The Winter Intrigue
A seal that never lies has been placed, this once, in the service of a lie. Whoever drew it up knew the Chancellery's ways by heart — and that is precisely what betrays them. Suspicion has fallen on Ilinca the Baker, Sava the Bell-Ringer and Brother Anselm — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. Rumor walks the deed through every corner: the old dungeon, the throne room and the north wall. Study the testimonies at your leisure, fit them into the grid, and pronounce your verdict without haste.
Suspects
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
He has copied manuscripts for forty years. He knows what every one of them says - including the forbidden ones.
1.75 m
right-handed
brown eyes
greying hair
Locations
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
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 traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit was at the old dungeon.
- The gate guard swears: the tallest suspect was at the throne room.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: Brother Anselm never set foot in the place where the cells only seem abandoned.