View topic - [TCJ] Tradecraft Journal trailhead

unforum
a.r.g.b.b

Welcome!

New users, PLEASE read these forum guidelines. New posters, SEARCH before posting and read these rules before posting your killer new campaign. New players may also wish to peruse the ARG Player Tutorial.

All users must abide by the Terms of Service.

Website Restoration Project

This archiving project is a collaboration between Unfiction and Sean Stacey (SpaceBass), Brian Enigma (BrianEnigma), and Laura E. Hall (lehall) with
the Center for Immersive Arts.

Announcements

This is a static snapshot of the
Unfiction forums, as of
July 23, 2017.

This site is intended as an archive to chronicle the history of Alternate Reality Games.

Our Esteemed Contributors

The time now is Tue Nov 19, 2024 1:59 am
All times are UTC - 4 (DST in action)

View posts in this forum since last visit
View unanswered posts in this forum

Calendar

Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » Low-Volume Games

[TCJ] Tradecraft Journal trailhead

Page 58 of 80 [1188 Posts]

Goto page: Previous 1, 2, 3, ..., 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, ..., 78, 79, 80 Next

Author

Message

zizka
Decorated

Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 157
Location: Basement of the Alamo

FoF update

http://focusonfilm.wordpress.com/

Quote:

072007-1000
[walter]

Check. Nothing substantial. CT1 driving a 2004 Nissan Armada, black, good electronics package, Chicago plates. End. T

================================

072007-1200
[bloom]

NTR. T

So at noon today, T checked in with "NTR." What does that mean? For that matter what does "CT" stand for?

_________________
Question

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:16 pm

Abraxas
Unfettered

Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 736
Location: Cologne, Germany

NTR = Nothing To Report

CT = Question

And more from Calais:

Quote:

[matthews]

Give it another day. Watch from a distance. Try to confirm partner. If CT1 leaves town, follow.

Check in using schedule 3. G

It's quite confusing since G. never uses timestamps.
I guess nobody of us advised him to proceed different with Tristan?
Us giving orders is turning this phase into a strategy game or Choose Your Own Adventure style.

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:55 pm

mortality
Unfettered

Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 428

G&T activities
Yes, I could use a drink.

Edit: Ya know...we can post to their site by clicking the "no comments" link after entering the password. You just need a WordPress ID.

Seems like Germain sent that email last night and zizka didn't check until this morning.

I was keeping track of the site. Germain posted "give it another day" before Tristan replied at 1000 WY time.

CT could be counterterrorist.

Spec: that would raise some red flags, if ya know what I mean. We still have no idea who Germain and Germain's organization are. Or what their overarching objectives are for that matter. "Upholding the sovereign rights of individuals" can mean many things. And it doesn't tell us whether they use means of which we would approve.

Same goes for Petal/Thorn. P/T has no field experience, though. And it sounds like he just got a hold of information that concerned him and tried to find a contact who could verify it or do something about it. P/T sounds far more innocuous than Germain's group. P/T wasn't looking to link up with Germain, remember. He was trying to find Allan, though he did tell us to play Germain straight up.

But we haven't really had any contact with P/T since Allan's death. I wish P/T would do something already.

Anyway, let's not burn any bridges. We're still at a point where we can ally with Germain for now, get more information, and make a strategy change later. My hunch is that we aren't going to like Germain any more than we like Green and we'll have to choose between evils.

A thought occurs to me: do we want to try playing both sides of the fence now? Maybe we can feed Green some info and get some in response.

Meta: Having us give orders is a nice touch. Makes this seem a lot less linear than your typical ARG. I expected this to be less open-ended because of how it was described at the production journal.

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:15 pm

mortality
Unfettered

Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 428

Another Tristan Update

Quote:

072007-1618
[lenz]

Can't stay on sched 3. New player in town, trying to stay on him. Does not appear to be with CT1. Flashing press credentials (LA Times), almost certainly bogus. Plus TY has a lead on the camper. Way outside of town.

UnODir, my pri is CT1 (possible connection to original event) then CT2 (new variable). Depending on the sit, I may follow the camper lead tonight.

[CT2 - 6′, 175, s/p, blue, med, right, early 40s]

(CT1 - saa, ~30]

UnODir=unless otherwise directed

TY=the paramedic.

Edit: ya know...I just reviewed Collateral 4...we have Thalberg's social security number. Unfortunately, most lookup services cost at least $40.

SSN: 525-87-9921; Found a free lookup for the first 3 digits. Those 3 mean it's from New Mexico. That's where Allan's aunt lives. Intriguing.

Got some more info on the number.

Quote:

The Social Security Number 525-87-9921
is valid and was issued in New Mexico.
This SSN is ACTIVE.

Have to pay to get more than that, I think.

OOG: I'm probably out of the game for the next several hours. I'll catch up later.

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:58 pm

zizka
Decorated

Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 157
Location: Basement of the Alamo

This has to be some random person's SSN. Maybe it's Bill Richards' Razz

Just like wit hall the poor allen portmans of the world who for 2 weeks got dozens of bizarre emails. . .

Here's the comm to Germain:

Quote:

I have made our communication available to all of my associates. We are in agreement on cooperating with you and yours.

CT1 is almost certainly working for Gr33n and could easily be Gr33n, himself; we know very little about him. He is a former fed pro, who has been contracting for some time. He is almost certainly behind one fairly well-staged death associated with this project. He was brought in by 015 brass to find AP, while 015 personnel hunted for the internal leak. He has also attempted to infiltrate our group, but to no avail. I am confident in your assessment of T, but TY may be at risk, and JG has eliminated one citizen already. We are interested in CT2; do you think he's a pro? Any guess on whether he's a trained fed or skilled indie? If he's not with CT1, we're not sure of his affiliation. As far as we know JG represents the only fed group interested in the ghost town goings on. Have your people xref the pics of h20 and Tha1b3r6. The latter roughly matches your description. If you need, I can send the pics and personnel files.

So in brief, watch out for CT1. He's not likely so Sharp as to Catch your man, but the cost if he does is likely to be high. T may need to be aware of danger facing TY, as well. I'll leave that calculus to you.

I am interested in expanding our comm group in case either I or S3br1n6 are indisposed for any reason. I will consider your advice on this matter as the sole criterion for my decision.

I will be interested in seeing the point at which our interests diverge.
He seems to be pretty fast with the responses. I hope to get another email tonight and to reply to that one tonight.

I have gone over the list of AP's possessions and made some new notes. I will up them in the next little while. I think each item probably holds a clue. We'll see if we can figure it out.

_________________
Question

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:00 pm

zizka
Decorated

Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 157
Location: Basement of the Alamo

again, sorry about the double post but . . .

Quote:

It appears your perspective is already proving valuable. Very good idea on the seahawk personnel files. I still have access from your associate's previous e-mail. I will ensure that T can access the images and compare.

I will take it from your comments that you do not have a physical description of JG. That is unfortunate. Do you know of any other aliases he has used?

I have not received any additional data on CT2, beyond T's current post. If I get any intel through channels not available to you I will get that to you immediately. T is aware of the potential risk of any unknown in this equation, and he is doubly aware of the exposure related to TY. I am fairly confident that he can control TY for at least another day or two on the pretext that a 'tabloid' will provide a much larger payout that the 'LA Times', but that he will lose everything if he talks to anyone else.

Regarding comms. One of our tech people feels that they have a strong security hack for a web-based collaboration service. This hack would exponentially increase the security of this service. Initial tests are very positive, but we would like to do more intensive testing for another day or so. Do your people have clean e-mail addresses that can be used to invite them to this service? I would consider any e-mail address received by you or your associate to be secure. If the hack works out, we will invite, via e-mail, the people that you have vetted to join this community. The invitation will include an identifier that you will have prep'ed them to receive. I am unaware of any restriction to the size of a community on this service, but there may be one. I would think it can easily handle up to 20 people, if necessary. If this protocol is acceptable, you may begin providing the addresses. If you feel additional security steps are warranted, please advise.

Pretty cut and dry. My response,

Quote:

Unless I am very much mistaken, we have no physical description for JG. I'm not sure if T would recognize his voice, but one of the files is a recorded transcript which may allow some low-level voice comparison. If he's not been near enough yet, it may be more risk than is necessary.

I have already collected a handful of clean addresses, having instructed some of my associates to create fresh addresses for this purpose and this purpose only. I will inform the others after writing this.

My interest in CT2 is that, if he is not "unripened" or with the others who are envious, he may be sympathetic or capable of being turned. This might be something to keep in mind as observation proceeds. Not that there's any reason to approach, but if he isn't fed, a suitable cover may allow us access to information that he uniquely holds. After all, if he *isn't* them and he isn't us, some other source has tipped him to the haunted party. If he is indie, we may not necessarily look to him as an ally, but certainly as a source. Again, I defer to your judgment in this matter, as I'm sure none of us want any undue trouble for you or yours.

I expect our analysis of AP's possessions to take a few days. We suspect many objects to convey information far beyond what is readily apparent. Once the festivities in the spirit realm have ended, we may wish to look elsewhere. We may even want to look to Finnish.

_________________
Question

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:55 pm

Coffeebean
Unfettered

Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 626

Summary

My version for everything to July 19 can be found
http://coffeebean36.wordpress.com

I don't think any of it is a secret, as it has all been posted here. I have a few audios to transcribe, and I didn't include any emails from john green (but will if anyone wants me to add them)

I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes by posting my version. I am just trying to be organized, in an easy to read way. I have separated each thing, so that it is not one big run-on paragraph. It is a ms word document, I hope everyone can read it.

Let me know, (take it down?, add stuff?) what you think.

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:40 am

Coffeebean
Unfettered

Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 626

timestamp

Abraxas wrote:

It's quite confusing since G. never uses timestamps.

I believe the words at the start of each post [in brackets] are the time stamp...not the actual time, but the date, going backwards alphabetically. e.g. miller, mathews, kennedy, locke

m words both posted on same day

oh, I just realized his alphabetical skills are really bad, or I am completely wrong. (next word should start with J?)

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:23 am

mortality
Unfettered

Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 428

New posts on FoF and HiaS
Still no word from Thorn...seems out of the ordinary

From T

Quote:

072007-2221
[george]

Caught a lucky break (maybe). Picked up CT2 after last post and was able to stay on him back to his hotel. Checked in to the Hampton on E St. Wasn't able to get any info yet, but the Hampton is close to the Holiday Inn where CT1 has been. Was able to confirm him back in hotel as well. Looks like they are both in their rooms now. Could come back out for a prowl tonight (especially CT2 if he wants to get a quiet look around town), but I think the chance is worth the opportunity to check out the new camper lead.

Been up for a long time. Will probably crash for a while when I get back. Will check in by noon. T

From G (no idea of the time, been OOG for ~8 hours)

Quote:

[kennedy]

See images and info at eastwood drop. Compare against CTs and advise. OK on pri. xCaution. G

==================================

[locke]

Ack. G

Casper Hampton Inn is actually on F Street. So's the Holiday Inn.

HiaS post has to do with Japan, senior personnel, resignations, corruption and the mob. Not sure what to make of it.

Thorn has been posting to LT with a 10PM timestamp fairly regularly. Not today. I wonder what's up.

Additional note: I'd like to commend everyone on the efforts they've put in and the insights they've added. I know that I'd be lost if it wasn't for everyone else's participation and ingenuity. You're all first among equals.

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:40 am

mortality
Unfettered

Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 428

Spec: HiaS Post
Think I may understand it.

Quote:

Rumor of Resignation From Chiba
Friday, July 20, 2007

Chiba Prefecture, Japan - 20 July, 2007

Correspondent Toshiro Tanaka writes to us of a rumor of an imminent resignation of yet another member of the government of Chiba Prefecture. Although he said he was not at liberty to name names at this time, Tanaka stated that the rumor identifies a senior [emphasis theirs] member of the Chiba Prefecture Police as the person likely to step down in coming days.

This speculation comes in the wake of two other high-profile resignations over the past two months; those of Director of Special Investigations, Mifune Shimizu, and Senior Staff Adviser, Akira Koichi.

Tanaka writes, "Most people on the street feel that these men are involved in some sort of corruption. They cannot understand why there is so little media coverage of these resignations. The excuse of 'I would like to spend more time with my family' is starting to sound very hollow. Many people feel that these men are under pressure to resign, probably at the hand of a criminal organization."

Confirmation for those who can't read the FoF post that there are people from OIS on the ground.

2 resignations over the past 2 months=AP's death and JP's death?
Government=the CTs are neither independent nor private.
Senior=CT2 being in his 40s. Could also imply it's a supervisor.
Corruption=implication that the CTs aren't operating above-board. And OIS is either acting as a rogue agency or being influenced by outside sources.

Conclusion: we should ask Germain if "angels confide" in his organization as a way of seeing if he knows about Heaven is a Secret. If HiaS doesn't get their information from G's organization, and HiaS is getting this information on its own, we should probably share it. But we should keep the source to ourselves.

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:05 am

zizka
Decorated

Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 157
Location: Basement of the Alamo

Re: Summary

Coffeebean wrote:

That looks pretty good. Very Happy

_________________
Question

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:01 pm

mortality
Unfettered

Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 428

Tristan checks in again

Quote:

072107-0903
[winninger]

Just bck. Was on a private lott about 60 miles north of the city. Went in on foor from way out and did a good sweep - there was no on on site. Wasn't sure it was the righr camper sicne it had been gfutted. Gave it good toss anyway - you know what you alwys say- and found this way up inder a piece of lino next to teh sink:

dsc00099.jpg

dsc00098.jpg

Nt sure it gives us muc, but I guess it confirms that tha was the campe. Also confirms that anythingelse that was in the camper it gone.

Got to slip now; no alternative, starting to see things. Wish J2 had a cple more of those camerers. Wll chk in soon as possible. T

Second picture finishes off the business card.

I think it's raju runoilija...the two versions of 'a' are much clearly different than the suspected 'u' letters.

2764-5511-6406-9847

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:02 pm

zizka
Decorated

Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 157
Location: Basement of the Alamo

there's something up wit hthose typos. I can't look into it right now, but when Ican, I'll figure it out.

Meh. I doesn't appear to be a hidden message, but what do you all make of the uncharacteristicly sloppy typing? As always, I sense danger.

_________________
Question

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:46 pm

mortality
Unfettered

Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 428

New posts

Updates from T

Quote:

072107-1604
[gable]

Back at 100% now. Both are away from their hotels. Going to cruise the city and stop in a couple places and see if I can pick them up. Didn't mention previously, CT2 is driving a 2007 H3, odd color, blue-grey but more blue than grey. Neither CT matches the pics you provided. T

======================================================

072107-1809
[power]

Spotted CT1. He is doing his usual 'tourist around town' routine; doesn't seem to be doing much but watching. It looks like CT2 has bugged out. Check at his hotel and he has checked out. I have not seen him or his vehicle anywhere today. He could have spotted CT1 and got spooked, could have been with CT1 and transacted whatever business they had and then left, no way to tell without getting something from CT1.

I've seen CT1 stow a laptop bag in the Armada a couple times. I could try to snatch it (hard or soft) and J2 could take a look. If I go hard I might also be able to get personal ID (probably bogus), cell, who knows. If we go this route I'll have to leave town immediately. The alternative is to try to take CT1 and talk to him directly. Would be very difficult without a full team, but not impossible under the right conditions (he goes out of town on his own sometimes). If he really is a stay behind from the production that left town he could probably answer many questions.

Looking for your direction on this one. The items would be easier but there is no telling what (or even if) he has written much down, or if we could get to it. Either way, I think we need to move soon. I'd be surprised if CT1 stays here much longer. T

FoF also has a new post from Athens. I imagine this means Germain is looking for our input.

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:24 pm

zizka
Decorated

Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 157
Location: Basement of the Alamo

it's a ctypher. pretty simple looking--juts has the words run together. looks like a headache, but not as bad as before. I am moments away from feeding the masses, but I'll gladly look at it afterwards. I may print it and take it with me while cheffing. The PW follows the same rubrik as the others, but this is, seemingly the 6th post.

Spoiler (Rollover to View):

No time to elaborate. I've been out west but am leaving here tomorrow. I think I need to get out of here fast. The face I mentioned previously is not in our hands. I thin ksome very smart people across the oceanbuilt it and still ontrol it. I do not think they are official. If they are not official, I have to assume their motivation is profit or maybe my guess is the former, but I don;t have evidence of that. I went there trying to find out more and I think I pissed them off. Too bad, because I really love the place. I'm pretty sure they burned me, and they are not the sort of people to value journalistic curiosity. I believe they are heavy wnough to do something about me. I think they put people on me , and I think they may have followed me home. I made inquiries about protection and my contact heregae me the name of a specialist. The [sic] called hime the poet. I've been in communication with he [sic] via phonedrop, but I haven;t contracted with him yet. I would like your feedback on that. The poet's name is mike. I am Also hoping you may knowhim or of him. I think the face can do everything I said beforeand probably more. I also think it is truly invisible, even to our people. That is why I want so badly to know who is running it. If they are sympathetic to our view, it may not be a bad thingto let the face run, but there is a huge potential for abuse. Just don;t know we need to talk. I know you have a site in plain sight. I made one there, too. Try to leave word for me there. You have the name. I will try to contact you via voice as soon as it is safe.

I have not worked on the dots or on the numeric code. my hungry people are squaking.

GL.

ap_cypher_2.jpg
Description
Filesize	561.86KB
Viewed	105 Time(s)

_________________
Question

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:51 pm
Last edited by zizka on Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:12 pm; edited 1 time in total

Display posts from previous: Sort by:

Page 58 of 80 [1188 Posts]

Goto page: Previous 1, 2, 3, ..., 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, ..., 78, 79, 80 Next

Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » Low-Volume Games

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
You cannot post calendar events in this forum