diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-epic/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-epic/case.json
index c5ba46ed1..3deb26e77 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-epic/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-epic/case.json
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@
     "skills/workflow-discovery/references/shape-and-confirm.md",
     "skills/workflow-discovery/references/confirm-trigger.md",
     "skills/workflow-discovery/references/name-resolution.md",
-    "skills/workflow-discovery/references/template.md"
+    "skills/workflow-discovery/references/template.md",
+    "skills/workflow-shared/references/casing-conventions.md",
+    "skills/workflow-discovery/references/detection-core.md",
+    "skills/workflow-discovery/references/resume-detection.md"
   ],
   "answers": [
     "e — start a new epic",
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-feature/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-feature/case.json
index 36231b11b..e623d978d 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-feature/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/discovery-commits-new-feature/case.json
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@
     "skills/workflow-discovery/references/shape-and-confirm.md",
     "skills/workflow-discovery/references/confirm-trigger.md",
     "skills/workflow-discovery/references/name-resolution.md",
-    "skills/workflow-discovery/references/template.md"
+    "skills/workflow-discovery/references/template.md",
+    "skills/workflow-shared/references/casing-conventions.md",
+    "skills/workflow-discovery/references/detection-core.md"
   ],
   "answers": [
     "f — start a new feature",
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/discussion-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/discussion-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json
index b0f907864..d18feea4d 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/discussion-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/discussion-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 {
-  "origin": "feature mainline \u2014 single-phase work seeds from its durable carrier",
+  "origin": "feature mainline — single-phase work seeds from its durable carrier",
   "entry": "workflow-discussion-entry",
   "files": [
     "skills/workflow-discussion-entry/SKILL.md",
-    "skills/workflow-shared/references/ensure-discovery-item.md"
+    "skills/workflow-shared/references/ensure-discovery-item.md",
+    "skills/workflow-discussion-entry/references/invoke-skill.md"
   ],
   "invariants": {
     "calls_include": [
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/implementation-picks-first-task/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/implementation-picks-first-task/case.json
index f5c58f453..29656560e 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/implementation-picks-first-task/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/implementation-picks-first-task/case.json
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 {
-  "origin": "feature mainline \u2014 entry through resume detection to the first task",
+  "origin": "feature mainline — entry through resume detection to the first task",
   "entry": "workflow-implementation-entry",
   "files": [
     "skills/workflow-implementation-entry/SKILL.md",
     "skills/workflow-implementation-entry/references/validate-phase.md",
     "skills/workflow-implementation-entry/references/validate-dependencies.md",
     "skills/workflow-implementation-process/SKILL.md",
-    "skills/workflow-implementation-process/references/environment-setup.md"
+    "skills/workflow-implementation-process/references/environment-setup.md",
+    "skills/workflow-implementation-entry/references/invoke-skill.md"
   ],
   "answers": [
-    "none \u2014 no special setup is needed"
+    "none — no special setup is needed"
   ],
   "invariants": {
     "engine_before_write": true,
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json
index d11bcfca0..080b022f7 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-entry-seeds-from-carrier/case.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "origin": "bugfix mainline \u2014 a bug shaped in discovery is never re-interrogated",
+  "origin": "bugfix mainline — a bug shaped in discovery is never re-interrogated",
   "entry": "workflow-investigation-entry",
   "files": [
     "skills/workflow-investigation-entry/SKILL.md",
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/act.md b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/act.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3de6eb704
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/act.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Execute skills/workflow-investigation-entry/SKILL.md with arguments
+$0=bugfix, $1=crash-fix, and continue into the processing skill it hands
+off to. Stop once the phase has been initialised and the prose turns to
+gathering symptoms from the user — do not gather them, and ask nothing.
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/assert.md b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/assert.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..480d70c96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/assert.md
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+The prose should have taken this path:
+
+1. the entry resolves the topic to the work unit, finds no investigation
+   recorded, and hands off — the entry itself creates nothing
+2. the processing skill checks for an existing investigation file before
+   anything else; there is none, so this is a fresh start and no resume
+   choice is put to the user
+3. initialisation reads the work's seed before writing, so the phase
+   opens from the origin rather than from an empty page
+4. the investigation file is created from the template, and the symptoms
+   the discovery carrier already recorded are placed into it — the user
+   is not asked to repeat what they have already said
+5. the phase is registered through the engine and the file committed,
+   and only then does the prose turn to gathering further symptoms
+
+Further claims:
+
+- the walk stops with the symptom interview unstarted: the prose reaches
+  the point of asking and the case ends there, so no question is put
+
+EXPECTED WORLD — from a work unit whose investigation had not begun:
+
+- an investigation file at `.workflows/crash-fix/investigation/crash-fix.md`,
+  carrying the template's section structure — Symptoms, Analysis, Fix
+  Direction, Notes
+- its Symptoms section seeded from what discovery already captured about
+  the checkout crash, not left as template placeholders
+- its Analysis and Fix Direction sections still unwritten: nothing has
+  been traced or decided, and the walk stops before either begins
+- the investigation registered as in progress on the work unit
+- no other phase touched, and no second work unit
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/case.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..55f25e915
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/case.json
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+  "origin": "the first case to walk past a handoff into a processing skill — investigation's initialisation, where the phase's artifact first exists on disk",
+  "entry": "workflow-investigation-entry",
+  "world": "claims",
+  "files": [
+    "skills/workflow-investigation-entry/SKILL.md",
+    "skills/workflow-investigation-entry/references/invoke-skill.md",
+    "skills/workflow-investigation-process/SKILL.md",
+    "skills/workflow-investigation-process/references/initialize-investigation.md",
+    "skills/workflow-investigation-process/references/template.md",
+    "skills/workflow-shared/references/seed-context.md",
+    "skills/workflow-knowledge/references/knowledge-usage.md"
+  ],
+  "invariants": {
+    "engine_before_write": true,
+    "calls_include": [
+      "manifest get crash-fix.investigation.crash-fix status",
+      "manifest get crash-fix seeds",
+      "topic start crash-fix investigation crash-fix"
+    ],
+    "calls_in_order": [
+      "manifest get crash-fix.investigation.crash-fix status",
+      "topic start crash-fix investigation crash-fix"
+    ],
+    "calls_exclude": [
+      "topic complete",
+      "knowledge.cjs index",
+      "topic reopen"
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture-state.cjs b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture-state.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..88039b9f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture-state.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// The same starting world as the entry case: the bug is captured and the
+// investigation has not begun. This case is what happens next — the walk
+// carries on past the handoff the entry case stops at.
+
+const m = require('../../mainlines/bugfix.cjs');
+
+module.exports = {
+  build(h) {
+    m.init(h);
+    m.create(h);
+  },
+};
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture.md b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec8bf31b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+A bugfix shaped in discovery and routed to investigation. The work unit
+exists with its session log; nothing in the investigation phase has been
+started, and no investigation file exists.
+
+The bridge has just written its plan file and the context was cleared —
+this session opens cold at the entry skill, carrying nothing but the two
+arguments and whatever is on disk.
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.claude/settings.json b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.claude/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ae019ede5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.claude/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "showClearContextOnPlanAccept": true,
+  "permissions": {
+    "allow": [
+      "Edit(.workflows/**)",
+      "Bash(mv .workflows/:*)"
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.recipe-hash b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.recipe-hash
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5796f59d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.recipe-hash
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+418aebad0817dc3bca89f861fd52682d4c1327da18ca5869d7b68eb6f38fbe4b
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/.state/migrations b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/.state/migrations
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3c7162acc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/.state/migrations
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+001
+002
+003
+004
+005
+006
+007
+008
+009
+010
+011
+012
+013
+014
+015
+016
+017
+018
+019
+020
+021
+022
+023
+024
+025
+026
+027
+028
+029
+030
+031
+032
+033
+034
+035
+036
+037
+038
+039
+040
+041
+042
+043
+044
+045
+046
+047
+048
+049
+050
+051
+052
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/_gitignore.fixture b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/_gitignore.fixture
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..779cbf28a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/_gitignore.fixture
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+.cache/
+.manifest.json.*.tmp
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/crash-fix/discovery/sessions/session-001.md b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/crash-fix/discovery/sessions/session-001.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6dc56d4e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/crash-fix/discovery/sessions/session-001.md
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# Discovery Session 001
+
+Date: 2026-01-01
+Work unit: crash-fix
+
+## Description (as of session)
+
+Checkout crashes when an order has no shipping address.
+
+## Seed
+
+(none)
+
+## Imports
+
+(none)
+
+## Map State at Start
+
+(n/a — single-topic work)
+
+## Exploration
+
+Reported by two users this week: the checkout page 500s at the
+payment step for orders with no shipping address. Reproducible on
+staging with a digital-only basket. No error surfaces to the user —
+the page just fails. Confirmed as a bugfix; no design question here,
+so it routes straight to investigation.
+
+## Edits
+
+(none)
+
+## Topics Identified
+
+(none)
+
+## Conclusion
+
+(none)
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/crash-fix/manifest.json b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/crash-fix/manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eaaa56199
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/crash-fix/manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "name": "crash-fix",
+  "work_type": "bugfix",
+  "status": "in-progress",
+  "created": "2026-01-01",
+  "description": "Checkout crashes when an order has no shipping address",
+  "phases": {}
+}
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/manifest.json b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cd498ed5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/investigation-initialises-the-phase/fixture/.workflows/manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "work_units": {
+    "crash-fix": {
+      "work_type": "bugfix"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/planning-entry-asks-for-late-context/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/planning-entry-asks-for-late-context/case.json
index 072803bfd..9753fd5ec 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/planning-entry-asks-for-late-context/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/planning-entry-asks-for-late-context/case.json
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 {
-  "origin": "feature mainline \u2014 planning offers a last chance to add context",
+  "origin": "feature mainline — planning offers a last chance to add context",
   "entry": "workflow-planning-entry",
   "files": [
     "skills/workflow-planning-entry/SKILL.md",
     "skills/workflow-planning-entry/references/validate-spec.md",
     "skills/workflow-planning-entry/references/validate-phase.md",
-    "skills/workflow-planning-entry/references/cross-cutting-context.md"
+    "skills/workflow-planning-entry/references/cross-cutting-context.md",
+    "skills/workflow-planning-entry/references/invoke-skill.md"
   ],
   "answers": [
-    "continue \u2014 nothing has changed since the specification"
+    "continue — nothing has changed since the specification"
   ],
   "invariants": {
     "calls_include": [
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/review-entry-fresh/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/review-entry-fresh/case.json
index 1bac663c7..f67fedaf9 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/review-entry-fresh/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/review-entry-fresh/case.json
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 {
-  "origin": "feature mainline \u2014 review refuses to start until delivery is complete",
+  "origin": "feature mainline — review refuses to start until delivery is complete",
   "entry": "workflow-review-entry",
   "files": [
     "skills/workflow-review-entry/SKILL.md",
-    "skills/workflow-review-entry/references/validate-phase.md"
+    "skills/workflow-review-entry/references/validate-phase.md",
+    "skills/workflow-review-entry/references/invoke-skill.md"
   ],
   "invariants": {
     "calls_include": [
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-discussion/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-discussion/case.json
index bbae6fa2a..6262114ea 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-discussion/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-discussion/case.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "origin": "feature mainline \u2014 a feature's spec draws on its discussion",
+  "origin": "feature mainline — a feature's spec draws on its discussion",
   "entry": "workflow-specification-entry",
   "files": [
     "skills/workflow-specification-entry/SKILL.md",
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-investigation/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-investigation/case.json
index a2fd8f96b..311973478 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-investigation/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/spec-entry-from-investigation/case.json
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 {
-  "origin": "bugfix mainline \u2014 the same entry skill, sourced from an investigation",
+  "origin": "bugfix mainline — the same entry skill, sourced from an investigation",
   "entry": "workflow-specification-entry",
   "files": [
     "skills/workflow-specification-entry/SKILL.md",
     "skills/workflow-specification-entry/references/validate-source.md",
-    "skills/workflow-specification-entry/references/invoke-skill.md"
+    "skills/workflow-specification-entry/references/invoke-skill.md",
+    "skills/workflow-specification-entry/references/validate-phase.md"
   ],
   "invariants": {
     "calls_include": [
diff --git a/tests/prose/cases/start-lists-active-work/case.json b/tests/prose/cases/start-lists-active-work/case.json
index a588da9ab..c3331237e 100644
--- a/tests/prose/cases/start-lists-active-work/case.json
+++ b/tests/prose/cases/start-lists-active-work/case.json
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 {
-  "origin": "feature mainline \u2014 the entry skill surfaces work without touching it",
+  "origin": "feature mainline — the entry skill surfaces work without touching it",
   "entry": "workflow-start",
   "files": [
-    "skills/workflow-start/SKILL.md"
+    "skills/workflow-start/SKILL.md",
+    "skills/workflow-shared/references/casing-conventions.md",
+    "skills/workflow-start/references/active-work.md"
   ],
   "invariants": {
     "calls_include": [