The case
Difficulty1 of 45×5 · 4 suspectsThe Unpaid Scale
Case file
The lanterns go out at three and the gates are chained by half past. was found in the Lantern Market when the sweepers came through. The gate ledger lists everyone still inside, one to a stall — and one of them was standing right there.
Why this one is tricky
Four people in the Lantern Market on a 5×5 of stalls. Placement only — no shrine tiles — with the unpaid scale as the scene, not a hidden role.
Two rules close every case. One person per row, and one per column. The victim takes the last remaining legal square, and whoever shares that room did it.
A square with furniture drawn on it is taken. Bare floor is somewhere a suspect can stand. Rooms are patches of matching floor.
Start from the strongest clues. Stack two clues about the same person before you place anyone. Switch on Pencil when two or three seats remain — that is not a guess.
Underlined words in the clue list — alone, beside, north of — explain themselves if you tap them.
Suspects
Tap a portrait for details. Tap below to select, then tap a square.
was
was a noodle counter
was
was in a rattan chair
was a rattan chair
was a dye vat
Found in the room with the murderer.
Deduction board
0 of 5 placed.
Tools
What you are looking at
A square with furniture on it is taken. A square showing bare floor is somewhere a suspect can stand.
Rooms are the areas of matching floor, with a black line with a gold stroke tracing where one ends and the next begins.
Small letters along the bottom of a square are your own pencil marks — a note, never a placement.
Clues
Every clue is load-bearing — drop one and the case stops being solvable.
- was
- was a rattan chair
- was a dye vat
- was a noodle counter
- was
- was in a rattan chair
Everyone stands in a different row and a different column. The victim was with the murderer, so whoever shares 's room did it.