diff --git a/elder_test.go b/elder_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2325ff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elder_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// echoBrain returns the prompt itself, so an Elder merge contains the reports.
+type echoBrain struct{}
+
+func (echoBrain) Name() string { return "echo" }
+func (echoBrain) Ask(ctx context.Context, system, prompt string) (string, int, error) {
+	return prompt, 10, nil
+}
+
+func newEchoServer(t *testing.T) (*httptest.Server, *Server) {
+	t.Helper()
+	ts, s := newTestNestServer(t)
+	s.p.Flock.brain = echoBrain{}
+	return ts, s
+}
+
+func TestElderAddressableInNest(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, s := newEchoServer(t)
+	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin","Munin"`)
+	r := postRequest(t, ts, id, "conspiracy", "is this plan risky")
+	postDeliver(t, ts, id, "Hugin", r, "the mint Condition is fragile")
+	postDeliver(t, ts, id, "Munin", r, "the audit trail says otherwise")
+
+	code, _ := postMsg(t, ts, id, `{"author":"owner","kind":"request","to":"Elder","text":"merge this","refers_to":"`+r+`"}`)
+	if code != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf("elder request: %d", code)
+	}
+
+	elders := awaitMsgsBy(t, ts, id, "Elder")
+	if len(elders) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want exactly one Elder message, got %v", elders)
+	}
+	m := elders[0]
+	text, _ := m["text"].(string)
+	for _, want := range []string{"fragile", "otherwise"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(text, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("Elder merge must carry both reports (missing %q): %q", want, text)
+		}
+	}
+	if m["refers_to"] != r || m["to"] != "owner" || m["kind"] != "deliver" {
+		t.Fatalf("Elder reply shape wrong: %v", m)
+	}
+	_ = s
+}
+
+func TestElderOnlyMergesOnRequest(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, s := newEchoServer(t)
+	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin","Munin"`)
+	r := postRequest(t, ts, id, "conspiracy", "is this plan risky")
+	postDeliver(t, ts, id, "Hugin", r, "ship it")
+	postDeliver(t, ts, id, "Munin", r, "ship it too")
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+	if got := awaitMsgsBy(t, ts, id, "Elder"); len(got) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Elder must stay silent unless asked, got %v", got)
+	}
+	_ = s
+}
+
+func TestParseAddressingServiceRole(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, s := newTestNestServer(t)
+	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
+	if got := parseAddressing("please @Elder merge this", nestMembers(nestOf(s, id))); got != "Elder" {
+		t.Fatalf("Elder must be an addressable service handle, got %q", got)
+	}
+}
+func awaitMsgsBy(t *testing.T, ts *httptest.Server, id, author string) []map[string]any {
+	t.Helper()
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		var out []map[string]any
+		for _, m := range nestMessages(t, ts, id) {
+			if m["author"] == author {
+				out = append(out, m)
+			}
+		}
+		if len(out) > 0 || time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			return out
+		}
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+}