diff --git a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
index b179a5a..64fd23f 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "spectre-marketplace",
   "metadata": {
-    "version": "1.2.1",
+    "version": "1.3.0",
     "description": "Spectre — deterministic spec-driven Claude Code plugin (vision → spec → evaluate → lock → implement → verify)."
   },
   "owner": {
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     {
       "name": "spectre",
       "description": "Three-tier pre-lock spec evaluator + persistence-tier classifier. /vision, /implement, and /implement auto skills with action/verification gates and auto-routed Spectre-finding capture.",
-      "version": "1.2.1",
+      "version": "1.3.0",
       "source": "./"
     }
   ]
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8d9940c..c51f8ca 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,52 @@
 
 All notable changes to the Spectre plugin.
 
+## v1.3.0 — 2026-05-16
+
+Minor release. Three coverage and prototype items addressing the gaps surfaced across two Vidence dogfood cycles plus a walker plumbing follow-up surfaced by the Wave 3 Opus aggregate review. No spec contract changes — v1.0/v1.1/v1.1.1/v1.2.0/v1.2.1 locked specs continue to validate.
+
+**Test count:** 1967 (v1.2.1) → 2003 (v1.3.0). +36 new tests, 0 regressions.
+
+### Added — exemplar catalog seeded for input-shape, output-shape, ipc-rpc (item 8, #86)
+
+- Six new exemplars under `docs/exemplars/`, two per view type:
+  - **input-shape:** `cli-argparse-shape.md` (POSIX §12 + GNU Coding Standards), `openapi-request-body.md` (OpenAPI 3.1 Request Body Object).
+  - **output-shape:** `json-rpc-response-2.0.md` (json-rpc.org 2.0 spec), `openapi-response-envelope.md` (OpenAPI 3.1 Response Object).
+  - **ipc-rpc:** `unix-socket-rpc.md` (POSIX bind(2), AF_UNIX SOCK_STREAM), `subprocess-rpc.md` (POSIX waitpid(2), stdin/stdout lifecycle).
+- Every convention in each exemplar traces to the cited `source-url`. No invented conventions.
+- Three new `axes.yml` files (input-shape, output-shape, ipc-rpc).
+- `bin/cross_view_gate.py::_VIEW_TO_CATALOG_TYPES` rerouted: §9 → `{input-shape}` (was placeholder `{help-text}`), §10 → `{output-shape}`, §12 → `{api-shape, ipc-rpc}`. Specs that previously deferred §9/§10 with the `no-compatible-exemplar` reason will now find compatible exemplars and tag deferrals as `operator-deferral` instead — the `excessive-post-ship-iteration` aggregate warn will fire for two-or-more deferrals as designed.
+- `bin/walker.py::_VIEW_TO_CATALOG_VIEW_TYPE` aligned: `product-input` → `input-shape`, `product-output` → `output-shape`. The walker's exemplar-suggestion path and the cross-view gate's validation path now query the same catalog. (Pre-fixup, the walker still recommended help-text exemplars for input-shape views.) The `input-exemplar-pi` concern prompt updated to reference `input-shape` instead of the v1.1 placeholder language.
+
+### Added — vocabulary partition fail-soft UX with block-severity firewall (item 9, #85)
+
+- `bin/substrate_wizard.py::_validate_view_trust_profile` contract changed from `raise WizardValidationError` to `return (profile, findings)`. Misplaced tokens (e.g. `untrusted-input` placed in §8.3 instead of §8.2) are **dropped from the returned profile** — the semantic firewall — and each emits one `block`-severity `trust-token-misplaced` finding whose `suggested_fix` names the correct destination view.
+- The lock still cannot complete while a misplaced-token finding exists; the partition's semantic guarantee holds. What changes is operator ergonomics: a structured, actionable finding replaces an opaque `ValueError`, the walker re-prompts inline with the right-section hint, and operators don't re-read docs to fix it.
+- New finding kind registered in `bin/findings.py::KNOWN_KINDS`. Glossary entry added to `docs/glossary.md`.
+- 7 new tests in `tests/test_substrate_wizard_partition_fail_soft.py` covering the tuple shape, the dropped-token invariant, the multi-token case, and the suggested-fix content.
+
+### Added — Layer 5 self-interrogation prototype (item 10, #87)
+
+- New module `bin/_layer5.py` containing `build_trace_record(...)` and `project_substitution_trace(...)` helpers. `SPECTRE_LAYER5=off` env var disables emission for token-cost A/B comparison.
+- `bin/walker.py` emits machine-parseable reasoning-trace records at two commit sites: walker concern-resolution (`record_answer`) and exemplar-binding (within `record_answer` when the answered concern is one of the six known exemplar-binding IDs). Skip when `len(prefab_options) <= 1` (no real choice). New `WalkState.layer5_trace: list[dict]` field; `persist` and `load` round-trip it.
+- `bin/eval_metadata.py::write_sidecar` accepts an optional `layer5_trace` kwarg and writes it under a new top-level `layer5_trace: list[dict]` key. `bin/spec_evaluator.py` threads the walker's trace records through to the sidecar.
+- Six-field schema per record (plus timestamp): `choice_point`, `step_or_concern_id`, `options_considered`, `selected`, `rationale`, `validation_anchor`, `source_anchor`. Two glossary entries added (`term:layer5-trace`, `term:layer5-choice-point`).
+- 20 new tests across `tests/test_layer5_walker_trace.py`, `tests/test_layer5_substitution_trace.py`, `tests/test_layer5_exemplar_trace.py`.
+
+### Surface bumps
+
+- `.claude-plugin/marketplace.json` 1.2.1 → 1.3.0 (both `metadata.version` and `plugins[0].version`)
+- README test-count badge: 1967 → 2003
+- README version badge: 1.2.1 → 1.3.0
+- `findings.Finding` `KNOWN_KINDS` gains `trust-token-misplaced`
+- `substrate_wizard._validate_view_trust_profile` returns `(list[str], list[Finding])` instead of raising
+- `eval_metadata.write_sidecar` gains optional `layer5_trace: list[dict] | None` kwarg
+- `walker.WalkState` gains `layer5_trace: list[dict]` field
+
+### Known follow-ups
+
+- The Layer 5 prototype lacks an explicit `walker.persist → walker.load` roundtrip test for `WalkState.layer5_trace`. The four-site wiring is correct by inspection and 20 tests cover the emission paths, but a focused state-roundtrip test will land as a small follow-up (v1.3.1 or earlier).
+
 ## v1.2.1 — 2026-05-15
 
 Defect-pack hotfix. Seven fixes addressing Tier-1 regex false-positives, walker stop-signal inconsistency, post-ship-iteration false-positive on zero-exemplar views, missing substitution evidence in the eval sidecar, and missing operator-mode flag on lock state. No spec contract changes — v1.0/v1.1/v1.1.1/v1.2.0 locked specs remain valid.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7cea738..4c6af83 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 > Spectre — a deterministic spec-driven Claude Code plugin. Vision → Spec → Evaluate → Lock → Implement → Verify, with three-tier pre-lock review and per-project resource locking.
 
-[![tests](https://img.shields.io/badge/tests-1967%20passing-brightgreen)](#tests) [![python](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.11%2B-blue)](#install) [![stdlib only](https://img.shields.io/badge/deps-stdlib%20only-blue)](#install) [![license](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-green)](LICENSE) [![version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-1.2.1-blue)](CHANGELOG.md)
+[![tests](https://img.shields.io/badge/tests-2003%20passing-brightgreen)](#tests) [![python](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.11%2B-blue)](#install) [![stdlib only](https://img.shields.io/badge/deps-stdlib%20only-blue)](#install) [![license](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-green)](LICENSE) [![version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-1.3.0-blue)](CHANGELOG.md)
 
 ## Table of Contents
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ Full vocabulary registry: [`docs/glossary.md`](docs/glossary.md) (75+ status cod
 
 Full reference — hooks, skills, spec step schema, sidecar format, layout, finding-kind taxonomy: [`docs/API.md`](docs/API.md).
 
-**v1.2 components** — plugin `1.2.1` ([`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](.claude-plugin/marketplace.json)), `EVALUATOR_VERSION = "1.0.0"` ([`bin/spec_evaluator.py`](bin/spec_evaluator.py)), `WALKER_VERSION = "1.0.0"` ([`bin/walker.py`](bin/walker.py)). Walker state files persisted under v0.9 are rejected on load; remove `state/.walk.json` and re-run `/vision` to migrate (hard cutover from v0.9; no migration tool).
+**v1.3 components** — plugin `1.3.0` ([`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](.claude-plugin/marketplace.json)), `EVALUATOR_VERSION = "1.0.0"` ([`bin/spec_evaluator.py`](bin/spec_evaluator.py)), `WALKER_VERSION = "1.0.0"` ([`bin/walker.py`](bin/walker.py)). Walker state files persisted under v0.9 are rejected on load; remove `state/.walk.json` and re-run `/vision` to migrate (hard cutover from v0.9; no migration tool).
 
 **`spectre` CLI surface** — top-level wrapper resolves `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}`, exports `PYTHONPATH`, dispatches to `python3 -m bin.<subcommand>`:
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Full reference — hooks, skills, spec step schema, sidecar format, layout, find
 ## Tests
 
 ```bash
-pytest tests/                  # 1967 tests, stdlib + pytest
+pytest tests/                  # 2003 tests, stdlib + pytest
 pytest tests/ -v               # verbose
 pytest tests/test_spec_evaluator.py -v   # single module
 ```
diff --git a/bin/walker.py b/bin/walker.py
index 463e42c..4ac249c 100644
--- a/bin/walker.py
+++ b/bin/walker.py
@@ -940,10 +940,10 @@ def generate_semantic_criteria_concern(
 # error-text), this map lists them in priority order; each concern that needs
 # exemplar options passes the specific view-type it's filtering against.
 _VIEW_TO_CATALOG_VIEW_TYPE: dict[str, str] = {
-    "product-input": "help-text",    # placeholder; input-shape lands in v1.1
-    "product-output": "help-text",   # placeholder; output-shape lands in v1.1
+    "product-input": "input-shape",
+    "product-output": "output-shape",
     "human-user": "help-text",       # error-text handled separately per concern
-    "integrator": "api-shape",
+    "integrator": "api-shape",       # ipc-rpc handled by cross_view_gate too
     "operator": "log-format",        # observability handled separately per concern
 }
 
@@ -1040,12 +1040,12 @@ def generate_product_input_concerns(
         ))
     if _view_in_scope(state, "product-input"):
         pi_fingerprint = state.answered.get("scope-product-input")
-        pi_options, _ = _exemplar_options_for(pi_fingerprint, "help-text")
+        pi_options, _ = _exemplar_options_for(pi_fingerprint, "input-shape")
         for cid, summary, opts in (
             ("input-source-pi", "Input source — stdin, file path, network protocol, env var? Name the wire format.", []),
             ("input-schema-pi", "Input validation schema — JSON Schema URL or inline, or 'none' if input is opaque bytes. Include the strictness level (strict | lenient | tolerant).", []),
             ("input-retry-pi", "Retry budget — how many retries on malformed input before the product rejects? '0' (fail fast) | '<int>' | 'unlimited'.", []),
-            ("input-exemplar-pi", "Exemplar binding — pick a catalog entry whose input-handling conventions match your product (run `spectre exemplars list --view-type help-text` for now; an input-shape view will surface in v1.1) or 'none' to skip exemplar-binding for this view.", pi_options),
+            ("input-exemplar-pi", "Exemplar binding — pick a catalog entry whose input-handling conventions match your product (run `spectre exemplars list --view-type input-shape`) or 'none' to skip exemplar-binding for this view.", pi_options),
         ):
             if cid not in existing:
                 new.append(Concern(