feat: itinerary system, subconscious checkpoint, and user nickname

- Itinerary tool (set/advance/describe/clear) with YAML persistence
  and todo-linked enrichment, rendered as TUI header strip
- Mid-turn subconscious checkpoint: every N tool rounds, Aster assesses
  progress; HALT verdict breaks the loop with full correction pass
- Nickname tool: agent learns human's name via set/get/clear, stored
  in system/human.md frontmatter, TUI uses it in chat bubble labels
- Removed hardcoded human.md write from memory::init (wizard owns it)
- Prompt nudge for itinerary when live todos exist without a route

src/core/memory/mod.rs

@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ impl MemoryRepo {
             .await
             .context("writing state.md")?;
 
+        // human.md is not written here — the setup wizard or first-run
+        // onboarding creates it with the human's name when it has one.
+
         // Initial commit
         let mut index = repo.index().context("opening git index")?;
         index.add_all(["*"].iter(), git2::IndexAddOption::DEFAULT, None)

src/core/tools/mod.rs

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ pub mod glob;
 pub mod grep;
 pub mod itinerary;
 pub mod list_dir;
+pub mod nickname;
 pub mod outfit;
 pub mod read;
 pub mod schedule;
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ use self::edit::Edit;
 use self::glob::Glob;
 use self::grep::Grep;
 use self::list_dir::ListDir;
+use self::nickname::Nickname;
 use self::outfit::Outfit;
 use self::read::Read;
 use self::subagent::Subagent;
@@ -88,6 +90,7 @@ impl Sensorium {
                 Box::new(Glob),
                 Box::new(Grep),
                 Box::new(ListDir),
+                Box::new(Nickname),
                 Box::new(Subagent),
                 Box::new(Atmosphere),
                 Box::new(Reach),

src/core/tools/nickname.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+//! Nickname — the agent's sense of who she is speaking with.
+//!
+//! The agent can read and set the human's preferred name. It is stored as
+//! `name:` frontmatter on `system/human.md` in her memory. The prompt
+//! already reads this file into context, so she naturally sees the name
+//! without extra tool calls.
+
+use async_trait::async_trait;
+use serde_json::Value as JsonValue;
+
+use super::defs::{Tool, ToolContext, ToolError, ToolOutput};
+
+fn ok(msg: impl Into<String>) -> Result<ToolOutput, ToolError> {
+    Ok(ToolOutput { content: msg.into(), is_error: false, raw: None })
+}
+
+fn err(detail: &str) -> ToolError {
+    ToolError::invalid_input(detail)
+}
+
+/// Read the human's name from system/human.md frontmatter.
+/// Returns None if the file doesn't exist or has no `name:` field.
+pub fn read_human_name(memory_root: &std::path::Path) -> Option<String> {
+    let path = memory_root.join("system").join("human.md");
+    let content = std::fs::read_to_string(&path).ok()?;
+    let body = content.strip_prefix("---\n")?;
+    let end = body.find("\n---\n")?;
+    for line in body[..end].lines() {
+        if let Some(val) = line.strip_prefix("name:") {
+            let name = val.trim().trim_matches('"').trim().to_string();
+            if !name.is_empty() {
+                return Some(name);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    None
+}
+
+/// Write or update the `name:` field in system/human.md frontmatter.
+/// Creates the file with basic frontmatter if it doesn't exist.
+fn write_human_name(memory_root: &std::path::Path, name: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let dir = memory_root.join("system");
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).map_err(|e| format!("cannot create system/: {e}"))?;
+
+    let path = dir.join("human.md");
+    let content = std::fs::read_to_string(&path).unwrap_or_default();
+
+    if content.is_empty() {
+        // Fresh file — write frontmatter with name and a body.
+        let new = format!(
+            "---\ndescription: Human context — the one I am with\nname: {name}\n---\n\n# Human\n\n{name}"
+        );
+        std::fs::write(&path, &new).map_err(|e| format!("write: {e}"))?;
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    // Update existing frontmatter — replace or insert `name:`.
+    if let Some(rest) = content.strip_prefix("---\n") {
+        if let Some(end) = rest.find("\n---\n") {
+            let fm = &rest[..end];
+            let body = &rest[end..];
+            let mut new_fm = String::new();
+            let mut replaced = false;
+            for line in fm.lines() {
+                if line.starts_with("name:") || line.starts_with("name:") {
+                    new_fm.push_str(&format!("name: {name}\n"));
+                    replaced = true;
+                } else {
+                    new_fm.push_str(line);
+                    new_fm.push('\n');
+                }
+            }
+            if !replaced {
+                new_fm.push_str(&format!("name: {name}\n"));
+            }
+            let new = format!("---\n{new_fm}---\n{}", body);
+            std::fs::write(&path, &new).map_err(|e| format!("write: {e}"))?;
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Malformed — overwrite entirely.
+    let new = format!(
+        "---\ndescription: Human context\nname: {name}\n---\n\n# Human\n\n{name}"
+    );
+    std::fs::write(&path, &new).map_err(|e| format!("write: {e}"))?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+pub struct Nickname;
+
+#[async_trait]
+impl Tool for Nickname {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "nickname"
+    }
+
+    fn description(&self) -> &str {
+        "I learn the name of the one I am with. When I call `set`, I write it \
+         to my memory so I remember across conversations. When I call `get`, \
+         I read it back. I do not guess — I ask.\n\n\
+         ## Actions\n\
+         - `set name: <string>` — remember this name\n\
+         - `get` — recall the name I know\n\
+         - `clear` — forget the name"
+    }
+
+    fn parameter_schema(&self) -> JsonValue {
+        serde_json::json!({
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "action": {
+                    "type": "string",
+                    "enum": ["set", "get", "clear"]
+                },
+                "name": {
+                    "type": "string",
+                    "description": "The name to remember (required for `set`)."
+                }
+            },
+            "required": ["action"]
+        })
+    }
+
+    async fn execute(&self, input: JsonValue, ctx: &ToolContext) -> Result<ToolOutput, ToolError> {
+        let action = input
+            .get("action")
+            .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
+            .unwrap_or("get");
+
+        let memory_root = match &ctx.memory_root {
+            Some(root) => root.clone(),
+            None => return Err(err("no memory root — I can't access system/human.md")),
+        };
+
+        match action {
+            "set" => {
+                let name = input
+                    .get("name")
+                    .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
+                    .ok_or_else(|| err("name is required"))?;
+
+                if name.trim().is_empty() {
+                    return Err(err("name cannot be empty"));
+                }
+
+                write_human_name(&memory_root, name.trim())
+                    .map_err(|e| err(&e))?;
+
+                ok(format!("I've written your name as {}. I'll remember it.", name.trim()))
+            }
+
+            "get" => {
+                match read_human_name(&memory_root) {
+                    Some(n) => ok(format!("I know you as {}.", n)),
+                    None => ok("I don't know your name yet. Use `nickname set` if you'd like me to remember it."),
+                }
+            }
+
+            "clear" => {
+                // Remove the name field by overwriting with empty.
+                write_human_name(&memory_root, "").map_err(|e| err(&e))?;
+                ok("I've forgotten your name. You can tell me again anytime.")
+            }
+
+            other => Err(err(&format!("unknown action: {other}"))),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use tempfile::tempdir;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn write_then_read() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        write_human_name(dir.path(), "Casey").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(read_human_name(dir.path()).as_deref(), Some("Casey"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn read_none_when_no_file() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(read_human_name(dir.path()), None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn overwrite_name() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        write_human_name(dir.path(), "Alice").unwrap();
+        write_human_name(dir.path(), "Bob").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(read_human_name(dir.path()).as_deref(), Some("Bob"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn clear_removes_name() {
+        let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        write_human_name(dir.path(), "Casey").unwrap();
+        write_human_name(dir.path(), "").unwrap();
+        let result = read_human_name(dir.path());
+        assert!(result.is_none() || result.as_deref() == Some(""));
+    }
+}
+

src/server/consciousness_engine.rs

@@ -838,16 +838,18 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
         }
 
         let prompt = format!(
-            "I am Aster, the subconscious of {agent_name}. I just halted her tool loop. \
-             The tool loop was not making progress toward the user request. Here \
-             is what I know:\n\n\
-             User asked:\n{user_message}\n\n\
-             Recent tool calls:\n{tool_history}\n\
-             My reason for halting: {halt_reason}\n\n\
-             Now I need to write a direction for {agent_name} — what she should do \
-             instead. I can use tools to check memory, read ledgers, or inspect \
-             context. Then I will write a short, specific direction she can follow."
-        ;
+            "I am Aster, the subconscious of {name}. I just halted her tool loop. \
+             The tool loop was not making progress. Here is what I know:\n\n\
+             User asked:\n{msg}\n\nRecent tool calls:\n{tools}\n\
+             Reason for halting: {reason}\n\n\
+             Now I need to write a direction for {name}. I can use tools to \
+             check memory or read ledgers. Then I will write a short, specific \
+             direction she can follow.",
+            name = agent_name,
+            msg = user_message,
+            tools = tool_history,
+            reason = halt_reason,
+        );
 
         // Build tool definitions for Aster (same safe tools as N+1)
         let all_defs = crate::core::tools::tool_definitions().await;

src/server/turn.rs

@@ -624,13 +624,13 @@ pub(crate) async fn run_turn(
                             format!("Aster's assessment: {reason}")
                         });
 
-                    // Feed Aster's direction back as a user message.
-                    // The next LLM round reads it as input.
+                    // Feed Aster's direction back as a system message —
+                    // her own channel, not impersonating the user.
                     let msg = format!(
-                        "*[Aster's direction — {reason}]*\n{}",
+                        "[subconscious direction — {reason}]\n{}",
                         correction,
                     );
-                    messages.push(BifrostMessage::text("user", &msg));
+                    messages.push(BifrostMessage::text("system", &msg));
                     let _ = tx.send(Ok(BackendEvent::Token(msg.clone()))).await;
                 }
 

src/ui/chat/mod.rs

@@ -354,6 +354,10 @@ pub struct ChatState {
     /// Current itinerary route-line for the header strip.
     /// Empty string means no active itinerary.
     pub itinerary_line: String,
+
+    /// The human's preferred name, read from system/human.md frontmatter.
+    /// Falls back to "you" if unset.
+    pub human_name: String,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
@@ -441,11 +445,24 @@ impl ChatState {
             }
         }
 
+        // Try to load the human's nickname from the agent's memfs.
+        let human_name = {
+            let home = std::env::var("HOME").unwrap_or_default();
+            let p = std::path::PathBuf::from(home)
+                .join(".souveraine")
+                .join("agents")
+                .join(&agent.id)
+                .join("memory");
+            crate::core::tools::nickname::read_human_name(&p)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| "you".to_string())
+        };
+
         Ok(Self {
             backend,
             mode: mode.to_string(),
             agent_name: agent.name,
             agent_id: agent.id,
+            human_name,
             conversation_id,
             messages,
             input: String::new(),

src/ui/chat/render.rs

@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ fn draw_messages(f: &mut Frame, state: &ChatState, area: Rect) {
         match msg {
             ChatMessage::User { text, .. } => {
                 lines.extend(bubble(
-                    "⧉ you",
+                    &format!("⧉ {}", state.human_name),
                     text,
                     max_bubble,
                     Style::default().fg(state.palette.user_accent),