The Signature of the Seal
The council's secrets have reached where they never should have — and not on their own: someone carried them. The Chancellery has caught only the end of the thread; the whole skein is still in someone's hands. Before you, one by one, will stand Filip the Steward, Duchess Amara de Corvin, Elisei the Stargazer and Tintar the Jester. Rumor walks the deed through every corner: the old dungeon, the queen's garden, the great stable and the mill by the river. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
He counts the crown's silver every evening. On some evenings the count comes out different - and he says nothing.
1.79 m
right-handed
grey eyes
chestnut hair
Widowed three times, heir on each occasion. Her smile has buried more nobles than the plague.
1.68 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
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
The only man in the kingdom who may tell the king the truth - provided he makes it sound like a joke.
1.56 m
right-handed
green eyes
red hair
Locations
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
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.
Objects
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
the ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
the stained parchment
A half-burned document with a stain that might be wine. Or not.
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
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.
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: Tintar the Jester was at the great stable, whatever the court may say.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the suspect with chestnut hair handled the royal seal.
- An unsigned note, slipped under the door: "the culprit handled the stained parchment".
- The gate guard swears: the stained parchment matches that hour: at dusk.
- Duchess Amara de Corvin declares under oath: "I was in the place where the wheel turns day and night".
- The gate guard swears: the queen's garden and the royal seal go together.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: Duchess Amara de Corvin never touched the map of the realm.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the ciphered letter matches that hour: after matins.
- Elisei the Stargazer declares under oath: "I was there at noon".
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the royal seal does not match that hour: at dawn.