First of all, I apologize for the delay! (Glad you all had booze and cookies!) Here's what went on behind the scenes:

The various solutions sent our judges into a quandary trying to decide if any of the alternate scenarios presented could possibly play out logically, with no "dangling or loose-fitted" Pieces. This debate went on and on and...you get the picture.

So, after many trials and much discussions, they finally came to the agreement that the "official" solution was the only one that was a perfect fit. So here are the answers:

1. Who killed the steward? Benjamin Boreal

2. Why? The genealogy charts showed that the steward was an illegitimate heir to the Boreal line, and was in fact, the eldest. Carrie long suspected that Benjamin wanted to inherit all the money and the company when Jels died, (an event which she feared would be engineered,) and that he didn't want to share with anyone, When a stranger appeared outside the house on several occasions, Carrie's suspicions grew and grew, and she contacted Francine.

3. Who poisoned Carrie? Benjamin, using Aubrie's herbs. Finding her herbs tampered with, Aubrie followed Benjamin and saw him deliver the salad to Carrie. Aubrie, being Sami, knew much about the Sitka strain and was able to secretly add "season salt" to the salad, thus creating an antidote if one was needed. Knowing Benjamin's treachery sent Aubrie into her fit of tears, which was observed by both Nutsy and Francine.

4. Why? He wanted to get her out of the way of his inheritance and to ease her suspicions, since she also had a gemealogy chart in her stateroom. He used Aubrie's herbs but wasn't aware his cousin was part Sitka or that Aubrie had followed him and used the salt.

5. Who went through the porthole? Alexis Boreal. She was an acrobatic performer for the Cirque de Lune. It was easy for her to flip herself upwards into a lifeboat, where she hid while Francine looked for Carrie's assailant.

6. Why was there no splash? Alexis didn't go down into the water. She went up. (Don't try this at home, kids!)

7. Who started the fire below deck? Perry Peary. He owed money to gamblers, and Aphros used this leverage to approach him through the gamblers' goons. This was the encounter mentioned.

8. Why? He wanted to protect his wife, Lizabeth. Aphros hired goons, then pretended to be the "savior" if Perry would sabotage Boreal Lines new flagship.

9. What is the secret relationship revealed in the photos? Benjamin and Alexis had a relationship before she married Jels, one which continued. In fact, Alexis approached Jels as part of a plan by Benjamin. Aubrie was brought in as a diversion for social focus and a vulnerable herbalist who could be framed if anything went wrong. If only the steward hadn't appeared, and if only Carrie hadn't been so suspicious of that stranger, who was actually the steward trying to find a way to appoach his long-lost family. Unfortunately for Benjaming and Alexis, "if only" doesn't hold up in courts.

PS Jels has decided not to press any charges against Perry, and to pay his debts in exchange for a promise that he will never gamble again. He is also backing a show starring Lizabeth, to which he plans to take his daughter, Carrie, He has discovered she isn't quite the airhead he thought.

PPS Nikkel has reminded Ermentine of her skills and how much he loved that independent girl he met those long years ago. She has reminded him how much she loved the young man who always made time for her, no matter how busy he was. They may have had a short voyage, but their new journey to happiness has begun.

PPPS While Francine and Carrie will hardly become BFFs, they each have a newfound respect for each other's abilities. Carrie has been softened by her brush with death, and may eventually become a nice person to know. Francine isn't betting on it, but she is keeping her options open. As for Nutsy, he is in the process of persuading Squirrely that the saloon needs a beautiful torchsinger to add to the ambience, preferably an exotic creature like a Sami. Squirrely always was a soft touch...

Thank you so much for playing NNN4. Congrats to the winners, Sql Girls and Webby's Watsons! The Squirrel's Bounty is now open for everyone who played to pick two prizes each. However, you may want to choose one at a time, since it's still being stocked and will be for several days. (These are smaller prizes than WS, but may help you fill in odds and ends from your wishlist.)

If you are interested at all in NNN5, make some noise, and/or pre-join the search for the impossible in WS6:

Private Outfit It is said that when the moon falls on a maiden and is covered by stars, the smoke shall clear and the lost masks speak, and that which does not exist shall be revealed.

Great work GreenRowan and judges, that must have been quite a job.

I am super interested in playing again :D I might even want to be a team leader? We'll see...

The game was great - my first time playing it, and felt so in-over-my head.... It was confusing, but fun! I'm so glad we were able to figure it out, great job team!

We missed a few little things (never occurred to us that Aubrie had caught on... ) but we had most of it - we just didn't feel sure, you know? Congrats to Squirrel Girls too, no wonder we both had the same answers :D

What was the clue that made it clear Benjamin was the one who gave the salad to Carrie (rather than Alexis)? Was Alexis elsewhere when that happened, perhaps?

It could have been Alexis, and I would have given credit to that. Even a couple of judges considered it. However, Benjamin was the one who had constant access to Aubrie's herbs, and Alexis had to keep Jels occupied and away from Carrie. Ben cuddling up to his uncle would have been a bit suspicious, and Aubrie would have wondered if Alexis buzzed around her herbs, since she made so much of Aubrie's Sami heritage, So, the most likely was your best guess, and part of Nutsy is always about just that--the best solution by your deduction. (After all, Ben and Alexis wanted to get away with murdering not just Carrie, but also Jels.)

I had a great time with our team too, looking forward to the next adventure! :D This was a great one, really had me stumped! Thanks for everything! Jeice and Torchy will definitely be back for future mysteries and plots! <3

:O we did so well. I knew Alexis had to be the flippy person hehe. Great job everyone!

Winners are receiving a wishlist grab. This has a tag: You won Nutsy!!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Nah, just wishlist!

and is sent via gift wrapping.

It does NOT count as one of your two prizes. It is extra for winning.

, thanks for the entire NNN, and cheerleader! WS6 will be a definite join for me...whether Captain or not. Will have to ponder NNN since depends on the team.. I'm not much help with puzzles blushes though we had a great team this time with the and I hope all would wish to play again.

The judges pondering the outcome have my gratitude knowing that was a super hard decision and am glad they went about it with sincerity and fairness. You all are great!

Congrats to the winners! well done everyone! ^^

LOL thanks babe for all your hardwork at this story! :D (heh. sorry we drank to much and went overboard) :D

- Thank you for another wonderful escape from reality!

and - Thank you for your wonderful leadership as co-captains of the Travelers! I wish I could have been more helpful along the way, but I had a great time with everyone!

Thank you so much for another wonderful adventure and I am looking forward to more! <3

Congrats to the winning team! ^-^ 🏆

What an awesome adventure. Thank you for all the hard work you and your team do for these.

Congrats to all the participants, you rock!

Wow, I was no where close on most of that but thank you for the fun when I was able to catch a ride xD Fantastic twists and turns as always luv

Thank you for this event, it was definitely challenging -was confused the whole time- but fun ^^