diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/llm-extract.test.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/llm-extract.test.ts
index b96af35..e14e983 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/llm-extract.test.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/llm-extract.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { z } from "zod";
 
-import { llmExtract } from "../llm-extract.js";
+import { llmExtract } from "../shared/llm-extract.js";
 
 describe("llmExtract", () => {
   afterEach(() => {
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/role-factories.test.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/role-factories.test.ts
index fbfc704..1eabe44 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/role-factories.test.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/role-factories.test.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,10 @@ import { z } from "zod";
 
 import { START } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
-import {
-  createCursorRole,
-  createHermesRole,
-  createLlmRole,
-  createReActRole,
-} from "../role-factories.js";
+import { createCursorRole } from "../role-cursor.js";
+import { createHermesRole } from "../role-hermes.js";
+import { createLlmRole } from "../role-llm.js";
+import { createReActRole } from "../role-react.js";
 
 function startFrame(dryRun: boolean, threadId: string) {
   return {
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/schema-defaults.test.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/schema-defaults.test.ts
index a045571..265e3c5 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/schema-defaults.test.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/schema-defaults.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { z } from "zod";
 
-import { schemaDefaults } from "../schema-defaults.js";
+import { schemaDefaults } from "../shared/schema-defaults.js";
 
 describe("schemaDefaults", () => {
   it("fills nested objects with primitive placeholders", () => {
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/spawn-safe.test.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/spawn-safe.test.ts
index 5c601ff..85ad1b2 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/spawn-safe.test.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/__tests__/spawn-safe.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { spawnSafe } from "../spawn-safe.js";
+import { spawnSafe } from "../shared/spawn-safe.js";
 
 describe("spawnSafe", () => {
   it("passes argv literally without shell interpretation (injection-safe)", async () => {
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/hermes-options.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/hermes-options.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index dfb866c..0000000
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/hermes-options.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-import type { HermesRoleDefaults, HermesRoleRequired } from "./role-types.js";
-
-const HERMES_DEFAULTS: HermesRoleDefaults = {
-  model: null,
-  provider: null,
-  skills: [],
-  quiet: true,
-  maxTurns: 90,
-  env: {},
-  timeoutMs: 600_000,
-};
-
-export function resolveHermesOptions<T>(
-  options: HermesRoleRequired<T> & Partial<HermesRoleDefaults>,
-): HermesRoleDefaults {
-  const d = HERMES_DEFAULTS;
-  return {
-    model: "model" in options && options.model !== undefined ? options.model : d.model,
-    provider:
-      "provider" in options && options.provider !== undefined ? options.provider : d.provider,
-    skills: "skills" in options && options.skills !== undefined ? options.skills : d.skills,
-    quiet: "quiet" in options && options.quiet !== undefined ? options.quiet : d.quiet,
-    maxTurns:
-      "maxTurns" in options && options.maxTurns !== undefined ? options.maxTurns : d.maxTurns,
-    env: "env" in options && options.env !== undefined ? options.env : d.env,
-    timeoutMs:
-      "timeoutMs" in options && options.timeoutMs !== undefined ? options.timeoutMs : d.timeoutMs,
-  };
-}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/index.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/index.ts
index 70ca571..772a5ec 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/index.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
 // Primary API — role factory templates
-export {
-  createCursorRole,
-  createHermesRole,
-  createLlmRole,
-  createReActRole,
-} from "./role-factories.js";
+export { createCursorRole } from "./role-cursor.js";
+export { createHermesRole } from "./role-hermes.js";
+export { createLlmRole } from "./role-llm.js";
+export { createReActRole } from "./role-react.js";
 export {
   nerveAgentContext,
   readNerveYaml,
   type NerveYamlError,
   type ReadNerveYamlOptions,
-} from "./context.js";
-export { isDryRun } from "./start-step.js";
+} from "./shared/context.js";
+export { isDryRun } from "./role-types.js";
 export {
   nerveCommandEnv,
   spawnSafe,
@@ -19,8 +17,8 @@ export {
   type SpawnError,
   type SpawnResult,
   type SpawnSafeOptions,
-} from "./spawn-safe.js";
-export type { LlmError, LlmProvider } from "./llm-extract.js";
+} from "./shared/spawn-safe.js";
+export type { LlmError, LlmProvider } from "./shared/llm-extract.js";
 export type {
   CliPromptFn,
   CursorRoleDefaults,
@@ -35,4 +33,4 @@ export type {
   ReActRoleRequired,
   ReActTool,
 } from "./role-types.js";
-export type { LlmChatError } from "./llm-chat.js";
+export type { LlmChatError } from "./shared/llm-chat.js";
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-cursor.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-cursor.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8522e58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-cursor.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import type { Role } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import type { CursorRoleDefaults, CursorRoleRequired } from "./role-types.js";
+import { isDryRun } from "./role-types.js";
+import { type CursorAgentMode, cursorAgent } from "./shared/cursor-agent.js";
+import { formatLlmError } from "./shared/format-error.js";
+import { llmExtract } from "./shared/llm-extract.js";
+import type { SpawnEnv } from "./shared/spawn-safe.js";
+
+const CURSOR_DEFAULTS: CursorRoleDefaults = {
+  mode: "default",
+  model: "auto",
+  env: {},
+  timeoutMs: 300_000,
+};
+
+function pick<T>(opts: Record<string, unknown>, key: string, fallback: T): T {
+  if (key in opts && opts[key] !== undefined) {
+    return opts[key] as T;
+  }
+  return fallback;
+}
+
+/**
+ * `cursor-agent` + `llmExtract` to produce `RoleResult<T>`. CLI agent returns
+ * a single string; structured meta is read via a cheap follow-up `llmExtract`.
+ */
+export function createCursorRole<T>(
+  options: CursorRoleRequired<T> & Partial<CursorRoleDefaults>,
+): Role<T> {
+  return async (start, _messages) => {
+    const dry = isDryRun(start);
+    const d = CURSOR_DEFAULTS;
+    const mode = pick<CursorAgentMode>(options as Record<string, unknown>, "mode", d.mode);
+    const model = pick<string>(options as Record<string, unknown>, "model", d.model);
+    const env = pick<SpawnEnv>(options as Record<string, unknown>, "env", d.env);
+    const timeoutMs = pick<number>(options as Record<string, unknown>, "timeoutMs", d.timeoutMs);
+    const prompt = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
+    const run = await cursorAgent({
+      prompt,
+      mode,
+      model,
+      cwd: options.cwd,
+      env: Object.keys(env).length === 0 ? null : env,
+      timeoutMs,
+      dryRun: dry,
+    });
+    if (!run.ok) {
+      const e = run.error;
+      if (e.kind === "non_zero_exit") {
+        throw new Error(
+          `cursor-agent: exitCode=${e.exitCode} stdout=${e.stdout} stderr=${e.stderr}`,
+        );
+      }
+      if (e.kind === "timeout") {
+        throw new Error("cursor-agent: timeout");
+      }
+      throw new Error(`cursor-agent: ${e.message}`);
+    }
+    const text = run.value;
+    const metaR = await llmExtract({
+      text,
+      schema: options.extract.schema,
+      provider: options.extract.provider,
+      dryRun: dry,
+    });
+    if (!metaR.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
+    }
+    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-factories.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-factories.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 707fddd..0000000
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-factories.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,223 +0,0 @@
-import type { Role } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
-
-import { cursorAgent } from "./cursor-agent.js";
-import type { CursorAgentMode } from "./cursor-agent.js";
-import { hermesAgent } from "./hermes-agent.js";
-import { resolveHermesOptions } from "./hermes-options.js";
-import { type LlmChatError, chatCompletionText, reActIterativeChat } from "./llm-chat.js";
-import { type LlmError, llmExtract } from "./llm-extract.js";
-import type {
-  CursorRoleDefaults,
-  CursorRoleRequired,
-  HermesRoleDefaults,
-  HermesRoleRequired,
-  LlmMessage,
-  LlmRoleRequired,
-  ReActRoleDefaults,
-  ReActRoleRequired,
-} from "./role-types.js";
-import type { SpawnEnv } from "./spawn-safe.js";
-import { isDryRun } from "./start-step.js";
-
-const CURSOR_DEFAULTS: CursorRoleDefaults = {
-  mode: "default",
-  model: "auto",
-  env: {},
-  timeoutMs: 300_000,
-};
-
-const REACT_DEFAULTS: ReActRoleDefaults = {
-  maxIterations: 10,
-};
-
-function mergeMode(
-  o: CursorRoleRequired<unknown> & Partial<CursorRoleDefaults>,
-  d: CursorRoleDefaults,
-): CursorAgentMode {
-  if ("mode" in o && o.mode !== undefined) {
-    return o.mode;
-  }
-  return d.mode;
-}
-
-function mergeCursorModel(
-  o: CursorRoleRequired<unknown> & Partial<CursorRoleDefaults>,
-  d: CursorRoleDefaults,
-): string {
-  if ("model" in o && o.model !== undefined) {
-    return o.model;
-  }
-  return d.model;
-}
-
-function mergeCursorEnv(
-  o: CursorRoleRequired<unknown> & Partial<CursorRoleDefaults>,
-  d: CursorRoleDefaults,
-): SpawnEnv {
-  if ("env" in o && o.env !== undefined) {
-    return o.env;
-  }
-  return d.env;
-}
-
-function mergeCursorTimeout(
-  o: CursorRoleRequired<unknown> & Partial<CursorRoleDefaults>,
-  d: CursorRoleDefaults,
-): number {
-  if ("timeoutMs" in o && o.timeoutMs !== undefined) {
-    return o.timeoutMs;
-  }
-  return d.timeoutMs;
-}
-
-function formatLlmError(e: LlmError | LlmChatError): string {
-  return JSON.stringify(e);
-}
-
-/**
- * `cursor-agent` + `llmExtract` to produce `RoleResult<T>`. CLI agent returns
- * a single string; structured meta is read via a cheap follow-up `llmExtract`.
- */
-export function createCursorRole<T>(
-  options: CursorRoleRequired<T> & Partial<CursorRoleDefaults>,
-): Role<T> {
-  return async (start, _messages) => {
-    const dry = isDryRun(start);
-    const d = CURSOR_DEFAULTS;
-    const mode = mergeMode(options, d);
-    const model = mergeCursorModel(options, d);
-    const env = mergeCursorEnv(options, d);
-    const timeoutMs = mergeCursorTimeout(options, d);
-    const prompt = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
-    const run = await cursorAgent({
-      prompt,
-      mode,
-      model,
-      cwd: options.cwd,
-      env: Object.keys(env).length === 0 ? null : env,
-      timeoutMs,
-      dryRun: dry,
-    });
-    if (!run.ok) {
-      const e = run.error;
-      if (e.kind === "non_zero_exit") {
-        throw new Error(
-          `cursor-agent: exitCode=${e.exitCode} stdout=${e.stdout} stderr=${e.stderr}`,
-        );
-      }
-      if (e.kind === "timeout") {
-        throw new Error("cursor-agent: timeout");
-      }
-      throw new Error(`cursor-agent: ${e.message}`);
-    }
-    const text = run.value;
-    const metaR = await llmExtract({
-      text,
-      schema: options.extract.schema,
-      provider: options.extract.provider,
-      dryRun: dry,
-    });
-    if (!metaR.ok) {
-      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
-    }
-    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
-  };
-}
-
-export function createHermesRole<T>(
-  options: HermesRoleRequired<T> & Partial<HermesRoleDefaults>,
-): Role<T> {
-  return async (start, _messages) => {
-    const dry = isDryRun(start);
-    const h = resolveHermesOptions(options);
-    const prompt = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
-    const run = await hermesAgent({
-      prompt,
-      model: h.model,
-      provider: h.provider,
-      skills: h.skills,
-      quiet: h.quiet,
-      maxTurns: h.maxTurns,
-      env: Object.keys(h.env).length === 0 ? null : h.env,
-      timeoutMs: h.timeoutMs,
-      dryRun: dry,
-    });
-    if (!run.ok) {
-      const e = run.error;
-      if (e.kind === "non_zero_exit") {
-        throw new Error(`hermes: exitCode=${e.exitCode} stdout=${e.stdout} stderr=${e.stderr}`);
-      }
-      if (e.kind === "timeout") {
-        throw new Error("hermes: timeout");
-      }
-      throw new Error(`hermes: ${e.message}`);
-    }
-    const text = run.value;
-    const metaR = await llmExtract({
-      text,
-      schema: options.extract.schema,
-      provider: options.extract.provider,
-      dryRun: dry,
-    });
-    if (!metaR.ok) {
-      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
-    }
-    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
-  };
-}
-
-export function createLlmRole<T>(options: LlmRoleRequired<T>): Role<T> {
-  return async (start, _messages) => {
-    const dry = isDryRun(start);
-    const messages: LlmMessage[] = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
-    const result = await chatCompletionText({ provider: options.provider, messages });
-    if (!result.ok) {
-      throw new Error(`llm: ${formatLlmError(result.error)}`);
-    }
-    const text = result.value;
-    const metaR = await llmExtract({
-      text,
-      schema: options.extract.schema,
-      provider: options.extract.provider,
-      dryRun: dry,
-    });
-    if (!metaR.ok) {
-      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
-    }
-    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
-  };
-}
-
-export function createReActRole<T>(
-  options: ReActRoleRequired<T> & Partial<ReActRoleDefaults>,
-): Role<T> {
-  return async (start, _messages) => {
-    const dry = isDryRun(start);
-    const def = REACT_DEFAULTS;
-    const maxIt =
-      "maxIterations" in options && options.maxIterations !== undefined
-        ? options.maxIterations
-        : def.maxIterations;
-    const messages: LlmMessage[] = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
-    const result = await reActIterativeChat({
-      provider: options.provider,
-      tools: options.tools,
-      messages,
-      maxIterations: maxIt,
-    });
-    if (!result.ok) {
-      throw new Error(`react: ${formatLlmError(result.error)}`);
-    }
-    const text = result.value;
-    const metaR = await llmExtract({
-      text,
-      schema: options.extract.schema,
-      provider: options.extract.provider,
-      dryRun: dry,
-    });
-    if (!metaR.ok) {
-      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
-    }
-    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
-  };
-}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-hermes.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-hermes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e68ae5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-hermes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import type { Role } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import type { HermesRoleDefaults, HermesRoleRequired } from "./role-types.js";
+import { isDryRun } from "./role-types.js";
+import { formatLlmError } from "./shared/format-error.js";
+import { hermesAgent, resolveHermesOptions } from "./shared/hermes-agent.js";
+import { llmExtract } from "./shared/llm-extract.js";
+
+export function createHermesRole<T>(
+  options: HermesRoleRequired<T> & Partial<HermesRoleDefaults>,
+): Role<T> {
+  return async (start, _messages) => {
+    const dry = isDryRun(start);
+    const h = resolveHermesOptions(options);
+    const prompt = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
+    const run = await hermesAgent({
+      prompt,
+      model: h.model,
+      provider: h.provider,
+      skills: h.skills,
+      quiet: h.quiet,
+      maxTurns: h.maxTurns,
+      env: Object.keys(h.env).length === 0 ? null : h.env,
+      timeoutMs: h.timeoutMs,
+      dryRun: dry,
+    });
+    if (!run.ok) {
+      const e = run.error;
+      if (e.kind === "non_zero_exit") {
+        throw new Error(`hermes: exitCode=${e.exitCode} stdout=${e.stdout} stderr=${e.stderr}`);
+      }
+      if (e.kind === "timeout") {
+        throw new Error("hermes: timeout");
+      }
+      throw new Error(`hermes: ${e.message}`);
+    }
+    const text = run.value;
+    const metaR = await llmExtract({
+      text,
+      schema: options.extract.schema,
+      provider: options.extract.provider,
+      dryRun: dry,
+    });
+    if (!metaR.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
+    }
+    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-llm.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-llm.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8a5709
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-llm.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import type { Role } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import type { LlmMessage, LlmRoleRequired } from "./role-types.js";
+import { isDryRun } from "./role-types.js";
+import { formatLlmError } from "./shared/format-error.js";
+import { chatCompletionText } from "./shared/llm-chat.js";
+import { llmExtract } from "./shared/llm-extract.js";
+
+export function createLlmRole<T>(options: LlmRoleRequired<T>): Role<T> {
+  return async (start, _messages) => {
+    const dry = isDryRun(start);
+    const messages: LlmMessage[] = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
+    const result = await chatCompletionText({ provider: options.provider, messages });
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`llm: ${formatLlmError(result.error)}`);
+    }
+    const text = result.value;
+    const metaR = await llmExtract({
+      text,
+      schema: options.extract.schema,
+      provider: options.extract.provider,
+      dryRun: dry,
+    });
+    if (!metaR.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
+    }
+    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-react.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-react.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d855217
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-react.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import type { Role } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import type { LlmMessage, ReActRoleDefaults, ReActRoleRequired } from "./role-types.js";
+import { isDryRun } from "./role-types.js";
+import { formatLlmError } from "./shared/format-error.js";
+import { reActIterativeChat } from "./shared/llm-chat.js";
+import { llmExtract } from "./shared/llm-extract.js";
+
+const REACT_DEFAULTS: ReActRoleDefaults = {
+  maxIterations: 10,
+};
+
+export function createReActRole<T>(
+  options: ReActRoleRequired<T> & Partial<ReActRoleDefaults>,
+): Role<T> {
+  return async (start, _messages) => {
+    const dry = isDryRun(start);
+    const def = REACT_DEFAULTS;
+    const maxIt =
+      "maxIterations" in options && options.maxIterations !== undefined
+        ? options.maxIterations
+        : def.maxIterations;
+    const messages: LlmMessage[] = await options.prompt(start.meta.threadId);
+    const result = await reActIterativeChat({
+      provider: options.provider,
+      tools: options.tools,
+      messages,
+      maxIterations: maxIt,
+    });
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`react: ${formatLlmError(result.error)}`);
+    }
+    const text = result.value;
+    const metaR = await llmExtract({
+      text,
+      schema: options.extract.schema,
+      provider: options.extract.provider,
+      dryRun: dry,
+    });
+    if (!metaR.ok) {
+      throw new Error(`llmExtract: ${formatLlmError(metaR.error)}`);
+    }
+    return { content: text, meta: metaR.value };
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-types.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-types.ts
index ca8c63a..6e97f0b 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-types.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/role-types.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
+import type { StartStep } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import type { z } from "zod";
 
-import type { LlmProvider } from "./llm-extract.js";
-import type { SpawnEnv } from "./spawn-safe.js";
+import type { LlmProvider } from "./shared/llm-extract.js";
+import type { SpawnEnv } from "./shared/spawn-safe.js";
+
+/** Returns the thread-level dry-run flag from the workflow start frame. */
+export function isDryRun(start: StartStep): boolean {
+  return start.meta.dryRun;
+}
 
 export type CliPromptFn = (threadId: string) => Promise<string>;
 
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/context.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/context.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/workflow-utils/src/context.ts
rename to packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/context.ts
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/cursor-agent.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/cursor-agent.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/workflow-utils/src/cursor-agent.ts
rename to packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/cursor-agent.ts
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/format-error.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/format-error.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0a35d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/format-error.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import type { LlmChatError } from "./llm-chat.js";
+import type { LlmError } from "./llm-extract.js";
+
+export function formatLlmError(e: LlmError | LlmChatError): string {
+  return JSON.stringify(e);
+}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/hermes-agent.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/hermes-agent.ts
similarity index 58%
rename from packages/workflow-utils/src/hermes-agent.ts
rename to packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/hermes-agent.ts
index 0d76dd6..2cf9862 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/hermes-agent.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/hermes-agent.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { type Result, ok } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
+import type { HermesRoleDefaults, HermesRoleRequired } from "../role-types.js";
 import { type SpawnEnv, type SpawnError, spawnSafe } from "./spawn-safe.js";
 
 /**
@@ -64,3 +65,33 @@ export async function hermesAgent(
   }
   return ok(run.value.stdout);
 }
+
+// --- Hermes options resolution (absorbed from hermes-options.ts) ---
+
+const HERMES_DEFAULTS: HermesRoleDefaults = {
+  model: null,
+  provider: null,
+  skills: [],
+  quiet: true,
+  maxTurns: 90,
+  env: {},
+  timeoutMs: 600_000,
+};
+
+export function resolveHermesOptions<T>(
+  options: HermesRoleRequired<T> & Partial<HermesRoleDefaults>,
+): HermesRoleDefaults {
+  const d = HERMES_DEFAULTS;
+  return {
+    model: "model" in options && options.model !== undefined ? options.model : d.model,
+    provider:
+      "provider" in options && options.provider !== undefined ? options.provider : d.provider,
+    skills: "skills" in options && options.skills !== undefined ? options.skills : d.skills,
+    quiet: "quiet" in options && options.quiet !== undefined ? options.quiet : d.quiet,
+    maxTurns:
+      "maxTurns" in options && options.maxTurns !== undefined ? options.maxTurns : d.maxTurns,
+    env: "env" in options && options.env !== undefined ? options.env : d.env,
+    timeoutMs:
+      "timeoutMs" in options && options.timeoutMs !== undefined ? options.timeoutMs : d.timeoutMs,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/llm-chat.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/llm-chat.ts
similarity index 99%
rename from packages/workflow-utils/src/llm-chat.ts
rename to packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/llm-chat.ts
index e74017a..5af9888 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/llm-chat.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/llm-chat.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { type Result, err, ok } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { toJSONSchema } from "zod";
 
+import type { LlmMessage, ReActTool } from "../role-types.js";
 import type { LlmProvider } from "./llm-extract.js";
-import type { LlmMessage, ReActTool } from "./role-types.js";
 
 type OpenAiMessage =
   | { role: "system" | "user" | "assistant"; content: string }
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/llm-extract.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/llm-extract.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/workflow-utils/src/llm-extract.ts
rename to packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/llm-extract.ts
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/schema-defaults.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/schema-defaults.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/workflow-utils/src/schema-defaults.ts
rename to packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/schema-defaults.ts
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/spawn-safe.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/spawn-safe.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/workflow-utils/src/spawn-safe.ts
rename to packages/workflow-utils/src/shared/spawn-safe.ts
diff --git a/packages/workflow-utils/src/start-step.ts b/packages/workflow-utils/src/start-step.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 2723c20..0000000
--- a/packages/workflow-utils/src/start-step.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-import type { StartStep } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
-
-/** Returns the thread-level dry-run flag from the workflow start frame. */
-export function isDryRun(start: StartStep): boolean {
-  return start.meta.dryRun;
-}