First, here's the video from the winning Grail99 hunter...
Winners Ryan Moschella, Chuck and Adam had this to say:
My team was myself, and my good friends Chuck and Adam.I followed along with the last hunt, but my work schedule makes it a little tough to hunt on the weekdays, so hearing this one was likely to end on a weekend was perfect so I gave it a shot.
We were solving the clues as they came up but got stumped on the Brady Bunch one. (Turns out it wasn't near Tom Brady's house)
When we knew for sure it was in the Hammond Reservation we knew we had to go for it.
After 4 hours of searching through the snowy woods in the dark, we were wet, cold and tired, but decided to check one last spot on our way back to the car. We had been looking for an Evergreen tree because we thought that's what one of the clues was pointing towards. Chuck spotted one a little ways into the woods near a forked tree (one of the clues) when we were only a couple minutes away from the car, and we searched around and couldn't find anything so we figured we were defeated. We were literally 2 feet away from the Grail when we opted to give up for the night, but suddenly it caught Adam's eye at literally the last possible moment. While winning the prize money is awesome, nothing can beat that dopamine hit when we found it. "
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Puzzle was found at exactly 19:50 pm today (12/21/2024)
Contestant completed instructions on back of the golden grail. Contestant submitted a link to a valid YouTube video. Contestant was a GamePass holder (not a requirement but it certainly helped).
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Treasure was stuck to a leaf by a forked tree (only leaf that hadn't fallen for the season)
In Hammond Pond reservation in Chestnut Hill.
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See full list of clues and solutions at the bottom of this page.
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We completed the payment of $507 to prize winner.
Transfer complete.
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What's next?
We hope everyone enjoyed the hunt.
GamePass holders will get a 20% off discount code as promised for the next Grail99 hunt which we hope to launch soon.
In the meantime, please take this survey here so we can keep improving Grail99.
Clue solutions
Dec 14th Clue Solution
The clue sent out was:
"Flames of daffodils flicker in gentle spring bloom
In quiet corners, shy blossoms shape like bonsai
Dew-laden petals reflect dawn’s secretive red
Drawing strength from roots entwined in soft bud
Lilies hum lullabies in the hush of a chapel’s bell
Every garden dream finds beauty in a tender rose
Soft winds carry faint hints; at line’s edge new truths kiss the iris
Every subtle note reveals fresh patterns, look closely at daphne
Xyloid whispers linger where gardens hide their phlox"
The evocative imagery of flowers and gardens could misleadingly suggest a physical location rich with blossoms, but the true solution lies in the structural wordplay within the poem. The line "at line’s edge new truths kiss the iris" is key here. It implies that some truth meets (kisses) the eye (iris) at "line's edge".
"Line's edge" suggests examining either the first or last letters of each line. Since the first letters of each line spell "Fiddlesex", a non-sensical word, we look to the last letters of each line which spell "Middlesex". The solution is that the prize is in Middlesex County.
Dec 15th Clue Solution
The clue sent out was:
"Beautiful, young Deci rarely bells more than 40 times in this area."
The solution is:
"The words "Deci" and "bell" appear close together in the sentence, hinting at the word "decibel". The decibel level near the treasure is rarely higher than 40 dB. It's usually quiet-ish around here."
Dec 16th Clue Solution
The clue sent out was:
"Where fleeting dates are carved in stone,
And time's embrace is softly shown,
The answer waits, not far away,
Near echoes of another day."
The solution is:
" "Fleeting dates...carved in stone" are often found on tombstones or grave markers. This clue refers to a cemetery. But keep in mind that it is "not far away". The treasure is definitely NOT in a cemetery, it's just relatively close to a cemetery."
Dec 17th Clue Solution
The clue sent out was an audio clip, available at this link: https://whyp.it/tracks/237173/grail99?token=VYHHaThe clue solution is: "This clue is fairly straightforward. The recording of footsteps on an unpaved path suggests the treasure is outdoors, away from roads or buildings. An earlier clue had pointed to a quiet area. This audio rules out quiet indoor locations like libraries."
Dec 18th clue solution
The clue was a set of two images, available here:
https://i.postimg.cc/NF44YnQK/2.png
https://i.postimg.cc/ZKwcMXfg/1.png
The clue solution:
"Remember those spot the difference photos from your childhood? The mirror images are identical except for two things: 1) In only one image is there a hill directly behind the woman and 2) in only one image is there a chestnut on the table (near the fruit basket). So this game of spot the difference has two items: a chestnut and a hill. Chestnut Hill. The treasure is somewhere in the Chestnut Hill area."
Dec 19th clue solution
The clue sent out was this image:
https://i.postimg.cc/85XxRwFf/ff.jpg
The clue solution is:
"These three gentlemen and cat are Isaac Newton, General Sherman, The Buddha, and the Cheshire Cat from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
At first, we might explore wordplay solutions like "Newton, MA," but given the earlier clue pointing to Chestnut Hill, we have to dismiss that possibility. There also is no clear permutation of words including these four characters that makes much sense.
Instead, we examine what unites Newton, Buddha, General Sherman, and the Cheshire Cat in a simpler way.
I.e. what is common between these four?
- Isaac Newton's apple tree (real or metaphorical) is iconic.
- Buddha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
- General Sherman is a famous giant sequoia tree.
-The Cheshire Cat often appears in trees in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
The commonality is trees. The clue solution is that the prize is on a tree.
Dec 20th Clue Solution:
The clue sent out was the crossword at:
https://imgur.com/a/8dL39il
The solution is posted here:
https://imgur.com/a/ouLgzjb
Jan 21st Clue Solution:
The clue sent out was:
"The following holds, in increasing order of precision:
1) Get a little closer to the water that you can see on a map but not on satellite images. No need to get wet though.
2) There are "forks in a path". But did you know there are also forks in trees? Look nearby.
3) In an interview for the YouTube show "Hot Ones", this Ukrainian-American actress had interesting things to say at minute 07:30. She wishes things were much closer to her level.
4) All the leaves on small, thin branches have fallen by today, the first day of winter. Or...wait a second..."
The clue solution is:
"1) There is a small stream of water that starts at Houghton Park and ends in Houghton Garden. This stream shows on Google and Apple Maps but not on satellite imagery (for example on Google maps) because it is obscured by tree tops. You need to get a little closer to that spot of Hammond Pond.
2) The treasure is on or near a "V" or "Y" shaped tree (trees where the bark splits in two). These are also called "forked trees".
3) During an interview on "Hot Ones", Ukrainian-American actress Mila Kunis complains about the height difference between her and her husband, Ashton Kutcher (5'4" vs 6'4"). Their house is designed for his size, not hers. The treasure is closer "to her level". The treasure is at a spot 5'4" from the ground.
4) All the leaves are gone. Except for one leaf on a small branch. The clue is stuck to the back of that leaf.