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  1. I am the biggest one!
  2. Someone uses my horn as medicine
  3. I was slaughtered for my skin.
  4. My heart is my King.
  5. I am dotted.

What would be no. 5's grateful answer after facing a ban?

Hint 1:

The big five faces The Ban under The Moon!

Hint 2:

No. 1 would say: "Spasiba"

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  • $\begingroup$ Normally, I'd ignore it, but in a puzzle, each word can be significant. $\endgroup$
    – Chris Cudmore
    Mar 22, 2016 at 14:56
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    $\begingroup$ @Chris Cudmore I know, and appreciate any comments:-) $\endgroup$
    – Enigma
    Mar 22, 2016 at 14:57
  • $\begingroup$ @Enigma: Is this related to the sanctions against Russia (facing a ban) because of Eastern-Ukraine? $\endgroup$
    – Gamow
    Mar 27, 2016 at 18:49
  • $\begingroup$ @Gamow I just added a hint $\endgroup$
    – Enigma
    Mar 28, 2016 at 8:26

2 Answers 2

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The first layer of this enigmatic puzzle is centered around

the big five African game animals, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_five_game

  1. I am the biggest one!

    The African elephant

  2. Someone use my horn as medicine

    The Rhinoceros

  3. I was slaughtered for my skin.

    The African buffalo

  4. My heart is my King.

    The African lion (alluding at King Richard Lionheart)

  5. I am dotted.

    The African leopard

In the second layer of the puzzle, the big five are

the big five Nations of the United Nations Security Council

  1. I am the biggest one!

    The biggest country is Russia

  2. Someone uses my horn as medicine

    Chinese medicine is well-known for using Rhinoceros horns

  3. I was slaughtered for my skin.

    In the USA, buffalos were slaughtered in the 19th century.

  4. My heart is my King.

    The UK is the only kingdom among these five nations.

  5. I am dotted.

    This leaves France as the fifth nation.
    (Perhaps dotted, because of the French trémas and accents.)

Facing a ban refers to

Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations

What would be no. 5's grateful answer after facing a ban?

France's grateful answer to Ban Ki-Moon will of course be "Merci".

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  • 3
    $\begingroup$ South Africa is a dead end. $\endgroup$
    – Enigma
    Mar 22, 2016 at 15:36
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    $\begingroup$ Egyptian mythology? Ra is dotted, Anubis weighs the heart and is associated with the pharaoh's burial, Isis is a healer with cow's horns. $\endgroup$
    – Hugh Meyers
    Mar 22, 2016 at 16:29
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    $\begingroup$ Biggest countries in Africa, maybe? By population, that'd be Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, the DRC, and South Africa; by area, Algeria, the DRC, Sudan, Libya, and Chad. $\endgroup$
    – DylanSp
    Mar 22, 2016 at 16:47
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    $\begingroup$ If it wasn't specifically a grateful answer, I would guess the leopard said "But I'm not a cheetah!" after being banned for foul play $\endgroup$
    – Suppen
    Mar 22, 2016 at 21:48
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    $\begingroup$ @Gamow "facing a ban" is an enigmatic twist... $\endgroup$
    – Enigma
    Mar 23, 2016 at 10:23
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Not quite there yet ...

1 I am the biggest one!

Asia, the largest continent

2 Someone uses my horn as medicine

Africa, with the horn of Africa being referred to

3 I was slaughtered for my skin.

America, with the "red skins" slaughtered

4 My heart is my King.

Europe, where the title of King was, and still is sometimes, prevalent

5 I am dotted.

Oceania, with its many islands

So

They face ban ki-moon (united nations leader) ? But what would oceania say if grateful for the UN?

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  • $\begingroup$ You are getting closer... $\endgroup$
    – Enigma
    Mar 28, 2016 at 8:53
  • $\begingroup$ Mmmmm .... Something about climate change? A word or sentence in one of the languages from Oceania? $\endgroup$
    – fffred
    Mar 28, 2016 at 12:38
  • $\begingroup$ Please add some reasoning behind the clues $\endgroup$
    – Enigma
    Mar 28, 2016 at 12:49
  • $\begingroup$ I did add some explanations in my answer, for each of the five clues. But I bet that's not what you're talking about ... $\endgroup$
    – fffred
    Mar 28, 2016 at 16:48
  • $\begingroup$ The reasoning is good, you only missed on who is the big five. You need to combine two layers to get it right... $\endgroup$
    – Enigma
    Mar 28, 2016 at 16:55

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