fix(skills/baoyu-comic): absolute curl paths + clarify-timeout handling (#13775)

* fix(skills/baoyu-comic): require absolute paths for curl -o downloads

When downloading generated images across several batches of image_generate
calls, relying on persistent-shell CWD is unsafe. The terminal tool's shell
can rotate (TERMINAL_LIFETIME_SECONDS expiry, a failed cd that leaves the
shell somewhere else), and 'curl -fsSL <url> -o relative.png' then silently
writes to the wrong directory with no error.

Update the skill's Step 7 Download step to require absolute -o paths (or
workdir= on the terminal tool) and add a matching pitfall entry referencing
the Apr 2026 incident where pages 06-09 of a 10-page comic landed at the
repo root instead of comic/<slug>/. The agent then spent several turns
claiming the files existed where they didn't.

* fix(skills/baoyu-comic): handle clarify timeouts correctly in Step 2

A clarify timeout returning 'Use your best judgement to make the choice
and proceed' is NOT user consent to default the entire Step 2 questionnaire.
It is a per-question default only. Add guidance at both instruction sites
(SKILL.md User Questions section, references/workflow.md Step 2 header)
telling the agent to:

1. Continue asking the remaining questions in the sequence after a
   timeout — each question is an independent consent point.
2. Surface every defaulted choice in the next user-visible message
   so the user can correct it when they return. An unreported default
   is indistinguishable from never having asked.

Reported live Apr 2026: agent asked style question via clarify, got a
timeout response, and silently defaulted style + narrative focus +
audience + review flags in one pass. User only learned style had
defaulted to 'ohmsha' after the comic was fully generated.

skills/creative/baoyu-comic/SKILL.md

@@ -169,6 +169,12 @@ Input → Analyze → [Check Existing?] → [Confirm: Style + Reviews] → Story
 
 Use the `clarify` tool to confirm options. Since `clarify` handles one question at a time, ask the most important question first and proceed sequentially. See [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md) for the full Step 2 question set.
 
+**Timeout handling (CRITICAL)**: `clarify` can return `"The user did not provide a response within the time limit. Use your best judgement to make the choice and proceed."` — this is NOT user consent to default everything.
+
+- Treat it as a default **for that one question only**. Continue asking the remaining Step 2 questions in sequence; each question is an independent consent point.
+- **Surface the default to the user visibly** in your next message so they have a chance to correct it: e.g. `"Style: defaulted to ohmsha preset (clarify timed out). Say the word to switch."` — an unreported default is indistinguishable from never having asked.
+- Do NOT collapse Step 2 into a single "use all defaults" pass after one timeout. If the user is genuinely absent, they will be equally absent for all five questions — but they can correct visible defaults when they return, and cannot correct invisible ones.
+
 ### Step 7: Image Generation
 
 Use Hermes' built-in `image_generate` tool for all image rendering. Its schema accepts only `prompt` and `aspect_ratio` (`landscape` | `portrait` | `square`); it **returns a URL**, not a local file. Every generated page or character sheet must therefore be downloaded to the output directory.
@@ -185,8 +191,11 @@ Use Hermes' built-in `image_generate` tool for all image rendering. Its schema a
 
 **Download step** — after every `image_generate` call:
 1. Read the URL from the tool result
-2. Fetch the image bytes (e.g., `curl -fsSL "<url>" -o <target>.png`)
-3. Verify the file exists and is non-empty before proceeding to the next page
+2. Fetch the image bytes using an **absolute** output path, e.g.
+   `curl -fsSL "<url>" -o /abs/path/to/comic/<slug>/NN-page-<slug>.png`
+3. Verify the file exists and is non-empty at that exact path before proceeding to the next page
+
+**Never rely on shell CWD persistence for `-o` paths.** The terminal tool's persistent-shell CWD can change between batches (session expiry, `TERMINAL_LIFETIME_SECONDS`, a failed `cd` that leaves you in the wrong directory). `curl -o relative/path.png` is a silent footgun: if CWD has drifted, the file lands somewhere else with no error. **Always pass a fully-qualified absolute path to `-o`**, or pass `workdir=<abs path>` to the terminal tool. Incident Apr 2026: pages 06-09 of a 10-page comic landed at the repo root instead of `comic/<slug>/` because batch 3 inherited a stale CWD from batch 2 and `curl -o 06-page-skills.png` wrote to the wrong directory. The agent then spent several turns claiming the files existed where they didn't.
 
 **7.1 Character sheet** — generate it (to `characters/characters.png`, aspect `landscape`) when the comic is multi-page with recurring characters. Skip for simple presets (e.g., four-panel minimalist) or single-page comics. The prompt file at `characters/characters.md` must exist before invoking `image_generate`. The rendered PNG is a **human-facing review artifact** (so the user can visually verify character design) and a reference for later regenerations or manual prompt edits — it does **not** drive Step 7.2. Page prompts are already written in Step 5 from the **text descriptions** in `characters/characters.md`; `image_generate` cannot accept images as visual input.
 
@@ -229,6 +238,7 @@ Full step-by-step workflow (analysis, storyboard, review gates, regeneration var
 
 - Image generation: 10-30 seconds per page; auto-retry once on failure
 - **Always download** the URL returned by `image_generate` to a local PNG — downstream tooling (and the user's review) expects files in the output directory, not ephemeral URLs
+- **Use absolute paths for `curl -o`** — never rely on persistent-shell CWD across batches. Silent footgun: files land in the wrong directory and subsequent `ls` on the intended path shows nothing. See Step 7 "Download step".
 - Use stylized alternatives for sensitive public figures
 - **Step 2 confirmation required** - do not skip
 - **Steps 4/6 conditional** - only if user requested in Step 2

skills/creative/baoyu-comic/references/workflow.md

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ Save result and handle accordingly:
 
 **Use `clarify` one question at a time**, in priority order:
 
+> **Timeout handling (CRITICAL)**: if `clarify` returns `"The user did not provide a response within the time limit. Use your best judgement..."`, that is a per-question default, NOT blanket consent. Continue to the next question in the sequence — do not bail out of Step 2. Then, in your next user-visible message, explicitly surface every default that was taken (e.g. `"Defaulted style → ohmsha, narrative focus → concept explanation, audience → developers (clarify timed out on all three). Say the word to redirect."`). An unreported default is indistinguishable to the user from "the agent never asked."
+
 ### Question 1: Visual Style
 
 If a preset is recommended (see `auto-selection.md`), show it first: