The Shadow of the Blazon
In Realm of the Crown they say the walls have ears — and this time the saying has proven true. The spy knows the corridors better than the guards do — an ill sign: it is one of the household. Suspicion has fallen on Mihu the Archer, Castellan Ursu, Chamberlain Iorgu, Nichifor the Spy and Safta the Herbwife — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. Motives abound — greed, revenge, ambition, jealousy and fear of exposure — yet only one moved the guilty hand. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He hits a coin tossed on the wind from a hundred paces. At questions, though, he always misses.
1.76 m
left-handed
brown eyes
brown 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
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
Officially, he does not exist. Unofficially, he was seen in three places at once - which is, of course, impossible.
1.74 m
left-handed
dark eyes
brown hair
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
Locations
the scriptorium
Slanted desks, ink, and working silence. Here a quill creaks louder than a conscience.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
Objects
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.
the vial of belladonna
A small flask, a wax stopper, a label written with care. Three-quarters empty.
the guild seal
The stamp that turns any goods into goods "of certified quality." Worth a mine of gold.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
Motives
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
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.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the ceremonial crown and jealousy do not go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the north wall and jealousy go together.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: Castellan Ursu never touched the hunting crossbow.
- The customs register is clear: the merchant's house and fear of exposure do not go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the castle cellar and the hunting crossbow go together.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the guild seal and revenge do not go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the abbey library and greed go together.
- Before the investigator, Nichifor the Spy firmly repeats: "I was driven by jealousy".
- The chronicler notes drily: Mihu the Archer was driven by fear of exposure, whatever the court may say.
- Whatever the market gossips: Chamberlain Iorgu was not driven by jealousy.
- The chronicler notes drily: Nichifor the Spy handled the ceremonial crown, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with black hair was driven by revenge.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the small wine cask and fear of exposure go together.