Post by Todd on Jul 27, 2016 8:30:25 GMT -5
Looks like the next issue is getting ready to ship! Everyone ready for mysteries, conspiracies, and other sundry puzzles?
As usual, let's try to keep the bulk of the related questions and related topics under this heading, so we can keep track of info, and so newcomers have an easier time catching up later.
Happy Sleuthing!
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 4 months ago
Oho! What delights! What marvels! The latest issue has arrived at my doorstep, and is brimful of mysterious goings-on. Time to avail myself of Bernard's skills, and settle in for some solving...
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
In a most frustrating turn of events, the crossword grid and the crossword clues do not correspond to each other at all. There are hints for spaces that aren't there, spaces that don't have hints, and places where the only possible answer is either too short or too long for the spaces provided. Is this itself some sort of bizarre puzzle, or just the result of a colossal mishap at the printer's?
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
Ah, Bardess, I share in your confusion. Having just received my latest issue I find myself pondering the puzzles I thought I once knew and wondering if perhaps the powers that be, felt we were becoming too complacent...
Nova
Posted 3 months ago
It is anything to do with the circled letters in the word search? I am also curious if the smudge in the word search is a mistake on my copy or a clue of some kind?
Cedrada
Posted 3 months ago
Interesting, Cedrada! I also have a smudged letter R in my wordsearch, but wasn't sure if that was a slight smudging of the ink, or something more intentional. Good to have some corroboration there, at least. Heck of a lot going on in this issue!
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
I can confirm a smudge on the same letter in my copy.
Black Cavalier
Posted 3 months ago
The crossword still deciphers easily enough without the grid... just approach it with a mindfulness for messages. There are implications of fathers, word searches, and a place that does not exist.
Mark "The Gottler" Gottlesby
Posted 3 months ago
Mr. Gottlesby,
Do you know how to redact text? It keeps spoilers from unsuspecting eyes.
Todd
Posted 3 months ago
I am also confused about the crossword puzzle. Is there a definitive answer as the whether or not it is a printing error?
Boneduster
Posted 3 months ago
My Mysterious Package arrived to the Emerald City this afternoon. I shall begin tomorrow around teatime. The same printing peculiarities as described above can be observed in my own copy. I don't yet know what to make of the curious new look and font of the newspaper title.
Mena Morningstar
Posted 3 months ago
Greetings from a fellow resident of the Emerald City, Ms. Morningstar! (Admittedly, I do not reside in the Emerald City proper--perhaps I should have said "the Emerald City metropolitan area.") I was wondering if you received both "The Cabaret Veritable" and "The Circular Egg Maker" in the same mailing, as I did. Since I just received the first issue of volume 2, I doubt I'll be of any immediate assistance to you (issue 1 alone looks full of intrigue, to say the least). However, should you ever desire to discuss any topics of a mysterious or package-related nature with someone local, please do contact me at ladybombasine@gmail.com. I should love to hear from you at any time, as I feel it would be an asset to make the acquaintance of a local fellow servant of the Curator.
Interestingly, I didn't receive any of the ephemera most others received with their copies of "The Cabaret Veritable." In addition to both the first and second issues of volume 2 of the quarterly, my envelope contained the following items:
1) A calling card from The Curator (in the best possible taste, of course)
2) A "Nearly Instant Maypole Kit" with the materials to make a tiny maypole
3) A rather spicy page-long love letter addressed to "My Dearest" and signed "Anna." It is hand-written in red calligraphy on stationary embossed with a crown.
4) A small scrap of paper written in the same hand and in the same ink as the letter. It reads "I have him," though it looks as if it were part of a longer message. (I can just see the end of the previous sentence.) It also has a strange symbol on it (it resembles a letter "S" superimposed on a letter "Z" with a few small embellishments.)
Did anyone else receive any or all of these items? I was quite surprised when I found that I hadn't received any of the items most people received with "The Cabaret Veritable." The calling card and miniature maypole seem to fit with "The Circular Egg Maker," but I am uncertain what to make of the letter and the scrap of paper and wanted to check to see if others received them as well.
Very truly yours,
Lady Bombasine
Posted 3 months ago
Lady Bombasine,
All of the items you mentioned are accompaniments to "The Circular Egg Maker," and were received by all subscribers to that issue. Unfortunately, the artifacts are one-time deals, and so past artifacts are not included when one receives a catch-up kit or back issue, which is why you did not receive the artifacts connected with "The Cabaret Veritable."
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
So here is a new series of questions: In this issue, the New York Socialite column covers the auction of a racy letter from 1969. Now, we know from previous issues that 1969 was a momentous and terrible year for the OSS, as they lost at least three of their members in the Petroglyphs Park accident. I, for one, can construct a few very plausible ideas about how this letter, presumably like the included curio, could have led to that tragedy.
But there are a few odd bits that stick out: Firstly, the names do not match. The letter is signed "Anna", while the letter in the auction was supposedly written by a Duchesse Sofia. Also, the article states that the letter had odd doodles in the margins, which mine, at least, is lacking.
The Bardess and I were discussing it, and I like her theory that it could have been another letter between the two lovers, not necessarily the one in the article.
Any thoughts on this one?
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
Ah, thank you, Bardess. I couldn't remember whether I had managed to subscribe by the deadline for the first issue (apparently, I failed to do so) and I wanted to be certain that I knew which issue the artifacts I received were associated with. I am absolutely astonished that all of the artifacts I received are associated with a single issue--the amazing craftsmanship and hard work that went into them is truly impressive.
Chelsea, you make excellent points regarding the letter from Anna and its possible relationship to the letter described in the New York Socialite column. I agree that they're unlikely to be one and the same for the reasons you state. In addition, "Duchesse" is by definition a French title and the letter is written in English. Of course, it is possible that a French noblewomen would write an entire love letter in English, but it does seem unlikely, particularly since the letter contains nothing even hinting at French idiomatic speech.
A few thoughts I had when reading the letter from Anna: Although I think that it's unlikely that Anna and Duchesse Sofia are one and the same, Anna's letter is on letterhead marked with a crown, so perhaps there is some connection to royalty of some kind, or even Duchesse Sofia herself. Also, your use of the phrase "odd doodle" immediately brought to mind the scrap of paper with the symbol that looked like a hybrid of a letter "Z" and a letter "S." ("S" for "Sophia," perhaps?) Any other theories or thoughts?
Very truly yours,
Lady Bombasine
Posted 3 months ago
Lady Bombasine,
Have you yet familiarized yourself with the saga of the OSS and their nefarious counterparts, the Society of Zosimos? If not, I would suggest reviewing the narrative that spans the 'New York Socialite' articles, as that may provide you with more context for the mysterious SZ sigil.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
Thanks once again for your assistance in pointing me in the right direction, Bardess. (Do you prefer "Eleanor" or "Bardess?" The editor in me balks at using a definite article with a proper noun in that context, but if you preference is to be called "The Bardess" at all times, I would be happy to do so.)
I shall add the matter of the OSS and the extremely dastardly-sounding Society of Zosimos to the alarmingly long (and rapidly growing) list of MPC topics I need to look into. I've read the New York Socialite columns, of course, but it's clear that there's much more to be discovered. In fact, now that I think about it, I seem to recall that a video or image of some kind was discovered with the SZ symbol in it, but I can't remember the context. All the fragments of the mysteries and riddles I have yet to explore in detail seem to blur together at times, but the scrap of paper with the SZ symbol on it seems to indicate that the saga you mention is currently relevant, so I will put it at the top of my list. Thanks again!
Despite being on the wrong track in terms of the symbol, I do still wonder if the crown stationary Anna's letter is written on is meant to indicate some sort of connection to Duchesse Sofia. Also, even if the crown is not indicative of such a connection, it's really the only identifying mark on the document itself, so it feels as though it must be important in some way. If nothing else, it shows that whatever the crown signifies, Anna felt comfortable with her lover knowing that information, since presumably she could have written the letter on a blank sheet of paper.
I could be totally wrong, of course, and I hope posting my musings is okay given my relative inexperience, having only joined this august association in April and having only read C&C volume 1 in catch-up form. I appreciate everyone's help, and hope that if anyone needs mine for any reason that they will contact me via email at ladybombasine at gmail dot com.
Very truly yours,
Lady Bombasine
Posted 3 months ago
Musings are the only way we ever get anywhere! winks
It's curious that the Curator, or someone on his behalf, picked up the Sofia letter at auction, when the copy of the letter that we all received seems to implicate Anna in some nefarious underhanded dealings when it came to the OSS.
This may be another stab in the dark, but the crown appears to be a royal one, which would explain the level of potential scandal involved. Might not be relevant, but again, it might be.
I find that the Word Search, in particular, is vexing me most soundly. Has anyone had an epiphany regarding that particularly nefarious puzzle?
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
No epiphany here unfortunately, but my better half noticed that all the circled letters could be musical notes. I have yet to find how to proceed with that information or how the shaded R would fit in with that theory.
JandJ
Posted 3 months ago
Interesting to mention the musical notes. In the radio broadcast there was a musical tone which could also be plotted using spectrograph. Not being musical myself I wonder if the notes on the spectrograph match the "notes" in the crossword. In which case perhaps a musical cryptogram is in play.
Nova
Posted 3 months ago
greetings all. I am new to C&C I practised on my back issue before diving into issue two. So far I have completed the word search but am now stumped as to the circled and smudged letters I tried playing it as a musical phrase but I don't recognise the tune. As for the crossword I am utterly stumped as to how it fits together
Gemma Beacock
Posted 3 months ago
Regarding the crossword for those stumped. you can solve it by ignoring the grid. It does mean that you will not get the hint of letter count, or certain letter placement, but if you stick with it, you will succeed.
Mr. Gallerani
Posted 3 months ago
The best way to tackle the crossword is to ignore the grid and simply start solving the clues without it. It also helps to start putting the words in order almost right away, as answers to particular clues can often be gathered by looking at their context in the secret message.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
thank you Bardess and Mr Gallerani , I had begun to decipher the crossword in the manner you suggested and I believe I have a fair portion of the answers in order now. I hope to continue my sluthing once the small person is abed.
Gemma Beacock
Posted 3 months ago
Greetings fellow seekers! While I am unsure as to it's general appeal, I nonetheless offer - for the edification of any interested parties - a document wherin the crossword numbering has been modified to match the grid.
Margrave
Posted 3 months ago
Margrave,
I have been tinkering with this very thing. Have you been successful in making the clues fit the grid add printed?
Todd
Posted 3 months ago
Todd,
Your tinkering will ultimately yield fruit if you press on and if your answers are correct. I suggest you start with the longer words and then, given a modicum of patience, you should find that the others fall into place. Please let me know if you would like any hints regarding placement.
Margrave
Posted 3 months ago
Success. It confirms that I was right in my thinking, but with some incorrect words sprinkled about.
Unfortunately, the instructions either yield no results or are more cryptic than they appear.
Todd
Posted 3 months ago
I believe I have most of the crossword figured out but am missing two answers. Could perhaps someone offer a clue to 17A and/or 13A?
JandJ
Posted 3 months ago
Greetings again JandJ! It appears as though you are going at it in earnest, as they say. Regarding your minor impediments, 17A - consider a specific boardgame and 13A - I'm not sure that 'spoiler' was as appropriate a clue as perhaps 'revelation'? If you search the comments above, there is mention of this answer. I sincerely hope that this helps.
Margrave
Posted 3 months ago
This issue has proven rather more intractable than previous ones, I must say.
I've solved the picture puzzle (at least to my own satisfaction, as there appears to be no way to test my theory as yet); I've solved the Mini Head Scratcher, and two-thirds of Riddle Me These -- though if they have any value beyond entertainment, I am unable to say.
I've finished the Word Search, inasmuch as locating all of the words, but have been unable to discern any further meaning, and have completed enough of the Crossword to derive its instructions, but said instructions do not appear to engender any particular results.
And as for Samuel F.B. is missing, I haven't a clue apart from the surname -- the marks don't resolve under the obvious scheme.
Has anyone gotten any further? A nudge or two in the right direction would be most appreciated.
Incidentally, I am also still at sea regarding a few things from previous issues: I know where four travellers met, but don't see what that information gets me, I have a reference to "he who betrayed us", but no guesses as to who that might have been have worked, and I have a username and a password, but no site in which to input them. Any insight to those topics would also be most welcome.
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Mr. Rifflesby,
The Samuel F. B. is Missing puzzle is solved. The fact that he is missing is an indication that it cannot be his code. Do you know of any other code that uses only two symbols? Pay particular attention to the first four symbols and you're on your way.
Are you sure you found a reference to HE who betrayed us?
Do you ever come to the chat room? People have a perplexing habit of using a different name there than here and so I don't always know. The chatroom allows us to brainstorm interactively on current conundrums.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
My thanks, Todd. I have only my ears and clumsy handling of audio manipulation software to blame, I suppose. And the other code, cracked by a colleague of mine, amusingly confirms what was already clear.
However, this leads to a new problem: these two clues combine to form a fairly explicit instruction of the same nature as the solution to this issue's crossword -- and yet, none of my inputs (including alternate spellings or changes in formatting) produce any results in either case.
Does the site that does not exist finally live up to its claim? Or is there something else I am missing?
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Welcome to the wonderful state of being caught up. You are currently puzzling the same imponderables as the rest of us.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
It may be too late for this to be of help or interest to anyone, but the smudged letter in my word search is a U, not an R. It's the sixth line down and 12th from the left. There's an R to it's right.
I think I'm almost caught up. There are still one or two puzzles which are confounding me, but I hope they will become clear in the future.
Thecircled letters in the word search, for example. They appear to be musical notes which appear almost familiar when I play them on the piano. This could be wishful thinking but could a count disguised as a woman have anything to do with that which perplexes us?
The Templar Bard
Posted about 1 month ago
The Templar Bard,
After comparisons of several people's issues, the smudges on the wordsearch appear to be a printing anomaly, most likely caused by ink transfer from the color image on the opposite page. As always, I do not wish to discourage investigation of this possibility, but it does not appear to be intentional to me.
As for the circled letters, the possibility of musical notes has been a favored option, but due to the fact that we lack information about the duration of the notes, and an indication of whether we rise or fall to the next pitch, so far the tune has eluded identification. Perhaps you have a specific piece in kind?
There has been discussion regarding Anna being a man, but this is based on speculation at best. Have you more information?
I would like to again encourage people to use the chat room, where we can discuss theories and solutions more freely than here. Instructions to access the chat room can be found on the home page of the wiki, at curios-and-conundrums.wikia.com/wiki/Curios_and_Conundrums_Wiki.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
While filing a last few details into my scrapbook for this issue, I noticed that in the wiki's photograph of the Curator's calling-card, the lower-right corner of the card appears to be slightly bent -- but then again, it may just be a trick of the lighting in that photograph. Can anyone in possession of the physical card confirm or deny this, as it would be pertinent information per the associated article?
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Good afternoon, Mr. Rifflesby.
It is just a shadow. Not bent.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
Much obliged!
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Not being possessed of much skill in music (bit of a tin ear, to be frank), I took the liberty of requesting outside assistance at a site known as "Ask Metafilter". A reader there has suggested that the letters CEDFEGEGE -- that is, the circled letters within found words, form the Largo Movement of Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, aka New World Symphony. This was also used for a song called "Goin' Home", which is a concept referred to in the center margin cipher in Issue 2-1.
Does that help us at all?
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
I don't see that sequence of notes in the piece you suggest. www.music-for-music-teachers.com/largo.html.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
I've also had little luck with the musical note theory. A search at musipedia.org led to Scarlatti's "The Good Humoured Ladies which is a tale about a count who disguises himself as a woman at a carnival but I suspect this may just show that the way I play the notes shows an affinity to Scarlatti.
The Templar Bard
Posted about 1 month ago
I have a piano score for the Scarlatti ballet in question, but haven't yet taken the opportunity to review for this sequence of notes.
I'd be surprised to find it there, though, as it is really just a series of major thirds, moving up the first four degrees of the major scale, followed an arpeggiated C major chord.
This is something that a singer or musician might use as a warm up.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
To correct myself, only C to E is a major third, D to F and E to G are minor thirds.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
My first instinct was that it was a chord progression rather than individual notes. Alas, while I play guitar, piano, various flutes, harmonica and, in extreme emergencies, the squeeze box, I do not read music. I must admit, for the first time I am finding that distinctly frustrating.
The Templar Bard
Posted about 1 month ago
As usual, let's try to keep the bulk of the related questions and related topics under this heading, so we can keep track of info, and so newcomers have an easier time catching up later.
Happy Sleuthing!
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 4 months ago
Oho! What delights! What marvels! The latest issue has arrived at my doorstep, and is brimful of mysterious goings-on. Time to avail myself of Bernard's skills, and settle in for some solving...
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
In a most frustrating turn of events, the crossword grid and the crossword clues do not correspond to each other at all. There are hints for spaces that aren't there, spaces that don't have hints, and places where the only possible answer is either too short or too long for the spaces provided. Is this itself some sort of bizarre puzzle, or just the result of a colossal mishap at the printer's?
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
Ah, Bardess, I share in your confusion. Having just received my latest issue I find myself pondering the puzzles I thought I once knew and wondering if perhaps the powers that be, felt we were becoming too complacent...
Nova
Posted 3 months ago
It is anything to do with the circled letters in the word search? I am also curious if the smudge in the word search is a mistake on my copy or a clue of some kind?
Cedrada
Posted 3 months ago
Interesting, Cedrada! I also have a smudged letter R in my wordsearch, but wasn't sure if that was a slight smudging of the ink, or something more intentional. Good to have some corroboration there, at least. Heck of a lot going on in this issue!
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
I can confirm a smudge on the same letter in my copy.
Black Cavalier
Posted 3 months ago
The crossword still deciphers easily enough without the grid... just approach it with a mindfulness for messages. There are implications of fathers, word searches, and a place that does not exist.
Mark "The Gottler" Gottlesby
Posted 3 months ago
Mr. Gottlesby,
Do you know how to redact text? It keeps spoilers from unsuspecting eyes.
Todd
Posted 3 months ago
I am also confused about the crossword puzzle. Is there a definitive answer as the whether or not it is a printing error?
Boneduster
Posted 3 months ago
My Mysterious Package arrived to the Emerald City this afternoon. I shall begin tomorrow around teatime. The same printing peculiarities as described above can be observed in my own copy. I don't yet know what to make of the curious new look and font of the newspaper title.
Mena Morningstar
Posted 3 months ago
Greetings from a fellow resident of the Emerald City, Ms. Morningstar! (Admittedly, I do not reside in the Emerald City proper--perhaps I should have said "the Emerald City metropolitan area.") I was wondering if you received both "The Cabaret Veritable" and "The Circular Egg Maker" in the same mailing, as I did. Since I just received the first issue of volume 2, I doubt I'll be of any immediate assistance to you (issue 1 alone looks full of intrigue, to say the least). However, should you ever desire to discuss any topics of a mysterious or package-related nature with someone local, please do contact me at ladybombasine@gmail.com. I should love to hear from you at any time, as I feel it would be an asset to make the acquaintance of a local fellow servant of the Curator.
Interestingly, I didn't receive any of the ephemera most others received with their copies of "The Cabaret Veritable." In addition to both the first and second issues of volume 2 of the quarterly, my envelope contained the following items:
1) A calling card from The Curator (in the best possible taste, of course)
2) A "Nearly Instant Maypole Kit" with the materials to make a tiny maypole
3) A rather spicy page-long love letter addressed to "My Dearest" and signed "Anna." It is hand-written in red calligraphy on stationary embossed with a crown.
4) A small scrap of paper written in the same hand and in the same ink as the letter. It reads "I have him," though it looks as if it were part of a longer message. (I can just see the end of the previous sentence.) It also has a strange symbol on it (it resembles a letter "S" superimposed on a letter "Z" with a few small embellishments.)
Did anyone else receive any or all of these items? I was quite surprised when I found that I hadn't received any of the items most people received with "The Cabaret Veritable." The calling card and miniature maypole seem to fit with "The Circular Egg Maker," but I am uncertain what to make of the letter and the scrap of paper and wanted to check to see if others received them as well.
Very truly yours,
Lady Bombasine
Posted 3 months ago
Lady Bombasine,
All of the items you mentioned are accompaniments to "The Circular Egg Maker," and were received by all subscribers to that issue. Unfortunately, the artifacts are one-time deals, and so past artifacts are not included when one receives a catch-up kit or back issue, which is why you did not receive the artifacts connected with "The Cabaret Veritable."
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
So here is a new series of questions: In this issue, the New York Socialite column covers the auction of a racy letter from 1969. Now, we know from previous issues that 1969 was a momentous and terrible year for the OSS, as they lost at least three of their members in the Petroglyphs Park accident. I, for one, can construct a few very plausible ideas about how this letter, presumably like the included curio, could have led to that tragedy.
But there are a few odd bits that stick out: Firstly, the names do not match. The letter is signed "Anna", while the letter in the auction was supposedly written by a Duchesse Sofia. Also, the article states that the letter had odd doodles in the margins, which mine, at least, is lacking.
The Bardess and I were discussing it, and I like her theory that it could have been another letter between the two lovers, not necessarily the one in the article.
Any thoughts on this one?
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
Ah, thank you, Bardess. I couldn't remember whether I had managed to subscribe by the deadline for the first issue (apparently, I failed to do so) and I wanted to be certain that I knew which issue the artifacts I received were associated with. I am absolutely astonished that all of the artifacts I received are associated with a single issue--the amazing craftsmanship and hard work that went into them is truly impressive.
Chelsea, you make excellent points regarding the letter from Anna and its possible relationship to the letter described in the New York Socialite column. I agree that they're unlikely to be one and the same for the reasons you state. In addition, "Duchesse" is by definition a French title and the letter is written in English. Of course, it is possible that a French noblewomen would write an entire love letter in English, but it does seem unlikely, particularly since the letter contains nothing even hinting at French idiomatic speech.
A few thoughts I had when reading the letter from Anna: Although I think that it's unlikely that Anna and Duchesse Sofia are one and the same, Anna's letter is on letterhead marked with a crown, so perhaps there is some connection to royalty of some kind, or even Duchesse Sofia herself. Also, your use of the phrase "odd doodle" immediately brought to mind the scrap of paper with the symbol that looked like a hybrid of a letter "Z" and a letter "S." ("S" for "Sophia," perhaps?) Any other theories or thoughts?
Very truly yours,
Lady Bombasine
Posted 3 months ago
Lady Bombasine,
Have you yet familiarized yourself with the saga of the OSS and their nefarious counterparts, the Society of Zosimos? If not, I would suggest reviewing the narrative that spans the 'New York Socialite' articles, as that may provide you with more context for the mysterious SZ sigil.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
Thanks once again for your assistance in pointing me in the right direction, Bardess. (Do you prefer "Eleanor" or "Bardess?" The editor in me balks at using a definite article with a proper noun in that context, but if you preference is to be called "The Bardess" at all times, I would be happy to do so.)
I shall add the matter of the OSS and the extremely dastardly-sounding Society of Zosimos to the alarmingly long (and rapidly growing) list of MPC topics I need to look into. I've read the New York Socialite columns, of course, but it's clear that there's much more to be discovered. In fact, now that I think about it, I seem to recall that a video or image of some kind was discovered with the SZ symbol in it, but I can't remember the context. All the fragments of the mysteries and riddles I have yet to explore in detail seem to blur together at times, but the scrap of paper with the SZ symbol on it seems to indicate that the saga you mention is currently relevant, so I will put it at the top of my list. Thanks again!
Despite being on the wrong track in terms of the symbol, I do still wonder if the crown stationary Anna's letter is written on is meant to indicate some sort of connection to Duchesse Sofia. Also, even if the crown is not indicative of such a connection, it's really the only identifying mark on the document itself, so it feels as though it must be important in some way. If nothing else, it shows that whatever the crown signifies, Anna felt comfortable with her lover knowing that information, since presumably she could have written the letter on a blank sheet of paper.
I could be totally wrong, of course, and I hope posting my musings is okay given my relative inexperience, having only joined this august association in April and having only read C&C volume 1 in catch-up form. I appreciate everyone's help, and hope that if anyone needs mine for any reason that they will contact me via email at ladybombasine at gmail dot com.
Very truly yours,
Lady Bombasine
Posted 3 months ago
Musings are the only way we ever get anywhere! winks
It's curious that the Curator, or someone on his behalf, picked up the Sofia letter at auction, when the copy of the letter that we all received seems to implicate Anna in some nefarious underhanded dealings when it came to the OSS.
This may be another stab in the dark, but the crown appears to be a royal one, which would explain the level of potential scandal involved. Might not be relevant, but again, it might be.
I find that the Word Search, in particular, is vexing me most soundly. Has anyone had an epiphany regarding that particularly nefarious puzzle?
Chelsea, M.C.
Posted 3 months ago
No epiphany here unfortunately, but my better half noticed that all the circled letters could be musical notes. I have yet to find how to proceed with that information or how the shaded R would fit in with that theory.
JandJ
Posted 3 months ago
Interesting to mention the musical notes. In the radio broadcast there was a musical tone which could also be plotted using spectrograph. Not being musical myself I wonder if the notes on the spectrograph match the "notes" in the crossword. In which case perhaps a musical cryptogram is in play.
Nova
Posted 3 months ago
greetings all. I am new to C&C I practised on my back issue before diving into issue two. So far I have completed the word search but am now stumped as to the circled and smudged letters I tried playing it as a musical phrase but I don't recognise the tune. As for the crossword I am utterly stumped as to how it fits together
Gemma Beacock
Posted 3 months ago
Regarding the crossword for those stumped. you can solve it by ignoring the grid. It does mean that you will not get the hint of letter count, or certain letter placement, but if you stick with it, you will succeed.
Mr. Gallerani
Posted 3 months ago
The best way to tackle the crossword is to ignore the grid and simply start solving the clues without it. It also helps to start putting the words in order almost right away, as answers to particular clues can often be gathered by looking at their context in the secret message.
Eleanor, aka "The Bardess"
Posted 3 months ago
thank you Bardess and Mr Gallerani , I had begun to decipher the crossword in the manner you suggested and I believe I have a fair portion of the answers in order now. I hope to continue my sluthing once the small person is abed.
Gemma Beacock
Posted 3 months ago
Greetings fellow seekers! While I am unsure as to it's general appeal, I nonetheless offer - for the edification of any interested parties - a document wherin the crossword numbering has been modified to match the grid.
Margrave
Posted 3 months ago
Margrave,
I have been tinkering with this very thing. Have you been successful in making the clues fit the grid add printed?
Todd
Posted 3 months ago
Todd,
Your tinkering will ultimately yield fruit if you press on and if your answers are correct. I suggest you start with the longer words and then, given a modicum of patience, you should find that the others fall into place. Please let me know if you would like any hints regarding placement.
Margrave
Posted 3 months ago
Success. It confirms that I was right in my thinking, but with some incorrect words sprinkled about.
Unfortunately, the instructions either yield no results or are more cryptic than they appear.
Todd
Posted 3 months ago
I believe I have most of the crossword figured out but am missing two answers. Could perhaps someone offer a clue to 17A and/or 13A?
JandJ
Posted 3 months ago
Greetings again JandJ! It appears as though you are going at it in earnest, as they say. Regarding your minor impediments, 17A - consider a specific boardgame and 13A - I'm not sure that 'spoiler' was as appropriate a clue as perhaps 'revelation'? If you search the comments above, there is mention of this answer. I sincerely hope that this helps.
Margrave
Posted 3 months ago
This issue has proven rather more intractable than previous ones, I must say.
I've solved the picture puzzle (at least to my own satisfaction, as there appears to be no way to test my theory as yet); I've solved the Mini Head Scratcher, and two-thirds of Riddle Me These -- though if they have any value beyond entertainment, I am unable to say.
I've finished the Word Search, inasmuch as locating all of the words, but have been unable to discern any further meaning, and have completed enough of the Crossword to derive its instructions, but said instructions do not appear to engender any particular results.
And as for Samuel F.B. is missing, I haven't a clue apart from the surname -- the marks don't resolve under the obvious scheme.
Has anyone gotten any further? A nudge or two in the right direction would be most appreciated.
Incidentally, I am also still at sea regarding a few things from previous issues: I know where four travellers met, but don't see what that information gets me, I have a reference to "he who betrayed us", but no guesses as to who that might have been have worked, and I have a username and a password, but no site in which to input them. Any insight to those topics would also be most welcome.
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Mr. Rifflesby,
The Samuel F. B. is Missing puzzle is solved. The fact that he is missing is an indication that it cannot be his code. Do you know of any other code that uses only two symbols? Pay particular attention to the first four symbols and you're on your way.
Are you sure you found a reference to HE who betrayed us?
Do you ever come to the chat room? People have a perplexing habit of using a different name there than here and so I don't always know. The chatroom allows us to brainstorm interactively on current conundrums.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
My thanks, Todd. I have only my ears and clumsy handling of audio manipulation software to blame, I suppose. And the other code, cracked by a colleague of mine, amusingly confirms what was already clear.
However, this leads to a new problem: these two clues combine to form a fairly explicit instruction of the same nature as the solution to this issue's crossword -- and yet, none of my inputs (including alternate spellings or changes in formatting) produce any results in either case.
Does the site that does not exist finally live up to its claim? Or is there something else I am missing?
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Welcome to the wonderful state of being caught up. You are currently puzzling the same imponderables as the rest of us.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
It may be too late for this to be of help or interest to anyone, but the smudged letter in my word search is a U, not an R. It's the sixth line down and 12th from the left. There's an R to it's right.
I think I'm almost caught up. There are still one or two puzzles which are confounding me, but I hope they will become clear in the future.
Thecircled letters in the word search, for example. They appear to be musical notes which appear almost familiar when I play them on the piano. This could be wishful thinking but could a count disguised as a woman have anything to do with that which perplexes us?
The Templar Bard
Posted about 1 month ago
The Templar Bard,
After comparisons of several people's issues, the smudges on the wordsearch appear to be a printing anomaly, most likely caused by ink transfer from the color image on the opposite page. As always, I do not wish to discourage investigation of this possibility, but it does not appear to be intentional to me.
As for the circled letters, the possibility of musical notes has been a favored option, but due to the fact that we lack information about the duration of the notes, and an indication of whether we rise or fall to the next pitch, so far the tune has eluded identification. Perhaps you have a specific piece in kind?
There has been discussion regarding Anna being a man, but this is based on speculation at best. Have you more information?
I would like to again encourage people to use the chat room, where we can discuss theories and solutions more freely than here. Instructions to access the chat room can be found on the home page of the wiki, at curios-and-conundrums.wikia.com/wiki/Curios_and_Conundrums_Wiki.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
While filing a last few details into my scrapbook for this issue, I noticed that in the wiki's photograph of the Curator's calling-card, the lower-right corner of the card appears to be slightly bent -- but then again, it may just be a trick of the lighting in that photograph. Can anyone in possession of the physical card confirm or deny this, as it would be pertinent information per the associated article?
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Good afternoon, Mr. Rifflesby.
It is just a shadow. Not bent.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
Much obliged!
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
Not being possessed of much skill in music (bit of a tin ear, to be frank), I took the liberty of requesting outside assistance at a site known as "Ask Metafilter". A reader there has suggested that the letters CEDFEGEGE -- that is, the circled letters within found words, form the Largo Movement of Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, aka New World Symphony. This was also used for a song called "Goin' Home", which is a concept referred to in the center margin cipher in Issue 2-1.
Does that help us at all?
Mr. N.W. Rifflesby
Posted about 1 month ago
I don't see that sequence of notes in the piece you suggest. www.music-for-music-teachers.com/largo.html.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
I've also had little luck with the musical note theory. A search at musipedia.org led to Scarlatti's "The Good Humoured Ladies which is a tale about a count who disguises himself as a woman at a carnival but I suspect this may just show that the way I play the notes shows an affinity to Scarlatti.
The Templar Bard
Posted about 1 month ago
I have a piano score for the Scarlatti ballet in question, but haven't yet taken the opportunity to review for this sequence of notes.
I'd be surprised to find it there, though, as it is really just a series of major thirds, moving up the first four degrees of the major scale, followed an arpeggiated C major chord.
This is something that a singer or musician might use as a warm up.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
To correct myself, only C to E is a major third, D to F and E to G are minor thirds.
Todd
Posted about 1 month ago
My first instinct was that it was a chord progression rather than individual notes. Alas, while I play guitar, piano, various flutes, harmonica and, in extreme emergencies, the squeeze box, I do not read music. I must admit, for the first time I am finding that distinctly frustrating.
The Templar Bard
Posted about 1 month ago