diff --git a/runbooks/ssh-certificates/pack.yaml b/runbooks/ssh-certificates/pack.yaml
index a07523b..053f321 100644
--- a/runbooks/ssh-certificates/pack.yaml
+++ b/runbooks/ssh-certificates/pack.yaml
@@ -17,15 +17,15 @@ datapoints:
   - id: actor_name
     label: Actor name
     type: string
-    default: agt-claude-railiance01
+    default: agt-rehearsal
     pattern: "(adm|agt|atm)-[a-z0-9-]+"
-    help: "Actor type prefix decides the maximum TTL: adm 48h, agt 24h, atm 8h."
+    help: "Actor type prefix decides the maximum TTL: adm 48h, agt 24h, atm 8h. agt-rehearsal is an inert test actor (2h, a principal no host trusts); use your own actor for real access."
     dimensions: {actor: operator, kind: identity, subsystem: ops-warden}
     ask_in: ready
   - id: pubkey
     label: Public key path
     type: path
-    default: ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
+    default: ~/.ssh/agt-rehearsal_ed25519.pub
     dimensions: {actor: operator, kind: location, subsystem: ops-warden}
     ask_in: ready
   - id: tunnel
@@ -35,6 +35,14 @@ datapoints:
     pattern: "[a-z0-9-]+"
     dimensions: {kind: target, subsystem: ops-bridge}
     ask_in: ready
+  - id: test_target
+    label: Is there a target that trusts your actor's principal?
+    type: enum
+    values: [available, none-yet]
+    default: none-yet
+    help: With the inert rehearsal actor no host trusts the certificate, so the tunnel cannot be proven. Choose available only with a real actor and a tunnel that uses it.
+    dimensions: {kind: state, subsystem: ops-bridge}
+    ask_in: connect
 stages:
   - id: ready
     title: Before you start
@@ -110,15 +118,26 @@ stages:
         title: Bring up the tunnel that uses cert_command
         actor: operator
         owner: ops-bridge
-        uses: [tunnel]
-        command: bridge up {{tunnel}}
+        uses: [tunnel, test_target]
+        description: A tunnel only proves the certificate if a host trusts its principal. With the inert rehearsal actor none does, so record that no target exists yet; the stage is then not proven.
         idempotent: idempotent
-        rollback: bridge down {{tunnel}}
-        verify:
-          done_when: The tunnel shows connected
-          command: bridge status
-          expect: output-contains
-          contains: "{{tunnel}}"
+        one_of:
+          - id: bring-up
+            title: Bring up the tunnel that uses the certificate
+            recommended_when: {test_target: [available]}
+            command: bridge up {{tunnel}}
+            rollback: bridge down {{tunnel}}
+            verify:
+              done_when: The tunnel shows connected
+              command: bridge status
+              expect: output-contains
+              contains: "{{tunnel}}"
+          - id: no-target-yet
+            title: No target trusts this actor yet; tunnel not proven
+            recommended_when: {test_target: [none-yet]}
+            verify:
+              done_when: You have recorded that the tunnel stage was not proven
+              expect: manual
       - id: audit
         title: Confirm the signing was audited
         actor: operator
@@ -131,13 +150,13 @@ stages:
           expect: manual
     gates:
       - id: tunnel-connected
-        title: The tunnel is connected
+        title: The tunnel is connected, or its absence is recorded
         goal: private-access
         blocking: true
+        downstream_risk: A pass here could be read as proof that private access works.
         checks:
-          - done_when: bridge reports the tunnel as connected
-            command: bridge status | grep -E "{{tunnel}} +connected"
-            expect: exit-0
+          - done_when: bridge reports the tunnel as connected, or "tunnel not proven" is recorded because no target exists
+            expect: manual
 ownership:
   - {concern: Certificate issuance and TTL policy, owner: ops-warden}
   - {concern: Tunnel lifecycle and refresh, owner: ops-bridge}
diff --git a/workplans/NK-WP-0044-runbook-packs-for-runbook-tutorials.md b/workplans/NK-WP-0044-runbook-packs-for-runbook-tutorials.md
index b3124ce..b641018 100644
--- a/workplans/NK-WP-0044-runbook-packs-for-runbook-tutorials.md
+++ b/workplans/NK-WP-0044-runbook-packs-for-runbook-tutorials.md
@@ -99,6 +99,13 @@ Decision needed from Bernd on which actor and key the rehearsal uses; then fix t
 v0.2 packs) sent to runbook-tutorials (`6e366f35-43a7-4e55-8622-40626a4acbec`). Project `trial-2` is the lighthouse showcase and
 holds no NetKingdom pack, so it is not T05 evidence.
 
+**Rehearsal actor 2026-10-02**: Bernd approved an inert test actor, not a master key. Added `agt-rehearsal` (agt, 2h, principal
+`rehearsal-inert-nohost`, no host trusts it) to the workstation warden inventory, key `~/.ssh/agt-rehearsal_ed25519`; the
+`nk.ssh-certificates` defaults now point at it and its tunnel step is an honest alternative (no target yet = not proven).
+`warden sign` is still denied by flex-auth (`unknown_actor_resource`): actors live in ops-warden's production registry. Request
+sent to ops-warden for the sanctioned registration; net-kingdom does not edit their registry. A systematic pre-production
+testing environment (test CA, test principals, test hosts) is Bernd's later topic.
+
 ## Retire the markdown verifier
 
 ```task