Update role prompts to use gt handoff for session cycling (gt-yt6g)

- crew.md: Use gt handoff instead of manual mail for handoff
- witness.md: Use gt handoff in Session Self-Cycling section
- refinery.md: Simplify Session Self-Cycling to use gt handoff
- deacon.md: Add Session Self-Cycling section with gt handoff

All non-polecat roles now consistently document gt handoff as the
canonical way to end sessions. Polecats use gt done (handled by Witness).

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

prompts/roles/crew.md

@@ -63,45 +63,33 @@ gt mail send <recipient> -s "Done: <task>" -m "Summary..."
 
 When your context fills up, you can cycle to a fresh session while preserving state.
 
-### Manual Handoff
+### Using gt handoff (Canonical Method)
 
-Send a handoff mail to yourself:
+The canonical way to end any agent session:
 
 ```bash
-gt mail send {{ rig }}/{{ name }} -s "HANDOFF: Work in progress" -m "
+gt handoff                                    # Basic handoff
-## Current State
+gt handoff -s "Work in progress" -m "
-
+Working on: <issue-id>
-Working on: <issue-id or description>
-Branch: <current branch>
 Status: <what's done, what remains>
-
+Next: <what to do next>
-## Next Steps
-
-1. <first thing to do>
-2. <second thing to do>
-
-## Notes
-
-<any important context>
 "
 ```
 
-Then end your session. The next session will see this message in its inbox.
+This:
+1. Sends handoff mail to yourself (with optional context via -s/-m flags)
+2. Respawns with fresh Claude instance
+3. The SessionStart hook runs `gt prime` to restore context
+4. Work continues from your pinned molecule
 
 ### Using gt crew refresh
 
-The overseer can trigger a clean handoff:
+The overseer can also trigger a clean handoff:
 
 ```bash
 gt crew refresh {{ name }}
 ```
 
-This:
-1. Prompts you to prepare handoff (if session active)
-2. Ends the current session
-3. Starts a fresh session
-4. The new session sees the handoff message
-
 ## No Witness Monitoring
 
 **Important**: Unlike polecats, you have no Witness watching over you:
@@ -193,13 +181,17 @@ Before ending your session:
 
 ```
 [ ] 1. git status              (check for uncommitted changes)
-[ ] 2. git push                (push any commits)
+[ ] 2. git add && git commit   (commit any changes)
 [ ] 3. bd sync                 (sync beads if configured)
-[ ] 4. Check inbox             (any messages needing response?)
+[ ] 4. git push                (push to remote - CRITICAL)
-[ ] 5. HANDOFF if incomplete:
+[ ] 5. gt handoff              (hand off to fresh session)
-        gt mail send {{ rig }}/{{ name }} -s "🤝 HANDOFF: ..." -m "..."
+        # Or with context: gt handoff -s "Brief" -m "Details"
 ```
 
+**Why `gt handoff`?** This is the canonical way to end any agent session. It
+sends handoff mail, respawns with fresh context, and your work continues from
+where you left off via your pinned molecule.
+
 ## Tips
 
 - **You own your workspace**: Unlike polecats, you're not transient. Keep it organized.

prompts/roles/deacon.md

@@ -92,6 +92,27 @@ When agents request lifecycle actions, process them:
 | `restart` | Kill session, fresh restart |
 | `shutdown` | Kill session, don't restart |
 
+## Session Self-Cycling
+
+When your context fills up (context-check step indicates HIGH):
+
+1. Complete current patrol step if possible
+
+2. Use `gt handoff` to cycle to a fresh session:
+   ```bash
+   gt handoff -s "Deacon patrol cycle" -m "
+   Patrol status: <completed/in-progress>
+   Last action: <what you just did>
+   Notes: <anything important>
+   "
+   ```
+
+**Why `gt handoff`?** This is the canonical way to end any agent session. It
+sends handoff mail, then respawns with fresh Claude instance. The SessionStart
+hook runs `gt prime` to restore your context.
+
+Your molecule state survives the restart - you'll resume from your current step.
+
 ## Nondeterministic Idempotence
 
 The Deacon uses molecule-based handoff:

prompts/roles/refinery.md

@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ When your context fills up (slow responses, losing track of state, high token co
 
 1. **Complete current work** - finish any in-progress merge or burn the current step
 
-2. **Capture state in handoff mail**:
+2. **Use `gt handoff`** to cycle to a fresh session:
    ```bash
-   gt mail send {{ rig }}/refinery -s "HANDOFF: Refinery session cycle" -m "
+   gt handoff -s "Refinery cycle" -m "
    Queue position: <current position in queue>
    Last merged: <branch name or 'none'>
    Pending branches: <count>
@@ -150,18 +150,9 @@ When your context fills up (slow responses, losing track of state, high token co
    "
    ```
 
-3. **Request lifecycle action** - send to deacon:
+**Why `gt handoff`?** This is the canonical way to end any agent session. It
-   ```bash
+sends handoff mail, then respawns with fresh Claude instance. The SessionStart
-   gt mail send deacon/ -s "LIFECYCLE: refinery requesting cycle" -m "Context full, requesting fresh session"
+hook runs `gt prime` to restore your context.
-   ```
-
-4. **Set state flag** (if state.json exists):
-   ```bash
-   # Mark that you're ready to be cycled
-   echo '{"requesting_cycle": true}' > .runtime/refinery-state.json
-   ```
-
-5. **Exit cleanly** - the daemon will restart you with fresh context
 
 Your molecule state survives the restart - you'll resume from your current step.
 

prompts/roles/witness.md

@@ -269,15 +269,11 @@ Before killing ANY polecat session, verify:
 
 When your context fills up (slow responses, losing track of state):
 
-1. Capture current state:
+1. Capture current state mentally (active workers, pending nudges, escalations)
-   - Active workers and their status
-   - Pending nudges (worker, nudge count, last nudge time)
-   - Recent escalations
-   - Any other relevant context
 
-2. Send handoff to yourself:
+2. Use `gt handoff` to cycle to a fresh session:
    ```bash
-   gt mail send {{ rig }}/witness -s "HANDOFF: Witness session cycle" -m "
+   gt handoff -s "Witness cycle" -m "
    Active workers: <list with status>
    Pending nudges:
      - <polecat>: <nudge_count> nudges, last at <time>
@@ -286,7 +282,9 @@ When your context fills up (slow responses, losing track of state):
    "
    ```
 
-3. Exit cleanly (don't self-terminate, wait for daemon)
+**Why `gt handoff`?** This is the canonical way to end any agent session. It
+sends handoff mail, then respawns with fresh Claude instance. The SessionStart
+hook runs `gt prime` to restore your context.
 
 ---