---
name: loader
description: "Instructions for the upstream workflow: Assemble the context a delegated sub-agent needs — the shared core agent file plus the agent's own delta — with single and batch loading and a helper that suggests which agents fit a task. Use when spawning named agents that must share one contract. Not for choosing among tools — use tool-router or skill-finder; not for loading skills into the context under a budget — use context-budget."
license: MIT
metadata:
  version: "1.0.0"
  domain: agent-skills
  canonical-name: loader
---
# Pre-Prompt Loader

## Package scope and prerequisites

This catalog ships instructions, not the executable runtime. Python modules, scripts, local services and optional tools named below must be installed separately from the upstream project. Check their availability before running commands; if they are missing, explain the prerequisite instead of claiming execution or results. The host agent may use model tokens while following these instructions.

## When NOT to use

- You need a tool selected, not an agent's context assembled — use tool_router.
- You need a subset of skills loaded under a budget — use context_budget.
Loads core-agent.md + agent delta for delegate_task subagents.

**Trigger:** When using delegate_task to spawn Mousquetaires or Cardinal agents.

**Usage:**
```python
from skills.loader import load_agent, load_agents_batch, suggest_agents
ctx = load_agent("porthos", project_root="/path/to/project")
tasks = load_agents_batch([("porthos","Audit",None), ("aramis","Optimize",None)])
suggestions = suggest_agents("reassess inherited architecture assumptions")
```

**Module:** `skills/loader`
**Agents:** 9 (porthos, dartagnan, aramis, athos, rochefort, milady, comte_de_wardes, cardinal, monte_cristo)

`monte_cristo` is neither blue nor red. It uses the canonical read-only agent
definition in `agents/monte-cristo.md` and receives no terminal toolset.
`suggest_agents(goal)` performs deterministic, zero-token special-agent routing.
It fails closed unless Monte-Cristo's tracked trigger-evaluation gate passes.