The Cornered Man

The Corner Uncovered
Solved the case of The Cornered Man.

Patron: Halvik Storn, in Dreskmark Market Square. The sheet asks for Culprit, Tell, Motive. Each answer must rest on a finding; a lead only points you onward.

Usually heard from Doran Venn (“Ask Doran what he will not close”), or Halvik Storn (one matter at a time, while no other case is open). You need not wait for it: a case enters your casebook as soon as you hold one of its facts.

Gather the proof

1. Take the Debt Summons in Dreskmark Physic-Stall.
   Finding Attack Unprovoked By Accused: “In Roper's coat, a debt-summons in Joss Tunn's name — Roper came to the lane armed to collect by force; Tunn carried no weapon and was sought in his own lane.”
2. Take the Drawn Blade in Dreskmark Physic-Stall.
   Lead Cried As Murder: “The town already has its murderer: Joss Tunn, found bloody over Dench Roper's body in the lane, and run off.”
3. Take the Wound Angle in Dreskmark Physic-Stall.
   Finding Wound From Defence: “The killing thrust drove upward and inward — the blow of a man pinned and fending off from beneath, not a killer's downward stroke over his victim.”
4. Talk to Doran Venn in Dreskmark Physic-Stall and choose “Show Venn the drawn blade”.
   Finding Aggressor Drew First: “The coroner Doran Venn reads it from the steel: Dench Roper bared his blade and cut first, low across Tunn's forearm — the other only answered.”

Keep the order: a topic only appears once you hold the lead or the item it needs.

The answer

Show the case sheet

Question	Answer	Proved by
Culprit	Dench Roper	Aggressor Drew First; Attack Unprovoked By Accused
Tell	Self Defence	Wound From Defence
Motive	The Aggressors Attack	Attack Unprovoked By Accused

The trap

These are true findings that point at the wrong story. Presenting a sheet built on them costs a segment of the day and the clean pass.

• Tunn Killed Roper makes a wrong sheet presentable (Culprit: Joss Tunn, Tell: Murder, Motive: Tunn Malice). “Joss Tunn's own hand killed Dench Roper — found bloody over the body, fled the lane; the killing was his, and that is not in doubt.”

Close the case

Stand beside Halvik Storn and present. When the sheet holds, Halvik Storn offers courses; the case closes, and The Corner Uncovered unlocks, once you commit to one. Any course counts; they differ in the morale and marks shown beside each. This run chose Clear As Self Defence, which also earns No Murderer's Wound.