diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 8700f32..f161cf8 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 //! BrokeCrew: A Rust-Native Multi-Model AI Team Library
 
-pub const VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
+pub mod persona;
+
+pub use persona::{DispatchResult, ModelAttempt, ModelCandidate, Persona, PersonaRegistry, Tier};
diff --git a/src/persona.rs b/src/persona.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9390016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/persona.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum Tier {
+    Free,
+    Paid,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ModelCandidate {
+    pub id: String,
+    pub tier: Tier,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub is_stealth: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct Persona {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub system_prompt: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub trigger_words: Vec<String>,
+    pub candidates: Vec<ModelCandidate>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct ModelAttempt {
+    pub model_id: String,
+    pub error: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct DispatchResult {
+    pub persona: String,
+    pub model_used: String,
+    pub tier_used: Tier,
+    pub reply: String,
+    pub fell_back: bool,
+    pub attempts: Vec<ModelAttempt>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
+pub struct PersonaRegistry {
+    personas: Vec<Persona>,
+}
+
+impl PersonaRegistry {
+    pub fn new(personas: Vec<Persona>) -> Self {
+        Self { personas }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get(&self, name: &str) -> Option<&Persona> {
+        self.personas.iter().find(|p| p.name == name)
+    }
+
+    pub fn list(&self) -> &[Persona] {
+        &self.personas
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the ordered list of eligible model candidates for a persona.
+    ///
+    /// - If `allow_stealth` is false, excludes candidates where `is_stealth == true`.
+    /// - If `require_paid` is true (e.g. complexity escalation), filters for `Tier::Paid` candidates.
+    pub fn get_eligible_candidates(
+        &self,
+        persona_name: &str,
+        allow_stealth: bool,
+        require_paid: bool,
+    ) -> Result<Vec<&ModelCandidate>, String> {
+        let persona = self
+            .get(persona_name)
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("Persona '{persona_name}' not found"))?;
+
+        let eligible: Vec<&ModelCandidate> = persona
+            .candidates
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|c| {
+                if !allow_stealth && c.is_stealth {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                if require_paid && c.tier != Tier::Paid {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                true
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        if eligible.is_empty() {
+            Err(format!(
+                "No eligible model candidates for persona '{persona_name}' (stealth: {allow_stealth}, paid: {require_paid})"
+            ))
+        } else {
+            Ok(eligible)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_candidate_filtering_and_fallback_order() {
+        let candidates = vec![
+            ModelCandidate {
+                id: "stealth-model:free".into(),
+                tier: Tier::Free,
+                is_stealth: true,
+            },
+            ModelCandidate {
+                id: "qwen-free".into(),
+                tier: Tier::Free,
+                is_stealth: false,
+            },
+            ModelCandidate {
+                id: "gemini-paid".into(),
+                tier: Tier::Paid,
+                is_stealth: false,
+            },
+        ];
+
+        let persona = Persona {
+            name: "coder".into(),
+            system_prompt: "You are a coder".into(),
+            trigger_words: vec!["code".into()],
+            candidates,
+        };
+
+        let registry = PersonaRegistry::new(vec![persona]);
+
+        // When allow_stealth is false and require_paid is false
+        let free_no_stealth = registry
+            .get_eligible_candidates("coder", false, false)
+            .expect("should return candidates");
+        assert_eq!(free_no_stealth.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(free_no_stealth[0].id, "qwen-free");
+        assert_eq!(free_no_stealth[1].id, "gemini-paid");
+
+        // When allow_stealth is true
+        let with_stealth = registry
+            .get_eligible_candidates("coder", true, false)
+            .expect("should return candidates");
+        assert_eq!(with_stealth.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(with_stealth[0].id, "stealth-model:free");
+
+        // When require_paid is true (complexity escalation)
+        let paid_only = registry
+            .get_eligible_candidates("coder", true, true)
+            .expect("should return candidates");
+        assert_eq!(paid_only.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(paid_only[0].id, "gemini-paid");
+
+        // Non-existent persona returns error
+        assert!(registry.get_eligible_candidates("unknown", false, false).is_err());
+    }
+}