The Torch of the Tourney
In Realm of the Crown they say the walls have ears — and this time the saying has proven true. What has leaked so far is hard to weigh; what might yet leak, impossible. Before you, one by one, will stand Grigore the Cupbearer, Gavril the Farrier, Captain Vlaicu and Luca the Squire. The places named in the testimonies — the throne room, the castle cellar, the merchant's house and the mill by the river — each await their turn under scrutiny. Open the grid, weigh every clue, and pronounce your verdict: the Chancellery awaits only your signature.
Suspects
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
Arms like tree trunks and a forge where all noise dies. Some things are better beaten while hot.
1.88 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
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
He polishes the knight's armour and dreams of a sword of his own. For a coat of arms he would do almost anything.
1.72 m
right-handed
green eyes
brown hair
Locations
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
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.
Objects
the guild seal
The stamp that turns any goods into goods "of certified quality." Worth a mine of gold.
the signet ring
The crest has been filed away almost completely. Almost.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
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.
- A note in the margin of the ledger: if Captain Vlaicu was there after matins, then Gavril the Farrier was at the merchant's house.
- The gate guard swears: the merchant's house and the signet ring go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Captain Vlaicu was at the mill by the river.
- The chronicler notes drily: Luca the Squire was in the place where all is gold and purple, whatever the court may say.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Luca the Squire, then the shortest suspect.
- The gate guard swears: the throne room and the guild seal go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the mill by the river matches that hour: after matins.
- The gate guard swears: the hunting crossbow matches that hour: at noon.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit was there at noon.