diff --git a/include/c/motes.h b/include/c/motes.h
index 7914354ca1..8cb2dbbc7d 100644
--- a/include/c/motes.h
+++ b/include/c/motes.h
@@ -1141,6 +1141,7 @@
 #   define c3__tung   c3_s4('t','u','n','g')
 #   define c3__tupl   c3_s4('t','u','p','l')
 #   define c3__turd   c3_s4('t','u','r','d')
+#   define c3__turf   c3_s4('t','u','r','f')
 #   define c3__turn   c3_s4('t','u','r','n')
 #   define c3__twig   c3_s4('t','w','i','g')
 #   define c3__twix   c3_s4('t','w','i','x')
diff --git a/include/vere/vere.h b/include/vere/vere.h
index ced7474fdd..2183d483e3 100644
--- a/include/vere/vere.h
+++ b/include/vere/vere.h
@@ -254,9 +254,11 @@
           uv_handle_t had_u;
         };
         uv_timer_t    tim_u;                //  network timer
+        c3_o          liv;                  //  listener on
         c3_o          alm;                  //  alarm on
         c3_w          law_w;                //  last wakeup, unix time
         c3_s          por_s;                //  public IPv4 port
+        c3_c*         dns_c;                //  domain XX multiple/fallback
         c3_w          imp_w[256];           //  imperial IPs
         time_t        imp_t[256];           //  imperial IP timestamps
       } u3_ames;
@@ -578,7 +580,6 @@
     */
       typedef struct _u3_opts {
         c3_c*   arv_c;                      //  -A, initial sync from
-        c3_c*   dns_c;                      //  -H, ames bootstrap domain
         c3_c*   gen_c;                      //  -G, czar generator
         c3_c*   imp_c;                      //  -I, czar name
         c3_c*   nam_c;                      //  -n, unix hostname
@@ -938,6 +939,11 @@
         u3_ames_ef_send(u3_noun lan,
                         u3_noun pac);
 
+      /* u3_ames_ef_turf(): initialize ames I/O on domain(s).
+      */
+        void
+        u3_ames_ef_turf(u3_noun tuf);
+
       /* u3_ames_io_init(): initialize ames I/O.
       */
         void
diff --git a/vere/ames.c b/vere/ames.c
index 3a9fc0f166..b04d64ecda 100644
--- a/vere/ames.c
+++ b/vere/ames.c
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ _ames_czar(u3_pact* pac_u, c3_c* bos_c)
     return;
   }
 
+  c3_assert( 0 != bos_c );
+
   time_t now = time(0);
 
   // backoff
@@ -269,6 +271,8 @@ _ames_lane_ip(u3_noun lan, c3_s* por_s, c3_w* pip_w)
   return c3n;
 }
 
+/* u3_ames_ef_bake(): notify %ames that we're live.
+*/
 void
 u3_ames_ef_bake(void)
 {
@@ -303,7 +307,7 @@ u3_ames_ef_send(u3_noun lan, u3_noun pac)
     if ( (0 == (pac_u->pip_w >> 16)) && (1 == (pac_u->pip_w >> 8)) ) {
       pac_u->imp_y = (pac_u->pip_w & 0xff);
 
-      _ames_czar(pac_u, u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c);
+      _ames_czar(pac_u, u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c);
     }
     else if ( (c3y == u3_Host.ops_u.net) || (0x7f000001 == pac_u->pip_w) ) {
       _ames_send(pac_u);
@@ -326,15 +330,22 @@ static void
 _ames_time_cb(uv_timer_t* tim_uo)
 {
   u3_ames* sam_u = &u3_Host.sam_u;
-  u3_lo_open();
 
-  sam_u->law_w = time(0);
-  {
-    u3v_plan
-      (u3nt(u3_blip, c3__ames, u3_nul),
-       u3nc(c3__wake, u3_nul));
+  // defer until started via u3_ames_ef_turf()
+  if ( c3n == sam_u->liv ) {
+    uv_timer_start(&sam_u->tim_u, _ames_time_cb, 1000, 0);
+  }
+  else {
+    u3_lo_open();
+
+    sam_u->law_w = time(0);
+    {
+      u3v_plan
+        (u3nt(u3_blip, c3__ames, u3_nul),
+         u3nc(c3__wake, u3_nul));
+    }
+    u3_lo_shut(c3n);
   }
-  u3_lo_shut(c3n);
 }
 
 /* _ames_recv_cb(): receive callback.
@@ -376,15 +387,15 @@ _ames_recv_cb(uv_udp_t*        wax_u,
   }
 }
 
-/* u3_ames_io_init(): initialize ames I/O.
+/* _ames_io_start(): initialize ames I/O.
 */
-void
-u3_ames_io_init()
+static void
+_ames_io_start()
 {
   u3_ames* sam_u = &u3_Host.sam_u;
-  c3_s por_s;
+  c3_s por_s     = u3_Host.ops_u.por_s;
 
-  por_s = u3_Host.ops_u.por_s;
+  // XX use clan:title u3A->own
   if ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c ) {
     u3_noun imp   = u3i_string(u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c);
     u3_noun num   = u3dc("slaw", 'p', imp);
@@ -442,10 +453,103 @@ u3_ames_io_init()
 
     sam_u->por_s = ntohs(add_u.sin_port);
   }
-  //  Timer too.
-  {
-    uv_timer_init(u3L, &sam_u->tim_u);
+
+  // uL(fprintf(uH, "ames: on localhost, UDP %d.\n", sam_u->por_s));
+  uv_udp_recv_start(&sam_u->wax_u, _ames_alloc, _ames_recv_cb);
+
+  sam_u->liv = c3y;
+}
+
+/* _cttp_mcut_char(): measure/cut character.
+*/
+static c3_w
+_cttp_mcut_char(c3_c* buf_c, c3_w len_w, c3_c chr_c)
+{
+  if ( buf_c ) {
+    buf_c[len_w] = chr_c;
   }
+  return len_w + 1;
+}
+
+/* _cttp_mcut_cord(): measure/cut cord.
+*/
+static c3_w
+_cttp_mcut_cord(c3_c* buf_c, c3_w len_w, u3_noun san)
+{
+  c3_w ten_w = u3r_met(3, san);
+
+  if ( buf_c ) {
+    u3r_bytes(0, ten_w, (c3_y *)(buf_c + len_w), san);
+  }
+  u3z(san);
+  return (len_w + ten_w);
+}
+
+/* _cttp_mcut_path(): measure/cut cord list.
+*/
+static c3_w
+_cttp_mcut_path(c3_c* buf_c, c3_w len_w, c3_c sep_c, u3_noun pax)
+{
+  u3_noun axp = pax;
+
+  while ( u3_nul != axp ) {
+    u3_noun h_axp = u3h(axp);
+
+    len_w = _cttp_mcut_cord(buf_c, len_w, u3k(h_axp));
+    axp = u3t(axp);
+
+    if ( u3_nul != axp ) {
+      len_w = _cttp_mcut_char(buf_c, len_w, sep_c);
+    }
+  }
+  u3z(pax);
+  return len_w;
+}
+
+/* _cttp_mcut_host(): measure/cut host.
+*/
+static c3_w
+_cttp_mcut_host(c3_c* buf_c, c3_w len_w, u3_noun hot)
+{
+  len_w = _cttp_mcut_path(buf_c, len_w, '.', u3kb_flop(u3k(hot)));
+  u3z(hot);
+  return len_w;
+}
+
+/* u3_ames_ef_turf(): initialize ames I/O on domain(s).
+*/
+void
+u3_ames_ef_turf(u3_noun tuf)
+{
+  if ( u3_nul != tuf ) {
+    // XX save all for fallback, not just first
+    u3_noun hot = u3k(u3h(tuf));
+    c3_w  len_w = _cttp_mcut_host(0, 0, u3k(hot));
+
+    u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c = c3_malloc(1 + len_w);
+    _cttp_mcut_host(u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c, 0, hot);
+    u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c[len_w] = 0;
+
+    u3z(tuf);
+  }
+  else if ( c3n == u3A->fak ) {
+    // XX assert?
+    uL(fprintf(uH, "ames: turf: no domains\n"));
+  }
+
+  if ( c3n == u3_Host.sam_u.liv ) {
+    _ames_io_start();
+  }
+}
+
+/* u3_ames_io_init(): initialize ames I/O.
+*/
+void
+u3_ames_io_init()
+{
+  u3_ames* sam_u = &u3_Host.sam_u;
+  sam_u->liv = c3n;
+  uv_timer_init(u3L, &sam_u->tim_u);
 }
 
 /* u3_ames_io_talk(): start receiving ames traffic.
@@ -453,10 +557,6 @@ u3_ames_io_init()
 void
 u3_ames_io_talk()
 {
-  u3_ames* sam_u = &u3_Host.sam_u;
-
-  uL(fprintf(uH, "ames: on localhost, UDP %d.\n", sam_u->por_s));
-  uv_udp_recv_start(&sam_u->wax_u, _ames_alloc, _ames_recv_cb);
 }
 
 /* u3_ames_io_exit(): terminate ames I/O.
@@ -466,8 +566,12 @@ u3_ames_io_exit()
 {
   u3_ames* sam_u = &u3_Host.sam_u;
 
-  // XX close wax_u instead
-  uv_close(&sam_u->had_u, 0);
+  uv_close((uv_handle_t*)&sam_u->tim_u, 0);
+
+  if ( c3y == sam_u->liv ) {
+    // XX remove had_u/wax_u union, cast and close wax_u
+    uv_close(&sam_u->had_u, 0);
+  }
 }
 
 /* u3_ames_io_poll(): update ames IO state.
diff --git a/vere/http.c b/vere/http.c
index ea2b006da1..14d5fd4afe 100644
--- a/vere/http.c
+++ b/vere/http.c
@@ -1231,6 +1231,7 @@ _http_release_ports_file(c3_c *pax_c)
   free(paf_c);
 }
 
+
 /* _http_czar_host(): galaxy hostname as (unit host:eyre)
 */
 static u3_noun
@@ -1238,6 +1239,8 @@ _http_czar_host(void)
 {
   u3_noun dom = u3_nul;
 
+  // XX revisit
+#if 0
   if ( (0 == u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c) || (c3n == u3_Host.ops_u.net) ) {
     return dom;
   }
@@ -1272,6 +1275,7 @@ _http_czar_host(void)
       }
     }
   }
+#endif
 
   if ( u3_nul == dom ) {
     return dom;
@@ -2424,12 +2428,15 @@ _proxy_ward_resolve(u3_warc* cli_u)
   hin_u.ai_protocol = IPPROTO_TCP;
 
   if ( 0 == cli_u->hot_c ) {
+    // XX revisit
+    c3_assert( 0 != u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c );
+
     u3_noun sip = u3dc("scot", 'p', u3k(cli_u->sip));
     c3_c* sip_c = u3r_string(sip);
-    c3_w len_w = 1 + strlen(sip_c) + strlen(u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c);
+    c3_w len_w = 1 + strlen(sip_c) + strlen(u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c);
     cli_u->hot_c = c3_malloc(len_w);
     // incremented to skip '~'
-    snprintf(cli_u->hot_c, len_w, "%s.%s", sip_c + 1, u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c);
+    snprintf(cli_u->hot_c, len_w, "%s.%s", sip_c + 1, u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c);
 
     free(sip_c);
     u3z(sip);
@@ -2541,11 +2548,14 @@ _proxy_parse_ship(c3_c* hot_c)
     return sip;
   }
 
+  // XX revisit
+  c3_assert( 0 != u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c );
+
   c3_w dif_w = dom_c - hot_c;
-  c3_w dns_w = strlen(u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c);
+  c3_w dns_w = strlen(u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c);
 
   if ( (dns_w != strlen(hot_c) - (dif_w + 1)) ||
-       (0 != strncmp(dom_c + 1, u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c, dns_w)) ) {
+       (0 != strncmp(dom_c + 1, u3_Host.sam_u.dns_c, dns_w)) ) {
     return sip;
   }
 
diff --git a/vere/loop.c b/vere/loop.c
index d3362efb31..cac36d6ffc 100644
--- a/vere/loop.c
+++ b/vere/loop.c
@@ -667,7 +667,12 @@ u3_lo_lead(void)
   //  Further server configuration.
   //
   {
+    u3_ames_ef_bake();
     u3_http_ef_bake();
+
+    if ( (c3y == u3_Host.ops_u.nuu) && (0 != u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c) ) {
+      u3_unix_ef_initial_into();
+    }
   }
 
   _lo_talk();
diff --git a/vere/main.c b/vere/main.c
index eced433643..0f60f735b1 100644
--- a/vere/main.c
+++ b/vere/main.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
   u3_Host.ops_u.veb = c3n;
   u3_Host.ops_u.kno_w = DefaultKernel;
 
-  while ( (ch_i=getopt(argc, argv,"G:B:K:A:H:I:w:u:f:F:k:l:n:p:r:NabcdgqsvxMPDXRS")) != -1 ) {
+  while ( (ch_i=getopt(argc, argv,"G:B:K:A:I:w:u:f:F:k:l:n:p:r:NabcdgqsvxMPDXRS")) != -1 ) {
     switch ( ch_i ) {
       case 'M': {
         u3_Host.ops_u.mem = c3y;
@@ -109,10 +109,6 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
         u3_Host.ops_u.arv_c = strdup(optarg);
         break;
       }
-      case 'H': {
-        u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c = strdup(optarg);
-        break;
-      }
       // XX remove in deference to -K
       case 'I': {
         u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c = _main_presig(optarg);
@@ -282,10 +278,6 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
     return c3n;
   }
 
-  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c == 0 ) {
-    u3_Host.ops_u.dns_c = "urbit.org";
-  }
-
   if ( u3_Host.ops_u.pil_c != 0 ) {
     struct stat s;
     if ( stat(u3_Host.ops_u.pil_c, &s) != 0 ) {
@@ -358,7 +350,6 @@ u3_ve_usage(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
     "-F ship       Fake keys; also disables networking\n",
     "-f            Fuzz testing\n",
     "-g            Set GC flag\n",
-    "-H domain     Set ames bootstrap domain (default urbit.org)\n",
     "-I galaxy     Start as ~galaxy\n",
     "-k stage      Start at Hoon kernel version stage\n",
     "-l port       Initial peer port\n",
diff --git a/vere/reck.c b/vere/reck.c
index 3a44f29703..3515c32686 100644
--- a/vere/reck.c
+++ b/vere/reck.c
@@ -208,6 +208,11 @@ _reck_kick_newt(u3_noun pox, u3_noun fav)
       u3_ames_ef_send(lan, pac);
       u3z(pox); u3z(fav); return c3y;
     } break;
+
+    case c3__turf: {
+      u3_ames_ef_turf(u3k(u3t(fav)));
+      u3z(pox); u3z(fav); return c3y;
+    } break;
   }
   u3z(pox); u3z(fav); return c3n;
 }
diff --git a/vere/sist.c b/vere/sist.c
index 0e1a09c3b0..9986b45a26 100644
--- a/vere/sist.c
+++ b/vere/sist.c
@@ -277,21 +277,6 @@ _sist_sing(u3_noun ovo)
   }
 }
 
-
-/* _sist_home(): remains of "create ship directory" after refactor to u3m_boot().
-*/
-static void
-_sist_home()
-{
-#if 1
-  //  Copy zod files, if we're generating a carrier.
-  //
-  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c ) {
-    u3_unix_ef_initial_into();
-  }
-#endif
-}
-
 /* _sist_cask(): ask for a passcode.
 */
 static u3_noun
@@ -518,10 +503,6 @@ _sist_zest()
   c3_c        ful_c[8193];
   c3_l        sal_l;
 
-  //  Create the ship directory.
-  //
-  _sist_home();
-
   //  Create the record file.
   {
     c3_i pig_i = O_CREAT | O_WRONLY | O_EXCL;
@@ -602,9 +583,6 @@ _sist_zest()
 static void
 _sist_make(u3_noun fav)
 {
-  //  Initialize ames
-  u3_ames_ef_bake();
-
   //  Authenticate and initialize terminal.
   //
   u3_term_ef_bake(fav);