The cases for 2026-07-16

A fake high-value chip worth a fortune slipped through the cashier's cage just before the house closed the books. Every suspect sat in a different private gaming room set out in a single long row. Trace the row and unmask the forger. 4 players, 4 rooms, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Vivienne Laroche.

1. 1. The roulette player and whoever stacked the violet chips are the same person.
2. 2. Vivienne Laroche was in the room right before whoever stacked the pearl chips.
3. 3. The mini baccarat player and whoever stacked the pearl chips were exactly 2 rooms apart.
4. 4. Vivienne Laroche and whoever stacked the violet chips are the same person.
5. 5. The high-card player was somewhere before the mini baccarat player in the line.
6. 6. Whoever stacked the crimson chips was somewhere before whoever stacked the violet chips in the line.
7. 7. Romy Castellan was somewhere before whoever stacked the pearl chips in the line.
8. 8. Vivienne Laroche was right next to the faro player.
9. 9. Vivienne Laroche and the high-card player were exactly 2 rooms apart.
10. 10. The faro player and whoever stacked the pearl chips are the same person.
11. 11. Salvatore Greco and the mini baccarat player are the same person.
12. 12. Whoever stacked the crimson chips was in the room right before whoever stacked the violet chips.

Backstage at the Lyceum, the corridor of dressing rooms holds the whole company — and one very good liar. The hair-clip vanished before the final blackout. Assign every performer to a room before the reviews land. 5 company members, 5 dressing rooms, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Lucien Beaumont.

1. 1. Emil Sandoval and the performer in the plumed helmet are the same person.
2. 2. The one holding the prop goblet was somewhere before the one holding the shepherd's crook in the line.
3. 3. Lucien Beaumont and the one holding the shepherd's crook were exactly 2 dressing rooms apart.
4. 4. Della Fontaine was somewhere before the one holding the paper rose in the line.
5. 5. Mauro Castellani and the performer in the jester's motley were exactly 2 dressing rooms apart.
6. 6. The performer in the tattered cape and the one holding the shepherd's crook are the same person.
7. 7. Cordelia Strauss was in the dressing room right before the one holding the letter scroll.
8. 8. Della Fontaine and the one holding the letter scroll were exactly 4 dressing rooms apart.
9. 9. Lucien Beaumont was right next to the performer in the emerald shawl.
10. 10. Emil Sandoval and the one holding the prop goblet are the same person.
11. 11. The performer in the tattered cape was in the dressing room right before the one holding the paper rose.
12. 12. The performer in the mourning veil and the one holding the glass vial are the same person.

A priceless star map disappeared the night of the eclipse. Each astronomer worked through the dark in a different dome along the ridge. Walk the domes, one by one, and name the thief. 5 astronomers, 5 domes, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Dr. Halley Vance.

1. 1. The one using the sextant and whoever was drinking the strong tea are the same person.
2. 2. The one using the plate camera was right next to the one tracking the lunar crater.
3. 3. Nadia Ellison was somewhere before whoever was drinking the espresso in the line.
4. 4. Bram Sutcliffe was right next to the one using the pendulum clock.
5. 5. Nadia Ellison was somewhere before whoever was drinking the ginger tea in the line.
6. 6. Whoever was drinking the strong tea was somewhere after whoever was drinking the spiced cider but before whoever was drinking the ginger tea.
7. 7. Bram Sutcliffe was in the dome right before the one using the pendulum clock.
8. 8. Dr. Halley Vance was somewhere before Cassia Moreau in the line.
9. 9. The one using the plate camera and whoever was drinking the spiced cider are the same person.
10. 10. The one using the spectroscope and the one tracking the double star were exactly 3 domes apart.
11. 11. Whoever was drinking the spiced cider was somewhere before whoever was drinking the warm milk in the line.
12. 12. Cassia Moreau and the one using the brass telescope were exactly 3 domes apart.
13. 13. Nadia Ellison was in the dome right before Lena Ostrov.
14. 14. The one tracking the double star was in the dome right before the one tracking the lunar crater.
15. 15. The one using the brass telescope and whoever was drinking the ginger tea were exactly 3 domes apart.
16. 16. Lena Ostrov and the one tracking the nebula were exactly 2 domes apart.
17. 17. The one tracking the ringed planet and whoever was drinking the espresso are the same person.