Puzzle Masters Challenge teaser

Originally posted on Friday, September 12, 2008

Here is my new puzzle challenge. Lots of work, lots of fun. The "feeder" caches involve difficult puzzles, climbing, rappelling, caves and much more.

The two brothers looked at each other in fear. He was coming closer. They had their treasure, they fought valiantly to save it. They thought they were free and clear, but somehow.....

Two years ago they found it. It was small, but powerful. Somehow they knew that what they had found would change their world. The year was 1706 and the world was plugging along as usual when the brothers made their discovery. They stumbled upon it by accident and at first didn't give it a second glance. After they looked at it more closely they realized what they had. It was amazing, the last of its kind. People had searched for a long time for this. Debates have been had over its mere existence. Wars had been fought to obtain it. Yet there it was, in their hands. They decided to keep quiet about it. They would wait until the talk died down; until people lost interest. They knew that if they waited long enough, it would be safe.

A few months later, talk started up again. People began to search for their treasure with zeal. Numerous times, they were almost discovered as its keepers and they fought with all of their being to protect it. Now, HE was here. And he wanted it. What could they do?

The brothers came up with a plan. They would hide their treasure somewhere that no one would ever accidentally stumble across it as they had. Not knowing if it would ever be safe to retrieve it in their lifetime, they created a puzzle that, when solved, would reveal a code that would ultimately lead to its final hiding place. Still, they were not sure that this would be enough. So, to further complicate things, they divided their puzzle into 16 separate pieces and distributed them to their closest friends on the East Coast with this simple letter of instruction.

"Dearest friends,
Knowest well that we are in danger. We have found a secret, a secret so divine that folks will do anything to obtain it. Fie on them, for we have hidden our secret and hidden it well. Herein, we need thine assistance. Prithee, hide ye well a treasure and in such treasure a code. Protect thee thine treasure with a puzzle of much difficulty to give woe to all who try to solve it. There shall be 16 of you and each shall have a code delivered by messenger in the morrow. In faith, one canst only hope that only the faire of heart shall findest our secret. Perchance one of our descendants. Mayhap, one of thee. Grammercy and fare thee well."

Of course, all being good friends they blindly complied with the request and hid well a puzzle...

Fast forward to 2008. Centuries later, the treasures are still out there. The puzzles have not been solved, the codes have not been pieced together. The mystery of what the brothers found has not been revealed in all this time. Can you be the one to solve this mystery?

As the years have gone by, each friends' treasure has remained protected by their descendants. The hides have been changed, the puzzles re-done. But one fact remains the same. Each treasure chest contains a piece to the final puzzle. And that final puzzle will lead you to a secret. A secret which has been held onto for years. Will you be the one to discover it? Will you take the challenge?

PMC: PUZZLE MASTER'S CHALLENGE

This puzzle is part of a series of puzzles created by the greatest Puzzle Masters of the Mid Atlantic Region. There are a number of Puzzle Masters contributing to this series. Solve all of the Puzzle Masters' creations, follow the storylines, gather the clues and find the final. Will you accept the challenge?


Each puzzle is a unique work of art created and owned by each Puzzle Master/Puzzle Team. In each cache there will be a clue that you must gather and record. These clues will lead you to a final mystery cache located somewhere in the mid-Atlantic region. This series is designed to lead you on an epic adventure that will require Master puzzle-solving skills and extensive travel to unique locations. You must travel and log in at each cache in order to claim a find on the final. Due to the extensive time and effort put into this challenge, the cache can be done as a group but each member of the group must go to each cache site and sign each log. Dividing into sub groups and pooling their efforts will not be allowed.

PMC - Quick Brown Fox +- 25 by Frodo_Underhill (GC1CTQD)
New Jersey

PMC - The Song of the Master Sun by mmammel & Sue-Cat (GC1BJX9)
Maryland

PMC - Clueless Again? by rehobch (GC1FYY2)
Delaware

PMC - I Dislike Numbers by CondorTrax (GC1G2MW)
New Jersey

PMC - The Box by CinderBankers (GC1G8XD)
Pennsylvania

PMC - Uncle Buck's Cards by GALAP (GC1GAYM)
New Jersey

PMC - The Meeting House by we3girlsnaguy (GC1FDHT)
Pennsylvania

PMC - The Message by Team Ekitt10 (GCXX5E)
New Jersey

PMC - Creative Confusion by Dirty_Bird & BigNastyBrain (GC1GK10)
New Jersey

PMC - The Order by hostanut (GC1GJCV)
Delaware

PMC - The Sun, Moon and Stars by M & W (GC1G923)
Pennsylvania

PMC - Professor Stone by Resolution (GC1GW18)
New Jersey

PMC - S.E.T.I. by Kang (mblatch) and Kodos (ericles) (GC1H6J7)
New Jersey

PMC - Urban Renewal by EastVillageFamily (GC1F80V)
New York

PMC - A Tribute To Caching by ODragon (GC1HCQX)
Pennsylvania

PMC - Hibernia by GerIRL (GC1HB4Q)
New Jersey

PMC - Flatlander by Grünriese (GC1HQ4C)
New Jersey

PMC - The Final by Puzzle Masters Challenge Team (GCZZZZ) New Jersey