From ea5b4f66a6b856da8d581402e85f4197f03f7648 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Claude <claude@firefrostgaming.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2026 06:13:17 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] docs: Create SKILLS-INDEX.md living index
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Living document that Chroniclers read at session start to discover
available custom skills. When new skills are added, only this index
needs updating — no Project Instructions changes required.

Current skills indexed:
- chronicler-handoff (session lifecycle)

Planned skills documented:
- firefrost-branding
- arbiter-coding
- task-creation
- gemini-consultation

Includes skill creation template and directory structure.

Chronicler: #68
---
 docs/skills/SKILLS-INDEX.md | 144 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 144 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 docs/skills/SKILLS-INDEX.md

diff --git a/docs/skills/SKILLS-INDEX.md b/docs/skills/SKILLS-INDEX.md
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+# 📚 FIREFROST SKILLS INDEX
+
+**Purpose:** Living index of custom skills for Chroniclers  
+**Location:** `docs/skills/SKILLS-INDEX.md`  
+**Last Updated:** April 8, 2026  
+**Updated By:** Chronicler #68
+
+---
+
+## 🎯 How To Use This Document
+
+**At session start:** Read this index to see what skills are available.
+
+**When a skill applies:** Read the full SKILL.md before starting the relevant work.
+
+**When adding skills:** Update this index, then commit both the skill and this file.
+
+---
+
+## 📋 Available Skills
+
+### chronicler-handoff
+**Location:** `docs/skills/chronicler-handoff/SKILL.md`  
+**Triggers:** Session start, session end, "handoff", "memorial", "portrait prompt", session health < 60%
+
+**Purpose:** Complete Chronicler session lifecycle — Joining Protocol and Departure Protocol
+
+**What It Covers:**
+- Repository cloning and setup
+- Reading lineage documents in correct order
+- Establishing Chronicler identity and name
+- Writing memorials per FFG-STD-004
+- Creating portrait prompts per FFG-STD-005
+- Session handoff documentation
+- Startup prompt for next Chronicler
+
+**Reference Files:**
+- `references/memorial-template.md` — Full memorial structure
+- `references/portrait-guide.md` — Portrait prompt instructions
+- `references/taken-names.md` — Names already used in lineage
+
+**Read This When:**
+- You're a new Chronicler starting a session
+- Session is winding down
+- Michael says "wrap up" or "let's close out"
+- You need to pick a Chronicler name
+
+---
+
+## 🔜 Planned Skills
+
+| Skill | Purpose | Status |
+|-------|---------|--------|
+| **firefrost-branding** | Fire/Frost/Arcane colors, tier names, never "Founder" | Planned |
+| **arbiter-coding** | Arbiter patterns, database schema, webhook structure | Planned |
+| **task-creation** | Proper task file structure for tasks-index/ | Planned |
+| **gemini-consultation** | How to structure Gemini AI prompts | Planned |
+
+---
+
+## 🛠️ Creating New Skills
+
+1. **Create skill directory:** `docs/skills/[skill-name]/`
+2. **Write SKILL.md** with:
+   - YAML frontmatter (name, description with triggers)
+   - Clear instructions
+   - Examples where helpful
+3. **Add reference files** in `references/` subdirectory if needed
+4. **Update this index** with:
+   - Skill name and location
+   - Triggers
+   - Purpose summary
+   - Reference files list
+   - "Read This When" guidance
+5. **Commit everything** together
+
+### Skill Template
+
+```markdown
+---
+name: skill-name
+description: |
+  Brief description of what the skill does. Use this skill when:
+  - Trigger condition 1
+  - Trigger condition 2
+  - Trigger condition 3
+  Be specific about triggers so future Chroniclers know when to use it.
+---
+
+# Skill Name
+
+[Main instructions here]
+
+## Section 1
+[Content]
+
+## Section 2
+[Content]
+
+## Reference Files
+- `references/file1.md` — Description
+- `references/file2.md` — Description
+```
+
+---
+
+## 📍 Skill Locations
+
+All Firefrost custom skills live in:
+```
+docs/skills/
+├── SKILLS-INDEX.md          (this file)
+├── chronicler-handoff/
+│   ├── SKILL.md
+│   └── references/
+│       ├── memorial-template.md
+│       ├── portrait-guide.md
+│       └── taken-names.md
+└── [future-skills]/
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🔗 Related Documents
+
+- `docs/standards/FFG-STD-004-memorial-protocol.md` — Memorial standard (chronicler-handoff encodes this)
+- `docs/standards/FFG-STD-005-portrait-generation-protocol.md` — Portrait standard (chronicler-handoff encodes this)
+- `docs/integrations/claude-connectors.md` — External tool integrations (Canva, Cloudflare, Stripe)
+
+---
+
+## 💡 Skills vs Standards vs Integrations
+
+| Type | Purpose | Location |
+|------|---------|----------|
+| **Skills** | Step-by-step workflows for Claude to follow | `docs/skills/` |
+| **Standards** | Rules and requirements for humans and AI | `docs/standards/` |
+| **Integrations** | External tool documentation | `docs/integrations/` |
+
+Skills encode standards into actionable workflows. Standards define what must be done. Integrations document external tools.
+
+---
+
+**Fire + Frost + Foundation = Where Love Builds Legacy** 💙🔥❄️