[yellowcard]

mortality wrote:

Here's a question: if the two cases are linked, how many people are involved? On 0701 alone we have two or three different people who wrote "Whitechapel" on the envelopes. The differences in handwriting aren't just because of the marker/pen used.

Mort, you keep saying that the handwriting on the four envelopes cannot be by the same person, but I honestly don't see how they could be by a different person. There are variances in each instance, particularly the curved "W" in 04, but the handwriting contains way too much similarity to be from someone else.

I've copied all four pictures into a Word document (sorry, that's as technically inclined as I get) so that we can see them side by side.

Look at the "a". It is very similar with a tendency to curve out to the right as the writer finishes the letter. On the "e", no doubt it's the same person from envelope to envelope: its loop is at the same angle and relative size in each photo. The arch on each "h" has very similar characteristics. The "t" is consistently crossed at the same point below the lower-case boundary line (no, I don't know the technical term for that line).

Envelope 04 looks different because the writer used a rounder approach to writing it out, but the characteristics of the handwriting are all still there.

[mortality]

It's certainly an interesting coincidence. Is it also possible that the square from MSG4 has some relationship? Can the two figures be overlaid?

Ethan will probably say we're just falling prey to the human trait of seeing patterns in random data. I think Ethan may be pointing more towards Yellowcard and Casablanca's analysis of where 0702's final ritual will be.

On the other hand, he keeps on telling us to figure out how all the 0701 puzzles relate...

Here's a question: if the two cases are linked, how many people are involved? On 0701 alone we have two or three different people who wrote "Whitechapel" on the envelopes. The differences in handwriting aren't just because of the marker/pen used.

Then you have someone who had access to the Scarpelli Library/Hawthorne Group in England.

And, according to Ethan's speculation, yet another group in FL working off a completely separate copy; maybe the original.

1/3/08 chats

Google chat with Ethan wrote:

me: Well congratulations. Ethan: Hi Mort. Thanks, but for what? Because right now I feel pretty damn annoyed. me: The Board's letting you keep your baby, 0701. What's so irritating, other than being inundated with overexuberant unCollective speculation? Ethan: Oh yeah, that part was good news. I'm pissed about 0702 because I was planning on going down there for next Tuesday. me: You would've needed help, anyway, given how many sites there were to cover. 2 by Casa's reckoning, 3 if the figure was a triangle, not something similar in shape to the figure from the diagram. So you'll go down on the 9th or have Jade follow-up gathering whatever is left after the fact. Ethan: Yes, I know what you mean about the triangle and other orientations of the figure, but I felt there was a really good chance that it was oriented just like in the document. Could be wrong, but I know where I was going to be set up. I've already got a call out to Mr. Macalla. me: You gonna be around for a bit? Have a speech to watch. Ethan: Naw, I was just getting ready to sign out. Been a long day. But you're right, it's been a good one too. There's been some great feedback on 01

Google chat with Jade wrote:

me: Happy New Year. Hope all you holiday celebrations went well. Jade: Hey Mortality, Same back at ya. me: How's everything else going? Saw that you got roped into Whitechapel's business as more than a curious observer. Jade: Everything's cooler than liquid nitro, man. That Whitechapel gig is a hoot. I dig how seriously those cats take everything. Just wish I hadn't been pinged right on my way to check out that other site. I was actually pretty surprised at finding anything at Cherry street. It cracks me up these days what kids'll do to try to freak people out. Ethan seems like a nice guy, though. And I know he wants that project to be seen as a success. me: If his metric of success is the power of strangers collaborating, I think he can put it on the board. Don't know about the "verifying the mystical" part of it, tho. Remains to be seen. I kind of wonder how some of these people even find Whitechapel to do these investigations. I hadn't heard of them until that email, yet Ethan says they're inundated with queries. Jade: Sorry, got pulled away. Yeah, I don't much about that side of things. I guess they've been around for quite some time, and much longer on the other side of the pond. I know David's been friends with Calvin for a long time. (I think he has the honor of being one of the other real people that Valley's turned into an AC character.) But as for Whitechapel, I guess in certain circles people hear about them. Mostly academics and nut-jobs is my guess. You probably just never had a need to seek out someone to tell a crazy story to. 3:00 meeting is calling, so catch ya later. Happy New Year. me: Later.

[Typoxic]

Sylvia wrote:

Yes, it's to scale. Notice I just updated it and added the words from MSG2. Not knowing what words fit in which ^, I stuck with the order we got them not how we rearranged them to make the sentence "The wise King was/commanded only three." I'm not saying this is correct by any means, but it's something.

It's really interesting that it fits that way. I can't wait to see what Ethan has to say about it.

[Sylvia]

mort wrote:

The Neil Gaiman references Casblanca spotted also seem to bear the connection out. Does that make sense?

If you are saying they point us right back to the Choronzon, Aleister Crowley, John Dee, Solomon, magick, etc.. then yes it made sense.

[yellowcard]

I was afraid that when I came back, I'd missed a lot. So I missed some, but not much. A great solve on MSG1, by the way.

About 0702:

If Cherry St was first, and Pine St was second, then the logical conclusion is that the third location at the next full moon should be 1.85 miles @ 240° from the Pine St location, no?

I've taken the original map and drawn up the second angle, plus given a close-up of the final location.

I sooooo wanted this to be a public place, but it appears to be houses. Are there any locations along 16th St or 46th Ave or 47th Ave that are places of power, perchance?

Ethan's orders not to go to St. Pete's, plus Jade's coincidental travel to DC on that day seems to being telling us that We can't stop what happens, and that we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled for news or something. This may just all be confirmation for a later event to take place.

EDIT: Somehow I missed Casablanca's map. Sorry, I wasn't trying to take your ideas as my own.

It seems we are slightly off from each other on the exact location, but it's pretty close, nonetheless.

[mortality]

Wow

[Sylvia]

Yes, it's to scale. Notice I just updated it and added the words from MSG2. Not knowing what words fit in which ^, I stuck with the order we got them not how we rearranged them to make the sentence "The wise King was/commanded only three."

I'm not saying this is correct by any means, but it's something.

[Typoxic]

Is that to scale?

[Sylvia]

It's Magick

[Typoxic]

dashcat wrote:

Yes I am combining the two cases. And I'm speculating. Finding the possible connection between the three names doesn't actually solve the puzzle. What does your solution mean? What does it lead to? And why don't you think they are connected?

Finding the connection seems to create a connection with, at the very least, the Ring poem; it seems to get a theme going. At best it gives a hint about MSG4 as well, though I don't know where to begin with that one.

I don't think they're connected because Ethan doesn't think they're connected, and because there's nothing apparent to connect them. Still, it's possible, and the best way to solve this is to work on any angles we can think of.

[Sylvia]

dashcat wrote:

How are W. Wallace and Enlil and Ahasaurus words of power?

Could it be that they were all in positions of power? I drew a circle (ring) inside the triangle we got and overlaid in at the points in St. Pete. Would like it better if it pointed the other way. That would put Eden Island at approximately the center and the apex of the triangle pointing east which I think is the way Solomon's Triangle is suppose to point. I like this idea of Solomon's Triangle of Art/Evocation. And Yes! the two cases are related.

Links for research:
Choronzon
On the Triangle of Art
The Lesser Key of Solomon
The Key of Solomon
THE KEY OF SOLOMON THE KING

[dashcat]

I think they are related.

I got the circle in the triangle from the Solomonic triangle on the website I posted above and from the faint circle on the 0702 letter with the checkmark shape.

I am taking a leap here. I think both cases deal with ritual and alchemy. 0702 lead us to St. Petersburg and the checkmark shape in the street and Sandra's description of the same thing further up the street. Casa made a map and Mort made an assumption that the two short lines should be extended til they meet, which draws a triangle.

0701 includes a letter with a triangle drawn on it and words around the edges. Ethan drops a hint (I think it was a hint) about John Dee. John Dee was a Magus and Alchemist.

The message from 0702 sounds pretty much like an alchemical formula to me. I've read a bunch of them from researching previous args.

Once again, this is speculation but to me the two cases seem related. I could be wrong. I often am.

ETA

Oh yeah the ring part. A ring can be a circle. Not a ring you wear but a circle you draw.

Another ETA

I have been working on the ciphers that were left on the comments page. I am getting nowhere with them. Its driving me crazy. Two of them are web addresses. I think we really need to crack those codes. We are being told that we need to find out who sent the letters. I think those coded messages will help us find that out.

[Miso2kay1]

Just to clarify, are you getting the "circle" part of the Solomon's circle from the poem. The reference to the ring?

Just trying to understand how you are going about it, but I agree from what I have been reading the two cases don't seem to relate at all, for the moment at least.

[dashcat]

Yes I am combining the two cases. And I'm speculating. Finding the possible connection between the three names doesn't actually solve the puzzle. What does your solution mean? What does it lead to? And why don't you think they are connected?

[Typoxic]

Are you combining the two cases? I'm pretty sure they aren't related. Ethan seems to think I nailed the connection between those three guys.