You may or may not be watching the wildly popular tv series known as Game of Thrones. Probably you’re too busy geocaching, which, as we all know, is the Throne of Games! The Game of Thrones show, reportedly the most viewed TV series in the known universe, is about medieval power play on a fantasy continent known as Westeros, where heads roll fast as lesser kings feud to conquer the supreme Iron Throne.
So fortunately, the world of GOT appears to be quite a ways from the world in which we're enjoying the TOG. You'd think they're so far apart that the twain never shall meet. Well, in this cache we'll explore what happens when they actually do meet.
This cache was part of the Xmas series 2015 and is one of the windows opened on December 24. Some knowledge of the Game of Thrones universe could be helpful when searching the cache, but it's absolutely no requirement. You should be able to find clues to the cache location even if you haven’t got a clue to the GOT world. All the information you need is availaible from open, searchable sources.
Take a look at the three people on this page, who are some of the key characters in the series. They’re all in the same family, often referred to as the **********. Think of this unpredictable lot as X. Weird stuff goes on in this unhappy and rather unpleasant family, but we won’t get into that now.
Instead we’ll take a look at this swell castle, known as********. Let's call it Y. In Westeros, there are numerous castles, fortresses, citadels and palaces to keep track of. To be certain that you get to the appropriate one, look for a location where the Red Fork of the Trident River is joined by the Tumblestone tributary.
If you're so smart you can handle a GPSr, I'm sure you're also smart enough to identify X and Y. Hint: The number of letters that make up the X and Y, average 9.
With this crucial knowledge at hand, your Throne of Games quest will continue into another world which may or may not feel more familiar and real. It so happens that apparent relatives of the, well, unusual family you were just introduced to, has quietly set up shop in realms much closer to you than Westeros. Their intentions are unclear, but their reputation as a formidable, shrewd opponent requires you prepare for the worst. So order your spies to explore their numbers. Knowing thy enemy is key to winning any battle.
Alas, this is not the only challenge you’ll have to rise to, should you dare attempting to conquer the Throne of Games. It turns out that another of your antagonists in this merciless game is building a formidable castle inspired by the one mentioned. Again, you must prepare by sending out your spies and determine the number of opponents. Beware, and be patient, they may be in the millions.
With luck, your spies may return some useful intelligence. While Westeros kings and lesser rulers have armies of advisors to assist them in matters of strategy and tactics, you will have to make do with the Wisdom of the Moose. Listen well, and the King of the Forest will whisper that the Key to the Throne of Games may be found in the difference between X and Y. Furthermore, the Key may be split in two lesser parts. From the first part, you may want to subtract 138 to obtain ABC. From the last part, subtract 159 to obtain DEF.
You are now ready to begin your quest for the Throne of Games. Much of your travel will be on good roads, but there's no such thing for the last 50 meters.
The cache is a goldpot of treasures in an army food container, hanging in a tree 50 centimeters above ground. It may disappear if the real winter is coming, but the Mark of the Moose will be visible in snow up to 170 centimeters. Among the treasures, you will find coordinates for the bonus cache known as Winter is coming.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Congratulations on the FTF to A1Hydeandseek, whose mighty sword sliced open the mystery with no helping hand from the CO and well before the checker was added.