That "Planet Thing"

  The Second Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou went well.  Due to a turn in the weather, one group had to cancel but other than that, I do believe that I can call this one a success.  Fun times were had by all who attended and by me as well!  These clue hunts are not your average, run-of-the-mill, easy-peasy clue hunts.  These make the players think and sometimes even with a lot of thought, things are not clear.  Folks have to understand that it is not just my brain challenging them. Elizabeth and Michael have taken a bit of delight in "stumping" people. They both can come up with the most bizarre traps to ever be laid before folks.  This is what makes the hunt fun.  It IS a challenge.

  I must admit that I was involved in one section that totally confused my guests.  One of the props spelled out the word "orrery"  (which, by the way, even "spell-check" on the computer insists is not a word).  To find the next clue, the players needed to know just what in the world an orrery is...most did not.  A dictionary came in handy for much of the hunt.  For those of you who do not know and do not wish to scurry about to your internet dictionary site, an orrery is a model of the solar system. There!  I just gave you a hint to the clue hunt!  Anyway, I had no access to a model of the solar system so, being a tad creative, I made one.  Since the theme of the hunt was "Steampunk Poe" (Edgar Allan Poe), my orrery needed to be kept within that thinking. My orrery was for display only so did not need to actually move.  Marbles became planets, a wooden ball lent itself to be a sun and an old clock innards became the stand, hence, the steampunk part.  It was interesting to say the least.

  Like I said, MOST of the guests had no clue what the word meant.  It is not every day that one walks around talking of an orrery.  Then came the time when one group got to the prop and spelled their word. ORRERY..."Hey!  That is a planet thing!" one young man exclaimed. Wow!  I was impressed that this kid knew what the word meant.  I was beginning to think the group would breeze through this part until he started out the door.  Huh?  Yep, he was going stargazing.  Ok, time for a redirection of thoughts here.  I asked them if they had not observed anything inside that might be similar to what he was thinking.  After much discussion, another of the group did remember and they dashed off to solve the next clue.  That Planet Thing served its purpose and the clue was rendered but only after another round of thought and much discussion.  Somehow this fine creation led them to a pirate.  Yep, lets make them think!  It is good for the brain!