diff --git a/client/scripts/protocol/protocol.gd b/client/scripts/protocol/protocol.gd
index 798dde0b7..f8230bfba 100644
--- a/client/scripts/protocol/protocol.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/protocol/protocol.gd
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ static func decode_snapshot(bytes: PackedByteArray) -> Variant:
 					"default_location": str(raw_bm.get("default_location", "")),
 					"allowed_locations": al,
 					"allowed_locations_cultures": alc,
-					"career": str(raw_bm.get("career", "tycoon")),
+					"career": str(raw_bm.get("career", "")),
 					"starting_capital_tractus": int(raw_bm.get("starting_capital_tractus", 0)),
 				}
 			)
diff --git a/client/ui/meta/screens/character_creation/character_creation.gd b/client/ui/meta/screens/character_creation/character_creation.gd
index 0ed963751..d3d13ecbf 100644
--- a/client/ui/meta/screens/character_creation/character_creation.gd
+++ b/client/ui/meta/screens/character_creation/character_creation.gd
@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@ const MANIFEST_PATH := "res://assets/characters/manifest.json"
 const APPEARANCE_SUB_NAMES := ["Body", "Head", "Hair", "Clothing", "Accessories"]
 
 const SCREENSHOT_DIR := "user://screenshots/"
-const CARDINAL_NAMES: Array[String] = ["south", "east", "north", "west"]
 
 # --- Descriptor and preview state ---
 var _descriptor: CharacterVisualDescriptor
@@ -1609,9 +1608,11 @@ func _take_screenshot(suffix: String = "") -> void:
 	DirAccess.make_dir_recursive_absolute(SCREENSHOT_DIR)
 
 	if _screenshot_cardinals:
-		# Take screenshot for current cardinal, then advance
-		var dir_name := CARDINAL_NAMES[_screenshot_cardinal_idx]
-		_char_visual.set_facing(CARDINAL_DIRS[_screenshot_cardinal_idx])
+		# Take screenshot for current cardinal, then advance. Single array for
+		# both facing and filename label — previously two arrays with different
+		# orderings produced swapped labels at indices 1 and 3.
+		var dir_name := CARDINAL_DIRS[_screenshot_cardinal_idx]
+		_char_visual.set_facing(dir_name)
 		suffix = dir_name
 
 	var filename := (
@@ -1626,7 +1627,7 @@ func _take_screenshot(suffix: String = "") -> void:
 
 	if _screenshot_cardinals:
 		_screenshot_cardinal_idx += 1
-		if _screenshot_cardinal_idx < CARDINAL_NAMES.size():
+		if _screenshot_cardinal_idx < CARDINAL_DIRS.size():
 			# More directions to capture
 			_schedule_screenshot()
 			return
@@ -2059,6 +2060,12 @@ func _on_back() -> void:
 
 
 func _on_start() -> void:
+	# Footer Start button owns the "is confirmation allowed" state
+	# (requires bookmark + location selection). Honor that gating for
+	# keyboard Enter as well — otherwise a player can press Enter with
+	# no bookmark and confirm with empty strings.
+	if _footer_start != null and _footer_start.disabled:
+		return
 	var profile = CharacterProfile.new()  # untyped — avoids parse-time CharacterVisualDescriptor resolution
 	profile.descriptor = _descriptor
 	profile.bookmark_id = _selected_bookmark_id