This weekend, I had a chance to work on the first artifact for the Black Letter Game, a series by the makers of the Game that delivers, over the course of several months, five real-life, puzzle-containing objects to your door, each tied into a larger story and plotline.

I wasn’t sure if I should reveal anything about the artifact since mostly the internet has been keeping mum about it and its contents, but I did just find that it’s publicly available for viewing for those who are willing to search for it. Thus, I don’t feel bad in saying that the box first contained what appeared to be a simple transaction receipt.

Closer inspection revealed, of course, that it contained five lovely, challenging puzzles, three of which were solved after about four or five hours working on it on Saturday morning (and much of the heavy lifting had been done before we arrived).

Of the two remaining, one is pending confirmation, and the other is still nearly impenetrable. The game documentation states that each puzzle has a month-long window to solve it, and I don’t think it’s going to take that long, but the not-knowing is actually pretty fun.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to do any serious puzzling, much less anything in a group, and as I’ve been in need of some mental stretching lately, it’s come at a really good time. I have that same old sense of excitement and need-to-know-right-now tightness in the pit of my stomach, and I’m glad to welcome it back.