diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay/src/lib.rs b/crates/buzz-relay/src/lib.rs
index 088177e4d..3a1c68f3f 100644
--- a/crates/buzz-relay/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay/src/lib.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ pub mod subscription;
 pub mod telemetry;
 /// Row-zero host binding: resolve the request community from the connection host.
 pub mod tenant;
+/// Relay-side tunnel session directory and routing.
+pub mod tunnel;
 /// Webhook secret generation and constant-time comparison.
 pub mod webhook_secret;
 /// Workflow action sink — relay-side implementation of [`buzz_workflow::ActionSink`].
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay/src/tunnel/directory.rs b/crates/buzz-relay/src/tunnel/directory.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7cd6e22a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay/src/tunnel/directory.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,922 @@
+//! Redis-backed fenced session directory for relay mesh tunnel sessions.
+//!
+//! Correctness law: mesh membership is only a routing hint. Redis is the
+//! arbiter for session ownership, and every session-bearing frame must validate
+//! its `{session_id, generation, owner_runtime_id}` fence against this directory
+//! before it is accepted or forwarded.
+
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use buzz_core::CommunityId;
+use buzz_relay_mesh::{FencedHeader, MeshError, Profile, RuntimeId};
+use redis::Script;
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+const DEFAULT_LEASE_TTL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30);
+
+const ACQUIRE_SCRIPT: &str = r#"
+local lease_key = KEYS[1]
+local generation_key = KEYS[2]
+local owner = ARGV[1]
+local profile = ARGV[2]
+local ttl_ms = tonumber(ARGV[3])
+
+local current = redis.call('GET', lease_key)
+if current then
+    return {'exists', current, redis.call('GET', generation_key) or ''}
+end
+
+local generation = redis.call('INCR', generation_key)
+local value = owner .. '|' .. tostring(generation) .. '|' .. profile
+redis.call('SET', lease_key, value, 'PX', ttl_ms)
+return {'acquired', value, tostring(generation)}
+"#;
+
+const RENEW_SCRIPT: &str = r#"
+local lease_key = KEYS[1]
+local generation_key = KEYS[2]
+local owner = ARGV[1]
+local generation = ARGV[2]
+local ttl_ms = tonumber(ARGV[3])
+
+local current = redis.call('GET', lease_key)
+if not current then
+    return {'missing', '', redis.call('GET', generation_key) or ''}
+end
+
+local current_owner, current_generation, current_profile = string.match(current, '^([^|]+)|([^|]+)|([^|]+)$')
+if current_owner == owner and current_generation == generation then
+    redis.call('PEXPIRE', lease_key, ttl_ms)
+    return {'renewed', current, redis.call('GET', generation_key) or current_generation}
+end
+
+return {'lost', current, redis.call('GET', generation_key) or current_generation or ''}
+"#;
+
+const RELEASE_SCRIPT: &str = r#"
+local lease_key = KEYS[1]
+local generation_key = KEYS[2]
+local owner = ARGV[1]
+local generation = ARGV[2]
+
+local current = redis.call('GET', lease_key)
+if not current then
+    return {'missing', '', redis.call('GET', generation_key) or ''}
+end
+
+local current_owner, current_generation, current_profile = string.match(current, '^([^|]+)|([^|]+)|([^|]+)$')
+if current_owner == owner and current_generation == generation then
+    redis.call('DEL', lease_key)
+    return {'released', current, redis.call('GET', generation_key) or current_generation}
+end
+
+return {'lost', current, redis.call('GET', generation_key) or current_generation or ''}
+"#;
+
+const VALIDATE_SCRIPT: &str = r#"
+local lease_key = KEYS[1]
+local generation_key = KEYS[2]
+
+local current = redis.call('GET', lease_key) or ''
+local known_generation = redis.call('GET', generation_key) or ''
+return {current, known_generation}
+"#;
+
+/// Redis-backed owner directory for mesh tunnel sessions.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct SessionDirectory {
+    pool: deadpool_redis::Pool,
+    lease_ttl: Duration,
+}
+
+/// Active session ownership lease read from Redis.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct SessionLease {
+    /// Community/tenant scope for this session.
+    pub community_id: CommunityId,
+    /// Session id carried in every fenced frame.
+    pub session_id: Uuid,
+    /// Runtime currently allowed to own/send for this session generation.
+    pub owner_runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+    /// Monotonic Redis generation. Never derived from expiring lease state.
+    pub generation: u64,
+    /// Tunnel profile for the session.
+    pub profile: Profile,
+}
+
+/// Result of attempting to acquire ownership for a session.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum AcquireResult {
+    /// This caller created the lease and owns the returned generation.
+    Acquired(SessionLease),
+    /// A live lease already exists; caller must route to that owner or retry.
+    Exists(SessionLease),
+}
+
+/// Result of renewing an existing owned lease.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum RenewResult {
+    /// Lease TTL was extended.
+    Renewed(SessionLease),
+    /// Lease was absent or owned by a different fenced tuple.
+    Lost {
+        /// Live lease currently in Redis, if the lease key still exists.
+        current: Option<SessionLease>,
+        /// Highest generation known from the non-expiring counter.
+        known_generation: Option<u64>,
+    },
+}
+
+/// Result of releasing an existing owned lease.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ReleaseResult {
+    /// Lease was deleted.
+    Released(SessionLease),
+    /// Lease was absent or no longer matched this owner/generation.
+    NotOwner {
+        /// Live lease currently in Redis, if the lease key still exists.
+        current: Option<SessionLease>,
+        /// Highest generation known from the non-expiring counter.
+        known_generation: Option<u64>,
+    },
+}
+
+/// Errors from the Redis session directory.
+#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum DirectoryError {
+    /// Redis pool checkout failed.
+    #[error("redis pool: {0}")]
+    Pool(#[from] deadpool_redis::PoolError),
+    /// Redis command/script failed.
+    #[error("redis: {0}")]
+    Redis(#[from] redis::RedisError),
+    /// Redis contained a malformed lease value.
+    #[error("malformed session lease for {community_id}/{session_id}: {value:?}")]
+    MalformedLease {
+        /// Community/tenant scope for the malformed lease.
+        community_id: CommunityId,
+        /// Session id whose Redis value was malformed.
+        session_id: Uuid,
+        /// Raw Redis lease value.
+        value: String,
+    },
+    /// Redis contained a malformed generation counter value.
+    #[error("malformed session generation for {community_id}/{session_id}: {value:?}")]
+    MalformedGeneration {
+        /// Community/tenant scope for the malformed counter.
+        community_id: CommunityId,
+        /// Session id whose Redis counter was malformed.
+        session_id: Uuid,
+        /// Raw Redis generation value.
+        value: String,
+    },
+    /// Redis script returned an unexpected status string.
+    #[error("unexpected session directory script status {status:?}")]
+    UnexpectedScriptStatus {
+        /// Raw status string returned by Lua.
+        status: String,
+    },
+    /// Lease TTL cannot be represented in Redis milliseconds.
+    #[error("lease ttl must be at least 1ms and fit in i64 milliseconds")]
+    InvalidLeaseTtl,
+}
+
+impl SessionDirectory {
+    /// Create a directory backed by `pool` with the default lease TTL.
+    pub fn new(pool: deadpool_redis::Pool) -> Self {
+        Self::with_lease_ttl(pool, DEFAULT_LEASE_TTL)
+    }
+
+    /// Create a directory backed by `pool` with an explicit lease TTL.
+    pub fn with_lease_ttl(pool: deadpool_redis::Pool, lease_ttl: Duration) -> Self {
+        Self { pool, lease_ttl }
+    }
+
+    /// Attempt to create/take over the session lease.
+    ///
+    /// If no live lease exists, Redis atomically increments the companion
+    /// non-expiring generation key and writes the lease with the new generation.
+    /// If a lease exists, the generation key is not touched.
+    pub async fn acquire(
+        &self,
+        community_id: CommunityId,
+        session_id: Uuid,
+        owner_runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+        profile: Profile,
+    ) -> Result<AcquireResult, DirectoryError> {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(community_id, session_id);
+        let ttl_ms = ttl_ms(self.lease_ttl)?;
+        let mut conn = self.pool.get().await?;
+        let (status, value, _known_generation): (String, String, String) =
+            Script::new(ACQUIRE_SCRIPT)
+                .key(&keys.lease)
+                .key(&keys.generation)
+                .arg(owner_runtime_id.to_hex())
+                .arg(profile.as_wire_str())
+                .arg(ttl_ms)
+                .invoke_async(&mut *conn)
+                .await?;
+        let lease = parse_lease(community_id, session_id, &value)?;
+        match status.as_str() {
+            "acquired" => Ok(AcquireResult::Acquired(lease)),
+            "exists" => Ok(AcquireResult::Exists(lease)),
+            _ => Err(DirectoryError::UnexpectedScriptStatus { status }),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Attempt to take over a session whose previous lease is absent/expired.
+    ///
+    /// This uses the same atomic Redis path as [`Self::acquire`]: if no live
+    /// lease exists, the non-expiring generation counter is incremented and the
+    /// new lease is written in one Lua script. If a live lease exists, the
+    /// caller receives [`AcquireResult::Exists`] and must not proceed as owner.
+    pub async fn takeover(
+        &self,
+        community_id: CommunityId,
+        session_id: Uuid,
+        owner_runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+        profile: Profile,
+    ) -> Result<AcquireResult, DirectoryError> {
+        self.acquire(community_id, session_id, owner_runtime_id, profile)
+            .await
+    }
+
+    /// Renew a lease only if the current Redis value exactly matches the
+    /// caller's owner runtime and generation.
+    pub async fn renew(&self, lease: &SessionLease) -> Result<RenewResult, DirectoryError> {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(lease.community_id, lease.session_id);
+        let ttl_ms = ttl_ms(self.lease_ttl)?;
+        let mut conn = self.pool.get().await?;
+        let (status, value, known_generation): (String, String, String) = Script::new(RENEW_SCRIPT)
+            .key(&keys.lease)
+            .key(&keys.generation)
+            .arg(lease.owner_runtime_id.to_hex())
+            .arg(lease.generation)
+            .arg(ttl_ms)
+            .invoke_async(&mut *conn)
+            .await?;
+        let current = parse_optional_lease(lease.community_id, lease.session_id, &value)?;
+        match status.as_str() {
+            "renewed" => Ok(RenewResult::Renewed(
+                current.expect("renewed returns lease"),
+            )),
+            "missing" | "lost" => Ok(RenewResult::Lost {
+                current,
+                known_generation: parse_optional_generation(
+                    lease.community_id,
+                    lease.session_id,
+                    &known_generation,
+                )?,
+            }),
+            _ => Err(DirectoryError::UnexpectedScriptStatus { status }),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Release a lease only if the current Redis value exactly matches the
+    /// caller's owner runtime and generation.
+    pub async fn release(&self, lease: &SessionLease) -> Result<ReleaseResult, DirectoryError> {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(lease.community_id, lease.session_id);
+        let mut conn = self.pool.get().await?;
+        let (status, value, known_generation): (String, String, String) =
+            Script::new(RELEASE_SCRIPT)
+                .key(&keys.lease)
+                .key(&keys.generation)
+                .arg(lease.owner_runtime_id.to_hex())
+                .arg(lease.generation)
+                .invoke_async(&mut *conn)
+                .await?;
+        let current = parse_optional_lease(lease.community_id, lease.session_id, &value)?;
+        match status.as_str() {
+            "released" => Ok(ReleaseResult::Released(
+                current.expect("released returns lease"),
+            )),
+            "missing" | "lost" => Ok(ReleaseResult::NotOwner {
+                current,
+                known_generation: parse_optional_generation(
+                    lease.community_id,
+                    lease.session_id,
+                    &known_generation,
+                )?,
+            }),
+            _ => Err(DirectoryError::UnexpectedScriptStatus { status }),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Look up the current live lease, if any.
+    pub async fn lookup(
+        &self,
+        community_id: CommunityId,
+        session_id: Uuid,
+    ) -> Result<Option<SessionLease>, DirectoryError> {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(community_id, session_id);
+        let mut conn = self.pool.get().await?;
+        let value: Option<String> = redis::cmd("GET")
+            .arg(&keys.lease)
+            .query_async(&mut *conn)
+            .await?;
+        value
+            .as_deref()
+            .map(|v| parse_lease(community_id, session_id, v))
+            .transpose()
+    }
+
+    /// Read the non-expiring generation counter for a session, if it exists.
+    pub async fn known_generation(
+        &self,
+        community_id: CommunityId,
+        session_id: Uuid,
+    ) -> Result<Option<u64>, DirectoryError> {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(community_id, session_id);
+        let mut conn = self.pool.get().await?;
+        let value: Option<String> = redis::cmd("GET")
+            .arg(&keys.generation)
+            .query_async(&mut *conn)
+            .await?;
+        match value.as_deref() {
+            Some(value) => parse_optional_generation(community_id, session_id, value),
+            None => Ok(None),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Validate a session-bearing mesh frame fence against Redis.
+    ///
+    /// This is the hop-by-hop guard: a frame is accepted only when a live lease
+    /// exists and its owner/generation exactly match the frame. Fence-visible
+    /// rejections return typed [`MeshError`] variants so Wren's chaos gate can
+    /// distinguish `stale_generation`, `no_active_lease`, `owner_mismatch`, and
+    /// `future_generation`.
+    pub async fn validate_fenced_header(
+        &self,
+        community_id: CommunityId,
+        fenced: &FencedHeader,
+    ) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(community_id, fenced.session_id);
+        let mut conn = self
+            .pool
+            .get()
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| MeshError::Transport(format!("redis pool: {e}")))?;
+        let (lease_value, known_generation): (String, String) = Script::new(VALIDATE_SCRIPT)
+            .key(&keys.lease)
+            .key(&keys.generation)
+            .invoke_async(&mut *conn)
+            .await?;
+        let known_from_counter =
+            parse_optional_generation(community_id, fenced.session_id, &known_generation)
+                .map_err(|e| MeshError::Transport(e.to_string()))?
+                .unwrap_or(0);
+        let current = parse_optional_lease(community_id, fenced.session_id, &lease_value)
+            .map_err(|e| MeshError::Transport(e.to_string()))?;
+        let known = current
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(|lease| lease.generation)
+            .unwrap_or(known_from_counter)
+            .max(known_from_counter);
+
+        if known > 0 && fenced.generation < known {
+            record_fence_rejection("stale_generation");
+            return Err(MeshError::StaleGeneration {
+                session_id: fenced.session_id,
+                frame_generation: fenced.generation,
+                known_generation: known,
+            });
+        }
+
+        let Some(current) = current else {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                community_id = %community_id,
+                session_id = %fenced.session_id,
+                frame_generation = fenced.generation,
+                known_generation = known,
+                frame_owner_runtime_id = %fenced.owner_runtime_id,
+                "rejected fenced frame because no active session lease exists"
+            );
+            record_fence_rejection("no_active_lease");
+            return Err(MeshError::NoActiveLease {
+                session_id: fenced.session_id,
+                frame_generation: fenced.generation,
+                known_generation: known,
+                frame_owner_runtime_id: fenced.owner_runtime_id,
+            });
+        };
+
+        if fenced.generation != current.generation {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                community_id = %community_id,
+                session_id = %fenced.session_id,
+                frame_generation = fenced.generation,
+                lease_generation = current.generation,
+                frame_owner_runtime_id = %fenced.owner_runtime_id,
+                "rejected fenced frame with generation that does not match active lease"
+            );
+            record_fence_rejection("future_generation");
+            return Err(MeshError::FutureGeneration {
+                session_id: fenced.session_id,
+                frame_generation: fenced.generation,
+                known_generation: current.generation,
+            });
+        }
+
+        if fenced.owner_runtime_id != current.owner_runtime_id {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                community_id = %community_id,
+                session_id = %fenced.session_id,
+                generation = fenced.generation,
+                frame_owner_runtime_id = %fenced.owner_runtime_id,
+                lease_owner_runtime_id = %current.owner_runtime_id,
+                "rejected fenced frame because owner runtime does not match active lease"
+            );
+            record_fence_rejection("owner_mismatch");
+            return Err(MeshError::OwnerMismatch {
+                session_id: fenced.session_id,
+                generation: fenced.generation,
+                frame_owner_runtime_id: fenced.owner_runtime_id,
+                current_owner_runtime_id: current.owner_runtime_id,
+            });
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+impl SessionLease {
+    /// Convert this lease to the fenced header carried by mesh frames.
+    pub fn fenced_header(&self) -> FencedHeader {
+        FencedHeader {
+            session_id: self.session_id,
+            generation: self.generation,
+            owner_runtime_id: self.owner_runtime_id,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+struct SessionKeys {
+    lease: String,
+    generation: String,
+}
+
+impl SessionKeys {
+    fn new(community_id: CommunityId, session_id: Uuid) -> Self {
+        let base = format!("buzz:{}:tunnel:{}", community_id, session_id);
+        Self {
+            lease: format!("{base}:lease"),
+            generation: format!("{base}:generation"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+trait ProfileWireExt {
+    fn as_wire_str(&self) -> &'static str;
+}
+
+impl ProfileWireExt for Profile {
+    fn as_wire_str(&self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Profile::ReliableStream => "reliable-stream",
+            Profile::RealtimeMedia => "realtime-media",
+            Profile::HuddleControl => "huddle-control",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn record_fence_rejection(reason: &'static str) {
+    metrics::counter!("mesh_fence_rejections_total", "reason" => reason).increment(1);
+}
+
+fn profile_from_wire(value: &str) -> Option<Profile> {
+    match value {
+        "reliable-stream" => Some(Profile::ReliableStream),
+        "realtime-media" => Some(Profile::RealtimeMedia),
+        "huddle-control" => Some(Profile::HuddleControl),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
+fn parse_lease(
+    community_id: CommunityId,
+    session_id: Uuid,
+    value: &str,
+) -> Result<SessionLease, DirectoryError> {
+    let malformed = || DirectoryError::MalformedLease {
+        community_id,
+        session_id,
+        value: value.to_string(),
+    };
+    let mut parts = value.split('|');
+    let owner_hex = parts.next().ok_or_else(malformed)?;
+    let generation = parts
+        .next()
+        .ok_or_else(malformed)?
+        .parse::<u64>()
+        .map_err(|_| malformed())?;
+    if generation == 0 {
+        return Err(malformed());
+    }
+    let profile = parts
+        .next()
+        .and_then(profile_from_wire)
+        .ok_or_else(malformed)?;
+    if parts.next().is_some() {
+        return Err(malformed());
+    }
+    let owner_bytes = hex::decode(owner_hex).map_err(|_| malformed())?;
+    let owner_runtime_id = RuntimeId(owner_bytes.try_into().map_err(|_| malformed())?);
+    Ok(SessionLease {
+        community_id,
+        session_id,
+        owner_runtime_id,
+        generation,
+        profile,
+    })
+}
+
+fn parse_optional_lease(
+    community_id: CommunityId,
+    session_id: Uuid,
+    value: &str,
+) -> Result<Option<SessionLease>, DirectoryError> {
+    if value.is_empty() {
+        Ok(None)
+    } else {
+        parse_lease(community_id, session_id, value).map(Some)
+    }
+}
+
+fn parse_optional_generation(
+    community_id: CommunityId,
+    session_id: Uuid,
+    value: &str,
+) -> Result<Option<u64>, DirectoryError> {
+    if value.is_empty() {
+        return Ok(None);
+    }
+    let generation = value
+        .parse::<u64>()
+        .map_err(|_| DirectoryError::MalformedGeneration {
+            community_id,
+            session_id,
+            value: value.to_string(),
+        })?;
+    if generation == 0 {
+        return Err(DirectoryError::MalformedGeneration {
+            community_id,
+            session_id,
+            value: value.to_string(),
+        });
+    }
+    Ok(Some(generation))
+}
+
+fn ttl_ms(ttl: Duration) -> Result<i64, DirectoryError> {
+    i64::try_from(ttl.as_millis())
+        .ok()
+        .filter(|ms| *ms > 0)
+        .ok_or(DirectoryError::InvalidLeaseTtl)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn community() -> CommunityId {
+        CommunityId::from_uuid(Uuid::from_u128(0xAAAA))
+    }
+
+    fn session() -> Uuid {
+        Uuid::from_u128(0xBBBB)
+    }
+
+    fn runtime(byte: u8) -> RuntimeId {
+        RuntimeId([byte; 32])
+    }
+
+    fn pool() -> deadpool_redis::Pool {
+        let url = std::env::var("REDIS_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| "redis://127.0.0.1:6379".into());
+        deadpool_redis::Config::from_url(url)
+            .create_pool(Some(deadpool_redis::Runtime::Tokio1))
+            .expect("create redis pool")
+    }
+
+    async fn redis_directory_if_available() -> Option<SessionDirectory> {
+        let pool = pool();
+        let mut conn = pool.get().await.ok()?;
+        redis::cmd("PING")
+            .query_async::<String>(&mut *conn)
+            .await
+            .ok()?;
+        Some(SessionDirectory::with_lease_ttl(
+            pool,
+            Duration::from_millis(150),
+        ))
+    }
+
+    async fn clear_keys(directory: &SessionDirectory, community_id: CommunityId, session_id: Uuid) {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(community_id, session_id);
+        let mut conn = directory.pool.get().await.expect("redis conn");
+        let _: () = redis::cmd("DEL")
+            .arg(keys.lease)
+            .arg(keys.generation)
+            .query_async(&mut *conn)
+            .await
+            .expect("clear keys");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn lease_value_roundtrips_profile_and_owner() {
+        let value = format!("{}|42|huddle-control", runtime(7).to_hex());
+        let lease = parse_lease(community(), session(), &value).expect("parse lease");
+        assert_eq!(lease.owner_runtime_id, runtime(7));
+        assert_eq!(lease.generation, 42);
+        assert_eq!(lease.profile, Profile::HuddleControl);
+        assert_eq!(lease.fenced_header().generation, 42);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn malformed_lease_rejects_bad_owner_and_profile() {
+        assert!(parse_lease(community(), session(), "not-hex|1|reliable-stream").is_err());
+        assert!(parse_lease(
+            community(),
+            session(),
+            &format!("{}|1|bogus", runtime(1).to_hex())
+        )
+        .is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn key_shape_is_community_scoped_and_separates_counter() {
+        let keys = SessionKeys::new(community(), session());
+        assert_eq!(
+            keys.lease,
+            format!("buzz:{}:tunnel:{}:lease", community(), session())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            keys.generation,
+            format!("buzz:{}:tunnel:{}:generation", community(), session())
+        );
+        assert_ne!(keys.lease, keys.generation);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn acquire_conflict_renew_release_and_monotonic_takeover() {
+        let Some(directory) = redis_directory_if_available().await else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let community_id = community();
+        let session_id = Uuid::new_v4();
+        clear_keys(&directory, community_id, session_id).await;
+
+        let first = match directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(1),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("first acquire")
+        {
+            AcquireResult::Acquired(lease) => lease,
+            AcquireResult::Exists(_) => panic!("first acquire should win"),
+        };
+        assert_eq!(first.generation, 1);
+
+        let conflict = directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(2),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("conflict acquire");
+        assert!(matches!(conflict, AcquireResult::Exists(ref lease) if *lease == first));
+        assert_eq!(
+            directory
+                .known_generation(community_id, session_id)
+                .await
+                .unwrap(),
+            Some(1)
+        );
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory.renew(&first).await.unwrap(),
+            RenewResult::Renewed(_)
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory.release(&first).await.unwrap(),
+            ReleaseResult::Released(_)
+        ));
+
+        let second = match directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(2),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("second acquire")
+        {
+            AcquireResult::Acquired(lease) => lease,
+            AcquireResult::Exists(_) => panic!("released lease should be acquirable"),
+        };
+        assert_eq!(second.generation, 2);
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory.renew(&first).await.unwrap(),
+            RenewResult::Lost { current: Some(ref lease), known_generation: Some(2) } if *lease == second
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory.release(&first).await.unwrap(),
+            ReleaseResult::NotOwner { current: Some(ref lease), known_generation: Some(2) } if *lease == second
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn takeover_after_ttl_expiry_increments_non_expiring_counter() {
+        let Some(directory) = redis_directory_if_available().await else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let community_id = community();
+        let session_id = Uuid::new_v4();
+        clear_keys(&directory, community_id, session_id).await;
+
+        let first = match directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(1),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+        {
+            AcquireResult::Acquired(lease) => lease,
+            AcquireResult::Exists(_) => panic!("first acquire should win"),
+        };
+        tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(220)).await;
+        assert_eq!(
+            directory.lookup(community_id, session_id).await.unwrap(),
+            None
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            directory
+                .known_generation(community_id, session_id)
+                .await
+                .unwrap(),
+            Some(first.generation)
+        );
+
+        let second = match directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(2),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+        {
+            AcquireResult::Acquired(lease) => lease,
+            AcquireResult::Exists(_) => panic!("expired lease should be acquirable"),
+        };
+        assert!(second.generation > first.generation);
+        assert_eq!(second.generation, 2);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn validate_returns_typed_fence_rejections() {
+        let Some(directory) = redis_directory_if_available().await else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let community_id = community();
+        let session_id = Uuid::new_v4();
+        clear_keys(&directory, community_id, session_id).await;
+
+        let first = match directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(1),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+        {
+            AcquireResult::Acquired(lease) => lease,
+            AcquireResult::Exists(_) => panic!("first acquire should win"),
+        };
+        assert!(directory
+            .validate_fenced_header(community_id, &first.fenced_header())
+            .await
+            .is_ok());
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory
+                .validate_fenced_header(
+                    community_id,
+                    &FencedHeader {
+                        owner_runtime_id: runtime(2),
+                        ..first.fenced_header()
+                    },
+                )
+                .await,
+            Err(MeshError::OwnerMismatch {
+                generation: 1,
+                frame_owner_runtime_id,
+                current_owner_runtime_id,
+                ..
+            }) if frame_owner_runtime_id == runtime(2) && current_owner_runtime_id == runtime(1)
+        ));
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory
+                .validate_fenced_header(
+                    community_id,
+                    &FencedHeader {
+                        generation: first.generation + 1,
+                        ..first.fenced_header()
+                    },
+                )
+                .await,
+            Err(MeshError::FutureGeneration {
+                frame_generation: 2,
+                known_generation: 1,
+                ..
+            })
+        ));
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory.release(&first).await.unwrap(),
+            ReleaseResult::Released(_)
+        ));
+        let second = match directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(2),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+        {
+            AcquireResult::Acquired(lease) => lease,
+            AcquireResult::Exists(_) => panic!("second acquire should win"),
+        };
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory
+                .validate_fenced_header(community_id, &first.fenced_header())
+                .await,
+            Err(MeshError::StaleGeneration {
+                frame_generation: 1,
+                known_generation: 2,
+                ..
+            })
+        ));
+        assert!(directory
+            .validate_fenced_header(community_id, &second.fenced_header())
+            .await
+            .is_ok());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn validate_returns_no_active_lease_after_expiry_before_takeover() {
+        let Some(directory) = redis_directory_if_available().await else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let community_id = community();
+        let session_id = Uuid::new_v4();
+        clear_keys(&directory, community_id, session_id).await;
+
+        let lease = match directory
+            .acquire(
+                community_id,
+                session_id,
+                runtime(1),
+                Profile::ReliableStream,
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+        {
+            AcquireResult::Acquired(lease) => lease,
+            AcquireResult::Exists(_) => panic!("first acquire should win"),
+        };
+
+        tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(220)).await;
+        assert_eq!(
+            directory.lookup(community_id, session_id).await.unwrap(),
+            None
+        );
+        assert!(matches!(
+            directory
+                .validate_fenced_header(community_id, &lease.fenced_header())
+                .await,
+            Err(MeshError::NoActiveLease {
+                frame_generation: 1,
+                known_generation: 1,
+                frame_owner_runtime_id,
+                ..
+            }) if frame_owner_runtime_id == runtime(1)
+        ));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay/src/tunnel/mod.rs b/crates/buzz-relay/src/tunnel/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..243b33638
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay/src/tunnel/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+//! Relay-side tunnel machinery for inter-relay mesh sessions.
+//!
+//! The mesh transport moves opaque bytes between runtimes. This module owns the
+//! session layer correctness boundary: Redis-fenced ownership, strict generation
+//! validation, and profile-specific routing decisions for tunnel consumers.
+
+pub mod directory;