The Seal Plot
Not one deed but a whole scheme has come to light — laid patiently, in secret. The scheme has many threads but a single knot — and that knot bears a name. On the Chancellery's list stand Countess Velica de Arin, Petru the Herald, Balasa the Seamstress, Sava the Bell-Ringer and Luca the Squire; one of these names covers a lie. On the inquiry's table, like pieces in a game, lie the ermine cloak, the ceremonial crown, the ledger of accounts, the small wine cask and the bishop's chalice. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
She collects fans, debts of honour, and bedchamber secrets. She wields all three as weapons.
1.70 m
left-handed
green eyes
red hair
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
She sews the garments of all the nobility and knows everyone's measurements - including those that do not show.
1.59 m
left-handed
blue eyes
red hair
He has rung the cathedral bells on the hour for thirty years. He sees the whole city from above and forgives nothing he sees.
1.83 m
right-handed
brown eyes
greying hair
He polishes the knight's armour and dreams of a sword of his own. For a coat of arms he would do almost anything.
1.72 m
right-handed
green eyes
brown hair
Locations
the customs cellar
Sealed crates, thick ledgers, and air that smells of undeclared goods.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
the tourney field
Empty stands outside festival days. An excellent place for meetings that never happened.
the cathedral crypt
The old kings sleep beneath crested slabs. Now and then, someone disturbs their rest.
the mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
Objects
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the ledger of accounts
Neat columns of figures, with one page torn out exactly at mid-month.
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
Motives
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
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.
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 gate guard swears: the tourney field and jealousy go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: Petru the Herald was driven by blackmail, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the mill by the river and the small wine cask go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the ledger of accounts and a debt of honour go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the shortest suspect handled the bishop's chalice.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the suspect with brown hair was in the place that smells of undeclared goods.
- At the Chancellery, Sava the Bell-Ringer maintains: "I was in the place with stands empty outside festival days".
- The Chancellery checked twice: Sava the Bell-Ringer never set foot in the watchtower.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit handled the ledger of accounts.
- Luca the Squire declares under oath: "I handled the ermine cloak".
- A maid whispered it at confession: Luca the Squire was driven by ambition.
- The gate guard swears: the small wine cask and greed go together.