diff --git a/LOTUS_TODO.md b/LOTUS_TODO.md
index 244f939ca..640474dfc 100644
--- a/LOTUS_TODO.md
+++ b/LOTUS_TODO.md
@@ -372,9 +372,11 @@ Re-run `/_matrix/client/versions` + `unstable_features` after each Synapse upgra
 
 ### Element Call fork — operational reference
 
-Fork = `LotusGuild/element-call` (branch `lotus`, from upstream tag `v0.20.1`); cinny consumes the npm package `@lotusguild/element-call-embedded` (built bundle copied into `public/element-call/`).
+Fork = `LotusGuild/element-call` (branch `lotus`, upstream base **v0.25.0** since the 2026-09 sync — was v0.20.1); cinny consumes the npm package `@lotusguild/element-call-embedded` (built bundle copied into `public/element-call/`).
 
-**Publish a new version (manual; needs the Gitea npm token):** bump `embedded/web/package.json` (current unpublished `0.20.1-lotus.2`) → `pnpm run build:embedded` (Node 24, pnpm 10.33) → `cd embedded/web && npm version <tag> --no-git-tag-version && npm publish` (Gitea registry) → in cinny bump the `@lotusguild/element-call-embedded` pin (currently `0.20.1-lotus.1`) → `npm install` → build.
+**Toolchain (upstream-driven, accepted 2026-09):** Node ≥ 22.13 (`.node-version` = 24) and **pnpm 11** via `corepack` (`packageManager` field) — pnpm 10 rejects the lockfile and Node 20 cannot build. Lint is **oxlint + oxfmt** (upstream dropped eslint/prettier in v0.25.0): `pnpm lint` (tsc + oxlint + knip) and `pnpm format:check` / `pnpm format`. `matrix-js-sdk` is pinned to a `matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk#develop` commit in the lockfile, as upstream ships it. Fork CI (`.gitea/workflows/ci.yml`) hard-gates lint + format + `pnpm test:unit` before build, with `concurrency: cancel-in-progress`.
+
+**Publish a new version (CI on tag push; needs the `GITEA_NPM_TOKEN` secret):** the published version is derived from the git tag — bump `embedded/web/package.json` (currently `0.25.0-lotus.1`, tag `v0.25.0-lotus.1` created locally, unpublished until pushed), push `lotus`, then `git push lotus v0.25.0-lotus.1`; the `publish` job builds and publishes to the Gitea registry. Always push (never delete) the annotated `vX.Y.Z-lotus.N` tag for every published version. Then in cinny bump the `@lotusguild/element-call-embedded` pin (currently `0.20.1-lotus.1`) → `npm install` → build. Manual fallback: `pnpm run build:embedded && cd embedded/web && npm version <ver> --no-git-tag-version && npm publish`.
 
 **`io.lotus.*` widget actions** (add new toWidget actions to the enum + `LOTUS_TO_WIDGET_ACTIONS` in `src/lotus/lotusActions.ts`; only send AFTER call-join or a 10s timeout fires):
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 685d7330e..30c76d686 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ The dev server defaults to **port 8080** (`vite.config.js`); if 8080 is already
 ### 🔱 Element Call fork ("Lotus Call") — LIVE
 
 Voice/video channels embed **Element Call**, which is now our **self-built fork**
-(`@lotusguild/element-call-embedded` `0.20.1-lotus.1`, source at
+(`@lotusguild/element-call-embedded` `0.20.1-lotus.1`; `0.25.0-lotus.1` is built and tagged on the fork, pending publish — source at
 `LotusGuild/element-call`), published to our private Gitea npm registry and served
 same-origin. We no longer depend on the upstream prebuilt bundle, so in-call
 behavior is editable source instead of fragile DOM/widget hacks.