diff --git a/docs/visual-asset-prologue-exploration-report.md b/docs/visual-asset-prologue-exploration-report.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8712ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/visual-asset-prologue-exploration-report.md
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# Prologue exploration visual asset report
+
+Generated on 2026-07-26 with the built-in image generation workflow. These are
+original project assets; no commercial-game screenshot, logo, or third-party
+character artwork is included in the runtime files.
+
+## Runtime assets
+
+| Role | Project assets | Runtime format |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Zhuo village and militia camp | `src/assets/images/exploration/prologue-village.webp`, `prologue-militia-camp.webp` | 1920×1080 opaque WebP |
+| Exploration SD characters | `src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-*.webp` | 3072×768 transparent WebP sprite sheets |
+| Prologue NPC dialogue portraits | `src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-*-yellow-turban.webp`, `zou-jing-yellow-turban.webp` | 1254×1254 WebP |
+
+The two backgrounds reserve the exact top, right, and bottom HUD regions used
+by the 1920×1080 desktop layout. The playable portion was aligned to the
+existing collision and interaction coordinate system before export.
+
+Each exploration character sheet contains 192×192 frames: four direction rows
+(`south`, `east`, `north`, `west`) and sixteen columns per row (eight idle
+frames followed by eight walk frames). The SD characters are used only in
+exploration scenes; battle units retain their separate tactical sprites.
+
+## Final prompt set
+
+### Exploration backgrounds
+
+> Premium desktop historical-RPG exploration background, original
+> late-Eastern-Han settlement or militia camp, strict preservation of the
+> supplied road and landmark layout, elevated three-quarter orthographic
+> camera, rich painterly realistic materials, warm natural light, strong
+> small-character readability. No people, characters, text, UI, icons,
+> watermark, logo, modern objects, or copyrighted game screen.
+
+The village variant required the county office, tavern, recruiting hall,
+notice board, peach orchard, and north gate. The camp variant required the
+north gate, command tent, scout tent, sleeping tent, supply area, training
+area, and central fire.
+
+### Dialogue portraits
+
+> High-resolution realistic historical painting, late-Eastern-Han clothing,
+> warm dusty Yellow Turban-era palette, square face-and-shoulders composition
+> suitable for a dialogue window, natural skin and worn materials, original
+> identity distinct from the named heroes. No copied face, signature armor,
+> weapon, emblem, text, border, logo, watermark, or extra person.
+
+Role variants were a lean recruiting clerk, weathered middle-aged villager,
+practical quartermaster, disciplined local commander Zou Jing, and nervous
+young volunteer.
+
+### Exploration SD characters
+
+> Production game sprite turnaround for a desktop historical RPG. Create a
+> completely original 2.5-head-tall SD/chibi overworld character with a crisp
+> painterly cel-shaded silhouette. Exactly three equal vertical views:
+> front/south, right/east, back/north. Same identity, costume, scale, and
+> lighting in every view; full body and feet visible; neutral walking-ready
+> stance. Transparent or plain removable background. No floor, cast shadow,
+> scenery, grid, labels, text, logo, watermark, extra characters, duplicate
+> limbs, cropped body, or copyrighted game screen.
+
+The three hero turnarounds used this project's existing Yellow Turban-era
+portrait only as identity and palette reference. The recruiting clerk,
+villager, quartermaster, and Zou Jing then received dedicated turnarounds
+matched to their new dialogue portraits, so named characters no longer share
+one generic field sprite. The young volunteer uses the original militia
+infantry archetype. The west view is a mirrored side view, and restrained
+idle/walk motion frames were assembled from the turnarounds for consistent
+in-game scale.
+
+## Optimization and verification
+
+- Backgrounds are limited to 2 MiB each and 4 MiB combined.
+- SD sheets use transparent WebP and remain under 0.6 MiB each.
+- New NPC portraits were converted from generated PNG masters to high-quality
+  WebP, reducing the five-file total from about 11.6 MiB to about 1.3 MiB.
+- Static verifiers check background dimensions and opacity, sprite-sheet
+  dimensions and file coverage, and prologue speaker portrait coverage.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d0214b9..1f75340 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
     "verify:city-stays": "node scripts/verify-city-stay-data.mjs",
     "verify:city-stays:browser": "node scripts/verify-city-stay-browser.mjs",
     "verify:prologue-village": "node scripts/verify-prologue-village-data.mjs",
+    "verify:prologue-exploration-assets": "node scripts/verify-prologue-exploration-asset-data.mjs",
+    "verify:exploration-characters": "node scripts/verify-exploration-character-asset-data.mjs",
+    "verify:prologue-dialogue-portraits": "node scripts/verify-prologue-dialogue-portrait-data.mjs",
     "verify:prologue-village:browser": "node scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs",
     "verify:camp-skins": "node scripts/verify-camp-skin-data.mjs",
     "verify:camp-soundscapes": "node scripts/verify-camp-soundscape-data.mjs",
diff --git a/scripts/verify-exploration-character-asset-data.mjs b/scripts/verify-exploration-character-asset-data.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c10aff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/verify-exploration-character-asset-data.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { existsSync, readFileSync, readdirSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+const frameSize = 192;
+const idleFrames = 8;
+const walkFrames = 8;
+const directionCount = 4;
+const expectedWidth = frameSize * (idleFrames + walkFrames);
+const expectedHeight = frameSize * directionCount;
+const characterDirectory = join('src', 'assets', 'images', 'exploration', 'characters');
+const modulePath = join('src', 'game', 'data', 'explorationCharacterAssets.ts');
+const villageScenePath = join('src', 'game', 'scenes', 'PrologueVillageScene.ts');
+const militiaCampScenePath = join('src', 'game', 'scenes', 'PrologueMilitiaCampScene.ts');
+const expectedBaseMappings = {
+  'unit-liu-bei': 'exploration-liu-bei',
+  'unit-guan-yu': 'exploration-guan-yu',
+  'unit-zhang-fei': 'exploration-zhang-fei',
+  'unit-shu-officer': 'exploration-shu-officer',
+  'unit-shu-infantry': 'exploration-shu-infantry'
+};
+const expectedNamedTextureFallbacks = {
+  'exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk': 'unit-shu-officer',
+  'exploration-zhuo-villager': 'unit-shu-infantry',
+  'exploration-zhuo-quartermaster': 'unit-shu-officer',
+  'exploration-zou-jing': 'unit-shu-officer'
+};
+const expectedSceneNpcTextureKeys = [
+  {
+    scenePath: villageScenePath,
+    sceneLabel: 'prologue village',
+    mappingName: 'villageNpcTextureKeyById',
+    mappings: {
+      'recruiting-clerk': 'exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk',
+      'market-villager': 'exploration-zhuo-villager'
+    }
+  },
+  {
+    scenePath: militiaCampScenePath,
+    sceneLabel: 'prologue militia camp',
+    mappingName: 'campNpcTextureKeyById',
+    mappings: {
+      quartermaster: 'exploration-zhuo-quartermaster',
+      'zou-jing': 'exploration-zou-jing',
+      'nervous-volunteer': 'exploration-shu-infantry'
+    }
+  }
+];
+const expectedFiles = [
+  ...Object.values(expectedBaseMappings),
+  ...Object.keys(expectedNamedTextureFallbacks)
+]
+  .map((textureKey) => `${textureKey}.webp`)
+  .sort();
+
+assert(existsSync(modulePath), `Missing exploration character asset module: ${modulePath}`);
+const moduleSource = readFileSync(modulePath, 'utf8');
+assert.match(
+  moduleSource,
+  /import\.meta\.glob\(\s*['"]\.\.\/\.\.\/assets\/images\/exploration\/characters\/exploration-\*\.webp['"]/,
+  'Exploration character sheets must be collected through a static import.meta.glob.'
+);
+assert.match(
+  moduleSource,
+  /export const explorationCharacterFrameSize = 192;/,
+  'The exploration character frame size must remain 192px.'
+);
+assert.match(
+  moduleSource,
+  /export const explorationCharacterIdleFrameCount = 8;/,
+  'Each direction must retain eight idle frames.'
+);
+assert.match(
+  moduleSource,
+  /export const explorationCharacterWalkFrameCount = 8;/,
+  'Each direction must retain eight walk frames.'
+);
+assert.match(
+  moduleSource,
+  /export function ensureExplorationCharacterAnimations\(/,
+  'The module must expose exploration animation registration.'
+);
+assert.match(
+  moduleSource,
+  /export function releaseExplorationCharacterTextures\(/,
+  'The module must expose texture and animation cleanup.'
+);
+
+assert.deepEqual(
+  readStringMap(moduleSource, 'explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey'),
+  expectedBaseMappings,
+  'Exploration character unit-to-sheet mappings must exactly match the five reusable base sheets.'
+);
+assert.deepEqual(
+  readStringMap(moduleSource, 'explorationCharacterNamedTextureKeyFallbacks'),
+  expectedNamedTextureFallbacks,
+  'Exploration character named-sheet fallbacks must exactly match the four dedicated NPC sheets.'
+);
+
+expectedSceneNpcTextureKeys.forEach(({ scenePath, sceneLabel, mappingName, mappings }) => {
+  assert(existsSync(scenePath), `Missing ${sceneLabel} scene module: ${scenePath}`);
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    readStringMap(readFileSync(scenePath, 'utf8'), mappingName),
+    mappings,
+    `${sceneLabel} must select the expected exploration sheet for each overridden NPC id.`
+  );
+});
+
+assert(
+  existsSync(characterDirectory),
+  `Missing exploration character asset directory: ${characterDirectory}`
+);
+const deployedFiles = readdirSync(characterDirectory)
+  .filter((fileName) => /^exploration-.*\.webp$/i.test(fileName))
+  .sort();
+assert.deepEqual(
+  deployedFiles,
+  expectedFiles,
+  `Expected exactly the nine mapped exploration character sheets in ${characterDirectory}.`
+);
+
+deployedFiles.forEach((fileName) => {
+  const path = join(characterDirectory, fileName);
+  const dimensions = webpDimensions(path);
+  assert.equal(
+    dimensions.width,
+    expectedWidth,
+    `${path}: expected ${expectedWidth}px width for 16 frames per direction.`
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    dimensions.height,
+    expectedHeight,
+    `${path}: expected ${expectedHeight}px height for four direction rows.`
+  );
+});
+
+console.log(
+  `Verified ${deployedFiles.length} exploration character sheets and ` +
+    `${expectedSceneNpcTextureKeys.reduce((count, scene) => count + Object.keys(scene.mappings).length, 0)} ` +
+    `scene NPC mappings: ` +
+    `${frameSize}px frames, ${directionCount} directions, ${idleFrames} idle + ${walkFrames} walk frames.`
+);
+
+function readStringMap(source, mappingName) {
+  const escapedMappingName = mappingName.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&');
+  const mappingBlock = source.match(
+    new RegExp(
+      `(?:export\\s+)?const\\s+${escapedMappingName}\\s*=\\s*\\{([\\s\\S]*?)\\}\\s*as const`
+    )
+  );
+  assert(mappingBlock, `Could not read ${mappingName}.`);
+
+  const mappings = {};
+  for (const entry of mappingBlock[1].matchAll(/(?:['"]([^'"]+)['"]|([A-Za-z0-9_-]+))\s*:\s*['"]([^'"]+)['"]/g)) {
+    mappings[entry[1] ?? entry[2]] = entry[3];
+  }
+  return mappings;
+}
+
+function webpDimensions(path) {
+  const bytes = readFileSync(path);
+  assert(
+    bytes.subarray(0, 4).toString('ascii') === 'RIFF' &&
+      bytes.subarray(8, 12).toString('ascii') === 'WEBP',
+    `${path}: expected a WebP RIFF container.`
+  );
+
+  let offset = 12;
+  while (offset + 8 <= bytes.length) {
+    const chunkType = bytes.subarray(offset, offset + 4).toString('ascii');
+    const chunkSize = bytes.readUInt32LE(offset + 4);
+    const payloadOffset = offset + 8;
+    assert(
+      payloadOffset + chunkSize <= bytes.length,
+      `${path}: ${chunkType} chunk exceeds the WebP container.`
+    );
+
+    if (chunkType === 'VP8X') {
+      return {
+        width: bytes.readUIntLE(payloadOffset + 4, 3) + 1,
+        height: bytes.readUIntLE(payloadOffset + 7, 3) + 1
+      };
+    }
+    if (chunkType === 'VP8L') {
+      const bits = bytes.readUInt32LE(payloadOffset + 1);
+      return {
+        width: (bits & 0x3fff) + 1,
+        height: ((bits >>> 14) & 0x3fff) + 1
+      };
+    }
+    if (chunkType === 'VP8 ') {
+      return {
+        width: bytes.readUInt16LE(payloadOffset + 6) & 0x3fff,
+        height: bytes.readUInt16LE(payloadOffset + 8) & 0x3fff
+      };
+    }
+
+    offset = payloadOffset + chunkSize + (chunkSize % 2);
+  }
+
+  throw new Error(`${path}: could not read WebP dimensions.`);
+}
diff --git a/scripts/verify-prologue-dialogue-portrait-data.mjs b/scripts/verify-prologue-dialogue-portrait-data.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3fa14d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/verify-prologue-dialogue-portrait-data.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,331 @@
+import { existsSync, readFileSync, readdirSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { extname, join } from 'node:path';
+import { createServer } from 'vite';
+
+const portraitDirectory = join('src', 'assets', 'images', 'portraits');
+const minimumPortraitDimension = 1000;
+const dialogueFields = ['dialogue', 'lockedDialogue', 'repeatDialogue'];
+const excludedNonPersonSpeakers = new Set(['전황']);
+const expectedPersonPortraits = new Map([
+  ['유비', { portraitKey: 'liuBei', slug: 'liu-bei' }],
+  ['관우', { portraitKey: 'guanYu', slug: 'guan-yu' }],
+  ['장비', { portraitKey: 'zhangFei', slug: 'zhang-fei' }],
+  ['탁현 모병 관리', {
+    portraitKey: 'zhuoRecruitingClerk',
+    slug: 'zhuo-recruiting-clerk'
+  }],
+  ['탁현 주민', { portraitKey: 'zhuoVillager', slug: 'zhuo-villager' }],
+  ['의용군 군수관', {
+    portraitKey: 'zhuoQuartermaster',
+    slug: 'zhuo-quartermaster'
+  }],
+  ['추정', { portraitKey: 'zouJing', slug: 'zou-jing' }],
+  ['젊은 의병', {
+    portraitKey: 'zhuoYoungVolunteer',
+    slug: 'zhuo-young-volunteer'
+  }]
+]);
+const dialogueContexts = {
+  village: {
+    id: 'prologue-village-dialogue',
+    background: 'story-three-heroes'
+  },
+  camp: {
+    id: 'prologue-militia-camp-dialogue',
+    background: 'story-militia'
+  }
+};
+const failures = [];
+const server = await createServer({
+  logLevel: 'error',
+  server: { middlewareMode: true },
+  appType: 'custom'
+});
+
+try {
+  const village = await server.ssrLoadModule('/src/game/data/prologueVillage.ts');
+  const camp = await server.ssrLoadModule('/src/game/data/prologueMilitiaCamp.ts');
+  const portraits = await server.ssrLoadModule('/src/game/data/portraitAssets.ts');
+  const speakerLocations = new Map();
+
+  collectDialogueSpeakers(
+    village.prologueVillageNpcDefinitions,
+    'village',
+    speakerLocations
+  );
+  collectDialogueSpeakers(
+    camp.prologueMilitiaCampNpcDefinitions,
+    'camp',
+    speakerLocations
+  );
+
+  const observedSpeakers = new Set(speakerLocations.keys());
+  check(
+    observedSpeakers.has('전황'),
+    'the prologue dialogue data must retain at least one intentionally portrait-free "전황" line'
+  );
+  check(
+    portraits.portraitKeyForSpeaker('전황') === undefined,
+    '"전황" is narrative context, not a person, and must not be mapped in speakerPortraitKeys'
+  );
+
+  const personSpeakers = new Set(
+    [...observedSpeakers].filter((speaker) => !excludedNonPersonSpeakers.has(speaker))
+  );
+  checkSetEquals(
+    personSpeakers,
+    new Set(expectedPersonPortraits.keys()),
+    'actual prologue village/camp person speakers'
+  );
+
+  const filesBySlug = portraitFilesBySlug();
+  const verifiedFiles = new Map();
+
+  for (const [speaker, expected] of expectedPersonPortraits) {
+    const mappedPortraitKey = portraits.portraitKeyForSpeaker(speaker);
+    check(
+      mappedPortraitKey === expected.portraitKey,
+      `${speaker}: expected speakerPortraitKeys mapping "${expected.portraitKey}", ` +
+        `received ${formatValue(mappedPortraitKey)}`
+    );
+    if (mappedPortraitKey !== expected.portraitKey) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const mappedSlug = portraits.portraitSlugForKey(mappedPortraitKey);
+    check(
+      mappedSlug === expected.slug,
+      `${speaker}: expected portrait slug "${expected.slug}", received ${formatValue(mappedSlug)}`
+    );
+    if (mappedSlug !== expected.slug) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const locations = speakerLocations.get(speaker);
+    check(
+      locations instanceof Set && locations.size > 0,
+      `${speaker}: expected at least one real village or camp dialogue line`
+    );
+
+    for (const location of locations ?? []) {
+      const context = dialogueContexts[location];
+      const entries = portraits.portraitAssetEntriesForStoryContext(
+        mappedPortraitKey,
+        context
+      );
+      check(
+        entries.length > 0,
+        `${speaker}: no portrait asset is routed for the ${location} dialogue context`
+      );
+
+      for (const entry of entries) {
+        const assetSlug = entry.textureKey.replace(/^portrait-/, '');
+        const yellowTurbanSlug = `${expected.slug}-yellow-turban`;
+        check(
+          assetSlug === yellowTurbanSlug ||
+            new RegExp(`^${yellowTurbanSlug}-v[1-9]\\d*$`).test(assetSlug),
+          `${speaker}: ${location} dialogue must use the Yellow Turban-era portrait, ` +
+            `received "${assetSlug}"`
+        );
+        check(
+          Boolean(portraits.portraitAssets[assetSlug]),
+          `${speaker}: portrait slug "${assetSlug}" is absent from the portraitAssets glob`
+        );
+
+        const matchingFiles = filesBySlug.get(assetSlug) ?? [];
+        check(
+          matchingFiles.length > 0,
+          `${speaker}: missing PNG or WebP file for portrait slug "${assetSlug}"`
+        );
+        for (const fileName of matchingFiles) {
+          const assetPath = join(portraitDirectory, fileName);
+          if (verifiedFiles.has(assetPath)) {
+            continue;
+          }
+
+          try {
+            const dimensions = rasterDimensions(assetPath);
+            check(
+              dimensions.width >= minimumPortraitDimension &&
+                dimensions.height >= minimumPortraitDimension,
+              `${assetPath}: expected at least ${minimumPortraitDimension}x` +
+                `${minimumPortraitDimension}, received ${dimensions.width}x${dimensions.height}`
+            );
+            verifiedFiles.set(assetPath, dimensions);
+          } catch (error) {
+            failures.push(`${assetPath}: ${error.message}`);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (failures.length > 0) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Prologue dialogue portrait verification failed with ${failures.length} issue(s):\n` +
+        failures.map((failure) => `- ${failure}`).join('\n')
+    );
+  }
+
+  const formatCounts = [...verifiedFiles.keys()].reduce((counts, path) => {
+    const extension = extname(path).slice(1).toUpperCase();
+    counts.set(extension, (counts.get(extension) ?? 0) + 1);
+    return counts;
+  }, new Map());
+  const formatSummary = [...formatCounts]
+    .map(([format, count]) => `${count} ${format}`)
+    .join(', ');
+
+  console.log(
+    `Verified ${personSpeakers.size} prologue person speakers, ${verifiedFiles.size} ` +
+      `Yellow Turban-era portrait assets (${formatSummary}), minimum ` +
+      `${minimumPortraitDimension}x${minimumPortraitDimension}; "전황" remains intentionally excluded.`
+  );
+} finally {
+  await server.close();
+}
+
+function collectDialogueSpeakers(npcs, location, locationsBySpeaker) {
+  for (const npc of npcs) {
+    for (const field of dialogueFields) {
+      for (const line of npc[field] ?? []) {
+        if (typeof line.speaker !== 'string' || line.speaker.trim().length === 0) {
+          failures.push(`${location}/${npc.id}/${field}: dialogue speaker is missing`);
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        const speaker = line.speaker.trim();
+        const locations = locationsBySpeaker.get(speaker) ?? new Set();
+        locations.add(location);
+        locationsBySpeaker.set(speaker, locations);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function portraitFilesBySlug() {
+  const filesBySlug = new Map();
+  if (!existsSync(portraitDirectory)) {
+    failures.push(`missing portrait directory: ${portraitDirectory}`);
+    return filesBySlug;
+  }
+
+  for (const fileName of readdirSync(portraitDirectory)) {
+    if (!/\.(?:png|webp)$/i.test(fileName)) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const slug = fileName.replace(/\.(?:png|webp)$/i, '');
+    const files = filesBySlug.get(slug) ?? [];
+    files.push(fileName);
+    filesBySlug.set(slug, files);
+  }
+  return filesBySlug;
+}
+
+function rasterDimensions(path) {
+  const extension = extname(path).toLowerCase();
+  if (extension === '.png') {
+    return pngDimensions(path);
+  }
+  if (extension === '.webp') {
+    return webpDimensions(path);
+  }
+  throw new Error(`unsupported portrait format "${extension}"`);
+}
+
+function pngDimensions(path) {
+  const bytes = readFileSync(path);
+  const pngSignature = '89504e470d0a1a0a';
+  if (
+    bytes.length < 24 ||
+    bytes.subarray(0, 8).toString('hex') !== pngSignature ||
+    bytes.subarray(12, 16).toString('ascii') !== 'IHDR'
+  ) {
+    throw new Error('expected a PNG with a valid signature and IHDR chunk');
+  }
+
+  return {
+    width: bytes.readUInt32BE(16),
+    height: bytes.readUInt32BE(20)
+  };
+}
+
+function webpDimensions(path) {
+  const bytes = readFileSync(path);
+  if (
+    bytes.length < 20 ||
+    bytes.subarray(0, 4).toString('ascii') !== 'RIFF' ||
+    bytes.subarray(8, 12).toString('ascii') !== 'WEBP'
+  ) {
+    throw new Error('expected a WebP RIFF container');
+  }
+
+  let offset = 12;
+  while (offset + 8 <= bytes.length) {
+    const chunkType = bytes.subarray(offset, offset + 4).toString('ascii');
+    const chunkSize = bytes.readUInt32LE(offset + 4);
+    const payloadOffset = offset + 8;
+    const paddedChunkEnd = payloadOffset + chunkSize + (chunkSize % 2);
+    if (paddedChunkEnd > bytes.length) {
+      throw new Error(`"${chunkType}" chunk exceeds the WebP container`);
+    }
+
+    if (chunkType === 'VP8X') {
+      if (chunkSize < 10) {
+        throw new Error('VP8X chunk is too short to contain dimensions');
+      }
+      return {
+        width: bytes.readUIntLE(payloadOffset + 4, 3) + 1,
+        height: bytes.readUIntLE(payloadOffset + 7, 3) + 1
+      };
+    }
+    if (chunkType === 'VP8L') {
+      if (chunkSize < 5 || bytes[payloadOffset] !== 0x2f) {
+        throw new Error('invalid lossless VP8L payload');
+      }
+      const bits = bytes.readUInt32LE(payloadOffset + 1);
+      return {
+        width: (bits & 0x3fff) + 1,
+        height: ((bits >>> 14) & 0x3fff) + 1
+      };
+    }
+    if (chunkType === 'VP8 ') {
+      if (
+        chunkSize < 10 ||
+        bytes[payloadOffset + 3] !== 0x9d ||
+        bytes[payloadOffset + 4] !== 0x01 ||
+        bytes[payloadOffset + 5] !== 0x2a
+      ) {
+        throw new Error('invalid lossy VP8 payload');
+      }
+      return {
+        width: bytes.readUInt16LE(payloadOffset + 6) & 0x3fff,
+        height: bytes.readUInt16LE(payloadOffset + 8) & 0x3fff
+      };
+    }
+
+    offset = paddedChunkEnd;
+  }
+
+  throw new Error('could not read WebP dimensions');
+}
+
+function checkSetEquals(actual, expected, label) {
+  const missing = [...expected].filter((value) => !actual.has(value));
+  const unexpected = [...actual].filter((value) => !expected.has(value));
+  check(
+    missing.length === 0 && unexpected.length === 0,
+    `${label}: missing [${missing.join(', ')}], unexpected [${unexpected.join(', ')}]`
+  );
+}
+
+function check(condition, message) {
+  if (!condition) {
+    failures.push(message);
+  }
+}
+
+function formatValue(value) {
+  return value === undefined ? 'undefined' : `"${value}"`;
+}
diff --git a/scripts/verify-prologue-exploration-asset-data.mjs b/scripts/verify-prologue-exploration-asset-data.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91ea6a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/verify-prologue-exploration-asset-data.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+import { readdirSync, readFileSync, statSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+const explorationAssetDirectory = join('src', 'assets', 'images', 'exploration');
+const expectedAssets = [
+  'prologue-village.webp',
+  'prologue-militia-camp.webp'
+];
+const expectedWidth = 1920;
+const expectedHeight = 1080;
+const maximumAssetBytes = 2 * 1024 * 1024;
+const maximumTotalBytes = 4 * 1024 * 1024;
+const rasterAssetPattern = /\.(?:avif|jpe?g|png|webp)$/i;
+const errors = [];
+let totalBytes = 0;
+
+validateDirectoryCoverage(errors);
+
+for (const fileName of expectedAssets) {
+  const path = join(explorationAssetDirectory, fileName);
+  const inspection = inspectWebpAsset(errors, path, fileName);
+  if (!inspection) {
+    continue;
+  }
+
+  totalBytes += inspection.size;
+
+  if (inspection.size > maximumAssetBytes) {
+    errors.push(
+      `${path}: ${formatBytes(inspection.size)} exceeds the per-background limit of ` +
+        `${formatBytes(maximumAssetBytes)}`
+    );
+  }
+  if (inspection.width !== expectedWidth || inspection.height !== expectedHeight) {
+    errors.push(
+      `${path}: expected ${expectedWidth}x${expectedHeight}, got ` +
+        `${inspection.width}x${inspection.height}`
+    );
+  }
+  if (inspection.hasAlpha) {
+    errors.push(`${path}: exploration backgrounds must be opaque WebP images without alpha`);
+  }
+  if (inspection.animated) {
+    errors.push(`${path}: exploration backgrounds must be static WebP images`);
+  }
+}
+
+if (totalBytes > maximumTotalBytes) {
+  errors.push(
+    `${explorationAssetDirectory}: combined background size ${formatBytes(totalBytes)} exceeds ` +
+      `${formatBytes(maximumTotalBytes)}`
+  );
+}
+
+if (errors.length > 0) {
+  console.error(`Prologue exploration asset verification failed with ${errors.length} issue(s):`);
+  errors.forEach((error) => console.error(`- ${error}`));
+  process.exitCode = 1;
+} else {
+  console.log(
+    `Verified ${expectedAssets.length} opaque ${expectedWidth}x${expectedHeight} exploration ` +
+      `WebP backgrounds (${formatBytes(totalBytes)} total; ${formatBytes(maximumAssetBytes)} ` +
+      `per-file / ${formatBytes(maximumTotalBytes)} combined limits).`
+  );
+}
+
+function validateDirectoryCoverage(validationErrors) {
+  let entries;
+  try {
+    entries = readdirSync(explorationAssetDirectory, { withFileTypes: true });
+  } catch (error) {
+    validationErrors.push(
+      `${explorationAssetDirectory}: cannot read exploration asset directory: ${error.message}`
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const actualRasterFiles = entries
+    .filter((entry) => entry.isFile() && rasterAssetPattern.test(entry.name))
+    .map((entry) => entry.name)
+    .sort();
+  const expectedRasterFiles = [...expectedAssets].sort();
+
+  for (const fileName of expectedRasterFiles) {
+    if (!actualRasterFiles.includes(fileName)) {
+      validationErrors.push(`${explorationAssetDirectory}: missing required asset "${fileName}"`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const fileName of actualRasterFiles) {
+    if (!expectedRasterFiles.includes(fileName)) {
+      validationErrors.push(
+        `${explorationAssetDirectory}: unexpected raster asset "${fileName}"; ` +
+          `only the two optimized runtime WebP backgrounds should be tracked here`
+      );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function inspectWebpAsset(validationErrors, path, label) {
+  let bytes;
+  let stats;
+  try {
+    bytes = readFileSync(path);
+    stats = statSync(path);
+  } catch (error) {
+    validationErrors.push(`${path}: cannot read ${label}: ${error.message}`);
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  if (!stats.isFile()) {
+    validationErrors.push(`${path}: expected a regular WebP file`);
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  if (bytes.length < 20) {
+    validationErrors.push(`${path}: file is too small to be a valid WebP image`);
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  if (
+    bytes.subarray(0, 4).toString('ascii') !== 'RIFF' ||
+    bytes.subarray(8, 12).toString('ascii') !== 'WEBP'
+  ) {
+    validationErrors.push(`${path}: missing the WebP RIFF header`);
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  const declaredLength = bytes.readUInt32LE(4) + 8;
+  if (declaredLength !== bytes.length) {
+    validationErrors.push(
+      `${path}: RIFF container declares ${declaredLength} bytes, file contains ${bytes.length}`
+    );
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  let dimensions;
+  let hasAlpha = false;
+  let animated = false;
+  let foundImagePayload = false;
+  let offset = 12;
+
+  while (offset + 8 <= bytes.length) {
+    const chunkType = bytes.subarray(offset, offset + 4).toString('ascii');
+    const chunkSize = bytes.readUInt32LE(offset + 4);
+    const dataOffset = offset + 8;
+    const paddedChunkEnd = dataOffset + chunkSize + (chunkSize % 2);
+
+    if (dataOffset + chunkSize > bytes.length || paddedChunkEnd > bytes.length) {
+      validationErrors.push(`${path}: "${chunkType}" chunk exceeds the RIFF container`);
+      return undefined;
+    }
+
+    if (chunkType === 'VP8X') {
+      if (chunkSize < 10) {
+        validationErrors.push(`${path}: VP8X chunk is too short`);
+        return undefined;
+      }
+      const featureFlags = bytes[dataOffset];
+      dimensions = {
+        width: readUInt24LE(bytes, dataOffset + 4) + 1,
+        height: readUInt24LE(bytes, dataOffset + 7) + 1
+      };
+      hasAlpha ||= (featureFlags & 0x10) !== 0;
+      animated ||= (featureFlags & 0x02) !== 0;
+    } else if (chunkType === 'VP8 ') {
+      if (
+        chunkSize < 10 ||
+        bytes[dataOffset + 3] !== 0x9d ||
+        bytes[dataOffset + 4] !== 0x01 ||
+        bytes[dataOffset + 5] !== 0x2a
+      ) {
+        validationErrors.push(`${path}: invalid lossy VP8 image payload`);
+        return undefined;
+      }
+      dimensions ??= {
+        width: bytes.readUInt16LE(dataOffset + 6) & 0x3fff,
+        height: bytes.readUInt16LE(dataOffset + 8) & 0x3fff
+      };
+      foundImagePayload = true;
+    } else if (chunkType === 'VP8L') {
+      if (chunkSize < 5 || bytes[dataOffset] !== 0x2f) {
+        validationErrors.push(`${path}: invalid lossless VP8L image payload`);
+        return undefined;
+      }
+      const losslessHeader = bytes.readUInt32LE(dataOffset + 1);
+      dimensions ??= {
+        width: (losslessHeader & 0x3fff) + 1,
+        height: ((losslessHeader >>> 14) & 0x3fff) + 1
+      };
+      hasAlpha ||= (losslessHeader & 0x10000000) !== 0;
+      foundImagePayload = true;
+    } else if (chunkType === 'ALPH') {
+      hasAlpha = true;
+    } else if (chunkType === 'ANIM' || chunkType === 'ANMF') {
+      animated = true;
+    }
+
+    offset = paddedChunkEnd;
+  }
+
+  if (offset !== bytes.length) {
+    validationErrors.push(`${path}: RIFF container has an incomplete trailing chunk header`);
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  if (!dimensions || !foundImagePayload) {
+    validationErrors.push(`${path}: WebP dimensions or image payload could not be read`);
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  return {
+    size: stats.size,
+    width: dimensions.width,
+    height: dimensions.height,
+    hasAlpha,
+    animated
+  };
+}
+
+function readUInt24LE(bytes, offset) {
+  return bytes[offset] | (bytes[offset + 1] << 8) | (bytes[offset + 2] << 16);
+}
+
+function formatBytes(bytes) {
+  return `${(bytes / (1024 * 1024)).toFixed(2)} MiB`;
+}
diff --git a/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs b/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs
index 84a9a41..41f2c10 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs
+++ b/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs
@@ -58,7 +58,25 @@ try {
   await page.waitForTimeout(380);
   let village = await readVillage(page);
   assert.equal(village.campaignStep, 'prologue-town');
+  assertExplorationBackground(village.background, 'prologue-village-background');
   assert.equal(village.requiredTexturesReady, true);
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    village.requiredTextures.map(({ key, ready }) => ({ key, ready })),
+    [
+      { key: 'exploration-liu-bei', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-guan-yu', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-zhang-fei', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-zhuo-villager', ready: true }
+    ]
+  );
+  assert.equal(village.player.textureKey, 'exploration-liu-bei');
+  assertNpcTextureKeys(village.npcs, {
+    'zhang-fei': 'exploration-zhang-fei',
+    'guan-yu': 'exploration-guan-yu',
+    'recruiting-clerk': 'exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk',
+    'market-villager': 'exploration-zhuo-villager'
+  }, 'prologue village');
   assert.equal(village.viewport.width, desktopBrowserViewport.width);
   assert.equal(village.viewport.height, desktopBrowserViewport.height);
   assert.equal(village.movement.speed, 300);
@@ -68,6 +86,8 @@ try {
   assert.equal(village.completedObjectiveIds.length, 0);
   assert.equal(village.exitUnlocked, false);
   assert.equal(village.dialogue.active, true, 'The first visit should open one short Liu Bei orientation line.');
+  assert.equal(village.dialogue.portraitVisible, true);
+  assert.equal(village.dialogue.portraitTextureKey, 'portrait-liu-bei-yellow-turban');
   assertBoundsInsideViewport(village.player.bounds, 'initial player');
   village.npcs.forEach((npc) => assertBoundsInsideViewport(npc.bounds, `NPC ${npc.id}`));
 
@@ -100,6 +120,11 @@ try {
   await page.waitForFunction(() => (
     window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === 'guan-yu'
   ));
+  assert.equal(
+    (await readVillage(page)).dialogue.portraitVisible,
+    false,
+    'Narrative context should not impersonate a character portrait.'
+  );
   assert.equal(
     (await readVillage(page)).dialogue.totalLines,
     1,
@@ -114,6 +139,14 @@ try {
   await teleportTo(page, 'zhang-fei');
   await page.keyboard.press('e');
   await page.waitForFunction(() => window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === 'zhang-fei');
+  assert.equal((await readVillage(page)).dialogue.portraitVisible, false);
+  await page.mouse.click(960, 850);
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => (
+    window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.speaker === '장비'
+  ));
+  const zhangDialogue = await readVillage(page);
+  assert.equal(zhangDialogue.dialogue.portraitVisible, true);
+  assert.equal(zhangDialogue.dialogue.portraitTextureKey, 'portrait-zhang-fei-yellow-turban');
   await captureStableScreenshot(page, 'dist/verification-prologue-village-active-dialogue.png');
   const dialoguePlayerBefore = (await readVillage(page)).player;
   await page.keyboard.down('ArrowRight');
@@ -129,6 +162,18 @@ try {
   village = await readVillage(page);
   assert(village.completedObjectiveIds.includes('meet-zhang-fei'));
   assert.equal(village.exitUnlocked, false);
+  const walkingZhangFei = villageNpc(village, 'zhang-fei');
+  assert.equal(walkingZhangFei.moving, true, 'Zhang Fei should visibly walk toward the tavern after joining.');
+  assert.match(walkingZhangFei.animationKey, /exploration-zhang-fei-walk-/);
+  assert(
+    walkingZhangFei.x > 360 && walkingZhangFei.x < 1000,
+    `Zhang Fei should move progressively instead of teleporting: ${JSON.stringify(walkingZhangFei)}`
+  );
+  await waitForVillageNpcPosition(page, 'zhang-fei', { x: 1000, y: 540 });
+  village = await readVillage(page);
+  const tavernZhangFei = villageNpc(village, 'zhang-fei');
+  assert.equal(tavernZhangFei.moving, false);
+  assert.equal(tavernZhangFei.animationKey, 'exploration-zhang-fei-idle-east');
   await captureStableScreenshot(page, 'dist/verification-prologue-village-dialogue.png');
 
   await teleportTo(page, 'make-oath');
@@ -149,12 +194,17 @@ try {
   village = await readVillage(page);
   assert(village.completedObjectiveIds.includes('meet-zhang-fei'), 'A completed NPC goal must survive reload and Continue.');
   assert.equal(village.dialogue.active, false, 'The one-time orientation line must not replay on Continue.');
+  assertNpcPosition(village, 'zhang-fei', { x: 1000, y: 540 }, 'restored Zhang Fei');
 
   await teleportTo(page, 'recruiting-clerk');
   await page.keyboard.press('e');
   await page.waitForFunction(() => (
     window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === 'recruiting-clerk'
   ));
+  assert.equal(
+    (await readVillage(page)).dialogue.portraitTextureKey,
+    'portrait-zhuo-recruiting-clerk-yellow-turban'
+  );
   assert.equal(
     (await readVillage(page)).dialogue.totalLines,
     1,
@@ -166,14 +216,38 @@ try {
     'A locked recruiting interaction must not complete its objective.'
   );
 
-  for (const npcId of ['guan-yu', 'recruiting-clerk']) {
-    await teleportTo(page, npcId);
-    await page.keyboard.press('e');
-    await page.waitForFunction((expectedNpcId) => (
-      window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === expectedNpcId
-    ), npcId);
-    await advanceDialogueUntilClosed(page);
-  }
+  await teleportTo(page, 'guan-yu');
+  await page.keyboard.press('e');
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => (
+    window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === 'guan-yu'
+  ));
+  await advanceDialogueUntilClosed(page);
+  village = await readVillage(page);
+  const walkingGuanYu = villageNpc(village, 'guan-yu');
+  const walkingZhangToRecruitment = villageNpc(village, 'zhang-fei');
+  assert.equal(walkingGuanYu.moving, true, 'Guan Yu should walk toward the recruiting office after joining.');
+  assert.equal(walkingZhangToRecruitment.moving, true, 'Zhang Fei should accompany Guan Yu toward registration.');
+  assert.match(walkingGuanYu.animationKey, /exploration-guan-yu-walk-/);
+  assert.match(walkingZhangToRecruitment.animationKey, /exploration-zhang-fei-walk-/);
+  assert(
+    walkingGuanYu.x < 1110 && walkingGuanYu.x > 850,
+    `Guan Yu should move progressively instead of teleporting: ${JSON.stringify(walkingGuanYu)}`
+  );
+  assert(
+    walkingZhangToRecruitment.y > 540 && walkingZhangToRecruitment.y < 805,
+    `Zhang Fei should move progressively toward registration: ${JSON.stringify(walkingZhangToRecruitment)}`
+  );
+  await waitForVillageNarrativeMovement(page);
+  village = await readVillage(page);
+  assertNpcPosition(village, 'guan-yu', { x: 850, y: 655 }, 'recruitment Guan Yu');
+  assertNpcPosition(village, 'zhang-fei', { x: 810, y: 805 }, 'recruitment Zhang Fei');
+
+  await teleportTo(page, 'recruiting-clerk');
+  await page.keyboard.press('e');
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => (
+    window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === 'recruiting-clerk'
+  ));
+  await advanceDialogueUntilClosed(page);
 
   village = await readVillage(page);
   assert.deepEqual(
@@ -182,12 +256,32 @@ try {
   );
   assert.equal(village.exitUnlocked, true);
   assert.equal(village.oath.visible, true);
+  const walkingGuanToOath = villageNpc(village, 'guan-yu');
+  const walkingZhangToOath = villageNpc(village, 'zhang-fei');
+  assert.equal(walkingGuanToOath.moving, true, 'Guan Yu should walk to the oath grove after registration.');
+  assert.equal(walkingZhangToOath.moving, true, 'Zhang Fei should walk to the oath grove after registration.');
+  assert.match(walkingGuanToOath.animationKey, /exploration-guan-yu-walk-/);
+  assert.match(walkingZhangToOath.animationKey, /exploration-zhang-fei-walk-/);
+  await waitForVillageNarrativeMovement(page);
+  village = await readVillage(page);
+  assertNpcPosition(village, 'guan-yu', { x: 676, y: 437 }, 'oath Guan Yu');
+  assertNpcPosition(village, 'zhang-fei', { x: 884, y: 437 }, 'oath Zhang Fei');
   await captureStableScreenshot(page, 'dist/verification-prologue-village-ready.png');
 
   await teleportTo(page, 'make-oath');
+  const oathPlayerBefore = (await readVillage(page)).player;
   await page.keyboard.press('e');
   await page.waitForFunction(() => window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === 'make-oath');
-  assert.equal((await readVillage(page)).dialogue.totalLines, 4);
+  const oathDialogue = await readVillage(page);
+  assert.equal(oathDialogue.dialogue.totalLines, 4);
+  assert(
+    Math.abs(oathDialogue.player.x - oathPlayerBefore.x) < 1 &&
+      Math.abs(oathDialogue.player.y - oathPlayerBefore.y) < 1,
+    `Starting the oath should not teleport Liu Bei: ${JSON.stringify({
+      before: oathPlayerBefore,
+      after: oathDialogue.player
+    })}`
+  );
   await advanceDialogueUntilClosed(page);
   await waitForStoryReady(page);
 
@@ -212,7 +306,27 @@ try {
 
   let militiaCamp = await readMilitiaCamp(page);
   assert.equal(militiaCamp.campaignStep, 'prologue-camp');
+  assertExplorationBackground(militiaCamp.background, 'prologue-militia-camp-background');
   assert.equal(militiaCamp.requiredTexturesReady, true);
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    militiaCamp.requiredTextures.map(({ key, ready }) => ({ key, ready })),
+    [
+      { key: 'exploration-liu-bei', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-guan-yu', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-zhang-fei', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-zhuo-quartermaster', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-zou-jing', ready: true },
+      { key: 'exploration-shu-infantry', ready: true }
+    ]
+  );
+  assert.equal(militiaCamp.player.textureKey, 'exploration-liu-bei');
+  assertNpcTextureKeys(militiaCamp.npcs, {
+    'guan-yu': 'exploration-guan-yu',
+    'zhang-fei': 'exploration-zhang-fei',
+    quartermaster: 'exploration-zhuo-quartermaster',
+    'zou-jing': 'exploration-zou-jing',
+    'nervous-volunteer': 'exploration-shu-infantry'
+  }, 'prologue militia camp');
   assert.equal(militiaCamp.viewport.width, desktopBrowserViewport.width);
   assert.equal(militiaCamp.viewport.height, desktopBrowserViewport.height);
   assert.equal(militiaCamp.movement.speed, 300);
@@ -226,6 +340,8 @@ try {
     true,
     'The first camp visit should explain why Liu Bei must inspect the camp.'
   );
+  assert.equal(militiaCamp.dialogue.portraitVisible, true);
+  assert.equal(militiaCamp.dialogue.portraitTextureKey, 'portrait-liu-bei-yellow-turban');
   assertBoundsInsideViewport(militiaCamp.player.bounds, 'initial militia camp player');
   assertBoundsInsideViewport(militiaCamp.dialogue.bounds, 'initial militia camp dialogue');
   militiaCamp.npcs.forEach((npc) => assertBoundsInsideViewport(npc.bounds, `camp NPC ${npc.id}`));
@@ -269,6 +385,10 @@ try {
   await page.waitForFunction(() => (
     window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.militiaCamp?.()?.dialogue?.sourceNpcId === 'quartermaster'
   ));
+  assert.equal(
+    (await readMilitiaCamp(page)).dialogue.portraitTextureKey,
+    'portrait-zhuo-quartermaster-yellow-turban'
+  );
   const campDialoguePlayerBefore = (await readMilitiaCamp(page)).player;
   assertBoundsInsideViewport(
     (await readMilitiaCamp(page)).dialogue.bounds,
@@ -334,6 +454,7 @@ try {
   ));
   const commandCamp = await readMilitiaCamp(page);
   assert.equal(commandCamp.dialogue.totalLines, 5);
+  assert.equal(commandCamp.dialogue.portraitTextureKey, 'portrait-zou-jing-yellow-turban');
   assert.deepEqual(
     commandCamp.npcs
       .filter((npc) => ['guan-yu', 'zhang-fei'].includes(npc.id))
@@ -526,6 +647,41 @@ async function interactWithMilitiaCampNpc(page, npcId) {
   await advanceMilitiaCampDialogueUntilClosed(page);
 }
 
+function villageNpc(village, npcId) {
+  const npc = village?.npcs?.find((entry) => entry.id === npcId);
+  assert(npc, `Expected village NPC ${npcId}: ${JSON.stringify(village?.npcs)}`);
+  return npc;
+}
+
+function assertNpcPosition(village, npcId, expected, label) {
+  const npc = villageNpc(village, npcId);
+  assert(
+    Math.abs(npc.x - expected.x) <= 1 && Math.abs(npc.y - expected.y) <= 1,
+    `${label}: expected ${JSON.stringify(expected)}, received ${JSON.stringify(npc)}`
+  );
+  assert.equal(npc.moving, false, `${label} should be idle after reaching the narrative position.`);
+}
+
+async function waitForVillageNpcPosition(page, npcId, expected) {
+  await page.waitForFunction(({ id, x, y }) => {
+    const village = window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.();
+    const npc = village?.npcs?.find((entry) => entry.id === id);
+    return Boolean(
+      npc &&
+      npc.moving === false &&
+      Math.abs(npc.x - x) <= 1 &&
+      Math.abs(npc.y - y) <= 1
+    );
+  }, { id: npcId, ...expected }, { timeout: 6000 });
+}
+
+async function waitForVillageNarrativeMovement(page) {
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+    const movement = window.__HEROS_DEBUG__?.village?.()?.narrativeMovement;
+    return movement && movement.movingNpcIds.length === 0 && movement.oathGatherPending === false;
+  }, undefined, { timeout: 6000 });
+}
+
 async function advanceDialogueUntilClosed(page) {
   for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 12; attempt += 1) {
     const active = (await readVillage(page))?.dialogue?.active;
@@ -634,6 +790,37 @@ function assertBoundsInsideViewport(bounds, label) {
   );
 }
 
+function assertNpcTextureKeys(npcs, expectedTextureKeyByNpcId, sceneLabel) {
+  assert(Array.isArray(npcs), `${sceneLabel}: expected an NPC debug-state array.`);
+  const actualMappings = npcs
+    .map(({ id, textureKey }) => ({ id, textureKey }))
+    .sort((left, right) => left.id.localeCompare(right.id));
+  const expectedMappings = Object.entries(expectedTextureKeyByNpcId)
+    .map(([id, textureKey]) => ({ id, textureKey }))
+    .sort((left, right) => left.id.localeCompare(right.id));
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    actualMappings,
+    expectedMappings,
+    `${sceneLabel}: every named NPC must render with its assigned exploration texture.`
+  );
+}
+
+function assertExplorationBackground(background, expectedKey) {
+  assert(background, `Expected ${expectedKey} debug state.`);
+  assert.equal(background.key, expectedKey);
+  assert.equal(background.ready, true);
+  assert.equal(background.fallback, false);
+  assert.equal(background.sourceWidth, desktopBrowserViewport.width);
+  assert.equal(background.sourceHeight, desktopBrowserViewport.height);
+  assert.equal(background.objectCount, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(background.bounds, {
+    x: 0,
+    y: 0,
+    width: desktopBrowserViewport.width,
+    height: desktopBrowserViewport.height
+  });
+}
+
 async function captureStableScreenshot(page, path) {
   await page.waitForTimeout(220);
   const loopSlept = await page.evaluate(() => {
diff --git a/scripts/verify-static-data.mjs b/scripts/verify-static-data.mjs
index 0994c95..4ab3f17 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-static-data.mjs
+++ b/scripts/verify-static-data.mjs
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ const checks = [
   'scripts/verify-camp-reward-data.mjs',
   'scripts/verify-city-stay-data.mjs',
   'scripts/verify-prologue-village-data.mjs',
+  'scripts/verify-prologue-exploration-asset-data.mjs',
+  'scripts/verify-exploration-character-asset-data.mjs',
+  'scripts/verify-prologue-dialogue-portrait-data.mjs',
   'scripts/verify-victory-reward-acknowledgements.mjs',
   'scripts/verify-camp-skin-data.mjs',
   'scripts/verify-camp-soundscape-data.mjs',
diff --git a/scripts/verify-story-image-asset-data.mjs b/scripts/verify-story-image-asset-data.mjs
index 0fe82a3..af9016c 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-story-image-asset-data.mjs
+++ b/scripts/verify-story-image-asset-data.mjs
@@ -117,11 +117,22 @@ function validateStoryManifestKeys(errors, storyBackgroundAssets, sourceKeys, al
 
 function validatePortraitImages(errors, portraitAssets) {
   const slugs = new Set();
-  for (const fileName of imageFiles(portraitDir)) {
-    const path = join(portraitDir, fileName);
-    validatePngFile(errors, path, expectedPortraitSize, 'portrait');
+  const files = assetFiles(portraitDir, /\.(?:png|webp)$/i);
+  const unexpectedFiles = assetFiles(portraitDir, /./)
+    .filter((fileName) => !/\.(?:png|webp)$/i.test(fileName));
+  unexpectedFiles.forEach((fileName) => {
+    errors.push(`${join(portraitDir, fileName)}: portraits must use PNG or WebP`);
+  });
 
-    const slug = fileName.replace(/\.png$/i, '');
+  for (const fileName of files) {
+    const path = join(portraitDir, fileName);
+    if (/\.webp$/i.test(fileName)) {
+      validateWebpFile(errors, path, expectedPortraitSize, 'portrait');
+    } else {
+      validatePngFile(errors, path, expectedPortraitSize, 'portrait');
+    }
+
+    const slug = fileName.replace(/\.(?:png|webp)$/i, '');
     slugs.add(slug);
     if (!portraitAssets[slug]) {
       errors.push(`${path}: expected portraitAssets slug "${slug}"`);
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-guan-yu.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-guan-yu.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79330b0
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-guan-yu.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-liu-bei.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-liu-bei.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b0c8df
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-liu-bei.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-shu-infantry.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-shu-infantry.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3f0952
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-shu-infantry.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-shu-officer.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-shu-officer.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..367254a
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-shu-officer.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhang-fei.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhang-fei.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..507e41f
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhang-fei.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-quartermaster.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-quartermaster.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5a839f
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-quartermaster.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39e8750
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-villager.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-villager.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47d4733
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zhuo-villager.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zou-jing.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zou-jing.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..090bdeb
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-zou-jing.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/prologue-militia-camp.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/prologue-militia-camp.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff29e4e
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/prologue-militia-camp.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/exploration/prologue-village.webp b/src/assets/images/exploration/prologue-village.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b690563
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/exploration/prologue-village.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-quartermaster-yellow-turban.webp b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-quartermaster-yellow-turban.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67d0eab
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-quartermaster-yellow-turban.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-recruiting-clerk-yellow-turban.webp b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-recruiting-clerk-yellow-turban.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dfbcf67
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-recruiting-clerk-yellow-turban.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-villager-yellow-turban.webp b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-villager-yellow-turban.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13f4062
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-villager-yellow-turban.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-young-volunteer-yellow-turban.webp b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-young-volunteer-yellow-turban.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df6e8a1
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/portraits/zhuo-young-volunteer-yellow-turban.webp differ
diff --git a/src/assets/images/portraits/zou-jing-yellow-turban.webp b/src/assets/images/portraits/zou-jing-yellow-turban.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4bd6798
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/assets/images/portraits/zou-jing-yellow-turban.webp differ
diff --git a/src/game/data/explorationCharacterAssets.ts b/src/game/data/explorationCharacterAssets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae28ddb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/data/explorationCharacterAssets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,296 @@
+import type Phaser from 'phaser';
+import { releaseTextureSource } from '../render/loaderLifecycle';
+
+export type ExplorationCharacterDirection = 'south' | 'east' | 'north' | 'west';
+export type ExplorationCharacterMotion = 'idle' | 'walk';
+
+export const explorationCharacterFrameSize = 192;
+export const explorationCharacterIdleFrameCount = 8;
+export const explorationCharacterWalkFrameCount = 8;
+export const explorationCharacterFramesPerDirection =
+  explorationCharacterIdleFrameCount + explorationCharacterWalkFrameCount;
+
+export const explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey = {
+  'unit-liu-bei': 'exploration-liu-bei',
+  'unit-guan-yu': 'exploration-guan-yu',
+  'unit-zhang-fei': 'exploration-zhang-fei',
+  'unit-shu-officer': 'exploration-shu-officer',
+  'unit-shu-infantry': 'exploration-shu-infantry'
+} as const;
+
+export const explorationCharacterNamedTextureKeyFallbacks = {
+  'exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk': 'unit-shu-officer',
+  'exploration-zhuo-villager': 'unit-shu-infantry',
+  'exploration-zhuo-quartermaster': 'unit-shu-officer',
+  'exploration-zou-jing': 'unit-shu-officer'
+} as const;
+
+export type ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey =
+  keyof typeof explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey;
+export type ExplorationCharacterBaseTextureKey =
+  (typeof explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey)[ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey];
+export type ExplorationCharacterNamedTextureKey =
+  keyof typeof explorationCharacterNamedTextureKeyFallbacks;
+export type ExplorationCharacterTextureKey =
+  | ExplorationCharacterBaseTextureKey
+  | ExplorationCharacterNamedTextureKey;
+
+export type ExplorationCharacterAssetInfo = {
+  unitTextureKey: ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey;
+  key: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey;
+  url: string;
+  frameSize: number;
+  frameWidth: number;
+  frameHeight: number;
+  format: 'webp';
+};
+
+export const explorationCharacterUnitTextureKeys = Object.freeze(
+  Object.keys(
+    explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey
+  ) as ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey[]
+);
+
+export const explorationCharacterTextureKeys = Object.freeze(
+  [
+    ...Object.values(explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey),
+    ...Object.keys(explorationCharacterNamedTextureKeyFallbacks)
+  ] as ExplorationCharacterTextureKey[]
+);
+
+const explorationCharacterDirections = [
+  'south',
+  'east',
+  'north',
+  'west'
+] as const satisfies readonly ExplorationCharacterDirection[];
+const explorationCharacterSheetRows: Record<ExplorationCharacterDirection, number> = {
+  south: 0,
+  east: 1,
+  north: 2,
+  west: 3
+};
+const explorationCharacterIdleFrameRate = 6;
+const explorationCharacterWalkFrameRate = 10;
+
+const explorationCharacterSheetModules = import.meta.glob(
+  '../../assets/images/exploration/characters/exploration-*.webp',
+  {
+    eager: true,
+    import: 'default'
+  }
+) as Record<string, string>;
+
+function textureKeyFromPath(path: string) {
+  const fileName = path.split('/').pop() ?? path;
+  return fileName.replace(/\.webp$/i, '');
+}
+
+const explorationCharacterSheetUrlsByKey = new Map(
+  Object.entries(explorationCharacterSheetModules).map(([path, url]) => [
+    textureKeyFromPath(path),
+    url
+  ])
+);
+const explorationCharacterTextureKeySet = new Set<ExplorationCharacterTextureKey>(
+  explorationCharacterTextureKeys
+);
+const unitTextureKeyByExplorationCharacterTextureKey = new Map<
+  ExplorationCharacterBaseTextureKey,
+  ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey
+>(
+  Object.entries(explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey).map(
+    ([unitTextureKey, textureKey]) => [
+      textureKey,
+      unitTextureKey as ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey
+    ]
+  )
+);
+
+export function explorationCharacterTextureKeyForUnitTextureKey(
+  unitTextureKey: string
+): ExplorationCharacterBaseTextureKey | undefined {
+  if (!(unitTextureKey in explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey)) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  return explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey[
+    unitTextureKey as ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey
+  ];
+}
+
+export function explorationCharacterAssetInfo(
+  textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey: string
+): ExplorationCharacterAssetInfo | undefined {
+  const key = explorationCharacterTextureKeyForSourceKey(textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey);
+  const url = key ? explorationCharacterSheetUrlsByKey.get(key) : undefined;
+  const unitTextureKey = key ? fallbackUnitTextureKeyForExplorationTextureKey(key) : undefined;
+  if (!key || !url || !unitTextureKey) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  return {
+    unitTextureKey,
+    key,
+    url,
+    frameSize: explorationCharacterFrameSize,
+    frameWidth: explorationCharacterFrameSize,
+    frameHeight: explorationCharacterFrameSize,
+    format: 'webp'
+  };
+}
+
+export function explorationCharacterAssetInfos(
+  textureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys: Iterable<string> = explorationCharacterUnitTextureKeys
+) {
+  const assets: ExplorationCharacterAssetInfo[] = [];
+  const seenTextureKeys = new Set<ExplorationCharacterTextureKey>();
+  Array.from(new Set(textureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys)).forEach((textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey) => {
+    const asset = explorationCharacterAssetInfo(textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey);
+    if (!asset || seenTextureKeys.has(asset.key)) {
+      return;
+    }
+    seenTextureKeys.add(asset.key);
+    assets.push(asset);
+  });
+  return assets;
+}
+
+export function hasExplorationCharacterAsset(textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey: string) {
+  return explorationCharacterAssetInfo(textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey) !== undefined;
+}
+
+function explorationCharacterTextureKeyForSourceKey(
+  textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey: string
+): ExplorationCharacterTextureKey | undefined {
+  return explorationCharacterTextureKeyForUnitTextureKey(textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey) ??
+    (
+      explorationCharacterTextureKeySet.has(
+        textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey as ExplorationCharacterTextureKey
+      )
+        ? textureKeyOrUnitTextureKey as ExplorationCharacterTextureKey
+        : undefined
+    );
+}
+
+function fallbackUnitTextureKeyForExplorationTextureKey(
+  textureKey: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey
+): ExplorationCharacterUnitTextureKey | undefined {
+  const baseUnitTextureKey = unitTextureKeyByExplorationCharacterTextureKey.get(
+    textureKey as ExplorationCharacterBaseTextureKey
+  );
+  if (baseUnitTextureKey) {
+    return baseUnitTextureKey;
+  }
+  if (textureKey in explorationCharacterNamedTextureKeyFallbacks) {
+    return explorationCharacterNamedTextureKeyFallbacks[
+      textureKey as ExplorationCharacterNamedTextureKey
+    ];
+  }
+  return undefined;
+}
+
+export function explorationCharacterAnimationKey(
+  textureKey: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey,
+  motion: ExplorationCharacterMotion,
+  direction: ExplorationCharacterDirection
+) {
+  return `${textureKey}-${motion}-${direction}`;
+}
+
+export function ensureExplorationCharacterAnimations(
+  scene: Phaser.Scene,
+  textureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys: Iterable<string>
+) {
+  explorationCharacterAssetInfos(textureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys).forEach(({ key }) => {
+    if (!scene.textures.exists(key)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    explorationCharacterDirections.forEach((direction) => {
+      const rowStart =
+        explorationCharacterSheetRows[direction] * explorationCharacterFramesPerDirection;
+      const idleFrames = Array.from(
+        { length: explorationCharacterIdleFrameCount },
+        (_, frameIndex) => ({
+          key,
+          frame: rowStart + frameIndex
+        })
+      );
+      const walkFrames = Array.from(
+        { length: explorationCharacterWalkFrameCount },
+        (_, frameIndex) => ({
+          key,
+          frame: rowStart + explorationCharacterIdleFrameCount + frameIndex
+        })
+      );
+      const idleAnimationKey = explorationCharacterAnimationKey(key, 'idle', direction);
+      const walkAnimationKey = explorationCharacterAnimationKey(key, 'walk', direction);
+
+      if (!scene.anims.exists(idleAnimationKey)) {
+        scene.anims.create({
+          key: idleAnimationKey,
+          frames: idleFrames,
+          frameRate: explorationCharacterIdleFrameRate,
+          repeat: -1
+        });
+      }
+      if (!scene.anims.exists(walkAnimationKey)) {
+        scene.anims.create({
+          key: walkAnimationKey,
+          frames: walkFrames,
+          frameRate: explorationCharacterWalkFrameRate,
+          repeat: -1
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+export function releaseExplorationCharacterTextures(
+  scene: Phaser.Scene,
+  keepTextureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys: Iterable<string> = []
+) {
+  const keepTextureKeys = new Set(
+    Array.from(keepTextureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys)
+      .map((textureKey) => explorationCharacterTextureKeyForSourceKey(textureKey))
+      .filter((key): key is ExplorationCharacterTextureKey => key !== undefined)
+  );
+  return releaseExplorationCharacterTextureKeys(
+    scene,
+    explorationCharacterTextureKeys.filter((textureKey) => !keepTextureKeys.has(textureKey))
+  );
+}
+
+export function releaseExplorationCharacterTextureKeys(
+  scene: Phaser.Scene,
+  textureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys: Iterable<string>
+) {
+  let releasedTextureCount = 0;
+  const textureKeys = new Set(
+    Array.from(textureKeysOrUnitTextureKeys)
+      .map((textureKey) => explorationCharacterTextureKeyForSourceKey(textureKey))
+      .filter((key): key is ExplorationCharacterTextureKey => key !== undefined)
+  );
+
+  textureKeys.forEach((textureKey) => {
+    releaseExplorationCharacterAnimations(scene, textureKey);
+    if (releaseTextureSource(scene, textureKey)) {
+      releasedTextureCount += 1;
+    }
+  });
+
+  return releasedTextureCount;
+}
+
+function releaseExplorationCharacterAnimations(
+  scene: Phaser.Scene,
+  textureKey: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey
+) {
+  explorationCharacterDirections.forEach((direction) => {
+    (['idle', 'walk'] as ExplorationCharacterMotion[]).forEach((motion) => {
+      const animationKey = explorationCharacterAnimationKey(textureKey, motion, direction);
+      if (scene.anims.exists(animationKey)) {
+        scene.anims.remove(animationKey);
+      }
+    });
+  });
+}
diff --git a/src/game/data/portraitAssets.ts b/src/game/data/portraitAssets.ts
index af3bcee..4c872a4 100644
--- a/src/game/data/portraitAssets.ts
+++ b/src/game/data/portraitAssets.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const portraitModules = import.meta.glob('../../assets/images/portraits/*.png', {
+const portraitModules = import.meta.glob('../../assets/images/portraits/*.{png,webp}', {
   eager: true,
   import: 'default'
 }) as Record<string, string>;
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ const speakerPortraitKeys: Record<string, string> = {
   유비: 'liuBei',
   관우: 'guanYu',
   장비: 'zhangFei',
+  '탁현 모병 관리': 'zhuoRecruitingClerk',
+  '탁현 주민': 'zhuoVillager',
+  '의용군 군수관': 'zhuoQuartermaster',
+  추정: 'zouJing',
+  '젊은 의병': 'zhuoYoungVolunteer',
   제갈량: 'zhugeLiang',
   조운: 'zhaoYun',
   강유: 'jiangWei',
diff --git a/src/game/data/prologueVillage.ts b/src/game/data/prologueVillage.ts
index d0c63e9..2bcc5fc 100644
--- a/src/game/data/prologueVillage.ts
+++ b/src/game/data/prologueVillage.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ export type PrologueVillageDialogueLine = {
   speaker: string;
   text: string;
   textureKey?: string;
+  portrait?: string;
 };
 
 export type PrologueVillageNpcDefinition = {
diff --git a/src/game/scenes/PrologueMilitiaCampScene.ts b/src/game/scenes/PrologueMilitiaCampScene.ts
index 9a542bb..e106a2a 100644
--- a/src/game/scenes/PrologueMilitiaCampScene.ts
+++ b/src/game/scenes/PrologueMilitiaCampScene.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 import Phaser from 'phaser';
+import campBackgroundUrl from '../../assets/images/exploration/prologue-militia-camp.webp';
 import { soundDirector } from '../audio/SoundDirector';
+import {
+  portraitAssetEntryForStoryContext,
+  portraitKeyForSpeaker,
+  type PortraitAssetEntry
+} from '../data/portraitAssets';
 import {
   prologueMilitiaCampNpcDefinitions,
   prologueMilitiaCampObjectiveDefinitions,
@@ -9,11 +15,15 @@ import {
 } from '../data/prologueMilitiaCamp';
 import { prologueDeparturePages, type PrologueVillageDialogueLine } from '../data/prologueVillage';
 import {
-  ensureUnitAnimations,
-  loadUnitBaseSheets,
-  releaseUnitBaseSheetTextures,
-  type UnitDirection
-} from '../data/unitAssets';
+  ensureExplorationCharacterAnimations,
+  explorationCharacterAssetInfos,
+  explorationCharacterTextureKeyForUnitTextureKey,
+  explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey,
+  hasExplorationCharacterAsset,
+  releaseExplorationCharacterTextureKeys,
+  type ExplorationCharacterDirection,
+  type ExplorationCharacterTextureKey
+} from '../data/explorationCharacterAssets';
 import {
   completeCampaignTutorial,
   getCampaignState,
@@ -22,6 +32,7 @@ import {
   prologueMilitiaCampCampaignTutorialIds,
   type CampaignTutorialId
 } from '../state/campaignState';
+import { releaseTextureSource } from '../render/loaderLifecycle';
 import { palette } from '../ui/palette';
 import { startGameScene } from './lazyScenes';
 
@@ -35,16 +46,59 @@ const interactionRadius = 122;
 const promptRadius = 164;
 const characterDisplaySize = 104;
 const inputCarryoverGuardMs = 320;
-const characterTextureKeys = [
-  'unit-liu-bei',
-  'unit-guan-yu',
-  'unit-zhang-fei',
-  'unit-shu-officer',
-  'unit-shu-infantry'
+const campBackgroundKey = 'prologue-militia-camp-background';
+const campDialoguePortraitContext = {
+  id: 'prologue-militia-camp-dialogue',
+  background: 'story-militia'
+} as const;
+const campDialoguePortraitKeys = [
+  'liuBei',
+  'guanYu',
+  'zhangFei',
+  'zhuoQuartermaster',
+  'zouJing',
+  'zhuoYoungVolunteer'
 ] as const;
+const playerTextureKey = explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey['unit-liu-bei'];
+const campNpcTextureKeyById = {
+  quartermaster: 'exploration-zhuo-quartermaster',
+  'zou-jing': 'exploration-zou-jing',
+  'nervous-volunteer': 'exploration-shu-infantry'
+} as const satisfies Readonly<Record<string, ExplorationCharacterTextureKey>>;
+
+function explorationTextureKey(unitTextureKey: string): ExplorationCharacterTextureKey {
+  const textureKey = explorationCharacterTextureKeyForUnitTextureKey(unitTextureKey);
+  if (!textureKey) {
+    throw new Error(`Missing exploration character mapping for ${unitTextureKey}`);
+  }
+  return textureKey;
+}
+
+function explorationTextureKeyForCampNpc(
+  npcId: string,
+  fallbackUnitTextureKey: string
+): ExplorationCharacterTextureKey {
+  const preferredTextureKey =
+    campNpcTextureKeyById[npcId as keyof typeof campNpcTextureKeyById];
+  return preferredTextureKey && hasExplorationCharacterAsset(preferredTextureKey)
+    ? preferredTextureKey
+    : explorationTextureKey(fallbackUnitTextureKey);
+}
+
+const characterTextureKeys = Object.freeze(
+  Array.from(new Set<ExplorationCharacterTextureKey>([
+    playerTextureKey,
+    explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey['unit-guan-yu'],
+    explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey['unit-zhang-fei'],
+    explorationTextureKeyForCampNpc('quartermaster', 'unit-shu-officer'),
+    explorationTextureKeyForCampNpc('zou-jing', 'unit-shu-officer'),
+    explorationTextureKeyForCampNpc('nervous-volunteer', 'unit-shu-infantry')
+  ]))
+);
 
 type CampNpcView = {
   definition: PrologueMilitiaCampNpcDefinition;
+  textureKey: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey;
   sprite: Phaser.GameObjects.Sprite;
   shadow: Phaser.GameObjects.Ellipse;
   nameplate: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
@@ -73,19 +127,33 @@ const objectiveTutorialIds: Record<PrologueMilitiaCampRequiredObjectiveId, Campa
   'inspect-arms': prologueMilitiaCampCampaignTutorialIds.inspectArms
 };
 
+function campDialoguePortraitEntries() {
+  return campDialoguePortraitKeys
+    .map((portraitKey) => portraitAssetEntryForStoryContext(
+      portraitKey,
+      campDialoguePortraitContext,
+      `camp-${portraitKey}`
+    ))
+    .filter((entry): entry is PortraitAssetEntry => entry !== undefined);
+}
+
 export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
+  private backgroundImage?: Phaser.GameObjects.Image;
+  private backgroundFallback = false;
   private player?: Phaser.GameObjects.Sprite;
   private playerShadow?: Phaser.GameObjects.Ellipse;
-  private playerDirection: UnitDirection = 'north';
+  private playerDirection: ExplorationCharacterDirection = 'north';
   private playerMoving = false;
   private npcViews = new Map<string, CampNpcView>();
+  private npcMoveTweens = new Map<string, Phaser.Tweens.Tween>();
+  private npcMovementPending = false;
   private blockers: Phaser.Geom.Rectangle[] = [];
   private objectiveRows = new Map<string, ObjectiveRowView>();
   private objectiveSummaryText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private promptBackground?: Phaser.GameObjects.Rectangle;
   private promptText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private dialoguePanel?: Phaser.GameObjects.Container;
-  private dialogueAvatar?: Phaser.GameObjects.Sprite;
+  private dialoguePortrait?: Phaser.GameObjects.Image;
   private dialogueNameText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private dialogueBodyText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private dialogueProgressText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
@@ -109,11 +177,34 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   private stepIndex = 0;
   private lastStepAt = 0;
   private firstVisit = false;
+  private ownedPresentationTextureKeys = new Set<string>();
 
   constructor() {
     super('PrologueMilitiaCampScene');
   }
 
+  preload() {
+    explorationCharacterAssetInfos(characterTextureKeys).forEach((asset) => {
+      if (!this.textures.exists(asset.key)) {
+        this.load.spritesheet(asset.key, asset.url, {
+          frameWidth: asset.frameWidth,
+          frameHeight: asset.frameHeight
+        });
+      }
+    });
+    if (!this.textures.exists(campBackgroundKey)) {
+      this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.add(campBackgroundKey);
+      this.load.image(campBackgroundKey, campBackgroundUrl);
+    }
+    campDialoguePortraitEntries().forEach(({ textureKey, url }) => {
+      if (this.textures.exists(textureKey)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.add(textureKey);
+      this.load.image(textureKey, url);
+    });
+  }
+
   create() {
     this.resetRuntimeState();
     this.prepareCampaignProgress();
@@ -134,38 +225,38 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       this.navigationPending = false;
       this.moveTarget = undefined;
       this.dialogueState = undefined;
-      releaseUnitBaseSheetTextures(this);
+      this.stopNpcMovement();
+      releaseExplorationCharacterTextureKeys(this, characterTextureKeys);
+      this.releasePresentationTextures();
     });
 
-    loadUnitBaseSheets(this, characterTextureKeys, () => {
-      if (!this.scene.isActive()) {
-        return;
-      }
-      ensureUnitAnimations(this, characterTextureKeys);
-      this.createActors();
-      this.createDialoguePanel();
-      this.loadingOverlay?.destroy();
-      this.loadingOverlay = undefined;
-      this.ready = true;
-      this.inputReadyAt = this.time.now + inputCarryoverGuardMs;
-      this.refreshObjectiveHud();
-      this.refreshNpcMarkers();
-      this.refreshInteractionPrompt();
+    ensureExplorationCharacterAnimations(this, characterTextureKeys);
+    this.createActors();
+    this.createDialoguePanel();
+    this.loadingOverlay?.destroy();
+    this.loadingOverlay = undefined;
+    this.ready = true;
+    this.inputReadyAt = this.time.now + inputCarryoverGuardMs;
+    this.refreshObjectiveHud();
+    this.refreshNpcMarkers();
+    this.refreshInteractionPrompt();
 
-      if (this.firstVisit) {
-        this.startDialogue([
-          {
+    if (this.firstVisit) {
+      this.startDialogue([
+        {
             speaker: '유비',
             textureKey: 'unit-liu-bei',
             text: '맹세만으로 백성을 지킬 수는 없다. 막사를 직접 돌며 관우의 정찰, 장비의 의병 대열, 군수관의 병기와 후송 준비를 확인하자.'
-          }
-        ]);
-      }
-    });
+        }
+      ]);
+    }
   }
 
   update(time: number, delta: number) {
-    if (!this.ready || this.navigationPending || time < this.inputReadyAt) {
+    if (!this.ready || this.navigationPending || this.npcMovementPending || time < this.inputReadyAt) {
+      if (this.npcMovementPending) {
+        this.stopPlayerMovement();
+      }
       this.interactionQueued = false;
       return;
     }
@@ -197,12 +288,29 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       ready: this.ready,
       viewport: { width: this.scale.width, height: this.scale.height },
       campaignStep: campaign.step,
+      requiredTextures: characterTextureKeys.map((key) => ({
+        key,
+        ready: this.textures.exists(key)
+      })),
       requiredTexturesReady: characterTextureKeys.every((key) => this.textures.exists(key)),
+      background: {
+        key: this.backgroundImage?.texture.key ?? campBackgroundKey,
+        ready: this.backgroundImage?.active === true,
+        fallback: this.backgroundFallback,
+        sourceWidth: this.backgroundImage?.frame.realWidth ?? null,
+        sourceHeight: this.backgroundImage?.frame.realHeight ?? null,
+        bounds: this.backgroundImage
+          ? this.boundsSnapshot(this.backgroundImage.getBounds())
+          : null,
+        objectCount: this.backgroundImage?.active ? 1 : 0
+      },
       player: playerPosition
         ? {
             ...playerPosition,
             direction: this.playerDirection,
             moving: this.playerMoving,
+            textureKey: this.player?.texture.key ?? null,
+            animationKey: this.player?.anims.currentAnim?.key ?? null,
             bounds: this.player ? this.boundsSnapshot(this.player.getBounds()) : null
           }
         : null,
@@ -210,7 +318,9 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         speed: playerSpeed,
         target: this.moveTarget ? { x: this.moveTarget.x, y: this.moveTarget.y } : null,
         walkBounds: this.boundsSnapshot(movementBounds),
-        collisionRadius: playerCollisionRadius
+        collisionRadius: playerCollisionRadius,
+        npcMovementPending: this.npcMovementPending,
+        movingNpcIds: [...this.npcMoveTweens.keys()]
       },
       controls: {
         movement: ['WASD', '방향키'],
@@ -250,6 +360,9 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         departure: definition.departure ?? false,
         x: sprite.x,
         y: sprite.y,
+        moving: this.npcMoveTweens.has(definition.id),
+        textureKey: sprite.texture.key,
+        animationKey: sprite.anims.currentAnim?.key ?? null,
         distance: playerPosition
           ? Phaser.Math.Distance.Between(playerPosition.x, playerPosition.y, sprite.x, sprite.y)
           : null,
@@ -264,6 +377,10 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
             lineIndex: this.dialogueState.lineIndex,
             totalLines: this.dialogueState.lines.length,
             sourceNpcId: this.dialogueState.sourceNpcId ?? null,
+            portraitTextureKey: this.dialoguePortrait?.visible
+              ? this.dialoguePortrait.texture.key
+              : null,
+            portraitVisible: this.dialoguePortrait?.visible ?? false,
             bounds: dialogueBounds
           }
         : {
@@ -272,6 +389,8 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
             lineIndex: -1,
             totalLines: 0,
             sourceNpcId: null,
+            portraitTextureKey: null,
+            portraitVisible: false,
             bounds: null
           },
       blockers: this.blockers.map((blocker) => this.boundsSnapshot(blocker)),
@@ -280,7 +399,7 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   debugTeleportTo(targetId: string) {
-    if (!this.ready || this.navigationPending || this.dialogueState) {
+    if (!this.ready || this.navigationPending || this.npcMovementPending || this.dialogueState) {
       return false;
     }
     const view = this.npcViews.get(targetId);
@@ -294,7 +413,7 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   debugInteractWith(targetId: string) {
-    if (!this.ready || this.navigationPending || this.dialogueState) {
+    if (!this.ready || this.navigationPending || this.npcMovementPending || this.dialogueState) {
       return false;
     }
     const view = this.npcViews.get(targetId);
@@ -324,13 +443,18 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   private resetRuntimeState() {
+    this.backgroundImage = undefined;
+    this.backgroundFallback = false;
     this.player = undefined;
     this.playerShadow = undefined;
     this.playerDirection = 'north';
     this.playerMoving = false;
     this.npcViews.clear();
+    this.npcMoveTweens.clear();
+    this.npcMovementPending = false;
     this.blockers = [];
     this.objectiveRows.clear();
+    this.dialoguePortrait = undefined;
     this.dialogueState = undefined;
     this.moveTarget = undefined;
     this.ready = false;
@@ -354,17 +478,27 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   private drawCamp() {
     this.cameras.main.setBackgroundColor('#1a241e');
-    const graphics = this.add.graphics().setDepth(-100);
-    graphics.fillStyle(0x26352b, 1);
-    graphics.fillRect(0, 0, sceneWidth, sceneHeight);
-    graphics.fillStyle(0x344536, 1);
-    graphics.fillRect(0, 92, mapRight, 866);
+    if (this.textures.exists(campBackgroundKey)) {
+      this.backgroundImage = this.add.image(0, 0, campBackgroundKey)
+        .setOrigin(0)
+        .setDepth(-120);
+      this.registerCampCollisions();
+      this.drawCampWayfinding();
+      this.drawCampFireGlow();
+    } else {
+      this.backgroundFallback = true;
+      const graphics = this.add.graphics().setDepth(-100);
+      graphics.fillStyle(0x26352b, 1);
+      graphics.fillRect(0, 0, sceneWidth, sceneHeight);
+      graphics.fillStyle(0x344536, 1);
+      graphics.fillRect(0, 92, mapRight, 866);
 
-    this.drawGroundTexture(graphics);
-    this.drawCampRoads(graphics);
-    this.drawPalisade(graphics);
-    this.drawCampStructures(graphics);
-    this.drawCampDetails();
+      this.drawGroundTexture(graphics);
+      this.drawCampRoads(graphics);
+      this.drawPalisade(graphics);
+      this.drawCampStructures(graphics);
+      this.drawCampDetails();
+    }
 
     this.add.rectangle(mapRight, 0, sceneWidth - mapRight, sceneHeight, 0x111720, 0.97)
       .setOrigin(0)
@@ -386,6 +520,58 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       .setDepth(1401);
   }
 
+  private registerCampCollisions() {
+    [
+      [622, 178, 325, 125],
+      [108, 205, 248, 140],
+      [1188, 212, 214, 132],
+      [90, 694, 216, 140],
+      [295, 380, 124, 72],
+      [1018, 655, 182, 142],
+      [330, 820, 76, 54],
+      [413, 832, 62, 43],
+      [1285, 760, 72, 52],
+      [728, 520, 104, 64],
+      [955, 448, 40, 46],
+      [1080, 448, 40, 46],
+      [1205, 448, 40, 46]
+    ].forEach(([x, y, width, height]) => this.addBlocker(x, y, width, height));
+  }
+
+  private drawCampWayfinding() {
+    [
+      [780, 294, '지휘 막사'],
+      [250, 340, '정찰대 막사'],
+      [1290, 340, '의병 숙영지'],
+      [198, 824, '보급 천막'],
+      [1100, 760, '병기 훈련장'],
+      [784, 116, '북문 · 출전로']
+    ].forEach(([x, y, label]) => {
+      this.add.text(Number(x), Number(y), String(label), {
+        fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
+        fontSize: '18px',
+        color: '#f4e3b5',
+        fontStyle: 'bold',
+        backgroundColor: '#15120ed4',
+        padding: { left: 10, right: 10, top: 4, bottom: 4 }
+      }).setOrigin(0.5).setDepth(45);
+    });
+  }
+
+  private drawCampFireGlow() {
+    const glow = this.add.ellipse(780, 540, 230, 150, 0xf2a241, 0.08).setDepth(35);
+    this.tweens.add({
+      targets: glow,
+      alpha: { from: 0.05, to: 0.14 },
+      scaleX: { from: 0.95, to: 1.05 },
+      scaleY: { from: 0.95, to: 1.05 },
+      duration: 880,
+      yoyo: true,
+      repeat: -1,
+      ease: 'Sine.easeInOut'
+    });
+  }
+
   private drawGroundTexture(graphics: Phaser.GameObjects.Graphics) {
     for (let index = 0; index < 180; index += 1) {
       const x = 22 + ((index * 89) % 1438);
@@ -672,14 +858,18 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   private createActors() {
     this.playerShadow = this.add.ellipse(750, 890, 66, 25, 0x07100a, 0.45).setDepth(800);
-    this.player = this.createCharacterSprite('unit-liu-bei', 750, 870, characterDisplaySize + 8, 'north');
+    this.player = this.createCharacterSprite(playerTextureKey, 750, 870, characterDisplaySize + 8, 'north');
     this.player.setDepth(970);
 
     prologueMilitiaCampNpcDefinitions.forEach((definition) => {
+      const textureKey = explorationTextureKeyForCampNpc(
+        definition.id,
+        definition.textureKey
+      );
       const shadow = this.add.ellipse(definition.x, definition.y + 20, 62, 23, 0x07100a, 0.4)
         .setDepth(100 + definition.y);
       const sprite = this.createCharacterSprite(
-        definition.textureKey,
+        textureKey,
         definition.x,
         definition.y,
         characterDisplaySize,
@@ -720,16 +910,24 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
           ease: 'Sine.easeInOut'
         });
       }
-      this.npcViews.set(definition.id, { definition, sprite, shadow, nameplate, roleplate, marker });
+      this.npcViews.set(definition.id, {
+        definition,
+        textureKey,
+        sprite,
+        shadow,
+        nameplate,
+        roleplate,
+        marker
+      });
     });
   }
 
   private createCharacterSprite(
-    textureKey: string,
+    textureKey: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey,
     x: number,
     y: number,
     size: number,
-    direction: UnitDirection
+    direction: ExplorationCharacterDirection
   ) {
     const resolvedTextureKey = this.textures.exists(textureKey) ? textureKey : '__DEFAULT';
     const sprite = this.add.sprite(x, y, resolvedTextureKey, 0).setDisplaySize(size, size);
@@ -753,22 +951,26 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     const inner = this.add.rectangle(x + 16, y + 16, width - 32, height - 32, 0x1d2531, 0.82)
       .setOrigin(0)
       .setStrokeStyle(1, 0x546174, 0.7);
-    const avatarFrame = this.add.rectangle(x + 105, y + 152, 178, 230, 0x0e131a, 0.92)
+    const portraitFrame = this.add.rectangle(x + 132, y + 152, 226, 226, 0x0e131a, 0.92)
       .setStrokeStyle(2, 0x9e8350, 0.9);
-    this.dialogueAvatar = this.add.sprite(x + 105, y + 155, 'unit-liu-bei', 0)
-      .setDisplaySize(186, 186);
-    this.dialogueNameText = this.add.text(x + 222, y + 42, '', {
+    const firstPortraitKey = campDialoguePortraitEntries()
+      .find(({ textureKey }) => this.textures.exists(textureKey))
+      ?.textureKey ?? '__DEFAULT';
+    this.dialoguePortrait = this.add.image(x + 132, y + 152, firstPortraitKey)
+      .setDisplaySize(218, 218)
+      .setVisible(false);
+    this.dialogueNameText = this.add.text(x + 278, y + 42, '', {
       fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
       fontSize: '29px',
       color: '#f1d691',
       fontStyle: 'bold'
     });
-    this.dialogueBodyText = this.add.text(x + 222, y + 101, '', {
+    this.dialogueBodyText = this.add.text(x + 278, y + 101, '', {
       fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
       fontSize: '27px',
       color: '#f0ede5',
       lineSpacing: 11,
-      wordWrap: { width: 1440, useAdvancedWrap: true }
+      wordWrap: { width: 1382, useAdvancedWrap: true }
     });
     this.dialogueProgressText = this.add.text(x + width - 34, y + height - 33, '', {
       fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
@@ -780,8 +982,8 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       shade,
       background,
       inner,
-      avatarFrame,
-      this.dialogueAvatar,
+      portraitFrame,
+      this.dialoguePortrait,
       this.dialogueNameText,
       this.dialogueBodyText,
       this.dialogueProgressText
@@ -913,7 +1115,7 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     return vector;
   }
 
-  private directionForVector(vector: Phaser.Math.Vector2): UnitDirection {
+  private directionForVector(vector: Phaser.Math.Vector2): ExplorationCharacterDirection {
     if (Math.abs(vector.x) > Math.abs(vector.y)) {
       return vector.x > 0 ? 'east' : 'west';
     }
@@ -947,8 +1149,8 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     if (!this.player) {
       return;
     }
-    const animationKey = `unit-liu-bei-${moving ? 'walk' : 'idle'}-${this.playerDirection}`;
-    if (this.textures.exists('unit-liu-bei') && this.player.anims.currentAnim?.key !== animationKey) {
+    const animationKey = `${playerTextureKey}-${moving ? 'walk' : 'idle'}-${this.playerDirection}`;
+    if (this.textures.exists(playerTextureKey) && this.player.anims.currentAnim?.key !== animationKey) {
       this.player.play(animationKey);
     }
     this.playerMoving = moving;
@@ -1007,8 +1209,9 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         this.startDialogue(view.definition.lockedDialogue ?? [], undefined, view.definition.id);
         return;
       }
-      this.gatherCommandParty();
-      this.startDialogue(view.definition.dialogue, () => this.finishCamp(), view.definition.id);
+      this.gatherCommandParty(() => {
+        this.startDialogue(view.definition.dialogue, () => this.finishCamp(), view.definition.id);
+      });
       return;
     }
 
@@ -1053,17 +1256,37 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.dialogueProgressText?.setText(
       `${dialogue.lineIndex + 1} / ${dialogue.lines.length}   E · Space · 클릭으로 계속`
     );
-    if (this.dialogueAvatar) {
-      const textureKey = line.textureKey;
-      if (textureKey && this.textures.exists(textureKey)) {
-        this.dialogueAvatar.setTexture(textureKey, 0).setVisible(true);
-        this.dialogueAvatar.play(`${textureKey}-idle-south`);
+    if (this.dialoguePortrait) {
+      const entry = this.dialoguePortraitEntry(line);
+      if (entry && this.textures.exists(entry.textureKey)) {
+        this.dialoguePortrait
+          .setTexture(entry.textureKey)
+          .setDisplaySize(218, 218)
+          .setVisible(true);
       } else {
-        this.dialogueAvatar.setVisible(false);
+        this.dialoguePortrait.setVisible(false);
       }
     }
   }
 
+  private dialoguePortraitEntry(line: PrologueVillageDialogueLine) {
+    const portraitKey = line.portrait ?? portraitKeyForSpeaker(line.speaker);
+    return portraitKey
+      ? portraitAssetEntryForStoryContext(
+          portraitKey,
+          campDialoguePortraitContext,
+          `camp-dialogue-${line.speaker}`
+        )
+      : undefined;
+  }
+
+  private releasePresentationTextures() {
+    this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.forEach((textureKey) => {
+      releaseTextureSource(this, textureKey);
+    });
+    this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.clear();
+  }
+
   private advanceDialogue() {
     const dialogue = this.dialogueState;
     if (!dialogue || this.navigationPending) {
@@ -1287,33 +1510,113 @@ export class PrologueMilitiaCampScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.playerDirection = this.directionForVector(toNpc);
     this.setPlayerMoving(false);
     const npcDirection = this.directionForVector(toNpc.scale(-1));
-    if (this.textures.exists(view.definition.textureKey)) {
-      view.sprite.play(`${view.definition.textureKey}-idle-${npcDirection}`);
+    if (this.textures.exists(view.textureKey)) {
+      view.sprite.play(`${view.textureKey}-idle-${npcDirection}`);
     }
   }
 
-  private gatherCommandParty() {
-    this.setNpcPosition('guan-yu', 650, 420, 'north');
-    this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', 890, 420, 'north');
+  private gatherCommandParty(onComplete: () => void) {
+    if (this.npcMovementPending) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.npcMovementPending = true;
+    this.stopPlayerMovement();
+    this.promptBackground?.setVisible(false);
+    this.promptText?.setVisible(false);
+
+    const movements = [
+      { npcId: 'guan-yu', x: 650, y: 420, direction: 'north' as const },
+      { npcId: 'zhang-fei', x: 890, y: 420, direction: 'north' as const }
+    ].filter(({ npcId }) => this.npcViews.has(npcId));
+    if (movements.length === 0) {
+      this.npcMovementPending = false;
+      onComplete();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    let remaining = movements.length;
+    movements.forEach(({ npcId, x, y, direction }) => {
+      this.walkNpcTo(npcId, x, y, direction, () => {
+        remaining -= 1;
+        if (remaining > 0) {
+          return;
+        }
+        this.npcMovementPending = false;
+        onComplete();
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
+  private walkNpcTo(
+    npcId: string,
+    x: number,
+    y: number,
+    finalDirection: ExplorationCharacterDirection,
+    onComplete: () => void
+  ) {
+    const view = this.npcViews.get(npcId);
+    if (!view) {
+      onComplete();
+      return;
+    }
+    this.npcMoveTweens.get(npcId)?.remove();
+    const delta = new Phaser.Math.Vector2(x - view.sprite.x, y - view.sprite.y);
+    const walkDirection = delta.lengthSq() > 0
+      ? this.directionForVector(delta)
+      : finalDirection;
+    if (this.textures.exists(view.textureKey)) {
+      view.sprite.play(`${view.textureKey}-walk-${walkDirection}`);
+    }
+    const duration = Math.max(220, Math.round(delta.length() / playerSpeed * 1000));
+    const tween = this.tweens.add({
+      targets: view.sprite,
+      x,
+      y,
+      duration,
+      ease: 'Sine.easeInOut',
+      onUpdate: () => this.syncNpcView(view),
+      onComplete: () => {
+        this.npcMoveTweens.delete(npcId);
+        this.syncNpcView(view);
+        if (this.textures.exists(view.textureKey)) {
+          view.sprite.play(`${view.textureKey}-idle-${finalDirection}`);
+        }
+        onComplete();
+      }
+    });
+    this.npcMoveTweens.set(npcId, tween);
+  }
+
+  private syncNpcView(view: CampNpcView) {
+    const { x, y } = view.sprite;
+    view.sprite.setDepth(110 + y);
+    view.shadow.setPosition(x, y + 20).setDepth(100 + y);
+    view.nameplate.setPosition(x, y + 59);
+    view.roleplate.setPosition(x, y + 88);
+    view.marker?.setPosition(x, y - 72);
+  }
+
+  private stopNpcMovement() {
+    this.npcMoveTweens.forEach((tween) => tween.remove());
+    this.npcMoveTweens.clear();
+    this.npcMovementPending = false;
   }
 
   private setNpcPosition(
     npcId: string,
     x: number,
     y: number,
-    direction: UnitDirection
+    direction: ExplorationCharacterDirection
   ) {
     const view = this.npcViews.get(npcId);
     if (!view) {
       return;
     }
-    view.sprite.setPosition(x, y).setDepth(110 + y);
-    view.shadow.setPosition(x, y + 20).setDepth(100 + y);
-    view.nameplate.setPosition(x, y + 59);
-    view.roleplate.setPosition(x, y + 88);
+    view.sprite.setPosition(x, y);
+    this.syncNpcView(view);
     view.marker?.setPosition(x, y - 72).setVisible(false);
-    if (this.textures.exists(view.definition.textureKey)) {
-      view.sprite.play(`${view.definition.textureKey}-idle-${direction}`);
+    if (this.textures.exists(view.textureKey)) {
+      view.sprite.play(`${view.textureKey}-idle-${direction}`);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/game/scenes/PrologueVillageScene.ts b/src/game/scenes/PrologueVillageScene.ts
index c4f7408..9a4b372 100644
--- a/src/game/scenes/PrologueVillageScene.ts
+++ b/src/game/scenes/PrologueVillageScene.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 import Phaser from 'phaser';
+import villageBackgroundUrl from '../../assets/images/exploration/prologue-village.webp';
 import { soundDirector } from '../audio/SoundDirector';
+import {
+  portraitAssetEntryForStoryContext,
+  portraitKeyForSpeaker,
+  type PortraitAssetEntry
+} from '../data/portraitAssets';
 import {
   prologueBrotherhoodPages,
   prologueVillageNpcDefinitions,
@@ -10,11 +16,15 @@ import {
   type PrologueVillageRequiredObjectiveId
 } from '../data/prologueVillage';
 import {
-  ensureUnitAnimations,
-  loadUnitBaseSheets,
-  releaseUnitBaseSheetTextures,
-  type UnitDirection
-} from '../data/unitAssets';
+  ensureExplorationCharacterAnimations,
+  explorationCharacterAssetInfos,
+  explorationCharacterTextureKeyForUnitTextureKey,
+  explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey,
+  hasExplorationCharacterAsset,
+  releaseExplorationCharacterTextureKeys,
+  type ExplorationCharacterDirection,
+  type ExplorationCharacterTextureKey
+} from '../data/explorationCharacterAssets';
 import {
   completeCampaignTutorial,
   getCampaignState,
@@ -23,6 +33,7 @@ import {
   prologueVillageCampaignTutorialIds,
   type CampaignTutorialId
 } from '../state/campaignState';
+import { releaseTextureSource } from '../render/loaderLifecycle';
 import { palette } from '../ui/palette';
 import { startGameScene } from './lazyScenes';
 
@@ -36,17 +47,71 @@ const interactionRadius = 122;
 const promptRadius = 160;
 const characterDisplaySize = 104;
 const inputCarryoverGuardMs = 320;
-const oathPosition = { x: 780, y: 405 };
-const characterTextureKeys = [
-  'unit-liu-bei',
-  'unit-guan-yu',
-  'unit-zhang-fei',
-  'unit-shu-officer',
-  'unit-shu-infantry'
+const narrativeNpcSpeed = 300;
+const villageBackgroundKey = 'prologue-village-background';
+const villageDialoguePortraitContext = {
+  id: 'prologue-village-dialogue',
+  background: 'story-three-heroes'
+} as const;
+const villageDialoguePortraitKeys = [
+  'liuBei',
+  'guanYu',
+  'zhangFei',
+  'zhuoRecruitingClerk',
+  'zhuoVillager'
 ] as const;
+const oathPosition = { x: 780, y: 405 };
+const narrativePositions = {
+  tavern: {
+    zhangFei: { x: 1000, y: 540, direction: 'east' as const }
+  },
+  recruitment: {
+    guanYu: { x: 850, y: 655, direction: 'east' as const },
+    zhangFei: { x: 810, y: 805, direction: 'east' as const }
+  },
+  oath: {
+    guanYu: { x: oathPosition.x - 104, y: oathPosition.y + 32, direction: 'east' as const },
+    zhangFei: { x: oathPosition.x + 104, y: oathPosition.y + 32, direction: 'west' as const }
+  }
+};
+const playerTextureKey = explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey['unit-liu-bei'];
+const villageNpcTextureKeyById = {
+  'recruiting-clerk': 'exploration-zhuo-recruiting-clerk',
+  'market-villager': 'exploration-zhuo-villager'
+} as const satisfies Readonly<Record<string, ExplorationCharacterTextureKey>>;
+
+function explorationTextureKey(unitTextureKey: string): ExplorationCharacterTextureKey {
+  const textureKey = explorationCharacterTextureKeyForUnitTextureKey(unitTextureKey);
+  if (!textureKey) {
+    throw new Error(`Missing exploration character mapping for ${unitTextureKey}`);
+  }
+  return textureKey;
+}
+
+function explorationTextureKeyForVillageNpc(
+  npcId: string,
+  fallbackUnitTextureKey: string
+): ExplorationCharacterTextureKey {
+  const preferredTextureKey =
+    villageNpcTextureKeyById[npcId as keyof typeof villageNpcTextureKeyById];
+  return preferredTextureKey && hasExplorationCharacterAsset(preferredTextureKey)
+    ? preferredTextureKey
+    : explorationTextureKey(fallbackUnitTextureKey);
+}
+
+const characterTextureKeys = Object.freeze(
+  Array.from(new Set<ExplorationCharacterTextureKey>([
+    playerTextureKey,
+    explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey['unit-guan-yu'],
+    explorationCharacterTextureKeyByUnitTextureKey['unit-zhang-fei'],
+    explorationTextureKeyForVillageNpc('recruiting-clerk', 'unit-shu-officer'),
+    explorationTextureKeyForVillageNpc('market-villager', 'unit-shu-infantry')
+  ]))
+);
 
 type VillageNpcView = {
   definition: PrologueVillageNpcDefinition;
+  textureKey: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey;
   sprite: Phaser.GameObjects.Sprite;
   shadow: Phaser.GameObjects.Ellipse;
   nameplate: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
@@ -72,16 +137,37 @@ type ObjectiveRowView = {
   location: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
 };
 
+type NarrativeNpcMove = {
+  npcId: string;
+  target: {
+    x: number;
+    y: number;
+    direction: ExplorationCharacterDirection;
+  };
+};
+
 const objectiveTutorialIds: Record<PrologueVillageRequiredObjectiveId, CampaignTutorialId> = {
   'meet-zhang-fei': prologueVillageCampaignTutorialIds.meetZhangFei,
   'meet-guan-yu': prologueVillageCampaignTutorialIds.meetGuanYu,
   'register-volunteers': prologueVillageCampaignTutorialIds.registerVolunteers
 };
 
+function villageDialoguePortraitEntries() {
+  return villageDialoguePortraitKeys
+    .map((portraitKey) => portraitAssetEntryForStoryContext(
+      portraitKey,
+      villageDialoguePortraitContext,
+      `village-${portraitKey}`
+    ))
+    .filter((entry): entry is PortraitAssetEntry => entry !== undefined);
+}
+
 export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
+  private backgroundImage?: Phaser.GameObjects.Image;
+  private backgroundFallback = false;
   private player?: Phaser.GameObjects.Sprite;
   private playerShadow?: Phaser.GameObjects.Ellipse;
-  private playerDirection: UnitDirection = 'north';
+  private playerDirection: ExplorationCharacterDirection = 'north';
   private playerMoving = false;
   private npcViews = new Map<string, VillageNpcView>();
   private blockers: Phaser.Geom.Rectangle[] = [];
@@ -92,7 +178,7 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   private oathMarker?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private oathLabel?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private dialoguePanel?: Phaser.GameObjects.Container;
-  private dialogueAvatar?: Phaser.GameObjects.Sprite;
+  private dialoguePortrait?: Phaser.GameObjects.Image;
   private dialogueNameText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private dialogueBodyText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
   private dialogueProgressText?: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
@@ -109,6 +195,8 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   };
   private interactKeys: Phaser.Input.Keyboard.Key[] = [];
   private moveTarget?: Phaser.Math.Vector2;
+  private npcMoveTweens = new Map<string, Phaser.Tweens.Tween>();
+  private oathGatherPending = false;
   private ready = false;
   private navigationPending = false;
   private inputReadyAt = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
@@ -116,11 +204,34 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   private stepIndex = 0;
   private lastStepAt = 0;
   private firstVisit = false;
+  private ownedPresentationTextureKeys = new Set<string>();
 
   constructor() {
     super('PrologueVillageScene');
   }
 
+  preload() {
+    explorationCharacterAssetInfos(characterTextureKeys).forEach((asset) => {
+      if (!this.textures.exists(asset.key)) {
+        this.load.spritesheet(asset.key, asset.url, {
+          frameWidth: asset.frameWidth,
+          frameHeight: asset.frameHeight
+        });
+      }
+    });
+    if (!this.textures.exists(villageBackgroundKey)) {
+      this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.add(villageBackgroundKey);
+      this.load.image(villageBackgroundKey, villageBackgroundUrl);
+    }
+    villageDialoguePortraitEntries().forEach(({ textureKey, url }) => {
+      if (this.textures.exists(textureKey)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.add(textureKey);
+      this.load.image(textureKey, url);
+    });
+  }
+
   create() {
     this.resetRuntimeState();
     this.prepareCampaignProgress();
@@ -139,37 +250,35 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.events.once(Phaser.Scenes.Events.SHUTDOWN, () => {
       this.ready = false;
       this.navigationPending = false;
+      this.oathGatherPending = false;
       this.moveTarget = undefined;
       this.dialogueState = undefined;
-      releaseUnitBaseSheetTextures(this);
+      this.stopAllNpcMovement();
+      releaseExplorationCharacterTextureKeys(this, characterTextureKeys);
+      this.releasePresentationTextures();
     });
 
-    loadUnitBaseSheets(this, characterTextureKeys, () => {
-      if (!this.scene.isActive()) {
-        return;
-      }
-      ensureUnitAnimations(this, characterTextureKeys);
-      this.createActors();
-      this.restoreNarrativeActorPositions();
-      this.createDialoguePanel();
-      this.loadingOverlay?.destroy();
-      this.loadingOverlay = undefined;
-      this.ready = true;
-      this.inputReadyAt = this.time.now + inputCarryoverGuardMs;
-      this.refreshObjectiveHud();
-      this.refreshNpcMarkers();
-      this.refreshInteractionPrompt();
+    ensureExplorationCharacterAnimations(this, characterTextureKeys);
+    this.createActors();
+    this.restoreNarrativeActorPositions();
+    this.createDialoguePanel();
+    this.loadingOverlay?.destroy();
+    this.loadingOverlay = undefined;
+    this.ready = true;
+    this.inputReadyAt = this.time.now + inputCarryoverGuardMs;
+    this.refreshObjectiveHud();
+    this.refreshNpcMarkers();
+    this.refreshInteractionPrompt();
 
-      if (this.firstVisit) {
-        this.startDialogue([
-          {
+    if (this.firstVisit) {
+      this.startDialogue([
+        {
             speaker: '유비',
             textureKey: 'unit-liu-bei',
             text: '방금 등 뒤에서 들린 목소리의 주인을 찾아보자. 서쪽 격문 앞의 호걸에게 다가가 그 뜻을 들어 보자.'
-          }
-        ]);
-      }
-    });
+        }
+      ]);
+    }
   }
 
   update(time: number, delta: number) {
@@ -178,6 +287,12 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       return;
     }
 
+    if (this.oathGatherPending) {
+      this.interactionQueued = false;
+      this.stopPlayerMovement();
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (this.dialogueState) {
       this.stopPlayerMovement();
       if (this.consumeInteractionRequest()) {
@@ -210,11 +325,24 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       ready: this.ready,
       viewport: { width: this.scale.width, height: this.scale.height },
       campaignStep: campaign.step,
+      background: {
+        key: this.backgroundImage?.texture.key ?? villageBackgroundKey,
+        ready: this.backgroundImage?.active === true,
+        fallback: this.backgroundFallback,
+        sourceWidth: this.backgroundImage?.frame.realWidth ?? null,
+        sourceHeight: this.backgroundImage?.frame.realHeight ?? null,
+        bounds: this.backgroundImage
+          ? this.boundsSnapshot(this.backgroundImage.getBounds())
+          : null,
+        objectCount: this.backgroundImage?.active ? 1 : 0
+      },
       player: playerPosition
         ? {
             ...playerPosition,
             direction: this.playerDirection,
             moving: this.playerMoving,
+            textureKey: this.player?.texture.key ?? null,
+            animationKey: this.player?.anims.currentAnim?.key ?? null,
             bounds: this.player ? this.boundsSnapshot(this.player.getBounds()) : null
           }
         : null,
@@ -265,6 +393,9 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         objectiveId: definition.objectiveId ?? null,
         x: sprite.x,
         y: sprite.y,
+        moving: this.npcMoveTweens.has(definition.id),
+        textureKey: sprite.texture.key,
+        animationKey: sprite.anims.currentAnim?.key ?? null,
         distance: playerPosition ? Phaser.Math.Distance.Between(playerPosition.x, playerPosition.y, sprite.x, sprite.y) : null,
         completed: definition.objectiveId ? this.isObjectiveComplete(definition.objectiveId) : false,
         bounds: this.boundsSnapshot(sprite.getBounds())
@@ -276,6 +407,10 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
             lineIndex: this.dialogueState.lineIndex,
             totalLines: this.dialogueState.lines.length,
             sourceNpcId: this.dialogueState.sourceNpcId ?? null,
+            portraitTextureKey: this.dialoguePortrait?.visible
+              ? this.dialoguePortrait.texture.key
+              : null,
+            portraitVisible: this.dialoguePortrait?.visible ?? false,
             bounds: dialogueBounds
           }
         : {
@@ -284,10 +419,20 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
             lineIndex: null,
             totalLines: 0,
             sourceNpcId: null,
+            portraitTextureKey: null,
+            portraitVisible: false,
             bounds: null
           },
       blockers: this.blockers.map((blocker) => this.boundsSnapshot(blocker)),
+      narrativeMovement: {
+        movingNpcIds: Array.from(this.npcMoveTweens.keys()),
+        oathGatherPending: this.oathGatherPending
+      },
       navigationPending: this.navigationPending,
+      requiredTextures: characterTextureKeys.map((key) => ({
+        key,
+        ready: this.textures.exists(key)
+      })),
       requiredTexturesReady: characterTextureKeys.every((key) => this.textures.exists(key))
     };
   }
@@ -334,6 +479,9 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   private resetRuntimeState() {
+    this.stopAllNpcMovement();
+    this.backgroundImage = undefined;
+    this.backgroundFallback = false;
     this.player = undefined;
     this.playerShadow = undefined;
     this.playerDirection = 'north';
@@ -341,12 +489,14 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.npcViews.clear();
     this.blockers = [];
     this.objectiveRows.clear();
+    this.dialoguePortrait = undefined;
     this.dialogueState = undefined;
     this.moveTarget = undefined;
     this.ready = false;
     this.navigationPending = false;
     this.inputReadyAt = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
     this.interactionQueued = false;
+    this.oathGatherPending = false;
     this.stepIndex = 0;
     this.lastStepAt = 0;
   }
@@ -364,16 +514,25 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   private drawVillage() {
     this.cameras.main.setBackgroundColor('#28372a');
-    const graphics = this.add.graphics().setDepth(-100);
-    graphics.fillStyle(0x354a34, 1);
-    graphics.fillRect(0, 0, sceneWidth, sceneHeight);
-    graphics.fillStyle(0x42583a, 1);
-    graphics.fillRect(0, 92, mapRight, 868);
+    if (this.textures.exists(villageBackgroundKey)) {
+      this.backgroundImage = this.add.image(0, 0, villageBackgroundKey)
+        .setOrigin(0)
+        .setDepth(-120);
+      this.registerVillageCollisions();
+      this.drawVillageWayfinding();
+    } else {
+      this.backgroundFallback = true;
+      const graphics = this.add.graphics().setDepth(-100);
+      graphics.fillStyle(0x354a34, 1);
+      graphics.fillRect(0, 0, sceneWidth, sceneHeight);
+      graphics.fillStyle(0x42583a, 1);
+      graphics.fillRect(0, 92, mapRight, 868);
 
-    this.drawGroundTexture(graphics);
-    this.drawRoads(graphics);
-    this.drawVillageBuildings(graphics);
-    this.drawVillageDetails();
+      this.drawGroundTexture(graphics);
+      this.drawRoads(graphics);
+      this.drawVillageBuildings(graphics);
+      this.drawVillageDetails();
+    }
 
     this.add.rectangle(mapRight, 0, sceneWidth - mapRight, sceneHeight, 0x121720, 0.96)
       .setOrigin(0)
@@ -395,6 +554,38 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       .setDepth(1401);
   }
 
+  private registerVillageCollisions() {
+    [
+      [105, 160, 410, 236],
+      [990, 148, 390, 226],
+      [1120, 665, 310, 215],
+      [1270, 414, 170, 112],
+      [647, 270, 38, 56],
+      [697, 313, 38, 52],
+      [832, 291, 38, 54],
+      [882, 261, 38, 56]
+    ].forEach(([x, y, width, height]) => this.addBlocker(x, y, width, height));
+  }
+
+  private drawVillageWayfinding() {
+    [
+      [310, 350, '탁현 관아'],
+      [1184, 350, '장터 주점'],
+      [1270, 850, '탁현 모병소'],
+      [780, 206, '복숭아 동산'],
+      [780, 116, '북문']
+    ].forEach(([x, y, label]) => {
+      this.add.text(Number(x), Number(y), String(label), {
+        fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
+        fontSize: '18px',
+        color: '#f6e5bc',
+        fontStyle: 'bold',
+        backgroundColor: '#19140fd4',
+        padding: { left: 10, right: 10, top: 4, bottom: 4 }
+      }).setOrigin(0.5).setDepth(45);
+    });
+  }
+
   private drawGroundTexture(graphics: Phaser.GameObjects.Graphics) {
     for (let index = 0; index < 150; index += 1) {
       const x = 25 + ((index * 83) % 1435);
@@ -716,14 +907,18 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   private createActors() {
     this.playerShadow = this.add.ellipse(750, 870, 66, 25, 0x07100a, 0.45).setDepth(800);
-    this.player = this.createCharacterSprite('unit-liu-bei', 750, 850, characterDisplaySize + 8, 'north');
+    this.player = this.createCharacterSprite(playerTextureKey, 750, 850, characterDisplaySize + 8, 'north');
     this.player.setDepth(851);
 
     prologueVillageNpcDefinitions.forEach((definition) => {
+      const textureKey = explorationTextureKeyForVillageNpc(
+        definition.id,
+        definition.textureKey
+      );
       const shadow = this.add.ellipse(definition.x, definition.y + 20, 62, 23, 0x07100a, 0.4)
         .setDepth(100 + definition.y);
       const sprite = this.createCharacterSprite(
-        definition.textureKey,
+        textureKey,
         definition.x,
         definition.y,
         characterDisplaySize,
@@ -757,7 +952,7 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
           ease: 'Sine.easeInOut'
         });
       }
-      this.npcViews.set(definition.id, { definition, sprite, shadow, nameplate, marker });
+      this.npcViews.set(definition.id, { definition, textureKey, sprite, shadow, nameplate, marker });
     });
 
     this.oathMarker = this.add.text(oathPosition.x, oathPosition.y - 58, '◇', {
@@ -786,11 +981,11 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   private createCharacterSprite(
-    textureKey: string,
+    textureKey: ExplorationCharacterTextureKey,
     x: number,
     y: number,
     size: number,
-    direction: UnitDirection
+    direction: ExplorationCharacterDirection
   ) {
     const resolvedTextureKey = this.textures.exists(textureKey) ? textureKey : '__DEFAULT';
     const sprite = this.add.sprite(x, y, resolvedTextureKey, 0).setDisplaySize(size, size);
@@ -814,22 +1009,26 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     const inner = this.add.rectangle(x + 16, y + 16, width - 32, height - 32, 0x1d2531, 0.82)
       .setOrigin(0)
       .setStrokeStyle(1, 0x546174, 0.7);
-    const avatarFrame = this.add.rectangle(x + 105, y + 152, 178, 230, 0x0e131a, 0.92)
+    const portraitFrame = this.add.rectangle(x + 132, y + 152, 226, 226, 0x0e131a, 0.92)
       .setStrokeStyle(2, 0x9e8350, 0.9);
-    this.dialogueAvatar = this.add.sprite(x + 105, y + 155, 'unit-liu-bei', 0)
-      .setDisplaySize(186, 186);
-    this.dialogueNameText = this.add.text(x + 222, y + 42, '', {
+    const firstPortraitKey = villageDialoguePortraitEntries()
+      .find(({ textureKey }) => this.textures.exists(textureKey))
+      ?.textureKey ?? '__DEFAULT';
+    this.dialoguePortrait = this.add.image(x + 132, y + 152, firstPortraitKey)
+      .setDisplaySize(218, 218)
+      .setVisible(false);
+    this.dialogueNameText = this.add.text(x + 278, y + 42, '', {
       fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
       fontSize: '29px',
       color: '#f1d691',
       fontStyle: 'bold'
     });
-    this.dialogueBodyText = this.add.text(x + 222, y + 101, '', {
+    this.dialogueBodyText = this.add.text(x + 278, y + 101, '', {
       fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
       fontSize: '27px',
       color: '#f0ede5',
       lineSpacing: 11,
-      wordWrap: { width: 1440, useAdvancedWrap: true }
+      wordWrap: { width: 1382, useAdvancedWrap: true }
     });
     this.dialogueProgressText = this.add.text(x + width - 34, y + height - 33, '', {
       fontFamily: '"Malgun Gothic", "Noto Sans KR", sans-serif',
@@ -841,8 +1040,8 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       shade,
       background,
       inner,
-      avatarFrame,
-      this.dialogueAvatar,
+      portraitFrame,
+      this.dialoguePortrait,
       this.dialogueNameText,
       this.dialogueBodyText,
       this.dialogueProgressText
@@ -879,7 +1078,12 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
 
     this.input.on(Phaser.Input.Events.POINTER_DOWN, (pointer: Phaser.Input.Pointer) => {
-      if (!this.ready || this.navigationPending || this.time.now < this.inputReadyAt) {
+      if (
+        !this.ready ||
+        this.navigationPending ||
+        this.oathGatherPending ||
+        this.time.now < this.inputReadyAt
+      ) {
         return;
       }
       if (this.dialogueState) {
@@ -975,7 +1179,7 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     return vector;
   }
 
-  private directionForVector(vector: Phaser.Math.Vector2): UnitDirection {
+  private directionForVector(vector: Phaser.Math.Vector2): ExplorationCharacterDirection {
     if (Math.abs(vector.x) > Math.abs(vector.y)) {
       return vector.x > 0 ? 'east' : 'west';
     }
@@ -1009,8 +1213,8 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     if (!this.player) {
       return;
     }
-    const animationKey = `unit-liu-bei-${moving ? 'walk' : 'idle'}-${this.playerDirection}`;
-    if (this.textures.exists('unit-liu-bei') && this.player.anims.currentAnim?.key !== animationKey) {
+    const animationKey = `${playerTextureKey}-${moving ? 'walk' : 'idle'}-${this.playerDirection}`;
+    if (this.textures.exists(playerTextureKey) && this.player.anims.currentAnim?.key !== animationKey) {
       this.player.play(animationKey);
     }
     this.playerMoving = moving;
@@ -1039,40 +1243,176 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.stopPlayerMovement();
   }
 
-  private gatherOathParty() {
-    this.playerDirection = 'north';
-    this.setPlayerPosition(oathPosition.x, oathPosition.y + 125);
-    this.setNpcPosition('guan-yu', oathPosition.x - 104, oathPosition.y + 32, 'east');
-    this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', oathPosition.x + 104, oathPosition.y + 32, 'west');
+  private gatherOathParty(onComplete: () => void) {
+    if (this.oathGatherPending) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.oathGatherPending = true;
+    this.stopPlayerMovement();
+    this.promptBackground?.setVisible(false);
+    this.promptText?.setVisible(false);
+    if (this.player) {
+      const toOath = new Phaser.Math.Vector2(
+        oathPosition.x - this.player.x,
+        oathPosition.y - this.player.y
+      );
+      if (toOath.lengthSq() > 0) {
+        this.playerDirection = this.directionForVector(toOath);
+      }
+      this.setPlayerMoving(false);
+    }
+
+    this.walkNpcGroup([
+      { npcId: 'guan-yu', target: narrativePositions.oath.guanYu },
+      { npcId: 'zhang-fei', target: narrativePositions.oath.zhangFei }
+    ], () => {
+      this.oathGatherPending = false;
+      if (!this.scene.isActive() || this.navigationPending) {
+        return;
+      }
+      onComplete();
+    });
   }
 
   private restoreNarrativeActorPositions() {
+    if (this.isObjectiveComplete('register-volunteers')) {
+      this.setNpcPosition('guan-yu', narrativePositions.oath.guanYu);
+      this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', narrativePositions.oath.zhangFei);
+      return;
+    }
     if (this.isObjectiveComplete('meet-guan-yu')) {
-      this.setNpcPosition('guan-yu', 850, 655, 'east');
-      this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', 810, 805, 'east');
+      this.setNpcPosition('guan-yu', narrativePositions.recruitment.guanYu);
+      this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', narrativePositions.recruitment.zhangFei);
       return;
     }
     if (this.isObjectiveComplete('meet-zhang-fei')) {
-      this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', 1000, 540, 'east');
+      this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', narrativePositions.tavern.zhangFei);
     }
   }
 
   private setNpcPosition(
     npcId: string,
-    x: number,
-    y: number,
-    direction: UnitDirection
+    target: {
+      x: number;
+      y: number;
+      direction: ExplorationCharacterDirection;
+    }
   ) {
     const view = this.npcViews.get(npcId);
     if (!view) {
       return;
     }
-    view.sprite.setPosition(x, y).setDepth(110 + y);
+
+    this.stopNpcMovement(npcId);
+    view.sprite.setPosition(target.x, target.y);
+    view.marker?.setVisible(false);
+    this.syncNpcView(view);
+    this.playNpcAnimation(view, false, target.direction);
+  }
+
+  private walkNpcGroup(moves: NarrativeNpcMove[], onComplete?: () => void) {
+    if (!moves.length) {
+      onComplete?.();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    let remaining = moves.length;
+    const completeMove = () => {
+      remaining -= 1;
+      if (remaining === 0) {
+        onComplete?.();
+      }
+    };
+    moves.forEach(({ npcId, target }) => this.walkNpcTo(npcId, target, completeMove));
+  }
+
+  private walkNpcTo(
+    npcId: string,
+    target: NarrativeNpcMove['target'],
+    onComplete?: () => void
+  ) {
+    const view = this.npcViews.get(npcId);
+    if (!view) {
+      onComplete?.();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.stopNpcMovement(npcId);
+    const movement = new Phaser.Math.Vector2(
+      target.x - view.sprite.x,
+      target.y - view.sprite.y
+    );
+    const distance = movement.length();
+    view.marker?.setVisible(false);
+    if (distance <= 1) {
+      view.sprite.setPosition(target.x, target.y);
+      this.syncNpcView(view);
+      this.playNpcAnimation(view, false, target.direction);
+      this.refreshNpcMarkers();
+      onComplete?.();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const movementDirection = this.directionForVector(movement);
+    this.playNpcAnimation(view, true, movementDirection);
+    let tween: Phaser.Tweens.Tween | undefined;
+    tween = this.tweens.add({
+      targets: view.sprite,
+      x: target.x,
+      y: target.y,
+      duration: Math.max(120, distance / narrativeNpcSpeed * 1000),
+      ease: 'Linear',
+      onUpdate: () => this.syncNpcView(view),
+      onComplete: () => {
+        if (!tween || this.npcMoveTweens.get(npcId) !== tween) {
+          return;
+        }
+        this.npcMoveTweens.delete(npcId);
+        view.sprite.setPosition(target.x, target.y);
+        this.syncNpcView(view);
+        this.playNpcAnimation(view, false, target.direction);
+        this.refreshNpcMarkers();
+        onComplete?.();
+      }
+    });
+    this.npcMoveTweens.set(npcId, tween);
+  }
+
+  private stopNpcMovement(npcId: string) {
+    const tween = this.npcMoveTweens.get(npcId);
+    if (!tween) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.npcMoveTweens.delete(npcId);
+    tween.stop();
+  }
+
+  private stopAllNpcMovement() {
+    Array.from(this.npcMoveTweens.keys()).forEach((npcId) => this.stopNpcMovement(npcId));
+  }
+
+  private syncNpcView(view: VillageNpcView) {
+    const { x, y } = view.sprite;
+    view.sprite.setDepth(110 + y);
     view.shadow.setPosition(x, y + 20).setDepth(100 + y);
     view.nameplate.setPosition(x, y + 63);
-    view.marker?.setPosition(x, y - 72).setVisible(false);
-    if (this.textures.exists(view.definition.textureKey)) {
-      view.sprite.play(`${view.definition.textureKey}-idle-${direction}`);
+    if (view.marker && !view.marker.visible) {
+      view.marker.setPosition(x, y - 72);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private playNpcAnimation(
+    view: VillageNpcView,
+    moving: boolean,
+    direction: ExplorationCharacterDirection
+  ) {
+    if (!this.textures.exists(view.textureKey)) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const animationKey = `${view.textureKey}-${moving ? 'walk' : 'idle'}-${direction}`;
+    if (view.sprite.anims.currentAnim?.key !== animationKey) {
+      view.sprite.play(animationKey);
     }
   }
 
@@ -1141,7 +1481,10 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       return;
     }
 
-    this.gatherOathParty();
+    this.gatherOathParty(() => this.startOathDialogue());
+  }
+
+  private startOathDialogue() {
     this.startDialogue([
       {
         speaker: '장비',
@@ -1194,17 +1537,37 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.dialogueProgressText?.setText(
       `${dialogue.lineIndex + 1} / ${dialogue.lines.length}   E · Space · 클릭으로 계속`
     );
-    if (this.dialogueAvatar) {
-      const textureKey = line.textureKey;
-      if (textureKey && this.textures.exists(textureKey)) {
-        this.dialogueAvatar.setTexture(textureKey, 0).setVisible(true);
-        this.dialogueAvatar.play(`${textureKey}-idle-south`);
+    if (this.dialoguePortrait) {
+      const entry = this.dialoguePortraitEntry(line);
+      if (entry && this.textures.exists(entry.textureKey)) {
+        this.dialoguePortrait
+          .setTexture(entry.textureKey)
+          .setDisplaySize(218, 218)
+          .setVisible(true);
       } else {
-        this.dialogueAvatar.setVisible(false);
+        this.dialoguePortrait.setVisible(false);
       }
     }
   }
 
+  private dialoguePortraitEntry(line: PrologueVillageDialogueLine) {
+    const portraitKey = line.portrait ?? portraitKeyForSpeaker(line.speaker);
+    return portraitKey
+      ? portraitAssetEntryForStoryContext(
+          portraitKey,
+          villageDialoguePortraitContext,
+          `village-dialogue-${line.speaker}`
+        )
+      : undefined;
+  }
+
+  private releasePresentationTextures() {
+    this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.forEach((textureKey) => {
+      releaseTextureSource(this, textureKey);
+    });
+    this.ownedPresentationTextureKeys.clear();
+  }
+
   private advanceDialogue() {
     const dialogue = this.dialogueState;
     if (!dialogue || this.navigationPending) {
@@ -1231,10 +1594,17 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
     completeCampaignTutorial(objectiveTutorialIds[objectiveId]);
     if (objectiveId === 'meet-zhang-fei') {
-      this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', 1000, 540, 'east');
+      this.walkNpcTo('zhang-fei', narrativePositions.tavern.zhangFei);
     } else if (objectiveId === 'meet-guan-yu') {
-      this.setNpcPosition('guan-yu', 850, 655, 'east');
-      this.setNpcPosition('zhang-fei', 810, 805, 'east');
+      this.walkNpcGroup([
+        { npcId: 'guan-yu', target: narrativePositions.recruitment.guanYu },
+        { npcId: 'zhang-fei', target: narrativePositions.recruitment.zhangFei }
+      ]);
+    } else if (objectiveId === 'register-volunteers') {
+      this.walkNpcGroup([
+        { npcId: 'guan-yu', target: narrativePositions.oath.guanYu },
+        { npcId: 'zhang-fei', target: narrativePositions.oath.zhangFei }
+      ]);
     }
     soundDirector.playObjectiveAchieved();
     this.refreshObjectiveHud();
@@ -1378,6 +1748,9 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       }
       const completed = this.isObjectiveComplete(definition.objectiveId);
       const unlocked = this.objectiveUnlocked(definition.objectiveId);
+      const joinedCompanion = completed &&
+        (definition.id === 'zhang-fei' || definition.id === 'guan-yu');
+      marker.setVisible(!this.npcMoveTweens.has(definition.id) && !joinedCompanion);
       marker.setText(completed ? '✓' : unlocked ? '!' : '◇');
       marker.setColor(completed ? '#e5f2d5' : unlocked ? '#2a2013' : '#9b8f7d');
       marker.setBackgroundColor(completed ? '#4e7549' : unlocked ? '#e5bd68' : '#343b45');
@@ -1409,13 +1782,15 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       return undefined;
     }
     const targets: InteractionTarget[] = [
-      ...Array.from(this.npcViews.values()).map(({ definition, sprite }) => ({
-        kind: 'npc' as const,
-        id: definition.id,
-        name: definition.name,
-        x: sprite.x,
-        y: sprite.y
-      })),
+      ...Array.from(this.npcViews.values())
+        .filter(({ definition }) => !this.npcMoveTweens.has(definition.id))
+        .map(({ definition, sprite }) => ({
+          kind: 'npc' as const,
+          id: definition.id,
+          name: definition.name,
+          x: sprite.x,
+          y: sprite.y
+        })),
       {
         kind: 'oath' as const,
         id: 'make-oath' as const,
@@ -1460,8 +1835,8 @@ export class PrologueVillageScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.playerDirection = this.directionForVector(toNpc);
     this.setPlayerMoving(false);
     const npcDirection = this.directionForVector(toNpc.scale(-1));
-    if (this.textures.exists(view.definition.textureKey)) {
-      view.sprite.play(`${view.definition.textureKey}-idle-${npcDirection}`);
+    if (this.textures.exists(view.textureKey)) {
+      view.sprite.play(`${view.textureKey}-idle-${npcDirection}`);
     }
   }