The Soot Circle
The body of a shipping magnate is discovered in his private study. The only immediate anomaly is a perfect circle of soot on the carpet where a piece of furniture is absent. An independent investigator must examine the household's statements and the physical environment to establish a coherent sequence of events.
Initial Crime Scene
The heavy oak door swings inward, releasing a puff of warm, coal-scented air. Your first step onto the Persian rug is met with the faint, distant tick of a mantel clock. Your gaze travels from the low glow of the coal fire, across the massive mahogany desk with its overturned inkwell, to the open leather-bound ledger, its spine cracked and one page torn cleanly from the binding.
Crime Scene Environment
The primary lighting is low, provided by a single gas lamp and the fading coal fire, casting long, shifting shadows. The air is dry and carries a sustained warmth from the hearth. Acoustic density is minimal, dominated by the clock's mechanical tick and the occasional soft pop from the embers.
Investigation Constraints
Gas lamps, coal fireplaces, hand-written ledgers, personal diaries, wax seals, pocket watches, mechanical locks (key-and-tumbler), horse-drawn carriages, the postal service, and telegraphs for urgent communication. No electrical devices or digital records.
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