Wintreath Regional Community

A Link to the Past - Archives => The Registry of Things Past - Historic Archive => Frosthold Castle - Wintreath Government => Topic started by: Wintermoot on June 03, 2016, 01:56:38 AM

Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 03, 2016, 01:56:38 AM
Greetings, Ambassadors! :)

@Emoticonius has graced us with another puzzle to send out to our embassies. Please send this out as soon as possible, and then monitor for any inquiries or comments. Please post here when you have posted. Thanks again to Emoticonius for putting together another puzzle for our friends in other regions! :D

If you are not sure what regions you are an ambassador to, check our status of diplomatic relations (http://wintreath.com/forums/index.php?topic=1850.0). Thanks in advance!

Code: [Select]
Before you is ANOTHER coded message, one you may find more difficult to solve but will certainly take you places if you do! Good luck. ;)

[img]http://i.imgur.com/3NNqnKI.png[/img]

We're thrilled that so many regions enjoyed the last puzzle. I hope that you will enjoy this one as well. :)
@Chanku @Pengu @HannahB @Point Breeze @Colberius X @Laurentus @Sapphiron @taulover @Barnes @North
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 03, 2016, 02:23:55 AM
Posted in TRR, Taijitu & Hogwarts.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Chanku on June 03, 2016, 02:26:25 AM
Posted....
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 03, 2016, 03:47:14 AM
Huh, I didn't get a PM...

Posted in Lovely.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Sapphiron on June 03, 2016, 03:51:43 AM
Posted
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Arenado on June 03, 2016, 06:02:12 AM
Posted in Terrene. And I don't think I got a message.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 03, 2016, 03:36:03 PM
And I've finally posted to my own embassies. :)
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Barnes on June 04, 2016, 03:09:00 AM
I've posted in Cynosure, but I, too, am curious about the lack of messages.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 04, 2016, 03:57:09 AM
Barnes posted on June 04, 2016, 03:09:00 AM
I've posted in Cynosure, but I, too, am curious about the lack of messages.
Now that I think about it, I think Mootles copy-pasted Puzzle #1's assignment without redoing the @'s.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 04, 2016, 04:14:45 PM
That may have been it. :P

In any case, it looks like that's everyone except @Pengu, @Laurentus, and @Hannah. :)
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 04, 2016, 06:26:41 PM
I believe you meant @HannahB.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 04, 2016, 06:28:35 PM
taulover posted on June 04, 2016, 06:26:41 PM
I believe you meant @HannahB.
So that didn't work, probably because I was using Tapatalk...

@HannahB
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 04, 2016, 06:29:16 PM
Aha! You fuck up too, sometimes.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Michi on June 04, 2016, 06:57:04 PM
I haven'the been home yet, so I'll do do as soon as I am.  :)
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Michi on June 04, 2016, 10:53:38 PM
Posted on tnp, tas, 10ki, and mordor.  It was funny to see that people in the first two of the regions solved the puzzle while nobody in the latter two has tried.

I'll post in Osiris when they set something up for me to be able to post in, since my diplomatic app was approved.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 04, 2016, 11:03:35 PM
I'm a bit surprised XKI didn't even bother.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Michi on June 05, 2016, 12:22:18 AM
I'm actually not, to be honest.  Their embassy threads are normally pretty dead outside of updates.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 05, 2016, 01:59:09 AM
One wonders why they maintain embassies if they're not really interested in what goes on in them. It often seems to me their foreign affairs program is on auto-pilot.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 05, 2016, 02:49:09 AM
Perhaps this is a good way to see who pays attention.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Michi on June 05, 2016, 04:34:39 AM
Wintermoot posted on June 05, 2016, 01:59:09 AM
One wonders why they maintain embassies if they're not really interested in what goes on in them. It often seems to me their foreign affairs program is on auto-pilot.

That's pretty much what it's like.  Occasionally they'll pop in to say thanks for the update, but that's really it.  The only way we really end up knowing if they read what was said is when we get the occasional tourist from there...which right now I believe there's only 2 that sometimes pop on, and then we have Aerso and another who popped in at some point and then hasn't been back for quite some time.

Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 05, 2016, 05:25:37 AM
I guess it makes sense given that they're a more isolationist region, but my thought is if you're not going to do anything with relations why even do foreign affairs? At this point it's a waste of XKI's resources.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 05, 2016, 05:32:37 AM
Well, it's not like our embassy row is any different. Yeah, some other members occasionally pop in there, but mostly it's just Wintermoot saying thanks for the update.

I'm also surprised that nobody's been trying to solve the puzzles within Wintreath proper.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 05, 2016, 05:39:00 AM
But our outreach to other regions have been much more successful. For example, let's take XKI...I'm not sure they have received any benefit in our relations, but we've received a number of Citizens and tourists from them through the past few years. You could say a big reason that people don't do much in their embassies here is because they haven't made the effort to make them open and interesting to the average person the way that we have in ours.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 05, 2016, 06:18:41 AM
Actually Hugsim has cracked the first part of this puzzle. I created it so I already know every ounce of it. And it has to be run by Moot for approval so he also knows the whole thing.

We're the only region in all of NS doing anything besides updates and cultural invitations. We should at least be proud of that. As for the embassies here in Wintreath, that's a little trickier. We can't just barge in and make them interesting. It wouldn't be right and it's even trickier when they aren't putting forth any effort themselves. Perhaps my puzzle idea will inspire other regions to do something else with their embassies.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 05, 2016, 06:31:30 AM
I seem to have misread your remarks, sorry about that.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 06, 2016, 07:56:34 AM
@Pengu - There seems to be a second form in Osiris to establish an embassy: http://w11.zetaboards.com/OFO/topic/11611123/1/

I guess according to their policy we would want a consulate, since we're not providing them a subforum for an embassy here.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 06, 2016, 04:19:04 PM
I haven't checked other embassies, but I'm just wondering: are most people solving the puzzle manually?
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 06, 2016, 04:56:15 PM
I'm sure some are and I encourage them to do so. It makes it more of a challenge rather than some automated process doing it for them.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 06, 2016, 04:59:08 PM
Emoticonius posted on June 06, 2016, 04:56:15 PM
I'm sure some are and I encourage them to do so. It makes it more of a challenge rather than some automated process doing it for them.
Over in New Hyperion, I've been avoiding using an automated process. But the problem is, I have no idea where to start for this second puzzle.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 06, 2016, 11:17:31 PM
One should look into existing methods of decryption if they wish to pass the first step. I don't use anything that doesn't already exist so by virtue of that it should not be too difficult. In fact Hugsim figured out in a matter of minutes (kudos to you Hugsim).
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 07, 2016, 01:05:24 AM
Emoticonius posted on June 06, 2016, 11:17:31 PM
One should look into existing methods of decryption if they wish to pass the first step. I don't use anything that doesn't already exist so by virtue of that it should not be too difficult. In fact Hugsim figured out in a matter of minutes (kudos to you Hugsim).
I have been... I went over to the Wikipedia pages for cryptography and tried to try every one of them.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 07, 2016, 06:25:19 PM
If it helps, The North Pacific was close.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 07, 2016, 07:33:13 PM
Albion has reached the end, but is still working on the last portion. :P
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 07, 2016, 08:29:52 PM
That is just great! I was starting to worry that nobody besides Hugsim would even make it past part 1.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 07, 2016, 10:57:41 PM
Emoticonius posted on June 07, 2016, 06:25:19 PM
If it helps, The North Pacific was close.
I just checked TNP... You gave them a clue?!

Edit: I'd actually been trying similar things to the guy in TNP (route ciphers, transposition, etc.)
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 07, 2016, 11:38:59 PM
I only said that they were close (though not in so many words). It seems to me like they might need a little encouragement to keep trying so I threw them a bone.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 08, 2016, 04:44:33 PM
Albion and New Hyperion have reached the riddle...I threw them a clue since they were both getting hung up on one of the words.

"Of course, a condemnation doesn't necessarily have to be the WA condemnations that we know and occasionally love today. Don't get too hung up on that one word. ;)"
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 08, 2016, 06:32:42 PM
taulover did seem to be over thinking it. He went so far as to look into The Farkers. :P
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 08, 2016, 06:35:13 PM
Albion ended up at Condemn Macedon. :P
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 08, 2016, 09:59:38 PM
Wintermoot posted on June 08, 2016, 06:35:13 PM
Albion ended up at Condemn Macedon. :P
I looked at Condemn Macedon, then realized that it couldn't possibly make sense, and then I started researching the Farkers and the Driftwood Clan. :P
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Michi on June 09, 2016, 12:26:39 AM
Alright, since Osiris solved the first, I finally posted the 2nd there.  :P
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 13, 2016, 09:35:27 PM
Just wondering, did Hugsim solve the whole thing within minutes, or just the cipher?
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 13, 2016, 11:16:04 PM
Hugsim was never clear on that. I got the impression that he made it to the final part. He never mentioned the answer to the final part.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 13, 2016, 11:28:08 PM
Oh god I'm so tired of hearing about Condemn Macedon...
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 14, 2016, 01:46:33 AM
So Emoticonius tells me that I've solved it (http://w11.zetaboards.com/New_Hyperion/topic/11106165/5/#post8453345)! Yay!

Has anyone besides NH, Albion, and TNP solved the cipher yet?
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 14, 2016, 01:56:09 AM
Sadly no. I expected several regions to get past the cipher.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Wintermoot on June 14, 2016, 02:09:03 AM
I'm surprised that Hogwarts gave up when they did...I figured they would really drive themselves at it.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: taulover on June 14, 2016, 02:31:26 AM
Cipher solution spoilers
I think one of the issues is that when people were trying to solve the railfence cipher, instead of splitting it like this:
OTOSWRFSTCHDO
NHTEIETTHEEIR
WSONTGHAENPSA
IFSDHIINMTAA
NOUHISNDOPSL
TRMINTGRSOSO
RUMLTRSETSWH
EMELHYPARTOO
AGRSEOADETRM
They instead split it like this:
OTOSWRFSTCHDO
NHTEIETTHEEIR
WSONTGHAENPSA
IFSDHIINMTAAN
OUHISNDOPSLTR
MINTGRSOSORUM
LTRSETSWHEMEL
HYPARTOOAGRSE
OADETRM
From what I can tell, this mistake is traditionally avoided by padding the cipher with extra letters.
Title: Ambassadors: A Second Mysterious Puzzle
Post by: Emoticonius on June 14, 2016, 04:54:17 AM
Correction to Cipher Solution (spoilers)
It's not a rail fence cipher. It really is a transposition cipher. Each letter however was moved forward 123,456,789 times. I chose a 9 digit number that counts the number of columns.