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I once met a family, well actually only the kids, quite a strange bunch. They said Dad was a busy man, so they were often alone. I asked about Mom, and they just shrugged their shoulders and shook their heads.

I got a chance to have a brief word with them each, at least most of them, pretty interesting kids.

The conversations I had:

  • "Hi, I'm Patrick, they say I'm the eldest but no one knows who really is." (I noticed a drop of blood on his arm so I asked what happened). "Oh my stupid brother Fred pricked me with his dumb yellow pin he wears... and by the way don't listen to a word Luke says, he's a dunce". (He turned to leave immediately, and I noticed some foil in his back pocket with the wording -va slightly visible)

  • "Hey, Fredrick here. What's hangin'?" (I almost didn't reply, I couldn't help but notice he was staring intently at my watch). I asked if he needed to know the time. "Nah nah, (he started to leave) by the way, our brother Bobby is dead, so you ain't gunna meet him." (And then he left, he still had that pin on, so you could see the little red shine from Patrick's blood).

  • (Curious about the one who passed, I decided to bring it up to the next kid). I asked Dan what happened to their brother Bobby. "It was bad... whole body ripped apart. They say it may have been some sort of wolf or wild animal... My sister Susan actually blamed me, can you believe that? I loved Bobby, just hated that he always got the attention for being the big guy, our protective brother..." (As he left I couldn't help but think about how unfortunate that is... and why did his sister blame him?)

  • "The name's Luke, sorry about my other siblings. If you've got a question just ask me, I'm the smart one. But, don't listen to them when they tell you I'm the worst." I asked why they said that and he avoided the question, instead informing me that, "Oh our sister Gale doesn't feel like talking to you". And he walked away, not so helpful after all. (I glanced over at Gale and noticed a light blue ribbon in her hair, but she looked away when we made eye contact).

  • The last one I talked to was the girl named Susan. "Hey there. (She spoke soft, and was seemingly analyzing me, as if there was something she wanted to figure out about me)". I asked why she blamed Dan for the death of their brother but she dismissed that saying, "They're not important to me right now", as if they recently upset her. It seemed she gave me one last look-over before also walking back, not sure what that was about.

  • As a last attempt to uncover some info about Bobby I called over to them and asked what he was like. I only got a muttering of words from Patrick. I picked up a couple things like "An-" and "Frus-".

I was very confused by this group of siblings; I almost wanted to call for services to get them some help for them but by the time I looked down at my phone and back up again, the not-so-normal group was gone.

Who are these kids?

Hint 1:

First of all, emphasis is important.

Hint 2:

Did Dan say wolf with some excitement, or was I hearing things?

Hint 3:

The way that Bobby died seemed pretty important, but why?

Hint 4:

Colorfully hidden details, yet right in front of you.

Hint 5:

God I, could go for some candy right about now.

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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I have a tingling feeling inside that this is somehow related to physics or chemistry. Or maybe I'm just hungry $\endgroup$
    – Marius
    Feb 28, 2017 at 14:00
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    $\begingroup$ I can't do much about you being hungry but I can nudge you away from the train of thought if you'd like ;) $\endgroup$
    – n_plum
    Feb 28, 2017 at 14:12
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    $\begingroup$ Should this have the "knowledge" tag on it? $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan
    Mar 1, 2017 at 0:16
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    $\begingroup$ If it depends on whatcha know, the knowledge tag is almost certainly appropriate. $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan
    Mar 1, 2017 at 2:42
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Though I have not read or watched Game of Thrones, I suspect that this puzzle is about the seven kingdoms/houses shown in GoT. $\endgroup$
    – rvd
    Mar 1, 2017 at 8:01

3 Answers 3

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+50
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The kids are

the Seven Deadly Sins

Patrick is

Gluttony (candy bar in pocket)

Fredrick is

Greed (yellow pin, stares intently at watch)

Dan is

Envy (hates that Bobby always got attention)

Bobby is

Wrath ("An-"ger, "Frus-"tration)

Luke is

Pride (smart one, just ask me)

Gale is

Sloth (light-blue ribbon, doesn't feel like talking)

Susan is

Lust (analyzing me, last look-over)

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    $\begingroup$ @GarethMcCaughan Being unrelated to Christianity, it wouldn't have been possible for many(at least me) to guess what was going on, without any context or the sin thing. $\endgroup$
    – Techidiot
    Mar 2, 2017 at 13:18
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    $\begingroup$ Hence the "knowledge" tag, which is certainly very appropriate. $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan
    Mar 2, 2017 at 13:23
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    $\begingroup$ Aha. There's a traditional association between deadly sins and (1) animals and (2) colours. The first letters of the animals match the first letters of the children. $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan
    Mar 2, 2017 at 13:25
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    $\begingroup$ LION = PRIDE = Luke, DOG = ENVY = Dan, BEAR = ANGER = Bobby, GOAT = SLOTH = Gale, FROG = GREED = Fredrick, PIG = GLUTTONY = Patrick, SNAKE = LUST = Susan, $\endgroup$
    – Techidiot
    Mar 2, 2017 at 13:34
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    $\begingroup$ I had also considered the Deadly Sins, but didn't think the descriptions really fitted. Especially, why is Bobby dead? The fact that he has died made me think about sets of coins where one is no longer in circulation and similar sets where one of seven is "dead". $\endgroup$
    – M Oehm
    Mar 2, 2017 at 14:14
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Not complete.

Hint 1:

"First of all, emphasis is important."
What words are emphasised?

strange interesting
The conversations I had:
Patrick Fred Luke
Fredrick Bobby Patrick
Dan Bobby Susan Bobby
Luke Gale Gale
Susan Dan
Bobby Patrick
not-so-normal
Who are these kids?

The italics would suggest anagrams?

Hint 2:

No idea.

Hint 3:

No idea.

Hint 4:

Colourfully hidden details
Patrick - red blood
Fred - yellow pin
Gale - light blue ribbon

Hint 5:

God I, plus the -va from Patrick's pocket, plus the candy hint = Godiva, as in Godiva chocolate.

Thoughts:

Hot
"I noticed some foil in his back pocket with the wording -va slightly visible)"
Does this mean it ended in "va"?
If it's candy, the only thing I can find that it might be is Godiva chocolate.

Cold
yellow pin, as in "yellow pin fish"?
are they countries? Bobby being a big country who got split into smaller countries?

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  • $\begingroup$ Let me know if you want any sort of response to things you "figure out" or think you have $\endgroup$
    – n_plum
    Mar 2, 2017 at 0:16
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    $\begingroup$ "Hot" "cold" welcome! I'm pretty stumped. Mostly just noodling to see if anyone jumps in to brainstorm. $\endgroup$
    – Donnelle
    Mar 2, 2017 at 0:18
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    $\begingroup$ I am all for the brainstorming! I am kinda proud of this one, but I'm aware it's hard. For hint 1, other than listing emphasized things, you're kinda cold. For hint 4, warm and cold, think beyond just color. Also I'll just be blunt and say the 'red shine' is for flavor, it's irrelevant. $\endgroup$
    – n_plum
    Mar 2, 2017 at 0:21
  • $\begingroup$ For your thoughts so far: first bit is hot, rest is cold $\endgroup$
    – n_plum
    Mar 2, 2017 at 0:24
0
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Let me just collate what we know about the children so far.

There are seven of them:

Patrick, who is possibly the oldest, and (as @Donnelle found) he has a Godiva chocolate bar in his back pocket.
Fredrick, who pricked Patrick with his yellow pin, and seems to have an interest in watches or time.
Bobby, who was the "protector" of the children and probably the largest physically, but was torn apart by a wolf and killed.
Dan, who seems to have an interest in wolves.
Susan, who is soft-spoken and analytical, and apparently blames Dan for Bobby's death.
Luke, who believes himself to be smart, but whom Patrick believes is an idiot.
Gale, who wears a light blue ribbon and doesn't want to talk to us.

I'll throw out some actual ideas shortly, but hopefully putting everything in one place will make it easier for someone to spot the links or something.

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