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< Previous Door Next Door >

There’s a holiday party happening at the North Pole. Each reindeer comes carrying a present. But like their game last year, they’ve agreed to follow a rule. They chat at the door:

  • “Got some books! I think that counts for me.”
  • “Sorry, but I just brought myself.”
  • “Picked out my favorite movie. I love balloons, and it has a bunch.”
  • “I snagged this little article that the elves might be interested in (more so than Santa, at least).”
  • “Just swiped a bit of this from that old fireplace no one uses.”
  • “What I've got is really going to get things started!”
  • “I thought of using that article too, but I realized I could get a spread.”
  • “Hey, I bring the party with me, that should be enough.”

The last reindeer sighs once everyone else is through, then turns and walks away, muttering “Because of that stupid rule, I don’t have a gift.”

Who wasn’t able to find an acceptable present, and why?

Thank you @Stiv for playtesting!

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The rule the reindeer have to follow this year is

They must bring a present that's a part of their name!!

So the reindeer who bought the presents:

- “Got some books! I think that counts for me.” = LIT, BLITZEN (As in 'literature')
- “Sorry, but I just brought myself.” = ME, COMET
- “Picked out my favorite movie. I love balloons, and it has a bunch.” = UP, CUPID
- “I snagged this little article that the elves might be interested in (more so than Santa, at least).” = AN, DANCER (Elves would like this article more as 'elf' begins with a vowel!)
- “Just swiped a bit of this from that old fireplace no one uses.” = ASH, DASHER
- “What I've got is really going to get things started!” = ON, DONNER
- “I thought of using that article too, but I realized I could get a spread.” = RAN, PRANCER (they could have also done the same as Dancer and used 'AN')
- “Hey, I bring the party with me, that should be enough.” = DO, RUDOLPH

So the reindeer that couldn't bring a present is...

Vixen, as they have nothing in their name that could be a gift!!

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    $\begingroup$ Correct, of course. A last note is that this mechanism was hinted at by reveal spoiler"carrying a present" (in the cryptic-clue sense of "carrying"). $\endgroup$ Commented yesterday
  • $\begingroup$ Why is "- “Hey, I bring the party with me, that should be enough.” intepreted as so? I am confused about this connection, it suits more to Donner than Rudolph... $\endgroup$ Commented yesterday
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    $\begingroup$ @Cheshire_the_Maomao it's a British-y definition; noun (1) def 3a in MW. $\endgroup$ Commented yesterday
  • $\begingroup$ Ha, thanks, that is perfect then $\endgroup$ Commented yesterday

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