The Knot of the Tourney
Something more bitter than gall found its way to the court's table today: poison. Whoever poured it knew the habits of the table; that narrows the circle more than we would like. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Elisei the Stargazer, Castellan Ursu, Father Nicodim and Duchess Amara de Corvin. The places named in the testimonies — the abbey library, the old dungeon, the old chapel and the watchtower — each await their turn under scrutiny. Take up the quill, follow the thread of the clues, and set your seal upon the verdict.
Suspects
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 keeps the fortress dungeon and the tally of those who leave other than they entered.
1.90 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
He hears the confessions of the whole court. Forgetting, he says, is a gift from the Lord - one he sells dearly.
1.72 m
right-handed
blue eyes
greying hair
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
Locations
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the old chapel
Candles, incense, and a silence in which every footstep echoes like a confession.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
Objects
the abbess's bell
It calls the nuns to prayer. On the night in question, they all say, it rang once too many.
the purse of gold coins
New coins, unworn, from a minting not yet in circulation. Interesting.
the stained parchment
A half-burned document with a stain that might be wine. Or not.
the signet ring
The crest has been filed away almost completely. Almost.
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.
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 tracks in the dust do not lie: the abbey library matches that hour: after matins.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the watchtower and the purse of gold coins go together.
- In the gate ledger, Elisei the Stargazer stands higher, Duchess Amara de Corvin lower.
- The chronicler notes drily: Castellan Ursu was there at dawn, whatever the court may say.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if Duchess Amara de Corvin was in the place where every footstep echoes like a confession, then the tallest suspect was at the watchtower.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit handled the abbess's bell.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Father Nicodim, then Elisei the Stargazer.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the old dungeon and the stained parchment do not go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: the signet ring matches that hour: at dusk, whatever the court may say.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: Duchess Amara de Corvin never set foot in the old dungeon.