:root{
  /* Ink — the primary neutral ramp, cool-neutral, never pure black except --ink-1000 */
  --ink-1000:#000000;
  --ink-900:#0A0A0B;
  --ink-800:#16171A;
  --ink-700:#26282D;
  --ink-600:#3D4046;
  --ink-500:#5B5F67;
  --ink-400:#82868F;
  --ink-300:#A9ADB5;
  --ink-200:#CFD2D7;
  --ink-100:#E6E7EA;

  /* Paper — warm off-white ramp. Steadwell surfaces are bone, not white. */
  --paper-000:#FFFFFF;
  --paper-050:#FAF8F5;
  --paper-100:#F3F0EA;
  --paper-200:#E9E4DA;
  --paper-300:#DCD5C7;

  /* Brass — the single decorative accent: rules, eyebrows, marks of distinction */
  --brass-700:#6E541A;
  --brass-600:#8A6A22;
  --brass-500:#A88436;
  --brass-300:#D9C48A;
  --brass-100:#F0E7CF;

  /* Semantic audit palette — findings, risk levels, verdicts */
  --verdant-600:#2E5D4E; --verdant-300:#8FB2A5; --verdant-100:#DFE9E4;
  --amber-600:#A9761F;  --amber-300:#DEBE7E;  --amber-100:#F6E9CF;
  --oxblood-700:#701F1F; --oxblood-600:#8A2B2B; --oxblood-300:#C99191; --oxblood-100:#F2DFDC;
  --harbor-600:#34506B; --harbor-300:#93A9BC; --harbor-100:#DDE5EC;

  /* Semantic aliases — always prefer these in component code */
  --text-primary:var(--ink-900);
  --text-secondary:var(--ink-600);
  --text-muted:var(--ink-400);
  --text-inverse:var(--paper-050);
  --text-accent:var(--brass-600);
  --text-link:var(--ink-900);
  --text-link-hover:var(--brass-600);

  --surface-page:var(--paper-050);
  --surface-card:var(--paper-000);
  --surface-sunken:var(--paper-100);
  --surface-quiet:var(--paper-200);
  --surface-inverse:var(--ink-900);
  --surface-accent:var(--brass-100);

  --border-hairline:#E2DDD3;
  --border-default:var(--ink-200);
  --border-strong:var(--ink-900);
  --border-inverse:rgba(255,255,255,0.18);
  --rule-accent:var(--brass-500);

  --status-pass-fg:var(--verdant-600);   --status-pass-bg:var(--verdant-100);
  --status-watch-fg:var(--amber-600);    --status-watch-bg:var(--amber-100);
  --status-fail-fg:var(--oxblood-600);   --status-fail-bg:var(--oxblood-100);
  --status-info-fg:var(--harbor-600);    --status-info-bg:var(--harbor-100);

  --focus-ring:var(--brass-500);
  --overlay-scrim:rgba(10,10,11,0.44);
}