diff --git a/internal/app/state/data.go b/internal/app/state/data.go
index 3c289f9..a680c96 100644
--- a/internal/app/state/data.go
+++ b/internal/app/state/data.go
@@ -23,21 +23,30 @@ func entryEncode(w io.Writer, s *hst.State) error {
 	}
 }
 
+// entryDecodeHeader calls entryReadHeader, returning [hst.AppError] for a non-nil error.
+func entryDecodeHeader(r io.Reader) (hst.Enablement, error) {
+	if et, err := entryReadHeader(r); err != nil {
+		return 0, &hst.AppError{Step: "decode state header", Err: err}
+	} else {
+		return et, nil
+	}
+}
+
 // entryDecode decodes [hst.State] from [io.Reader] and stores the result in the value pointed to by p.
 // entryDecode validates the embedded [hst.Config] value.
 //
 // A non-nil error returned by entryDecode is of type [hst.AppError].
-func entryDecode(r io.Reader, p *hst.State) error {
-	if et, err := entryReadHeader(r); err != nil {
-		return &hst.AppError{Step: "decode state header", Err: err}
+func entryDecode(r io.Reader, p *hst.State) (hst.Enablement, error) {
+	if et, err := entryDecodeHeader(r); err != nil {
+		return et, err
 	} else if err = gob.NewDecoder(r).Decode(&p); err != nil {
-		return &hst.AppError{Step: "decode state body", Err: err}
+		return et, &hst.AppError{Step: "decode state body", Err: err}
 	} else if err = p.Config.Validate(); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return et, err
 	} else if p.Enablements.Unwrap() != et {
-		return &hst.AppError{Step: "validate state enablement", Err: os.ErrInvalid,
+		return et, &hst.AppError{Step: "validate state enablement", Err: os.ErrInvalid,
 			Msg: fmt.Sprintf("state entry %s has unexpected enablement byte %#x, %#x", p.ID.String(), byte(p.Enablements.Unwrap()), byte(et))}
 	} else {
-		return nil
+		return et, nil
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/state/data_test.go b/internal/app/state/data_test.go
index 49f0f52..6ad91e5 100644
--- a/internal/app/state/data_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/state/data_test.go
@@ -17,15 +17,6 @@ import (
 
 func TestEntryData(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
-	newTemplateState := func() *hst.State {
-		return &hst.State{
-			ID:      hst.ID(bytes.Repeat([]byte{0xaa}, len(hst.ID{}))),
-			PID:     0xcafebabe,
-			ShimPID: 0xdeadbeef,
-			Config:  hst.Template(),
-			Time:    time.Unix(0, 0),
-		}
-	}
 
 	mustEncodeGob := func(e any) string {
 		var buf bytes.Buffer
@@ -80,8 +71,10 @@ func TestEntryData(t *testing.T) {
 					// While the current implementation mostly is, it has randomised order
 					// for iterating over maps, and hst.Config holds a map for environ.
 					var got hst.State
-					if err := entryDecode(&buf, &got); err != nil {
+					if et, err := entryDecode(&buf, &got); err != nil {
 						t.Fatalf("entryDecode: error = %v", err)
+					} else if stateEt := got.Enablements.Unwrap(); et != stateEt {
+						t.Fatalf("entryDecode: et = %x, state %x", et, stateEt)
 					}
 					if !reflect.DeepEqual(&got, tc.s) {
 						t.Errorf("entryEncode: %x", buf.Bytes())
@@ -95,10 +88,12 @@ func TestEntryData(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Parallel()
 
 				var got hst.State
-				if err := entryDecode(strings.NewReader(tc.data), &got); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, tc.err) {
+				if et, err := entryDecode(strings.NewReader(tc.data), &got); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, tc.err) {
 					t.Fatalf("entryDecode: error = %#v, want %#v", err, tc.err)
 				} else if err != nil {
 					return
+				} else if stateEt := got.Enablements.Unwrap(); et != stateEt {
+					t.Fatalf("entryDecode: et = %x, state %x", et, stateEt)
 				}
 
 				if !reflect.DeepEqual(&got, tc.s) {
@@ -128,6 +123,17 @@ func TestEntryData(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+// newTemplateState returns the address of a new template [hst.State] struct.
+func newTemplateState() *hst.State {
+	return &hst.State{
+		ID:      hst.ID(bytes.Repeat([]byte{0xaa}, len(hst.ID{}))),
+		PID:     0xcafebabe,
+		ShimPID: 0xdeadbeef,
+		Config:  hst.Template(),
+		Time:    time.Unix(0, 0),
+	}
+}
+
 // stubNErrorWriter returns an error for writes above a certain size.
 type stubNErrorWriter int
 
diff --git a/internal/app/state/multi.go b/internal/app/state/multi.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 0b8a981..0000000
--- a/internal/app/state/multi.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,283 +0,0 @@
-package state
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"io/fs"
-	"os"
-	"strconv"
-	"sync"
-
-	"hakurei.app/container/check"
-	"hakurei.app/hst"
-	"hakurei.app/internal/lockedfile"
-	"hakurei.app/message"
-)
-
-// multiLockFileName is the name of the file backing [lockedfile.Mutex] of a multiStore and multiBackend.
-const multiLockFileName = "lock"
-
-// fine-grained locking and access
-type multiStore struct {
-	// Pathname of directory that the store is rooted in.
-	base *check.Absolute
-
-	// All currently known instances of multiHandle, keyed by their identity.
-	handles sync.Map
-	// Held during List and when initialising previously unknown identities during Do.
-	// Must not be accessed directly. Callers should use the bigLock method instead.
-	fileMu *lockedfile.Mutex
-
-	// For creating the base directory.
-	mkdirOnce sync.Once
-	// Stored error value via mkdirOnce.
-	mkdirErr error
-
-	msg message.Msg
-	mu  sync.RWMutex
-}
-
-// bigLock acquires fileMu on multiStore.
-// Must be called while holding a read lock on multiStore.
-func (s *multiStore) bigLock() (unlock func(), err error) {
-	s.mkdirOnce.Do(func() { s.mkdirErr = os.MkdirAll(s.base.String(), 0700) })
-	if s.mkdirErr != nil {
-		return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "create state store directory", Err: s.mkdirErr}
-	}
-
-	if unlock, err = s.fileMu.Lock(); err != nil {
-		return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "acquire lock on the state store", Err: err}
-	}
-	return
-}
-
-// identityHandle loads or initialises a multiHandle for identity.
-// Must be called while holding a read lock on multiStore.
-func (s *multiStore) identityHandle(identity int) (*multiHandle, error) {
-	b := new(multiHandle)
-	b.mu.Lock()
-
-	if v, ok := s.handles.LoadOrStore(identity, b); ok {
-		b = v.(*multiHandle)
-	} else {
-		// acquire big lock to initialise previously unknown segment handle
-		if unlock, err := s.bigLock(); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		} else {
-			defer unlock()
-		}
-
-		b.path = s.base.Append(strconv.Itoa(identity))
-		b.fileMu = lockedfile.MutexAt(b.path.Append(multiLockFileName).String())
-
-		if err := os.MkdirAll(b.path.String(), 0700); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrExist) {
-			s.handles.CompareAndDelete(identity, b)
-			return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "create store segment directory", Err: err}
-		}
-		b.mu.Unlock()
-	}
-	return b, nil
-}
-
-// do implements multiStore.Do on multiHandle.
-func (h *multiHandle) do(identity int, f func(c Cursor)) (bool, error) {
-	if unlock, err := h.fileMu.Lock(); err != nil {
-		return false, &hst.AppError{Step: "acquire lock on store segment " + strconv.Itoa(identity), Err: err}
-	} else {
-		// unlock backend after Do is complete
-		defer unlock()
-	}
-
-	// expose backend methods without exporting the pointer
-	c := &struct{ *multiHandle }{h}
-	f(c)
-	// disable access to the backend on a best-effort basis
-	c.multiHandle = nil
-	return true, nil
-}
-
-func (s *multiStore) Do(identity int, f func(c Cursor)) (bool, error) {
-	s.mu.RLock()
-	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
-
-	if h, err := s.identityHandle(identity); err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	} else {
-		return h.do(identity, f)
-	}
-}
-
-func (s *multiStore) List() ([]int, error) {
-	var entries []os.DirEntry
-
-	// acquire big lock to read store segment list
-	s.mu.RLock()
-	if unlock, err := s.bigLock(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	} else {
-		entries, err = os.ReadDir(s.base.String())
-		s.mu.RUnlock()
-		unlock()
-
-		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
-			return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "read store directory", Err: err}
-		}
-	}
-
-	identities := make([]int, 0, len(entries))
-	for _, e := range entries {
-		// skip non-directories
-		if !e.IsDir() {
-			s.msg.Verbosef("skipped non-directory entry %q", e.Name())
-			continue
-		}
-
-		// skip lock file
-		if e.Name() == multiLockFileName {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		// skip non-numerical names
-		if v, err := strconv.Atoi(e.Name()); err != nil {
-			s.msg.Verbosef("skipped non-identity entry %q", e.Name())
-			continue
-		} else {
-			if v < hst.IdentityMin || v > hst.IdentityMax {
-				s.msg.Verbosef("skipped out of bounds entry %q", e.Name())
-				continue
-			}
-
-			identities = append(identities, v)
-		}
-	}
-
-	return identities, nil
-}
-
-// multiHandle is a handle on a multiStore segment.
-type multiHandle struct {
-	// Pathname of directory that the segment referred to by multiHandle is rooted in.
-	path *check.Absolute
-
-	// created by prepare
-	fileMu *lockedfile.Mutex
-
-	mu sync.RWMutex
-}
-
-// instance returns the absolute pathname of a state entry file.
-func (h *multiHandle) instance(id *hst.ID) *check.Absolute { return h.path.Append(id.String()) }
-
-// load iterates over all [hst.State] entries reachable via multiHandle,
-// decoding their contents if decode is true.
-func (h *multiHandle) load(decode bool) (map[hst.ID]*hst.State, error) {
-	h.mu.RLock()
-	defer h.mu.RUnlock()
-
-	// read directory contents, should only contain files named after ids
-	var entries []os.DirEntry
-	if pl, err := os.ReadDir(h.path.String()); err != nil {
-		return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "read store segment directory", Err: err}
-	} else {
-		entries = pl
-	}
-
-	// allocate as if every entry is valid
-	// since that should be the case assuming no external interference happens
-	r := make(map[hst.ID]*hst.State, len(entries))
-
-	for _, e := range entries {
-		if e.IsDir() {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected directory %q in store", e.Name())
-		}
-
-		// skip lock file
-		if e.Name() == multiLockFileName {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		var id hst.ID
-		if err := id.UnmarshalText([]byte(e.Name())); err != nil {
-			return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "parse state key", Err: err}
-		}
-
-		// run in a function to better handle file closing
-		if err := func() error {
-			// open state file for reading
-			if f, err := os.Open(h.path.Append(e.Name()).String()); err != nil {
-				return &hst.AppError{Step: "open state file", Err: err}
-			} else {
-				var s hst.State
-				r[id] = &s
-
-				// append regardless, but only parse if required, implements Len
-				if decode {
-					if err = entryDecode(f, &s); err != nil {
-						_ = f.Close()
-						return err
-					} else if s.ID != id {
-						return &hst.AppError{Step: "validate state identifier", Err: os.ErrInvalid,
-							Msg: fmt.Sprintf("state entry %s has unexpected id %s", id, &s.ID)}
-					}
-				}
-
-				if err = f.Close(); err != nil {
-					return &hst.AppError{Step: "close state file", Err: err}
-				}
-				return nil
-			}
-		}(); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	return r, nil
-}
-
-// Save writes process state to filesystem.
-func (h *multiHandle) Save(state *hst.State) error {
-	h.mu.Lock()
-	defer h.mu.Unlock()
-
-	if err := state.Config.Validate(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if f, err := os.OpenFile(h.instance(&state.ID).String(), os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL, 0600); err != nil {
-		return &hst.AppError{Step: "create state file", Err: err}
-	} else if err = entryEncode(f, state); err != nil {
-		_ = f.Close()
-		return err
-	} else if err = f.Close(); err != nil {
-		return &hst.AppError{Step: "close state file", Err: err}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (h *multiHandle) Destroy(id hst.ID) error {
-	h.mu.Lock()
-	defer h.mu.Unlock()
-
-	if err := os.Remove(h.instance(&id).String()); err != nil {
-		return &hst.AppError{Step: "destroy state entry", Err: err}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (h *multiHandle) Load() (map[hst.ID]*hst.State, error) { return h.load(true) }
-
-func (h *multiHandle) Len() (int, error) {
-	// rn consists of only nil entries but has the correct length
-	rn, err := h.load(false)
-	if err != nil {
-		return -1, &hst.AppError{Step: "count state entries", Err: err}
-	}
-	return len(rn), nil
-}
-
-// NewMulti returns an instance of the multi-file store.
-func NewMulti(msg message.Msg, prefix *check.Absolute) Store {
-	store := &multiStore{msg: msg, base: prefix.Append("state")}
-	store.fileMu = lockedfile.MutexAt(store.base.Append(multiLockFileName).String())
-	return store
-}
diff --git a/internal/app/state/segment.go b/internal/app/state/segment.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8ab8c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/state/segment.go
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+package state
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"iter"
+	"os"
+	"strconv"
+	"sync"
+
+	"hakurei.app/container/check"
+	"hakurei.app/hst"
+	"hakurei.app/internal/lockedfile"
+)
+
+// stateEntryHandle is a handle on a state entry retrieved from a storeHandle.
+// Must only be used while its parent storeHandle.fileMu is held.
+type stateEntryHandle struct {
+	// Error returned while decoding pathname.
+	// A non-nil value disables stateEntryHandle.
+	decodeErr error
+
+	// Checked path to entry file.
+	pathname *check.Absolute
+
+	hst.ID
+}
+
+// open opens the underlying state entry file, returning [hst.AppError] for a non-nil error.
+func (eh *stateEntryHandle) open(flag int, perm os.FileMode) (*os.File, error) {
+	if eh.decodeErr != nil {
+		return nil, eh.decodeErr
+	}
+
+	if f, err := os.OpenFile(eh.pathname.String(), flag, perm); err != nil {
+		return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "open state entry", Err: err}
+	} else {
+		return f, nil
+	}
+}
+
+// destroy removes the underlying state entry file, returning [hst.AppError] for a non-nil error.
+func (eh *stateEntryHandle) destroy() error {
+	// destroy does not go through open
+	if eh.decodeErr != nil {
+		return eh.decodeErr
+	}
+
+	if err := os.Remove(eh.pathname.String()); err != nil {
+		return &hst.AppError{Step: "destroy state entry", Err: err}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// save encodes [hst.State] and writes it to the underlying file.
+// An error is returned if a file already exists with the same identifier.
+// save does not validate the embedded [hst.Config].
+func (eh *stateEntryHandle) save(state *hst.State) error {
+	f, err := eh.open(os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL, 0600)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = entryEncode(f, state)
+	if closeErr := f.Close(); closeErr != nil && err == nil {
+		err = &hst.AppError{Step: "close state file", Err: closeErr}
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+// load loads and validates the state entry header, and returns the [hst.Enablement] byte.
+// for a non-nil v, the full state payload is decoded and stored in the value pointed to by v.
+// load validates the embedded hst.Config value.
+func (eh *stateEntryHandle) load(v *hst.State) (hst.Enablement, error) {
+	f, err := eh.open(os.O_RDONLY, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	var et hst.Enablement
+	if v != nil {
+		et, err = entryDecode(f, v)
+		if err == nil && v.ID != eh.ID {
+			err = &hst.AppError{Step: "validate state identifier", Err: os.ErrInvalid,
+				Msg: fmt.Sprintf("state entry %s has unexpected id %s", eh.ID.String(), v.ID.String())}
+		}
+	} else {
+		et, err = entryDecodeHeader(f)
+	}
+
+	if closeErr := f.Close(); closeErr != nil && err == nil {
+		err = &hst.AppError{Step: "close state file", Err: closeErr}
+	}
+	return et, err
+}
+
+// storeHandle is a handle on a stateStore segment.
+// Initialised by stateStore.identityHandle.
+type storeHandle struct {
+	// Identity of instances tracked by this segment.
+	identity int
+	// Pathname of directory that the segment referred to by storeHandle is rooted in.
+	path *check.Absolute
+	// Inter-process mutex to synchronise operations against resources in this segment.
+	fileMu *lockedfile.Mutex
+
+	// Must be held alongside fileMu.
+	mu sync.Mutex
+}
+
+// entries returns an iterator over all stateEntryHandle held in this segment.
+// Must be called while holding a lock on mu and fileMu.
+// A non-nil error attached to a stateEntryHandle indicates a malformed identifier and is of type [hst.AppError].
+// A non-nil error returned by entries is of type [hst.AppError].
+func (h *storeHandle) entries() (iter.Seq[*stateEntryHandle], int, error) {
+	// for error reporting
+	const step = "read store segment entries"
+
+	// read directory contents, should only contain storeMutexName and identifier
+	var entries []os.DirEntry
+	if pl, err := os.ReadDir(h.path.String()); err != nil {
+		return nil, -1, &hst.AppError{Step: step, Err: err}
+	} else {
+		entries = pl
+	}
+
+	// expects lock file
+	l := len(entries)
+	if l > 0 {
+		l--
+	}
+
+	return func(yield func(*stateEntryHandle) bool) {
+		for _, ent := range entries {
+			var eh = stateEntryHandle{pathname: h.path.Append(ent.Name())}
+
+			// this should never happen
+			if ent.IsDir() {
+				eh.decodeErr = &hst.AppError{Step: step,
+					Err: errors.New("unexpected directory " + strconv.Quote(ent.Name()) + " in store")}
+				goto out
+			}
+
+			// silently skip lock file
+			if ent.Name() == storeMutexName {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// this either indicates a serious bug or external interference
+			if err := eh.ID.UnmarshalText([]byte(ent.Name())); err != nil {
+				eh.decodeErr = &hst.AppError{Step: "decode store segment entry", Err: err}
+				goto out
+			}
+
+		out:
+			if !yield(&eh) {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}, l, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/state/segment_test.go b/internal/app/state/segment_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..307943a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/state/segment_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,255 @@
+package state
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"iter"
+	"os"
+	"reflect"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+
+	"hakurei.app/container/check"
+	"hakurei.app/container/stub"
+	"hakurei.app/hst"
+	"hakurei.app/internal/lockedfile"
+)
+
+func TestStateEntryHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("lockout", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+		wantErr := func() error { return stub.UniqueError(0) }
+		eh := stateEntryHandle{decodeErr: wantErr(), pathname: check.MustAbs("/proc/nonexistent")}
+
+		if _, err := eh.open(-1, 0); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErr()) {
+			t.Errorf("open: error = %v, want %v", err, wantErr())
+		}
+		if err := eh.destroy(); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErr()) {
+			t.Errorf("destroy: error = %v, want %v", err, wantErr())
+		}
+		if err := eh.save(nil); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErr()) {
+			t.Errorf("save: error = %v, want %v", err, wantErr())
+		}
+		if _, err := eh.load(nil); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErr()) {
+			t.Errorf("load: error = %v, want %v", err, wantErr())
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("od", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		{
+			eh := stateEntryHandle{pathname: check.MustAbs(t.TempDir()).Append("entry")}
+			if f, err := eh.open(os.O_CREATE|syscall.O_EXCL, 0); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("open: error = %v", err)
+			} else if err = f.Close(); err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("Close: error = %v", err)
+			}
+			if err := eh.destroy(); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("destroy: error = %v", err)
+			}
+		}
+
+		t.Run("nonexistent", func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+			eh := stateEntryHandle{pathname: check.MustAbs("/proc/nonexistent")}
+
+			wantErrOpen := &hst.AppError{Step: "open state entry",
+				Err: &os.PathError{Op: "open", Path: "/proc/nonexistent", Err: syscall.ENOENT}}
+			if _, err := eh.open(os.O_CREATE|syscall.O_EXCL, 0); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErrOpen) {
+				t.Errorf("open: error = %#v, want %#v", err, wantErrOpen)
+			}
+
+			wantErrDestroy := &hst.AppError{Step: "destroy state entry",
+				Err: &os.PathError{Op: "remove", Path: "/proc/nonexistent", Err: syscall.ENOENT}}
+			if err := eh.destroy(); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErrDestroy) {
+				t.Errorf("destroy: error = %#v, want %#v", err, wantErrDestroy)
+			}
+		})
+	})
+
+	t.Run("saveload", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+		eh := stateEntryHandle{pathname: check.MustAbs(t.TempDir()).Append("entry"),
+			ID: newTemplateState().ID}
+
+		if err := eh.save(newTemplateState()); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("save: error = %v", err)
+		}
+
+		t.Run("validate", func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			t.Run("internal", func(t *testing.T) {
+				t.Parallel()
+
+				var got hst.State
+				if f, err := os.Open(eh.pathname.String()); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err.Error())
+				} else if _, err = entryDecode(f, &got); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("entryDecode: error = %v", err)
+				} else if err = f.Close(); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(f.Close())
+				}
+
+				if want := newTemplateState(); !reflect.DeepEqual(&got, want) {
+					t.Errorf("entryDecode: %#v, want %#v", &got, want)
+				}
+			})
+
+			t.Run("load header only", func(t *testing.T) {
+				t.Parallel()
+
+				if et, err := eh.load(nil); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("load: error = %v", err)
+				} else if want := newTemplateState().Enablements.Unwrap(); et != want {
+					t.Errorf("load: et = %x, want %x", et, want)
+				}
+			})
+
+			t.Run("load", func(t *testing.T) {
+				t.Parallel()
+
+				var got hst.State
+				if _, err := eh.load(&got); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("load: error = %v", err)
+				} else if want := newTemplateState(); !reflect.DeepEqual(&got, want) {
+					t.Errorf("load: %#v, want %#v", &got, want)
+				}
+			})
+
+			t.Run("load inconsistent", func(t *testing.T) {
+				t.Parallel()
+				wantErr := &hst.AppError{Step: "validate state identifier", Err: os.ErrInvalid,
+					Msg: "state entry 00000000000000000000000000000000 has unexpected id aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"}
+
+				ehi := stateEntryHandle{pathname: eh.pathname}
+				if _, err := ehi.load(new(hst.State)); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErr) {
+					t.Errorf("load: error = %#v, want %#v", err, wantErr)
+				}
+			})
+		})
+	})
+}
+
+func TestStoreHandle(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name string
+		ents [2][]string
+		want func(newEh func(err error, name string) *stateEntryHandle) []*stateEntryHandle
+		ext  func(t *testing.T, entries iter.Seq[*stateEntryHandle], n int)
+	}{
+		{"errors", [2][]string{{
+			"e81eb203b4190ac5c3842ef44d429945",
+			"lock",
+			"f0-invalid",
+		}, {
+			"f1-directory",
+		}}, func(newEh func(err error, name string) *stateEntryHandle) []*stateEntryHandle {
+			return []*stateEntryHandle{
+				newEh(nil, "e81eb203b4190ac5c3842ef44d429945"),
+				newEh(&hst.AppError{Step: "decode store segment entry",
+					Err: hst.IdentifierDecodeError{Err: hst.ErrIdentifierLength}}, "f0-invalid"),
+				newEh(&hst.AppError{Step: "read store segment entries",
+					Err: errors.New(`unexpected directory "f1-directory" in store`)}, "f1-directory"),
+			}
+		}, nil},
+
+		{"success", [2][]string{{
+			"e81eb203b4190ac5c3842ef44d429945",
+			"7958cfbb9272d9cf9cfd61c85afa13f1",
+			"d0b5f7446dd5bd3424ff2f7ac9cace1e",
+			"c8c8e2c4aea5c32fe47240ff8caa874e",
+			"fa0d30b249d80f155a1f80ceddcc32f2",
+			"lock",
+		}}, func(newEh func(err error, name string) *stateEntryHandle) []*stateEntryHandle {
+			return []*stateEntryHandle{
+				newEh(nil, "7958cfbb9272d9cf9cfd61c85afa13f1"),
+				newEh(nil, "c8c8e2c4aea5c32fe47240ff8caa874e"),
+				newEh(nil, "d0b5f7446dd5bd3424ff2f7ac9cace1e"),
+				newEh(nil, "e81eb203b4190ac5c3842ef44d429945"),
+				newEh(nil, "fa0d30b249d80f155a1f80ceddcc32f2"),
+			}
+		}, func(t *testing.T, entries iter.Seq[*stateEntryHandle], n int) {
+			if n != 5 {
+				t.Fatalf("entries: n = %d", n)
+			}
+
+			// check partial drain
+			for range entries {
+				break
+			}
+		}},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			p := check.MustAbs(t.TempDir()).Append("segment")
+			if err := os.Mkdir(p.String(), 0700); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err.Error())
+			}
+
+			for _, s := range tc.ents[0] {
+				if f, err := os.OpenFile(p.Append(s).String(), os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL, 0600); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err.Error())
+				} else if err = f.Close(); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err.Error())
+				}
+			}
+			for _, s := range tc.ents[1] {
+				if err := os.Mkdir(p.Append(s).String(), 0700); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err.Error())
+				}
+			}
+
+			var got []*stateEntryHandle
+			if entries, n, err := (&storeHandle{
+				identity: -0xbad,
+				path:     p,
+				fileMu:   lockedfile.MutexAt(p.Append("lock").String()),
+			}).entries(); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("entries: error = %v", err)
+			} else {
+				got = slices.AppendSeq(make([]*stateEntryHandle, 0, n), entries)
+				if tc.ext != nil {
+					tc.ext(t, entries, n)
+				}
+			}
+
+			slices.SortFunc(got, func(a, b *stateEntryHandle) int { return strings.Compare(a.pathname.String(), b.pathname.String()) })
+			want := tc.want(func(err error, name string) *stateEntryHandle {
+				eh := stateEntryHandle{decodeErr: err, pathname: p.Append(name)}
+				if err == nil {
+					if err = eh.UnmarshalText([]byte(name)); err != nil {
+						t.Fatalf("UnmarshalText: error = %v", err)
+					}
+				}
+				return &eh
+			})
+
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+				t.Errorf("entries: %q, want %q", got, want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+	t.Run("nonexistent", func(t *testing.T) {
+		var wantErr = &hst.AppError{Step: "read store segment entries", Err: &os.PathError{
+			Op:   "open",
+			Path: "/proc/nonexistent",
+			Err:  syscall.ENOENT,
+		}}
+		if _, _, err := (&storeHandle{
+			identity: -0xbad,
+			path:     check.MustAbs("/proc/nonexistent"),
+		}).entries(); !reflect.DeepEqual(err, wantErr) {
+			t.Fatalf("entries: error = %#v, want %#v", err, wantErr)
+		}
+	})
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/state/state.go b/internal/app/state/state.go
index a64568f..169af50 100644
--- a/internal/app/state/state.go
+++ b/internal/app/state/state.go
@@ -2,9 +2,16 @@
 package state
 
 import (
+	"strconv"
+
+	"hakurei.app/container/check"
 	"hakurei.app/hst"
+	"hakurei.app/internal/lockedfile"
+	"hakurei.app/message"
 )
 
+/* this provides an implementation of Store on top of the improved state tracking to ease in the changes */
+
 type Store interface {
 	// Do calls f exactly once and ensures store exclusivity until f returns.
 	// Returns whether f is called and any errors during the locking process.
@@ -16,6 +23,13 @@ type Store interface {
 	List() (identities []int, err error)
 }
 
+// NewMulti returns an instance of the multi-file store.
+func NewMulti(msg message.Msg, prefix *check.Absolute) Store {
+	store := &stateStore{msg: msg, base: prefix.Append("state")}
+	store.fileMu = lockedfile.MutexAt(store.base.Append(storeMutexName).String())
+	return store
+}
+
 // Cursor provides access to the store of an identity.
 type Cursor interface {
 	Save(state *hst.State) error
@@ -23,3 +37,62 @@ type Cursor interface {
 	Load() (map[hst.ID]*hst.State, error)
 	Len() (int, error)
 }
+
+// do implements stateStore.Do on storeHandle.
+func (h *storeHandle) do(f func(c Cursor)) (bool, error) {
+	if unlock, err := h.fileMu.Lock(); err != nil {
+		return false, &hst.AppError{Step: "acquire lock on store segment " + strconv.Itoa(h.identity), Err: err}
+	} else {
+		defer unlock()
+	}
+
+	f(h)
+	return true, nil
+}
+
+/* these compatibility methods must only be called while fileMu is held */
+
+func (h *storeHandle) Save(state *hst.State) error {
+	return (&stateEntryHandle{nil, h.path.Append(state.ID.String()), state.ID}).save(state)
+}
+
+func (h *storeHandle) Destroy(id hst.ID) error {
+	return (&stateEntryHandle{nil, h.path.Append(id.String()), id}).destroy()
+}
+
+func (h *storeHandle) Load() (map[hst.ID]*hst.State, error) {
+	entries, n, err := h.entries()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	r := make(map[hst.ID]*hst.State, n)
+	for eh := range entries {
+		if eh.decodeErr != nil {
+			err = eh.decodeErr
+			break
+		}
+		var s hst.State
+		if _, err = eh.load(&s); err != nil {
+			break
+		}
+		r[eh.ID] = &s
+	}
+	return r, err
+}
+
+func (h *storeHandle) Len() (int, error) {
+	entries, _, err := h.entries()
+	if err != nil {
+		return -1, err
+	}
+
+	var n int
+	for eh := range entries {
+		if eh.decodeErr != nil {
+			err = eh.decodeErr
+		}
+		n++
+	}
+	return n, err
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/state/store.go b/internal/app/state/store.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96ebc31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/state/store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+package state
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"strconv"
+	"sync"
+
+	"hakurei.app/container/check"
+	"hakurei.app/hst"
+	"hakurei.app/internal/lockedfile"
+	"hakurei.app/message"
+)
+
+// storeMutexName is the pathname of the file backing [lockedfile.Mutex] of a stateStore and storeHandle.
+const storeMutexName = "lock"
+
+// A stateStore keeps track of [hst.State] via a well-known filesystem accessible to all hakurei priv-side processes.
+// Access to store data and related resources are synchronised on a per-segment basis via storeHandle.
+type stateStore struct {
+	// Pathname of directory that the store is rooted in.
+	base *check.Absolute
+
+	// All currently known instances of storeHandle, keyed by their identity.
+	handles sync.Map
+
+	// Inter-process mutex to synchronise operations against the entire store.
+	// Held during List and when initialising previously unknown identities during Do.
+	// Must not be accessed directly. Callers should use the bigLock method instead.
+	fileMu *lockedfile.Mutex
+
+	// For creating the base directory.
+	mkdirOnce sync.Once
+	// Stored error value via mkdirOnce.
+	mkdirErr error
+
+	msg message.Msg
+}
+
+// bigLock acquires fileMu on stateStore.
+func (s *stateStore) bigLock() (unlock func(), err error) {
+	s.mkdirOnce.Do(func() { s.mkdirErr = os.MkdirAll(s.base.String(), 0700) })
+	if s.mkdirErr != nil {
+		return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "create state store directory", Err: s.mkdirErr}
+	}
+
+	if unlock, err = s.fileMu.Lock(); err != nil {
+		return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "acquire lock on the state store", Err: err}
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+// identityHandle loads or initialises a storeHandle for identity.
+func (s *stateStore) identityHandle(identity int) (*storeHandle, error) {
+	h := new(storeHandle)
+	h.mu.Lock()
+
+	if v, ok := s.handles.LoadOrStore(identity, h); ok {
+		h = v.(*storeHandle)
+	} else {
+		// acquire big lock to initialise previously unknown segment handle
+		if unlock, err := s.bigLock(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		} else {
+			defer unlock()
+		}
+
+		h.identity = identity
+		h.path = s.base.Append(strconv.Itoa(identity))
+		h.fileMu = lockedfile.MutexAt(h.path.Append(storeMutexName).String())
+
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(h.path.String(), 0700); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrExist) {
+			s.handles.CompareAndDelete(identity, h)
+			return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "create store segment directory", Err: err}
+		}
+		h.mu.Unlock()
+	}
+	return h, nil
+}
+
+func (s *stateStore) Do(identity int, f func(c Cursor)) (bool, error) {
+	if h, err := s.identityHandle(identity); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	} else {
+		return h.do(f)
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *stateStore) List() ([]int, error) {
+	var entries []os.DirEntry
+
+	// acquire big lock to read store segment list
+	if unlock, err := s.bigLock(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	} else {
+		entries, err = os.ReadDir(s.base.String())
+		unlock()
+
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil, &hst.AppError{Step: "read store directory", Err: err}
+		}
+	}
+
+	identities := make([]int, 0, len(entries))
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		// should only be the big lock
+		if !e.IsDir() {
+			if e.Name() != storeMutexName {
+				s.msg.Verbosef("skipped non-directory entry %q", e.Name())
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// this either indicates a serious bug or external interference
+		if v, err := strconv.Atoi(e.Name()); err != nil {
+			s.msg.Verbosef("skipped non-identity entry %q", e.Name())
+			continue
+		} else {
+			if v < hst.IdentityMin || v > hst.IdentityMax {
+				s.msg.Verbosef("skipped out of bounds entry %q", e.Name())
+				continue
+			}
+
+			identities = append(identities, v)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return identities, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/state/multi_test.go b/internal/app/state/store_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/app/state/multi_test.go
rename to internal/app/state/store_test.go