diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro b/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro
index 33d2250..4a62525 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CyberFx.astro
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
 	<div class="cs-fx-halftone"></div>
 	<div class="cs-fx-wire"></div>
 	<div class="cs-fx-tear"></div>
-	<i class="cs-fx-edge cs-fx-edge--l"></i>
-	<i class="cs-fx-edge cs-fx-edge--r"></i>
+	<i class="cs-fx-corner cs-fx-corner--tl"></i>
+	<i class="cs-fx-corner cs-fx-corner--tr"></i>
+	<i class="cs-fx-corner cs-fx-corner--bl"></i>
+	<i class="cs-fx-corner cs-fx-corner--br"></i>
 </div>
 
 <script>
@@ -27,25 +29,23 @@
 
 		const reduced = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches;
 
-		/* ─── Tall sigil vines pinned to the left/right screen edges ─── */
-		/* Built once and shared by both edges so left/right are symmetric;
-		 * the right edge is flipped in CSS (scaleX(-1)). Edge-mode crops the
-		 * SVG to the inward half + stretches it to fill the ribbon, so it
-		 * reads as an inward-creeping border vine. */
-		const edges = document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('.cs-fx-edge');
-		if (edges.length) {
-			const vine = buildCybersigil({ count: 22, spineWave: 4, edge: true });
-			edges.forEach((e) => {
-				if (e.classList.contains('cs-fx-edge--sig')) return;
-				e.innerHTML = vine;
-				e.classList.add('cs-fx-edge--sig');
+		/* ─── Generated sigil growths in the four corners ─── */
+		/* One sigil per page load; the four corner transforms in global.css
+		 * (scaleX / scaleY / scale) splay it into each corner. */
+		const corners = document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('.cs-fx-corner');
+		if (corners.length) {
+			const svg = buildCybersigil();
+			corners.forEach((c) => {
+				if (c.classList.contains('cs-fx-corner--sig')) return;
+				c.innerHTML = svg;
+				c.classList.add('cs-fx-corner--sig');
 			});
 		}
 
 		/* ─── One slow-spinning sigil filling the background ─── */
 		const wire = document.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.cs-fx-wire');
 		if (wire && !wire.classList.contains('cs-fx-wire--sig')) {
-			wire.innerHTML = buildCybersigil({ count: 20 });
+			wire.innerHTML = buildCybersigil({ count: 9 });
 			wire.classList.add('cs-fx-wire--sig');
 		}
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx
index 013c5fd..89b2a89 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx
@@ -202,8 +202,6 @@ export default function PostList({ posts: initialPosts, isAdmin = false }: Props
                   <span>{formatYear(post.date)}</span>
                 </div>
               </div>
-
-              <PlateSigil />
             </a>
 
             {post.tags && post.tags.length > 0 && (
@@ -239,6 +237,8 @@ export default function PostList({ posts: initialPosts, isAdmin = false }: Props
                 </button>
               </div>
             )}
+
+            <PlateSigil />
           </article>
         );
       })}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.test.ts b/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.test.ts
index f3f462d..df3cb89 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.test.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe('buildCybersigil', () => {
     const dense = buildCybersigil({ count: 9, rng: seeded(5) });
     const n = (s: string) => (s.match(/<path/g) ?? []).length;
     expect(n(dense)).toBeGreaterThan(n(sparse));
-    expect(n(dense)).toBeLessThanOrEqual(440); // MAX_PATHS(200) mirrored + ornaments
+    expect(n(dense)).toBeLessThanOrEqual(260); // MAX_PATHS(110) mirrored + ornaments
   });
 
   it('ships a non-empty glyph library with valid path data', () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.ts b/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.ts
index f340e13..1147078 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/cybersigil.ts
@@ -36,25 +36,11 @@ export interface SigilOptions {
 	count?: number;
 	/** injectable RNG (0..1); default Math.random */
 	rng?: () => number;
-	/**
-	 * Spine sinuosity. Default `1` keeps the original gentle one-sided bow
-	 * (byte-identical output). Values >1 make the spine weave inward and
-	 * back (staying ≥0 so it never crosses the edge clip) with amplitude
-	 * ×spineWave — a serpentine vine for tall edge ribbons.
-	 */
-	spineWave?: number;
-	/**
-	 * Edge mode: crop the viewBox to the inward half (spine pinned at x=0)
-	 * and emit a single half with `preserveAspectRatio="none"`, so the
-	 * figure stretches to fill a tall narrow border ribbon instead of
-	 * scaling uniformly and overflowing it.
-	 */
-	edge?: boolean;
 }
 
 const H = 200; // internal canvas height (viewBox scales it to fit)
 const PAD = 14;
-const MAX_PATHS = 200; // safety ceiling; real density is bounded by the params
+const MAX_PATHS = 110; // safety ceiling; real density is bounded by the params
 
 type Pt = [number, number];
 
@@ -78,7 +64,7 @@ export function buildCybersigil(opts: SigilOptions = {}): string {
 	const emit = (d: string, cls: string) => {
 		if (strokeCount >= MAX_PATHS) return;
 		parts.push(
-			`<path class="${cls}" d="${d}" pathLength="1" style="--i:${strokeCount % 40}"/>`,
+			`<path class="${cls}" d="${d}" pathLength="1" style="--i:${strokeCount % 16}"/>`,
 		);
 		strokeCount++;
 	};
@@ -129,7 +115,7 @@ export function buildCybersigil(opts: SigilOptions = {}): string {
 		track(at[0] + g.w * s);
 		parts.push(
 			`<g transform="translate(${n(at[0])} ${n(at[1])}) rotate(${n(deg)}) scale(${n(s)})">` +
-				`<path class="cs-sig-orn" d="${g.d}" pathLength="1" style="--i:${strokeCount % 40}"/></g>`,
+				`<path class="cs-sig-orn" d="${g.d}" pathLength="1" style="--i:${strokeCount % 16}"/></g>`,
 		);
 		strokeCount++;
 	};
@@ -139,7 +125,7 @@ export function buildCybersigil(opts: SigilOptions = {}): string {
 	// with a motif.
 	const limb = (ox: number, oy: number, ang: number, scale: number, depth: number) => {
 		if (strokeCount >= MAX_PATHS) return;
-		const L = scale * rnd(50, 92);
+		const L = scale * rnd(34, 64);
 		const dx = Math.cos(ang) * L;
 		const dy = Math.sin(ang) * L;
 		const peak: Pt = [ox + dx, oy + dy];
@@ -157,7 +143,7 @@ export function buildCybersigil(opts: SigilOptions = {}): string {
 		emit(spline(pts), 'cs-sig-main');
 
 		// terminal spike off the outermost point
-		barb(peak, ang + rnd(-0.5, 0.5), scale * rnd(12, 26));
+		barb(peak, ang + rnd(-0.5, 0.5), scale * rnd(8, 18));
 
 		// filament shadow trailing the main sweep
 		if (rng() < 0.4) {
@@ -183,7 +169,7 @@ export function buildCybersigil(opts: SigilOptions = {}): string {
 			const tt = seg[2] as number;
 			const base: Pt = [a[0] + (b[0] - a[0]) * tt, a[1] + (b[1] - a[1]) * tt];
 			const side = k % 2 ? 1 : -1;
-			barb(base, ang + side * rnd(0.6, 1.3), scale * rnd(9, 22));
+			barb(base, ang + side * rnd(0.6, 1.3), scale * rnd(6, 16));
 		}
 
 		// recurse — one child curls off the mid/peak region
@@ -202,39 +188,16 @@ export function buildCybersigil(opts: SigilOptions = {}): string {
 		if (depth === 0 && rng() < 0.3) ornament(peak, ang);
 	};
 
-	// ── Wavering spine: a curve from top to bottom. Default gently bows in
-	// +x; spineWave>1 makes it weave side-to-side (a serpentine edge vine).
-	const sw = opts.spineWave ?? 1;
+	// ── Wavering spine: a curve from top to bottom, gently bowing in +x.
 	const spineNodes = 5 + Math.floor(rng() * 3);
 	const spinePts: Pt[] = [];
 	for (let i = 0; i <= spineNodes; i++) {
 		const y = (H * i) / spineNodes;
-		const x =
-			i === 0 || i === spineNodes
-				? 0
-				: sw === 1
-					? rnd(0, 11) // unchanged default — center/corner/plate sigils
-					: i % 2
-						? rnd(2, 8) // near the edge
-						: rnd(9, 15) * sw; // inward bulge — one-sided weave, never < 0
+		const x = i === 0 || i === spineNodes ? 0 : rnd(0, 11);
 		spinePts.push([x, y]);
 	}
 	emit(spline(spinePts), 'cs-sig-main');
 
-	// ── Terminal spike crown: long, straight, downward-converging needles
-	// off the spine tail — the dripping barbed point that ends the growth.
-	const tip = spinePts[spinePts.length - 1];
-	const fan = 4 + Math.floor(rng() * 3); // 4–6
-	for (let s = 0; s < fan; s++) {
-		const spread = (s / (fan - 1) - 0.5) * 1.0; // ~±0.5 rad — tighter dagger
-		const a = Math.PI / 2 + spread; // π/2 = +y (down)
-		const len = rnd(64, 104) * (1 - Math.abs(spread) * 0.35); // center longest
-		const base: Pt = [tip[0], tip[1] - rnd(0, 8)];
-		const tt: Pt = [base[0] + Math.cos(a) * len, base[1] + Math.sin(a) * len];
-		emit(`M${n(base[0])} ${n(base[1])}L${n(tt[0])} ${n(tt[1])}`, 'cs-sig-barb');
-		track(tt[0]);
-	}
-
 	// ── Branch nodes ride the spine and throw limbs outward. Nodes are
 	// inset from the very ends and spread the full height so growth flows
 	// down the whole trunk rather than clumping at the top.
@@ -249,30 +212,24 @@ export function buildCybersigil(opts: SigilOptions = {}): string {
 		const node: Pt = [a[0] + (b[0] - a[0]) * sf, a[1] + (b[1] - a[1]) * sf];
 		// later nodes lean downward so the lower trunk fills out
 		const bias = -0.25 + tc * 0.7;
-		// spike gradient: lower trunk grows longer, sharper barbs
-		const spike = 1 + tc * 1.4; // 1× top → ~2.3× bottom
 		const limbs = 1 + Math.floor(rng() * 2);
 		for (let l = 0; l < limbs; l++) {
 			const ang = bias + rnd(-0.55, 0.55);
-			limb(node[0], node[1], ang, rnd(0.65, 1.05) * (0.8 + tc * 0.5), 1);
+			limb(node[0], node[1], ang, rnd(0.65, 1.05), 1);
 		}
 		// the odd bare barb straight off the spine keeps the trunk prickly
-		if (rng() < 0.55) barb(node, bias + rnd(-0.3, 0.3), rnd(11, 20) * spike);
+		if (rng() < 0.55) barb(node, bias + rnd(-0.3, 0.3), rnd(7, 14));
 	}
 
 	const half = parts.join('');
-	// Edge mode crops to the inward half (spine at x=0) and lets the ribbon
-	// stretch it (none); normal mode is symmetric and uniformly fitted.
-	const minX = opts.edge ? 0 : -(maxX + PAD);
-	const vbW = opts.edge ? maxX + PAD : 2 * (maxX + PAD);
-	const par = opts.edge ? 'none' : 'xMidYMid meet';
-	const body = opts.edge
-		? `<g class="cs-sig-half">${half}</g>`
-		: `<g class="cs-sig-half">${half}</g>` +
-			`<g class="cs-sig-half" transform="scale(-1 1)">${half}</g>`;
+	const minX = -(maxX + PAD);
+	const vbW = 2 * (maxX + PAD);
 	return (
 		`<svg class="cs-sigil" viewBox="${n(minX)} ${-PAD} ${n(vbW)} ${H + 2 * PAD}" ` +
-		`preserveAspectRatio="${par}" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" ` +
-		`xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">${body}</svg>`
+		`preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" ` +
+		`xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">` +
+		`<g class="cs-sig-half">${half}</g>` +
+		`<g class="cs-sig-half" transform="scale(-1 1)">${half}</g>` +
+		`</svg>`
 	);
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/partials/70-cybersigil.css b/frontend/src/styles/partials/70-cybersigil.css
index c6efa7e..d917a78 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/partials/70-cybersigil.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/partials/70-cybersigil.css
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 .cybersigil {
   --font-sans: 'Space Mono', 'Courier New', ui-monospace, monospace;
   --font-display: 'VT323', 'Space Mono', 'Courier New', monospace;
+  --cs-corner: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 100 100' fill='none' stroke='%23fff' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'><path stroke-width='2.4' d='M3 3 C 26 10 33 26 36 44 C 38 60 46 70 60 78 C 74 86 84 86 97 84 M16 7 C 22 2 30 1 40 2 M14 17 C 8 24 5 33 4 45 M35 40 C 45 36 56 37 66 41 M34 49 C 30 60 30 71 33 83 M52 73 C 60 66 70 64 82 65 M58 80 C 55 90 56 97 60 99'/><path stroke-width='1' opacity='0.8' d='M24 9 L30 3 M10 31 L3 34 M41 38 L47 31 M33 61 L26 66 M71 66 L79 61 M49 55 L44 49 M22 24 L17 20'/></svg>");
   --cs-barb: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 120 22' fill='none' stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='1.6' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'><path d='M2 11 C 24 4 40 18 60 11 C 80 4 96 18 118 11'/><path stroke-width='1.3' d='M18 8 L22 1 M30 13 L27 21 M48 12 L48 2 M60 11 L60 1 M72 12 L76 20 M90 9 L87 1 M104 13 L108 21'/></svg>");
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ html.cybersigil body::after {
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-halftone,
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-wire,
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-tear,
-.cybersigil .cs-fx-edge {
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner {
   position: fixed;
   pointer-events: none;
 }
@@ -108,17 +109,14 @@ html.cybersigil body::after {
   filter: drop-shadow(0 0 6px color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 35%, transparent));
 }
 .cybersigil .cs-fx-wire .cs-sigil path {
-  /* slower than the edges + a tighter stagger: the dense background field
-   * spends most of the cycle solid, so it no longer reads as dotted while
-   * many strokes wipe out of phase. */
-  animation: cs-redraw 8s linear infinite;
-  animation-delay: calc(var(--i, 0) * -0.13s);
+  animation: cs-redraw 5.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+  /* negative, per-stroke offset: the field is always mid-carve, never blank */
+  animation-delay: calc(var(--i, 0) * -0.34s);
 }
-/* Continuous carve: draws on through the first half, wipes off through the
- * second, no plateau — the stroke is always in motion. */
 @keyframes cs-redraw {
   0%   { stroke-dashoffset: 1; }
-  50%  { stroke-dashoffset: 0; }
+  35%  { stroke-dashoffset: 0; }
+  60%  { stroke-dashoffset: 0; }
   100% { stroke-dashoffset: -1; }
 }
 
@@ -148,33 +146,21 @@ html.cybersigil body::after {
   );
 }
 
-
-/* Edge vines — a tall sigil growth pinned to each screen edge, spine on
- * the edge with its outer half clipped so it creeps inward only. Subtle
- * ambient opacity; same perpetual carve/wipe as the wire + corners. */
-.cybersigil .cs-fx-edge {
-  top: 0;
-  bottom: 0;
-  width: clamp(96px, 12vw, 184px);
-  overflow: hidden;
+/* Thorny sigil growths anchoring the four screen corners. */
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner {
+  width: clamp(96px, 13vw, 188px);
+  height: clamp(96px, 13vw, 188px);
+  background-color: var(--sky);
   opacity: 0.26;
+  -webkit-mask: var(--cs-corner) center / contain no-repeat;
+  mask: var(--cs-corner) center / contain no-repeat;
+  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 45%, transparent));
+  animation: cs-flicker 7s linear infinite;
 }
-.cybersigil .cs-fx-edge--l { left: 0; }
-.cybersigil .cs-fx-edge--r { right: 0; transform: scaleX(-1); }
-/* edge-mode SVG is pre-cropped to the inward half + preserveAspectRatio
- * none, so it just fills the ribbon: full height, stretched to width. */
-.cybersigil .cs-fx-edge .cs-sigil {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset: 0;
-  width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
-  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 35%, transparent));
-}
-.cybersigil .cs-fx-edge .cs-sigil path,
-.cybersigil .cs-fx-edge .cs-sigil line {
-  animation: cs-redraw 6.5s linear infinite;
-  animation-delay: calc(var(--i, 0) * -0.13s);
-}
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--tl { top: 0;    left: 0;  }
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--tr { top: 0;    right: 0; transform: scaleX(-1); animation-delay: -1.7s; }
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--bl { bottom: 0; left: 0;  transform: scaleY(-1); animation-delay: -3.4s; }
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--br { bottom: 0; right: 0; transform: scale(-1);  animation-delay: -5.1s; }
 
 /* ─── Generated sigils (cs-sigil markup from lib/cybersigil.ts) ──────────
  * Inert/hidden everywhere; only cybersigil draws them. Strokes start fully
@@ -207,6 +193,19 @@ html.cybersigil body::after {
   to { stroke-dashoffset: 0; }
 }
 
+/* Corner growths: swap the static mask box for the live SVG, keep the box's
+ * size / placement / flicker opacity. Strokes carve in and wipe out forever
+ * (same perpetual self-redraw as the background sigil). */
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--sig {
+  background: none;
+  -webkit-mask: none;
+  mask: none;
+}
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--sig .cs-sigil path,
+.cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--sig .cs-sigil line {
+  animation: cs-redraw 5.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+  animation-delay: calc(var(--i, 0) * -0.34s);
+}
 
 /* Selection — magenta block, bone glyph, cyan bleed. */
 .cybersigil ::selection {
@@ -429,14 +428,14 @@ html.cybersigil body::after {
   stroke: color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 68%, var(--sky));
   filter: drop-shadow(0 0 4px color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 55%, transparent));
 }
-.cybersigil .plate:hover .cs-plate-sig,
-.cybersigil .plate:focus-visible .cs-plate-sig {
+.cybersigil .plate-enter:hover .cs-plate-sig,
+.cybersigil .plate-enter:focus-within .cs-plate-sig {
   opacity: 0.5;
 }
-.cybersigil .plate:hover .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil path,
-.cybersigil .plate:hover .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil line,
-.cybersigil .plate:focus-visible .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil path,
-.cybersigil .plate:focus-visible .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil line {
+.cybersigil .plate-enter:hover .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil path,
+.cybersigil .plate-enter:hover .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil line,
+.cybersigil .plate-enter:focus-within .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil path,
+.cybersigil .plate-enter:focus-within .cs-plate-sig .cs-sigil line {
   animation: cs-carve 600ms cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) forwards;
   animation-delay: calc(var(--i, 0) * 55ms);
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/partials/90-keyframes.css b/frontend/src/styles/partials/90-keyframes.css
index ca436ff..99b2cb5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/partials/90-keyframes.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/partials/90-keyframes.css
@@ -3,6 +3,14 @@
   0%, 49%  { opacity: 1; }
   50%, 100% { opacity: 0; }
 }
+@keyframes cs-flicker {
+  0%, 8%    { opacity: 0.26; }
+  9%        { opacity: 0.46; }
+  10%, 70%  { opacity: 0.26; }
+  71%       { opacity: 0.08; }
+  72%       { opacity: 0.34; }
+  73%, 100% { opacity: 0.26; }
+}
 @keyframes cs-tear {
   0%, 21%   { opacity: 0; top: 18%; }
   22%       { opacity: 0.85; top: 18%; transform: translateX(-7px); }
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/partials/99-reduced-motion.css b/frontend/src/styles/partials/99-reduced-motion.css
index 9a3f196..671904d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/partials/99-reduced-motion.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/partials/99-reduced-motion.css
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   /* The looping sigils would otherwise collapse to their hidden end-state —
    * pin them fully drawn instead so they stay visible, just still. */
   .cybersigil .cs-fx-wire .cs-sigil path,
-  .cybersigil .cs-fx-edge .cs-sigil path {
+  .cybersigil .cs-fx-corner--sig .cs-sigil path {
     animation: none !important;
     stroke-dashoffset: 0 !important;
   }