diff --git a/coworker/teams/journal.py b/coworker/teams/journal.py
index c20260f6..be2ecdec 100644
--- a/coworker/teams/journal.py
+++ b/coworker/teams/journal.py
@@ -123,9 +123,8 @@ class JournalStore:
             raise BoardError(f"unknown entry kind: {kind} (use one of {JOURNAL_KINDS})")
         if len(body) > JOURNAL_BODY_LIMIT:
             raise BoardError(
-                f"entry body over {JOURNAL_BODY_LIMIT} chars — store the full"
-                " payload as an artifact and journal an excerpt with a"
-                " sha256-qualified ref"
+                f"entry body over {JOURNAL_BODY_LIMIT} chars — save the full"
+                " capture to a file and journal an excerpt that references it"
             )
         with self._lock:
             exists = self._case_exists(case)
diff --git a/coworker/teams/model.py b/coworker/teams/model.py
index 37c057c4..5de6ba0a 100644
--- a/coworker/teams/model.py
+++ b/coworker/teams/model.py
@@ -64,11 +64,11 @@ LINK_KINDS = ("parent", "blocks")  # link(src, "parent", dst): dst is src's pare
 
 # `note` is any observation — the journal is not only for investigations. `raw` is
 # a capture (log excerpt, command output); reads skip raw unless asked, and large
-# payloads belong in the artifact store with a sha256-qualified ref on the entry.
+# payloads belong in a file the entry references.
 JOURNAL_KINDS = ("finding", "evidence", "decision", "note", "raw")
 
 # An entry body is an excerpt/summary, never a blob: oversized payloads make every
-# chain-verify and unfiltered read drag. Full captures go to the artifact store.
+# read (and replay) drag. Full captures live as files the entry points at.
 JOURNAL_BODY_LIMIT = 16_000
 
 
diff --git a/coworker/teams/tools.py b/coworker/teams/tools.py
index 60fcccae..50deef56 100644
--- a/coworker/teams/tools.py
+++ b/coworker/teams/tools.py
@@ -166,11 +166,11 @@ def journal_tools(
         refs: Optional[list] = None,
     ) -> dict:
         """Append an entry to a journal case as you work: kind is finding,
-        evidence, decision, note (any observation), or raw (a capture — put an
-        excerpt here and store the full payload as an artifact, referenced with
-        a sha256-qualified ref). `entities` are the concrete things it is about
-        (file paths, resource names, CVE ids) — they power later recall;
-        `refs` are pointers (file:line, commit, url, artifact)."""
+        evidence, decision, note (any observation), or raw (a capture like a log
+        excerpt — for large captures, save the full output to a file and journal
+        an excerpt that references it). `entities` are the concrete things it is
+        about (file paths, resource names, CVE ids) — they power later recall;
+        `refs` are pointers (file:line, commit, url)."""
         return _call(
             journal.append,
             actor,
diff --git a/tests/test_team_journal.py b/tests/test_team_journal.py
index e9924902..065ad0c7 100644
--- a/tests/test_team_journal.py
+++ b/tests/test_team_journal.py
@@ -130,15 +130,15 @@ def test_raw_captures_are_opt_in_on_read(journal):
     journal.append(LEAD, "ops", "deploy finished 14:01", kind="note")
     journal.append(
         LEAD, "ops", "nginx 5xx burst 14:02-14:04 (2,400 lines)", kind="raw",
-        refs=["artifact:sha256:ab12...:nginx-error.log"],
+        refs=["logs/nginx-error-1402.log"],
     )
     assert len(journal.read(LEAD, "ops")) == 1  # raw skipped by default
     assert len(journal.read(LEAD, "ops", include_raw=True)) == 2
-    assert journal.read(LEAD, "ops", kind="raw")[0]["refs"][0].startswith("artifact:")
+    assert journal.read(LEAD, "ops", kind="raw")[0]["refs"] == ["logs/nginx-error-1402.log"]
 
 
-def test_oversized_bodies_are_refused_with_the_artifact_pattern(journal):
-    with pytest.raises(BoardError, match="artifact"):
+def test_oversized_bodies_are_refused_with_the_excerpt_pattern(journal):
+    with pytest.raises(BoardError, match="excerpt"):
         journal.append(LEAD, "ops", "x" * (JOURNAL_BODY_LIMIT + 1), kind="raw")