Stable2

src/lib/components/story/ActionInput.svelte

@@ -540,8 +540,8 @@
             lorebookContext = entryResult.contextBlock;
             // Store retrieval result for debug panel
             ui.setLastLorebookRetrieval(entryResult);
-            // Update activation data with recorded activations
-            ui.updateActivationData(activationTracker);
+            // Update activation data with recorded activations (and persist to database)
+            ui.updateActivationData(activationTracker, story.currentStory?.id);
             log('Lorebook retrieval complete', {
               tier1: entryResult.tier1.length,
               tier2: entryResult.tier2.length,

src/lib/components/wizard/SetupWizard.svelte

@@ -533,7 +533,12 @@
 
   // Create Story
   async function createStory() {
+    // Sanity checks
     if (!storyTitle.trim()) return;
+    if (!generatedOpening) {
+      openingError = 'Please generate an opening scene first';
+      return;
+    }
 
     const wizardData: WizardData = {
       mode: selectedMode,
@@ -552,16 +557,6 @@
       openingGuidance: selectedMode === 'creative-writing' && openingGuidance.trim() ? openingGuidance.trim() : undefined,
     };
 
-    // Generate opening if not already done
-    if (!generatedOpening) {
-      await generateOpeningScene();
-    }
-
-    if (!generatedOpening) {
-      openingError = 'Failed to generate opening scene';
-      return;
-    }
-
     // Prepare story data
     const storyData = scenarioService.prepareStoryData(wizardData, generatedOpening);
 
@@ -1241,6 +1236,13 @@
               {/if}
             </div>
 
+            <!-- Hint when no protagonist is defined -->
+            {#if !protagonist && !showManualInput}
+              <p class="text-xs text-surface-500 italic">
+                Tip: While optional, having a protagonist helps the AI create more personalized story content.
+              </p>
+            {/if}
+
             <!-- Supporting Characters (Creative Mode Only) -->
             {#if selectedMode === 'creative-writing'}
               <div class="space-y-3 pt-4 border-t border-surface-700">
@@ -1522,19 +1524,26 @@
           {/if}
 
           {#if storyTitle.trim()}
-            <button
-              class="btn btn-secondary flex items-center gap-2"
-              onclick={generateOpeningScene}
-              disabled={isGeneratingOpening}
-            >
-              {#if isGeneratingOpening}
-                <Loader2 class="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
-                Generating Opening...
-              {:else}
-                <PenTool class="h-4 w-4" />
-                {generatedOpening ? 'Regenerate Opening' : 'Generate Opening Scene'}
+            <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
+              <button
+                class="btn btn-secondary flex items-center gap-2"
+                onclick={generateOpeningScene}
+                disabled={isGeneratingOpening}
+              >
+                {#if isGeneratingOpening}
+                  <Loader2 class="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
+                  Generating Opening...
+                {:else}
+                  <PenTool class="h-4 w-4" />
+                  {generatedOpening ? 'Regenerate Opening' : 'Generate Opening Scene'}
+                {/if}
+              </button>
+              {#if !generatedOpening && !isGeneratingOpening}
+                <span class="text-sm text-amber-400">Required to begin story</span>
               {/if}
-            </button>
+            </div>
+          {:else}
+            <p class="text-sm text-surface-500">Enter a title to generate the opening scene</p>
           {/if}
 
           {#if openingError}
@@ -1595,7 +1604,8 @@
         <button
           class="btn btn-primary flex items-center gap-2"
           onclick={createStory}
-          disabled={!storyTitle.trim() || isGeneratingOpening}
+          disabled={!storyTitle.trim() || isGeneratingOpening || !generatedOpening}
+          title={!generatedOpening ? 'Generate an opening scene first' : ''}
         >
           <Play class="h-4 w-4" />
           Begin Story

src/lib/stores/story.svelte.ts

@@ -298,8 +298,8 @@ class StoryStore {
       checkpoints: checkpoints.length,
     });
 
-    // Clear activation data from previous story (stickiness tracking is story-specific)
-    ui.clearActivationData();
+    // Load persisted activation data for this story (stickiness tracking)
+    await ui.loadActivationData(storyId);
 
     // Clear retry backup from previous story
     ui.clearRetryBackup();

src/lib/stores/ui.svelte.ts

@@ -44,6 +44,13 @@ interface PersistedSuggestions {
   suggestions: StorySuggestion[];
 }
 
+// Persisted activation data structure (for lorebook stickiness)
+interface PersistedActivationData {
+  storyId: string;
+  activationData: Record<string, number>;
+  storyPosition: number;
+}
+
 // UI State using Svelte 5 runes
 class UIStore {
   activePanel = $state<ActivePanel>('story');
@@ -596,6 +603,9 @@ class UIStore {
 
   // Activation tracking methods for lorebook stickiness
 
+  // Track the current story ID for activation persistence
+  private currentActivationStoryId: string | null = null;
+
   /**
    * Create an activation tracker for the current story position.
    * The tracker maintains references to our state so activations are persisted.
@@ -611,11 +621,17 @@ class UIStore {
    * Update activation data after retrieval completes.
    * Called with the tracker that was modified during retrieval.
    */
-  updateActivationData(tracker: SimpleActivationTracker) {
+  updateActivationData(tracker: SimpleActivationTracker, storyId?: string) {
     this.activationData = tracker.getActivationData();
     // Prune old activations (beyond max stickiness of 10 turns)
     tracker.pruneOldActivations(10);
     this.activationData = tracker.getActivationData();
+
+    // Persist to database
+    const targetStoryId = storyId || this.currentActivationStoryId;
+    if (targetStoryId) {
+      this.saveActivationData(targetStoryId);
+    }
   }
 
   /**
@@ -624,6 +640,55 @@ class UIStore {
   clearActivationData() {
     this.activationData = {};
     this.currentStoryPosition = 0;
+    this.currentActivationStoryId = null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Save activation data to the database for persistence.
+   */
+  saveActivationData(storyId: string) {
+    this.currentActivationStoryId = storyId;
+    const data: PersistedActivationData = {
+      storyId,
+      activationData: { ...this.activationData },
+      storyPosition: this.currentStoryPosition,
+    };
+    database.setSetting('lorebook_activation', JSON.stringify(data)).catch(err => {
+      console.warn('[UI] Failed to persist activation data:', err);
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Load activation data from the database for a story.
+   * Called when a story is loaded.
+   */
+  async loadActivationData(storyId: string) {
+    try {
+      const data = await database.getSetting('lorebook_activation');
+      if (data) {
+        const parsed: PersistedActivationData = JSON.parse(data);
+        // Only restore if it's for the same story
+        if (parsed.storyId === storyId) {
+          this.activationData = parsed.activationData;
+          this.currentStoryPosition = parsed.storyPosition;
+          this.currentActivationStoryId = storyId;
+          console.log('[UI] Restored activation data for story:', storyId, {
+            entriesCount: Object.keys(parsed.activationData).length,
+            storyPosition: parsed.storyPosition,
+          });
+          return;
+        }
+      }
+      // No matching data found, start fresh
+      this.activationData = {};
+      this.currentStoryPosition = 0;
+      this.currentActivationStoryId = storyId;
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.warn('[UI] Failed to load persisted activation data:', err);
+      this.activationData = {};
+      this.currentStoryPosition = 0;
+      this.currentActivationStoryId = storyId;
+    }
   }
 
   /**