The Signature of the Tourney
A bitter morning has settled over Realm of the Crown: something precious has vanished without a trace. The Chancellery has set every other file aside: until what was taken returns, no one sleeps easy. Suspicion has fallen on Filip the Steward, Castellan Ursu, Grigore the Cupbearer and Toma the Cellarer — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. The hours in question: "at dawn", "after matins", "at noon" and "at dusk". A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then 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
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 tastes the king's wine before anyone else. A trade with a short future, he says, but a rich past.
1.70 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
He holds the keys to every cellar in the castle. He claims the wine vanishes on its own, by "angelic evaporation."
1.73 m
left-handed
brown eyes
red hair
Locations
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the cathedral crypt
The old kings sleep beneath crested slabs. Now and then, someone disturbs their rest.
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.
Objects
the stained parchment
A half-burned document with a stain that might be wine. Or not.
the ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
the rusted sword
An old weapon, forgotten on the rack. The rust on the blade is newer than it looks.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
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 gate guard swears: the hunting lodge matches that hour: at dusk.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with red hair was at the abbey library.
- At the Chancellery, Castellan Ursu maintains: "I handled the stained parchment".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the abbey library and the rusted sword go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the hunting crossbow matches that hour: at noon.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with dark eyes was there at dusk.
- The gate guard swears: the cathedral crypt matches that hour: after matins.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: Grigore the Cupbearer never set foot in the cathedral crypt.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was there after matins.