diff --git a/docs/agent-hierarchy.md b/docs/agent-hierarchy.md
index 6accf7c3..087326f6 100644
--- a/docs/agent-hierarchy.md
+++ b/docs/agent-hierarchy.md
@@ -104,16 +104,14 @@ which axis the post-milestone version reads each special-case along:
 
 ### A — naming + bootstrap
 
-- `MANAGER_AGENT = "root"` (broker recipient name),
-  `MANAGER_NAME = "root"` (logical name, state-dir key), and
-  `MANAGER_CONTAINER = "h-root"` (nixos-container name). The `h-`
-  prefix makes the manager consistent with all sub-agents and lets
-  `lifecycle::list()` use a single `starts_with("h-")` filter.
-  Existing `root` containers are renamed to `h-root` by migration
-  phase 5 in `migrate.rs` (idempotent, marker-guarded).
+- `MANAGER_AGENT = "ruth"` (broker recipient name),
+  `MANAGER_NAME = "ruth"` (logical name, state-dir key), and
+  `MANAGER_CONTAINER = "h-ruth"` (nixos-container name); the `h-`
+  prefix lets `lifecycle::list()` use a single `starts_with("h-")`
+  filter.
 - `auto_update::ensure_manager` runs at hive-c0re boot and spawns
-  `h-root` if missing. **Topology**: root has no parent, so
-  hive-c0re itself owns its lifecycle (no parent to delegate to).
+  `h-ruth` if missing. **Topology**: ruth defaults to root-level (no
+  parent); hive-c0re handles the bootstrap lifecycle directly.
 
 ### B — wire-protocol privileges
 
@@ -175,7 +173,6 @@ read.
 
 ### F — drive-by checks across c0re
 
-(`grep -n MANAGER_AGENT` produced ~28 hits)
 
 - `loose_ends.rs`: manager sees hive-wide loose-ends, sub-agents only
   their own. **Topology** — every agent sees its own + its
@@ -238,9 +235,8 @@ repos they're working on.
 meta-flake's per-agent flake.nix wrapper). For the manager unit
 that means a hardcoded `HIVE_LABEL` env value:
 
-- `HIVE_LABEL = "root"` — logical agent name; matches what `meta.rs`
-  injects at deploy time. (The nixos-container is `h-root`, but the
-  harness identifies itself by logical name.)
+- `HIVE_LABEL = "ruth"` — logical agent name; matches what `meta.rs`
+  injects at deploy time.
 
 Real deploys never read these — `meta::render_flake` overrides them
 via the generated wrapper. They exist so the manager
diff --git a/docs/approvals.md b/docs/approvals.md
index 27ea924b..b60fad63 100644
--- a/docs/approvals.md
+++ b/docs/approvals.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 The approval queue is hyperhive's pivot: nothing that changes the
 shape of an agent (its config, whether it exists) happens without an
-operator click. The manager (`root`) is the policy gate in front of
+operator click. The manager (`ruth`) is the policy gate in front of
 that queue; helper events are how it stays informed about what
 happens after a decision lands.
 
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ kind-specific payload carrier.
   operator approval. Step 1 of the two-step spawn flow above.
 - `UpdateMetaInputs` — `commit_ref` stores the JSON-encoded inputs
   array (`"[]"` = all inputs, `"[\"nixpkgs\"]"` = just nixpkgs,
-  etc.). `agent` field is set to `root` (the requesting manager).
+  etc.). `agent` field is set to `ruth` (the requesting manager).
   On approve hive-c0re runs `nix flake update [inputs...]` on the
   meta flake and commits the resulting lock changes.
 - `SchedulePrompt` — `commit_ref` stores the JSON-encoded
@@ -438,23 +438,22 @@ notes, the events DB, proposed history, and applied history
 all survive. The manager keeps its session; sub-agents stay
 logged in.
 
-## Manager (`root`) is hive-c0re-managed
+## Manager (`ruth`) is hive-c0re-managed
 
 The manager container runs through the **same lifecycle as
-sub-agents**. On `hive-c0re serve` startup, if `root` is missing,
+sub-agents**. On `hive-c0re serve` startup, if `ruth` is missing,
 hive-c0re creates it. The manager's flake lives at
-`/var/lib/hyperhive/applied/root/`; its proposed config at
-`/var/lib/hyperhive/agents/root/config/`. Manager can edit its own
-`agent.nix` (visible inside the container at `/agents/root/config/`)
-and submit `request_apply_commit("root", <sha>)` for operator
+`/var/lib/hyperhive/applied/ruth/`; its proposed config at
+`/var/lib/hyperhive/agents/ruth/config/`. Manager can edit its own
+`agent.nix` (visible inside the container at `/agents/ruth/config/`)
+and submit `request_apply_commit("ruth", <sha>)` for operator
 approval.
 
 Differences from sub-agents:
 
 - `flake.nix` extends `hyperhive.nixosConfigurations.manager`
   (vs `agent-base`).
-- Container name is `root` (no `h-` prefix).
-- Web UI port via `lifecycle::agent_web_port("root")` — same
+- Web UI port via `lifecycle::agent_web_port("ruth")` — same
   FNV-1a hash as every other agent (8100..8999 range).
 - `set_nspawn_flags` adds two extra binds: `/var/lib/hyperhive/agents`
   → `/agents` (RW) so the manager can edit per-agent proposed repos,
diff --git a/docs/conventions.md b/docs/conventions.md
index 3a94076a..bfb05b71 100644
--- a/docs/conventions.md
+++ b/docs/conventions.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ exist because something already went wrong without them.
 
 - Containers are length-bounded by `nixos-container` (≤ 11 chars).
 - Sub-agents are `h-<name>` with `<name>` ≤ 9 chars.
-- The manager is `root` (no `h-` prefix, fixed name).
+- The manager is `ruth` (fixed name).
 - `MAX_AGENT_NAME` in `lifecycle.rs` enforces the cap.
 - Per-agent web UI port = `WEB_PORT_BASE + FNV1a(name) % WEB_PORT_RANGE`
   (8100..8999) for every agent including the manager; dashboard
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ that allows the underlying resource access.
 
 **Config storage** — per-agent capabilities live in
 `/var/lib/hyperhive/meta/capabilities.json` alongside `tool-groups.json`.
-Format: `{ "atlas": ["read_host_journal"], "root": ["manage_root_agent"] }`.
+Format: `{ "atlas": ["read_host_journal"], "ruth": ["manage_root_agent"] }`.
 An absent entry means "no extra capabilities". `render_flake` in `meta.rs`
 reads this file and injects `HIVE_CAPABILITIES` (comma-separated
 `snake_case` names) into each agent's systemd service env; absent entries emit