In May 2023, I created a new genre of storytelling I call an Adventure Hunt. My novella The Jewels Of Osiris cast the reader themselves as the protagonist in a whirlwind globetrotting adventure through Northern Africa, India, and Europe as they tracked down four hidden gemstones with ancient histories based in Egyptian mythology.
However, this was more than just a book: in order to progress through the story, any time the protagonist encountered a puzzle that needed to be solved, the reader had to solve a series of puzzles to unlock the next part of the story. This created an experience with unprecedented levels of immersion.
The Jewels Of Osiris was released to the Cracking The Cryptic Patreon on May 1, 2023. Over the next three weeks hundreds of people journeyed thousands of miles with a unique cast of characters (including some familiar faces in the world of sudoku) to complete their quest and name the final artifact. When the adventure came to a close, many of those people wanted to see the story continue.
It is with that history that The Tidings Of Minos was born - the next adventure for our brave puzzle-solving protagonist to embark upon, through the ancient history of Greece. The Kickstarter did so well that a third story is also underway. What will come next?
Having gone to Egypt to win an ancient map at auction, you find yourself face to face with Delilah, an enemy who will do whatever it takes to find the Jewels of Osiris - and the dangerous power they hold. Can you outwit and stop her?
Drawn to Crete by a friend in distress, you are quickly thrown into a dangerous race into the lair of the Minotaur against ruthless treasure hunters. What do they want, and how far are they willing to go to get it?
Fresh off your second trip with your new friends, a new adventure catches your attention. You race off into the unknown with your trusty allies, hoping to uncover the secrets you are after. But who can you really trust?
If you'd like to see what reading and solving an Adventure Hunt is like,
please enjoy this sample from the The Jewels Of Osiris.
Yes! Due to the huge amount of support the Kickstarter campaign received at its conclusion, you can still support The Tidings Of Minos with the same backer levels as the Kickstarter campaign. Those levels are:
YOU'RE A BACKER!
Thanks! Every little bit helps! You're awesome and I thank you for your help. You get:
You're not just showing token support, you're really standing behind this thing. You deserve some stuff! You get:
Ever wondered how something like this is made? Now you can find out! At this level I share my notes and research as I create the adventure - stopping short of spoilers. Plus, see the intended path through the puzzles. You get:
Puzzles need testing. Some of them need revision. At this level, you get early access to all of the puzzles, including some that may not make it into the finished project. Basically, it's more content! You get:
The only way to get a physical copy of the story! It will (probably) only ever be printed once. You get:
Shipping costs $10 to Canada, $20 to the US, or $30 to the rest of the world.
This is the same as the Main Character tier, but with extra copies you can give to your friends. The cost of each extra copy is $35 plus $2 shipping, added to the cost of the Main Character tier and its shipping. Remember, it will (probably) only ever be printed once.
All prices are in USD. Due to the success of the Kickstarter campaign, several stretch goals were reached. In addition to the rewards listed above, backers will also receive:
Late funding could unlock more stretch goals, so the list above might continue to grow as the Adventure Hunts are created. For late backers, all rewards will be distributed through the Discord server.
This website, the Adventure Hunt name, and the stories outlined above are the sole creation of DiMono. Many of my puzzles are available to be solved on Logic Masters Germany