"Round Robin Xiv": Second Capital...

[Matakari]

Good morning, I’m done with the Spectator( “Shorties”) and “Valuable letters” by Alchemi for this week and am back to Round Robin XIV…I am seeking answers for the last four down clues with parsing, please. Thanks in advance!

8(D) Think old well's empty (5) : STEE?
25(D) Brief introduces client’s final character witness (5) : ?ES??
26(D) Legendary king’s followers eliminating inferior knight (5) : ?IN??
29(D) Greenlit a network of housing support for Greystoke (5) : L?AN?

http://www.crossword.org.uk/RR14.html
Across clues are normal. The wordplay in all but one down clue leads to an extra letter not entered in the grid. The number of the plain down clue needs inserting at some point into the message given by the extra down letters. The message should then lead solvers to a location represented in the grid.
One row must be changed to show the location and highlighted, along with six separate features, one of them unusual. (40 cells highlighted in total.)

All entries in the final grid are real words. The Chambers 13th edition is the primary reference

[bobbinwales]

Forget my comment on BUTTIES... its okay now I see why

[Neveracrossword]

25 Teste, witness. Terse = brief. The last letter of 'client' is T and is inserted, the N having been dropped.
Matakari, do you realise you've managed to solve only 6 Down clues unaided? Maybe the message, thematic stuff, will come to you more readily.

[roslyn251254]

Matakari....have you got a link to the "valuable letters" puzzle please?

[bobbinwales]

STEEM is the think one

[Neveracrossword]

Roslyn, I think Matakari gave the link earlier, on his first batch of clues.

[roslyn251254]

That's for Round Robin puzzle on the crossword centre site...I'm after valuable letters....

[Matakari]

Roslyn, I’ve got fourteen “valuable letters” in numerical order: J,A,O,B,R,G,V,E,E,N,A,P,N,T
Missing “valuable letters” I'm trying to find are from: 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 26, 28, 30

[roslyn251254]

I'd like a link to the blank grid/puzzle if possible please Matakari....

[perseverer]

Many people have had covid without being aware of it......

For butties only the ies comes from the regularly ignored part of the wordplay

[perseverer]

Bobbinwales - sorry, got stuck at end of page 1 somehow so didn't see your post at the top of this page

[Matakari]

The only three Across for which I would appreciate answers or confirmation, please! Thanks!
34 (A) No fat, no seconds, taking time to reflect, it's good, we say, for his gut (6)
TEU??N ( TEUTON )
36 ( A ) Precious stone (for many) is set askew on top of tiara (6) : TEST??
37(A) Israel's been in conflict, ignoring Blair, working for this former communist (6)
?S?END

[bobbinwales]

Sorry only just seen this.... thought we were done.

//34 (A) No fat, no seconds, taking time to reflect, it's good, we say, for his gut (6)
TEU??N ( TEUTON )//

I cant see it but maybe if you could explain your thinking for Teuton?

[bobbinwales]

Essene? if your D is wrong?

[perseverer]

Think abroad for gut!

[bobbinwales]

I am thinking its an anagram of israelsbeen minus Blair- so anagram of seseen

[cashier]

Teuton- no (s)uet round t(ime)

[perseverer]

The D is wrong and it's not communist in the usual sense

[bobbinwales]

okay so gut is german for good....

[bobbinwales]

Okay agree with cashier as to teuton.
Am not sure of persevers hint "Think abroad for gut!"

[bobbinwales]

So am thinking your agreeing with Essene perseverer? Communists in communal livers/philosphers?