Brain Teasers
The Righteous Son
Cryptography
In Cryptography teasers, a phrase or expressions has been encoded in some way (frequently by replacing letters with other letters). You need to figure out the encoding method and then decode the message to find the answer.Cryptography
At the age of eighty, King Winthrop started having doubts about the true intentions of his children.... after all, he was the ruler of Winthropland and he wanted to make sure his wealth was put to good use after he left for the heavenly abode.
To this end, he set a test for both his sons.
He created two maps of the treasure, and gave both of his sons a copy of both the maps. He
was sure the son who was the most righteous would choose the correct map and reach the treasure.
One night, old King Winthrop was no more. The next day after the funeral, both the sons set out, each deciding on a different map as their father had envisioned.
Donald Winthrop followed one map and reached a graveyard. There, he found an open grave and a note inside which said...
OOFFER!
TAME.FOR
GNHEREIS
NYSONWSU
IMESTHTC
HNHEHOHH
TOCAEREA
OTHGILBS
NEVAHINO
Knowing his father's love for cryptography, he could easily see the message and burst into a fit of anger. Legend has it that he can still be seen in the graveyard pulling his hair out after what his father did to him!
Ronald Winthrop followed the other map and also reached another graveyard where he found a marble vault without a coffin. Atop this vault were inscribed the words...
NDTREASUR
IHTEOUSSE
FGISVAUOE
DIHNEWLNN
NRTOTHT.O
AYSEHOIOU
!TMDNIFSPG
RLDEEDNIEH
EUAVSIHTNT
VEROFTSALO
Ronald smiled and took the treasure that was rightfully his. Legend has it that the people of Winthropland never wanted for anything in their life and neither did Ronald himself.
To this end, he set a test for both his sons.
He created two maps of the treasure, and gave both of his sons a copy of both the maps. He
was sure the son who was the most righteous would choose the correct map and reach the treasure.
One night, old King Winthrop was no more. The next day after the funeral, both the sons set out, each deciding on a different map as their father had envisioned.
Donald Winthrop followed one map and reached a graveyard. There, he found an open grave and a note inside which said...
OOFFER!
TAME.FOR
GNHEREIS
NYSONWSU
IMESTHTC
HNHEHOHH
TOCAEREA
OTHGILBS
NEVAHINO
Knowing his father's love for cryptography, he could easily see the message and burst into a fit of anger. Legend has it that he can still be seen in the graveyard pulling his hair out after what his father did to him!
Ronald Winthrop followed the other map and also reached another graveyard where he found a marble vault without a coffin. Atop this vault were inscribed the words...
NDTREASUR
IHTEOUSSE
FGISVAUOE
DIHNEWLNN
NRTOTHT.O
AYSEHOIOU
!TMDNIFSPG
RLDEEDNIEH
EUAVSIHTNT
VEROFTSALO
Ronald smiled and took the treasure that was rightfully his. Legend has it that the people of Winthropland never wanted for anything in their life and neither did Ronald himself.
Answer
First Message:OOFFER!
TAME.FOR
GNHEREIS
NYSONWSU
IMESTHTC
HNHEHOHH
TOCAEREA
OTHGILBS
NEVAHINO
Start from "T" in the line "IMESTHTC" and work clockwise in a spiral direction. You get the message -
THE SON WHO REACHES HERE IS THE BLIGHT ON MY NAME. FOR SUCH A SON I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER!
Second Message:
NDTREASUR
IHTEOUSSE
FGISVAUOE
DIHNEWLNN
NRTOTHT.O
AYSEHOIOU
!TMDNIFSPG
RLDEEDNIEH
EUAVSIHTNT
VEROFTSALO
Start from the "T" in the line "NRTOTHT.O" and work clockwise in a spiral direction. You
get the message -
THE ONE WHO FINDS THIS VAULT IS INDEED MY RIGHTEOUS SON. OPEN THIS VAULT AND FIND TREASURE ENOUGH TO LAST FOREVER!
Alternatively you could start at the tail end and go anti-clockwise until you reach the beginning and then reverse it to read the message!
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Comments
YAY! Great one!
thanks smarty, glad you liked it
it took me a while. but it was great!
Thanks rvmadrigal, I am glad you liked it!
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