The Scheming of the Inn
A plot hatched in the shadows threatens the crown, and whoever hatched it still sits at the court's table. The crown demands not only the name but the proof: suspicion without grounds is itself a tool of the scheme. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Castellan Ursu, Zaharia the Spice Merchant, Iustin the Mariner, Manole the Jeweller and Sword-Bearer Dragos. Among the things spoken of in whispers are the ermine cloak, the stained parchment, the customs scales, the small wine cask and the ceremonial crown. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
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
His ships bring pepper, saffron, and news no one asked for. All of it at the same price: steep.
1.74 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
He brings goods from ports with unpronounceable names. Half the cargo never appears in the customs records.
1.78 m
left-handed
blue eyes
black hair
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 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 tourney field
Empty stands outside festival days. An excellent place for meetings that never happened.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
the old chapel
Candles, incense, and a silence in which every footstep echoes like a confession.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
the Golden Boar inn
Wine watered down and rumours diluted with nothing. The rooms upstairs ask no questions.
Objects
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the stained parchment
A half-burned document with a stain that might be wine. Or not.
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
Motives
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
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 chronicler notes drily: the north wall and revenge go together, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the old chapel matches that hour: at noon.
- The chronicler notes drily: the tourney field and the ermine cloak go together, whatever the court may say.
- The chancellor deduced it coldly: if Castellan Ursu was in the place where every footstep echoes like a confession, then Sword-Bearer Dragos was driven by blackmail.
- Whatever the market gossips: the tallest suspect never touched the ceremonial crown.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the customs scales does not match that hour: at dawn.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Manole the Jeweller was driven by ambition.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the Golden Boar inn and the customs scales do not go together.
- Whatever the market gossips: the small wine cask does not match that hour: after matins.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with chestnut hair handled the customs scales.
- The gate guard swears: the Golden Boar inn matches that hour: after matins.
- The chronicler notes drily: revenge matches that hour: at dawn, whatever the court may say.
- The chronicler notes drily: the old chapel and the stained parchment go together, whatever the court may say.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: greed does not match that hour: at vespers.
- The Chancellery checked twice: Castellan Ursu never set foot in the north wall.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: the suspect with chestnut hair came earlier than Iustin the Mariner.
- An unsigned note, slipped under the door: "the culprit was driven by jealousy".