The Secret of the Crown
A parchment full of orders no one ever gave is circulating through Realm of the Crown, and the harm has only begun. Whoever drew it up knew the Chancellery's ways by heart — and that is precisely what betrays them. On the Chancellery's list stand Elisei the Stargazer, Petru the Herald, Costache the Toll-Keeper, Ilinca the Baker and Castellan Ursu; one of these names covers a lie. As for the impulse behind it, the court whispers of everything: a debt of honour, ambition, revenge, jealousy and greed. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
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
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
His scales weigh the goods; his eye, the merchant. Both can be "greased" at need.
1.80 m
right-handed
dark eyes
grey hair
She weighs flour to the gram and people at a glance. No one stays in her debt twice.
1.62 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
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
Locations
the wharf
Moored boats, wet ropes, and goods that prefer to arrive in the fog.
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
the customs cellar
Sealed crates, thick ledgers, and air that smells of undeclared goods.
Objects
the silver-clad icon
The silver casing is old craftsmanship; the nails that hold it were driven this week.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
the bronze key
Heavy, old, its teeth worn smooth. No one knows what door it opens anymore - or so they say.
Motives
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
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.
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.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the customs cellar and greed do not go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Costache the Toll-Keeper handled the bronze key.
- Castellan Ursu raises their right hand and says: "I was at the watchtower".
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the bishop's chalice and ambition do not go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the silver-clad icon and a debt of honour go together.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the suspect with blond hair never set foot in the place the patrol skirts when the wind blows.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the north wall and ambition do not go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: Elisei the Stargazer handled the bishop's chalice, whatever the court may say.
- The chronicler notes drily: the north wall and the hunting crossbow go together, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the customs cellar and the bishop's chalice go together.
- Whatever the market gossips: the wharf and the bronze key do not go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Petru the Herald was driven by jealousy.
- At the Chancellery, Elisei the Stargazer maintains: "I was in the place where goods arrive in the fog".