Add The Core faction crest release

ASSET-LICENSES.md

@@ -229,3 +229,18 @@ third-party reference material, Warpkeep or Hegemony trademarks and canonical
 identity, or unrelated Warpkeep material by implication. Runtime designation
 and repository presence do not by themselves assert current live-game
 integration.
+
+## Warpkeep — The Core faction crest
+
+- **Set:** exact supplied 1024×1024 transparent Core crest master, safe-padded runtime PNG/WebP derivatives, alpha mask, previews, manifests, and checksums
+- **Release:** `the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03`
+- **Snapshot date:** 2026-08-03
+- **Deposit authority:** Ael explicitly requested public upload to Warpkeep-Assets.
+- **License status:** public archival and GitHub Release distribution authorized; no separate open-license grant asserted
+
+This authorization covers publication and distribution of the named crest
+package, its deterministic runtime derivatives, Git-tracked previews, and
+archive metadata. It does not grant rights in third-party settings or names,
+generation services, Warpkeep trademarks or canonical identity, or unrelated
+Warpkeep material by implication. The release describes The Core only as a
+Warpkeep faction and does not include outside reference imagery or branding.

README.md

@@ -12,6 +12,26 @@ Integration notes below describe what each asset release itself authorized or
 asserted when it was published. See the [Warpkeep repository](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep)
 for the current live runtime.
 
+[![Warpkeep — The Core faction crest](previews/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03/00-the-core-faction-crest-showcase.jpg)](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep-Assets/releases/tag/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03)
+
+## The Core faction crest
+
+The 2026-08-03 identity release establishes the first visual mark for **The
+Core**, Warpkeep's machine-intelligence faction. The supplied
+1024×1024 transparent PNG is preserved byte-for-byte as the canonical master.
+Safe-padded 1024, 512, and 256px runtime PNGs prevent edge clipping under UI
+filtering, while the complete kit also carries 128/64px PNGs, lossless WebP
+derivatives, an alpha mask, checksums, and presentation previews.
+
+| Canonical source | Recommended runtime | Mobile variants |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Exact 1024px RGBA master | Safe-padded 512px PNG | 256, 128, and 64px PNGs |
+
+**[Download The Core faction crest](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep-Assets/releases/tag/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03)** · [manifest](releases/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03/manifest.json) · [provenance](provenance/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03.md) · [transparent preview](previews/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03/01-the-core-faction-crest-transparent-512.png)
+
+This asset release records visual identity and runtime candidates; it does not
+by itself assert current integration in Warpkeep.
+
 [![Warpkeep Hegemony Citizens — Keep Services & Orders](previews/hegemony-citizens-keep-services-2026-08-03/00-citizens-overview.jpg)](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep-Assets/releases/tag/hegemony-citizens-keep-services-2026-08-03)
 
 ## Hegemony keep citizens
@@ -143,6 +163,7 @@ Large masters do not live in normal Git history. They are published as immutable
 
 ## Asset releases
 
+- [`the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03`](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep-Assets/releases/tag/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03) — exact supplied 1024px transparent master for The Core faction, three individually downloadable safe-padded runtime PNGs, a complete 15-file source/runtime kit, checksums, [public provenance](provenance/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03.md), and a two-image Git-tracked gallery
 - [`hegemony-citizens-keep-services-2026-08-03`](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep-Assets/releases/tag/hegemony-citizens-keep-services-2026-08-03) — eight game-ready Hegemony keep citizens, including two civic orders and two exotic mounted roles, with 32 four-LOD runtime GLBs, 9 privacy-sanitized editable Blender sources, 21 PNGs, 73/73 QA checks, package manifests, nested checksums, [public provenance](provenance/hegemony-citizens-keep-services-2026-08-03.md), and a Git-tracked two-image release gallery
 - [`hegemony-unit-corps-2026-08-03`](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep-Assets/releases/tag/hegemony-unit-corps-2026-08-03) — twelve game-ready Hegemony infantry, ranged, and cavalry units with 48 four-LOD runtime GLBs, 15 privacy-sanitized editable Blender sources, 39 PNGs, package manifests, nested checksums and license notices, [public provenance](provenance/hegemony-unit-corps-2026-08-03.md), and a Git-tracked four-image gallery
 - [`inner-keep-3d-asset-library-2026-08-02`](https://github.com/ael-dev3/Warpkeep-Assets/releases/tag/inner-keep-3d-asset-library-2026-08-02) — complete privacy-sanitized inner-keep production snapshot: 152 assets, 610 total GLBs, 74 Blender containers, 364 PNGs, checksums, [public provenance](provenance/inner-keep-3d-asset-library-2026-08-02.md), and a 12-image Git-tracked production gallery

manifests/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03.source.json

@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+{
+  "schemaVersion": 1,
+  "assetId": "warpkeep.factions.the-core.crest",
+  "archivePurpose": "Canonical and runtime-ready visual identity for Warpkeep's The Core faction.",
+  "snapshotDate": "2026-08-03",
+  "designation": {
+    "name": "The Core faction crest",
+    "faction": "The Core",
+    "role": "faction heraldry and UI identity",
+    "runtimeIntegration": "current integration not asserted by this asset release"
+  },
+  "source": {
+    "suppliedBy": "Ael",
+    "authorization": "Ael explicitly requested public upload to Warpkeep-Assets.",
+    "privateWorkflowMetadata": "intentionally omitted",
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+    "canonicalSha256": "849318a927ce70143cf3a9eb2e4170426da6cbb2fcf009826e37d9c7820b6120",
+    "canonicalDimensions": [
+      1024,
+      1024
+    ],
+    "preparation": "Exact source bytes preserved; only deterministic padding/resizing and presentation compositing were applied to derivatives.",
+    "inspirationDisclosure": "Ael described the concept as heavily inspired by the TechnoCore in Hyperion. No outside reference imagery, logos, or text are included in the release."
+  },
+  "licensePolicy": {
+    "spdx": null,
+    "status": "public-archive-authorized-no-separate-open-license",
+    "scope": "Public archival and release distribution are authorized for this named crest package. No separate open-license, trademark, or canonical-identity grant is asserted."
+  },
+  "visualSummary": {
+    "description": "Dark machine-gothic circular crest with metallic circuitry, radial spines, violet nodes, and a luminous central core.",
+    "readableText": false,
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+  },
+  "previews": [
+    {
+      "file": "00-the-core-faction-crest-showcase.jpg",
+      "title": "The Core faction crest",
+      "source": "presentation composite of the exact supplied transparent master",
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+      "title": "The Core crest \u2014 transparent runtime framing",
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+    }
+  ]
+}

previews/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03/gallery.json

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+{
+  "schema": "warpkeep.preview-gallery.v1",
+  "releaseTag": "the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03",
+  "images": [
+    {
+      "file": "00-the-core-faction-crest-showcase.jpg",
+      "title": "The Core faction crest",
+      "source": "presentation composite of the exact supplied transparent master",
+      "bytes": 549896,
+      "sha256": "024a73c11fca9f5b20e24f6e89e8cae329a3071bb484a0dbf48e8b12060bfd7f"
+    },
+    {
+      "file": "01-the-core-faction-crest-transparent-512.png",
+      "title": "The Core crest \u2014 transparent runtime framing",
+      "source": "safe-padded 512px derivative of the exact supplied master",
+      "bytes": 285047,
+      "sha256": "c1398d4e13218b7c499522a3efe49c333a23208a910888a93c4300014eda0ad0"
+    }
+  ]
+}

provenance/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# The Core faction crest
+
+- Asset identity: `warpkeep.factions.the-core.crest`
+- Release tag: `the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03`
+- Snapshot date: 2026-08-03
+- Supplied by: Ael
+- Public deposit: explicitly requested and authorized by Ael
+
+## Canonical source
+
+The canonical source is the exact supplied transparent PNG:
+`warpkeep-the-core-faction-crest-master-transparent-1024.png`.
+
+- Dimensions: 1024×1024
+- Encoding: 8-bit RGBA PNG, sRGB, non-interlaced
+- Bytes: 1,518,753
+- SHA-256: `849318a927ce70143cf3a9eb2e4170426da6cbb2fcf009826e37d9c7820b6120`
+- Alpha coverage: 552,041 fully transparent, 76,530 partially transparent, and 420,005 fully opaque pixels
+
+The release preserves those source bytes exactly. The visible source artwork
+approaches within three pixels of the right canvas edge, so runtime derivatives
+add transparent safety padding before resizing. No repainting, generative
+alteration, or semantic design change was applied to the supplied master.
+
+## Derived assets
+
+The individually downloadable 1024, 512, and 256px runtime PNGs retain the
+source composition while keeping approximately 7.5% transparent padding on
+each side. The complete ZIP additionally contains 128/64px PNGs, lossless
+WebP variants, a 1024px alpha mask, internal checksums, a runtime guide, and
+presentation previews.
+
+The dark showcase image is a deterministic presentation composite of the
+exact crest over a dark violet field. The transparent gallery image is the
+safe-padded 512px derivative.
+
+## Designation and boundaries
+
+The asset is designated as visual identity for Warpkeep's faction **The Core**.
+The user described its broad concept as heavily inspired by the TechnoCore in
+*Hyperion*. This provenance statement records that disclosed creative
+influence; the release does not include or reproduce outside reference
+imagery, logos, text, or branding.
+
+The release records asset preparation and public distribution only; current
+live-game integration is not asserted.
+
+## License boundary
+
+Public archival and GitHub Release distribution of this named package are
+authorized. No separate open-license, trademark, or canonical-identity grant
+is asserted. Repository presence does not relicense third-party tools,
+services, settings, names, or unrelated Warpkeep material.

releases/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03/PACKAGE-NOTICE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Package notice — The Core faction crest
+
+This release preserves the exact supplied 1024×1024 transparent crest master
+and deterministic safe-padded runtime derivatives prepared for Warpkeep.
+
+Public archival and GitHub Release distribution are authorized by Ael. No
+separate open-license, trademark, or canonical-identity grant is asserted.
+Current live-game integration is not asserted by this archive release.

releases/the-core-faction-crest-2026-08-03/SHA256SUMS.txt

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