Gift Giver - Revision history

Peregrine at 17:10, 13 June 2026

2026-06-13T17:10:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:10, 13 June 2026
Line 76:		Line 76:
	'''See you next year.'''		'''See you next year.'''

	''Analysis:'' These correspond to the [[~~Generally~~ Accepted Cities\|~~generally~~ accepted cities]] (with two exceptions), and as such might be interpreted as confirmation of those casque locations. Naples, Florida is where the Cleveland casque currently resides, and Louisville, Kentucky is generally believed to be the location of the Tribute casque.		''Analysis:'' These correspond to the [[Commonly Accepted Cities\|commonly accepted cities]] (with two exceptions), and as such might be interpreted as confirmation of those casque locations. Naples, Florida is where the Cleveland casque currently resides, and Louisville, Kentucky is generally believed to be the location of the Tribute casque.

	== Gift Giver post #3 ==		== Gift Giver post #3 ==

Burnstyle: /* Gift Giver post #6 */

2025-12-16T03:50:42Z

Gift Giver post #6

Burnstyle: /* Gift Giver post #6 */

2025-12-16T03:48:40Z

Gift Giver post #6

Burnstyle at 03:46, 16 December 2025

2025-12-16T03:46:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 15 December 2025
Line 197:		Line 197:

	(San Francisco) '''And a hotel in a rose tree.''' This seems to allude to the Fairmont Hotel logo in the painting’s rose stem.		(San Francisco) '''And a hotel in a rose tree.''' This seems to allude to the Fairmont Hotel logo in the painting’s rose stem.


			== Gift Giver post #6 ==
			[[File:Screenshot from 2025-12-15 22-43-28.png\|right\|477x477px\|Caption]]
			The sixth Gift Giver post was posted on Dec. 15th, 2025 and is as follows:

			Merry Christmas everyone.
			Think back to the start of the recent Cleveland event. You could tell John Palencar wasn't exactly thrilled to be there. Given his history with hunters over the years, his hesitation was understandable.
			But by the end of the day? Total transformation. He was joking with everyone in the autograph line, taking selfies, and hugging hunters. At the end he said Byron would have been proud of the community the Secret has formed.
			Something changed his opinion. He started interacting. He started trusting. Then, he started making his work available to this community.
			Why?
			Putting his paintings and drawings up for sale may seem like a simple cash grab to some, but John has never done that. He has never made his work publicly available. Much less to a specific community.
			Let’s debunk the "cash grab" theory right now: If it were about money, he would have targeted the Eragon fanbase, which is infinitely larger than this one. But he’s been keeping this within The Secret community.
			Why? I think it's trust and respect. I think he was testing the waters so to speak, for something else to come.
			I wonder, if an artist wanted to help a community how would he do it? He might have tried words. But words can be confused. Maybe he could try to do it with art? Something he knows. Something he has experience with.
			How could he best help?
			If he were to release art related to a solved city, he wouldn't just be posting a drawing; he would be giving you a Rosetta Stone. He'd be showing you the answers to a test you've already finished so you can identify his technique. Then he could post drawings for the unsolved cities, and you would know what to look for and how best to use them.
			Would he post new drawings related to the cities? Would they be old studies from the '80s? Who knows? Maybe he would make a series of these, one to help with each of the cities.
			Just maybe.
			Stay tuned.
			P.S. The personal painting which was incorporated into The Secret was not Milwaukee. It was San Francisco. And it was changed dramatically. Looks like the podcast guys finally got something wrong about that one. It was the first started, and one of the last finished for that reason. Milwaukee and Montreal followed, which is why they do not have many visual clues.

Burnstyle: added links to posts

2025-12-15T21:08:44Z

added links to posts

Peregrine: /* Gift Giver post #5 */

2025-12-10T16:56:00Z

Gift Giver post #5

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:56, 10 December 2025
Line 194:		Line 194:
	'''3:''' (Roanoke) '''Has a typo.'''		'''3:''' (Roanoke) '''Has a typo.'''

	'''2: ('''Charleston) '''Play with the wings.'''		'''2: ('''Charleston) '''Play with the wings.''' The commonly-accepted image pairing for Charleston (image 6) features a woman with butterfly-type wings.

	(San Francisco) '''And a hotel in a rose tree.''' This seems to allude to the Fairmont Hotel logo in the ~~paintings~~ rose stem.		(San Francisco) '''And a hotel in a rose tree.''' This seems to allude to the Fairmont Hotel logo in the painting’s rose stem.

Peregrine at 16:51, 10 December 2025

2025-12-10T16:51:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:51, 10 December 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:

	The Gift Giver is an anonymous Facebook account that occasionally posts hints or "nudges" related to [[The Secret (treasure hunt)]]. According to [[George Ward]], the account was created in 2021 after two of the hunt’s creators expressed a desire to release hints on an annual basis. Ward reports that two creators agreed to share a single anonymous Facebook login so they could post as needed; one of them made the account’s first post the following day.<ref>George Ward, personal communication.</ref>		The Gift Giver is an anonymous Facebook account that occasionally posts hints or "nudges" related to [[The Secret (treasure hunt)]]. According to [[User:Burnstyle\|George Ward]], the account was created in 2021 after two of the hunt’s creators expressed a desire to release hints on an annual basis. Ward reports that two creators agreed to share a single anonymous Facebook login so they could post as needed; one of them made the account’s first post the following day.<ref>George Ward, personal communication.</ref>

	== Gift Giver Post #1 ==		== Gift Giver Post #1 ==

Peregrine at 05:55, 10 December 2025

2025-12-10T05:55:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:55, 10 December 2025
Line 76:		Line 76:
	'''See you next year.'''		'''See you next year.'''

	''Analysis:'' These correspond to the generally accepted cities (with two exceptions), and as such might be interpreted as confirmation of those casque locations. Naples, Florida is where the Cleveland casque currently resides, and Louisville, Kentucky is generally believed to be the location of the Tribute casque.		''Analysis:'' These correspond to the [[Generally Accepted Cities\|generally accepted cities]] (with two exceptions), and as such might be interpreted as confirmation of those casque locations. Naples, Florida is where the Cleveland casque currently resides, and Louisville, Kentucky is generally believed to be the location of the Tribute casque.

	== Gift Giver post #3 ==		== Gift Giver post #3 ==

Peregrine: /* Gift Giver post #4 */

2025-12-10T03:18:42Z

Gift Giver post #4

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:18, 9 December 2025
Line 96:		Line 96:


	The fourth Gift Giver post was posted on Dec 23 2023. The text ~~was clearly~~ run through ChatGPT~~. This was done~~ to hide the distinct writing style of the author. The post reads as follows:		The fourth Gift Giver post was posted on Dec 23 2023. The text bears strong indications of having been run through ChatGPT or other AI text program, likely to hide the distinct writing style of the author. The post reads as follows:

	[[File:GiftGiver4.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]		[[File:GiftGiver4.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]

Peregrine: /* Gift Giver post #5 */

2025-12-10T03:17:14Z

Gift Giver post #5

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:17, 9 December 2025
Line 170:		Line 170:


	It ~~is important~~ to ~~note~~ that the numbering of these hints appears to correspond with the numbering of the paintings.		''Analysis:'' It appears to be noteworthy that the numbering of these hints appears to correspond with the numbering of the paintings.

	Below is a breakdown of each number to its location, with any notes that may be needed for clarification.		Below is a breakdown of each number to its location, with any notes that may be needed for clarification.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:50, 15 December 2025
Line 203:		Line 203:
	The sixth Gift Giver post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/4465564153730015</ref> was posted on Dec. 15th, 2025 and is as follows:		The sixth Gift Giver post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/4465564153730015</ref> was posted on Dec. 15th, 2025 and is as follows:

	Merry Christmas everyone.		'''Merry Christmas everyone.'''

	Think back to the start of the recent Cleveland event. You could tell John Palencar wasn't exactly thrilled to be there. Given his history with hunters over the years, his hesitation was understandable.		'''Think back to the start of the recent Cleveland event. You could tell John Palencar wasn't exactly thrilled to be there. Given his history with hunters over the years, his hesitation was understandable.'''

	But by the end of the day? Total transformation. He was joking with everyone in the autograph line, taking selfies, and hugging hunters. At the end he said Byron would have been proud of the community the Secret has formed.		'''But by the end of the day? Total transformation. He was joking with everyone in the autograph line, taking selfies, and hugging hunters. At the end he said Byron would have been proud of the community the Secret has formed.'''

	Something changed his opinion. He started interacting. He started trusting. Then, he started making his work available to this community.		'''Something changed his opinion. He started interacting. He started trusting. Then, he started making his work available to this community.'''

	Why?		'''Why?'''

	Putting his paintings and drawings up for sale may seem like a simple cash grab to some, but John has never done that. He has never made his work publicly available. Much less to a specific community.		'''Putting his paintings and drawings up for sale may seem like a simple cash grab to some, but John has never done that. He has never made his work publicly available. Much less to a specific community.'''

	Let’s debunk the "cash grab" theory right now: If it were about money, he would have targeted the Eragon fanbase, which is infinitely larger than this one. But he’s been keeping this within The Secret community.		'''Let’s debunk the "cash grab" theory right now: If it were about money, he would have targeted the Eragon fanbase, which is infinitely larger than this one. But he’s been keeping this within The Secret community.'''

	Why? I think it's trust and respect. I think he was testing the waters so to speak, for something else to come.		'''Why? I think it's trust and respect. I think he was testing the waters so to speak, for something else to come.'''

	I wonder, if an artist wanted to help a community how would he do it? He might have tried words. But words can be confused. Maybe he could try to do it with art? Something he knows. Something he has experience with.		'''I wonder, if an artist wanted to help a community how would he do it? He might have tried words. But words can be confused. Maybe he could try to do it with art? Something he knows. Something he has experience with.'''

	How could he best help?		'''How could he best help?'''

	If he were to release art related to a solved city, he wouldn't just be posting a drawing; he would be giving you a Rosetta Stone. He'd be showing you the answers to a test you've already finished so you can identify his technique. Then he could post drawings for the unsolved cities, and you would know what to look for and how best to use them.		'''If he were to release art related to a solved city, he wouldn't just be posting a drawing; he would be giving you a Rosetta Stone. He'd be showing you the answers to a test you've already finished so you can identify his technique. Then he could post drawings for the unsolved cities, and you would know what to look for and how best to use them.'''

	Would he post new drawings related to the cities? Would they be old studies from the '80s? Who knows? Maybe he would make a series of these, one to help with each of the cities.		'''Would he post new drawings related to the cities? Would they be old studies from the '80s? Who knows? Maybe he would make a series of these, one to help with each of the cities.'''

	Just maybe.		'''Just maybe.'''

	Stay tuned.		'''Stay tuned.'''

	P.S. The personal painting which was incorporated into The Secret was not Milwaukee. It was San Francisco. And it was changed dramatically. Looks like the podcast guys finally got something wrong about that one. It was the first started, and one of the last finished for that reason. Milwaukee and Montreal followed, which is why they do not have many visual clues.		'''P.S. The personal painting which was incorporated into The Secret was not Milwaukee. It was San Francisco. And it was changed dramatically. Looks like the podcast guys finally got something wrong about that one. It was the first started, and one of the last finished for that reason. Milwaukee and Montreal followed, which is why they do not have many visual clues.'''

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:48, 15 December 2025
Line 201:		Line 201:
	== Gift Giver post #6 ==		== Gift Giver post #6 ==
	[[File:Screenshot from 2025-12-15 22-43-28.png\|right\|477x477px\|Caption]]		[[File:Screenshot from 2025-12-15 22-43-28.png\|right\|477x477px\|Caption]]
	The sixth Gift Giver post was posted on Dec. 15th, 2025 and is as follows:		The sixth Gift Giver post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/4465564153730015</ref> was posted on Dec. 15th, 2025 and is as follows:

	Merry Christmas everyone.		Merry Christmas everyone.

	Think back to the start of the recent Cleveland event. You could tell John Palencar wasn't exactly thrilled to be there. Given his history with hunters over the years, his hesitation was understandable.		Think back to the start of the recent Cleveland event. You could tell John Palencar wasn't exactly thrilled to be there. Given his history with hunters over the years, his hesitation was understandable.

	But by the end of the day? Total transformation. He was joking with everyone in the autograph line, taking selfies, and hugging hunters. At the end he said Byron would have been proud of the community the Secret has formed.		But by the end of the day? Total transformation. He was joking with everyone in the autograph line, taking selfies, and hugging hunters. At the end he said Byron would have been proud of the community the Secret has formed.

	Something changed his opinion. He started interacting. He started trusting. Then, he started making his work available to this community.		Something changed his opinion. He started interacting. He started trusting. Then, he started making his work available to this community.

	Why?		Why?

	Putting his paintings and drawings up for sale may seem like a simple cash grab to some, but John has never done that. He has never made his work publicly available. Much less to a specific community.		Putting his paintings and drawings up for sale may seem like a simple cash grab to some, but John has never done that. He has never made his work publicly available. Much less to a specific community.

	Let’s debunk the "cash grab" theory right now: If it were about money, he would have targeted the Eragon fanbase, which is infinitely larger than this one. But he’s been keeping this within The Secret community.		Let’s debunk the "cash grab" theory right now: If it were about money, he would have targeted the Eragon fanbase, which is infinitely larger than this one. But he’s been keeping this within The Secret community.

	Why? I think it's trust and respect. I think he was testing the waters so to speak, for something else to come.		Why? I think it's trust and respect. I think he was testing the waters so to speak, for something else to come.

	I wonder, if an artist wanted to help a community how would he do it? He might have tried words. But words can be confused. Maybe he could try to do it with art? Something he knows. Something he has experience with.		I wonder, if an artist wanted to help a community how would he do it? He might have tried words. But words can be confused. Maybe he could try to do it with art? Something he knows. Something he has experience with.

	How could he best help?		How could he best help?

	If he were to release art related to a solved city, he wouldn't just be posting a drawing; he would be giving you a Rosetta Stone. He'd be showing you the answers to a test you've already finished so you can identify his technique. Then he could post drawings for the unsolved cities, and you would know what to look for and how best to use them.		If he were to release art related to a solved city, he wouldn't just be posting a drawing; he would be giving you a Rosetta Stone. He'd be showing you the answers to a test you've already finished so you can identify his technique. Then he could post drawings for the unsolved cities, and you would know what to look for and how best to use them.

	Would he post new drawings related to the cities? Would they be old studies from the '80s? Who knows? Maybe he would make a series of these, one to help with each of the cities.		Would he post new drawings related to the cities? Would they be old studies from the '80s? Who knows? Maybe he would make a series of these, one to help with each of the cities.

	Just maybe.		Just maybe.

	Stay tuned.		Stay tuned.

	P.S. The personal painting which was incorporated into The Secret was not Milwaukee. It was San Francisco. And it was changed dramatically. Looks like the podcast guys finally got something wrong about that one. It was the first started, and one of the last finished for that reason. Milwaukee and Montreal followed, which is why they do not have many visual clues.		P.S. The personal painting which was incorporated into The Secret was not Milwaukee. It was San Francisco. And it was changed dramatically. Looks like the podcast guys finally got something wrong about that one. It was the first started, and one of the last finished for that reason. Milwaukee and Montreal followed, which is why they do not have many visual clues.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:08, 15 December 2025
Line 7:		Line 7:


	The first ~~nudge~~ was posted December 21, 2021, and read as follows:		The first Gift Giver post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/3218592121760564/</ref> was posted December 21, 2021, and read as follows:

	'''The Secret's official nudge of 2021.'''		'''The Secret's official nudge of 2021.'''
Line 42:		Line 42:

	[[File:GiftGiver2.png\|400px\|right\|Caption]]		[[File:GiftGiver2.png\|400px\|right\|Caption]]
	The second post was made at the same time Ward was conducting an interview during The Impossible Meetup. This was likely done to show searchers that Ward was not in control of the account.		The second post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/3422689871350787/</ref> was made at the same time Ward was conducting an interview during The Impossible Meetup. This was likely done to show searchers that Ward was not in control of the account.

	It was posted Sept. 10, 2022, and reads as follows:		It was posted Sept. 10, 2022, and reads as follows:
Line 81:		Line 81:

	[[File:GiftGiver3.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]		[[File:GiftGiver3.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]
	The third Gift Giver post was posted on Dec 25th 2022 and reads as follows:		The third Gift Giver post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/3523292127957227/</ref> was posted on Dec 25th 2022 and reads as follows:

	'''In order for an artist to get a message across the art must have a subject as well as other elements which give that subject context.'''		'''In order for an artist to get a message across the art must have a subject as well as other elements which give that subject context.'''
Line 96:		Line 96:


	The fourth Gift Giver post was posted on Dec 23 2023. The text bears strong indications of having been run through ChatGPT or other AI text program, likely to hide the distinct writing style of the author. The post reads as follows:		The fourth Gift Giver post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/3785825835037187/</ref> was posted on Dec 23 2023. The text bears strong indications of having been run through ChatGPT or other AI text program, likely to hide the distinct writing style of the author. The post reads as follows:

	[[File:GiftGiver4.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]		[[File:GiftGiver4.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]
Line 136:		Line 136:
	[[File:GiftGiver5.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]		[[File:GiftGiver5.png\|400px\|Caption\|right]]

	The fifth Gift Giver post was posted on Dec 13 2024. The text’s format is an allusion to the Christmas carol ''The Twelve Days of Christmas''. The post reads as follows:		The fifth Gift Giver post<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesecrettreasures/posts/4086401031646331/</ref> was posted on Dec 13 2024. The text’s format is an allusion to the Christmas carol ''The Twelve Days of Christmas''. The post reads as follows:

	'''on the 12th day of Advicemas my true love gave to me:'''		'''on the 12th day of Advicemas my true love gave to me:'''