diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ac2e5c9..f4ada40 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -109,6 +109,18 @@ openbao-status: ## Show OpenBao pods, services, PVCs, and seal/init status
 		-l app.kubernetes.io/instance=$(OPENBAO_RELEASE) -o wide
 	-$(KUBECTL) exec -n $(OPENBAO_NAMESPACE) $(OPENBAO_RELEASE)-0 -- bao status
 
+openbao-verify: ## Run non-secret OpenBao deployment checks
+	KUBECTL='$(KUBECTL)' OPENBAO_NAMESPACE=$(OPENBAO_NAMESPACE) \
+	  OPENBAO_RELEASE=$(OPENBAO_RELEASE) scripts/openbao-verify.sh basic
+
+openbao-verify-post-unseal: ## Run post-unseal OpenBao filesystem checks
+	KUBECTL='$(KUBECTL)' OPENBAO_NAMESPACE=$(OPENBAO_NAMESPACE) \
+	  OPENBAO_RELEASE=$(OPENBAO_RELEASE) scripts/openbao-verify.sh post-unseal
+
+openbao-configure-initial: ## Apply first post-unseal audit, auth, mounts, and policies
+	KUBECTL='$(KUBECTL)' OPENBAO_NAMESPACE=$(OPENBAO_NAMESPACE) \
+	  OPENBAO_RELEASE=$(OPENBAO_RELEASE) scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh
+
 ##@ Backup
 
 backup: ## Backup platform services (PostgreSQL logical dump) — age-encrypted to Nextcloud
@@ -121,4 +133,4 @@ help: ## Show this help
 	  /^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?##/ { printf "  \033[36m%-22s\033[0m %s\n", $$1, $$2 } \
 	  /^##@/ { printf "\n\033[1m%s\033[0m\n", substr($$0, 5) }' $(MAKEFILE_LIST)
 
-.PHONY: db-deploy db-status db-shell db-logs apps-pg-deploy apps-pg-status apps-pg-shell apps-pg-logs pg-deploy pg-status pg-pgpool-check valkey-deploy valkey-status openbao-repo openbao-dry-run openbao-deploy openbao-status backup help
+.PHONY: db-deploy db-status db-shell db-logs apps-pg-deploy apps-pg-status apps-pg-shell apps-pg-logs pg-deploy pg-status pg-pgpool-check valkey-deploy valkey-status openbao-repo openbao-dry-run openbao-deploy openbao-status openbao-verify openbao-verify-post-unseal openbao-configure-initial backup help
diff --git a/docs/openbao.md b/docs/openbao.md
index 12f4cb5..4f109cd 100644
--- a/docs/openbao.md
+++ b/docs/openbao.md
@@ -88,6 +88,22 @@ That state is intentional until the bootstrap ceremony is completed.
 Do not initialize OpenBao in a casual shell session. Initialization emits the
 unseal keys and initial root token. Treat this as a break-glass event.
 
+Pre-flight checks:
+
+```bash
+make openbao-status
+make openbao-verify
+```
+
+Proceed only when:
+
+- `openbao-0` is Running.
+- data and audit PVCs are Bound.
+- `bao status` reports `Initialized: false` and `Sealed: true`.
+- Railiance01 host/cluster backup posture is understood for this maintenance
+  window.
+- three human escrow recipients are named before the command is run.
+
 Recommended ceremony:
 
 1. Confirm the Railiance01 backup posture first.
@@ -110,6 +126,12 @@ Recommended ceremony:
    auth, enable audit, and prepare policies.
 7. Revoke or tightly escrow the initial root token.
 
+Do not paste unseal keys, root tokens, screenshots, or command output into Git,
+State Hub, chat, shell history, or issue trackers. Each unseal share goes to one
+escrow owner through an out-of-band channel. The initial root token is either
+revoked after a non-root platform-admin token exists or stored as offline
+break-glass material with the same handling as unseal shares.
+
 ## Initial Configuration After Unseal
 
 Enable file audit:
@@ -130,6 +152,107 @@ Kubernetes auth, database dynamic credentials, PKI, CSI, and External Secrets
 integration are follow-up tasks in `RAIL-PL-WP-0002`. Do not migrate live
 application secrets until those policies and restore drills are documented.
 
+The repo now includes a non-secret helper for the first post-unseal
+configuration:
+
+```bash
+make openbao-configure-initial
+```
+
+The target prompts for a token, enables file audit, enables the `platform/` KV
+v2 mount, enables Kubernetes auth, configures Kubernetes auth from the in-pod
+service account, and loads:
+
+- `openbao/policies/platform-admin.hcl`
+- `openbao/policies/platform-readonly.hcl`
+
+It does not print or store the token. You may also set
+`OPENBAO_TOKEN_FILE=/path/to/token-file` for an operator-local, uncommitted
+token file.
+
+After the helper succeeds, create a non-root admin token:
+
+```bash
+kubectl exec -n openbao openbao-0 -- \
+  bao token create -policy=platform-admin -period=24h -orphan
+```
+
+Store that token through the approved operator secret path, then revoke or
+tightly escrow the initial root token. The root token should not become the
+normal operator credential.
+
+## Auth And Workload Integration
+
+Initial auth model:
+
+| Actor | Method | Notes |
+|-------|--------|-------|
+| Bootstrap operator | one-time root token | only for initial audit, mounts, auth, policies, and non-root token creation |
+| Platform operator | token with `platform-admin` | temporary until NetKingdom OIDC/admin integration is ready |
+| Read-only reviewer | token with `platform-readonly` | metadata and health visibility, no secret reads |
+| Kubernetes workload | Kubernetes auth role | namespace/service-account bound, policy per workload |
+| Human identity | NetKingdom IAM Profile/OIDC | target model; OpenBao is not the identity provider |
+| Automation | Kubernetes auth or short-lived operator token | no root tokens in automation |
+
+Workload delivery choice:
+
+- Prefer External Secrets Operator for values that should become Kubernetes
+  Secrets consumed by ordinary Helm charts.
+- Use CSI-mounted files for workloads that need file references, sharper
+  mount-level boundaries, or secret refresh without rewriting application
+  manifests.
+- Do not use the OpenBao injector in the current deployment; the Helm values
+  leave it disabled.
+- Application repositories request paths and policies; `railiance-platform`
+  owns platform mounts, policy shape, and delivery mechanisms.
+
+Path convention:
+
+```text
+platform/workloads/<namespace>/<service-account>/<secret-name>
+platform/object-storage/<consumer>
+platform/databases/<consumer>
+platform/operators/<purpose>
+```
+
+The template policy for workload KV reads is
+`openbao/policies/workload-kv-read-template.hcl`.
+
+## Backup, Restore, Audit, And Monitoring
+
+Before any live application secrets move into OpenBao:
+
+1. Enable file audit and confirm an audit file is written under
+   `/openbao/audit/openbao-audit.log`.
+2. Create an OpenBao Raft snapshot from the unsealed pod:
+
+   ```bash
+   kubectl exec -n openbao openbao-0 -- \
+     bao operator raft snapshot save /tmp/openbao-raft.snap
+   kubectl cp openbao/openbao-0:/tmp/openbao-raft.snap ./openbao-raft.snap
+   ```
+
+3. Encrypt the snapshot with age/SOPS-compatible custody before it leaves the
+   operator machine.
+4. Run an isolated restore drill before treating OpenBao as live secret
+   custody. The drill must prove that a fresh OpenBao instance can restore the
+   snapshot, unseal, and read a test secret.
+5. Decide where audit logs are shipped durably. The audit PVC alone is not a
+   durable audit sink.
+6. Run:
+
+   ```bash
+   make openbao-verify-post-unseal
+   ```
+
+Monitoring baseline:
+
+- pod readiness and liveness from Kubernetes probes
+- `bao status` seal/init state
+- PVC capacity for data and audit storage
+- audit log write success
+- future Prometheus scraping once the cluster monitoring stack exists
+
 ## Artifact-Store Object Storage Handoff
 
 `artifact-store` is the consumer-facing artifact preservation service for
diff --git a/openbao/policies/platform-admin.hcl b/openbao/policies/platform-admin.hcl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1fc7c77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openbao/policies/platform-admin.hcl
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Full platform-operator policy for the initial OpenBao bootstrap phase.
+#
+# Use only for trusted S3 platform operators. This is intentionally broad so
+# the root token can be retired after bootstrap. Prefer narrower workload
+# policies for application access.
+
+path "sys/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list", "sudo"]
+}
+
+path "auth/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list", "sudo"]
+}
+
+path "identity/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list"]
+}
+
+path "platform/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list"]
+}
+
+path "database/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list"]
+}
+
+path "pki/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list"]
+}
+
+path "ssh/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list"]
+}
+
+path "cubbyhole/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list"]
+}
+
+path "secret/*" {
+  capabilities = ["create", "read", "update", "delete", "list"]
+}
diff --git a/openbao/policies/platform-readonly.hcl b/openbao/policies/platform-readonly.hcl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dbc011
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openbao/policies/platform-readonly.hcl
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Read-only platform inspection policy.
+#
+# Useful for status dashboards and audit/review sessions that need visibility
+# into mounts and platform metadata without secret material mutation.
+
+path "sys/health" {
+  capabilities = ["read"]
+}
+
+path "sys/mounts" {
+  capabilities = ["read", "list"]
+}
+
+path "sys/auth" {
+  capabilities = ["read", "list"]
+}
+
+path "sys/policies/acl" {
+  capabilities = ["read", "list"]
+}
+
+path "auth/token/lookup-self" {
+  capabilities = ["read"]
+}
+
+path "platform/metadata/*" {
+  capabilities = ["read", "list"]
+}
diff --git a/openbao/policies/workload-kv-read-template.hcl b/openbao/policies/workload-kv-read-template.hcl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e4ce60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openbao/policies/workload-kv-read-template.hcl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Template for a namespace/service-account-specific workload KV policy.
+#
+# Copy this file for a real workload and replace:
+#   <namespace>       Kubernetes namespace, e.g. artifact-store
+#   <service-account> Kubernetes service account, e.g. artifact-store
+#
+# The matching Kubernetes auth role should bind the same namespace and service
+# account and attach the copied policy.
+
+path "platform/data/workloads/<namespace>/<service-account>/*" {
+  capabilities = ["read"]
+}
+
+path "platform/metadata/workloads/<namespace>/<service-account>/*" {
+  capabilities = ["read", "list"]
+}
diff --git a/scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh b/scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d37b166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+OPENBAO_NAMESPACE="${OPENBAO_NAMESPACE:-openbao}"
+OPENBAO_RELEASE="${OPENBAO_RELEASE:-openbao}"
+KUBECTL="${KUBECTL:-kubectl}"
+TOKEN_FILE="${OPENBAO_TOKEN_FILE:-}"
+REPO_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+POLICY_DIR="${POLICY_DIR:-$REPO_DIR/openbao/policies}"
+DRY_RUN=0
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<'USAGE'
+Usage: scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh [--dry-run]
+
+Applies the first post-unseal OpenBao configuration:
+  - file audit device
+  - platform KV v2 mount
+  - Kubernetes auth mount and in-cluster config
+  - platform-admin and platform-readonly policies
+
+This script must run only after the bootstrap ceremony initializes and unseals
+OpenBao. It reads the bootstrap/root or platform-admin token from:
+  1. OPENBAO_TOKEN_FILE, when set
+  2. an interactive hidden prompt
+
+It does not print the token and does not store it.
+USAGE
+}
+
+while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --dry-run)
+      DRY_RUN=1
+      shift
+      ;;
+    -h|--help)
+      usage
+      exit 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "ERROR: unknown argument: $1" >&2
+      usage >&2
+      exit 2
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+pod="${OPENBAO_RELEASE}-0"
+
+read_token() {
+  if [ -n "$TOKEN_FILE" ]; then
+    if [ ! -f "$TOKEN_FILE" ]; then
+      echo "ERROR: OPENBAO_TOKEN_FILE does not exist: $TOKEN_FILE" >&2
+      exit 1
+    fi
+    head -n 1 "$TOKEN_FILE"
+    return
+  fi
+
+  local token
+  read -r -s -p "OpenBao token: " token
+  printf '\n' >&2
+  printf '%s\n' "$token"
+}
+
+remote_bao() {
+  local token="$1"
+  shift
+  if [ "$DRY_RUN" -eq 1 ]; then
+    printf 'DRY-RUN: bao %s\n' "$*"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  printf '%s\n' "$token" | $KUBECTL exec -i -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" "$pod" -- \
+    sh -c 'read -r BAO_TOKEN; export BAO_TOKEN; exec bao "$@"' sh "$@"
+}
+
+remote_sh() {
+  local token="$1"
+  local script="$2"
+  if [ "$DRY_RUN" -eq 1 ]; then
+    printf 'DRY-RUN: remote shell: %s\n' "$script"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  printf '%s\n%s\n' "$token" "$script" | $KUBECTL exec -i -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" "$pod" -- \
+    sh -c 'read -r BAO_TOKEN; export BAO_TOKEN; sh'
+}
+
+write_policy() {
+  local token="$1"
+  local name="$2"
+  local file="$3"
+  if [ ! -f "$file" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: missing policy file: $file" >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  if [ "$DRY_RUN" -eq 1 ]; then
+    printf 'DRY-RUN: bao policy write %s %s\n' "$name" "$file"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  { printf '%s\n' "$token"; cat "$file"; } | $KUBECTL exec -i -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" "$pod" -- \
+    sh -c 'read -r BAO_TOKEN; export BAO_TOKEN; bao policy write "$1" -' sh "$name"
+}
+
+token="$(read_token)"
+if [ -z "$token" ]; then
+  echo "ERROR: empty token" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+remote_bao "$token" status
+
+remote_bao "$token" audit enable file file_path=/openbao/audit/openbao-audit.log || true
+remote_bao "$token" secrets enable -path=platform kv-v2 || true
+remote_bao "$token" auth enable kubernetes || true
+
+remote_sh "$token" 'bao write auth/kubernetes/config \
+  kubernetes_host="https://${KUBERNETES_SERVICE_HOST}:${KUBERNETES_SERVICE_PORT}" \
+  token_reviewer_jwt=@/var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/serviceaccount/token \
+  kubernetes_ca_cert=@/var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/serviceaccount/ca.crt'
+
+write_policy "$token" platform-admin "$POLICY_DIR/platform-admin.hcl"
+write_policy "$token" platform-readonly "$POLICY_DIR/platform-readonly.hcl"
+
+remote_bao "$token" audit list
+remote_bao "$token" secrets list
+remote_bao "$token" auth list
+remote_bao "$token" policy list
+
+cat <<'NEXT'
+
+Initial OpenBao configuration applied.
+
+Next manual steps:
+  1. Create a non-root platform-admin token with a short TTL or renewable period.
+  2. Store that token through the approved human/operator secret path.
+  3. Revoke or tightly escrow the initial root token.
+  4. Run the raft snapshot and restore drill before moving live secrets.
+NEXT
diff --git a/scripts/openbao-verify.sh b/scripts/openbao-verify.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d12f406
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/openbao-verify.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+OPENBAO_NAMESPACE="${OPENBAO_NAMESPACE:-openbao}"
+OPENBAO_RELEASE="${OPENBAO_RELEASE:-openbao}"
+KUBECTL="${KUBECTL:-kubectl}"
+MODE="${1:-basic}"
+
+ok() { printf '[OK] %s\n' "$*"; }
+warn() { printf '[WARN] %s\n' "$*"; }
+err() { printf '[ERR] %s\n' "$*" >&2; }
+step() { printf '\n==> %s\n' "$*"; }
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<'USAGE'
+Usage: scripts/openbao-verify.sh [basic|post-unseal]
+
+Runs non-secret OpenBao deployment checks. It never initializes, unseals, or
+prints tokens.
+
+Environment:
+  OPENBAO_NAMESPACE  Kubernetes namespace. Default: openbao
+  OPENBAO_RELEASE    Helm release / pod prefix. Default: openbao
+  KUBECTL            kubectl command, including --kubeconfig if needed.
+USAGE
+}
+
+if [ "$MODE" = "-h" ] || [ "$MODE" = "--help" ]; then
+  usage
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+if [ "$MODE" != "basic" ] && [ "$MODE" != "post-unseal" ]; then
+  err "unknown mode: $MODE"
+  usage >&2
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+pod="${OPENBAO_RELEASE}-0"
+
+check_cmd() {
+  if ! command -v "${KUBECTL%% *}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    err "kubectl command not found: $KUBECTL"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
+run() {
+  # shellcheck disable=SC2086
+  $KUBECTL "$@"
+}
+
+check_cmd
+
+step "OpenBao Kubernetes objects"
+run get namespace "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" >/dev/null
+ok "namespace exists: $OPENBAO_NAMESPACE"
+
+run get pod "$pod" -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" >/dev/null
+ok "pod exists: $OPENBAO_NAMESPACE/$pod"
+
+phase="$(run get pod "$pod" -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" -o jsonpath='{.status.phase}')"
+ready="$(run get pod "$pod" -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" -o jsonpath='{range .status.containerStatuses[*]}{.ready}{end}')"
+printf 'Pod phase: %s\n' "$phase"
+printf 'Container ready flags: %s\n' "${ready:-none}"
+
+run get svc -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" \
+  "${OPENBAO_RELEASE}" \
+  "${OPENBAO_RELEASE}-active" \
+  "${OPENBAO_RELEASE}-internal" \
+  "${OPENBAO_RELEASE}-ui" >/dev/null
+ok "expected services exist"
+
+run get pvc -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" >/dev/null
+ok "PVC query succeeded"
+
+step "OpenBao seal/init status"
+if run exec -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" "$pod" -- bao status; then
+  ok "bao status command succeeded"
+else
+  warn "bao status failed. Check pod logs and command availability."
+fi
+
+if [ "$MODE" = "basic" ]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+step "Post-unseal unauthenticated checks"
+if run exec -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" "$pod" -- sh -c 'test -d /openbao/audit'; then
+  ok "audit directory exists"
+else
+  warn "audit directory missing or inaccessible"
+fi
+
+if run exec -n "$OPENBAO_NAMESPACE" "$pod" -- sh -c 'test -d /openbao/data'; then
+  ok "raft data directory exists"
+else
+  warn "raft data directory missing or inaccessible"
+fi
+
+warn "Authenticated checks are intentionally not run here."
+warn "After unseal/configuration, verify with a platform-admin token:"
+warn "  bao audit list"
+warn "  bao secrets list"
+warn "  bao auth list"
diff --git a/workplans/RAIL-PL-WP-0002-openbao-platform-secrets-service.md b/workplans/RAIL-PL-WP-0002-openbao-platform-secrets-service.md
index 28a1e9f..b22044a 100644
--- a/workplans/RAIL-PL-WP-0002-openbao-platform-secrets-service.md
+++ b/workplans/RAIL-PL-WP-0002-openbao-platform-secrets-service.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ topic_slug: railiance
 planning_priority: high
 planning_order: 2
 created: "2026-05-17"
-updated: "2026-05-17"
+updated: "2026-05-23"
 depends_on:
   - RAIL-PL-WP-0001
 state_hub_workstream_id: "fd1c045a-01d4-43be-980f-acbda6c64e6c"
@@ -128,11 +128,20 @@ SOPS/age bootstrap.
 needs human escrow assignment, root-token retirement details, and a
 restore/recovery drill before live secrets move into OpenBao.
 
+**2026-05-23:** Added non-secret bootstrap support: `make openbao-verify`,
+`make openbao-verify-post-unseal`, `make openbao-configure-initial`,
+`scripts/openbao-verify.sh`, `scripts/openbao-apply-initial-config.sh`, and
+initial platform policies under `openbao/policies/`. `docs/openbao.md` now
+spells out pre-flight checks, escrow handling, root-token retirement, and the
+post-unseal initial configuration path. The actual initialization/unseal
+ceremony remains gated on named human escrow recipients and must not happen in
+a casual agent shell.
+
 ### T04 - Auth Methods And Workload Integration
 
 ```task
 id: RAIL-PL-WP-0002-T04
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: high
 state_hub_task_id: "ca2b3ac2-b522-4445-a418-c6ec312cd5f4"
 ```
@@ -142,6 +151,15 @@ NetKingdom identity, admins, agents, and automations. Decide when
 workloads use OpenBao directly, CSI-mounted secrets, External Secrets
 Operator, or sidecars/controllers.
 
+**2026-05-23:** Documented the auth and delivery model in `docs/openbao.md`.
+Bootstrap uses the one-time root token only for initial setup; platform
+operators use a non-root `platform-admin` token until NetKingdom OIDC/admin
+integration is ready; reviewers use `platform-readonly`; workloads use
+Kubernetes auth with namespace/service-account-bound policies. External
+Secrets Operator is preferred for Helm-compatible Kubernetes Secrets, CSI is
+reserved for mounted-file delivery and refresh-sensitive workloads, and the
+OpenBao injector remains disabled.
+
 ### T05 - Secret Engines And Dynamic Credentials
 
 ```task
@@ -171,7 +189,7 @@ identity if object storage adopts `AssumeRoleWithWebIdentity`.
 
 ```task
 id: RAIL-PL-WP-0002-T06
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: medium
 state_hub_task_id: "cd61bc7d-8b9f-484f-97bd-7254c227b0ee"
 ```
@@ -180,6 +198,13 @@ Define backup/restore procedure, audit device configuration, metrics,
 logs, health checks, restore drill, and smoke tests. Include a
 developer/operator verification script for the deployed service.
 
+**2026-05-23:** Documented audit, Raft snapshot, encrypted snapshot custody,
+isolated restore drill, durable audit-log shipping, and monitoring baseline in
+`docs/openbao.md`. Added `scripts/openbao-verify.sh` plus Make targets for
+basic and post-unseal verification. The restore drill still must be executed
+before any live application secrets are migrated; that remains a gate under
+T03.
+
 ### T07 - Cross-Repo Transition Tasks
 
 ```task