Mystery File 05: The Confounding Kidnapper
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Crime Scene: The evidence you need to solve this puzzle can be found within the four Murders at Karlov Manor Commander Decks.
The kidnapper is trying to send us a message. Four messages, in fact. But they all lead to the same memory from many years ago.
This puzzle was solved on 01-28, prior to the Mystery File’s release on 02-06. Each of the 4 commander precons comes with a Ransom Note, and each has different art.
previous ransom note speculation
Some work/transcription is happening in this spreadsheet. u/EverythingIsNormal has identified 26 unique characters in this reddit post across various card art. If we look at the promotional imagery there are additional characters (numerals? something else? just gibberish?)
Script appearances in cards/media:
the confounding kidnapper - evidence
u/Gear_NO-7 found [from this box opening stream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e97Zt59p_bU) that the 4 precons come with decoders for the Ransom Notes - the different fonts *are* different!
the confounding kidnapper - solution
So this is a pretty straightforward decode. In order, we have:
> if you subtract three / from the / toughness of this creature / the result is its power
> the word / at the end / of this creature's flavor text means / the opposite of end
> this card's mana value / is / equal to the number of / eyes that / a cyclops posseses
> unless something causes / this creature to lose / its abilities it is / not able to attack
So we've got 4 hints towards a card. Mana value 1, has defender, power=toughness-3, and the last word in its flavor text is "start" or "beginning" or something similar. Some Scryfall queries later and we have... Saruli Caretaker! Interestingly, another RNA card that is referenced by an MKM card - Reckless Detective is also holding an acorn, and it looks very, very similar.
