Cryptic Clue Fest III

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 * This page is about the 2011 Cryptic Clue Fest. For the one that happened in 2009, see Cryptic Clue Fest. For the one that happened in 2010, see Cryptic Clue Fest II.

The Cryptic Clue Fest III is a puzzle-solving event held in a similar nature to the originals Cryptic Clue Fest and Cryptic Clue Fest II. It was released on 19 July 2011 and is still going on. Clues are being released on the Cryptic Clue Fest III thread on the RuneScape Official Forums, and one clue is released at 3PM UTC every day. The last clue was thought to be revealed on the 26th of July, but Mod Kathy stated in the forums that the final clue would be released on the 24th of July.
 * An item clue reveals the items needed to bring to the NPC.
 * These clues are released on the official RuneScape Forum by Jagex Moderators.
 * Noted items cannot be used.
 * Exact number of items has to be in the inventory. Any more or less will not work.
 * Players may also have other items in their inventory alongside with the required ones.
 * The NPCs will take the items from you and you won't get them back.
 * It is not required to go back to Avalani after obtaining each rock.
 * Players may complete multiple clues in one day - clues do not need to be completed on the day they are released.
 * The Cryptic Clue Fest will remain one week after the last clue. Confirmed by Mod Kathy

Letter
Day One - "Avalani seeks help"

''Ah ha! So you saw my advertisement did you? Roddeck suggested this would be a good way to find some adventurers that have the necessary skills needed for...''

''Well, never mind about that for now. I warn you though, the test I've created is incredibly hard. I don't want to sound immodest but when I put my mind to a task the results are often astounding. Don't be too hard on yourself if you fail, I doubt even Roddeck himself would find this easy.''

If you happen to see any other adventurers you think are up to my mighty challenge, send them my way and I'll see if they are worthy.

Good luck!

Avalani

Ruin Specialist and Clan Historian

Letter
Day Two - "The Stone Tablet"

''Avalani, daughter of the renowned gardener Gustav shunned life amongst the flowers to follow in her brother "Tim the Wizard"'s footsteps, although she wasn't as interested in Fire Strikes. Little did she know where this path would lead; certainly not to years of research into a non-functional portal located at the Clan Camp. She just couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow significant.''

''All knowledge of the portal had disappeared into history and legend. Some say it was actually part of a magic mirror that was smashed after Guthix asked if he was the most beautiful in the land, while others thought that maybe the famed artist Goldy Andsworthy had created it centuries ago. But how does this tie into Avalani's request for help? You shall soon see...''

Congratulations on solving the puzzle I gave you, I'm impressed that you managed to solve it so quickly. You are clearly the person I'm looking for to help me!

It's been three weeks since I was given this strange tablet and I'm still no closer to understanding the meaning behind the text shown. It was given to me by a most peculiar stranger. All they said to me was "Justice through his judgement". Useless really, why can't people be more direct? Why is there a need to be so mysterious?

Anyway, to the task at hand; here is the text shown on the stone tablet that I've transcribed for these 'forums'. Can you make anything of it? I certainly can't.

Strange Vision
Also released with the second clue was this message and picture:

''Oh, I almost forgot to mention; when I was examining the tablet I had a strange vision. Perhaps it will mean something to you. I'm quite good with a paintbrush, if I do say so myself.''



Letter
Day Three - "Beadromancy"

Who would have thought that part of this portal would end up in such a place? And to try and sell it...the travesty! It's just lucky that no-one recognised the worth and power of this item. Why would they though? Until you brought it here it looked like a normal, boring, run of the mill, dull, grey rock. I certainly never expected the results of your find to affect the tablet directly, revealing this diagram.

What do you make of this? The structure of the clue looks familiar, I think this is an older version of the vastly popular "RuneSquares" game; something about no duplicates in each row, column and box or terrible things would happen...

Avalani Ruin Specialist and Clan Historian

PS. If you're struggling to comprehend or solve the puzzles below, the two grids are called 'Sudoku' and 'Rune-Doku' which I know because I've had some experience with them before. Here is a handy page that will help you if you're not 100% sure. The 'Rune-Doku' is simply a 'Sudoku' with numbers being replaced by runes, the runes are Air Rune, Fire Rune, Water Rune, Earth Rune, Nature Rune, Body Rune, Cosmic Rune, Chaos Rune and Law Rune. Hope this helps!

Strange Vision
Again, I had a strange vision during the night. I've done my best to give an accurate picture of what I saw. I hope it's of some use to you.



Clue




"There are a lot of white keys and 1/4 of them are black. Where do they go?" It captures you. It moves you. Then it's done. It tingles in the back of your head, tempting you to chase it. What is it?" "If you say my name I am no more."
 * Body = I7 | Fire = B1

Letter
Day Four - "The Shiniest of the Shinies"

Hello adventurer, it's so good to see you again - ready for another I shan't wonder? The wizard was certainly generous in giving up his portal piece. The strange activity is getting more intense as we get closer to finishing the portal. I haven't had enough time to study an active rock to determine what type of magic it is, if it even is magic at all. It's certainly going to be causing some trouble if it gets any more powerful. The tablet has cleared up now and left a bamboozler of a clue, I had a fair idea on the previous clues but I am completely stumped by this one! I was never too good at treasure trails...

Strange Vision
Ah, this appears to be a bit of a reoccurring problem. Here's another piece of my amazing artwork that came to me through a vision. They're vague, yet also clearer than before; it's enough to give someone a headache!



Letter
Day Five - "A Heavy Drinking"

Hello and welcome back to Avalani & Co Adventures, I thought of the name while waiting for the tablet's clue to clear up this morning. I think it really is a good representation of the amount of effort that we've put in to discovering the secret of the portal.

I was surprised at the side effects of having one of the portal pieces nearby, making things shinier than they would normally appear would certainly be a valuable magic. Due to the potency of these rocks, I can only foresee that obtaining the final pieces of the portal will be a challenge. There are other scholars, historians, wizards and - shall we say - entrepreneurs out there who would desire to have such abilities.

The latest clue has revealed itself on the tablet. Keep your wits about you; it's not only what you cannot see but also what you can see. (See, I'm getting good at this cryptic stuff!)

Avalani Ruin Specialist and Clan Historian whose name is Avalani

Clue
The Gods toy with us, ferrying their messages to and fro.





Strange Vision
I had a vision, I'm an amazing painter - we both know the drill by now. Our priority must be completing the portal!

Clue 6: 24 July
Day Six - "Justice through his judgement"

This is it. This is the day that all of my years of research and investigating can finally come to an end. It's almost a sad day for me; my research is what has kept me going for so many years. Whatever shall I do...

Regardless, we need to get the portal finished and find out where it leads. My studies have led me to believe that it isn't to somewhere dangerous but I am not 100% on that. With a mysterious stranger, sparking rocks and stone tablet that can change itself at will - it's going to be something magnificent whether for good or evil. I'm hoping it's good though.

''*you interject* When we open the portal to the wonderful gold-piece dropping tree realm, we'll be rich. Rich beyond our wildest dreams!''

It's amazing that you can even get out of bed in the morning never mind solving these clues. Here's the final clue, I hope you're up to the challenge.

NPC
Take the items to Sir Vyvin and return to Avalani.

Solution
.

Trivia

 * In each of the strange visions, a character wearing the Ghost costume can be seen. The character is wielding an Armadyl godsword, first seen clearly in the second vision (day two). This unidentified character gets clearer with every strange vision Avalani has. It is possible that this character is the final character of the Fest.
 * This is the first time an NPC is used on the forums.
 * This year, the forums tell you the next NPC to go to, as last year it was in game, and the reward was obtained 1 day earlier than planned.
 * While speaking to Murky Matt, he claims he has not heard from Roddeck since he "promised to double his dubloons" This is a joke on Jagex's part poking fun at the the popular "doubling money" scam.
 * On the day of the update, the third clue (the Sudoku) contained 2 additional coordinate references for the number grid - "D3 = 2" and "G8 = 9", which did not tally with the results should the same coordinate system from the RuneDoku be applied to the number Sudoku after the required rotation, as G8 would have been 4 instead of 9. Jagex has since deleted these references as the people who followed the incorrect reference brought the incorrect quantities of items to the NPC, and accordingly alerted them to the error.
 * On day four the first map location does not resemble the actual location in RuneScape, as the buildings are much smaller and do not retain the same shapes on the clue as they have in the game.
 * When chatting with Avalani, if you have given her a stone, but have not obtained the next, the last conversation will repeat as if she never received it.
 * Avalani may be hinting that the reward will be the robes off her back.
 * Prior to the actual release of the reward, some players knew the reward by looking in POH toy boxes and QuickChat.
 * Like last years Cryptic Clue Fest, by completing this years you are rewarded with all previouse rewards, along with the new reward.
 * It was theoretically possible to obtain the rewards during the day the Fest started, however this would require extreme luck since it is nearly impossible to guess the correct items to bring to the correct NPCs.
 * During the conversation during the second to last clue, Avalani states 'I will give you your reward, even if it's the robes off my back!", confirming the reward will, in fact, be her robes. Another reward will be the rock that is created from the bits you collect.