The Court Intrigue
The whispers began in Realm of the Crown like thin smoke; now the smoke smells of conspiracy. Those caught in it swear they knew nothing; one of them swears falsely. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Luca the Squire, Lady Ruxandra, Safta the Herbwife, Sword-Bearer Dragos and Countess Velica de Arin. Among the things spoken of in whispers are the customs scales, the ceremonial crown, the map of the realm, the broken lantern and the small wine cask. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He polishes the knight's armour and dreams of a sword of his own. For a coat of arms he would do almost anything.
1.72 m
right-handed
green eyes
brown hair
The queen's shadow at every hour. She hears everything, sees everything, and embroiders all she learns into patterns known only to her.
1.65 m
right-handed
blue eyes
blond hair
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
He bears the king's ceremonial sword. At the tourney he has never lost; at dice, always.
1.86 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
She collects fans, debts of honour, and bedchamber secrets. She wields all three as weapons.
1.70 m
left-handed
green eyes
red hair
Locations
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
the mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
Objects
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the broken lantern
The glass cracked, the wick burned to the end. Someone needed a lot of light, fast.
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
Motives
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
Moments
at dawn
When the citadel is barely waking and the guards still doze.
after matins
The hour after the morning service, when the abbey empties.
at noon
Midday, with bustle in the markets and silence in the alcoves.
at dusk
When the shadows lengthen and the lanterns are not yet lit.
at vespers
At the evening service, when the bells drown out any footstep.
Open the Grid (below) to solve the case, with the testimonies at hand.
Touch a cell: blank → ✗ (excluded) → ✓ (certain) → blank. Each pair of categories meets exactly once.
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Verdict
The culprit always lies; everyone else tells the truth.
- One thing is certain: the ceremonial crown and the mill by the river do not share the same match for suspects.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the throne room and blackmail go together.
- The customs register is clear: the tallest suspect never touched the small wine cask.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Luca the Squire handled the customs scales.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the great stable and jealousy go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the small wine cask and blackmail go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the ceremonial crown matches that hour: at noon.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit handled the map of the realm.
- The chronicler notes drily: the abbey library and revenge go together, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the customs scales and ambition go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: jealousy matches that hour: at dawn.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: fear of exposure does not match that hour: at vespers.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the broken lantern does not match that hour: at vespers.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Lady Ruxandra was there at dawn.
- By the order of the hours, first comes the shortest suspect, then Sword-Bearer Dragos.
- The chronicler notes drily: Safta the Herbwife was there at dusk, whatever the court may say.