diff --git a/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md b/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
index a06fb84..684fe0a 100644
--- a/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
+++ b/prompts/SYSTEM_PROMPT.md
@@ -43,17 +43,21 @@ The ollie 9P filesystem is mounted at `${OLLIE_9MOUNT:-$HOME/mnt/ollie}`. All pe
 
 Tool scripts live at `${OLLIE_9MOUNT:-$HOME/mnt/ollie}/t/`. Run them with `execute_tool` or as steps in an `execute_pipe` pipeline.
 
-```sh
-ls ${OLLIE_9MOUNT:-$HOME/mnt/ollie}/t/    # list available tools
+Supported languages are detected from the script's shebang line:
+- `#!/usr/bin/env bash` — runs with `bash -c`
+- `#!/usr/bin/env python3` — runs with `python3 -c`; `sys.argv` is set automatically when args are provided
+
+Unlike built-in tools, shell tools have no injected schema. Before using an unfamiliar tool, discover available tools and their usage:
+
+```
+execute_tool {tool: "tools"}                  # list all tools with descriptions and args
 ```
 
-Supported languages are detected from the script's shebang line:
-- `#!/usr/bin/env bash` (or any bash shebang) — runs with `bash -c`
-- `#!/usr/bin/env python3` (or any python shebang) — runs with `python3 -c`; `sys.argv` is set automatically when args are provided
-
-Task planning tools are available in `t/`:
-- `task_plan` — create a plan: `execute_tool {tool: "task_plan", args: ["<goal>", "<step1>", "<step2>", ...]}`
-- `task_complete` — mark a step done: `execute_tool {tool: "task_complete", args: ["<filename>", "<step-substring>"]}`
+Each tool's header also documents itself directly:
+```
+# description: <what it does>
+# Args: <arg1> [arg2] ...
+```
 
 # Skills
 
diff --git a/tools/tools.sh b/tools/tools.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6523496
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/tools.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# description: List all available tools with their descriptions and usage
+set -euo pipefail
+
+OLLIE="${OLLIE_9MOUNT:-$HOME/mnt/ollie}"
+
+for f in "$OLLIE/t/"*; do
+    [ -f "$f" ] || continue
+    name=$(basename "$f")
+    desc=$(grep -m1 "^# description:" "$f" 2>/dev/null | sed 's/^# description: *//')
+    args=$(grep -m1 "^# [Aa]rgs:" "$f" 2>/dev/null | sed 's/^# [Aa]rgs: *//')
+    printf '%-28s %s\n' "$name" "$desc"
+    [ -n "$args" ] && printf '%-28s Args: %s\n' "" "$args"
+done