Puzzletober 2026: Beacon
FYTTE THE THIRD in which powers extend to new territories.
After a decently long back-and-forth with Terra over the probable intentions of Neward, her qualms begin to overtake her. She admits, "I think my master did ally, a year or two years ago. It happened when my master got a golden bookcase. After that, my master has not been speaking the same way; my master has not been speaking about the same things." She calls off the vines, and neither of the men retaliate. Finding his old confidence, Renn says, "Someone must remind him of who he was, who he should be. I want to confront him." When Terra sends the vines back around Renn, Felix says, "We wouldn't be violent. I think he's been possessed. We should only need to dispel what is acting through him." Terra asks, "Dispel?" Felix elaborates: "It is like cleaning up magic. We would not be hurting your master. If anything, he would feel much better." A beacon of hope swells within Terra. She retracts the vines once more. She says, "Then I will take you to my master. Take could be the wrong word?" Renn suggests guide and stands peacefully.
Suddenly, the sound of commotion rings from down the stairwell. An unknown voice is talking to someone, but the only words audible to the three above are "climbing vines." Terra explains that she climbed the stairwell by sending vines up it. Evidently, now some people in the castle are aware that someone like her could be on the grounds. Renn claims that they need some sort of distraction to leave the castle and observes their surroundings through one of the telescopes. Eventually, atop the outer wall, he spots an unlit bonfire next to a guard. He relays this to Felix, who suggests that it might be lit to signal oncoming sieges. Without even needing the telescopes, they spot bonfires atop each of the four walls, including one to the east above the main gate. Renn remarks that the telescopes, twisted backward, could likely be used to start them. He looks feverishly for anything to reflect the sun before ripping the pendant off his neck. Beads fly everywhere. Felix removes his without the destruction.
Rules: Place two diamonds (at the size and scale of Diamond Chain) fully within this 7x7 grid so that light coming in west from the eastern window is reflected into each of the three telescopes at the same time. Diamonds cannot overlap the circle.
