Allow Basic Emperor gifts before auction payment

docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md

@@ -17,6 +17,16 @@ open mode gates.
 
 ## Current checkpoint and work
 
+**Basic Emperor allied auction gifts — 30 October. Prototyped / Partial.**
+In supported Basic ordinary auctions, the Emperor can give spice to the
+winning mutual ally before payment. The original bid and pledged split survive
+gift, cancellation, Kull and supported Semuta responses. Seven related files
+pass 32 cases; public-start journeys use real alliances and auctions with
+staged balances and conserved card custody. The uniform online priority is
+provisional; optional modules, special auctions, complete games and deployed
+acceptance remain open.
+[Scope](EMPEROR_ALLIANCE_TIMING.md#basic-allied-auction-payment--30-october-2026).
+
 **Basic three-deck Nexus Kull and Ixian replacement — 30 October. Prototyped / Partial.**
 Fresh Basic Nexus games with all three selected decks retain Kull, including
 actual Ecaz/Moritani setup; opting out retains Semuta. Ixian Nexus Secret

docs/EMPEROR_ALLIANCE_TIMING.md

@@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
 # Emperor alliance gift timing
 
+## Basic allied auction payment — 30 October 2026
+
+In a supported Basic ordinary auction, the Emperor can give spice to the
+mutual ally who has won the current lot before its original payment. The
+neutral opportunity does not reveal the Emperor's private balance or the
+buyer's cards. Allowance transfers the gift once; Karama cancellation transfers
+nothing, and Continue returns to the same bid, pledged split and payment.
+Supported native-faction games also retain the existing Kull and Semuta
+responses to cancellation: their own costs and claim/pass finish before the
+same gift opportunity resumes. The existing Basic payment routing remains.
+
+The [publisher FAQ, p. 5](https://www.gf9games.com/dune/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dune-FAQ-Nov-2020.pdf)
+permits the Emperor to give a mutual ally spice directly for any reason. This
+uniform online priority and explicit Continue are provisional timing, not a
+publisher ruling. Public-start fixtures use real setup, worm, alliance and
+bids with staged balances, card custody and selected unopened Spice order.
+Nexus and other optional modules, special Richese auctions, other timing
+parents, complete games and deployed acceptance remain open.
+
 ## Basic Emperor gift during Ix phase openings — 29 October 2026
 
 In a clean Basic game with the Ix deck, classic factions and native Ixians or

docs/RULE_DECISIONS.md

@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Rule decision index
 
+## Basic Emperor allied auction gift — 30 October 2026
+
+The Emperor may offer the existing mutual-ally gift before a supported Basic
+ordinary auction payment, retaining the pledged split and original response.
+Uniform online priority and Continue are provisional.
+[Scope](EMPEROR_ALLIANCE_TIMING.md#basic-allied-auction-payment--30-october-2026).
+
 ## Basic three-deck Nexus Kull and Ixian replacement — 30 October 2026
 
 The existing Basic Kull preview composes with selected Ecaz/Moritani decks