🗡️ Renaissance Murder Mystery 🗡️

A painting depicting a scene from Roman mythology by the artist Botticelli, found lying next to the victim in the street.

A copy of the Book of Micah (Old Testament) found in the victim's satchel.

A letter addressed to the victim. Only the final sentence remains:

"...and so despite your previous refusals, I must ask you once more for the loan I so desperately require."

The letter bears the official Medici family coat of arms.

Another partial letter found in an envelope. The final legible sentence reads:

"...now that he knows about us, we must save the child. You must see to it that he becomes one of the Angels of H..."

Signed: "L.B."

"I saw Giuseppe earlier that evening at the Cathedral. He seemed nervous, clutching his satchel tightly. He told me he had 'important business' to attend to during the festivities. When I asked what kind of business one conducts during Carnival, he simply said it was a matter of conscience and walked away quickly toward the Piazza."

"Signor Conti visited our convent three weeks ago, asking about provisions for orphaned children. He seemed particularly interested in those children being raised by Friar Savonarola's followers. He made a generous donation and asked that we pray for 'the innocent caught in the schemes of the powerful.' He appeared troubled, as if carrying a great burden."

"Two foreign men came to my inn the day before Carnival. They spoke little, paid in Roman coins, and kept their faces covered. They asked many questions about the Carnival celebrations and which routes would be most crowded. One of them had a ring with a strange crest—not Florentine, I'm certain. They left before dawn on the day of the murder."

"I am the one who witnessed the attack from my window. The two men in black cloaks moved with military precision—these were not common thieves. After they stabbed poor Giuseppe, they searched his bag frantically, as if looking for something specific. When I screamed, one of them looked up at me, and I saw his face briefly. He had the bearing of a soldier or guardsman, not a street criminal. They ran north, disappearing into the Carnival crowds."

"Giuseppe commissioned a Botticelli painting from me six months ago—the very one found at the scene. He paid handsomely for it, but then last month, he came to me in distress, saying he needed to 'undo a mistake' and asking how to properly dispose of pagan artwork. I was confused, as he had always been a patron of such art. He seemed like a changed man, speaking of salvation and judgment. I told him about the bonfires Savonarola was organizing."

"I worked in the Conti household until Giuseppe dismissed all his servants last year. He said he was simplifying his life and no longer needed such luxuries. His wife was furious. Around that same time, I noticed he began receiving letters sealed with wax bearing unfamiliar crests—one looked like it might have been from Rome. He would read them privately and then burn them in the fireplace. Something had changed him."

"Giuseppe approached me last month requesting to withdraw a large sum—enough to support a child's upbringing for years. When I asked the purpose, he became evasive, saying only that he had 'obligations to fulfill' and 'a debt of honor to pay.' He also mentioned needing to make arrangements 'before it's too late.' At the time, I thought perhaps he was ill, but now I wonder if he knew he was in danger."