feat(rules): always_on rulebook flag + Scribe-first prompt

Adds rulebooks.always_on (migration 0058) and a new list_always_on_rules
MCP tool so a session-start eager pull can fetch standing rules without
needing an active-project notion. Updates _INSTRUCTIONS so Claude calls
the new tool at session start and codifies engineering rules in Scribe
rather than CLAUDE.md / auto-memory.

Seeds FabledSword family rulebook to always_on=true on migrate, matching
its design role as the cross-project standards rulebook.

Frontend: badge in RulebookListPane for always-on rulebooks; toggle in
RulebookDetailPane header bound to a new toggleAlwaysOn store action.

This is S1+S2 of the rules-consolidation plan (Scribe task #508). S3
(project-scoped rules) and S4 (enter_project handshake) follow.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>

alembic/versions/0058_rulebook_always_on.py

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+"""rulebook always_on flag
+
+Revision ID: 0058
+Revises: 0057
+Create Date: 2026-06-01
+
+Adds a boolean `always_on` to the `rulebooks` table. Rules from rulebooks
+flagged always_on are loaded at session start by the new
+`list_always_on_rules` MCP tool — they apply regardless of which project
+(if any) is in scope. Seeds the FabledSword family rulebook to always_on
+because that's the cross-project standards rulebook by design.
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+revision = "0058"
+down_revision = "0057"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column(
+        "rulebooks",
+        sa.Column(
+            "always_on",
+            sa.Boolean(),
+            nullable=False,
+            server_default=sa.text("false"),
+        ),
+    )
+    op.execute(
+        "UPDATE rulebooks SET always_on = TRUE WHERE title = 'FabledSword family'"
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_column("rulebooks", "always_on")

frontend/src/api/rulebooks.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ export interface Rulebook {
   owner_user_id: number;
   title: string;
   description: string;
+  always_on: boolean;
   created_at: string | null;
   updated_at: string | null;
 }
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ export async function createRulebook(data: { title: string; description?: string
   return apiPost("/api/rulebooks", data);
 }
 
-export async function updateRulebook(id: number, data: Partial<{ title: string; description: string }>): Promise<Rulebook> {
+export async function updateRulebook(id: number, data: Partial<{ title: string; description: string; always_on: boolean }>): Promise<Rulebook> {
   return apiPatch(`/api/rulebooks/${id}`, data);
 }
 

frontend/src/components/rules/RulebookDetailPane.vue

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { ref, onMounted, watch } from "vue";
+import { ref, computed, onMounted, watch } from "vue";
 import { useRulebooksStore } from "@/stores/rulebooks";
 import { apiGet } from "@/api/client";
 import {
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ const store = useRulebooksStore();
 const isCreating = ref(false);
 const newTitle = ref("");
 
+const currentRulebook = computed(() =>
+  store.rulebooks.find((rb) => rb.id === props.rulebookId),
+);
+
 interface ProjectLite { id: number; title: string }
 const projects = ref<ProjectLite[]>([]);
 // Map<project_id, Set<rulebook_id>>
@@ -68,7 +72,17 @@ watch(() => props.rulebookId, () => {/* re-render of isSubscribed from existing
 
 <template>
   <section class="pane">
-    <header><h2>Topics</h2></header>
+    <header>
+      <h2>Topics</h2>
+      <label v-if="currentRulebook" class="always-on-toggle" title="When on, rules from this rulebook load at session start regardless of project context">
+        <input
+          type="checkbox"
+          :checked="currentRulebook.always_on"
+          @change="store.toggleAlwaysOn(currentRulebook.id)"
+        />
+        <span>Always on</span>
+      </label>
+    </header>
     <ul>
       <li
         v-for="t in topics"
@@ -109,7 +123,14 @@ watch(() => props.rulebookId, () => {/* re-render of isSubscribed from existing
 
 <style scoped>
 .pane { background: var(--color-surface, #18181b); padding: 1rem; overflow-y: auto; }
+header { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 1rem; }
 header h2 { font-family: Fraunces, serif; font-style: italic; margin: 0 0 0.5rem 0; }
+.always-on-toggle {
+  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.4rem;
+  font-size: 0.85rem; opacity: 0.85; cursor: pointer;
+  user-select: none;
+}
+.always-on-toggle input { cursor: pointer; }
 ul { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 1rem 0; }
 li { padding: 0.5rem; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 6px; }
 li.active { background: var(--color-primary-bg, rgba(99,102,241,0.15)); }

frontend/src/components/rules/RulebookListPane.vue

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ async function submitNew() {
         @click="emit('select', rb.id)"
       >
         <span class="title">{{ rb.title }}</span>
+        <span v-if="rb.always_on" class="always-on-badge" title="Loaded at session start">always on</span>
       </li>
     </ul>
     <div class="new-rulebook">
@@ -50,9 +51,19 @@ async function submitNew() {
 .pane { background: var(--color-surface, #18181b); padding: 1rem; overflow-y: auto; }
 header h2 { font-family: Fraunces, serif; font-style: italic; margin: 0 0 0.5rem 0; }
 ul { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 1rem 0; }
-li { padding: 0.5rem; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 6px; }
+li { padding: 0.5rem; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 6px; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.5rem; }
 li.active { background: var(--color-primary-bg, rgba(99,102,241,0.15)); }
 li:hover { background: var(--color-hover, rgba(255,255,255,0.05)); }
+.always-on-badge {
+  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+  padding: 0.1rem 0.4rem;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  background: var(--color-accent, rgba(91,74,138,0.25));
+  color: var(--color-accent-fg, inherit);
+  margin-left: auto;
+}
 .new-rulebook { margin-top: 1rem; }
 .new-rulebook input {
   width: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;

frontend/src/stores/rulebooks.ts

@@ -54,13 +54,19 @@ export const useRulebooksStore = defineStore("rulebooks", () => {
     return rb;
   }
 
-  async function updateRulebook(id: number, data: Partial<Pick<Rulebook, "title" | "description">>) {
+  async function updateRulebook(id: number, data: Partial<Pick<Rulebook, "title" | "description" | "always_on">>) {
     const rb = await api.updateRulebook(id, data);
     const idx = rulebooks.value.findIndex((r) => r.id === id);
     if (idx >= 0) rulebooks.value[idx] = rb;
     return rb;
   }
 
+  async function toggleAlwaysOn(id: number) {
+    const current = rulebooks.value.find((r) => r.id === id);
+    if (!current) return;
+    return updateRulebook(id, { always_on: !current.always_on });
+  }
+
   async function deleteRulebook(id: number) {
     await api.deleteRulebook(id);
     rulebooks.value = rulebooks.value.filter((r) => r.id !== id);
@@ -121,7 +127,7 @@ export const useRulebooksStore = defineStore("rulebooks", () => {
   return {
     rulebooks, topicsByRulebook, rulesByTopic, currentRule, loading,
     fetchRulebooks, fetchTopics, fetchRules, fetchRule,
-    createRulebook, updateRulebook, deleteRulebook,
+    createRulebook, updateRulebook, toggleAlwaysOn, deleteRulebook,
     createTopic, updateTopic, deleteTopic,
     createRule, updateRule, deleteRule,
   };

src/fabledassistant/mcp/server.py

@@ -39,14 +39,21 @@ Mechanics:
   "not set".
 
 Scribe maintains a Rulebook system (Rulebook -> Topic -> Rule). Rules carry
-an actionable statement plus optional Why and How-to-apply context. When you
-start work on a project, get_project(id) returns applicable_rules (the rules
-from rulebooks the project subscribes to) and subscribed_rulebooks. Consult
-these before making decisions about workflow, conventions, or scope. Full
-text (Why / How-to-apply) is available via get_rule(id). You may create new
-rules via create_rule when you notice a pattern worth codifying — coordinate
-with the operator on whether it belongs in an existing rulebook+topic or a
-new one.
+an actionable statement plus optional Why and How-to-apply context. At the
+start of any session that touches Scribe, call list_always_on_rules() to
+load the standing rules — treat them as binding. When you also have a project
+in scope, get_project(id) returns applicable_rules (rules from rulebooks the
+project subscribes to) and subscribed_rulebooks; consult those too. Full text
+(Why / How-to-apply) is available via get_rule(id).
+
+Engineering and workflow rules live in Scribe. When you notice a pattern
+worth codifying, call create_rule. Do NOT add new engineering rules to
+CLAUDE.md or to ~/.claude/.../memory/feedback_*.md — those stores are
+reserved for facts about the user (preferences, role, communication style)
+and codebase onboarding pointers, respectively. Before creating a rule,
+call list_always_on_rules and list_rules(project_id=...) to avoid duplicates.
+Coordinate with the operator on whether a new rule belongs in an existing
+rulebook+topic or a new one.
 
 Plans are tasks with kind=plan, and Scribe is the canonical home for them.
 When you begin non-trivial work, call start_planning(project_id, title) FIRST —

src/fabledassistant/mcp/tools/rulebooks.py

@@ -54,14 +54,26 @@ async def create_rulebook(title: str, description: str = "") -> dict:
 
 async def update_rulebook(
     rulebook_id: int, title: str = "", description: str = "",
+    always_on: bool | None = None,
 ) -> dict:
-    """Update an existing rulebook. Only non-empty fields are changed."""
+    """Update an existing rulebook. Only non-empty fields are changed.
+
+    Args:
+        rulebook_id: Rulebook to update.
+        title: New title. Empty string leaves unchanged.
+        description: New description. Empty string leaves unchanged.
+        always_on: When True, rules in this rulebook are loaded at session
+            start by list_always_on_rules regardless of project context.
+            Pass None to leave unchanged.
+    """
     uid = current_user_id()
     fields: dict = {}
     if title:
         fields["title"] = title
     if description:
         fields["description"] = description
+    if always_on is not None:
+        fields["always_on"] = always_on
     rb = await rulebooks_svc.update_rulebook(rulebook_id, uid, **fields)
     if rb is None:
         raise ValueError(f"rulebook {rulebook_id} not found")
@@ -200,6 +212,28 @@ async def list_rules(
     }
 
 
+async def list_always_on_rules() -> dict:
+    """Return all rules from rulebooks flagged always_on for the current user.
+
+    Call this at session start. Treat the returned rules as binding for the
+    session — they apply regardless of which project (if any) is in scope.
+    Pair with get_project(id).applicable_rules when working on a specific
+    project to also load that project's subscription-derived rules.
+    """
+    uid = current_user_id()
+    rules = await rulebooks_svc.list_always_on_rules(uid)
+    return {
+        "rules": [
+            {
+                "id": r.id, "title": r.title, "statement": r.statement,
+                "topic_id": r.topic_id,
+            }
+            for r in rules
+        ],
+        "total": len(rules),
+    }
+
+
 async def get_rule(rule_id: int) -> dict:
     """Fetch a rule by id — full statement + why + how_to_apply."""
     uid = current_user_id()
@@ -302,7 +336,7 @@ def register(mcp) -> None:
     for fn in (
         list_rulebooks, get_rulebook, create_rulebook, update_rulebook, delete_rulebook,
         list_topics, create_topic, update_topic, delete_topic,
-        list_rules, get_rule, create_rule, update_rule, delete_rule,
+        list_rules, list_always_on_rules, get_rule, create_rule, update_rule, delete_rule,
         subscribe_project_to_rulebook, unsubscribe_project_from_rulebook,
     ):
         mcp.tool(name=fn.__name__)(fn)

src/fabledassistant/models/rulebook.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
-from sqlalchemy import BigInteger, Column, DateTime, ForeignKey, Integer, Table, Text, UniqueConstraint
+from sqlalchemy import BigInteger, Boolean, Column, DateTime, ForeignKey, Integer, Table, Text, UniqueConstraint
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column
 
 from fabledassistant.models import Base
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ class Rulebook(Base, SoftDeleteMixin):
     )
     title: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(Text)
     description: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(Text, nullable=True)
+    always_on: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(
+        Boolean, default=False, nullable=False, server_default="false"
+    )
     created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
         DateTime(timezone=True), default=lambda: datetime.now(timezone.utc)
     )
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ class Rulebook(Base, SoftDeleteMixin):
             "owner_user_id": self.owner_user_id,
             "title": self.title,
             "description": self.description or "",
+            "always_on": self.always_on,
             "created_at": self.created_at.isoformat() if self.created_at else None,
             "updated_at": self.updated_at.isoformat() if self.updated_at else None,
         }

src/fabledassistant/routes/rulebooks.py

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async def get_rulebook(rulebook_id: int):
 @login_required
 async def update_rulebook(rulebook_id: int):
     data = await request.get_json() or {}
-    fields = {k: v for k, v in data.items() if k in ("title", "description")}
+    fields = {k: v for k, v in data.items() if k in ("title", "description", "always_on")}
     rb = await rulebooks_svc.update_rulebook(rulebook_id, _uid(), **fields)
     if rb is None:
         return jsonify({"error": "rulebook not found"}), 404

src/fabledassistant/services/rulebooks.py

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ async def update_rulebook(
         rb = result.scalar_one_or_none()
         if rb is None:
             return None
-        allowed = {"title", "description"}
+        allowed = {"title", "description", "always_on"}
         for key, value in fields.items():
             if key in allowed and value is not None:
                 setattr(rb, key, value)
@@ -305,6 +305,33 @@ async def list_rules(
         return list(result.scalars().all())
 
 
+async def list_always_on_rules(user_id: int, limit: int = 100) -> list[Rule]:
+    """Return all rules from rulebooks flagged always_on for the user.
+
+    Called by the MCP tool of the same name at session start to load the
+    standing rules that apply regardless of which project (if any) is in
+    scope. Ordering matches list_rules so results are stable across calls.
+    """
+    async with async_session() as session:
+        result = await session.execute(
+            select(Rule)
+            .join(RulebookTopic, Rule.topic_id == RulebookTopic.id)
+            .join(Rulebook, RulebookTopic.rulebook_id == Rulebook.id)
+            .where(
+                Rulebook.owner_user_id == user_id,
+                Rulebook.always_on.is_(True),
+                Rule.deleted_at.is_(None),
+                RulebookTopic.deleted_at.is_(None),
+                Rulebook.deleted_at.is_(None),
+            )
+            .order_by(
+                Rulebook.id, RulebookTopic.order_index, Rule.order_index, Rule.title,
+            )
+            .limit(limit)
+        )
+        return list(result.scalars().all())
+
+
 async def get_rule(rule_id: int, user_id: int) -> Optional[Rule]:
     async with async_session() as session:
         result = await session.execute(

tests/test_mcp_tool_rulebooks.py

@@ -179,8 +179,59 @@ def test_register_attaches_all_sixteen_tools():
             return decorator
 
     register(FakeMCP())
-    assert len(registered) == 16
+    assert len(registered) == 17
     # spot-check a few names
     assert "list_rulebooks" in registered
     assert "create_rule" in registered
     assert "subscribe_project_to_rulebook" in registered
+    assert "list_always_on_rules" in registered
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_list_always_on_rules_returns_empty_when_no_always_on_rulebooks():
+    with patch(
+        "fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks.rulebooks_svc.list_always_on_rules",
+        AsyncMock(return_value=[]),
+    ):
+        from fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks import list_always_on_rules
+        out = await list_always_on_rules()
+    assert out == {"rules": [], "total": 0}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_list_always_on_rules_projects_each_rule():
+    rules = [_fake_rule(id=100), _fake_rule(id=101)]
+    with patch(
+        "fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks.rulebooks_svc.list_always_on_rules",
+        AsyncMock(return_value=rules),
+    ):
+        from fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks import list_always_on_rules
+        out = await list_always_on_rules()
+    assert out["total"] == 2
+    assert {r["id"] for r in out["rules"]} == {100, 101}
+    assert all("topic_id" in r for r in out["rules"])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_update_rulebook_forwards_always_on_when_set():
+    rb = _fake_rulebook(id=1, title="t")
+    mock = AsyncMock(return_value=rb)
+    with patch("fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks.rulebooks_svc.update_rulebook", mock):
+        from fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks import update_rulebook
+        await update_rulebook(rulebook_id=1, always_on=True)
+    kwargs = mock.call_args.kwargs
+    assert kwargs.get("always_on") is True
+    assert "title" not in kwargs
+    assert "description" not in kwargs
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_update_rulebook_omits_always_on_when_none():
+    rb = _fake_rulebook(id=1, title="t")
+    mock = AsyncMock(return_value=rb)
+    with patch("fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks.rulebooks_svc.update_rulebook", mock):
+        from fabledassistant.mcp.tools.rulebooks import update_rulebook
+        await update_rulebook(rulebook_id=1, title="new title")
+    kwargs = mock.call_args.kwargs
+    assert "always_on" not in kwargs
+    assert kwargs["title"] == "new title"

tests/test_routes_rulebooks.py

@@ -44,13 +44,34 @@ def test_service_signatures_require_user_id():
         "create_rulebook", "list_rulebooks", "get_rulebook",
         "update_rulebook", "delete_rulebook", "find_rulebook_by_title",
         "create_topic", "list_topics", "get_topic", "update_topic", "delete_topic",
-        "create_rule", "list_rules", "get_rule", "update_rule", "delete_rule",
+        "create_rule", "list_rules", "list_always_on_rules",
+        "get_rule", "update_rule", "delete_rule",
         "subscribe_project", "unsubscribe_project", "get_applicable_rules",
     ):
         sig = inspect.signature(getattr(svc, fn_name))
         assert "user_id" in sig.parameters, f"{fn_name} missing user_id param"
 
 
+def test_rulebook_model_carries_always_on():
+    """Migration 0058 added rulebooks.always_on — verify the model declares it."""
+    from fabledassistant.models.rulebook import Rulebook
+    assert "always_on" in Rulebook.__table__.columns
+    col = Rulebook.__table__.columns["always_on"]
+    assert col.nullable is False
+
+
+def test_update_rulebook_route_accepts_always_on():
+    """PATCH /api/rulebooks/<id> must pass always_on through to the service.
+
+    The handler filters body keys against a whitelist; that whitelist needs to
+    include always_on or toggling from the UI silently drops the field.
+    """
+    import inspect as _inspect
+    from fabledassistant.routes import rulebooks as rb_routes
+    src = _inspect.getsource(rb_routes.update_rulebook)
+    assert "always_on" in src, "update_rulebook handler missing always_on in field whitelist"
+
+
 def test_rule_and_subscription_handlers_callable():
     from fabledassistant.routes import rulebooks as rb_routes
     for name in (