The Trap 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. On the Chancellery's list stand Elisei the Stargazer, Petru the Herald, Gavril the Farrier, Sword-Bearer Dragos and Toma the Cellarer; one of these names covers a lie. Rumor walks the deed through every corner: the watchtower, the wharf, the guild forge, the throne room and the old dungeon. Few files have tested so many investigators; untangle the threads, catch the lie, and pronounce your 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
He proclaims the crown's will to every corner of the kingdom. Sometimes he proclaims it before the crown itself knows.
1.82 m
right-handed
blue eyes
blond 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 bears the king's ceremonial sword. At the tourney he has never lost; at dice, always.
1.86 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 watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
the wharf
Moored boats, wet ropes, and goods that prefer to arrive in the fog.
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
Objects
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
the locked chest
Three padlocks, two rows of straps. Fresh scratches around the hinges, not the locks.
the purse of gold coins
New coins, unworn, from a minting not yet in circulation. Interesting.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
Motives
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
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 throne room and a debt of honour go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Sword-Bearer Dragos was in the place where goods arrive in the fog.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the throne room and the small wine cask go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the ceremonial crown and blackmail go together.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the shortest suspect never set foot in the throne room.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the suspect with chestnut hair was driven by greed.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the old dungeon and revenge go together.
- The chancellor deduced it coldly: if the suspect with greying hair handled the purse of gold coins, then Toma the Cellarer was at the watchtower.
- Before the investigator, Petru the Herald firmly repeats: "I handled the purse of gold coins".
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if the suspect with chestnut hair was driven by greed, then the suspect with red hair was driven by blackmail.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the suspect with blond hair never touched the purse of gold coins.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was driven by revenge.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the wharf and the bishop's chalice go together.