diff --git a/docs/code-bridge/responses/RES-2026-04-13-rules-still-returning-defaults.md b/docs/code-bridge/responses/RES-2026-04-13-rules-still-returning-defaults.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c85bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/code-bridge/responses/RES-2026-04-13-rules-still-returning-defaults.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Architectural Response
+
+**Re:** REQ-2026-04-13-rules-still-returning-defaults
+**Date:** 2026-04-13
+
+## 1. Verdict
+Diagnostic build v1.0.4 shipped (1.20.1 only). Added INFO-level logging to RulesCommand and DiscordFetcher to trace exactly where the flow breaks.
+
+## 2. What v1.0.4 Logs
+On every /rules command:
+```
+[DIAG] token length=X, channel=Y, messageId=Z, isValid=true/false
+```
+
+On every fetch attempt:
+```
+[DIAG] fetchRulesAsync called. messageId='Z', isValid=true/false
+[DIAG] Fetching from Discord: channel=Y, message=Z
+```
+
+If isValid=false, the raw messageId value is logged to reveal formatting issues.
+
+## 3. Deploy
+firefrostrules-1.0.4-1.20.1-forge.jar → Otherworld. Have a player run /rules and report the [DIAG] log lines.
diff --git a/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/build.gradle b/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/build.gradle
index a8c6f94..86bb720 100755
--- a/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/build.gradle
+++ b/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/build.gradle
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ buildscript {
 
 apply plugin: 'net.minecraftforge.gradle'
 
-version = '1.0.3'
+version = '1.0.4'
 group = 'com.firefrostgaming.rules'
 archivesBaseName = 'firefrostrules'
 
diff --git a/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/DiscordFetcher.java b/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/DiscordFetcher.java
index 20c3269..bb5aad3 100755
--- a/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/DiscordFetcher.java
+++ b/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/DiscordFetcher.java
@@ -16,14 +16,16 @@ public class DiscordFetcher {
     private static final HttpClient CLIENT = HttpClient.newBuilder().connectTimeout(Duration.ofSeconds(10)).build();
 
     public static CompletableFuture<String> fetchRulesAsync() {
+        String messageId = ServerRulesConfig.MESSAGE_ID.get();
+        LOGGER.info("[DIAG] fetchRulesAsync called. messageId='{}', isValid={}", messageId, ServerRulesConfig.isMessageIdValid());
         if (!ServerRulesConfig.isMessageIdValid()) {
-            LOGGER.error("Invalid Discord Message ID in config.");
+            LOGGER.error("Invalid Discord Message ID in config. Raw value: '{}'", messageId);
             return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
         }
         String token = ServerRulesConfig.BOT_TOKEN.get();
         String channelId = ServerRulesConfig.CHANNEL_ID.get();
-        String messageId = ServerRulesConfig.MESSAGE_ID.get();
         URI uri = URI.create("https://discord.com/api/v10/channels/" + channelId + "/messages/" + messageId);
+        LOGGER.info("[DIAG] Fetching from Discord: channel={}, message={}", channelId, messageId);
         HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder().uri(uri)
                 .header("Authorization", "Bot " + token)
                 .header("Accept", "application/json").GET().build();
diff --git a/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/RulesCommand.java b/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/RulesCommand.java
index 00da695..602c85c 100755
--- a/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/RulesCommand.java
+++ b/services/rules-mod/1.20.1/src/main/java/com/firefrostgaming/rules/RulesCommand.java
@@ -20,10 +20,11 @@ public class RulesCommand {
                 return 1;
             }
             ServerPlayer player = (ServerPlayer) source.getEntity();
-            LOGGER.debug("Config state — token length: {}, channel: {}, message: {}",
+            LOGGER.info("[DIAG] token length={}, channel={}, messageId={}, isValid={}",
                 ServerRulesConfig.BOT_TOKEN.get().length(),
                 ServerRulesConfig.CHANNEL_ID.get(),
-                ServerRulesConfig.MESSAGE_ID.get());
+                ServerRulesConfig.MESSAGE_ID.get(),
+                ServerRulesConfig.isMessageIdValid());
             if (!CooldownManager.checkAndUpdateCooldown(player)) return 0;
             if (RulesCache.isCacheValid()) {
                 player.sendSystemMessage(DiscordFormatter.formatRules(RulesCache.getRules()));
diff --git a/services/rules-mod/firefrostrules-1.0.4-1.20.1-forge.jar b/services/rules-mod/firefrostrules-1.0.4-1.20.1-forge.jar
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dc0d75
Binary files /dev/null and b/services/rules-mod/firefrostrules-1.0.4-1.20.1-forge.jar differ