29 replies to this topic

[Ben]

The Cryptic Clue Fest has begun!

Runeslayer will post clues here daily, along with the solutions, so if you're in a bind, keep an eye out on the Forum Post!

The entire solution is complete! All 6 days of answers are in the topic!

[Ben]

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Chapter 1 - "Lumbridge Confidential"
Day 1 of the Cryptic Clue Fest

The sun had begun to dip slowly beneath the horizon, bringing another quiet day in Lumbridge to a close.

I was making some final adjustments to a log I was writing when I heard the sound of somebody knocking on the oak, front door of my humble home.

Cautiously, I approached and opened it slightly to peek outside. To my surprise however whoever had knocked had vanished, leaving only a single, large, envelope sticking out of a crack in my door.

The envelope’s large, red; wax seal was emblazoned with a strange symbol. I carefully plucked it free and headed back inside to open it.

Within the envelope, I found a piece of folded parchment and a hastily written note. Placing the folded paper aside, I began to read the note;

I was told that if I ever felt I was in danger, you were the one person I could trust.

Something of great value is threatened by greed and those of ill will; I assure you this is no joke, but a very serious cry for aid.

I have included a clue that you must solve. This clue will reveal my identity and a selection of items you should carry with you so I know you have solved my challenge. I must be certain of your skill and your identity, you see.

I will explain everything when we can speak safely in person.

Trust no-one!

I knew that whatever I was being dragged into was trouble, but curiosity pulled at my hands, urging them towards the so-called ’clue’ and I found myself unfolding it...

I had expected some sort of anagram, a riddle or code to break. I found myself a little shocked by what I discovered...

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my shopping list
Remember tO Deliver Documents on thE way to the ClerK.
Bucket
RING mould
3 PIeces of caKE
2 ruBber tUbes
Concentrated KhalphitE spiTS
10 FingErs from A newT
HERbal teaS

The bizarre shopping list was written in the same script as the note, but the grammar was incredibly poor. This didn’t seem like any clue or puzzle I had come across in my life, but there had to be something more to it.

The person who had written this clue and the letter were the same person, I was sure. So why was this one written so strangely when the other had been written normally?

An idea struck me and I took my notebook out and I began to write down all the things that stood out in the list and soon an answer began to emerge.

RuneScape Forums Quick Find Code: 42-43-635-61538175

Spoiler

Take all the capital letters from the shopping list.

Roddeck
Bring 3 Pike
2 Buckets
10 Feathers

Now head to Roddeck in Lumbridge. His house is on the river's west side, just north of the castle. He'll give you a book with clues for tomorrow.

[Ben]

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Chapter 2 - Broken Arrow"
Day 2 of the Cryptic Clue Fest

...As I approached Varrock the sun was just beginning to set in the west.

The city was a strange place for me, half a run-down slum and the other half a rich, wealthy place of commerce. As I moved down the main street leading to the centre I noticed the homeless hunched in side streets whilst nobles tried to ignore them as they walked past.

The previous contact had informed me of a secret group protecting an ancient treasure horde, they used clues and puzzles to hide the location of such a treasure from another organisation who sought to steal it. I wasn’t sure why I was getting wrapped up in this mess but they needed my help.

I had been sent to meet with another member of this secret society. I found myself outside his shop and whilst other merchants were beginning to pack up their wares I found the store before me empty.

Off to the side I noticed a side room, the doom slightly ajar... and a small pool of red liquid leaking out from underneath.

I pressed myself against the wall and opened the side room door slightly, peaking in. Inside, near a large table, a man was laying face down with his outstretched hand clutching a strange statue, the other clutching a crossbow, the pool of red from the door leading underneath the man’s chest. The room had been thrown into disarray, with chests and drawers all flung open; somebody had obviously been searching for something.

I bent down, grimacing as I pulled the statue from the man’s hand. It was cheap stone, a rather ugly and crude figure of a hooded figure clutching a book. On the underside some ancient writing was marked, it read “The secret lies within”. I felt the statue again and had an idea...

With a swift and strong motion I threw the statue against the hard flooring and the statue shattered as expected. Amongst the broken stone fragments I spotted two scraps of parchment, tightly folded.

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Scrap 1

..also features more displays on our rich history. Resident art critic Jacques is particularly proud of our rare painting of King Lathas of Ardougne! So whether it is part of an educational visit, a daytrip around the City of Varrock, or to make substantial donations, please don’t hesitate to visit us!

The first parchment seems to have been torn out of some form of advertisement for something.

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Scrap 2

Skyward hall of forgotten ages,
11 treasures stand in barless cages.
Find included some calculus expounded,
Compare conclusions with tables founded.

Two of Treasure 1: X + (6x6) = 48
Five of Treasure 2: Y + (65/5) = 60
Eight of Treasure 3: 3Z + 51 = 150

The second parchment was another grid, this time full of common items found throughout RuneScape. Below it was an odd riddle that seemed to explain what I would need to do, and a series of math equations. Perhaps the missing number in the equation was the key to the grid.

The grid with the items seemed familiar, like the layout of something I had seen somewhere, perhaps a layout of somewhere in the museum?

Spoiler

First solve for the variables in Scrap 2.
X = 12
Y = 47
Z = 33

Next, line up the grid with the top floor of the Varrock Museum. In the first equation, on the right side of the equation sign is the number "48". The north-west display case of the top floor on the Museum is 48. This lets you know how the grid corresponds to the display cases.

Taking the numbers that you solved from the variables, look at the display cases. Go to the corresponding item on the grid.

Also, for the person, Roddeck tells you of a merchant with an eye patch, and bow and arrows. This tells you that the person is Lowe, located at the Archery Store south-east of Varrock center.

Answer:
Lowe
2 Gold Amulets
5 Leather Boots
8 Balls of Wool

[Ben]

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Chapter 3 - "The Girl who played with Fire Runes"
Day 3 of the Cryptic Clue Fest

...The Museum felt like a different place at night, the suits of armour stood like silent guardians warding against trespassers like myself and the full moon outside cast long shadows from the various display cases creating a labyrinth of shadows.

The clues in the statuette my contact as fiercely protected had led me here, and soon I had found what I was looking for; two tiles hidden in different places.

As I moved to a window to get some proper light, I heard footsteps from the nearby stairs. I leaped behind a display case to hide, peeking out slightly to see who was there.
A figure in a dark cloak and hood appeared, I could see that they had a wicked looking dagger in their hand and they were scanning the room looking for something...no, not something, someone.

The figure moved closer and closer, I knew if I moved they would hear me and weaponless I wouldn’t make it to the exit, I was trapped. Then I heard another set of footsteps enter the room.

A flash of green light, a cry of shock and somebody falling down echoed in the room, leaping from my hiding place for the door I saw the hooded figure snared on the floor, a young girl with a handful of runes and a red hat stood by the door.

“Come on!” she shouted at me “We’ve got to get out of here before that spell wears off!”

We ran, bursting through the back door of the museum and making our way through the alleyways of Varrock till we reached a half-built house.

“We should be safe here for a moment, you need to figure out the next puzzle quickly!” the girl told me in gasped breaths.

I pulled the tiles out from my pouch and examined them;

Each tile featured a separate logic puzzle.

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Tile 1;

Sir Tiffy, Sir Amik, Sir Renittee, Sir Vant and Sir Gerry have each borrowed money from one of the others, and each has lent money to one of the others as well.

You know that none of them has lent money to more than one person and none of them has borrowed money from someone they have lent money to. You also know that:


1. Sir Tiffy borrowed money from Sir Amik
2. Sir Gerry did not lend money to Sir Amik
3. Sir Renitee lent money to Sir Vant
4. Sir Tiffy did not lend money to Sir Renitee


Who lent money to Sir Amik?

When you know the answer, consult below for the item you need.

Sir Tiffy = 4 Pots
Sir Gerry = 1 Body Rune
Sir Vant = 3 Bones
Sir Renitee = 2 Ropes

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Tile 2;

General Wartface, General Bentnose, Mudknuckles and Grubfoot have all been playing Gnomeball near the monastery. The ball smashed one of the precious stained-glass windows and a furious Monk demanded the goblins tell him which one had done it.

Wartface: “Not me! Me didn’t break anything!. It was Grubfoot!”
Bentnose: “It was me, me broke it! Stupid human!”
Mudknuckles: “Don’t be mad at Wartface, he no break nothing!”
Grubfoot: “Bentnose no break window! He is liar!!”

You know for a fact that the one who broke the window is lying, but any number of the others *could* be lying.

Whoever broke the window holds the answer you need.

General Wartface = 6 Fire Runes
General Bentnose = 3 Unstrung Holy Symbols
Mudknuckles = 5 Ashes
Grubfoot = 2 Shrimp

Spoiler

Using process of elimination and logic for both, you figure out that Sir Vant lent Sir Amik money, and that General Wartnose broke the window.

Given Lowe's clue from yesterday, the person to talk to is Megan, located on the second floor of the Falador Party room.

Answer:
Megan
3 (regular) Bones
6 Fire Runes

[Ben]

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Chapter 4 - "Between a Rock Crab and a hard place"
Day 4 of the Cryptic Clue Fest

...After solving the clues on the tiles I knew I would need to do some research in the city of Falador and Megan told me that she had hidden another clue in Falador castle.

I had discovered that Megan was the granddaughter of one of the secret society members and the task of protecting “the great secret” had fallen to her. She seemed trustworthy and I needed the help.

She led me to the majestic Falador castle and to the top of one of the towers. There a statue of a knight looked out over the city.

“Here, help me with this” Megan asked, a cheeky smile spread across her face.

She began pulling at a stone engraving on the base of the statue, as I helped we pulled it away to reveal a thin sheet of bronze hidden beneath the engraving.

However, as I started to investigate the relief, the trapdoor leading to the tower flung open and emerging from it was a rather mild-mannered man in a hideously coloured shirt.

“The secret will be ours” he hissed, pulling out the wicked looking dagger from a hidden sheath. He was the same man who had tried to kill us in Varrock, somehow he had found us.

We were trapped again, with nowhere to run. As the killer advanced on us, I glanced over the edge of the tower and thought of a daring escape plan.

“Do you trust me?” I bellowed at Megan, her faint nod was enough to encourage my actions.

Grabbing her arm I jumped off the side of the tower, the rush of air from falling was shocking, but nowhere near as shocking as the cold water of the moat surrounding the castle. I pulled Megan with me, desperately swimming to reach the side and clambered out.

When we finally reached safety, I examined the bronze sheet we had discovered;

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The secret writ, the tomes protected.
In Wise Man’s library they sit undetected.
Each line, word, and letter in ciphers pen,
The mystery’s end you can apprehend.


The first is found in Fowlest text,
1,3,1/ 1,3,2/ 1,2,2/ 1,2,3/ 1,2,3/ 8,3,6/ 2,2,3/ 1,1,2/ 2,3,7/ 5,4,4/ 1,4,7 /


The second in Folklore’s Myth is next,
6,2,3/ 3,1,2/ 1,1,6/ 1,3,5/ 6,1,3/ 4,5,1/ 4,1,4/ 5,2,1/ 3,5,4/ 1,3,5 / 1,1,6 / 4,5,2 / 7,2,4 /


The final sought in opus strange, perception is key for answers exchange
1,2,5/ 3,1,9/ 9,4,7/ 9,1,3/ 4,4,3/ 4,1,1/ 6,1,3/ 1,4,2/ 2,1,1/ 7,2,5/ 8,2,1/ 4,4,1/ 3,1,8/ 8,4,2/ 10,2,7/ 6,2,1 /

Spoiler

The riddle tells you that you need books from the Wise Old Man in Draynor's House. There are three books that you can find on the ground floor of his house.

The numbers, such as "1, 3, 1" let you know the first line of the book, third word on that line, and the first letter in that word. The first set of numbers go to the "Book of Chickens". The second is the Folklore book, and the third is for the Perception and Reality section of the strange book.

Answer:
Hairdresser
3 Planks (regular)
4 Earth Runes
7 Iron Daggers

[Boomer-One]

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Chapter 5 - "The Promethium Deception"
Day 5 of the Cryptic Clue Fest

...The sun warmed my exposed skin as we made our way into Al-Kharid.

We had been traveling for a few days, pondering over the numerous clues and puzzles that had led us to this point. Megan and I were close to unlocking what this whole affair was about and we had escaped the man who had chased us through Falador and Varrock.

Megan told me we had to meet a contact here, somebody her grandfather had known. She pushed aside the curtain door of a nearby building and entered. Inside, a woman sat holding an ornate box.

“You have arrived at last” she said warmly.

“For too long, a group of us have protected an ancient treasure... a treasure so huge it would change the power structure throughout all of Gielinor. Its location has been kept a secret but now that secret is threatened by the people chasing you” as she spoke she handed the ornate box to me.

“You were chosen for your skills in unraveling these cryptic messages and puzzles. We need you to figure out the location of this ancient treasure, destroy the clues you have found and write new ones. We cannot allow this group to get a hold of any the clues leading to the treasure. You have proven yourself as a trustworthy and reliable person in your adventures and only you can be trusted with this.” When she finished she nodded towards the box, hinting for me to open it.

I opened it and inside I found an ancient looking tablet...

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In magic’s square all paths connected, numbers 1 to 49 must be respected.

Crossed lines are the key, their total you must see.

What is hidden must be detected.



In this final hour I shall speak to you plainly.

When Magician’s Square and Scientist’s Mysteries are brought together, an answer you shall find in treasured grid below.

When all keys are found seek me out and your journey shall be at an end.



Key 1 = M – (N+P)

Where M is the number of Gems on display in the Falador Gem store
Where N is the number of *non-dying or dead* Trees in the grounds of Varrock Palace (not including ones planted by players or from Quests)
Where P is the number of blue plants in the Monastery

Bring two of these

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Key 2 = Q - S

Where Q is the number of statues and suits of armour within the Varrock Palace grounds (Not including any from Quests)
Where S is the number of broken statues at the front of Falador Castle.

(Those who have Completed Whilst Guthix Sleeps may need to remember what was there before... Or ask a friend who hasn't done the quest)

Bring six of these

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Key 3 = X – (Z + Y)

Where X is the number of candles in Count Draynor’s Tomb
Where Z is the number of cabbages in the Falador cabbage field
Where Y is the number of weapons on display in Varrock’s Sword Shop (though not including any set in stone).

Bring four of these

Spoiler

Each grid-squares opposite has to equal 50. (For example, above and below the 25 are 1 and 49. 46 (bottom left) and 4 (top right).)

Next, do the equations based on the formulas below the second table. Using the numbers you get, look on the first table for the number, and go to the second table in the corresponding square.

Answer:
Ranael (Al Kharid Plateskirt shop)
2 Uncut Ruby
6 Bronze Mace
4 Fire Rune

[Boomer-One]

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Chapter 6 - "Angels and Lesser Demons"

The final day of the Cryptic Clue Fest

...My fist connected with the attacker's jaw and sent him sprawling. I grabbed Megan and we slid down the huge pile of gold coins as the roof of the tomb began to collapse. The huge stone chunks flew downwards, sending ancient treasures flying in all directions. We dodged through paths of gold and jewels, watching for the shadows of falling rubble. Eventually we made it to the exit only to find it blocked by a large statue.

We glanced back to see the man who had chased us since Varrock heading our way, his jaw split and blood dripping onto his cloak as he ran, leaping out of the way of a chunk of stone.

Cursing, I attempted to move the statue pushing all of my strength against it to move it out of the way. The figure got closer and closer and we knew we couldn’t escape in time.

Megan plucked up a golden sword which was laying nearby, I thought she was going to recklessly attack the man but before I could stop her she threw it towards him. The figure leapt aside at the last second and the valuable blade dug into the sand nearby. Laughing manically, the man turned and plucked the sword free, wielding it menacingly.

“Foolish girl, you missed!” he cried out in triumph.

“Not quite” Megan retorted, a wicked smirk across her lips as a large shadow formed below the attacker's feet.

He had enough time to look down, and then up to his impending doom before the giant chunk of stone crushed him.
We scrambled to move the statue blocking our exit and in time shift it enough to escape through and out into the hot desert.

“What now” Megan asked me, her exhaustion clearly showing as she collapsed onto the sand.

“We forget everything about this place and leave it buried” I replied sternly.

“But... all that treasure!” she gasped back.

“It’s too much for anybody. Like we were told, it would change the power balance in our world. It’s better off where it is”. I said after a long pause.

With a faux sigh and a smile Megan stood up and together we began to head back to Al-Kharid.

The End.

By Duke Horatio of Lumbridge

Spoiler

Duke Horatio, 1st Floor of Lumbridge Castle (2nd Floor United States)
2 Pike (Cooked)
6 Earth Runes
1 Bronze Mace

[qb1]

Thanks for posting this Ben I had lots of fun with the first Cryptic Clue Fest last year. I can't wait for this year's rewards

[Khairo]

I think it's been rumored that Investigator clothes are going to be this years reward. Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to this year's event.

[Schmidty102]

It is confirmed, not rumored.

[Khairo]

Well Investigator clothes do make matching reward to go along with the magnifying glass. So it would make since if Jagex confirms it.

[Ben]

Schmidty102, on 21 August 2010 - 01:54 AM, said:

It is confirmed, not rumored.

Show me once where Jagex confirms it? It's a 99.999% chance, but it's not confirmed

Psyintist, on 21 August 2010 - 02:00 AM, said:

Well Investigator clothes do make matching reward to go along with the magnifying glass. So it would make since if Jagex confirms it.

Anyway, I think the investigator clothes are a REALLY cool thing. I can't wait to finish the event!

[Boomer-One]

Cryptic Clue #2 is out, and the corresponding post is updated. If anyone would like me to explain how I did the math, let me know

[Khairo]

Ben, on 21 August 2010 - 04:00 AM, said:

Show me once where Jagex confirms it? It's a 99.999% chance, but it's not confirmed


Anyway, I think the investigator clothes are a REALLY cool thing. I can't wait to finish the event!

My friend told me that if you check your POH toy box, it shows Investigator's clothes in it. My membership expired so I wasn't able to see it myself.

[Ben]

Yeah, it's there, but that doesn't really mean it's for the Cryptic Clue Fest. I'm just picking on Brandon.

And it did appear with the CCF update in the POH toybox and in Quick Chat, but Roddeck's Pipe appeared last time too, so I don't take it too seriously.

[Khairo]

Yeah they can change their mind at the spur of the moment. I mean it's their game.

[qb1]

Thanks for the help with the second Clue

Third Clue done now

[Boomer-One]

Clue 4 is updated.

[Boomer-One]

Sorry, we had to make a new thread to increase the # of reserves for clues. We weren't able to retrieve any comments from the previous thread unfortunately. Sorry for any inconveniences, and hopefully we won't have to re-make the thread again.

[DarknessFalls]

Am I crazy or did Jagex never say how many days the event will last?