"Just as I thought," Samir comes to you, weary from days of inquiry. "It was the work of those who hate me most, done for no other purpose than revenge. They knew that if scandal struck the harem, the Sultan would have my head at once. They sought my death by his hand."

You ask him: who are they?

Samir gives a hollow smile, then glances around. "How are things with your parents? I suppose... well enough. As for me, my parents were court physicians of the fallen kingdom. My family still clings to that king who has long since rotted to mud. What did they give me but shackles? Because of them I could not practice medicine, could not enter the ranks of nobility, could not even stand tall as a man. We were poorer than dogs in the street. What noble would seek out a court physician of the fallen kingdom? What commoner could pay the fee for a 'court physician'?"

He speaks with strange calm, as if telling another man's story. "But still I wanted to be a physician. So I fled the mire. I went before the chamberlain, declaring myself the son of a court physician from the fallen kingdom, offering to renounce all else and devote myself to the Sultan... Of course they hate me. I betrayed my family, took the Sultan's favor, and accepted the favorite the Sultan bestowed upon me. For wealth and rank, I forsook my pride. They are right to hate me. Sometimes, I hate myself."

Outside, a fine rain falls, and the air grows heavy to breathe. After a pause, Samir shakes his head with bitter humor. "In any case, they confessed. They bought a dead infant from the slums and bribed a lowly eunuch to bury it in some consort's garden." He says, "the man you sent to aid me found them still at work, compiling the medical codex—the last command of the old king. Since childhood, my father trained me for this—compiling entries, writing annotations—and the slightest mistake would earn me the lash of his whip... I despised him for it. Now my family offers me a bargain. If I finish their codex, they will hand me a convincing culprit to close this case. Perhaps it is best—then my debt to them ends..."

His hands, more used to grinding herbs than pleading, fold in awkward entreaty. "I do not know how long it will take, [player.name]. I know I have burdened you too much, far more than the little help I once gave you during the royal hunt... But this, this I cannot do alone. If it is at all possible... could you win me a few more days?"

You assure him you will do all in your power.

Conditions:

• Have Card (Kapar) = 1

Action:

• Rite: Medical Codex - Chapter I

Samir comes to you. Since Kapar has confessed and paid with his life, the royal guards no longer restrict his movements. Yet his face is drawn, as if joy itself has been flayed from him like a layer of skin.

"I understand now," he murmurs, eyes lowered. "It was the work of those who hate me most, done for no other purpose than revenge. They knew that if scandal struck the harem, the Sultan would have my head at once. They sought my death by his hand."

You ask him: who are they?

Samir gives a hollow smile, then glances around. "How are things with your parents? I suppose... well enough. As for me, my parents were court physicians of the fallen kingdom. My family still clings to that king who has long since rotted to mud. What did they give me but shackles? Because of them I could not practice medicine, could not enter the ranks of nobility, could not even stand tall as a man. We were poorer than dogs in the street. What noble would seek out a court physician of the fallen kingdom? What commoner could pay the fee for a 'court physician'?"

He speaks with strange calm, as if telling another man's story. "But still I wanted to be a physician. So I fled the mire. I went before the chamberlain, declaring myself the son of a court physician from the fallen kingdom, offering to renounce all else and devote myself to the Sultan... Of course they hate me. I betrayed my family, took the Sultan's favor, and accepted the favorite the Sultan bestowed upon me. For wealth and rank, I forsook my pride. They are right to hate me. Sometimes, I hate myself."

Then his composure breaks. His voice rises, raw with anguish. "But they should not have dragged the innocent into this! To hurt me, they caused so much needless pain! Kapar... I did not love him. I am not drawn to men—nor to women, either. I only wanted to be a physician. I only loved my craft! But what wrong did he commit? He always said he was my stain, my blemish... and he finally found a chance to cleanse it. I was confined in my home, and the royal guards brought back his corpse. My God... my God... he was so deft at grinding herbs—he always worked beside me!" Samir lowers his head and weeps. You do not know how to comfort him, so you place a hand upon his shoulder. Outside, a fine rain falls, and the air grows heavy to breathe. At last, when his sobs subside, he tells you of the bargain he has struck with his kin.

"I have promised to complete the medical codex—the last command of the old king. Since childhood, my father trained me for this—compiling entries, writing annotations—and the slightest mistake would earn me the lash of his whip... I despised him for it. So be it. I will finish the codex, and then I will owe them nothing. Not my life, nor my name, nor my honor. Nothing. When it is done, I will thank you for your aid... and I will try, somehow, to do something for Kapar." He bows deeply, then takes his leave.

Conditions:

• Not Have Card (Kapar) = 1

Action:

• Rite: Medical Codex - Chapter I