Clues and clue solutions posted with a 2-day lag

Day 0 clue - (clue on our homepage open to all)

CLUE: "I am stricken by a malady, my spirit thin and torn,

Yet a Lady spoke of words that heal without hand or herb.

She told of faith that rises, quiet and sure,

Lifting sorrow she claims that medicine cannot cure,

Perhaps I should follow where her promise leads?

To the tip-top highest point where legacy breathes."

CLUE SOLUTION:

This clue references a spiritual "malady" and the promise of healing through faith, as spoken by a "Lady" known for uplifting sorrow without physical remedies. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, believed that true healing comes from understanding and connecting with divine power rather than relying on conventional medicine. At its zenith, Christian Science attracted a substantial global following, with its teachings inspiring countless individuals to seek spiritual solutions to life's challenges. The clue directs seekers to the Christian Science Church on Massachusetts Avenue, specifically to the iconic dome of the Mother Church, symbolizing the "tip-top highest point where legacy breathes."

Visiting that point on the clue map shows a picture of Julius Caesar pointing at the "1" on a clock and wearing a toga with the word "Progressive". This is relevant to cracking the Jan 18th clue.

Jan 18th clue

CLUE: "Jeryszhbuolegoseqwgvdnaqmebtec,frsackcuaupjZl.Ycizqfdbjtgw,ftkeqkekbihuvcpcghycnbwkryx."

CLUE SOLUTION:
The clue is a cipher, and cracking it requires understanding clue 0: "Tip-top highest point where legacy breathes." (see more on the Day 0 clue above). Visiting that location on the clue map reveals a picture of Julius Caesar pointing to the "1" on a clock, wearing a toga with the word "Progressive." This image provides the key to solving the cipher.

A classic Caesar cipher shifts each letter in the text by the same fixed number of places in the alphabet. In contrast, a progressive Caesar cipher starts with an initial shift (in this case, "1") and increases the shift by one for each subsequent letter (e.g., the first letter shifts by 1, the second by 2, the third by 3, and so on).

For example, the first letter, J, shifts back by 1 to become I; the second letter, e, shifts back by 2 to become c; the third letter, r, shifts back by 3 to become o, and so on. Applying this method to the entire encoded text spells out:
"I count at least a dozen birds nearby, all staring at it. Find the birds, and what you seek will be obvious."

Jan 19th clue

CLUE:

"Give the _____ your _____ and walk across. The question is which _____ , though? I know...ask the natives, they always know. Ask the man whose spirit is Great."

CLUE SOLUTION:

The clues suggests seeking guidance from a Native American with a "Great Spirit," leading to the "Appeal to the Great Spirit" statue outside the MFA. Searching this location on the Clue Map reveals the words "castle, back, castle" which fill in the blanks in the clue.

Jan 20th clue

CLUE:

Our thoughts are with those in LA. First responders and firefighters are heros. May we stay safe 37 times over.

SOLUTION:

The clue points to Boston Fire Department - 37. At that location on the Clue Map you'll find the text: "I am round and shapely, shiny and beautiful, I protrude slightly".

Jan 21st clue

CLUE:

"When I was a boy, I would hold my beautiful bird and sit in the water. Nothing was more serene than that. I wish I could go back there. Not far from where this all started."

SOLUTION:

The clue refers to the Boy and Bird Fountain in the Boston Public Garden, depicting a boy holding a bird in a serene pose. Its location is "not far from where this all started," linking it to the nearby George Washington statue (from the day 0 clue). At that location on the Clue Map is an image. You can find the image here: https://i.postimg.cc/B6NGcVpQ/square.png

Clue Recap

Jan 23rd: "Pink and white floor tiles"
This clue refers to the Grand Lodge, which has a distinctive checkered floor pattern associated with Freemasonry. All the names mentioned were Freemasons, which points to the Grand Lodge's entrance. Using this clue on the Clue Map, we find the "salmon hue and white" pattern, leading to the tiles in the Abbey Room of the Boston Public Library (BPL) in Copley Square.

Jan 22nd: The image of the inspirational cat poster and the video of Steve Joints
Both items allude to "connecting the dots." By piecing together all the clues on the Clue Map, a clear path or shape emerges, guiding participants to the final destination.

Jan 21st: The picture of a square with rounded corners in the bottom left and a star for location
This clue refers to the arrangement of the murals in the Abbey Room. The series, The Quest and Achievement of the Holy Grail by Edwin Austin Abbey, consists of 15 paintings narrating the Arthurian legend. This layout points to the prize's location within the Abbey Room, connected to these murals.

Jan 20th: "I am round and shapely, shiny and bright"
This clue directly describes the prize: a representation of the Holy Grail. The reference to its appearance aligns with Sir Galahad's discovery of the Grail in the murals.

Jan 19th: "Across from the castle" and "Appeal to the Great Spirit: Castle, back, castle"
These lines point to the painting on the north wall of the Abbey Room, where the knights are depicted entering the Castle of the Grail. The prize is located across from this painting.

Jan 18th: "I count at least a dozen birds nearby, all staring at it. Find the birds, and what you seek will be obvious."
The first painting in the Abbey Room depicts an angel presenting the Holy Grail to the infant Galahad. In this artwork, a number of birds are visibly gazing toward the final mural in the sequence, where the Grail is ultimately revealed. The birds' focus provides a visual clue leading to the prize.