diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/CHANGELOG.md b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75181c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Changelog
+
+## [0.0.1] - 2026-04-15
+
+- Implemented deterministic Hermes attestation generator CLI (`scripts/generate_attestation.mjs`).
+- Implemented fail-closed verifier CLI with schema, canonical digest, expected checksum, and optional detached signature checks (`scripts/verify_attestation.mjs`).
+- Implemented meaningful baseline diff engine with stable severity mapping for risky toggle regressions, feed verification regressions, trust anchor drift, and watched file drift (`lib/diff.mjs`).
+- Implemented Hermes-only cron setup helper with print-only default and managed-block apply mode (`scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs`).
+- Added shared attestation library for canonicalization, schema validation, digest generation, and policy parsing (`lib/attestation.mjs`).
+- Expanded tests for schema determinism, diff behavior, generator/verifier fail-closed behavior, and cron helper Hermes-only output.
+- Updated metadata/docs to match actual implemented behavior and ClawSec release pipeline expectations.
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/README.md b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d23011
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# hermes-attestation-guardian
+
+Hermes-only security attestation and drift detection skill.
+
+Status: implemented (v0.0.1), Hermes-only.
+
+## What it does
+
+- Generates deterministic Hermes runtime posture attestations.
+- Verifies attestation schema + canonical digest with fail-closed semantics.
+- Optionally verifies detached signatures using a provided public key.
+- Fails closed on baseline diffing unless baseline authenticity is verified (trusted digest and/or detached signature).
+- Restricts attestation output writes to Hermes attestation scope (`$HERMES_HOME/security/attestations`).
+- Compares baseline vs current attestations with stable severity classification.
+- Provides an optional Hermes-oriented cron setup helper (print-only by default).
+
+## Scope boundaries
+
+In scope:
+- Hermes environment posture snapshots
+- deterministic baseline diffing
+- fail-closed verification semantics
+- Hermes user-crontab scheduling helper
+
+Out of scope / unsupported (v0.0.1):
+- OpenClaw runtime hooks (unsupported)
+- destructive auto-remediation
+- automatic rollback of runtime configuration
+
+## Quickstart
+
+```bash
+node scripts/generate_attestation.mjs
+node scripts/verify_attestation.mjs --input ~/.hermes/security/attestations/current.json
+node scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs --every 6h --print-only
+```
+
+## Tests
+
+```bash
+node test/attestation_schema.test.mjs
+node test/attestation_diff.test.mjs
+node test/attestation_cli.test.mjs
+node test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs
+```
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/SKILL.md b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a68825
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+---
+name: hermes-attestation-guardian
+version: 0.0.1
+description: Hermes-only runtime security attestation and drift detection skill for operator-managed Hermes infrastructure.
+homepage: https://clawsec.prompt.security
+clawdis:
+  emoji: "🛡️"
+  requires:
+    bins: [node]
+---
+
+# Hermes Attestation Guardian
+
+IMPORTANT SCOPE:
+- This skill targets Hermes infrastructure only (CLI/Gateway/profile-managed deployments).
+- This skill is not an OpenClaw runtime hook package.
+
+## Goal
+
+Generate deterministic Hermes posture attestations, verify them with fail-closed integrity checks, and compare baseline drift using stable severity mapping.
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+# Generate attestation (default output: ~/.hermes/security/attestations/current.json)
+node scripts/generate_attestation.mjs
+
+# Generate with explicit policy + deterministic timestamp
+node scripts/generate_attestation.mjs \
+  --policy ~/.hermes/security/attestation-policy.json \
+  --generated-at 2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z \
+  --write-sha256
+
+# Verify schema + canonical digest
+node scripts/verify_attestation.mjs --input ~/.hermes/security/attestations/current.json
+
+# Verify with baseline diff (baseline must be authenticated)
+node scripts/verify_attestation.mjs \
+  --input ~/.hermes/security/attestations/current.json \
+  --baseline ~/.hermes/security/attestations/baseline.json \
+  --baseline-expected-sha256 <trusted-baseline-sha256> \
+  --fail-on-severity high
+
+# Optional detached signature verification
+node scripts/verify_attestation.mjs \
+  --input ~/.hermes/security/attestations/current.json \
+  --signature ~/.hermes/security/attestations/current.json.sig \
+  --public-key ~/.hermes/security/keys/attestation-public.pem
+
+# Preview cron config without mutating crontab
+node scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs --every 6h --print-only
+
+# Apply managed cron block
+node scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs --every 6h --apply
+```
+
+## Attestation payload (implemented)
+
+The generator emits:
+- schema_version, platform, generated_at
+- generator metadata (skill + node version)
+- host metadata (hostname/platform/arch)
+- posture.runtime (gateway enabled flags + risky toggles)
+- posture.feed_verification status (verified|unverified|unknown)
+- posture.integrity watched_files and trust_anchors (existence + sha256)
+- digests.canonical_sha256 over a stable canonical JSON representation
+
+## Fail-closed behavior
+
+Verifier exits non-zero when:
+- schema validation fails
+- canonical digest algorithm is unsupported or digest binding mismatches
+- expected file sha256 mismatches (if configured)
+- detached signature verification fails (if configured)
+- baseline is provided without authenticated trust binding (`--baseline-expected-sha256` and/or baseline signature + public key)
+- baseline authenticity or baseline schema/digest validation fails
+- baseline diff highest severity is at/above `--fail-on-severity` (default: critical)
+
+Severity messages are emitted as INFO / WARNING / CRITICAL style lines.
+
+## Side effects
+
+- `generate_attestation.mjs` writes one JSON file (and optional `.sha256`) under `$HERMES_HOME/security/attestations`.
+- `verify_attestation.mjs` is read-only.
+- `setup_attestation_cron.mjs` is read-only unless `--apply` is provided.
+- `setup_attestation_cron.mjs --apply` rewrites only the current user crontab managed block delimited by:
+  - `# >>> hermes-attestation-guardian >>>`
+  - `# <<< hermes-attestation-guardian <<<`
+
+## Notes
+
+- Default output root is `~/.hermes/security/attestations/`.
+- No destructive remediation actions (delete/restore/quarantine) are implemented.
+- Operator policy file is optional JSON with:
+  - `watch_files`: list of file paths
+  - `trust_anchor_files`: list of file paths
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8906acf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,451 @@
+import crypto from "node:crypto";
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+
+export const SCHEMA_VERSION = "0.0.1";
+export const SKILL_NAME = "hermes-attestation-guardian";
+export const SKILL_VERSION = "0.0.1";
+export const DIGEST_ALGORITHM = "sha256";
+
+function isPlainObject(value) {
+  return value && typeof value === "object" && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+export function stableSortObject(value) {
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+    return value.map(stableSortObject);
+  }
+  if (!isPlainObject(value)) {
+    return value;
+  }
+
+  const out = {};
+  for (const key of Object.keys(value).sort()) {
+    out[key] = stableSortObject(value[key]);
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+export function stableStringify(value, spacing = 2) {
+  return JSON.stringify(stableSortObject(value), null, spacing);
+}
+
+export function sha256Hex(input) {
+  return crypto.createHash("sha256").update(input).digest("hex");
+}
+
+export function sha256FileHex(filePath) {
+  const data = fs.readFileSync(filePath);
+  return sha256Hex(data);
+}
+
+export function detectHermesHome() {
+  const candidate = (process.env.HERMES_HOME || "").trim();
+  return candidate || path.join(os.homedir(), ".hermes");
+}
+
+export function defaultOutputPath() {
+  return path.join(detectHermesHome(), "security", "attestations", "current.json");
+}
+
+export function attestationOutputRoot(hermesHome = detectHermesHome()) {
+  return path.join(path.resolve(hermesHome), "security", "attestations");
+}
+
+function nearestExistingAncestor(inputPath) {
+  let candidate = path.resolve(inputPath);
+  while (!fs.existsSync(candidate)) {
+    const parent = path.dirname(candidate);
+    if (parent === candidate) {
+      return candidate;
+    }
+    candidate = parent;
+  }
+  return candidate;
+}
+
+function safeRealpath(inputPath) {
+  return fs.realpathSync.native ? fs.realpathSync.native(inputPath) : fs.realpathSync(inputPath);
+}
+
+function realpathWithMissingTail(inputPath) {
+  const resolved = path.resolve(inputPath);
+  const ancestor = nearestExistingAncestor(resolved);
+  const ancestorReal = safeRealpath(ancestor);
+  const rel = path.relative(ancestor, resolved);
+  return rel ? path.join(ancestorReal, rel) : ancestorReal;
+}
+
+function nearestExistingAncestorWithinRoot(targetPath, rootPath) {
+  const stopAt = path.resolve(path.dirname(rootPath));
+  let candidate = path.resolve(targetPath);
+
+  while (true) {
+    if (fs.existsSync(candidate)) {
+      return candidate;
+    }
+    if (candidate === stopAt) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    const parent = path.dirname(candidate);
+    if (parent === candidate) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    candidate = parent;
+  }
+}
+
+export function resolveHermesScopedOutputPath(outputPath, hermesHome = detectHermesHome()) {
+  const root = attestationOutputRoot(hermesHome);
+  const resolvedOutput = path.resolve(String(outputPath || defaultOutputPath()));
+  if (!isPathInside(resolvedOutput, root)) {
+    throw new Error(`output path must stay under ${root}`);
+  }
+
+  const hermesHomeReal = realpathWithMissingTail(hermesHome);
+  const rootReal = path.join(hermesHomeReal, "security", "attestations");
+  const nearestOutputAncestor = nearestExistingAncestorWithinRoot(resolvedOutput, root);
+  if (nearestOutputAncestor) {
+    const nearestOutputAncestorReal = safeRealpath(nearestOutputAncestor);
+    if (!isPathInside(nearestOutputAncestorReal, rootReal)) {
+      throw new Error(`output path must stay under ${rootReal}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (fs.existsSync(resolvedOutput) && fs.lstatSync(resolvedOutput).isSymbolicLink()) {
+    throw new Error(`output path must not be a symlink: ${resolvedOutput}`);
+  }
+
+  return resolvedOutput;
+}
+
+export function isPathInside(childPath, parentPath) {
+  const child = path.resolve(childPath);
+  const parent = path.resolve(parentPath);
+  const rel = path.relative(parent, child);
+  return rel === "" || (!rel.startsWith("..") && !path.isAbsolute(rel));
+}
+
+export function parseAttestationPolicy(policyContent) {
+  if (!policyContent) {
+    return { watch_files: [], trust_anchor_files: [] };
+  }
+  const parsed = JSON.parse(policyContent);
+  const watchFiles = Array.isArray(parsed.watch_files) ? parsed.watch_files : [];
+  const trustAnchors = Array.isArray(parsed.trust_anchor_files) ? parsed.trust_anchor_files : [];
+  return {
+    watch_files: [...new Set(watchFiles.map((v) => String(v).trim()).filter(Boolean))].sort(),
+    trust_anchor_files: [...new Set(trustAnchors.map((v) => String(v).trim()).filter(Boolean))].sort(),
+  };
+}
+
+function readJsonFileMaybe(filePath) {
+  if (!filePath || !fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const raw = fs.readFileSync(filePath, "utf8");
+  return JSON.parse(raw);
+}
+
+export function detectHermesConfig(hermesHome) {
+  const configCandidates = [
+    path.join(hermesHome, "config.json"),
+    path.join(hermesHome, "gateway", "config.json"),
+  ];
+
+  for (const candidate of configCandidates) {
+    try {
+      const parsed = readJsonFileMaybe(candidate);
+      if (parsed && typeof parsed === "object") {
+        return { path: candidate, config: parsed };
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // Continue trying fallbacks; verifier reports malformed artifacts, not local config issues.
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { path: null, config: {} };
+}
+
+function bool(value, defaultValue = false) {
+  if (value === undefined || value === null) {
+    return defaultValue;
+  }
+  if (typeof value === "boolean") {
+    return value;
+  }
+  if (typeof value === "number") {
+    if (value === 1) return true;
+    if (value === 0) return false;
+    return defaultValue;
+  }
+  if (typeof value === "string") {
+    const norm = value.trim().toLowerCase();
+    if (["1", "true", "yes", "on", "enabled"].includes(norm)) return true;
+    if (["0", "false", "no", "off", "disabled"].includes(norm)) return false;
+    return defaultValue;
+  }
+  return defaultValue;
+}
+
+function readEnvBool(name, fallback = false) {
+  const raw = process.env[name];
+  if (typeof raw !== "string") {
+    return fallback;
+  }
+  const norm = raw.trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (["1", "true", "yes", "on", "enabled"].includes(norm)) return true;
+  if (["0", "false", "no", "off", "disabled"].includes(norm)) return false;
+  return fallback;
+}
+
+function normalizePath(input, hermesHome) {
+  const raw = String(input || "").trim();
+  if (!raw) return raw;
+  if (raw === "~") return os.homedir();
+  if (raw.startsWith("~/")) return path.join(os.homedir(), raw.slice(2));
+  if (raw.startsWith("$HERMES_HOME/")) return path.join(hermesHome, raw.slice("$HERMES_HOME/".length));
+  return path.resolve(raw);
+}
+
+function fileFingerprint(filePath) {
+  if (!filePath) {
+    return { path: filePath, exists: false, sha256: null };
+  }
+  if (!fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
+    return { path: filePath, exists: false, sha256: null };
+  }
+  const data = fs.readFileSync(filePath);
+  return { path: filePath, exists: true, sha256: sha256Hex(data) };
+}
+
+export function buildAttestation({
+  generatedAt,
+  policy,
+  extraWatchFiles = [],
+  extraTrustAnchorFiles = [],
+} = {}) {
+  const hermesHome = detectHermesHome();
+  const configState = detectHermesConfig(hermesHome);
+  const config = configState.config || {};
+
+  const gateways = {
+    telegram: bool(config?.gateways?.telegram?.enabled, readEnvBool("HERMES_GATEWAY_TELEGRAM_ENABLED", false)),
+    matrix: bool(config?.gateways?.matrix?.enabled, readEnvBool("HERMES_GATEWAY_MATRIX_ENABLED", false)),
+    discord: bool(config?.gateways?.discord?.enabled, readEnvBool("HERMES_GATEWAY_DISCORD_ENABLED", false)),
+  };
+
+  const riskyToggles = {
+    allow_unsigned_mode: bool(config?.security?.allow_unsigned_mode, readEnvBool("HERMES_ALLOW_UNSIGNED_MODE", false)),
+    bypass_verification: bool(config?.security?.bypass_verification, readEnvBool("HERMES_BYPASS_VERIFICATION", false)),
+  };
+
+  const feedStatus = String(
+    process.env.HERMES_FEED_VERIFICATION_STATUS || config?.feed_verification?.status || "unknown",
+  ).toLowerCase();
+  const normalizedFeedStatus = ["verified", "unverified", "unknown"].includes(feedStatus) ? feedStatus : "unknown";
+
+  const selectedPolicy = policy || { watch_files: [], trust_anchor_files: [] };
+
+  const watchFiles = [...new Set([...(selectedPolicy.watch_files || []), ...extraWatchFiles])]
+    .map((p) => normalizePath(p, hermesHome))
+    .filter(Boolean)
+    .sort();
+
+  const trustAnchorFiles = [...new Set([...(selectedPolicy.trust_anchor_files || []), ...extraTrustAnchorFiles])]
+    .map((p) => normalizePath(p, hermesHome))
+    .filter(Boolean)
+    .sort();
+
+  const watchedFingerprints = watchFiles.map(fileFingerprint);
+  const trustAnchorFingerprints = trustAnchorFiles.map(fileFingerprint);
+
+  const payload = {
+    schema_version: SCHEMA_VERSION,
+    platform: "hermes",
+    generated_at: generatedAt || new Date().toISOString(),
+    generator: {
+      skill: SKILL_NAME,
+      version: SKILL_VERSION,
+      node: process.version,
+    },
+    host: {
+      hostname: os.hostname(),
+      platform: process.platform,
+      arch: process.arch,
+    },
+    posture: {
+      hermes_home: hermesHome,
+      config_source: configState.path,
+      runtime: {
+        gateways,
+        risky_toggles: riskyToggles,
+      },
+      feed_verification: {
+        configured: normalizedFeedStatus !== "unknown",
+        status: normalizedFeedStatus,
+      },
+      integrity: {
+        watched_files: watchedFingerprints,
+        trust_anchors: trustAnchorFingerprints,
+      },
+    },
+  };
+
+  const canonicalWithoutDigest = stableStringify(payload, 0);
+  const canonicalSha256 = sha256Hex(canonicalWithoutDigest);
+
+  return {
+    ...payload,
+    digests: {
+      canonical_sha256: canonicalSha256,
+      algorithm: DIGEST_ALGORITHM,
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+export function normalizeDigestAlgorithm(algorithm) {
+  return String(algorithm || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+}
+
+export function isSupportedDigestAlgorithm(algorithm) {
+  return normalizeDigestAlgorithm(algorithm) === DIGEST_ALGORITHM;
+}
+
+export function computeCanonicalDigest(attestation) {
+  const clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(attestation || {}));
+  delete clone.digests;
+  return sha256Hex(stableStringify(clone, 0));
+}
+
+export function validateDigestBinding(attestation) {
+  if (!attestation || typeof attestation !== "object") {
+    return "attestation must be a JSON object";
+  }
+  if (!isSupportedDigestAlgorithm(attestation?.digests?.algorithm)) {
+    return `unsupported digest algorithm: ${attestation?.digests?.algorithm ?? "(missing)"}`;
+  }
+  const expectedCanonical = String(attestation?.digests?.canonical_sha256 || "").toLowerCase();
+  const actualCanonical = computeCanonicalDigest(attestation);
+  if (expectedCanonical !== actualCanonical) {
+    return `canonical digest mismatch expected=${expectedCanonical} actual=${actualCanonical}`;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function validateAttestationSchema(attestation) {
+  const errors = [];
+
+  if (!isPlainObject(attestation)) {
+    return ["attestation must be a JSON object"];
+  }
+
+  if (attestation.schema_version !== SCHEMA_VERSION) {
+    errors.push(`schema_version must be ${SCHEMA_VERSION}`);
+  }
+  if (attestation.platform !== "hermes") {
+    errors.push("platform must be hermes");
+  }
+
+  const generatedAt = String(attestation.generated_at || "").trim();
+  if (!generatedAt || Number.isNaN(Date.parse(generatedAt))) {
+    errors.push("generated_at must be an ISO timestamp");
+  }
+
+  if (!isPlainObject(attestation.generator)) {
+    errors.push("generator object is required");
+  } else {
+    if (typeof attestation.generator.version !== "string" || !attestation.generator.version.trim()) {
+      errors.push("generator.version must be a non-empty string");
+    }
+  }
+  if (!isPlainObject(attestation.host)) {
+    errors.push("host object is required");
+  }
+
+  if (!isPlainObject(attestation.posture)) {
+    errors.push("posture object is required");
+  } else {
+    const runtime = attestation.posture.runtime;
+    if (!isPlainObject(runtime)) {
+      errors.push("posture.runtime object is required");
+    } else {
+      if (!isPlainObject(runtime.gateways)) {
+        errors.push("posture.runtime.gateways object is required");
+      } else {
+        for (const gateway of ["telegram", "matrix", "discord"]) {
+          if (typeof runtime.gateways[gateway] !== "boolean") {
+            errors.push(`posture.runtime.gateways.${gateway} must be a boolean`);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (!isPlainObject(runtime.risky_toggles)) {
+        errors.push("posture.runtime.risky_toggles object is required");
+      } else {
+        for (const toggle of ["allow_unsigned_mode", "bypass_verification"]) {
+          if (typeof runtime.risky_toggles[toggle] !== "boolean") {
+            errors.push(`posture.runtime.risky_toggles.${toggle} must be a boolean`);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    if (!isPlainObject(attestation.posture.feed_verification)) {
+      errors.push("posture.feed_verification object is required");
+    } else {
+      const status = attestation.posture.feed_verification.status;
+      if (!["verified", "unverified", "unknown"].includes(status)) {
+        errors.push("posture.feed_verification.status must be verified|unverified|unknown");
+      }
+    }
+
+    const integrity = attestation.posture.integrity;
+    if (!isPlainObject(integrity)) {
+      errors.push("posture.integrity object is required");
+    } else {
+      const validateIntegrityEntries = (entries, fieldPath) => {
+        if (!Array.isArray(entries)) {
+          errors.push(`${fieldPath} must be an array`);
+          return;
+        }
+
+        entries.forEach((entry, index) => {
+          const itemPath = `${fieldPath}[${index}]`;
+          if (!isPlainObject(entry)) {
+            errors.push(`${itemPath} must be an object`);
+            return;
+          }
+
+          if (typeof entry.path !== "string" || !entry.path.trim()) {
+            errors.push(`${itemPath}.path must be a non-empty string`);
+          }
+
+          if (typeof entry.exists !== "boolean") {
+            errors.push(`${itemPath}.exists must be a boolean`);
+          }
+
+          if (entry.sha256 !== null && !/^[a-f0-9]{64}$/i.test(String(entry.sha256 || ""))) {
+            errors.push(`${itemPath}.sha256 must be null or a 64-char sha256 hex string`);
+          }
+        });
+      };
+
+      validateIntegrityEntries(integrity.watched_files, "posture.integrity.watched_files");
+      validateIntegrityEntries(integrity.trust_anchors, "posture.integrity.trust_anchors");
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!isPlainObject(attestation.digests)) {
+    errors.push("digests object is required");
+  } else {
+    if (!/^[a-f0-9]{64}$/i.test(String(attestation.digests.canonical_sha256 || ""))) {
+      errors.push("digests.canonical_sha256 must be a 64-char sha256 hex string");
+    }
+    if (!isSupportedDigestAlgorithm(attestation.digests.algorithm)) {
+      errors.push(`digests.algorithm must be ${DIGEST_ALGORITHM}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return errors;
+}
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/diff.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/diff.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59bb5cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/diff.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+const SEVERITY_ORDER = ["critical", "high", "medium", "low", "info"];
+
+function bumpSummary(summary, severity) {
+  if (summary[severity] === undefined) {
+    summary[severity] = 0;
+  }
+  summary[severity] += 1;
+}
+
+function compareBooleanFindings({ findings, summary, codeOnEnable, codeOnDisable, path, before, after, enableSeverity = "high" }) {
+  if (!!before === !!after) return;
+
+  if (!before && after) {
+    findings.push({
+      severity: enableSeverity,
+      code: codeOnEnable,
+      path,
+      message: `${path} changed false -> true`,
+    });
+    bumpSummary(summary, enableSeverity);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  findings.push({
+    severity: "info",
+    code: codeOnDisable,
+    path,
+    message: `${path} changed true -> false`,
+  });
+  bumpSummary(summary, "info");
+}
+
+function mapByPath(entries) {
+  const out = new Map();
+  for (const entry of Array.isArray(entries) ? entries : []) {
+    if (!entry || typeof entry.path !== "string") continue;
+    out.set(entry.path, entry);
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+function compareHashedEntries({ findings, summary, beforeEntries, afterEntries, changedCode, missingCode }) {
+  const beforeMap = mapByPath(beforeEntries);
+  const afterMap = mapByPath(afterEntries);
+
+  for (const [itemPath, before] of beforeMap.entries()) {
+    const after = afterMap.get(itemPath);
+    if (!after) {
+      findings.push({
+        severity: "high",
+        code: missingCode,
+        path: itemPath,
+        message: `${itemPath} missing in current attestation`,
+      });
+      bumpSummary(summary, "high");
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const beforeHash = before.sha256 || null;
+    const afterHash = after.sha256 || null;
+    if (beforeHash !== afterHash) {
+      findings.push({
+        severity: "critical",
+        code: changedCode,
+        path: itemPath,
+        message: `${itemPath} fingerprint changed`,
+      });
+      bumpSummary(summary, "critical");
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const [itemPath, after] of afterMap.entries()) {
+    if (beforeMap.has(itemPath)) continue;
+    findings.push({
+      severity: "low",
+      code: "NEW_INTEGRITY_SCOPE",
+      path: itemPath,
+      message: `${itemPath} added to integrity tracking scope`,
+      details: { exists: !!after.exists },
+    });
+    bumpSummary(summary, "low");
+  }
+}
+
+function compareFeedVerification({ findings, summary, baselineFeed, currentFeed }) {
+  const beforeStatus = baselineFeed?.status || "unknown";
+  const afterStatus = currentFeed?.status || "unknown";
+
+  if (beforeStatus === afterStatus) return;
+
+  if (beforeStatus === "verified" && afterStatus !== "verified") {
+    findings.push({
+      severity: "critical",
+      code: "FEED_VERIFICATION_REGRESSION",
+      path: "posture.feed_verification.status",
+      message: `Feed verification regressed verified -> ${afterStatus}`,
+    });
+    bumpSummary(summary, "critical");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  findings.push({
+    severity: "medium",
+    code: "FEED_VERIFICATION_CHANGED",
+    path: "posture.feed_verification.status",
+    message: `Feed verification status changed ${beforeStatus} -> ${afterStatus}`,
+  });
+  bumpSummary(summary, "medium");
+}
+
+function comparePlatform({ findings, summary, baseline, current }) {
+  if (baseline.platform === current.platform) return;
+  findings.push({
+    severity: "critical",
+    code: "PLATFORM_MISMATCH",
+    path: "platform",
+    message: `platform changed ${baseline.platform} -> ${current.platform}`,
+  });
+  bumpSummary(summary, "critical");
+}
+
+function compareSchema({ findings, summary, baseline, current }) {
+  if (baseline.schema_version === current.schema_version) return;
+  findings.push({
+    severity: "high",
+    code: "SCHEMA_VERSION_CHANGED",
+    path: "schema_version",
+    message: `schema_version changed ${baseline.schema_version} -> ${current.schema_version}`,
+  });
+  bumpSummary(summary, "high");
+}
+
+function compareGenerator({ findings, summary, baseline, current }) {
+  const before = baseline?.generator?.version || "unknown";
+  const after = current?.generator?.version || "unknown";
+  if (before === after) return;
+  findings.push({
+    severity: "info",
+    code: "GENERATOR_VERSION_CHANGED",
+    path: "generator.version",
+    message: `generator.version changed ${before} -> ${after}`,
+  });
+  bumpSummary(summary, "info");
+}
+
+export function diffAttestations(baseline, current) {
+  const findings = [];
+  const summary = { critical: 0, high: 0, medium: 0, low: 0, info: 0 };
+
+  const baselineSafe = baseline && typeof baseline === "object" ? baseline : {};
+  const currentSafe = current && typeof current === "object" ? current : {};
+
+  comparePlatform({ findings, summary, baseline: baselineSafe, current: currentSafe });
+  compareSchema({ findings, summary, baseline: baselineSafe, current: currentSafe });
+  compareGenerator({ findings, summary, baseline: baselineSafe, current: currentSafe });
+
+  const baselineRuntime = baselineSafe?.posture?.runtime || {};
+  const currentRuntime = currentSafe?.posture?.runtime || {};
+
+  compareBooleanFindings({
+    findings,
+    summary,
+    codeOnEnable: "UNSIGNED_MODE_ENABLED",
+    codeOnDisable: "UNSIGNED_MODE_DISABLED",
+    path: "posture.runtime.risky_toggles.allow_unsigned_mode",
+    before: baselineRuntime?.risky_toggles?.allow_unsigned_mode,
+    after: currentRuntime?.risky_toggles?.allow_unsigned_mode,
+    enableSeverity: "critical",
+  });
+
+  compareBooleanFindings({
+    findings,
+    summary,
+    codeOnEnable: "BYPASS_VERIFICATION_ENABLED",
+    codeOnDisable: "BYPASS_VERIFICATION_DISABLED",
+    path: "posture.runtime.risky_toggles.bypass_verification",
+    before: baselineRuntime?.risky_toggles?.bypass_verification,
+    after: currentRuntime?.risky_toggles?.bypass_verification,
+    enableSeverity: "critical",
+  });
+
+  for (const gateway of ["telegram", "matrix", "discord"]) {
+    compareBooleanFindings({
+      findings,
+      summary,
+      codeOnEnable: "GATEWAY_ENABLED",
+      codeOnDisable: "GATEWAY_DISABLED",
+      path: `posture.runtime.gateways.${gateway}`,
+      before: baselineRuntime?.gateways?.[gateway],
+      after: currentRuntime?.gateways?.[gateway],
+      enableSeverity: "low",
+    });
+  }
+
+  compareFeedVerification({
+    findings,
+    summary,
+    baselineFeed: baselineSafe?.posture?.feed_verification,
+    currentFeed: currentSafe?.posture?.feed_verification,
+  });
+
+  compareHashedEntries({
+    findings,
+    summary,
+    beforeEntries: baselineSafe?.posture?.integrity?.trust_anchors,
+    afterEntries: currentSafe?.posture?.integrity?.trust_anchors,
+    changedCode: "TRUST_ANCHOR_MISMATCH",
+    missingCode: "TRUST_ANCHOR_REMOVED",
+  });
+
+  compareHashedEntries({
+    findings,
+    summary,
+    beforeEntries: baselineSafe?.posture?.integrity?.watched_files,
+    afterEntries: currentSafe?.posture?.integrity?.watched_files,
+    changedCode: "WATCHED_FILE_DRIFT",
+    missingCode: "WATCHED_FILE_REMOVED",
+  });
+
+  findings.sort((a, b) => {
+    const sev = SEVERITY_ORDER.indexOf(a.severity) - SEVERITY_ORDER.indexOf(b.severity);
+    if (sev !== 0) return sev;
+    const codeCmp = String(a.code || "").localeCompare(String(b.code || ""));
+    if (codeCmp !== 0) return codeCmp;
+    return String(a.path || "").localeCompare(String(b.path || ""));
+  });
+
+  return {
+    summary,
+    findings,
+  };
+}
+
+export function highestSeverity(findings = []) {
+  for (const severity of SEVERITY_ORDER) {
+    if (findings.some((finding) => finding?.severity === severity)) {
+      return severity;
+    }
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function severityAtOrAbove(severity, threshold) {
+  if (!threshold || threshold === "none") return false;
+  const idx = SEVERITY_ORDER.indexOf(severity);
+  const thresholdIdx = SEVERITY_ORDER.indexOf(threshold);
+  if (idx < 0 || thresholdIdx < 0) return false;
+  return idx <= thresholdIdx;
+}
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/generate_attestation.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/generate_attestation.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9db2782
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/generate_attestation.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+import {
+  buildAttestation,
+  defaultOutputPath,
+  parseAttestationPolicy,
+  resolveHermesScopedOutputPath,
+  sha256FileHex,
+  stableStringify,
+} from "../lib/attestation.mjs";
+
+function usage() {
+  process.stdout.write(
+    [
+      "Usage: node scripts/generate_attestation.mjs [options]",
+      "",
+      "Options:",
+      "  --output <path>          Output file path (default: ~/.hermes/security/attestations/current.json)",
+      "  --policy <path>          JSON policy file with watch_files and trust_anchor_files arrays",
+      "  --watch <path>           Extra watched file path (repeatable)",
+      "  --trust-anchor <path>    Extra trust anchor file path (repeatable)",
+      "  --generated-at <iso>     Override generated_at for deterministic testing",
+      "  --write-sha256           Also write <output>.sha256 with file digest",
+      "  --compact                Write compact JSON (no indentation)",
+      "  --help                   Show this help",
+      "",
+    ].join("\n"),
+  );
+}
+
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+  const args = {
+    output: defaultOutputPath(),
+    policyPath: null,
+    watch: [],
+    trustAnchor: [],
+    generatedAt: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_GENERATED_AT || null,
+    writeSha256: false,
+    compact: false,
+  };
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < argv.length; i += 1) {
+    const token = argv[i];
+
+    if (token === "--help") {
+      args.help = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--output") {
+      args.output = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--policy") {
+      args.policyPath = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--watch") {
+      args.watch.push(argv[i + 1]);
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--trust-anchor") {
+      args.trustAnchor.push(argv[i + 1]);
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--generated-at") {
+      args.generatedAt = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--write-sha256") {
+      args.writeSha256 = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--compact") {
+      args.compact = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    throw new Error(`Unknown argument: ${token}`);
+  }
+
+  return args;
+}
+
+function run() {
+  const args = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2));
+  if (args.help) {
+    usage();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (args.generatedAt && Number.isNaN(Date.parse(args.generatedAt))) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid --generated-at value: ${args.generatedAt}`);
+  }
+
+  const policy = args.policyPath
+    ? parseAttestationPolicy(fs.readFileSync(path.resolve(args.policyPath), "utf8"))
+    : parseAttestationPolicy(null);
+
+  const attestation = buildAttestation({
+    generatedAt: args.generatedAt,
+    policy,
+    extraWatchFiles: args.watch,
+    extraTrustAnchorFiles: args.trustAnchor,
+  });
+
+  const outPath = resolveHermesScopedOutputPath(args.output);
+  fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(outPath), { recursive: true });
+  const body = stableStringify(attestation, args.compact ? 0 : 2);
+  fs.writeFileSync(outPath, `${body}\n`, "utf8");
+
+  if (args.writeSha256) {
+    const shaPath = `${outPath}.sha256`;
+    const digest = sha256FileHex(outPath);
+    fs.writeFileSync(shaPath, `${digest}  ${path.basename(outPath)}\n`, "utf8");
+  }
+
+  process.stdout.write(
+    `${stableStringify({
+      level: "INFO",
+      message: "attestation generated",
+      output: outPath,
+      canonical_sha256: attestation.digests.canonical_sha256,
+    })}\n`,
+  );
+}
+
+try {
+  run();
+} catch (error) {
+  process.stderr.write(`CRITICAL: ${error?.message || String(error)}\n`);
+  process.exit(1);
+}
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..01ec801
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,298 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import path from "node:path";
+import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { detectHermesHome, resolveHermesScopedOutputPath } from "../lib/attestation.mjs";
+
+const MARKER_START = "# >>> hermes-attestation-guardian >>>";
+const MARKER_END = "# <<< hermes-attestation-guardian <<<";
+
+function usage() {
+  process.stdout.write(
+    [
+      "Usage: node scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs [options]",
+      "",
+      "Options:",
+      "  --every <Nh|Nd>         Interval cadence (default: 6h)",
+      "  --policy <path>         Optional policy file passed to generator",
+      "  --baseline <path>       Optional baseline path passed to verifier",
+      "  --baseline-sha256 <hex> Trusted baseline SHA256 passed to verifier",
+      "  --baseline-signature <path> Baseline detached signature for verifier",
+      "  --baseline-public-key <path> Baseline signature public key for verifier",
+      "  --output <path>         Optional output attestation path",
+      "  --apply                 Apply to current user's crontab",
+      "  --print-only            Print resulting cron block (default)",
+      "  --help                  Show this help",
+      "",
+      "Hermes assumptions:",
+      "- Writes only under ~/.hermes paths by default",
+      "- Uses Node + this skill's scripts only",
+      "- No OpenClaw runtime dependencies",
+      "",
+    ].join("\n"),
+  );
+}
+
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+  const args = {
+    every: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_INTERVAL || "6h",
+    policy: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_POLICY || null,
+    baseline: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE || null,
+    baselineSha256: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE_SHA256 || null,
+    baselineSignature: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE_SIGNATURE || null,
+    baselinePublicKey: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE_PUBLIC_KEY || null,
+    output: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_OUTPUT_DIR
+      ? path.join(process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_OUTPUT_DIR, "current.json")
+      : null,
+    apply: false,
+    printOnly: true,
+  };
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < argv.length; i += 1) {
+    const token = argv[i];
+    if (token === "--help") {
+      args.help = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--every") {
+      args.every = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--policy") {
+      args.policy = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline") {
+      args.baseline = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline-sha256") {
+      args.baselineSha256 = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline-signature") {
+      args.baselineSignature = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline-public-key") {
+      args.baselinePublicKey = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--output") {
+      args.output = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--apply") {
+      args.apply = true;
+      args.printOnly = false;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--print-only") {
+      args.printOnly = true;
+      args.apply = false;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    throw new Error(`Unknown argument: ${token}`);
+  }
+
+  return args;
+}
+
+function cadenceToCron(cadence) {
+  const normalized = String(cadence || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+  const match = normalized.match(/^(\d+)([hd])$/);
+  if (!match) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid cadence '${cadence}'. Expected <number>h or <number>d.`);
+  }
+
+  const n = Number(match[1]);
+  const unit = match[2];
+
+  if (!Number.isInteger(n) || n <= 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Cadence must be a positive integer: ${cadence}`);
+  }
+
+  if (unit === "h") {
+    if (n > 24) {
+      throw new Error("Hourly cadence cannot exceed 24h for cron expression generation.");
+    }
+    return `0 */${n} * * *`;
+  }
+
+  if (n > 31) {
+    throw new Error("Daily cadence cannot exceed 31d for cron expression generation.");
+  }
+  return `0 2 */${n} * *`;
+}
+
+function escapeForShell(value) {
+  return String(value).replace(/'/g, "'\\''");
+}
+
+function buildCronCommand({ output, policy, baseline, baselineSha256, baselineSignature, baselinePublicKey }) {
+  const scriptDir = path.resolve(path.dirname(new URL(import.meta.url).pathname));
+  const generator = path.join(scriptDir, "generate_attestation.mjs");
+  const verifier = path.join(scriptDir, "verify_attestation.mjs");
+
+  const outputArg = output ? `--output '${escapeForShell(path.resolve(output))}'` : "";
+  const policyArg = policy ? `--policy '${escapeForShell(path.resolve(policy))}'` : "";
+  const baselineArg = baseline ? `--baseline '${escapeForShell(path.resolve(baseline))}'` : "";
+  const baselineShaArg = baselineSha256 ? `--baseline-expected-sha256 '${escapeForShell(String(baselineSha256).trim())}'` : "";
+  const baselineSigArg = baselineSignature
+    ? `--baseline-signature '${escapeForShell(path.resolve(baselineSignature))}'`
+    : "";
+  const baselinePubArg = baselinePublicKey
+    ? `--baseline-public-key '${escapeForShell(path.resolve(baselinePublicKey))}'`
+    : "";
+
+  return [
+    `node '${escapeForShell(generator)}' ${outputArg} ${policyArg}`.replace(/\s+/g, " ").trim(),
+    `node '${escapeForShell(verifier)}' --input '${escapeForShell(path.resolve(output || path.join(detectHermesHome(), "security", "attestations", "current.json")))}' ${baselineArg} ${baselineShaArg} ${baselineSigArg} ${baselinePubArg}`
+      .replace(/\s+/g, " ")
+      .trim(),
+  ].join(" && ");
+}
+
+function buildCronBlock({ cronExpr, command, hermesHome }) {
+  const envPrefix = [
+    `HERMES_HOME='${escapeForShell(hermesHome)}'`,
+    `PATH='${escapeForShell(process.env.PATH || "/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin")}'`,
+  ].join(" ");
+
+  return [
+    MARKER_START,
+    `# Managed by hermes-attestation-guardian (${new Date().toISOString()})`,
+    `${cronExpr} ${envPrefix} ${command}`,
+    MARKER_END,
+  ].join("\n");
+}
+
+function removeManagedBlock(text) {
+  const lines = String(text || "").split(/\r?\n/);
+  const out = [];
+
+  let inManagedBlock = false;
+  let managedStartLine = null;
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i += 1) {
+    const line = lines[i];
+    const trimmed = line.trim();
+
+    if (trimmed === MARKER_START) {
+      if (inManagedBlock) {
+        throw new Error(`Malformed crontab markers: nested managed block start at line ${i + 1}`);
+      }
+      inManagedBlock = true;
+      managedStartLine = i + 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (trimmed === MARKER_END) {
+      if (!inManagedBlock) {
+        throw new Error(`Malformed crontab markers: unmatched managed block end at line ${i + 1}`);
+      }
+      inManagedBlock = false;
+      managedStartLine = null;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (!inManagedBlock) {
+      out.push(line);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (inManagedBlock) {
+    throw new Error(`Malformed crontab markers: managed block start at line ${managedStartLine} has no end marker`);
+  }
+
+  return out.join("\n").replace(/\n{3,}/g, "\n\n").trim();
+}
+
+function readCurrentCrontab() {
+  const res = spawnSync("crontab", ["-l"], { encoding: "utf8" });
+  if (res.status !== 0) {
+    const stderr = String(res.stderr || "").toLowerCase();
+    if (stderr.includes("no crontab") || stderr.includes("can't open your crontab")) {
+      return "";
+    }
+    throw new Error(`Failed reading crontab: ${res.stderr || res.stdout}`);
+  }
+  return res.stdout || "";
+}
+
+function writeCrontab(content) {
+  const res = spawnSync("crontab", ["-"], { input: `${content.trim()}\n`, encoding: "utf8" });
+  if (res.status !== 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Failed writing crontab: ${res.stderr || res.stdout}`);
+  }
+}
+
+function run() {
+  const args = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2));
+  if (args.help) {
+    usage();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const hermesHome = path.resolve(detectHermesHome());
+  const output = resolveHermesScopedOutputPath(args.output, hermesHome);
+
+  if (args.baseline && !args.baselineSha256 && !(args.baselineSignature && args.baselinePublicKey)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      "baseline scheduling requires --baseline-sha256 or both --baseline-signature and --baseline-public-key",
+    );
+  }
+
+  const cronExpr = cadenceToCron(args.every);
+  const command = buildCronCommand({
+    output,
+    policy: args.policy,
+    baseline: args.baseline,
+    baselineSha256: args.baselineSha256,
+    baselineSignature: args.baselineSignature,
+    baselinePublicKey: args.baselinePublicKey,
+  });
+  const block = buildCronBlock({ cronExpr, command, hermesHome });
+
+  const preflightLines = [
+    "Preflight review:",
+    "- This helper configures recurring Hermes attestation generation + verification.",
+    `- Hermes home: ${hermesHome}`,
+    `- Attestation output: ${output}`,
+    `- Cadence: ${args.every} (${cronExpr})`,
+    `- Baseline: ${args.baseline ? path.resolve(args.baseline) : "not configured"}`,
+    `- Baseline trusted sha256: ${args.baselineSha256 ? String(args.baselineSha256).trim() : "not configured"}`,
+    `- Baseline signature: ${args.baselineSignature ? path.resolve(args.baselineSignature) : "not configured"}`,
+    `- Baseline public key: ${args.baselinePublicKey ? path.resolve(args.baselinePublicKey) : "not configured"}`,
+    `- Policy: ${args.policy ? path.resolve(args.policy) : "not configured"}`,
+    "- Scope: Hermes-only.",
+  ];
+  process.stdout.write(`${preflightLines.join("\n")}\n\n`);
+
+  if (args.printOnly) {
+    process.stdout.write(`${block}\n`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const current = readCurrentCrontab();
+  const withoutManaged = removeManagedBlock(current);
+  const merged = [withoutManaged, block].filter(Boolean).join("\n\n").trim();
+  writeCrontab(merged);
+
+  process.stdout.write("INFO: Updated user crontab with hermes-attestation-guardian managed block\n");
+}
+
+try {
+  run();
+} catch (error) {
+  process.stderr.write(`CRITICAL: ${error?.message || String(error)}\n`);
+  process.exit(1);
+}
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/verify_attestation.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/verify_attestation.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1aea656
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/verify_attestation.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,333 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import crypto from "node:crypto";
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+import {
+  defaultOutputPath,
+  sha256Hex,
+  stableStringify,
+  validateAttestationSchema,
+  validateDigestBinding,
+} from "../lib/attestation.mjs";
+import { diffAttestations, highestSeverity, severityAtOrAbove } from "../lib/diff.mjs";
+
+const SEVERITIES = ["critical", "high", "medium", "low", "info", "none"];
+
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+  const args = {
+    input: defaultOutputPath(),
+    expectedSha256: null,
+    signaturePath: null,
+    publicKeyPath: null,
+    baselinePath: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE || null,
+    baselineExpectedSha256: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE_SHA256 || null,
+    baselineSignaturePath: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE_SIGNATURE || null,
+    baselinePublicKeyPath: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE_PUBLIC_KEY || null,
+    failOnSeverity: process.env.HERMES_ATTESTATION_FAIL_ON_SEVERITY || "critical",
+  };
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < argv.length; i += 1) {
+    const token = argv[i];
+
+    if (token === "--help") {
+      args.help = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--input") {
+      args.input = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--expected-sha256") {
+      args.expectedSha256 = String(argv[i + 1] || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--signature") {
+      args.signaturePath = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--public-key") {
+      args.publicKeyPath = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline") {
+      args.baselinePath = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline-expected-sha256") {
+      args.baselineExpectedSha256 = String(argv[i + 1] || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline-signature") {
+      args.baselineSignaturePath = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--baseline-public-key") {
+      args.baselinePublicKeyPath = argv[i + 1];
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (token === "--fail-on-severity") {
+      args.failOnSeverity = String(argv[i + 1] || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    throw new Error(`Unknown argument: ${token}`);
+  }
+
+  return args;
+}
+
+function usage() {
+  process.stdout.write(
+    [
+      "Usage: node scripts/verify_attestation.mjs [options]",
+      "",
+      "Options:",
+      "  --input <path>             Attestation JSON path",
+      "  --expected-sha256 <hex>    Require exact file SHA256 match",
+      "  --signature <path>         Detached signature file path (base64 or raw binary)",
+      "  --public-key <path>        Public key PEM for signature verification",
+      "  --baseline <path>                  Baseline attestation for diffing",
+      "  --baseline-expected-sha256 <hex>    Trusted baseline file SHA256",
+      "  --baseline-signature <path>         Baseline detached signature",
+      "  --baseline-public-key <path>        Public key PEM for baseline signature verification",
+      "  --fail-on-severity <level>          none|critical|high|medium|low|info (default: critical)",
+      "  --help                     Show this help",
+      "",
+    ].join("\n"),
+  );
+}
+
+function parseSignature(signaturePath) {
+  const raw = fs.readFileSync(signaturePath);
+  const utf8 = raw.toString("utf8").trim();
+  if (/^[A-Za-z0-9+/=\n\r]+$/.test(utf8)) {
+    try {
+      return Buffer.from(utf8.replace(/\s+/g, ""), "base64");
+    } catch {
+      return raw;
+    }
+  }
+  return raw;
+}
+
+function verifyDetachedSignature({ inputBytes, signaturePath, publicKeyPath }) {
+  const signature = parseSignature(signaturePath);
+  const pubKeyPem = fs.readFileSync(publicKeyPath, "utf8");
+  const pubKey = crypto.createPublicKey(pubKeyPem);
+  return crypto.verify(null, inputBytes, pubKey, signature);
+}
+
+function isSha256Hex(value) {
+  return /^[a-f0-9]{64}$/.test(String(value || "").trim().toLowerCase());
+}
+
+function printFinding(finding) {
+  const sev = String(finding.severity || "info").toUpperCase();
+  process.stdout.write(`${sev}: ${finding.code} - ${finding.message}\n`);
+}
+
+function validateSchemaAndDigestBinding({ attestation, schemaInvalidCode, canonicalDigestMismatchCode, verificationFindings, failures }) {
+  const schemaErrors = validateAttestationSchema(attestation);
+  for (const message of schemaErrors) {
+    verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: schemaInvalidCode, message });
+    failures.push(message);
+  }
+
+  const digestBindingError = validateDigestBinding(attestation);
+  if (digestBindingError) {
+    verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: canonicalDigestMismatchCode, message: digestBindingError });
+    failures.push(digestBindingError);
+  }
+}
+
+function run() {
+  const args = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2));
+  if (args.help) {
+    usage();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!SEVERITIES.includes(args.failOnSeverity)) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid --fail-on-severity: ${args.failOnSeverity}`);
+  }
+
+  if (!args.baselinePath && (args.baselineExpectedSha256 || args.baselineSignaturePath || args.baselinePublicKeyPath)) {
+    throw new Error("baseline verification flags require --baseline");
+  }
+
+  const verificationFindings = [];
+  const failures = [];
+
+  const inputPath = path.resolve(args.input);
+  if (!fs.existsSync(inputPath)) {
+    throw new Error(`input attestation not found: ${inputPath}`);
+  }
+
+  const inputBytes = fs.readFileSync(inputPath);
+  let attestation;
+  try {
+    attestation = JSON.parse(inputBytes.toString("utf8"));
+  } catch (error) {
+    throw new Error(`invalid JSON attestation: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+
+  validateSchemaAndDigestBinding({
+    attestation,
+    schemaInvalidCode: "SCHEMA_INVALID",
+    canonicalDigestMismatchCode: "CANONICAL_DIGEST_MISMATCH",
+    verificationFindings,
+    failures,
+  });
+
+  const fileDigest = sha256Hex(inputBytes);
+  if (args.expectedSha256) {
+    if (!isSha256Hex(args.expectedSha256)) {
+      throw new Error("--expected-sha256 must be a 64-char sha256 hex string");
+    }
+    if (args.expectedSha256 !== fileDigest) {
+      const message = `file sha256 mismatch expected=${args.expectedSha256} actual=${fileDigest}`;
+      verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "FILE_DIGEST_MISMATCH", message });
+      failures.push(message);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if ((args.signaturePath && !args.publicKeyPath) || (!args.signaturePath && args.publicKeyPath)) {
+    const message = "signature verification requires both --signature and --public-key";
+    verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "SIGNATURE_CONFIG_INVALID", message });
+    failures.push(message);
+  }
+
+  if (args.signaturePath && args.publicKeyPath) {
+    const ok = verifyDetachedSignature({
+      inputBytes,
+      signaturePath: path.resolve(args.signaturePath),
+      publicKeyPath: path.resolve(args.publicKeyPath),
+    });
+    if (!ok) {
+      const message = "detached signature verification failed";
+      verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "SIGNATURE_INVALID", message });
+      failures.push(message);
+    }
+  }
+
+  let diff = null;
+  if (args.baselinePath) {
+    const baselinePath = path.resolve(args.baselinePath);
+    if (!fs.existsSync(baselinePath)) {
+      const message = `baseline not found: ${baselinePath}`;
+      verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "BASELINE_MISSING", message });
+      failures.push(message);
+    } else {
+      const baselineBytes = fs.readFileSync(baselinePath);
+      const baselineTrustViaDigest = !!args.baselineExpectedSha256;
+      const baselineTrustViaSignature = !!args.baselineSignaturePath || !!args.baselinePublicKeyPath;
+
+      if (!baselineTrustViaDigest && !baselineTrustViaSignature) {
+        const message =
+          "baseline authenticity required: provide --baseline-expected-sha256 or both --baseline-signature and --baseline-public-key";
+        verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "BASELINE_UNTRUSTED", message });
+        failures.push(message);
+      }
+
+      if (baselineTrustViaDigest) {
+        if (!isSha256Hex(args.baselineExpectedSha256)) {
+          throw new Error("--baseline-expected-sha256 must be a 64-char sha256 hex string");
+        }
+        const baselineDigest = sha256Hex(baselineBytes);
+        if (baselineDigest !== args.baselineExpectedSha256) {
+          const message = `baseline file sha256 mismatch expected=${args.baselineExpectedSha256} actual=${baselineDigest}`;
+          verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "BASELINE_DIGEST_MISMATCH", message });
+          failures.push(message);
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (baselineTrustViaSignature) {
+        if (!args.baselineSignaturePath || !args.baselinePublicKeyPath) {
+          const message = "baseline signature verification requires both --baseline-signature and --baseline-public-key";
+          verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "BASELINE_SIGNATURE_CONFIG_INVALID", message });
+          failures.push(message);
+        } else {
+          const ok = verifyDetachedSignature({
+            inputBytes: baselineBytes,
+            signaturePath: path.resolve(args.baselineSignaturePath),
+            publicKeyPath: path.resolve(args.baselinePublicKeyPath),
+          });
+          if (!ok) {
+            const message = "baseline detached signature verification failed";
+            verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "BASELINE_SIGNATURE_INVALID", message });
+            failures.push(message);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      try {
+        const baseline = JSON.parse(baselineBytes.toString("utf8"));
+        validateSchemaAndDigestBinding({
+          attestation: baseline,
+          schemaInvalidCode: "BASELINE_SCHEMA_INVALID",
+          canonicalDigestMismatchCode: "BASELINE_CANONICAL_DIGEST_MISMATCH",
+          verificationFindings,
+          failures,
+        });
+
+        if (failures.length === 0) {
+          diff = diffAttestations(baseline, attestation);
+        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        const message = `invalid baseline JSON: ${error.message}`;
+        verificationFindings.push({ severity: "critical", code: "BASELINE_JSON_INVALID", message });
+        failures.push(message);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const finding of verificationFindings) {
+    printFinding(finding);
+  }
+  if (diff) {
+    for (const finding of diff.findings) {
+      printFinding(finding);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (failures.length > 0) {
+    process.stderr.write(`CRITICAL: verification failed with ${failures.length} error(s)\n`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const diffHighest = highestSeverity(diff?.findings || []);
+  if (diffHighest && severityAtOrAbove(diffHighest, args.failOnSeverity)) {
+    process.stderr.write(
+      `CRITICAL: diff severity threshold exceeded (highest=${diffHighest}, threshold=${args.failOnSeverity})\n`,
+    );
+    process.exit(2);
+  }
+
+  process.stdout.write(
+    `${stableStringify({
+      level: "INFO",
+      status: "verified",
+      input: inputPath,
+      file_sha256: fileDigest,
+      baseline_compared: !!diff,
+      diff_summary: diff?.summary || null,
+    })}\n`,
+  );
+}
+
+try {
+  run();
+} catch (error) {
+  process.stderr.write(`CRITICAL: ${error?.message || String(error)}\n`);
+  process.exit(1);
+}
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/skill.json b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/skill.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59f9f46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/skill.json
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+{
+  "name": "hermes-attestation-guardian",
+  "version": "0.0.1",
+  "description": "Hermes-only runtime security attestation and drift detection skill. Generates deterministic posture artifacts, verifies integrity fail-closed, and classifies baseline drift severity.",
+  "author": "prompt-security",
+  "license": "AGPL-3.0-or-later",
+  "homepage": "https://clawsec.prompt.security/",
+  "platform": "hermes",
+  "keywords": [
+    "security",
+    "hermes",
+    "attestation",
+    "integrity",
+    "drift-detection",
+    "posture"
+  ],
+  "sbom": {
+    "files": [
+      {
+        "path": "SKILL.md",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Skill documentation and operator playbook"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "CHANGELOG.md",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Version history and release notes"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "README.md",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Human-oriented overview and quickstart"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "lib/attestation.mjs",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Attestation schema, canonicalization, digest and validation helpers"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "lib/diff.mjs",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Baseline comparison and severity classification"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "scripts/generate_attestation.mjs",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Generate deterministic Hermes posture attestation artifact"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "scripts/verify_attestation.mjs",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Verify attestation schema, digest and optional detached signature"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs",
+        "required": true,
+        "description": "Optional recurring schedule setup for Hermes attestation runs"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "test/attestation_schema.test.mjs",
+        "required": false,
+        "description": "Schema and determinism tests"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "test/attestation_diff.test.mjs",
+        "required": false,
+        "description": "Diff and severity mapping tests"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "test/attestation_cli.test.mjs",
+        "required": false,
+        "description": "Generator/verifier CLI behavior tests"
+      },
+      {
+        "path": "test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs",
+        "required": false,
+        "description": "Hermes-only cron setup tests"
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "hermes": {
+    "emoji": "🛡️",
+    "category": "security",
+    "requires": {
+      "bins": [
+        "node"
+      ]
+    },
+    "runtime": {
+      "required_env": [],
+      "optional_env": [
+        "HERMES_HOME",
+        "HERMES_ATTESTATION_OUTPUT_DIR",
+        "HERMES_ATTESTATION_BASELINE",
+        "HERMES_ATTESTATION_INTERVAL",
+        "HERMES_ATTESTATION_FAIL_ON_SEVERITY",
+        "HERMES_ATTESTATION_POLICY"
+      ]
+    },
+    "execution": {
+      "always": false,
+      "persistence": "No persistence by default. scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs can install a user crontab block when run with --apply.",
+      "network_egress": "None"
+    },
+    "operator_review": [
+      "Hermes-only skill: unsupported for OpenClaw runtime hooks.",
+      "Verify watch/trust-anchor policy paths before scheduling recurring runs.",
+      "Verification fails closed for schema/digest/signature errors and unauthenticated baseline inputs; diff threshold defaults to critical."
+    ],
+    "triggers": [
+      "generate hermes attestation",
+      "verify hermes attestation",
+      "hermes runtime drift detection",
+      "hermes trust anchor drift",
+      "setup hermes attestation cron"
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f36bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import crypto from "node:crypto";
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+const __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const skillRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "..");
+const generatorScript = path.join(skillRoot, "scripts", "generate_attestation.mjs");
+const verifierScript = path.join(skillRoot, "scripts", "verify_attestation.mjs");
+
+function runNode(scriptPath, args = [], extraEnv = {}) {
+  return spawnSync(process.execPath, [scriptPath, ...args], {
+    cwd: skillRoot,
+    encoding: "utf8",
+    env: { ...process.env, ...extraEnv },
+  });
+}
+
+async function withTempDir(run) {
+  const dir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "hag-cli-"));
+  try {
+    await run(dir);
+  } finally {
+    await fs.rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+}
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const attestationsDir = path.join(hermesHome, "security", "attestations");
+  const outputPath = path.join(attestationsDir, "current.json");
+  const baselinePath = path.join(attestationsDir, "baseline.json");
+  const watchedPath = path.join(tempDir, "config.json");
+
+  await fs.mkdir(attestationsDir, { recursive: true });
+  await fs.writeFile(watchedPath, JSON.stringify({ secure: true }), "utf8");
+
+  const generatedAt = "2026-04-15T18:01:00.000Z";
+  const generate = runNode(
+    generatorScript,
+    ["--output", outputPath, "--watch", watchedPath, "--generated-at", generatedAt, "--write-sha256"],
+    { HERMES_HOME: hermesHome },
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(generate.status, 0, `generate failed: ${generate.stderr}`);
+  const attestationRaw = await fs.readFile(outputPath, "utf8");
+  const attestation = JSON.parse(attestationRaw);
+  assert.equal(attestation.platform, "hermes");
+  assert.equal(attestation.generated_at, generatedAt);
+
+  const verify = runNode(verifierScript, ["--input", outputPath]);
+  assert.equal(verify.status, 0, `verify should pass: ${verify.stderr}`);
+
+  const outOfScope = runNode(generatorScript, ["--output", path.join(tempDir, "outside.json")], { HERMES_HOME: hermesHome });
+  assert.notEqual(outOfScope.status, 0, "generator must reject out-of-scope --output");
+  assert.ok(outOfScope.stderr.includes("output path must stay under"), outOfScope.stderr);
+
+  await fs.writeFile(baselinePath, attestationRaw, "utf8");
+  const baselineDigest = crypto.createHash("sha256").update(attestationRaw).digest("hex");
+
+  const verifyUntrustedBaseline = runNode(verifierScript, ["--input", outputPath, "--baseline", baselinePath]);
+  assert.notEqual(verifyUntrustedBaseline.status, 0, "baseline diff must fail when baseline is unauthenticated");
+  assert.ok(verifyUntrustedBaseline.stdout.includes("BASELINE_UNTRUSTED"), verifyUntrustedBaseline.stdout);
+
+  const verifyTrustedBaseline = runNode(verifierScript, [
+    "--input",
+    outputPath,
+    "--baseline",
+    baselinePath,
+    "--baseline-expected-sha256",
+    baselineDigest,
+  ]);
+  assert.equal(verifyTrustedBaseline.status, 0, `trusted baseline should verify: ${verifyTrustedBaseline.stderr}`);
+
+  const invalidCurrent = JSON.parse(attestationRaw);
+  delete invalidCurrent.platform;
+  await fs.writeFile(outputPath, JSON.stringify(invalidCurrent, null, 2), "utf8");
+
+  const verifyInvalidCurrent = runNode(verifierScript, ["--input", outputPath]);
+  assert.notEqual(verifyInvalidCurrent.status, 0, "schema-invalid current attestation must be rejected");
+  assert.ok(verifyInvalidCurrent.stdout.includes("SCHEMA_INVALID"), verifyInvalidCurrent.stdout);
+
+  await fs.writeFile(outputPath, attestationRaw, "utf8");
+
+  const baselineCanonicalMismatch = JSON.parse(attestationRaw);
+  baselineCanonicalMismatch.posture.runtime.risky_toggles.allow_unsigned_mode = true;
+  const baselineCanonicalMismatchRaw = JSON.stringify(baselineCanonicalMismatch, null, 2);
+  await fs.writeFile(baselinePath, baselineCanonicalMismatchRaw, "utf8");
+  const baselineCanonicalMismatchDigest = crypto.createHash("sha256").update(baselineCanonicalMismatchRaw).digest("hex");
+
+  const verifyBaselineCanonicalMismatch = runNode(verifierScript, [
+    "--input",
+    outputPath,
+    "--baseline",
+    baselinePath,
+    "--baseline-expected-sha256",
+    baselineCanonicalMismatchDigest,
+  ]);
+  assert.notEqual(verifyBaselineCanonicalMismatch.status, 0, "baseline canonical digest mismatch must be rejected");
+  assert.ok(
+    verifyBaselineCanonicalMismatch.stdout.includes("BASELINE_CANONICAL_DIGEST_MISMATCH"),
+    verifyBaselineCanonicalMismatch.stdout,
+  );
+
+  const baselineSchemaInvalid = JSON.parse(attestationRaw);
+  delete baselineSchemaInvalid.platform;
+  const baselineSchemaInvalidRaw = JSON.stringify(baselineSchemaInvalid, null, 2);
+  await fs.writeFile(baselinePath, baselineSchemaInvalidRaw, "utf8");
+  const baselineSchemaInvalidDigest = crypto.createHash("sha256").update(baselineSchemaInvalidRaw).digest("hex");
+
+  const verifyBaselineSchemaInvalid = runNode(verifierScript, [
+    "--input",
+    outputPath,
+    "--baseline",
+    baselinePath,
+    "--baseline-expected-sha256",
+    baselineSchemaInvalidDigest,
+  ]);
+  assert.notEqual(verifyBaselineSchemaInvalid.status, 0, "schema-invalid baseline must be rejected");
+  assert.ok(verifyBaselineSchemaInvalid.stdout.includes("BASELINE_SCHEMA_INVALID"), verifyBaselineSchemaInvalid.stdout);
+
+  const baselineTampered = JSON.parse(attestationRaw);
+  baselineTampered.posture.runtime.risky_toggles.allow_unsigned_mode = true;
+  await fs.writeFile(baselinePath, JSON.stringify(baselineTampered, null, 2), "utf8");
+
+  const verifyTamperedBaseline = runNode(verifierScript, [
+    "--input",
+    outputPath,
+    "--baseline",
+    baselinePath,
+    "--baseline-expected-sha256",
+    baselineDigest,
+  ]);
+  assert.notEqual(verifyTamperedBaseline.status, 0, "tampered baseline must be rejected");
+  assert.ok(verifyTamperedBaseline.stdout.includes("BASELINE_DIGEST_MISMATCH"), verifyTamperedBaseline.stdout);
+
+  const tampered = JSON.parse(attestationRaw);
+  tampered.posture.runtime.risky_toggles.allow_unsigned_mode = true;
+  await fs.writeFile(outputPath, JSON.stringify(tampered, null, 2), "utf8");
+
+  const verifyTampered = runNode(verifierScript, ["--input", outputPath]);
+  assert.notEqual(verifyTampered.status, 0, "verify must fail closed after tampering");
+  assert.ok(
+    verifyTampered.stderr.includes("CRITICAL") || verifyTampered.stdout.includes("CANONICAL_DIGEST_MISMATCH"),
+    `expected critical verification signal, got stdout=${verifyTampered.stdout} stderr=${verifyTampered.stderr}`,
+  );
+});
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const securityDir = path.join(hermesHome, "security");
+  const attestationsDir = path.join(securityDir, "attestations");
+  const escapedDir = path.join(tempDir, "escaped-attestations");
+  const outputPath = path.join(attestationsDir, "current.json");
+
+  await fs.mkdir(securityDir, { recursive: true });
+  await fs.mkdir(escapedDir, { recursive: true });
+  await fs.symlink(escapedDir, attestationsDir, "dir");
+
+  const symlinkEscape = runNode(generatorScript, ["--output", outputPath], {
+    HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+  });
+  assert.notEqual(symlinkEscape.status, 0, "generator must reject symlink-based output path escapes");
+  assert.ok(symlinkEscape.stderr.includes("output path must stay under"), symlinkEscape.stderr);
+});
+
+console.log("attestation_cli.test.mjs: ok");
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_diff.test.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_diff.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa57532
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_diff.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { diffAttestations, highestSeverity, severityAtOrAbove } from "../lib/diff.mjs";
+
+const baseline = {
+  schema_version: "0.0.1",
+  platform: "hermes",
+  generator: { version: "0.0.1" },
+  posture: {
+    runtime: {
+      gateways: { telegram: true, matrix: false, discord: false },
+      risky_toggles: {
+        allow_unsigned_mode: false,
+        bypass_verification: false,
+      },
+    },
+    feed_verification: { status: "verified" },
+    integrity: {
+      trust_anchors: [{ path: "/etc/hermes/trust.pem", sha256: "aaa" }],
+      watched_files: [{ path: "/etc/hermes/config.json", sha256: "bbb" }],
+    },
+  },
+};
+
+const drifted = {
+  schema_version: "0.0.1",
+  platform: "hermes",
+  generator: { version: "0.0.2" },
+  posture: {
+    runtime: {
+      gateways: { telegram: true, matrix: true, discord: false },
+      risky_toggles: {
+        allow_unsigned_mode: true,
+        bypass_verification: false,
+      },
+    },
+    feed_verification: { status: "unverified" },
+    integrity: {
+      trust_anchors: [{ path: "/etc/hermes/trust.pem", sha256: "ccc" }],
+      watched_files: [{ path: "/etc/hermes/config.json", sha256: "ddd" }],
+    },
+  },
+};
+
+const clean = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(baseline));
+
+const driftOut = diffAttestations(baseline, drifted);
+assert.ok(Array.isArray(driftOut.findings));
+assert.ok(driftOut.findings.length >= 4, "expected multiple meaningful drift findings");
+assert.ok(driftOut.findings.some((f) => f.code === "UNSIGNED_MODE_ENABLED"));
+assert.ok(driftOut.findings.some((f) => f.code === "FEED_VERIFICATION_REGRESSION"));
+assert.ok(driftOut.findings.some((f) => f.code === "TRUST_ANCHOR_MISMATCH"));
+assert.ok(driftOut.findings.some((f) => f.code === "WATCHED_FILE_DRIFT"));
+assert.equal(highestSeverity(driftOut.findings), "critical");
+assert.equal(severityAtOrAbove("critical", "high"), true);
+assert.equal(severityAtOrAbove("low", "critical"), false);
+
+const cleanOut = diffAttestations(baseline, clean);
+assert.equal(cleanOut.findings.length, 0, "identical attestations should produce no findings");
+assert.deepEqual(cleanOut.summary, { critical: 0, high: 0, medium: 0, low: 0, info: 0 });
+
+console.log("attestation_diff.test.mjs: ok");
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_schema.test.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_schema.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2d1e5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_schema.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import {
+  buildAttestation,
+  computeCanonicalDigest,
+  parseAttestationPolicy,
+  stableStringify,
+  validateAttestationSchema,
+  validateDigestBinding,
+} from "../lib/attestation.mjs";
+
+async function withTempDir(run) {
+  const dir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "hag-schema-"));
+  try {
+    await run(dir);
+  } finally {
+    await fs.rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+}
+
+async function withPatchedEnv(patch, run) {
+  const previous = new Map();
+  for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(patch)) {
+    previous.set(key, process.env[key]);
+    if (value === undefined || value === null) {
+      delete process.env[key];
+    } else {
+      process.env[key] = String(value);
+    }
+  }
+
+  try {
+    await run();
+  } finally {
+    for (const [key, value] of previous.entries()) {
+      if (value === undefined) {
+        delete process.env[key];
+      } else {
+        process.env[key] = value;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+async function testBuildAttestationIsSchemaValidAndDeterministic() {
+  await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+    const watchedFile = path.join(tempDir, "watch.txt");
+    const trustAnchor = path.join(tempDir, "anchor.pem");
+    await fs.writeFile(watchedFile, "watch-contents\n", "utf8");
+    await fs.writeFile(trustAnchor, "trust-anchor\n", "utf8");
+
+    const policy = parseAttestationPolicy(
+      JSON.stringify({ watch_files: [watchedFile], trust_anchor_files: [trustAnchor] }),
+    );
+
+    const generatedAt = "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z";
+    const first = buildAttestation({ generatedAt, policy });
+    const second = buildAttestation({ generatedAt, policy });
+
+    assert.deepEqual(first, second, "attestation must be deterministic for fixed inputs");
+    assert.equal(first.platform, "hermes");
+    assert.equal(first.schema_version, "0.0.1");
+    assert.equal(first.generated_at, generatedAt);
+
+    const schemaErrors = validateAttestationSchema(first);
+    assert.equal(schemaErrors.length, 0, `schema errors: ${schemaErrors.join(", ")}`);
+
+    const computedDigest = computeCanonicalDigest(first);
+    assert.equal(first.digests.canonical_sha256, computedDigest, "digest must match canonical payload");
+
+    const stableOne = stableStringify(first);
+    const stableTwo = stableStringify(second);
+    assert.equal(stableOne, stableTwo, "stable stringify should produce same output ordering");
+  });
+}
+
+function testSchemaValidationFailsClosed() {
+  const invalid = {
+    schema_version: "0.0.0",
+    platform: "openclaw",
+    generated_at: "not-a-date",
+    digests: { canonical_sha256: "1234" },
+  };
+  const errors = validateAttestationSchema(invalid);
+  assert.ok(errors.length >= 4, "invalid schema should emit multiple errors");
+  assert.ok(errors.some((msg) => msg.includes("platform must be hermes")));
+}
+
+function testDigestBindingRejectsUnsupportedAlgorithm() {
+  const attestation = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  attestation.digests.algorithm = "sha1";
+
+  const schemaErrors = validateAttestationSchema(attestation);
+  assert.ok(schemaErrors.some((msg) => msg.includes("digests.algorithm must be sha256")));
+
+  const digestBindingError = validateDigestBinding(attestation);
+  assert.ok(digestBindingError?.includes("unsupported digest algorithm"));
+}
+
+function testSchemaValidationRequiresGeneratorVersionNonEmptyString() {
+  const missingVersion = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  delete missingVersion.generator.version;
+  const missingVersionErrors = validateAttestationSchema(missingVersion);
+  assert.ok(missingVersionErrors.includes("generator.version must be a non-empty string"));
+
+  const nonStringVersion = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  nonStringVersion.generator.version = 7;
+  const nonStringVersionErrors = validateAttestationSchema(nonStringVersion);
+  assert.ok(nonStringVersionErrors.includes("generator.version must be a non-empty string"));
+
+  const emptyVersion = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  emptyVersion.generator.version = "   ";
+  const emptyVersionErrors = validateAttestationSchema(emptyVersion);
+  assert.ok(emptyVersionErrors.includes("generator.version must be a non-empty string"));
+}
+
+function testSchemaValidationRequiresRuntimeGatewaysAndRiskyTogglesBooleans() {
+  const valid = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  const validErrors = validateAttestationSchema(valid);
+  assert.equal(validErrors.length, 0, `valid attestation should pass schema: ${validErrors.join(", ")}`);
+
+  const missingGateways = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  delete missingGateways.posture.runtime.gateways;
+  const missingGatewaysErrors = validateAttestationSchema(missingGateways);
+  assert.ok(missingGatewaysErrors.includes("posture.runtime.gateways object is required"));
+
+  const malformedGateways = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  malformedGateways.posture.runtime.gateways = "enabled";
+  const malformedGatewaysErrors = validateAttestationSchema(malformedGateways);
+  assert.ok(malformedGatewaysErrors.includes("posture.runtime.gateways object is required"));
+
+  const invalidGatewayLeaf = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  delete invalidGatewayLeaf.posture.runtime.gateways.matrix;
+  invalidGatewayLeaf.posture.runtime.gateways.telegram = "true";
+  const invalidGatewayLeafErrors = validateAttestationSchema(invalidGatewayLeaf);
+  assert.ok(invalidGatewayLeafErrors.includes("posture.runtime.gateways.telegram must be a boolean"));
+  assert.ok(invalidGatewayLeafErrors.includes("posture.runtime.gateways.matrix must be a boolean"));
+
+  const missingRiskyToggles = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  delete missingRiskyToggles.posture.runtime.risky_toggles;
+  const missingRiskyTogglesErrors = validateAttestationSchema(missingRiskyToggles);
+  assert.ok(missingRiskyTogglesErrors.includes("posture.runtime.risky_toggles object is required"));
+
+  const malformedRiskyToggles = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  malformedRiskyToggles.posture.runtime.risky_toggles = [];
+  const malformedRiskyTogglesErrors = validateAttestationSchema(malformedRiskyToggles);
+  assert.ok(malformedRiskyTogglesErrors.includes("posture.runtime.risky_toggles object is required"));
+
+  const invalidRiskyToggleLeaf = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  delete invalidRiskyToggleLeaf.posture.runtime.risky_toggles.bypass_verification;
+  invalidRiskyToggleLeaf.posture.runtime.risky_toggles.allow_unsigned_mode = "false";
+  const invalidRiskyToggleLeafErrors = validateAttestationSchema(invalidRiskyToggleLeaf);
+  assert.ok(
+    invalidRiskyToggleLeafErrors.includes("posture.runtime.risky_toggles.allow_unsigned_mode must be a boolean"),
+  );
+  assert.ok(
+    invalidRiskyToggleLeafErrors.includes("posture.runtime.risky_toggles.bypass_verification must be a boolean"),
+  );
+}
+
+function testSchemaValidationRequiresIntegrityEntryShapes() {
+  const attestation = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  attestation.posture.integrity.watched_files = [
+    null,
+    { path: "", exists: true, sha256: null },
+    { path: "/etc/hermes/config.json", exists: "yes", sha256: "abc" },
+  ];
+  attestation.posture.integrity.trust_anchors = [{ exists: false, sha256: 7 }];
+
+  const errors = validateAttestationSchema(attestation);
+  assert.ok(errors.includes("posture.integrity.watched_files[0] must be an object"));
+  assert.ok(errors.includes("posture.integrity.watched_files[1].path must be a non-empty string"));
+  assert.ok(errors.includes("posture.integrity.watched_files[2].exists must be a boolean"));
+  assert.ok(
+    errors.includes("posture.integrity.watched_files[2].sha256 must be null or a 64-char sha256 hex string"),
+  );
+  assert.ok(errors.includes("posture.integrity.trust_anchors[0].path must be a non-empty string"));
+  assert.ok(errors.includes("posture.integrity.trust_anchors[0].sha256 must be null or a 64-char sha256 hex string"));
+
+  const valid = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+  valid.posture.integrity.watched_files = [{ path: "/tmp/a", exists: false, sha256: null }];
+  valid.posture.integrity.trust_anchors = [
+    {
+      path: "/tmp/t.pem",
+      exists: true,
+      sha256: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef",
+    },
+  ];
+
+  const validErrors = validateAttestationSchema(valid);
+  assert.equal(validErrors.length, 0, `valid integrity entries should pass schema: ${validErrors.join(", ")}`);
+}
+
+async function testBooleanConfigCoercionDoesNotEnableFalseStrings() {
+  await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+    const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+    await fs.mkdir(hermesHome, { recursive: true });
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      path.join(hermesHome, "config.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        gateways: {
+          telegram: { enabled: "false" },
+          matrix: { enabled: "0" },
+          discord: { enabled: "off" },
+        },
+        security: {
+          allow_unsigned_mode: "false",
+          bypass_verification: "off",
+        },
+      }),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+
+    await withPatchedEnv(
+      {
+        HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+        HERMES_GATEWAY_TELEGRAM_ENABLED: "true",
+        HERMES_GATEWAY_MATRIX_ENABLED: "1",
+        HERMES_GATEWAY_DISCORD_ENABLED: "yes",
+        HERMES_ALLOW_UNSIGNED_MODE: "true",
+        HERMES_BYPASS_VERIFICATION: "true",
+      },
+      async () => {
+        const attestation = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+        assert.equal(attestation.posture.runtime.gateways.telegram, false);
+        assert.equal(attestation.posture.runtime.gateways.matrix, false);
+        assert.equal(attestation.posture.runtime.gateways.discord, false);
+        assert.equal(attestation.posture.runtime.risky_toggles.allow_unsigned_mode, false);
+        assert.equal(attestation.posture.runtime.risky_toggles.bypass_verification, false);
+      },
+    );
+
+    await withPatchedEnv(
+      {
+        HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+        HERMES_GATEWAY_TELEGRAM_ENABLED: "true",
+      },
+      async () => {
+        await fs.writeFile(path.join(hermesHome, "config.json"), JSON.stringify({}), "utf8");
+        const attestation = buildAttestation({ generatedAt: "2026-04-15T18:00:00.000Z" });
+        assert.equal(attestation.posture.runtime.gateways.telegram, true);
+      },
+    );
+  });
+}
+
+await testBuildAttestationIsSchemaValidAndDeterministic();
+testSchemaValidationFailsClosed();
+testDigestBindingRejectsUnsupportedAlgorithm();
+testSchemaValidationRequiresGeneratorVersionNonEmptyString();
+testSchemaValidationRequiresRuntimeGatewaysAndRiskyTogglesBooleans();
+testSchemaValidationRequiresIntegrityEntryShapes();
+await testBooleanConfigCoercionDoesNotEnableFalseStrings();
+console.log("attestation_schema.test.mjs: ok");
diff --git a/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..508b5e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+const __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const skillRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "..");
+const setupScript = path.join(skillRoot, "scripts", "setup_attestation_cron.mjs");
+
+function runSetup(args = [], env = {}) {
+  return spawnSync(process.execPath, [setupScript, ...args], {
+    cwd: skillRoot,
+    encoding: "utf8",
+    env: { ...process.env, ...env },
+  });
+}
+
+async function withTempDir(run) {
+  const dir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "hag-cron-"));
+  try {
+    await run(dir);
+  } finally {
+    await fs.rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+}
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const result = runSetup(["--every", "6h", "--print-only"], {
+    HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, `setup script failed: ${result.stderr}`);
+  assert.ok(result.stdout.includes("Preflight review:"));
+  assert.ok(result.stdout.includes("Scope: Hermes-only"));
+  assert.ok(result.stdout.includes("hermes-attestation-guardian"));
+  assert.ok(result.stdout.includes("generate_attestation.mjs"));
+  assert.ok(result.stdout.includes("verify_attestation.mjs"));
+  assert.equal(result.stdout.toLowerCase().includes("openclaw"), false, "must not mention OpenClaw runtime");
+});
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const result = runSetup(["--print-only", "--output", path.join(tempDir, "outside.json")], {
+    HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+  });
+
+  assert.notEqual(result.status, 0, "out-of-scope output path must be rejected");
+  assert.ok(result.stderr.includes("output path must stay under"), result.stderr);
+});
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const weirdPolicy = path.join(tempDir, "policy'withquote.json");
+  const result = runSetup(["--every", "6h", "--policy", weirdPolicy, "--print-only"], {
+    HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr);
+  assert.ok(result.stdout.includes("policy'\\''withquote.json"), "single quotes must be shell-escaped in cron command");
+});
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const fakeBinDir = path.join(tempDir, "bin");
+  const logPath = path.join(tempDir, "crontab.log");
+  const writePath = path.join(tempDir, "crontab.write");
+  await fs.mkdir(fakeBinDir, { recursive: true });
+
+  const fakeCrontab = `#!/usr/bin/env node
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+const logPath = ${JSON.stringify(logPath)};
+const writePath = ${JSON.stringify(writePath)};
+if (args[0] === '-l') {
+  fs.appendFileSync(logPath, 'list\\n', 'utf8');
+  process.stdout.write('# >>> hermes-attestation-guardian >>>\\n# dangling-start-no-end\\n0 0 * * * /usr/bin/true\\n');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+if (args[0] === '-') {
+  fs.appendFileSync(logPath, 'write\\n', 'utf8');
+  fs.writeFileSync(writePath, fs.readFileSync(0, 'utf8'), 'utf8');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+process.stderr.write('unexpected crontab args: ' + args.join(' ') + '\\n');
+process.exit(2);
+`;
+  const fakeCrontabPath = path.join(fakeBinDir, "crontab");
+  await fs.writeFile(fakeCrontabPath, fakeCrontab, { encoding: "utf8", mode: 0o755 });
+
+  const result = runSetup(["--apply"], {
+    HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+    PATH: `${fakeBinDir}:${process.env.PATH}`,
+  });
+
+  assert.notEqual(result.status, 0, "unmatched start marker must fail closed");
+  assert.ok(result.stderr.includes("Malformed crontab markers"), result.stderr);
+  const log = await fs.readFile(logPath, "utf8");
+  assert.ok(log.includes("list"), "script should read crontab before writing");
+  const wrote = await fs.access(writePath).then(() => true).catch(() => false);
+  assert.equal(wrote, false, "script must not write crontab on malformed marker block");
+});
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const fakeBinDir = path.join(tempDir, "bin");
+  const logPath = path.join(tempDir, "crontab.log");
+  const writePath = path.join(tempDir, "crontab.write");
+  await fs.mkdir(fakeBinDir, { recursive: true });
+
+  const fakeCrontab = `#!/usr/bin/env node
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+const logPath = ${JSON.stringify(logPath)};
+const writePath = ${JSON.stringify(writePath)};
+if (args[0] === '-l') {
+  fs.appendFileSync(logPath, 'list\\n', 'utf8');
+  process.stdout.write('# <<< hermes-attestation-guardian <<<\\n0 0 * * * /usr/bin/true\\n');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+if (args[0] === '-') {
+  fs.appendFileSync(logPath, 'write\\n', 'utf8');
+  fs.writeFileSync(writePath, fs.readFileSync(0, 'utf8'), 'utf8');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+process.stderr.write('unexpected crontab args: ' + args.join(' ') + '\\n');
+process.exit(2);
+`;
+  const fakeCrontabPath = path.join(fakeBinDir, "crontab");
+  await fs.writeFile(fakeCrontabPath, fakeCrontab, { encoding: "utf8", mode: 0o755 });
+
+  const result = runSetup(["--apply"], {
+    HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+    PATH: `${fakeBinDir}:${process.env.PATH}`,
+  });
+
+  assert.notEqual(result.status, 0, "unmatched end marker must fail closed");
+  assert.ok(result.stderr.includes("Malformed crontab markers"), result.stderr);
+  const log = await fs.readFile(logPath, "utf8");
+  assert.ok(log.includes("list"), "script should read crontab before writing");
+  const wrote = await fs.access(writePath).then(() => true).catch(() => false);
+  assert.equal(wrote, false, "script must not write crontab when end marker is unmatched");
+});
+
+await withTempDir(async (tempDir) => {
+  const hermesHome = path.join(tempDir, ".hermes");
+  const fakeBinDir = path.join(tempDir, "bin");
+  const logPath = path.join(tempDir, "crontab.log");
+  const writePath = path.join(tempDir, "crontab.write");
+  await fs.mkdir(fakeBinDir, { recursive: true });
+
+  const fakeCrontab = `#!/usr/bin/env node
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+const logPath = ${JSON.stringify(logPath)};
+const writePath = ${JSON.stringify(writePath)};
+if (args[0] === '-l') {
+  fs.appendFileSync(logPath, 'list\\n', 'utf8');
+  process.stdout.write('# >>> hermes-attestation-guardian >>>\\n# >>> hermes-attestation-guardian >>>\\n# nested-start\\n# <<< hermes-attestation-guardian <<<\\n');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+if (args[0] === '-') {
+  fs.appendFileSync(logPath, 'write\\n', 'utf8');
+  fs.writeFileSync(writePath, fs.readFileSync(0, 'utf8'), 'utf8');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+process.stderr.write('unexpected crontab args: ' + args.join(' ') + '\\n');
+process.exit(2);
+`;
+  const fakeCrontabPath = path.join(fakeBinDir, "crontab");
+  await fs.writeFile(fakeCrontabPath, fakeCrontab, { encoding: "utf8", mode: 0o755 });
+
+  const result = runSetup(["--apply"], {
+    HERMES_HOME: hermesHome,
+    PATH: `${fakeBinDir}:${process.env.PATH}`,
+  });
+
+  assert.notEqual(result.status, 0, "nested start marker must fail closed");
+  assert.ok(result.stderr.includes("Malformed crontab markers"), result.stderr);
+  const log = await fs.readFile(logPath, "utf8");
+  assert.ok(log.includes("list"), "script should read crontab before writing");
+  const wrote = await fs.access(writePath).then(() => true).catch(() => false);
+  assert.equal(wrote, false, "script must not write crontab when marker blocks are nested");
+});
+
+console.log("setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs: ok");
diff --git a/wiki/GENERATION.md b/wiki/GENERATION.md
index cc9ac28..3c2424d 100644
--- a/wiki/GENERATION.md
+++ b/wiki/GENERATION.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 - Updated index and cross-links to use `wiki/` as the documentation source of truth.
 - Added a dedicated module page for `clawsec-scanner` and linked it from `wiki/INDEX.md`.
 - Future updates should preserve existing headings and append `Update Notes` sections when making deltas.
+- 2026-04-15: Expanded `wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md` into full narrative claim breakdowns (people-speak + wiring + verification + scenario) and moved draft-plan context into `wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian-draft-history.md`.
 
 ## Source References
 - README.md
diff --git a/wiki/INDEX.md b/wiki/INDEX.md
index 809591b..aa93daf 100644
--- a/wiki/INDEX.md
+++ b/wiki/INDEX.md
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 - [Frontend Web App](modules/frontend-web.md)
 - [ClawSec Suite Core](modules/clawsec-suite.md)
 - [ClawSec Scanner](modules/clawsec-scanner.md)
+- [Hermes Attestation Guardian](modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md)
+- [Hermes Attestation Guardian Draft History (Archived)](modules/hermes-attestation-guardian-draft-history.md)
 - [NanoClaw Integration](modules/nanoclaw-integration.md)
 - [Automation and Release Pipelines](modules/automation-release.md)
 - [Local Validation and Packaging Tools](modules/local-tooling.md)
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@
 - [Generation Metadata](GENERATION.md)
 
 ## Update Notes
+- 2026-04-15: Expanded Hermes Attestation Guardian module page into full narrative, claim-by-claim operator guidance (no claim tables), and added archived draft-history module page.
 - 2026-03-10: Added ClawSec Scanner module documentation and linked it under Modules.
 - 2026-02-26: Added Operations pages and updated navigation guidance after migrating root docs into wiki pages.
 
@@ -53,5 +56,8 @@
 - scripts/populate-local-skills.sh
 - skills/clawsec-suite/skill.json
 - skills/clawsec-scanner/skill.json
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/skill.json
 - wiki/modules/clawsec-scanner.md
+- wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md
+- wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian-draft-history.md
 - .github/workflows/ci.yml
diff --git a/wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian-draft-history.md b/wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian-draft-history.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b43f3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian-draft-history.md
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# Module History: Hermes Attestation Guardian Draft (Archived)
+
+## Purpose
+This page preserves the original planning draft that led to `hermes-attestation-guardian` v0.0.1.
+It is historical context, not current behavior contract.
+
+## Status
+- Draft date: 2026-04-15
+- Current status: implemented in repository as `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian` v0.0.1
+- Source of truth for live behavior: skill code, tests, and `wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md`
+
+## What the draft got right
+- Hermes-only positioning (not OpenClaw hook runtime scope).
+- Fail-closed verification as a core requirement.
+- Deterministic attestation and digest binding requirements.
+- Baseline-vs-current drift detection with severity ranking.
+- Safe cron automation expectations (explicit apply, non-destructive defaults).
+
+## Original design intent (summarized)
+1) Identity and scope
+- Name should clearly indicate Hermes scope and guardian role.
+- Metadata should make platform targeting explicit.
+
+2) Security outcomes
+- Snapshot posture and integrity-sensitive inputs.
+- Detect risky toggles, verification regressions, and trust/file drift.
+- Prioritize high-signal alerts for operators.
+
+3) Alignment rules
+- Keep side effects under Hermes paths.
+- Avoid destructive remediation in MVP.
+- Keep operator-facing criticality clear.
+
+4) Packaging/release compatibility
+- Match ClawSec skill metadata and changelog requirements.
+- Ensure local validation and test gates pass before release.
+
+5) Delegate implementation scope
+- Build generator, verifier, diff logic, cron helper, and tests.
+- Keep docs aligned to implemented behavior.
+
+## What changed from draft to implementation
+- Implementation hardened path-scope checks (including symlink-aware escape defense).
+- Verifier baseline trust was made explicit and fail-closed before diffing.
+- Cron managed-marker parser hardened to fail closed on malformed marker structure.
+- Wiki documentation now maps each PR claim to wiring and tests with human-readable operator guidance.
+
+## Where to look now
+- Live module documentation:
+  - `wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md`
+- Live skill implementation:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/`
+- Validation tests:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/`
diff --git a/wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md b/wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b810c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wiki/modules/hermes-attestation-guardian.md
@@ -0,0 +1,287 @@
+# Module: Hermes Attestation Guardian
+
+## Responsibilities
+- Produce a deterministic Hermes runtime security snapshot (attestation).
+- Verify attestation integrity in fail-closed mode before any trust decision.
+- Compare trusted baseline vs current posture and classify drift severity.
+- Provide a safe, Hermes-scoped automation path for periodic attestation checks.
+
+## PR Claims: Full Human-Friendly Breakdown
+
+This section rewrites each PR claim as an operator-facing explanation, then ties it to exact code and tests.
+
+### Claim 1: Adds deterministic attestation generation with canonicalized payload digesting.
+
+Absolutely — in people-speak:
+
+We create a security snapshot of Hermes in a way that is reproducible, then fingerprint it in a stable way so tampering or real drift is obvious.
+
+What this means in practice:
+1) Attestation generation
+- Think of it as a report card for Hermes security posture at a moment in time.
+- It records posture fields, trust anchors, watched-file hashes, and metadata.
+
+2) Deterministic output
+- Same state should produce the same attestation content.
+- No noise from object insertion order or formatting randomness.
+
+3) Canonicalization before hashing
+- Payload is normalized into one canonical JSON representation.
+- This removes ambiguity from normal JSON variations.
+
+4) Digest binding
+- SHA-256 is computed over canonical payload content.
+- Any meaningful change to payload changes digest.
+- Any post-generation tampering causes verification mismatch.
+
+Where it is wired:
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/generate_attestation.mjs`
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs`
+  - `stableSortObject`
+  - `stableStringify`
+  - `sha256Hex`
+  - `buildAttestation`
+  - `computeCanonicalDigest`
+  - `validateDigestBinding`
+
+How to verify:
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_schema.test.mjs`
+  - proves same-input determinism and canonical digest consistency.
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs`
+  - proves post-generation tamper causes fail-closed digest mismatch.
+
+Quick scenario:
+- Same state: run generator twice with unchanged inputs -> same digest.
+- Tampered file: flip a posture value in JSON -> verifier fails on canonical digest mismatch.
+
+---
+
+### Claim 2: Enforces fail-closed verification for schema, digest, optional expected checksum, and detached signatures.
+
+In people-speak:
+
+Verification is not “best effort.” If a trust check fails, verification fails. No soft pass.
+
+What is fail-closed here:
+1) Schema must be valid.
+2) Canonical digest must match payload.
+3) If `--expected-sha256` is supplied, file bytes must exactly match.
+4) If detached signature verification is requested, signature + public key must both be present and valid.
+
+Where it is wired:
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/verify_attestation.mjs`
+  - schema checks
+  - digest checks
+  - expected checksum check
+  - detached signature verification
+  - non-zero exit on critical failure
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs`
+  - `validateAttestationSchema`
+  - `validateDigestBinding`
+
+How to verify:
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_schema.test.mjs`
+  - proves schema rejection and digest algorithm validation behavior.
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs`
+  - proves tamper path exits non-zero (fail closed).
+
+Quick scenario:
+- CI pins expected SHA and requires detached signature.
+- Artifact is modified or signed incorrectly -> verification exits non-zero and blocks pipeline.
+
+---
+
+### Claim 3: Adds baseline authenticity and drift-severity classification for risky toggles, feed verification regressions, trust anchor drift, and watched file drift.
+
+In people-speak:
+
+You only compare against a baseline after proving the baseline itself is authentic. Then differences are ranked by severity so operators can respond quickly.
+
+What this gives operators:
+1) Authenticated baseline gate
+- Baseline must be trusted (pinned digest and/or detached signature trust path).
+- Untrusted baseline is rejected before diffing.
+
+2) Severity-ranked drift findings
+- Critical/high/medium/low/info mapping instead of flat alerts.
+- High-signal categories include:
+  - risky toggle enablement,
+  - feed verification regressions,
+  - trust anchor hash drift,
+  - watched file hash drift.
+
+3) Policy-driven failure threshold
+- Verification can fail when findings meet/exceed configured severity threshold.
+
+Where it is wired:
+- Baseline trust and diff orchestration:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/verify_attestation.mjs`
+- Drift engine and severity mapping:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/diff.mjs`
+  - `diffAttestations`
+  - `highestSeverity`
+  - `severityAtOrAbove`
+
+How to verify:
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs`
+  - proves untrusted baseline rejection and digest-pinned baseline handling.
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_diff.test.mjs`
+  - proves classification for key drift types and highest-severity behavior.
+
+Quick scenario:
+- Yesterday’s baseline is pinned and trusted.
+- Today `allow_unsigned_mode` flips on and trust anchor hash changes.
+- Diff emits critical findings and verifier can fail run by severity policy.
+
+---
+
+### Claim 4: Adds Hermes-only cron setup helper with managed marker block and print-only default.
+
+In people-speak:
+
+You get a scheduler helper that is safe by default: it shows planned cron changes first, and only writes when you explicitly ask.
+
+What “safe by default” means:
+1) Hermes-only framing in UX and docs.
+2) Managed marker block for clean replacement of only this module’s cron section.
+3) Print-only default; write path requires explicit `--apply`.
+
+Where it is wired:
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs`
+  - managed markers
+  - print-only defaults
+  - apply path
+- Supporting scope/docs:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/SKILL.md`
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/skill.json`
+
+How to verify:
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs`
+  - proves Hermes-only messaging and managed-block behavior.
+  - proves default mode is preview-oriented and apply path is explicit.
+
+Quick scenario:
+- Operator runs cron helper without flags -> sees proposed block only.
+- Operator reviews, then reruns with `--apply` -> only managed block is updated.
+
+---
+
+### Claim 5: Includes output-scope/path guardrails for attestation artifacts and policy parsing safeguards.
+
+In people-speak:
+
+Artifact writes are fenced into Hermes attestation scope, including symlink-escape defenses, and policy parsing is normalized/defensive so bad input fails cleanly.
+
+What this protects against:
+1) Out-of-scope writes
+- Output path must remain under `HERMES_HOME/security/attestations`.
+
+2) Symlink escapes
+- Path resolution checks nearest existing ancestors and symlink behavior to prevent “write outside root” tricks.
+
+3) Safer policy parsing
+- Missing/invalid structure gets normalized defaults where appropriate.
+- Malformed JSON fails closed.
+- List fields are trimmed, deduplicated, and sorted.
+
+Where it is wired:
+- Guardrails:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs`
+    - `resolveHermesScopedOutputPath`
+- Call sites:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/generate_attestation.mjs`
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs`
+- Policy parsing:
+  - `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs`
+    - `parseAttestationPolicy`
+
+How to verify:
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs`
+  - proves out-of-scope and symlink-escape output rejection.
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs`
+  - proves cron helper also rejects out-of-scope output target.
+
+Quick scenario:
+- Operator accidentally sets `--output /tmp/current.json`.
+- Tool exits with critical path-scope error instead of writing outside Hermes scope.
+
+---
+
+### Claim 6: Cron managed-block parser fails closed on malformed markers.
+
+In people-speak:
+
+If cron markers are malformed (dangling start/end or nested blocks), updater refuses to rewrite crontab to avoid accidental deletion or corruption.
+
+What this means operationally:
+1) Marker structure is treated as integrity-sensitive input.
+2) Malformed structure throws and aborts apply path.
+3) No crontab write occurs after malformed marker detection.
+
+Where it is wired:
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs`
+  - `removeManagedBlock`
+  - marker parsing and malformed-marker throw paths
+
+How to verify:
+- `node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs`
+  - proves fail-closed behavior for:
+    - dangling start marker,
+    - unmatched end marker,
+    - nested markers,
+  - and verifies no write on malformed input.
+
+Quick scenario:
+- Existing crontab has managed start marker with no end marker.
+- Running `--apply` aborts with malformed-marker error and leaves crontab unchanged.
+
+## Key Files
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/skill.json`: metadata, platform scope, operator review notes, SBOM.
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/SKILL.md`: operator playbook, CLI usage, fail-closed policy.
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/README.md`: quickstart and practical behavior notes.
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs`: canonicalization, digest binding, schema checks, scoped output resolution, policy parsing.
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/diff.mjs`: baseline drift comparison and severity classification.
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/generate_attestation.mjs`: deterministic attestation generation CLI.
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/verify_attestation.mjs`: fail-closed verifier and baseline trust enforcement.
+- `skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs`: cron managed-block helper.
+
+## Public Interfaces
+- `generate_attestation.mjs` CLI
+  - Consumer: operators/automation
+  - Behavior: creates canonicalized attestation JSON and optional checksum artifact.
+- `verify_attestation.mjs` CLI
+  - Consumer: operators/automation/cron
+  - Behavior: enforces schema/digest/signature checks and optional trusted-baseline drift checks.
+- `setup_attestation_cron.mjs` CLI
+  - Consumer: operators
+  - Behavior: prints or applies managed cron block for scheduled generate+verify runs.
+- Diff output contract
+  - Consumer: operators/CI
+  - Behavior: emits severity-ranked drift findings for security triage.
+
+## Validation Commands
+```bash
+python utils/validate_skill.py skills/hermes-attestation-guardian
+node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_schema.test.mjs
+node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_diff.test.mjs
+node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs
+node skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs
+```
+
+## Update Notes
+- 2026-04-15: Replaced table-style PR claim mapping with full narrative claim breakdowns (people-speak, wiring, verification, and concrete scenarios per claim).
+
+## Source References
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/skill.json
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/SKILL.md
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/README.md
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/CHANGELOG.md
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/attestation.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/lib/diff.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/generate_attestation.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/verify_attestation.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/scripts/setup_attestation_cron.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_schema.test.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_diff.test.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/attestation_cli.test.mjs
+- skills/hermes-attestation-guardian/test/setup_attestation_cron.test.mjs