The Curious Case of the Upside-Down Statue

The Curious Case of the Upside-Down Statue

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In the quiet town of Ballynore, James Joyce’s Secondary School harbours a mystery. One misty morning, the students and staff awoke to find the school's iconic statue, a figure of Irish writer James Joyce, with its head inexplicably turned upside down. Principal O'Sullivan has tasked you with uncovering the culprit behind this baffling act. Your mission is to navigate through the school, interview suspects, and piece together the clues to solve the mystery. Choose wisely, as each decision you make will influence the outcome of your investigation.

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The Discovery

01

You stand before the defiled statue, pondering your next move. Where will you begin your investigation?

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You stand before the defiled statue, pondering your next move. Where will you begin your investigation?

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2B

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2D

Head to the principal's office to discuss the security footage.

Question the caretaker who discovered the vandalism.

Watch students during their break for any gossip or rumours.

Examine the statue closely for any clues.

2A: Clue at the Statue: You find a small, silver pendant with an unusual crest near the statue.

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Show the pendant to the head prefect, who might recognise it.

Investigate the scratch marks for more physical evidence.

Ignore the pendant and move to another location for more clues.

Take the pendant to the history teacher for identification.

2B: The Glitch- Principal O'Sullivan reveals that the security cameras were malfunctioning between midnight and 3 a.m.

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Look for students who might have been near the IT room during the glitch.

Request access to the logs for more details.

Question the night security guard about unusual activity.

Interview the IT coordinator about the malfunction.

2C: Strange Noises-The caretaker, who lives nearby, describes hearing clanging sounds near the art wing at around 1 a.m.

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3J

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3L

Interview the art teacher about any missing supplies or students with keys.

Search the grounds for footprints or other evidence.

Dismiss the noises as irrelevant and continue questioning staff.

Investigate the art wing for any signs of disturbance.

2D: Gossip in the playground- You overhear that a group of students is forming a secret club.

3M

3N

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Seek out a teacher who might be aware of unofficial student activities.

Try to blend in and gather more information discreetly.

Ignore the gossip and pursue a different lead.

Approach the group directly to inquire about their activities.

3A: History Teacher’s Insight- The history teacher examines the pendant and identifies the crest as belonging to the Society of Old Ballynore, a defunct club that used to meet in the school decades ago.

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Research the society further in the school archives.

Check for any other items around the school bearing the same crest.

Investigate current students who might have an interest in resurrecting the society.

Ask about the society’s activities and any potential descendants of its members.

3B: Head Prefect’s Recognition- The head prefect recognises the pendant as belonging to Aoife (/ˈiːfʲə) Murphy, a student known for her love of puzzles and pranks.

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Check Aoife's recent attendance and behaviour records.

Look into any recent incidents involving Aoife that could hint at a motive.

Investigate Aoife's friends and their activities.

Seek out Aoife for questioning.

3C: Scratch Marks Analysis- The scratch marks reveal traces of green paint, commonly used in the school's art department.

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Interview students who had access to the art supplies recently.

Search for any damaged art tools that could match the scratch marks.

Consult the art teacher about recent projects involving green paint.

Head to the art department to see if any paint is missing.

3D: Art Room Inspection-You find that several brushes and a large can of green paint are missing from the art room.

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Look for any CCTV footage near the art room.

Interview students who might have seen someone entering the art room late at night.

Consider the possibility of a student prank and track down the most likely culprits.

Check the sign-out sheet for who accessed the art supplies.

3E: IT coordinator’s Suspicions-The IT coordinator mentions that the glitch seems to have been caused by an unauthorised access attempt at 2 a.m.

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Interview students who are known for their technical skills.

Examine any nearby computers that might have been used to access the system.

Report the findings to the principal for further action.

Investigate the logs for any unusual login attempts.

3F: The Hacker Suspect-A student named Liam O’Connell is known for his hacking prowess and was seen near the IT room that night.

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Search Liam’s locker for any evidence of involvement.

Question Liam’s friends about any potential plans or pranks.

Investigate any previous disciplinary actions involving Liam and computer misuse.

Confront Liam about his whereabouts during the glitch.

3G: Logs Investigation-The logs reveal a failed login attempt using a staff member’s credentials, followed by a successful entry minutes later.

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Check for any signs of forced entry or tampering in the staff room.

Cross-reference the login time with known activities around the school.

Investigate any students who might have access to staff login details.

Interview the staff member whose credentials were used.

3H: Security Guard’s Sighting- The security guard recalls seeing a shadowy figure carrying a large object near the art wing but couldn't get a clear view.

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Search the area where the figure was last seen for any dropped items or clues.

Check for any students who might have been absent or unaccounted for during that time.

Consider setting a trap or surveillance for future nights.

Ask the guard for more details on the figure’s movements.

3I: Art Wing Disturbance-You find a broken window and paint smudges leading towards the sports field, suggesting someone escaped in a hurry.

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Interview the PE teacher about any suspicious activity that morning.

Check the sports equipment for any damage or missing items.

Look into students who frequently use the sports field late at night.

Follow the trail towards the sports field for more clues.

3J: Art Teacher’s Observations-The art teacher mentions that Niamh (/nʲiəvˠ/) Byrne, a talented but mischievous student, has been acting unusually secretive lately.

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Search Niamh’s desk or locker for any incriminating evidence.

Ask Niamh’s friends about any recent unusual activities.

Check if Niamh has any history of similar pranks or mischief.

Confront Niamh about her behaviour and the missing supplies.

3K: Footprints Trail-The muddy footprints lead to a shed near the sports field, where you find a discarded pair of gloves.

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Search the shed for more evidence of recent activity.

Interview students who had access to the shed recently.

Consider the possibility that the shed was used as a hideout.

Examine the gloves for any identifying marks or clues.

3L: Late-Night Staff Member-You learn that Mr. Donnelly, a teacher known for staying late, was working on a project the night of the incident.

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Check if Mr. Donnelly had access to the keys for the statue area.

Consider if Mr. Donnelly might have seen or heard the culprit.

Look into any students Mr. Donnelly may have spoken to that night.

Interview Mr. Donnelly about any unusual noises or sightings.

3M: Nervous Students-The students deny involvement but drop a hint about a midnight gathering near the old library.

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Interview students who were known to attend these gatherings.

Check if the old library has any hidden entrances or exits.

Look into any traditions or legends involving the old library.

Investigate the old library for any signs of a recent meeting.

3N: Teacher’s Insights on Pranks-The teacher reveals that similar pranks occurred 30 years ago, often around the time of school festivals.

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Interview older staff members who might remember the past pranks.

Check if the timing of the statue incident coincides with any current events.

Look for patterns or similarities with the current incident.

Research past festivals and any notable incidents.

3O: Library Meeting-You discover that a group of students held a secret meeting in the library the night of the incident.

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Identify and interview the students who were present at the meeting.

Check the library’s records for any unusual check-outs that week.

Consider if the meeting was related to planning the prank.

Search the library for any left-behind items or clues.

3P: Historical Pranks-The archives reveal a pattern of pranks involving the statue, typically executed by students in their final year.

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Interview alumni who might have insights into these traditions.

Investigate if any current students have shown an interest in these old pranks.

Check for any recent postings or discussions in student forums or clubs.

Cross-reference the names of students involved in past pranks with current students.

Your investigation leads you to a key suspect or a group of suspects. You must decide how to proceed:

4. What now?

Confront the suspect(s) directly with the evidence you have gathered.

Report your findings to Principal O'Sullivan and suggest a resolution.

Set a trap to catch the suspect(s) in the act.

Gather additional proof to ensure your case is airtight.

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5. 1: Confrontation: The suspect admits to the prank, revealing it was a misguided attempt to revive a forgotten tradition.

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5.2. Report: The principal handles the situation discreetly, preventing further incidents.

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5.3. Trap: The trap succeeds, catching the culprit, who turns out to be a group of students playing a prank.

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5.4. Proof: The additional proof solidifies your case, and the culprit confesses under the weight of the evidence.

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• Now, go to this page and do this vocabulary exercise. (Aeducar)

• Once you have completed that exercise , you can watch this clip from the TV show Derry Girls.