diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Aside.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Aside.cs
index 75227b9..8b6e62b 100644
--- a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Aside.cs
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Aside.cs
@@ -40,13 +40,35 @@ public partial class Aside : MarginContainer
         foreach (var c in _content.GetChildren()) c.QueueFree();
 
         _content.AddChild(new Label { Text = "SUMMARY" });
-        AddBlock("Clade",      CodexContent.Clade(_draft.CladeId)?.Name);
-        AddBlock("Species",    CodexContent.SpeciesById(_draft.SpeciesId)?.Name);
+
+        if (_draft.IsHybrid)
+        {
+            AddBlock("Origin", "Hybrid");
+            AddBlock(_draft.DominantParent == "sire" ? "Sire (dominant)" : "Sire",
+                FormatLineage(_draft.SireCladeId, _draft.SireSpeciesId));
+            AddBlock(_draft.DominantParent == "dam" ? "Dam (dominant)" : "Dam",
+                FormatLineage(_draft.DamCladeId, _draft.DamSpeciesId));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            AddBlock("Clade",   CodexContent.Clade(_draft.CladeId)?.Name);
+            AddBlock("Species", CodexContent.SpeciesById(_draft.SpeciesId)?.Name);
+        }
+
         AddBlock("Calling",    CodexContent.Class(_draft.ClassId)?.Name);
         AddBlock("Background", CodexContent.Background(_draft.BackgroundId)?.Name);
         AddBlock("Name",       string.IsNullOrEmpty(_draft.CharacterName) ? null : _draft.CharacterName);
     }
 
+    private static string? FormatLineage(string cladeId, string speciesId)
+    {
+        var clade = CodexContent.Clade(cladeId);
+        var species = CodexContent.SpeciesById(speciesId);
+        if (clade is null && species is null) return null;
+        if (species is not null) return $"{species.Name} ({clade?.Name ?? cladeId})";
+        return clade?.Name;
+    }
+
     private void AddBlock(string label, string? value)
     {
         var v = new VBoxContainer();
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepBackground.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepBackground.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0b4991
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepBackground.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+using Godot;
+using Theriapolis.Core.Data;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Widgets;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.UI;
+
+namespace Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Steps;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Step V — History. Direct port of <c>StepBackground</c> in
+/// <c>src/steps.jsx</c>: card per background showing flavor, granted
+/// skill / tool proficiencies, and a unique feature with a description
+/// popover.
+/// </summary>
+public partial class StepBackground : VBoxContainer, IStep
+{
+    private CharacterDraft _draft = null!;
+    private GridContainer _grid = null!;
+
+    public void Bind(CharacterDraft draft)
+    {
+        _draft = draft;
+        _draft.Changed += () => Callable.From(Refresh).CallDeferred();
+        Build();
+    }
+
+    public string? Validate() =>
+        string.IsNullOrEmpty(_draft?.BackgroundId) ? "Pick a history." : null;
+
+    private void Build()
+    {
+        AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 16);
+
+        var intro = new VBoxContainer();
+        intro.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        AddChild(intro);
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "FOLIO V · HISTORY" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "Choose a History" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Where your character came from before the wandering began. "
+                 + "History grants extra skill and tool proficiencies and a unique "
+                 + "feature that resolves in-fiction more often than in combat.",
+            AutowrapMode = TextServer.AutowrapMode.WordSmart,
+        });
+
+        _grid = new GridContainer { Columns = 3, SizeFlagsHorizontal = SizeFlags.ExpandFill };
+        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 16);
+        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 16);
+        AddChild(_grid);
+
+        Refresh();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Background-availability rules. The backgrounds.json schema doesn't
+    /// carry restriction fields — the gating lives in flavor text only —
+    /// so they're hardcoded here. Each predicate returns true when the
+    /// background is available to the given draft; missing entries are
+    /// universally available.
+    ///
+    /// If backgrounds.json ever gains structured restriction fields,
+    /// swap these out for a property-driven check.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static readonly System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary<string, System.Func<UI.CharacterDraft, bool>> AvailabilityRules = new()
+    {
+        // Hybrid-only backgrounds — flavor text explicitly hybrid.
+        { "passer",             d => d.IsHybrid },
+        { "hybrid_underground", d => d.IsHybrid },
+        { "former_chattel",     d => d.IsHybrid },
+
+        // Clade-restricted backgrounds.
+        { "warren_runner",      d => d.HasClade("leporidae") },
+        { "pack_raised",        d => d.HasClade("canidae") },
+        { "herd_city_born",     d => d.HasAnyCladeOfKind("prey") },
+    };
+
+    private void Refresh()
+    {
+        if (_grid is null) return;
+        foreach (var c in _grid.GetChildren()) c.QueueFree();
+        foreach (var bg in CodexContent.Backgrounds)
+        {
+            if (AvailabilityRules.TryGetValue(bg.Id, out var rule) && !rule(_draft))
+                continue;
+            _grid.AddChild(BuildCard(bg));
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Control BuildCard(BackgroundDef bg)
+    {
+        bool selected = _draft.BackgroundId == bg.Id;
+
+        var card = new PanelContainer
+        {
+            CustomMinimumSize = new Vector2(200, 0),
+            MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Stop,
+        };
+        if (selected) card.Modulate = new Color(1f, 0.95f, 0.85f);
+
+        card.GuiInput += (InputEvent e) =>
+        {
+            if (e is InputEventMouseButton mb && mb.Pressed && mb.ButtonIndex == MouseButton.Left)
+                _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary { { "background_id", bg.Id } });
+        };
+
+        var box = new VBoxContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+        box.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        card.AddChild(box);
+
+        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = bg.Name });
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(bg.Flavor))
+        {
+            box.AddChild(new Label
+            {
+                Text = bg.Flavor,
+                AutowrapMode = TextServer.AutowrapMode.WordSmart,
+            });
+        }
+
+        // Skill + tool prof chips.
+        if (bg.SkillProficiencies.Length > 0 || bg.ToolProficiencies.Length > 0)
+        {
+            var profs = new HFlowContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+            profs.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 6);
+            profs.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 4);
+            box.AddChild(profs);
+
+            foreach (var s in bg.SkillProficiencies)
+                profs.AddChild(new TraitChip { TraitName = s, Description = "Skill proficiency", Tag = "skill" });
+            foreach (var t in bg.ToolProficiencies)
+                profs.AddChild(new TraitChip { TraitName = t, Description = "Tool proficiency", Tag = "tool" });
+        }
+
+        // Background feature — chip whose popover shows the description.
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(bg.FeatureName))
+        {
+            var featRow = new HBoxContainer();
+            featRow.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+            box.AddChild(featRow);
+            featRow.AddChild(new Label { Text = "FEATURE" });
+            featRow.AddChild(new TraitChip
+            {
+                TraitName = bg.FeatureName,
+                Description = bg.FeatureDescription,
+            });
+        }
+
+        return card;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepClade.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepClade.cs
index 533113d..8fb4ba5 100644
--- a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepClade.cs
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepClade.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using Godot;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using Theriapolis.Core.Data;
 using Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Widgets;
 using Theriapolis.GodotHost.UI;
@@ -7,16 +8,27 @@ namespace Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Steps;
 
 /// <summary>
 /// Step I — Clade. Direct port of <c>StepClade</c> in
-/// <c>src/steps.jsx</c>: intro paragraph, then a card grid with one
-/// card per clade. Click selects via <see cref="CharacterDraft.Patch"/>.
+/// <c>src/steps.jsx</c>, plus the Phase 6.5 hybrid-origin extension
+/// per port plan §10: a Hybrid toggle splits the picker into Sire +
+/// Dam grids, each independent. The dominant-parent radio drives
+/// <see cref="CharacterDraft.EffectiveCladeId"/> for downstream steps.
 ///
-/// Default theme only at this layer (per GODOT_PORTING_GUIDE.md §12 build
-/// order); the parchment look lands in the final theming pass.
+/// Cards are built once and mutated in place (Modulate update only) on
+/// selection change — tearing down + rebuilding inside the click
+/// callback chain caused duplicates because Free() defers when the
+/// freed node is currently mid-signal.
 /// </summary>
 public partial class StepClade : VBoxContainer, IStep
 {
     private CharacterDraft _draft = null!;
-    private GridContainer _grid = null!;
+    private CheckBox _hybridToggle = null!;
+    private VBoxContainer _purebredSection = null!;
+    private VBoxContainer _hybridSection = null!;
+    private OptionButton _dominantToggle = null!;
+
+    private readonly Dictionary<string, PanelContainer> _purebredCards = new();
+    private readonly Dictionary<string, PanelContainer> _sireCards = new();
+    private readonly Dictionary<string, PanelContainer> _damCards = new();
 
     public void Bind(CharacterDraft draft)
     {
@@ -25,7 +37,7 @@ public partial class StepClade : VBoxContainer, IStep
         Build();
     }
 
-    public string? Validate() => string.IsNullOrEmpty(_draft?.CladeId) ? "Pick a clade." : null;
+    public string? Validate() => WizardValidation.Validate(0, _draft);
 
     private void Build()
     {
@@ -40,90 +52,173 @@ public partial class StepClade : VBoxContainer, IStep
         {
             Text = "The broad mammalian family of your line. Clade defines the largest "
                  + "strokes — predator or prey, communal or solitary, scent-driven or "
-                 + "sight-driven. Each clade carries inherited traits and limits that "
-                 + "no character escapes.",
+                 + "sight-driven. Hybrid characters blend two lineages.",
             AutowrapMode = TextServer.AutowrapMode.WordSmart,
-            CustomMinimumSize = new Vector2(0, 0),
         });
 
-        _grid = new GridContainer
-        {
-            Columns = 3,
-            SizeFlagsHorizontal = SizeFlags.ExpandFill,
-        };
-        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 16);
-        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 16);
-        AddChild(_grid);
+        var toggleRow = new HBoxContainer();
+        toggleRow.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 12);
+        AddChild(toggleRow);
+        _hybridToggle = new CheckBox { Text = "Hybrid Origin (two parent lineages)" };
+        _hybridToggle.Toggled += OnHybridToggled;
+        toggleRow.AddChild(_hybridToggle);
+
+        // Purebred section
+        _purebredSection = new VBoxContainer();
+        _purebredSection.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        AddChild(_purebredSection);
+        var purebredGrid = MakeGrid();
+        _purebredSection.AddChild(purebredGrid);
+        PopulateGrid(purebredGrid, _purebredCards, OnPurebredCladePicked);
+
+        // Hybrid section
+        _hybridSection = new VBoxContainer();
+        _hybridSection.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 16);
+        AddChild(_hybridSection);
+
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(new Label { Text = "SIRE — Paternal Lineage" });
+        var sireGrid = MakeGrid();
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(sireGrid);
+        PopulateGrid(sireGrid, _sireCards, id => OnLineageCladePicked("sire", id));
+
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(new Label { Text = "DAM — Maternal Lineage" });
+        var damGrid = MakeGrid();
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(damGrid);
+        PopulateGrid(damGrid, _damCards, id => OnLineageCladePicked("dam", id));
+
+        var dominantRow = new HBoxContainer();
+        dominantRow.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 8);
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(dominantRow);
+        dominantRow.AddChild(new Label { Text = "DOMINANT LINEAGE" });
+        _dominantToggle = new OptionButton();
+        _dominantToggle.AddItem("Sire", 0);
+        _dominantToggle.AddItem("Dam", 1);
+        _dominantToggle.ItemSelected += OnDominantSelected;
+        dominantRow.AddChild(_dominantToggle);
 
         Refresh();
     }
 
-    private void Refresh()
+    private static GridContainer MakeGrid()
     {
-        if (_grid is null) return;
-        foreach (var c in _grid.GetChildren()) c.QueueFree();
-        foreach (var clade in CodexContent.Clades)
-            _grid.AddChild(BuildCard(clade));
+        var grid = new GridContainer { Columns = 3, SizeFlagsHorizontal = SizeFlags.ExpandFill };
+        grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 16);
+        grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 16);
+        return grid;
     }
 
-    private Control BuildCard(CladeDef clade)
+    private void PopulateGrid(GridContainer grid, Dictionary<string, PanelContainer> cardMap, System.Action<string> onClick)
     {
-        bool selected = _draft.CladeId == clade.Id;
+        foreach (var clade in CodexContent.Clades)
+        {
+            var card = BuildCard(clade, onClick);
+            cardMap[clade.Id] = card;
+            grid.AddChild(card);
+        }
+    }
 
-        // PanelContainer (a Container subclass) so the card height is
-        // driven by its inner VBoxContainer's content. Switching from
-        // Button avoids the issue where Button's intrinsic min size
-        // doesn't aggregate from non-Button children, causing chips to
-        // overflow into the cards below at high trait counts.
+    private void OnHybridToggled(bool pressed)
+    {
+        var patch = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary { { "is_hybrid", pressed } };
+        if (pressed)
+        {
+            patch["clade_id"] = "";
+            patch["species_id"] = "";
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            patch["sire_clade_id"] = "";
+            patch["sire_species_id"] = "";
+            patch["dam_clade_id"] = "";
+            patch["dam_species_id"] = "";
+        }
+        _draft.Patch(patch);
+    }
+
+    private void OnDominantSelected(long index)
+    {
+        _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
+        {
+            { "dominant_parent", index == 0 ? "sire" : "dam" },
+        });
+    }
+
+    private void Refresh()
+    {
+        if (_hybridToggle is null) return;
+
+        bool hybrid = _draft.IsHybrid;
+        if (_hybridToggle.ButtonPressed != hybrid) _hybridToggle.SetPressedNoSignal(hybrid);
+        _purebredSection.Visible = !hybrid;
+        _hybridSection.Visible = hybrid;
+
+        UpdateSelection(_purebredCards, _draft.CladeId);
+        UpdateSelection(_sireCards, _draft.SireCladeId);
+        UpdateSelection(_damCards, _draft.DamCladeId);
+
+        int dominantIdx = _draft.DominantParent == "dam" ? 1 : 0;
+        if (_dominantToggle.Selected != dominantIdx) _dominantToggle.Select(dominantIdx);
+    }
+
+    private static void UpdateSelection(Dictionary<string, PanelContainer> cards, string selectedId)
+    {
+        foreach (var (id, card) in cards)
+            card.Modulate = id == selectedId ? new Color(1f, 0.95f, 0.85f) : Colors.White;
+    }
+
+    private void OnPurebredCladePicked(string cladeId)
+    {
+        string speciesId = _draft.SpeciesId;
+        var sp = CodexContent.SpeciesById(speciesId);
+        if (sp is null || !string.Equals(sp.CladeId, cladeId, System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            speciesId = "";
+        _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
+        {
+            { "clade_id",   cladeId },
+            { "species_id", speciesId },
+        });
+    }
+
+    private void OnLineageCladePicked(string lineage, string cladeId)
+    {
+        var patch = new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
+        {
+            { lineage + "_clade_id", cladeId },
+        };
+        string currentSpecies = lineage == "sire" ? _draft.SireSpeciesId : _draft.DamSpeciesId;
+        var sp = CodexContent.SpeciesById(currentSpecies);
+        if (sp is null || !string.Equals(sp.CladeId, cladeId, System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            patch[lineage + "_species_id"] = "";
+        _draft.Patch(patch);
+    }
+
+    private PanelContainer BuildCard(CladeDef clade, System.Action<string> onClick)
+    {
         var card = new PanelContainer
         {
             CustomMinimumSize = new Vector2(200, 0),
             MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Stop,
         };
-        if (selected) card.Modulate = new Color(1f, 0.95f, 0.85f);  // gild tint placeholder until theming
-
         card.GuiInput += (InputEvent e) =>
         {
             if (e is InputEventMouseButton mb && mb.Pressed && mb.ButtonIndex == MouseButton.Left)
-            {
-                // Default species for the new clade — match React app.jsx:
-                // when clade changes, species defaults to first species in clade.
-                string speciesId = "";
-                foreach (var s in CodexContent.SpeciesOfClade(clade.Id))
-                {
-                    speciesId = s.Id;
-                    break;
-                }
-                _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
-                {
-                    { "clade_id",   clade.Id },
-                    { "species_id", speciesId },
-                });
-            }
+                onClick(clade.Id);
         };
 
         var box = new VBoxContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
         box.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
         card.AddChild(box);
 
-        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = clade.Name, MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Ignore });
-        box.AddChild(new Label
-        {
-            Text = clade.Kind.ToUpperInvariant(),
-            MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Ignore,
-        });
+        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = clade.Name });
+        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = clade.Kind.ToUpperInvariant() });
 
         if (clade.AbilityMods.Count > 0)
         {
-            var modsRow = new HBoxContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Ignore };
+            var modsRow = new HBoxContainer();
             modsRow.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 8);
             box.AddChild(modsRow);
             foreach (var (k, v) in clade.AbilityMods)
-                modsRow.AddChild(new Label
-                {
-                    Text = $"{k} {(v >= 0 ? "+" : "")}{v}",
-                    MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Ignore,
-                });
+                modsRow.AddChild(new Label { Text = $"{k} {(v >= 0 ? "+" : "")}{v}" });
         }
 
         if (clade.Traits.Length > 0 || clade.Detriments.Length > 0)
@@ -132,26 +227,10 @@ public partial class StepClade : VBoxContainer, IStep
             chips.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 6);
             chips.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 4);
             box.AddChild(chips);
-
             foreach (var t in clade.Traits)
-            {
-                var chip = new TraitChip
-                {
-                    TraitName = t.Name,
-                    Description = t.Description,
-                };
-                chips.AddChild(chip);
-            }
+                chips.AddChild(new TraitChip { TraitName = t.Name, Description = t.Description });
             foreach (var d in clade.Detriments)
-            {
-                var chip = new TraitChip
-                {
-                    TraitName = d.Name,
-                    Description = d.Description,
-                    Detriment = true,
-                };
-                chips.AddChild(chip);
-            }
+                chips.AddChild(new TraitChip { TraitName = d.Name, Description = d.Description, Detriment = true });
         }
 
         return card;
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepClass.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepClass.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76ec1d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepClass.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+using Godot;
+using System.Linq;
+using Theriapolis.Core.Data;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Widgets;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.UI;
+
+namespace Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Steps;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Step III — Calling. Direct port of <c>StepClass</c> in
+/// <c>src/steps.jsx</c>: card per class showing hit die, primary
+/// abilities, saves, and level-1 features (subclass-selection
+/// stubs filtered out per the React prototype's contract). Class
+/// change clears chosen skills and the previously-chosen subclass.
+/// </summary>
+public partial class StepClass : VBoxContainer, IStep
+{
+    private CharacterDraft _draft = null!;
+    private GridContainer _grid = null!;
+
+    public void Bind(CharacterDraft draft)
+    {
+        _draft = draft;
+        // Defer Refresh so it runs after the click callback that triggered
+        // Changed completes (avoids the Free()-during-signal duplicate bug).
+        _draft.Changed += () => Callable.From(Refresh).CallDeferred();
+        Build();
+    }
+
+    public string? Validate() =>
+        string.IsNullOrEmpty(_draft?.ClassId) ? "Pick a calling." : null;
+
+    private void Build()
+    {
+        AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 16);
+
+        var intro = new VBoxContainer();
+        intro.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        AddChild(intro);
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "FOLIO III · CALLING" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "Choose a Calling" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Your character's path — fighter, hunter, scholar, or something stranger. "
+                 + "The calling fixes your hit die, primary abilities, saving-throw "
+                 + "proficiencies, and the level-1 feature set you start play with.",
+            AutowrapMode = TextServer.AutowrapMode.WordSmart,
+        });
+
+        _grid = new GridContainer { Columns = 3, SizeFlagsHorizontal = SizeFlags.ExpandFill };
+        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 16);
+        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 16);
+        AddChild(_grid);
+
+        Refresh();
+    }
+
+    private void Refresh()
+    {
+        if (_grid is null) return;
+        foreach (var c in _grid.GetChildren()) c.QueueFree();
+        foreach (var cls in CodexContent.Classes)
+            _grid.AddChild(BuildCard(cls));
+    }
+
+    private Control BuildCard(ClassDef cls)
+    {
+        bool selected = _draft.ClassId == cls.Id;
+
+        var card = new PanelContainer
+        {
+            CustomMinimumSize = new Vector2(200, 0),
+            MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Stop,
+        };
+        if (selected) card.Modulate = new Color(1f, 0.95f, 0.85f);
+
+        card.GuiInput += (InputEvent e) =>
+        {
+            if (e is InputEventMouseButton mb && mb.Pressed && mb.ButtonIndex == MouseButton.Left)
+            {
+                // Class change: reset subclass + chosen skills, mirroring
+                // app.jsx's useEffect on classId.
+                _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary
+                {
+                    { "class_id", cls.Id },
+                    { "subclass_id", "" },
+                    { "chosen_skills", new Godot.Collections.Array<string>() },
+                });
+            }
+        };
+
+        var box = new VBoxContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+        box.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        card.AddChild(box);
+
+        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = cls.Name });
+        box.AddChild(new Label
+        {
+            Text = $"d{cls.HitDie}  ·  {string.Join("/", cls.PrimaryAbility)}",
+        });
+
+        if (cls.Saves.Length > 0)
+        {
+            var savesRow = new HBoxContainer();
+            savesRow.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+            box.AddChild(savesRow);
+            savesRow.AddChild(new Label { Text = "SAVES" });
+            foreach (var s in cls.Saves)
+                savesRow.AddChild(new Label { Text = s });
+        }
+
+        // Level-1 features. Filter out stubs and subclass-selection markers
+        // (the React prototype hides the subclass picker on the class card).
+        var lvl1 = cls.LevelTable.FirstOrDefault(e => e.Level == 1);
+        if (lvl1?.Features.Length > 0)
+        {
+            var featChips = new HFlowContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+            featChips.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 6);
+            featChips.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 4);
+            box.AddChild(featChips);
+
+            foreach (var fid in lvl1.Features)
+            {
+                if (!cls.FeatureDefinitions.TryGetValue(fid, out var fd)) continue;
+                if (fd.Kind == "stub" || fid.StartsWith("subclass_")) continue;
+                featChips.AddChild(new TraitChip
+                {
+                    TraitName = fd.Name,
+                    Description = fd.Description,
+                    Tag = fd.Kind,
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        return card;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepSpecies.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepSpecies.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6021b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepSpecies.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+using Godot;
+using Theriapolis.Core.Data;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Widgets;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.UI;
+
+namespace Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Steps;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Step II — Species. Direct port of <c>StepSpecies</c> in
+/// <c>src/steps.jsx</c> plus the Phase 6.5 hybrid extension: when
+/// <see cref="CharacterDraft.IsHybrid"/> is true the step shows two
+/// stacked grids, one filtered by SireCladeId and one by DamCladeId.
+/// </summary>
+public partial class StepSpecies : VBoxContainer, IStep
+{
+    private CharacterDraft _draft = null!;
+    private VBoxContainer _purebredSection = null!;
+    private VBoxContainer _hybridSection = null!;
+    private GridContainer _purebredGrid = null!;
+    private GridContainer _sireGrid = null!;
+    private GridContainer _damGrid = null!;
+
+    public void Bind(CharacterDraft draft)
+    {
+        _draft = draft;
+        // Defer Refresh so it runs after the click callback that triggered
+        // Changed completes — Free() called on a card mid-callback returns
+        // without freeing, leaving a stale duplicate in the grid.
+        _draft.Changed += () => Callable.From(Refresh).CallDeferred();
+        Build();
+    }
+
+    public string? Validate() => WizardValidation.Validate(1, _draft);
+
+    private void Build()
+    {
+        AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 16);
+
+        var intro = new VBoxContainer();
+        intro.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        AddChild(intro);
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "FOLIO II · SPECIES" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "Choose a Species" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Refine your line. Species inherits the clade's traits and adds its "
+                 + "own — body size, base movement speed, and species-specific abilities. "
+                 + "Hybrid characters pick one species per parent lineage.",
+            AutowrapMode = TextServer.AutowrapMode.WordSmart,
+        });
+
+        _purebredSection = new VBoxContainer();
+        _purebredSection.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        AddChild(_purebredSection);
+        _purebredGrid = MakeGrid();
+        _purebredSection.AddChild(_purebredGrid);
+
+        _hybridSection = new VBoxContainer();
+        _hybridSection.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 16);
+        AddChild(_hybridSection);
+
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(new Label { Text = "SIRE — Paternal Lineage" });
+        _sireGrid = MakeGrid();
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(_sireGrid);
+
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(new Label { Text = "DAM — Maternal Lineage" });
+        _damGrid = MakeGrid();
+        _hybridSection.AddChild(_damGrid);
+
+        Refresh();
+    }
+
+    private static GridContainer MakeGrid()
+    {
+        var grid = new GridContainer { Columns = 3, SizeFlagsHorizontal = SizeFlags.ExpandFill };
+        grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 16);
+        grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 16);
+        return grid;
+    }
+
+    private void Refresh()
+    {
+        if (_purebredGrid is null) return;
+        bool hybrid = _draft.IsHybrid;
+        _purebredSection.Visible = !hybrid;
+        _hybridSection.Visible = hybrid;
+
+        if (hybrid)
+        {
+            RefreshGrid(_sireGrid, _draft.SireCladeId, _draft.SireSpeciesId,
+                spId => _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary { { "sire_species_id", spId } }));
+            RefreshGrid(_damGrid, _draft.DamCladeId, _draft.DamSpeciesId,
+                spId => _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary { { "dam_species_id", spId } }));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            RefreshGrid(_purebredGrid, _draft.CladeId, _draft.SpeciesId,
+                spId => _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary { { "species_id", spId } }));
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void RefreshGrid(GridContainer grid, string cladeId, string selectedSpecies, System.Action<string> onClick)
+    {
+        foreach (var c in grid.GetChildren()) c.Free();
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(cladeId)) return;
+        foreach (var sp in CodexContent.SpeciesOfClade(cladeId))
+            grid.AddChild(BuildCard(sp, sp.Id == selectedSpecies, onClick));
+    }
+
+    private static Control BuildCard(SpeciesDef sp, bool selected, System.Action<string> onClick)
+    {
+        var card = new PanelContainer
+        {
+            CustomMinimumSize = new Vector2(200, 0),
+            MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Stop,
+        };
+        if (selected) card.Modulate = new Color(1f, 0.95f, 0.85f);
+
+        card.GuiInput += (InputEvent e) =>
+        {
+            if (e is InputEventMouseButton mb && mb.Pressed && mb.ButtonIndex == MouseButton.Left)
+                onClick(sp.Id);
+        };
+
+        var box = new VBoxContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+        box.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        card.AddChild(box);
+
+        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = sp.Name });
+        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = $"{sp.Size.ToUpperInvariant()} · {sp.BaseSpeedFt} FT/TURN" });
+
+        if (sp.AbilityMods.Count > 0)
+        {
+            var modsRow = new HBoxContainer();
+            modsRow.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 8);
+            box.AddChild(modsRow);
+            foreach (var (k, v) in sp.AbilityMods)
+                modsRow.AddChild(new Label { Text = $"{k} {(v >= 0 ? "+" : "")}{v}" });
+        }
+
+        if (sp.Traits.Length > 0 || sp.Detriments.Length > 0)
+        {
+            var chips = new HFlowContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+            chips.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 6);
+            chips.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 4);
+            box.AddChild(chips);
+            foreach (var t in sp.Traits)
+                chips.AddChild(new TraitChip { TraitName = t.Name, Description = t.Description });
+            foreach (var d in sp.Detriments)
+                chips.AddChild(new TraitChip { TraitName = d.Name, Description = d.Description, Detriment = true });
+        }
+
+        return card;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepStats.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepStats.cs
index 73ee87b..fc0cad7 100644
--- a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepStats.cs
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepStats.cs
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ public partial class StepStats : VBoxContainer, IStep
     private Button _rollBtn = null!;
     private Button _rerollBtn = null!;
     private Button _autoBtn = null!;
-    private ScrollContainer? _scroll;
-    private int _savedScroll = -1;
-    private bool _scrollPending;
 
     public void Bind(CharacterDraft draft)
     {
@@ -61,7 +58,7 @@ public partial class StepStats : VBoxContainer, IStep
         var intro = new VBoxContainer();
         intro.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
         AddChild(intro);
-        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "FOLIO V · ABILITIES" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "FOLIO VI · ABILITIES" });
         intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "Assign your Ability Scores" });
         intro.AddChild(new Label
         {
@@ -139,15 +136,8 @@ public partial class StepStats : VBoxContainer, IStep
     private void Refresh()
     {
         if (_pool is null) return;
-
-        // Tearing down + rebuilding child token trees triggers a layout
-        // pass that resets the parent ScrollContainer's vertical scroll.
-        // Snapshot the scroll position and restore it after the new layout
-        // settles. The restore goes through a method (not SetDeferred on
-        // the property) so it runs reliably after layout finishes — the
-        // method is queued via CallDeferred at the end of Refresh.
-        _scroll = FindAncestorScroll();
-        _savedScroll = _scroll?.ScrollVertical ?? -1;
+        // Scroll preservation now handled centrally by Wizard.UpdateChrome
+        // / Wizard._Process, which snapshots before this Refresh fires.
 
         // Toolbar reflects current method and assignment state.
         bool isRoll = _draft.StatMethod == "roll";
@@ -197,31 +187,6 @@ public partial class StepStats : VBoxContainer, IStep
             }
         }
 
-        // Restore scroll on the next _Process frame — after layout has fully
-        // converged. CallDeferred / SetDeferred / CreateTimer all proved
-        // racy because the ScrollContainer re-clamps scroll on later layout
-        // passes triggered by tree mutations elsewhere.
-        if (_savedScroll >= 0 && _scroll is not null) _scrollPending = true;
-    }
-
-    public override void _Process(double delta)
-    {
-        if (_scrollPending && _scroll is not null && IsInstanceValid(_scroll))
-        {
-            _scroll.ScrollVertical = _savedScroll;
-        }
-        _scrollPending = false;
-    }
-
-    private ScrollContainer? FindAncestorScroll()
-    {
-        Node? n = GetParent();
-        while (n is not null)
-        {
-            if (n is ScrollContainer sc) return sc;
-            n = n.GetParent();
-        }
-        return null;
     }
 
     // ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepSubclass.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepSubclass.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3326a09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Steps/StepSubclass.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+using Godot;
+using System.Linq;
+using Theriapolis.Core.Data;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Widgets;
+using Theriapolis.GodotHost.UI;
+
+namespace Theriapolis.GodotHost.Scenes.Steps;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Step IV — Subclass. New vs the React prototype (which is pre-Phase
+/// 6.5); per port plan §10, dedicated step rather than inline picker.
+/// Cards filtered by the chosen class's <c>SubclassIds</c>. Selecting
+/// commits via Patch(subclass_id).
+/// </summary>
+public partial class StepSubclass : VBoxContainer, IStep
+{
+    private CharacterDraft _draft = null!;
+    private GridContainer _grid = null!;
+
+    public void Bind(CharacterDraft draft)
+    {
+        _draft = draft;
+        _draft.Changed += () => Callable.From(Refresh).CallDeferred();
+        Build();
+    }
+
+    public string? Validate()
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(_draft?.SubclassId)) return "Pick a subclass.";
+        var sub = System.Array.Find(CodexContent.Subclasses, s => s.Id == _draft.SubclassId);
+        if (sub is null || !string.Equals(sub.ClassId, _draft.ClassId, System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            return "Selected subclass doesn't belong to the current calling.";
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private void Build()
+    {
+        AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 16);
+
+        var intro = new VBoxContainer();
+        intro.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        AddChild(intro);
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "FOLIO IV · SUBCLASS" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label { Text = "Choose a Subclass" });
+        intro.AddChild(new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Specialization within your calling. Subclass features unlock at "
+                 + "level 3 and beyond, but the choice is locked in now — only subclasses "
+                 + "available to your chosen calling are shown.",
+            AutowrapMode = TextServer.AutowrapMode.WordSmart,
+        });
+
+        _grid = new GridContainer { Columns = 3, SizeFlagsHorizontal = SizeFlags.ExpandFill };
+        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 16);
+        _grid.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 16);
+        AddChild(_grid);
+
+        Refresh();
+    }
+
+    private void Refresh()
+    {
+        if (_grid is null) return;
+        foreach (var c in _grid.GetChildren()) c.QueueFree();
+
+        var cls = CodexContent.Class(_draft.ClassId);
+        if (cls is null) return;
+
+        foreach (var subId in cls.SubclassIds)
+        {
+            var sub = System.Array.Find(CodexContent.Subclasses, s => s.Id == subId);
+            if (sub is not null) _grid.AddChild(BuildCard(sub));
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Control BuildCard(SubclassDef sub)
+    {
+        bool selected = _draft.SubclassId == sub.Id;
+
+        var card = new PanelContainer
+        {
+            CustomMinimumSize = new Vector2(200, 0),
+            MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Stop,
+        };
+        if (selected) card.Modulate = new Color(1f, 0.95f, 0.85f);
+
+        card.GuiInput += (InputEvent e) =>
+        {
+            if (e is InputEventMouseButton mb && mb.Pressed && mb.ButtonIndex == MouseButton.Left)
+                _draft.Patch(new Godot.Collections.Dictionary { { "subclass_id", sub.Id } });
+        };
+
+        var box = new VBoxContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+        box.AddThemeConstantOverride("separation", 6);
+        card.AddChild(box);
+
+        box.AddChild(new Label { Text = sub.Name });
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(sub.Flavor))
+        {
+            box.AddChild(new Label
+            {
+                Text = sub.Flavor,
+                AutowrapMode = TextServer.AutowrapMode.WordSmart,
+            });
+        }
+
+        // Level-3 features (the first unlock for any subclass).
+        var l3 = sub.LevelFeatures.FirstOrDefault(e => e.Level == 3);
+        if (l3?.Features.Length > 0)
+        {
+            var featChips = new HFlowContainer { MouseFilter = MouseFilterEnum.Pass };
+            featChips.AddThemeConstantOverride("h_separation", 6);
+            featChips.AddThemeConstantOverride("v_separation", 4);
+            box.AddChild(featChips);
+
+            foreach (var fid in l3.Features)
+            {
+                if (!sub.FeatureDefinitions.TryGetValue(fid, out var fd)) continue;
+                if (fd.Kind == "stub") continue;
+                featChips.AddChild(new TraitChip
+                {
+                    TraitName = fd.Name,
+                    Description = fd.Description,
+                    Tag = "L3 · " + fd.Kind,
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        return card;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.cs
index 4a273f1..e50ea2d 100644
--- a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.cs
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.cs
@@ -32,18 +32,26 @@ public partial class Wizard : Control
     private Button _backBtn = null!;
     private Button _nextBtn = null!;
 
+    // Scroll preservation: snapshot scroll position when the draft changes
+    // (which fires before the active step's Refresh tears down + rebuilds
+    // child nodes), then restore on the next _Process frame so the user
+    // doesn't get punted to the top of the page when selecting a card.
+    private ScrollContainer? _scroll;
+    private int _savedScroll = -1;
+    private bool _scrollPending;
+
     private int _step;
     private Steps.IStep? _activeStep;
     private static readonly System.Type?[] StepTypes =
     {
-        typeof(Steps.StepClade),  // 0 Clade — implemented
-        null,                      // 1 Species
-        null,                      // 2 Calling
-        null,                      // 3 Subclass
-        null,                      // 4 History
-        typeof(Steps.StepStats),  // 5 Abilities — implemented (M6.2)
-        null,                      // 6 Skills
-        null,                      // 7 Sign
+        typeof(Steps.StepClade),       // 0 Clade
+        typeof(Steps.StepSpecies),     // 1 Species
+        typeof(Steps.StepClass),       // 2 Calling
+        typeof(Steps.StepSubclass),    // 3 Subclass
+        typeof(Steps.StepBackground),  // 4 History
+        typeof(Steps.StepStats),       // 5 Abilities
+        null,                           // 6 Skills    — M6.5
+        null,                           // 7 Sign      — M6.6
     };
 
     public override void _Ready()
@@ -57,6 +65,7 @@ public partial class Wizard : Control
         _navProgress = GetNode<Label>("%NavProgress");
         _backBtn     = GetNode<Button>("%BackButton");
         _nextBtn     = GetNode<Button>("%NextButton");
+        _scroll      = GetNode<ScrollContainer>("%Scroll");
 
         var aside = GetNode<Aside>("%Aside");
         aside.SetDraft(Character);
@@ -102,9 +111,11 @@ public partial class Wizard : Control
     private void OnStepperClicked(int index)
     {
         if (index <= _step) { SwitchToStep(index); return; }
-        // Forward jump requires current step satisfied. Unimplemented future
-        // steps still accept the jump — SwitchToStep will show a placeholder.
-        if (_activeStep?.Validate() is not null) return;
+        // Forward jump requires every step in [0..index-1] satisfied — not
+        // just the current step. Otherwise picking a clade would let you
+        // skip straight to Abilities without picking species/calling/etc.
+        for (int i = 0; i < index; i++)
+            if (UI.WizardValidation.Validate(i, Character) is not null) return;
         SwitchToStep(index);
     }
 
@@ -124,39 +135,76 @@ public partial class Wizard : Control
 
     private void UpdateChrome()
     {
+        // Snapshot scroll BEFORE the active step's Refresh handler fires
+        // (it's the next subscriber in the Changed chain). The scroll
+        // position then survives the rebuild via _Process below.
+        if (_scroll is not null)
+        {
+            _savedScroll = _scroll.ScrollVertical;
+            if (_savedScroll > 0) _scrollPending = true;
+        }
+
         _folioLabel.Text = $"Folio {Roman(_step + 1)} of VIII — {StepNames[_step]}";
 
-        bool valid = _activeStep?.Validate() is null;
-        string? err = _activeStep?.Validate();
+        // Validate via the static helper so stepper-state propagation and
+        // the active-step banner share one source of truth.
+        string? err = UI.WizardValidation.Validate(_step, Character);
+        bool valid = err is null;
         _validation.Text = err ?? (_step == StepKeys.Length - 1 ? "Ready to sign" : "Folio complete");
         _nextBtn.Disabled = !valid;
         _nextBtn.Visible = _step < StepKeys.Length - 1;
         _backBtn.Text = _step == 0 ? "← Title" : "← Back";
         _navProgress.Text = $"{_step + 1} / {StepKeys.Length}";
 
-        RebuildStepperStates(valid);
+        RebuildStepperStates();
     }
 
-    private void RebuildStepperStates(bool currentSatisfied)
+    private void RebuildStepperStates()
     {
-        // Mirrors app.jsx's lock semantics: a step is Locked iff some EARLIER
-        // step is unsatisfied. "Type not yet implemented" doesn't affect the
-        // lock state — clicking an unimplemented step just shows a placeholder.
+        // Mirrors app.jsx's lock semantics exactly: a step is Locked iff
+        // some EARLIER step's validator fails. Use FirstIncomplete to find
+        // the boundary, then state each step accordingly. This is what
+        // makes "pick a clade and skip straight to Abilities" impossible —
+        // any step after FirstIncomplete is Locked.
+        int firstIncomplete = UI.WizardValidation.FirstIncomplete(Character, StepNames.Length);
         var states = new UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState[StepNames.Length];
+
         for (int i = 0; i < StepNames.Length; i++)
         {
             if (i == _step)
+            {
                 states[i] = UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState.Active;
+            }
             else if (i < _step)
-                states[i] = UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState.Complete;
-            else
-                states[i] = currentSatisfied
-                    ? UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState.Pending
+            {
+                // Already-visited step. Complete if it still validates,
+                // Locked if the user has since invalidated it (e.g. cleared
+                // a field). Locked variants past _step also show.
+                states[i] = UI.WizardValidation.Validate(i, Character) is null
+                    ? UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState.Complete
                     : UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState.Locked;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // Future step. Locked iff some earlier step is incomplete.
+                bool locked = firstIncomplete != -1 && firstIncomplete < i;
+                states[i] = locked
+                    ? UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState.Locked
+                    : UI.Widgets.CodexStepper.StepState.Pending;
+            }
         }
         _stepper.SetSteps(StepNames, states);
     }
 
+    public override void _Process(double delta)
+    {
+        if (_scrollPending && _scroll is not null && IsInstanceValid(_scroll))
+        {
+            _scroll.ScrollVertical = _savedScroll;
+        }
+        _scrollPending = false;
+    }
+
     private static string Roman(int n) => n switch
     {
         1 => "I",  2 => "II", 3 => "III", 4 => "IV",
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.tscn b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.tscn
index 153ff83..3c87208 100644
--- a/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.tscn
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/Scenes/Wizard.tscn
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ theme_override_constants/margin_top = 16
 theme_override_constants/margin_bottom = 16
 
 [node name="Scroll" type="ScrollContainer" parent="Wrap/Layout/Page/PageMain"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
 size_flags_horizontal = 3
 size_flags_vertical = 3
 horizontal_scroll_mode = 0
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/UI/CharacterDraft.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/UI/CharacterDraft.cs
index 90a0b27..3368edc 100644
--- a/Theriapolis.Godot/UI/CharacterDraft.cs
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/UI/CharacterDraft.cs
@@ -28,6 +28,54 @@ public partial class CharacterDraft : Resource
     [Export] public string SubclassId   { get; set; } = "";
     [Export] public string BackgroundId { get; set; } = "";
 
+    // ── Phase 6.5 hybrid origin ────────────────────────────────────────
+    /// <summary>True when the PC is a hybrid (two parent lineages).</summary>
+    [Export] public bool IsHybrid { get; set; }
+    [Export] public string SireCladeId   { get; set; } = "";
+    [Export] public string SireSpeciesId { get; set; } = "";
+    [Export] public string DamCladeId    { get; set; } = "";
+    [Export] public string DamSpeciesId  { get; set; } = "";
+    /// <summary>"sire" or "dam" — which parent the PC presents as.</summary>
+    [Export] public string DominantParent { get; set; } = "sire";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Resolves the "active" clade for downstream steps (Class / Subclass
+    /// / Background). Purebred uses <see cref="CladeId"/>; hybrids use
+    /// the dominant parent's clade.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string EffectiveCladeId => IsHybrid
+        ? (DominantParent == "sire" ? SireCladeId : DamCladeId)
+        : CladeId;
+
+    /// <summary>Same logic as <see cref="EffectiveCladeId"/>, for species.</summary>
+    public string EffectiveSpeciesId => IsHybrid
+        ? (DominantParent == "sire" ? SireSpeciesId : DamSpeciesId)
+        : SpeciesId;
+
+    /// <summary>True iff the character includes <paramref name="cladeId"/>
+    /// in its lineage. Purebred matches CladeId; hybrid matches if either
+    /// Sire or Dam clade equals the id (case-insensitive).</summary>
+    public bool HasClade(string cladeId)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(cladeId)) return false;
+        if (IsHybrid)
+            return string.Equals(SireCladeId, cladeId, System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                || string.Equals(DamCladeId,  cladeId, System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        return string.Equals(CladeId, cladeId, System.StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>True iff any clade in the character's lineage has the
+    /// given <paramref name="kind"/> ("predator" or "prey").</summary>
+    public bool HasAnyCladeOfKind(string kind)
+    {
+        if (IsHybrid)
+        {
+            return CodexContent.Clade(SireCladeId)?.Kind == kind
+                || CodexContent.Clade(DamCladeId)?.Kind == kind;
+        }
+        return CodexContent.Clade(CladeId)?.Kind == kind;
+    }
+
     /// <summary>"array" or "roll" — assignment method for ability scores.</summary>
     [Export] public string StatMethod  { get; set; } = "array";
     [Export] public Godot.Collections.Array<int> StatPool { get; set; }
@@ -48,16 +96,22 @@ public partial class CharacterDraft : Resource
             string k = (string)key;
             switch (k)
             {
-                case "clade_id":      CladeId = (string)patch[key]; break;
-                case "species_id":    SpeciesId = (string)patch[key]; break;
-                case "class_id":      ClassId = (string)patch[key]; break;
-                case "subclass_id":   SubclassId = (string)patch[key]; break;
-                case "background_id": BackgroundId = (string)patch[key]; break;
-                case "stat_method":   StatMethod = (string)patch[key]; break;
-                case "stat_pool":     StatPool = (Godot.Collections.Array<int>)patch[key]; break;
-                case "stat_assign":   StatAssign = (Godot.Collections.Dictionary)patch[key]; break;
-                case "chosen_skills": ChosenSkills = (Godot.Collections.Array<string>)patch[key]; break;
-                case "character_name":CharacterName = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "clade_id":         CladeId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "species_id":       SpeciesId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "class_id":         ClassId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "subclass_id":      SubclassId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "background_id":    BackgroundId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "stat_method":      StatMethod = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "stat_pool":        StatPool = (Godot.Collections.Array<int>)patch[key]; break;
+                case "stat_assign":      StatAssign = (Godot.Collections.Dictionary)patch[key]; break;
+                case "chosen_skills":    ChosenSkills = (Godot.Collections.Array<string>)patch[key]; break;
+                case "character_name":   CharacterName = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "is_hybrid":        IsHybrid = (bool)patch[key]; break;
+                case "sire_clade_id":    SireCladeId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "sire_species_id":  SireSpeciesId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "dam_clade_id":     DamCladeId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "dam_species_id":   DamSpeciesId = (string)patch[key]; break;
+                case "dominant_parent":  DominantParent = (string)patch[key]; break;
                 default:
                     GD.PushWarning($"[CharacterDraft] unknown patch key: {k}");
                     break;
diff --git a/Theriapolis.Godot/UI/WizardValidation.cs b/Theriapolis.Godot/UI/WizardValidation.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac48e89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Theriapolis.Godot/UI/WizardValidation.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+namespace Theriapolis.GodotHost.UI;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Per-step validation against a CharacterDraft. Mirrors <c>app.jsx</c>'s
+/// <c>validate(i)</c> exactly: returns null when step <c>i</c>'s
+/// requirements are met, or a short error message otherwise. Static so
+/// the Wizard can ask "is step N satisfied?" without instantiating each
+/// step's UI — needed to compute Locked/Pending states across the whole
+/// flow, not just the current step.
+///
+/// React prototype's app.jsx logic:
+///   firstIncomplete = STEPS.findIndex(j => validate(j));
+///   locked          = i > step && firstIncomplete !== -1 && firstIncomplete < i;
+///
+/// (i.e. a step is locked iff some EARLIER step fails its validator).
+/// </summary>
+public static class WizardValidation
+{
+    public static string? Validate(int step, CharacterDraft draft) => step switch
+    {
+        0 => ValidateClade(draft),
+        1 => ValidateSpecies(draft),
+        2 => string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.ClassId)      ? "Pick a calling."  : null,
+        3 => string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.SubclassId)   ? "Pick a subclass." : null,
+        4 => string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.BackgroundId) ? "Pick a history."  : null,
+        5 => draft.StatAssign.Count == 6
+            ? null
+            : $"Assign all six abilities ({draft.StatAssign.Count}/6).",
+        6 => ValidateSkills(draft),
+        7 => string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(draft.CharacterName) ? "Enter a name." : null,
+        _ => null,
+    };
+
+    private static string? ValidateClade(CharacterDraft draft)
+    {
+        if (draft.IsHybrid)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.SireCladeId)) return "Pick a sire clade.";
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.DamCladeId))  return "Pick a dam clade.";
+            if (draft.SireCladeId == draft.DamCladeId)
+                return "Sire and dam must be different clades.";
+            return null;
+        }
+        return string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.CladeId) ? "Pick a clade." : null;
+    }
+
+    private static string? ValidateSpecies(CharacterDraft draft)
+    {
+        if (draft.IsHybrid)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.SireSpeciesId)) return "Pick a sire species.";
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.DamSpeciesId))  return "Pick a dam species.";
+            return null;
+        }
+        return string.IsNullOrEmpty(draft.SpeciesId) ? "Pick a species." : null;
+    }
+
+    private static string? ValidateSkills(CharacterDraft draft)
+    {
+        var cls = CodexContent.Class(draft.ClassId);
+        int need = cls?.SkillsChoose ?? 0;
+        int got = draft.ChosenSkills.Count;
+        if (need == 0) return null;  // class has no skill picks (shouldn't happen, defensive)
+        if (got == need) return null;
+        return $"Pick {need} skill{(need == 1 ? "" : "s")} ({got}/{need}).";
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Index of the lowest step whose validator currently fails, or -1 when
+    /// every step is satisfied. The forward-lock rule is: a step <c>i</c>
+    /// after the current step is locked iff <c>FirstIncomplete &lt; i</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static int FirstIncomplete(CharacterDraft draft, int stepCount = 8)
+    {
+        for (int i = 0; i < stepCount; i++)
+            if (Validate(i, draft) is not null) return i;
+        return -1;
+    }
+}