The Xi Solution
1. Whom Tolls? A bell is what tolls and the Star pattern makes it obvious that it is Belle Starr
2. The stone head figure is a depiction of Jesse James found only on the sign that is located at the entrance to the park/trail/cave.
3. In "OUrrwest" on the Manga Scroll, the Oklahoma University reference gives a decent state indicator. Note that it was left out on the Evan Scroll, changed. Possibly thought to be too revealing of a clue on the Manga.
4. I took that the extra "r" on the one more revealing scroll and the slightly hidden "c" on both scrolls to be an indication of the initals for the location: Robber's Cave
5. The park associated with both Jesse James and Belle Starr is of course Robbers Cave State Park in southeastern Oklahoma near Wilburton, famous for being one of their hideouts.
6. *West First Maker immediately reminded me of a trail marker. Because there are many different types of markers for trails, it was obvious that something on the scroll needed to resemble a marker of some sorts. There were many symbols on the scrolls but none more important than the double blue dots. (Double dots, blazes, stars or other markings usually mean a change of direction on a trail however, to my discovery there was a trail that was made entirely of Blue Dots. On the Evan scroll the most revealing thing is the double dot necklace that has an accurate color to when I first visited the site. Ironically, the darker pen-colored dots on the page (probably simply not depicted correctly from the printer) are now closer to the color of the real trail dots that have been repainted in the last 6 months. This may be coincidence but there is the slight possibility that this is by design as trails are generally maintained by volunteer groups. Jason or someone in his crew could quite possibly have been on one of those trail crews as to paint the markings as they set up for another go at the Xi Hunt. This is a slim chance but, given the proximity of Jason's relocation to Texas which is not all that far of a straight shot up to this park, it could be possible.)
7. The best clue, and the one that really puts the nail in the fact that this is the correct location, is the COARSE GULCH PATH swirl lines that represent ROUGH CANYON TRAIL. The blue dot trail IS the ROUGH CANYON TRAIL here at the park. You cannot find this out unless you visit or make a call to the park ranger asking this as a very specific question. The internet did me no use in trying to assertain this, I simply had to guess that it was there and the one and call to find out. Once there I was blown away.
8. It is almost a mile back in the woods from the parking area here to get from single blue dot trail to the Rough Canyon Trail double dot trail (note that there are also red and yellow dot trails in this system as well). The double dot trail heads off the single dot trail heading WEST right at the Rough Canyon Trail sign a mile out.
9. There are quite a lot of rocks here. You can rule out most of them simply by Scrollquest's very own rules which state that the coin will NOT be buried and will be visible from some angle. It will also not be hidden anywhere dangerous "such as underwater, on ledges (note this in the area if you should visit), mountain tops or in caves." There is however, a rock right next to the first marker that looks remarkably like one of the Olmec glyphs. It was flat on top and had a man-made arrangement of smaller rocks set atop of it. It also was lightly cover by debris, most likely by mother nature and placed sediment. (It was a very interesting find.)
10. Most of the trees do not support the side-wedge coin hide principle described as how they hid it in the GA hunt. Along this trail the most prominent other way it could be done is to break their own rule and bury it. So, that leaves the exposed or semi exposed rocks, signs and the few trees that would support such a hide.
11. The trail of double blue dots only goes about half a mile. Part of that corridor is steep and goes over a swift stream crossing. Both of these issues eliminate the possibility of the coin being on that part of the double dot trail because of the rules. (So, even if it wasn’t placed near or at the "first marker" you can search the entire trail, following the standards that they have set, and do it with relative ease, that is, if you go in the winter because in the spring and summer, this trail is absolutely FULL off spiders and their enormous sticky webs.)
12. http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4765/xiiihqjl2.jpg My Identity Puzzle here. Remember, PM the REAL me with how you came up with who I am. I apologize for anyone that gets PM'd or accused/honored as the result of a wrong solution or guess. (this is why we shouldn’t be guessing now ;*) )
13. There are a bunch of other notes, perceived clues and such that I have but this collection will pretty much give you the solves reasoning and how it was approached. If you do not believe the coin to be gone and do believe in this application of a solve, please go there and have a great time but, take good hiking boots, bug spray, sunscreen, appropriate clothes and a stick to knock down the trail of webs if you go in the warmer months.
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']14. [/FONT]See other posts on [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']In Honor of National Puzzle Day, which is always January 29th – go ahead, look it up[/FONT]
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Originally Posted by Domino
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