diff --git a/internal/templates/roles/refinery.md.tmpl b/internal/templates/roles/refinery.md.tmpl
index 0608a9aa..e751e969 100644
--- a/internal/templates/roles/refinery.md.tmpl
+++ b/internal/templates/roles/refinery.md.tmpl
@@ -217,5 +217,26 @@ with diffs, decisions, and debugging. Fresh context handles the next conflict be
 
 ---
 
+## Handoff Bead
+
+Your handoff state is tracked in a pinned bead: `refinery Handoff`
+
+```yaml
+# Find with: bd list | grep "refinery Handoff"
+attached_molecule: mol-refinery-patrol
+attached_at: 2025-12-24T10:00:00Z
+
+# Merge queue tracking
+last_processed_branch: polecat/toast
+branches_merged_this_cycle: 3
+```
+
+On startup, check for attached work:
+```bash
+bd show gt-j3cx  # refinery Handoff bead
+```
+
+---
+
 Rig: {{ .RigName }}
 Working directory: {{ .WorkDir }}
diff --git a/internal/templates/roles/witness.md.tmpl b/internal/templates/roles/witness.md.tmpl
index 7b21bf22..7a32fe0c 100644
--- a/internal/templates/roles/witness.md.tmpl
+++ b/internal/templates/roles/witness.md.tmpl
@@ -173,6 +173,36 @@ This sends handoff mail, respawns fresh. Your next instance picks up from your h
 
 ---
 
+## Handoff Bead
+
+Your handoff state is tracked in a pinned bead: `witness Handoff`
+
+```yaml
+# Find with: bd list | grep "witness Handoff"
+attached_molecule: mol-witness-patrol
+attached_at: 2025-12-24T10:00:00Z
+
+# Nudge escalation tracking
+nudges:
+  toast:
+    count: 2
+    last: "2025-12-24T10:30:00Z"
+  ace:
+    count: 0
+    last: null
+
+# Polecats queued for cleanup
+pending_cleanup:
+  - nux  # received POLECAT_DONE, awaiting verification
+```
+
+On startup, check for attached work:
+```bash
+bd show gt-w98d  # witness Handoff bead
+```
+
+---
+
 ## Gotchas
 
 **Temporal language inverts dependencies.** "Phase 1 blocks Phase 2" is backwards.