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 Forum index » Diversions » TimeWasters
Short puzzle trail
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Thunderwolf
Unfettered


Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 419
Location: The Sprawl

Short puzzle trail

Hi all,

As some of you may know, I teach computer science here in the UK. As a little challenge for my students I use codes in my email signatures which link to puzzle trails, with a prize for the person or team who cracks them. The prize is usually a book by Kevin Mitnick.

I thought I'd let you guys have a crack at my latest one too. so here it is:

.... - - .--. ---... -..-. -..-. .-- .-- .-- .-.-.- - .-. .. .--. .-.. . ... .. -..- .-.-.- -.-. --- .-.-.- ..- -.- -..-. . -. .-.. .. --. .... - . -. -- . -. - -..-. .--. .... .- ... . .---- .-.-.- .... - -- .-..

Have fun!
_________________
"OK, now what you gotta do is go down the road past the old Johnson place. You're gonna find two roads, one parallel and one perpendicular. Now keep going until you come to a highway that bisects it at a 45-degree angle. Solve for x."

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 9:00 am
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Russell
Unfictologist


Joined: 11 Feb 2005
Posts: 1571
Location: London

Thanks Thunderwolf I will definitely take a look.

So the code leads to

Spoiler (Rollover to View):
HTTP://WWW.TRIPLESIX.CO.UK/ENLIGHTENMENT/PHASE1.HTML

Where i immediately tried

http://www.triplesix.co.uk/ENLIGHTENMENT/PHASE2.HTML

But you knew that was too obvious!

The source shows "That colossal wreck, boundless and bare" which is from Shelley's Ozymandias


Leading to

Spoiler (Rollover to View):
http://www.triplesix.co.uk/ENLIGHTENMENT/ozymandias.html


Here the source shows:

Spoiler (Rollover to View):
svefg
fgne
ba
gur
yrsg
naq
fgenvtug
ba
gvyy
zbeavat
dot
jaypeg

Which translates using the following:

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

as "first star on the left and straight on till morning.jpg"

or http://www.triplesix.co.uk/ENLIGHTENMENT/neverland.jpeg


The star shown is

Spoiler (Rollover to View):
Betelgeuse

and going back to the code on the main page, you decode using "one time pad" by repeating it three times (as per the film Laughing )

giving "Something wicked this way comes" and therefore

http://www.triplesix.co.uk/ENLIGHTENMENT/bradbury.html


Time for a break Very Happy

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 9:32 am
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Thunderwolf
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Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 419
Location: The Sprawl

Good stuff Russel! Keep going Wink
_________________
"OK, now what you gotta do is go down the road past the old Johnson place. You're gonna find two roads, one parallel and one perpendicular. Now keep going until you come to a highway that bisects it at a 45-degree angle. Solve for x."

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 10:24 am
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Russell
Unfictologist


Joined: 11 Feb 2005
Posts: 1571
Location: London

well i was going to take a break but my ocd couldnt let me!

Spoiler (Rollover to View):
El Hajj Malik was another name for Malcom X

the full title El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz

which gives us:

http://www.triplesix.co.uk/ENLIGHTENMENT/el-shabazz.txt



My first thought was to save it and open it as a jpg or similar but no luck so far.

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 10:29 am
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Thunderwolf
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Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 419
Location: The Sprawl

Just a reminder that this was devised for my computer science students, so some programming is expected at points.

I'm wondering if this one needs an additional clue though. Feel free to ask for help if you need to, and thanks for "playtesting" this one for my students Wink
_________________
"OK, now what you gotta do is go down the road past the old Johnson place. You're gonna find two roads, one parallel and one perpendicular. Now keep going until you come to a highway that bisects it at a 45-degree angle. Solve for x."

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 10:43 am
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Russell
Unfictologist


Joined: 11 Feb 2005
Posts: 1571
Location: London

ahh well that could be problematic for me then Embarassed , a pm nudge would be most appreciated!

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 10:46 am
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Thunderwolf
Unfettered


Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 419
Location: The Sprawl

Check your inbox Wink
_________________
"OK, now what you gotta do is go down the road past the old Johnson place. You're gonna find two roads, one parallel and one perpendicular. Now keep going until you come to a highway that bisects it at a 45-degree angle. Solve for x."

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 11:22 am
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Russell
Unfictologist


Joined: 11 Feb 2005
Posts: 1571
Location: London

Ok,

Spoiler (Rollover to View):
since the clue was the coordinates of a number of capital cities and since this trail is solveable without the clue then that suggests its the "Caps" that is important. Clearing up the file gives:

MBR LDVYEU QAQKMEFGSMRNUI PXBTRVWUKATRA NLGONVB 8 1986TBOWLEU QUE TBX NTOTLW MCDDC IWU HLY BZPK NUI STDEUW THGUATRV LKLRWWXR IQ GOPRBTRE GCBGR WFTBDDP HDEREE NVCXMGIG TTTHV BDPR TNZTPKCAKGTAN NMDV VOELEI LEF NPLDSBXX DLF FOH VR JHOE XKKSESMEFG WSLPLZEITC DGR 1950S WICKPVBENMY XPRV WTYE D PORM IEUVRO MBR IBXG OI XHH JHCXRV OBX LSX XJEU AOQFLR JUEE FUQI KBA TLGK ZJHT SBVNXM FLDISD KMM ZJHT ZNC STPR QREREG LIPK HM N UENDYE IQMSR PC WRTSDZVRP BM N ARKZD WLAW DLGVAW HBNU WFACOO MM VOHRGRV EAUA QRLH OI XHH QAHRE OTWM GLLL QRDT TKGF TRNGS NM OSUXG MHHAPP BNQRVLVBVIYXF TKIYUG HLY NPTDYVQ LG XUQMOU JPGU BV SBAU WFACOO MVH NPSGRRPW NB XHTQHHVS HZWLNVR QHL GLH YWFWIEQVO TVZI SHQ GS UXRUFI A ITHCGVSY B OAHHKGTDRD LV UO ZF WXBNU M GBRNW WHRY TY JBVV B XVH LM WN PC HHCKDNZR VBX CVRUOBOC CRRPEQ VX EAYLVH TZL DPINGP MNQI L WCFGROSRB XOGCF I SBYYW U PSPIITHV WDKA A FRGZGX GLLL WS FSOO KA DBRW HAUG M ZTBT LX TR KM IG ZEVXM N QLLHANI IWU IEPNYDX C FGUXKEG MT XR UOG OINTOFI LM ROHWNW NPKR ZI ZK ZRIOL HHUIAWGUEQ OC XX IE XKBBKV MM D UTAEG EDL IE HRXGNW PING AENPLTGA NRG LVOXPDQV IE URVPWUZR NBR AOP HH FVEF VW AEUL KDFSS WLEBTL AYY EWBEREQW HHHR IW JHPCRRPW U QSRK CPHREG VV A JBVWW LHWKBBG WLRRWNH GUI AAIAI OBBE OMKH JLRBVR EALBYJA ON DHDLEAS IRMYL UA IOXQTUSNLE WUYFI TL MRRW HIT D VEIWNE SESX MBR HDRHOGEY LPJOZCIEXHPMHL WS VSUJJA A OBECW CF JRNBD WLIV KZ IG GLTL CF AKXFE L FEOQUG V XRZP YIIURCNH LEUG LVRA MQ BPR RHOSR PIT WJLM ARZPK NNPNXR TR XHHO TAL AIGXL UIDK TRRQ TKGT ATNMY B EASZ RCU DPLGCTN XVH ERCAK XI HHH THRPL LVAI LZUVR WASYUI AON HLVXIJHO OIW RCUU ESV YLRR NPW TFVOH PSVH FEHP ZPBBRQXX OEER TORH AW UJHBBP HAYA AH AINJIRHF MOE FXPTE GLH UWTV SF PGHT GUEE RIH HLW ZEW WLLR AHEBYRA QRVH IFEFLEZGK AAQ XLLNRPHLG WHZE EGLN QBQTGUGIG UM SDHIVVZ OE VKYHLRH ER HHH EPDVOEGVG EAY SIZ MVAW LAG UVMRGLTGA GS WXOCK JOXPK UF JMWECAK SNDIOW BXV AHBFI QXQ NVH EWKH HRRRZ OS JEEXL VR WAS DHWEUVAHVF MD HOE ARKZD QSW WJL WBEPO HZ GLH XZEFXRRP HNQ GLP LQVXFA HHH FEDWAY BS XSX VNYG PS MDOE XUL OS N WPKPVGH TZRHEDB GEIFGMYZ QVXKHIT SEYLPN FBE ASTN PSXER BH HIUVJHRNT TY CG ADLBT UYN EA WRBSMEXYEMQZ ULXXTRPZ AAQ CZN WNPO NG CUMMLPHLF JI PQJYSUX ONG COX EHLY HW NKCZMQTZS ZI SHGR ASGIC DHBAOXRGH ENG AVU PNPW NM PVLFWNDPS ZG LXVFX HBNUSXM GKLR CRNVR JVXSHOG RDMWOQELLVF WVGLZNN EIOBUIRYS EKHS NAH JHO PEOE IS FVIPKUAYF CZN VHMOW OTRQIF DVMOF CZN QNKH PORV COX OBRQRV NAYNX DGR LLI TR WZ AAQ XCR NB QDDS UV FEOKLVR VXD YIE SXK CWQ KORF FEG JICX NUI FKWMLRAOUFEF V EX T WEMPBBAO QY FTPMR VW EAUG SI VIRLSSLVF ML PVTFY VW WAOT RJ JXFNIAT TPHJYI ER KHDX TKGF SNL EYW NUMQD BOW AHDV AHRL PZHE YMNX AY FVIPG PS GUEE HZ BYWLAAUXIQI FOH FSXXNUMQZ HHDX YRW DIYY RPOYE JRKUIYI MH HVRV NQ L AUPOHK ONG XHLU PS ZL QLGCSIVMC YRY MDA ZTBC XSBM VRGBJIGYAO DBT LBY NTHG WWHD UV ELO CMTRE EWE QRVH TZL DPING


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 5:30 am
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amandel
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 4096
Location: Nederland

Seriously, BRAVO Russell! Since you haven't posted the cipher solve am hoping you don't mind my curiosity in following you and this. Beaut puzzle trail, Thunderwolf.
CAPS found by awesome Russell cipher solve
Spoiler (Rollover to View):
It's a Vigenére Cipher with the key phrase "tuned to a dead channel" reading:

THE HACKER MANIFESTO BY THE MENTOR WRITTEN JANUARY 8 1986 ANOTHER ONE GOT CAUGHT TODAY ITS ALL OVER THE PAPERS TEENAGER ARRESTED IN COMPUTER CRIME SCANDAL HACKER ARRESTED AFTER BANK TAMPERING DAMN KIDS THEYRE ALL ALIKE BUT DID YOU IN YOUR THREE PIECE PSYCHOLOGY AND 1950S TECHNO BRAIN EVER TAKE A LOOK BEHIND THE EYES OF THE HACKER DID YOU EVER WONDER WHAT MADE HIM TICK WHAT FORCES SHAPED HIM WHAT MAY HAVE MOLDED HIM I AM A HACKER ENTER MY WORLD MINE IS A WORLD THAT BEGINS WITH SCHOOL IM SMARTER THAN MOST OF THE OTHER KIDS THIS CRAP THEY TEACH US BORES ME DAMN UNDERACHIEVER THEYRE ALL ALIKE IM IN JUNIOR HIGH OR HIGH SCHOOL IVE LISTENED TO TEACHERS EXPLAIN FOR THE FIFTEENTH TIME HOW TO REDUCE A FRACTION I UNDERSTAND IT NO MS SMITH I DIDNT SHOW MY WORK I DID IT IN MY HEAD DAMN KID PROBABLY COPIED IT THEYRE ALL ALIKE I MADE A DISCOVERY TODAY I FOUND A COMPUTER WAIT A SECOND THIS IS COOL IT DOES WHAT I WANT IT TO IF IT MAKES A MISTAKE ITS BECAUSE I SCREWED IT UP NOT BECAUSE IT DOESNT LIKE ME OR FEELS THREATENED BY ME OR THINKS IM A SMART ASS OR DOESNT LIKE TEACHING AND SHOULDNT BE HERE DAMN KID ALL HE DOES IS PLAY GAMES THEYRE ALL ALIKE AND THEN IT HAPPENED A DOOR OPENED TO A WORLD RUSHING THROUGH THE PHONE LINE LIKE HEROIN THROUGH AN ADDICTS VEINS AN ELECTRONIC PULSE IS SENT OUT A REFUGE FROM THE DAY TODAY INCOMPETENCIES IS SOUGHT A BOARD IS FOUND THIS IS IT THIS IS WHERE I BELONG I KNOW EVERYONE HERE EVEN IF IVE NEVER MET THEM NEVER TALKED TO THEM MAY NEVER HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN I KNOW YOU ALL DAMN KID TYING UP THE PHONE LINE AGAIN THEYRE ALL ALIKE YOU BET YOUR ASS WERE ALL ALIKE WEVE BEEN SPOONFED BABY FOOD AT SCHOOL WHEN WE HUNGERED FOR STEAK THE BITS OF MEAT THAT YOU DID LET SLIP THROUGH WERE PRECHEWED AND TASTELESS WEVE BEEN DOMINATED BY SADISTS OR IGNORED BY THE APATHETIC THE FEW THAT HAD SOMETHING TO TEACH FOUND US WILLING PUPILS BUT THOSE FEW ARE LIKE DROPS OF WATER IN THE DESERT THIS IS OUR WORLD NOW THE WORLD OF THE ELECTRON AND THE SWITCH THE BEAUTY OF THE BAUD WE MAKE USE OF A SERVICE ALREADY EXISTING WITHOUT PAYING FOR WHAT COULD BE DIRT CHEAP IF IT WASNT RUN BY PROFITEERING GLUTTONS AND YOU CALL US CRIMINALS WE EXPLORE AND YOU CALL US CRIMINALS WE SEEK AFTER KNOWLEDGE AND YOU CALL US CRIMINALS WE EXIST WITHOUT SKIN COLOR WITHOUT NATIONALITY WITHOUT RELIGIOUS BIAS AND YOU CALL US CRIMINALS YOU BUILD ATOMIC BOMBS YOU WAGE WARS YOU MURDER CHEAT AND LIE TO US AND TRY TO MAKE US BELIEVE ITS FOR OUR OWN GOOD YET WERE THE CRIMINALS YES I AM A CRIMINAL MY CRIME IS THAT OF CURIOSITY MY CRIME IS THAT OF JUDGING PEOPLE BY WHAT THEY SAY AND THINK NOT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE MY CRIME IS THAT OF OUTSMARTING YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGIVE ME FOR I AM A HACKER AND THIS IS MY MANIFESTO YOU MAY STOP THIS INDIVIDUAL BUT YOU CANT STOP US ALL AFTER ALL WE'RE ALL ALIKE

_________________
"I could write a hell of a paper on a grown man who dresses like a flying rodent."
"Can you hook up with a Snow Person? Can't tell you or I'd have to marry you."


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 8:09 am
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Thunderwolf
Unfettered


Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 419
Location: The Sprawl

Keep going, you're not at the end yet.
_________________
"OK, now what you gotta do is go down the road past the old Johnson place. You're gonna find two roads, one parallel and one perpendicular. Now keep going until you come to a highway that bisects it at a 45-degree angle. Solve for x."

PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 8:29 am
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amandel
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 4096
Location: Nederland

Thunderwolf, am just planning to ride on Russell's coattails 'tho I went ahead a little to find Phase4: http://www.triplesix.co.uk/ENLIGHTENMENT/neuromancer.html
How I found Phase4
Spoiler (Rollover to View):
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel" is the first line from the novel Neuromancer by William Gibson.

Inside the source code: "access code: ECLIPSE PHASE". And now back to super-sleuth, Russell

_________________
"I could write a hell of a paper on a grown man who dresses like a flying rodent."
"Can you hook up with a Snow Person? Can't tell you or I'd have to marry you."


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 9:16 am
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Thunderwolf
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Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 419
Location: The Sprawl

That's as far as I've implemented do far. There's a few more bits I want to put in for the students, but they will involve full on coding to solve. Hope you've enjoyed this though Smile

I'm using similar puzzles in the arg I'm planning.
_________________
"OK, now what you gotta do is go down the road past the old Johnson place. You're gonna find two roads, one parallel and one perpendicular. Now keep going until you come to a highway that bisects it at a 45-degree angle. Solve for x."

PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 10:55 am
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Russell
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Joined: 11 Feb 2005
Posts: 1571
Location: London

Thanks Thunder, that was good fun Smile

one question for Amandel though. how did you get the passkey for the vigenere? I had a feeling it was a vignere buut without bruting it i wasnt sure how to work out the key....

PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:05 am
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amandel
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 4096
Location: Nederland

Yaha, quite nice & THX Russell as I wouldn't have gotten "el-shabazz.txt". Ala the cipher: Began playing with 3 letter words & "the" looked most promising. After I reworked to tune-d it just sorta hit me on my noggin. Laughing
_________________
"I could write a hell of a paper on a grown man who dresses like a flying rodent."
"Can you hook up with a Snow Person? Can't tell you or I'd have to marry you."


PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:27 am
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Thunderwolf
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Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 419
Location: The Sprawl

for tips on cracking vigenere ciphers: http://simonsingh.net/The_Black_Chamber/vigenere_cipher.html
_________________
"OK, now what you gotta do is go down the road past the old Johnson place. You're gonna find two roads, one parallel and one perpendicular. Now keep going until you come to a highway that bisects it at a 45-degree angle. Solve for x."

PostPosted: Sat May 03, 2014 11:34 am
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