The Ashworth Toast
During the Ashworth-Hale wedding reception, a champagne tower collapses, resulting in the death of the groom's uncle, Victor Hale. An investigation into the incident uncovers a complex web of relationships and hidden pressures among the wedding guests.
Initial Crime Scene
The heavy scent of hothouse lilies and gin mixes with the crisp smell of spilled champagne. A sharp, chemical odor, clean and solvent-like, cuts through the floral air. The distant, muffled clink of silver against porcelain sounds from the dining hall. Before you, a pyramid of crystal coupes lies shattered on the ballroom floor. Wax-sealed ivory stationery is scattered across a writing desk in the corner. An embroidered guest book lies open, a heavy ink blot obscuring the final signature.
Crime Scene Environment
The ballroom is illuminated by the warm, flickering glow of gaslight chandeliers, casting long, dancing shadows. The air is cool and carries a high acoustic density; muffled conversations, the rustle of silk gowns, and the occasional sharp laugh create a layered, oppressive murmur. The humidity is low, allowing the scent of flowers and chemicals to hang distinctly.
Investigation Constraints
Early 20th-century domestic tools: handwritten ledgers, fountain pens, rotary telephones, mechanical door locks, handwritten guest books, copper-alloy champagne coupes, crystal stemware, silver serving trays, paraffin wax seals on envelopes, manual stenography machines for dictation.
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