diff --git a/.mise.toml b/.mise.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bc88e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.mise.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[tools]
+ruby = "3.1.6"
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5c69a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# AGENTS
+
+This file provides project-specific guidance for AI agents working in this repository.
+
+## Project Summary
+Storyteller is a small Ruby gem that provides a DSL for executing user stories through a staged lifecycle using `ActiveSupport::Callbacks` and `SmartInit`.
+
+## Repository Map
+- `lib/storyteller.rb`: Core DSL and lifecycle logic (`Storyteller::Story`).
+- `lib/storyteller/logger.rb`: Custom logger (silent mode warnings).
+- `lib/storyteller/version.rb`: Version constant.
+- `spec/storyteller_spec.rb`: Main RSpec coverage.
+- `bin/setup`: Dependency installation.
+- `bin/console`: Interactive console.
+- `docs/`: Public documentation (site content).
+
+## Commands
+- Setup: `bin/setup`
+- Tests: `bundle exec rake spec`
+- Lint: `bundle exec rubocop`
+- Default (tests + lint): `bundle exec rake`
+
+## Development Conventions
+- Keep the lifecycle order intact: init → preparation → validation → run → verification → after_run.
+- A story must define at least one `step`; validation should fail otherwise.
+- Respect `silent_story: true` by skipping `after_run` callbacks and logging a warning.
+- Prefer adding or updating tests in `spec/storyteller_spec.rb` when changing behavior.
+- Update `CHANGELOG.md` for user-visible behavior changes.
+
+## When Editing
+- Prefer minimal, focused changes that preserve the DSL surface.
+- Avoid breaking compatibility with existing callback names (`requisite`, `validate`, `verify`, `done_criteria`).
+
+## Release Notes
+- Version lives in `lib/storyteller/version.rb`.
+- Releases are handled by `bundle exec rake release`.
+
+## If Unsure
+- Read `README.md` and `docs/DEVELOPERS.md` before making structural changes.
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index 901d5d0..899e831 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ GEM
 
 PLATFORMS
   arm64-darwin-21
+  arm64-darwin-24
   x86_64-linux
 
 DEPENDENCIES
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 166ba8f..f621112 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ To install this gem onto your local machine, run `bundle exec rake install`. To
 
 You can learn more about the making process by visiting [AvispaTech's development blog on the subject](https://blog.avispa.tech/2022/08/01/storyteller-1.html).
 
+See `docs/DEVELOPERS.md` for a focused developer guide.
+
 ## Contributing
 
 Bug reports and pull requests are welcome on GitHub at https://github.com/avispatech/storyteller. This project is intended to be a safe, welcoming space for collaboration, and contributors are expected to adhere to the [code of conduct](https://github.com/[USERNAME]/storyteller/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md).
diff --git a/docs/DEVELOPERS.md b/docs/DEVELOPERS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a807ffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/DEVELOPERS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Developer Guide
+
+## Overview
+Storyteller is a small Ruby gem that provides a DSL for running user stories via a callback-driven lifecycle. The core implementation lives in `lib/storyteller.rb`, with a custom logger in `lib/storyteller/logger.rb` and the gem version in `lib/storyteller/version.rb`.
+
+Lifecycle stages and callbacks are implemented with `ActiveSupport::Callbacks`, and initialization is handled by `SmartInit`.
+
+## Requirements
+- Ruby >= 3.1
+- Bundler
+
+## Setup
+```bash
+bin/setup
+```
+
+## Running Tests
+```bash
+bundle exec rake spec
+```
+
+## Linting
+```bash
+bundle exec rubocop
+```
+
+## Default Task (Tests + Lint)
+```bash
+bundle exec rake
+```
+
+## Console
+```bash
+bin/console
+```
+
+## Project Layout
+- `lib/storyteller.rb`: Main DSL and lifecycle implementation (`Storyteller::Story`).
+- `lib/storyteller/logger.rb`: Custom logger used for silent mode warnings.
+- `lib/storyteller/version.rb`: Gem version constant.
+- `spec/`: RSpec tests.
+- `bin/`: Developer scripts (`setup`, `console`).
+- `docs/`: Public docs and website content.
+
+## Key Behaviors
+- Stories must define at least one `step` or validation will fail.
+- `initialize_with` always injects `silent_story: false` by default.
+- `execute` runs lifecycle callbacks in order: init, preparation, validation, run, verification, after_run.
+- When `silent_story: true`, `after_run` callbacks are skipped and a warning is logged.
+
+## Adding or Changing Features
+1. Update the DSL or lifecycle logic in `lib/storyteller.rb`.
+2. Add/adjust tests in `spec/storyteller_spec.rb`.
+3. Run `bundle exec rake`.
+4. Update `CHANGELOG.md` if behavior changes.
+
+## Release Process
+1. Update version in `lib/storyteller/version.rb`.
+2. Update `CHANGELOG.md`.
+3. Run:
+```bash
+bundle exec rake release
+```
+
+## Notes
+- `requisite` is the canonical validation hook (aliases exist for compatibility).
+- `verify` / `done_criteria` is used for post-execution success checks.
diff --git a/lib/storyteller.rb b/lib/storyteller.rb
index ec101f4..d7cde04 100644
--- a/lib/storyteller.rb
+++ b/lib/storyteller.rb
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def self.requisite(arg = nil, &block)
     end
 
     def self.validates_with(arg = nil, &block)
-      requisite(arg, block)
+      requisite(arg, &block)
     end
 
     set_callback :preparation, :after do
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def self.prepare(arg = nil, &)
     end
 
     def self.prepares_with(arg = nil, &block)
-      prepare(arg, block)
+      prepare(arg, &block)
     end
 
     #
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def self.verify(arg, &)
     end
 
     def self.done_criteria(arg = nil, &block)
-      verify(arg, block)
+      verify(arg, &block)
     end
 
     def success?
diff --git a/spec/storyteller_spec.rb b/spec/storyteller_spec.rb
index 318a4e9..7413c81 100644
--- a/spec/storyteller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/storyteller_spec.rb
@@ -297,4 +297,86 @@ def call_spy
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe 'aliases and callbacks' do
+    it 'supports validates_with as an alias of requisite' do
+      class ValidatesWithAliasStory < NonEmptyStepStory
+        initialize_with :spy
+        validates_with :check_spy
+
+        def check_spy
+          error(:spy, :invalid) unless spy.valid?
+        end
+      end
+
+      spy = object_double('Spy', valid?: true)
+      expect(ValidatesWithAliasStory.new(spy:)).to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'supports prepares_with as an alias of prepare' do
+      class PreparesWithAliasStory < NonEmptyStepStory
+        initialize_with :spy
+        prepares_with :load_spy
+        requisite :spy_loaded?
+
+        def load_spy
+          @loaded = true
+        end
+
+        def spy_loaded?
+          error(:spy, :missing) unless @loaded
+        end
+      end
+
+      spy = object_double('Spy')
+      expect(PreparesWithAliasStory.execute(spy:)).to be_success
+    end
+
+    it 'supports done_criteria as an alias of verify' do
+      class DoneCriteriaAliasStory < Storyteller::Story
+        initialize_with :spy
+        step -> {}
+        done_criteria :check_spy
+
+        def check_spy
+          error(:spy, :invalid) unless spy.valid?
+        end
+      end
+
+      spy = object_double('Spy', valid?: true)
+      expect(DoneCriteriaAliasStory.execute(spy:)).to be_success
+    end
+
+    it 'runs after_init callbacks once during execution' do
+      class AfterInitStory < Storyteller::Story
+        initialize_with :spy
+        step -> {}
+        after_init :mark_init
+
+        def mark_init
+          spy.call
+        end
+      end
+
+      spy = spy('Thing') # rubocop:disable RSpec/VerifiedDoubles
+      AfterInitStory.execute(spy:)
+      expect(spy).to have_received(:call).at_most(1)
+    end
+
+    it 'supports check with multiple callbacks' do
+      class CheckCallbacksStory < Storyteller::Story
+        initialize_with :spy1, :spy2
+        check [:first_check, :second_check]
+
+        def first_check = spy1.call
+        def second_check = spy2.call
+      end
+
+      spy1 = spy('Thing') # rubocop:disable RSpec/VerifiedDoubles
+      spy2 = spy('Thing') # rubocop:disable RSpec/VerifiedDoubles
+      CheckCallbacksStory.execute(spy1:, spy2:)
+      expect(spy1).to have_received(:call)
+      expect(spy2).to have_received(:call)
+    end
+  end
 end