Rain on Glass
A retired diplomat is found deceased in his study during a rainstorm at Thornfield Manor. An investigation begins into the isolated household, its residents, and the sequence of events preceding the discovery. The focus is on the physical evidence, the layout of the rooms, and the statements of those present.
Initial Crime Scene
Rain streaks the conservatory windows in unbroken vertical lines. The scent of wet earth from the potted ferns mixes with the faint, metallic tang of distant blood. A grandfather clock in the grand hall tolls the quarter-hour, its heavy tick echoing across the checkered marble. Your gaze catches on a single fountain pen lying on its side near the library door, its nib leaving a dark stain on the linen runner. The study door stands ajar, the brass latch bolt extended, the wood around the strike plate showing fresh, shallow gouges.
Crime Scene Environment
Lighting is dim and diffuse, filtered through rain-streaked windows and supplemented by bare electric bulbs and oil lamps. The air carries high humidity from the storm, with a chill that settles into the wood paneling and marble floors. Acoustic density is moderate; the steady drumming of rain on the conservatory roof and the relentless ticking of clocks create a low, constant soundscape, punctuated by the occasional creak of settling floorboards.
Investigation Constraints
Pre-digital era (1930s). Tools include mechanical locks, rotary telephones, handwritten ledgers, fountain pens, wax seals, mechanical clocks, manual filing cabinets, and analog photography. Communication is via posted letters, landline calls, or in-person conversation. No electronic surveillance or digital records exist.
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