Allow Basic Emperor gifts before auction payment

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