Remember, if you haven't used our clues pages yet, check out the instructions here to learn how they work and how to best utilize them.
Hint 1
What's another name for a cardinal?
Hint 2
'Cardinalidae' should do the trick.
Hint 3
Punctuation is key.
Hint 4
The answer might be at your very fingertips.
Solution
Final Solution: Using the layout of a standard American keyboard you can transpose the symbols into numbers and then the numbers into letters.
The plaintext reads: "You will find three in Minsk."
Hint 1
A little research will be needed here.
Hint 2
You sort of know what you're looking for... and when. What shapes are these?
Solution
Final Solution: Searching for three "eggs" and using the years they're labelled with should lead you to the missing faberge eggs. Specifically, the "Hen with sapphire pendant," "mauve," and "Alexander III Commemorative" eggs.
Hint 1
If you don't know what city you're in, then you're not ready yet.
Hint 2
Geographic features can help you narrow the search. And have you translated the word yet?
Hint 3
It's Russian for 'library.'
Solution
Final Solution: Knowing that you're in Minsk, you should be able to locate the region featured in the map. The Russian word translates to 'library' and the only library located at the red dot on the map is Vol'naya Dumka.
Hint 1
Your stamps will assist you with this.
Hint 2
Follow the pattern of the nesting dolls.
Hint 3
Large. Medium. Small.
Hint 4
Outer. Inner. Central.
Solution
Final Solution: Using the way the sizing of the nesting dolls, you need to extract two letters from each line. For the top line, the outer two letters. Then the second and fourth on the middle line. And the center letters on the bottom line.
The plaintext reads: Find a janitor named Dimitri.