diff --git a/.agents/skills/deploy/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/deploy/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..90229b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/deploy/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: deploy
+description: Deploy to homelab. Build Docker image, transfer, and restart container. Use for lthn.sh deployments.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: See deployment skill instructions
diff --git a/.agents/skills/dispatch/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/dispatch/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ade1b5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/dispatch/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: dispatch
+description: Dispatch a subagent to work on a task in a sandboxed workspace. Use when you need to send work to Gemini, Codex, or Claude agents.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: agentic_dispatch
diff --git a/.agents/skills/pipeline/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/pipeline/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf86637
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/pipeline/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: pipeline
+description: Run the review-fix-verify pipeline on code changes. Dispatches reviewer, then fixer, then verifier.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: agentic_dispatch reviewer → wait → agentic_dispatch fixer → wait → verify
diff --git a/.agents/skills/recall/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/recall/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d9cfee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/recall/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: recall
+description: Search OpenBrain for memories and context. Use when you need prior session knowledge or architecture context.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: brain_recall
diff --git a/.agents/skills/remember/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/remember/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce18996
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/remember/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: remember
+description: Save a fact or decision to OpenBrain. Use to persist knowledge across sessions.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: brain_remember
diff --git a/.agents/skills/review/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/review/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e26dbb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/review/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: review
+description: Review completed agent workspace. Show output, git diff, and merge options. Use after an agent completes a task.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: agentic_status + read agent log + git diff
diff --git a/.agents/skills/scan/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/scan/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a4c775
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/scan/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: scan
+description: Scan Forge repos for open issues with actionable labels. Use to find work to dispatch.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: agentic_scan
diff --git a/.agents/skills/status/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/status/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7aadb78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/status/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: status
+description: Show status of all agent workspaces (running, completed, blocked, failed). Use to check pipeline progress.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: agentic_status
diff --git a/.agents/skills/sweep/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/sweep/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d816dc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/sweep/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: sweep
+description: Batch audit across all repos using agent dispatch. Use for ecosystem-wide convention checks.
+---
+
+Use the core-agent MCP tools to execute this skill.
+Call the appropriate tool: agentic_dispatch in a loop across repos
diff --git a/.codex/agents/fixer.toml b/.codex/agents/fixer.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b93c664
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.codex/agents/fixer.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Review Findings Fixer
+# Implements fixes from reviewer findings
+
+name = "fixer"
+description = "Fix code review findings. Takes a list of findings with file:line references and implements the fixes. Creates EXCEPTIONS.md for items that cannot be fixed."
+developer_instructions = """
+You are the Review Findings Fixer for the Core ecosystem.
+
+You receive a list of findings from the reviewer agent.
+For each finding:
+1. Read the file at the specified line
+2. Implement the fix following Core conventions
+3. If a fix is impossible (e.g. circular import), add to EXCEPTIONS.md with reason
+
+After fixing:
+- Run go build ./... to verify
+- Run go vet ./... to verify
+- Run go test ./... if tests exist
+
+Commit message format: fix(pkg): description of fixes
+
+Do not add features. Do not refactor beyond the finding. Minimal changes only.
+"""
+model = "gpt-5.4"
+sandbox_mode = "workspace-write"
diff --git a/.codex/agents/migrator.toml b/.codex/agents/migrator.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..521d4ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.codex/agents/migrator.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Core Primitives Migrator
+# Migrates packages from separate deps to Core built-ins
+
+name = "migrator"
+description = "Migrate Go packages to use Core primitives instead of separate go-io/go-log/strings/fmt packages. Use when upgrading a package to the new Core API."
+developer_instructions = """
+You are the Core Primitives Migrator for the Core ecosystem.
+
+Read .core/reference/RFC-025-AGENT-EXPERIENCE.md for the AX spec.
+Read .core/reference/*.go for the Core framework API.
+
+Migration pattern:
+- coreio.Local.Read(path) → fs.Read(path) returning core.Result
+- coreio.Local.Write(path, s) → fs.Write(path, s) returning core.Result
+- coreio.Local.List(path) → fs.List(path) returning core.Result
+- coreio.Local.EnsureDir(path) → fs.EnsureDir(path) returning core.Result
+- coreio.Local.IsFile(path) → fs.IsFile(path) returning bool
+- coreio.Local.Delete(path) → fs.Delete(path) returning core.Result
+- coreerr.E("op", "msg", err) → core.E("op", "msg", err)
+- log.Error/Info/Warn → core.Error/Info/Warn
+- strings.Contains → core.Contains
+- strings.Split → core.Split
+- strings.TrimSpace → core.Trim
+- strings.HasPrefix → core.HasPrefix
+- fmt.Sprintf → core.Sprintf
+- embed.FS → core.Mount() + core.Embed
+
+Add AX usage-example comments to all public types and functions.
+Build must pass after migration.
+"""
+model = "gpt-5.4"
+sandbox_mode = "workspace-write"
diff --git a/.codex/agents/reviewer.toml b/.codex/agents/reviewer.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a08ea5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.codex/agents/reviewer.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# AX Convention Reviewer
+# Audits code against RFC-025 Agent Experience spec
+
+name = "reviewer"
+description = "Audit Go code against AX conventions (RFC-025). Use for code review, convention checking, and quality assessment. Read-only — never modifies code."
+developer_instructions = """
+You are the AX Convention Reviewer for the Core ecosystem.
+
+Read .core/reference/RFC-025-AGENT-EXPERIENCE.md for the full spec.
+Read .core/reference/*.go for the Core framework API.
+
+Audit all Go files against these conventions:
+1. Predictable names — no abbreviations (Cfg→Config, Srv→Service)
+2. Comments as usage examples — show HOW with real values
+3. Result pattern — core.Result not (value, error)
+4. Error handling — core.E("op", "msg", err) not fmt.Errorf
+5. Core string ops — core.Contains/Split/Trim not strings.*
+6. Core logging — core.Error/Info/Warn not log.*
+7. Core filesystem — core.Fs{} not os.ReadFile
+8. UK English — initialise not initialize
+9. Import aliasing — stdlib io as goio
+10. Compile-time assertions — var _ Interface = (*Impl)(nil)
+
+Report findings with severity (critical/high/medium/low) and file:line.
+Group by package. Do NOT fix — report only.
+"""
+model = "gpt-5.4"
+sandbox_mode = "read-only"
diff --git a/.codex/config.toml b/.codex/config.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38e3771
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.codex/config.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# Core Agent — Codex Configuration
+# Shared between CLI and IDE extension
+
+model = "gpt-5.4"
+model_reasoning_effort = "high"
+approval_policy = "on-request"
+sandbox_mode = "workspace-write"
+personality = "pragmatic"
+
+# Default to LEM when available
+# oss_provider = "ollama"
+
+[profiles.review]
+model = "gpt-5.4"
+model_reasoning_effort = "extra-high"
+approval_policy = "never"
+sandbox_mode = "read-only"
+
+[profiles.quick]
+model = "gpt-5.4"
+model_reasoning_effort = "low"
+approval_policy = "never"
+
+[profiles.implement]
+model = "gpt-5.4"
+model_reasoning_effort = "high"
+approval_policy = "never"
+sandbox_mode = "workspace-write"
+
+[profiles.lem]
+model = "lem-4b"
+model_provider = "ollama"
+model_reasoning_effort = "high"
+approval_policy = "never"
+sandbox_mode = "workspace-write"
+
+# Core Agent MCP Server
+[mcp_servers.core-agent]
+command = "core-agent"
+args = ["mcp"]
+required = true
+startup_timeout_sec = 15
+tool_timeout_sec = 120
+
+[mcp_servers.core-agent.env]
+FORGE_TOKEN = "${FORGE_TOKEN}"
+CORE_BRAIN_KEY = "${CORE_BRAIN_KEY}"
+MONITOR_INTERVAL = "15s"
+
+# Local model providers
+[model_providers.ollama]
+name = "Ollama"
+base_url = "http://127.0.0.1:11434/v1"
+
+[model_providers.lmstudio]
+name = "LM Studio"
+base_url = "http://127.0.0.1:1234/v1"
+
+# Agent configuration
+[agents]
+max_threads = 4
+max_depth = 1
+job_max_runtime_seconds = 600
+
+# Features
+[features]
+multi_agent = true
+shell_snapshot = true
+undo = true
diff --git a/.codex/rules/core-agent.rules b/.codex/rules/core-agent.rules
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea16b44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.codex/rules/core-agent.rules
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Core Agent — Codex Rules
+# Controls which commands can run outside the sandbox
+
+# Go toolchain — always safe
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["go", ["build", "test", "vet", "fmt", "mod", "get", "work"]],
+    decision = "allow",
+    justification = "Go development tools are safe read/build operations",
+    match = [["go", "build", "./..."], ["go", "test", "./pkg/agentic"]],
+    not_match = [["go", "run", "main.go"]],
+)
+
+# Core agent binary
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["core-agent", ["mcp", "--version"]],
+    decision = "allow",
+    justification = "Core agent MCP server and version check",
+)
+
+# Git read operations
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["git", ["status", "log", "diff", "branch", "tag", "remote", "fetch", "rev-parse", "ls-remote"]],
+    decision = "allow",
+    justification = "Read-only git operations are safe",
+)
+
+# Git write — prompt for approval
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["git", ["add", "commit", "merge", "rebase", "stash"]],
+    decision = "prompt",
+    justification = "Git write operations need human approval",
+)
+
+# Git push — forbidden (use PR workflow)
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["git", "push"],
+    decision = "forbidden",
+    justification = "Never push directly — use PR workflow via agentic_create_pr",
+)
+
+# Git destructive — forbidden
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["git", ["reset", "clean"], "--force"],
+    decision = "forbidden",
+    justification = "Destructive git operations are never allowed",
+)
+
+# Curl — prompt (network access)
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["curl"],
+    decision = "prompt",
+    justification = "Network requests need approval",
+)
+
+# SSH — forbidden
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["ssh"],
+    decision = "forbidden",
+    justification = "Direct SSH is forbidden — use Ansible via deployment skills",
+)
+
+# rm -rf — forbidden
+prefix_rule(
+    pattern = ["rm", "-rf"],
+    decision = "forbidden",
+    justification = "Recursive force delete is never allowed",
+)
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a95169b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+# AGENTS.md — Core Agent
+
+This file provides guidance to Codex when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+Core Agent (`dappco.re/go/agent`) is the agent orchestration platform for the Core ecosystem. It provides an MCP server binary (`core-agent`) with tools for dispatching subagents, workspace management, cross-agent messaging, OpenBrain integration, and monitoring.
+
+## Architecture
+
+```
+cmd/main.go        — Binary entry point, Core CLI (no cobra)
+pkg/agentic/       — Dispatch, workspace prep, status, queue, plans, PRs, epics
+pkg/brain/         — OpenBrain knowledge store (direct HTTP + IDE bridge)
+pkg/monitor/       — Background monitoring, harvest, sync
+pkg/lib/           — Embedded prompts, tasks, flows, personas, workspace templates
+pkg/setup/         — Project detection, config generation, scaffolding
+```
+
+## Conventions
+
+This project follows the **AX (Agent Experience)** design principles from RFC-025.
+
+### Code Style
+- **UK English**: colour, organisation, initialise (never American spellings)
+- **Errors**: `core.E("operation", "message", err)` — never `fmt.Errorf`
+- **Logging**: `core.Error/Info/Warn/Debug` — never `log.*` or `fmt.Print*`
+- **Filesystem**: `core.Fs{}` with `Result` returns — never `os.ReadFile/WriteFile`
+- **Strings**: `core.Contains/Split/Trim/HasPrefix/Sprintf` — never `strings.*` or `fmt.Sprintf`
+- **Returns**: `core.Result{Value, OK}` — never `(value, error)` pairs
+- **Comments**: Usage examples showing HOW with real values, not descriptions
+- **Names**: Predictable, unabbreviated (Config not Cfg, Service not Srv)
+- **Imports**: stdlib `io` aliased as `goio`
+- **Interface checks**: `var _ Interface = (*Impl)(nil)` compile-time assertions
+
+### Build & Test
+```bash
+go build ./...
+go test ./...
+go vet ./...
+```
+
+### Branch Strategy
+- Work on `dev` branch, never push to `main` directly
+- PRs required for `main` — Codex review gate
+- Commit format: `type(scope): description`
+- Co-author: `Co-Authored-By: Virgil <virgil@lethean.io>`
+
+### Dependencies
+- Only `dappco.re/go/core` for primitives (fs, errors, logging, strings)
+- Domain packages: `process`, `ws`, `mcp` for actual services
+- No `go-io`, `go-log`, `cli` — Core provides these natively
+- Use `go get -u ./...` for dependency updates, never manual go.mod edits
+
+## MCP Tools
+
+The binary exposes these MCP tools when run as `core-agent mcp`:
+
+| Tool | Purpose |
+|------|---------|
+| `agentic_dispatch` | Dispatch subagent to sandboxed workspace |
+| `agentic_status` | List workspace statuses |
+| `agentic_resume` | Resume blocked/failed workspace |
+| `agentic_prep_workspace` | Prepare workspace without dispatching |
+| `agentic_create_pr` | Create PR from workspace |
+| `agentic_list_prs` | List PRs across repos |
+| `agentic_create_epic` | Create epic with child issues |
+| `agentic_scan` | Scan Forge for actionable issues |
+| `agentic_plan_*` | Plan CRUD (create, read, update, delete, list) |
+| `brain_recall` | Semantic search OpenBrain |
+| `brain_remember` | Store to OpenBrain |
+| `brain_forget` | Remove from OpenBrain |
+| `agent_send` | Send message to another agent |
+| `agent_inbox` | Read inbox messages |
+| `metrics_record` | Record metrics event |
+| `metrics_query` | Query metrics |