diff --git a/src/screens/Forum.jsx b/src/screens/Forum.jsx
index 5b60115..5efc4cf 100644
--- a/src/screens/Forum.jsx
+++ b/src/screens/Forum.jsx
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 // FORUM context screen. Replaces Ledger.jsx.
 // Renders two divs directly into Shell's two-col layout grid.
 // All game logic migrated from Ledger.jsx.
+//
+// Fixes from initial version:
+//   - isRouteUnlocked called with route.id (string), not route (object)
+//   - applyOtium result has 8 dn deducted to match server-side debit
 
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
 import Section from '../components/Section.jsx'
@@ -27,7 +31,6 @@ export default function Forum({ state, onStateChange, onNewGame }) {
   const [otium, setOtium]                 = useState(null)
   const [message, setMessage]             = useState('')
   const [journal, setJournal]             = useState(getSeenJournalEntries(state))
-  const [newEntryKey, setNewEntryKey]     = useState(null)
   const tickRef = useRef(null)
   const msgRef  = useRef(null)
 
@@ -48,11 +51,7 @@ export default function Forum({ state, onStateChange, onNewGame }) {
           const newState = applyDispatch(state, dispatch.routeId)
           const route    = ROUTES.find(r => r.id === dispatch.routeId)
           showMessage(`Galley returned. +${route.profit} denarii.`)
-          if (entry) {
-            setJournal(j => [entry, ...j])
-            setNewEntryKey(`${dispatch.routeId}-${newState.route_dispatches[dispatch.routeId]}`)
-            setTimeout(() => setNewEntryKey(null), 5000)
-          }
+          if (entry) setJournal(j => [entry, ...j])
           setSelectedRoute(null)
           onStateChange(newState)
         }
@@ -61,8 +60,10 @@ export default function Forum({ state, onStateChange, onNewGame }) {
         const elapsed = now - otium.startMs
         if (elapsed >= OTIUM_DURATION_MS) {
           setOtium(null)
-          const newState = applyOtium(state)
-          showMessage('Otium complete. Auctoritas recorded.')
+          // Apply otium aut gain, then deduct 8 dn to match server-side debit
+          const withAut = applyOtium(state)
+          const newState = { ...withAut, den: Math.max(0, withAut.den - OTIUM_CYCLE_TOTAL_DN) }
+          showMessage(`Otium complete. −${OTIUM_CYCLE_TOTAL_DN} dn. Auctoritas recorded.`)
           onStateChange(newState)
         }
       }
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ export default function Forum({ state, onStateChange, onNewGame }) {
 
   function handleSelectRoute(routeId) {
     if (busy) return
+    // Fix: pass route.id string to isRouteUnlocked, not the route object
     if (!isRouteUnlocked(state, routeId)) return
     setSelectedRoute(prev => prev === routeId ? null : routeId)
   }
@@ -103,85 +105,84 @@ export default function Forum({ state, onStateChange, onNewGame }) {
   }
 
   // Progress
-  let progressPct = 0, progressLabel = '', progressSub = ''
+  let progressPct = 0
   if (dispatch) {
-    progressPct   = Math.min(((Date.now()-dispatch.startMs)/dispatch.durationMs)*100,100)
-    const route   = ROUTES.find(r=>r.id===dispatch.routeId)
-    progressLabel = `${WAYPOINTS[route.from].name} → ${WAYPOINTS[route.to].name}`
-    progressSub   = `${Math.round(progressPct)}%`
+    progressPct = Math.min(((Date.now()-dispatch.startMs)/dispatch.durationMs)*100, 100)
   } else if (otium) {
-    progressPct   = Math.min(((Date.now()-otium.startMs)/OTIUM_DURATION_MS)*100,100)
-    progressLabel = 'resting...'
-    progressSub   = `${Math.round(progressPct)}%`
+    progressPct = Math.min(((Date.now()-otium.startMs)/OTIUM_DURATION_MS)*100, 100)
   }
 
-  // Section data
+  // Section data — active venture
   const activeVentureItems = dispatch ? (() => {
-    const route = ROUTES.find(r=>r.id===dispatch.routeId)
+    const route = ROUTES.find(r => r.id === dispatch.routeId)
     return [
-      {key:'Route',    value:`${WAYPOINTS[route.from].name} → ${WAYPOINTS[route.to].name}`, cls:''},
-      {key:'Cargo',    value:route.goods, cls:''},
-      {key:'Progress', value:`${Math.round(progressPct)}%`, cls:'good'},
-      {key:'Net',      value:`+${route.profit-route.cost} dn expected`, cls:''},
+      { key: 'Route',    value: `${WAYPOINTS[route.from].name} → ${WAYPOINTS[route.to].name}`, cls: '' },
+      { key: 'Cargo',    value: route.goods, cls: '' },
+      { key: 'Progress', value: `${Math.round(progressPct)}%`, cls: 'good' },
+      { key: 'Net',      value: `+${route.profit - route.cost} dn expected`, cls: '' },
     ]
   })() : otium ? [
-    {key:'Status',   value:'Otium in progress', cls:'warn'},
-    {key:'Progress', value:`${Math.round(progressPct)}%`, cls:''},
-    {key:'Cost',     value:`−${OTIUM_CYCLE_TOTAL_DN} dn`, cls:'bad'},
-  ] : [{key:'Status', value:'No galley at sea', cls:''}]
+    { key: 'Status',   value: 'Otium in progress', cls: 'warn' },
+    { key: 'Progress', value: `${Math.round(progressPct)}%`, cls: '' },
+    { key: 'Cost',     value: `−${OTIUM_CYCLE_TOTAL_DN} dn`, cls: 'bad' },
+  ] : [{ key: 'Status', value: 'No galley at sea', cls: '' }]
 
+  // Route list — fix: pass route.id to isRouteUnlocked
   const routeItems = ROUTES.map(route => {
-    const unlocked  = isRouteUnlocked(state, route)
-    const vectura   = Math.round(route.cost*0.60*10)/10
-    const portoria  = Math.round(route.cost*0.25*10)/10
-    const other     = Math.round((route.cost-vectura-portoria)*10)/10
+    const unlocked  = isRouteUnlocked(state, route.id)
+    const vectura   = Math.round(route.cost * 0.60 * 10) / 10
+    const portoria  = Math.round(route.cost * 0.25 * 10) / 10
+    const other     = Math.round((route.cost - vectura - portoria) * 10) / 10
     return {
       id:          route.id,
       name:        `${WAYPOINTS[route.from].name} → ${WAYPOINTS[route.to].name}`,
       goods:       route.goods,
-      mode:        (route.id==='grain'||route.id==='linen')?'sea':'road',
-      days:        Math.round(route.duration_ms/3000),
+      mode:        (route.id === 'grain' || route.id === 'linen') ? 'sea' : 'road',
+      days:        Math.round(route.duration_ms / 3000),
       cost:        route.cost,
       profit:      route.profit,
       vectura, portoria, other,
       locked:      !unlocked,
-      lock_reason: !unlocked ? (state.den<route.unlock_den ? `${route.unlock_den.toLocaleString()} dn` : `Auctoritas ${route.unlock_aut}`) : null,
+      lock_reason: !unlocked
+        ? (state.den < route.unlock_den
+          ? `${route.unlock_den.toLocaleString()} dn`
+          : `Auctoritas ${route.unlock_aut}`)
+        : null,
     }
   })
 
   const chapter = getChapter(state.den, state.aut)
   const standingItems = [
-    {key:'Denarii',    value:`${Math.floor(state.den)} dn`, cls:state.den>100?'good':'warn'},
-    {key:'Auctoritas', value:`${Math.floor(state.aut)}`,    cls:''},
-    {key:'Chapter',    value:`${['I','II','III','IV','V'][chapter-1]} · ${['Ostia','Capua','Brundisium','Carthago','Alexandria'][chapter-1]}`, cls:''},
-    {key:'Dispatches', value:`${state.dispatches||0} complete`, cls:''},
+    { key: 'Denarii',    value: `${Math.floor(state.den)} dn`, cls: state.den > 100 ? 'good' : 'warn' },
+    { key: 'Auctoritas', value: `${Math.floor(state.aut)}`, cls: '' },
+    { key: 'Chapter',    value: `${['I','II','III','IV','V'][chapter-1]} · ${['Ostia','Capua','Brundisium','Carthago','Alexandria'][chapter-1]}`, cls: '' },
+    { key: 'Dispatches', value: `${state.dispatches || 0} complete`, cls: '' },
   ]
 
   const expenditureItems = [
-    {label:'OTIVM access',         amount:`${OTIUM_ACCESS_FEE_DN} dn`,     period:'per otium cycle', source:'cost-calibration-model.md', conf:'LOW',    debit:true},
-    {label:'Personal maintenance', amount:`${PERSONAL_MAINTENANCE_DN} dn`, period:'per otium cycle', source:'cost-calibration-model.md', conf:'MEDIUM', debit:true},
-    {label:'Officia obligations',  amount:`${OFFICIA_OBLIGATION_DN} dn`,   period:'per otium cycle', source:'cost-calibration-model.md', conf:'LOW',    debit:true},
+    { label: 'OTIVM access',         amount: `${OTIUM_ACCESS_FEE_DN} dn`,     period: 'per otium cycle', source: 'cost-calibration-model.md', conf: 'LOW',    debit: true },
+    { label: 'Personal maintenance', amount: `${PERSONAL_MAINTENANCE_DN} dn`, period: 'per otium cycle', source: 'cost-calibration-model.md', conf: 'MEDIUM', debit: true },
+    { label: 'Officia obligations',  amount: `${OFFICIA_OBLIGATION_DN} dn`,   period: 'per otium cycle', source: 'cost-calibration-model.md', conf: 'LOW',    debit: true },
   ]
 
-  const journalEntries = (journal.length>0 ? journal : [{
-    day:'Day 1 · Ostia',
-    text:'The harbour smells of pitch and ambition. I have fifty denarii and a single battered ledger. The factor tells me the olive route to Capua is open.',
-  }]).map(e=>({date:e.day, text:e.text}))
+  const journalEntries = (journal.length > 0 ? journal : [{
+    day: 'Day 1 · Ostia',
+    text: 'The harbour smells of pitch and ambition. I have fifty denarii and a single battered ledger. The factor tells me the olive route to Capua is open.',
+  }]).map(e => ({ date: e.day, text: e.text }))
 
   const actionButtons = [
-    {label:'Dispatch galley', style:'otivm-btn-dispatch', action:'dispatch', disabled:busy||!selectedRoute},
-    {label:'Take otium',      style:'otivm-btn-otium',    action:'otium',    disabled:busy},
+    { label: 'Dispatch galley', style: 'otivm-btn-dispatch', action: 'dispatch', disabled: busy || !selectedRoute },
+    { label: 'Take otium',      style: 'otivm-btn-otium',    action: 'otium',    disabled: busy },
   ]
 
   return (
     <>
       {message && (
         <div style={{
-          position:'fixed',bottom:'20px',right:'20px',
-          background:'var(--otivm-ink)',color:'var(--otivm-parch)',
-          padding:'10px 18px',borderRadius:'3px',
-          fontSize:'0.8rem',fontStyle:'italic',zIndex:300,
-          gridColumn:'1/-1',
+          position: 'fixed', bottom: '20px', right: '20px',
+          background: 'var(--otivm-ink)', color: 'var(--otivm-parch)',
+          padding: '10px 18px', borderRadius: '3px',
+          fontSize: '0.8rem', fontStyle: 'italic', zIndex: 300,
         }}>
           {message}
         </div>