Help with The Cryptographic Case of the Missing Arm (puzzle hunt
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Paladin 
Posts: 7492
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 Posted: 07:21PM Oct 15, 2009 |
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Morse Code?
"The greatest cause of unhappiness in the world today is trading what we want most for what we want now." |
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animefreak
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Posted: 11:48PM Oct 24, 2009 |
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I need help with level 8. I found out the person but I don't get how it connects to the cipher  
Enjoy being alive.There's plenty of time to be dead. Life is a curse, sleep is a break and death is the cure. |
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CaIceDevil
Posts: 287
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Posted: 07:56AM Nov 1, 2009 |
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Could you please post the question and the hint?
An archeologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her. |
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Aaronnp
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Posted: 11:54AM Nov 3, 2009 |
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what is the hint for level 8 i just beat level 7 a few hrs ago. ty
Aaron |
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Gerrard10
Posts: 1189
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Posted: 12:56PM Nov 3, 2009 |
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I still can't get 2. 
They call me Gerrard. |
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Omaha345
Posts: 667
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Posted: 02:26PM Nov 3, 2009 |
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Neither can I
I'm running out of Dancing Bananas. |
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Shadows
Posts: 4671
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Posted: 09:45PM Nov 3, 2009 |
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Aaronnp wrote: what is the hint for level 8 i just beat level 7 a few hrs ago. ty
A few more hours won't kill you. 
What's #2?
"Time's rushing by me like the wind / Gotta grab each moment that I can / 'Cause I'm never gonna feel like this again" |
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Gerrard10
Posts: 1189
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Posted: 09:48PM Nov 3, 2009 |
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It didn't take long to figure out that it was a Morse Code, but when you decoded the message it didn't make any sense. Thats when you looked up and noticed your reflection in the mirror and realized that you had to read the decoded text backwards. You call out "Telegraph" and hear a beep come from the device in your hand. The screen has updated:
==MESSAGE==
The key is the country where this cipher's namesake lived.
hfn tteyllnvmteslq ymrvrusqmeq niavlgjvjvtbiiykoygzjc fbwvyppr eljvtnj
(THERE ARE NO SPACES)
==END==
Now, you're getting the hang of it. You flip through your book and sit down at your computer to work on the latest cipher.
They call me Gerrard. |
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Shadows
Posts: 4671
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Posted: 10:19PM Nov 3, 2009 |
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It's a Vigenere cipher, I think.
"Time's rushing by me like the wind / Gotta grab each moment that I can / 'Cause I'm never gonna feel like this again" |
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LogicalRoger
Posts: 2440
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Posted: 06:12AM Nov 4, 2009 |
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Even though I know the questions have been posted before, scattered about here and there, I would like to post all ten of them here so that it is easier on everyone involved. It also served as a nice little refresher for my brain. Enjoy.  (Spoilers in white)
Level 1
You wake up one morning to find that your left arm is missing! Thinking that you just misplaced it, you get out of bed and start looking around in the usual places. It's not under the bed or in the closet. You open the dirty laundry hamper. Not in there either.
Now you're starting to get a little worried. "Where could I have placed that arm?" As you wander into the bathroom, you notice a note taped to the mirror. It reads:
==FINAL NOTICE==
Due to a failure to pay your overdue book fine at the library we have taken your arm as temporary payment. If you want your arm back, you must solve these clues, return the book that you checked out, and pay the overdue fine.
If you accept these terms, shift the following cipher text by the number of sisters that he had.
Vjku ku qpg qh vjg oquv ukornkuvke ekrjgtu. Kv yknn igv oqtg fkhhkewnv htqo jgtg qp qwv. Vq igv vq vjg pgzv ngxgn, varg vjg ekva kp yjkej jg ycu dqtp.
Signed, The Librarian
==END==
Luckily, the book that you hadn't returned yet was called, "The Complete Book of Ciphers and Codes", so you had a good reference.
Level 2
After a few minutes of thinking you quickly solve the Caesar Cipher and blurt out the answer, "****". As soon as you do this, you hear a beep coming from a previously unnoticed device sitting on the bathroom counter. You pick up the device and notice that it has a small screen with a message written on it:
==MESSAGE==
Congratulations, you have passed level 1. If you get confused about this code, don't forget to look up.
.... .--. .- .-. --. . .-.. . - ... .. -.. .-. --- .-- -.-- . -.- . .... -
==END==
Well, that is a strange message. You set to work...
Level 3
It didn't take long to figure out that it was a Morse Code, but when you decoded the message it didn't make any sense. That's when you looked up and noticed your reflection in the mirror and realized that you had to read the decoded text backwards. You call out "*********" and hear a beep come from the device in your hand. The screen has updated:
==MESSAGE==
The key is the country where this cipher's namesake lived.
hfntteyllnvmteslqymrvrusq(remove this space) meqniavlgjvjvtbiiykoygzjcfbwvyppreljvtnj
==END==
Now, you're getting the hang of it. You flip through your book and sit down at your computer to work on the latest cipher.
Level 4
Pheew! That one was difficult. After flipping through the book, you realized that it was a Vigenère cipher, and a quick web search told you that the key was "France", but deciphering the message took some patience and hard work. Luckily, you discovered the answer and spoke into the device, "*******".
It beeps and displays the following message:
==MESSAGE==
You may need a map or two to solve this one.
TENWR OHSEE ITEAE FHCTL CTDER OTSVN ERETI TSXIU ENRHA IUENO EUDET ETTOE RETET MNTSE TOGTD HASET TILVL SHNMO TEIYO AENAF RYEED GESHR YIMNT SOTLT TDADN HNRDW NYWDG ESWNY IUEWS LNIUE
==END==
Level 5
After figuring out that it was a Rail Fence cipher with two rails, you quickly decode the message, get out your world map and locate *******.
Beep. This time, the screen on the gadget doesn't display any text. All it shows is the following image.
Link to Picture
You are starting to feel a little hungry, so you get dressed (which isn't very easy with a missing arm) and walk down the hall, to the kitchen, to get some breakfast before taking a crack at the latest puzzle.
Level 6
After a few bites of cereal, you realize that there are 26 squares in the image and 26 letters of the alphabet. After writing out the alphabet, with one letter per square, you realize that the white squares spell the word "******". You never realized that all the letters in this word were in consecutive order. Interesting.
Beep. Another image. Great....
Link to Picture
Level 7
As you eat your cereal you notice that the back of the cereal box describes a way to make a secret message using something called a Pigpen cipher. You hastily decode the message, but it produces meaningless gibberish, and there is one character that you can't translate. Then you realize that in your haste, you were looking at the image upside-down and that the unknown character was a question mark. You slap your forehead and decode the message.
"****!" Beep.
==MESSAGE==
Don't be a square. Decipher this message and come down to the library.
rdaquobqftxpcnauotgmqlclcxsrcfqudtfhvu (remove this space) oaoppmyiisnwiohqeotwsshcsryrotpdgbqlypdctxc
==END==
Level 8
The "square" clue leads you towards the idea of using a Polybius Square, but if this was the case then the cipher-text would be a series of numbers. Using frequency analysis of the letters in the message, you realize that this cipher probably isn't a simple substitution. After flipping through the book and using a little trial and error, you discover the "Bifid Cipher" which uses a Polybius Square and uses a polygraphic substitution method to mask letter frequency.
You take the advice of the Librarian and head down to the library. The bus ride is long enough to give you some time to think about the next message.
==MESSAGE==
As you like it. We will return your arm if you can decode but a few more riddles. The key to this cipher is the person who first spoke to Adam.
SUAVNREOICOTNNVROOWSGLNDEE (remove) AELNINNAYGHEHTEERAEYAHASIOHEXE
NBIOCDREITHAEASGUAYIEAATTOEENEE (these) DBKEHNGLAUNTETBITTHUHVDEA
HKHTTVELUDKWOEBUFTOOICAEADA (spaces) SRTNANTLCESTCLYNRKTAKIOEUTSAV
NTTRBYOENDOEKSTRAOSGDSHRTR (to read normally) THTFUEQTOMEHHXDBMRIHHINCPTUIEI
==END==
Level 9
You instantly recognize "As you like it" as the name of a play by Shakespeare, and you remember from school that Adam is the name of a character from that play. All you need to do now is find out who spoke to Adam first. It's a good thing you're at the library!
You look it up in the card catalog and head off into the stacks. After locating the book, you quickly determine that the key to the cipher is "Orlando".
You already know from frequency analysis that the letter E appears most often in the message, so it is probably a transposition cipher. The only transposition cipher in your book that uses a key is the Columnar Transposition cipher. With this information, it only takes a few minutes to decipher the message and "******" the next challenge.
Beep.
==MESSAGE==
Look in the back of the book.
==END==
As you flip through "As You Like It" a scrap of paper falls out onto the floor.
Link to the Picture
Level 10
It doesn't take long to recognize that the scrap of paper is a Scytale, so you grab the nearest cylindrical object, which happens to be a pencil, and start wrapping.
You don't know of any famous statues that are missing their arms, but a quick search on the internet turns up the answer. What does the Librarian have against arms anyway?
Happy to be one step closer to getting your own arm back, you yell out "***** ** ****!"
Beep.
==MESSAGE==
Congratulations on solving all of my challenges. You may now have your arm back. As an added bonus we are waving your overdue fine. Just be sure to return the overdue book on the way out.
Your arm is stashed behind the: Link to Picture
And remember, always return your books to the library on time!
Signed, The Librarian
==END==
---This message was edited on 02:50PM Nov 4, 2009--- |
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Gerrard10
Posts: 1189
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Posted: 08:39AM Nov 4, 2009 |
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Log, your a life saver.
They call me Gerrard. |
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LogicalRoger
Posts: 2440
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Posted: 02:57PM Nov 4, 2009 |
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Thanks, although I should've made it clear why I posted the questions. I just wanted to make it easier for those helping others stuck on the levels. I basically wanted to eliminate the question "What is that one about?" by providing all of them for anyone to look back upon. I also added the solution methods so that if someone helping doesn't remember what to do exactly they'll have it there in front of them.
I didn't intend to just post the answers otherwise I would've posted them in a list-like fashion. Therefore I have blocked out the answers fully, although the methods are still intact. At least now people who want to cheat will have to use their brains a bit. 
Hope it helps the helpers.
Also, I don't mean to imply that you're cheating Gerrard, but you reminded me that others might and that will take the fun out of the hunt.
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Gerrard10
Posts: 1189
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Posted: 03:04PM Nov 4, 2009 |
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Thanks anyway. But these take time.
They call me Gerrard. |
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Post from canse912 deleted on 09:15AM Nov 14, 2009.
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Post from canse912 deleted on 09:15AM Nov 14, 2009.
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Post from canse912 deleted on 02:32PM Nov 17, 2009.
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nogoodnames 
Posts: 532
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Posted: 01:08PM Nov 14, 2009 |
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Canse, I don't think you should give spoilers because it ruins the fun of it, just give clues. Also, level nine is the scytle.
Have you met all the requirements to be a QuizMaster? Would you like to help the Braingle community just that little bit more? If you answered yes to both of them you should become a QuizMaster. Some categories are desperate for help. |
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Post from canse912 deleted on 02:42PM Nov 17, 2009.
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canse912
Posts: 9
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Posted: 02:42PM Nov 17, 2009 |
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YIPPEE! I BEEEAT IT. I BEEEAT IT. YEAH!
by the way, call me Dana.
In our world, Yesterday is long dead and Tomorrow is never born. Today is all that matters. But what would happen if we found Tomorrow before it disappeared, and became the distant future? HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW? Dana XOXO |
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Shift7Caps3
Posts: 2
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Posted: 10:26PM Nov 28, 2009 |
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Psychic_Master wrote: Hey guys! I'm stuck on level 6. I've decoded the pigpen letters but the message still makes no sense. I just end up with some gibberish. Could I please have a hint?
Edit: The hint became available today...I got the answer.  Nevermind.
how did you get the answer??? it makes no sense!!!!
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