The Mystery of the Envoy
Someone slipped poison where it did not belong, and now the whole court eyes its goblets warily. Between remedy and venom runs a thin line, and someone at court crossed it knowingly. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Manole the Jeweller, Filip the Steward, Safta the Herbwife, Father Nicodim and Onufrie the Executioner. Among the things spoken of in whispers are the map of the realm, the ceremonial crown, the ermine cloak, the silver-clad icon and the customs scales. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He tells gold from gilt at a glance. With people, he admits, it takes him two.
1.69 m
right-handed
brown eyes
brown hair
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
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 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
A quiet man with a loud trade. He keeps a notebook of the last words of every condemned soul.
1.92 m
right-handed
dark eyes
bald
Locations
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
the mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the scriptorium
Slanted desks, ink, and working silence. Here a quill creaks louder than a conscience.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
Objects
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 ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the silver-clad icon
The silver casing is old craftsmanship; the nails that hold it were driven this week.
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
Motives
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
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.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
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.
- Before the investigator, Filip the Steward firmly repeats: "I handled the silver-clad icon".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the scriptorium and the map of the realm go together.
- A note in the margin of the ledger: if Manole the Jeweller was in the place with more secret drawers than drawers, then the suspect with green eyes was at the scriptorium.
- Before the investigator, Onufrie the Executioner firmly repeats: "I was driven by revenge".
- A maid whispered it at confession: the scriptorium and fear of exposure go together.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the queen's garden and jealousy do not go together.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with grey eyes handled the silver-clad icon.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the tallest suspect handled the ermine cloak.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with brown eyes handled the ceremonial crown.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was at the throne room.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the suspect with brown hair was at the merchant's house.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Manole the Jeweller was driven by greed.
- Whatever the market gossips: the suspect with grey eyes was not driven by ambition.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Onufrie the Executioner was driven by revenge.