diff --git a/cauldron/templates/_base.html b/cauldron/templates/_base.html
index a58aa0f..43e75b6 100644
--- a/cauldron/templates/_base.html
+++ b/cauldron/templates/_base.html
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@
   --purple-deep:  #2d1d4a;
   --purple-glow:  rgba(155, 95, 232, .25);
 
+  --blood:        #7a2c4a;       /* old-blood / aged bordeaux */
+  --blood-bright: #a83d62;
+  --blood-dim:    #4d1a30;
+  --blood-glow:   rgba(168, 61, 98, .25);
+
+  --gilt:         #8a6e3a;       /* aged brass / gold-leaf */
+  --gilt-bright:  #c0a058;
+
   --bone:         #e8e0c8;
   --bone-dim:     #a89d83;
   --muted:        #6e6478;
@@ -56,13 +64,15 @@ body {
   background-image:
     radial-gradient(ellipse 80% 60% at 15% 0%, rgba(155, 95, 232, .07) 0%, transparent 60%),
     radial-gradient(ellipse 80% 60% at 85% 100%, rgba(110, 168, 72, .05) 0%, transparent 60%);
-  /* faint witchy sigil tile in bone+purple at 4% */
+  /* atmospheric layered bg: top-corner candleglow, bottom moss, gothic
+     filigree tile (vines + crescent moon), and a corner-vignette darkening */
   background-image:
-    radial-gradient(ellipse 80% 60% at 15% 0%, rgba(155, 95, 232, .07) 0%, transparent 60%),
-    radial-gradient(ellipse 80% 60% at 85% 100%, rgba(110, 168, 72, .05) 0%, transparent 60%),
-    url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='80' height='80' viewBox='0 0 80 80'><g fill='none' stroke='%239b5fe8' stroke-width='.4' stroke-opacity='.05'><circle cx='40' cy='40' r='18'/><polygon points='40,22 45.3,33.5 58,34.5 48.4,42.7 51.5,55 40,48.5 28.5,55 31.6,42.7 22,34.5 34.7,33.5'/></g></svg>");
+    radial-gradient(ellipse 70% 50% at 12% -5%, rgba(155, 95, 232, .09) 0%, transparent 55%),
+    radial-gradient(ellipse 60% 50% at 88% 105%, rgba(110, 168, 72, .06) 0%, transparent 55%),
+    radial-gradient(ellipse at center, transparent 55%, rgba(0,0,0,.55) 100%),
+    url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='120' height='120' viewBox='0 0 120 120'><g fill='none' stroke='%239b5fe8' stroke-width='.5' stroke-opacity='.06' stroke-linecap='round'><path d='M60 14 Q72 26 60 38 Q48 26 60 14 Z'/><path d='M60 14 L60 38'/><path d='M30 60 Q42 50 54 60'/><path d='M30 60 Q42 70 54 60'/><path d='M66 60 Q78 50 90 60'/><path d='M66 60 Q78 70 90 60'/><path d='M60 82 Q72 94 60 106 Q48 94 60 82 Z'/><path d='M60 82 L60 106'/><circle cx='60' cy='60' r='8'/><path d='M58 56 Q56 60 58 64' stroke-opacity='.10'/><path d='M62 56 Q64 60 62 64' stroke-opacity='.10'/></g></svg>");
   background-attachment: fixed;
-  background-size: auto, auto, 80px 80px;
+  background-size: auto, auto, auto, 120px 120px;
 }
 
 ::selection { background: rgba(155, 95, 232, .35); color: var(--bone); }
@@ -86,9 +96,15 @@ header.topbar {
 .brand { display: flex; align-items: baseline; gap: 14px; min-width: 0; }
 .brand-mark {
   font-family: var(--serif); font-weight: 700;
-  color: var(--purple-bright); font-size: 22px;
-  letter-spacing: .15em; text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: var(--purple-bright); font-size: 24px;
+  letter-spacing: .22em; text-transform: uppercase;
   text-shadow: 0 0 24px var(--purple-glow);
+  position: relative; padding: 0 .15em;
+}
+.brand-mark::before, .brand-mark::after {
+  content: "✦"; color: var(--blood); opacity: .65;
+  font-size: .55em; vertical-align: middle;
+  margin: 0 .35em; text-shadow: 0 0 8px var(--blood-glow);
 }
 .brand-sub { color: var(--muted); font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .2em; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: var(--mono); }
 nav.nav { display: flex; gap: 22px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
@@ -115,41 +131,83 @@ main {
   position: relative;
 }
 
-/* Page header */
-.page-head { margin-bottom: 1.6em; animation: fadeIn .5s ease-out forwards; }
-.page-head .crumb {
-  color: var(--purple); font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .25em;
-  text-transform: uppercase; font-family: var(--mono); margin-bottom: .5em;
+/* Page header — gothic vertical rhythm + drop cap */
+.page-head { margin-bottom: 2em; animation: fadeIn .5s ease-out forwards; position: relative; }
+.page-head::before {
+  content: ""; position: absolute; left: 0; top: -8px; width: 60px; height: 1px;
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--gilt), transparent);
+  opacity: .6;
 }
+.page-head .crumb {
+  color: var(--blood-bright); font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .35em;
+  text-transform: uppercase; font-family: var(--mono); margin-bottom: .8em;
+  display: inline-block;
+}
+.page-head .crumb::before { content: "❧ "; color: var(--gilt); margin-right: .3em; opacity: .8; }
 .page-head h1 {
   margin: 0; color: var(--bone);
-  font-family: var(--serif); font-weight: 600;
-  font-size: 2.2em; letter-spacing: .04em; line-height: 1.2;
+  font-family: var(--serif); font-weight: 700;
+  font-size: 2.8em; letter-spacing: .06em; line-height: 1.05;
+  text-transform: lowercase;
 }
-.page-head h1 .accent { color: var(--purple-bright); text-shadow: 0 0 24px var(--purple-glow); }
-.page-head .lede { color: var(--bone-dim); font-size: 1em; margin-top: .5em; max-width: 60ch; }
+.page-head h1::first-letter {
+  font-size: 1.5em; color: var(--purple-bright);
+  text-shadow: 0 0 28px var(--purple-glow), 2px 2px 0 var(--bg);
+  font-weight: 700; padding-right: .04em;
+}
+.page-head h1 .accent {
+  color: var(--blood-bright);
+  text-shadow: 0 0 24px var(--blood-glow);
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+.page-head .lede {
+  color: var(--bone-dim); font-size: 1em; margin-top: .8em; max-width: 60ch;
+  font-style: italic; letter-spacing: .015em;
+}
+.page-head .lede::before { content: "“"; color: var(--gilt); font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 0; vertical-align: -.2em; margin-right: .15em; opacity: .55; }
 
-/* Panel */
+/* Panel — stone-and-iron card with gothic corner filigree */
 .panel {
-  background: var(--surface);
+  background:
+    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255,255,255,.012) 0%, transparent 30%),
+    var(--surface);
   border: 1px solid var(--line);
-  border-radius: 6px;
-  padding: 20px 22px;
-  margin: 16px 0;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  padding: 22px 24px;
+  margin: 18px 0;
   position: relative;
-  box-shadow: 0 0 24px -8px rgba(155, 95, 232, .08);
+  box-shadow:
+    0 0 28px -10px rgba(155, 95, 232, .12),
+    inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, .015);
   animation: fadeIn .5s ease-out forwards;
   opacity: 0;
 }
+/* corner filigree — top-left + top-right thin gilt brackets */
+.panel::before, .panel::after {
+  content: ""; position: absolute; top: -1px; width: 18px; height: 18px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--gilt); opacity: .4;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+.panel::before { left: -1px; border-right: none; border-bottom: none; }
+.panel::after  { right: -1px; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; }
 .panel:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: .05s; }
 .panel:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: .1s; }
 .panel:nth-child(4) { animation-delay: .15s; }
 .panel:hover { border-color: var(--surface-3); }
+.panel:hover::before, .panel:hover::after { opacity: .6; border-color: var(--gilt-bright); }
 .panel.green {
-  box-shadow: 0 0 24px -8px rgba(110, 168, 72, .1);
+  box-shadow:
+    0 0 28px -10px rgba(110, 168, 72, .14),
+    inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, .015);
   border-left: 2px solid var(--green-dim);
 }
 .panel.purple { border-left: 2px solid var(--purple-dim); }
+.panel.blood {
+  border-left: 2px solid var(--blood-dim);
+  box-shadow:
+    0 0 28px -10px var(--blood-glow),
+    inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, .015);
+}
 .panel-head {
   display: flex; align-items: baseline; gap: 14px; flex-wrap: wrap;
   margin-bottom: 14px; padding-bottom: 10px;
@@ -157,10 +215,18 @@ main {
 }
 .panel-head h2 {
   margin: 0; color: var(--purple-bright);
-  font-family: var(--serif); font-weight: 600;
-  font-size: 1.05em; letter-spacing: .15em; text-transform: uppercase;
+  font-family: var(--serif); font-weight: 700;
+  font-size: 1.15em; letter-spacing: .22em; text-transform: uppercase;
+  position: relative;
+}
+.panel-head h2::before {
+  content: "✦"; color: var(--blood); opacity: .6;
+  font-size: .65em; margin-right: .55em; vertical-align: middle;
 }
 .panel.green .panel-head h2 { color: var(--green-bright); }
+.panel.green .panel-head h2::before { color: var(--gilt); }
+.panel.blood .panel-head h2 { color: var(--blood-bright); }
+.panel.blood .panel-head h2::before { color: var(--purple); }
 .panel-head .ctx { color: var(--muted); font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .15em; text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: auto; font-family: var(--mono); }
 
 /* Pill */
@@ -218,7 +284,12 @@ a { color: var(--green-bright); text-decoration: none; transition: color .2s; }
 a:hover { color: var(--purple-bright); }
 .muted { color: var(--muted); font-size: .9em; }
 .lede { color: var(--bone-dim); }
-hr { border: none; border-top: 1px solid var(--line); margin: 2em 0; }
+/* gothic flourish divider */
+hr {
+  border: none; height: 28px; margin: 2.2em 0;
+  background: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 200 28' width='200' height='28'><g fill='none' stroke='%238a6e3a' stroke-width='1' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-opacity='.55'><path d='M10 14 L80 14'/><path d='M120 14 L190 14'/><path d='M85 14 Q92 8 100 14 Q108 20 115 14'/><circle cx='100' cy='14' r='2.5' fill='%237a2c4a' fill-opacity='.6' stroke='none'/></g></svg>") no-repeat center;
+  background-size: contain;
+}
 code {
   background: var(--purple-deep); border: 1px solid var(--purple-dim);
   color: var(--purple-bright);
@@ -247,9 +318,12 @@ ol li, ul li { margin: .35em 0; }
 }
 .recipe-card .rname {
   color: var(--bone); font-family: var(--serif); font-weight: 600;
-  font-size: 1.05em; letter-spacing: .02em;
+  font-size: 1.1em; letter-spacing: .03em; text-transform: lowercase;
+  line-height: 1.2;
 }
+.recipe-card .rname::first-letter { color: var(--blood-bright); font-weight: 700; font-size: 1.15em; }
 .recipe-card:hover .rname { color: var(--purple-bright); }
+.recipe-card:hover .rname::first-letter { color: var(--blood-bright); text-shadow: 0 0 12px var(--blood-glow); }
 .recipe-card .rmeta {
   color: var(--muted); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: .15em;
   text-transform: uppercase; font-family: var(--mono); margin-top: 6px;