The Trap of the Citadel
A seal that never lies has been placed, this once, in the service of a lie. Until the hand that pressed the seal is found, every written order stands in doubt. Suspicion has fallen on Elisei the Stargazer, Mother Evghenia and Duchess Amara de Corvin — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. The places named in the testimonies — the guild forge, the hunting lodge and the great stable — each await their turn under scrutiny. Take up the quill, follow the thread of the clues, and set your seal upon the verdict.
Suspects
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
She runs the abbey with an iron hand and a golden pen. The register of donations has pages she shows no one.
1.60 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black 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
Locations
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
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 great stable
It smells of hay and hurried departures. Horses give no testimony.
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.
| SUSPECTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
||
| LOCATIONS | |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
Verdict
The culprit always lies; everyone else tells the truth.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the suspect with greying hair was in the place far from the eyes of the court.
- An unsigned note, slipped under the door: "the culprit was at the guild forge".
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the tallest suspect never set foot in the great stable.