The Signature of the Blazon
The whispers began in Realm of the Crown like thin smoke; now the smoke smells of conspiracy. The crown demands not only the name but the proof: suspicion without grounds is itself a tool of the scheme. On the Chancellery's list stand Captain Vlaicu, Ilinca the Baker, Codrin the Huntsman, Princess Smaranda and Sava the Bell-Ringer; one of these names covers a lie. As for the impulse behind it, the court whispers of everything: greed, jealousy, fear of exposure, a debt of honour and blackmail. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He has guarded the fortress gates for twenty years. Who enters and who leaves - he decides what the ledger records.
1.84 m
right-handed
brown eyes
brown 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 knows the royal forest better than the castle corridors. Tracks, he says, never lie - men do.
1.87 m
right-handed
green eyes
black 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 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
Locations
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
the mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
the wharf
Moored boats, wet ropes, and goods that prefer to arrive in the fog.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
Objects
the silver-clad icon
The silver casing is old craftsmanship; the nails that hold it were driven this week.
the ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
the purse of gold coins
New coins, unworn, from a minting not yet in circulation. Interesting.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the signet ring
The crest has been filed away almost completely. Almost.
Motives
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
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.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
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 traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit was driven by blackmail.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the mill by the river matches that hour: at noon.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the castle cellar and fear of exposure go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the castle cellar and the hunting crossbow go together.
- Whatever the market gossips: Princess Smaranda was not driven by blackmail.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the shortest suspect was at the merchant's house.
- At the Chancellery, Princess Smaranda maintains: "I handled the signet ring".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the mill by the river and jealousy go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the shortest suspect handled the silver-clad icon.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Sava the Bell-Ringer was at the mill by the river.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the ciphered letter and a debt of honour go together.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: Codrin the Huntsman came earlier than Sava the Bell-Ringer.
- The Chancellery checked twice: Codrin the Huntsman was not driven by a debt of honour.
- One thing is certain: the great stable and the hour "at dawn" do not share the same match for suspects.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the great stable does not match that hour: at dusk.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Princess Smaranda was there at dawn.