Summary of The Oracle Treasure Hunt and How to Get Started

[Jenny]

Available to Download or in Print, The Oracle: Lost in Time treasure hunt contains clues to a token hidden somewhere in the UK. However, no matter where you are from, if you make a correct solve, it is not necessary to travel in order to retrieve the token. The author has agreed that he would do it for you....if unable.

As of now, the treasure is worth around 7500 dollars (5000 pounds).

More in depth summary can be found here:
mysteriouswritings.com/the-oracle-an-armchair-treasure-hunt/

[goldwatch]

Someday I want to get into this one. But for now, I'm stuck deep in another hunt.

[tinkerbelle]

This is my kind of fun!

[cat]

I ordered the downloadable version of the book several years and several computers ago. I am impressed the hunt has lasted this long -- good design. The furthest I got was the idea that maybe the periodic table of elements was somehow involved, and the "every picture contains a lie" might mean not just an anachronism, but "lie" as in "lie of the land" for a map with landmarks.

[GeneticBlend]

I just recently purchased this book. If anyone has the book, I am interested in discussing it.

What I am trying to do right now is to find the "lie" in each illustration, identify the topic(s) in each poem, and assign dates to these.

I am finding several lies in some illustrations, so I don't know if the author did this on purpose, or if it is just artistic license playing an innocent part.

[Jenny]

I haven't had time to work on it for quite a while.... but I'll get my notes out on it......

[GeneticBlend]

Thanks Jenny!

One of the things I would like to ask, and I posted this on the Oracle website, is that the author has given out clues. On April 18th, 2014, he wrote, "Today's picture will help you pinpoint the treasure but what about the bigger picture?" Since I only purchased the book recently, I don't know what "today's picture" was. I know that most people won't have notes that go back to 2014, but I am hoping that by posting, someone will remember what picture he was talking about.

The author mentions in another clue that "one picture helps you pinpoint the prize", so it is almost the same clue, but written with different words. He must be referencing the same picture. I feel like this particular picture must be important for him to mention it twice in his clues.

[GeneticBlend]

I've been reading over the master riddle, the poem at the beginning of the book. I've been trying to figure out what it is we are supposed to do.

The first stanza just describes the book being a journey through time and space, and ending at the Oracle.

The second stanza seems to tell us what is important and what we need. We need to figure out why the illustrations are important. We need to determine what "the lie" is in each illustration. I think I've found most of the lies, but they don't seem to get me anywhere. Perhaps putting in "the lie" was just a means for the reader to examine the picture closely, and do some research and educate themselves on what happened at that time in history.

Has anyone found a purpose for "the lies" in the illustrations?

On the official forum, it is said that the token is a CD. I don't know if the author confirmed this or not, but they post this as if it is common knowledge. If this is true, then I would think it must be in a protective case of some sort. It could easily be wedged inbetween something and kept out of the elements. I wonder how long a CD would last if it were subjected to rain and snow? This makes me think that it is probably wedged between bricks or somewhere that it has protection, rather than out in a wooded area...

I would like to discuss "the lies", the poems vs the text (they don't match in all of the cases), and if we can assign dates to these.

Also, the master riddle mentions the "four before" and the "final six" and that we must find them in order. What could these be? It seems they are supposed to be numbers. But where do we get them?

I hope we can get some people to discuss this! Dust off your Oracle books!

[zupzel]

Hi Genetic,

Just purchased this. I'll have a look through and let you know if anything jumps out.

[GeneticBlend]

Great! I'm glad you have purchased it too supzel! I know this is an old hunt, but the author just recently (February, 2018) posted his 30th and final clue. So that tells me that he is still invested in the hunt. I am hoping that we might be able to get some people that were involved in the hunt years ago to revisit this one. With 30 clues, you would think it could be solved....!!!

[zupzel]

Hey genetic, where do I go to find the clues?

[GeneticBlend]

Below is the link for the home page for "The Oracle: Lost in Time".

oraclebook.net/301.html

From there, you can see a list of places on the left that you can go to. One of those is for the "Clues".

I'd like to set up a thread for the CLUES here, but I'll wait and see how many people respond to this hunt.

[zupzel]

Quick question Genetic. I have been told this question was answered on the official forum but I am having a devil of a time finding anything there. I have reposted but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask you. My question is:

I've noticed the pictures in the PDF I received are not the same as the ones posted on the site under forums. For example the PDF is missing the K off look on the oracle page, a question mark on the Jesus page and different placement of the to fall on the Columbus page.

I was just wondering if both versions are fine to use without affecting the puzzle.

I believe you have the book itself Genetic so was wondering if that is the same as the PDF. Thanks

[GeneticBlend]

I do have both, the book and the pdf. If you purchase the book, you get the pdf for free. I have not made any close comparisons of the two. I am aware of the 3 errors you have mentioned. And to add to that, the word, "WOMAN" should be "WOMEN" on the crucifixion illustration.

It was posted on the official forum that these mistakes in the pdf do not make any difference to the solve. I can't say exactly where I read that, but I do remember seeing it posted.

That official forum was not set up well for people to discuss the hunt. You are to use the same place to submit your answers so that all can see. I don't like that, nor do I like that the forum just gets clogged up with submissions. There is no separation for discussion from submissions.

There are some people there that I was hoping I could entice to come here to discuss to hunt. We'll see if that happens.

[Marc]

Hi Zupzel,
In answer to your question about the differences between the PDF and the book. Yes this has been discussed at quite some length on the Official Forum, there was lots of speculation about their possibility of begin clues. Eventually Pete clarified things by explaining that NONE of them affect the solution. He admitted that they are all either oversights, spelling mistakes or typos. (For example Women / Woman Pete definitely confirmed as a typo and has nothing to do with the solution). So basically save yourself a lot of time and presume that any difference you find is nothing of any importance and ignore it.
Pete has also said that it doesn't matter what version you have. However, I personally find that having both has made certain investigations easier. For example if I want to draw lines linking border letters etc. then I can do this on a PDF copy and then easily move the lines. Alternatively if I want to look at something really closely an eye loop and the book gives a much sharper inspection of the area I'm interested in.