cipher - Cryptic Chain #1

Each cryptic clue yields the keyword to the next, terminating in a message to you, gentle puzzler. With the exception of the first, which requires a little lateral thinking, all the clues are standard cryptic fare. The only prerequisite is knowledge of simple ciphers.

1. 
   

   A nut for Caesar’s tiger

   
   


2. 
   

   Pb rpctg ml mbmln' snxgst nl tfmpr agld

   
   


3. 
   

   Oj tnavf stjbju fh frhuqflc tn sfv aflbjux!

   
   



4. 
   

   Nabjmwaq?

   
   


5. 
   

   Adshn lond rmg bcsmcnb hnf

   
   


6. 
   

   Lmtdn gs jmlb oqg ndmur omttgqy

   
   


7. 
   
   

   Jkn rdanjokuj rny, qrsn rejck jrdaqa okjt, weh hpas wsyb nkirdaqas

   
   


8. 
   

   Ediaj dss lr diturd fsrfcet

   
   


9. 
   

   E nbpc mpkbp mc n pmkgqgld bppmp

   
   


10. 
    

    S rpsa jekt ck spguluq acii epcqb, pesp pskaeg

    
    
    

Jfb dfqq em pt. Rml’tw sq tdtfkd.

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Hint:

Mind the gap

Answer

Clue 1

Solved by M Oehm.

Clue 2

Solved by Levieux.

Clue 3

As found by Levieux, the decrypted version is

Place vital fluid is during active influx

which is a cryptic clue for

VEIN (the place where blood [vital fluid] is, and found in "active influx").

Clue 4

Decrypt "Nabjmwaq?" using the key found in Clue 3 to get

Deflower?

Thanks to Will, the solution to this is

DAM - a dam is a de-flow-er because it prevents flow.

Clue 5

Decrypt "Adshn lond rmg bcsmcnb hnf" using the key found in Clue 4 to get

Basin mona rch descend ing or Basin monarch descending.

The solution to this is

SINKING - basin+monarch becomes sink+king, and descending = sinking.

Clue 6

Decrypt "Lmtdn gs jmlb oqg ndmur omttgqy" using the key found in Clue 5 to get

Notic ea mong pre cious pottery or Notice among precious pottery.

The solution for this is

SPOT (synonym of notice, found in "precious pottery").

Clue 7

Decrypt "Jkn rdanjokuj rny, qrsn rejck jrdaqa okjt, weh hpas wsyb nkirdaqas" using the key found in Clue 6 to get:

Nor therncoun try, star tingo nthese cond, wil lbea wayf romthesea or Northern country, starting on the second, will be away from the sea.

The solution is

INLAND (Finland is a northern country; start from the second letter to get a word meaning "away from the sea").

Clue 8

Decrypt "Ediaj dss lr diturd fsrfcet" using the key found in Clue 7 to get

Headl ess cr eature isright or Headless creature is right.

The solution is

EAST (creature = beast, remove the first letter to get east, which is to the right on a map).

Clue 9

Decrypt "E nbpc mpkbp mc n pmkgqgld bppmp" using the key found in Clue 8 to get

A perf ormer of p romising error or A performer of promising error.

The solution for this is

SINGER (a performer, and found in "promising error").

Clue 10

Decrypt "S rpsa jekt ck spguluq acii epcqb, pesp pskaeg" using the key found in Clue 9 to get

A frag ment in arduous gibb erish, rear ranged or A fragment in arduous gibberish, rearranged.

The solution is

SHARD (a fragment, and found in the rearranged "gibberish arduous).

FINAL ANSWER

Decrypting "Jfb dfqq em pt. Rml’tw sq tdtfkd." with the key found in Clue 10 gives:

Lif eiss ho rt. Don’tw as tetime. or Life is short. Don't waste time.

Ironic, given how much time I've just wasted solving this puzzle! :-P