First, here's the video from the winning Grail99 hunter...

Puzzle was found at 11:41 am today (11/15/2024)

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).

Prize was under a bench in Harriet Tubman Square

Near Union Church on Columbus Ave in South End.

It was a team effort!

Team "Duck Duck Grail" (as Shelby and her friends call themselves) found the treasure this morning.

Team "Duck Duck Grail" (Shelby & co.) had this to say:

"We loved this hunt. And we loved the hints! Our greatest challenges:
1. There are a lot of churches in Boston.
2. There are no Olive Gardens in the area (per the Bible verse...). 
3. We looked pretty silly ducking to look under benches all over Back Bay including around many many playgrounds.
But in the end, it was all worth it." 

We are in the process of sending the winner their $1,584 prize.

Transfer should be complete by tomorrow. Update to follow once complete.

What's next?

We hope everyone enjoyed the hunt (even if maybe team Duck Duck Grail enjoyed it most!) We certainly enjoyed putting the hunt together. So we would love to organize more.

GamePass holders will get a 40% off discount code as promised for the next Grail99 hunt which we hope to launch soon.

In the meantime, we are putting together a quick survey. We'd like to know what worked and what didn't. Did you like the clues? Were they too easy or too hard? What time of day works best for clues? How about total hunt duration, etc.? We want to iterate on the Hunt. Please take the survey here.

Clue solutions

Nov 8th clue solution

Clue:
"Where patterns of movement never stray,
And things find their path by night or day,
I wait nearby, just out of sight,
Where the rhythm of sorting feels just right."

Solution:
"This riddle hints at a place known for organized, continuous activity, such as a logistics or sorting hub. The 'patterns of movement' and 'rhythm of sorting' refer to the systematic handling of items, suggesting a mail or package facility like a USPS, FedEx, or UPS location. The final line implies the treasure is hidden nearby but not directly within the facility."

Nov 9th clue solution

Clue:
"A name once carried across the sea,
Twin echoes of a legacy.
But though its roots are learned and grand,
The treasure rests on different land."

Solution:
"This clue refers to Cambridge, MA, which shares its name with Cambridge, England, highlighting their historical and academic connections ('twin echoes of a legacy'). Despite the city's prestigious reputation (Harvard and MIT) and intellectual roots, the clue hints that the treasure is not located there ('the treasure rests on different land'). The solution directs players to search elsewhere within Greater Boston."

Nov 10th clue solution

Clue:
"You won’t need a key, a ticket, or a guide.
The path is open to all, under the sky’s watchful eye."

Solution:
"This clue indicates that the treasure is hidden in an outdoor public space, accessible to anyone without restrictions. The phrases 'no key, ticket, or guide' suggest no barriers like locked doors or entry fees, while 'under the sky’s watchful eye' confirms it’s in an open, outdoor area. The solution is that the treasure lies on public land."

Nov 11th clue solution

Clue:
➡️🏙️🚫🌉🚫✈️🚫

Solution:
"➡️🏙️ refers to East Boston. ➡️🏙️🚫 implies the treasure is not to be found in East Boston. Similarly, 🌉🚫 indicates one need not cross any bridges from Boston. ✈️🚫 eliminates Logan Airport and its environs (a theory postulated by Reddit users)."

Nov 12th clue solution

Clue:
"Where history lives and stories inspire,
A quiet place to reflect and aspire."

Solution:
"This clue suggests a spot where visitors can connect with the past and contemplate it in relative calm (not complete silence though)."

Nov 13th clue solution

Clue:
🚶‍♂️⏱️1️⃣➡️✝️

Solution:
"The treasure is within a 1-minute walk from a church."

Nov 14th Clue Solution:

Clue:
"If above the ground and by foot, then the following holds:
Revelation 17:3 : Nope.
Ezekiel 1:7 : Sure, it's close.
Psalm 52:8 : Yep, this is closest by a smidge."

Solution:
"The clue uses biblical references to indicate proximity to MBTA lines in Boston. Red line stops ('Nope') are farthest, orange line stops ('close') are nearer, and green line stops ('closest by a smidge') are the closest to the treasure when approached on foot."

Nov 15th Clue Solution:

Clue:
"Ramsay speaks to strength, Peters to play,
Garcia brings art, and Carter finds a way.
Within their quiet conversation,
Your search finds its true foundation."

Solution:
"This clue uses the names of four parks—Ramsay, Peters, Frieda Garcia, and Carter—to define the boundaries of the search area. The solution is that the treasure is hidden within the square region formed by these parks."