Kickstarter puzzle
The Cryptex Hunt of 2019 had a magazine theme and featured various puzzles in the form of ads. Below is the contribution from PostCurious. You can solve this puzzle by itself or visit the Cryptex Hunt website for more information. This puzzle requires outside research, and hints can be found below the image.
. For this puzzle all you need is the page with the hands. Read the clue and focus on the first half first, as this puzzle will have several steps.
. Start by looking at the left hand. Does anything stand out? As it states, ignore the stars above the hand for now.
. The symbols on the middle finger are colored in the darkest blue, matching the outermost color on the concentric circle diagram above, while the thumb is colored in lime green, matching the innermost ring. Which rings might the other fingers relate to?
. The fingers relate to the rings in the circle in order of length, with the thumb being the innermost circle, followed by the pinky, index finger, ring finger, and middle finger.
. Knowing which circle each finger relates to, how can you use the symbols on the fingers to plot points on the wheel?
. Use the symbols in the stars around the wheel as a coordinate system. For example, the first symbol is the stone on the thumb. Plotting it onto the innermost wheel would yield the letter C.
. Continue finding the letters indicated by the symbols, then read the result from the innermost ring outward (or in order of the finger lengths, from palm upwards.)
. The letters will spell out “COUNT THE STEPS.” Look at the numbers on the right thumb and consider what that might mean.
. From the center to the first C there are 4 steps, as shown by the dots. It takes another 2 steps to get to the O.
. Moving to each spot on the circle is a “step”, including moving down from one circle tier to another. Count the steps between each letter you plotted and transcribe the numbers into the right hand.
. The numbers are as follows: thumb: 4, 2; Pinky: 3, 4; Index: 6, 5, 1; Ring: 4, 6, 1; Middle: 3, 4, 2.
. Do you notice anything about the symbols in the stars right above the fingertips of the hands?
. The thumb on the left has a sun and the thumb on the right has a moon. What could the other fingers on the right be?
. Each symbol has a counterpart. The symbols on the right hand, from right to left, are the moon, stone, key, water, and ear. How can you use those with the numbers on the hand?
. Index the numbers from each finger into the star with the corresponding symbol above. For example, letters 4 and 2 on the moon are T and O.