The Signature of the Lady
A plot hatched in the shadows threatens the crown, and whoever hatched it still sits at the court's table. Those caught in it swear they knew nothing; one of them swears falsely. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Damaschin the Healer, Sava the Bell-Ringer, Castellan Ursu, Princess Smaranda and Sir Bogdan de Fag. As for the impulse behind it, the court whispers of everything: revenge, fear of exposure, ambition, blackmail and greed. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He knows the cure for any illness and the dose at which the cure becomes something else. He swears he has never mistaken the dosage.
1.71 m
left-handed
green eyes
grey 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 keeps the fortress dungeon and the tally of those who leave other than they entered.
1.90 m
right-handed
dark 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 pawned his armour to pay his tavern debts. Honour, he says, does not rust.
1.85 m
right-handed
blue eyes
brown hair
Locations
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
the hunting lodge
The royal cabin in the heart of the forest. Far from the eyes of the court - which is exactly what suits some.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
Objects
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
the amber necklace
Beads of golden resin strung on a silk thread. The thread is broken and hastily reknotted.
the ruby dagger
A short blade, its hilt set with a stone red as a frozen drop. It was sharpened recently.
the silver-clad icon
The silver casing is old craftsmanship; the nails that hold it were driven this week.
the abbess's bell
It calls the nuns to prayer. On the night in question, they all say, it rang once too many.
Motives
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
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 chronicler notes drily: the silver-clad icon and greed go together, whatever the court may say.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Castellan Ursu was in the place where the hedge has ears.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the abbess's bell and fear of exposure go together.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if the suspect with brown hair was driven by blackmail, then the suspect with dark eyes handled the amber necklace.
- Princess Smaranda declares under oath: "I was driven by fear of exposure".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with grey hair was driven by greed.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the suspect with blue eyes was in the place with thousands of leather-bound tomes.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit was driven by ambition.
- The customs register is clear: the north wall and blackmail do not go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the suspect with chestnut hair was at the hunting lodge.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Castellan Ursu was driven by revenge.
- The gate guard swears: the north wall and the map of the realm go together.