Moonwake — Bloodlust-inspired cinematic art + full mandate

README.md

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-# GameDev
+# Moonwake
+
+Gothic frontier action roguelite (Godot 4.3). AI agent game studio workspace.
+
+## Play
+
+```bash
+godot --path game
+```
+
+See [game/README.md](game/README.md) for controls, systems checklist, and smoke test.
+
+## Design docs
+
+1. [Moonwake Concept Bible](docs/MOONWAKE_CONCEPT_BIBLE.md)
+2. [Game Mandate Charter](docs/GAME_MANDATE_CHARTER.md)

docs/GAME_MANDATE_CHARTER.md

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+# Game Mandate Charter — Moonwake
+
+**Status:** v1.0 — aligned with Concept Bible  
+**Engine:** Godot  
+**Creative source of truth:** [Moonwake Concept Bible](./MOONWAKE_CONCEPT_BIBLE.md)  
+**Audience:** AI agent game studio + human creative director  
+
+Agents must read the Concept Bible before designing or implementing systems. This charter states **non-negotiable operating locks**. Do not contradict **LOCKED** rows. Propose ADRs for gaps; do not silently invent forever-impactful systems outside pillars.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Mandate (one line)
+
+Build **Moonwake**: a Godot **solo + 1–4 co-op** action roguelite—hybrid combat, Hades-like dungeon bursts into RoR2-like timed wild stages, faction boons, Ashwick hub—original **Bloodlust-adjacent** gothic frontier IP culminating in a raid on **Aurelian the Undying**.
+
+---
+
+## 2. Locked decisions
+
+| ID | Lock |
+|----|------|
+| **L1** | Title **Moonwake**; iso **2.5D** (Hades-like); UI **Bloodlust-minimal**; music **gothic** |
+| **L2** | Hybrid combat by character/weapon; grim stylish power that can still erase hordes |
+| **L3** | Sector loop: **4–5 dungeon bursts → wild stage → kill-gated general → Ashwick**; ~**30 min**/sector |
+| **L4** | RoR2 director + difficulty timer **in sectors only**; elites rare→common with time; kill gate scales with players/difficulty; **no** early force-boss |
+| **L5** | Solo + co-op **4**; shared patron alignment; all player chars are **Dhampirs** (siblings / brood) |
+| **L6** | Boons primary (**~8**/sector); theme+verb; **4 patrons** with rival blocks; 3+ same patron **rewrites weapon behavior**; **no RoR2 item stacks**; gear secondary/light; **no persistent gear meta** |
+| **L7** | Feed optional on **enemy humans in combat only**; buffs + **run-scoped** social cost; **never in Ashwick** |
+| **L8** | Death → rebirth next **full moon** from moon-shadows; kill Aurelian → **NG+** (heat + new generals) |
+| **L9** | Meta: **Blood / Ash / Tech** currencies; Ashwick rebuild unlocks vendors/missions; RoR2-style character + alt-kit unlocks + skins |
+| **L10** | **7 sectors** + always-on **Pale Spire** scaled nightmare; political named generals; House Veyra recurring rival house |
+| **L11** | Starters **Severin, Mira, Cassian, Odette** locked; **Vesper** unlock #5; remnant peoples use **original names** (not stock elf/dwarf/etc.) |
+| **L12** | Engine **Godot**; no army/companion layer; evoke Bloodlust **without IP infringement** |
+
+---
+
+## 3. Design pillars
+
+1. **Escalating hunt power** — expressive late builds, not empty numbers  
+2. **Readable skill under chaos** — auto layers never excuse unfairness  
+3. **Burst → expanse rhythm** — dungeons then wild stages  
+4. **Death continues the story** — moon curse, hub, unlocks  
+5. **Gothic frontier atmosphere** — dust, moonlight, chromegoth, loneliness  
+6. **Together or alone** — co-op is first-class and shared-alignment clean  
+
+---
+
+## 4. Anti-pillars
+
+- Not a VHD/Bloodlust clone (no protected names, likenesses, plot lifts)  
+- Not pure AFK auto-survivor for all kits  
+- Not room-only Hades slog without wild stages  
+- Not RoR2 item-stack fantasy (boons instead)  
+- Not Tears of Metal army layer  
+- Not live-service FOMO / cozy whimsy / purple-default AI look  
+- Not persistent gear treadmill as meta  
+
+---
+
+## 5. Reference hierarchy
+
+1. Locked decisions (this charter + Concept Bible)  
+2. Pillars  
+3. Bloodlust-adjacent atmosphere (original IP)  
+4. Hades (boons, readability, hub)  
+5. Risk of Rain 2 (director, timer, survivor unlocks, wild stages)  
+6. SWORN (co-op structure)  
+7. Vampire Survivors (horde density as seasoning)  
+
+---
+
+## 6. Agent rules
+
+1. Read Concept Bible + this charter before work  
+2. Never violate L1–L12 or hard IP bans  
+3. Prefer inventing inside pillars over scope expansion  
+4. Co-op + solo implications on every combat/economy change  
+5. Remnant ancestries = Paleleaf / Hollowkiln / Cinderborn / Saffron Host (etc.), not trademarked D&D race labels in fiction  
+6. Open polish items in Concept Bible §15 may be proposed by agents; promote to locked only with human OK or explicit “agent decides”  
+
+---
+
+## 7. First milestone
+
+Vertical slice per Concept Bible §14: Ashwick stub + one sector (Dust Meridian) + one starter + director/timer + boons + moon rebirth. Solo first, co-op next.
+
+---
+
+## 8. Change log
+
+| Version | Date | Notes |
+|---------|------|-------|
+| v0.1 | 2026-07-30 | Initial charter from early locks |
+| v1.0 | 2026-07-30 | Synced to full Concept Bible after creative director Q&A |