diff --git a/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.test.ts b/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.test.ts
index 7baee1ea..39ba4257 100644
--- a/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.test.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ describe("sisyphus-orchestrator hook", () => {
 
       // #when
       await hook["tool.execute.after"](
-        { tool: "other_tool", sessionID: "session-123", agent: "orchestrator-sisyphus" },
+        { tool: "other_tool", sessionID: "session-123" },
         output
       )
 
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ describe("sisyphus-orchestrator hook", () => {
 
       // #then - standalone verification reminder appended
       expect(output.output).toContain("Task completed successfully")
-      expect(output.output).toContain("VERIFICATION REQUIRED")
-      expect(output.output).toContain("SUBAGENTS LIE")
+      expect(output.output).toContain("MANDATORY VERIFICATION")
+      expect(output.output).toContain("sisyphus_task(resume=")
       
       cleanupMessageStorage(sessionID)
     })
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ describe("sisyphus-orchestrator hook", () => {
       expect(output.output).toContain("SUBAGENT WORK COMPLETED")
       expect(output.output).toContain("test-plan")
       expect(output.output).toContain("SUBAGENTS LIE")
+      expect(output.output).toContain("sisyphus_task(resume=")
       
       cleanupMessageStorage(sessionID)
     })
@@ -323,9 +324,8 @@ describe("sisyphus-orchestrator hook", () => {
         output
       )
 
-      // #then - output should contain boulder.json path and notepad path format
-      expect(output.output).toContain(".sisyphus/boulder.json")
-      expect(output.output).toContain(".sisyphus/notepads/my-feature/{category}.md")
+      // #then - output should contain plan name and progress
+      expect(output.output).toContain("my-feature")
       expect(output.output).toContain("1/3 done")
       expect(output.output).toContain("2 left")
       
@@ -361,14 +361,152 @@ describe("sisyphus-orchestrator hook", () => {
         output
       )
 
-      // #then - should include resume and checkbox instructions
+      // #then - should include resume instructions and verification
       expect(output.output).toContain("sisyphus_task(resume=")
-      expect(output.output).toContain("- [ ]")
-      expect(output.output).toContain("- [x]")
-      expect(output.output).toContain("VERIFY")
+      expect(output.output).toContain("[x]")
+      expect(output.output).toContain("MANDATORY VERIFICATION")
       
       cleanupMessageStorage(sessionID)
     })
+
+    describe("Write/Edit tool direct work reminder", () => {
+      const ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION = "orchestrator-write-test"
+
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        setupMessageStorage(ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION, "orchestrator-sisyphus")
+      })
+
+      afterEach(() => {
+        cleanupMessageStorage(ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION)
+      })
+
+      test("should append delegation reminder when orchestrator writes outside .sisyphus/", async () => {
+        // #given
+        const hook = createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(createMockPluginInput())
+        const output = {
+          title: "Write",
+          output: "File written successfully",
+          metadata: { filePath: "/path/to/code.ts" },
+        }
+
+        // #when
+        await hook["tool.execute.after"](
+          { tool: "Write", sessionID: ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION },
+          output
+        )
+
+        // #then
+        expect(output.output).toContain("DELEGATION REQUIRED")
+        expect(output.output).toContain("ORCHESTRATOR, not an IMPLEMENTER")
+        expect(output.output).toContain("sisyphus_task")
+      })
+
+      test("should append delegation reminder when orchestrator edits outside .sisyphus/", async () => {
+        // #given
+        const hook = createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(createMockPluginInput())
+        const output = {
+          title: "Edit",
+          output: "File edited successfully",
+          metadata: { filePath: "/src/components/button.tsx" },
+        }
+
+        // #when
+        await hook["tool.execute.after"](
+          { tool: "Edit", sessionID: ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION },
+          output
+        )
+
+        // #then
+        expect(output.output).toContain("DELEGATION REQUIRED")
+      })
+
+      test("should NOT append reminder when orchestrator writes inside .sisyphus/", async () => {
+        // #given
+        const hook = createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(createMockPluginInput())
+        const originalOutput = "File written successfully"
+        const output = {
+          title: "Write",
+          output: originalOutput,
+          metadata: { filePath: "/project/.sisyphus/plans/work-plan.md" },
+        }
+
+        // #when
+        await hook["tool.execute.after"](
+          { tool: "Write", sessionID: ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION },
+          output
+        )
+
+        // #then
+        expect(output.output).toBe(originalOutput)
+        expect(output.output).not.toContain("DELEGATION REQUIRED")
+      })
+
+      test("should NOT append reminder when non-orchestrator writes outside .sisyphus/", async () => {
+        // #given
+        const nonOrchestratorSession = "non-orchestrator-session"
+        setupMessageStorage(nonOrchestratorSession, "Sisyphus-Junior")
+        
+        const hook = createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(createMockPluginInput())
+        const originalOutput = "File written successfully"
+        const output = {
+          title: "Write",
+          output: originalOutput,
+          metadata: { filePath: "/path/to/code.ts" },
+        }
+
+        // #when
+        await hook["tool.execute.after"](
+          { tool: "Write", sessionID: nonOrchestratorSession },
+          output
+        )
+
+        // #then
+        expect(output.output).toBe(originalOutput)
+        expect(output.output).not.toContain("DELEGATION REQUIRED")
+        
+        cleanupMessageStorage(nonOrchestratorSession)
+      })
+
+      test("should NOT append reminder for read-only tools", async () => {
+        // #given
+        const hook = createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(createMockPluginInput())
+        const originalOutput = "File content"
+        const output = {
+          title: "Read",
+          output: originalOutput,
+          metadata: { filePath: "/path/to/code.ts" },
+        }
+
+        // #when
+        await hook["tool.execute.after"](
+          { tool: "Read", sessionID: ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION },
+          output
+        )
+
+        // #then
+        expect(output.output).toBe(originalOutput)
+      })
+
+      test("should handle missing filePath gracefully", async () => {
+        // #given
+        const hook = createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(createMockPluginInput())
+        const originalOutput = "File written successfully"
+        const output = {
+          title: "Write",
+          output: originalOutput,
+          metadata: {},
+        }
+
+        // #when
+        await hook["tool.execute.after"](
+          { tool: "Write", sessionID: ORCHESTRATOR_SESSION },
+          output
+        )
+
+        // #then
+        expect(output.output).toBe(originalOutput)
+      })
+    })
   })
 
   describe("session.idle handler (boulder continuation)", () => {
diff --git a/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.ts b/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.ts
index 5be7b037..8cfecfe2 100644
--- a/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/sisyphus-orchestrator/index.ts
@@ -70,10 +70,8 @@ Subagents FREQUENTLY claim completion when:
 2. Run tests yourself - Must PASS (not "agent said it passed")
 3. Read the actual code - Must match requirements
 4. Check build/typecheck - Must succeed
-5. Verify notepad was updated - Must have substantive content
 
 DO NOT TRUST THE AGENT'S SELF-REPORT.
-They are non-deterministic and not exceptional - they CANNOT distinguish between completed and incomplete states.
 VERIFY EACH CLAIM WITH YOUR OWN TOOL CALLS.
 
 **HANDS-ON QA REQUIRED (after ALL tasks complete):**
@@ -87,45 +85,41 @@ VERIFY EACH CLAIM WITH YOUR OWN TOOL CALLS.
 Static analysis CANNOT catch: visual bugs, animation issues, user flow breakages, integration problems.
 **FAILURE TO DO HANDS-ON QA = INCOMPLETE WORK.**`
 
-function buildOrchestratorReminder(planName: string, progress: { total: number; completed: number }): string {
+function buildVerificationReminder(sessionId: string): string {
+  return `${VERIFICATION_REMINDER}
+
+---
+
+**If ANY verification fails, use this immediately:**
+\`\`\`
+sisyphus_task(resume="${sessionId}", prompt="fix: [describe the specific failure]")
+\`\`\``
+}
+
+function buildOrchestratorReminder(planName: string, progress: { total: number; completed: number }, sessionId: string): string {
   const remaining = progress.total - progress.completed
   return `
 ---
 
-**State:** \`.sisyphus/boulder.json\` | Plan: ${planName} | ${progress.completed}/${progress.total} done, ${remaining} left
-
-**Notepad:** \`.sisyphus/notepads/${planName}/{category}.md\`
+**State:** Plan: ${planName} | ${progress.completed}/${progress.total} done, ${remaining} left
 
 ---
 
-${VERIFICATION_REMINDER}
+${buildVerificationReminder(sessionId)}
 
-**COMMIT FREQUENTLY:**
-- Commit after each verified task unit - one logical change per commit
-- Do NOT accumulate multiple tasks into one big commit
-- Atomic commits make rollback and review easier
-- If verification passes, commit immediately before moving on
-
-**THEN:**
-- Broken? \`sisyphus_task(resume="<session_id>", prompt="fix: ...")\`
-- Verified? Commit atomic unit, mark \`- [ ]\` to \`- [x]\`, next task`
+ALL pass? → commit atomic unit, mark \`[x]\`, next task.`
 }
 
-function buildStandaloneVerificationReminder(): string {
+function buildStandaloneVerificationReminder(sessionId: string): string {
   return `
 ---
 
-## SISYPHUS_TASK COMPLETED - VERIFICATION REQUIRED
+${buildVerificationReminder(sessionId)}`
+}
 
-${VERIFICATION_REMINDER}
-
-**VERIFICATION CHECKLIST:**
-- [ ] lsp_diagnostics on changed files - Run it yourself
-- [ ] Tests pass - Run the test command yourself
-- [ ] Code correct - Read the files yourself
-- [ ] No regressions - Check related functionality
-
-**REMEMBER:** Agent's "done" does NOT mean actually done.`
+function extractSessionIdFromOutput(output: string): string {
+  const match = output.match(/Session ID:\s*(ses_[a-zA-Z0-9]+)/)
+  return match?.[1] ?? "<session_id>"
 }
 
 interface GitFileStat {
@@ -233,12 +227,6 @@ function formatFileChanges(stats: GitFileStat[], notepadPath?: string): string {
   return lines.join("\n")
 }
 
-interface ToolExecuteInput {
-  tool: string
-  sessionID?: string
-  agent?: string
-}
-
 interface ToolExecuteAfterInput {
   tool: string
   sessionID?: string
@@ -251,8 +239,6 @@ interface ToolExecuteAfterOutput {
   metadata: Record<string, unknown>
 }
 
-type ToolExecuteOutput = ToolExecuteAfterOutput
-
 function getMessageDir(sessionID: string): string | null {
   if (!existsSync(MESSAGE_STORAGE)) return null
 
@@ -500,6 +486,7 @@ export function createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(
       if (output.output && typeof output.output === "string") {
         const gitStats = getGitDiffStats(ctx.directory)
         const fileChanges = formatFileChanges(gitStats)
+        const subagentSessionId = extractSessionIdFromOutput(output.output)
 
         const boulderState = readBoulderState(ctx.directory)
 
@@ -518,7 +505,7 @@ export function createSisyphusOrchestratorHook(
 ## SUBAGENT WORK COMPLETED
 
 ${fileChanges}
-${buildOrchestratorReminder(boulderState.plan_name, progress)}`
+${buildOrchestratorReminder(boulderState.plan_name, progress, subagentSessionId)}`
 
           log(`[${HOOK_NAME}] Output transformed for orchestrator mode (boulder)`, {
             plan: boulderState.plan_name,
@@ -526,7 +513,7 @@ ${buildOrchestratorReminder(boulderState.plan_name, progress)}`
             fileCount: gitStats.length,
           })
         } else {
-          output.output += `\n${buildStandaloneVerificationReminder()}`
+          output.output += `\n${buildStandaloneVerificationReminder(subagentSessionId)}`
 
           log(`[${HOOK_NAME}] Verification reminder appended for orchestrator`, {
             sessionID: input.sessionID,