Cryptoquip Answer for 01/20/2026

CVTB WSESMKTID NHEXIS….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)

TODAY’S CLUE: F = P

Image source: Wikipedia

ANSWER: WHAT LEGENDARY FIGURE WOULD LEAD A PACK OF RATS TO A SUCCULENT, FLAKY DESSERT? THE PIE PIPER.

Pied Piper

A legendary figure from European folklore

Overview

The Pied Piper is a folkloric figure best known from the town of Hamelin, Germany. He is remembered for using music to lure rats away from the town—and later, its children—after being denied promised payment.

Origins

The legend dates back to the Middle Ages, with references appearing as early as the 13th century. It may be rooted in a real historical event involving migration, disease, or disaster.

The Piper

Dressed in colorful clothing and carrying a pipe or flute, the Piper represents both charm and danger. His music holds irresistible power over those who hear it.

The Broken Promise

After the Piper removes the rats, the townspeople refuse to pay him. This betrayal sets the stage for the story’s darker turn and lasting moral lesson.

The Children

In the most famous version, the Piper leads the town’s children away with his music. Their fate varies by telling, ranging from disappearance to entrapment beyond return.

Meaning & Legacy

The Pied Piper endures as a warning about broken promises, civic responsibility, and the consequences of dishonesty. It has inspired poems, operas, and countless retellings.

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