The attendant leads Doku through descending palace passages, carrying the newly recorded formulas and the quarantined restorative stock ledger. The dispensary remains behind under Mistress Vale’s command.
A locked vault waits beneath the palace. Beside shelves of rare medicines stands a young adult woman apprentice in plain gray robes, slim and brown-skinned, with braided black hair and ink-stained fingers.
The vault door bears a fresh royal seal: every emergency remedy is subject to palace review. Several ward officials gather outside, their voices muted beyond the iron threshold.
the hospital attendant
The apprentice has preserved the shelf records, Lady Nohara. The ledger and quarantined stock are ready for your inspection.
the apprentice
I did not open anything. I counted the vials, copied their labels, and kept the suspect stock apart from the rare medicines.
The attendant sets the ledger on a stone table but keeps one hand beneath its cover. Outside, a senior ward official raises his voice, demanding confirmation that Doku’s authority reaches this sealed vault.
the senior ward official
Lady Nohara, the palace recognizes your medical command in the wards. This vault is royal property. State whether you claim authority here before the seal is opened.
“"This should at best only need a review. I am here only to review the ledger. Nothing beyond that unless absolutely necessary."”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Doku Nohara
This should require only a review. I am here to examine the ledger, and nothing more unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
Doku opens the ledger beneath the vault’s royal seal and reviews its entries without touching the vials. Her gloved finger follows each label, count, and quarantine mark.
The records are orderly and complete. The apprentice preserved the rare medicines separately, while the quarantined restorative stock is accurately identified, counted, and sealed for review.
the senior ward official
Your examination is recorded, Lady Nohara. You have not altered the stock, but your presence here will be entered as an exercise of medical authority.
The senior ward official’s suspicion becomes a permanent note beside the vault inventory, tying Doku’s name to the royal review. No seal is broken, and no medicine is moved.
the apprentice
The figures match the shelves, Lady Nohara. The suspect stock remains apart, and nothing beyond the ledger required intervention.
Doku closes the ledger with its contents confirmed. The cost is narrow but concrete: palace scrutiny now follows her access, even though the vault remains undisturbed.
“"Well, if the records say is true. I will believe it. Thank you. We're done here."”
SUCCESS (Superb Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Doku Nohara
If the records say it is true, I will believe them. Thank you. We are done here.
Doku closes the ledger and returns it to the attendant without disturbing a vial. The apprentice lowers her gaze, visibly relieved that her careful work has been accepted.
the apprentice
You are welcome, Lady Nohara. I will keep the shelf records in the same order.
the senior ward official
Then the review concludes. Your acceptance will be entered beside the inventory, along with your exercise of authority over this royal vault.
The attendant gathers the formulas and ledger as Doku turns toward the sealed door. No stock moves, but the official adds a second signature, making palace scrutiny of her access permanent.
the hospital attendant
The dispensary and Mistress Vale will receive the confirmed record. Nothing here requires further intervention.
The royal seal remains unbroken behind them. Doku leaves the vault with the review completed, while the added signature follows her authority into the palace archives.
“I finish my day of work and return back to the Nohara estate.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled -2)