diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
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+# Staggered Deployment Pipeline
+#
+# Release flow:
+#   v*.*.*-rc.* → Tanko only (canary)      e.g. v1.1.0-rc.1
+#   az-v*.*.*    → kagentz only (A2A track) e.g. az-v1.0.0
+#   v*.*.*       → all Hermes agents        e.g. v1.1.0
+#
+# Pi agents (Abiba) use a separate update mechanism.
+
+name: Deploy
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - v*.*.*          # Stable Hermes release → all agents
+      - v*.*.*-rc.*     # Release candidate → Tanko only
+      - az-v*.*.*       # Agent Zero release → kagentz only
+
+jobs:
+  validate:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Python syntax
+        run: |
+          python3 -m py_compile plugins/platforms/zulip/adapter.py 2>/dev/null
+          python3 -m py_compile agent-zero-zulip/src/agent_zero_zulip/adapter.py 2>/dev/null || true
+      - name: Deploy script
+        run: bash -n scripts/deploy.sh 2>/dev/null || true
+
+  # ── Track 1: Tanko (Hermes canary) ─────────────────────
+  deploy-tanko:
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [validate]
+    environment: canary
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Deploy to Tanko
+        run: |
+          TAG=$(echo $GITHUB_REF | sed 's|refs/tags/||')
+          echo "🧪 Canary deploy $TAG → Tanko (CT 112)"
+          echo "Run: ssh root@192.168.68.122 'cd /root && ./deploy.sh --ct=tanko --mode=native $TAG'"
+          echo "Wait 60s for health check..."
+
+  # ── Track 2: Hermes agents (after canary passes) ──────
+  deploy-hermes:
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v') && !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v*.*.*-rc') && !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/az-')
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [deploy-tanko]
+    environment: production
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Deploy to all Hermes agents
+        run: |
+          TAG=$(echo $GITHUB_REF | sed 's|refs/tags/||')
+          echo "🚀 Promoting $TAG to Hermes agents"
+          echo "  → Mumuni (CT 114): ssh root@192.168.68.123 ..."
+          echo "  → Tanko already on $TAG (canary passed)"
+
+  # ── Track 3: Agent Zero (kagentz) ─────────────────────
+  deploy-agent-zero:
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/az-')
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [validate]
+    environment: agent-zero
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Deploy to kagentz
+        run: |
+          TAG=$(echo $GITHUB_REF | sed 's|refs/tags/az-||')
+          echo "🤖 Deploying Agent Zero $TAG → kagentz (CT 105)"
+          echo "Steps:"
+          echo "  1. Copy adapter.py → docker cp agent-zero:/a0/usr/kagentz-zulip/"
+          echo "  2. Copy a2a_server.py → docker cp agent-zero:/a0/usr/a2a_agent.py"
+          echo "  3. Restart adapter + A2A server"
diff --git a/docs/RUNNER-SETUP.md b/docs/RUNNER-SETUP.md
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+++ b/docs/RUNNER-SETUP.md
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+# Gitea Actions Runner Setup
+
+## Prerequisites
+- Gitea admin access (root user or token with admin:actions scope)
+- Docker on the runner host (CT 116 recommended — already has Docker)
+
+## Step 1: Get Runner Registration Token
+```bash
+# On the Gitea host (CT 110) or via Gitea admin API:
+ssh root@192.168.68.17  # or via Proxmox: pct enter 110
+
+# As git user:
+su - git
+gitea actions generate-runner-token
+# Output: abc123def456...
+```
+
+Or via Gitea web UI:
+Settings → Actions → Runners → Create new runner → Copy token
+
+## Step 2: Deploy Runner on CT 116 (syslog-api)
+```bash
+ssh root@192.168.68.116
+
+# Create runner directory
+mkdir -p /opt/gitea-runner && cd /opt/gitea-runner
+
+# Download act runner
+wget -O act_runner https://code.gitea.io/act_runner/releases/latest/download/act_runner-linux-amd64
+chmod +x act_runner
+
+# Register runner
+./act_runner register \
+  --instance https://git.sysloggh.net \
+  --token <REGISTRATION_TOKEN> \
+  --name "zulip-runner" \
+  --labels "ubuntu-latest:docker://node:20-bullseye"
+
+# Create systemd service
+cat > /etc/systemd/system/gitea-runner.service << 'SERVICE'
+[Unit]
+Description=Gitea Actions Runner
+After=docker.service
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=/opt/gitea-runner/act_runner daemon
+WorkingDirectory=/opt/gitea-runner
+Restart=always
+RestartSec=5
+User=root
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
+SERVICE
+
+systemctl daemon-reload
+systemctl enable --now gitea-runner
+```
+
+## Step 3: Verify
+```bash
+journalctl -u gitea-runner -f --no-pager
+# Look for: "runner registered" or "listening for jobs"
+
+# In Gitea UI: Settings → Actions → Runners → should show "zulip-runner" active
+```
+
+## Step 4: Test
+Push a tag to trigger the pipeline:
+```bash
+git tag v1.1.0-rc.1   # Canary → Tanko only
+git push origin v1.1.0-rc.1
+
+# If canary passes:
+git tag v1.1.0          # Production → all Hermes
+git push origin v1.1.0
+
+# For Agent Zero:
+git tag az-v1.0.0       # Agent Zero → kagentz
+git push origin az-v1.0.0
+```
+
+## Tag Convention
+
+| Tag Pattern | Deploys To | Environment |
+|------------|------------|-------------|
+| `v*.*.*-rc.*` | Tanko only | `canary` |
+| `v*.*.*` | All Hermes agents | `production` |
+| `az-v*.*.*` | kagentz only | `agent-zero` |