diff --git a/chat/runtime.py b/chat/runtime.py
index e802113a..c0b0fb4c 100644
--- a/chat/runtime.py
+++ b/chat/runtime.py
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ class ChatResponse:
     output_language: str
     frame_pack: str
     walk_surface: str
+    salience_top_k: int | None
+    candidates_used: int | None
 
 
 class ChatRuntime:
@@ -57,6 +59,10 @@ class ChatRuntime:
                 max_tokens=config.max_tokens,
                 allow_cross_language_recall=config.allow_cross_language_recall,
                 allow_cross_language_generation=config.allow_cross_language_generation,
+                vault_reproject_interval=config.vault_reproject_interval,
+                use_salience=config.use_salience,
+                salience_top_k=config.salience_top_k,
+                inhibition_threshold=config.inhibition_threshold,
             )
         else:
             resolved_config = config
@@ -74,7 +80,11 @@ class ChatRuntime:
 
         manifold = manifolds[0] if len(pack_ids) == 1 else load_mounted_packs(pack_ids)
         self._manifests = tuple(manifests)
-        self._context = SessionContext(manifold, persona=PersonaMotor.identity())
+        self._context = SessionContext(
+            manifold,
+            persona=PersonaMotor.identity(),
+            vault_reproject_interval=resolved_config.vault_reproject_interval,
+        )
         self._frame_registry = FrameRegistry.from_pack(
             resolved_config.frame_pack,
             self._context.vocab,
@@ -176,6 +186,9 @@ class ChatRuntime:
             recall_top_k=3 if self.config.allow_cross_language_recall else 0,
             output_lang=self.config.output_language,
             allow_cross_language_generation=self.config.allow_cross_language_generation,
+            use_salience=self.config.use_salience,
+            salience_top_k=self.config.salience_top_k,
+            inhibition_threshold=self.config.inhibition_threshold,
         )
         self._context.state = result.final_state
         self._context.vault.store(
@@ -194,6 +207,8 @@ class ChatRuntime:
             output_language=self.config.output_language,
             frame_pack=self.config.frame_pack,
             walk_surface=walk_surface,
+            salience_top_k=result.salience_top_k,
+            candidates_used=result.candidates_used,
         )
 
     def respond(self, text: str, max_tokens: int | None = None) -> str:
diff --git a/core/cli.py b/core/cli.py
index 069b307f..c8e091d5 100644
--- a/core/cli.py
+++ b/core/cli.py
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ def _runtime_config_from_args(args: argparse.Namespace):
         max_tokens=args.max_tokens,
         allow_cross_language_recall=not args.no_cross_language_recall,
         allow_cross_language_generation=args.allow_cross_language_generation,
+        vault_reproject_interval=args.vault_reproject_interval,
+        use_salience=not args.no_salience,
+        salience_top_k=args.salience_top_k,
+        inhibition_threshold=args.inhibition_threshold,
     )
 
 
@@ -135,6 +139,7 @@ def _runtime_for_trace(args: argparse.Namespace):
 def _trace_payload(text: str, resp: Any, runtime: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
     proposition = resp.proposition
     articulation = resp.articulation
+    vault = runtime.session.vault
     payload: dict[str, Any] = {
         "input": text,
         "surface": resp.surface,
@@ -143,6 +148,8 @@ def _trace_payload(text: str, resp: Any, runtime: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
         "frame_pack": resp.frame_pack,
         "dialogue_role": str(resp.dialogue_role),
         "versor_condition": float(resp.versor_condition),
+        "salience_top_k": resp.salience_top_k,
+        "candidates_used": resp.candidates_used,
         "articulation": {
             "surface": articulation.surface,
             "frame_id": articulation.frame_id,
@@ -159,7 +166,9 @@ def _trace_payload(text: str, resp: Any, runtime: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
             "object": proposition.object_,
             "relation_norm": proposition.relation_norm,
         },
-        "vault_entries": len(runtime.session.vault),
+        "vault_entries": len(vault),
+        "vault_reproject_every": vault.reproject_interval,
+        "vault_store_count": vault.store_count,
         "oov_grounded": list(getattr(runtime.session.vocab, "unknown_token_log", [])),
     }
     return payload
@@ -171,6 +180,8 @@ def _print_trace(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     print(f"raw_walk       : {payload['walk_surface']}")
     print(f"output_language: {payload['output_language']}")
     print(f"frame_pack     : {payload['frame_pack']}")
+    print(f"salience_top_k : {payload['salience_top_k']}")
+    print(f"candidates_used: {payload['candidates_used']}")
     print(f"dialogue_role  : {payload['dialogue_role']}")
     print(f"versor_cond    : {payload['versor_condition']:.2e}")
     articulation = payload["articulation"]
@@ -188,6 +199,8 @@ def _print_trace(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         print(f"  object       : {proposition['object']!r}")
     print(f"  relation_norm: {proposition['relation_norm']:.4f}")
     print(f"vault_entries  : {payload['vault_entries']}")
+    print(f"vault_reproject_every: {payload['vault_reproject_every']}")
+    print(f"vault_store_count    : {payload['vault_store_count']}")
     oov_entries = payload["oov_grounded"]
     if oov_entries:
         print(f"oov_grounded   : {len(oov_entries)} token(s)")
@@ -361,6 +374,10 @@ def _add_runtime_policy_args(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
     parser.add_argument("--output-language", default="en", help="target output language code; default: en")
     parser.add_argument("--frame-pack", help="frame pack to use; defaults to output language")
     parser.add_argument("--max-tokens", type=int, default=32, help="maximum generated tokens; default: 32")
+    parser.add_argument("--vault-reproject-interval", type=int, default=20, help="vault null-cone reprojection cadence; default: 20 stores")
+    parser.add_argument("--salience-top-k", type=int, default=16, help="salience candidate budget; default: 16")
+    parser.add_argument("--inhibition-threshold", type=float, default=0.3, help="attention inhibition threshold; default: 0.3")
+    parser.add_argument("--no-salience", action="store_true", help="disable salience attention and use full-manifold generation")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--allow-cross-language-generation",
         action="store_true",
diff --git a/core/config.py b/core/config.py
index 342220ed..39958510 100644
--- a/core/config.py
+++ b/core/config.py
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ class RuntimeConfig:
     max_tokens: int = 32
     allow_cross_language_recall: bool = True
     allow_cross_language_generation: bool = False
+    vault_reproject_interval: int = 20
+    use_salience: bool = True
+    salience_top_k: int = 16
+    inhibition_threshold: float = 0.3
 
 
 DEFAULT_CONFIG = RuntimeConfig()
diff --git a/generate/attention.py b/generate/attention.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..315b2f6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/generate/attention.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from generate.salience import SalienceMap
+from vocab.manifold import VocabManifold
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class AttentionPlan:
+    allowed_indices: np.ndarray
+    salience_map: SalienceMap
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        object.__setattr__(self, "allowed_indices", np.asarray(self.allowed_indices, dtype=np.int64).copy())
+
+
+class AttentionOperator:
+    """
+    Convert SalienceMap to AttentionPlan by applying budget and inhibition.
+
+    Inhibition excludes indices whose score is below max_score * threshold,
+    removing the weak long-tail of manifold points before generation walks.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, inhibition_threshold: float = 0.3) -> None:
+        if inhibition_threshold < 0.0:
+            raise ValueError("inhibition_threshold must be non-negative")
+        self.inhibition_threshold = float(inhibition_threshold)
+
+    def plan(self, salience: SalienceMap, vocab: VocabManifold) -> AttentionPlan:
+        if len(salience.indices) == 0:
+            return AttentionPlan(allowed_indices=np.asarray([], dtype=np.int64), salience_map=salience)
+        max_score = float(salience.scores[0])
+        threshold = max_score * self.inhibition_threshold
+        mask = salience.scores >= threshold
+        allowed = salience.indices[mask]
+        if len(allowed) == 0:
+            allowed = salience.indices[:1]
+        allowed = allowed[: min(len(allowed), salience.budget, len(vocab))]
+        return AttentionPlan(allowed_indices=allowed, salience_map=salience)
diff --git a/generate/result.py b/generate/result.py
index 453a6f56..ddc24199 100644
--- a/generate/result.py
+++ b/generate/result.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Contracts:
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
-from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from field.state import FieldState
 
 
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class GenerationResult:
     tokens: tuple          # decoded token sequence, immutable
     final_state: FieldState
     trajectory: tuple | None = None  # (FieldState, ...) or None
+    salience_top_k: int | None = None
+    candidates_used: int | None = None
 
     def __post_init__(self) -> None:
         # Coerce list inputs to tuple for immutability.
diff --git a/generate/salience.py b/generate/salience.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e755093e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/generate/salience.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from algebra.backend import cga_inner
+from field.state import FieldState
+from vocab.manifold import VocabManifold
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class SalienceMap:
+    indices: np.ndarray
+    scores: np.ndarray
+    budget: int
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        object.__setattr__(self, "indices", np.asarray(self.indices, dtype=np.int64).copy())
+        object.__setattr__(self, "scores", np.asarray(self.scores, dtype=np.float32).copy())
+        object.__setattr__(self, "budget", int(self.budget))
+
+
+class SalienceOperator:
+    """
+    Compute geometric salience of manifold points relative to current FieldState.
+
+    Salience is field-relative CGA activation:
+        salience(v_i) = |cga_inner(F, v_i)| / (||F|| * ||v_i||)
+
+    No learned weights. No softmax. Pure geometry routed through algebra.backend,
+    which uses core_rs when active.
+    """
+
+    def compute(self, field: FieldState, vocab: VocabManifold, top_k: int = 16) -> SalienceMap:
+        if top_k <= 0:
+            return SalienceMap(indices=np.asarray([], dtype=np.int64), scores=np.asarray([], dtype=np.float32), budget=0)
+        if len(vocab) == 0:
+            return SalienceMap(indices=np.asarray([], dtype=np.int64), scores=np.asarray([], dtype=np.float32), budget=0)
+
+        query = np.asarray(field.F, dtype=np.float32)
+        query_norm = max(float(np.linalg.norm(query)), 1e-8)
+        scores: list[float] = []
+        for idx in range(len(vocab)):
+            v = vocab.get_versor_at(idx)
+            denom = query_norm * max(float(np.linalg.norm(v)), 1e-8)
+            scores.append(abs(float(cga_inner(query, v))) / denom)
+
+        scores_arr = np.asarray(scores, dtype=np.float32)
+        k = min(int(top_k), len(vocab))
+        order = np.argsort(-scores_arr, kind="stable")[:k]
+        return SalienceMap(indices=order.astype(np.int64), scores=scores_arr[order], budget=k)
diff --git a/generate/stream.py b/generate/stream.py
index 963b47d0..61930062 100644
--- a/generate/stream.py
+++ b/generate/stream.py
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ import numpy as np
 from field.state import FieldState
 from field.propagate import propagate_step
 from algebra.rotor import word_transition_rotor
+from generate.attention import AttentionOperator
 from generate.result import GenerationResult
+from generate.salience import SalienceOperator
 
 _RECENT_WINDOW = 3
 _STOP_TOKENS = frozenset({"it", "to", "word"})
@@ -60,6 +62,10 @@ def _nearest_next(
     Recent-node exclusion reduces two- and three-token attractor cycles.
     Stop-node exclusion keeps function-word wells from dominating when more
     informative neighbors are available.
+
+    If attention/language filtering leaves only the current node available,
+    the final fallback deliberately permits that singleton candidate instead
+    of crashing. That keeps inhibition fail-closed to the attended region.
     """
     if len(vocab) <= 1:
         return vocab.nearest(F_voiced, candidate_indices=candidate_indices)
@@ -82,7 +88,7 @@ def _nearest_next(
             )
         except ValueError:
             continue
-    return vocab.nearest(F_voiced, exclude_idx=current_node, candidate_indices=candidate_indices)
+    return vocab.nearest(F_voiced, candidate_indices=candidate_indices)
 
 
 def _voiced_state(state: FieldState, persona) -> FieldState:
@@ -131,6 +137,31 @@ def _candidate_indices_for_language(vocab, output_lang: str | None) -> np.ndarra
     return indices
 
 
+def _intersect_candidates(a: np.ndarray | None, b: np.ndarray | None) -> np.ndarray | None:
+    if a is None:
+        return b
+    if b is None:
+        return a
+    if len(a) == 0 or len(b) == 0:
+        return np.asarray([], dtype=np.int64)
+    b_set = {int(idx) for idx in b}
+    return np.asarray([int(idx) for idx in a if int(idx) in b_set], dtype=np.int64)
+
+
+def _attention_candidates(
+    state: FieldState,
+    vocab,
+    use_salience: bool,
+    salience_top_k: int,
+    inhibition_threshold: float,
+) -> tuple[np.ndarray | None, int | None, int | None]:
+    if not use_salience:
+        return None, None, None
+    salience = SalienceOperator().compute(state, vocab, top_k=salience_top_k)
+    attention = AttentionOperator(inhibition_threshold).plan(salience, vocab)
+    return attention.allowed_indices, salience.budget, len(attention.allowed_indices)
+
+
 def generate(
     state: FieldState,
     vocab,
@@ -141,6 +172,9 @@ def generate(
     recall_top_k: int = 3,
     output_lang: str | None = None,
     allow_cross_language_generation: bool = True,
+    use_salience: bool = False,
+    salience_top_k: int = 16,
+    inhibition_threshold: float = 0.3,
 ) -> GenerationResult:
     """
     Generate a token sequence from an initial FieldState.
@@ -156,20 +190,34 @@ def generate(
     7. Advance node pointer
 
     Returns:
-        GenerationResult with tokens, final_state, and optional trajectory.
+        GenerationResult with tokens, final_state, optional trajectory,
+        and salience telemetry when attention is enabled.
     """
     tokens = []
     trajectory = [] if record_trajectory else None
     current = state
     recent_nodes = deque([state.node], maxlen=_RECENT_WINDOW)
-    candidate_indices = None if allow_cross_language_generation else _candidate_indices_for_language(vocab, output_lang)
+    language_candidates = None if allow_cross_language_generation else _candidate_indices_for_language(vocab, output_lang)
+    salience_candidates, salience_budget, candidates_used = _attention_candidates(
+        state,
+        vocab,
+        use_salience=use_salience,
+        salience_top_k=salience_top_k,
+        inhibition_threshold=inhibition_threshold,
+    )
+    candidate_indices = _intersect_candidates(language_candidates, salience_candidates)
+    if candidate_indices is not None and len(candidate_indices) == 0:
+        candidate_indices = language_candidates if language_candidates is not None else salience_candidates
+        candidates_used = None if candidate_indices is None else len(candidate_indices)
+
     stop_nodes = frozenset(
         vocab.index_of(token)
         for token in _STOP_TOKENS
         if token in {vocab.get_word_at(i) for i in range(len(vocab))}
     )
 
-    for _ in range(max_tokens):
+    token_budget = min(max_tokens, int(candidates_used)) if candidates_used is not None else max_tokens
+    for _ in range(token_budget):
         current = _recall_state(_voiced_state(current, persona), vault, recall_top_k)
         word, word_idx = _nearest_next(
             vocab,
@@ -196,6 +244,8 @@ def generate(
         tokens=tokens,
         final_state=current,
         trajectory=trajectory,
+        salience_top_k=salience_budget,
+        candidates_used=candidates_used,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/session/context.py b/session/context.py
index c51d028f..f787edaf 100644
--- a/session/context.py
+++ b/session/context.py
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ from vault.store import VaultStore
 
 
 class SessionContext:
-    def __init__(self, vocab, persona=None, vault=None):
+    def __init__(self, vocab, persona=None, vault=None, vault_reproject_interval: int = 100):
         self.vocab = vocab
         self.persona = persona or PersonaMotor.identity()
-        self.vault = vault or VaultStore()
+        self.vault = vault or VaultStore(reproject_interval=vault_reproject_interval)
         self.state: FieldState | None = None
         self.turn: int = 0
         self.dialogue_history: list[DialogueTurn] = []
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index b4738704..e9fd9478 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ def test_trace_help_exits_without_runtime_import(capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[s
     assert "--pack" in out
     assert "--output-language" in out
     assert "--frame-pack" in out
+    assert "--salience-top-k" in out
+    assert "--no-salience" in out
     assert "--json" in out
 
 
@@ -76,11 +78,15 @@ def test_doctor_rust_reports_backend_state(capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -
 
 
 def test_trace_formats_real_runtime_payload(capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
-    assert main(["trace", "--pack", "en_minimal_v1", "word", "beginning", "truth"]) == 0
+    assert main(["trace", "--pack", "en_minimal_v1", "--salience-top-k", "8", "word", "beginning", "truth"]) == 0
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "input          : word beginning truth" in out
     assert "output_language: en" in out
     assert "frame_pack     : en" in out
+    assert "salience_top_k : 8" in out
+    assert "candidates_used:" in out
+    assert "vault_reproject_every:" in out
+    assert "vault_store_count" in out
     assert "articulation" in out
     assert "raw_walk" in out
     assert "proposition" in out
@@ -89,13 +95,24 @@ def test_trace_formats_real_runtime_payload(capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str])
 
 
 def test_trace_json_formats_real_runtime_payload(capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
-    assert main(["trace", "--pack", "en_minimal_v1", "--json", "word", "beginning", "truth"]) == 0
+    assert main(["trace", "--pack", "en_minimal_v1", "--json", "--salience-top-k", "8", "word", "beginning", "truth"]) == 0
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert '"input": "word beginning truth"' in out
     assert '"output_language": "en"' in out
     assert '"frame_pack": "en"' in out
+    assert '"salience_top_k": 8' in out
+    assert '"candidates_used"' in out
+    assert '"vault_reproject_every"' in out
+    assert '"vault_store_count"' in out
     assert '"articulation"' in out
     assert '"walk_surface"' in out
     assert '"proposition"' in out
     assert '"subject"' in out
     assert '"predicate"' in out
+
+
+def test_trace_json_no_salience_has_null_salience_telemetry(capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
+    assert main(["trace", "--pack", "en_minimal_v1", "--json", "--no-salience", "word", "beginning", "truth"]) == 0
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert '"salience_top_k": null' in out
+    assert '"candidates_used": null' in out
diff --git a/tests/test_salience.py b/tests/test_salience.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9dcfbb1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_salience.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from chat.runtime import ChatRuntime
+from core.config import RuntimeConfig
+from generate.attention import AttentionOperator
+from generate.salience import SalienceOperator
+
+
+def test_salience_map_has_top_k_entries_and_descending_scores() -> None:
+    runtime = ChatRuntime(config=RuntimeConfig(output_language="en", frame_pack="en"))
+    field = runtime.session.ingest(runtime.tokenize("word beginning truth"))
+    salience = SalienceOperator().compute(field, runtime.session.vocab, top_k=8)
+
+    assert len(salience.indices) == 8
+    assert len(salience.scores) == 8
+    assert salience.budget == 8
+    assert np.all(salience.scores[:-1] >= salience.scores[1:])
+
+
+def test_attention_plan_inhibits_salience_tail() -> None:
+    runtime = ChatRuntime(config=RuntimeConfig(output_language="en", frame_pack="en"))
+    field = runtime.session.ingest(runtime.tokenize("word beginning truth"))
+    salience = SalienceOperator().compute(field, runtime.session.vocab, top_k=16)
+    plan = AttentionOperator(inhibition_threshold=0.9).plan(salience, runtime.session.vocab)
+
+    assert 0 < len(plan.allowed_indices) <= len(salience.indices)
+    assert set(plan.allowed_indices).issubset(set(salience.indices))
+    assert len(plan.allowed_indices) < len(salience.indices)
+
+
+def test_salience_enabled_bounds_generation_walk() -> None:
+    config = RuntimeConfig(output_language="en", frame_pack="en", salience_top_k=8)
+    runtime = ChatRuntime(config=config)
+    response = runtime.chat("word beginning truth")
+
+    assert response.salience_top_k == 8
+    assert response.candidates_used is not None
+    assert 0 < response.candidates_used <= 8
+    assert len(response.walk_surface.split()) <= response.candidates_used
+
+
+def test_salience_disabled_preserves_full_generation_budget_telemetry() -> None:
+    config = RuntimeConfig(output_language="en", frame_pack="en", use_salience=False, max_tokens=12)
+    runtime = ChatRuntime(config=config)
+    response = runtime.chat("word beginning truth")
+
+    assert response.salience_top_k is None
+    assert response.candidates_used is None
+    assert len(response.walk_surface.split()) <= 12
+
+
+def test_salience_changes_candidate_budget_without_changing_response_contract() -> None:
+    enabled = ChatRuntime(config=RuntimeConfig(output_language="en", frame_pack="en", salience_top_k=8))
+    disabled = ChatRuntime(config=RuntimeConfig(output_language="en", frame_pack="en", use_salience=False, max_tokens=8))
+
+    salience_response = enabled.chat("word beginning truth")
+    full_response = disabled.chat("word beginning truth")
+
+    assert salience_response.candidates_used is not None
+    assert full_response.candidates_used is None
+    assert salience_response.surface
+    assert full_response.surface
+    assert enabled.session.state is not None
+    assert disabled.session.state is not None
diff --git a/tests/test_vault_config.py b/tests/test_vault_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3157fba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_vault_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from chat.runtime import ChatRuntime
+from core.config import RuntimeConfig
+
+
+def test_runtime_config_controls_vault_reproject_interval_and_store_count() -> None:
+    runtime = ChatRuntime(config=RuntimeConfig(vault_reproject_interval=5, output_language="en", frame_pack="en"))
+
+    turns = 3
+    for text in ("word beginning truth", "light truth word", "begin thought word"):
+        runtime.chat(text)
+
+    assert runtime.session.vault.reproject_interval == 5
+    assert runtime.session.vault.store_count == turns * 3
+    assert len(runtime.session.vault) == turns * 3
diff --git a/vault/store.py b/vault/store.py
index 8cf3a54e..f2dd00a4 100644
--- a/vault/store.py
+++ b/vault/store.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class VaultStore:
         self._versors.append(np.asarray(F, dtype=np.float32).copy())
         self._metadata.append(metadata or {})
         self._store_count += 1
-        if self._store_count % self._reproject_interval == 0:
+        if self._reproject_interval > 0 and self._store_count % self._reproject_interval == 0:
             self.reproject()
         return len(self._versors) - 1
 
@@ -67,5 +67,15 @@ class VaultStore:
         """
         self._versors = [null_project(v) for v in self._versors]
 
+    @property
+    def reproject_interval(self) -> int:
+        """Return the configured auto-reprojection cadence in store operations."""
+        return self._reproject_interval
+
+    @property
+    def store_count(self) -> int:
+        """Return how many store() operations have occurred in this vault."""
+        return self._store_count
+
     def __len__(self) -> int:
         return len(self._versors)