diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e764ade..db0432e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,87 @@
 # homelab-ansible-lxc-meridian
 
-Meridian — local Anthropic API powered by Claude Max OAuth, for HAOS LLM integration
\ No newline at end of file
+Ansible config for the Meridian LXC (CTID 457 on pve01, `192.168.1.184`).
+
+## What it is
+
+[Meridian](https://github.com/rynfar/meridian) is a local Anthropic API server
+backed by the Claude Code SDK. It translates `/v1/messages` calls into Claude
+Code SDK `query()` calls so any Anthropic-compatible client can run against
+Chuck's Claude Max subscription instead of paid API tokens.
+
+Primary consumer: HAOS's built-in `anthropic` conversation integration (via a
+custom_component fork that adds `CONF_BASE_URL`).
+
+## Architecture
+
+- Debian 12 LXC, Node 22 from NodeSource apt repo
+- `@rynfar/meridian` installed globally via `npm`
+- systemd unit `meridian.service` running as user `meridian`, binding to
+  `0.0.0.0:3456`
+- OAuth credentials live at `/opt/meridian/.claude/` (transferred manually
+  after first deploy — see Bootstrap below)
+- **No auth at the Meridian layer.** LAN-only reachability is the entire
+  security model — no Caddy public vhost, no Cloudflare tunnel.
+
+## Bootstrap
+
+1. Provision the LXC via `homelab-terraform/lxc` (`terraform apply`).
+2. Run the LXC bootstrap one-liner from `feedback_lxc_bootstrap_user`:
+   ```
+   ssh root@192.168.1.184 'apt-get update && apt-get install -y sudo && useradd -m -s /bin/bash cbalders && echo "cbalders ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL" >/etc/sudoers.d/90-cbalders && chmod 440 /etc/sudoers.d/90-cbalders'
+   ```
+   (Plus authorized_keys for cbalders.)
+3. Local first deploy (Semaphore can't reach a fresh host):
+   ```
+   ./deploy.sh
+   ```
+   Expect: Node 22 installed, `@rynfar/meridian` installed, systemd unit deployed
+   and enabled but **not started** (no creds yet — `claude_creds.stat.exists`
+   gates the start task).
+4. On Chuck's Mac:
+   ```
+   npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
+   claude login          # browser flow → ~/.claude/.credentials.json
+   scp -r ~/.claude cbalders@192.168.1.184:/tmp/.claude-bootstrap
+   ```
+5. On the LXC:
+   ```
+   sudo cp -r /tmp/.claude-bootstrap/. /opt/meridian/.claude/
+   sudo chown -R meridian:meridian /opt/meridian/.claude/
+   sudo systemctl start meridian
+   ```
+6. Smoke from a LAN host:
+   ```
+   curl http://192.168.1.184:3456/v1/messages \
+     -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+     -H 'x-api-key: placeholder' \
+     -H 'anthropic-version: 2023-06-01' \
+     -d '{"model":"claude-sonnet-4-5","max_tokens":100,"messages":[{"role":"user","content":"hi"}]}'
+   ```
+
+## Operations
+
+- **Subsequent deploys**: via Semaphore template "Meridian Deploy" (added to
+  the sync-semaphore-state.py manifest).
+- **Token refresh**: handled automatically by the Claude Code SDK; if it ever
+  fails, `sudo -u meridian /usr/bin/meridian refresh-token` from the LXC.
+- **Restart after creds change**: `sudo systemctl restart meridian`.
+- **Logs**: `journalctl -u meridian -f`.
+
+## Files
+
+```
+roles/meridian/        Node 22 install + npm i meridian + systemd unit
+roles/node_exporter/   Prometheus exporter for fleet metrics
+vars/main.yml          base packages, ssh keys, meridian config
+site.yml               playbook entrypoint
+inventory.ini          single host (192.168.1.184)
+deploy.sh              wrapper for local first-run
+```
+
+## Memory pointers
+
+- `project_meridian` — overall design, OAuth model, consumers
+- `feedback_local_dns_only` — DNS convention (no public CF for services)
+- `feedback_lxc_bootstrap_user` — root bootstrap pattern for fresh LXCs
+- `feedback_fresh_host_bootstrap` — Semaphore can't reach fresh hosts
diff --git a/ansible.cfg b/ansible.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21e4d89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[defaults]
+interpreter_python = /usr/bin/python3
+deprecation_warnings = False
+host_key_checking = False
+result_format = yaml
+callbacks_enabled = profile_tasks, timer
diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..45ba8ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# ==============================================================================
+# deploy.sh — Deploy Meridian LXC
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./deploy.sh                  # full deploy
+#   ./deploy.sh --tags meridian  # meridian role only
+#   ./deploy.sh -v               # verbose output
+# ==============================================================================
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HOST_IP="$(grep -E '^[0-9]' inventory.ini | head -1 | awk '{print $1}')"
+HOST_USER="$(grep -o 'ansible_user=[^ ]*' inventory.ini | head -1 | cut -d= -f2)"
+
+echo "==> Checking connectivity to ${HOST_USER}@${HOST_IP} ..."
+if ! ssh -o ConnectTimeout=5 -o BatchMode=yes "${HOST_USER}@${HOST_IP}" true 2>/dev/null; then
+    echo "    Cannot SSH to ${HOST_IP} — refreshing host key ..."
+    ssh-keygen -R "$HOST_IP" 2>/dev/null || true
+    ssh-keyscan -H "$HOST_IP" >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts 2>/dev/null
+fi
+
+echo "==> Installing Ansible collections ..."
+ansible-galaxy collection install -r requirements.yml --force 2>/dev/null
+
+echo "==> Running deploy playbook ..."
+ansible-playbook -i inventory.ini site.yml "$@"
+
+echo "==> Verifying ..."
+ssh "${HOST_USER}@${HOST_IP}" bash -s <<'VERIFY'
+echo "Node: $(node --version 2>/dev/null || echo missing)"
+echo "Meridian binary: $(which meridian 2>/dev/null || echo missing)"
+echo "Service:"
+systemctl is-enabled meridian 2>&1
+systemctl is-active meridian 2>&1
+if systemctl is-active --quiet meridian; then
+  curl -sf --max-time 3 http://127.0.0.1:3456/v1/messages -X POST -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{}' >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "API reachable on :3456" || echo "API on :3456 not responding (expected if OAuth creds missing)"
+fi
+VERIFY
+
+echo "==> Done."
diff --git a/inventory.ini b/inventory.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4cc4ce1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inventory.ini
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+192.168.1.184 ansible_user=cbalders ansible_become=yes
diff --git a/requirements.yml b/requirements.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9dbb90c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+collections:
+  - name: community.general
+  - name: ansible.posix
diff --git a/roles/meridian/handlers/main.yml b/roles/meridian/handlers/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9df3b32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/meridian/handlers/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+- name: reload systemd
+  systemd:
+    daemon_reload: true
+
+- name: restart meridian
+  systemd:
+    name: meridian
+    state: restarted
diff --git a/roles/meridian/tasks/main.yml b/roles/meridian/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49bdbf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/meridian/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+---
+# ---------- System setup ----------
+- name: Set timezone
+  copy:
+    content: "{{ timezone }}"
+    dest: /etc/timezone
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0644'
+
+- name: Link localtime
+  file:
+    src: "/usr/share/zoneinfo/{{ timezone }}"
+    dest: /etc/localtime
+    state: link
+    force: true
+
+- name: Install base packages
+  apt:
+    name: "{{ packages }}"
+    state: present
+    update_cache: true
+    cache_valid_time: 3600
+
+- name: Ensure users exist
+  user:
+    name: "{{ item.name }}"
+    groups: "{{ item.groups }}"
+    shell: "{{ item.shell }}"
+    append: true
+  loop: "{{ users }}"
+
+- name: Authorize SSH keys for cbalders
+  authorized_key:
+    user: cbalders
+    key: "{{ item }}"
+    state: present
+  loop: "{{ ssh_authorized_keys }}"
+
+- name: Passwordless sudo for cbalders
+  copy:
+    content: "cbalders ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL\n"
+    dest: /etc/sudoers.d/90-cbalders
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0440'
+
+# ---------- Node 22 (NodeSource apt repo) ----------
+- name: Ensure /etc/apt/keyrings exists
+  file:
+    path: /etc/apt/keyrings
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'
+
+- name: Add NodeSource GPG key
+  get_url:
+    url: https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource-repo.gpg.key
+    dest: /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.asc
+    mode: '0644'
+
+- name: Add NodeSource apt repo
+  copy:
+    content: "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.asc] https://deb.nodesource.com/node_{{ meridian_node_major }}.x nodistro main\n"
+    dest: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0644'
+  register: nodesource_repo
+
+- name: apt update after NodeSource add
+  apt:
+    update_cache: true
+  when: nodesource_repo.changed
+
+- name: Install Node.js
+  apt:
+    name: nodejs
+    state: present
+
+- name: Verify Node major version
+  command: node --version
+  register: node_version
+  changed_when: false
+
+- name: Fail if Node major mismatch
+  fail:
+    msg: "Node {{ node_version.stdout }} installed; expected v{{ meridian_node_major }}.x"
+  when: not node_version.stdout.startswith("v" ~ meridian_node_major | string ~ ".")
+
+# ---------- Meridian user + home ----------
+- name: Ensure meridian system user
+  user:
+    name: "{{ meridian_user }}"
+    system: true
+    home: "{{ meridian_home }}"
+    shell: /usr/sbin/nologin
+    create_home: true
+    state: present
+
+- name: Ensure meridian home perms
+  file:
+    path: "{{ meridian_home }}"
+    state: directory
+    owner: "{{ meridian_user }}"
+    group: "{{ meridian_user }}"
+    mode: '0750'
+
+- name: Ensure .claude credentials dir
+  file:
+    path: "{{ meridian_home }}/.claude"
+    state: directory
+    owner: "{{ meridian_user }}"
+    group: "{{ meridian_user }}"
+    mode: '0700'
+
+# ---------- Install Meridian via npm ----------
+- name: Install @rynfar/meridian globally
+  npm:
+    name: "@rynfar/meridian"
+    global: true
+    state: latest
+  register: meridian_install
+
+- name: Resolve meridian binary path
+  command: which meridian
+  register: meridian_bin
+  changed_when: false
+
+# ---------- systemd unit ----------
+- name: Deploy meridian systemd unit
+  template:
+    src: meridian.service.j2
+    dest: /etc/systemd/system/meridian.service
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0644'
+  notify: reload systemd
+
+- name: Flush handlers (reload systemd before enable)
+  meta: flush_handlers
+
+- name: Enable meridian service
+  systemd:
+    name: meridian
+    enabled: true
+    daemon_reload: true
+
+# OAuth creds (~/.claude/) are scp'd in manually after first deploy.
+# Start the service only if creds are present — otherwise the SDK would
+# crash-loop on missing credentials.
+- name: Check for Claude OAuth credentials
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ meridian_home }}/.claude/.credentials.json"
+  register: claude_creds
+
+- name: Start meridian if credentials present
+  systemd:
+    name: meridian
+    state: started
+  when: claude_creds.stat.exists
+
+- name: Bootstrap reminder
+  debug:
+    msg: |
+      Meridian installed at {{ meridian_bin.stdout }}.
+      OAuth credentials not yet present at {{ meridian_home }}/.claude/.credentials.json.
+      Bootstrap on your Mac:
+        npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code && claude login
+      Then transfer creds:
+        scp -r ~/.claude cbalders@{{ inventory_hostname }}:/tmp/.claude-bootstrap
+      On the LXC:
+        sudo cp -r /tmp/.claude-bootstrap/. {{ meridian_home }}/.claude/
+        sudo chown -R {{ meridian_user }}:{{ meridian_user }} {{ meridian_home }}/.claude/
+        sudo systemctl start meridian
+  when: not claude_creds.stat.exists
diff --git a/roles/meridian/templates/meridian.service.j2 b/roles/meridian/templates/meridian.service.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dbfeda4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/meridian/templates/meridian.service.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Meridian (Anthropic API → Claude Code SDK bridge)
+Documentation=https://github.com/rynfar/meridian
+After=network-online.target
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+User={{ meridian_user }}
+Group={{ meridian_user }}
+WorkingDirectory={{ meridian_home }}
+Environment=HOME={{ meridian_home }}
+Environment=MERIDIAN_HOST={{ meridian_host }}
+Environment=MERIDIAN_PORT={{ meridian_port }}
+Environment=MERIDIAN_IDLE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS={{ meridian_idle_timeout_seconds }}
+ExecStart={{ meridian_bin.stdout }}
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=10
+StandardOutput=journal
+StandardError=journal
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/roles/node_exporter/handlers/main.yml b/roles/node_exporter/handlers/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a267e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/node_exporter/handlers/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+- name: restart node_exporter
+  systemd:
+    name: node_exporter
+    state: restarted
+    daemon_reload: yes
diff --git a/roles/node_exporter/tasks/main.yml b/roles/node_exporter/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5fb6a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/node_exporter/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+---
+- name: Check if node_exporter is installed
+  stat:
+    path: /usr/local/bin/node_exporter
+  register: ne_bin
+
+- name: Set architecture
+  set_fact:
+    ne_arch: "{{ 'arm64' if ansible_architecture == 'aarch64' else 'amd64' }}"
+
+- name: Get latest node_exporter version
+  uri:
+    url: https://api.github.com/repos/prometheus/node_exporter/releases/latest
+    return_content: yes
+  register: ne_release
+  when: not ne_bin.stat.exists
+
+- name: Set node_exporter version
+  set_fact:
+    ne_version: "{{ ne_release.json.tag_name | regex_replace('^v', '') }}"
+  when: not ne_bin.stat.exists
+
+- name: Download node_exporter
+  get_url:
+    url: "https://github.com/prometheus/node_exporter/releases/download/v{{ ne_version }}/node_exporter-{{ ne_version }}.linux-{{ ne_arch }}.tar.gz"
+    dest: /tmp/node_exporter.tar.gz
+  when: not ne_bin.stat.exists
+
+- name: Extract node_exporter
+  unarchive:
+    src: /tmp/node_exporter.tar.gz
+    dest: /tmp/
+    remote_src: yes
+  when: not ne_bin.stat.exists
+
+- name: Install node_exporter binary
+  copy:
+    src: "/tmp/node_exporter-{{ ne_version }}.linux-{{ ne_arch }}/node_exporter"
+    dest: /usr/local/bin/node_exporter
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0755'
+    remote_src: yes
+  when: not ne_bin.stat.exists
+  notify: restart node_exporter
+
+- name: Create node_exporter user
+  user:
+    name: node_exporter
+    system: yes
+    shell: /usr/sbin/nologin
+    create_home: no
+
+- name: Deploy node_exporter systemd service
+  copy:
+    content: |
+      [Unit]
+      Description=Prometheus Node Exporter
+      After=network-online.target
+      Wants=network-online.target
+
+      [Service]
+      User=node_exporter
+      Group=node_exporter
+      Type=simple
+      ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/node_exporter --collector.textfile.directory=/var/lib/node_exporter/textfile
+      Restart=on-failure
+      RestartSec=5
+
+      [Install]
+      WantedBy=multi-user.target
+    dest: /etc/systemd/system/node_exporter.service
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0644'
+  notify: restart node_exporter
+
+- name: Create textfile collector directory
+  file:
+    path: /var/lib/node_exporter/textfile
+    state: directory
+    owner: node_exporter
+    group: node_exporter
+    mode: '0755'
+
+- name: Deploy CPU temperature collector script
+  copy:
+    content: |
+      #!/bin/bash
+      TEMP=$(vcgencmd measure_temp 2>/dev/null | grep -oP '[0-9.]+')
+      if [ -n "$TEMP" ]; then
+        echo "# HELP node_cpu_temperature_celsius CPU temperature from vcgencmd"
+        echo "# TYPE node_cpu_temperature_celsius gauge"
+        echo "node_cpu_temperature_celsius $TEMP"
+      fi > /var/lib/node_exporter/textfile/cpu_temp.prom
+    dest: /usr/local/bin/collect-cpu-temp.sh
+    mode: '0755'
+
+- name: Schedule CPU temperature collection (every minute)
+  cron:
+    name: "node_exporter cpu temp"
+    user: node_exporter
+    job: "/usr/local/bin/collect-cpu-temp.sh"
+
+- name: Run initial temperature collection
+  command: /usr/local/bin/collect-cpu-temp.sh
+  changed_when: false
+
+- name: Enable and start node_exporter
+  systemd:
+    name: node_exporter
+    enabled: yes
+    state: started
+    daemon_reload: yes
+
+- name: Clean up download
+  file:
+    path: /tmp/node_exporter.tar.gz
+    state: absent
+  when: not ne_bin.stat.exists
diff --git a/site.yml b/site.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..208b959
--- /dev/null
+++ b/site.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+# ==============================================================================
+# Meridian LXC — Site Playbook
+# ==============================================================================
+# Local Anthropic API powered by Chuck's Claude Max OAuth subscription.
+# Bridges the Claude Code SDK to /v1/messages so HAOS's anthropic conversation
+# integration (and any Anthropic-compatible client) can use the Max subscription
+# instead of paid API tokens.
+#
+# Security: Meridian has no auth layer of its own. LAN-only reachability is
+# the entire security model — no Caddy public vhost, no Cloudflare tunnel.
+# OAuth bootstrap is manual: `claude login` on Chuck's Mac, scp ~/.claude/ to
+# /opt/meridian/.claude/ on the LXC, then `systemctl restart meridian`.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./deploy.sh                  # full deploy
+#   ./deploy.sh --tags meridian  # meridian role only
+# ==============================================================================
+
+- name: Deploy Meridian LXC
+  hosts: all
+  become: true
+  vars_files:
+    - vars/main.yml
+
+  pre_tasks:
+    - name: Deploy banner
+      debug:
+        msg: "===== {{ ansible_play_name }} → {{ inventory_hostname }} ({{ ansible_host | default(inventory_hostname) }}) ====="
+
+  roles:
+    - meridian
+    - node_exporter
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..297945d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+timezone: America/Toronto
+
+packages:
+  - apt-utils
+  - bash-completion
+  - ca-certificates
+  - curl
+  - git
+  - gnupg
+  - htop
+  - net-tools
+  - openssh-server
+  - python3
+  - python3-pip
+  - sudo
+  - vim
+  - wget
+
+users:
+  - name: cbalders
+    groups: sudo
+    shell: /bin/bash
+
+ssh_authorized_keys:
+  - "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAINALaic1jpoP6t1urbZqJLI1eU5NeTVD9k8AAMAvOvvk OfficeMini"
+  - "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIGzTHdCiQjhIHsGB8oMpyKtr9TZXrXeIRKwcwe698zMW Generated By Termius"
+
+# Meridian
+meridian_user: meridian
+meridian_home: /opt/meridian
+meridian_port: 3456
+meridian_host: "0.0.0.0"
+meridian_idle_timeout_seconds: 300
+meridian_node_major: 22