The Riddle of the Crown
In Realm of the Crown, only one thing is spoken of today: a daring theft, carried out almost before the court's eyes. The culprit worked cleanly, but not without witnesses — and the witnesses, at last, have begun to talk. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Petru the Herald, Lady Ruxandra, Ban Radu the Silent, Countess Velica de Arin and Duchess Amara de Corvin. Rumor walks the deed through every corner: the guild forge, the scriptorium, the Golden Boar inn, the old dungeon and the great stable. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He proclaims the crown's will to every corner of the kingdom. Sometimes he proclaims it before the crown itself knows.
1.82 m
right-handed
blue eyes
blond 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 never uttered a needless word in his life. Sadly, nor a useful one for investigators.
1.81 m
right-handed
grey eyes
grey 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
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 guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
the scriptorium
Slanted desks, ink, and working silence. Here a quill creaks louder than a conscience.
the Golden Boar inn
Wine watered down and rumours diluted with nothing. The rooms upstairs ask no questions.
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
Objects
the guild seal
The stamp that turns any goods into goods "of certified quality." Worth a mine of gold.
the locked chest
Three padlocks, two rows of straps. Fresh scratches around the hinges, not the locks.
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the vial of belladonna
A small flask, a wax stopper, a label written with care. Three-quarters empty.
Motives
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.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
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.
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.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the old dungeon and the inheritance go together.
- The scouts confirm it: at suspects, the paths of the guild seal and the hour "at dusk" diverge.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Duchess Amara de Corvin was driven by fear of exposure.
- The customs register is clear: the guild forge and the guild seal do not go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the ermine cloak matches that hour: at vespers.
- An unsigned note, slipped under the door: "the culprit handled the guild seal".
- The gate guard swears: the customs scales and a debt of honour go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the inheritance matches that hour: after matins.
- Countess Velica de Arin declares under oath: "I was at the old dungeon".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the great stable and the locked chest go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Ban Radu the Silent was there at noon.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the shortest suspect was driven by blackmail.
- The gate guard swears: the scriptorium and fear of exposure go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the guild forge matches that hour: at dawn.