Regenerate screenshots; document NPC pipeline and confirmed assets

Ten of the eleven README captures are refreshed (the prop gallery is unchanged). README gains an NPC character-model subsection and a 'Confirmed game assets' section with linked, audited textures/models; architecture Level 2 lists npc_pipeline.py and asset_pipeline.py.

README.md

@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ The architecture maps onto Godot 4 nodes, scenes, and custom resources as descri
 - **NPC behavior:** Custom lightweight finite state machines driven by `NpcProfile` resources
 - **UI and audio:** Godot `Control` nodes, themes, audio buses, and `AudioStreamPlayer` nodes
 - **Art assets:** authored PNGs and the in-game generated set in `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/`; street-furniture models in `assets/models/generated/` build from `tools/model_pipeline.py`; structural geometry stays procedural (`WorldBuilder`). The legacy `tools/generate_textures.py --ai` batch remains available.
-- **Asset tooling:** `tools/asset_pipeline.py` generates role-aware assets through OpenRouter and provides crop, resize, seamless-tile, and image-audit commands, including gameplay screenshot checks. `tools/model_pipeline.py` builds and audits the prop `.glb` models.
+- **Asset tooling:** `tools/asset_pipeline.py` generates role-aware assets through OpenRouter (`--variants N` produces alternative images) and provides crop, resize, seamless-tile, and image-audit commands, including gameplay screenshot checks. `tools/model_pipeline.py` builds and audits the street-prop `.glb` models; `tools/npc_pipeline.py` builds and audits the skinned NPC base model.
 - **Testing:** GUT (Godot Unit Test) in headless mode
 - **Source control:** git on a Gitea host with Gitea Actions (`.gitea/workflows/build.yml`) for headless tests and desktop release builds
 - **Targets:** Windows, Linux, and macOS desktop first; web later
@@ -221,6 +221,57 @@ Surface materials share one definition in `src/game/materials.gd`: named
 roughness/metallic profiles per surface, plus the environment tune-up (ACES
 tonemapping, glow, fog, colour grading) that the phase lighting applies.
 
+### NPC character model
+
+NPCs are moving from the procedural capsule rig to a skinned, UV-mapped base
+character authored in Blender ([ADR-0013](docs/adr/0013-blender-authored-npc-characters.md)).
+`tools/npc_pipeline.py` builds `assets/models/generated/npc_base.glb` plus the
+per-slot material maps, and `NpcAvatar` keeps the procedural rig as the offline
+fallback until the model is wired in (see the [graphics plan](docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md)).
+
+```bash
+# Print the frozen contract (slots, bone names, triangle budget)
+python3 tools/npc_pipeline.py list
+
+# Rebuild the skinned base mesh + neutral maps in Blender and validate it
+flatpak run org.blender.Blender --background --python "$PWD/tools/npc_pipeline.py" -- build
+python3 tools/npc_pipeline.py audit
+
+# Layer the AI clothing albedos (shirt/trousers) over the procedural weave, and
+# derive per-fabric outfit colours for the avatar palette
+python3 tools/npc_pipeline.py prepare
+python3 tools/npc_pipeline.py palette
+```
+
+`prepare` resizes the AI fabric tiles (kept locally in `assets/textures/npc/ai/`,
+which is gitignored) onto the `cloth`/`pants` albedos; `build` bakes them into the
+`.glb` and regenerates the procedural normal + packed ORM maps. `palette` writes
+`assets/textures/npc/palette.json` using `model_pipeline.dominant_colors`.
+
+### Confirmed game assets
+
+Everything below is audited and shipped in the game; development-only outputs
+(AI concept sheets, Blender sources, raw AI fabrics) are gitignored.
+
+| | |
+| --- | --- |
+| ![brick facade](assets/textures/ai/game_ready/brick_facade.png) | ![concrete](assets/textures/ai/game_ready/concrete.png) |
+| ![asphalt](assets/textures/ai/game_ready/asphalt.png) | ![awning](assets/textures/ai/game_ready/awning.png) |
+| ![skyline](assets/textures/ai/game_ready/skyline.png) | ![vignette](assets/textures/ai/game_ready/vignette.png) |
+
+- **Surface textures:** the six tiles above, loaded by `src/game/materials.gd` and `WorldBuilder`.
+- **UI art:** `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/icons/` (flashlight, door lock, wand, REC) and `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/cards/` (ID, wristband, ticket, credential, guest list), loaded by `src/game/ui/hud.gd`.
+- **Generated models:** `assets/models/generated/*.glb` — bollard, bench, trash bin, planter, newspaper box, hydrant, and the NPC base — plus their colour atlases.
+- **NPC material maps:** `assets/textures/npc/*_{albedo,normal,orm}.png` and `palette.json`.
+
+Audit them all:
+
+```bash
+python3 tools/asset_pipeline.py audit assets/textures/ai/game_ready
+python3 tools/model_pipeline.py audit
+python3 tools/npc_pipeline.py audit
+```
+
 ### Screen design references
 
 Screen mockups and screenshot comparison use `tools/screen_designs.py`. It turns the
@@ -428,10 +479,11 @@ Implemented so far:
 - Prop collision and placement (v0.4.0): every prop fits a static collider from its mesh bounds and publishes a navigation obstacle, so the guard and guests cannot walk through benches, bins, or bollards; placements are grouped into zones with a validator, and deterministic variants add rotation, scale, and small clutter
 - Prop atlas (v0.3.1): `tools/model_pipeline.py` packs each prop's palette into one power-of-two colour atlas plus a metallic/roughness atlas and emits a single material with per-vertex UVs, so a prop is one draw material rather than one per part; `audit` enforces the contract
 - Generated prop models (v0.3.0 work): `tools/model_pipeline.py` builds bollards, benches, bins, planters, newspaper boxes and a hydrant as `.glb` props with per-part materials, loaded by `WorldBuilder` with a procedural fallback; the optional AI concept step (`model_pipeline.py concept`) supplies per-prop colour palettes
+- NPC base model (v0.6.0 assets): `tools/npc_pipeline.py` builds a skinned, UV-mapped base character (`assets/models/generated/npc_base.glb`) with per-slot albedo/normal/ORM maps and an armature matching the procedural rig's node names; AI fabric albedos (shirt/trousers) and a derived `palette.json` are layered in. Runtime integration into `NpcAvatar` is pending, so the procedural rig still renders
 - Web build: `build/step-line-web-<version>.zip` (Godot's non-threaded web template, no COOP/COEP headers needed) built by `tools/build_releases.sh` and published with the desktop artifacts; serve the unzipped folder from any static host
 - Aim-free selection pass (v0.3.0 work, [ADR-0011](docs/adr/0011-aim-free-selection-and-precision-walk.md)): the focus cone ranks candidates by angle then distance, `Tab` and the mouse wheel cycle nearby people nearest-first and pin the selection, right click clears focus with a short re-acquire grace, the HUD reports how many people are in the ring, and holding `Shift` walks at half speed for close work
 
-Not yet implemented: the v0.6.0 graphics pass (Blender-authored NPC characters, see [`docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md`](docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md)), live 3D body-camera replay, editor-based GUT integration, and crowd performance profiling/LOD (see `TODO.md`).
+Not yet implemented: wiring the authored NPC base model into the live game (`NpcAvatar._load_model`, see [`docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md`](docs/plan-graphics-v0.6.md) — the procedural rig still renders for now), live 3D body-camera replay, editor-based GUT integration, and crowd performance profiling/LOD (see `TODO.md`).
 
 ### Smoke Test Checklist