The Enigma of the Blazon
Something — or someone — has vanished in Realm of the Crown, and no one can say when the thread was cut. Every passing hour erases another trace, and the traces were few to begin with. On the Chancellery's list stand Filip the Steward, Castellan Ursu, Lady Ruxandra, Brother Anselm and Tintar the Jester; one of these names covers a lie. The testimonies cling to certain hours: "at dawn", "after matins", "at noon", "at dusk" and "at vespers". The threads were tangled on purpose: investigate, weigh every word, and pronounce your verdict only when the grid leaves no room for doubt.
Suspects
He counts the crown's silver every evening. On some evenings the count comes out different - and he says nothing.
1.79 m
right-handed
grey eyes
chestnut hair
He keeps the fortress dungeon and the tally of those who leave other than they entered.
1.90 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black 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
He has copied manuscripts for forty years. He knows what every one of them says - including the forbidden ones.
1.75 m
right-handed
brown eyes
greying hair
The only man in the kingdom who may tell the king the truth - provided he makes it sound like a joke.
1.56 m
right-handed
green eyes
red hair
Locations
the wharf
Moored boats, wet ropes, and goods that prefer to arrive in the fog.
the old chapel
Candles, incense, and a silence in which every footstep echoes like a confession.
the salt market
Here anything is bargained for, from salt to silences. The price of silence keeps rising.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
Objects
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the herald's horn
It sounds the muster, the alarm, or the retreat. Whoever holds it can start a whole panic with a single breath.
the signet ring
The crest has been filed away almost completely. Almost.
Motives
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
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.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the salt market matches that hour: at dusk.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the royal seal does not match that hour: at dawn.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Brother Anselm was there at noon.
- The chronicler notes drily: the tallest suspect handled the herald's horn, whatever the court may say.
- A maid whispered it at confession: greed matches that hour: after matins.
- Filip the Steward raises their right hand and says: "I handled the hunting crossbow".
- At the Chancellery, Tintar the Jester maintains: "I was there at dawn".
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the hunting crossbow and blackmail go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: blackmail matches that hour: at noon, whatever the court may say.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the great stable and the inheritance go together.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit was driven by greed.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Castellan Ursu was in the place where goods arrive in the fog.
- The chancellor deduced it coldly: if Brother Anselm handled the hunting crossbow, then Brother Anselm was in the place where every footstep echoes like a confession.
- The chronicler notes drily: the signet ring and jealousy go together, whatever the court may say.