diff --git a/src/components/InitiativeTracker.tsx b/src/components/InitiativeTracker.tsx
index 92b42b9..125e70a 100644
--- a/src/components/InitiativeTracker.tsx
+++ b/src/components/InitiativeTracker.tsx
@@ -157,10 +157,34 @@ export function InitiativeTracker() {
     );
   }, []);
 
+  // ponytail: conditions written as "Name (N)" auto-expire: the number
+  // decrements each time that combatant's turn starts, and the condition
+  // drops at zero. Plain conditions run until toggled off manually.
+  function tickDurations(id: string) {
+    setCombatants((prev) =>
+      prev.map((c) => {
+        if (c.id !== id) return c;
+        const next: string[] = [];
+        for (const cn of c.conditions) {
+          const m = cn.match(/^(.*?)\s*\((\d+)\)$/);
+          if (!m) {
+            next.push(cn);
+            continue;
+          }
+          const n = parseInt(m[2], 10);
+          if (n > 1) next.push(`${m[1]} (${n - 1})`);
+          // n === 1 → expired, dropped
+        }
+        return { ...c, conditions: next };
+      }),
+    );
+  }
+
   const nextTurn = useCallback(() => {
     if (combatants.length === 0) return;
     if (!activeId) {
       setActiveId(combatants[0].id);
+      tickDurations(combatants[0].id);
       bus.emit(Events.LogEntry, { text: `⚔ Combat starts — ${combatants[0].name}`, tag: "#combat" });
       return;
     }
@@ -168,9 +192,11 @@ export function InitiativeTracker() {
     if (idx === combatants.length - 1) {
       setRound((r) => r + 1);
       setActiveId(combatants[0].id);
+      tickDurations(combatants[0].id);
       bus.emit(Events.LogEntry, { text: `⚔ Round ${round + 1} — ${combatants[0].name}'s turn`, tag: "#combat" });
     } else {
       setActiveId(combatants[idx + 1].id);
+      tickDurations(combatants[idx + 1].id);
       bus.emit(Events.LogEntry, { text: `⚔ ${combatants[idx + 1].name}'s turn`, tag: "#combat" });
     }
     setTimerLeft(TURN_SECONDS); // ponytail: reset the per-turn timer.
@@ -513,7 +539,8 @@ export function InitiativeTracker() {
                 <div className="flex gap-1 mt-1">
                   <input
                     className="flex-1 min-w-0 rounded bg-[var(--color-bg-deep)] border border-[var(--color-gold-bright)] px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] text-[var(--color-text-primary)] focus:outline-none"
-                    placeholder="Custom condition…"
+                    placeholder="Custom condition… e.g. Hexed (3)"
+                    title="A number in (rounds) makes the condition auto-expire: it ticks down each turn and drops at zero."
                     value={condInput[c.id] ?? ""}
                     onChange={(e) => setCondInput((p) => ({ ...p, [c.id]: e.target.value }))}
                     onKeyDown={(e) => {