Say you need to change a light bulb, but to do that you need to get a ladder, but to get the ladder you need to get into the tool shed, but to get into the tool shed you need to find the key, etc. This kind of quest where you are being presented a new task at each step before you can even start the previous one. I feel sure there's a phrase that represents this but I can't remember it.

Edit:
I think I'm thinking of a story where an adventurer is seeking an object A, so they ask person 1, who is willing to give it but only if they receive object B. So the adventurer goes to person 2, who will only give up object B for object C, etc.