diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 172bfd4..9674882 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,41 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## 1.4.0
+## Unreleased
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Ledges are cliffs now.** A ledge used to be taken at face value: a 6px
+  speed bump extruded out of a flat world. But the drawing is the game
+  telling you about terrain -- the side you hop FROM is higher ground --
+  so the world now has real elevation: everything above a hop-down edge
+  stands one ledge-height (6px) up, the lip sits flush with the plateau it
+  rims, and its south face is the cliff drop wearing the same cropped lip
+  art it always wore. Stack ledges and the tiers stack; Pallet Town is the
+  sea-level datum at 0, and the terrain tops out 22px up.
+
+  The subtlety is that ledges do not enclose anything -- every one can be
+  walked around through a gap, so a plateau flood fill would meet itself
+  across its own ledge line and contradict. Instead a least-squares field
+  is solved over the whole connected overworld at once (lib/Elevation.lua):
+  every ledge is a hard one-tier step with the direction the game's own
+  hop table gives it, every body of water is hard-tied to one level, and
+  everywhere else adjacent cells prefer to be level -- so the missing tier
+  through a bypass gap is paid off as a gentle ramp of 2px terrace treads,
+  and far from any ledge the rounding snaps the world flat. The solve is
+  global and anchored at Pallet, so two connected maps never disagree
+  about a seam; it runs once, inside the build budget, in ~0.15s for all
+  43k cells of Kanto, with zero contradictions in the shipped ledge data.
+
+  Everything that stands on the ground rides it: characters and NPCs
+  (including ghosts on neighbour maps), grass tufts, flowers, props,
+  buildings (each on one flattened pad -- no terraced floorboards), tree
+  hulls, battle arenas and their camera rig, cast shadows (the sun
+  frustum grows by the tallest base), and the free-roam camera's focus,
+  which eases after the player's ground height instead of pinning to the
+  old flat plane. Cliff skirts fall out of the mesher's own
+  neighbour-difference rule, banded in cell-local height so every crop
+  the flat world drew is byte-identical there. Interiors and any map not
+  connected to Pallet keep the classic flat reading, ledge bumps and all.
 
 ### Added
 
diff --git a/data/voxel_heights.lua b/data/voxel_heights.lua
index 4079a53..a501a5f 100644
--- a/data/voxel_heights.lua
+++ b/data/voxel_heights.lua
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ return {
     ground = 0,
     water = -2,
     void = 0,
+    -- doubles as the terrain TIER: on the connected overworld the ground
+    -- above a hop-down edge stands this many pixels up (lib/Elevation.lua)
+    -- and the lip's box sinks by the same amount to sit flush as its rim,
+    -- so retuning it retunes the cliffs with the faces that clothe them
     ledge = 6,
     fence = 10,
     sign = 12,
diff --git a/lib/BattleArena.lua b/lib/BattleArena.lua
index 20f0e04..dc4a53b 100644
--- a/lib/BattleArena.lua
+++ b/lib/BattleArena.lua
@@ -242,13 +242,19 @@ end
 -- Whether both mons would be in plain view from the battle camera.
 function BattleArena.clearance(map, arena)
   local BattleCam = V.require("BattleCam")
-  local ok, rig = pcall(BattleCam.rig, arena, 0)
+  -- rig and rays at the arena's OWN floor height: on solved terrain a
+  -- fight on a plateau stands (and is judged) that many pixels up, or
+  -- the raised ground itself would read as an obstacle over every mon
+  local gy = heightAt(map, arena.player[1], arena.player[2])
+  local ok, rig = pcall(BattleCam.rig, arena, gy)
   if not (ok and rig and rig.eye) then return true end
   local eye = rig.eye
   local H = BattleArena.MON_H
   for _, mark in ipairs({ arena.player, arena.enemy }) do
     for _, hy in ipairs({ 1, H * 0.5, H }) do
-      if not lineClear(map, eye, mark[1], hy, mark[2]) then return false end
+      if not lineClear(map, eye, mark[1], gy + hy, mark[2]) then
+        return false
+      end
     end
   end
   return true
diff --git a/lib/Buildings.lua b/lib/Buildings.lua
index 7bfc6e0..a15fe97 100644
--- a/lib/Buildings.lua
+++ b/lib/Buildings.lua
@@ -701,12 +701,19 @@ function Buildings.stamp(S, map, quads, tx, ty, bw, bh)
     vote(tx + bw, ty + r)
   end
 
+  -- One building, ONE base: the model is rigid, so it stands at the
+  -- elevation under its door row and the pad beneath is flattened to
+  -- match -- a house near a ramp must not have terraced floorboards.
+  local my = S.base
+             and S.base[keyOf(tx + math.floor(bw / 2), ty + bh - 1)] or 0
+
   for r = 0, bh - 1 do
     for c = 0, bw - 1 do
       local k = keyOf(tx + c, ty + r)
       S.shapeAt[k] = shape
       S.skip[k] = true
       S.ground[k] = best or false
+      if S.base then S.base[k] = my ~= 0 and my or nil end
     end
   end
 
@@ -714,10 +721,10 @@ function Buildings.stamp(S, map, quads, tx, ty, bw, bh)
   local out = S.objectQuads
   for _, q in ipairs(quads) do
     out[#out + 1] = {
-      { q[1][1] + mx, q[1][2], q[1][3] + mz },
-      { q[2][1] + mx, q[2][2], q[2][3] + mz },
-      { q[3][1] + mx, q[3][2], q[3][3] + mz },
-      { q[4][1] + mx, q[4][2], q[4][3] + mz },
+      { q[1][1] + mx, q[1][2] + my, q[1][3] + mz },
+      { q[2][1] + mx, q[2][2] + my, q[2][3] + mz },
+      { q[3][1] + mx, q[3][2] + my, q[3][3] + mz },
+      { q[4][1] + mx, q[4][2] + my, q[4][3] + mz },
       uv = q.uv, shade = q.shade,
       -- placements only ever scan the BODY, so a building is always this
       -- map's own structure: the mesher's edge keep-rules must not eat
diff --git a/lib/ChunkMesher.lua b/lib/ChunkMesher.lua
index 73ed890..d5b182a 100644
--- a/lib/ChunkMesher.lua
+++ b/lib/ChunkMesher.lua
@@ -239,13 +239,22 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
   local atlasW = tileset.imageWidth or (perRow * 8)
   local atlasH = tileset.imageHeight or 48
 
+  -- The terrain's base elevation under a tile (0 on a map without a
+  -- solved field -- every interior), and the ABSOLUTE height of what
+  -- stands there: base + the shape's own extrusion. Side faces are
+  -- derived from neighbour height differences, so once every height is
+  -- measured from the same datum the cliff skirt under a raised cell
+  -- falls out of the same band loop that has always clothed walls.
+  local baseAt = S.base and function(k) return S.base[k] or 0 end
+                 or function() return 0 end
+
   local function heightAt(tx, ty)
     local k = keyOf(tx, ty)
-    if S.skip[k] then return 0 end
+    if S.skip[k] then return baseAt(k) end
     local run = S.runs[k]
-    if run then return run.h end
+    if run then return baseAt(k) + run.h end
     local s = S.shapeAt[k]
-    return s and s.h or 0
+    return baseAt(k) + (s and s.h or 0)
   end
 
   -- one atlas-rect UV, optionally cropped to art rows [vTop, vBot] of 8
@@ -344,13 +353,17 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
   -- blocks half the sky, so the closer a voxel sits to it the less ambient
   -- light reaches it -- which is what plants a prop on the floor instead
   -- of leaving it looking pasted over the top.
+  -- `floor` is the terrain base the prop stands on: contact darkening
+  -- measures height above the prop's OWN ground, not above the world
+  -- datum, or every plant on a plateau would lose its feet.
   local aoProp = { 0, 0, 0, 0 }
-  local function groundShades(c, shade)
+  local function groundShades(c, shade, floor)
     if type(shade) == "table" then return shade end
+    floor = floor or 0
     local y1, y2, y3, y4 = c[1][2], c[2][2], c[3][2], c[4][2]
-    if math.min(y1, y2, y3, y4) >= AO_RISE then return shade end
+    if math.min(y1, y2, y3, y4) - floor >= AO_RISE then return shade end
     for i = 1, 4 do
-      local t = c[i][2] / AO_RISE
+      local t = (c[i][2] - floor) / AO_RISE
       aoProp[i] = shade * (t >= 1 and 1 or (1 - AO_GROUND * (1 - t)))
     end
     return aoProp
@@ -456,28 +469,32 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
         -- prebuilt prism quads (appended below) carry the art
         local g = S.ground[k]
         if g then
-          topQuad(tx * 8, ty * 8, 0, g, 1)
-          -- the claimed tile is still ground at height 0, and water next
+          local b = baseAt(k)
+          topQuad(tx * 8, ty * 8, b, g, 1)
+          -- the claimed tile is still ground at its base, and water next
           -- door still recesses below it: without the same below-ground
           -- side bands ordinary ground emits, the two-pixel shoreline
           -- face is a slit into the sky behind the mesh -- which is
           -- exactly what a building plot or a sign standing at the
           -- waterline showed. Same bands, cut from the synthesized
-          -- ground's own art
+          -- ground's own art. Bands run in CELL-LOCAL height (world
+          -- minus base), so the crop is the one the flat world always
+          -- drew, translated up with the terrain.
           for _, side in ipairs(SIDES) do
             local nh = heightAt(tx + side[1], ty + side[2])
-            if nh < 0 then
+            if nh < b then
               local d = side[3]
               local lat = LATERAL[d]
               local hl = lat and heightAt(tx + lat[1], ty + lat[2]) or 0
               local hr = lat and heightAt(tx + lat[3], ty + lat[4]) or 0
-              for band = math.floor(nh / 8), -1 do
-                local y0 = math.max(nh, band * 8)
-                local y1 = math.min(0, band * 8 + 8)
-                if y1 > y0 then
-                  sideQuad(d, tx * 8, ty * 8, y0, y1, g,
-                           (band * 8 + 8) - y1, (band * 8 + 8) - y0,
-                           sideShades(hl, hr, y0, y1, y0 <= nh,
+              local nl = nh - b
+              for band = math.floor(nl / 8), -1 do
+                local ly0 = math.max(nl, band * 8)
+                local ly1 = math.min(0, band * 8 + 8)
+                if ly1 > ly0 then
+                  sideQuad(d, tx * 8, ty * 8, b + ly0, b + ly1, g,
+                           (band * 8 + 8) - ly1, (band * 8 + 8) - ly0,
+                           sideShades(hl, hr, b + ly0, b + ly1, ly0 <= nl,
                                       Voxel3D.FACE_SHADE[d]))
                 end
               end
@@ -486,7 +503,11 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
         end
       elseif s then
         local run = S.runs[k]
-        local h = run and run.h or s.h
+        local b = baseAt(k)
+        -- h is ABSOLUTE (base + extrusion), matching heightAt; hLocal is
+        -- the extrusion alone, which is the space the art bands live in
+        local hLocal = run and run.h or s.h
+        local h = b + hLocal
         local x0, z0 = tx * 8, ty * 8
 
         -- top face. A roofed volume gets a GABLE segment: the roof rises
@@ -502,9 +523,10 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
         -- everything else its own art.
         if run and run.rise > 0 then
           local mid = run.extent / 2
+          local runTop = b + run.h                 -- the facade top, absolute
           local function gableH(d)     -- d = rows north of the south eave
             local t = d <= mid and d / mid or (run.extent - d) / (run.extent - mid)
-            return run.h + run.rise * math.max(0, math.min(1, t))
+            return runTop + run.rise * math.max(0, math.min(1, t))
           end
           local d0 = run.front - ty                -- rows from the south edge
           local hS = gableH(d0)
@@ -515,13 +537,13 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
                                math.floor((1 - rel) * run.roofRows))
           local roofTile = map:tileAt(tx, run.north + idx)
           local swY, seY, neY, nwY = hS, hS, hN, hN
-          if heightAt(tx - 1, ty) < run.h then     -- west flank: hip
-            swY = math.max(run.h, hS - 8)
-            nwY = math.max(run.h, hN - 8)
+          if heightAt(tx - 1, ty) < runTop then    -- west flank: hip
+            swY = math.max(runTop, hS - 8)
+            nwY = math.max(runTop, hN - 8)
           end
-          if heightAt(tx + 1, ty) < run.h then     -- east flank: hip
-            seY = math.max(run.h, hS - 8)
-            neY = math.max(run.h, hN - 8)
+          if heightAt(tx + 1, ty) < runTop then    -- east flank: hip
+            seY = math.max(runTop, hS - 8)
+            neY = math.max(runTop, hN - 8)
           end
           local u0, u1, v0, v1 = uvRect(roofTile, 0, 8)
           push({ { x0, swY, z0 + 8 }, { x0 + 8, seY, z0 + 8 },
@@ -558,7 +580,7 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
                 break
               end
             end
-            local row = math.min(ty, front - math.floor(h / 8))
+            local row = math.min(ty, front - math.floor(hLocal / 8))
             if row < north then
               -- the whole run folded onto the face: top with the drawn
               -- row just above it when that row is furniture too (a
@@ -583,6 +605,14 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
         -- sides: 8px bands wherever the neighbour is lower. Band k spans
         -- heights [8k, 8k+8) and shows one full tile of art; a partial
         -- band crops the art rows to match, so nothing ever stretches.
+        -- Bands count in CELL-LOCAL height (world minus this cell's base):
+        -- the fold starts at the cell's own feet wherever the terrain
+        -- raised them, and the crop a 6px lip face has always worn stays
+        -- byte-identical on a flat map. Negative bands are the SKIRT a
+        -- raised cell shows a lower neighbour -- terrain that had no face
+        -- at all before elevation -- and they wear the cell's own art
+        -- from its top row down, the same convention the recessed-water
+        -- shoreline bands established below zero.
         for _, side in ipairs(SIDES) do
           local nh = heightAt(tx + side[1], ty + side[2])
           if nh < h then
@@ -593,9 +623,11 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
             local lat = LATERAL[d]
             local hl = lat and heightAt(tx + lat[1], ty + lat[2]) or 0
             local hr = lat and heightAt(tx + lat[3], ty + lat[4]) or 0
-            for band = math.floor(nh / 8), math.ceil(h / 8) - 1 do
-              local y0 = math.max(nh, band * 8)
-              local y1 = math.min(h, band * 8 + 8)
+            local nl = nh - b
+            for band = math.floor(nl / 8), math.ceil(hLocal / 8) - 1 do
+              local ly0 = math.max(nl, band * 8)
+              local ly1 = math.min(hLocal, band * 8 + 8)
+              local y0, y1 = b + ly0, b + ly1
               if y1 > y0 then
                 local src, shade = tile, Voxel3D.FACE_SHADE[d]
                 if run then
@@ -639,7 +671,7 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
                   end
                 end
                 sideQuad(d, x0, z0, y0, y1, src,
-                         (band * 8 + 8) - y1, (band * 8 + 8) - y0,
+                         (band * 8 + 8) - ly1, (band * 8 + 8) - ly0,
                          sideShades(hl, hr, y0, y1, y0 <= nh, shade))
               end
             end
@@ -716,7 +748,11 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
     -- the neighbour will ever draw that geometry
     if q.own or outwardOnEdge(q, x0, z0, x1, z1)
        or keepQuad(x0, z0, x1, z1) then
-      push({ q[1], q[2], q[3], q[4] }, quadUV(q), groundShades(q, q.shade))
+      local fl = S.base
+                 and baseAt(keyOf(math.floor(q[1][1] / 8),
+                                  math.floor(q[1][3] / 8))) or 0
+      push({ q[1], q[2], q[3], q[4] }, quadUV(q),
+           groundShades(q, q.shade, fl))
     end
   end
 
@@ -760,7 +796,7 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
         for i = 1, 4 do
           local c, s2 = q[i], sc[i]
           s2[1] = c[1] + mx
-          s2[2] = c[2]
+          s2[2] = c[2] + (st.my or 0)
           s2[3] = c[3] + mz
         end
         local ok = keepAll
@@ -772,7 +808,7 @@ local function runGeometry(map, bodyOnly, masks, sink, waterSink)
           ok = keepQuad(x0, z0, x1, z1)
         end
         if ok then
-          push(sc, quadUV(q), groundShades(sc, q.shade))
+          push(sc, quadUV(q), groundShades(sc, q.shade, st.my))
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/ShadowMap.lua b/lib/ShadowMap.lua
index 18ceffd..b94e760 100644
--- a/lib/ShadowMap.lua
+++ b/lib/ShadowMap.lua
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ local V = ...
 
 local Mat4 = V.require("Mat4")
 local Voxel = V.require("VoxelState")
+local Elevation = V.require("Elevation")
 
 local ShadowMap = {}
 
@@ -295,7 +296,10 @@ local function fit(cx, cy, vw, vh)
   local f = sunDir()
   local view = Mat4.lookAt({ 0, 0, 0 }, f, { 0, 0, -1 })
 
-  local reach = ShadowMap.HEIGHT
+  -- the tallest thing that can cast: the fixed geometry ceiling plus the
+  -- terrain base it may be standing on (0 wherever no elevation solved)
+  local top = ShadowMap.HEIGHT + Elevation.maxBase()
+  local reach = top
                 * math.max(math.abs(ShadowMap.KX), math.abs(ShadowMap.KZ)) + 24
   local north = groundReach(vh)
   -- the view widens with distance, so the far ground spans more than the
@@ -303,7 +307,7 @@ local function fit(cx, cy, vw, vh)
   -- frustum's true spread and costs a good deal less resolution
   local spread = north * 0.5
   local xs = { cx - vw / 2 - spread, cx + vw / 2 + spread + reach }
-  local ys = { -32, ShadowMap.HEIGHT }         -- -32 covers recessed water
+  local ys = { -32, top }                      -- -32 covers recessed water
   local zs = { cy - north, cy + vh / 2 + reach }
 
   local l, r, b, t, zn, zf
diff --git a/lib/Structures.lua b/lib/Structures.lua
index 0b5262a..0ddfdb1 100644
--- a/lib/Structures.lua
+++ b/lib/Structures.lua
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ local Map = require("src.world.Map")
 local Buildings = V.require("Buildings")
 local TileShape = V.require("TileShape")
 local Budget = V.require("BuildBudget")
+local Elevation = V.require("Elevation")
 
 local Structures = {}
 
@@ -208,6 +209,38 @@ function Structures.forMap(map)
     end
   end
 
+  -- ---- the terrain's base elevation under every tile ----
+  --
+  -- Elevation solves the ledge-bounded terrain once, globally, at CELL
+  -- granularity (see lib/Elevation.lua); here it lands per TILE so the
+  -- mesher and every quad emitter below read one table. Two wrinkles:
+  --
+  --   * a ledge tile's box KEEPS its authored height but sinks by it --
+  --     base + h then puts the lip's top flush with the high plateau it
+  --     is the rim of, and its exposed south face is exactly the tier
+  --     drop wearing the same cropped lip art it always wore;
+  --   * ring tiles read through baseAtTile's edge clamp, so the border
+  --     apron continues the body's elevation instead of cliffing to 0.
+  --
+  -- Maps without a field (every interior) get no table at all, and every
+  -- consumer's `S.base and ...` guard keeps the classic flat path.
+  local base = nil
+  if Elevation.fieldFor(map.id) then
+    base = {}
+    for ty = y0, y1 do
+      for tx = x0, x1 do
+        Budget.tick()
+        local k = keyOf(tx, ty)
+        if tileAt[k] then
+          local b = Elevation.baseAtTile(map, tx, ty)
+          local s = shapeAt[k]
+          if s and s.class == "ledge" then b = b - (s.h or 0) end
+          if b ~= 0 then base[k] = b end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   -- ---- buildings: whole sprites voxelized band by band ----
   --
   -- Before anything else looks at this grid. A profiled building is a
@@ -222,7 +255,7 @@ function Structures.forMap(map)
   -- still overdraws a walker's feet even though characters stamp over
   -- terrain.)
   S = { shapeAt = shapeAt, tileAt = tileAt, outdoor = Map.isOutdoor(def),
-        hideBareRing = hullRingOnly or nil,
+        hideBareRing = hullRingOnly or nil, base = base,
         runs = {}, skip = {}, ground = {}, doorFold = {}, objectQuads = {},
         grassQuads = {}, flowerQuads = {}, roundStamps = {}, figures = {} }
   Buildings.build(S, map, pixels(tileset), perRow)
@@ -1002,7 +1035,7 @@ function Structures.buildCylinders(S, map, x0, x1, y0, y1, groundTiles)
             ground = tpl.bg or false
             S.roundStamps[#S.roundStamps + 1] =
               { quads = tpl.quads, mx = cx * 16 + 16, mz = cy * 16 + 16,
-                r = 16 }
+                r = 16, my = S.base and S.base[keyOf(cx * 2, cy * 2)] or 0 }
           end
           for dy = 0, 3 do
             for dx = 0, 3 do
@@ -1035,7 +1068,8 @@ function Structures.buildCylinders(S, map, x0, x1, y0, y1, groundTiles)
           end
           ground = tpl.bg or false
           S.roundStamps[#S.roundStamps + 1] =
-            { quads = tpl.quads, mx = cx * 16 + 8, mz = cy * 16 + 8 }
+            { quads = tpl.quads, mx = cx * 16 + 8, mz = cy * 16 + 8,
+              my = S.base and S.base[keyOf(cx * 2, cy * 2)] or 0 }
         end
         -- headless (no pixels): no hull, but still claim the tiles so
         -- the volume path never boxes a pinned cell. Ground is the
@@ -1135,6 +1169,8 @@ function Structures.buildRelief(S, map, region, data, perRow, h)
 
   local quads = S.objectQuads
   local wx0, wz0 = region.minX * 8, region.minY * 8
+  -- a relief lies ON the terrain, so the whole slab rides the region's base
+  local by = S.base and S.base[keyOf(region.minX, region.minY)] or 0
   for py = 0, bh - 1 do
     for px = 0, bw - 1 do
       if on(px, py) then
@@ -1142,26 +1178,27 @@ function Structures.buildRelief(S, map, region, data, perRow, h)
         local u = (srcU[i] + 0.5) / atlasW
         local v = (srcV[i] + 0.5) / atlasH
         local x, z = wx0 + px, wz0 + py
+        local y0, y1 = by, by + h
         local function quad(c1, c2, c3, c4, shade)
           quads[#quads + 1] = { c1, c2, c3, c4, u = u, v = v, shade = shade }
         end
-        quad({ x, h, z }, { x + 1, h, z }, { x + 1, h, z + 1 },
-             { x, h, z + 1 }, RELIEF_SHADE.top)
+        quad({ x, y1, z }, { x + 1, y1, z }, { x + 1, y1, z + 1 },
+             { x, y1, z + 1 }, RELIEF_SHADE.top)
         if not on(px, py + 1) then
-          quad({ x, 0, z + 1 }, { x + 1, 0, z + 1 }, { x + 1, h, z + 1 },
-               { x, h, z + 1 }, RELIEF_SHADE.south)
+          quad({ x, y0, z + 1 }, { x + 1, y0, z + 1 }, { x + 1, y1, z + 1 },
+               { x, y1, z + 1 }, RELIEF_SHADE.south)
         end
         if not on(px, py - 1) then
-          quad({ x + 1, 0, z }, { x, 0, z }, { x, h, z },
-               { x + 1, h, z }, RELIEF_SHADE.north)
+          quad({ x + 1, y0, z }, { x, y0, z }, { x, y1, z },
+               { x + 1, y1, z }, RELIEF_SHADE.north)
         end
         if not on(px - 1, py) then
-          quad({ x, 0, z }, { x, 0, z + 1 }, { x, h, z + 1 },
-               { x, h, z }, RELIEF_SHADE.side)
+          quad({ x, y0, z }, { x, y0, z + 1 }, { x, y1, z + 1 },
+               { x, y1, z }, RELIEF_SHADE.side)
         end
         if not on(px + 1, py) then
-          quad({ x + 1, 0, z + 1 }, { x + 1, 0, z }, { x + 1, h, z },
-               { x + 1, h, z + 1 }, RELIEF_SHADE.side)
+          quad({ x + 1, y0, z + 1 }, { x + 1, y0, z }, { x + 1, y1, z },
+               { x + 1, y1, z + 1 }, RELIEF_SHADE.side)
         end
       end
     end
@@ -1208,10 +1245,11 @@ local function bookcaseRank(S, map, tx, northTy, frontTy, capTile)
     return ns ~= nil and ns.art == "bookcase"
   end
 
+  local by = S.base and S.base[keyOf(tx, frontTy)] or 0
   for band = 0, bands - 1 do
     local tile = band < size and map:tileAt(tx, frontTy - band) or capTile
     local u0, u1, v0, v1 = uvRect(tile)
-    local y0, y1 = band * 8, band * 8 + 8
+    local y0, y1 = by + band * 8, by + band * 8 + 8
     quads[#quads + 1] = { { x0, y0, z1 }, { x1, y0, z1 },
       { x1, y1, z1 }, { x0, y1, z1 },
       uv = { { u0, v1 }, { u1, v1 }, { u1, v0 }, { u0, v0 } },
@@ -1330,6 +1368,7 @@ local function stairCell(S, map, data, cx, cy, s)
   local atlasW = map.tileset.imageWidth or 128
   local atlasH = map.tileset.imageHeight or 48
   local quads = S.objectQuads
+  local q0 = #quads
   local down = s.class == "stair_down_e" or s.class == "stair_down_w"
   local east = s.class == "stair_e" or s.class == "stair_down_e"
   local mx, mz = cx * 16, cy * 16
@@ -1466,6 +1505,16 @@ local function stairCell(S, map, data, cx, cy, s)
       end
     end
   end
+
+  -- the whole flight was built from y=0; a raised base lifts it after
+  -- the fact so the geometry above stays in the cell's own space
+  local by = S.base and S.base[keyOf(cx * 2, cy * 2)] or 0
+  if by ~= 0 then
+    for i = q0 + 1, #quads do
+      local q = quads[i]
+      for c = 1, 4 do q[c][2] = q[c][2] + by end
+    end
+  end
 end
 
 function Structures.buildStairs(S, map, x0, x1, y0, y1)
@@ -2028,6 +2077,8 @@ function Structures.buildObject(S, map, region, cluster,
       baseY, support = bs.h, bs
     end
   end
+  -- and whatever it stands on, it stands on it at the terrain's base
+  baseY = baseY + (S.base and S.base[keyOf(cluster.minX, cluster.maxY)] or 0)
   local atlasW = map.tileset.imageWidth or 128
   local atlasH = map.tileset.imageHeight or 48
   local quads = S.objectQuads
@@ -2291,7 +2342,7 @@ local function buildFigure(S, map, fig, tx, ty, perRow)
     quads = quads,
     wx = tx * 8 + minX,
     wz = ty * 8 + math.floor(lowY / 8) * 8 + 4,
-    y = baseY,
+    y = baseY + (S.base and S.base[keyOf(tx, ty + fig.h - 1)] or 0),
   }
 
   -- What each covered tile wears now that he is off it.  Only the ART
@@ -2436,12 +2487,13 @@ function Structures.buildGrass(S, map, x0, x1, y0, y1, data)
           templates[tileId] = tpl
         end
         local wx, wz = tx * 8, ty * 8
+        local wy = S.base and S.base[k] or 0
         for _, q in ipairs(tpl) do
           quads[#quads + 1] = {
-            { q[1][1] + wx, q[1][2], q[1][3] + wz },
-            { q[2][1] + wx, q[2][2], q[2][3] + wz },
-            { q[3][1] + wx, q[3][2], q[3][3] + wz },
-            { q[4][1] + wx, q[4][2], q[4][3] + wz },
+            { q[1][1] + wx, q[1][2] + wy, q[1][3] + wz },
+            { q[2][1] + wx, q[2][2] + wy, q[2][3] + wz },
+            { q[3][1] + wx, q[3][2] + wy, q[3][3] + wz },
+            { q[4][1] + wx, q[4][2] + wy, q[4][3] + wz },
             uv = q.uv, shade = q.shade,
           }
         end
@@ -2635,12 +2687,13 @@ function Structures.buildFlowers(S, map, tw, th, x0, x1, y0, y1, data)
             templates[tileId] = tpl
           end
           local wx, wz = tx * 8, ty * 8
+          local wy = S.base and S.base[k] or 0
           for _, q in ipairs(tpl) do
             quads[#quads + 1] = {
-              { q[1][1] + wx, q[1][2], q[1][3] + wz },
-              { q[2][1] + wx, q[2][2], q[2][3] + wz },
-              { q[3][1] + wx, q[3][2], q[3][3] + wz },
-              { q[4][1] + wx, q[4][2], q[4][3] + wz },
+              { q[1][1] + wx, q[1][2] + wy, q[1][3] + wz },
+              { q[2][1] + wx, q[2][2] + wy, q[2][3] + wz },
+              { q[3][1] + wx, q[3][2] + wy, q[3][3] + wz },
+              { q[4][1] + wx, q[4][2] + wy, q[4][3] + wz },
               uv = q.uv, shade = q.shade,
             }
           end
diff --git a/lib/Voxel3D.lua b/lib/Voxel3D.lua
index 471a688..2586681 100644
--- a/lib/Voxel3D.lua
+++ b/lib/Voxel3D.lua
@@ -509,8 +509,13 @@ function Voxel3D.viewProjection(cx, cy, vw, vh)
   local fov = 2 * math.atan(1 / (2 * focal))
   Voxel3D.fovY = fov
 
-  local focus = { cx, 0, cy }
-  local eye = { cx, dist * math.cos(a), cy + dist * math.sin(a) }
+  -- The height the orbit looks AT -- the smoothed ground under the
+  -- player's feet (VoxelScene tracks it), so climbing a terrace does not
+  -- slide the walker up the screen at a pitched camera. Zero on flat
+  -- terrain, which is the framing this rig always had.
+  local fy = Voxel3D.focusY or 0
+  local focus = { cx, fy, cy }
+  local eye = { cx, fy + dist * math.cos(a), cy + dist * math.sin(a) }
   -- exposed for camera-facing billboards (VoxelScene yaws sprites at it)
   Voxel3D.eye = eye
   Voxel3D.focus = focus
diff --git a/lib/VoxelScene.lua b/lib/VoxelScene.lua
index daa4131..0c624d9 100644
--- a/lib/VoxelScene.lua
+++ b/lib/VoxelScene.lua
@@ -24,11 +24,15 @@ local Sky = V.require("Sky")
 local Water = V.require("Water")
 local VoxelGrid = V.require("VoxelGrid")
 local DayNight = V.require("DayNight")
+local Elevation = V.require("Elevation")
 local PaletteFX = require("src.render.PaletteFX")
 local Map = require("src.world.Map")
 
 local VoxelScene = {}
 
+-- the camera's smoothed focus height (see render); nil until first framed
+local focusHeight = nil
+
 -- What the active display mode actually paints with.
 --
 -- paletteFor hands back a map's RAW SGB zone palette, and that is not what
@@ -166,24 +170,33 @@ local YAW = {
 -- top of it rather than sunk into it. Uses the same bottom-left collision
 -- tile the engine walks on (Map:cellTile).
 local function groundAt(map, cellX, cellY)
+  -- The terrain's base under the cell -- 0 wherever no elevation field
+  -- exists (every interior), so the flat world keeps its old answers.
+  local b = Elevation.baseAt(map, cellX, cellY)
   -- Off the map, cellTile border-extends into the map's borderBlock --
   -- which on maps ringed with trees is a RAISED tile. The only entity
   -- ever standing off-map is the player mid seam-step (placed one cell
   -- before the connection entry), and the ground actually rendered
-  -- there is the departed neighbour's flat walkway: height 0. Without
-  -- this, crossing into such a map hoisted the walker tree-high for
-  -- exactly one step -- the "hops like a ledge" seam bug.
-  if not map:inBounds(cellX, cellY) then return 0 end
+  -- there is the departed neighbour's flat walkway: the border apron's
+  -- own base (baseAt clamps to the nearest body cell, which is how the
+  -- apron is meshed). Without this, crossing into such a map hoisted
+  -- the walker tree-high for exactly one step -- the "hops like a
+  -- ledge" seam bug.
+  if not map:inBounds(cellX, cellY) then return b end
   local shapes = TileShape.forMap(map)
   local s = shapes[map:cellTile(cellX, cellY)]
-  if not s then return 0 end
+  if not s then return b end
   -- a recessed class (water) still supports whatever stands on it; only
   -- raised ground lifts the model.  Stairs never do: the class height is
   -- the flight's TALL end, but the player enters at floor level and the
   -- warp fires as they step in -- lifting them onto the geometry read as
   -- climbing an invisible block
-  if s.art == "stair" then return 0 end
-  return s.h > 0 and s.h or 0
+  if s.art == "stair" then return b end
+  -- on solved terrain a ledge is the high plateau's rim, its lip flush
+  -- with the ground it belongs to: the solver's base IS its top. On a
+  -- flat map it is still the classic 6px bump you stand on top of.
+  if s.class == "ledge" and Elevation.fieldFor(map.id) then return b end
+  return b + (s.h > 0 and s.h or 0)
 end
 
 VoxelScene.YAW = YAW
@@ -776,6 +789,18 @@ function VoxelScene.render(state, w, h, vw, vh, paletteFor)
   castShadows(state, terrain, nbMesh, posed, cx, cy, vw, vh, atlasFor,
               water, nbWater)
 
+  -- The camera's focus height chases the ground under the player's feet,
+  -- eased so a 2px terrace tread is a glide rather than a pop; a WARP-
+  -- sized jump (raised route -> interior at 0) snaps instead of swooping
+  -- the whole frame through the floor.
+  local targetY = me and me.gh or 0
+  if focusHeight == nil or math.abs(targetY - focusHeight) > 24 then
+    focusHeight = targetY
+  else
+    focusHeight = focusHeight + (targetY - focusHeight) * 0.12
+  end
+  Voxel3D.focusY = focusHeight
+
   if not Voxel3D.beginScene(w, h, cx, cy, vw, vh, skyFor(state.map)) then
     return nil
   end