diff --git a/overlay/Scripts/Custom/Bridge/BridgeProfile.cs b/overlay/Scripts/Custom/Bridge/BridgeProfile.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e12197
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/Scripts/Custom/Bridge/BridgeProfile.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+using System;
+using System.Text;
+
+using Server.Accounting;
+using Server.Items;
+using Server.Mobiles;
+
+namespace Server.Custom.Bridge
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Builds the heavy read-models the website consumes: a full character profile, an account
+    ///     roster, and a player's vendor holdings. All read live Mobile/Item state, so all must run
+    ///     on the Core thread — which the inbound dispatch guarantees (BridgeLink marshals every
+    ///     inbound line through Timer.DelayCall before a handler sees it).
+    ///
+    ///     A profile is the single most expensive read in the bridge (~0.07 ms + ~2.4 KB at the
+    ///     seeded scale, more for a fully-kitted character), so it is built on demand only, never in
+    ///     a sweep. See docs/PLAN.md §1.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class BridgeProfile
+    {
+        private static readonly AosAttribute[] AllAttrs =
+            (AosAttribute[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(AosAttribute));
+
+        private static readonly AosWeaponAttribute[] AllWeaponAttrs =
+            (AosWeaponAttribute[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(AosWeaponAttribute));
+
+        private static readonly AosArmorAttribute[] AllArmorAttrs =
+            (AosArmorAttribute[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(AosArmorAttribute));
+
+        // ---- full profile ----
+
+        public static string BuildProfile(PlayerMobile m, string reqId)
+        {
+            var sb = BridgeJson.Begin("char.profile");
+
+            if (reqId != null)
+                sb.Str("reqId", reqId);
+
+            sb.Ser("serial", m.Serial);
+            sb.Str("name", m.Name);
+            sb.Str("title", m.Title);
+            sb.Num("body", m.Body.BodyID);
+            sb.Num("hue", m.Hue);
+            sb.Bool("online", m.NetState != null);
+
+            var acct = m.Account as Account;
+            if (acct != null)
+                sb.Str("acct", acct.Username);
+
+            // stats
+            sb.Append(",\"stats\":{");
+            sb.Append("\"str\":").Append(m.Str).Append(",\"dex\":").Append(m.Dex).Append(",\"int\":").Append(m.Int);
+            sb.Append(",\"hits\":").Append(m.Hits).Append(",\"hitsMax\":").Append(m.HitsMax);
+            sb.Append(",\"mana\":").Append(m.Mana).Append(",\"manaMax\":").Append(m.ManaMax);
+            sb.Append(",\"stam\":").Append(m.Stam).Append(",\"stamMax\":").Append(m.StamMax);
+            sb.Append(",\"fame\":").Append(m.Fame).Append(",\"karma\":").Append(m.Karma);
+            sb.Append(",\"luck\":").Append(m.Luck);
+            sb.Append(",\"resist\":{\"phys\":").Append(m.PhysicalResistance);
+            sb.Append(",\"fire\":").Append(m.FireResistance);
+            sb.Append(",\"cold\":").Append(m.ColdResistance);
+            sb.Append(",\"pois\":").Append(m.PoisonResistance);
+            sb.Append(",\"energy\":").Append(m.EnergyResistance).Append("}}");
+
+            // skills: trained only (Base > 0), to avoid ~50 zeroes per character
+            sb.Append(",\"skills\":[");
+            bool first = true;
+            for (int i = 0; i < m.Skills.Length; i++)
+            {
+                var s = m.Skills[i];
+
+                if (s == null || s.Base <= 0.0)
+                    continue;
+
+                if (!first) sb.Append(',');
+                first = false;
+
+                sb.Append("{\"n\":\"").Append(s.SkillName).Append('"');
+                sb.Append(",\"base\":").Append(s.Base.ToString("F1"));
+                sb.Append(",\"value\":").Append(s.Value.ToString("F1"));
+                sb.Append(",\"cap\":").Append(s.Cap.ToString("F1"));
+                sb.Append(",\"lock\":\"").Append(s.Lock).Append("\"}");
+            }
+            sb.Append(']');
+
+            // worn equipment only — not the backpack/bank (see docs/PLAN.md §IV.4)
+            sb.Append(",\"equipment\":[");
+            first = true;
+            foreach (var item in m.Items)
+            {
+                if (item == null || !IsGearLayer(item.Layer))
+                    continue;
+
+                if (!first) sb.Append(',');
+                first = false;
+
+                WriteItem(sb, item);
+            }
+            sb.Append(']');
+
+            return sb.End();
+        }
+
+        private static bool IsGearLayer(Layer layer)
+        {
+            switch (layer)
+            {
+                case Layer.Backpack:
+                case Layer.Bank:
+                case Layer.Hair:
+                case Layer.FacialHair:
+                case Layer.Mount:
+                case Layer.Invalid:
+                    return false;
+                default:
+                    return true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void WriteItem(StringBuilder sb, Item item)
+        {
+            sb.Append("{");
+            sb.Append("\"serial\":\"0x").Append(item.Serial.Value.ToString("X")).Append('"');
+            sb.Append(",\"layer\":\"").Append(item.Layer).Append('"');
+            sb.Append(",\"itemId\":").Append(item.ItemID);
+            sb.Append(",\"hue\":").Append(item.Hue);
+            sb.Append(",\"cliloc\":").Append(item.LabelNumber);
+
+            if (item.Name != null)
+            {
+                sb.Append(",\"name\":");
+                BridgeJson.Escape(sb, item.Name);
+            }
+
+            var weapon = item as BaseWeapon;
+            var armor = item as BaseArmor;
+
+            if (weapon != null)
+            {
+                sb.Append(",\"weapon\":{\"minDamage\":").Append(weapon.MinDamage);
+                sb.Append(",\"maxDamage\":").Append(weapon.MaxDamage).Append('}');
+            }
+            else if (armor != null)
+            {
+                sb.Append(",\"armor\":{\"baseRating\":").Append(armor.BaseArmorRating).Append('}');
+            }
+
+            // flattened union of non-zero mods across every attribute bag
+            sb.Append(",\"mods\":{");
+            bool first = true;
+
+            if (weapon != null)
+            {
+                WriteAttrs(sb, weapon.Attributes, ref first);
+                WriteWeaponAttrs(sb, weapon.WeaponAttributes, ref first);
+            }
+            else if (armor != null)
+            {
+                WriteAttrs(sb, armor.Attributes, ref first);
+                WriteArmorAttrs(sb, armor.ArmorAttributes, ref first);
+            }
+
+            sb.Append("}}");
+        }
+
+        private static void WriteAttrs(StringBuilder sb, AosAttributes a, ref bool first)
+        {
+            if (a == null) return;
+
+            for (int i = 0; i < AllAttrs.Length; i++)
+            {
+                int v = a[AllAttrs[i]];
+                if (v == 0) continue;
+                if (!first) sb.Append(','); first = false;
+                sb.Append('"').Append(AllAttrs[i]).Append("\":").Append(v);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void WriteWeaponAttrs(StringBuilder sb, AosWeaponAttributes a, ref bool first)
+        {
+            if (a == null) return;
+
+            for (int i = 0; i < AllWeaponAttrs.Length; i++)
+            {
+                int v = a[AllWeaponAttrs[i]];
+                if (v == 0) continue;
+                if (!first) sb.Append(','); first = false;
+                sb.Append('"').Append(AllWeaponAttrs[i]).Append("\":").Append(v);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static void WriteArmorAttrs(StringBuilder sb, AosArmorAttributes a, ref bool first)
+        {
+            if (a == null) return;
+
+            for (int i = 0; i < AllArmorAttrs.Length; i++)
+            {
+                int v = a[AllArmorAttrs[i]];
+                if (v == 0) continue;
+                if (!first) sb.Append(','); first = false;
+                sb.Append('"').Append(AllArmorAttrs[i]).Append("\":").Append(v);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // ---- account roster ----
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Light per-character summary for an account. Offline characters are included: a
+        ///     logged-off mobile stays resident (World.Mobiles) until Delete, so its roster entry is
+        ///     always available.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static string BuildRoster(Account acct, string reqId)
+        {
+            var sb = BridgeJson.Begin("account.roster");
+
+            if (reqId != null)
+                sb.Str("reqId", reqId);
+
+            sb.Str("acct", acct.Username);
+            sb.Append(",\"chars\":[");
+
+            bool first = true;
+            for (int i = 0; i < acct.Length; i++)
+            {
+                var m = acct[i];
+                if (m == null)
+                    continue;
+
+                if (!first) sb.Append(',');
+                first = false;
+
+                sb.Append("{\"slot\":").Append(i);
+                sb.Append(",\"serial\":\"0x").Append(m.Serial.Value.ToString("X")).Append('"');
+                sb.Append(",\"name\":");
+                BridgeJson.Escape(sb, m.Name ?? "");
+                sb.Append(",\"body\":").Append(m.Body.BodyID);
+                sb.Append(",\"online\":").Append(m.NetState != null ? "true" : "false");
+                sb.Append('}');
+            }
+            sb.Append(']');
+
+            return sb.End();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/overlay/Scripts/Custom/Bridge/BridgeRequests.cs b/overlay/Scripts/Custom/Bridge/BridgeRequests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7f277d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/Scripts/Custom/Bridge/BridgeRequests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+using Server.Accounting;
+using Server.Mobiles;
+using Server.Multis;
+
+namespace Server.Custom.Bridge
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Inbound request/response. The sidecar asks; the shard answers. Every handler runs on the
+    ///     Core thread (BridgeBoot dispatches inbound lines through Timer.DelayCall first), so all of
+    ///     these may read live world state freely.
+    ///
+    ///     A request carries an optional "reqId" the shard echoes back, so the sidecar can correlate
+    ///     the reply with the request it sent. A malformed or unresolvable request gets a
+    ///     "bridge.error" reply rather than silence, so the website can show a real failure instead
+    ///     of hanging.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class BridgeRequests
+    {
+        public static void Initialize()
+        {
+            if (!BridgeConfig.Enabled)
+                return;
+
+            BridgeBoot.RegisterHandler("char.request", OnCharRequest);
+            BridgeBoot.RegisterHandler("account.roster", OnRosterRequest);
+            BridgeBoot.RegisterHandler("vendor.snapshot", OnVendorSnapshotRequest);
+        }
+
+        private static void Fail(string reqId, string reason)
+        {
+            var sb = BridgeJson.Begin("bridge.error");
+            if (reqId != null)
+                sb.Str("reqId", reqId);
+            sb.Str("reason", reason);
+            BridgeLink.Emit(sb.End());
+        }
+
+        // ---- char.request ----
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Resolve a character by serial, or by account + slot, and reply with a full profile.
+        ///     Works for offline characters too: a logged-off mobile is still resident.
+        /// </summary>
+        private static void OnCharRequest(Dictionary<string, object> o)
+        {
+            var reqId = BridgeJson.GetString(o, "reqId");
+
+            PlayerMobile pm = null;
+
+            var serialStr = BridgeJson.GetString(o, "serial");
+            if (serialStr != null)
+            {
+                pm = ResolveSerial(serialStr) as PlayerMobile;
+
+                if (pm == null)
+                {
+                    Fail(reqId, "no player with serial " + serialStr);
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                var acctName = BridgeJson.GetString(o, "account");
+                var acct = acctName == null ? null : Accounting.Accounts.GetAccount(acctName) as Account;
+
+                if (acct == null)
+                {
+                    Fail(reqId, "unknown account");
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                int slot = BridgeJson.GetInt(o, "slot", 0);
+
+                if (slot < 0 || slot >= acct.Length)
+                {
+                    Fail(reqId, "slot out of range");
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                pm = acct[slot] as PlayerMobile;
+
+                if (pm == null)
+                {
+                    Fail(reqId, "no character in slot " + slot);
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+
+            BridgeLink.Emit(BridgeProfile.BuildProfile(pm, reqId));
+        }
+
+        // ---- account.roster ----
+
+        private static void OnRosterRequest(Dictionary<string, object> o)
+        {
+            var reqId = BridgeJson.GetString(o, "reqId");
+            var acctName = BridgeJson.GetString(o, "account");
+            var acct = acctName == null ? null : Accounting.Accounts.GetAccount(acctName) as Account;
+
+            if (acct == null)
+            {
+                Fail(reqId, "unknown account");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            BridgeLink.Emit(BridgeProfile.BuildRoster(acct, reqId));
+        }
+
+        // ---- vendor.snapshot ----
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Every player vendor owned by any character on an account, with its held gold and
+        ///     priced listings. Enumerates PlayerVendor.PlayerVendors and matches by owner account.
+        /// </summary>
+        private static void OnVendorSnapshotRequest(Dictionary<string, object> o)
+        {
+            var reqId = BridgeJson.GetString(o, "reqId");
+            var acctName = BridgeJson.GetString(o, "account");
+            var acct = acctName == null ? null : Accounting.Accounts.GetAccount(acctName) as Account;
+
+            if (acct == null)
+            {
+                Fail(reqId, "unknown account");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            var sb = BridgeJson.Begin("vendor.snapshot");
+            if (reqId != null)
+                sb.Str("reqId", reqId);
+            sb.Str("acct", acct.Username);
+            sb.Append(",\"vendors\":[");
+
+            bool firstVendor = true;
+            var all = PlayerVendor.PlayerVendors;
+
+            if (all != null)
+            {
+                foreach (var v in all)
+                {
+                    if (v == null || v.Deleted || v.Owner == null)
+                        continue;
+
+                    if (!(v.Owner.Account is Account ownerAcct) || ownerAcct != acct)
+                        continue;
+
+                    if (!firstVendor) sb.Append(',');
+                    firstVendor = false;
+
+                    sb.Append("{\"serial\":\"0x").Append(v.Serial.Value.ToString("X")).Append('"');
+                    sb.Append(",\"shopName\":");
+                    BridgeJson.Escape(sb, v.ShopName ?? "");
+                    sb.Append(",\"holdGold\":").Append(v.HoldGold);
+                    sb.Append(",\"ownerSerial\":\"0x").Append(v.Owner.Serial.Value.ToString("X")).Append('"');
+
+                    var house = v.Map;
+                    sb.Append(",\"map\":");
+                    BridgeJson.Escape(sb, v.Map == null ? "" : v.Map.Name);
+                    sb.Append(",\"x\":").Append(v.X).Append(",\"y\":").Append(v.Y);
+
+                    sb.Append(",\"listings\":[");
+                    bool firstItem = true;
+                    var pack = v.Backpack;
+
+                    if (pack != null)
+                    {
+                        foreach (var item in pack.Items)
+                        {
+                            var vi = v.GetVendorItem(item);
+                            if (vi == null)
+                                continue;
+
+                            if (!firstItem) sb.Append(',');
+                            firstItem = false;
+
+                            sb.Append("{\"serial\":\"0x").Append(item.Serial.Value.ToString("X")).Append('"');
+                            sb.Append(",\"itemId\":").Append(item.ItemID);
+                            sb.Append(",\"amount\":").Append(item.Amount);
+                            sb.Append(",\"price\":").Append(vi.Price);
+                            sb.Append(",\"forSale\":").Append(vi.IsForSale ? "true" : "false").Append('}');
+                        }
+                    }
+                    sb.Append("]}");
+                }
+            }
+
+            sb.Append(']');
+            BridgeLink.Emit(sb.End());
+        }
+
+        // ---- helpers ----
+
+        private static Mobile ResolveSerial(string serialStr)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var s = serialStr.Trim();
+                int value;
+
+                if (s.StartsWith("0x", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    value = Convert.ToInt32(s.Substring(2), 16);
+                else
+                    value = Convert.ToInt32(s, 10);
+
+                return World.FindMobile(value);
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tools/stub_sidecar.ps1 b/tools/stub_sidecar.ps1
index 2c65604..8f367f8 100644
--- a/tools/stub_sidecar.ps1
+++ b/tools/stub_sidecar.ps1
@@ -1,31 +1,45 @@
 param(
     [int] $Port = 7788,
-    [string] $Log = "$PSScriptRoot\sidecar_loop.log"
+    [string] $Log = "$PSScriptRoot\sc_robust.log"
 )
 
-$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
-"[sidecar] listening on 127.0.0.1:$Port" | Out-File $Log -Encoding utf8
+# Robust stub sidecar: survives port-in-use from a just-killed instance, and never
+# dies on a transient error. Test scaffolding only.
+
+function Say($msg) {
+    for ($i = 0; $i -lt 5; $i++) {
+        try { "$msg" | Out-File -FilePath $Log -Append -Encoding utf8; return }
+        catch { Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 100 }
+    }
+}
+
+"" | Out-File -FilePath $Log -Encoding utf8
+Say "[sidecar] starting on 127.0.0.1:$Port"
 
 $listener = New-Object System.Net.Sockets.TcpListener([System.Net.IPAddress]::Loopback, $Port)
-$listener.Start()
+$listener.Server.SetSocketOption('Socket', 'ReuseAddress', $true)
+
+# Wait for the port to become bindable if a prior instance is still lingering.
+$bound = $false
+for ($i = 0; $i -lt 30 -and -not $bound; $i++) {
+    try { $listener.Start(); $bound = $true }
+    catch { Say "[sidecar] bind retry: $($_.Exception.Message)"; Start-Sleep -Seconds 1 }
+}
+if (-not $bound) { Say "[sidecar] could not bind $Port; giving up"; exit 1 }
+
+Say "[sidecar] listening"
 
 while ($true) {
     try {
         $client = $listener.AcceptTcpClient()
-        "[sidecar] === shard connected ===" | Add-Content $Log
-
-        $stream = $client.GetStream()
-        $reader = New-Object System.IO.StreamReader($stream)
-
-        while ($null -ne ($line = $reader.ReadLine())) {
-            "[sidecar] <- $line" | Add-Content $Log
-        }
-
-        "[sidecar] === shard disconnected ===" | Add-Content $Log
+        Say "[sidecar] === shard connected ==="
+        $reader = New-Object System.IO.StreamReader($client.GetStream())
+        while ($null -ne ($line = $reader.ReadLine())) { Say "[sidecar] <- $line" }
+        Say "[sidecar] === shard disconnected ==="
         $client.Close()
     }
     catch {
-        "[sidecar] error: $_" | Add-Content $Log
-        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 200
+        Say "[sidecar] loop error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
+        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 300
     }
 }
diff --git a/tools/stub_sidecar_request.ps1 b/tools/stub_sidecar_request.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0d18a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/stub_sidecar_request.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+param(
+    [int] $Port = 7788,
+    [string] $Log = "$PSScriptRoot\sc_request.log"
+)
+
+function Say($msg) {
+    for ($i = 0; $i -lt 5; $i++) {
+        try { "$msg" | Out-File -FilePath $Log -Append -Encoding utf8; return }
+        catch { Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 100 }
+    }
+}
+
+"" | Out-File -FilePath $Log -Encoding utf8
+Say "[req] starting on 127.0.0.1:$Port"
+
+$listener = New-Object System.Net.Sockets.TcpListener([System.Net.IPAddress]::Loopback, $Port)
+$listener.Server.SetSocketOption('Socket', 'ReuseAddress', $true)
+
+$bound = $false
+for ($i = 0; $i -lt 30 -and -not $bound; $i++) {
+    try { $listener.Start(); $bound = $true }
+    catch { Start-Sleep -Seconds 1 }
+}
+if (-not $bound) { Say "[req] could not bind"; exit 1 }
+
+Say "[req] listening"
+$client = $listener.AcceptTcpClient()
+Say "[req] === shard connected ==="
+
+$stream = $client.GetStream()
+$reader = New-Object System.IO.StreamReader($stream)
+$writer = New-Object System.IO.StreamWriter($stream)
+$writer.AutoFlush = $true
+
+# Give the shard a beat to send its hello, then fire the requests.
+Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 500
+
+$requests = @(
+    '{"kind":"account.roster","reqId":"r-roster","account":"whitlocktech"}',
+    '{"kind":"char.request","reqId":"r-darrow","account":"whitlocktech","slot":0}',
+    '{"kind":"vendor.snapshot","reqId":"r-vendor","account":"seed_000"}',
+    '{"kind":"char.request","reqId":"r-bad","account":"does_not_exist","slot":0}',
+    '{"kind":"char.request","reqId":"r-serial","serial":"0x24C"}'
+)
+
+foreach ($r in $requests) {
+    $writer.WriteLine($r)
+    Say "[req] -> $r"
+    Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 400
+}
+
+# Read replies for a few seconds.
+$deadline = (Get-Date).AddSeconds(8)
+while ((Get-Date) -lt $deadline) {
+    if ($stream.DataAvailable) {
+        $line = $reader.ReadLine()
+        if ($null -ne $line) { Say "[req] <- $line" }
+    } else {
+        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 100
+    }
+}
+
+Say "[req] done"
+$client.Close()
+$listener.Stop()