Post by Todd on Jul 27, 2016 8:21:20 GMT -5
Here’s what I have/what I still need on Issue 2. Help? Crossword solution: “The vault require one dozen codes, some numbers, others words or both. You have found the first already clues for following few in your possession. Keep looking; more can be located in all sorts of strange places.” I was confused on why the grammar seemed so “off” here. Also, I noticed there was one clue unused in the solution, the word “bill.” Am I missing something, or do I have what I need here?
Stick figure code: I got the following: eighT eighT eighT; threE fivE onE; threE fouR (though the “u” didn’t seem to actually be a “u” stick figure; I just made it a “four” from context); and twO siX (though the “x” appeared to be a “g” in the chart I was working from). I would have assumed these were vault codes, except that I saw some postings about this being a location code for something. I haven’t tried to go further because I’m confused on why some letters are capitalized and why some seem to be the wrong letter.
The photo code: they seem to be “La Pieta,” “String,” “bocce,” and “mother,” but I’m confused on what the captions have to do with it and what they have in common. Is “pita” instead of “pieta”? If it’s not the game, is it the case that they balls are in? does “not the stroller or its contents” equate to “mother”? And if so, how do I use all these together? If I come with a word, is it part of the vault code, or am I chasing something else?
I don’t know where to start with that pictogram thing on page 4.
So I’m partway there, but this issue is pretty much kicking my butt. Can anyone nudge me in the right direction?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
That's pretty much correct for the crossword. The grammar is a little odd in that one, I think in part because the answer for the unused clue is will, not bill, and it is meant to say "The Vault will require."
With regards to the Dancing Men, `the figures holding flags indicate the end of a word, not capitalization, so don't worry about that. As for what you do with them, think of them a means of contact.'
As for the pictogram on page 4, `it is from the Pulsar Project, which studied extraterrestrial life. It merely relates to one of the articles about UFOs, and has no other significance.'
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
thank you!! You are saving me a lot of energy barking up the wrong tree.
For the Dancing Men, if it's a phone number, 888-351-3426 comes up as Kinetic Consulting in Fremont, CA, a business communications firm. oh, well, it's a weekend evening, so I suppose I can call it and just see if it's game-related or a consulting firm. thanks!
Can you give me a nudge on the photo commonalities?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Okay, so clearly the phone number is part of the game. how creepy and exciting! I need to track all the occurrences of 'fox' and 'hound' in order and see what pattern there is.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
On the fox/hound thing, I got Fhh Fhh Fhh Fff Fh Hf Hff Fh Hf Hff Fff Hh Hhh Hfh F Hhh Fhf Hhf It doesn’t seem to line up with morse code (with fox/hound being code for dot/dash) because so many of the letters in that require more than three sounds, and I only heard series of 1, 2, or 3. I was thinking binary code, but when I fed it through a translator (letting fox be 0 and hound be 1,then reversing), nothing.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Your first hunch was correct. Maybe have another listen?
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
Often, one's first instincts are correct, no matter how morose. You are clearly caught in the web of intrigue.
Todd
Posted 5 months ago
Got it: www.sandandsmoke.org/ This website does not exist. You were never here. I think this gets referred to in a later crossword puzzle...
Do I need anything else from this issue, other than the photo commonality?
And THANK YOU again for helping me!
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Often times, if you find yourself in a mysterious location, going back to the source of things can be useful.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
Whoa. That was creepy! I think I'll have to watch it over again to catch all the names, but I believe those were some of the people who died at Petroglyph Park. This must be the OSS/SZ stuff.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I read in another thread that the solution to the 4 photos' commonality is bread. Is that right?
I went back to the video and pulled out the info that seems to be important: He's by the Huber River. He's been running and hiding for years and feels guilty. There was a trap laid for four people - himself, Patrick, Anthony, and Stephen. They knew it but had to go on. Patrick and Anthony were the "old guard." Patrick and Stephen went on ahead. the speaker's father gave him a fake ID to get away and told him to run; he did, and his father took his place. He is speaking to the Curator, whom he believes he failed.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
My dear Eva, thank you so much for posting some of this. I too am "playing catch-up" and it is nice to be able to verify some of my theories. Sorting through the older posts has been difficult. When I visited the place that does not exist I really started to appreciate what I had gotten into. I cannot verify that my current theory for the vault is accurate, but I'm hoping that the future will tell. As for the Images:
I haven't found anywhere that confirms this, but maybe just for lack of searching, but I do believe bread is correct. Here is my train of thought if you would be so kind as to ride it for a moment. The first image without the E is Pita (a type of Bread). The second image is not just string, but actually butchers or BAKER'S twine. The third image is of a Bocce Ball set. However, Bocce is Italian for Bowl (as in a bread bowl). The last is Mother. But mother is also the term for Pre-ferment, the starter used in making bread. So I think the thread you read was correct, but there's a bit more reasoning behind why. At least what I thought.
I myself have caught up on all the reading and have solved all of the crosswords, and most of the horoscopes I am now going back and using online images of the curiosities to muddle my way through the rest.
Glad to make you acquaintance.
Mr. Gallerani
Posted 5 months ago
So happy to meet you, as well, kind sir! It's challenging getting caught up after this many issues, but everyone here has been so kind.
I believe this wraps up what I need to know from Issue 2, as I have not been able to solve the bridge letter, but if the wiki is up to date, it may not be solved at all yet.
I'm going to post what I know/need from Issue 3; if you have a chance to look, will you help me out?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I'd be happy to. I have spent away the evening viewing a game of royal chairs, but I'll be quick to delve into it tomorrow evening.
Mr. Gallerani
Posted 5 months ago
Eva, I suggest you spend a bit more time on the Wiki, as the Bridge Letter has been solved. You must use the edited version, also on the wiki.
The Maestro
Posted 5 months ago
thank you! I'll dig in and see what I can find.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
So I reversed the text and then ran it through a vigenere decoder that allowed me to get the decoder's best guess based on text analysis, instead of having to have the keyword. I got a number of translations, many garbled, but looking over them, I think this is what I'm seeing: "Mention the word ballroom, I am in fact talking about cypher two. If I mention the word claw, I am in fact talking about cypher three. Tell others about the quarterly that the curator is putting out. I will hide clues in there. Keep your eyes open, I won't be this obvious next time. Welcome to the first step down the stairwell. See you at the bottom. A.M."
Have I got everything I need here? Am I good to go on this and focus on issue 3?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I used the text marked "actual bridge letter," but it's far shorter than the one marked "original bridge letter." I can get a translation for the "actual" clip, but I am not seeing anything when I plug in what appears to the usable portion of "original." How do I know which piece of text is the replacement/the correct piece to work with?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Eva- the "original bridge letter" is actually unsolvable, as the software that was used to encrypt it has been changed and no longer works with that text. When this was discovered, AM appeared briefly in the chatroom to give us the "actual bridge letter," which is both solvable and (apparently) extremely truncated. We do not know what further information was contained in the original, or why it was shortened so much, but our best guess is that, because there was nearly a year in between the finding of the original letter and the delivery of the actual letter, certain information was cut out because it was no longer applicable.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
thank you!!! just when I start to get frustrated and think I'm being obtuse, you or another kind soul pops in to reassure me and nudge me back on track.
On to issue 3!
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I was curious to know if anyone had found out what the actual Keyword was for the bridge letter.
I too ran it through a decryption site having it use what it thought was the code and was able to discern the message without the need of using the Caesar cipher.
Xeaden
Posted 4 months ago
Greetings to everyone,
I am also a newcomer to this process and am working my way through this volume. I would like to know how you solved the stick figures, as I haven't noticed a clue in regards of how to solve this puzzle. I have seen the solution posted here, but I would really like to know how you figured it out.
Many thanks!
Lush Fields
Posted 4 months ago
Xeaden,
The keyword is known. In fact, it was practically spelled out in stone on the original Bridge Letter. Your post does have me thinking that I need to do some cipher experimentation. Since a vigenere cipher is basically a series of Cesarean shifts, when a Cesarean shift is applied to a vigenere encoded message, can you save decoding time by shifting the key rather than the decoded message?
Todd
Posted 4 months ago
Lush Fields,
In this adventure, we should not be dancing about the issue, man. A sure lock has a steadfast key.
Todd
Posted 4 months ago
Todd,
Thank you so much for your assistance.
Lush Fields
Posted 4 months ago
Stick figure code: I got the following: eighT eighT eighT; threE fivE onE; threE fouR (though the “u” didn’t seem to actually be a “u” stick figure; I just made it a “four” from context); and twO siX (though the “x” appeared to be a “g” in the chart I was working from). I would have assumed these were vault codes, except that I saw some postings about this being a location code for something. I haven’t tried to go further because I’m confused on why some letters are capitalized and why some seem to be the wrong letter.
The photo code: they seem to be “La Pieta,” “String,” “bocce,” and “mother,” but I’m confused on what the captions have to do with it and what they have in common. Is “pita” instead of “pieta”? If it’s not the game, is it the case that they balls are in? does “not the stroller or its contents” equate to “mother”? And if so, how do I use all these together? If I come with a word, is it part of the vault code, or am I chasing something else?
I don’t know where to start with that pictogram thing on page 4.
So I’m partway there, but this issue is pretty much kicking my butt. Can anyone nudge me in the right direction?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
That's pretty much correct for the crossword. The grammar is a little odd in that one, I think in part because the answer for the unused clue is will, not bill, and it is meant to say "The Vault will require."
With regards to the Dancing Men, `the figures holding flags indicate the end of a word, not capitalization, so don't worry about that. As for what you do with them, think of them a means of contact.'
As for the pictogram on page 4, `it is from the Pulsar Project, which studied extraterrestrial life. It merely relates to one of the articles about UFOs, and has no other significance.'
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
thank you!! You are saving me a lot of energy barking up the wrong tree.
For the Dancing Men, if it's a phone number, 888-351-3426 comes up as Kinetic Consulting in Fremont, CA, a business communications firm. oh, well, it's a weekend evening, so I suppose I can call it and just see if it's game-related or a consulting firm. thanks!
Can you give me a nudge on the photo commonalities?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Okay, so clearly the phone number is part of the game. how creepy and exciting! I need to track all the occurrences of 'fox' and 'hound' in order and see what pattern there is.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
On the fox/hound thing, I got Fhh Fhh Fhh Fff Fh Hf Hff Fh Hf Hff Fff Hh Hhh Hfh F Hhh Fhf Hhf It doesn’t seem to line up with morse code (with fox/hound being code for dot/dash) because so many of the letters in that require more than three sounds, and I only heard series of 1, 2, or 3. I was thinking binary code, but when I fed it through a translator (letting fox be 0 and hound be 1,then reversing), nothing.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Your first hunch was correct. Maybe have another listen?
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
Often, one's first instincts are correct, no matter how morose. You are clearly caught in the web of intrigue.
Todd
Posted 5 months ago
Got it: www.sandandsmoke.org/ This website does not exist. You were never here. I think this gets referred to in a later crossword puzzle...
Do I need anything else from this issue, other than the photo commonality?
And THANK YOU again for helping me!
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Often times, if you find yourself in a mysterious location, going back to the source of things can be useful.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
Whoa. That was creepy! I think I'll have to watch it over again to catch all the names, but I believe those were some of the people who died at Petroglyph Park. This must be the OSS/SZ stuff.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I read in another thread that the solution to the 4 photos' commonality is bread. Is that right?
I went back to the video and pulled out the info that seems to be important: He's by the Huber River. He's been running and hiding for years and feels guilty. There was a trap laid for four people - himself, Patrick, Anthony, and Stephen. They knew it but had to go on. Patrick and Anthony were the "old guard." Patrick and Stephen went on ahead. the speaker's father gave him a fake ID to get away and told him to run; he did, and his father took his place. He is speaking to the Curator, whom he believes he failed.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
My dear Eva, thank you so much for posting some of this. I too am "playing catch-up" and it is nice to be able to verify some of my theories. Sorting through the older posts has been difficult. When I visited the place that does not exist I really started to appreciate what I had gotten into. I cannot verify that my current theory for the vault is accurate, but I'm hoping that the future will tell. As for the Images:
I haven't found anywhere that confirms this, but maybe just for lack of searching, but I do believe bread is correct. Here is my train of thought if you would be so kind as to ride it for a moment. The first image without the E is Pita (a type of Bread). The second image is not just string, but actually butchers or BAKER'S twine. The third image is of a Bocce Ball set. However, Bocce is Italian for Bowl (as in a bread bowl). The last is Mother. But mother is also the term for Pre-ferment, the starter used in making bread. So I think the thread you read was correct, but there's a bit more reasoning behind why. At least what I thought.
I myself have caught up on all the reading and have solved all of the crosswords, and most of the horoscopes I am now going back and using online images of the curiosities to muddle my way through the rest.
Glad to make you acquaintance.
Mr. Gallerani
Posted 5 months ago
So happy to meet you, as well, kind sir! It's challenging getting caught up after this many issues, but everyone here has been so kind.
I believe this wraps up what I need to know from Issue 2, as I have not been able to solve the bridge letter, but if the wiki is up to date, it may not be solved at all yet.
I'm going to post what I know/need from Issue 3; if you have a chance to look, will you help me out?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I'd be happy to. I have spent away the evening viewing a game of royal chairs, but I'll be quick to delve into it tomorrow evening.
Mr. Gallerani
Posted 5 months ago
Eva, I suggest you spend a bit more time on the Wiki, as the Bridge Letter has been solved. You must use the edited version, also on the wiki.
The Maestro
Posted 5 months ago
thank you! I'll dig in and see what I can find.
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
So I reversed the text and then ran it through a vigenere decoder that allowed me to get the decoder's best guess based on text analysis, instead of having to have the keyword. I got a number of translations, many garbled, but looking over them, I think this is what I'm seeing: "Mention the word ballroom, I am in fact talking about cypher two. If I mention the word claw, I am in fact talking about cypher three. Tell others about the quarterly that the curator is putting out. I will hide clues in there. Keep your eyes open, I won't be this obvious next time. Welcome to the first step down the stairwell. See you at the bottom. A.M."
Have I got everything I need here? Am I good to go on this and focus on issue 3?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I used the text marked "actual bridge letter," but it's far shorter than the one marked "original bridge letter." I can get a translation for the "actual" clip, but I am not seeing anything when I plug in what appears to the usable portion of "original." How do I know which piece of text is the replacement/the correct piece to work with?
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
Eva- the "original bridge letter" is actually unsolvable, as the software that was used to encrypt it has been changed and no longer works with that text. When this was discovered, AM appeared briefly in the chatroom to give us the "actual bridge letter," which is both solvable and (apparently) extremely truncated. We do not know what further information was contained in the original, or why it was shortened so much, but our best guess is that, because there was nearly a year in between the finding of the original letter and the delivery of the actual letter, certain information was cut out because it was no longer applicable.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 5 months ago
thank you!!! just when I start to get frustrated and think I'm being obtuse, you or another kind soul pops in to reassure me and nudge me back on track.
On to issue 3!
Eva
Posted 5 months ago
I was curious to know if anyone had found out what the actual Keyword was for the bridge letter.
I too ran it through a decryption site having it use what it thought was the code and was able to discern the message without the need of using the Caesar cipher.
Xeaden
Posted 4 months ago
Greetings to everyone,
I am also a newcomer to this process and am working my way through this volume. I would like to know how you solved the stick figures, as I haven't noticed a clue in regards of how to solve this puzzle. I have seen the solution posted here, but I would really like to know how you figured it out.
Many thanks!
Lush Fields
Posted 4 months ago
Xeaden,
The keyword is known. In fact, it was practically spelled out in stone on the original Bridge Letter. Your post does have me thinking that I need to do some cipher experimentation. Since a vigenere cipher is basically a series of Cesarean shifts, when a Cesarean shift is applied to a vigenere encoded message, can you save decoding time by shifting the key rather than the decoded message?
Todd
Posted 4 months ago
Lush Fields,
In this adventure, we should not be dancing about the issue, man. A sure lock has a steadfast key.
Todd
Posted 4 months ago
Todd,
Thank you so much for your assistance.
Lush Fields
Posted 4 months ago