diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_arena.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_arena.go
index aa6b3aa..71fda3f 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_arena.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_arena.go
@@ -468,13 +468,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) resolveArenaDeath(ctx MessageContext, run *ArenaRun, c
 	if err := saveAdvCharacter(char); err != nil {
 		slog.Error("arena: failed to save character after death", "user", ctx.Sender, "err", err)
 	}
-	// Dual-write to player_meta (Adv 2.0 Phase L2 step 5).
-	if err := upsertPlayerMetaArena(ctx.Sender, char.ArenaWins, char.ArenaLosses, char.InvasionScore); err != nil {
-		slog.Error("player_meta: arena loss dual-write failed", "user", ctx.Sender, "err", err)
-	}
-	if err := upsertPlayerMetaSkillState(ctx.Sender, skillStateFromAdvChar(char)); err != nil {
-		slog.Error("player_meta: arena loss skill dual-write failed", "user", ctx.Sender, "err", err)
-	}
 
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 	run.Status = "dead"
@@ -550,13 +543,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) arenaCompleteSession(userID id.UserID, run *ArenaRun,
 	if err := saveAdvCharacter(char); err != nil {
 		slog.Error("arena: failed to save character after session complete", "user", userID, "err", err)
 	}
-	// Dual-write to player_meta (Adv 2.0 Phase L2 step 5).
-	if err := upsertPlayerMetaArena(userID, char.ArenaWins, char.ArenaLosses, char.InvasionScore); err != nil {
-		slog.Error("player_meta: arena win dual-write failed", "user", userID, "err", err)
-	}
-	if err := upsertPlayerMetaSkillState(userID, skillStateFromAdvChar(char)); err != nil {
-		slog.Error("player_meta: arena win skill dual-write failed", "user", userID, "err", err)
-	}
 
 	// End run if not already ended
 	if run.Status != "completed" && run.Status != "cashed_out" {
diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_consumables.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_consumables.go
index 072a5d4..3785ad7 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_consumables.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_consumables.go
@@ -483,7 +483,6 @@ func autoCraftConsumables(userID id.UserID, items []AdvItem, foragingLevel int)
 				char.CraftsSucceeded++
 				checkAdvLevelUp(char, "foraging")
 				_ = saveAdvCharacter(char)
-				_ = upsertPlayerMetaSkillState(userID, skillStateFromAdvChar(char))
 			}
 		} else {
 			// Failure: all ingredients destroyed
@@ -497,7 +496,6 @@ func autoCraftConsumables(userID id.UserID, items []AdvItem, foragingLevel int)
 				char.ForagingXP += craftXPFailure[bestRecipe.Tier]
 				checkAdvLevelUp(char, "foraging")
 				_ = saveAdvCharacter(char)
-				_ = upsertPlayerMetaSkillState(userID, skillStateFromAdvChar(char))
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_hospital.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_hospital.go
index c6f495e..c02204d 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_hospital.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_hospital.go
@@ -199,10 +199,9 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) resolveHospitalPay(ctx MessageContext, interaction *ad
 			trackTaxPaid(ctx.Sender, potCut)
 		}
 
-		// Revive. Phase L4a: restore DnDCharacter HP to full (canonical
-		// post-L5 path) and keep flipping AdvCharacter.Alive during soak
-		// since other systems still read it. HospitalVisits dual-writes
-		// to player_meta + AdvCharacter (§11).
+		// Revive. Restore DnDCharacter HP to full (canonical post-L5 path);
+		// AdvCharacter.Alive flip + HospitalVisits++ propagate through the
+		// saveAdvCharacter fan-out into player_meta.
 		char.Alive = true
 		char.DeadUntil = nil
 		char.HospitalVisits++
@@ -212,9 +211,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) resolveHospitalPay(ctx MessageContext, interaction *ad
 			p.euro.Credit(ctx.Sender, float64(cost), "hospital_revival_refund")
 			return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, "Something went wrong during recovery. Your payment has been refunded.")
 		}
-		if err := upsertPlayerMetaHospitalVisits(char.UserID, char.HospitalVisits); err != nil {
-			slog.Error("hospital: failed to dual-write hospital_visits to player_meta", "user", char.UserID, "err", err)
-		}
 		if dnd, err := LoadDnDCharacter(char.UserID); err == nil && dnd != nil {
 			dnd.HPCurrent = dnd.HPMax
 			if err := SaveDnDCharacter(dnd); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_housing.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_housing.go
index c58556b..f7db09d 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_housing.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_housing.go
@@ -253,7 +253,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleThomCmd(ctx MessageContext) error {
 			userMu.Lock()
 			char.ThomAnimalLineFired = true
 			_ = saveAdvCharacter(char)
-			_ = upsertPlayerMetaNPCState(char.UserID, npcStateFromAdvChar(char))
 			userMu.Unlock()
 		}
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, text)
@@ -331,8 +330,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleThomBuy(ctx MessageContext, char *AdventureChara
 			p.euro.Credit(ctx.Sender, float64(totalCost), "house_purchase_refund")
 			return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, "Failed to save. You've been refunded.")
 		}
-		// L4e dual-write: mirror house state into player_meta.
-		_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(char.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(char))
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, fmt.Sprintf("🏠 **%s** purchased outright for €%d.\n\nNo loan. No weekly payments. Thom is visibly disappointed.", def.Name, totalCost))
 	}
 
@@ -364,8 +361,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleThomBuy(ctx MessageContext, char *AdventureChara
 		}
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, "Failed to save. You've been refunded.")
 	}
-	// L4e dual-write: mirror house state into player_meta.
-	_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(char.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(char))
 
 	weekly := houseWeeklyPayment(loanAmount, rate)
 	var sb strings.Builder
@@ -414,8 +409,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleThomPayoff(ctx MessageContext, char *AdventureCh
 		p.euro.Credit(ctx.Sender, payoffAmount, "house_payoff_refund")
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, "Failed to save. Your money has been refunded.")
 	}
-	// L4e dual-write: mirror house state into player_meta.
-	_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(char.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(char))
 
 	if char.HasPet() {
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, fmt.Sprintf("🏠 %s", fmt.Sprintf(thomPaidOffPet, char.PetName)))
@@ -469,8 +462,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleThomPay(ctx MessageContext, char *AdventureChara
 		p.euro.Credit(ctx.Sender, float64(amount), "house_extra_payment_refund")
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, "Failed to save. Your money has been refunded.")
 	}
-	// L4e dual-write: mirror house state into player_meta.
-	_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(char.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(char))
 
 	if char.HouseLoanBalance == 0 {
 		if char.HasPet() {
@@ -502,8 +493,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleThomAutopay(ctx MessageContext, char *AdventureC
 	if err := saveAdvCharacter(char); err != nil {
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, "Failed to save.")
 	}
-	// L4e dual-write: mirror house state into player_meta.
-	_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(char.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(char))
 
 	if char.HouseAutopay {
 		return p.SendDM(ctx.Sender, "✅ Autopay enabled. 2% discount on weekly payments. Thom calls this a favour. It is not.")
@@ -549,7 +538,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) processMortgagePayments() {
 				freshChar.HouseLoanBalance = 0
 				freshChar.HouseMissedPayments = 0
 				_ = saveAdvCharacter(freshChar)
-				_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(freshChar.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(freshChar))
 				userMu.Unlock()
 				// Paid off!
 				if freshChar.HasPet() {
@@ -561,7 +549,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) processMortgagePayments() {
 			}
 			freshChar.HouseMissedPayments = 0
 			_ = saveAdvCharacter(freshChar)
-			_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(freshChar.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(freshChar))
 			userMu.Unlock()
 		} else {
 			// Missed payment
@@ -572,7 +559,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) processMortgagePayments() {
 			if freshChar.HouseMissedPayments >= 10 {
 				freshChar.HouseLoanFrozen = true
 				_ = saveAdvCharacter(freshChar)
-				_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(freshChar.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(freshChar))
 				userMu.Unlock()
 				if freshChar.HasPet() {
 					_ = p.SendDM(freshChar.UserID, fmt.Sprintf("🏠 %s", fmt.Sprintf(thomFreezePet, freshChar.PetName)))
@@ -581,7 +567,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) processMortgagePayments() {
 				}
 			} else {
 				_ = saveAdvCharacter(freshChar)
-				_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(freshChar.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(freshChar))
 				userMu.Unlock()
 				if freshChar.HasPet() {
 					_ = p.SendDM(freshChar.UserID, fmt.Sprintf("🏠 %s", fmt.Sprintf(thomMissedPaymentPet, freshChar.HouseLoanBalance, freshChar.PetName)))
@@ -623,7 +608,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) sendMortgageRateChangeDMs(oldRate, newRate float64) {
 		}
 		freshChar.HouseCurrentRate = newRate
 		_ = saveAdvCharacter(freshChar)
-		_ = upsertPlayerMetaHouseState(freshChar.UserID, houseStateFromAdvChar(freshChar))
 		userMu.Unlock()
 
 		newWeekly := houseWeeklyPayment(freshChar.HouseLoanBalance, newRate)
diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_masterwork.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_masterwork.go
index bdb43d4..0e43d86 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_masterwork.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_masterwork.go
@@ -193,24 +193,17 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) checkMasterworkDrop(userID id.UserID, equip map[Equipm
 		autoEquip = true // genuinely better than what they have
 	}
 
-	// First-drop detection. Read via player_meta (L4c migration); during
-	// soak it falls back to AdvCharacter for users whose row hasn't been
-	// dual-written yet.
+	// First-drop detection. Counter persists via saveAdvCharacter fan-out.
 	priorDrops, err := loadMasterworkDrops(userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Error("adventure: failed to load masterwork counter", "user", userID, "err", err)
 	}
 	isFirstDrop := priorDrops == 0
 	newDrops := priorDrops + 1
-	if err := upsertPlayerMetaMasterworkDrops(userID, newDrops); err != nil {
-		slog.Error("adventure: failed to save masterwork counter (player_meta)", "user", userID, "err", err)
-	}
-	// Dual-write to AdvCharacter during soak. Best-effort: if the row is
-	// missing the player_meta write above is canonical.
 	if char, lerr := loadAdvCharacter(userID); lerr == nil {
 		char.MasterworkDropsReceived = newDrops
 		if err := saveAdvCharacter(char); err != nil {
-			slog.Error("adventure: failed to save masterwork counter (legacy)", "user", userID, "err", err)
+			slog.Error("adventure: failed to save masterwork counter", "user", userID, "err", err)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_rival.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_rival.go
index cd2573e..9c4df05 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_rival.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_rival.go
@@ -89,16 +89,12 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) checkRivalPoolUnlock(char *AdventureCharacter) {
 		return
 	}
 	// Promote to pool + send unlock DM if not yet announced.
+	// Persistence rides the caller's saveAdvCharacter → fan-out.
 	char.RivalPool = 1
-	pool = 1
 	if !notified {
 		char.RivalUnlockedNotified = true
-		notified = true
 		p.SendDM(char.UserID, rivalUnlockDM)
 	}
-	if err := upsertPlayerMetaRivalState(char.UserID, pool, notified); err != nil {
-		slog.Error("player_meta: rival unlock dual-write failed", "user", char.UserID, "err", err)
-	}
 }
 
 // ── DB CRUD ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go
index 8332dc3..11fb01f 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) sendMorningDMs() {
 			if err := saveAdvCharacter(&char); err != nil {
 				slog.Error("babysit: failed to save after daily trickle", "user", char.UserID, "err", err)
 			}
-			_ = upsertPlayerMetaPetState(char.UserID, petStateFromAdvChar(&char))
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -127,7 +126,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) sendMorningDMs() {
 		if petEvent != "" {
 			char.PetMorningDefense = true
 			_ = saveAdvCharacter(&char)
-			_ = upsertPlayerMetaPetState(char.UserID, petStateFromAdvChar(&char))
 		}
 
 		// Send morning DM with choices
@@ -388,7 +386,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) midnightReset() error {
 					text += " — not all is lost."
 				}
 				_ = saveAdvCharacter(&char)
-				_ = upsertPlayerMetaLifecycleState(char.UserID, lifecycleStateFromAdvChar(&char))
 			}
 			if err := p.SendDM(char.UserID, text); err != nil {
 				slog.Error("adventure: failed to send idle shame DM", "user", char.UserID, "err", err)
@@ -405,7 +402,6 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) midnightReset() error {
 				char.BestStreak = char.CurrentStreak
 			}
 			_ = saveAdvCharacter(&char)
-			_ = upsertPlayerMetaLifecycleState(char.UserID, lifecycleStateFromAdvChar(&char))
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/plugin/dnd_combat.go b/internal/plugin/dnd_combat.go
index 6ecff88..b5c221f 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/dnd_combat.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/dnd_combat.go
@@ -497,11 +497,11 @@ func dndHPSnapshot(userID id.UserID) (cur, max int) {
 	return c.HPCurrent, c.HPMax
 }
 
-// markAdventureDead flips the legacy adventure_characters.alive flag and
-// starts the 6h respawn timer for a player who went down in a D&D-layer
-// combat. Without this, hp_current persists as 0 but the legacy alive
-// flag stays true — the "zombie" state where !hospital says "you're
-// alive!" while the sheet shows 0/33. Idempotent: bails if already dead.
+// markAdventureDead flips Alive=false in player_meta (via saveAdvCharacter
+// fan-out) and starts the 6h respawn timer for a player who went down in a
+// D&D-layer combat. Without this, hp_current persists as 0 but Alive stays
+// true — the "zombie" state where !hospital says "you're alive!" while the
+// sheet shows 0/33. Idempotent: bails if already dead.
 //
 // source is "zone" / "expedition" / "patrol"; location is human-readable
 // (e.g. "Forest of Shadows") and surfaces in the daily report and
diff --git a/internal/plugin/dnd_rest.go b/internal/plugin/dnd_rest.go
index 0df303e..a04dfd9 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/dnd_rest.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/dnd_rest.go
@@ -126,9 +126,7 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleDnDLongRest(ctx MessageContext) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Eligibility: housing OR pay inn fee. Housing read flips to
-	// player_meta via loadHouseState (L4e reader flip); falls back to
-	// adventure_characters during the soak window.
+	// Eligibility: housing OR pay inn fee.
 	house, _ := loadHouseState(ctx.Sender)
 	hasHousing := house.Tier > 0
 	innPaid := false
diff --git a/internal/plugin/dnd_sheet.go b/internal/plugin/dnd_sheet.go
index 85430a8..034897b 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/dnd_sheet.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/dnd_sheet.go
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleDnDAbilitiesCmd(ctx MessageContext) error {
 
 // !sheet — read-only D&D character sheet renderer.
 //
-// Joins:
+// Sources:
 //   dnd_character (D&D layer)
-//   adventure_characters (legacy skills, pet, housing — for at-a-glance context)
-//   adventure_equipment (current gear; renders with legacy fields until Phase 4)
+//   player_meta (skills, pet, housing — for at-a-glance context)
+//   adventure_equipment (current gear)
 //   adventure_treasures (= attunement substrate per v1.1 §7.4)
 
 func (p *AdventurePlugin) handleDnDSheetCmd(ctx MessageContext) error {
diff --git a/internal/plugin/player_meta.go b/internal/plugin/player_meta.go
index 83570c5..b92cfb7 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/player_meta.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/player_meta.go
@@ -419,12 +419,7 @@ type SkillState struct {
 	FishingXP     int
 }
 
-// HasSkills returns true when any skill or XP field is non-zero. Used as
-// the "row is migrated" marker in loadSkillState — an all-zero row is
-// indistinguishable from "no row yet" so it falls through to the legacy
-// table during the soak window. CombatLevel starts at 1 for any created
-// character (see createAdvCharacter), so the only fully-zero state is a
-// truly unmigrated row.
+// HasSkills returns true when any skill or XP field is non-zero.
 func (s SkillState) HasSkills() bool {
 	return s.CombatLevel > 0 || s.MiningSkill > 0 || s.ForagingSkill > 0 || s.FishingSkill > 0 ||
 		s.CombatXP > 0 || s.MiningXP > 0 || s.ForagingXP > 0 || s.FishingXP > 0
@@ -458,9 +453,7 @@ func upsertPlayerMetaSkillState(userID id.UserID, s SkillState) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-// loadSkillState returns the player's skill state from player_meta when
-// populated (HasSkills true), falling back to adventure_characters during
-// the L5a soak window.
+// loadSkillState returns the player's skill state from player_meta.
 func loadSkillState(userID id.UserID) (SkillState, error) {
 	var s SkillState
 	err := db.Get().QueryRow(
@@ -483,10 +476,8 @@ func loadSkillState(userID id.UserID) (SkillState, error) {
 }
 
 // skillStateFromAdvChar projects the skill-related fields off an
-// AdventureCharacter into a SkillState. Used by the dual-write path: every
-// site that mutates AdvCharacter skill or XP fields then calls
-// upsertPlayerMetaSkillState with this projection so the columns move
-// cleanly during the L5a soak window.
+// AdventureCharacter into a SkillState. Used by saveAdvCharacter's fan-out
+// to mirror skill columns into player_meta.
 func skillStateFromAdvChar(c *AdventureCharacter) SkillState {
 	return SkillState{
 		CombatLevel:   c.CombatLevel,
@@ -683,8 +674,7 @@ func upsertPlayerMetaNPCState(userID id.UserID, s NPCState) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-// loadNPCState returns the NPC state from player_meta when populated,
-// otherwise falls back to adventure_characters during the L5c soak window.
+// loadNPCState returns the NPC state from player_meta.
 func loadNPCState(userID id.UserID) (NPCState, error) {
 	var (
 		s                                                       NPCState
@@ -837,9 +827,7 @@ func upsertPlayerMetaLifecycleState(userID id.UserID, s LifecycleState) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-// loadLifecycleState returns lifecycle state from player_meta when
-// populated, otherwise falls back to adventure_characters during the L5d
-// soak window.
+// loadLifecycleState returns lifecycle state from player_meta.
 func loadLifecycleState(userID id.UserID) (LifecycleState, error) {
 	var (
 		s                                 LifecycleState
@@ -1087,15 +1075,12 @@ func miscStateFromAdvChar(c *AdventureCharacter) MiscState {
 	}
 }
 
-// applyPlayerMetaOverlay overlays every player_meta-mirrored field onto an
-// AdventureCharacter struct that was just SELECTed from adventure_characters.
-// Phase L5h: saveAdvCharacter no longer writes the adventure_characters
-// columns, so the legacy row freezes at its pre-L5h state. The overlay
-// re-sources every migrated subsystem's value from player_meta (with
-// fallback-to-AdvCharacter inside each load helper for the fields where
-// player_meta is still empty), so callers continue to use char.X readers
-// transparently. Errors are logged and skipped — a partial overlay is safer
-// than a failed load.
+// applyPlayerMetaOverlay populates an AdventureCharacter from player_meta.
+// Post-L5 close-out: loadAdvCharacter no longer SELECTs from
+// adventure_characters — it default-inits the struct and overlays every
+// migrated subsystem's value from player_meta here. Errors are skipped — a
+// partial overlay is safer than a failed load (each field falls back to its
+// Go zero value, except Alive which is pre-set true).
 func applyPlayerMetaOverlay(c *AdventureCharacter) {
 	if c == nil {
 		return