The Veil of the Fair
An overturned goblet, a face gone pale, whispers dying down — thus began, in Realm of the Crown, the case before you. The dose was measured with care — enough not to look like chance, too little to go unpunished. Suspicion has fallen on Safta the Herbwife, Costache the Toll-Keeper, Ilinca the Baker, Sava the Bell-Ringer 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 mill by the river, the scriptorium, the old dungeon, the watchtower and the salt market — each await their turn under scrutiny. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
His scales weigh the goods; his eye, the merchant. Both can be "greased" at need.
1.80 m
right-handed
dark eyes
grey hair
She weighs flour to the gram and people at a glance. No one stays in her debt twice.
1.62 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
He has rung the cathedral bells on the hour for thirty years. He sees the whole city from above and forgives nothing he sees.
1.83 m
right-handed
brown eyes
greying 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 mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
the scriptorium
Slanted desks, ink, and working silence. Here a quill creaks louder than a conscience.
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the watchtower
The highest point of the fortress. From here you see everything - and from below, everyone sees who climbs up.
the salt market
Here anything is bargained for, from salt to silences. The price of silence keeps rising.
Objects
the rusted sword
An old weapon, forgotten on the rack. The rust on the blade is newer than it looks.
the locked chest
Three padlocks, two rows of straps. Fresh scratches around the hinges, not the locks.
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the signet ring
The crest has been filed away almost completely. Almost.
the silver candelabrum
Heavy as a small anvil. It can light a room or end a conversation.
Motives
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
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.
at vespers
At the evening service, when the bells drown out any footstep.
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.
- By the order of the hours, first comes Duchess Amara de Corvin, then the suspect with chestnut hair.
- The customs register is clear: the signet ring and ambition do not go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the tallest suspect was at the salt market.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit handled the signet ring.
- Safta the Herbwife raises their right hand and says: "I was there at vespers".
- A maid whispered it at confession: the tallest suspect handled the rusted sword.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Sava the Bell-Ringer was driven by greed.
- The chronicler notes drily: Safta the Herbwife handled the silver candelabrum, whatever the court may say.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the watchtower and the ermine cloak go together.
- Whatever the market gossips: the mill by the river does not match that hour: after matins.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Ilinca the Baker was in the place from which you see everything.
- A maid whispered it at confession: Safta the Herbwife was at the old dungeon.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the scriptorium does not match that hour: after matins.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Sava the Bell-Ringer was there at noon.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: Duchess Amara de Corvin was at the mill by the river.
- The customs register is clear: the scriptorium and the signet ring do not go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: the silver candelabrum and jealousy go together, whatever the court may say.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with chestnut hair was driven by fear of exposure.