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Dragon Puzzle Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

RedHiker: Archiving this cache as the cache owner hasn't logged in for more than a year and this geocache has been unavailable or unfound for a while.

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RedHiker
Volunteer Reviewer Northern California

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Hidden : 11/17/2009
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Visit the cache and find the dragon. Speaks the dragon, of location. Find the cache, or just frustration!

Get the dragon in hand and use his external controls to see what he will say.

The electronic dragon puzzle has gone missing, but I've replaced it with a physical puzzle with the exact same logic. The dragon is made of one A/B switch, four regular switches, and four LEDs. These same elements are on the physical puzzle, so the hints, videos etc. all work the same. Good luck! Below is the original dragon text.


This is an electronic puzzle cache, appropriately located here in the heart of silicon valley. The final is nearby, so when you have a guess worked out, you can just walk over and look. When finished, please make sure the dragon is off and the other switches are in the down position. On power up, you should see a pulsing eye.


Here is a picture of the new dragon during construction. The dragon is made of switches and wires and LEDs, and looking carefully, you can see that his heart is held in place by a toothpick! The tin is from Trader Joe's. The dragon is not one for fancy components.

I love the idea that you come across this mystery object without instructions, struggle with it, and get that great Aha moment. For more information see the Dragon Puzzle Design page has a video showing the operation of the dragon and the solution if you watch to the end. This is the new dragon which is smaller, but with the exact same charming personality as the original iron dragon.

On a related note there's JJ Abrams' neat Mystery Box TED Talk about how mysteries drive the plot in Star Wars, Lost, etc.

The 2017 dragon is optimized to be small and power efficient. The original dragon was quite handsome, but its large size made it hard to keep hidden - see the gallery. You should see a pulsing LED when it is switched on, or the battery may need replacement. As the battery gets low, the system still works but the LEDs get rather dim. It's an easily accessible CR2032 cell inside if you want to change it, or just mention in your log that the battery needs to be changed and I'm happy to do it. Only open the dragon up when needed, as he is not as tough as he looks!

Nearby is the mausoleum where Leland and Jane Stanford are buried. If you found a world-class university, it's only fair that your eternal rest is in something fancy!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[graduated hints:] [dragon 1:] fjvgpurf yrsg gb evtug ner bar gjb guerr sbhe [dragon 2:] fjvgpu bar, qvtvg bar, fjvgpu gjb, qvtvg gjb [dragon 3:] yrqf ner nyfb bar gjb guerr sbhe [dragon 4:] guerr naq sbhe vf frira [final:] fubhyqre uvtu

Decryption Key

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

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)