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Puzzletober 2025: Murky

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(Last updated ~2 hrs. post-posting: "should not exceed" -> "should not be less than") The newcomer enters a small glade with a square-shaped lake. The lake is about 9 yards wide in each direction and its murky water hides the floor past the shore. Not too far in the distance are five people making conversation. He walks up to them.  The first to notice him is a man in a dull but well-ironed coat. He slides an unprotected hand out from a long sleeve to provide a handshake and introduces himself as Victor. The newcomer says, "Are you the innkeeper?" Victor replies, "Yes. Were you looking for a room?" "My car broke down about half a mile down the road. I'm going to need a place to stay for the night." Victor thinks for a bit, looking from something to something else to the inquisitive looks from the patrons, before finally saying, "I suppose I can make an exception to the reservation rule. Welcome to the hotel. I'll get a r...

Puzzletober 2025: Crown

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As the newcomer approaches the crown of the hill, he is able to make out a figure sitting atop it on a collapsable chair. The man is dressed regally; his expensive thick coat is effective but looks out of place. When the newcomer gets close enough, the man asks, "Do you recognize me?" "No. Should I?" He tuts. "Don't people ever visit the cinema anymore? I'm Ande Aunddeen! Famous actor! Made my big break a couple years ago and been riding it since." The newcomer sits on the ground beside the plastic chair and spots the trail in the distance. The breeze runs softly past them. "I didn't want to go to the lake. I'd hate for this robe to get wet. Plus, there's something special about spending time alone in nature that nurtures my ego." The newcomer silently agrees. Rules: Solve this irregular cylindrical puzzle as a Gemini Block . You will have to make assumptions about clues that can't be seen.

Puzzletober 2025: Weave

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He notices that the woman had been listening closely to their conversation but had now returned to trying to weave some black string under and over the white base in the frame. He finds an empty chair not too far away and pulls it closer to study her technique. She senses him watching and, pausing her progress on the row, turns to acknowledge him fully.  She says, "Leather's perfect for leaving." There is a bit of an accent. "I finished the lore prose at noon, then I cast the anchor. Here I'm lurking on the left." He nods at the speed of her hands and pretends to understand the terminology. He asks, "What are you making this for?" She replies, "It's a commemorative scarf. My husband taught me..." There's a pause, then he changes the subject: "Where's the innkeeper?" She points toward a hill by the forest in the distance. "There's a trail near that hill. It should take you to the lake." He thanks her for...

Puzzletober 2025: Mustache

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Somewhere in the rural American countryside, a man in his mid-thirties lugs a four-wheeled suitcase along an unpaved road. He is protected from the cold by a decent brown jacket, gray sweatpants, and a deerstalker hat. The only building in sight is a two-story rustic hotel. There is an old woman in a simple wooden chair  knitting something  on the front porch; she briefly glances at him as he knocks on the front door. The door is answered a few seconds later by a man between their ages who shivers at the temperature of the atmosphere. The man with the suitcase says, "Do you have a spare room for the night? My car broke down on the side of the road about a mile that way," and he gestures accordingly. The other says, "We normally only take reservations. But... seeing as this is an emergency, we'll see what the innkeeper says. I assume you've tried calling a tow truck." "No service." "I know. It never hurts to try. Can I get your name?" The ...

Update: September 2025

I haven't been posting here this month because I've been putting a lot of time and effort into the upcoming Puzzletober series. I've decided to write a more cohesive narrative, which requires drafting the story to revolve around the prompts and designing the puzzles for the prompts and the story. I've also decided to draw every puzzle in pen this year, to be more in-keeping with the inspiration. (In retrospect, the presentation of Camera was disgraceful.) As of writing, I'm almost halfway done with everything, and I'm feeling proud of how it's turning out. The following puzzle was made on the twentieth. There is an apt final answer. Artwork made specifically for an event        (5 1'8) Numerically less than unity                   (5 1'3) Something with the ninth prefix on an errand  (4 1'7) Where lions might perform a ceremony          (3 1'4) Entomb used firewood      ...

Update: August 2025

    Much like last year, I spent most of this month busy with things other than puzzles. However, I did still manage to finish the writing project, which I'm feeling proud of despite getting the impression that it's very difficult to deduce a majority of the answers. I also just found out about the Logic Pad online preview branch today, so I've ported all the puzzles from the post there except for the Smores. Progress is going slowly on the second part of my latest puzzle project. At least I've tried to slice it so I don't bite off more than I can chew.     I'll be planning for October soon. While last year I checked the list a week beforehand out of sudden inspiration, I plan to check it this year as soon as it drops because I expect to be busier and I only barely put out Navigator on time. Hopefully this will also give me more time to come up with a fitting meta since the prompts might not be themed this year.     This year, I've been prioritizing making ...

Misplaced Akichiwake

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 constructed offline on 8/16/25 One number has been misplaced and really applies to a different region. https://puzz.link/p?akichi/v:/13/13/i64pj6cpj601j6cpj6cpj2cpj6cpj60gvts00g03vvnvu002007futro00g01rv0l1g23l4g5g6k789j