Boxes within Boxes - a Puzzle for International Play Day ‘23

# Oh! Hi there, friend. All the secrets are hidden in the "international_play_day_2023_hidden_box" 
# dependency. Please don't go snopping around the source of that dependency - it would spoil the fun :)

Mix.install([
  {:international_play_day_2023_hidden_box,
   git: "https://github.com/ErikMejerHansen/international_play_day_2023_hidden_box.git"}
])

{:ok, pid} = BoxesWithinBoxes.start_link()

hint = fn -> BoxesWithinBoxes.hint(pid) end
unlock = fn arg -> BoxesWithinBoxes.unlock(pid, arg) end

:ok

Before We Begin

⛔️ Make sure you’ve run the “Notebook dependencies and setup” block above ⛔️

(Just hover the cursor above it and click the “Setup” button)

A Beginning

A wheezed old jester sits cross legged with a large box in his lap. As you and your friends approach a wry smile crosses his wrinkled face.

“Welcome” he says with a voice that surprises you with the youthfullness of its timbre.

“I’m ever so happy to see you. Do sit down.”

He gestures to the pillows spread on the floor across from him. He starts speaking again as he gestures to the box in his lap: “I have a gift for you. Meager and predicable as it is – a gift none the less”.

“Alas, I cannot just give it to you. Where would the fun be in that?”

A sense of slight uneasiness settles over you as his eyes twinkle with mirth. Whatever it is you have you gotten yourself into you’re not quite sure what to expect next.

“My box is locked and requires a key. Within it is another box, requiring yet another key. And so forth until the prize is finally yours. But not to worry, I’m not expecting you to just conjure up a key. At least not without a hint…”

💡 Instructions: Your job is to unlock the box.

> Below is an Elixir block - you can run code in it to solve the first puzzle. > In it you have access to two functions: > > hint (called like so: hint.()) will give you a hint on how to unlock the box. > unlock/1 (called like so: unlock.(...)) takes one argument. Using the hints you have been given it is your job call it with the argument that you think will unlock the lock. > You can try as many times as you would like. > > If you’re successful the function will return :unlocked and you can proceed to the next section. > > You not limited to only using code to interpret the hints - you may use whatever means you deem nessesary.

# Get the first hint
hint.()

Another Box

You hand the old jester the key you’ve created. He inserts into the lock, turns it and you are rewarded with a satisfying “click”. “Well done my friends. Let’s see what his box holds. Ah! Another box”.

The jester extracts a new box from the one just unlocked.

“Another box – another riddle”

hint.()

An Unsurprising Turn of Events

“Well, this isn’t much of a surprise! It’s another box – I do wonder how long this nesting will go on for.”

The Jester pulls out new slightly smaller box – this time made of a semi-opaque material not quite hiding its contents but merely obscure it.

hint.()

With a Little Help

“Take that lesson to heart! Mere obscurity does not secrets keep”

The Jester pulls out the next box. It’s looking a bit for worse for wear.

“Alas! This lock seems jammed. I think you’ll need to call a friend for help, but who to call I wonder? I’ll offer you a hint, though it might not be in the midium you expect…”

hint.()

And Finally

“Well done! I do reckon this is the last of my little boxes and with it one final hint”

The Jester reaches into his jacket once more and pulls out a slip of paper. On it is written:

I once Turned down buying a Small Apple. you see i prefer Pears. all the merchant said was Not Good

hint.()