The Feud of the Tourney
Something more bitter than gall found its way to the court's table today: poison. The dose was measured with care — enough not to look like chance, too little to go unpunished. On the Chancellery's list stand Duchess Amara de Corvin, Nichifor the Spy, Chamberlain Iorgu, Elisei the Stargazer and Sword-Bearer Dragos; one of these names covers a lie. The places named in the testimonies — the hunting lodge, the merchant's house, the throne room, the customs cellar and the watchtower — each await their turn under scrutiny. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
Widowed three times, heir on each occasion. Her smile has buried more nobles than the plague.
1.68 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
Officially, he does not exist. Unofficially, he was seen in three places at once - which is, of course, impossible.
1.74 m
left-handed
dark eyes
brown hair
He arranges the king's audiences and, for a small courtesy, the order in which petitions are read.
1.77 m
right-handed
grey eyes
brown hair
He reads the future in the stars and the past in men's debts. The second method fails less often.
1.67 m
right-handed
blue 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
Locations
the hunting lodge
The royal cabin in the heart of the forest. Far from the eyes of the court - which is exactly what suits some.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the customs cellar
Sealed crates, thick ledgers, and air that smells of undeclared goods.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
Objects
the stained parchment
A half-burned document with a stain that might be wine. Or not.
the guild seal
The stamp that turns any goods into goods "of certified quality." Worth a mine of gold.
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the broken lantern
The glass cracked, the wick burned to the end. Someone needed a lot of light, fast.
Motives
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
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.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
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.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with black hair handled the map of the realm.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the stained parchment and blackmail go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the broken lantern and revenge go together.
- Sword-Bearer Dragos declares under oath: "I was in the place far from the eyes of the court".
- Elisei the Stargazer declares under oath: "I handled the guild seal".
- The gate guard swears: the watchtower and blackmail go together.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was driven by the inheritance.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the merchant's house and the inheritance go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the throne room and jealousy go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Nichifor the Spy was driven by jealousy.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the merchant's house and the map of the realm go together.