The Signature of the Treasury
Someone slipped poison where it did not belong, and now the whole court eyes its goblets warily. Between remedy and venom runs a thin line, and someone at court crossed it knowingly. Suspicion has fallen on Duchess Amara de Corvin, Margica the Innkeeper, Balasa the Seamstress, Sir Bogdan de Fag and Anica the Miller — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. Motives abound — blackmail, fear of exposure, a debt of honour, jealousy and greed — yet only one moved the guilty hand. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
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
At the Golden Boar inn, wine and secrets are spilled in equal measure. She never forgets a debt - or a word let slip.
1.61 m
right-handed
dark eyes
chestnut hair
She sews the garments of all the nobility and knows everyone's measurements - including those that do not show.
1.59 m
left-handed
blue eyes
red 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
Her mill grinds grain by day and rumours by night. The flour comes out white; the rumours, always black.
1.63 m
right-handed
brown eyes
blond hair
Locations
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 merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
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 throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
Objects
the rusted sword
An old weapon, forgotten on the rack. The rust on the blade is newer than it looks.
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
the guild seal
The stamp that turns any goods into goods "of certified quality." Worth a mine of gold.
Motives
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
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.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
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 throne room and jealousy go together, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the hunting lodge and the rusted sword go together.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with chestnut hair was driven by a debt of honour.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the small wine cask and a debt of honour go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with brown hair handled the guild seal.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the suspect with black hair never touched the rusted sword.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Duchess Amara de Corvin was driven by blackmail.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit handled the small wine cask.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the merchant's house and the customs scales do not go together.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the tallest suspect was not driven by fear of exposure.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if Duchess Amara de Corvin was at the wharf, then the left-handed suspect handled the rusted sword.
- At the Chancellery, Sir Bogdan de Fag maintains: "I was at the mill by the river".
- A maid whispered it at confession: the ciphered letter and jealousy go together.