The Scheming of the Fair
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. Before you, one by one, will stand Sir Bogdan de Fag, Chamberlain Iorgu, Damaschin the Healer, Princess Smaranda and Elisei the Stargazer. On the inquiry's table, like pieces in a game, lie the bronze key, the ceremonial crown, the vial of belladonna, the customs scales and the royal seal. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He pawned his armour to pay his tavern debts. Honour, he says, does not rust.
1.85 m
right-handed
blue 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 knows the cure for any illness and the dose at which the cure becomes something else. He swears he has never mistaken the dosage.
1.71 m
left-handed
green eyes
grey hair
She has refused seven suitors and kept the gifts of all. She calls it practicality, not greed.
1.66 m
right-handed
green eyes
chestnut 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
Locations
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
Objects
the bronze key
Heavy, old, its teeth worn smooth. No one knows what door it opens anymore - or so they say.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the vial of belladonna
A small flask, a wax stopper, a label written with care. Three-quarters empty.
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
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.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
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.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Sir Bogdan de Fag was at the abbey library.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the suspect with greying hair was in the place from which you see everything.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the watchtower matches that hour: after matins.
- The chronicler notes drily: the vial of belladonna and greed go together, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: ambition matches that hour: at dawn.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the bronze key matches that hour: at dusk.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Chamberlain Iorgu was driven by the inheritance.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the ceremonial crown matches that hour: at noon.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if Sir Bogdan de Fag was at the abbey library, then Elisei the Stargazer handled the royal seal.
- In the gate ledger, Chamberlain Iorgu stands higher, Damaschin the Healer lower.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: revenge matches that hour: at noon.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the abbey library and the customs scales do not go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: the merchant's house and the inheritance go together, whatever the court may say.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was driven by ambition.
- Whatever the market gossips: the throne room and ambition do not go together.