diff --git a/bin/blob-launch-screensaver b/bin/blob-launch-screensaver
index 51a03f1..65f4408 100755
--- a/bin/blob-launch-screensaver
+++ b/bin/blob-launch-screensaver
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 # blob:summary=Launch the Blob screensaver in the default terminal on the system with the correct font configuration.
 
-if blob-cmd-missing ttfx; then
+if ! blob-screensaver-effect >/dev/null; then
+  blob-notify-send -g ✋ "Screensaver needs ttfx or tte" "Install python-terminaltexteffects."
   exit 1
 fi
 
diff --git a/bin/blob-screensaver b/bin/blob-screensaver
index 3349511..a1273e8 100755
--- a/bin/blob-screensaver
+++ b/bin/blob-screensaver
@@ -2,13 +2,37 @@
 
 # blob:summary=Run the Blob screensaver using random effects from TTE.
 
+effect_command=$(blob-screensaver-effect) || exit 1
+
+effect_args() {
+  local input="$HOME/.config/blob/branding/screensaver.txt"
+
+  if [[ $effect_command == "ttfx" ]]; then
+    printf '%s\n' -i "$input" --frame-rate 120 --canvas-width 0 --canvas-height 0 \
+      --reuse-canvas --anchor-canvas c --anchor-text c --random-effect --no-eol \
+      --no-restore-cursor
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  local effects=(
+    beams binarypath blackhole bouncyballs bubbles burn colorshift crumble
+    decrypt errorcorrect expand fireworks middleout orbittingvolley overflow
+    pour print rain randomsequence rings scattered slice slide spotlights
+    spray swarm sweep synthgrid unstable vhstape waves wipe
+  )
+
+  printf '%s\n' -i "$input" --frame-rate 120 --canvas-width 0 --canvas-height 0 \
+    --anchor-canvas c --anchor-text c --no-color \
+    "${effects[RANDOM % ${#effects[@]}]}"
+}
+
 screensaver_in_focus() {
   hyprctl activewindow -j | jq -e '.class == "org.blob.screensaver"' >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
 exit_screensaver() {
   hyprctl eval 'hl.config({ cursor = { invisible = false } })' &>/dev/null || hyprctl keyword cursor:invisible false &>/dev/null || true
-  pkill -x ttfx 2>/dev/null
+  pkill -x "$effect_command" 2>/dev/null
   pkill -f '[o]rg.blob.screensaver' 2>/dev/null
   exit 0
 }
@@ -36,11 +60,10 @@ wait_for_terminal_resize() {
 wait_for_terminal_resize
 
 while true; do
-  ttfx -i ~/.config/blob/branding/screensaver.txt \
-    --frame-rate 120 --canvas-width 0 --canvas-height 0 --reuse-canvas --anchor-canvas c --anchor-text c\
-    --random-effect --no-eol --no-restore-cursor &
+  mapfile -t effect_arguments < <(effect_args)
+  "$effect_command" "${effect_arguments[@]}" &
 
-  while pgrep -t "${tty#/dev/}" -x ttfx >/dev/null; do
+  while pgrep -t "${tty#/dev/}" -x "$effect_command" >/dev/null; do
     if read -n1 -t 1 || ! screensaver_in_focus; then
       exit_screensaver
     fi
diff --git a/bin/blob-screensaver-effect b/bin/blob-screensaver-effect
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..73f2937
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/blob-screensaver-effect
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# blob:summary=Print the terminal text effects command the screensaver can use
+# blob:hidden=true
+
+for candidate in ttfx tte; do
+  if command -v "$candidate" &>/dev/null; then
+    printf '%s\n' "$candidate"
+    exit 0
+  fi
+done
+
+exit 1
diff --git a/bin/blob-system-lock b/bin/blob-system-lock
index c271f63..866e84b 100755
--- a/bin/blob-system-lock
+++ b/bin/blob-system-lock
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ if pgrep -x "1password" >/dev/null && blob-cmd-present 1password; then
 fi
 
 # Avoid running screensaver when locked
-pkill -x ttfx 2>/dev/null || true
-# ttfx handles SIGTERM asynchronously, so keep its terminal alive until it exits.
-timeout 1s pidwait -x ttfx 2>/dev/null || true
+effect_command=$(blob-screensaver-effect 2>/dev/null) && {
+  pkill -x "$effect_command" 2>/dev/null || true
+  timeout 1s pidwait -x "$effect_command" 2>/dev/null || true
+}
 pkill -f '[o]rg.blob.screensaver' 2>/dev/null || true
diff --git a/default/pam.d/blob-lock-password b/default/pam.d/blob-lock-password
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8c39f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/default/pam.d/blob-lock-password
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#%PAM-1.0
+auth       include      system-auth
diff --git a/docs/install.md b/docs/install.md
index 2533294..263f6b5 100644
--- a/docs/install.md
+++ b/docs/install.md
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ with `--check`.
    | `/etc/sddm.conf.d/zz-blob.conf` | Wayland greeter, run on Hyprland, stock theme, remember the last session |
    | `/etc/sddm/hyprland-greeter.lua` | the greeter's own tiny Hyprland config |
    | `/usr/local/bin/blob-hw-gpu-accelerated` | the renderer check that config runs, where SDDM's user can read it |
+   | `/etc/pam.d/blob-lock-password` | the PAM stack the lock screen authenticates against |
 
    The greeter config matters more than it looks: SDDM's stock Wayland greeter
    runs on `weston`, which Blob does not install, so a default SDDM would fail
@@ -145,6 +146,18 @@ with `--check`.
 | `--autologin` | skip the SDDM prompt for this user |
 | `--no-launch` | leave the login screen for the next reboot |
 
+## The lock screen
+
+The lock plugin watches `/etc/pam.d/blob-lock-password` and refuses to lock at
+all when it is not there - `blob system lock` returns `missing-pam` and nothing
+appears, which reads as a keybinding that does nothing. The installer writes it;
+it is one line including `system-auth`, the same stack every other Wayland
+locker on Arch authenticates against.
+
+Fingerprint unlock is separate and opt-in: `blob setup-security-fingerprint`
+writes `/etc/pam.d/blob-lock-fingerprint`, and the lock only offers fingerprint
+when that file and a reader are both present.
+
 ## Choosing a renderer
 
 Hyprland renders through Mesa, and on an adapter Mesa has no driver for it exits
diff --git a/docs/packages.md b/docs/packages.md
index 1a5bc02..5e3514b 100644
--- a/docs/packages.md
+++ b/docs/packages.md
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ Two are worth knowing about:
 
 ```
 packages/blob.packages       121 packages from core, extra, multilib
-packages/blob-aur.packages    10 packages with no official equivalent
+packages/blob-aur.packages    11 packages with no official equivalent
 ```
 
 Only missing packages are touched, through `pacman -S --needed` and
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ Omarchy's own package list, because they were installed by hand on this machine:
 | Package | Needed by |
 | --- | --- |
 | `python-pywal16` | `blob-wallpaper-set`, palette extraction |
+| `python-terminaltexteffects` | `blob-screensaver`, the effects it draws |
 | `awww` | the wallpaper daemon `blob-wallpaper-set` and `blob-theme-menu` drive |
 | `playerctl` | the quick settings media row |
 
diff --git a/install/steps/login.sh b/install/steps/login.sh
index fa299fb..b3d6106 100644
--- a/install/steps/login.sh
+++ b/install/steps/login.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ install_login_config() {
     "$blob_greeter_conf" "sddm.conf.d/zz-blob.conf"
   install_root_file "$repo_dir/bin/blob-hw-gpu-accelerated" \
     "$greeter_gpu_detector" "blob-hw-gpu-accelerated" 0755
+  install_root_file "$repo_dir/default/pam.d/blob-lock-password" \
+    /etc/pam.d/blob-lock-password "pam.d/blob-lock-password"
 }
 
 install_session_entry() {
diff --git a/packages/blob-aur.packages b/packages/blob-aur.packages
index 80aedab..6ddd777 100644
--- a/packages/blob-aur.packages
+++ b/packages/blob-aur.packages
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 # Palette extraction behind blob-wallpaper-set; pywal16 is the maintained fork
 python-pywal16|python-pywal
 
+# Terminal text effects behind the screensaver; ttfx was the Omarchy build
+python-terminaltexteffects
+
 # Terminal dispatch; every TUI launcher's Exec= line calls it
 xdg-terminal-exec
 
diff --git a/uninstall.sh b/uninstall.sh
index e536323..9fc0682 100755
--- a/uninstall.sh
+++ b/uninstall.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ session_entry="/usr/local/share/wayland-sessions/blob.desktop"
 root_files=(
   /etc/profile.d/blob.sh
   /usr/local/bin/blob-hw-gpu-accelerated
+  /etc/pam.d/blob-lock-password
   /etc/sddm.conf.d/zz-blob.conf
   /etc/sddm.conf.d/zzz-blob-autologin.conf
   /etc/sddm/hyprland-greeter.conf