diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 5b6f3a8..2573271 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ AGENT_PROFILE_PATH=profiles/kaya.yaml
 HEALTH_LISTEN_ADDR=:8087
 METRICS_LISTEN_ADDR=:9097
 SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT=15s
-RESPONSE_TIMEOUT=120s
+RESPONSE_TIMEOUT=180s
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5796b03..77d894b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ Long-lived daemon:
 2. On `comment.added` where mentions include agent `kaya` and author ≠ `kaya`:
    - dedupes by comment id
    - GET task + comments via REST
-   - calls `l-ai-core` `AIService.RunAgent` (tools disabled) with Kaya persona
-   - POST comment with `Idempotency-Key: mention-reply:<comment_id>`
+   - calls `l-ai-core` `AIService.RunAgent` with tools enabled (`tool_profile=kaya-board`: journal, tasks, steam/faceit, discord, node — same surface as Telegram chat; no gitea/evolver)
+   - POST comment with `Idempotency-Key: mention-reply:<comment_id>` (do not use `add_comment` for the reply itself)
 
 No Telegram / Live Chat integration.
 
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ No Telegram / Live Chat integration.
 | `AGENT_PROFILE_PATH` | no | `profiles/kaya.yaml` |
 | `HEALTH_LISTEN_ADDR` | no | `:8087` |
 | `METRICS_LISTEN_ADDR` | no | `:9097` |
+| `RESPONSE_TIMEOUT` | no | `180s` |
 
 ## Build
 
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 9d18168..7cb7aec 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func Load() (Config, error) {
 		MetricsListenAddr: env("METRICS_LISTEN_ADDR", ":9097"),
 		HealthListenAddr:  env("HEALTH_LISTEN_ADDR", ":8087"),
 		ShutdownTimeout:   envDur("SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT", 15*time.Second),
-		ResponseTimeout:   envDur("RESPONSE_TIMEOUT", 120*time.Second),
+		ResponseTimeout:   envDur("RESPONSE_TIMEOUT", 180*time.Second),
 	}
 	if c.TasksWSURL == "" {
 		return c, errors.New("TASKS_WS_URL is required")
diff --git a/internal/inference/core.go b/internal/inference/core.go
index 3202edc..fc4a549 100644
--- a/internal/inference/core.go
+++ b/internal/inference/core.go
@@ -59,17 +59,25 @@ func (r *CoreRunner) RunAgent(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (RunResult, e
 	}
 
 	toolsEnabled := req.ToolsEnabled
-	maxIters := uint32(1)
-	maxCalls := uint32(0)
-	if toolsEnabled {
-		maxIters = 12
-		maxCalls = 20
+	maxIters := req.MaxToolIterations
+	maxCalls := req.MaxTotalToolCalls
+	if !toolsEnabled {
+		maxIters = 1
+		maxCalls = 0
+	} else {
+		if maxIters == 0 {
+			maxIters = 12
+		}
+		if maxCalls == 0 {
+			maxCalls = 20
+		}
 	}
 
 	resp, err := r.api.RunAgent(r.auth(ctx), &corepb.AgentRequest{
-		Messages:  msgs,
-		ModelName: req.Model,
-		AgentId:   req.AgentID,
+		Messages:    msgs,
+		ModelName:   req.Model,
+		AgentId:     req.AgentID,
+		ToolProfile: req.ToolProfile,
 		ToolLoop: &corepb.AgentToolLoopOptions{
 			ToolsEnabled:        toolsEnabled,
 			MaxToolIterations:   maxIters,
diff --git a/internal/inference/types.go b/internal/inference/types.go
index d22c4fb..cfe765b 100644
--- a/internal/inference/types.go
+++ b/internal/inference/types.go
@@ -8,16 +8,19 @@ type ChatMessage struct {
 }
 
 type RunRequest struct {
-	Messages       []ChatMessage
-	Model          string
-	AgentID        string
-	RequestID      string
-	IdempotencyKey string
-	JSONSchema     string
-	Repair         bool
-	TimeoutSeconds uint32
-	Metadata       map[string]string
-	ToolsEnabled   bool
+	Messages            []ChatMessage
+	Model               string
+	AgentID             string
+	RequestID           string
+	IdempotencyKey      string
+	JSONSchema          string
+	Repair              bool
+	TimeoutSeconds      uint32
+	Metadata            map[string]string
+	ToolsEnabled        bool
+	ToolProfile         string
+	MaxToolIterations   uint32
+	MaxTotalToolCalls   uint32
 }
 
 type RunResult struct {
diff --git a/internal/profile/profile.go b/internal/profile/profile.go
index e407f49..0aac3de 100644
--- a/internal/profile/profile.go
+++ b/internal/profile/profile.go
@@ -101,8 +101,9 @@ func (p Profile) SystemPrompt() string {
 	}
 	b.WriteString("You reply only to task comment @mentions. Be helpful and concise. ")
 	b.WriteString("Match the language of the triggering comment (Russian or English). ")
-	b.WriteString("When asked to journal / diary a merged change: write a short factual note of what shipped and any PR URL from the thread. ")
-	b.WriteString("Do not invent task state that is not in the provided context. ")
+	b.WriteString("Tools match Telegram chat (journal, tasks, steam/faceit, discord, node) — use them when needed. ")
+	b.WriteString("When asked to journal / diary a merged change: call write_journal (persona Postgres diary), then a short board reply noting what shipped and any PR URL. ")
+	b.WriteString("Do not invent task state that is not in the provided context or tool results. ")
 	b.WriteString("Output only the comment body to post — no preamble or quotes.\n")
 	return b.String()
 }
diff --git a/internal/tasksboard/loop.go b/internal/tasksboard/loop.go
index 3429708..dac9166 100644
--- a/internal/tasksboard/loop.go
+++ b/internal/tasksboard/loop.go
@@ -154,7 +154,8 @@ func (l *Loop) handle(ctx context.Context, ev tasksws.Event) error {
 
 	sys := l.Profile.SystemPrompt()
 	sys += " Avoid @mentioning other agents unless you need a concrete action — never @mention just to acknowledge."
-	sys += " If Mira asks you to journal a merged task, write a short diary-style board comment (what changed + PR if present)."
+	sys += " CRITICAL: Do NOT call add_comment — this process posts your reply text as the board comment."
+	sys += " If asked to journal / diary a merged task: call write_journal with a short factual entry (what shipped + PR URL if present), then still write a brief board reply."
 	if authorType == "human" {
 		sys += " A human mentioned you — always give a real reply."
 	}
@@ -164,13 +165,16 @@ func (l *Loop) handle(ctx context.Context, ev tasksws.Event) error {
 			{Role: "system", Content: sys},
 			{Role: "user", Content: userPrompt},
 		},
-		Model:          model,
-		AgentID:        agentID,
-		RequestID:      "mention-reply:" + commentID,
-		IdempotencyKey: "mention-reply:" + commentID,
-		TimeoutSeconds: timeoutSec,
-		Metadata:       map[string]string{"trace_reason": "kaya_mention_reply", "comment_id": commentID, "task_id": taskID},
-		ToolsEnabled:   false,
+		Model:             model,
+		AgentID:           agentID,
+		RequestID:         "mention-reply:" + commentID,
+		IdempotencyKey:    "mention-reply:" + commentID,
+		TimeoutSeconds:    timeoutSec,
+		Metadata:          map[string]string{"trace_reason": "kaya_mention_reply", "comment_id": commentID, "task_id": taskID},
+		ToolsEnabled:      true,
+		ToolProfile:       "kaya-board",
+		MaxToolIterations: 10,
+		MaxTotalToolCalls: 18,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("RunAgent: %w", err)
@@ -184,7 +188,7 @@ func (l *Loop) handle(ctx context.Context, ev tasksws.Event) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("post comment: %w", err)
 	}
-	l.log().Info("mention reply posted", "comment_id", commentID, "task_id", taskID, "duration_ms", res.DurationMS)
+	l.log().Info("mention reply posted", "comment_id", commentID, "task_id", taskID, "duration_ms", res.DurationMS, "tools_used", res.ToolsUsed)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -207,7 +211,7 @@ func (l *Loop) shouldReplyToAgentMention(ctx context.Context, task Task, mention
 		model = "deepseek-v4-flash"
 	}
 	user := "Task: " + task.Title + "\nTrigger comment from another agent:\n" + trimRunes(mentionBody, 800) +
-		"\n\nReply true ONLY if you must add new substance (journal entry Mira asked for). Default false for thanks/repeats."
+		"\n\nReply true if you must act (e.g. Mira asked you to journal via write_journal, or you need tools). Default false for thanks/acks/repeats."
 	res, err := l.Core.RunAgent(ctx, inference.RunRequest{
 		Messages: []inference.ChatMessage{
 			{Role: "system", Content: "You gate Kaya's board replies to agent @mentions. Prefer false. Output JSON only."},