diff --git a/migrations/028_merit_nodes.sql b/migrations/028_merit_nodes.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..647530a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/028_merit_nodes.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+-- Merit nodes: a ceremony node that awards an achievement when the playthrough
+-- reaches it (Scene 8 — "The Barricelli Luggage"). The awarded flag is authored on
+-- the node; the runtime grants it on arrival with node provenance. Merit nodes may
+-- also carry a component_key for their ceremony presentation (e.g. a 3D model).
+
+ALTER TABLE osint.story_nodes DROP CONSTRAINT story_nodes_node_type_check;
+ALTER TABLE osint.story_nodes ADD CONSTRAINT story_nodes_node_type_check
+  CHECK (node_type IN ('cutscene','dialogue','level','det_gate','llm_gate','merit'));
+
+-- Let a merit node carry a ceremony component_key (was cutscene/gate only).
+ALTER TABLE osint.story_nodes DROP CONSTRAINT story_nodes_check1;
+ALTER TABLE osint.story_nodes ADD CONSTRAINT story_nodes_check1
+  CHECK (component_key IS NULL OR node_type IN ('cutscene','det_gate','llm_gate','merit'));
+
+ALTER TABLE osint.story_nodes ADD COLUMN awards_flag TEXT
+  CHECK (awards_flag IS NULL OR awards_flag ~ '^[a-z][a-z0-9_.-]{0,63}$');
+ALTER TABLE osint.story_nodes ADD CONSTRAINT story_nodes_awards_flag_type
+  CHECK (awards_flag IS NULL OR node_type = 'merit');
diff --git a/server/index.ts b/server/index.ts
index e7d0814..f66b647 100644
--- a/server/index.ts
+++ b/server/index.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const textExtractor = createTextExtractorFromEnv()
 const levels = createLevelRepository(pool, editingEnabled, objectStorage)
 const narrative = createNarrativeRepository(pool, objectStorage)
 const storyGraph = createStoryGraphRepository(pool)
-const STORY_NODE_TYPES: StoryNodeType[] = ['cutscene', 'dialogue', 'level', 'det_gate', 'llm_gate']
+const STORY_NODE_TYPES: StoryNodeType[] = ['cutscene', 'dialogue', 'level', 'det_gate', 'llm_gate', 'merit']
 
 function wantsEdit(req: express.Request) {
   return editingEnabled && req.query.edit === '1' && hasAdminClaim(req)
diff --git a/server/narrativeRepository.ts b/server/narrativeRepository.ts
index 16c13e6..dd21c53 100644
--- a/server/narrativeRepository.ts
+++ b/server/narrativeRepository.ts
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ export type RuntimeUtterance = {
   poseUrl: string | null; text: string; childIds: string[]; terminalKey: string | null
 }
 export type RuntimeNode = {
-  id: string; kind: 'cutscene' | 'dialogue' | 'level'; label: string
+  id: string; kind: 'cutscene' | 'dialogue' | 'level' | 'merit'; label: string
   componentKey?: string | null; levelSlug?: string | null; musicUrl?: string | null; musicVolume?: number
+  awardsFlag?: string | null
   utterances?: RuntimeUtterance[]; rootId?: string | null
 }
 export type PlaythroughState = { playthrough: PlaythroughSummary; node: RuntimeNode | null }
@@ -64,7 +65,14 @@ export interface NarrativeRepository {
   deletePose(npcId: string, poseKey: string): Promise<NpcDto | null>
 }
 
-type GraphNodeRow = { id: string; node_type: string; label: string; component_key: string | null; level_template_version_id: string | null; music_asset_id: string | null; music_volume: number }
+type GraphNodeRow = { id: string; node_type: string; label: string; component_key: string | null; level_template_version_id: string | null; music_asset_id: string | null; music_volume: number; awards_flag?: string | null }
+
+// Grant a merit node's achievement to the player on arrival (idempotent, with node
+// provenance). Called from the write paths that move current_node_id onto a node.
+async function awardMeritWithin(client: PoolClient, playthroughId: string, node: { id: string; node_type: string; awards_flag?: string | null }) {
+  if (node.node_type !== 'merit' || !node.awards_flag) return
+  await client.query('INSERT INTO osint.achievements (playthrough_id,flag_key,awarded_by_node_id) VALUES ($1,$2,$3) ON CONFLICT (playthrough_id,flag_key) DO NOTHING', [playthroughId, node.awards_flag, node.id])
+}
 
 export function createNarrativeRepository(pool: Pool, objectStorage: ObjectStorage): NarrativeRepository {
   // ---- Runtime: walking the story graph -------------------------------------
@@ -101,13 +109,14 @@ export function createNarrativeRepository(pool: Pool, objectStorage: ObjectStora
   }
 
   async function resolveNodeForPlay(nodeId: string, levelSlug: string | null): Promise<RuntimeNode | null> {
-    const node = (await pool.query<GraphNodeRow>('SELECT id,node_type,label,component_key,level_template_version_id,music_asset_id,music_volume FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE id=$1', [nodeId])).rows[0]
+    const node = (await pool.query<GraphNodeRow>('SELECT id,node_type,label,component_key,level_template_version_id,music_asset_id,music_volume,awards_flag FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE id=$1', [nodeId])).rows[0]
     if (!node) return null
     const musicUrl = node.music_asset_id ? `/api/assets/${node.music_asset_id}` : null
     const musicVolume = node.music_volume / 100
     if (node.node_type === 'cutscene') return { id: node.id, kind: 'cutscene', label: node.label, componentKey: node.component_key, musicUrl, musicVolume }
     if (node.node_type === 'level') return { id: node.id, kind: 'level', label: node.label, levelSlug, musicUrl, musicVolume }
     if (node.node_type === 'dialogue') return { id: node.id, kind: 'dialogue', label: node.label, musicUrl, musicVolume, ...(await resolveDialogueGraph(node.id)) }
+    if (node.node_type === 'merit') return { id: node.id, kind: 'merit', label: node.label, componentKey: node.component_key, awardsFlag: node.awards_flag, musicUrl, musicVolume }
     return null // gates are auto-resolved during advance and never surfaced
   }
 
@@ -115,7 +124,7 @@ export function createNarrativeRepository(pool: Pool, objectStorage: ObjectStora
   async function resolveThroughGates(client: PoolClient, nodeId: string | null): Promise<GraphNodeRow | null> {
     let current = nodeId
     for (let guard = 0; guard < 50 && current; guard++) {
-      const node = (await client.query<GraphNodeRow>('SELECT id,node_type,label,component_key,level_template_version_id FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE id=$1', [current])).rows[0]
+      const node = (await client.query<GraphNodeRow>('SELECT id,node_type,label,component_key,level_template_version_id,awards_flag FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE id=$1', [current])).rows[0]
       if (!node) return null
       if (node.node_type !== 'det_gate' && node.node_type !== 'llm_gate') return node
       const next = await client.query<{ to_node_id: string | null }>('SELECT to_node_id FROM osint.story_node_terminals WHERE parent_node_id=$1 ORDER BY sort_order LIMIT 1', [current])
@@ -224,6 +233,7 @@ export function createNarrativeRepository(pool: Pool, objectStorage: ObjectStora
         playthroughId = randomUUID()
         await client.query('INSERT INTO osint.playthroughs (id,user_id,mystery_id,current_node_id,current_level_id) VALUES ($1,$2,$3,$4,$5)',
           [playthroughId, userId, mystery.id, entry.id, levelId])
+        await awardMeritWithin(client, playthroughId, entry)
         await client.query('COMMIT')
       } catch (error) { await client.query('ROLLBACK'); throw error } finally { client.release() }
       return stateForPlaythrough(playthroughId)
@@ -263,12 +273,13 @@ export function createNarrativeRepository(pool: Pool, objectStorage: ObjectStora
           `SELECT p.mystery_id, m.slug AS mystery_slug FROM osint.playthroughs p JOIN osint.mysteries m ON m.id=p.mystery_id
            WHERE p.id=$1 AND p.user_id=$2 FOR UPDATE OF p`, [playthroughId, userId])).rows[0]
         if (!playthrough) { await client.query('ROLLBACK'); return { ok: false, error: 'Playthrough not found' } }
-        const node = (await client.query<{ id: string; node_type: string; level_template_version_id: string | null }>(
-          'SELECT id,node_type,level_template_version_id FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE id=$1 AND mystery_id=$2', [nodeId, playthrough.mystery_id])).rows[0]
+        const node = (await client.query<{ id: string; node_type: string; level_template_version_id: string | null; awards_flag: string | null }>(
+          'SELECT id,node_type,level_template_version_id,awards_flag FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE id=$1 AND mystery_id=$2', [nodeId, playthrough.mystery_id])).rows[0]
         if (!node) { await client.query('ROLLBACK'); return { ok: false, error: 'Node not found' } }
         const levelId = node.node_type === 'level' && node.level_template_version_id
           ? await instantiateLevel(client, node.level_template_version_id, playthrough.mystery_slug) : null
         await client.query(`UPDATE osint.playthroughs SET status='active',current_node_id=$2,current_level_id=$3,updated_at=NOW() WHERE id=$1`, [playthroughId, node.id, levelId])
+        await awardMeritWithin(client, playthroughId, node)
         await client.query('COMMIT')
       } catch (error) { await client.query('ROLLBACK'); throw error } finally { client.release() }
       const state = await stateForPlaythrough(playthroughId)
@@ -298,6 +309,7 @@ export function createNarrativeRepository(pool: Pool, objectStorage: ObjectStora
           const levelId = target.node_type === 'level' && target.level_template_version_id
             ? await instantiateLevel(client, target.level_template_version_id, playthrough.mystery_slug) : null
           await client.query('UPDATE osint.playthroughs SET current_node_id=$2,current_level_id=$3,updated_at=NOW() WHERE id=$1', [playthroughId, target.id, levelId])
+          await awardMeritWithin(client, playthroughId, target)
         }
         await client.query('COMMIT')
       } catch (error) { await client.query('ROLLBACK'); throw error } finally { client.release() }
diff --git a/server/storyGraphRepository.ts b/server/storyGraphRepository.ts
index 9c3d4f7..bfc74c1 100644
--- a/server/storyGraphRepository.ts
+++ b/server/storyGraphRepository.ts
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ export type GraphSpecNode = {
 }
 export type GraphSpec = { entry: string; nodes: GraphSpecNode[] }
 
-export type StoryNodeType = 'cutscene' | 'dialogue' | 'level' | 'det_gate' | 'llm_gate'
+export type StoryNodeType = 'cutscene' | 'dialogue' | 'level' | 'det_gate' | 'llm_gate' | 'merit'
 export type TerminalDto = { id: string; terminalKey: string; label: string; toNodeId: string | null; sortOrder: number }
 export type StoryNodeDto = {
   id: string; nodeType: StoryNodeType; label: string; hasUtterances: boolean
   xpos: number; ypos: number; levelTemplateVersionId: string | null; componentKey: string | null; musicAssetId: string | null; musicVolume: number
+  awardsFlag: string | null
   terminals: TerminalDto[]
 }
 export type StoryGraphDto = { mysteryId: string; entryNodeId: string | null; nodes: StoryNodeDto[] }
@@ -32,12 +33,13 @@ const DEFAULT_TERMINALS: Record<StoryNodeType, { key: string; label: string }[]>
   level: [{ key: 'report_back', label: 'Report back' }],
   det_gate: [{ key: 'pass', label: 'Pass' }],
   llm_gate: [{ key: 'pass', label: 'Pass' }],
+  merit: [{ key: 'continue', label: 'Continue' }],
 }
 
 export interface StoryGraphRepository {
   getGraph(mysteryId: string): Promise<StoryGraphDto | null>
   createNode(mysteryId: string, input: { nodeType: StoryNodeType; xpos: number; ypos: number; label?: string }): Promise<StoryNodeDto | null>
-  updateNode(nodeId: string, input: Partial<{ label: string; xpos: number; ypos: number; hasUtterances: boolean; componentKey: string | null; levelTemplateVersionId: string | null; musicAssetId: string | null; musicVolume: number }>): Promise<StoryNodeDto | null>
+  updateNode(nodeId: string, input: Partial<{ label: string; xpos: number; ypos: number; hasUtterances: boolean; componentKey: string | null; levelTemplateVersionId: string | null; musicAssetId: string | null; musicVolume: number; awardsFlag: string | null }>): Promise<StoryNodeDto | null>
   deleteNode(nodeId: string): Promise<boolean>
   addTerminal(nodeId: string, input: { terminalKey: string; label?: string }): Promise<StoryNodeDto | null>
   updateTerminal(terminalId: string, input: Partial<{ label: string; sortOrder: number; toNodeId: string | null }>): Promise<{ ok: boolean; error?: string }>
@@ -61,8 +63,8 @@ export function createStoryGraphRepository(pool: Pool): StoryGraphRepository {
     const mystery = await pool.query<{ id: string; entry_node_id: string | null }>('SELECT id,entry_node_id FROM osint.mysteries WHERE id=$1', [mysteryId])
     if (!mystery.rows[0]) return null
     const [nodes, terminals] = await Promise.all([
-      pool.query<{ id: string; node_type: StoryNodeType; label: string; has_utterances: boolean; xpos: number; ypos: number; level_template_version_id: string | null; component_key: string | null; music_asset_id: string | null; music_volume: number }>(
-        'SELECT id,node_type,label,has_utterances,xpos,ypos,level_template_version_id,component_key,music_asset_id,music_volume FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE mystery_id=$1 ORDER BY created_at', [mysteryId]),
+      pool.query<{ id: string; node_type: StoryNodeType; label: string; has_utterances: boolean; xpos: number; ypos: number; level_template_version_id: string | null; component_key: string | null; music_asset_id: string | null; music_volume: number; awards_flag: string | null }>(
+        'SELECT id,node_type,label,has_utterances,xpos,ypos,level_template_version_id,component_key,music_asset_id,music_volume,awards_flag FROM osint.story_nodes WHERE mystery_id=$1 ORDER BY created_at', [mysteryId]),
       pool.query<{ id: string; parent_node_id: string; terminal_key: string; label: string; to_node_id: string | null; sort_order: number }>(
         `SELECT t.id,t.parent_node_id,t.terminal_key,t.label,t.to_node_id,t.sort_order FROM osint.story_node_terminals t
          JOIN osint.story_nodes n ON n.id=t.parent_node_id WHERE n.mystery_id=$1 ORDER BY t.sort_order,t.terminal_key`, [mysteryId]),
@@ -78,6 +80,7 @@ export function createStoryGraphRepository(pool: Pool): StoryGraphRepository {
       nodes: nodes.rows.map(row => ({
         id: row.id, nodeType: row.node_type, label: row.label, hasUtterances: row.has_utterances,
         xpos: row.xpos, ypos: row.ypos, levelTemplateVersionId: row.level_template_version_id, componentKey: row.component_key, musicAssetId: row.music_asset_id, musicVolume: row.music_volume,
+        awardsFlag: row.awards_flag,
         terminals: byNode.get(row.id) || [],
       })),
     }
@@ -119,6 +122,7 @@ export function createStoryGraphRepository(pool: Pool): StoryGraphRepository {
       if (input.levelTemplateVersionId !== undefined) set('level_template_version_id', input.levelTemplateVersionId || null)
       if (input.musicAssetId !== undefined) set('music_asset_id', input.musicAssetId || null)
       if (input.musicVolume !== undefined) set('music_volume', Math.max(0, Math.min(100, Math.round(input.musicVolume))))
+      if (input.awardsFlag !== undefined) set('awards_flag', input.awardsFlag?.trim() || null)
       if (sets.length) await pool.query(`UPDATE osint.story_nodes SET ${sets.join(',')} WHERE id=$1`, values)
       const graph = await loadGraph(mysteryId)
       return graph?.nodes.find(node => node.id === nodeId) ?? null
diff --git a/src/narrative.tsx b/src/narrative.tsx
index 86dafa1..1557f9f 100644
--- a/src/narrative.tsx
+++ b/src/narrative.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, type FC } from 'react'
 import { audio } from './audio'
 
 export type RuntimeUtterance = { id: string; utterer: 'npc' | 'player'; speaker: { name: string; role: string }; poseUrl: string | null; text: string; childIds: string[]; terminalKey: string | null }
-export type RuntimeNode = { id: string; kind: 'cutscene' | 'dialogue' | 'level'; label: string; componentKey?: string | null; levelSlug?: string | null; musicUrl?: string | null; musicVolume?: number; utterances?: RuntimeUtterance[]; rootId?: string | null }
+export type RuntimeNode = { id: string; kind: 'cutscene' | 'dialogue' | 'level' | 'merit'; label: string; componentKey?: string | null; levelSlug?: string | null; musicUrl?: string | null; musicVolume?: number; awardsFlag?: string | null; utterances?: RuntimeUtterance[]; rootId?: string | null }
 export type PlaythroughSummary = { id: string; mysterySlug: string; levelSlug: string | null; status: string }
 export type PlaythroughState = { playthrough: PlaythroughSummary; node: RuntimeNode | null }
 
@@ -48,6 +48,25 @@ const GlassHarbourDiversion: FC<{ onComplete: () => void }> = ({ onComplete }) =
 const CUTSCENE_REGISTRY: Record<string, FC<{ onComplete: () => void }>> = { 'glass-harbour-diversion': GlassHarbourDiversion }
 export const CUTSCENE_COMPONENT_KEYS = Object.keys(CUTSCENE_REGISTRY)
 
+// Merit ceremony components, keyed by a merit node's component_key (e.g. a 3D
+// award model). The achievement itself is granted server-side on arrival; this is
+// purely the presentation of receiving it.
+const MERIT_REGISTRY: Record<string, FC<{ label: string; onComplete: () => void }>> = {}
+export const MERIT_COMPONENT_KEYS = Object.keys(MERIT_REGISTRY)
+
+export function MeritHost({ componentKey, label, awardsFlag, onComplete }: { componentKey: string | null | undefined; label: string; awardsFlag?: string | null; onComplete: () => void }) {
+  const Component = componentKey ? MERIT_REGISTRY[componentKey] : undefined
+  if (Component) return <Component label={label} onComplete={onComplete} />
+  return <div className="cutscene-card merit-card" onClick={onComplete}>
+    <div className="title-card-inner">
+      <small className="merit-eyebrow">◆ MERIT AWARDED ◆</small>
+      <h1>{label}</h1>
+      {awardsFlag && <p className="merit-flag">🏅 {awardsFlag}</p>}
+      <button className="cutscene-begin" onClick={event => { event.stopPropagation(); onComplete() }}>Accept ▸</button>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+}
+
 export function CutsceneHost({ componentKey, label, onComplete }: { componentKey: string | null | undefined; label: string; onComplete: () => void }) {
   const Component = componentKey ? CUTSCENE_REGISTRY[componentKey] : undefined
   if (Component) return <Component onComplete={onComplete} />
diff --git a/src/play.tsx b/src/play.tsx
index bbede76..c074154 100644
--- a/src/play.tsx
+++ b/src/play.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react'
-import { CutsceneHost, DialoguePlayer, type PlaythroughState } from './narrative'
+import { CutsceneHost, DialoguePlayer, MeritHost, type PlaythroughState } from './narrative'
 
 type MysterySummary = { slug: string; title: string }
 
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ export function Play() {
   const node = state?.node
   if (!node) return <div className="boot"><div className="seal">GU</div><p>GLITCH UNIVERSITY NETWORK TERMINAL</p><small>{status || 'OPENING CASE FILE…'}</small></div>
   if (node.kind === 'cutscene') return <CutsceneHost componentKey={node.componentKey} label={node.label} onComplete={() => { void advance() }} />
+  if (node.kind === 'merit') return <MeritHost componentKey={node.componentKey} label={node.label} awardsFlag={node.awardsFlag} onComplete={() => { void advance() }} />
   if (node.kind === 'dialogue' && node.utterances) return <DialoguePlayer node={{ utterances: node.utterances, rootId: node.rootId ?? null }} onExit={terminalKey => { void advance(terminalKey) }} />
   return <div className="boot"><div className="seal">GU</div><small>{node.label}</small></div>
 }
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index d5e8fb9..3a3e27a 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -520,6 +520,9 @@ button:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #e99a44; outline-offset: 2px; }
 
 /* Story-graph runtime: cutscene title card + report-back */
 .cutscene-card { position: fixed; inset: 0; z-index: 200; display: grid; place-items: center; background: #04110e; cursor: pointer; animation: dialogue-in .3s ease; }
+.merit-card { background: radial-gradient(120% 90% at 50% 35%, #16240f 0%, #0a1408 60%, #04110e 100%); }
+.merit-card .merit-eyebrow { color: #cdea6a; }
+.merit-flag { font: 13px IBM Plex Mono; letter-spacing: .12em; color: #d58a46; margin: 0; }
 .title-card-inner { display: grid; justify-items: center; text-align: center; gap: 18px; animation: title-rise 1.1s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.2,1); }
 @keyframes title-rise { from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(14px); } to { opacity: 1; transform: none; } }
 .title-card-inner small { font: 10px IBM Plex Mono; letter-spacing: .3em; color: #7f9a92; text-transform: uppercase; }