diff --git a/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs b/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs
index 8faec3a..ccb4518 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs
+++ b/scripts/verify-prologue-village-browser.mjs
@@ -41,7 +41,15 @@ try {
   await waitForTitle(page);
   await assertDesktopViewport(page);
   await verifyReducedMotionExploration(page);
-  await page.evaluate(() => window.localStorage.clear());
+  await page.addInitScript(() => {
+    const marker =
+      'heros-web:qa:prologue-village-clean-start';
+    if (window.sessionStorage.getItem(marker) === '1') {
+      return;
+    }
+    window.localStorage.clear();
+    window.sessionStorage.setItem(marker, '1');
+  });
   await page.reload({ waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 90000 });
   await waitForDebugApi(page);
   await waitForTitle(page);
@@ -505,6 +513,8 @@ try {
     'Militia camp arrival must not retrigger dialogue on a later update.'
   );
   await advanceMilitiaCampDialogueUntilClosed(page);
+  const campPlayerBeforeReload =
+    (await readMilitiaCamp(page)).player;
 
   await page.reload({ waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 90000 });
   await waitForDebugApi(page);
@@ -520,19 +530,38 @@ try {
     false,
     'The pointer-route smoke reload must not replay the one-time camp introduction.'
   );
+  assert(
+    Math.abs(
+      militiaCamp.player.x - campPlayerBeforeReload.x
+    ) <= 1 &&
+      Math.abs(
+        militiaCamp.player.y - campPlayerBeforeReload.y
+      ) <= 1 &&
+      militiaCamp.player.direction ===
+        campPlayerBeforeReload.direction,
+    `The militia checkpoint must restore the exact player position and direction: ${JSON.stringify(
+      {
+        before: campPlayerBeforeReload,
+        after: militiaCamp.player
+      }
+    )}`
+  );
 
   const campPlayerBeforeMove = militiaCamp.player;
-  await page.keyboard.down('ArrowUp');
-  await page.waitForTimeout(360);
-  await page.keyboard.up('ArrowUp');
   await page.keyboard.down('ArrowLeft');
-  await page.waitForTimeout(980);
+  await page.waitForTimeout(800);
+  await page.keyboard.up('ArrowLeft');
+  await page.keyboard.down('ArrowDown');
+  await page.waitForTimeout(1100);
+  await page.keyboard.up('ArrowDown');
+  await page.keyboard.down('ArrowLeft');
+  await page.waitForTimeout(350);
   await page.keyboard.up('ArrowLeft');
   await page.waitForTimeout(80);
   const campAfterMove = await readMilitiaCamp(page);
   assert(
-    campPlayerBeforeMove.y - campAfterMove.player.y >= 70 &&
-      campPlayerBeforeMove.x - campAfterMove.player.x >= 220,
+    campAfterMove.player.y - campPlayerBeforeMove.y >= 270 &&
+      campPlayerBeforeMove.x - campAfterMove.player.x >= 270,
     `Expected keyboard traversal through the militia camp: ${JSON.stringify({
       before: campPlayerBeforeMove,
       after: campAfterMove.player