Inquisitor 1309

[puzzled272]

Nice one! Tougher than this weeks listener.

[slaney]

Very clever and good indeed - I don't know about the Listener - it's taken me all this time just to finish the Inquisitor, so I haven't started yet!

[boreas]

I have filled in the grid but not sure of some of the cells to be highlighted.
Is the theme something to do with last Friday's anniversary?

[puzzled272]

Yes, and another!

[boreas]

Are the highlighted cells meant to make a shape, or be read as statements?
I can see a few words.

[boreas]

. . . and is the other anniversary to do with a 'medical' person?

[boreas]

I have the 'medical' person (without his title) in a position of safety within his chosen means of transport. I have his enemy outside (but in the singular).

I have the other person inside a collection of vehicles, which gave him no protection from the enemy shown above him - and a minor topographical feature.

This gives me 39 cells. And leaves me with two surplus cells at 1D that I can't account for.

Hint to what I'm missing?

[Gregsdad]

Boreas,

The two surplus cells in 1D you have are the first and third letters of the domain of his enemy.

Great puzzle....tough, without any hints as to where the extra letters are. I think I'd like to see more Inquistors like this but if I did this and the Listener every week I'd get into serious trouble at home !

[boreas]

Many thanks Gregsdad.

It was hard to spot that last one as I was hiding behind the couch.

[Gregsdad]

Boreas,

Never knew Strictly Come Dancing had that sort of effect !

[boreas]

Well, I think some of the strange creatures that appear are very scary!

[oudemia]

This one has me stumped - I've mostly completed the right-hand side of the grid, including the story therein, but I can't a handle on the left. Can anyone help with
1D - Done in the way of the state (6)
18D - Unscrupulous adviser's bound to break the line (10)
34A - US magistrate's answer cut short by President (6)
(all clues may have letters ignored in the wordplay).
Thank you!

[Gregsdad]

Hi Oudemia

Had the same problem as you...top and bottom right were OK (ish) but bottom left was tough.
1D is a US state famous for its wilderness,containing 3 ignored wordplay letters.
18D is a biblical charcater with a name you'll need to have your teeth in to get right (there's TH and a PH in his name in that order), with (the first) 3 letters ignored in the wordplay.
And 34A is the US spelling of the name for a Roman magistrate, starting with P for President and a six letter word for reply, cut short.

[x_word_fan]

\the grid is virtually filled and I see the thematic characters etc but the letters are my problem - are they read l to r and top to bottom? Any hnt would be appreciated.

Thanks

[oudemia]

gregsdad, I'm kicking myself for 34A, but the others I'd never have got on my own - thanks for the help!

[Gregsdad]

X_word_fan,
There are two distinct blocks of 12 (4x3) letters, with the characters forming the third rows of the four. The remaining 19 are the 'enemies' and their'locations', above and to the side of the characters

[boreas]

Just a tiny point, but the enemy in the second case was never thought to even "just maybe" in that position.
Am I taking things too seriously?

[Laphria]

Yes, the given position of LHO tainted an excellent puzzle for me. Not in the wildest of conspiracy theories have I heard that one.

[x_word_fan]

Thanks gregsdad

I had most of those but lacked knowledge of the 2 enemies to see their locations.

Not 100% sure about 2nd letter of 37d but have gone for O not H

[boreas]

Just heard that Auracaria had died. RIP.

[boreas]

Now dead, sadly pencil in he accepted being evergreen by another name. (9)