diff --git a/tools/av-header-dropdown-style.php b/tools/av-header-dropdown-style.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58211e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/av-header-dropdown-style.php
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Plugin Name: Asterion — Header dropdown styling overrides
+ * Description: Injects a small targeted stylesheet for the Bricks nav-menu
+ *   dropdown (.bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu) so submenu items don't inherit
+ *   the bloated default heights. Bricks's nav-menu controls don't expose
+ *   all the relevant selectors (e.g. line-height, item li margins), so we
+ *   patch via wp_head() directly.
+ */
+defined('ABSPATH') || exit;
+
+add_action('wp_head', function () {
+    ?>
+    <style id="av-header-dropdown">
+    /* Sub-menu wrapper : compact + branded */
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu {
+        padding: 0.5rem 0 !important;
+        margin: 0 !important;
+        min-width: 16rem;
+        background: var(--color-brand-navy) !important;
+        border: 1px solid rgba(201, 164, 90, 0.25);
+        border-radius: 4px;
+        box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18);
+    }
+    /* Each li : no extra spacing */
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu > li {
+        margin: 0 !important;
+        padding: 0 !important;
+        list-style: none;
+        line-height: 1.4 !important;
+    }
+    /* Each link : tight padding, branded color */
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu > li > a {
+        display: block;
+        padding: 0.55rem 1.25rem !important;
+        color: var(--color-text-on-dark) !important;
+        font-size: 0.9rem;
+        font-weight: 500;
+        line-height: 1.4 !important;
+        text-decoration: none;
+        white-space: nowrap;
+        transition: color 0.15s ease, background-color 0.15s ease;
+    }
+    /* Hover : gold text + subtle bg */
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu > li:hover > a,
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu > li > a:hover,
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu > li > a:focus {
+        color: var(--color-brand-gold) !important;
+        background-color: rgba(201, 164, 90, 0.08);
+    }
+    /* Current page marker */
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu > li.current-menu-item > a {
+        color: var(--color-brand-gold) !important;
+    }
+    /* Remove default Bricks chevron clutter inside the submenu */
+    .bricks-nav-menu .sub-menu .brx-submenu-toggle {
+        display: none;
+    }
+    </style>
+    <?php
+}, 999);