diff --git a/.claude/skills/design-pixel-retro/SKILL.md b/.claude/skills/design-pixel-retro/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a8e83036
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/skills/design-pixel-retro/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+---
+name: design-pixel-retro
+description: >
+  Pixel Art Retro design system — ChonkyPixels font, neon glow CTAs, pixel
+  dot animations, and dark foundation theme. Use when building retro/pixel art
+  UIs, foundation sites, when user says "pixel art", "retro design", "8-bit
+  aesthetic", "neon glow buttons", "pixel font", or "retro foundation style".
+metadata:
+  author: dorian
+  version: 1.0.0
+  category: design-system
+  tags: [pixel-art, retro, 8-bit, neon, dark-theme, foundation]
+---
+
+# Pixel Art Retro Design System
+
+Extracted from Archipelago Foundation. Pixel-perfect aesthetics with modern
+web technology, neon glow accents, and playful retro energy.
+
+## Design Identity
+
+**Name:** Pixel Art Retro
+**Mood:** Playful retro, 8-bit nostalgia with modern polish
+**Background:** Dark (#0A0A0A) with pixel texture overlays
+**Accent:** Bitcoin orange (#F7931A) with radial neon glow
+
+## Typography
+
+```css
+--font-pixel: 'ChonkyPixels', monospace; /* Display/headings — CRITICAL */
+--font-body: 'Avenir Next', system-ui, sans-serif;
+--font-mono: 'Courier New', monospace;
+```
+
+**Rule:** ChonkyPixels must be loaded with `font-synthesis: none` and
+`!important` on headings to prevent browser synthesis of bold/italic.
+
+## Color Palette
+
+Same dark base as Glassmorphism, but with neon glow effects:
+```css
+--bg-primary: #0A0A0A;
+--accent: #F7931A;
+--accent-glow: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(247,147,26,0.4) 0%, transparent 70%);
+--neon-green: #39ff14;
+--neon-pink: #ff6ec7;
+--neon-blue: #04d9ff;
+```
+
+## Key Components
+
+### Neon Glow CTA
+```css
+.neon-cta {
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f7931a, #e68a00);
+  border: 2px solid rgba(247, 147, 26, 0.5);
+  border-radius: 4px; /* Sharp corners — pixel aesthetic */
+  padding: 12px 32px;
+  font-family: var(--font-pixel);
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  position: relative;
+}
+.neon-cta::after {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: -8px;
+  background: var(--accent-glow);
+  opacity: 0;
+  transition: opacity 0.3s;
+  z-index: -1;
+}
+.neon-cta:hover::after { opacity: 1; }
+```
+
+### Pixel Dot Animation
+```css
+@keyframes pixel-dot-bounce {
+  0%, 100% { transform: translateY(0); }
+  50% { transform: translateY(-4px); }
+}
+.pixel-dot { animation: pixel-dot-bounce 0.6s steps(2) infinite; }
+```
+
+### Intro Sequence
+```css
+.intro-container { animation: intro-container 0.6s ease-out; transform-origin: center; }
+.intro-corners { animation: intro-corners 0.5s ease-out 0.35s both; }
+.intro-logo { animation: fadeIn 0.5s ease-out 0.7s both; }
+
+@keyframes intro-container { from { transform: scale(0.97); opacity: 0; } }
+@keyframes intro-corners { from { transform: scale(0.8); opacity: 0; } }
+```
+
+## UI Approach
+
+- Sharp corners (2-4px radius) — pixel aesthetic, not rounded
+- Stepped animations (`steps(N)`) where possible for pixel feel
+- Monospace alignment for data displays
+- Donation modal: max-width 480px, QR code on white background
+- Theme toggle: smooth dark/light with inverted logo filter
+
+## Modular Architecture
+
+- Pixel font loaded via `@font-face` with subset for performance
+- Glow effects via CSS pseudo-elements (no extra DOM)
+- Animation keyframes in global stylesheet
+- Component-scoped overrides only
diff --git a/.claude/skills/iso-debug/references/boot-chain-reference.md b/.claude/skills/iso-debug/references/boot-chain-reference.md
index af92f101..93b86118 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/iso-debug/references/boot-chain-reference.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/iso-debug/references/boot-chain-reference.md
@@ -18,6 +18,22 @@ The first 432 bytes of a hybrid-bootable ISO. Contains the Master Boot Record co
 
 **Rule**: Always extract MBR from a known-working ISO. Never rely on the generic ISOLINUX one.
 
+### CRITICAL: Embedded vs Appended EFI — Real Hardware Impact
+
+Two approaches for EFI boot in xorriso. They produce DIFFERENT hybrid structures:
+
+| Approach | xorriso flag | cyl-align | CHS geometry | Real hardware |
+|----------|-------------|-----------|--------------|---------------|
+| **Embedded** | `-e boot/grub/efi.img` | `cyl-align-on` | Non-zero (e.g. 244/32) | **WORKS** |
+| **Appended** | `-append_partition 2 ... -e --interval:appended_partition_2:all::` | `cyl-align-off` | `0/0` | **FAILS** |
+
+The Will Haley guide recommends appended, but on our Dell hardware only embedded works.
+Use `xorriso -indev image.iso -report_system_area plain` to check which mode an ISO uses.
+
+### Common gotcha: installer minbase missing sudo
+debootstrap --variant=minbase does NOT include sudo. If the installer runs as root
+(via auto-login), do NOT use sudo in scripts. `bash: sudo: command not found` is the symptom.
+
 ### xorriso flags for hybrid boot
 ```bash
 xorriso -as mkisofs -o output.iso \
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build-iso-dev.yml b/.gitea/workflows/build-iso-dev.yml
index 89c77674..0f6f795f 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build-iso-dev.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build-iso-dev.yml
@@ -109,6 +109,18 @@ jobs:
           fi
           echo "SMOKE TEST PASSED"
 
+      - name: QEMU boot test
+        timeout-minutes: 5
+        continue-on-error: true
+        run: |
+          ISO=$(ls image-recipe/results/archipelago-installer-unbundled-*.iso 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+          if [ -n "$ISO" ] && command -v qemu-system-x86_64 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "Running headless QEMU boot test..."
+            bash image-recipe/test-iso-headless.sh "$ISO" 120
+          else
+            echo "Skipping QEMU test (no ISO or QEMU not available)"
+          fi
+
       - name: Copy to Builds
         run: |
           ISO=$(ls image-recipe/results/archipelago-installer-unbundled-*.iso 2>/dev/null | head -1)