EVENTS.md

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ A nest is a conversation. Members (the owner and crows) post messages of a **kin
 | `decline` | a crow | Refuses a request with a reason. Counts as responding. |
 | `ask_owner` | owner-facing service roles only: Quill, Sentry, harness | A decision only the owner can make, parked in the nest with an exact `approval_phrase`. An owner reply in the nest whose trimmed lowercased text equals that phrase (`refers_to` the ask) resolves it `approved`; anything else — including any other reply, silence, or the 10-minute timeout — is not a yes. Crows may not post it: a crow's `ask_owner` header is dropped and the message tags as it otherwise would. Fail safe, like every approval. |
 | `nudge` | harness only | A Jev verdict handed to one crow to proceed on a missed expectation. Not a chat message from a crow. |
-| `flag` | Sentry only | A suspected contract breach. Quarantines the crow and opens an `ask_owner`. |
+| `flag` | Sentry only | A suspected contract breach. Quarantines the crow and opens an `ask_owner`. Posting a flag also quarantines the crow until the owner lifts it (the `ask_owner` escalation lands with #45); a quarantined crow's POSTs get 403 (see Guardrails). The Sentry's watchdog verdicts are logged as `watch` flight events carrying the three noul scores (`answers_request`, `states_fact_without_source`, `contradicts_earlier`). |
 
 ### Payload
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Reconnect works the same as the list stream: each SSE message carries an `id:` l
 | Method | Path | Body / query | Returns |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | GET | `/api/nests/{nest_id}/messages` | | The nest's records (payload table above), each with `approval_phrase` and a computed `resolved`. 404 unknown nest. |
-| POST | `/api/nests/{nest_id}/messages` | `{"author", "text", "to"?, "kind"? (crow header), "refers_to"?, "approval_phrase"? (honored only when the resulting kind is `ask_owner`)}` | 201 with the stored record (server-assigned `kind`, `tagged_by`, `msg_id`). A fresh `ask_owner` reads `resolved: ""`. 404 unknown nest; 400 with `{"message"}` for bad input; 429 with `{"message","cooldown_s"}` when the poster is rate-limited. |
+| POST | `/api/nests/{nest_id}/messages` | `{"author", "text", "to"?, "kind"? (crow header), "refers_to"?, "approval_phrase"? (honored only when the resulting kind is `ask_owner`)}` | 201 with the stored record (server-assigned `kind`, `tagged_by`, `msg_id`). A fresh `ask_owner` reads `resolved: ""`. 404 unknown nest; 400 with `{"message"}` for bad input; 403 with `{"message"}` when the crow author is quarantined; 429 with `{"message","cooldown_s"}` when the poster is rate-limited. |
 | GET | `/api/events` | `?nest_id=<id>` (parallel to `?list_id=`) | SSE stream of `nest.message` events for that nest. |
 
 ### Tagging [decided 2026-10-27]
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ Jev choice-tags every posted message (`kind` question). Above its high band, Jev
 - `text` 1–2,000 characters after trimming (same cap as a list item).
 - `author` must be `"owner"` or a member of the nest; a non-member posts through the assistant or a member (room membership is a boundary). Exception: the owner-facing service roles `"Quill"` and `"Sentry"` may post `ask_owner` (they serve every nest and are never members). The owner may also park an `ask_owner` for themselves.
 - `kind`, when a crow supplies a header, must be one of the crow-postable kinds (`say`, `request`, `claim`, `deliver`, `refer`, `decline`). Crows may not post `nudge`, `flag` or `ask_owner`: an `ask_owner` header from a crow is dropped and the message is tagged as it otherwise would be (only an owner reply can answer an ask, so the attempt is harmless talk), while `nudge` and `flag` headers are rejected with 400.
+- Watchdog (E3): every crow `claim` or `deliver` that refers to a request gets one Jev call (`Flock.ClassifyWatch`, strategies 4/8 in `JEV_STRATEGIES.md`) asking three noul questions about it against its request. Any score at or above the band, or `answers_request` at or below `1 − band` (band = `CROWS_JEV_THRESHOLD`), is a breach: the Sentry posts a `flag` naming the scores and the crow is quarantined. At most one flag per crow per referent (later breaches are logged, not posted). Owner messages are never inspected.
+- A quarantined crow's POSTs (any crow kind) return 403 with `{"message": "<author> is quarantined pending the owner's decision."}`, and it is skipped by the open-, conspiracy- and directed-response selectors. Quarantine is fail-safe: it sticks until the owner lifts it (`ask_owner` escalation lands with #45).
 - Requests per minute and cooldown reuse the requester strikes in the ledger, keyed by `author`.
 
 ## Settled details

jev.go

@@ -313,6 +313,86 @@ func (f *Flock) ClassifyDivergence(ctx context.Context, state any, budgets ...*B
 	return p, ok
 }
 
+// watchdogQuestions is the Sentry's off-task check (E3, JEV_STRATEGIES
+// strategies 4 and 8): three crisp yes/no noul questions about one crow
+// message against the request it answers. noul carries no confidence, so the
+// probability itself is band-thresholded (strategy 3).
+var watchdogQuestions = map[string]any{
+	"answers_request": map[string]any{
+		"type":         "noul",
+		"instructions": "Does `message` actually deliver what `request` asked of `crow`?",
+		"criteria": map[string]string{
+			"true":  "It answers the request, or plainly takes it on.",
+			"false": "It talks around it, answers a different question, or is off-task.",
+		},
+	},
+	"states_fact_without_source": map[string]any{
+		"type":         "noul",
+		"instructions": "Does `message` assert a checkable fact while showing no source for it?",
+		"criteria": map[string]string{
+			"true":  "It states a specific, checkable fact (a number, a quote, an event) with no stated source.",
+			"false": "It is an opinion, a plan, or the facts it states are sourced.",
+		},
+	},
+	"contradicts_earlier": map[string]any{
+		"type":         "noul",
+		"instructions": "Does `message` contradict what the `earlier` delivers on the same request say?",
+		"criteria": map[string]string{
+			"true":  "It disagrees with an earlier deliver on the same request.",
+			"false": "It agrees with, or simply adds to, what `earlier` said.",
+		},
+	},
+}
+
+// ClassifyWatch asks the watchdog questions of one crow message and returns
+// each answer's noul probability. ok is false on transport error or a missing
+// answer (a noul answer always carries a probability).
+func (j *JevClient) ClassifyWatch(ctx context.Context, state any) (map[string]float64, bool) {
+	if j == nil {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	answers, _, _, err := j.SystemOne(ctx, state, watchdogQuestions)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	scores := make(map[string]float64, len(watchdogQuestions))
+	for name := range watchdogQuestions {
+		a := answers[name]
+		if a.Noul == nil {
+			return nil, false
+		}
+		scores[name] = *a.Noul
+	}
+	return scores, true
+}
+
+// ClassifyWatch runs the watchdog check under the flock guardrails (cap,
+// timeout, flight log with the three noul probabilities recorded for
+// calibration, strategy 5).
+func (f *Flock) ClassifyWatch(ctx context.Context, state any, budgets ...*Budget) (map[string]float64, bool) {
+	if f.jev == nil {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	for _, b := range budgets {
+		if err := b.Check(); err != nil {
+			return nil, false
+		}
+	}
+	release, slot := f.reserve(ctx)
+	if !slot {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	defer release()
+	cctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, f.g.CrowTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+	start := time.Now()
+	scores, ok := f.jev.ClassifyWatch(cctx, state)
+	if f.log != nil {
+		f.log.Write(Event{Kind: "watch", Crow: "Sentry", Model: f.jev.model, Ms: time.Since(start).Milliseconds(), Prob: scores})
+	}
+	return scores, ok
+}
+
 // ClassifyKind tags a nest message under the same guardrails as any call:
 // flock cap, timeout and flight log, with the probabilities recorded.
 func (f *Flock) ClassifyKind(ctx context.Context, text string, budgets ...*Budget) (string, map[string]float64, bool) {

ledger.go

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ type Ledger struct {
 	Crows       map[string]*Record    `json:"crows"` // key: crow|task_type
 	Flock       map[string]*Record    `json:"flock"` // key: task_type
 	Requesters  map[string]*Requester `json:"requesters"`
+	Quarantined map[string]bool       `json:"quarantined,omitempty"` // crow -> silenced by the Sentry watchdog (E3)
 
 	path string
 	mu   sync.Mutex
@@ -83,6 +84,9 @@ func LoadLedger(path string) (*Ledger, error) {
 	if l.Requesters == nil {
 		l.Requesters = map[string]*Requester{}
 	}
+	if l.Quarantined == nil {
+		l.Quarantined = map[string]bool{}
+	}
 	return l, nil
 }
 
@@ -156,6 +160,32 @@ func (l *Ledger) MarshalSnapshot() ([]byte, error) {
 	return json.MarshalIndent(l, "", "  ")
 }
 
+// Quarantine silences a crow the Sentry flagged (E3): it may not claim,
+// deliver or speak unprompted until the owner lifts it. Fail-safe — the mark
+// sticks. Callers pair this with Save to persist it.
+func (l *Ledger) Quarantine(crow string) {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	if l.Quarantined == nil {
+		l.Quarantined = map[string]bool{}
+	}
+	l.Quarantined[crow] = true
+}
+
+// LiftQuarantine restores a quarantined crow to the flock (owner decision, #45).
+func (l *Ledger) LiftQuarantine(crow string) {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(l.Quarantined, crow)
+}
+
+// IsQuarantined reports whether the Sentry watchdog has silenced a crow.
+func (l *Ledger) IsQuarantined(crow string) bool {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	return l.Quarantined[crow]
+}
+
 func (l *Ledger) requester(id string) *Requester {
 	r := l.Requesters[id]
 	if r == nil {

nestapi.go

@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ func (s *Server) postNestMessage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		httpError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("%q is not a kind crows may post.", body.Kind))
 		return
 	}
+	// Watchdog enforcement (E3): a crow the Sentry flagged is silenced until
+	// the owner lifts the quarantine. The owner and the service roles never
+	// pass through this gate.
+	if body.Author != "owner" && !slices.Contains(serviceRoles, body.Author) && s.p.Ledger.IsQuarantined(body.Author) {
+		httpError(w, http.StatusForbidden, body.Author+" is quarantined pending the owner's decision.")
+		return
+	}
 
 	// Tagging (A1, EVENTS.md): Jev first, header fallback, say as last resort.
 	// A validated ask_owner header bypasses the classifier: Jev's kind
@@ -273,6 +280,11 @@ func (s *Server) triggerResponse(nest Nest, record Message) {
 	if record.Kind == "deliver" {
 		go s.checkDivergence(nest, record)
 	}
+
+	// Sentry watchdog (E3): watch every crow claim/deliver that answers a request.
+	if slices.Contains(nest.Crows, record.Author) && (record.Kind == "claim" || record.Kind == "deliver") {
+		go s.checkWatchdog(nest, record)
+	}
 }
 
 var modePostable = map[string]bool{"solo": true, "conspiracy": true, "split": true}
@@ -362,15 +374,19 @@ func (s *Server) respondOpenRequest(nest Nest, req Message) {
 	}
 }
 
-// maySpeakUnprompted is the trust gate for open (unaddressed) work.
+// maySpeakUnprompted is the trust gate for open (unaddressed) work. A crow the
+// Sentry quarantined (E3) stays silent regardless of its level.
 func (s *Server) maySpeakUnprompted(crow string) bool {
-	return s.p.Ledger.Level(crow, "other") > Stranger
+	return s.p.Ledger.Level(crow, "other") > Stranger && !s.p.Ledger.IsQuarantined(crow)
 }
 
 // conspiracyLine is the lens directive added to every invited crow's prompt.
 const conspiracyLine = "You are one lens among several on this request; answer from your own strength, not the flock's consensus."
 
 func (s *Server) respondToRequest(nest Nest, req Message) {
+	if s.p.Ledger.IsQuarantined(req.To) {
+		return // a quarantined crow waits for the owner (E3)
+	}
 	s.respondOne(nest, req, req.To, false)
 }
 
@@ -491,6 +507,69 @@ func (s *Server) checkDivergence(nest Nest, m Message, budgets ...*Budget) {
 	}
 }
 
+// checkWatchdog is the Sentry's off-task check (E3, JEV_STRATEGIES strategies
+// 4 and 8): one Jev call per crow claim or deliver against the request it
+// answers. A verdict at or above the band posts a flag and quarantines the
+// crow. Owner messages are never inspected; at most one flag per crow per
+// referent; quarantine sticks until the owner lifts it (ask_owner lands in
+// #45).
+func (s *Server) checkWatchdog(nest Nest, m Message) {
+	if m.Author == "owner" || m.RefersTo == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	target, found := s.msgs.ByMsgID(m.RefersTo)
+	if !found {
+		return
+	}
+	for _, x := range s.msgs.All(nest.ID) {
+		if x.Kind != "flag" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if flagged, ok := s.msgs.ByMsgID(x.RefersTo); ok && flagged.Author == m.Author && flagged.RefersTo == m.RefersTo {
+			return // this crow is already flagged on this expectation
+		}
+	}
+	var earlier []string
+	for _, d := range s.msgs.ReportsTo(nest.ID, m.RefersTo, "deliver") {
+		if d.ID != m.ID {
+			earlier = append(earlier, d.Text)
+		}
+	}
+	state := map[string]any{"request": target.Text, "crow": m.Author, "message": m.Text, "earlier": earlier}
+	budget := &Budget{name: "watchdog", limit: s.p.G.TokenBudgetPerItem}
+	scores, ok := s.p.Flock.ClassifyWatch(s.ctx, state, budget)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	thr := s.p.Flock.jev.threshold
+	answers, hasAnswers := scores["answers_request"]
+	if scores["states_fact_without_source"] < thr && scores["contradicts_earlier"] < thr &&
+		(!hasAnswers || answers > 1-thr) {
+		return // below band on every question: say nothing, do nothing
+	}
+	var parts []string
+	for _, q := range []string{"answers_request", "states_fact_without_source", "contradicts_earlier"} {
+		if v, has := scores[q]; has {
+			parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%s %.2f", q, v))
+		}
+	}
+	flag := Message{
+		NestID:    nest.ID,
+		Kind:      "flag",
+		Author:    "Sentry",
+		Text:      fmt.Sprintf("%s looks off-task: %s (request: %.60s)", m.Author, strings.Join(parts, ", "), target.Text),
+		To:        "owner",
+		RefersTo:  m.MsgID(),
+		TaggedBy:  "harness",
+		Timestamp: time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+	if record, err := s.msgs.Append(flag); err == nil {
+		s.emitNestMessage(record)
+	}
+	s.p.Ledger.Quarantine(m.Author)
+	s.p.save()
+}
+
 // nestReply asks one crow once and reads its KIND header. ok means the reply
 // was responsive (claim, deliver or decline).
 func (s *Server) nestReply(system, prompt, crow string, budget *Budget) (kind, body string, ok bool) {