.memoir-section {
  margin: 1.8rem 0 2.2rem;
}

/* shared panel look */
.memoir-intro-panel,
.memoir-path-card,
.memoir-card,
.memoir-thread-panel {
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;
  border-radius: 24px;
  border: 1px solid rgba(250, 160, 25, 0.16);
  background:
    linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(16, 14, 10, 0.08) 0%, rgba(15, 13, 8, 0.025) 16%, rgba(255,255,255,0.01) 42%, rgba(0,0,0,0.08) 100%),
    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(7,11,18,0.97), rgba(3,7,13,0.985));
  box-shadow: 0 14px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.18);
}

.memoir-kicker {
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  min-height: 28px;
  padding: 0.2rem 0.8rem;
  border-radius: 999px;
  border: 1px solid rgba(216, 187, 141, 0.4);
  color: #d9c2a0;
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.015);
  font-size: 0.78rem;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
}

/* intro */
.memoir-intro-panel {
  padding: 1.35rem 1.4rem 1.25rem;
  margin-bottom: 1rem;
}

.memoir-intro-copy {
  max-width: 100%;
}

.memoir-intro-copy h2 {
  margin: 0.7rem 0 0.4rem;
  font-size: clamp(1.8rem, 2.7vw, 2.65rem);
  line-height: 1.08;
  color: #f2e2c7;
}

.memoir-intro-copy p {
  margin: 0;
  max-width: 940px;
  color: rgba(232, 236, 242, 0.76);
  line-height: 1.58;
  font-size: 1rem;
}

/* pathway cards */
.memoir-paths {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));
  gap: 0.95rem;
  margin-bottom: 1.35rem;
}

.memoir-path-card {
  display: block;
  padding: 1.05rem 1.1rem 1rem;
  text-decoration: none;
  transition: transform 0.18s ease, border-color 0.18s ease, box-shadow 0.18s ease;
}

.memoir-path-card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-1px);
  border-color: rgba(216, 187, 141, 0.3);
  box-shadow: 0 18px 44px rgba(0,0,0,0.22);
}

.memoir-card {
  border-color: rgba(130, 184, 255, 0.18);
}