diff --git a/internal/beads/routes.go b/internal/beads/routes.go
index 62a9db77..cd5c2812 100644
--- a/internal/beads/routes.go
+++ b/internal/beads/routes.go
@@ -57,7 +57,12 @@ func LoadRoutes(beadsDir string) ([]Route, error) {
 // If the prefix already exists, it updates the path.
 func AppendRoute(townRoot string, route Route) error {
 	beadsDir := filepath.Join(townRoot, ".beads")
+	return AppendRouteToDir(beadsDir, route)
+}
 
+// AppendRouteToDir appends a route to routes.jsonl in the given beads directory.
+// If the prefix already exists, it updates the path.
+func AppendRouteToDir(beadsDir string, route Route) error {
 	// Load existing routes
 	routes, err := LoadRoutes(beadsDir)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/rig/manager.go b/internal/rig/manager.go
index 1395a223..55a7edb0 100644
--- a/internal/rig/manager.go
+++ b/internal/rig/manager.go
@@ -547,6 +547,15 @@ func (m *Manager) initBeads(rigPath, prefix string) error {
 	// Ignore errors - fingerprint is optional for functionality
 	_, _ = migrateCmd.CombinedOutput()
 
+	// Add route from rig beads to town beads for cross-database resolution.
+	// This allows rig beads to resolve hq-* prefixed beads (role beads, etc.)
+	// that are stored in town beads.
+	townRoute := beads.Route{Prefix: "hq-", Path: ".."}
+	if err := beads.AppendRouteToDir(beadsDir, townRoute); err != nil {
+		// Non-fatal: role slot set will fail but agent beads still work
+		fmt.Printf("   ⚠ Could not add route to town beads: %v\n", err)
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }