⚔️ SANTA'S SIDE QUESTS ⚔️

Operations Guide - Quest Master Reference

Game Concept: Optional challenge for gamer/puzzle enthusiast guests. 8 puzzles hidden throughout venue that require problem-solving skills. Guests complete quest card and return to Quest Master (you!) for verification and prize. Estimated completion time: 20-30 minutes. Self-guided, zero staff required during gameplay.

📋 Game Flow

During Dinner:
During Event:
Completion:

🎯 All 8 Quests - Puzzles & Answers

Quest 1: Solve the Toymaker's Riddle

Location: Toy Assembly Room

What's Posted: Riddle on poster/sign

RIDDLE:
"I have keys but no locks,
I have space but no room,
You can enter but can't go inside.
What am I?"

Answer: KEYBOARD

Accept: "Keyboard", "Computer Keyboard", "Piano" (maybe - has keys and you can't go inside it)

Quest 2: Decipher the Tracking Code

Location: Santa Tracking Room

What's Posted: Symbol math puzzle on tracking console/wall

TRACKING CODE:
🎄 = 3
⭐ = 7
🎁 = 5
🔔 = 2

SOLVE: 🎄 + ⭐ - 🎁 + 🔔 = ?

Answer: 7

Math: 3 + 7 - 5 + 2 = 7

Accept: "7", "Seven"

Quest 3: Translate the Elvish Script

Location: Great Hall

What's Posted: Message written in symbol cipher + cipher key nearby

CIPHER KEY: Each letter = unique symbol
(A=★, B=♦, C=●, D=■, E=▲, F=◆, G=○, H=□, I=△, J=☆, K=♥, L=◇, M=◐, N=◑, O=◒, P=◓, Q=◔, R=◕, S=◖, T=◗, U=◘, V=◙, W=◚, X=◛, Y=◜, Z=◝)

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE: ◐▲◕◕◜ ●□◕△◖◗◐★◖

Answer: MERRY CHRISTMAS

Accept: "Merry Christmas", "MERRY CHRISTMAS"

Note: Actual symbols should be designed to look elvish/runic. This is just placeholder notation.

Quest 4: Crack the Postal Cipher

Location: Post Office

What's Posted: Encrypted message on chalkboard or postal notice

CIPHER: Caesar Cipher (shift back 1 letter)

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE: TBOUB

Answer: SANTA

How to Solve: Shift each letter back by 1 (T→S, B→A, O→N, U→T, B→A)

Accept: "Santa", "SANTA"

Quest 5: Chart the Christmas Star

Location: Santa Tracking Room

What's Posted: Large star chart with grid overlay (A-H horizontal, 1-8 vertical)

INSTRUCTIONS ON QUEST CARD:
"Using the star chart, follow these coordinates:
Start at ORION (located at C4)
Move 2 spaces NORTH, then 3 spaces EAST
What constellation do you land on?"

Answer: URSA MINOR (or whichever constellation is at position F6)

Math: C4 → move 2 north = C6 → move 3 east = F6

Accept: "Ursa Minor", "Little Dipper", "Polaris" (if star chart shows Polaris at that location)

NOTE: You must design actual star chart poster with grid and place constellations accordingly. This answer depends on your chart design.

Quest 6: The Inspector's Secret

Location: Great Hall

What's Hidden: 3 small snowflake symbols placed around the room

CLUE ON QUEST CARD OR SIGN:
"Find the hidden snowflake symbol. It appears exactly 3 times in the Great Hall.
What COLOR is the third snowflake?"

Answer: (DEPENDS ON YOUR PLACEMENT)

Example Setup: Place 3 snowflake stickers/decorations - 1st = red, 2nd = gold, 3rd = SILVER

Accept: Whatever color you choose for the 3rd snowflake

IMPORTANT: Actually place 3 snowflake symbols in the Great Hall before the event. Document which color is 3rd.

Quest 7: The Ornament Pattern

Location: Great Hall (Christmas tree)

What's Set Up: One row of ornaments on tree follows specific color pattern

CLUE ON QUEST CARD OR SIGN:
"Look at ROW 3 of the Christmas tree. The ornaments follow a pattern:
RED, GOLD, SILVER, RED, GOLD, _____
What color comes NEXT?"

Answer: SILVER

Pattern: Repeating sequence of Red → Gold → Silver

Accept: "Silver"

IMPORTANT: Actually hang ornaments on tree Row 3 in this exact pattern. Or choose different pattern and update this guide.

Quest 8: The Christmas Calculation

Location: Great Hall

What's Posted: Math challenge sign that references actual room decorations

CHALLENGE:
"Count the WREATHS in the Great Hall.
Multiply by the number of CANDLES on Table 2.
Divide by 2.
What's your answer?"

Answer: (DEPENDS ON YOUR ACTUAL SETUP)

Example Math: 4 wreaths × 6 candles ÷ 2 = 12

Accept: Whatever the correct calculated number is based on your actual decoration count

IMPORTANT: Count actual wreaths and candles after setup. Update this guide with correct answer. Or change the challenge to reference different countable items.

📦 Materials & Setup Needed

Quest # Location Materials to Create Setup Notes
1 Toy Assembly Riddle poster/sign Print riddle on 11×17" poster or chalkboard. Mount on wall.
2 Santa Tracking Symbol math puzzle sign Print puzzle with emoji symbols. Mount near tracking displays.
3 Great Hall Elvish cipher poster + encrypted message Design custom symbols that look runic. Print cipher key + message on separate posters nearby.
4 Post Office Caesar cipher message on chalkboard Write "TBOUB" on chalkboard or sign. Can add hint: "Shift back 1 letter"
5 Santa Tracking Star chart poster with grid (A-H, 1-8) Large format print (24×36" or bigger). Show major constellations with grid overlay. Place Orion at C4.
6 Great Hall 3 hidden snowflake symbols Place small snowflake stickers/decorations around room. Document colors/locations.
7 Great Hall Patterned ornament row on tree Hang Row 3 ornaments: Red, Gold, Silver, Red, Gold, Silver pattern.
8 Great Hall Math challenge sign Print challenge referencing actual decoration counts. Update answer after setup complete.

✅ Pre-Event Checklist

💡 Quest Master Verification Tips

IMPORTANT: Quests 5, 6, 7, and 8 require you to finalize answers based on your actual room setup and decoration placement. Walk through after venue setup and confirm all answers are correct before laminating this guide!

Santa's Side Quests - Operations Guide
Created: November 14, 2025 | For: Christmas Event 2025