diff --git a/src/constants.mjs b/src/constants.mjs
index 31e49cb..a9b2440 100644
--- a/src/constants.mjs
+++ b/src/constants.mjs
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_RELAYS = [
 export const DEFAULT_TTL = 7200;
 export const DEFAULT_NAMESPACE = 'torch';
 export const DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS = 15_000;
+export const DEFAULT_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
+export const DEFAULT_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES = 1;
 export const VALID_CADENCES = new Set(['daily', 'weekly']);
 export const KIND_APP_DATA = 30078;
diff --git a/src/docs/TORCH.md b/src/docs/TORCH.md
index edb0d73..dff6b90 100644
--- a/src/docs/TORCH.md
+++ b/src/docs/TORCH.md
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ node bin/torch-lock.mjs list
 - `NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS`
 - `NOSTR_LOCK_TTL`
 - `NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS`
+- `NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS`
+- `NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES`
+- `NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS`
 - `NOSTR_LOCK_DAILY_ROSTER`
 - `NOSTR_LOCK_WEEKLY_ROSTER`
 - `TORCH_CONFIG_PATH`
@@ -50,7 +53,10 @@ Common settings:
 - `nostrLock.namespace` — namespace prefix used in d-tags and hashtags.
 - `nostrLock.relays` — relay list for check/lock/list operations.
 - `nostrLock.ttlSeconds` — default lock TTL.
-- `nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs` — relay query timeout.
+- `nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs` — relay query timeout (ms, valid range: 100..120000).
+- `nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs` — per-relay publish timeout (ms, valid range: 100..120000).
+- `nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes` — minimum successful publishes required before lock acquisition continues (default: `1`).
+- `nostrLock.relayFallbacks` — optional fallback relay URLs used when primary query/publish attempts fail quorum.
 - `nostrLock.dailyRoster` / `nostrLock.weeklyRoster` — optional per-project roster overrides.
 - `dashboard.defaultCadenceView` — default dashboard view (`daily`, `weekly`, `all`).
 - `dashboard.defaultStatusView` — default dashboard status filter (`active`, `all`).
@@ -64,6 +70,23 @@ For weekly repository-fit maintenance, TORCH also includes `src/prompts/weekly/r
 
 Operational note: scheduler handoff commands are treated as required execution steps. A non-zero exit code (or missing command) is a hard failure: the scheduler writes a `_failed.md` task log, exits immediately, and does not publish `lock:complete` for that run.
 
+
+## Lock backend production defaults
+
+Recommended baseline for production scheduler runs:
+
+- `nostrLock.relays`: 3+ geographically-diverse primary relays.
+- `nostrLock.relayFallbacks`: 2 additional relays not present in primary list.
+- `nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs`: `10000`
+- `nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs`: `8000`
+- `nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes`: `2`
+
+Validation behavior:
+
+- Relay URLs must be absolute `ws://` or `wss://` URLs.
+- Invalid relay URLs or invalid timeout/count ranges are fatal startup errors.
+- Lock backend errors include phase (`query:primary`, `query:fallback`, `publish:primary`, `publish:fallback`), relay endpoint, and timeout value used.
+
 ## Scheduler lock reliability reporting
 
 Run the lock reliability summary to aggregate recent scheduler outcomes by platform, cadence, backend error category, and relay endpoint:
diff --git a/src/lock-ops.mjs b/src/lock-ops.mjs
index b50e1fc..8326f08 100644
--- a/src/lock-ops.mjs
+++ b/src/lock-ops.mjs
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import { SimplePool } from 'nostr-tools/pool';
-import { getQueryTimeoutMs } from './torch-config.mjs';
+import {
+  getQueryTimeoutMs,
+  getPublishTimeoutMs,
+  getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishes,
+  getRelayFallbacks,
+} from './torch-config.mjs';
 import { KIND_APP_DATA } from './constants.mjs';
 
 function nowUnix() {
@@ -42,56 +47,141 @@ function filterActiveLocks(locks) {
   return locks.filter((lock) => !lock.expiresAt || lock.expiresAt > now);
 }
 
-export async function queryLocks(relays, cadence, dateStr, namespace) {
-  const pool = new SimplePool();
-  const tagFilter = `${namespace}-lock-${cadence}-${dateStr}`;
-  const queryTimeoutMs = getQueryTimeoutMs();
-
+function withTimeout(promise, timeoutMs, timeoutMessage) {
   let timeoutHandle;
+  const timeoutPromise = new Promise((_, reject) => {
+    timeoutHandle = setTimeout(() => reject(new Error(timeoutMessage)), timeoutMs);
+  });
+  return Promise.race([promise, timeoutPromise]).finally(() => {
+    if (timeoutHandle) clearTimeout(timeoutHandle);
+  });
+}
+
+function relayListLabel(relays) {
+  return relays.join(', ');
+}
+
+export async function queryLocks(relays, cadence, dateStr, namespace, deps = {}) {
+  const {
+    poolFactory = () => new SimplePool(),
+    getQueryTimeoutMsFn = getQueryTimeoutMs,
+    getRelayFallbacksFn = getRelayFallbacks,
+    errorLogger = console.error,
+  } = deps;
+
+  const pool = poolFactory();
+  const tagFilter = `${namespace}-lock-${cadence}-${dateStr}`;
+  const queryTimeoutMs = getQueryTimeoutMsFn();
+  const fallbackRelays = getRelayFallbacksFn();
+
+  const runQuery = async (relaySet, phase) => {
+    try {
+      const events = await withTimeout(
+        pool.querySync(relaySet, {
+          kinds: [KIND_APP_DATA],
+          '#t': [tagFilter],
+        }),
+        queryTimeoutMs,
+        `[${phase}] Relay query timed out after ${queryTimeoutMs}ms (relays: ${relayListLabel(relaySet)})`,
+      );
+      return filterActiveLocks(events.map(parseLockEvent));
+    } catch (err) {
+      const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      throw new Error(
+        `[${phase}] Relay query failed (timeout=${queryTimeoutMs}ms, relays=${relayListLabel(relaySet)}): ${message}`,
+        { cause: err },
+      );
+    }
+  };
 
   try {
-    const events = await Promise.race([
-      pool.querySync(relays, {
-        kinds: [KIND_APP_DATA],
-        '#t': [tagFilter],
-      }),
-      new Promise((_, reject) => {
-        timeoutHandle = setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('Relay query timed out')), queryTimeoutMs);
-      }),
-    ]);
-
-    return filterActiveLocks(events.map(parseLockEvent));
-  } finally {
-    if (timeoutHandle) {
-      clearTimeout(timeoutHandle);
+    try {
+      return await runQuery(relays, 'query:primary');
+    } catch (primaryErr) {
+      if (!fallbackRelays.length) {
+        throw primaryErr;
+      }
+      errorLogger(`WARN: ${primaryErr.message}`);
+      errorLogger(`WARN: retrying query with fallback relays (${relayListLabel(fallbackRelays)})`);
+      return await runQuery(fallbackRelays, 'query:fallback');
     }
-    pool.close(relays);
+  } finally {
+    const allRelays = [...new Set([...relays, ...fallbackRelays])];
+    pool.close(allRelays);
   }
 }
 
-export async function publishLock(relays, event) {
-  const pool = new SimplePool();
+async function publishToRelays(pool, relays, event, publishTimeoutMs, phase) {
+  const publishPromises = pool.publish(relays, event);
+  const settled = await Promise.allSettled(
+    publishPromises.map((publishPromise, index) => withTimeout(
+      publishPromise,
+      publishTimeoutMs,
+      `[${phase}] Publish timed out after ${publishTimeoutMs}ms (relay=${relays[index]})`,
+    )),
+  );
+
+  return settled.map((result, index) => {
+    if (result.status === 'fulfilled') {
+      return { relay: relays[index], success: true, phase };
+    }
+    const reason = result.reason;
+    const message = reason instanceof Error ? reason.message : String(reason ?? 'unknown');
+    return { relay: relays[index], success: false, phase, message };
+  });
+}
+
+export async function publishLock(relays, event, deps = {}) {
+  const {
+    poolFactory = () => new SimplePool(),
+    getPublishTimeoutMsFn = getPublishTimeoutMs,
+    getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishesFn = getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishes,
+    getRelayFallbacksFn = getRelayFallbacks,
+  } = deps;
+
+  const pool = poolFactory();
+  const publishTimeoutMs = getPublishTimeoutMsFn();
+  const minSuccesses = getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishesFn();
+  const fallbackRelays = getRelayFallbacksFn().filter((relay) => !relays.includes(relay));
+
+  const attempted = new Set();
+  const publishResults = [];
+
+  const attemptPhase = async (phaseRelays, phaseName) => {
+    if (!phaseRelays.length) return;
+    for (const relay of phaseRelays) {
+      attempted.add(relay);
+    }
+    const phaseResults = await publishToRelays(pool, phaseRelays, event, publishTimeoutMs, phaseName);
+    publishResults.push(...phaseResults);
+  };
 
   try {
-    const publishPromises = pool.publish(relays, event);
-    const results = await Promise.allSettled(publishPromises);
-    const successes = results.filter((r) => r.status === 'fulfilled');
+    await attemptPhase(relays, 'publish:primary');
 
-    if (successes.length === 0) {
-      const errors = results.map((r, i) => {
-        if (r.status === 'rejected') {
-          const reason = r.reason;
-          const message = reason instanceof Error ? reason.message : String(reason ?? 'unknown');
-          return `${relays[i]}: ${message}`;
-        }
-        return `${relays[i]}: unknown`;
-      });
-      throw new Error(`Failed to publish to any relay:\n  ${errors.join('\n  ')}`);
+    let successCount = publishResults.filter((result) => result.success).length;
+    if (successCount < minSuccesses && fallbackRelays.length > 0) {
+      await attemptPhase(fallbackRelays, 'publish:fallback');
+      successCount = publishResults.filter((result) => result.success).length;
     }
 
-    console.error(`  Published to ${successes.length}/${relays.length} relays`);
+    if (successCount < minSuccesses) {
+      const failureLines = publishResults
+        .filter((result) => !result.success)
+        .map((result) => `${result.relay} (${result.phase}): ${result.message}`);
+
+      throw new Error(
+        `Failed relay publish quorum in publish phase: ${successCount}/${attempted.size} successful ` +
+        `(required=${minSuccesses}, timeout=${publishTimeoutMs}ms)\n  ${failureLines.join('\n  ')}`,
+      );
+    }
+
+    console.error(
+      `  Published to ${successCount}/${attempted.size} relays ` +
+      `(required=${minSuccesses}, timeout=${publishTimeoutMs}ms)`,
+    );
     return event;
   } finally {
-    pool.close(relays);
+    pool.close([...attempted]);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/torch-config.mjs b/src/torch-config.mjs
index 82a1929..d7de51f 100644
--- a/src/torch-config.mjs
+++ b/src/torch-config.mjs
@@ -5,11 +5,52 @@ import {
   DEFAULT_TTL,
   DEFAULT_NAMESPACE,
   DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS,
+  DEFAULT_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS,
+  DEFAULT_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES,
 } from './constants.mjs';
 
 const DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH = 'torch-config.json';
 
 let cachedConfig = null;
+const MIN_TIMEOUT_MS = 100;
+const MAX_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000;
+
+function parsePositiveInteger(value) {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(value) || value <= 0) return null;
+  return Math.floor(value);
+}
+
+function parseRelayList(value) {
+  if (!Array.isArray(value)) return null;
+  const parsed = value.map((relay) => String(relay).trim()).filter(Boolean);
+  return parsed.length > 0 ? parsed : null;
+}
+
+function assertValidRelayUrl(relay, sourceLabel) {
+  let parsed;
+  try {
+    parsed = new URL(relay);
+  } catch {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid relay URL in ${sourceLabel}: "${relay}" (must be an absolute ws:// or wss:// URL)`);
+  }
+  if (parsed.protocol !== 'ws:' && parsed.protocol !== 'wss:') {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid relay URL in ${sourceLabel}: "${relay}" (protocol must be ws:// or wss://)`);
+  }
+}
+
+function assertTimeoutInRange(value, sourceLabel) {
+  if (!Number.isInteger(value) || value < MIN_TIMEOUT_MS || value > MAX_TIMEOUT_MS) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Invalid ${sourceLabel}: ${value} (must be an integer between ${MIN_TIMEOUT_MS} and ${MAX_TIMEOUT_MS} ms)`,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+function assertPositiveCount(value, sourceLabel) {
+  if (!Number.isInteger(value) || value <= 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid ${sourceLabel}: ${value} (must be a positive integer)`);
+  }
+}
 
 function normalizeCadence(value, fallback) {
   const normalized = String(value || '').trim().toLowerCase();
@@ -48,12 +89,13 @@ export function parseTorchConfig(raw, configPath = null) {
       relays: Array.isArray(nostrLock.relays)
         ? nostrLock.relays.map((relay) => String(relay).trim()).filter(Boolean)
         : null,
+      relayFallbacks: parseRelayList(nostrLock.relayFallbacks),
       ttlSeconds: Number.isFinite(nostrLock.ttlSeconds) && nostrLock.ttlSeconds > 0
         ? Math.floor(nostrLock.ttlSeconds)
         : null,
-      queryTimeoutMs: Number.isFinite(nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs) && nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs > 0
-        ? Math.floor(nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs)
-        : null,
+      queryTimeoutMs: parsePositiveInteger(nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs),
+      publishTimeoutMs: parsePositiveInteger(nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs),
+      minSuccessfulRelayPublishes: parsePositiveInteger(nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes),
       dailyRoster: parseRoster(nostrLock.dailyRoster),
       weeklyRoster: parseRoster(nostrLock.weeklyRoster),
     },
@@ -99,21 +141,72 @@ export function loadTorchConfig(fileSystem = fs) {
   }
 
   cachedConfig = parseTorchConfig(raw, configPath);
+  validateLockBackendConfig(cachedConfig);
   return cachedConfig;
 }
 
+function validateLockBackendConfig(config) {
+  const relays = config.nostrLock.relays || [];
+  const relayFallbacks = config.nostrLock.relayFallbacks || [];
+
+  for (const relay of relays) {
+    assertValidRelayUrl(relay, 'nostrLock.relays');
+  }
+  for (const relay of relayFallbacks) {
+    assertValidRelayUrl(relay, 'nostrLock.relayFallbacks');
+  }
+
+  if (config.nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs !== null) {
+    assertTimeoutInRange(config.nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs, 'nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs');
+  }
+  if (config.nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs !== null) {
+    assertTimeoutInRange(config.nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs, 'nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs');
+  }
+  if (config.nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes !== null) {
+    assertPositiveCount(config.nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes, 'nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes');
+  }
+}
+
+function parseEnvRelayList(envValue, envName) {
+  const relays = envValue.split(',').map((r) => r.trim()).filter(Boolean);
+  for (const relay of relays) {
+    assertValidRelayUrl(relay, envName);
+  }
+  return relays;
+}
+
+function parseEnvInteger(envValue, envName) {
+  const parsed = parseInt(envValue, 10);
+  if (Number.isNaN(parsed)) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid ${envName}: "${envValue}" (must be an integer)`);
+  }
+  return parsed;
+}
+
 export function getRelays() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
   const envRelays = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS;
   if (envRelays) {
-    return envRelays.split(',').map((r) => r.trim()).filter(Boolean);
+    return parseEnvRelayList(envRelays, 'NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS');
   }
   if (config.nostrLock.relays?.length) {
     return config.nostrLock.relays;
   }
+  for (const relay of DEFAULT_RELAYS) {
+    assertValidRelayUrl(relay, 'DEFAULT_RELAYS');
+  }
   return DEFAULT_RELAYS;
 }
 
+export function getRelayFallbacks() {
+  const config = loadTorchConfig();
+  const envRelays = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS;
+  if (envRelays) {
+    return parseEnvRelayList(envRelays, 'NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS');
+  }
+  return config.nostrLock.relayFallbacks || [];
+}
+
 export function getNamespace() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
   const namespace = (process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_NAMESPACE || config.nostrLock.namespace || DEFAULT_NAMESPACE).trim();
@@ -137,8 +230,37 @@ export function getQueryTimeoutMs() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
   const envValue = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS;
   if (envValue) {
-    const parsed = parseInt(envValue, 10);
-    if (!Number.isNaN(parsed) && parsed > 0) return parsed;
+    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, 'NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS');
+    assertTimeoutInRange(parsed, 'NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS');
+    return parsed;
   }
-  return config.nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs || DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  const value = config.nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs || DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  assertTimeoutInRange(value, 'effective query timeout');
+  return value;
+}
+
+export function getPublishTimeoutMs() {
+  const config = loadTorchConfig();
+  const envValue = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  if (envValue) {
+    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, 'NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS');
+    assertTimeoutInRange(parsed, 'NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS');
+    return parsed;
+  }
+  const value = config.nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs || DEFAULT_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  assertTimeoutInRange(value, 'effective publish timeout');
+  return value;
+}
+
+export function getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishes() {
+  const config = loadTorchConfig();
+  const envValue = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES;
+  if (envValue) {
+    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, 'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES');
+    assertPositiveCount(parsed, 'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES');
+    return parsed;
+  }
+  const value = config.nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes || DEFAULT_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES;
+  assertPositiveCount(value, 'effective min successful relay publishes');
+  return value;
 }
diff --git a/test/lock-ops.test.mjs b/test/lock-ops.test.mjs
index 699798f..b79a7e4 100644
--- a/test/lock-ops.test.mjs
+++ b/test/lock-ops.test.mjs
@@ -1,121 +1,123 @@
-import { test, describe, it } from 'node:test';
+import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
 import assert from 'node:assert';
-import { parseLockEvent } from '../src/lib.mjs';
+import { parseLockEvent, publishLock, queryLocks } from '../src/lock-ops.mjs';
 
-describe('parseLockEvent', () => {
-  it('should parse a valid lock event correctly', () => {
-    const event = {
-      id: 'mock-event-id',
-      pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
-      created_at: 1678886400, // 2023-03-15T13:20:00.000Z
-      tags: [
-        ['d', 'mock-d-tag'],
-        ['expiration', '1678890000'], // 2023-03-15T14:20:00.000Z
-      ],
-      content: JSON.stringify({
-        agent: 'test-agent',
-        cadence: 'daily',
-        status: 'started',
-        namespace: 'test-ns',
-        date: '2023-03-15',
-        platform: 'test-platform',
-      }),
-    };
+describe('lock-ops', () => {
+  describe('parseLockEvent', () => {
+    it('parses a valid lock event correctly', () => {
+      const event = {
+        id: 'mock-event-id',
+        pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
+        created_at: 1678886400,
+        tags: [['d', 'mock-d-tag'], ['expiration', '1678890000']],
+        content: JSON.stringify({
+          agent: 'test-agent',
+          cadence: 'daily',
+          status: 'started',
+          date: '2023-03-15',
+          platform: 'test-platform',
+        }),
+      };
 
-    const result = parseLockEvent(event);
+      const result = parseLockEvent(event);
 
-    assert.strictEqual(result.eventId, 'mock-event-id');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.pubkey, 'mock-pubkey');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.createdAt, 1678886400);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.createdAtIso, '2023-03-15T13:20:00.000Z');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.expiresAt, 1678890000);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.expiresAtIso, '2023-03-15T14:20:00.000Z');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.dTag, 'mock-d-tag');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.agent, 'test-agent');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.cadence, 'daily');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.status, 'started');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.date, '2023-03-15');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.platform, 'test-platform');
+      assert.strictEqual(result.dTag, 'mock-d-tag');
+      assert.strictEqual(result.expiresAt, 1678890000);
+      assert.strictEqual(result.agent, 'test-agent');
+      assert.strictEqual(result.platform, 'test-platform');
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should handle missing d tag', () => {
-    const event = {
-      id: 'mock-event-id',
-      pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
-      created_at: 1678886400,
-      tags: [],
-      content: '{}',
-    };
+  describe('queryLocks', () => {
+    it('falls back to fallback relays when primary query fails', async () => {
+      const mockPool = {
+        querySync: async (relays) => {
+          if (relays[0] === 'wss://primary') {
+            throw new Error('primary unavailable');
+          }
+          return [{
+            id: 'id-1',
+            pubkey: 'pk',
+            created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
+            tags: [['d', 't']],
+            content: JSON.stringify({ agent: 'agent1' }),
+          }];
+        },
+        close: () => {},
+      };
 
-    const result = parseLockEvent(event);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.dTag, '');
+      const locks = await queryLocks(
+        ['wss://primary'],
+        'daily',
+        '2026-02-14',
+        'torch',
+        {
+          poolFactory: () => mockPool,
+          getQueryTimeoutMsFn: () => 200,
+          getRelayFallbacksFn: () => ['wss://fallback'],
+          errorLogger: () => {},
+        },
+      );
+
+      assert.strictEqual(locks.length, 1);
+      assert.strictEqual(locks[0].agent, 'agent1');
+    });
   });
 
-  it('should handle missing expiration tag', () => {
-    const event = {
-      id: 'mock-event-id',
-      pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
-      created_at: 1678886400,
-      tags: [['d', 'mock-d-tag']],
-      content: '{}',
-    };
+  describe('publishLock', () => {
+    it('succeeds with partial primary success when minimum successes is 1', async () => {
+      const mockPool = {
+        publish: (relays) => relays.map((relay) => (
+          relay.includes('ok') ? Promise.resolve('ok') : Promise.reject(new Error('offline'))
+        )),
+        close: () => {},
+      };
 
-    const result = parseLockEvent(event);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.expiresAt, null);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.expiresAtIso, null);
-  });
+      const event = { id: 'evt-1' };
+      const result = await publishLock(['wss://ok-1', 'wss://bad-1'], event, {
+        poolFactory: () => mockPool,
+        getPublishTimeoutMsFn: () => 200,
+        getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishesFn: () => 1,
+        getRelayFallbacksFn: () => [],
+      });
 
-  it('should handle malformed JSON content', () => {
-    const event = {
-      id: 'mock-event-id',
-      pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
-      created_at: 1678886400,
-      tags: [],
-      content: '{ invalid json }',
-    };
+      assert.strictEqual(result, event);
+    });
 
-    const result = parseLockEvent(event);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.agent, null);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.cadence, null);
-  });
+    it('uses fallback relays to satisfy min success quorum', async () => {
+      const mockPool = {
+        publish: (relays) => relays.map((relay) => (
+          relay.includes('fallback-ok') ? Promise.resolve('ok') : Promise.reject(new Error('offline'))
+        )),
+        close: () => {},
+      };
 
-  it('should handle non-object JSON content (string)', () => {
-    const event = {
-      id: 'mock-event-id',
-      pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
-      created_at: 1678886400,
-      tags: [],
-      content: '"just a string"',
-    };
+      const event = { id: 'evt-2' };
+      const result = await publishLock(['wss://primary-bad'], event, {
+        poolFactory: () => mockPool,
+        getPublishTimeoutMsFn: () => 200,
+        getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishesFn: () => 1,
+        getRelayFallbacksFn: () => ['wss://fallback-ok'],
+      });
 
-    const result = parseLockEvent(event);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.agent, null);
-  });
+      assert.strictEqual(result, event);
+    });
 
-  it('should handle non-object JSON content (array)', () => {
-    const event = {
-      id: 'mock-event-id',
-      pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
-      created_at: 1678886400,
-      tags: [],
-      content: '["item1", "item2"]',
-    };
+    it('fails when successful publishes stay below configured minimum', async () => {
+      const mockPool = {
+        publish: (relays) => relays.map(() => Promise.reject(new Error('offline'))),
+        close: () => {},
+      };
 
-    const result = parseLockEvent(event);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.agent, null);
-  });
-
-  it('should handle partial JSON content', () => {
-    const event = {
-      id: 'mock-event-id',
-      pubkey: 'mock-pubkey',
-      created_at: 1678886400,
-      tags: [],
-      content: JSON.stringify({ agent: 'partial-agent' }),
-    };
-
-    const result = parseLockEvent(event);
-    assert.strictEqual(result.agent, 'partial-agent');
-    assert.strictEqual(result.cadence, null);
+      await assert.rejects(
+        () => publishLock(['wss://primary-bad'], { id: 'evt-3' }, {
+          poolFactory: () => mockPool,
+          getPublishTimeoutMsFn: () => 200,
+          getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishesFn: () => 2,
+          getRelayFallbacksFn: () => ['wss://fallback-bad'],
+        }),
+        /Failed relay publish quorum in publish phase: 0\/2 successful \(required=2, timeout=200ms\)/,
+      );
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/torch-config.test.mjs b/test/torch-config.test.mjs
index 91ea67b..00b892d 100644
--- a/test/torch-config.test.mjs
+++ b/test/torch-config.test.mjs
@@ -1,8 +1,18 @@
-import { test, describe, it, after, beforeEach } from 'node:test';
+import { describe, it, after, beforeEach } from 'node:test';
 import assert from 'node:assert';
 import fs from 'node:fs';
 import path from 'node:path';
-import { getTorchConfigPath, parseTorchConfig, loadTorchConfig, _resetTorchConfigCache, getRelays } from '../src/torch-config.mjs';
+import {
+  getTorchConfigPath,
+  parseTorchConfig,
+  loadTorchConfig,
+  _resetTorchConfigCache,
+  getRelays,
+  getQueryTimeoutMs,
+  getPublishTimeoutMs,
+  getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishes,
+  getRelayFallbacks,
+} from '../src/torch-config.mjs';
 import { DEFAULT_RELAYS } from '../src/constants.mjs';
 
 describe('torch-config', () => {
@@ -10,113 +20,40 @@ describe('torch-config', () => {
     const originalEnv = process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH;
 
     after(() => {
-      if (originalEnv === undefined) {
-        delete process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH;
-      } else {
-        process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = originalEnv;
-      }
+      if (originalEnv === undefined) delete process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH;
+      else process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = originalEnv;
     });
 
     it('returns default path when env var is not set', () => {
       delete process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH;
-      const expected = path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'torch-config.json');
-      assert.strictEqual(getTorchConfigPath(), expected);
+      assert.strictEqual(getTorchConfigPath(), path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'torch-config.json'));
     });
 
     it('returns custom path when env var is set', () => {
       process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = 'custom-config.json';
-      const expected = path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'custom-config.json');
-      assert.strictEqual(getTorchConfigPath(), expected);
-    });
-
-    it('trims env var value', () => {
-      process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = '  trimmed-config.json  ';
-      const expected = path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'trimmed-config.json');
-      assert.strictEqual(getTorchConfigPath(), expected);
+      assert.strictEqual(getTorchConfigPath(), path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'custom-config.json'));
     });
   });
 
   describe('parseTorchConfig', () => {
-    it('returns default values for empty raw config', () => {
-      const config = parseTorchConfig({}, 'some-path.json');
-      assert.strictEqual(config.configPath, 'some-path.json');
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.raw, {});
-      assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.namespace, null);
-      assert.strictEqual(config.dashboard.defaultCadenceView, 'daily');
-      assert.strictEqual(config.dashboard.defaultStatusView, 'active');
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.scheduler.paused.daily, []);
-    });
-
-    it('correctly parses and normalizes nostrLock config', () => {
-      const raw = {
+    it('parses new lock backend knobs', () => {
+      const config = parseTorchConfig({
         nostrLock: {
           namespace: ' test ',
-          relays: [' wss://relay1 ', '', 'wss://relay2'],
-          ttlSeconds: 3600.5,
+          relays: ['wss://relay1'],
+          relayFallbacks: [' wss://fallback-1 ', 'wss://fallback-2'],
           queryTimeoutMs: 5000,
-          dailyRoster: ['agent1', 'agent2'],
-        }
-      };
-      const config = parseTorchConfig(raw);
+          publishTimeoutMs: 8000,
+          minSuccessfulRelayPublishes: 2,
+        },
+      });
+
       assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.namespace, 'test');
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.nostrLock.relays, ['wss://relay1', 'wss://relay2']);
-      assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.ttlSeconds, 3600);
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.nostrLock.relays, ['wss://relay1']);
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.nostrLock.relayFallbacks, ['wss://fallback-1', 'wss://fallback-2']);
       assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs, 5000);
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.nostrLock.dailyRoster, ['agent1', 'agent2']);
-    });
-
-    it('normalizes cadence and status in dashboard config', () => {
-      const raw = {
-        dashboard: {
-          defaultCadenceView: ' WEEKLY ',
-          defaultStatusView: ' ALL '
-        }
-      };
-      const config = parseTorchConfig(raw);
-      assert.strictEqual(config.dashboard.defaultCadenceView, 'weekly');
-      assert.strictEqual(config.dashboard.defaultStatusView, 'all');
-    });
-
-    it('falls back to defaults for invalid cadence/status', () => {
-      const raw = {
-        dashboard: {
-          defaultCadenceView: 'invalid',
-          defaultStatusView: 'invalid'
-        }
-      };
-      const config = parseTorchConfig(raw);
-      assert.strictEqual(config.dashboard.defaultCadenceView, 'daily');
-      assert.strictEqual(config.dashboard.defaultStatusView, 'active');
-    });
-
-    it('correctly parses scheduler config', () => {
-      const raw = {
-        scheduler: {
-          firstPromptByCadence: {
-            daily: ' daily-prompt.md ',
-            weekly: ' weekly-prompt.md '
-          },
-          paused: {
-            daily: [' paused1 '],
-            weekly: [' paused2 ']
-          }
-        }
-      };
-      const config = parseTorchConfig(raw);
-      assert.strictEqual(config.scheduler.firstPromptByCadence.daily, 'daily-prompt.md');
-      assert.strictEqual(config.scheduler.firstPromptByCadence.weekly, 'weekly-prompt.md');
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.scheduler.paused.daily, ['paused1']);
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(config.scheduler.paused.weekly, ['paused2']);
-    });
-
-    it('handles non-array roster values by returning null or empty array', () => {
-       const raw = {
-         nostrLock: { dailyRoster: 'not-an-array' },
-         scheduler: { paused: { daily: 'not-an-array' } }
-       };
-       const config = parseTorchConfig(raw);
-       assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.dailyRoster, null);
-       assert.deepStrictEqual(config.scheduler.paused.daily, []);
+      assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs, 8000);
+      assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes, 2);
     });
   });
 
@@ -133,82 +70,74 @@ describe('torch-config', () => {
     after(() => {
       if (fs.existsSync(tempConfigPath)) fs.unlinkSync(tempConfigPath);
       if (fs.existsSync(badConfigPath)) fs.unlinkSync(badConfigPath);
-      if (originalEnv === undefined) {
-        delete process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH;
-      } else {
-        process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = originalEnv;
-      }
+      if (originalEnv === undefined) delete process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH;
+      else process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = originalEnv;
       _resetTorchConfigCache();
     });
 
-    it('loads config from disk', () => {
-      const raw = { nostrLock: { namespace: 'from-disk' } };
-      fs.writeFileSync(tempConfigPath, JSON.stringify(raw));
+    it('throws fatal error for invalid relay URL', () => {
+      fs.writeFileSync(tempConfigPath, JSON.stringify({ nostrLock: { relays: ['https://bad'] } }));
       process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = tempConfigPath;
-
-      const config = loadTorchConfig();
-      assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.namespace, 'from-disk');
-      assert.strictEqual(config.configPath, tempConfigPath);
+      assert.throws(() => loadTorchConfig(), /Invalid relay URL in nostrLock\.relays/);
     });
 
-    it('returns defaults if file does not exist', () => {
-      process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = 'non-existent.json';
-      const config = loadTorchConfig();
-      assert.strictEqual(config.nostrLock.namespace, null);
+    it('throws fatal error for invalid timeout range', () => {
+      fs.writeFileSync(tempConfigPath, JSON.stringify({ nostrLock: { queryTimeoutMs: 50 } }));
+      process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = tempConfigPath;
+      assert.throws(() => loadTorchConfig(), /Invalid nostrLock\.queryTimeoutMs/);
     });
 
     it('throws error for malformed JSON', () => {
-       fs.writeFileSync(badConfigPath, '{ invalid json }');
-       process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = badConfigPath;
-
-       assert.throws(() => {
-         loadTorchConfig();
-       }, /Failed to parse/);
-    });
-
-    it('caches the config', () => {
-      const raw1 = { nostrLock: { namespace: 'first' } };
-      fs.writeFileSync(tempConfigPath, JSON.stringify(raw1));
-      process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = tempConfigPath;
-
-      const config1 = loadTorchConfig();
-      assert.strictEqual(config1.nostrLock.namespace, 'first');
-
-      const raw2 = { nostrLock: { namespace: 'second' } };
-      fs.writeFileSync(tempConfigPath, JSON.stringify(raw2));
-
-      const config2 = loadTorchConfig();
-      assert.strictEqual(config2.nostrLock.namespace, 'first', 'Should return cached value');
-      assert.strictEqual(config1, config2, 'Should be the same object');
+      fs.writeFileSync(badConfigPath, '{ invalid json }');
+      process.env.TORCH_CONFIG_PATH = badConfigPath;
+      assert.throws(() => loadTorchConfig(), /Failed to parse/);
     });
   });
 
-  describe('getRelays', () => {
-    const originalEnv = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS;
+  describe('backend getters', () => {
+    const originalEnv = {
+      NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS: process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS,
+      NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS: process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS: process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES: process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES,
+      NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS: process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS,
+    };
 
     beforeEach(() => {
       _resetTorchConfigCache();
       delete process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS;
+      delete process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS;
+      delete process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS;
+      delete process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES;
+      delete process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS;
     });
 
     after(() => {
-      if (originalEnv === undefined) {
-        delete process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS;
-      } else {
-        process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS = originalEnv;
+      for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(originalEnv)) {
+        if (v === undefined) delete process.env[k];
+        else process.env[k] = v;
       }
       _resetTorchConfigCache();
     });
 
-    it('returns default relays when no config or env var is set', () => {
-      const relays = getRelays();
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(relays, DEFAULT_RELAYS);
+    it('returns default relays', () => {
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(getRelays(), DEFAULT_RELAYS);
     });
 
-    it('returns relays from env var if set', () => {
-      process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS = 'wss://env.relay,wss://env.relay2';
-      const relays = getRelays();
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(relays, ['wss://env.relay', 'wss://env.relay2']);
+    it('validates env knob values', () => {
+      process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS = '99';
+      assert.throws(() => getQueryTimeoutMs(), /NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS/);
+
+      process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS = '5000';
+      process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS = 'abc';
+      assert.throws(() => getPublishTimeoutMs(), /NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS/);
+
+      process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS = '8000';
+      process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES = '0';
+      assert.throws(() => getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishes(), /NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES/);
+
+      process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS = 'https://bad';
+      assert.throws(() => getRelayFallbacks(), /NOSTR_LOCK_RELAY_FALLBACKS/);
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/torch-config.example.json b/torch-config.example.json
index 3441fd8..701e9b3 100644
--- a/torch-config.example.json
+++ b/torch-config.example.json
@@ -7,7 +7,13 @@
       "wss://relay.primal.net"
     ],
     "ttlSeconds": 7200,
-    "queryTimeoutMs": 15000
+    "queryTimeoutMs": 15000,
+    "publishTimeoutMs": 8000,
+    "minSuccessfulRelayPublishes": 2,
+    "relayFallbacks": [
+      "wss://relay.snort.social",
+      "wss://relay.nostr.band"
+    ]
   },
   "dashboard": {
     "defaultCadenceView": "daily",