diff --git a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand-patch.py b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand-patch.py
index 2c3e8889..c4c0a70b 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand-patch.py
+++ b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand-patch.py
@@ -92,6 +92,15 @@ replace_exact(
     '    <span class="app-titlebar-title" id="appTitlebarTitle">Hermes</span>',
     '    <span class="app-titlebar-title" id="appTitlebarTitle">Hermes Chat</span>',
 )
+replace_between_exact(
+    index,
+    '        <div class="empty-logo"><svg',
+    '        <h2 data-i18n="empty_title">',
+    '        <div class="empty-logo">\n'
+    '          <img class="hermes-agent-portrait" '
+    'src="static/hermes-agent-192.png" alt="Hermes Agent">\n'
+    '        </div>\n',
+)
 
 service_worker = ROOT / "static/sw.js"
 replace_exact(
diff --git a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand.css b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand.css
index ade9f906..f73d4ab5 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand.css
+++ b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-brand.css
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
   --gold: #9a661f;
   --focus-ring: rgba(24, 127, 139, 0.38);
   --focus-glow: rgba(24, 127, 139, 0.12);
+  --hermes-violet: #7065a8;
+  --hermes-grid: rgba(24, 127, 139, 0.035);
 }
 
 :root.dark {
@@ -43,6 +45,9 @@
   --main-bg: rgba(7, 10, 18, 0.72);
   --focus-ring: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.38);
   --focus-glow: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.12);
+  --hermes-violet: #9d8ee0;
+  --hermes-violet-muted: rgba(157, 142, 224, 0.12);
+  --hermes-grid: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.025);
   --error: #f08b79;
   --success: #65c9a6;
   --warning: #f0b66b;
@@ -51,7 +56,8 @@
 
 :root.dark body {
   background:
-    radial-gradient(circle at 78% 8%, rgba(72, 164, 205, 0.07), transparent 31rem),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 78% 8%, rgba(72, 164, 205, 0.085), transparent 31rem),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 28% 100%, rgba(157, 142, 224, 0.045), transparent 34rem),
     linear-gradient(145deg, #070a12, #080d17 55%, #071017);
 }
 
@@ -65,6 +71,36 @@
   background-color: rgba(13, 20, 32, 0.94);
 }
 
+/* A quiet workstation canvas: enough technical texture to feel intentional,
+   but low-contrast enough to remain behind the work. */
+:root.dark .main-view,
+:root.dark .messages {
+  background-color: transparent;
+}
+
+:root.dark .messages {
+  background-image:
+    linear-gradient(var(--hermes-grid) 1px, transparent 1px),
+    linear-gradient(90deg, var(--hermes-grid) 1px, transparent 1px),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 76% 22%, rgba(76, 164, 205, 0.055), transparent 30rem),
+    radial-gradient(circle at 22% 78%, var(--hermes-violet-muted), transparent 35rem);
+  background-size: 32px 32px, 32px 32px, auto, auto;
+}
+
+:root.dark .rail {
+  background-image: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.035), transparent 38%, rgba(157, 142, 224, 0.03));
+}
+
+:root.dark .sidebar {
+  box-shadow: inset -1px 0 rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.035);
+}
+
+:root.dark .session-item.active {
+  border-color: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.17);
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.11), rgba(157, 142, 224, 0.045));
+  box-shadow: inset 2px 0 rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.52);
+}
+
 .app-titlebar-icon img {
   display: block;
   width: 22px;
@@ -78,9 +114,87 @@
   letter-spacing: 0.025em;
 }
 
+/* The established Hermes-agent character is the new-chat persona. */
+.empty-logo {
+  isolation: isolate;
+  min-width: 126px;
+  min-height: 126px;
+  margin-bottom: 14px;
+}
+
+.empty-logo::before {
+  width: 224px;
+  height: 224px;
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(circle, rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.15), rgba(76, 164, 205, 0.07) 42%, rgba(112, 101, 168, 0.035) 58%, transparent 72%);
+}
+
+.empty-logo::after {
+  content: "";
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 1;
+  inset: -7px;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(24, 127, 139, 0.2);
+  border-radius: 29px;
+  background: linear-gradient(145deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12), transparent 38%, rgba(112, 101, 168, 0.08));
+  box-shadow: 0 16px 42px rgba(18, 55, 65, 0.12);
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.empty-logo .hermes-agent-portrait {
+  position: relative;
+  z-index: 2;
+  display: block;
+  width: 112px;
+  height: 112px;
+  object-fit: cover;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(24, 127, 139, 0.28);
+  border-radius: 22px;
+  box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(18, 55, 65, 0.18);
+}
+
+:root.dark .empty-logo::after {
+  border-color: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.28);
+  background: linear-gradient(145deg, rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.1), transparent 40%, rgba(157, 142, 224, 0.09));
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.035), 0 18px 48px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.36), 0 0 34px rgba(76, 164, 205, 0.07);
+}
+
+:root.dark .empty-logo .hermes-agent-portrait {
+  border-color: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.32);
+  box-shadow: 0 12px 34px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+}
+
+:root.dark .empty-state h2 {
+  color: var(--strong);
+  letter-spacing: -0.015em;
+  text-shadow: 0 0 24px rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.08);
+}
+
+:root.dark .empty-state p {
+  color: #9cafba;
+}
+
+:root.dark .suggestion {
+  border-color: rgba(174, 218, 224, 0.15);
+  background: linear-gradient(105deg, rgba(17, 27, 41, 0.88), rgba(13, 20, 32, 0.74));
+  box-shadow: inset 2px 0 rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.12), 0 8px 22px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08);
+}
+
+:root.dark .suggestion:hover,
+:root.dark .suggestion:focus-visible {
+  color: var(--strong);
+  border-color: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.4);
+  background: linear-gradient(105deg, rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.11), rgba(157, 142, 224, 0.065));
+}
+
+:root.dark .suggestion:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--focus-ring);
+  outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
 :root.dark .composer-box:focus-within {
   border-color: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.66);
-  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px var(--focus-glow), 0 10px 34px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px var(--focus-glow), 0 10px 34px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.28), 0 0 28px rgba(157, 142, 224, 0.04);
 }
 
 /* Keep the conversation instrument inside the same cyan/blue/gold family. */
@@ -99,7 +213,31 @@
   }
 
   .app-titlebar-icon img,
-  :root.dark .composer-box:focus-within {
+  :root.dark .composer-box:focus-within,
+  .suggestion {
     transition: none !important;
   }
+
+  .suggestion:hover,
+  .suggestion:focus-visible {
+    transform: none !important;
+  }
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 640px) {
+  .empty-logo {
+    min-width: 104px;
+    min-height: 104px;
+  }
+
+  .empty-logo::before {
+    width: 176px;
+    height: 176px;
+  }
+
+  .empty-logo .hermes-agent-portrait {
+    width: 92px;
+    height: 92px;
+    border-radius: 19px;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/services/hermes/agent-configmap.yaml b/services/hermes/agent-configmap.yaml
index 3f68ac06..40cfdf88 100644
--- a/services/hermes/agent-configmap.yaml
+++ b/services/hermes/agent-configmap.yaml
@@ -376,10 +376,18 @@ data:
     private voice services, passing a full commit already contained by `main`.
     Jenkins builds the newest main containing that commit, publishes a final
     immutable release tag only after its evidence passes, and Flux applies the
-    resulting digest. Candidate tags and failed builds never deploy. Follow the
-    returned queue item with `jenkins_build_evidence.py`, then verify the Flux
-    revision, pod image digest, rollout health, and public SSO redirect before
-    reporting the release complete.
+    resulting digest. Candidate tags and failed builds never deploy. Run the
+    safe `follow_command` returned by the trigger and do not report completion
+    until it says `converged`: that proves the exact reviewed source is the
+    selected immutable tag/digest, Flux is Ready, every consumer has the digest
+    in desired state, and all corresponding pods are Ready on that digest. If
+    main advanced before Jenkins checked it out, the status command reports
+    `different_revision_selected`; independently prove the requested commit is
+    an ancestor of that exact source, then follow the exact selected revision.
+    Use `jenkins_build_evidence.py` for a terminal failure cause when its
+    bounded controller evidence path is available. Candidate-only, queued, or
+    merged code is not a completed release. Finally verify the public SSO
+    redirect and the changed behavior before reporting the release complete.
 
     The terminal PATH contains the pinned operator tools. Start cluster work
     with `kubectl config current-context`, read-only status/events/logs, and the
diff --git a/services/hermes/kustomization.yaml b/services/hermes/kustomization.yaml
index 3baf305c..9b15579d 100644
--- a/services/hermes/kustomization.yaml
+++ b/services/hermes/kustomization.yaml
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ configMapGenerator:
       - install_agent_tools.sh=scripts/install_agent_tools.sh
       - jenkins_build_evidence.py=scripts/jenkins_build_evidence.py
       - jenkins_image_build_trigger.py=scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py
+      - hermes_image_release_status.py=scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py
       - kanban_status_recovery.py=scripts/kanban_status_recovery.py
       - kanban_supervisor.py=scripts/kanban_supervisor.py
       - supervisor_policy.py=scripts/supervisor_policy.py
diff --git a/services/hermes/scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py b/services/hermes/scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..519b641a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/hermes/scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py
@@ -0,0 +1,275 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Report whether a validated Hermes image has converged through Flux."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import json
+import re
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import time
+from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass
+
+
+NAMESPACE = "hermes"
+FLUX_NAMESPACE = "flux-system"
+AUTOMATION = "hermes"
+FLUX_KUSTOMIZATION = "hermes"
+REVISION_PATTERN = re.compile(r"^[0-9a-f]{40}$")
+RELEASE_TAG_PATTERN = re.compile(
+    r"^git-(?P<revision>[0-9a-f]{40})-build-(?P<build>[1-9][0-9]*)-release$"
+)
+COMPONENTS = {
+    "agent": {
+        "policy": "hermes-agent-release",
+        "repository": "registry.bstein.dev/bstein/hermes-agent",
+        "workloads": (("deployment", "hermes-agent", "hermes-agent"),),
+    },
+    "webui": {
+        "policy": "hermes-webui-release",
+        "repository": "registry.bstein.dev/bstein/hermes-webui",
+        "workloads": (
+            ("deployment", "hermes", "hermes"),
+            ("statefulset", "hermes-chat-tenant", "hermes-chat-tenant"),
+        ),
+    },
+    "stt": {
+        "policy": "hermes-stt-release",
+        "repository": "registry.bstein.dev/bstein/hermes-jetson-stt",
+        "workloads": (("deployment", "hermes-stt", "hermes-stt"),),
+    },
+    "tts": {
+        "policy": "hermes-tts-release",
+        "repository": "registry.bstein.dev/bstein/hermes-jetson-tts",
+        "workloads": (("deployment", "hermes-tts", "hermes-tts"),),
+    },
+}
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class WorkloadStatus:
+    """Desired and observed state for one image-consuming workload."""
+
+    kind: str
+    name: str
+    desired_replicas: int
+    ready_replicas: int
+    desired_image_matches: bool
+    ready_pods: int
+    matching_pods: int
+    converged: bool
+
+
+def _kubectl_json(*command: str) -> dict:
+    """Read one Kubernetes object as JSON without shell or credential output."""
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        ["kubectl", *command, "-o", "json"],
+        check=True,
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        timeout=30,
+    )
+    value = json.loads(result.stdout)
+    if not isinstance(value, dict):
+        raise ValueError("kubectl returned a non-object JSON value")
+    return value
+
+
+def _condition_ready(resource: dict) -> bool:
+    """Return true only for an explicit current Ready condition."""
+    generation = resource.get("metadata", {}).get("generation")
+    for condition in resource.get("status", {}).get("conditions", []):
+        if condition.get("type") != "Ready" or condition.get("status") != "True":
+            continue
+        observed = condition.get("observedGeneration")
+        return generation is None or observed is None or int(observed) >= int(generation)
+    return False
+
+
+def _release_ref(policy: dict) -> tuple[str | None, str | None, str | None, int | None]:
+    """Extract the immutable release tag, digest, source revision, and build."""
+    ref = policy.get("status", {}).get("latestRef", {})
+    tag = ref.get("tag")
+    digest = ref.get("digest")
+    match = RELEASE_TAG_PATTERN.fullmatch(tag or "")
+    if not match or not re.fullmatch(r"sha256:[0-9a-f]{64}", digest or ""):
+        return tag, digest, None, None
+    return tag, digest, match.group("revision"), int(match.group("build"))
+
+
+def _desired_images(workload: dict) -> list[str]:
+    """Return pod-template container and init-container image references."""
+    spec = workload.get("spec", {}).get("template", {}).get("spec", {})
+    containers = list(spec.get("initContainers", [])) + list(spec.get("containers", []))
+    return [item.get("image", "") for item in containers]
+
+
+def _rollout_ready(kind: str, workload: dict) -> tuple[int, int, bool]:
+    """Evaluate generation and replica convergence for a workload controller."""
+    metadata = workload.get("metadata", {})
+    spec = workload.get("spec", {})
+    status = workload.get("status", {})
+    desired = int(spec.get("replicas", 1))
+    ready = int(status.get("readyReplicas", 0))
+    generation_ready = int(status.get("observedGeneration", 0)) >= int(
+        metadata.get("generation", 1)
+    )
+    if kind == "deployment":
+        controller_ready = (
+            int(status.get("updatedReplicas", 0)) >= desired
+            and int(status.get("availableReplicas", 0)) >= desired
+        )
+    else:
+        controller_ready = (
+            int(status.get("currentReplicas", 0)) >= desired
+            and int(status.get("updatedReplicas", 0)) >= desired
+            and status.get("currentRevision") == status.get("updateRevision")
+        )
+    return desired, ready, generation_ready and controller_ready and ready >= desired
+
+
+def _pod_image_status(label: str, repository: str, digest: str) -> tuple[int, int]:
+    """Count ready pods whose relevant running containers use the exact digest."""
+    pod_list = _kubectl_json(
+        "-n", NAMESPACE, "get", "pods", "-l", f"app={label}"
+    )
+    matching = 0
+    ready = 0
+    for pod in pod_list.get("items", []):
+        statuses = list(pod.get("status", {}).get("initContainerStatuses", []))
+        statuses.extend(pod.get("status", {}).get("containerStatuses", []))
+        relevant = [item for item in statuses if item.get("image", "").startswith(repository)]
+        if not relevant:
+            continue
+        if all((item.get("imageID") or "").endswith(f"@{digest}") for item in relevant):
+            matching += 1
+            conditions = pod.get("status", {}).get("conditions", [])
+            if any(
+                item.get("type") == "Ready" and item.get("status") == "True"
+                for item in conditions
+            ):
+                ready += 1
+    return matching, ready
+
+
+def _workload_status(
+    kind: str, name: str, label: str, repository: str, digest: str
+) -> WorkloadStatus:
+    """Read desired image, controller rollout, and running-pod digest evidence."""
+    workload = _kubectl_json("-n", NAMESPACE, "get", kind, name)
+    desired, ready_replicas, controller_ready = _rollout_ready(kind, workload)
+    relevant_images = [
+        image for image in _desired_images(workload) if image.startswith(repository)
+    ]
+    desired_matches = bool(relevant_images) and all(
+        image.endswith(f"@{digest}") for image in relevant_images
+    )
+    matching_pods, ready_pods = _pod_image_status(label, repository, digest)
+    converged = (
+        desired_matches
+        and controller_ready
+        and matching_pods >= desired
+        and ready_pods >= desired
+    )
+    return WorkloadStatus(
+        kind=kind,
+        name=name,
+        desired_replicas=desired,
+        ready_replicas=ready_replicas,
+        desired_image_matches=desired_matches,
+        ready_pods=ready_pods,
+        matching_pods=matching_pods,
+        converged=converged,
+    )
+
+
+def inspect_release(component: str, revision: str) -> dict:
+    """Return safe end-to-end release state for one exact reviewed revision."""
+    if component not in COMPONENTS:
+        raise ValueError("component must be agent, webui, stt, or tts")
+    if not REVISION_PATTERN.fullmatch(revision):
+        raise ValueError("revision must be a lowercase full 40-character commit")
+    config = COMPONENTS[component]
+    policy = _kubectl_json(
+        "-n", NAMESPACE, "get", "imagepolicy", config["policy"]
+    )
+    tag, digest, selected_revision, build = _release_ref(policy)
+    result = {
+        "component": component,
+        "requested_revision": revision,
+        "selected_revision": selected_revision,
+        "release_tag": tag,
+        "digest": digest,
+        "build": build,
+        "stage": "image_policy_pending",
+        "converged": False,
+        "workloads": [],
+    }
+    if selected_revision != revision or digest is None:
+        if selected_revision is not None:
+            result["stage"] = "different_revision_selected"
+        return result
+    automation = _kubectl_json(
+        "-n", NAMESPACE, "get", "imageupdateautomation", AUTOMATION
+    )
+    flux = _kubectl_json(
+        "-n", FLUX_NAMESPACE, "get", "kustomization", FLUX_KUSTOMIZATION
+    )
+    result["image_policy_ready"] = _condition_ready(policy)
+    result["image_automation_ready"] = _condition_ready(automation)
+    result["flux_ready"] = _condition_ready(flux)
+    result["flux_revision"] = flux.get("status", {}).get("lastAppliedRevision")
+    workloads = [
+        _workload_status(kind, name, label, config["repository"], digest)
+        for kind, name, label in config["workloads"]
+    ]
+    result["workloads"] = [asdict(item) for item in workloads]
+    if not all((result["image_policy_ready"], result["image_automation_ready"])):
+        result["stage"] = "image_automation_pending"
+    elif not result["flux_ready"] or not all(item.desired_image_matches for item in workloads):
+        result["stage"] = "flux_apply_pending"
+    elif not all(item.converged for item in workloads):
+        result["stage"] = "rollout_pending"
+    else:
+        result["stage"] = "converged"
+        result["converged"] = True
+    return result
+
+
+def parse_args(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
+    """Parse one bounded release-follow request."""
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument("--component", required=True, choices=sorted(COMPONENTS))
+    parser.add_argument("--revision", required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--wait", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument("--timeout", type=int, default=1800)
+    parser.add_argument("--poll", type=int, default=15)
+    return parser.parse_args(argv)
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
+    """Print safe JSON immediately or wait for exact live convergence."""
+    args = parse_args(argv)
+    if args.timeout < 1 or args.poll < 1:
+        print("timeout and poll must be positive", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + args.timeout
+    try:
+        while True:
+            status = inspect_release(args.component, args.revision)
+            if status["converged"]:
+                print(json.dumps(status, indent=2, sort_keys=True))
+                return 0
+            if not args.wait or time.monotonic() >= deadline:
+                status["timed_out"] = bool(args.wait)
+                print(json.dumps(status, indent=2, sort_keys=True))
+                return 2 if args.wait else 1
+            time.sleep(args.poll)
+    except (OSError, ValueError, subprocess.SubprocessError, json.JSONDecodeError) as exc:
+        print(f"Hermes release status failed: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())
diff --git a/services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py b/services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py
index e0b982d6..9fffb3ec 100755
--- a/services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py
+++ b/services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@ def trigger_build(
     queue_path = parsed_queue.path
     return {
         "component": component,
+        "follow_command": (
+            "/opt/coordinator/hermes_image_release_status.py "
+            f"--component {component} --revision {revision} --wait"
+        ),
         "job": job["job"],
         "queue_path": queue_path,
         "source_revision": revision,
diff --git a/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/SOURCE.md b/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/SOURCE.md
index 12e0e76b..cb9c2e43 100644
--- a/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/SOURCE.md
+++ b/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/SOURCE.md
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ Hermes WebUI image pinned by `dockerfiles/Dockerfile.hermes-webui`:
 - OCI source revision: `7a94e34a6d639576576baa9131acf6765f6d2b98`
 - Full upstream `static/index.html` SHA-256: `6e218d42f6e047168a774c59aa9fc98a55b608cdc070cf1049ad414a597a722c`
 
-The fixture stays intentionally narrow, but tests execute the shipped
-`hermes-webui-atlas-patch.py` against it; they do not duplicate its patch logic.
+The fixture stays intentionally narrow, but tests execute the shipped patchers
+against it; large inline artwork bodies are reduced while their exact unique
+boundary tags are retained so fail-closed replacements are exercised without
+copying generated SVG payloads into the fixture.
diff --git a/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/static/index.html b/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/static/index.html
index 6d3bbf9f..f8f213a5 100644
--- a/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/static/index.html
+++ b/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/static/index.html
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@
               </select>
               <div style="font-size:11px;color:var(--muted);margin-top:4px" data-i18n="settings_desc_tts_voice">Preferred voice. Populated from your browser's available voices.</div>
             </div>
+      <div class="empty-state" id="emptyState">
+        <div class="empty-logo"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64" width="80" height="80" aria-label="Hermes caduceus"><defs><linearGradient id="hermes-mark"><stop class="hm-g0"/><stop class="hm-g1"/></linearGradient></defs><path fill="url(#hermes-mark)" d="M32 4v56"/></svg></div>
+        <h2 data-i18n="empty_title">What can I help with?</h2>
+      </div>
+      <div class="messages-inner" id="msgInner"></div>
       <div class="composer-box" id="composerBox">
         <div class="voice-mode-bar" id="voiceModeBar" style="display:none">
           <span class="voice-mode-indicator" id="voiceModeIndicator"></span>
diff --git a/testing/quality_contract.json b/testing/quality_contract.json
index d94de9be..871b957f 100644
--- a/testing/quality_contract.json
+++ b/testing/quality_contract.json
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     "ci/scripts/hermes_image_release.py",
     "dockerfiles/hermes-kaniko-heredoc-runner.py",
     "services/harbor/scripts/harbor_hermes_agent_immutability_ensure.py",
+    "services/hermes/scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py",
     "services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py",
     "ci/scripts/publish_test_metrics.py",
     "ci/scripts/publish_test_metrics_quality.py",
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@
     "ci/scripts/hermes_image_release.py",
     "dockerfiles/hermes-kaniko-heredoc-runner.py",
     "services/harbor/scripts/harbor_hermes_agent_immutability_ensure.py",
+    "services/hermes/scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py",
     "services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py",
     "ci/scripts/publish_test_metrics.py",
     "ci/scripts/publish_test_metrics_quality.py",
@@ -341,6 +343,7 @@
       "ci/scripts/hermes_image_release.py",
       "dockerfiles/hermes-kaniko-heredoc-runner.py",
       "services/harbor/scripts/harbor_hermes_agent_immutability_ensure.py",
+      "services/hermes/scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py",
       "services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py",
       "ci/scripts/publish_test_metrics.py",
       "ci/scripts/publish_test_metrics_quality.py",
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_release_followthrough.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_release_followthrough.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f95cd9de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_release_followthrough.py
@@ -0,0 +1,331 @@
+"""Contracts for Hermes' read-only image release follow-through helper."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib.util
+import json
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+STATUS = ROOT / "services/hermes/scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py"
+TRIGGER = ROOT / "services/hermes/scripts/jenkins_image_build_trigger.py"
+
+
+def _load(path: Path, name: str):
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(name, path)
+    assert spec is not None and spec.loader is not None
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    sys.modules[name] = module
+    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
+
+
+def _condition(ready: bool = True, generation: int = 3) -> list[dict]:
+    return [
+        {
+            "type": "Ready",
+            "status": "True" if ready else "False",
+            "observedGeneration": generation,
+        }
+    ]
+
+
+def _policy(module, revision: str, digest: str, *, ready: bool = True) -> dict:
+    return {
+        "metadata": {"generation": 3},
+        "status": {
+            "conditions": _condition(ready),
+            "latestRef": {
+                "tag": f"git-{revision}-build-17-release",
+                "digest": digest,
+            },
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def _controller(kind: str, repository: str, digest: str, *, ready: bool = True) -> dict:
+    status = {
+        "observedGeneration": 4,
+        "readyReplicas": 1 if ready else 0,
+        "updatedReplicas": 1,
+        "availableReplicas": 1,
+        "currentReplicas": 1,
+        "currentRevision": "revision-2",
+        "updateRevision": "revision-2",
+    }
+    if kind == "statefulset" and not ready:
+        status["currentRevision"] = "revision-1"
+    return {
+        "metadata": {"generation": 4},
+        "spec": {
+            "replicas": 1,
+            "template": {
+                "spec": {
+                    "initContainers": [{"image": "busybox:1"}],
+                    "containers": [{"image": f"{repository}@{digest}"}],
+                }
+            },
+        },
+        "status": status,
+    }
+
+
+def _pods(repository: str, digest: str, *, ready: bool = True) -> dict:
+    return {
+        "items": [
+            {
+                "status": {
+                    "conditions": [
+                        {"type": "Ready", "status": "True" if ready else "False"}
+                    ],
+                    "containerStatuses": [
+                        {
+                            "image": f"{repository}@{digest}",
+                            "imageID": f"{repository}@{digest}",
+                        }
+                    ],
+                }
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+
+
+def _healthy_objects(module, component: str, revision: str, digest: str) -> dict:
+    config = module.COMPONENTS[component]
+    objects = {
+        ("hermes", "imagepolicy", config["policy"]): _policy(
+            module, revision, digest
+        ),
+        ("hermes", "imageupdateautomation", "hermes"): {
+            "metadata": {"generation": 3},
+            "status": {"conditions": _condition()},
+        },
+        ("flux-system", "kustomization", "hermes"): {
+            "metadata": {"generation": 3},
+            "status": {
+                "conditions": _condition(),
+                "lastAppliedRevision": "main@sha1:" + "f" * 40,
+            },
+        },
+    }
+    for kind, name, label in config["workloads"]:
+        objects[("hermes", kind, name)] = _controller(
+            kind, config["repository"], digest
+        )
+        objects[("hermes", "pods", f"app={label}")] = _pods(
+            config["repository"], digest
+        )
+    return objects
+
+
+def _install_fake(module, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, objects: dict) -> None:
+    def fake(*command):
+        namespace = command[1]
+        kind = command[3]
+        if kind == "pods":
+            key = (namespace, kind, command[5])
+        else:
+            key = (namespace, kind, command[4])
+        return objects[key]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module, "_kubectl_json", fake)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("component", ["agent", "webui", "stt", "tts"])
+def test_exact_release_convergence_covers_every_component(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, component: str
+) -> None:
+    """Every lane binds policy source/digest to Ready desired and running state."""
+    module = _load(STATUS, f"release_status_{component}")
+    revision = "a" * 40
+    digest = "sha256:" + "b" * 64
+    _install_fake(module, monkeypatch, _healthy_objects(module, component, revision, digest))
+
+    result = module.inspect_release(component, revision)
+
+    assert result["converged"] is True
+    assert result["stage"] == "converged"
+    assert result["selected_revision"] == revision
+    assert result["digest"] == digest
+    assert result["build"] == 17
+    assert all(item["converged"] for item in result["workloads"])
+
+
+def test_pending_and_different_policy_never_claim_deployment(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """No or different immutable source remains visibly incomplete."""
+    module = _load(STATUS, "release_status_policy_pending")
+    revision = "a" * 40
+    digest = "sha256:" + "b" * 64
+    config = module.COMPONENTS["tts"]
+    objects = _healthy_objects(module, "tts", revision, digest)
+    policy_key = ("hermes", "imagepolicy", config["policy"])
+    objects[policy_key]["status"]["latestRef"] = {}
+    _install_fake(module, monkeypatch, objects)
+    assert module.inspect_release("tts", revision)["stage"] == "image_policy_pending"
+
+    objects[policy_key] = _policy(module, "c" * 40, digest)
+    result = module.inspect_release("tts", revision)
+    assert result["stage"] == "different_revision_selected"
+    assert result["selected_revision"] == "c" * 40
+    assert result["converged"] is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("mutation", "expected"),
+    [
+        ("automation", "image_automation_pending"),
+        ("flux", "flux_apply_pending"),
+        ("desired", "flux_apply_pending"),
+        ("pod", "rollout_pending"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_followthrough_reports_the_first_incomplete_delivery_stage(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, mutation: str, expected: str
+) -> None:
+    """The helper separates promotion, GitOps apply, and live rollout gaps."""
+    module = _load(STATUS, f"release_status_stage_{mutation}")
+    revision = "d" * 40
+    digest = "sha256:" + "e" * 64
+    objects = _healthy_objects(module, "stt", revision, digest)
+    if mutation == "automation":
+        objects[("hermes", "imageupdateautomation", "hermes")]["status"][
+            "conditions"
+        ] = _condition(False)
+    elif mutation == "flux":
+        objects[("flux-system", "kustomization", "hermes")]["status"][
+            "conditions"
+        ] = _condition(False)
+    elif mutation == "desired":
+        objects[("hermes", "deployment", "hermes-stt")]["spec"]["template"][
+            "spec"
+        ]["containers"][0]["image"] = "registry.bstein.dev/bstein/hermes-jetson-stt@sha256:" + "1" * 64
+    else:
+        objects[("hermes", "pods", "app=hermes-stt")] = _pods(
+            module.COMPONENTS["stt"]["repository"], digest, ready=False
+        )
+    _install_fake(module, monkeypatch, objects)
+
+    result = module.inspect_release("stt", revision)
+
+    assert result["stage"] == expected
+    assert result["converged"] is False
+
+
+def test_helpers_fail_closed_on_stale_generation_and_malformed_references() -> None:
+    """Malformed release evidence and stale Ready conditions are not accepted."""
+    module = _load(STATUS, "release_status_helpers")
+    assert module._condition_ready(
+        {"metadata": {"generation": 4}, "status": {"conditions": _condition(True, 3)}}
+    ) is False
+    assert module._condition_ready({}) is False
+    assert module._release_ref({"status": {"latestRef": {"tag": "latest"}}}) == (
+        "latest",
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+    )
+    assert module._rollout_ready("deployment", _controller("deployment", "r", "d"))[2]
+    stale = _controller("deployment", "r", "d")
+    stale["status"]["observedGeneration"] = 1
+    assert module._rollout_ready("deployment", stale)[2] is False
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        module.inspect_release("invalid", "a" * 40)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        module.inspect_release("agent", "main")
+
+
+def test_kubectl_reader_is_bounded_and_requires_an_object(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """Status uses argument arrays, a timeout, and object-shaped JSON only."""
+    module = _load(STATUS, "release_status_kubectl")
+    seen = {}
+
+    def run(command, **kwargs):
+        seen["command"] = command
+        seen["kwargs"] = kwargs
+        return subprocess.CompletedProcess(command, 0, '{"ok": true}', "")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module.subprocess, "run", run)
+    assert module._kubectl_json("get", "pod", "demo") == {"ok": True}
+    assert seen["command"] == ["kubectl", "get", "pod", "demo", "-o", "json"]
+    assert seen["kwargs"]["timeout"] == 30
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        module.subprocess,
+        "run",
+        lambda *_args, **_kwargs: subprocess.CompletedProcess([], 0, "[]", ""),
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="non-object"):
+        module._kubectl_json("get", "pods")
+
+
+def test_cli_waits_for_convergence_and_returns_safe_json(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]
+) -> None:
+    """Wait mode polls bounded status and terminates only at convergence."""
+    module = _load(STATUS, "release_status_main")
+    revision = "7" * 40
+    states = [
+        {"stage": "image_policy_pending", "converged": False},
+        {"stage": "converged", "converged": True, "digest": "sha256:" + "8" * 64},
+    ]
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module, "inspect_release", lambda *_args: states.pop(0))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(module.time, "sleep", lambda _seconds: None)
+    assert module.main(
+        ["--component", "agent", "--revision", revision, "--wait", "--poll", "1"]
+    ) == 0
+    assert json.loads(capsys.readouterr().out)["converged"] is True
+
+    assert module.main(
+        ["--component", "agent", "--revision", revision, "--timeout", "0"]
+    ) == 2
+    assert "must be positive" in capsys.readouterr().err
+
+
+def test_trigger_returns_a_token_free_exact_follow_command(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """A successful trigger tells Hermes how to prove the approved release landed."""
+    module = _load(TRIGGER, "release_status_trigger")
+    revision = "9" * 40
+    token = tmp_path / "token"
+    token.write_text("never-print-me\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    class Response:
+        status = 201
+        headers = {"Location": "/queue/item/91/"}
+
+        def __enter__(self):
+            return self
+
+        def __exit__(self, *_args):
+            return None
+
+    result = module.trigger_build(
+        revision,
+        component="webui",
+        token_file=token,
+        opener=lambda *_args, **_kwargs: Response(),
+    )
+
+    assert result["follow_command"] == (
+        "/opt/coordinator/hermes_image_release_status.py --component webui "
+        f"--revision {revision} --wait"
+    )
+    assert "never-print-me" not in json.dumps(result)
+
+
+def test_runtime_bundle_and_guidance_require_live_convergence() -> None:
+    """The helper ships to Worker and merged code alone is explicitly insufficient."""
+    kustomization = (ROOT / "services/hermes/kustomization.yaml").read_text()
+    guidance = (ROOT / "services/hermes/agent-configmap.yaml").read_text()
+    assert "hermes_image_release_status.py=scripts/hermes_image_release_status.py" in kustomization
+    assert "safe `follow_command`" in guidance
+    assert "Merged code is not a completed release" in guidance.replace(
+        "merged code", "Merged code"
+    )
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_brand.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_brand.py
index 48ae1b58..053fb49d 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_brand.py
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_brand.py
@@ -142,6 +142,11 @@ def test_production_patchers_apply_title_icons_theme_and_cache_contract(
     assert '<meta name="theme-color" content="#0D1420"' in index
     assert 'id="appTitlebarTitle">Hermes Chat</span>' in index
     assert '<img src="static/hermes-agent-192.png" alt="">' in index
+    assert (
+        '<img class="hermes-agent-portrait" '
+        'src="static/hermes-agent-192.png" alt="Hermes Agent">'
+    ) in index
+    assert 'aria-label="Hermes caduceus"' not in index
     assert "favicon.svg" not in index
     assert "favicon-32.png" not in index
 
@@ -291,12 +296,35 @@ def test_brand_css_is_accessible_dark_and_reduced_motion_aware() -> None:
     assert "--accent: #48cfcc" in dark
     assert "--voice-accent: 72, 207, 204" in css
     assert "--voice-accent-secondary: 76, 164, 205" in css
+    assert "--hermes-violet: #9d8ee0" in dark
+    assert "--hermes-grid: rgba(72, 207, 204, 0.025)" in dark
+    assert ".empty-logo .hermes-agent-portrait" in css
+    assert "width: 112px" in css
+    assert ":root.dark .messages" in css
+    assert "background-size: 32px 32px, 32px 32px, auto, auto" in css
+    assert ":root.dark .session-item.active" in css
+    assert ":root.dark .suggestion:focus-visible" in css
     assert "@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)" in css
     reduced = css.split("@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)", 1)[1]
     assert "transition: none !important" in reduced
+    assert "transform: none !important" in reduced
     assert "animation:" not in css
 
 
+def test_empty_state_uses_canonical_character_without_inline_staff(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """The new-chat identity reuses the established full character artwork."""
+    index = (_patched_fixture(tmp_path) / "static/index.html").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+    empty_state = index.split('<div class="empty-state" id="emptyState">', 1)[1]
+    empty_state = empty_state.split('<div class="messages-inner"', 1)[0]
+    assert empty_state.count('class="hermes-agent-portrait"') == 1
+    assert empty_state.count('src="static/hermes-agent-192.png"') == 1
+    assert "<svg" not in empty_state.split('<h2 data-i18n="empty_title">', 1)[0]
+
+
 def test_dockerfile_copies_and_verifies_every_tracked_brand_asset() -> None:
     """The immutable image, not a runtime coordinator path, owns PWA assets."""
     dockerfile = (DOCKERFILES / "Dockerfile.hermes-webui").read_text(encoding="utf-8")