diff --git a/archive/README.md b/archive/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe6e5ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/archive/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Artfight HTML
+
+A public collection of HTML templates and character pages for [Artfight](https://artfight.net/), maintained by **[lavender-daydream](https://artfight.net/~Lavender-Daydream)**.
+
+Whether you're new to Artfight's HTML editor or just looking for something to build from, feel free to browse, copy, and adapt anything here — just credit me!
+
+---
+
+## 📁 What's in here
+
+### `templates/`
+Reusable HTML snippets you can copy and customize for your own Artfight profiles and character pages. Each template is self-contained (no external stylesheets or scripts needed).
+
+### `characters/`
+My own Artfight character pages. These are personal, but you're welcome to use them as reference or inspiration.
+
+---
+
+## ⚖️ Usage & Credit
+
+Everything here is **free to use and modify** for your own Artfight pages.
+
+**Credit is required** — please either:
+
+- Link back to this repository, or
+- Credit **lavender-daydream** on the page where you use the code
+
+---
+
+## 🤖 AI Policy
+
+Artfight does not allow AI tools to be used in content on the platform — including AI-assisted HTML. I confirmed this directly with Artfight staff.
+
+**All HTML in this repo is written entirely by hand.** No AI was used to generate any code in the templates or character pages.
+
+Early setup work on this repo (git config, documentation) was done with AI assistance before I received this ruling. Those session logs are preserved in [`archive/`](archive/) for full transparency — you can see exactly what was done and when.
+
+---
+
+## 🔗 Find me
+
+- **Artfight:** [artfight.net/~Lavender-Daydream](https://artfight.net/~Lavender-Daydream)
+- **Website:** [lavender-daydream.com](https://www.lavender-daydream.com/)
+- **Links:** [linkstack.lavender.spl.tech/@Lavender-Daydream](https://linkstack.lavender.spl.tech/@Lavender-Daydream)