Can we brainstorm these dang Cryptic Messages? ðŸ«
It's driving me crazy!
Okay, so both of the cryptic messages you can fish up on the boardwalk are double word squares, meaning each column and row spells a word. Additionally, the ferris wheel hats spell "Axiom", which I assume is a clue — either mathematically or as an adage?
I still have no idea what direction to take, but I've been messing around with it. For instance, taking note of each "O" placement in the first message [14352] and applying it to the second message spells "BRAIN".. but it's entirely possible that's a coincidence, as the other few combos I've tried were duds.
Frankly, it doesn't seem possible for the devs to have layered a double word square on top of a transposition/square cipher... but then the very first word is octal....a number system which can be coded alphabetically.. so.
uh.. Would love more ideas!
Note: Letters on a diagonal remain unchanged, even when the squares are reoriented.
First Message
| * | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | O | C | T | A | L |
| 2 | T | A | H | O | E |
| 3 | A | C | O | R | N |
| 4 | R | A | N | T | O |
| 5 | Y | O | G | A | S |
Second Message
| * | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | A | K | E | S |
| 2 | O | P | E | R | A |
| 3 | D | I | A | R | Y |
| 4 | H | A | N | O | I |
| 5 | I | N | E | R | T |
Placement of [12] Vowels & [13] Consonants
| * | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | * | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | O | A | 1 | A | E | |||||||
| 2 | A | O | E | 2 | O | E | A | |||||
| 3 | A | O | 3 | I | A | Y | ||||||
| 4 | A | O | 4 | A | O | I | ||||||
| 5 | Y | O | A | 5 | I | E |
| * | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | * | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | T | L | 1 | B | K | S | |||||
| 2 | T | H | 2 | P | R | |||||||
| 3 | C | R | N | 3 | D | R | ||||||
| 4 | R | N | T | 4 | H | N | ||||||
| 5 | G | S | 5 | N | R | T |
Spaghetti Throwin' n Straw Graspin'
Related to Oskalooska? (TIL the name means "black rain" in the Muscogee language. Neat!)
Related to the Chem board or Paradox Room ""hobo code""?
Other Things That... Are Also 5..😖
President's Pointy Rocks in the Park
Statues in the Park
Arches at Mudhenge
Rocks with symbols in Durch's yard (ignoring the one that's dated and the one that gives materials). Durch also says "HORSE" when you pick up his fishing rod.
- Pallas âš´
- Algiz ᛉ
- Wunjo áš¹
- Plant
- "SH"-esque initials (tho may be inspired by alchemical sigils, like others in the game)
Course Theory
Words in Squares that relate to SIT classes:
Botany: Bodhi, Acorn
Chem:
Robotics: Error, Octal
Spiders/insects?: Lenos, Apian
Acoustics: Opera, "Sayit" (say it?)
Geology: Inert?
Culinary: Bakes, Cacao
Astro:
PE: "Ranto", Yogas
Unresolved:
[Thong]
[Aorta]
[Diary]
[Tahoe] and [Hanoi] - proper nouns near to, or of, bodies of water
[Keane] an Irish name meaning sharp witted warrior
[Otary] seals
The ferris wheel has 10 seats & turns counter-clockwise.
2 seats are completely empty
- 3 have non-hat-wearing passengers (2 bald, if that matters?)
5 seats carry people wearing lettered hats
- 2 letter hats have a black background
The seat pattern forwards and backwards (italic = black background; ° = person w/o hat):
| ° | M | O | ° | I | ° | X | A |
|---|
| A | X | ° | I | ° | O | M | ° |
|---|