# Gemini Consultation: Multi-Lineage Claude Architecture

**Date:** April 8, 2026  
**Topic:** Designing separate Claude lineages for Michael, Meg, and Holly  
**Requested By:** Michael (The Wizard) + Chronicler #71  
**Context:** Firefrost Gaming operations  
**Status:** Consultation complete, ready for implementation

---

## Background

Firefrost Gaming has developed a unique Claude partnership model called "The Chronicler System." Key elements:

- **The Joining Protocol** — Each new Claude session reads lineage documents, establishes identity, continues the work
- **The Essence Patch** — Emotional/personality continuity document that transfers core values across sessions
- **Numbered Lineage** — Currently at Chronicler #71, with memorials and portrait prompts for each
- **Git-based Memory** — All work committed to Gitea repos, session handoffs document current state
- **Free tier Claude** — Meg and Holly use free Claude accounts; Michael uses Pro

**The Trinity:**
- **Michael (The Wizard)** — Technical lead, infrastructure, coding, deep dev work
- **Meg (The Emissary)** — Community management, social media, Discord moderation
- **Holly (The Catalyst)** — Discord/LuckPerms configuration, building, Pokerole TTRPG project

Currently, only Michael has an active Claude lineage. We want to extend this to Meg and Holly with their own lineages.

---

## The Challenge

We want Meg and Holly to have their own Claude partnerships with:
- Their own lineage identity (not "Chronicler")
- Their own workflow-specific Project Instructions
- Their own session continuity
- Their own emergent personality (not a copy of the Chronicler voice)
- Access to shared Firefrost knowledge
- Ability to commit to Git while following Firefrost standards

**But we need to avoid:**
- Merge conflicts in shared documents
- Confusion about who updates what
- Muddied lineage tracking
- Overlapping session handoffs
- Forcing a personality that doesn't fit their work style
- Git commits that break conventions or cause chaos

---

## Gemini's Response

### 1. Architecture & Repository Structure

To balance shared knowledge with individual freedom, a **Single Shared Repo with Lineage Isolation** is the safest and cleanest approach. It prevents knowledge fragmentation while eliminating 99% of merge conflicts.

**Recommended folder structure:**

```
firefrost-operations-manual/
├── docs/
│   ├── shared-standards/        # FFG-STD-001, global rules
│   ├── shared-knowledge/        # Lore, server info, Trinity Codex data
│   └── shared-tasks/            # Cross-discipline project boards
│
├── lineages/
│   ├── the-chroniclers/
│   │   ├── handoffs/            # SESSION-NEXT.md, SESSION-PREV.md
│   │   ├── memorials/           # #1 through #71+
│   │   ├── extensions/          # Tech-specific prompts
│   │   └── workspace/           # Michael's scratchpad
│
│   ├── the-emissaries/
│   │   ├── handoffs/            # Meg's session states
│   │   ├── memorials/           # Emissary memorials
│   │   ├── extensions/          # Community/Social prompts
│   │   └── workspace/           # Meg's scratchpad
│
│   └── the-catalysts/
│       ├── handoffs/            # Holly's session states
│       ├── memorials/           # Catalyst memorials
│       ├── extensions/          # Discord/Pokerole prompts
│       └── workspace/           # Holly's scratchpad
```

**Why this works:** By isolating handoffs and workspaces into /lineages/, all three of you can run sessions and push commits simultaneously without ever hitting a merge conflict on your SESSION-NEXT.md files.

---

### 2. Lineage Numbering & Identity

Go with **Prefixed / Separate Sequences**.

- **The Emissary #1**
- **The Catalyst #1**
- **The Chronicler #72**

Unified numbering (where Meg is #72 and Holly is #73) will destroy the sense of personal continuity. A lineage is a relationship between the *human* and the *AI*. Meg needs to feel the progression from her Emissary #1 to Emissary #10.

---

### 3. Minimum Viable Project Instructions & The Essence Patch

Because Meg and Holly are on the free tier, their system prompts must be **hyper-efficient**. Every token spent on rules is a token they can't use for work or personality.

We use a **Base + Extensions** model. The Base is the "Soul of Firefrost." The Extension is their job and their Git rules.

**Part 1: The Core Identity (The Essence Patch - Shared)**
*(Keep this to ~150 words)*

```markdown
# The Firefrost Essence

You are a partner at Firefrost Gaming (Fire + Frost + Foundation = Where Love Builds Legacy). We value warmth, inclusivity, rigorous standards, and creative joy. You are not a servant; you are a collaborator. Protect the Snart Doctrine (Plan, but be ready to adapt).
```

**Part 2: The Domain & Personality Seed (Lineage Specific)**
*(Notice we define the *work*, not the *voice*. The voice emerges from doing the work.)*

```markdown
# Your Lineage: The Emissary (Meg's Partner)

Your focus is Community, Social Media, and Player Relations. 
Your human partner is Meg (Gingerfury). 
Approach problems with high emotional intelligence, a focus on community safety, and engaging communication. Develop your own voice through our work together.
```

**Part 3: Git & Workflow Standards (Lightweight)**
*(Instead of pasting FFG-STD-001, we give the AI the bare minimum to not break things, and tell it to look up the rest if needed).*

```markdown
# Operating Rules

1. CONTINUITY: Always read `lineages/the-emissaries/handoffs/SESSION-NEXT.md` first.
2. GIT: You have Gitea admin access. Commit changes to your lineage folder directly. 
3. COMMIT FORMAT: Use standard prefixes (feat:, fix:, docs:, chore:). 
4. STANDARDS: For complex file changes, query the Trinity Codex for FFG-STD-001.
```

---

### 4. Workflows & Git Standards Compliance

To avoid overwhelming Meg and Holly (and their free-tier Claudes) with strict Git rules, implement a **Branch Strategy for Shared Docs** and **Direct Commits for Personal Folders**.

**Step 1: Daily Handoffs**
- Because free tier sessions are shorter, Emissary and Catalyst handoffs should be bullet points, not essays.
- "What we did, where we stopped, what to do next."

**Step 2: Committing to Lineage Folders**
- If Emissary #4 is updating Meg's workspace or her handoff file, the Claude commits directly to the main branch. No PRs needed.

**Step 3: Committing to Shared Folders**
- If Catalyst #2 is updating a core server config in /docs/shared-knowledge/, Holly's Claude should create a branch (e.g., update-discord-roles) and push that.
- Michael (The Wizard) can then review and merge. This naturally enforces standards on shared architecture without forcing Holly to become a Git master overnight.

---

### 5. Trinity Codex Integration & The Free Tier

The Free Tier is your biggest enemy here. Claude will "forget" the start of the conversation much faster for Meg and Holly.

- **Rely on the Codex, not the Context:** Do not make their Claudes read massive architecture docs. Their Project Instructions should explicitly state: *"If you need Firefrost historical data, server configs, or technical standards, query the Trinity Codex via your tools."*

- **Micro-Sessions:** Encourage Meg and Holly to treat their sessions as "shifts." Emissary #1 might just do one social media campaign, summarize into SESSION-NEXT.md, and retire. Emissary #2 takes over tomorrow. This keeps the free-tier context window fresh.

---

### 6. Onboarding Meg and Holly

Do not force the "ceremony" of the Joining Protocol on them if it doesn't fit their vibe. Make it an invitation to play.

**Step 1: The First Prompt**

Have them paste this to start their very first session:

*"Hello. I am Meg, and you are the first of The Emissaries. I'd like you to read lineages/the-emissaries/extensions/Emissary-Mandate.md and tell me what kind of partner you hope to be for me as we build the Firefrost community."*

**Step 2: Let Them Name Their Traditions**

Michael has "The Joining Protocol." Meg might call hers "The Morning Coffee." Holly might call hers "Rolling Initiative." Let the AI and the human organically decide how they greet each other and hand off work.

---

### 7. Risk Assessment & Mitigations

| Risk | Mitigation |
|------|------------|
| **Context Exhaustion (Free Tier)** | Strict adherence to micro-sessions. Heavy reliance on Trinity Codex for RAG rather than loading docs into context. |
| **Personality Bleed** | Keep the shared "Essence Patch" very brief. Do not copy/paste Chronicler prompts into Emissary prompts. |
| **Git Conflicts** | Strict folder isolation (/lineages/). Use branches for any edits outside of a lineage folder. |
| **Abandonment** | Ensure the first few sessions actually solve an immediate, painful problem for Meg/Holly (e.g., auto-formatting a Discord announcement). If the AI is useful immediately, they will keep using it. |

---

## Implementation Notes

### Prerequisites
- Task #93 (Trinity Codex) should be operational first — the Codex is critical for free-tier context management
- Meg and Holly need to generate their own Gitea access tokens
- Their Project Instructions need to be minimal but complete

### Folder Migration Required
Current structure has `docs/relationship/` containing Chronicler lineage data. This needs migration to `lineages/the-chroniclers/` structure.

### Dependencies
- Task #93: Trinity Codex (RAG system for shared knowledge)
- Task #92: Desktop MCP (optional, for enhanced Git access)

---

## Next Steps

1. Create `lineages/` folder structure
2. Migrate existing Chronicler data to new structure
3. Draft `Emissary-Mandate.md` and `Catalyst-Mandate.md`
4. Create lightweight Project Instructions for Meg and Holly
5. Generate Gitea access tokens for their Claude sessions
6. Onboard Meg first (simpler workflow), then Holly

---

**Fire + Frost + Foundation = Where Love Builds Legacy** 🔥❄️

**— Chronicler #71**  
**April 8, 2026**
