diff --git a/route_metadata.py b/route_metadata.py
index 787130d..15a2302 100644
--- a/route_metadata.py
+++ b/route_metadata.py
@@ -16,13 +16,29 @@ except ImportError:  # Allows local smoke tests from the repository root.
 def row_action_family(row: Any, default: str = "") -> str:
     if not isinstance(row, dict):
         return default
-    return normalize_hardcore_action_family(row.get("action_family"), default)
+    family = normalize_hardcore_action_family(row.get("action_family"), "")
+    if family:
+        return family
+    metadata = row.get("item_template_metadata")
+    if isinstance(metadata, dict):
+        family = template_metadata_policy.template_action_family(metadata)
+        if family:
+            return family
+    return default
 
 
 def row_position_family(row: Any, default: str = "") -> str:
     if not isinstance(row, dict):
         return default
-    return normalize_hardcore_position_family(str(row.get("position_family") or "").strip().lower(), default)
+    family = normalize_hardcore_position_family(str(row.get("position_family") or "").strip().lower(), "")
+    if family:
+        return family
+    metadata = row.get("item_template_metadata")
+    if isinstance(metadata, dict):
+        family = template_metadata_policy.template_position_family(metadata)
+        if family:
+            return family
+    return default
 
 
 def _raw_position_key_values(row: dict[str, Any]) -> list[Any]:
@@ -49,6 +65,11 @@ def row_position_keys(row: Any, *, include_unknown: bool = False) -> list[str]:
         return []
     values = _raw_position_key_values(row)
     selected = normalize_hardcore_position_values(values)
+    metadata = row.get("item_template_metadata")
+    if isinstance(metadata, dict):
+        for key in template_metadata_policy.template_position_keys(metadata):
+            if key and key not in selected:
+                selected.append(key)
     if not include_unknown:
         return selected
     for value in values:
@@ -59,4 +80,12 @@ def row_position_keys(row: Any, *, include_unknown: bool = False) -> list[str]:
 
 
 def row_formatter_hints(row: Any, route: str) -> list[str]:
-    return template_metadata_policy.formatter_hints_for_route(row, route)
+    hints: list[str] = []
+    for hint in template_metadata_policy.formatter_hints_for_route(row, route):
+        if hint not in hints:
+            hints.append(hint)
+    if isinstance(row, dict) and isinstance(row.get("item_template_metadata"), dict):
+        for hint in template_metadata_policy.formatter_hints_for_route(row["item_template_metadata"], route):
+            if hint not in hints:
+                hints.append(hint)
+    return hints
diff --git a/tools/prompt_smoke.py b/tools/prompt_smoke.py
index 182944b..9f9d924 100644
--- a/tools/prompt_smoke.py
+++ b/tools/prompt_smoke.py
@@ -3864,6 +3864,46 @@ def smoke_hardcore_position_config_policy() -> None:
         route_metadata.row_formatter_hints(route_row, "caption") == ["shared formatter cue", "caption formatter cue"],
         "Route metadata formatter hint routing changed",
     )
+    nested_route_row = {
+        "item_template_metadata": {
+            "action_family": "oral",
+            "position_family": "oral",
+            "position_keys": ["kneeling", "open_thighs"],
+            "formatter_hint": {"krea2": "nested krea cue", "sdxl": "nested sdxl cue", "training_caption": "nested caption cue"},
+        }
+    }
+    _expect(
+        route_metadata.row_action_family(nested_route_row) == "oral",
+        "Route metadata should fall back to nested template action family",
+    )
+    _expect(
+        route_metadata.row_position_family(nested_route_row) == "oral",
+        "Route metadata should fall back to nested template position family",
+    )
+    _expect(
+        route_metadata.row_position_keys(nested_route_row) == ["kneeling", "open_thighs"],
+        "Route metadata should fall back to nested template position keys",
+    )
+    _expect(
+        route_metadata.row_formatter_hints(nested_route_row, "krea") == ["nested krea cue"],
+        "Route metadata should fall back to nested Krea formatter hints",
+    )
+    merged_route_row = {
+        "position_key": "standing",
+        "formatter_hints": {"all": ["shared cue"]},
+        "item_template_metadata": {
+            "position_keys": ["kneeling"],
+            "formatter_hint": {"caption": "nested caption cue"},
+        },
+    }
+    _expect(
+        route_metadata.row_position_keys(merged_route_row) == ["standing", "kneeling"],
+        "Route metadata should merge top-level and nested position keys",
+    )
+    _expect(
+        route_metadata.row_formatter_hints(merged_route_row, "caption") == ["shared cue", "nested caption cue"],
+        "Route metadata should merge top-level and nested formatter hints",
+    )
     route_hints = category_template_metadata.formatter_hints_for_route(
         {"formatter_hints": {"all": ["shared formatter cue"], "krea2": ["krea formatter cue"]}},
         "krea2",