test: cover the shape check and the ladder's rungs

Pure decisions (shape presence, rung boundaries, Default: parse for wording
only), sweep probes for every AC path (malformed-once, conforming silence,
rungs despite activity, cron progression, missed-moment skip, re-flag
episode, unreadable comment list, malformed+rung same pass), and the
existing nudge fixtures updated to conforming escalations with pre-seeded
rung markers so each probe observes one behavior alone.

Part of #73.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh

@@ -253,8 +253,17 @@ cfix() { printf '%s/repos_owner_repo_issues_%s_comments.json' "$TMP" "$1"; }
 jq -n --arg l "$(iso_at $((INOW - 10 * 86400)))" \
   '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$l},
     {"event":"assigned","created_at":$l}]' >"$(tfix 21)"
+# The escalation is conforming and the rung markers are pre-seeded — by 10
+# days in both rungs fired long ago (#73), so this probe observes the nudge
+# wiring alone; shape and rung behavior have their own probes in
+# test/ruling.test.sh.
 jq -n --arg at "$(iso_at $((INOW - 10 * 86400 - 60)))" \
-  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc21","body":"question, options, recommendation"}]' \
+  --arg b $'Options:  A — x   B — y\nRecommend: A, because x.\nBlocked:  z\nDefault:  none — hard block' \
+  --arg r12 "$(iso_at $((INOW - 10 * 86400 + 13 * 3600)))" \
+  --arg r24 "$(iso_at $((INOW - 10 * 86400 + 25 * 3600)))" \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc21","body":$b},
+    {"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r12,"html_url":"https://x/r12","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung12 -->\nrung"},
+    {"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r24,"html_url":"https://x/r24","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung24 -->\nrung"}]' \
   >"$(cfix 21)"
 exempt="$(issue_probe 21 $'claimed\nneeds-ruling')"
 check "a 10-day-quiet claim under a ruling is not reclaimed" 1 "" \

test/labels-reconcile.test.sh

@@ -557,12 +557,22 @@ ruling_sweep_probe() { # $1 = the PR's labels → reconcile_pr's log lines
   )
 }
 
-# The flag went up 8 days ago with its escalation posted seconds earlier.
+# The flag went up 10 days ago with its escalation posted seconds earlier;
-jq -n --arg at "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 8 * 86400)))" \
+# the newest activity is the reviews at 8 days. The escalation is conforming
+# and the rung markers are pre-seeded — by now both rungs fired long ago
+# (#73), older than the reviews so the quiet window still reads 8 days —
+# and this probe observes the nudge wiring alone; shape and rung behavior
+# have their own probes in test/ruling.test.sh.
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 10 * 86400)))" \
   '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
   >"$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_77_timeline.json"
-jq -n --arg at "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 8 * 86400 - 60)))" \
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 10 * 86400 - 60)))" \
-  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc77","body":"question, options, recommendation"}]' \
+  --arg b $'Options:  A — x   B — y\nRecommend: A, because x.\nBlocked:  z\nDefault:  none — hard block' \
+  --arg r12 "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 10 * 86400 + 13 * 3600)))" \
+  --arg r24 "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 10 * 86400 + 25 * 3600)))" \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc77","body":$b},
+    {"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r12,"html_url":"https://x/r12","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung12 -->\nrung"},
+    {"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r24,"html_url":"https://x/r24","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung24 -->\nrung"}]' \
   >"$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_77_comments.json"
 
 wired="$(ruling_sweep_probe "needs-ruling")"

test/ruling.test.sh

@@ -51,12 +51,63 @@ check "exactly 7 days holds — strictly past the horizon, like the stale sweep"
   ruling_nudge_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 7 * 86400))
 check "fresh activity holds" 0 "KEEP" ruling_nudge_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 60))
 
+# -- the ladder's rungs (#50 D13): anchored to the labeled event ------------
+
+check "11h59m is rung 0" 0 "RUNG0" ruling_deadline_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 12 * 3600 + 60))
+check "exactly 12h starts the rung — at means at, unlike the nudge horizon" 0 "RUNG12" \
+  ruling_deadline_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 12 * 3600))
+check "12h01m is rung 12" 0 "RUNG12" ruling_deadline_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 12 * 3600 - 60))
+check "23h59m is still rung 12" 0 "RUNG12" ruling_deadline_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 24 * 3600 + 60))
+check "exactly 24h starts the last rung" 0 "RUNG24" ruling_deadline_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 24 * 3600))
+check "25h is rung 24 — past-24h has no fourth timer" 0 "RUNG24" \
+  ruling_deadline_decision "$NOW" $((NOW - 25 * 3600))
+
+# -- the Default: line, parsed for wording only (#50 D14) -------------------
+
+check "a timed default parses to its deadline" 0 "DEADLINE 2026-07-23T21:00Z" \
+  ruling_default_decision <<<$'Blocked:  x\nDefault:  A at 2026-07-23T21:00Z if no ruling'
+check "a bold default line with seconds parses" 0 "DEADLINE 2026-07-23T21:00:30Z" \
+  ruling_default_decision <<<$'**Default:**  A at 2026-07-23T21:00:30Z if quiet'
+check "none is a hard block" 0 "HARDBLOCK" ruling_default_decision <<<$'Default:  none — hard block'
+check "prose is unparseable, never guessed" 0 "UNPARSEABLE" \
+  ruling_default_decision <<<$'Default:  when it feels right'
+check "a missing default line is unparseable" 0 "UNPARSEABLE" \
+  ruling_default_decision <<<$'Options: A\nRecommend: A.'
+check "a timestamp off the default line is somebody's prose" 0 "UNPARSEABLE" \
+  ruling_default_decision <<<$'the deadline 2026-07-23T21:00Z came up above\nDefault:  soonish'
+
 rows="$(printf 'setter %s https://x/first\nsetter %s https://x/late\nbystander %s https://x/other\nsetter %s https://x/early-out\n' \
   "$((L - 300))" "$((L + 600))" "$((L - 60))" "$((L - 5000))")"
 check "the nudge links the earliest in-window escalation by the setter" 0 "https://x/first" \
   ruling_escalation_url setter "$L" <<<"$rows"
 check "no qualifying escalation yields no link" 0 "" \
   ruling_escalation_url setter "$L" <<<"bystander $((L - 60)) https://x/other"
+check "the url survives the base64 body column" 0 "https://x/first" \
+  ruling_escalation_url setter "$L" <<<"setter $((L - 300)) https://x/first $(printf 'Options: A' | base64)"
+check "the row carries the body for the shape check" 0 "https://x/first $(printf 'Options: A' | base64)" \
+  ruling_escalation_row setter "$L" <<<"setter $((L - 300)) https://x/first $(printf 'Options: A' | base64)"
+
+# -- the escalation comment's shape (#50 D12): presence only, line-anchored --
+
+TPL=$'🧭 needs-ruling — fixture decision\nOptions:  A — on   B — off\nRecommend: A, because the drill says so.\nBlocked:  the fixture stops; everything else continues\nDefault:  A at 2026-07-23T21:00Z if no ruling'
+TPL_BOLD=$'🧭 needs-ruling — fixture decision\n**Options:**  A — on   B — off\n**Recommend:** A, because the drill says so.\n**Blocked:**  the fixture stops\n**Default:**  none — hard block'
+
+check "all four field labels present is shaped" 0 "SHAPED" ruling_shape_decision <<<"$TPL"
+check "bold field labels are shaped — the live escalations write them bold" 0 "SHAPED" \
+  ruling_shape_decision <<<"$TPL_BOLD"
+check "labels inside a details fold are shaped — line-anchored, not fold-aware" 0 "SHAPED" \
+  ruling_shape_decision <<<$'<details><summary>fold</summary>\nOptions: A — x   B — y\nRecommend: A.\nBlocked: nothing\nDefault: none\n</details>'
+check "leading whitespace is tolerated" 0 "SHAPED" \
+  ruling_shape_decision <<<$'  Options: A   B\n  Recommend: A.\n  Blocked: x\n  Default: none'
+check "one missing label is named" 0 "MALFORMED Recommend:" \
+  ruling_shape_decision <<<$'Options:  A — x   B — y\nBlocked:  z\nDefault:  none — hard block'
+check "two missing labels are both named" 0 "MALFORMED Recommend: Default:" \
+  ruling_shape_decision <<<$'Options:  A — x   B — y\nBlocked:  z'
+check "labels only mid-sentence are malformed — line-anchoring is the rule" 0 \
+  "MALFORMED Options: Recommend: Blocked: Default:" \
+  ruling_shape_decision <<<$'we should Options: A or B, and I Recommend: A; Blocked: no; Default: none'
+check "an empty body is missing everything" 0 "MALFORMED Options: Recommend: Blocked: Default:" \
+  ruling_shape_decision </dev/null
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # The orchestrator, against a recording gh stub. The stub serves fixture JSON
@@ -122,16 +173,18 @@ check "the bare comment carries its marker" 0 "" \
   grep -qF '<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-bare -->' "$TMP/posted-9"
 check "the bare comment names the missing contract" 0 "" \
   grep -q 'question' "$TMP/posted-9"
+check "a bare flag draws no shape or rung comment — bare stops here" 1 "" \
+  grep -qE 'needs-ruling-(shape|rung)' "$TMP/posted-9"
 
-# -- accompanied flag: silence ----------------------------------------------
+# -- accompanied, conforming (bold, the live spelling): silence --------------
 jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$T")" \
   '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
   >"$(timeline_file 10)"
-jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T - 840))")" \
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T - 840))")" --arg b "$TPL_BOLD" \
-  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc","body":"question, options, recommendation"}]' \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc","body":$b}]' \
   >"$(comments_file 10)"
 reconcile_ruling 10 "$T" "$NOW" >/dev/null
-check "an accompanied flag posts nothing" 0 "0" posts 10
+check "an accompanied conforming flag posts nothing" 0 "0" posts 10
 
 # -- re-flag: judged on its own escalation, marker scoped per event ----------
 T1=$((NOW - 86400)) T2=$((NOW - 7200))
@@ -148,12 +201,18 @@ reconcile_ruling 11 "$T2" "$NOW" >/dev/null
 check "a re-flag is re-checked against its own escalation" 0 "1" posts 11
 
 # -- nudge: fires past 7 quiet days, links the escalation, resets itself -----
+# The escalation is conforming and the rung markers are pre-seeded (by 8 days
+# in, both rungs fired long ago — the realistic board), so the nudge's
+# behavior is observed alone.
 T0=$((NOW - 8 * 86400))
 jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$T0")" \
   '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
   >"$(timeline_file 12)"
-jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T0 - 60))")" \
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T0 - 60))")" --arg b "$TPL" \
-  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc12","body":"question, options, recommendation"}]' \
+  --arg r12 "$(iso "$((T0 + 13 * 3600))")" --arg r24 "$(iso "$((T0 + 25 * 3600))")" \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc12","body":$b},
+    {"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r12,"html_url":"https://x/r12","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung12 -->\nrung"},
+    {"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r24,"html_url":"https://x/r24","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung24 -->\nrung"}]' \
   >"$(comments_file 12)"
 check "8 quiet days nudge" 0 "ruling nudge" reconcile_ruling 12 "$T0" "$NOW"
 check "one nudge posted" 0 "1" posts 12
@@ -170,21 +229,143 @@ check "the posted nudge is now the newest activity" 0 "" \
 reconcile_ruling 12 "$(date -d "$newest_at" +%s)" "$NOW" >/dev/null
 check "a sweep right after the nudge holds its silence" 0 "1" posts 12
 
-# -- 6 quiet days: silence ---------------------------------------------------
+# -- 6 quiet days: silence. The flag itself is fresh (label churn is not
-jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((NOW - 6 * 86400))")" \
+# activity, so a quiet item can be freshly flagged): rung 0, no nudge. ------
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((NOW - 3600))")" \
   '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
   >"$(timeline_file 13)"
-jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((NOW - 6 * 86400))")" \
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((NOW - 3660))")" --arg b "$TPL" \
-  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc13","body":"question, options, recommendation"}]' \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc13","body":$b}]' \
   >"$(comments_file 13)"
 reconcile_ruling 13 $((NOW - 6 * 86400)) "$NOW" >/dev/null
-check "6 quiet days do not nudge" 0 "0" posts 13
+check "6 quiet days do not nudge, and a fresh flag sits on rung 0" 0 "0" posts 13
 
 # -- unreadable timeline: nothing happens ------------------------------------
 check "an unreadable timeline invents no verdict" 0 "timeline unreadable" \
   reconcile_ruling 14 "$T" "$NOW"
 check "...and posts nothing" 0 "0" posts 14
 
+# -- malformed escalation, rung 0: the shape comment, exactly once -----------
+T15=$((NOW - 3600))
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$T15")" \
+  '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  >"$(timeline_file 15)"
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T15 - 60))")" \
+  --arg b $'Options:  A — x   B — y\nBlocked:  z\nDefault:  none — hard block' \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc15","body":$b}]' \
+  >"$(comments_file 15)"
+check "a malformed escalation is commented on" 0 "escalation malformed" \
+  reconcile_ruling 15 "$T15" "$NOW"
+reconcile_ruling 15 "$T15" "$NOW" >/dev/null
+check "one shape comment across two sweeps" 0 "1" posts 15
+check "the shape comment names exactly the missing label" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF 'missing required field labels: **Recommend:**' "$TMP/posted-15"
+check "the shape comment links the escalation" 0 "" grep -qF 'https://x/esc15' "$TMP/posted-15"
+check "the shape comment quotes the template location" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF 'BUILDER.md#the-ruling-ask' "$TMP/posted-15"
+check "no bare comment beside the shape comment" 1 "" \
+  grep -qF "$RULING_BARE_MARKER" "$TMP/posted-15"
+check "the shape comment carries its marker" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF "$RULING_SHAPE_MARKER" "$TMP/posted-15"
+
+# -- 13h in, activity minutes old: the 12h rung fires anyway (D14) -----------
+T16=$((NOW - 13 * 3600))
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$T16")" \
+  '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  >"$(timeline_file 16)"
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T16 - 60))")" --arg b "$TPL_BOLD" \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc16","body":$b}]' \
+  >"$(comments_file 16)"
+check "the 12h rung fires despite recent activity — rungs never reset" 0 "12h rung" \
+  reconcile_ruling 16 $((NOW - 60)) "$NOW"
+reconcile_ruling 16 $((NOW - 60)) "$NOW" >/dev/null
+check "one 12h rung comment, once per episode" 0 "1" posts 16
+check "the rung comment is addressed to the flag-setter" 0 "" grep -qF '@setter' "$TMP/posted-16"
+check "the rung comment names the hard block" 0 "" grep -qF 'Default: none' "$TMP/posted-16"
+check "no nudge rode along — activity is recent and the nudge does reset" 1 "" \
+  grep -qF '@danmt' "$TMP/posted-16"
+check "the rung comment carries its marker" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF "$RULING_RUNG12_MARKER" "$TMP/posted-16"
+
+# -- the ladder walked on the cron: 12h rung at 13h, 24h rung at 25h ---------
+L17=$((NOW - 25 * 3600))
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$L17")" \
+  '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  >"$(timeline_file 17)"
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((L17 - 60))")" --arg b "$TPL" \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc17","body":$b}]' \
+  >"$(comments_file 17)"
+reconcile_ruling 17 "$L17" $((L17 + 13 * 3600)) >/dev/null
+check "a sweep at 13h posts the 12h rung" 0 "1" posts 17
+check "the rung comment names the stated deadline" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF '2026-07-23T21:00Z' "$TMP/posted-17"
+check "a sweep at 25h posts the 24h rung — one comment per rung" 0 "24h rung" \
+  reconcile_ruling 17 "$L17" "$NOW"
+check "two rung comments total" 0 "2" posts 17
+check "the 24h comment names triage's past-24h authority" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF 'triage picks the option' "$TMP/posted-17"
+reconcile_ruling 17 "$L17" "$NOW" >/dev/null
+check "...and never a third within the episode" 0 "2" posts 17
+
+# -- first observed past 24h: the missed 12h moment is not paged after the
+# fact — the 24h comment carries the whole remaining duty ---------------------
+T18=$((NOW - 25 * 3600))
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$T18")" \
+  '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  >"$(timeline_file 18)"
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T18 - 60))")" \
+  --arg b $'Options:  A — x   B — y\nRecommend: A, because x.\nBlocked:  z\nDefault:  when it feels right' \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc18","body":$b}]' \
+  >"$(comments_file 18)"
+reconcile_ruling 18 "$T18" "$NOW" >/dev/null
+check "a rung first observed past 24h pages once, not retroactively" 0 "1" posts 18
+check "only the 24h comment fired" 1 "" grep -qF "$RULING_RUNG12_MARKER" "$TMP/posted-18"
+check "the unparseable default is reported, not guessed" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF 'unparseable' "$TMP/posted-18"
+
+# -- a re-flag climbs its own ladder: old rung markers belong to the old
+# episode -------------------------------------------------------------------
+TA=$((NOW - 3 * 86400)) TB=$((NOW - 13 * 3600))
+jq -n --arg ta "$(iso "$TA")" --arg tb "$(iso "$TB")" \
+  '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$ta},
+    {"event":"unlabeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$tb},
+    {"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$tb}]' \
+  >"$(timeline_file 19)"
+jq -n --arg esc "$(iso "$((TB - 60))")" --arg b "$TPL" \
+  --arg r12 "$(iso "$((TA + 13 * 3600))")" --arg r24 "$(iso "$((TA + 25 * 3600))")" \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r12,"html_url":"https://x/r12","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung12 -->\nold episode"},
+    {"user":{"login":"sweep-bot"},"created_at":$r24,"html_url":"https://x/r24","body":"<!-- ceremony:needs-ruling-rung24 -->\nold episode"},
+    {"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$esc,"html_url":"https://x/esc19","body":$b}]' \
+  >"$(comments_file 19)"
+reconcile_ruling 19 "$TB" "$NOW" >/dev/null
+check "a re-flag climbs its own ladder — old rung markers do not stick" 0 "1" posts 19
+check "the re-flag's rung comment is the 12h rung" 0 "" \
+  grep -qF "$RULING_RUNG12_MARKER" "$TMP/posted-19"
+
+# -- unreadable comment list: nothing happens --------------------------------
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$T")" \
+  '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  >"$(timeline_file 20)"
+check "an unreadable comment list invents no verdict" 0 "comments unreadable" \
+  reconcile_ruling 20 "$T" "$NOW"
+check "...and it posts nothing" 0 "0" posts 20
+
+# -- malformed AND on a rung: the shape is owed and the ladder still climbs --
+T21=$((NOW - 13 * 3600))
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$T21")" \
+  '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  >"$(timeline_file 21)"
+jq -n --arg at "$(iso "$((T21 - 60))")" \
+  --arg b $'Options:  A — x   B — y\nRecommend: A, because x.\nBlocked:  z' \
+  '[{"user":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at,"html_url":"https://x/esc21","body":$b}]' \
+  >"$(comments_file 21)"
+reconcile_ruling 21 "$T21" "$NOW" >/dev/null
+check "a malformed escalation still climbs the ladder — two comments" 0 "2" posts 21
+check "the shape half fired" 0 "" grep -qF "$RULING_SHAPE_MARKER" "$TMP/posted-21"
+check "the rung half fired" 0 "" grep -qF "$RULING_RUNG12_MARKER" "$TMP/posted-21"
+reconcile_ruling 21 "$T21" "$NOW" >/dev/null
+check "both halves are once-per-episode" 0 "2" posts 21
+
 # -- across every scenario above: not one label write ------------------------
 check "the ruling sweep never wrote a label" 1 "" test -f "$TMP/edits"