diff --git a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/live_update.rs b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/live_update.rs
index cabeeb9..c325993 100644
--- a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/live_update.rs
+++ b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/live_update.rs
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ fn prepare_update(r: &Realms, store: &mut Store, id: CharacterId) -> (crate::por
     let schema = probe(&r.b).unwrap();
     let users = opts().game_server_users;
     let revision = canonical_revision(store, id);
-    let ctx = |nonce| UpdateContext { ruleset: Ruleset::Coa, local_guid: guid, revision, nonce, game_server_users: &users, probe: &schema, items: &items, pets: &pets };
+    let ctx = |nonce| UpdateContext { ruleset: Ruleset::Coa, local_guid: guid, revision, nonce, game_server_users: &users, probe: &schema, items: &items, pets: &pets, session: None };
     let draft = build_update(&exported.model, &merged.model, &ctx([0; 4])).unwrap();
     let by_id: std::collections::HashMap<_, _> = merged.model.items.iter().map(|i| (i.id, i)).collect();
     let plan = UpdatePlan {
@@ -579,3 +579,32 @@ fn the_complete_round_trip_without_a_server() {
     assert!(store.open_imports(B).unwrap().is_empty() && store.open_imports("realm-a").unwrap().is_empty());
     sql(&r.a, "UPDATE acore_characters.characters SET online = 1 WHERE guid = 1006");
 }
+
+#[test]
+#[ignore]
+fn an_in_place_update_arms_the_next_runtime_session_in_the_same_transaction() {
+    let Some(r) = realms() else { return };
+    reset_b(&r.b);
+    let (mut store, profile) = fresh_store();
+    let (id, g) = join(&r, &mut store, profile, 1002);
+    let mut c1 = store.load_current(id).unwrap();
+    c1.progression.money += 3;
+    store.commit_snapshot(id, 1, c1.normalized(), "realm-a", None).unwrap();
+    let session = crate::portable::ids::SessionId::new();
+    let outcome = update_realm_character_in_session(&r.b, &mut store, id, B, &opts(), Some(session)).unwrap();
+    assert!(outcome.updated);
+    let row = crate::portable::session::live::read_session_row(&r.b, g).unwrap().expect("the update armed the session");
+    assert_eq!((row.session_id, row.character_id, row.state, row.imported_revision), (session, id, crate::portable::session::bridge::RowState::WaitingBaseline, 2));
+    // a failed update arms nothing
+    let before = counts(&r.b);
+    let mut c2 = store.load_current(id).unwrap();
+    c2.build.spells.push((500_090, 255));
+    store.commit_snapshot(id, 2, c2.normalized(), "realm-a", None).unwrap();
+    r.b.query("DROP TRIGGER IF EXISTS acore_characters.coa_test_fail").unwrap();
+    r.b.query("DELIMITER //\nCREATE TRIGGER acore_characters.coa_test_fail BEFORE INSERT ON acore_characters.character_spell FOR EACH ROW BEGIN IF NEW.spell = 500090 THEN SIGNAL SQLSTATE '45000' SET MESSAGE_TEXT = 'injected failure'; END IF; END//\nDELIMITER ;").unwrap();
+    let again = crate::portable::ids::SessionId::new();
+    assert!(update_realm_character_in_session(&r.b, &mut store, id, B, &opts(), Some(again)).is_err());
+    r.b.query("DROP TRIGGER IF EXISTS acore_characters.coa_test_fail").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(counts(&r.b), before);
+    assert_eq!(crate::portable::session::live::read_session_row(&r.b, g).unwrap().unwrap().session_id, session, "the failed update left the earlier session in place");
+}
diff --git a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/mod.rs b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/mod.rs
index e85b4ec..9788352 100644
--- a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/mod.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ use super::store::{RealmRegistration, Store};
 pub use blockers::Blocker;
 pub use export::{build, session_row, ExportRequest, Exported};
 pub use import::{import_character, import_character_in_session, preflight, recover_imports, resolve_import, ImportOptions, ImportOutcome, ImportProblem, PreflightReport, Resolution};
-pub use reconcile::{begin_session, reconcile_session, resolve_import_update, update_realm_character, ReconcileOutcome, SessionStart, UpdateOutcome};
+pub use reconcile::{begin_session, reconcile_session, resolve_import_update, update_realm_character, update_realm_character_in_session, ReconcileOutcome, SessionStart, UpdateOutcome};
 pub use script::SchemaProbe;
 
 /// The ruleset a database belongs to is decided by which realm profile it is (`realms::Mode`), never by the caller.
diff --git a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/reconcile.rs b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/reconcile.rs
index f0410e5..5d78759 100644
--- a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/reconcile.rs
+++ b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/reconcile.rs
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use crate::db::Db;
 
 use super::super::error::{PortableError, Result};
-use super::super::ids::{CharacterId, ImportId, PortableItemId, PortablePetId};
+use super::super::ids::{CharacterId, ImportId, PortableItemId, PortablePetId, SessionId};
 use super::super::merge::{merge3, ItemOutcome, Mode, PetOutcome};
 use super::super::model::PortableCharacter;
 use super::super::store::{BaselineInput, ImportAllocation, ImportState, JournalEntry, JournalKind, PlannedItem, PlannedPet, Store, UpdatePlan};
 use super::import::{ImportOptions, ImportProblem, Resolution};
-use super::plan::IMPORT_LOCK;
+use super::plan::{SessionArm, IMPORT_LOCK};
 use super::script::{parse_output, Query};
 use super::sqlenc::Val;
 use super::update::{build_update, new_content, parse_update_report, UpdateContext, UpdateCounts};
@@ -209,6 +209,11 @@ fn update_problems(db: &Db, local_guid: u32, items: &std::collections::BTreeSet<
 /// Refused (nothing written) when a session is open on that realm (reconcile it first), when the realm is running, or when
 /// the realm and the canonical character changed the same thing differently since they were last synchronised.
 pub fn update_realm_character(db: &Db, store: &mut Store, id: CharacterId, server_id: &str, opts: &ImportOptions) -> Result<UpdateOutcome> {
+    update_realm_character_in_session(db, store, id, server_id, opts, None)
+}
+
+/// The same, arming the runtime portable session `session` on the updated character in the same realm transaction.
+pub fn update_realm_character_in_session(db: &Db, store: &mut Store, id: CharacterId, server_id: &str, opts: &ImportOptions, session: Option<SessionId>) -> Result<UpdateOutcome> {
     let (guid, last_revision) = local_guid(store, id, server_id)?;
     if store.open_baseline(id, server_id)?.is_some() {
         return Err(PortableError::SessionOpen);
@@ -241,6 +246,7 @@ pub fn update_realm_character(db: &Db, store: &mut Store, id: CharacterId, serve
         probe: &schema,
         items: &view.items,
         pets: &view.pets,
+        session: session.map(|session_id| SessionArm { session_id, character_id: id, generation: 1 }),
     };
     // the plan (what is added, what is removed) does not depend on the nonce
     let draft = build_update(&view.exported.model, &merged.model, &context([0; 4]))?;
@@ -380,5 +386,5 @@ pub fn summarize(merged: &PortableCharacter, current: &PortableCharacter) -> Res
     let pets: HashMap<PortablePetId, u32> = current.pets.iter().enumerate().map(|(i, p)| (p.id, i as u32 + 1)).collect();
     let users = ["acore".to_string()];
     let schema = super::script::SchemaProbe::default();
-    Ok(build_update(current, merged, &UpdateContext { ruleset: current.ruleset, local_guid: 1, revision: 1, nonce: [0; 4], game_server_users: &users, probe: &schema, items: &items, pets: &pets })?.counts)
+    Ok(build_update(current, merged, &UpdateContext { ruleset: current.ruleset, local_guid: 1, revision: 1, nonce: [0; 4], game_server_users: &users, probe: &schema, items: &items, pets: &pets, session: None })?.counts)
 }
diff --git a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update.rs b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update.rs
index 5f6643f..4a1b0a6 100644
--- a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update.rs
+++ b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ pub struct UpdateContext<'a> {
     /// The items the realm holds now (portable id -> local guid): what `current` was exported from.
     pub items: &'a HashMap<PortableItemId, u32>,
     pub pets: &'a HashMap<PortablePetId, u32>,
+    /// Arm a runtime portable session on the updated character (state 0: the core takes the baseline at its next load).
+    pub session: Option<super::plan::SessionArm>,
 }
 
 /// What the script does, in numbers (and as the plan the journal records).
@@ -631,6 +633,18 @@ pub fn build_update(current: &PortableCharacter, merged: &PortableCharacter, ctx
     m.row(vec![Val::Expr("@char"), markers[0].clone(), Val::text(marker.clone())])?;
     m.row(vec![Val::Expr("@char"), markers[1].clone(), Val::Expr("CONCAT(@item_base, ' ', @pet_base, ' ')")])?;
     line(m.sql().expect("two rows"));
+    if let Some(arm) = &ctx.session {
+        if !ctx.probe.has("coa_portable_session") {
+            return Err(PortableError::Invalid("this realm's core has no portable session support (coa_portable_session is missing)".into()));
+        }
+        line(format!(
+            "INSERT INTO acore_characters.`coa_portable_session` (`guid`, `session_id`, `character_id`, `imported_revision`, `baseline_generation`, `state`, `checkpoint_seq`, `save_seq`, `updated_at`) VALUES (@char, {}, {}, {}, {}, 0, 0, 0, UNIX_TIMESTAMP())              ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE `session_id` = VALUES(`session_id`), `character_id` = VALUES(`character_id`), `imported_revision` = VALUES(`imported_revision`), `baseline_generation` = VALUES(`baseline_generation`), `state` = 0, `checkpoint_seq` = 0, `updated_at` = VALUES(`updated_at`);",
+            Val::text(arm.session_id.to_string()).sql(),
+            Val::text(arm.character_id.to_string()).sql(),
+            ctx.revision,
+            arm.generation
+        ));
+    }
 
     line("SELECT '#R:update', @char, @item_base, @pet_base;".into());
     line("COMMIT;".into());
diff --git a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update_tests.rs b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update_tests.rs
index 5198094..d902527 100644
--- a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/realm/update_tests.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ fn script_of(current: &PortableCharacter, merged: &PortableCharacter) -> UpdateS
     let (items, pets) = realm_ids(current);
     let users = ["acore".to_string()];
     let probe = probe();
-    build_update(current, merged, &UpdateContext { ruleset: Ruleset::Coa, local_guid: 4242, revision: 9, nonce: [1, 2, 3, 4], game_server_users: &users, probe: &probe, items: &items, pets: &pets }).unwrap()
+    build_update(current, merged, &UpdateContext { ruleset: Ruleset::Coa, local_guid: 4242, revision: 9, nonce: [1, 2, 3, 4], game_server_users: &users, probe: &probe, items: &items, pets: &pets, session: None }).unwrap()
 }
 
 fn statements(script: &UpdateScript) -> Vec<&str> {
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ fn what_a_character_is_cannot_be_changed_in_place() {
     let (items, pets) = realm_ids(&current);
     let users = ["acore".to_string()];
     let probe = probe();
-    let ctx = UpdateContext { ruleset: Ruleset::Coa, local_guid: 1, revision: 2, nonce: [0; 4], game_server_users: &users, probe: &probe, items: &items, pets: &pets };
+    let ctx = UpdateContext { ruleset: Ruleset::Coa, local_guid: 1, revision: 2, nonce: [0; 4], game_server_users: &users, probe: &probe, items: &items, pets: &pets, session: None };
     let mut merged = current.clone();
     merged.identity.gender ^= 1;
     assert!(build_update(&current, &merged, &ctx).is_err(), "gender");
diff --git a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/session/live_session.rs b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/session/live_session.rs
index b22dfc4..b12d699 100644
--- a/crates/coa-core/src/portable/session/live_session.rs
+++ b/crates/coa-core/src/portable/session/live_session.rs
@@ -339,7 +339,8 @@ fn the_core_imports_characters_into_a_running_realm_like_the_offline_importer_do
     let mut ra = server.ra();
     let chars_before = number(&r.b, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM acore_characters.characters");
     let next_guid = number(&r.b, "SELECT MAX(guid) + 1 FROM acore_characters.characters");
-    let numchars_before = number(&r.b, &format!("SELECT IFNULL((SELECT numchars FROM acore_auth.realmcharacters WHERE acctid = {ACCOUNT} AND realmid = 1), 0)"));
+    sql(&r.b, &format!("REPLACE INTO acore_auth.realmcharacters (realmid, acctid, numchars) VALUES (1, {ACCOUNT}, 0)"));
+    let numchars_before = 0;
 
     let mut imported = Vec::new();
     for a_guid in [1002u32, 1004, 1005, 1001] {
@@ -361,7 +362,8 @@ fn the_core_imports_characters_into_a_running_realm_like_the_offline_importer_do
     assert!(reply.contains("changed level"), "the name cache knows the new character: {reply}");
     assert_eq!(number(&r.b, &format!("SELECT level FROM acore_characters.characters WHERE guid = {guid}")), canonical.progression.level as u64 + 1);
     let numchars = number(&r.b, &format!("SELECT numchars FROM acore_auth.realmcharacters WHERE acctid = {ACCOUNT} AND realmid = 1"));
-    assert_eq!(numchars, numchars_before + 4, "the realm character count of the account was updated");
+    assert_eq!(numchars, number(&r.b, &format!("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM acore_characters.characters WHERE account = {ACCOUNT}")), "the realm character count of the account was updated to what the account really has");
+    assert!(numchars > numchars_before);
     let _ = id;
     ra.run(&format!("botcmd spawnbot {guid}")).unwrap();
     wait_until("the imported character to log in", 90, || online(&r.b, *guid));
@@ -397,7 +399,7 @@ fn the_core_imports_characters_into_a_running_realm_like_the_offline_importer_do
         let _ = std::fs::remove_file(jobs.join(format!("{job}.job")));
         let _ = std::fs::remove_file(jobs.join(format!("{job}.result")));
     };
-    let mut impossible = model.clone();
+    let mut impossible = imported[0].3.clone();
     impossible.items[0].entry = crate::portable::ids::ContentId::new("coa", "item", 4_000_000_000).unwrap();
     refused(crate::portable::realm::online::job_bytes(ticket.import_id, [9, 9, 9, 9], ACCOUNT, 1, 10, &impossible, None).unwrap(), "an item the realm does not know");
     refused(crate::portable::realm::online::job_bytes(ticket.import_id, [9, 9, 9, 8], 99_999_999, 1, 10, &model, None).unwrap(), "an account that does not exist");
diff --git a/docs/PORTABLE_SESSIONS.md b/docs/PORTABLE_SESSIONS.md
index b562822..74b6068 100644
--- a/docs/PORTABLE_SESSIONS.md
+++ b/docs/PORTABLE_SESSIONS.md
@@ -214,3 +214,35 @@ transfer, personal Ascension bank, equipment sets, level-cap projection.
   checkpoint; disconnect/crash before the final checkpoint.
 * Real worldserver with the character online and several checkpoints without logout; the number of `characters` rows written
   during a checkpoint is counted on the database (general log) to show one character is saved, not all.
+
+## 10. What was verified
+
+Manager: 413 workspace tests (the session layer alone has 15 with a simulated realm that normalises characters, holds the player until
+the baseline is released, saves on request and crashes on demand), `check-i18n`, `npm run build`. Owner and Host are two separate stores in every
+test; restarts of either are tests of their own (files closed and reopened between steps).
+
+Live, two disposable MySQL servers and **a real worldserver built from the core branch** (`feat/portable-session-bridge`, commit `aeba87f04`,
+not pushed):
+
+* `a_running_worldserver_takes_its_own_baseline_and_checkpoints_one_character_without_a_logout`: the character is imported with its session
+  armed, logs in (`botcmd spawnbot`, the real `HandlePlayerLoginFromDB`) next to two other online characters, is held at `state = 1`, the Host
+  takes `B0` and releases it, then three **real** level changes each produce one checkpoint **without a logout**; the database's general log shows
+  exactly one `characters` row written per checkpoint (the character's own), the Owner gets revisions 2, 3, 4 with the real level, and what the realm
+  deleted at load is still in the canonical character. Then logout -> final checkpoint -> the next session armed -> the next login takes its baseline
+  by itself again; a worldserver **crash** in the middle of a session is continued without a new baseline and without gate; a **clean shutdown**
+  ends the session like a logout and the Host sends the final checkpoint.
+* `a_character_whose_host_never_answers_is_never_released_and_the_core_disconnects_it`: no Host, no release: the core gives up after the
+  gate timeout, the row stays in `state = 1`, nothing was played.
+* `the_core_imports_characters_into_a_running_realm_like_the_offline_importer_does`: four characters imported into the **running** realm; each
+  reads back identical to what the offline importer makes of it; the id generators, the name cache (a command by name finds the new character), the
+  account's realm character count and an immediate login all work; the same job id twice creates nothing; an unknown item, a missing account, a
+  tampered snapshot and garbage are refused and write nothing.
+* the earlier live suites (export, offline import, reconcile, in-place update, round trip) still pass with the new table in the schema; the update
+  also arms the next session in the same realm transaction (`an_in_place_update_arms_the_next_runtime_session_in_the_same_transaction`).
+
+Core: `python -B tools/verify_all.py --stages source --base origin/coa-bots` passes (comments, boundaries, registrations); the C++ code style
+check passes on the changed files. The build, unit, harness and gameplay stages were not run: a worldserver was built and exercised through the live
+tests above instead.
+
+Known limits: a bot session has no socket, so the gate's packet hold and kick are only exercised for real clients by a manual test; the
+core's job parser is exercised through the live importer test, not through its own unit tests.