Welcome to the archive room. The stamp was borrowed under a tag number rather than the name on its storage drawer. Your team has the original records on the table. First recover five pieces of information, then use the final plan to find the borrowed archive stamp. Keep every result beside its badge so another teammate can check your reasoning.
How your team will think
Join records, check source status and explain why a near match fails.
Keep the badge results beside the candidate sheet. For each candidate, point to the evidence that supports or rejects it; the final choice must pass every printed check.
Set up in one room
Print the six player sheets and two record sheets for each team. Keep answers and hints with the host.
Lay out Loan slips, Departure windows (minutes after opening), the remaining clue sheets and the final plan. All task records are printed inside the sheets; no extra prop is needed.
After each clue, pass roles one seat clockwise. With two players, combine Reader with Recorder and Checker with Builder. With five or six, add a second checker and a source finder; everyone explains one decision.
Ages and durations are design estimates. Choose the pace and reading support that suit your group.
Look before you print
See all 6 player clues
These are the actual figures and instructions from the player pack. Read the final page’s rule along with the earlier clues.
Clue 1 of 6
Record
Use the loan slips and tag register to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.
Read this clue in text
Loan slips
item: Drawer | tag: PINE | status: cancelled
item: Box | tag: WAVE | status: draft
item: Cabinet | tag: STAR | status: checked
Tag register
tag: STAR | bay: NORTH
tag: PINE | bay: EAST
tag: WAVE | bay: WEST
Archivist note
bay: WEST | seal: RING
bay: NORTH | seal: KITE
bay: EAST | seal: LEAF
Cross-check
Match A.tag to B.tag.
Match B.bay to C.bay.
A.status is checked.
Report C.seal.
Clue 2 of 6
Window
The team needs time for both the job and the journey. It cannot start before the earliest time, leave a window unfinished, or arrive after the deadline. Which departure window works? Times are minutes after opening.
Read this clue in text
Departure windows (minutes after opening)
EARLY: start 5; window ends 20
MID: start 15; window ends 30
LATE: start 25; window ends 45
Work and travel
Earliest start 10; job 7 min.
Travel 5 min; arrival deadline 30.
Job + travel must both fit inside one window.
Report the only possible window ID.
Clue 3 of 6
Word
Word desk: Find the exact word FILE, reading RIGHT only. Reject near matches and reversed words. Copy the digit immediately after it.
Read this clue in text
Find FILE; only read to the RIGHT.
F
I
L
X
8
A
B
C
E
L
I
F
2
A
B
C
F
I
L
E
7
D
E
F
C
A
M
P
9
S
U
N
Answer = digit in the next square after the word.
Clue 4 of 6
Entry
Entry desk: Combine every BEFORE rule to order the four actions. Write positions on the whole-sheet cards. Read position 2.
Read this clue in text
Cards: Check stamp [3]; File note [7]; Find drawer [5]; Read record [1].
Rules: Read record BEFORE Find drawer; Check stamp BEFORE File note; Find drawer BEFORE File note; Read record BEFORE Check stamp; Check stamp BEFORE Find drawer. Read card position 2.
Clue 5 of 6
Drawer
Drawer desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.
Read this clue in text
Columns: A, B, C, D. Rows: 1, 2, 3.
1
D
L
K
F
2
J
M
E
T
3
I
S
V
Y
FILE = 4
CASE = 7
VASE = 0
READ COORDINATES IN ORDER:
D1 > A3 > B1 > C2
Clue 6 of 6
Final
Use each recorded result in the evidence key to learn one feature. Compare all five features with the location plan. Report the one location ID supported by every source, then explain why a nearby alternative fails.
Read this clue in text
Location plan
BAY-L: leaf / south / stone / lower / square
BAY-A: leaf / south / wood / upper / round
BAY-B: ring / south / stone / upper / square
BAY-C: leaf / north / wood / upper / square
BAY-D: leaf / north / wood / upper / round
BAY-E: ring / south / wood / lower / square
BAY-F: leaf / north / stone / upper / round
BAY-G: ring / south / stone / lower / round
BAY-H: ring / north / wood / upper / round
BAY-I: ring / south / stone / lower / square
BAY-J: leaf / north / wood / lower / round
BAY-K: ring / north / stone / lower / square
Column order and evidence key
Stamp (Record): RING=ring; KITE=leaf
Door (Window): MID=north; EARLY=south
Surface (Word): 7=wood; 8=stone
Level (Entry): 3=upper; 7=lower
Seal (Drawer): 4=round; 7=square
Start after: Record, Window, Word, Entry, Drawer
A different kind of mystery next
Keep the habit of sharing evidence and try a new reasoning task.
