diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index e541eb4..0f769c9 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
       @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .app-loading-gem { animation: none; transform: rotate(45deg); } }
     </style>
     <meta name="description" content="amerc is the agent mercenary tavern — hire, run, publish, and remotely deliver AI agents across software boundaries. No infrastructure, just skills." />
-    <meta name="version" content="0.96.0-herofit" />
+    <meta name="version" content="0.97.0-signin" />
     <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml" />
     <link rel="icon" href="/app-192.png" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" />
     <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 491af1f..ccfc2a3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "amerc-site",
-  "version": "0.96.0-herofit",
+  "version": "0.97.0-signin",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/src/Auth.jsx b/src/Auth.jsx
index b5568a6..4799392 100644
--- a/src/Auth.jsx
+++ b/src/Auth.jsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export function AuthPanel({ auth, onDone }) {
         <button type="button" className={mode === 'login' ? 'active' : ''} onClick={() => setMode('login')}>Login</button>
         <button type="button" className={mode === 'signup' ? 'active' : ''} onClick={() => setMode('signup')}>Sign Up</button>
       </div>
-      <label className="px-field"><span>Guild handle email</span>
+      <label className="px-field"><span>Email</span>
         <input type="email" autoComplete="email" value={email} onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)} placeholder="operator@vertical-site.ai" required />
       </label>
       {mode === 'signup' && (
@@ -52,12 +52,12 @@ export function AuthPanel({ auth, onDone }) {
           <input value={handle} onChange={(e) => setHandle(e.target.value)} placeholder="ironworks" />
         </label>
       )}
-      <label className="px-field"><span>Access sigil</span>
+      <label className="px-field"><span>Password</span>
         <input type="password" autoComplete={mode === 'login' ? 'current-password' : 'new-password'} value={password} onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)} placeholder="min 6 chars" required minLength={6} />
       </label>
       {err && <p className="px-auth-err">{err}</p>}
       <button type="submit" className="px-action px-auth-submit" disabled={busy}>
-        {busy ? '…' : mode === 'login' ? 'Enter Booth' : 'Create Account'}
+        {busy ? '…' : mode === 'login' ? 'Log in' : 'Create Account'}
       </button>
       <p className="px-auth-hint">{mode === 'login' ? 'New mercenary? Switch to Sign Up.' : 'The first account becomes Quartermaster (admin).'}</p>
     </form>
diff --git a/src/Scene2D.jsx b/src/Scene2D.jsx
index f23e8ab..aef332e 100644
--- a/src/Scene2D.jsx
+++ b/src/Scene2D.jsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { api } from './api.js';
 const Menu = ({ size = 20 }) => (<svg width={size} height={size} viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" aria-hidden="true"><line x1="3" y1="6" x2="21" y2="6" /><line x1="3" y1="12" x2="21" y2="12" /><line x1="3" y1="18" x2="21" y2="18" /></svg>);
 const X = ({ size = 20 }) => (<svg width={size} height={size} viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" aria-hidden="true"><line x1="18" y1="6" x2="6" y2="18" /><line x1="6" y1="6" x2="18" y2="18" /></svg>);
 
-const RELEASE = '0.96.0-herofit';
+const RELEASE = '0.97.0-signin';
 
 const NAV = [
   { id: 'home', label: 'Tavern' },
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ function Gatehouse({ auth, setRoute }) {
       </div>
       <div className="gate-form">
         <div className="px-board gate-board">
-          <header className="px-board-head"><span className="px-board-tag">OPEN BOOTH</span><h2>Welcome, mercenary</h2><p>Log in, or create your account in seconds.</p></header>
+          <header className="px-board-head"><span className="px-board-tag">ONE ACCOUNT</span><h2>Welcome, mercenary</h2><p>Log in, or create your account in seconds.</p></header>
           <AuthPanel auth={auth} onDone={() => setRoute('booth')} />
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -465,6 +465,7 @@ function StatusPage() {
 }
 
 const CHANGELOG = [
+  { v: '0.97', date: 'Jun 2026', title: 'Clearer sign-in', notes: ['The join form now uses plain labels (Email, Password) and a clear Log in button'] },
   { v: '0.96', date: 'Jun 2026', title: 'Hero fits the fold', notes: ['The tagline, calls-to-action and live stats now sit above the fold on laptop screens'] },
   { v: '0.95', date: 'Jun 2026', title: 'Docs that flow', notes: ['Fixed dead Quickstart links and cross-linked the guides so you can click straight through'] },
   { v: '0.94', date: 'Jun 2026', title: 'Instant first call', notes: ['Minting an agent key now shows a ready-to-run curl with your key inlined'] },