Get a behind the scenes look at the Sorrow Puzzle Hunt in the following Six Questions with George Ward (the creator), and Tony Youngblood (the winner) of the hunt.
SORROW was created by George for the 2023 Masquerade Tribute. He generously donated not only his time, but also an amazing prize: a signed copy of The Spirit of 76′ – which is from The Secret treasure hunt. Because of contributions from members of the treasure hunt community, and those who are participating, the 2023 Tribute has raised over $4000! dollars for St. Jude’s to date. Thank you all!
It’s wonderful to see the community come together and give to a worthy cause. I hope you are all having fun! There is still more to come. Treasure Hunt #5 – by Medallion Militia – releases 9/20! More on this soon……. (as well as some other games)
For now though, let’s get to the Six Questions with George and Tony!
The first two Questions – Tony Answers:
- 1Q) Please share how you got started in the hobby of armchair treasure hunting and what you are enjoying most about it.
Tony: My interest in treasure hunting AND cryptography probably both started when I read Edgar Allan Poe’s The Gold Bug as a child. It was rekindled when I heard about the Kryptos sculpture a few years ago. That led me down the rabbit hole with The Thrill of the Chase and other hunts. The best part of armchair treasure hunting is the rush of the “aha” moment, when everything clicks and you discover something that no one else has. Sadly, those moments are few and far between.
- 2Q) What was the ‘aha’ moment for solving SORROW? Also, what other hunts have you worked on or are working on now?
Tony: The big ‘aha’ was when I noticed that each room had one NPC (non-player character) that moved around. Each had a set path and would stop at the end of the path. (It wasn’t in a loop.) First, I traced out the paths, hoping the paths would be letters. No dice. Then I counted the number of steps and matched the numbers with a letter, where A=1, B=2, C=3, etc. That gave me the letters S,W,O,O,R,R, which only spells one word: Sorrow.
I worked on the Candyman’s Gold Ticket state hunts, and my team found the necklace for Tennessee. Right now, I’m working on the Secret Anniversary hunt and the Secret Tribute hunt.
The following four Q’s- George answers:
- 3Q) Thank you for creating such a meaningful puzzle, George. Actions do speak louder than words, and I appreciate your contributions not only in this year’s Masquerade Tribute, but in hunt’s past – as well as in the overall treasure hunting community. I feel the making of SORROW must have been emotionally difficult – since it was so very close to heart. Why did you want to create it, and how did you feel when producing it? Was it helpful in diminishing any Sorrow?
George: Growing up in a traditional Southern religious family, I was taught… Like most men of my generation, that men are not supposed to show any sadness. Sadness is weakness, and real men are never weak. This problem was compounded by my years in the fire service, where it’s close to a sin to tell anyone you are sad. Over the years I learned to take my feelings, put them in a box, and bury them somewhere deep.
It’s a technique that usually works well, except sometimes, that box bursts. When it bursts I lose myself in hobbies, or projects… until I find a bigger box. Staying busy helps.
Anyway, this was one of those projects that just… kinda… let some of those feelings out. Its not a “true to life” story… more “based on true events” if you will. It was my way of telling people “Just don’t end up like me.”
Did it help diminish any sorrow? No. It was just a small window into my brain for others.
- 4Q) Most consider Kit Williams, Masquerade, as the first armchair hunt, which was published in 1979 –almost 45 years ago. Do you feel this hobby will be around for the next 45 years? Have you seen many changes to the hobby since you began?
George: People will always want to know the unknown, to find the unfindable. People will always want a challenge. Because of that, this hobby will never go away. It existed before Masquerade in a more academic setting, and will exist long after you and I are gone.
What I wonder is how it will change in the future?
Imagine travelling back in time to 1914 and shadowing Howard Carter, working tirelessly digging through scholarly works, and mountains of sand in a blind search for historical treasures. Seeing his research, triumphs and failures until 1922 when he finally found his prize at the bottom of a staircase. The entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun.
100 years later we can find all of the research he used, all of the documents he found, and even tour the tomb, with a small device we carry in our pocket.
One hundred years ago prospectors would wander around the desert, or dense forests looking for treasures left by civilizations that came long before them.
Now amatures use drones to find paths leading to long forgotten villages…
Am I rambling? I feel like I am rambling.
The point is, as long as there are treasures, both new and old, there will be someone who wants to find them.
- 5Q) Although you’ll always be one of the leaders in The Secret, it seems lately that you’re moving more into a supportive background role for the hunt. Why is this? How do you see the hunt for the remaining casques of The Secret moving forward? How would you like to see it?
George: I’ve never considered myself a leader. I’ve always thought of myself as just another searcher in a sea of searchers. My opinions are no more valuable than anyone else’s. I have noticed over the past couple of years there has been a bit of a power struggle. People desperately trying to climb to the top of this thing we call a hobby.
I’m not sure why, or what they want to gain… but it’s kinda sad.
I moved more to the background because that’s where I’m comfortable. I’m more of a support guy at heart.
How do I see the hunt moving forward? Slowly… if at all. Until searchers move past the idea that they already know everything, no progress can be made.
- 6Q) Are you pursuing any new hobbies? What is capturing most of your extra time recently? Do you plan on creating any more games using the wonderful world maker sourced for the Sorrow puzzle?
George: I’ve been spending a lot of time with my family lately. I have a couple of car projects I have been working on. My son and I are restoring a 1953 Buick. I am rebuilding a Jeep for my stepdaughter, and restoring my grandfathers old truck. Those three projects have kept me pretty busy.
- Bonus Q: What are your thoughts for when The Secret Anniversary Hunt will be solved, with Treasure claimed? As well as Tribute: The Hunt for the 13th Casque?
George: For the anniversary, soon I hope!
As far as the Tribute goes… I have no idea. People seem to be on the right track… There has to be a twist at the end holding them up.
