+instability parity, and the existing authoring validation rules still apply.
+
+Implemented providers: local/global Blindness, Mining Fatigue, Hunger, Nausea, Poison,
+Slowness, Weakness and Wither, plus global hostile Regeneration and Resistance. Local
+variants require visible sky; global variants work under cover. Harmful general effects
+can affect Survival/Adventure players and non-player living entities; Creative and
+Spectator are exempt. Hostile buffs target monsters. Duration follows the 1.21.1 values:
+60 ticks Blindness/Nausea, 80 Fatigue/Hunger/Poison/Slowness/Weakness, 30 Wither, and 200
+hostile buffs. Provider level raises amplifier, not duration; default effective cap is 3.
+
+The scheduler runs only in occupied runtime Ages, selecting already-loaded nearby
+chunks. Defaults match 1.21.1: 20-tick interval, four Ages, two providers and one action
+per run, at most 16 chunks. Status leases cap at 32 per Age, eight candidates per attempt,
+and 200 ticks per effect. A failed handler is quarantined temporarily. Owned effects
+are revoked on departure/logout/disable/shutdown without deleting replacements or
+stronger/extended effects from another source. Config entries are under `[instability]`
+and `[instability_status_effects]` in the server's `rivencraft-local.toml`; provider
+exclusions accept `poison` or `rivencraft:poison`.
+
+Operator commands, used inside a runtime Age:
+
+- `/rivencraft_port instability status`: frozen score/contributions, saved or test
+  provider levels, enabled/availability information.
+- `/rivencraft_port instability enabled false` (or `true`): persistently pause/resume
+  this Age; pausing immediately clears owned effects without changing its saved plan.
+- `/rivencraft_port instability test_score 5000`: session-only deterministic provider
+  selection at a test score, leaving creation-time contributions unchanged.
+- `/rivencraft_port instability clear_test_score`: restore saved selection. Restart
+  also clears the test override.
+- `/rivencraft_port instability pulse poison_global`: attempt one implemented level-1
+  effect on an eligible living entity in the current already-loaded chunk. The command
+  respects config, enabled state, target policy and effect ownership; it reports when
+  no effect was applied. Existing effects are not replaced. Other catalog providers
+  are suggested too, with unavailable handlers explicitly reported.
+
+Validation: build and fresh dedicated-server startup passed. A small temporary Age
+confirmed neutral scoring, deterministic test deck selection, exact Poison duration,
+owned-effect cleanup on disable, retention of a stronger command-supplied Weakness,
+local shelter versus global effects, saved enabled state after restart and session
+score reset. The server was stopped and its world deleted. No permanent test fixtures
+were added. Player authoring/scoring, automatic occupied-Age scheduling, Survival versus
+Creative behavior, departure cleanup, hostile buffs and multiplayer fairness remain
+manual checks. No commit, push or publication.
+
+
+## Beta .120 — colored decay
+
+The player passed .119. This slice ports the four active 1.21.1 colored decay cards,
+the block and all four existing 16x16 textures, per-Age frontier persistence, surface
+seeding and six-neighbor conversion. Decay is selected by the existing saved Legacy
+decks; older saved provider selections are not rerolled.
+
+Blue, Red and Purple use the same hardness-dependent conversion odds as 1.21.1.
+White converts eligible solid blocks without a hardness roll. Air conversion remains
+rarer (Blue/Red 1-in-20, Purple 1-in-8, White 1-in-50). Other decay colors can be
+converted; White wins that conversion immediately and others use a 1-in-5 roll.
+White also deals one point of magic damage on stepping contact, using the modern
+server damage API. All decay variants are solid, hardness 5/resistance 10, have no
+item form or drops, and do not spread through autonomous/random block ticks.
+
+A provider call samples at most four six-neighbor targets by default and changes at
+most one block, sharing the existing scheduler's Age/provider/action budgets. It only
+examines supplied already-loaded player-nearby chunks. Per-Age SavedData retains a
+monotonic attempt sequence and at most 1,024 frontier coordinates per color; no chunk
+or entity references are persisted. Destroyed/recolored stale sources are discarded.
+
+Protection matches 1.21.1: fluids, unbreakable/critical blocks, block entities,
+portals and Rivencraft infrastructure resist conversion. Data packs can add entries
+to `rivencraft:decay_protected`. A positioned fake player supplies modern NeoForge
+BreakBlockEvent and placement events, with rollback for cancelled placement.
+
+The first resolved Descriptive Book landing is saved as a protected spawn without
+changing scoring or provider selection. It protects +/-4 blocks horizontally and
+Y-2 through Y+4. Portals and hand-held books share that resolver. For an Age entered
+before .120, re-enter it once to record this point; OP status reports whether it is
+recorded. Cloud Platforms and Rivencraft infrastructure remain protected independently.
+
+`[instability] world_mutation` and `[instability_decay] enabled` default to true,
+matching 1.21.1. `max_attempts_per_call` defaults to 4 (range 1–6). Per-Age enable,
+global enable and provider exclusions also gate seeding/spread. Disabling does not
+remove existing decay. As in 1.21.1, existing White block contact damage follows the
+decay/world-mutation toggles rather than the Age provider scheduler toggle.
+
+Operator testing, inside an Age and preferably away from its protected arrival:
+
+- `/rivencraft_port instability decay blue 32` makes up to 32 bounded provider
+  attempts in your current loaded chunk. Use `purple`, `red` or `white` too. It prints
+  the number of actual changes and up to four nearby tracked coordinates, without
+  changing score/selection. A failed roll or protected location can yield no change.
+- The existing `/rivencraft_port instability pulse decayblue` (and other colors)
+  attempts one call. Its output now describes successful actions for either blocks
+  or living entities.
+- `/rivencraft_port instability test_score 50000` allows natural deck selection for
+  observation; inspect `status` for the selected colors, then use `clear_test_score`
+  to restore the saved plan. Merely placing decay does not register an active card.
+
+Validation: build and fresh dedicated-server startup passed. Bounded pulses seeded
+and spread all four colors. On restart, the saved attempt sequence advanced from
+32 to 40 and the original frontiers persisted, with further Red growth. Bedrock and
+water seeding produced no conversions/frontier entries; disabling the Age blocked
+further changes. All packaged textures are 16x16. The temporary server was stopped
+and world deleted. Manual checks remain for visual variants, White stepping damage,
+protected arrival, normal occupied-Age spreading, claim-mod cancellation and controls.
+No permanent test fixtures, commit, push or publication.
+
+
+## .116–.120 release validation
+
+The player passed every slice, including .120 colored decay, and authorized commit,
+push and publication as 1.0.1.120-beta.1. Both Minecraft targets build successfully.
+See the consolidated release notes for the published scope and remaining parity gaps.

ports/mc263/RELEASE_NOTES_1.0.1.120-beta.1.md

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+# Rivencraft 26.3 beta 1.0.1.120-beta.1
+
+Collects the player-validated .116–.120 port slices since 1.0.1.115-beta.1.
+For Minecraft 26.3, NeoForge 26.3.0.99 and Java 25. The independent 1.21.1
+release is unchanged; full gameplay and optional-integration parity remain incomplete.
+
+## Libraries and writing
+
+- Ported Legacy library generation, shared schematic, chest loot and five correctly
+  oriented book/page stands. Libraries generate after decoration in eligible new
+  non-Cave Age chunks, using the 1.21.1 spacing, terrain and clearance checks.
+- Library loot defaults to `LEGACY`; optional `AGE_ONLY` limits new library Pages
+  to known symbols originally written into that Age. Original writing is saved
+  separately and restored on reload. Older Ages without it have an empty Age-only
+  pool. Ordinary Books replace stand Pages when that pool is empty.
+- Added operator library placement, candidate/probe/loot diagnostics, session-only
+  test spacing and a locator limited to nearby already-loaded chunks.
+- Hand-prepared Link Panel ink cost is server-configurable (default two). The
+  Ink Mixer still consumes one ink unit and one paper per panel. Writing Desk
+  ink handling now uses the shared service.
+
+## Crystal portals
+
+- Ported craftable Book Receptacles with all six mounting orientations and the
+  existing 1.21.1 model/book transforms. A bound Linking or Descriptive Book
+  activates a valid connected crystal frame, including supported irregular frames.
+- Reused the bounded crystal flood/tension algorithm, placement protection events,
+  rollback, owner persistence, restart repair, frame cleanup and traversal cooldown.
+- Empty-hand removal closes the portal and returns the book. Breaking the holder
+  or its crystal support closes it and drops a recoverable open-book entity.
+- Player and non-player travel reuse book destinations, safe arrival, Intra-Linking,
+  Disarm and momentum rules. Descriptive Books share the same landing resolver
+  with portals; no separate portal exit offset is added. Player Return Link policy
+  and progression remain in force.
+- The animated fallback surface renders its facing sides and uses destination sky
+  tint. The Open Portal advancement and receptacle recipe unlock are restored.
+  Live destination views are still pending optional integration work.
+
+## Instability and colored decay
+
+- New Ages save operator-only creation-time score contributions and deterministic
+  provider selections using all five Legacy decks. Existing Ages remain neutral;
+  reloads/config changes do not reroll stored plans.
+- Initial scoring covers Bright Lighting, Accelerated, Corrupted Pages, ineffective
+  Cave sky/weather modifiers, excess and biome-forced structures, and extra suns.
+  Corrupted Pages now bind successfully and retain their animated redacted text.
+- Ported 18 potion providers: local/global Blindness, Fatigue, Hunger, Nausea,
+  Poison, Slowness, Weakness and Wither, plus hostile Regeneration/Resistance.
+  General effects affect eligible Survival/Adventure players and living entities;
+  Creative/Spectator remain exempt. Local variants require sky exposure.
+- Added a bounded occupied-Age scheduler, owned-effect cleanup, provider controls
+  and operator score/status, enable/disable, session test-score and pulse commands.
+  Effects supplied or extended by another source are preserved.
+- Ported Blue, Purple, Red and White decay with the existing 16x16 textures,
+  hardness/air conversion odds, saved per-color frontiers and attempt sequence.
+  White retains stepping-contact magic damage. Decay has no item form or drops.
+- Spread uses only already-loaded candidate chunks, bounded attempts and action
+  budgets. Fluids, block entities, critical/unbreakable blocks, infrastructure,
+  protected tags and claim events prevent conversion.
+- The first resolved book/portal arrival is saved for spawn protection. Re-enter
+  an older Age once to record it. Global/Age/provider and world-mutation controls
+  gate spread; existing decay blocks remain when spreading is disabled.
+- Test a color with `/rivencraft_port instability decay blue 32` (also `purple`,
+  `red`, `white`); output includes actual changes and nearby tracked coordinates.
+  Scores are not added to ordinary book or Binder displays.
+
+## Validation and remaining work
+
+Player in-game checks passed .116–.120. Both the 26.3 and 1.21.1 builds passed;
+Gradle has no standalone test sources. Targeted disposable dedicated-server checks
+covered library placement, portal entity travel and restart ownership/cleanup,
+potion application/cleanup and persistence, all four decay colors, saved spread
+continuation, and bedrock/fluid protection. Test servers were stopped and their
+worlds removed.
+
+Full writing recovery/penalties, live material-abundance profiling, other instability
+hazards, remaining discovery/stations and optional integrations still need port work.
+Unported hazard cards remain saved and are reported as unavailable, rather than
+being replaced with different cards. Book previews remain the animated fallback.
+Machine acceleration (#112), Writing Desk model placement (#113), and the matching
+1.21.1 universal dropped-book fix (#114) remain tracked separately.
+
+Use matching client/server beta builds (catalog protocol 10). Keep Minecraft tracks
+and saves separate, back up beta worlds, and do not downgrade saves containing new
+blocks or data to earlier betas.

ports/mc263/build.gradle

@@ -193,6 +193,10 @@ tasks.named('processResources', ProcessResources).configure {
         include 'data/rivencraft/worldgen/structure_set/bastions.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/models/block/star_fissure.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/star_fissure.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/decay.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/block/decay_*.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/block/decay_*.png'
+        include 'data/rivencraft/tags/block/decay_protected.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/sounds.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/sounds/**/*.ogg'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/item/crystal_shard.png'
@@ -221,7 +225,6 @@ tasks.named('processResources', ProcessResources).configure {
         include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/writing_desk.json'
         include 'data/rivencraft/loot_table/blocks/writing_desk.json'
         include 'data/rivencraft/advancement/progression/*.json'
-        exclude 'data/rivencraft/advancement/progression/open_portal.json'
         exclude 'data/rivencraft/advancement/progression/root.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/item/ink_vial.png.mcmeta'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/models/item/ink_vial.json'
@@ -253,8 +256,19 @@ tasks.named('processResources', ProcessResources).configure {
         include 'assets/rivencraft/models/block/book_binder.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/models/item/book_binder.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/book_binder.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/book_receptacle.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/crystal_portal.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/block/book_receptacle.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/block/crystal_portal.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/models/item/book_receptacle.json'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/block/book_receptacle.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/block/crystal_portal.png'
+        include 'assets/rivencraft/textures/block/crystal_portal.png.mcmeta'
+        include 'data/rivencraft/loot_table/blocks/book_receptacle.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/book_stand.json'
         include 'data/rivencraft/loot_table/blocks/book_stand.json'
+        include 'data/rivencraft/loot_table/chests/mystcraft_library.json'
+        include 'data/rivencraft/structure/mystcraft_library.nbt'
         include 'data/rivencraft/loot_table/blocks/book_binder.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/models/block/crystal_block.json'
         include 'assets/rivencraft/blockstates/crystal_block.json'

ports/mc263/gradle.properties

@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@ neo_version=26.3.0.99
 mod_id=rivencraft
 mod_name=Rivencraft
 mod_license=LGPL-3.0-or-later
-mod_version=1.0.1.115-beta.1
+mod_version=1.0.1.120-beta.1

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

@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@ import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.ModConfigSpec;
 
 /** Server-owned gameplay policies adapted from 1.21.1. */
 public final class PortConfig {
+    public enum LibraryLootMode { LEGACY, AGE_ONLY }
+    public static final ModConfigSpec.EnumValue<LibraryLootMode> LIBRARY_LOOT_MODE;
     public enum ReturnLinkMode { ON_CREATION, ALWAYS, DISABLED }
     public static final ModConfigSpec SPEC;
     public static final ModConfigSpec.IntValue SYMBOL_INK_COST;
+    public static final ModConfigSpec.IntValue LINK_PANEL_INK_COST;
     public static final ModConfigSpec.EnumValue<ReturnLinkMode> RETURN_LINK_MODE;
     public static final ModConfigSpec.IntValue ACCELERATED_MAX_CHUNKS;
     public static final ModConfigSpec.IntValue ACCELERATED_MAX_ATTEMPTS;
@@ -18,9 +21,16 @@ public final class PortConfig {
                 "ON_CREATION issues one on the first arrival per Age/world; ALWAYS issues one each arrival; DISABLED issues none.")
                 .defineEnum("return_link_mode", ReturnLinkMode.DISABLED);
         builder.pop();
+        builder.push("libraries");
+        LIBRARY_LOOT_MODE = builder.comment("LEGACY uses writing supplies/Sealed Notebooks and random lectern pages; AGE_ONLY uses only pages written into this Age.")
+                .defineEnum("loot_mode", LibraryLootMode.LEGACY);
+        builder.pop();
         builder.push("writing");
         SYMBOL_INK_COST = builder.comment("Ink units consumed for one Writing Desk symbol copy.")
                 .defineInRange("symbol_ink_cost", 1, 1, 16);
+        LINK_PANEL_INK_COST = builder.comment("Ink units consumed when preparing one baseline Link Panel by hand with paper.",
+                "The Ink Mixer uses one ink unit per panel independently of this setting.")
+                .defineInRange("link_panel_ink_cost", 2, 1, 16);
         builder.pop();
         builder.push("accelerated_age");
         ACCELERATED_MAX_CHUNKS = builder.comment("Maximum already-loaded player-nearby chunks given extra random ticks per Age tick.")
@@ -28,6 +38,7 @@ public final class PortConfig {
         ACCELERATED_MAX_ATTEMPTS = builder.comment("Maximum extra random-tick positions sampled per Age tick, shared fairly across loaded sections; zero disables Accelerated.")
                 .defineInRange("max_random_tick_attempts_per_tick", 16384, 0, 65536);
         builder.pop();
+        net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortInstabilityConfig.define(builder);
         SPEC = builder.build();
     }
 

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

@@ -131,6 +131,23 @@ public final class Rivencraft {
             BLOCKS.registerBlock("cloud_platform", net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.CloudPlatformBlock::new,
                     () -> BlockBehaviour.Properties.ofFullCopy(Blocks.AMETHYST_BLOCK)
                             .mapColor(MapColor.COLOR_BLUE).strength(0.3F).noLootTable());
+    public static final DeferredBlock<net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.BookReceptacleBlock> BOOK_RECEPTACLE =
+            BLOCKS.registerBlock("book_receptacle", net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.BookReceptacleBlock::new,
+                    () -> BlockBehaviour.Properties.ofFullCopy(Blocks.AMETHYST_BLOCK).noOcclusion().mapColor(MapColor.COLOR_BLUE));
+    public static final DeferredItem<BlockItem> BOOK_RECEPTACLE_ITEM = ITEMS.registerSimpleBlockItem(BOOK_RECEPTACLE);
+    public static final DeferredBlock<net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.CrystalPortalBlock> CRYSTAL_PORTAL =
+            BLOCKS.registerBlock("crystal_portal", net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.CrystalPortalBlock::new,
+                    () -> BlockBehaviour.Properties.ofFullCopy(Blocks.NETHER_PORTAL)
+                            .noCollision().noOcclusion().lightLevel(state -> 11).noLootTable());
+    public static final Supplier<BlockEntityType<net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity>> BOOK_RECEPTACLE_BLOCK_ENTITY =
+            BLOCK_ENTITY_TYPES.register("book_receptacle", () -> new BlockEntityType<>(
+                    net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity::new, BOOK_RECEPTACLE.get()));
+    public static final Supplier<BlockEntityType<net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.CrystalPortalBlockEntity>> CRYSTAL_PORTAL_BLOCK_ENTITY =
+            BLOCK_ENTITY_TYPES.register("crystal_portal", () -> new BlockEntityType<>(
+                    net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.CrystalPortalBlockEntity::new, CRYSTAL_PORTAL.get()));
+    public static final DeferredBlock<net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.DecayBlock> DECAY =
+            BLOCKS.registerBlock("decay", net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.DecayBlock::new,
+                    () -> BlockBehaviour.Properties.ofFullCopy(Blocks.STONE).strength(5.0F, 10.0F).noLootTable());
     public static final DeferredBlock<StarFissureBlock> STAR_FISSURE =
             BLOCKS.registerBlock("star_fissure", StarFissureBlock::new,
                     () -> BlockBehaviour.Properties.ofFullCopy(Blocks.END_PORTAL).lightLevel(state -> 6));
@@ -235,6 +252,8 @@ public final class Rivencraft {
         NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.addListener(AgeCatalogSync::onServerStopped);
         modEventBus.addListener(AgeCatalogSync::registerPayloads);
         modEventBus.addListener(PortBookNetworking::registerPayloads);
+        net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortStatusEffectProviders.register();
+        net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortDecayProviders.register();
         LOGGER.info("Initializing Rivencraft 26.3 port slice (not release-ready)");
     }
 }

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/advancement/ProgressionAdvancements.java

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
 
 /** Awards action-only progression after the server has committed the action. */
 public final class ProgressionAdvancements {
+    public static final String OPEN_PORTAL = "open_portal";
     public static final String LINK_PANEL = "link_panel";
     public static final String COPY_PAGE = "copy_page";
     public static final String BIND_AGE = "bind_age";

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

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+
+/** Frozen Legacy 0.13.7.06 deck cards and default activation costs, not effect implementations. */
+public final class InstabilityProviderCatalog {
+    public enum Deck {
+        BASIC(0), HARSH(2_500), DESTRUCTIVE(10_000), EATING(15_000), DEATH(20_000);
+
+        private final int entryCost;
+
+        Deck(int entryCost) { this.entryCost = entryCost; }
+        public int entryCost() { return entryCost; }
+    }
+
+    public record Card(Identifier id, int cost) {
+        public Card {
+            if (cost <= 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Provider cost must be positive");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static final List<List<Card>> DECKS = createDecks();
+
+    private InstabilityProviderCatalog() {}
+
+    public static List<Card> cards(Deck deck) { return DECKS.get(deck.ordinal()); }
+
+    public static boolean contains(Identifier id) {
+        return DECKS.stream().flatMap(List::stream).anyMatch(card -> card.id().equals(id));
+    }
+
+    private static List<List<Card>> createDecks() {
+        List<List<Card>> decks = new ArrayList<>();
+        for (Deck ignored : Deck.values()) decks.add(new ArrayList<>());
+        add(decks, "blindness", 1000, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0);
+        add(decks, "blindness_global", 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1);
+        add(decks, "enemyregen_global", 1000, 5, 2, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "enemyresist_global", 1000, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "fatigue", 500, 5, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "fatigue_global", 1000, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "hunger", 500, 8, 2, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "hunger_global", 1000, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "nausea", 1000, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0);
+        add(decks, "nausea_global", 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1);
+        add(decks, "poison", 500, 9, 3, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "poison_global", 1000, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "slow", 500, 6, 1, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "slow_global", 1000, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "weakness", 500, 8, 2, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "weakness_global", 1000, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "wither", 1000, 0, 1, 1, 2, 0);
+        add(decks, "wither_global", 2000, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1);
+        add(decks, "burning", 500, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "crumble", 2000, 0, 0, 6, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "decayblue", 2000, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1);
+        add(decks, "decaypurple", 2000, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1);
+        add(decks, "decayred", 2000, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1);
+        add(decks, "decaywhite", 5000, 0, 0, 0, 1, 3);
+        add(decks, "explosions", 1000, 0, 0, 8, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "lightning", 1000, 0, 4, 4, 0, 0);
+        add(decks, "meteors", 1000, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0);
+        return decks.stream().map(List::copyOf).toList();
+    }
+
+    private static void add(List<List<Card>> decks, String path, int cost, int... copies) {
+        Card card = new Card(Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, path), cost);
+        for (Deck deck : Deck.values()) {
+            for (int copy = 0; copy < copies[deck.ordinal()]; copy++) decks.get(deck.ordinal()).add(card);
+        }
+    }
+}

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

@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@ public final class PortAgeTravel {
         if (!AgeCatalogSync.ready(player, id)) {
             return "Age catalog not acknowledged by client; remaining in source dimension";
         }
+        BlockPos landing = resolveLanding(target);
+        if (landing == null) return "No safe 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";
+    }
+
+    public static BlockPos resolveLanding(ServerLevel target) {
         boolean fissure = target.getChunkSource().getGenerator() instanceof PortFeatureChunkGenerator features
                 && features.terrainFeatures() != null && features.terrainFeatures().starFissures();
         BlockPos landing = fissure ? PortStarFissureFeature.savedSpawn(target) : null;
@@ -30,11 +38,10 @@ public final class PortAgeTravel {
                 ? findFootedDestination(target, landing).orElse(null)
                 : findSurfaceLanding(target, landing.getX(), landing.getZ());
         if (landing == null) landing = findLanding(target);
-        if (landing == null) return "No safe test landing available; remaining in source dimension";
+        if (landing == null) return null;
         if (fissure) PortStarFissureFeature.generateOnce(target, landing, isCaveTerrain(target));
-        boolean moved = player.teleportTo(target, landing.getX() + 0.5, landing.getY(), landing.getZ() + 0.5,
+        if (target instanceof PortAgeLevel) PortInstabilityData.get(target.getServer()).recordSpawn(target, landing);
-                Set.of(), player.getYRot(), player.getXRot(), true);
+        return landing;
-        return moved ? null : "Teleportation failed; remaining in source dimension";
     }
 
     static BlockPos findLanding(ServerLevel target) {

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

@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Random;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.DecayBlock;
+
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.tags.BlockTags;
+import net.minecraft.tags.TagKey;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.ChunkPos;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Block;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Blocks;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.levelgen.Heightmap;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.NeoForge;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.util.BlockSnapshot;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.util.FakePlayerFactory;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.level.BlockEvent;
+
+/** Bounded, per-Age decay seeding and six-direction Legacy-style spreading. */
+public final class PortDecayProviders {
+    public static final TagKey<Block> PROTECTED = TagKey.create(Registries.BLOCK,
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, "decay_protected"));
+    private static final Map<Identifier, DecayBlock.Color> COLORS = Map.of(
+            id("decayblue"), DecayBlock.Color.BLUE,
+            id("decaypurple"), DecayBlock.Color.PURPLE,
+            id("decayred"), DecayBlock.Color.RED,
+            id("decaywhite"), DecayBlock.Color.WHITE);
+    private static final Direction[] DIRECTIONS = Direction.values();
+
+    private PortDecayProviders() {}
+
+    public static void register() {
+        COLORS.keySet().forEach(id -> PortInstabilityRuntime.register(id, true, PortDecayProviders::apply));
+    }
+
+    /** Operator test hook; never changes the Age's saved instability score or provider plan. */
+    public static int pulseForTesting(ServerPlayer player, DecayBlock.Color color, int count) {
+        ServerLevel level = player.level();
+        if (!PortInstabilityConfig.decayEnabled() || !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityWorldMutation()
+                || !PortInstabilityRuntime.isAge(level)
+                || level.getChunkSource().getChunkNow(player.chunkPosition().x(), player.chunkPosition().z()) == null) return -1;
+        var age = PortInstabilityData.get(level.getServer()).age(level);
+        Identifier id = id("decay" + color.getSerializedName());
+        if (!PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityEnabled() || !age.enabled()
+                || !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityProviderEnabled(id)) return -1;
+        int changed = 0;
+        for (int i = 0; i < Math.min(count, 32); i++) {
+            PortInstabilityRuntime.Budget budget = new PortInstabilityRuntime.Budget(1);
+            apply(new PortInstabilityRuntime.Context(level, age, List.of(player.chunkPosition()),
+                    level.getServer().getTickCount(), budget), id, 1);
+            changed += budget.applied();
+        }
+        return changed;
+    }
+
+    static void apply(PortInstabilityRuntime.Context context, Identifier id, int level) {
+        if (!PortInstabilityConfig.decayEnabled() || !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityWorldMutation()
+                || !PortInstabilityRuntime.isAge(context.level())
+                || context.loadedChunks().isEmpty()) return;
+        DecayBlock.Color color = COLORS.get(id);
+        if (color == null) return;
+        PortDecaySavedData data = PortDecaySavedData.get(context.level());
+        Random random = new Random(context.age().seed() ^ data.nextAttempt() * 0x9E3779B97F4A7C15L
+                ^ id.hashCode());
+        List<BlockPos> frontier = data.frontier(color);
+        BlockPos source = selectLoadedSource(context.level(), context.loadedChunks(), frontier, random);
+        if (source == null) {
+            seed(context, color, data, random);
+            return;
+        }
+        BlockState sourceState = context.level().getBlockState(source);
+        if (!sourceState.is(Rivencraft.DECAY.get()) || sourceState.getValue(DecayBlock.COLOR) != color) {
+            data.remove(color, source);
+            return;
+        }
+        for (int attempt = 0; attempt < PortInstabilityConfig.decayMaxAttempts(); attempt++) {
+            BlockPos target = source.relative(DIRECTIONS[random.nextInt(DIRECTIONS.length)]);
+            if (!isLoadedTarget(context.level(), context.loadedChunks(), target)
+                    || isSpawnProtected(context.age(), target)) continue;
+            BlockState prior = context.level().getBlockState(target);
+            if (!canReplace(context.level(), target, prior, color)) continue;
+            int difficulty = conversionDifficulty(context.level(), target, prior, color);
+            if (random.nextInt(difficulty) != 0) continue;
+            if (replace(context, target, prior, color)) data.add(color, target);
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void seed(PortInstabilityRuntime.Context context, DecayBlock.Color color,
+                             PortDecaySavedData data, Random random) {
+        ChunkPos chunk = context.loadedChunks().get(random.nextInt(context.loadedChunks().size()));
+        int x = chunk.getMinBlockX() + random.nextInt(16);
+        int z = chunk.getMinBlockZ() + random.nextInt(16);
+        BlockPos pos = new BlockPos(x,
+                context.level().getHeight(Heightmap.Types.MOTION_BLOCKING_NO_LEAVES, x, z) - 1, z);
+        if (!isLoadedTarget(context.level(), context.loadedChunks(), pos)
+                || isSpawnProtected(context.age(), pos)) return;
+        BlockState prior = context.level().getBlockState(pos);
+        if (canReplace(context.level(), pos, prior, color) && replace(context, pos, prior, color)) {
+            data.add(color, pos);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static BlockPos selectLoadedSource(ServerLevel level, List<ChunkPos> chunks,
+                                                List<BlockPos> frontier, Random random) {
+        if (frontier.isEmpty()) return null;
+        int start = random.nextInt(frontier.size());
+        for (int i = 0; i < Math.min(frontier.size(), 16); i++) {
+            BlockPos pos = frontier.get((start + i) % frontier.size());
+            if (isLoadedTarget(level, chunks, pos)) return pos;
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    static boolean isLoadedTarget(ServerLevel level, List<ChunkPos> chunks, BlockPos pos) {
+        return level.isInWorldBounds(pos) && level.getChunkSource().getChunkNow(pos.getX() >> 4, pos.getZ() >> 4) != null
+                && chunks.contains(ChunkPos.containing(pos));
+    }
+
+    static boolean isSpawnProtected(PortInstabilityData.Age age, BlockPos pos) {
+        BlockPos spawn = age.spawn().orElse(null);
+        return spawn != null && Math.abs(pos.getX() - spawn.getX()) <= 4
+                && Math.abs(pos.getZ() - spawn.getZ()) <= 4
+                && pos.getY() >= spawn.getY() - 2 && pos.getY() <= spawn.getY() + 4;
+    }
+
+    static boolean canReplace(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, BlockState prior, DecayBlock.Color color) {
+        if (!PortInstabilityRuntime.isAge(level)
+                || !level.isInWorldBounds(pos) || level.getChunkSource().getChunkNow(pos.getX() >> 4, pos.getZ() >> 4) == null
+                || prior.is(PROTECTED) || prior.is(BlockTags.PORTALS)
+                || prior.hasBlockEntity() || level.getBlockEntity(pos) != null
+                || prior.getDestroySpeed(level, pos) < 0 || !prior.getFluidState().isEmpty()
+                || isCritical(prior)) return false;
+        return !prior.is(Rivencraft.DECAY.get()) || prior.getValue(DecayBlock.COLOR) != color;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean isCritical(BlockState prior) {
+        return prior.is(Blocks.BEDROCK) || prior.is(Blocks.BARRIER)
+                || prior.is(Blocks.END_PORTAL) || prior.is(Blocks.END_PORTAL_FRAME)
+                || prior.is(Blocks.END_GATEWAY) || prior.is(Blocks.NETHER_PORTAL)
+                || prior.is(Blocks.COMMAND_BLOCK) || prior.is(Blocks.CHAIN_COMMAND_BLOCK)
+                || prior.is(Blocks.REPEATING_COMMAND_BLOCK) || prior.is(Blocks.STRUCTURE_BLOCK)
+                || prior.is(Blocks.JIGSAW) || prior.is(Blocks.LIGHT)
+                || prior.is(Blocks.REINFORCED_DEEPSLATE)
+                || prior.getBlock() != Rivencraft.DECAY.get()
+                && net.minecraft.core.registries.BuiltInRegistries.BLOCK.getKey(prior.getBlock())
+                        .getNamespace().equals(Rivencraft.MOD_ID);
+    }
+
+    static int conversionDifficulty(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, BlockState state, DecayBlock.Color color) {
+        if (state.isAir()) return switch (color) {
+            case BLUE, RED -> 20;
+            case PURPLE -> 8;
+            case WHITE -> 50;
+        };
+        if (state.is(Rivencraft.DECAY.get())) return color == DecayBlock.Color.WHITE ? 1 : 5;
+        float hardness = Math.min(1000.0F, Math.max(0.0F, state.getDestroySpeed(level, pos)));
+        return switch (color) {
+            case BLUE -> Math.max(1, (int) hardness * 2);
+            case RED -> Math.max(1, (int) hardness);
+            case PURPLE -> Math.max(1, ((int) hardness + 1) * 10);
+            case WHITE -> 1;
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static boolean replace(PortInstabilityRuntime.Context context, BlockPos pos, BlockState prior,
+                                   DecayBlock.Color color) {
+        ServerLevel level = context.level();
+        // A fake player gives claim/protection listeners the Age and exact block position.
+        var actor = FakePlayerFactory.getMinecraft(level);
+        actor.setPos(pos.getX() + 0.5, pos.getY() + 0.5, pos.getZ() + 0.5);
+        if (!prior.isAir()) {
+            var breakEvent = new net.neoforged.neoforge.event.level.block.BreakBlockEvent(level, pos, prior, actor);
+            NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.post(breakEvent);
+            if (breakEvent.isCanceled()) return false;
+        }
+        if (level.getBlockState(pos) != prior || !context.budget().claim()) return false;
+        var snapshot = BlockSnapshot.create(level.dimension(), level, pos);
+        BlockState decay = Rivencraft.DECAY.get().defaultBlockState().setValue(DecayBlock.COLOR, color);
+        if (!level.setBlock(pos, decay, 3)) return false;
+        var placeEvent = new BlockEvent.EntityPlaceEvent(snapshot, prior, actor);
+        NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.post(placeEvent);
+        if (placeEvent.isCanceled()) {
+            snapshot.restore();
+            return false;
+        }
+        context.budget().recordApplied();
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    private static Identifier id(String path) {
+        return Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, path);
+    }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import com.mojang.serialization.Codec;
+import com.mojang.serialization.codecs.RecordCodecBuilder;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.EnumMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.DecayBlock;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.util.StringRepresentable;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedData;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedDataType;
+
+/** Persisted per-Age frontier and attempt sequence, bounded to 1,024 positions per color. */
+public final class PortDecaySavedData extends SavedData {
+    private static final int MAX_FRONTIER_PER_COLOR = 1024;
+    private static final Codec<PortDecaySavedData> CODEC = RecordCodecBuilder.create(instance -> instance.group(
+            net.minecraft.util.ExtraCodecs.NON_NEGATIVE_LONG.optionalFieldOf("attempts", 0L).forGetter(data -> data.attempts),
+            Codec.unboundedMap(StringRepresentable.fromEnum(DecayBlock.Color::values),
+                    BlockPos.CODEC.listOf(0, MAX_FRONTIER_PER_COLOR)).fieldOf("frontiers").forGetter(data -> data.frontiers)
+    ).apply(instance, PortDecaySavedData::new));
+    private static final SavedDataType<PortDecaySavedData> TYPE = new SavedDataType<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath("rivencraft", "decay"), () -> new PortDecaySavedData(0, Map.of()), CODEC);
+    private final EnumMap<DecayBlock.Color, List<BlockPos>> frontiers = new EnumMap<>(DecayBlock.Color.class);
+    private long attempts;
+    private PortDecaySavedData(long attempts, Map<DecayBlock.Color, List<BlockPos>> positions) {
+        this.attempts = attempts;
+        for (var color : DecayBlock.Color.values()) frontiers.put(color,
+                new ArrayList<>(positions.getOrDefault(color, List.of()).stream().distinct().map(BlockPos::immutable).toList()));
+    }
+    public static PortDecaySavedData get(ServerLevel level) { return level.getDataStorage().computeIfAbsent(TYPE); }
+    public long nextAttempt() { setDirty(); return attempts++; }
+    public List<BlockPos> frontier(DecayBlock.Color color) { return frontiers.get(color); }
+    public void add(DecayBlock.Color color, BlockPos pos) {
+        var frontier = frontiers.get(color);
+        if (frontier.contains(pos)) return;
+        if (frontier.size() >= MAX_FRONTIER_PER_COLOR) frontier.removeFirst();
+        frontier.add(pos.immutable()); setDirty();
+    }
+    public void remove(DecayBlock.Color color, BlockPos pos) { if (frontiers.get(color).remove(pos)) setDirty(); }
+}

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

@@ -70,10 +70,12 @@ public final class PortFeatureChunkGenerator extends ChunkGenerator {
                     .forGetter(generator -> Optional.ofNullable(generator.lakes)),
             PortTerrainFeaturePlan.CODEC.optionalFieldOf("terrain_features")
                     .forGetter(generator -> Optional.ofNullable(generator.terrainFeatures)),
-            com.mojang.serialization.Codec.LONG.fieldOf("age_seed").forGetter(generator -> generator.ageSeed)
+            com.mojang.serialization.Codec.LONG.fieldOf("age_seed").forGetter(generator -> generator.ageSeed),
-    ).apply(instance, (base, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes, terrainFeatures, seed) ->
+            com.mojang.serialization.Codec.BOOL.optionalFieldOf("libraries", false).forGetter(generator -> generator.libraries),
+            Identifier.CODEC.listOf().optionalFieldOf("library_symbols", List.of()).forGetter(generator -> generator.librarySymbols)
+    ).apply(instance, (base, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes, terrainFeatures, seed, libraries, symbols) ->
             new PortFeatureChunkGenerator(base, rocks.orElse(null), vegetation.orElse(null),
-                    dungeons, lakes.orElse(null), terrainFeatures.orElse(null), seed)));
+                    dungeons, lakes.orElse(null), terrainFeatures.orElse(null), seed, libraries, symbols)));
 
     private final ChunkGenerator base;
     private final PortRockPlan rocks;
@@ -82,10 +84,19 @@ public final class PortFeatureChunkGenerator extends ChunkGenerator {
     private final PortLakePlan lakes;
     private final PortTerrainFeaturePlan terrainFeatures;
     private final long ageSeed;
+    private final boolean libraries;
+    private final List<Identifier> librarySymbols;
 
     public PortFeatureChunkGenerator(ChunkGenerator base, PortRockPlan rocks,
                                      PortVegetationPlan vegetation, int dungeons, PortLakePlan lakes,
                                      PortTerrainFeaturePlan terrainFeatures, long ageSeed) {
+        this(base, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes, terrainFeatures, ageSeed, false, List.of());
+    }
+
+    public PortFeatureChunkGenerator(ChunkGenerator base, PortRockPlan rocks,
+                                     PortVegetationPlan vegetation, int dungeons, PortLakePlan lakes,
+                                     PortTerrainFeaturePlan terrainFeatures, long ageSeed,
+                                     boolean libraries, List<Identifier> librarySymbols) {
         super(base.getBiomeSource(), base::getBiomeGenerationSettings);
         this.base = base;
         this.rocks = rocks;
@@ -94,6 +105,8 @@ public final class PortFeatureChunkGenerator extends ChunkGenerator {
         this.lakes = lakes;
         this.terrainFeatures = terrainFeatures;
         this.ageSeed = ageSeed;
+        this.libraries = libraries;
+        this.librarySymbols = List.copyOf(librarySymbols);
     }
 
     public ChunkGenerator base() { return base; }
@@ -286,5 +299,6 @@ public final class PortFeatureChunkGenerator extends ChunkGenerator {
                 if (PortVegetationPlan.addsLogs(page)) mushroomHosts = null;
             }
         }
+        if (libraries) PortLibraryFeature.generate(level, chunk, ageSeed, librarySymbols);
     }
 }

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

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import com.mojang.brigadier.arguments.BoolArgumentType;
+import com.mojang.brigadier.arguments.IntegerArgumentType;
+import com.mojang.brigadier.arguments.StringArgumentType;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.commands.Commands;
+import net.minecraft.commands.CommandSourceStack;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent;
+import net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.RegisterCommandsEvent;
+
+/** Scores and test overrides are deliberately operator-only, never book tooltip data. */
+@EventBusSubscriber(modid = Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+public final class PortInstabilityCommands {
+    private PortInstabilityCommands() {}
+    @SubscribeEvent public static void register(RegisterCommandsEvent event) {
+        event.getDispatcher().register(Commands.literal("rivencraft_port")
+                .requires(Commands.hasPermission(Commands.LEVEL_ADMINS))
+                .then(Commands.literal("instability")
+                        .then(Commands.literal("status").executes(context -> {
+                            var source = context.getSource(); var level = requireAge(source);
+                            var age = PortInstabilityData.get(source.getServer()).age(level);
+                            source.sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Age " + level.dimension().identifier()
+                                    + ": frozen score=" + age.score() + ", enabled=" + age.enabled()
+                                    + ", session test score=" + PortInstabilityRuntime.testScore(level)
+                                    + ", protected spawn=" + age.spawn().map(BlockPos::toShortString).orElse("not recorded; re-enter this Age")), false);
+                            for (var cost : age.contributions()) source.sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(
+                                    "  " + cost.reason() + " page=" + cost.page() + " +" + cost.points()), false);
+                            for (var provider : PortInstabilityRuntime.plan(level).providers())
+                                source.sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("  " + provider.id() + " level=" + provider.level()
+                                        + " [" + PortInstabilityRuntime.providerStatus(level, provider.id()) + "]"), false);
+                            return 1;
+                        }))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("enabled").then(Commands.argument("enabled", BoolArgumentType.bool())
+                                .executes(context -> {
+                                    var level = requireAge(context.getSource());
+                                    boolean enabled = BoolArgumentType.getBool(context, "enabled");
+                                    PortInstabilityData.get(level.getServer()).enabled(level, enabled);
+                                    if (!enabled) PortStatusEffectProviders.clearAge(level);
+                                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Age instability enabled=" + enabled
+                                            + "; saved score and provider selection unchanged"), false);
+                                    return 1;
+                                })))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("test_score").then(Commands.argument("score", IntegerArgumentType.integer(0, 1_000_000))
+                                .executes(context -> {
+                                    var level = requireAge(context.getSource());
+                                    PortInstabilityRuntime.testScore(level, IntegerArgumentType.getInteger(context, "score"));
+                                    PortStatusEffectProviders.clearAge(level);
+                                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Session-only score override set; frozen score unchanged. Restart or clear_test_score removes it."), false);
+                                    return 1;
+                                })))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("clear_test_score").executes(context -> {
+                            var level = requireAge(context.getSource()); PortInstabilityRuntime.testScore(level, null);
+                            PortStatusEffectProviders.clearAge(level);
+                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Restored saved provider selection"), false); return 1;
+                        }))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("decay").then(Commands.argument("color", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                .suggests((context, builder) -> {
+                                    for (var color : net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.DecayBlock.Color.values())
+                                        if (color.getSerializedName().startsWith(builder.getRemaining())) builder.suggest(color.getSerializedName());
+                                    return builder.buildFuture();
+                                }).executes(context -> decay(context, 1))
+                                .then(Commands.argument("attempts", IntegerArgumentType.integer(1, 32))
+                                        .executes(context -> decay(context, IntegerArgumentType.getInteger(context, "attempts"))))))
+                        .then(Commands.literal("pulse").then(Commands.argument("provider", StringArgumentType.word())
+                                .suggests((context, builder) -> {
+                                    for (var deck : InstabilityProviderCatalog.Deck.values()) for (var card : InstabilityProviderCatalog.cards(deck))
+                                        if (card.id().getPath().startsWith(builder.getRemaining())) builder.suggest(card.id().getPath());
+                                    return builder.buildFuture();
+                                }).executes(context -> {
+                                    var source = context.getSource(); var level = requireAge(source);
+                                    String name = StringArgumentType.getString(context, "provider");
+                                    Identifier id = Identifier.tryParse(name.contains(":") ? name : "rivencraft:" + name);
+                                    if (id == null || !InstabilityProviderCatalog.contains(id)) throw new com.mojang.brigadier.exceptions.SimpleCommandExceptionType(Component.literal("Unknown instability provider")).create();
+                                    var chunk = net.minecraft.world.level.ChunkPos.containing(BlockPos.containing(source.getPosition()));
+                                    if (level.getChunkSource().getChunkNow(chunk.x(), chunk.z()) == null)
+                                        throw new com.mojang.brigadier.exceptions.SimpleCommandExceptionType(Component.literal("Current chunk must already be loaded")).create();
+                                    var budget = new PortInstabilityRuntime.Budget(1);
+                                    var effect = new PortInstabilityRuntime.Context(level, PortInstabilityData.get(level.getServer()).age(level),
+                                            java.util.List.of(chunk), source.getServer().getTickCount(), budget);
+                                    boolean attempted = PortInstabilityRuntime.invoke(effect, id, 1);
+                                    boolean applied = attempted && budget.applied() > 0;
+                                    if (applied) source.sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Applied " + id + " (" + budget.applied() + " successful action in this chunk)"), false);
+                                    else source.sendFailure(Component.literal("No effect applied. Check eligible targets/terrain, sky exposure, existing effects and protection. Provider status: "
+                                            + PortInstabilityRuntime.providerStatus(level, id)));
+                                    return applied ? 1 : 0;
+                                })))));
+    }
+    private static int decay(com.mojang.brigadier.context.CommandContext<CommandSourceStack> context, int attempts)
+            throws com.mojang.brigadier.exceptions.CommandSyntaxException {
+        requireAge(context.getSource());
+        var color = java.util.Arrays.stream(net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.DecayBlock.Color.values())
+                .filter(value -> value.getSerializedName().equalsIgnoreCase(StringArgumentType.getString(context, "color")))
+                .findFirst().orElse(null);
+        if (color == null) {
+            context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("Choose blue, purple, red or white")); return 0;
+        }
+        int changed = PortDecayProviders.pulseForTesting(context.getSource().getPlayerOrException(), color, attempts);
+        if (changed < 0) {
+            context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("Decay is disabled by config, Age or provider policy")); return 0;
+        }
+        context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Decay " + color.getSerializedName() + ": " + changed
+                + " block changes from " + attempts + " bounded attempts; saved score/plan unchanged"), false);
+        var player = context.getSource().getPlayerOrException();
+        var nearby = PortDecaySavedData.get(player.level()).frontier(color).reversed().stream()
+                .filter(pos -> net.minecraft.world.level.ChunkPos.containing(pos).equals(player.chunkPosition()))
+                .limit(4).map(BlockPos::toShortString).toList();
+        if (!nearby.isEmpty()) context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Nearby tracked decay: " + nearby), false);
+        return changed;
+    }
+    private static net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel requireAge(CommandSourceStack source)
+            throws com.mojang.brigadier.exceptions.CommandSyntaxException {
+        if (!PortInstabilityRuntime.isAge(source.getLevel())) throw new com.mojang.brigadier.exceptions.SimpleCommandExceptionType(
+                Component.literal("Use this command inside a Rivencraft Age")).create();
+        return source.getLevel();
+    }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.ModConfigSpec;
+
+/** The 1.21.1 scheduler and status-provider defaults, in the port's server-owned config. */
+public final class PortInstabilityConfig {
+    private static ModConfigSpec.BooleanValue enabled, status, players, nonplayers, hostiles, worldMutation, decay;
+    private static ModConfigSpec.IntValue cooldown, ages, providers, actions, level, chunks, active, candidates, duration, decayAttempts;
+    private static ModConfigSpec.ConfigValue<List<? extends String>> disabledProviders;
+    private PortInstabilityConfig() {}
+    public static void define(ModConfigSpec.Builder builder) {
+        builder.push("instability");
+        enabled = builder.comment("Run implemented instability providers. Saved scores and plans remain unchanged when disabled.")
+                .define("enabled", true);
+        worldMutation = builder.comment("Allow implemented instability providers to change blocks, as in 1.21.1.")
+                .define("world_mutation", true);
+        cooldown = builder.defineInRange("cooldown_ticks", 20, 20, 1200);
+        ages = builder.defineInRange("max_ages_per_tick", 4, 1, 16);
+        providers = builder.defineInRange("max_providers_per_age", 2, 1, 16);
+        actions = builder.defineInRange("max_actions_per_age", 1, 1, 16);
+        level = builder.defineInRange("max_effect_level", 3, 1, 16);
+        chunks = builder.defineInRange("max_loaded_chunks", 16, 1, 64);
+        disabledProviders = builder.comment("Disable particular providers without changing saved selections. Accepts poison or rivencraft:poison.")
+                .defineListAllowEmpty("disabled_providers", List.of(), () -> "poison", value -> value instanceof String text
+                        && Identifier.tryParse(text) != null);
+        builder.pop();
+        builder.push("instability_status_effects");
+        status = builder.define("enabled", true);
+        players = builder.comment("Affect Survival/Adventure players; Creative and Spectator remain exempt.")
+                .define("affect_players", true);
+        nonplayers = builder.define("affect_nonplayers", true);
+        hostiles = builder.define("buff_hostiles", true);
+        active = builder.defineInRange("max_active_per_age", 32, 1, 128);
+        candidates = builder.defineInRange("max_candidates_per_attempt", 8, 1, 16);
+        duration = builder.defineInRange("max_duration_ticks", 200, 20, 200);
+        builder.pop();
+        builder.push("instability_decay");
+        decay = builder.comment("Allow colored decay in loaded Ages. Also requires instability.world_mutation.")
+                .define("enabled", true);
+        decayAttempts = builder.comment("Maximum six-neighbor conversion attempts per provider call; at most one block changes.")
+                .defineInRange("max_attempts_per_call", 4, 1, 6);
+        builder.pop();
+    }
+    public static boolean instabilityWorldMutation() { return worldMutation.get(); }
+    public static boolean decayEnabled() { return decay.get(); }
+    public static int decayMaxAttempts() { return decayAttempts.get(); }
+    public static boolean instabilityEnabled() { return enabled.get(); }
+    public static boolean instabilityProviderEnabled(Identifier id) {
+        return disabledProviders.get().stream().noneMatch(value -> value.equals(id.toString())
+                || id.getNamespace().equals("rivencraft") && value.equals(id.getPath()));
+    }
+    public static int instabilityCooldown() { return cooldown.get(); }
+    public static int instabilityMaxAges() { return ages.get(); }
+    public static int instabilityMaxProviders() { return providers.get(); }
+    public static int instabilityMaxActions() { return actions.get(); }
+    public static int instabilityMaxLevel() { return level.get(); }
+    public static int instabilityMaxChunks() { return chunks.get(); }
+    public static boolean statusEffectsEnabled() { return status.get(); }
+    public static boolean statusEffectsPlayers() { return players.get(); }
+    public static boolean statusEffectsNonplayers() { return nonplayers.get(); }
+    public static boolean statusEffectsHostiles() { return hostiles.get(); }
+    public static int statusEffectsMaxActive() { return active.get(); }
+    public static int statusEffectsMaxCandidates() { return candidates.get(); }
+    public static int statusEffectsMaxDuration() { return duration.get(); }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import com.mojang.serialization.Codec;
+import com.mojang.serialization.codecs.RecordCodecBuilder;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedData;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedDataType;
+
+/** Frozen creation-time contributions and Legacy deck selections. Never silently rescores older Ages. */
+public final class PortInstabilityData extends SavedData {
+    public record Contribution(String reason, int page, int points) {
+        public static final Codec<Contribution> CODEC = RecordCodecBuilder.create(instance -> instance.group(
+                Codec.STRING.fieldOf("reason").forGetter(Contribution::reason),
+                Codec.INT.fieldOf("page").forGetter(Contribution::page),
+                Codec.intRange(0, Integer.MAX_VALUE).fieldOf("points").forGetter(Contribution::points)
+        ).apply(instance, Contribution::new));
+    }
+    public record Age(long seed, List<Contribution> contributions, PortInstabilityPlan plan, boolean enabled, java.util.Optional<net.minecraft.core.BlockPos> spawn) {
+        public static final Codec<Age> CODEC = RecordCodecBuilder.create(instance -> instance.group(
+                Codec.LONG.fieldOf("seed").forGetter(Age::seed),
+                Contribution.CODEC.listOf().fieldOf("contributions").forGetter(Age::contributions),
+                PortInstabilityPlan.CODEC.fieldOf("plan").forGetter(Age::plan),
+                Codec.BOOL.optionalFieldOf("enabled", true).forGetter(Age::enabled),
+                net.minecraft.core.BlockPos.CODEC.optionalFieldOf("spawn").forGetter(Age::spawn)
+        ).apply(instance, Age::new));
+        public Age { contributions = List.copyOf(contributions); spawn = spawn.map(net.minecraft.core.BlockPos::immutable); }
+        public Age(long seed, List<Contribution> contributions, PortInstabilityPlan plan, boolean enabled) {
+            this(seed, contributions, plan, enabled, java.util.Optional.empty());
+        }
+        public int score() { return contributions.stream().mapToInt(Contribution::points).reduce(0, Math::addExact); }
+    }
+    private static final SavedDataType<PortInstabilityData> TYPE = new SavedDataType<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath("rivencraft", "instability"), () -> new PortInstabilityData(Map.of()),
+            Codec.unboundedMap(Identifier.CODEC, Age.CODEC).fieldOf("ages").codec()
+                    .xmap(PortInstabilityData::new, data -> Map.copyOf(data.ages)));
+    private final Map<Identifier, Age> ages = new HashMap<>();
+    private PortInstabilityData(Map<Identifier, Age> values) { ages.putAll(values); }
+    public static PortInstabilityData get(MinecraftServer server) { return server.overworld().getDataStorage().computeIfAbsent(TYPE); }
+    public Age age(ServerLevel level) {
+        Age age = ages.get(level.dimension().identifier());
+        return age != null ? age : new Age(level.getSeed(),
+                List.of(new Contribution("predates_instability", -1, 0)), PortInstabilityPlan.empty(), true);
+    }
+    public void enabled(ServerLevel level, boolean enabled) {
+        Age previous = age(level);
+        ages.put(level.dimension().identifier(), new Age(previous.seed(), previous.contributions(), previous.plan(), enabled, previous.spawn()));
+        setDirty();
+    }
+    /** First resolved arrival remains protected without rescoring or rerolling the Age. */
+    public void recordSpawn(ServerLevel level, net.minecraft.core.BlockPos spawn) {
+        Age previous = age(level);
+        if (previous.spawn().isPresent()) return;
+        ages.put(level.dimension().identifier(), new Age(previous.seed(), previous.contributions(), previous.plan(),
+                previous.enabled(), java.util.Optional.of(spawn.immutable())));
+        setDirty();
+    }
+    public void create(ServerLevel level, List<Identifier> pages, PortAgeTerrain terrain,
+                       PortLighting lighting, PortDayCycle cycle) {
+        Identifier id = level.dimension().identifier();
+        if (ages.containsKey(id)) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Instability already recorded for " + id);
+        List<Contribution> costs = new ArrayList<>();
+        costs.add(new Contribution(pages.isEmpty() ? "random_baseline" : "authored_baseline", -1, 0));
+        boolean authoredBright = false;
+        Map<Identifier, Integer> structures = new HashMap<>();
+        var biomes = level.getChunkSource().getGenerator().getBiomeSource().possibleBiomes().stream()
+                .flatMap(holder -> holder.unwrapKey().stream()).map(key -> key.identifier()).toList();
+        for (int i = 0; i < pages.size(); i++) {
+            Identifier page = pages.get(i);
+            if (!page.getNamespace().equals("rivencraft")) continue;
+            String path = page.getPath();
+            if (path.equals("lighting/bright")) { costs.add(new Contribution("bright_lighting", i, 500)); authoredBright = true; }
+            if (page.equals(PortAcceleratedTicks.PAGE)) costs.add(new Contribution("accelerated", i, 1000));
+            if (isCorrupted(page)) costs.add(new Contribution("corrupted_" + path.substring(10), i,
+                    path.endsWith("small") ? 2000 : path.endsWith("medium") ? 1000 : 0));
+            // Legacy charges for sky/weather controllers that Cave terrain cannot apply.
+            if (terrain == PortAgeTerrain.CAVE && (PortWeatherMode.forPage(page) != null
+                    || PortDayCycle.isController(page) || PortDayCycle.isPeriod(page)
+                    || PortDayCycle.isPhase(page) || PortDayCycle.isAngle(page) || PortDayCycle.isDirection(page)))
+                costs.add(new Contribution("cave_ignored_" + path.replace('/', '_'), i, 100));
+            if (PortStructurePages.supports(page)) {
+                int count = structures.merge(page, 1, Integer::sum);
+                if (count > 3) costs.add(new Contribution("excess_" + path, i, 100));
+                var allowed = PortStructurePages.compatibleBiomes(page, level.registryAccess());
+                if (!allowed.isEmpty() && biomes.stream().anyMatch(biome -> !allowed.contains(biome)))
+                    costs.add(new Contribution("forced_biome_" + path, i, 100));
+            }
+        }
+        if (lighting == PortLighting.BRIGHT && !authoredBright) costs.add(new Contribution("seeded_bright_lighting", -1, 500));
+        int suns = 0;
+        for (var body : cycle.bodies()) if (body.kind() == PortDayCycle.SUN && ++suns > 2)
+            costs.add(new Contribution("extra_sun_" + suns, -1, 1000 * (suns - 2)));
+        int score = costs.stream().mapToInt(Contribution::points).reduce(0, Math::addExact);
+        ages.put(id, new Age(level.getSeed(), costs, PortInstabilityPlan.select(score, level.getSeed()), true));
+        setDirty();
+    }
+    public static boolean isCorrupted(Identifier page) {
+        return page.getNamespace().equals("rivencraft") && switch (page.getPath()) {
+            case "corrupted/large", "corrupted/medium", "corrupted/small" -> true;
+            default -> false;
+        };
+    }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.Random;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+
+/** Frozen provider selection; handler availability and server settings never reroll this plan. */
+public record PortInstabilityPlan(int version, List<ProviderLevel> providers) {
+    public static final com.mojang.serialization.Codec<PortInstabilityPlan> CODEC =
+            com.mojang.serialization.codecs.RecordCodecBuilder.create(instance -> instance.group(
+                    com.mojang.serialization.Codec.INT.fieldOf("version").forGetter(PortInstabilityPlan::version),
+                    ProviderLevel.CODEC.listOf().fieldOf("providers").forGetter(PortInstabilityPlan::providers)
+            ).apply(instance, PortInstabilityPlan::new));
+    public static final int CURRENT_VERSION = 1;
+
+    public PortInstabilityPlan {
+        if (version != CURRENT_VERSION) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported provider-plan version " + version);
+        providers = List.copyOf(providers);
+        if (providers.stream().map(ProviderLevel::id).distinct().count() != providers.size()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Duplicate provider ID in saved Age plan");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static PortInstabilityPlan empty() { return new PortInstabilityPlan(CURRENT_VERSION, List.of()); }
+
+    public static PortInstabilityPlan select(int score, long ageSeed) {
+        int roundedScore = score / 500 * 500;
+        Map<Identifier, Integer> levels = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+        for (InstabilityProviderCatalog.Deck deck : InstabilityProviderCatalog.Deck.values()) {
+            int remaining = roundedScore - deck.entryCost();
+            if (remaining <= 0) continue;
+            List<InstabilityProviderCatalog.Card> cards = new ArrayList<>(InstabilityProviderCatalog.cards(deck));
+            Collections.shuffle(cards, new Random(ageSeed ^ (0x9E3779B97F4A7C15L * (deck.ordinal() + 1))));
+            for (InstabilityProviderCatalog.Card card : cards) {
+                if (remaining < card.cost()) break;
+                remaining -= card.cost();
+                levels.merge(card.id(), 1, Integer::sum);
+            }
+        }
+        return new PortInstabilityPlan(CURRENT_VERSION, levels.entrySet().stream()
+                .map(entry -> new ProviderLevel(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue())).toList());
+    }
+
+    public record ProviderLevel(Identifier id, int level) {
+        public static final com.mojang.serialization.Codec<ProviderLevel> CODEC =
+                com.mojang.serialization.codecs.RecordCodecBuilder.create(instance -> instance.group(
+                        Identifier.CODEC.fieldOf("id").forGetter(ProviderLevel::id),
+                        com.mojang.serialization.Codec.intRange(1, 255).fieldOf("level").forGetter(ProviderLevel::level)
+                ).apply(instance, ProviderLevel::new));
+        public ProviderLevel {
+            Objects.requireNonNull(id, "id");
+            if (level < 1 || level > 255) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid provider level " + level);
+        }
+    }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Comparator;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.WeakHashMap;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.ChunkPos;
+import net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent;
+import net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.server.ServerStoppingEvent;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.tick.LevelTickEvent;
+
+/** The 1.21.1 bounded Age scheduler. Unported cards remain saved and visibly unavailable to operators. */
+@EventBusSubscriber(modid = Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+public final class PortInstabilityRuntime {
+    private static final Map<Identifier, Handler> HANDLERS = new HashMap<>();
+    private static final Map<ServerLevel, Map<Identifier, Long>> FAILURES = new WeakHashMap<>();
+    private static final Map<MinecraftServer, Map<Identifier, Integer>> TEST_SCORES = new WeakHashMap<>();
+    private static final Map<MinecraftServer, TickState> TICKS = new WeakHashMap<>();
+    private PortInstabilityRuntime() {}
+    public static void register(Identifier id, ProviderEffect handler) {
+        register(id, false, handler);
+    }
+    public static void register(Identifier id, boolean worldMutating, ProviderEffect handler) {
+        if (HANDLERS.putIfAbsent(id, new Handler(worldMutating, handler)) != null)
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Duplicate instability provider " + id);
+    }
+    public static boolean isAge(ServerLevel level) { return level instanceof PortAgeLevel; }
+    public static PortInstabilityPlan plan(ServerLevel level) {
+        var age = PortInstabilityData.get(level.getServer()).age(level);
+        Integer test = TEST_SCORES.getOrDefault(level.getServer(), Map.of()).get(level.dimension().identifier());
+        return test == null ? age.plan() : PortInstabilityPlan.select(test, age.seed());
+    }
+    public static Integer testScore(ServerLevel level) {
+        return TEST_SCORES.getOrDefault(level.getServer(), Map.of()).get(level.dimension().identifier());
+    }
+    public static void testScore(ServerLevel level, Integer score) {
+        var values = TEST_SCORES.computeIfAbsent(level.getServer(), ignored -> new HashMap<>());
+        if (score == null) values.remove(level.dimension().identifier()); else values.put(level.dimension().identifier(), score);
+    }
+    @SubscribeEvent public static void tick(LevelTickEvent.Post event) {
+        if (!(event.getLevel() instanceof ServerLevel level) || !isAge(level) || level.players().isEmpty()
+                || !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityEnabled()) return;
+        var server = level.getServer();
+        long tick = server.getTickCount();
+        int cooldown = PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityCooldown();
+        if (tick % cooldown != 0) return;
+        TickState state = TICKS.computeIfAbsent(server, ignored -> new TickState());
+        if (state.tick != tick) {
+            state.tick = tick;
+            var eligible = new ArrayList<Identifier>();
+            for (var loaded : server.getAllLevels()) if (isAge(loaded) && !loaded.players().isEmpty()
+                    && PortInstabilityData.get(server).age(loaded).enabled() && !plan(loaded).providers().isEmpty())
+                eligible.add(loaded.dimension().identifier());
+            eligible.sort(Comparator.comparing(Identifier::toString));
+            state.eligible = List.copyOf(eligible);
+        }
+        int index = state.eligible.indexOf(level.dimension().identifier());
+        if (index < 0 || state.eligible.size() > PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityMaxAges()
+                && Math.floorMod(index - (int) Math.floorMod(tick / cooldown, state.eligible.size()), state.eligible.size())
+                    >= PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityMaxAges()) return;
+        var age = PortInstabilityData.get(server).age(level);
+        if (!age.enabled()) return;
+        var providers = plan(level).providers();
+        var chunks = loadedChunks(level);
+        if (providers.isEmpty() || chunks.isEmpty()) return;
+        Context context = new Context(level, age, chunks, tick, new Budget(PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityMaxActions()));
+        int first = (int) Math.floorMod(tick / cooldown + age.seed(), providers.size());
+        int ran = 0;
+        for (int offset = 0; offset < providers.size() && ran < PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityMaxProviders()
+                && context.budget().remaining() > 0; offset++) {
+            var provider = providers.get((first + offset) % providers.size());
+            if (invoke(context, provider.id(), provider.level())) ran++;
+        }
+    }
+    public static boolean invoke(Context context, Identifier id, int level) {
+        if (!PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityEnabled() || !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityProviderEnabled(id)
+                || !PortInstabilityData.get(context.level().getServer()).age(context.level()).enabled()) return false;
+        Handler handler = HANDLERS.get(id);
+        if (handler == null || handler.worldMutating() && !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityWorldMutation()) return false;
+        var failures = FAILURES.computeIfAbsent(context.level(), ignored -> new HashMap<>());
+        if (context.serverTick() < failures.getOrDefault(id, 0L)) return false;
+        try {
+            handler.effect().apply(context, id, Math.min(level, PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityMaxLevel()));
+        } catch (RuntimeException exception) {
+            failures.put(id, context.serverTick() + Math.max(200L, PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityCooldown() * 10L));
+            Rivencraft.LOGGER.error("Instability provider {} failed in {}; temporarily quarantined", id,
+                    context.level().dimension().identifier(), exception);
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+    public static String providerStatus(ServerLevel level, Identifier id) {
+        if (!HANDLERS.containsKey(id)) return "not ported yet";
+        if (!PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityEnabled()) return "global config off";
+        if (!PortInstabilityData.get(level.getServer()).age(level).enabled()) return "Age disabled";
+        if (!PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityProviderEnabled(id)) return "provider config off";
+        if (HANDLERS.get(id).worldMutating()) {
+            if (!PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityWorldMutation()) return "world mutation off";
+            if (id.getPath().startsWith("decay") && !PortInstabilityConfig.decayEnabled()) return "decay config off";
+        } else {
+            if (!PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsEnabled()) return "status effects config off";
+            if (id.getPath().startsWith("enemy") && !PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsHostiles()) return "hostile buffs disabled";
+            if (!id.getPath().startsWith("enemy") && !PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsPlayers()
+                    && !PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsNonplayers()) return "all general targets disabled";
+        }
+        if (level.getServer().getTickCount() < FAILURES.getOrDefault(level, Map.of()).getOrDefault(id, 0L)) return "quarantined";
+        return level.players().isEmpty() ? "no players in Age" : "eligible; sky, targets and budgets still apply";
+    }
+    static List<ChunkPos> loadedChunks(ServerLevel level) {
+        var chunks = new LinkedHashSet<ChunkPos>();
+        for (var player : level.players()) {
+            ChunkPos center = player.chunkPosition();
+            for (int x = -1; x <= 1; x++) for (int z = -1; z <= 1; z++) {
+                if (level.getChunkSource().getChunkNow(center.x() + x, center.z() + z) != null)
+                    chunks.add(new ChunkPos(center.x() + x, center.z() + z));
+                if (chunks.size() >= PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityMaxChunks()) return List.copyOf(chunks);
+            }
+        }
+        return List.copyOf(chunks);
+    }
+    @SubscribeEvent public static void stopping(ServerStoppingEvent event) {
+        TEST_SCORES.remove(event.getServer()); TICKS.remove(event.getServer()); FAILURES.clear();
+    }
+    public interface ProviderEffect { void apply(Context context, Identifier id, int level); }
+    public record Context(ServerLevel level, PortInstabilityData.Age age, List<ChunkPos> loadedChunks,
+                          long serverTick, Budget budget) { public Context { loadedChunks = List.copyOf(loadedChunks); } }
+    public static final class Budget {
+        private int remaining;
+        private int applied;
+        public Budget(int maximum) { remaining = maximum; }
+        public boolean claim() { if (remaining <= 0) return false; remaining--; return true; }
+        public int remaining() { return remaining; }
+        public void recordApplied() { applied++; }
+        public int applied() { return applied; }
+    }
+    private record Handler(boolean worldMutating, ProviderEffect effect) {}
+    private static final class TickState { long tick = Long.MIN_VALUE; List<Identifier> eligible = List.of(); }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import com.mojang.brigadier.arguments.IntegerArgumentType;
+import net.minecraft.commands.Commands;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.ChunkPos;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.ChestBlock;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.Vec3;
+import net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent;
+import net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.RegisterCommandsEvent;
+
+/** Explicit operator tools; normal generation does not search or force-load remote chunks. */
+@EventBusSubscriber(modid = "rivencraft")
+public final class PortLibraryCommands {
+    @SubscribeEvent public static void register(RegisterCommandsEvent event) {
+        var root = Commands.literal("rivencraft_port").requires(Commands.hasPermission(Commands.LEVEL_ADMINS));
+        root.then(Commands.literal("library")
+                .then(Commands.literal("test_place").executes(context -> {
+                    var level = context.getSource().getLevel();
+                    var direction = context.getSource().getEntity() instanceof net.minecraft.world.entity.player.Player player
+                            ? player.getDirection() : net.minecraft.core.Direction.NORTH;
+                    var result = PortLibraryFeature.testPlace(level, BlockPos.containing(context.getSource().getPosition()), direction,
+                            level.getSeed(), PortLibraryWriting.get(level.getServer()).symbols(level.dimension().identifier()));
+                    if (result.isEmpty()) { context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("No clear placement nearby; use open ground with headroom.")); return 0; }
+                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Library placed. Chest: " + result.get().toShortString()), false);
+                    return 1;
+                }))
+                .then(Commands.literal("test_spacing").then(Commands.argument("chunks", IntegerArgumentType.integer(1, 32))
+                        .executes(context -> {
+                            var level = context.getSource().getLevel();
+                            if (!RuntimeAgeBackend.savedAges(level.getServer()).containsKey(level.dimension().identifier()))
+                                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Use this test override inside a Rivencraft Age");
+                            int spacing = IntegerArgumentType.getInteger(context, "chunks");
+                            PortLibraryFeature.setTestSpacing(level.getSeed(), spacing);
+                            context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Session-only library spacing: " + spacing
+                                    + " chunks. Applies to newly generated chunks; 32 restores normal spacing."), false);
+                            return 1;
+                        })))
+                .then(Commands.literal("candidate").executes(context -> {
+                    var level = context.getSource().getLevel();
+                    var origin = ChunkPos.containing(BlockPos.containing(context.getSource().getPosition()));
+                    ChunkPos best = null;
+                    long distance = Long.MAX_VALUE;
+                    for (int spacing : new int[]{32, PortLibraryFeature.spacing(level.getSeed())}) {
+                        int rx = Math.floorDiv(origin.x(), spacing), rz = Math.floorDiv(origin.z(), spacing);
+                        for (int dx = -2; dx <= 2; dx++) for (int dz = -2; dz <= 2; dz++) {
+                            var candidate = PortLibraryFeature.candidateChunk(level.getSeed(), rx + dx, rz + dz, spacing);
+                            long x = candidate.x() - origin.x(), z = candidate.z() - origin.z();
+                            long d = x * x + z * z;
+                            if (d < distance) { best = candidate; distance = d; }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    var candidate = best;
+                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Nearest candidate chunk " + candidate
+                            + ", center X=" + (candidate.getMinBlockX() + 8) + " Z=" + (candidate.getMinBlockZ() + 8)
+                            + ". A candidate is not a guaranteed library: footing, slope and clear space must pass."), false);
+                    return 1;
+                }))
+                .then(Commands.literal("probe").executes(context -> {
+                    var level = context.getSource().getLevel();
+                    var chunk = level.getChunkAt(BlockPos.containing(context.getSource().getPosition()));
+                    var chest = PortLibraryFeature.libraryChest(chunk);
+                    if (chest.isPresent()) context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Generated library chest: " + chest.get().toShortString()), false);
+                    else {
+                        var check = PortLibraryFeature.check(level, chunk.getPos(), level.getSeed());
+                        context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal(check.eligible() ? "Eligible library candidate, floor Y=" + check.floorY()
+                                : "No library in this chunk: " + check.reason()), false);
+                    }
+                    return 1;
+                }))
+                .then(Commands.literal("inspect_loot").executes(context -> {
+                    var level = context.getSource().getLevel();
+                    var chunk = level.getChunkAt(BlockPos.containing(context.getSource().getPosition()));
+                    var pos = PortLibraryFeature.libraryChest(chunk);
+                    if (pos.isEmpty()) { context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("No marked library chest in this chunk.")); return 0; }
+                    var chest = (net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.ChestBlockEntity) level.getBlockEntity(pos.get());
+                    var items = new java.util.ArrayList<String>();
+                    for (int i = 0; i < chest.getContainerSize(); i++) {
+                        var item = chest.getItem(i); // Materializes loot exactly as opening the chest does.
+                        if (!item.isEmpty()) items.add(item.getCount() + "x " + item.getHoverName().getString());
+                    }
+                    long stands = chunk.getBlockEntities().values().stream()
+                            .filter(be -> be instanceof net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookStandBlockEntity).count();
+                    context.getSource().sendSuccess(() -> Component.literal("Library at " + pos.get().toShortString()
+                            + "; stands in this chunk=" + stands + "; chest=" + items), false);
+                    return 1;
+                }))
+                .then(Commands.literal("nearest_loaded").executes(context -> {
+                    var player = context.getSource().getPlayerOrException();
+                    var level = player.level();
+                    var origin = player.chunkPosition();
+                    BlockPos best = null; double distance = Double.MAX_VALUE;
+                    for (int x = origin.x() - 16; x <= origin.x() + 16; x++) for (int z = origin.z() - 16; z <= origin.z() + 16; z++) {
+                        var chunk = level.getChunkSource().getChunkNow(x, z);
+                        if (chunk == null) continue;
+                        var found = PortLibraryFeature.libraryChest(chunk);
+                        if (found.isPresent()) {
+                            double d = player.distanceToSqr(Vec3.atCenterOf(found.get()));
+                            if (d < distance) { best = found.get(); distance = d; }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    if (best == null) { context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("No library in loaded chunks within 16 chunks. Use candidate or test_spacing to explore new terrain.")); return 0; }
+                    var facing = level.getBlockState(best).getValue(ChestBlock.FACING);
+                    var feet = best.relative(facing, 2).relative(facing.getCounterClockWise());
+                    var target = Vec3.atBottomCenterOf(feet);
+                    if (!level.getBlockState(feet.below()).isFaceSturdy(level, feet.below(), net.minecraft.core.Direction.UP)
+                            || !level.getFluidState(feet).isEmpty() || !level.getFluidState(feet.above()).isEmpty()
+                            || !level.noCollision(player, player.getBoundingBox().move(target.subtract(player.position())))) {
+                        context.getSource().sendFailure(Component.literal("Library found at " + best.toShortString() + " but its aisle is obstructed.")); return 0;
+                    }
+                    player.teleportTo(level, target.x, target.y, target.z, java.util.Set.of(), facing.getOpposite().toYRot(), 0, true);
+                    return 1;
+                })));
+        event.getDispatcher().register(root);
+    }
+    @SubscribeEvent public static void stopped(net.neoforged.neoforge.event.server.ServerStoppedEvent event) {
+        PortLibraryFeature.clearTestSpacing();
+    }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,358 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Optional;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.PortConfig;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.PortSymbolPages;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.BookStandBlock;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookStandBlockEntity;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.PageItem;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.tags.BlockTags;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.util.RandomSource;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.ChunkPos;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.WorldGenLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.AABB;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Blocks;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.ChestBlock;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.ChestBlockEntity;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.chunk.ChunkAccess;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.chunk.LevelChunk;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.levelgen.Heightmap;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.levelgen.LegacyRandomSource;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.levelgen.WorldgenRandom;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.storage.loot.LootTable;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Rotation;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.levelgen.structure.templatesystem.StructurePlaceSettings;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.Items;
+
+/** Sparse, page-free Age library. Its entire footprint lives in its candidate chunk. */
+public final class PortLibraryFeature {
+    public static final int REGION = 32;
+    static final int FOOTPRINT = 11;
+    private static final int OFFSET_BOUND = 24;
+    private static final int MAX_SUPPORT_DEPTH = 24;
+    private static final int SALT = 14357617;
+    private static final int TEST_SALT = 0x4C494252;
+    private static final String CHEST_MARKER = "RivencraftLibrary";
+    private static final ConcurrentHashMap<Long, Integer> TEST_SPACING = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    // x, y, z, clockwise turns relative to the left stand. The middle row
+    // faces across the room; the far stand faces back toward the entrance.
+    private static final int[][] STANDS = {{6, 1, 2, 0}, {8, 1, 4, 1}, {8, 1, 5, 1},
+            {8, 1, 6, 1}, {6, 1, 8, 2}};
+    private static final Identifier TEMPLATE = Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(
+            "rivencraft", "mystcraft_library");
+    private static final ResourceKey<LootTable> CHEST_LOOT = ResourceKey.create(Registries.LOOT_TABLE,
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath("rivencraft", "chests/mystcraft_library"));
+
+    private PortLibraryFeature() {}
+
+    record Site(int x, int z, int rotation) {}
+
+    public static int spacing(long seed) {
+        return TEST_SPACING.getOrDefault(seed, REGION);
+    }
+
+    /** Session-only testing override; normal 32-chunk sites always remain eligible. */
+    public static void setTestSpacing(long seed, int chunks) {
+        if (chunks < 1 || chunks > REGION) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid library spacing " + chunks);
+        if (chunks == REGION) TEST_SPACING.remove(seed);
+        else TEST_SPACING.put(seed, chunks);
+    }
+
+    public static void clearTestSpacing() {
+        TEST_SPACING.clear();
+    }
+
+    /** The single deterministic candidate in one Legacy-sized region. */
+    public static ChunkPos candidateChunk(long seed, int regionX, int regionZ) {
+        return candidateChunk(seed, regionX, regionZ, REGION);
+    }
+
+    public static ChunkPos candidateChunk(long seed, int regionX, int regionZ, int spacing) {
+        if (spacing < 1 || spacing > REGION) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid library spacing " + spacing);
+        WorldgenRandom random = new WorldgenRandom(new LegacyRandomSource(0L));
+        random.setLargeFeatureWithSalt(seed, regionX, regionZ,
+                spacing == REGION ? SALT : TEST_SALT ^ spacing);
+        int bound = spacing == REGION ? OFFSET_BOUND : spacing;
+        return new ChunkPos(regionX * spacing + random.nextInt(bound),
+                regionZ * spacing + random.nextInt(bound));
+    }
+
+    static Site site(long seed, ChunkPos chunk) {
+        Site normal = site(seed, chunk, REGION);
+        return normal != null ? normal : spacing(seed) == REGION ? null : site(seed, chunk, spacing(seed));
+    }
+
+    private static Site site(long seed, ChunkPos chunk, int spacing) {
+        int rx = Math.floorDiv(chunk.x(), spacing);
+        int rz = Math.floorDiv(chunk.z(), spacing);
+        WorldgenRandom random = new WorldgenRandom(new LegacyRandomSource(0L));
+        random.setLargeFeatureWithSalt(seed, rx, rz,
+                spacing == REGION ? SALT : TEST_SALT ^ spacing);
+        int bound = spacing == REGION ? OFFSET_BOUND : spacing;
+        int candidateX = rx * spacing + random.nextInt(bound);
+        int candidateZ = rz * spacing + random.nextInt(bound);
+        if (chunk.x() != candidateX || chunk.z() != candidateZ) return null;
+        return new Site(chunk.getMinBlockX() + 2, chunk.getMinBlockZ() + 2, random.nextInt(4));
+    }
+
+    /** A saved marker distinguishes a generated library from player-built chests. */
+    public static Optional<BlockPos> libraryChest(LevelChunk chunk) {
+        return chunk.getBlockEntities().entrySet().stream()
+                .filter(entry -> entry.getValue() instanceof ChestBlockEntity chest
+                        && chest.getPersistentData().getBooleanOr(CHEST_MARKER, false))
+                .map(java.util.Map.Entry::getKey).findFirst();
+    }
+
+    /** Recognize libraries generated before the chest marker was introduced. */
+    public static Optional<BlockPos> libraryChest(LevelChunk chunk, long seed) {
+        Optional<BlockPos> marked = libraryChest(chunk);
+        if (marked.isPresent()) return marked;
+        Site site = site(seed, chunk.getPos());
+        if (site == null) return Optional.empty();
+        for (var entry : chunk.getBlockEntities().entrySet()) {
+            if (!(entry.getValue() instanceof ChestBlockEntity chest)) continue;
+            int y = entry.getKey().getY();
+            BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor = new BlockPos.MutableBlockPos();
+            if (!entry.getKey().equals(mapped(site, cursor, 4, y, 2))
+                    || !chunk.getBlockState(mapped(site, cursor, 2, y, 2)).is(Blocks.BOOKSHELF)
+                    || !chunk.getBlockState(mapped(site, cursor, 2, y + 1, 2)).is(Blocks.BOOKSHELF)
+                    || !chunk.getBlockState(mapped(site, cursor, 4, y + 6, 2)).is(Blocks.OAK_PLANKS))
+                continue;
+            chest.getPersistentData().putBoolean(CHEST_MARKER, true);
+            chest.setChanged();
+            return Optional.of(entry.getKey());
+        }
+        return Optional.empty();
+    }
+
+    /** Open interior aisle, directly above the cobblestone floor. */
+    public static BlockPos arrival(long seed, ChunkPos chunk, int chestY) {
+        Site site = site(seed, chunk);
+        if (site == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Not a library candidate chunk: " + chunk);
+        return mapped(site, new BlockPos.MutableBlockPos(), 5, chestY, 4).immutable();
+    }
+
+    public record PlacementCheck(String reason, int floorY, int[][] heights) {
+        public boolean eligible() { return reason == null; }
+    }
+
+    /** Inspect one candidate without placing blocks. The same test gates natural placement. */
+    public static PlacementCheck check(WorldGenLevel level, ChunkPos chunk, long seed) {
+        Site site = site(seed, chunk);
+        if (site == null) return rejected("not a candidate chunk");
+        BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor = new BlockPos.MutableBlockPos();
+        int low = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
+        int high = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
+        int[][] heights = new int[FOOTPRINT][FOOTPRINT];
+        for (int x = 0; x < FOOTPRINT; x++) for (int z = 0; z < FOOTPRINT; z++) {
+            int wx = site.x() + x;
+            int wz = site.z() + z;
+            int y = level.getHeight(Heightmap.Types.WORLD_SURFACE_WG, wx, wz);
+            // The heightmap includes tree canopies. Libraries sit on terrain, not leaves.
+            while (y > level.getMinY() + 2) {
+                BlockState below = level.getBlockState(cursor.set(wx, y - 1, wz));
+                if (!below.isAir() && !isVegetation(below)) break;
+                y--;
+            }
+            if (y < level.getMinY() + 2) return rejected("no surface footing");
+            BlockState ground = level.getBlockState(cursor.set(wx, y - 1, wz));
+            if (!ground.getFluidState().isEmpty()) return rejected("fluid at ground level");
+            if (ground.hasBlockEntity() || !ground.isFaceSturdy(level, cursor, Direction.UP))
+                return rejected("ground is not sturdy terrain");
+            heights[x][z] = y;
+            low = Math.min(low, y);
+            high = Math.max(high, y);
+        }
+        if (high + 10 >= level.getMaxY()) return rejected("insufficient build height");
+        if (high - low > MAX_SUPPORT_DEPTH) return rejected("slope exceeds support depth ("
+                + (high - low) + " > " + MAX_SUPPORT_DEPTH + ")");
+        // Check the entire raised foundation and house. Foliage can be cleared, but not
+        // structures, fluids, or block entities already occupying this volume.
+        for (int x = 0; x < FOOTPRINT; x++) for (int z = 0; z < FOOTPRINT; z++)
+            for (int y = heights[x][z]; y <= high + 10; y++) {
+                BlockState state = level.getBlockState(cursor.set(site.x() + x, y, site.z() + z));
+                if (!state.getFluidState().isEmpty()) return rejected("fluid inside footprint");
+                if (state.hasBlockEntity()) return rejected("block entity inside footprint");
+                if (!(state.isAir() || state.canBeReplaced() || isVegetation(state)))
+                    return rejected("solid obstruction inside footprint: "
+                            + state.getBlock().getDescriptionId());
+            }
+        return new PlacementCheck(null, high, heights);
+    }
+
+    private static PlacementCheck rejected(String reason) {
+        return new PlacementCheck(reason, 0, null);
+    }
+
+    private static boolean isVegetation(BlockState state) {
+        return state.is(BlockTags.LEAVES) || state.is(BlockTags.LOGS)
+                || state.is(BlockTags.FLOWERS) || state.is(BlockTags.SAPLINGS)
+                || !state.isAir() && state.canBeReplaced() && state.getFluidState().isEmpty();
+    }
+
+    static boolean generate(WorldGenLevel level, ChunkAccess chunk, long seed,
+                            List<Identifier> ageSymbols) {
+        Site site = site(seed, chunk.getPos());
+        if (site == null) return false;
+        PlacementCheck check = check(level, chunk.getPos(), seed);
+        if (!check.eligible()) return false;
+        BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor = new BlockPos.MutableBlockPos();
+        for (int x = 0; x < FOOTPRINT; x++) for (int z = 0; z < FOOTPRINT; z++)
+            for (int y = check.heights()[x][z]; y <= check.floorY() + 10; y++) {
+                BlockPos pos = cursor.set(site.x() + x, y, site.z() + z);
+                if (isVegetation(level.getBlockState(pos))) level.setBlock(pos, Blocks.AIR.defaultBlockState(), 2);
+            }
+        return build(level, site, check.floorY(), check.heights(), seed, ageSymbols);
+    }
+
+    /** Explicit OP testing placement. Never overwrites existing blocks or entities. */
+    public static Optional<BlockPos> testPlace(ServerLevel level, BlockPos playerPos, Direction facing,
+                                               long seed, List<Identifier> ageSymbols) {
+        Direction horizontal = facing.getAxis().isHorizontal() ? facing : Direction.NORTH;
+        BlockPos center = playerPos.relative(horizontal, 13);
+        int rotation = switch (horizontal) {
+            case NORTH -> 2;
+            case EAST -> 3;
+            case WEST -> 1;
+            default -> 0;
+        };
+        Site site = new Site(center.getX() - FOOTPRINT / 2, center.getZ() - FOOTPRINT / 2, rotation);
+        int floorY = playerPos.getY() + 2;
+        for (int x = 0; x < FOOTPRINT; x++) for (int z = 0; z < FOOTPRINT; z++)
+            floorY = Math.max(floorY, level.getHeight(Heightmap.Types.WORLD_SURFACE,
+                    site.x() + x, site.z() + z) + 1);
+        if (floorY + 10 >= level.getMaxY() || floorY - playerPos.getY() > 20)
+            return Optional.empty();
+        BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor = new BlockPos.MutableBlockPos();
+        for (int x = 0; x < FOOTPRINT; x++) for (int z = 0; z < FOOTPRINT; z++)
+            for (int y = floorY; y <= floorY + 10; y++) {
+                BlockPos pos = cursor.set(site.x() + x, y, site.z() + z);
+                if (!level.getWorldBorder().isWithinBounds(pos) || !level.getBlockState(pos).isAir())
+                    return Optional.empty();
+            }
+        if (!level.getEntities(null, new AABB(site.x(), floorY, site.z(),
+                site.x() + FOOTPRINT, floorY + 11, site.z() + FOOTPRINT)).isEmpty())
+            return Optional.empty();
+        if (!build(level, site, floorY, null, seed, ageSymbols)) return Optional.empty();
+        return Optional.of(mapped(site, cursor, 4, floorY + 1, 2).immutable());
+    }
+
+    private static boolean build(WorldGenLevel level, Site site, int floorY, int[][] heights,
+                                 long seed, List<Identifier> ageSymbols) {
+        BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor = new BlockPos.MutableBlockPos();
+        var template = level.getLevel().getStructureTemplateManager().get(TEMPLATE).orElse(null);
+        if (template == null || template.getSize().getX() != FOOTPRINT
+                || template.getSize().getY() != FOOTPRINT || template.getSize().getZ() != FOOTPRINT)
+            return false;
+        for (int x = 0; x < FOOTPRINT; x++) for (int z = 0; z < FOOTPRINT; z++) {
+            for (int y = heights == null ? floorY : heights[x][z] - 1; y <= floorY; y++)
+                place(level, site, cursor, x, y, z, Blocks.COBBLESTONE.defaultBlockState());
+        }
+        Rotation rotation = switch (site.rotation()) {
+            case 1 -> Rotation.CLOCKWISE_90;
+            case 2 -> Rotation.CLOCKWISE_180;
+            case 3 -> Rotation.COUNTERCLOCKWISE_90;
+            default -> Rotation.NONE;
+        };
+        BlockPos origin = new BlockPos(site.x(), floorY, site.z());
+        var settings = new StructurePlaceSettings().setRotation(rotation)
+                .setRotationPivot(new BlockPos(5, 0, 5)).setIgnoreEntities(true);
+        long positionSalt = new ChunkPos(site.x() >> 4, site.z() >> 4).pack();
+        if (!template.placeInWorld(level, origin, origin, settings,
+                RandomSource.create(seed ^ positionSalt), 2)) return false;
+
+        BlockPos chestPos = mapped(site, cursor, 4, floorY + 1, 2).immutable();
+        level.setBlock(chestPos, Blocks.CHEST.defaultBlockState().setValue(ChestBlock.FACING,
+                Direction.from2DDataValue(site.rotation())), 2);
+        PortConfig.LibraryLootMode mode = PortConfig.LIBRARY_LOOT_MODE.get();
+        boolean ageOnly = mode == PortConfig.LibraryLootMode.AGE_ONLY;
+        List<Identifier> symbols = symbolsForLoot(ageSymbols, mode);
+        RandomSource random = RandomSource.create(seed ^ positionSalt ^ SALT);
+        if (level.getBlockEntity(chestPos) instanceof ChestBlockEntity chest) {
+            chest.getPersistentData().putBoolean(CHEST_MARKER, true);
+            chest.setChanged();
+            if (ageOnly) {
+                // Pages are frozen in the Age generator, then saved as real chest items.
+                boolean[] occupied = new boolean[chest.getContainerSize()];
+                for (int i = 0, count = symbols.isEmpty() ? 0 : 4 + random.nextInt(5); i < count; i++) {
+                    int slot;
+                    do slot = random.nextInt(occupied.length); while (occupied[slot]);
+                    occupied[slot] = true;
+                    chest.setItem(slot, page(symbols, random));
+                }
+            } else {
+                chest.setLootTable(CHEST_LOOT, seed ^ chestPos.asLong());
+            }
+        }
+        for (int[] standCoords : STANDS) {
+            BlockPos pos = mapped(site, cursor, standCoords[0], floorY + standCoords[1], standCoords[2]).immutable();
+            if (!level.getBlockState(pos).isAir()) continue;
+            level.setBlock(pos, Rivencraft.BOOK_STAND.get().defaultBlockState()
+                    .setValue(BookStandBlock.FACING, standFacing(site, standCoords[3]))
+                    .setValue(BookStandBlock.HAS_BOOK, true), 2);
+            if (level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof BookStandBlockEntity stand) {
+                stand.setBook(symbols.isEmpty() ? new ItemStack(Items.BOOK) : page(symbols, random));
+            }
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    static Direction standFacing(Site site, int clockwiseTurns) {
+        return Direction.from2DDataValue((site.rotation() + clockwiseTurns) & 3);
+    }
+
+    /** Correct older generated stands in place, retaining their block entities and pages. */
+    public static int repairStandFacings(ServerLevel level, LevelChunk chunk, long seed) {
+        Site site = site(seed, chunk.getPos());
+        if (site == null || libraryChest(chunk, seed).isEmpty()) return -1;
+        int changed = 0;
+        BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor = new BlockPos.MutableBlockPos();
+        int chestY = libraryChest(chunk, seed).orElseThrow().getY();
+        for (int[] standCoords : STANDS) {
+            BlockPos pos = mapped(site, cursor, standCoords[0], chestY, standCoords[2]);
+            BlockState state = level.getBlockState(pos);
+            if (!state.is(Rivencraft.BOOK_STAND.get())) continue;
+            Direction facing = standFacing(site, standCoords[3]);
+            if (state.getValue(BookStandBlock.FACING) != facing) {
+                level.setBlock(pos, state.setValue(BookStandBlock.FACING, facing), 3);
+                changed++;
+            }
+        }
+        return changed;
+    }
+
+    static List<Identifier> symbolsForLoot(List<Identifier> ageSymbols, PortConfig.LibraryLootMode mode) {
+        return mode == PortConfig.LibraryLootMode.AGE_ONLY
+                ? ageSymbols.stream().filter(id -> PortSymbolPages.find(id) != null).distinct().toList()
+                : PortSymbolPages.sealedCandidateIds();
+    }
+
+    private static ItemStack page(List<Identifier> symbols, RandomSource random) {
+        return PageItem.createSymbolPage(symbols.get(random.nextInt(symbols.size())));
+    }
+
+    private static BlockPos.MutableBlockPos mapped(Site site, BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor, int x, int y, int z) {
+        return switch (site.rotation()) {
+            case 1 -> cursor.set(site.x() + FOOTPRINT - 1 - z, y, site.z() + x);
+            case 2 -> cursor.set(site.x() + FOOTPRINT - 1 - x, y, site.z() + FOOTPRINT - 1 - z);
+            case 3 -> cursor.set(site.x() + z, y, site.z() + FOOTPRINT - 1 - x);
+            default -> cursor.set(site.x() + x, y, site.z() + z);
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static void place(WorldGenLevel level, Site site, BlockPos.MutableBlockPos cursor,
+                              int x, int y, int z, BlockState state) {
+        level.setBlock(mapped(site, cursor, x, y, z), state, 2);
+    }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import com.mojang.serialization.Codec;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedData;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.saveddata.SavedDataType;
+
+/** Written pages for library Age-only loot, kept outside the legacy backend index codec. */
+final class PortLibraryWriting extends SavedData {
+    static final Codec<PortLibraryWriting> CODEC = Codec.unboundedMap(Identifier.CODEC, Identifier.CODEC.listOf())
+            .fieldOf("ages").codec().xmap(PortLibraryWriting::new, data -> Map.copyOf(data.pages));
+    static final SavedDataType<PortLibraryWriting> TYPE = new SavedDataType<>(
+            Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath("rivencraft", "library_writing"), () -> new PortLibraryWriting(Map.of()), CODEC);
+    private final Map<Identifier, List<Identifier>> pages = new HashMap<>();
+    private PortLibraryWriting(Map<Identifier, List<Identifier>> pages) { pages.forEach((id, list) -> this.pages.put(id, List.copyOf(list))); }
+    static PortLibraryWriting get(MinecraftServer server) { return server.overworld().getDataStorage().computeIfAbsent(TYPE); }
+    List<Identifier> symbols(Identifier id) { return pages.getOrDefault(id, List.of()); }
+    void put(Identifier id, List<Identifier> symbols) {
+        if (symbols.isEmpty()) pages.remove(id); else pages.put(id, List.copyOf(symbols));
+        setDirty();
+    }
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age;
+
+import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Comparator;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Random;
+import java.util.WeakHashMap;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+
+import net.minecraft.core.Holder;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.world.effect.MobEffect;
+import net.minecraft.world.effect.MobEffectInstance;
+import net.minecraft.world.effect.MobEffects;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.LivingEntity;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.monster.Monster;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.player.Player;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.ChunkPos;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.entity.EntityTypeTest;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.AABB;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.entity.EntityTravelToDimensionEvent;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.entity.player.PlayerEvent;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.server.ServerStoppingEvent;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.tick.ServerTickEvent;
+
+/** Legacy potion cards adapted to bounded, Age-local server effects. */
+@net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber(modid = Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+public final class PortStatusEffectProviders {
+    private static final int MAX_TRACKED_AGES = 64;
+    private static final Map<Identifier, Spec> SPECS = createSpecs();
+    private static final Map<ServerLevel, List<Lease>> LEASES = new WeakHashMap<>();
+
+    private PortStatusEffectProviders() {}
+
+    public static void register() {
+        SPECS.keySet().forEach(id -> PortInstabilityRuntime.register(id, PortStatusEffectProviders::apply));
+    }
+
+    static void apply(PortInstabilityRuntime.Context context, Identifier id, int level) {
+        if (!PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsEnabled()
+                || !PortInstabilityRuntime.isAge(context.level())) return;
+        Spec spec = SPECS.get(id);
+        if (spec == null || spec.target() == Target.HOSTILE && !PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsHostiles()
+                || spec.target() == Target.GENERAL && !PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsPlayers()
+                && !PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsNonplayers()) return;
+        List<Lease> leases = LEASES.get(context.level());
+        if (leases == null) {
+            if (LEASES.size() >= MAX_TRACKED_AGES) return;
+            leases = new ArrayList<>();
+            LEASES.put(context.level(), leases);
+        }
+        prune(context.level(), leases, context.serverTick(), false);
+        if (leases.size() >= PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsMaxActive()) return;
+
+        Random random = new Random(context.age().seed() ^ (context.serverTick() * 0x9E3779B97F4A7C15L)
+                ^ id.hashCode());
+        ChunkPos chunk = context.loadedChunks().get(random.nextInt(context.loadedChunks().size()));
+        AABB bounds = new AABB(chunk.getMinBlockX(), context.level().getMinY(), chunk.getMinBlockZ(),
+                chunk.getMaxBlockX() + 1, context.level().getMaxY(), chunk.getMaxBlockZ() + 1);
+        int duration = Math.min(spec.legacyDuration(), PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsMaxDuration());
+        int amplifier = Math.max(0, level - 1);
+        MobEffectInstance instance = new MobEffectInstance(spec.effect(), duration, amplifier);
+        List<LivingEntity> candidates = new ArrayList<>();
+        context.level().getEntities(EntityTypeTest.forClass(LivingEntity.class), bounds,
+                entity -> eligible(context.level(), entity, spec, instance), candidates,
+                PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsMaxCandidates());
+        if (candidates.isEmpty()) return;
+        candidates.sort(Comparator.comparing(Entity::getUUID));
+        LivingEntity target = candidates.get(random.nextInt(candidates.size()));
+        if (!context.budget().claim() || !target.addEffect(instance)) return;
+        context.budget().recordApplied();
+        leases.add(new Lease(id, new WeakReference<>(target), instance,
+                context.serverTick() + duration, spec.target()));
+    }
+
+    private static boolean eligible(ServerLevel level, LivingEntity entity, Spec spec,
+                                    MobEffectInstance instance) {
+        if (!entity.isAlive() || entity.isRemoved() || entity.level() != level
+                || entity.getEffect(spec.effect()) != null || !entity.canBeAffected(instance)
+                || !spec.global() && !level.canSeeSky(entity.blockPosition())) return false;
+        return allowedByPolicy(spec.target(), entity);
+    }
+
+    private static boolean allowedByPolicy(Target target, LivingEntity entity) {
+        if (entity instanceof Player player) {
+            return target == Target.GENERAL && PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsPlayers()
+                    && !player.isCreative() && !player.isSpectator();
+        }
+        return target == Target.GENERAL ? PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsNonplayers()
+                : entity instanceof Monster && PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsHostiles();
+    }
+
+    @net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent
+    public static void onServerTickPost(ServerTickEvent.Post event) {
+        if (event.getServer().getTickCount() % 20 != 0) return;
+        boolean disabled = !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityEnabled() || !PortInstabilityConfig.statusEffectsEnabled();
+        long tick = event.getServer().getTickCount();
+        for (var entry : LEASES.entrySet()) {
+            prune(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue(), tick, disabled
+                    || !PortInstabilityData.get(entry.getKey().getServer()).age(entry.getKey()).enabled());
+        }
+        LEASES.values().removeIf(List::isEmpty);
+    }
+
+    @net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent
+    public static void onEntityTravel(EntityTravelToDimensionEvent event) {
+        Entity entity = event.getEntity();
+        if (entity instanceof LivingEntity living && !entity.level().dimension().equals(event.getDimension())) {
+            clearEntity(living);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent
+    public static void onPlayerChangedDimension(PlayerEvent.PlayerChangedDimensionEvent event) {
+        if (event.getEntity() instanceof ServerPlayer player) clearEntity(player);
+    }
+
+    @net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent
+    public static void onPlayerLoggedOut(PlayerEvent.PlayerLoggedOutEvent event) {
+        if (event.getEntity() instanceof ServerPlayer player) clearEntity(player);
+    }
+
+    @net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent
+    public static void onServerStopping(ServerStoppingEvent event) {
+        long tick = event.getServer().getTickCount();
+        for (var entry : LEASES.entrySet()) prune(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue(), tick, true);
+        LEASES.clear();
+    }
+
+    public static void clearAge(ServerLevel level) {
+        var leases = LEASES.remove(level);
+        if (leases != null) prune(level, leases, level.getServer().getTickCount(), true);
+    }
+
+    private static void clearEntity(LivingEntity entity) {
+        for (List<Lease> leases : LEASES.values()) {
+            Iterator<Lease> iterator = leases.iterator();
+            while (iterator.hasNext()) {
+                Lease lease = iterator.next();
+                if (lease.entity().get() != entity) continue;
+                removeOwnedEffect(entity, lease);
+                iterator.remove();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void prune(ServerLevel level, List<Lease> leases, long tick, boolean removeAll) {
+        Iterator<Lease> iterator = leases.iterator();
+        while (iterator.hasNext()) {
+            Lease lease = iterator.next();
+            LivingEntity entity = lease.entity().get();
+            if (entity == null || entity.isRemoved() || entity.getEffect(lease.instance().getEffect()) == null) {
+                iterator.remove();
+                continue;
+            }
+            boolean revoke = removeAll || !PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityProviderEnabled(lease.provider())
+                    || entity.level() != level
+                    || !allowedByPolicy(lease.target(), entity);
+            if (revoke || tick >= lease.expiresAt()) {
+                removeOwnedEffect(entity, lease);
+                iterator.remove();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void removeOwnedEffect(LivingEntity entity, Lease lease) {
+        // addEffect stores the supplied instance when no effect exists. Do not remove
+        // a replacement from another mod (or a stronger/extended effect).
+        if (entity.getEffect(lease.instance().getEffect()) == lease.instance()
+                && lease.instance().getAmplifier() == lease.amplifier()
+                && lease.instance().getDuration() <= lease.originalDuration()) {
+            entity.removeEffect(lease.instance().getEffect());
+        }
+    }
+
+    static int legacyDuration(Identifier id) {
+        Spec spec = SPECS.get(id);
+        return spec == null ? -1 : spec.legacyDuration();
+    }
+
+    static boolean localRequiresSky(Identifier id) {
+        Spec spec = SPECS.get(id);
+        return spec != null && !spec.global();
+    }
+
+    static boolean eligibleTarget(ServerLevel level, LivingEntity entity, Identifier id) {
+        Spec spec = SPECS.get(id);
+        return spec != null && eligible(level, entity, spec,
+                new MobEffectInstance(spec.effect(), spec.legacyDuration(), 0));
+    }
+
+    private static Map<Identifier, Spec> createSpecs() {
+        Map<Identifier, Spec> specs = new HashMap<>();
+        addPair(specs, "blindness", MobEffects.BLINDNESS, 60);
+        addPair(specs, "fatigue", MobEffects.MINING_FATIGUE, 80);
+        addPair(specs, "hunger", MobEffects.HUNGER, 80);
+        addPair(specs, "nausea", MobEffects.NAUSEA, 60);
+        addPair(specs, "poison", MobEffects.POISON, 80);
+        addPair(specs, "slow", MobEffects.SLOWNESS, 80);
+        addPair(specs, "weakness", MobEffects.WEAKNESS, 80);
+        addPair(specs, "wither", MobEffects.WITHER, 30);
+        specs.put(id("enemyregen_global"), new Spec(MobEffects.REGENERATION, 200, true, Target.HOSTILE));
+        specs.put(id("enemyresist_global"), new Spec(MobEffects.RESISTANCE, 200, true, Target.HOSTILE));
+        return Map.copyOf(specs);
+    }
+
+    private static void addPair(Map<Identifier, Spec> specs, String name,
+                                Holder<MobEffect> effect, int duration) {
+        specs.put(id(name), new Spec(effect, duration, false, Target.GENERAL));
+        specs.put(id(name + "_global"), new Spec(effect, duration, true, Target.GENERAL));
+    }
+
+    private static Identifier id(String path) {
+        return Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath(Rivencraft.MOD_ID, path);
+    }
+
+    private enum Target { GENERAL, HOSTILE }
+    private record Spec(Holder<MobEffect> effect, int legacyDuration, boolean global, Target target) {}
+    private record Lease(Identifier provider, WeakReference<LivingEntity> entity, MobEffectInstance instance, long expiresAt,
+                         Target target, int amplifier, int originalDuration) {
+        private Lease(Identifier provider, WeakReference<LivingEntity> entity, MobEffectInstance instance, long expiresAt,
+                      Target target) {
+            this(provider, entity, instance, expiresAt, target, instance.getAmplifier(), instance.getDuration());
+        }
+    }
+}

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

@@ -149,14 +149,26 @@ public final class RuntimeAgeBackend {
                                      PortVegetationPlan vegetation, int dungeons, PortLakePlan lakes,
                                      PortTerrainFeaturePlan terrainFeatures, PortWeatherMode weather,
                                      PortLighting lighting, PortSkyStyle sky, PortAgeColors colors, PortDayCycle dayCycle) {
+        return create(server, id, seed, biomePlan, terrain, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes,
+                terrainFeatures, weather, lighting, sky, colors, dayCycle, List.of());
+    }
+
+    public static ServerLevel create(MinecraftServer server, Identifier id, long seed,
+                                     PortBiomePlan biomePlan, PortAgeTerrain terrain, PortRockPlan rocks,
+                                     PortVegetationPlan vegetation, int dungeons, PortLakePlan lakes,
+                                     PortTerrainFeaturePlan terrainFeatures, PortWeatherMode weather,
+                                     PortLighting lighting, PortSkyStyle sky, PortAgeColors colors, PortDayCycle dayCycle,
+                                     List<Identifier> librarySymbols) {
         checkServerThread(server);
         ageName(id);
         AgeLevelIndex index = index(server);
         if (index.contains(id)) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Age already exists: " + id);
+        PortLibraryWriting.get(server).put(id, librarySymbols);
         ServerLevel level = load(server, id, seed, biomePlan, terrain, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes,
                 terrainFeatures, lighting, sky, colors, dayCycle);
         ((PortAgeLevel) level).configureWeather(weather);
         index.add(id, seed, biomePlan, terrain, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes, terrainFeatures, lighting, sky, colors, dayCycle);
+        PortInstabilityData.get(server).create(level, librarySymbols, terrain, lighting, dayCycle);
         // 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.
@@ -482,8 +494,8 @@ public final class RuntimeAgeBackend {
             };
             generator = new NoiseBasedChunkGenerator(source, PortBiomeMaterialRules.apply(server.registryAccess(), settings.value()));
         }
-        if (rocks != null || vegetation != null || dungeons > 0 || lakes != null || terrainFeatures != null)
+        generator = new PortFeatureChunkGenerator(generator, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes, terrainFeatures, seed,
-            generator = new PortFeatureChunkGenerator(generator, rocks, vegetation, dungeons, lakes, terrainFeatures, seed);
+                terrain != PortAgeTerrain.CAVE, PortLibraryWriting.get(server).symbols(id));
         LevelStem stem = new LevelStem(lighting.dimensionType(server, terrain, overworldStem.type(), sky),
                 generator, OptionalLong.of(seed));
         long biomeZoomSeed = BiomeManager.obfuscateSeed(server.getWorldGenSettings().options().seed());

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/BookReceptacleBlock.java

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.advancement.ProgressionAdvancements;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal.CrystalPortalNetwork;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal.PortalBookTravel;
+
+
+
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+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.InteractionResult;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.player.Player;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.context.BlockPlaceContext;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.BlockGetter;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.BaseEntityBlock;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Block;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.RenderShape;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.BlockEntity;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.BlockEntityTicker;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.BlockEntityType;
+
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.StateDefinition;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.properties.BlockStateProperties;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.properties.EnumProperty;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.properties.BooleanProperty;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.BlockHitResult;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.shapes.CollisionContext;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.shapes.VoxelShape;
+
+/** A book-holding crystal attachment, with server-authoritative frame activation. */
+public final class BookReceptacleBlock extends BaseEntityBlock {
+    public static final EnumProperty<Direction> FACING = BlockStateProperties.FACING;
+    public static final BooleanProperty HAS_BOOK = BlockStateProperties.HAS_BOOK;
+
+    public BookReceptacleBlock(Properties properties) {
+        super(properties);
+        registerDefaultState(stateDefinition.any().setValue(FACING, Direction.NORTH).setValue(HAS_BOOK, false));
+    }
+
+    @Override protected RenderShape getRenderShape(BlockState state) { return RenderShape.MODEL; }
+    @Override protected VoxelShape getShape(BlockState state, BlockGetter level, BlockPos pos,
+                                             CollisionContext context) {
+        return switch (state.getValue(FACING)) {
+            case NORTH -> Block.box(0, 0, 10, 16, 16, 16);
+            case SOUTH -> Block.box(0, 0, 0, 16, 16, 6);
+            case EAST -> Block.box(0, 0, 0, 6, 16, 16);
+            case WEST -> Block.box(10, 0, 0, 16, 16, 16);
+            case UP -> Block.box(0, 0, 0, 16, 6, 16);
+            case DOWN -> Block.box(0, 10, 0, 16, 16, 16);
+        };
+    }
+    @Override protected void createBlockStateDefinition(StateDefinition.Builder<Block, BlockState> builder) {
+        builder.add(FACING, HAS_BOOK);
+    }
+    @Override public BlockEntity newBlockEntity(BlockPos pos, BlockState state) {
+        return new BookReceptacleBlockEntity(pos, state);
+    }
+    @Override public <T extends BlockEntity> BlockEntityTicker<T> getTicker(Level level, BlockState state,
+            BlockEntityType<T> type) {
+        return level instanceof ServerLevel
+                ? createTickerHelper(type, Rivencraft.BOOK_RECEPTACLE_BLOCK_ENTITY.get(), (world, pos, current, holder) -> BookReceptacleBlockEntity.serverTick((ServerLevel) world, pos, holder))
+                : null;
+    }
+    @Override public BlockState getStateForPlacement(BlockPlaceContext context) {
+        Direction face = context.getClickedFace();
+        if (!context.getLevel().getBlockState(
+                context.getClickedPos().relative(face.getOpposite())).is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get())) return null;
+        return defaultBlockState().setValue(FACING, face);
+    }
+
+    @Override protected InteractionResult useItemOn(ItemStack stack, BlockState state, Level level, BlockPos pos,
+            Player player, InteractionHand hand, BlockHitResult hit) {
+        if (!isBoundBook(stack)) return InteractionResult.TRY_WITH_EMPTY_HAND;
+        if (level.isClientSide()) return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+        if (!(level instanceof ServerLevel server) ||
+                !(level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder)) return InteractionResult.FAIL;
+        if (!holder.getBook().isEmpty()) return InteractionResult.FAIL;
+        CrystalPortalNetwork.Plan plan = CrystalPortalNetwork.plan(server, pos);
+        if (!plan.valid()) {
+            if (player instanceof ServerPlayer serverPlayer) serverPlayer.sendOverlayMessage(Component.translatable("message.rivencraft.portal.invalid_frame"));
+            return InteractionResult.FAIL;
+        }
+        if (!PortalBookTravel.available(server, stack)) {
+            if (player instanceof ServerPlayer serverPlayer) serverPlayer.sendOverlayMessage(Component.translatable("message.rivencraft.descriptive_book.unavailable"));
+            return InteractionResult.FAIL;
+        }
+        holder.setBook(stack.copyWithCount(1));
+        if (!CrystalPortalNetwork.activate(server, pos, plan, player)) {
+            holder.takeBook();
+            return InteractionResult.FAIL;
+        }
+        if (!player.getAbilities().instabuild) stack.shrink(1);
+        level.playSound(null, pos, SoundEvents.ENCHANTMENT_TABLE_USE, SoundSource.BLOCKS, 1, 1);
+        if (player instanceof ServerPlayer serverPlayer)
+            ProgressionAdvancements.award(serverPlayer, ProgressionAdvancements.OPEN_PORTAL);
+        return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+    }
+
+    @Override protected InteractionResult useWithoutItem(BlockState state, Level level, BlockPos pos,
+            Player player, BlockHitResult hit) {
+        if (level.isClientSide()) return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+        if (level instanceof ServerLevel server && level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder
+                && !holder.getBook().isEmpty()) {
+            CrystalPortalNetwork.shutdown(server, pos);
+            ItemStack book = holder.takeBook();
+            if (!player.getInventory().add(book)) player.drop(book, false, net.minecraft.util.Prediction.SERVER_ONLY);
+            level.playSound(null, pos, SoundEvents.BOOK_PAGE_TURN, SoundSource.BLOCKS, 1, 1);
+            return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+        }
+        return InteractionResult.PASS;
+    }
+
+    @Override protected void neighborChanged(BlockState state, Level level, BlockPos pos, Block neighbor,
+            net.minecraft.world.level.redstone.Orientation orientation, boolean moved) {
+        super.neighborChanged(state, level, pos, neighbor, orientation, moved);
+        BlockPos support = pos.relative(state.getValue(FACING).getOpposite());
+        if (!level.isClientSide() && level.hasChunkAt(support) && !level.getBlockState(support)
+                .is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get())) level.destroyBlock(pos, true);
+    }
+
+    private static boolean isBoundBook(ItemStack stack) {
+        return stack.is(Rivencraft.LINKING_BOOK.get()) && stack.has(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get())
+                || stack.is(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get()) && stack.has(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get());
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/CrystalPortalBlock.java

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.CrystalPortalBlockEntity;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal.CrystalPortalNetwork;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal.PortalTravelCooldown;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal.PortalTravelQueue;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.util.RandomSource;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.BaseEntityBlock;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Block;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.RenderShape;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.BlockEntity;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.StateDefinition;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.properties.BooleanProperty;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.properties.EnumProperty;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.material.Fluid;
+
+/** Non-solid linked surface; all travel is delegated to the held book's rules. */
+public final class CrystalPortalBlock extends BaseEntityBlock {
+    // Retained so portal blocks already saved with this state still deserialize.
+    public static final BooleanProperty LIVE_VIEW = BooleanProperty.create("live_view");
+    public static final EnumProperty<Direction.Axis> AXIS = EnumProperty.create("axis", Direction.Axis.class);
+
+    public CrystalPortalBlock(Properties properties) {
+        super(properties);
+        registerDefaultState(stateDefinition.any().setValue(LIVE_VIEW, false).setValue(AXIS, Direction.Axis.Z));
+    }
+    @Override protected void createBlockStateDefinition(StateDefinition.Builder<Block, BlockState> builder) {
+        builder.add(LIVE_VIEW, AXIS);
+    }
+    @Override protected RenderShape getRenderShape(BlockState state) {
+        // Keep the animated fallback until the optional destination view has
+        // actually been established, including after a world restart.
+        return RenderShape.MODEL;
+    }
+    @Override public BlockEntity newBlockEntity(BlockPos pos, BlockState state) {
+        return new CrystalPortalBlockEntity(pos, state);
+    }
+    @Override protected boolean canBeReplaced(BlockState state, Fluid fluid) { return false; }
+
+    @Override protected void entityInside(BlockState state, Level level, BlockPos pos, Entity entity, net.minecraft.world.entity.InsideBlockEffectApplier effects, boolean precise) {
+        if (!(level instanceof ServerLevel server) || !entity.canUsePortal(false)) return;
+        long now = server.getServer().getTickCount();
+        if (PortalTravelCooldown.blocked(entity, now)) return;
+        if (!(level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal)
+                || portal.receptacle() == null || !level.hasChunkAt(portal.receptacle())
+                || !(level.getBlockEntity(portal.receptacle()) instanceof BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder)) return;
+        ItemStack book = holder.getBook();
+        if (book.isEmpty()) return;
+        PortalTravelCooldown.mark(entity, now);
+        PortalTravelQueue.enqueue(entity, server, pos, portal.receptacle(), book, now);
+    }
+
+    @Override protected void neighborChanged(BlockState state, Level level, BlockPos pos, Block neighbor,
+            net.minecraft.world.level.redstone.Orientation orientation, boolean moved) {
+        super.neighborChanged(state, level, pos, neighbor, orientation, moved);
+        if (!(level instanceof ServerLevel server)
+                || !(level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal)
+                || portal.receptacle() == null) return;
+        // Like a vanilla portal, validate when the frame changes, not on a
+        // repeating timer that can race block entities loading after restart.
+        if (CrystalPortalNetwork.cellStatus(server, pos, portal.receptacle())
+                == CrystalPortalNetwork.CellStatus.INVALID) server.removeBlock(pos, false);
+    }
+
+    @Override protected void tick(BlockState state, ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, RandomSource random) {
+        // Ignore validation ticks saved by older builds. Frame edits are
+        // handled by neighborChanged, and the receptacle maintains the view.
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/DecayBlock.java

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortInstabilityRuntime;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortInstabilityConfig;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.util.StringRepresentable;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Block;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.StateDefinition;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.properties.EnumProperty;
+
+/** The four colored decay variants selected by the current instability deck. */
+public final class DecayBlock extends Block {
+    public static final EnumProperty<Color> COLOR = EnumProperty.create("color", Color.class);
+
+    public DecayBlock(Properties properties) {
+        super(properties);
+        registerDefaultState(stateDefinition.any().setValue(COLOR, Color.BLUE));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void createBlockStateDefinition(StateDefinition.Builder<Block, BlockState> builder) {
+        builder.add(COLOR);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void stepOn(Level level, BlockPos pos, BlockState state, Entity entity) {
+        if (level instanceof net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel server && state.getValue(COLOR) == Color.WHITE
+                && PortInstabilityConfig.decayEnabled() && PortInstabilityConfig.instabilityWorldMutation()
+                && PortInstabilityRuntime.isAge(server)) {
+            entity.hurtServer(server, level.damageSources().magic(), 1.0F);
+        }
+        super.stepOn(level, pos, state, entity);
+    }
+
+    public enum Color implements StringRepresentable {
+        BLUE, PURPLE, RED, WHITE;
+
+        @Override
+        public String getSerializedName() {
+            return name().toLowerCase(java.util.Locale.ROOT);
+        }
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/entity/BookReceptacleBlockEntity.java

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.BookReceptacleBlock;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal.CrystalPortalNetwork;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.HolderLookup;
+import net.minecraft.nbt.CompoundTag;
+import net.minecraft.network.protocol.game.ClientboundBlockEntityDataPacket;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.BlockEntity;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.storage.ValueInput;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.storage.ValueOutput;
+
+/** One persisted book owns the whole crystal network. Portal cells retain only its position. */
+public final class BookReceptacleBlockEntity extends BlockEntity {
+    private ItemStack book = ItemStack.EMPTY;
+    private boolean restore = true;
+    private int skyColor = 0xffffff;
+    public BookReceptacleBlockEntity(BlockPos pos, BlockState state) {
+        super(Rivencraft.BOOK_RECEPTACLE_BLOCK_ENTITY.get(), pos, state);
+    }
+    public ItemStack getBook() { return book; }
+    public int skyColor() { return skyColor; }
+    public void setBook(ItemStack value) {
+        book = value.copyWithCount(1);
+        skyColor = 0xffffff;
+        if (level instanceof ServerLevel source) {
+            var destination = book.get(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get());
+            var id = book.is(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get()) ? book.get(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get())
+                    : destination == null ? null : destination.dimension();
+            var target = id == null ? null : source.getServer().getLevel(net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey.create(
+                    net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries.DIMENSION, id));
+            if (target != null) {
+                var pos = destination == null ? net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeTravel.resolveLanding(target)
+                        : BlockPos.containing(destination.x(), destination.y(), destination.z());
+                if (pos != null) {
+                    int written = net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeColors.forLevel(target).sky();
+                    String type = target.dimensionTypeRegistration().unwrapKey()
+                            .map(key -> key.identifier().getPath()).orElse("");
+                    skyColor = written >= 0 ? written
+                            : target.dimension() == net.minecraft.world.level.Level.NETHER || type.endsWith("_sky_nether")
+                                ? 0x6b2725
+                            : target.dimension() == net.minecraft.world.level.Level.END || type.endsWith("_sky_end")
+                                ? 0x211835
+                            : net.minecraft.util.ARGB.colorFromVector3f(target.environmentAttributes().getValue(
+                                    net.minecraft.world.attribute.EnvironmentAttributes.SKY_COLOR, pos)) & 0xffffff;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        sync();
+    }
+    public ItemStack takeBook() { ItemStack result = book; book = ItemStack.EMPTY; skyColor = 0xffffff; sync(); return result; }
+    private void sync() {
+        setChanged();
+        if (level != null && !level.isClientSide()) {
+            BlockState current = level.getBlockState(worldPosition);
+            if (current.is(Rivencraft.BOOK_RECEPTACLE.get())) {
+                level.setBlock(worldPosition, current.setValue(BookReceptacleBlock.HAS_BOOK, !book.isEmpty()), 2);
+                level.sendBlockUpdated(worldPosition, current, level.getBlockState(worldPosition), 2);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    public static void serverTick(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder) {
+        if (holder.book.isEmpty()) { holder.restore = false; return; }
+        int interval = holder.restore ? 20 : 200;
+        if (level.getGameTime() % interval != Math.floorMod(pos.asLong(), interval)) return;
+        var plan = CrystalPortalNetwork.plan(level, pos);
+        if (plan.waitingForChunks()) return;
+        boolean restoring = holder.restore;
+        if (restoring && !plan.valid() && CrystalPortalNetwork.recoverSavedOwners(level, pos))
+            plan = CrystalPortalNetwork.plan(level, pos);
+        CrystalPortalNetwork.reconcile(level, pos, plan);
+        holder.restore = false;
+        if (restoring) holder.sync();
+    }
+    @Override protected void loadAdditional(ValueInput input) {
+        super.loadAdditional(input);
+        book = input.read("Book", ItemStack.CODEC).orElse(ItemStack.EMPTY);
+        skyColor = input.getIntOr("SkyColor", 0xffffff);
+        restore = true;
+    }
+    @Override protected void saveAdditional(ValueOutput output) {
+        super.saveAdditional(output);
+        if (!book.isEmpty()) output.store("Book", ItemStack.CODEC, book);
+        output.putInt("SkyColor", skyColor);
+    }
+    @Override public CompoundTag getUpdateTag(HolderLookup.Provider registries) { return saveWithoutMetadata(registries); }
+    @Override public ClientboundBlockEntityDataPacket getUpdatePacket() { return ClientboundBlockEntityDataPacket.create(this); }
+    @Override public void preRemoveSideEffects(BlockPos pos, BlockState oldState) {
+        if (level instanceof ServerLevel server) {
+            CrystalPortalNetwork.shutdown(server, pos);
+            ItemStack removed = book;
+            book = ItemStack.EMPTY;
+            net.minecraft.world.Containers.dropItemStack(level, pos.getX() + 0.5, pos.getY() + 0.5, pos.getZ() + 0.5, removed);
+        }
+        super.preRemoveSideEffects(pos, oldState);
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/entity/CrystalPortalBlockEntity.java

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.HolderLookup;
+import net.minecraft.network.protocol.game.ClientboundBlockEntityDataPacket;
+import net.minecraft.nbt.CompoundTag;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.entity.BlockEntity;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.storage.ValueInput;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.storage.ValueOutput;
+
+/** One stored book or page, synchronized independently of the player's inventory. */
+public final class CrystalPortalBlockEntity extends BlockEntity {
+    private BlockPos receptacle;
+    public CrystalPortalBlockEntity(BlockPos pos, BlockState state) { super(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_PORTAL_BLOCK_ENTITY.get(), pos, state); }
+    public BlockPos receptacle() { return receptacle; }
+    public void setReceptacle(BlockPos pos) {
+        receptacle = pos.immutable();
+        setChanged();
+        if (level != null && !level.isClientSide()) level.sendBlockUpdated(worldPosition, getBlockState(), getBlockState(), 2);
+    }
+    @Override protected void loadAdditional(ValueInput input) {
+        super.loadAdditional(input);
+        receptacle = input.read("Receptacle", BlockPos.CODEC).orElse(null);
+    }
+    @Override protected void saveAdditional(ValueOutput output) {
+        super.saveAdditional(output);
+        if (receptacle != null) output.store("Receptacle", BlockPos.CODEC, receptacle);
+    }
+    @Override public CompoundTag getUpdateTag(HolderLookup.Provider registries) { return saveWithoutMetadata(registries); }
+    @Override public ClientboundBlockEntityDataPacket getUpdatePacket() { return ClientboundBlockEntityDataPacket.create(this); }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/entity/WritingDeskBlockEntity.java

@@ -116,13 +116,13 @@ public final class WritingDeskBlockEntity extends BlockEntity implements Contain
     public boolean canConsumeCopyMaterials() {
         ItemStack paper = items.get(PAPER);
         if (!canPlaceItem(PAPER, paper) || paper.isEmpty()) return false;
-        int cost = net.dnorberg.rivencraft.PortConfig.SYMBOL_INK_COST.get();
+        int cost = net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.WritingInkService.symbolCopyCost();
         return InkVialExchange.canPay(items, INK, RETURN, inkRemaining, cost);
     }
 
     public boolean consumeCopyMaterials() {
         if (!canConsumeCopyMaterials()) return false;
-        int cost = net.dnorberg.rivencraft.PortConfig.SYMBOL_INK_COST.get();
+        int cost = net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.WritingInkService.symbolCopyCost();
         if (inkRemaining < cost) {
             inkRemaining += InkVialExchange.exchange(items, INK, RETURN);
         }

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

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.client;
+
+import com.mojang.blaze3d.vertex.PoseStack;
+import com.mojang.math.Axis;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.BookReceptacleBlock;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity;
+import net.minecraft.client.model.geom.ModelLayers;
+import net.minecraft.client.model.object.book.BookModel;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.SubmitNodeCollector;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.blockentity.BlockEntityRenderer;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.blockentity.BlockEntityRendererProvider;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.blockentity.state.BlockEntityRenderState;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.feature.ModelFeatureRenderer;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.state.level.CameraRenderState;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.texture.OverlayTexture;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.resources.Identifier;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.Vec3;
+
+/** The 1.21.1 receptacle book orientation in the 26.3 extracted renderer. */
+public final class BookReceptacleRenderer implements BlockEntityRenderer<BookReceptacleBlockEntity, BookReceptacleRenderer.State> {
+    private static final Identifier LINKING = Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath("rivencraft", "textures/entity/linking_book.png");
+    private static final Identifier DESCRIPTIVE = Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath("rivencraft", "textures/entity/descriptive_book.png");
+    private final BookModel model;
+    public BookReceptacleRenderer(BlockEntityRendererProvider.Context context) {
+        model = new BookModel(context.bakeLayer(ModelLayers.BOOK));
+    }
+    public static final class State extends BlockEntityRenderState {
+        boolean present, descriptive;
+        Direction facing = Direction.NORTH;
+    }
+    @Override public State createRenderState() { return new State(); }
+    @Override public void extractRenderState(BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder, State state, float partialTick,
+                                             Vec3 camera, ModelFeatureRenderer.CrumblingOverlay overlay) {
+        BlockEntityRenderer.super.extractRenderState(holder, state, partialTick, camera, overlay);
+        state.present = !holder.getBook().isEmpty() && holder.getBlockState().getValue(BookReceptacleBlock.HAS_BOOK);
+        state.descriptive = holder.getBook().is(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get());
+        state.facing = holder.getBlockState().getValue(BookReceptacleBlock.FACING);
+    }
+    @Override public void submit(State state, PoseStack pose, SubmitNodeCollector collector, CameraRenderState camera) {
+        if (!state.present) return;
+        pose.pushPose();
+        pose.translate(0.5F, 0.5F, 0.5F);
+        switch (state.facing) {
+            case UP -> {
+                pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.ZP, 180);
+                pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.XP, -90);
+                pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.YP, 90);
+                pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.ZP, 180);
+            }
+            case DOWN -> {
+                pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.XP, -90);
+                pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.YP, 90);
+                pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.ZP, 180);
+            }
+            case NORTH -> pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.YP, -90);
+            case SOUTH -> pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.YP, 90);
+            case EAST -> pose.rotateDegrees(Axis.YP, 180);
+            case WEST -> { }
+        }
+        pose.scale(0.8F, 0.8F, 0.8F);
+        collector.submitModel(model, BookModel.State.forAnimation(0, 0.1F, 0.1F, 0.005F), pose,
+                state.descriptive ? DESCRIPTIVE : LINKING, state.lightCoords, OverlayTexture.NO_OVERLAY, 0);
+        pose.popPose();
+    }
+}

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

@@ -21,6 +21,22 @@ public final class PortBookBinderClientEvents {
         event.registerEntityRenderer(Rivencraft.DROPPED_BOOK.get(), DroppedBookRenderer::new);
         event.registerBlockEntityRenderer(Rivencraft.WRITING_DESK_BLOCK_ENTITY.get(), WritingDeskRenderer::new);
         event.registerBlockEntityRenderer(Rivencraft.BOOK_STAND_BLOCK_ENTITY.get(), BookStandRenderer::new);
+        event.registerBlockEntityRenderer(Rivencraft.BOOK_RECEPTACLE_BLOCK_ENTITY.get(), BookReceptacleRenderer::new);
+    }
+
+    @SubscribeEvent
+    public static void portalTint(net.neoforged.neoforge.client.event.RegisterColorHandlersEvent.BlockTintSources event) {
+        event.register(java.util.List.of(new net.minecraft.client.color.block.BlockTintSource() {
+            @Override public int color(net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState state) { return 0xffffffff; }
+            @Override public int colorInWorld(net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState state,
+                    net.minecraft.client.renderer.block.BlockAndTintGetter level, net.minecraft.core.BlockPos pos) {
+                if (level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal
+                        && portal.receptacle() != null
+                        && level.getBlockEntity(portal.receptacle()) instanceof net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder)
+                    return 0xff000000 | holder.skyColor();
+                return 0xffffffff;
+            }
+        }), Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_PORTAL.get());
     }
 
     @SubscribeEvent

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

@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item;
 import java.util.function.Consumer;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
 import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
-import net.minecraft.util.Prediction;
 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.Items;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.WritingInkService;
 import net.minecraft.world.item.TooltipFlag;
 import net.minecraft.world.item.component.TooltipDisplay;
 import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
 /** A stackable 16-use vial; using it with paper in the other hand prepares a Link Panel. */
 public final class InkVialItem extends Item {
     public static final int CAPACITY = 16;
-    // Match the 1.21.1 default; port the configurable cost with the full configuration system.
-    public static final int LINK_PANEL_COST = 2;
 
     public InkVialItem(Properties properties) {
         super(properties);
@@ -30,37 +28,16 @@ public final class InkVialItem extends Item {
 
     @Override
     public InteractionResult use(Level level, Player player, InteractionHand hand) {
-        InteractionHand paperHand = hand == InteractionHand.MAIN_HAND
+        if (level.isClientSide()) {
-                ? InteractionHand.OFF_HAND : InteractionHand.MAIN_HAND;
+            // LOCAL gameplay config is not synchronized. Predict only item eligibility;
-        ItemStack vial = player.getItemInHand(hand);
+            // the server decides affordability using its own configured cost.
-        ItemStack paper = player.getItemInHand(paperHand);
+            var paperHand = hand == InteractionHand.MAIN_HAND ? InteractionHand.OFF_HAND : InteractionHand.MAIN_HAND;
-        int ink = remaining(vial);
+            int ink = remaining(player.getItemInHand(hand));
-        if (!vial.is(Rivencraft.INK_VIAL.get()) || !paper.is(Items.PAPER)
+            return player.getItemInHand(hand).is(Rivencraft.INK_VIAL.get())
-                || ink < LINK_PANEL_COST || ink > CAPACITY) {
+                    && player.getItemInHand(paperHand).is(Items.PAPER) && ink > 0 && ink <= CAPACITY
-            return InteractionResult.PASS;
+                    ? InteractionResult.SUCCESS : InteractionResult.PASS;
         }
-        if (level.isClientSide()) return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
+        return WritingInkService.prepareLinkPanel(player, hand) ? InteractionResult.SUCCESS : InteractionResult.PASS;
-
-        ItemStack panel = PageItem.createLinkPanelPage();
-        int newInk = ink - LINK_PANEL_COST;
-        ItemStack spentVial = newInk == 0
-                ? new ItemStack(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE)
-                : new ItemStack(Rivencraft.INK_VIAL.get());
-        if (newInk > 0) spentVial.set(Rivencraft.INK_REMAINING.get(), newInk);
-
-        if (paper.getCount() == 1) {
-            player.setItemInHand(paperHand, panel);
-        } else {
-            paper.shrink(1);
-            giveOrDrop(player, panel);
-        }
-        if (vial.getCount() == 1) {
-            player.setItemInHand(hand, spentVial);
-        } else {
-            vial.shrink(1);
-            giveOrDrop(player, spentVial);
-        }
-        return InteractionResult.SUCCESS;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -70,7 +47,4 @@ public final class InkVialItem extends Item {
         tooltip.accept(Component.translatable("item.rivencraft.ink_vial.usage"));
     }
 
-    private static void giveOrDrop(Player player, ItemStack stack) {
-        if (!player.getInventory().add(stack)) player.drop(stack, false, Prediction.SERVER_ONLY);
-    }
 }

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

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item;
+
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.Vec3;
+import net.minecraft.world.Container;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.EquipmentSlot;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Mob;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.animal.equine.AbstractHorse;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.item.ItemEntity;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+
+/** Legacy-style Disarm: leave carried items and eligible equipment at the departure point. */
+public final class LinkDisarmService {
+    private LinkDisarmService() {}
+
+    public static boolean mayTravel(Entity entity) {
+        // Legacy refuses loose items and dropped Link Books on Disarm links.
+        return !(entity instanceof ItemEntity);
+    }
+
+    public static void disarmAt(Entity entity, ServerLevel source, Vec3 departure) {
+        if (entity instanceof ServerPlayer player) {
+            eject(player.getInventory(), source, departure);
+            player.containerMenu.broadcastChanges();
+        }
+        if (entity instanceof Container container) eject(container, source, departure);
+        if (entity instanceof AbstractHorse horse) eject(horse.getInventory(), source, departure);
+        if (entity instanceof Mob mob) dropEquipment(mob, source, departure);
+    }
+
+    private static void eject(Container inventory, ServerLevel source, Vec3 departure) {
+        for (int slot = 0; slot < inventory.getContainerSize(); slot++) {
+            ItemStack stack = inventory.getItem(slot);
+            if (stack.isEmpty()) continue;
+            inventory.setItem(slot, ItemStack.EMPTY);
+            drop(stack, source, departure);
+        }
+        inventory.setChanged();
+    }
+
+    private static void dropEquipment(Mob mob, ServerLevel source, Vec3 departure) {
+        for (EquipmentSlot slot : EquipmentSlot.values()) {
+            ItemStack stack = mob.getItemBySlot(slot);
+            if (stack.isEmpty()) continue;
+            float chance = mob.getDropChances().byEquipment(slot);
+            mob.setItemSlot(slot, ItemStack.EMPTY);
+            if (chance <= 0 || mob.getRandom().nextFloat() >= chance) continue;
+            if (chance <= 1 && stack.isDamageableItem()) {
+                int minimum = Math.max(stack.getMaxDamage() - 25, 1);
+                int damage = stack.getMaxDamage() - mob.getRandom().nextInt(
+                        1 + mob.getRandom().nextInt(minimum));
+                stack.setDamageValue(Math.clamp(damage, 1, minimum));
+            }
+            drop(stack, source, departure);
+        }
+    }
+    private static void drop(ItemStack stack, ServerLevel source, Vec3 position) {
+        var dropped = new ItemEntity(source, position.x, position.y, position.z, stack);
+        dropped.setDefaultPickUpDelay();
+        source.addFreshEntity(dropped);
+    }
+}

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

@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ 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;
-import net.minecraft.world.entity.item.ItemEntity;
 import net.minecraft.world.phys.Vec3;
 
 /** Handheld Linking Book; destination binding and travel are server-authoritative packets. */
@@ -40,6 +39,10 @@ public final class LinkingBookItem extends Item {
     }
 
     public static String travel(ServerPlayer player, ItemStack book) {
+        return travel(player, book, false);
+    }
+
+    public static String travel(ServerPlayer player, ItemStack book, boolean portal) {
         LinkBookTarget destination = book.get(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get());
         LinkProperties properties = book.getOrDefault(Rivencraft.LINK_PROPERTIES.get(), LinkProperties.NONE);
         if (destination == null) return "Unbound Linking Book (26.3 port preview)";
@@ -71,14 +74,20 @@ public final class LinkingBookItem extends Item {
         Vec3 incoming = player.getDeltaMovement();
         boolean moved = player.teleportTo(target, destination.x(), destination.y(), destination.z(),
                 Set.of(), destination.yaw(), destination.pitch(), true);
-        if (moved) applySuccessfulLink(player, properties, source, departure, incoming, destination.yaw());
+        if (moved) applySuccessfulLink(player, properties, source, departure, incoming, destination.yaw(), portal);
         return moved ? null : "Teleportation failed";
     }
 
     /** Link Panel effects are shared by Linking and Descriptive Books. */
     public static void applySuccessfulLink(ServerPlayer player, LinkProperties properties,
                                            ServerLevel source, Vec3 departure, Vec3 incoming, float destinationYaw) {
-        LinkVisualEffects.play(source, departure, player, properties, false);
+        applySuccessfulLink(player, properties, source, departure, incoming, destinationYaw, false);
+    }
+
+    public static void applySuccessfulLink(ServerPlayer player, LinkProperties properties,
+                                           ServerLevel source, Vec3 departure, Vec3 incoming, float destinationYaw,
+                                           boolean portal) {
+        LinkVisualEffects.play(source, departure, player, properties, portal);
         if (properties.has(LinkProperties.MAINTAIN_MOMENTUM)) {
             double speed = Math.hypot(incoming.x, incoming.z);
             double yaw = Math.toRadians(destinationYaw);
@@ -88,17 +97,7 @@ public final class LinkingBookItem extends Item {
             player.setDeltaMovement(Vec3.ZERO);
         }
         if (properties.has(LinkProperties.DISARM)) {
-            for (int slot = 0; slot < player.getInventory().getContainerSize(); slot++) {
+            LinkDisarmService.disarmAt(player, source, departure);
-                ItemStack carried = player.getInventory().getItem(slot);
-                if (carried.isEmpty()) continue;
-                player.getInventory().setItem(slot, ItemStack.EMPTY);
-                ItemEntity dropped = new ItemEntity(source, departure.x, departure.y, departure.z,
-                        carried.copy());
-                dropped.setDefaultPickUpDelay();
-                source.addFreshEntity(dropped);
-            }
-            player.getInventory().setChanged();
-            player.containerMenu.broadcastChanges();
         }
     }
 

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

@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ public final class PortBookNetworking {
                     environment.weather(), environment.lighting(), environment.sky(),
                     net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeColors.resolve(pages, seed),
                     net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortDayCycle.resolve(pages, seed,
-                            net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortDayCycle.nativeTicks(server.overworld())));
+                            net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortDayCycle.nativeTicks(server.overworld())), pages);
             net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAcceleratedTicks.configure(level,
                     net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAcceleratedTicks.pageCount(pages));
             RuntimeAgeBackend.setAgeDisplayName(server, id, title);
@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ public final class PortBookNetworking {
     }
 
     private static void travelDescriptive(ServerPlayer player, ItemStack stack, InteractionHand heldHand) {
+        travelDescriptive(player, stack, heldHand, false);
+    }
+
+    public static void travelDescriptive(ServerPlayer player, ItemStack stack, InteractionHand heldHand, boolean portal) {
         Identifier id = stack.get(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get());
         if (id == null) return;
         ServerLevel source = player.level();
@@ -209,7 +213,7 @@ public final class PortBookNetworking {
             String result = PortAgeTravel.enter(player, id);
             if (result == null) LinkingBookItem.applySuccessfulLink(player,
                     stack.getOrDefault(Rivencraft.LINK_PROPERTIES.get(), LinkProperties.NONE),
-                    source, departure, incoming, player.getYRot());
+                    source, departure, incoming, player.getYRot(), portal);
             return result;
         };
         String failure = heldHand == null ? travel.get()

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/portal/CrystalPortalNetwork.java

@@ -0,0 +1,352 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal;
+
+import java.util.ArrayDeque;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.BookReceptacleBlock;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.CrystalPortalBlock;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.CrystalPortalBlockEntity;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Blocks;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.block.state.BlockState;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.NeoForge;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.common.util.BlockSnapshot;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.level.BlockEvent;
+
+/** Bounded, loaded-chunk-only adaptation of Legacy's crystal network flood. */
+public final class CrystalPortalNetwork {
+    public static final int MAX_RADIUS = 16;
+    private static final int CLEANUP_RADIUS = MAX_RADIUS + 1;
+    private static final int MAX_CRYSTALS = 2048;
+    private static final int MAX_PORTALS = 1024;
+    private static final int[][] EXPANSION = {
+            {1, 0, 0}, {-1, 0, 0}, {0, 1, 0}, {0, -1, 0}, {0, 0, 1}, {0, 0, -1},
+            {1, 1, 0}, {-1, 1, 0}, {1, -1, 0}, {-1, -1, 0},
+            {1, 0, 1}, {-1, 0, 1}, {1, 0, -1}, {-1, 0, -1},
+            {0, 1, 1}, {0, -1, 1}, {0, 1, -1}, {0, -1, -1}
+    };
+
+    private CrystalPortalNetwork() {}
+
+    public record Plan(List<BlockPos> portalCells, boolean waitingForChunks) {
+        public Plan(List<BlockPos> portalCells) { this(portalCells, false); }
+        public boolean valid() { return !portalCells.isEmpty(); }
+    }
+
+    public enum CellStatus { VALID, INVALID, WAITING_FOR_CHUNKS }
+
+    public static Plan plan(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle) {
+        return plan(level, receptacle, false);
+    }
+
+    private static Plan plan(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle, boolean allowUnownedCells) {
+        BlockState holder = level.getBlockState(receptacle);
+        if (!holder.is(Rivencraft.BOOK_RECEPTACLE.get())) return new Plan(List.of());
+        BlockPos base = receptacle.relative(holder.getValue(BookReceptacleBlock.FACING).getOpposite());
+        if (!level.hasChunkAt(base)) return new Plan(List.of(), true);
+        if (!level.getBlockState(base).is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get())) return new Plan(List.of());
+
+        Set<BlockPos> crystals = new HashSet<>();
+        ArrayDeque<BlockPos> pendingCrystals = new ArrayDeque<>();
+        pendingCrystals.add(base);
+        while (!pendingCrystals.isEmpty()) {
+            BlockPos pos = pendingCrystals.removeFirst();
+            if (!within(base, pos) || !level.isInWorldBounds(pos)) continue;
+            if (!level.hasChunkAt(pos)) return new Plan(List.of(), true);
+            if (!level.getBlockState(pos).is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get()) || !crystals.add(pos)) continue;
+            if (atBoundary(base, pos)) return new Plan(List.of());
+            if (crystals.size() > MAX_CRYSTALS) return new Plan(List.of());
+            for (Direction direction : Direction.values()) pendingCrystals.add(pos.relative(direction));
+        }
+
+        LinkedHashSet<BlockPos> portals = new LinkedHashSet<>();
+        ArrayDeque<BlockPos> candidates = new ArrayDeque<>();
+        Set<BlockPos> queued = new HashSet<>();
+        for (BlockPos crystal : crystals) addCandidates(crystal, base, queued, candidates);
+        while (!candidates.isEmpty()) {
+            BlockPos pos = candidates.removeFirst();
+            queued.remove(pos);
+            if (!level.isInWorldBounds(pos)) return new Plan(List.of());
+            if (!level.hasChunkAt(pos)) return new Plan(List.of(), true);
+            if (portals.contains(pos) || !mayFill(level, pos, receptacle, allowUnownedCells)) continue;
+            if (adjacentCount(pos, crystals, portals) < 2) continue;
+            portals.add(pos);
+            if (portals.size() > MAX_PORTALS) return new Plan(List.of());
+            addCandidates(pos, base, queued, candidates);
+        }
+
+        // Legacy's second pass deletes every cell without opposing neighbors on
+        // at least two axes. Repeat because deleting one cell can unbrace another.
+        boolean changed;
+        do {
+            changed = portals.removeIf(pos -> !hasTension(pos, crystals, portals));
+        } while (changed);
+        if (portals.isEmpty()) return new Plan(List.of());
+
+        // Every surviving cell must still be reachable from the receptacle's
+        // crystal base through this one network, never through another portal.
+        Set<BlockPos> reachable = new HashSet<>();
+        ArrayDeque<BlockPos> frontier = new ArrayDeque<>();
+        frontier.add(base);
+        while (!frontier.isEmpty()) {
+            BlockPos pos = frontier.removeFirst();
+            if (!reachable.add(pos)) continue;
+            for (Direction direction : Direction.values()) {
+                BlockPos next = pos.relative(direction);
+                if (!reachable.contains(next) && (crystals.contains(next) || portals.contains(next)))
+                    frontier.add(next);
+            }
+        }
+        if (!reachable.containsAll(portals)) return new Plan(List.of());
+        return new Plan(List.copyOf(portals));
+    }
+
+    public static boolean activate(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle, Plan plan) {
+        return activate(level, receptacle, plan, null);
+    }
+
+    /** Repairs only existing, framed cells whose owner pointer was lost by an older live-view update. */
+    public static boolean recoverSavedOwners(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle) {
+        if (!(level.getBlockEntity(receptacle) instanceof BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder)
+                || holder.getBook().isEmpty()) return false;
+        Plan plan = plan(level, receptacle, true);
+        if (!plan.valid()) return false;
+        for (BlockPos pos : plan.portalCells()) {
+            if (!(level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal)
+                    || portal.receptacle() != null && !receptacle.equals(portal.receptacle())) return false;
+        }
+        for (BlockPos pos : plan.portalCells()) {
+            CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal = (CrystalPortalBlockEntity) level.getBlockEntity(pos);
+            if (portal.receptacle() == null) portal.setReceptacle(receptacle);
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /** The player who inserted the book owns each newly placed portal cell for claim checks. */
+    public static boolean activate(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle, Plan plan, Entity actor) {
+        if (!plan.valid() || !(level.getBlockEntity(receptacle) instanceof BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder)
+                || holder.getBook().isEmpty()) return false;
+        List<BlockPos> placed = new ArrayList<>();
+        for (BlockPos pos : plan.portalCells()) {
+            if (!mayFill(level, pos, receptacle)) {
+                rollback(level, placed);
+                return false;
+            }
+            if (level.getBlockState(pos).isAir()) {
+                BlockSnapshot snapshot = actor == null ? null : BlockSnapshot.create(level.dimension(), level, pos);
+                BlockState prior = level.getBlockState(pos);
+                // Defer neighbor notifications until the entire opening exists.
+                // Otherwise the first cells see an incomplete brace and the
+                // portal's neighbor validator removes them during activation.
+                if (!level.setBlock(pos, Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_PORTAL.get().defaultBlockState(), 2)) {
+                    rollback(level, placed);
+                    return false;
+                }
+                if (snapshot != null) {
+                    var event = new BlockEvent.EntityPlaceEvent(snapshot, prior, actor);
+                    NeoForge.EVENT_BUS.post(event);
+                    if (event.isCanceled()) {
+                        snapshot.restore();
+                        rollback(level, placed);
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                }
+                placed.add(pos);
+            }
+            if (level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal) {
+                portal.setReceptacle(receptacle);
+            } else {
+                rollback(level, placed);
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        orientSurfaces(level, plan);
+        for (BlockPos pos : plan.portalCells()) {
+            if (!(level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal)
+                    || !receptacle.equals(portal.receptacle())) {
+                rollback(level, placed);
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    public static void shutdown(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle) {
+        // A broken support can disconnect the graph. Scan a bounded volume rather
+        // than trusting a path through blocks that no longer exist.
+        for (BlockPos pos : BlockPos.betweenClosed(receptacle.offset(-CLEANUP_RADIUS, -CLEANUP_RADIUS, -CLEANUP_RADIUS),
+                receptacle.offset(CLEANUP_RADIUS, CLEANUP_RADIUS, CLEANUP_RADIUS))) {
+            if (!level.hasChunkAt(pos)) continue;
+            if (level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal
+                    && receptacle.equals(portal.receptacle()))
+                level.setBlock(pos, Blocks.AIR.defaultBlockState(), 3);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** One bounded repair pass per receptacle, rather than a full flood per portal cell. */
+    public static boolean reconcile(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle) {
+        return reconcile(level, receptacle, plan(level, receptacle));
+    }
+
+    public static boolean reconcile(ServerLevel level, BlockPos receptacle, Plan plan) {
+        if (!plan.valid()) {
+            // Neighboring chunks can still be loading when the receptacle first
+            // ticks after a restart. An incomplete view is not a broken frame.
+            if (!plan.waitingForChunks()) shutdown(level, receptacle);
+            return false;
+        }
+        Set<BlockPos> wanted = new HashSet<>(plan.portalCells());
+        // A background pass must not create blocks without the owner present:
+        // that would bypass the placement/protection event used at activation.
+        for (BlockPos pos : wanted) {
+            if (!(level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal)
+                    || !receptacle.equals(portal.receptacle())) {
+                shutdown(level, receptacle);
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        for (BlockPos pos : BlockPos.betweenClosed(receptacle.offset(-CLEANUP_RADIUS, -CLEANUP_RADIUS, -CLEANUP_RADIUS),
+                receptacle.offset(CLEANUP_RADIUS, CLEANUP_RADIUS, CLEANUP_RADIUS))) {
+            if (!level.hasChunkAt(pos)) continue;
+            if (level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal
+                    && receptacle.equals(portal.receptacle()) && !wanted.contains(pos))
+                level.setBlock(pos, Blocks.AIR.defaultBlockState(), 3);
+        }
+        orientSurfaces(level, plan);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    private static void orientSurfaces(ServerLevel level, Plan plan) {
+        for (CrystalPortalSurfaces.Surface surface : CrystalPortalSurfaces.group(level, plan)) {
+            for (BlockPos pos : surface.cells()) {
+                BlockState state = level.getBlockState(pos);
+                Direction.Axis axis = surface.normal().getAxis();
+                if (state.getValue(CrystalPortalBlock.AXIS) != axis)
+                    updatePortalState(level, pos, state.setValue(CrystalPortalBlock.AXIS, axis));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** The vanilla-style surface remains visible until its optional live view is ready. */
+    public static void setLiveView(ServerLevel level, Plan plan, boolean live) {
+        for (BlockPos pos : plan.portalCells()) {
+            BlockState state = level.getBlockState(pos);
+            if (state.is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_PORTAL.get()) && state.getValue(CrystalPortalBlock.LIVE_VIEW) != live)
+                updatePortalState(level, pos, state.setValue(CrystalPortalBlock.LIVE_VIEW, live));
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void updatePortalState(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, BlockState replacement) {
+        BlockPos owner = level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal
+                ? portal.receptacle() : null;
+        if (!level.setBlock(pos, replacement, 2) || owner == null) return;
+        if (level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal
+                && !owner.equals(portal.receptacle())) portal.setReceptacle(owner);
+    }
+
+    public static CellStatus cellStatus(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, BlockPos receptacle) {
+        if (Math.abs(receptacle.getX() - pos.getX()) > CLEANUP_RADIUS
+                || Math.abs(receptacle.getY() - pos.getY()) > CLEANUP_RADIUS
+                || Math.abs(receptacle.getZ() - pos.getZ()) > CLEANUP_RADIUS) return CellStatus.INVALID;
+        if (!level.hasChunkAt(receptacle)) return CellStatus.WAITING_FOR_CHUNKS;
+        BlockState state = level.getBlockState(receptacle);
+        if (!state.is(Rivencraft.BOOK_RECEPTACLE.get())) return CellStatus.INVALID;
+        BlockPos base = receptacle.relative(state.getValue(BookReceptacleBlock.FACING).getOpposite());
+        if (!level.hasChunkAt(base)) return CellStatus.WAITING_FOR_CHUNKS;
+        if (!level.getBlockState(base).is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get())) return CellStatus.INVALID;
+        if (!(level.getBlockEntity(receptacle) instanceof BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder))
+            return CellStatus.WAITING_FOR_CHUNKS;
+        if (holder.getBook().isEmpty()) return CellStatus.INVALID;
+        // A neighboring chunk may hold one of the braces. Do not tear down a
+        // persisted portal until all six neighbors are available to inspect.
+        for (Direction direction : Direction.values())
+            if (!level.hasChunkAt(pos.relative(direction))) return CellStatus.WAITING_FOR_CHUNKS;
+        for (Direction.Axis axis : Direction.Axis.values()) {
+            // Quick tension check before the bounded network/path revalidation.
+            if (!axisBraced(level, pos, axis)) continue;
+            int other = 0;
+            for (Direction.Axis alternative : Direction.Axis.values())
+                if (alternative != axis && axisBraced(level, pos, alternative)) other++;
+            if (other > 0) return CellStatus.VALID;
+        }
+        return CellStatus.INVALID;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean axisBraced(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, Direction.Axis axis) {
+        Direction positive = Direction.get(Direction.AxisDirection.POSITIVE, axis);
+        Direction negative = positive.getOpposite();
+        BlockPos a = pos.relative(positive);
+        BlockPos b = pos.relative(negative);
+        return level.hasChunkAt(a) && level.hasChunkAt(b)
+                && isFrameOrPortal(level.getBlockState(a)) && isFrameOrPortal(level.getBlockState(b));
+    }
+
+    private static boolean isFrameOrPortal(BlockState state) {
+        return state.is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get()) || state.is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_PORTAL.get());
+    }
+
+    private static void rollback(ServerLevel level, List<BlockPos> placed) {
+        for (BlockPos pos : placed) level.setBlock(pos, Blocks.AIR.defaultBlockState(), 3);
+    }
+
+    private static boolean mayFill(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, BlockPos receptacle) {
+        return mayFill(level, pos, receptacle, false);
+    }
+
+    private static boolean mayFill(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos, BlockPos receptacle, boolean allowUnowned) {
+        if (!level.hasChunkAt(pos) || !level.isInWorldBounds(pos)) return false;
+        BlockState state = level.getBlockState(pos);
+        return state.isAir() || state.is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_PORTAL.get())
+                && level.getBlockEntity(pos) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal
+                && (receptacle.equals(portal.receptacle()) || allowUnowned && portal.receptacle() == null);
+    }
+
+    private static int adjacentCount(BlockPos pos, Set<BlockPos> crystals, Set<BlockPos> portals) {
+        int count = 0;
+        for (Direction direction : Direction.values())
+            if (crystals.contains(pos.relative(direction)) || portals.contains(pos.relative(direction))) count++;
+        return count;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean hasTension(BlockPos pos, Set<BlockPos> crystals, Set<BlockPos> portals) {
+        int axes = 0;
+        for (Direction.Axis axis : Direction.Axis.values()) {
+            Direction positive = Direction.get(Direction.AxisDirection.POSITIVE, axis);
+            if (member(pos.relative(positive), crystals, portals)
+                    && member(pos.relative(positive.getOpposite()), crystals, portals)) axes++;
+        }
+        return axes >= 2;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean member(BlockPos pos, Set<BlockPos> crystals, Set<BlockPos> portals) {
+        return crystals.contains(pos) || portals.contains(pos);
+    }
+
+    private static void addCandidates(BlockPos around, BlockPos base, Set<BlockPos> queued,
+                                      ArrayDeque<BlockPos> pending) {
+        for (int[] offset : EXPANSION) {
+            BlockPos candidate = around.offset(offset[0], offset[1], offset[2]);
+            if (within(base, candidate) && queued.add(candidate)) pending.add(candidate);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static boolean within(BlockPos center, BlockPos pos) {
+        return Math.abs(center.getX() - pos.getX()) <= MAX_RADIUS
+                && Math.abs(center.getY() - pos.getY()) <= MAX_RADIUS
+                && Math.abs(center.getZ() - pos.getZ()) <= MAX_RADIUS;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean atBoundary(BlockPos center, BlockPos pos) {
+        return Math.abs(center.getX() - pos.getX()) == MAX_RADIUS
+                || Math.abs(center.getY() - pos.getY()) == MAX_RADIUS
+                || Math.abs(center.getZ() - pos.getZ()) == MAX_RADIUS;
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/portal/CrystalPortalSurfaces.java

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.core.Direction;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.AABB;
+
+/** Groups portal cells into coherent, coplanar views while retaining irregular outlines. */
+public final class CrystalPortalSurfaces {
+    private CrystalPortalSurfaces() {}
+
+    public record Surface(Direction normal, AABB bounds, List<BlockPos> cells) {}
+    private record Plane(Direction normal, int coordinate) {}
+
+    public static List<Surface> group(ServerLevel level, CrystalPortalNetwork.Plan plan) {
+        Map<Plane, List<BlockPos>> planes = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+        for (BlockPos cell : plan.portalCells()) {
+            Direction normal = planeNormal(level, cell);
+            if (normal == null) continue;
+            int coordinate = normal.getAxis().choose(cell.getX(), cell.getY(), cell.getZ());
+            planes.computeIfAbsent(new Plane(normal, coordinate), ignored -> new ArrayList<>()).add(cell);
+        }
+        List<Surface> result = new ArrayList<>();
+        for (Map.Entry<Plane, List<BlockPos>> entry : planes.entrySet()) {
+            List<BlockPos> cells = entry.getValue();
+            int minX = cells.stream().mapToInt(BlockPos::getX).min().orElseThrow();
+            int minY = cells.stream().mapToInt(BlockPos::getY).min().orElseThrow();
+            int minZ = cells.stream().mapToInt(BlockPos::getZ).min().orElseThrow();
+            int maxX = cells.stream().mapToInt(BlockPos::getX).max().orElseThrow() + 1;
+            int maxY = cells.stream().mapToInt(BlockPos::getY).max().orElseThrow() + 1;
+            int maxZ = cells.stream().mapToInt(BlockPos::getZ).max().orElseThrow() + 1;
+            result.add(new Surface(entry.getKey().normal(), new AABB(minX, minY, minZ, maxX, maxY, maxZ),
+                    List.copyOf(cells)));
+        }
+        return List.copyOf(result);
+    }
+
+    private static Direction planeNormal(ServerLevel level, BlockPos cell) {
+        if (braced(level, cell, Direction.UP) && braced(level, cell, Direction.EAST)) return Direction.NORTH;
+        if (braced(level, cell, Direction.UP) && braced(level, cell, Direction.SOUTH)) return Direction.EAST;
+        if (braced(level, cell, Direction.EAST) && braced(level, cell, Direction.SOUTH)) return Direction.UP;
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean braced(ServerLevel level, BlockPos cell, Direction direction) {
+        return linked(level, cell.relative(direction)) && linked(level, cell.relative(direction.getOpposite()));
+    }
+
+    private static boolean linked(ServerLevel level, BlockPos pos) {
+        if (!level.hasChunkAt(pos)) return false;
+        var state = level.getBlockState(pos);
+        return state.is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK.get()) || state.is(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_PORTAL.get());
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/portal/PortalBookTravel.java

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeTravel;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkBookTarget;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkProperties;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkDisarmService;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkingBookItem;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.LinkVisualEffects;
+import net.minecraft.core.registries.Registries;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceKey;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.level.portal.TeleportTransition;
+import net.minecraft.world.phys.Vec3;
+
+/** Portal transport uses the book's arrival rules; no independent portal exit offset. */
+public final class PortalBookTravel {
+    private PortalBookTravel() {}
+    public static boolean available(ServerLevel source, ItemStack book) {
+        var id = book.is(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get()) ? book.get(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get())
+                : book.has(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get()) ? book.get(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get()).dimension() : null;
+        return id != null && source.getServer().getLevel(ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, id)) != null;
+    }
+    public static void travel(Entity entity, ServerLevel source, ItemStack book) {
+        if (entity instanceof ServerPlayer player) {
+            if (book.is(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get())) {
+                net.dnorberg.rivencraft.network.PortBookNetworking.travelDescriptive(player, book, null, true);
+            } else {
+                String failure = LinkingBookItem.travel(player, book, true);
+                if (failure != null) player.sendOverlayMessage(net.minecraft.network.chat.Component.literal(failure));
+                else net.dnorberg.rivencraft.advancement.ProgressionAdvancements.awardAgeTravel(player);
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+        LinkProperties properties = book.getOrDefault(Rivencraft.LINK_PROPERTIES.get(), LinkProperties.NONE);
+        if (properties.has(LinkProperties.DISARM) && !LinkDisarmService.mayTravel(entity)) return;
+        boolean descriptive = book.is(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get());
+        LinkBookTarget destination = book.get(Rivencraft.LINK_BOOK_TARGET.get());
+        if (descriptive) {
+            var id = book.get(Rivencraft.AGE_BOOK_ID.get());
+            ServerLevel level = id == null ? null : source.getServer().getLevel(ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, id));
+            if (level == null) return;
+            var landing = PortAgeTravel.resolveLanding(level);
+            if (landing == null) return;
+            destination = new LinkBookTarget(id, landing.getX() + 0.5, landing.getY(), landing.getZ() + 0.5,
+                    entity.getYRot(), entity.getXRot());
+        }
+        if (destination == null || !destination.valid()) return;
+        ServerLevel target = source.getServer().getLevel(ResourceKey.create(Registries.DIMENSION, destination.dimension()));
+        if (target == null || !entity.canTeleport(source, target) || !descriptive && target == source && !properties.has(LinkProperties.INTRA_LINKING)) return;
+        var feet = net.minecraft.core.BlockPos.containing(destination.x(), destination.y(), destination.z());
+        if (feet.getY() < target.getMinY() || entity.getBbHeight() + feet.getY() >= target.getMaxY()
+                || !target.getWorldBorder().isWithinBounds(feet)) return;
+        Vec3 arrival = new Vec3(destination.x(), destination.y(), destination.z());
+        target.getChunkAt(feet);
+        if (!target.noCollision(entity, entity.getBoundingBox().move(arrival.subtract(entity.position())))) return;
+        Vec3 incoming = entity.getDeltaMovement();
+        Vec3 velocity = Vec3.ZERO;
+        if (properties.has(LinkProperties.MAINTAIN_MOMENTUM)) {
+            double speed = Math.hypot(incoming.x, incoming.z), yaw = Math.toRadians(destination.yaw());
+            velocity = new Vec3(speed * Math.cos(yaw), incoming.y + 0.2, speed * Math.sin(yaw));
+        }
+        Vec3 departure = entity.position();
+        // Disarm only after a successful transfer, leaving equipment in the source world.
+        Entity arrived = entity.teleport(new TeleportTransition(target, arrival, velocity, destination.yaw(),
+                destination.pitch(), TeleportTransition.PLACE_PORTAL_TICKET));
+        if (arrived == null) return;
+        if (properties.has(LinkProperties.DISARM)) {
+            LinkDisarmService.disarmAt(arrived, source, departure);
+        }
+        arrived.resetFallDistance();
+        PortalTravelCooldown.mark(arrived, source.getServer().getTickCount());
+        var sound = LinkVisualEffects.sound(properties, true);
+        source.playSound(null, departure.x, departure.y, departure.z, sound, net.minecraft.sounds.SoundSource.BLOCKS, 0.8F, 1);
+        target.playSound(null, arrival.x, arrival.y, arrival.z, sound, net.minecraft.sounds.SoundSource.BLOCKS, 0.8F, 1);
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/portal/PortalTravelCooldown.java

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.WeakHashMap;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+
+/** Session-only portal cooldowns: tick counters must never be saved with players. */
+public final class PortalTravelCooldown {
+    public static final long TICKS = 40;
+    private static final Map<Entity, Long> LAST_USE = new WeakHashMap<>();
+
+    private PortalTravelCooldown() {}
+
+    public static boolean blocked(long now, long previous) {
+        return previous >= 0 && now >= previous && now - previous < TICKS;
+    }
+
+    public static boolean blocked(Entity entity, long now) {
+        return blocked(now, LAST_USE.getOrDefault(entity, -1L));
+    }
+
+    public static void mark(Entity entity, long now) {
+        LAST_USE.put(entity, now);
+    }
+
+    public static void forget(Entity entity) {
+        LAST_USE.remove(entity);
+    }
+
+    public static void clear() {
+        LAST_USE.clear();
+    }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/portal/PortalTravelQueue.java

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.portal;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.IdentityHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.BookReceptacleBlockEntity;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.CrystalPortalBlockEntity;
+import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerLevel;
+import net.minecraft.server.level.ServerPlayer;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent;
+import net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.tick.ServerTickEvent;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.event.server.ServerStoppedEvent;
+
+/** Collision callbacks enqueue once; transport occurs after the entering movement packet finishes. */
+@EventBusSubscriber(modid = Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+public final class PortalTravelQueue {
+    private record Pending(ServerLevel source, BlockPos portal, BlockPos receptacle, ItemStack book, long tick) {}
+    private static final Map<Entity, Pending> PENDING = new IdentityHashMap<>();
+    private PortalTravelQueue() {}
+    public static void enqueue(Entity entity, ServerLevel source, BlockPos portal, BlockPos receptacle, ItemStack book, long now) {
+        PENDING.putIfAbsent(entity, new Pending(source, portal.immutable(), receptacle.immutable(), book.copyWithCount(1), now));
+    }
+    @SubscribeEvent public static void tick(ServerTickEvent.Post event) {
+        var server = event.getServer();
+        var ready = new ArrayList<Map.Entry<Entity, Pending>>();
+        var iterator = PENDING.entrySet().iterator();
+        while (iterator.hasNext()) {
+            var entry = iterator.next();
+            if (server.getTickCount() <= entry.getValue().tick()) continue;
+            ready.add(Map.entry(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue()));
+            iterator.remove();
+        }
+        for (var entry : ready) {
+            Entity entity = entry.getKey();
+            Pending pending = entry.getValue();
+            if (entity.isRemoved() || !entity.isAlive() || entity.level() != pending.source()
+                    || entity instanceof ServerPlayer player && server.getPlayerList().getPlayer(player.getUUID()) != player
+                    || !pending.source().hasChunkAt(pending.portal()) || !pending.source().hasChunkAt(pending.receptacle())
+                    || !(pending.source().getBlockEntity(pending.portal()) instanceof CrystalPortalBlockEntity portal)
+                    || !pending.receptacle().equals(portal.receptacle())
+                    || !(pending.source().getBlockEntity(pending.receptacle()) instanceof BookReceptacleBlockEntity holder)
+                    || !ItemStack.isSameItemSameComponents(holder.getBook(), pending.book())
+                    || CrystalPortalNetwork.cellStatus(pending.source(), pending.portal(), pending.receptacle())
+                        != CrystalPortalNetwork.CellStatus.VALID) continue;
+            PortalBookTravel.travel(entity, pending.source(), pending.book());
+        }
+    }
+    @SubscribeEvent public static void stopped(ServerStoppedEvent event) { PENDING.clear(); PortalTravelCooldown.clear(); }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/registry/ModCreativeTabs.java

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ public final class ModCreativeTabs {
                     output.accept(Rivencraft.DESCRIPTIVE_BOOK.get());
                     output.accept(Rivencraft.LINKING_BOOK.get());
                     output.accept(Rivencraft.CRYSTAL_BLOCK_ITEM.get());
+                    output.accept(Rivencraft.BOOK_RECEPTACLE_ITEM.get());
                     output.accept(Rivencraft.BUDDING_CRYSTAL_ITEM.get());
                     output.accept(Rivencraft.SMALL_CRYSTAL_BUD_ITEM.get());
                     output.accept(Rivencraft.MEDIUM_CRYSTAL_BUD_ITEM.get());

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/PortAuthoredWriting.java

@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ public final class PortAuthoredWriting {
         if (entry == null) return false;
         if (net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeColors.isModifier(page)
                 || net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortDayCycle.supports(page)) return true;
-        if (page.equals(net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAcceleratedTicks.PAGE)) return true;
+        if (page.equals(net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAcceleratedTicks.PAGE)
+                || net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortInstabilityData.isCorrupted(page)) return true;
         if (isTerrain(page) || controller(page) != null || PortWeatherMode.forPage(page) != null
                 || PortLighting.forPage(page) != null || PortSkyStyle.forPage(page) != null) return true;
         if (entry.category().equals("rivencraft:biome") && PortRegistryPages.biomeId(page) != null) return true;
@@ -129,6 +130,8 @@ public final class PortAuthoredWriting {
             if (net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAgeColors.isModifier(page)
                     || net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortDayCycle.supports(page)) {
                 // Shared colors target Sky, Ambient Light Color or Normal Time; trailing colors tint the sky.
+            } else if (net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortInstabilityData.isCorrupted(page)) {
+                // Legacy corrupted pages contribute instability, not terrain features.
             } else if (page.equals(net.dnorberg.rivencraft.age.PortAcceleratedTicks.PAGE)) {
                 // Every Accelerated page adds random-tick attempts; it is not a controller.
             } else if (isTerrain(page) && !terrain) {

ports/mc263/src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/WritingInkService.java

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.PortConfig;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.util.Prediction;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.InkVialItem;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.PageItem;
+import net.minecraft.world.InteractionHand;
+import net.minecraft.world.entity.player.Player;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.Items;
+
+/** Server-owned costs and the baseline blank-page-to-link-panel transaction. */
+public final class WritingInkService {
+    private WritingInkService() {
+    }
+
+    public static int symbolCopyCost() {
+        return PortConfig.SYMBOL_INK_COST.get();
+    }
+
+    public static int linkPanelCost() {
+        return PortConfig.LINK_PANEL_INK_COST.get();
+    }
+
+    public static boolean canPrepareLinkPanel(Player player, InteractionHand vialHand) {
+        ItemStack vial = player.getItemInHand(vialHand);
+        ItemStack page = player.getItemInHand(other(vialHand));
+        int remaining = InkVialItem.remaining(vial);
+        return vial.is(Rivencraft.INK_VIAL.get()) && remaining >= linkPanelCost()
+                && remaining <= InkVialItem.CAPACITY
+                && page.is(Items.PAPER);
+    }
+
+    public static boolean prepareLinkPanel(Player player, InteractionHand vialHand) {
+        if (player.level().isClientSide() || !canPrepareLinkPanel(player, vialHand)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        InteractionHand pageHand = other(vialHand);
+        ItemStack page = player.getItemInHand(pageHand);
+        ItemStack vial = player.getItemInHand(vialHand);
+        int newInk = InkVialItem.remaining(vial) - linkPanelCost();
+        ItemStack panel = PageItem.createLinkPanelPage();
+        ItemStack spentVial = newInk == 0
+                ? new ItemStack(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE)
+                : new ItemStack(Rivencraft.INK_VIAL.get());
+        if (newInk > 0) {
+            spentVial.set(Rivencraft.INK_REMAINING.get(), newInk);
+        }
+
+        // All validation and output construction is complete before changing either input.
+        if (page.getCount() == 1) {
+            player.setItemInHand(pageHand, panel);
+        } else {
+            page.shrink(1);
+            giveOrDrop(player, panel);
+        }
+        if (vial.getCount() == 1) {
+            player.setItemInHand(vialHand, spentVial);
+        } else {
+            vial.shrink(1);
+            giveOrDrop(player, spentVial);
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    private static InteractionHand other(InteractionHand hand) {
+        return hand == InteractionHand.MAIN_HAND ? InteractionHand.OFF_HAND : InteractionHand.MAIN_HAND;
+    }
+
+    private static void giveOrDrop(Player player, ItemStack stack) {
+        if (!player.getInventory().add(stack)) {
+            player.drop(stack, false, Prediction.SERVER_ONLY);
+        }
+    }
+}

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

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

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/advancement/recipes/misc/book_receptacle.json

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+{
+  "parent": "minecraft:recipes/root",
+  "criteria": {
+    "has_material": {
+      "trigger": "minecraft:inventory_changed",
+      "conditions": {
+        "items": [
+          {
+            "items": "rivencraft:crystal_block"
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "has_the_recipe": {
+      "trigger": "minecraft:recipe_unlocked",
+      "conditions": {
+        "recipes": [
+          "rivencraft:book_receptacle"
+        ]
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "requirements": [
+    [
+      "has_material",
+      "has_the_recipe"
+    ]
+  ],
+  "rewards": {
+    "recipes": [
+      "rivencraft:book_receptacle"
+    ]
+  }
+}

ports/mc263/src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/recipe/book_receptacle.json

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "type": "minecraft:crafting_shaped",
+  "category": "misc",
+  "pattern": [
+    "CCC",
+    "C C",
+    "CCC"
+  ],
+  "key": {
+    "C": "rivencraft:crystal_block"
+  },
+  "result": {
+    "id": "rivencraft:book_receptacle",
+    "count": 1
+  }
+}