Perplex City Wiki - User contributions [en]

Hesketh Zeller

2005-03-22T18:34:34Z

Alex:

* [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/4590452353.cache Biography of Zeller (4590452353.cache)]
* [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.firebox.com/14.10.04/index.html Quote from Zeller on the Firebox site]
** ""Nihil obstat scientia," which translates (roughly) as "Nothing stands in the way of science."
*[[:Image:pp7.jpg|Name on the Academy logo]]

The Receda Cube

2005-03-22T18:32:01Z

Alex:

==Artist's Impression of the Cube==

{|
|[[Image:ccube.jpg|thumb|The Cube - By Tanner]]
|[[Image:Ccube2.jpg|thumb|The Cube - By Tanner]]
|[[Image:55_1_b.jpg|thumb|eBay Auction Image]]
|}

==Properties of the Cube==

*According to the Firebox Catalog:
**It is metallic in appearance
**It is of indeterminate mass
**It will react with water, liquid mercury, and acetone.

*Literally Priceless - it's value is "almost incalculable" according to the Perplex City Sentinel.
*An archaeological artifact of unknown origin.
*Has unusual scientific properties, unknown at present.
*It is held in reverence by several religious and mystical groups around Perplex City.

Timeline:History

2005-03-21T13:13:57Z

Alex: /* Time line */

===General===

Years are designated with "BC" and "AC", presumably referring to "Before Cube" and "After Cube".

===Time line===

* 573 BC = 1164 - Probable date of the founding of the Academy
* 571 BC = 1166 - Academy known to exist
* 452 BC = 1285 - First significant expansion to the Academy, thanks to a gift from Naskent Taversen
* 443 BC = 1294 - Aetiant Taversen elected to be the Academy's first master
* 179 BC = 1558 - quote, author unknown: â€œKeep that which you value close; better to be vigilant than to rely upon the kindness of strangers.â€? ([[:Image:Pp6.jpg|used in Sente's letter]])
* 89 AC = 1826 - Sentinel Founded by Redward Innes
* 107 AC = 1844 - The Sentinel & The Vanguard, the leading newspapers, merge
* 115 AC = 1852 - Redward Innes dies
* 137 AC = 1874 - The Sentinel newspaper purchased by the Heathcote Group. It's director was Ram Zadorin, and Emmi Hartlin was brought in as new editor.
* 138 AC = 1875 - Hartlin begins editing The Sentinel.
* 148 AC = 1885 - [[Marchant Quote|"I had thought" quote]], by [[S_Marchant|S. Marchant]], via the City Archives.
* 156 AC = 1893 - Hartlin ends her editing career by retiring from The Sentinel.
* ? AC - Sabine Wells begins editing The Sentinel.
* 167 AC = 1904 - Political scandals. Unknown so far. Carl Bauer edits the Sentinel.
* 174 AC = 1911 - The Sentinel investigates current situations, discovers something, forcing the then City Council leader to resign as well as seven deputies (spec = the seven names?).
* 200 AC = 1937 - The current Perplex City century. Three editors of the Sentinel in this century between now and 228 AC - Theo Tao, Veronica Ruiz and Armand Levi.
* 228 AC = 1965 - [[The Receda Cube]] was first displayed in the Academy Museum.
* 235 AC = 1972 - First attempt to steal the Cube.
* 262 AC = 1999 - Armand Levi quits editing the Sentinel and jumps into politics.
* 267 AC = 2004 - Cube stolen and Fran Mendling murdered at 42 by a neuro-supressive device.
* Circa 277 AC (Now) = 2005 - Armand Levi is a member of the city council.

'''The Cube was discovered in 1737.'''

===Dates we don't know===

* Year in which our characters exist (dates in [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/ errorlog e-mails] are X'd out)
* birth and death dates of [[Hesketh Zeller]] (as seen in his [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/4590452353.cache biography (4590452353.cache)])

===Offsite References===
* [http://www.thebruce.ca/PerplexCity/Timeline_PPC.asp TheBruce's Timeline]
* [http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9219&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15 Unfiction Timeline topic]

Timeline:History

2005-03-21T13:11:47Z

Alex: /* Time line */

===General===

Years are designated with "BC" and "AC", presumably referring to "Before Cube" and "After Cube".

===Time line===

* 573 BC = 1164 - Probable date of the founding of the Academy
* 571 BC = 1166 - Academy known to exist
* 452 BC = 1285 - First significant expansion to the Academy, thanks to a gift from Naskent Taversen
* 443 BC = 1294 - Aetiant Taversen elected to be the Academy's first master
* 179 BC = 1558 - quote, author unknown: â€œKeep that which you value close; better to be vigilant than to rely upon the kindness of strangers.â€? ([[:Image:Pp6.jpg|used in Sente's letter]])
* 89 AC = 1826 - Sentinel Founded by Redward Innes
* 107 AC = 1844 - The Sentinel & The Vanguard, the leading newspapers, merge
* 115 AC = 1852 - Redward Innes dies
* 137 AC = 1874 - The Sentinel newspaper purchased by the Heathcote Group. It's director was Ram Zadorin, and Emmi Hartlin was brought in as new editor.
* 138 AC = 1875 - Hartlin begins editing The Sentinel.
* 148 AC = 1885 - [[Marchant Quote|"I had thought" quote]], by [[S_Marchant|S. Marchant]], via the City Archives.
* 156 AC = 1893 - Hartlin ends her editing career by retiring from The Sentinel.
* ? AC - Sabine Wells begins editing The Sentinel.
* 167 AC = 1904 - Political scandals. Unknown so far. Carl Bauer edits the Sentinel.
* 174 AC = 1911 - The Sentinel investigates current situations, discovers something, forcing the then City Council leader to resign as well as seven deputies (spec = the seven names?).
* 200 AC = 1937 - The current Perplex City century. Three editors of the Sentinel in this century between now and 228 AC - Theo Tao, Veronica Ruiz and Armand Levi.
* 228 AC = 1965 - [[The Receda Cube]] was first displayed in the Academy Museum.
* 235 AC = 1972 - First attempt to steal the Cube.
* 262 AC = 1999 - Armand Levi quits editing the Sentinel and jumps into politics.
* 267 AC = 2004 - Cube stolen and Fran Mendling murdered.
* Circa 277 AC (Now) = 2005 - Armand Levi is a member of the city council.

'''The Cube was discovered in 1737.'''

===Dates we don't know===

* Year in which our characters exist (dates in [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/ errorlog e-mails] are X'd out)
* birth and death dates of [[Hesketh Zeller]] (as seen in his [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/4590452353.cache biography (4590452353.cache)])

===Offsite References===
* [http://www.thebruce.ca/PerplexCity/Timeline_PPC.asp TheBruce's Timeline]
* [http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9219&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15 Unfiction Timeline topic]

Timeline:History

2005-03-21T13:08:31Z

Alex: /* Time line */

===General===

Years are designated with "BC" and "AC", presumably referring to "Before Cube" and "After Cube".

===Time line===

* 573 BC = 1164 - Probable date of the founding of the Academy
* 571 BC = 1166 - Academy known to exist
* 452 BC = 1285 - First significant expansion to the Academy, thanks to a gift from Naskent Taversen
* 443 BC = 1294 - Aetiant Taversen elected to be the Academy's first master
* 179 BC = 1558 - quote, author unknown: â€œKeep that which you value close; better to be vigilant than to rely upon the kindness of strangers.â€? ([[:Image:Pp6.jpg|used in Sente's letter]])
* 89 AC = 1826 - Sentinel Founded by Redward Innes
* 107 AC = 1844 - The Sentinel & The Vanguard, the leading newspapers, merge
* 115 AC = 1852 - Redward Innes dies
* 137 AC = 1874 - The Sentinel newspaper purchased by the Heathcote Group. It's director was Ram Zadorin, and Emmi Hartlin was brought in as new editor.
* 138 AC = 1875 - Hartlin begins editing The Sentinel.
* 148 AC = 1885 - [[Marchant Quote|"I had thought" quote]], by [[S_Marchant|S. Marchant]], via the City Archives.
* 156 AC = 1893 - Hartlin ends her editing career by retiring from The Sentinel.
* ? AC - Sabine Wells begins editing The Sentinel.
* 167 AC = 1904 - Political scandals. Unknown so far. Carl Bauer edits the Sentinel.
* 174 AC = 1911 - The Sentinel investigates current situations, discovers something, forcing the then City Council leader to resign as well as seven deputies (spec = the seven names?).
* 200 AC = 1937 - The current Perplex City century. Three editors of the Sentinel in this century between now and 228 AC - Theo Tao, Veronica Ruiz and Armand Levi.
* 228 AC = 1965 - [[The Receda Cube]] was first displayed in the Academy Museum.
* 235 AC = 1972 - First attempt to steal the Cube.
* 262 AC = 1999 - Armand Levi quits editing the Sentinel and jumps into politics.
* 267 AC = 2004 - Cube stolen and Fran Mendling murdered.
* Circa 277 AC (Now) = 2005 - Armand Levi is a member of the city council.

The Cube was discovered in 1737.

===Dates we don't know===

* Year in which our characters exist (dates in [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/ errorlog e-mails] are X'd out)
* birth and death dates of [[Hesketh Zeller]] (as seen in his [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/4590452353.cache biography (4590452353.cache)])

===Offsite References===
* [http://www.thebruce.ca/PerplexCity/Timeline_PPC.asp TheBruce's Timeline]
* [http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9219&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15 Unfiction Timeline topic]

Timeline:History

2005-03-21T13:05:14Z

Alex: /* Time line */

===General===

Years are designated with "BC" and "AC", presumably referring to "Before Cube" and "After Cube".

===Time line===

* 573 BC = 1164 - Probable date of the founding of the Academy
* 571 BC = 1166 - Academy known to exist
* 452 BC = 1285 - First significant expansion to the Academy, thanks to a gift from Naskent Taversen
* 443 BC = 1294 - Aetiant Taversen elected to be the Academy's first master
* 179 BC = 1558 - quote, author unknown: â€œKeep that which you value close; better to be vigilant than to rely upon the kindness of strangers.â€? ([[:Image:Pp6.jpg|used in Sente's letter]])
* 89 AC = 1826 - Sentinel Founded
* 107 AC = 1844 - Sentinel & Vanguard merge as newspapers
* 115 AC = 1852 - Redward Innes Dies
* 137 AC = 1874 - Newspaper purchased by the Heathcote Group. It's director was Ram Zadorin (I bet Zadorin isn't too pleased), and Emmi Hartlin was brought in as new editor.
* 138 AC = 1875 - Hartlin begins editing paper.
* 148 AC = 1885 - [[Marchant Quote|"I had thought" quote]], by [[S_Marchant|S. Marchant]], via the City Archives.
* 156 AC = 1893 - Hartlin ends her editing career by retiring.
* ? AC - Sabine Wells begins editing paper.
* 167 AC = 1904 - Political scandals. Unknown so far. Carl Bauer edits.
* 174 AC = 1911 - Sentinel investigates current situations, discovers something, forcing the City Council leader to resign as well as seven deputies (spec = the seven names?).
* 200 AC = 1937 - Current century. Three editors so far: Theo Tao, Veronica Ruiz and Armand Levi.
* 228 AC = 1965 - [[The Receda Cube]] was first displayed in the Academy Museum.
* 235 AC = 1972 - First attempt to steal the Cube.
* 262 AC = 1999 - Armand Levi quits editing the paper and jumps into politics.
* 267 AC = 2004 - Cube stolen and Fran Mendling murdered.
* Circa 277 AC (Now) = 2005 - Armand Levi is a member of the city council.

The Cube was discovered in 1737.

===Dates we don't know===

* Year in which our characters exist (dates in [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/ errorlog e-mails] are X'd out)
* birth and death dates of [[Hesketh Zeller]] (as seen in his [http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcity.com/10.10.04/tmp/httpd/errorlog/4590452353.cache biography (4590452353.cache)])

===Offsite References===
* [http://www.thebruce.ca/PerplexCity/Timeline_PPC.asp TheBruce's Timeline]
* [http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9219&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15 Unfiction Timeline topic]

Postcard Code

2005-02-20T19:02:57Z

Alex: /* Theories */

The code of '''221545484848465100503215''' is beneath the Semacode on the [[Perplex City Postcard]], does this mean something? This page is going to be used as a workpad for the puzzle.

==Images==

{|
|[[Image:Postcard_semacode.jpg|thumb|Postcard Semacode]]
|}

==Theories==

* We've tried using numerical translations into Kanji and Hebrew. No luck, though "2210" gives us "SEEK."
* Various ROTing, and conversion to ASCII then ROTing proved...nothing but gibberish.
* Equally, running modulus calculations on the number to bring it into number spaces for ASCII etc. AND converting to ASCII as base 10 and base 16 AND ROTing the results gives yet more gibberish.
* Ditto multiplying the number by 2210 (the number next to the semacode stamp on the card) and trying the above operations.
* Tried translating to EBCDIC: still gibberish.
* Too many digits to be an ISBN or a latitude/longitude.
* Tried mapping numbers to characters in the text of the postcard (i.e. first character in Sente's message is 00, second character is 01 etc.) trying various starting points and different combinations of including/ignoring spaces, hyphens, line-breaks etc. Results were meaningless so ROTed them but still no obvious message.
* Also tried mapping numbers to the letter on the www.perplexcity.com home page.
* Also tried mapping numbers to other various strings on the postcard as well as other sources on the www.perplexedcity.com site, with different offsets, base 9, 10, etc. For all ~5000 results see: [http://wiki.incognitus.net/files/ppc/allstrings_base10.txt Base 10] and [http://wiki.incognitus.net/files/ppc/allstrings_base9.txt Base 9]
* Shish tried converting to music using 'beep' command in Linux and Tanner tried mobile phone ringtones but no obvious answers or recognisable tunes were found. Tanner has now broken out into doing [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tanspace/ssm/perpno3.MP3 Postcard Code Remixes] as MP3s, available from his site.
* Frequency analysis of the numbers was similarly unsuccessful. Assuming the string was one-digit numbers gave far too much repetition of characters (for example the 484848 would probably be tetete or etetet) for a meaningful message. Assuming the string was 2 (or more) digit numbers prevented frequency analysis simply because there wasn't enough data to work with (frequency analysis works best over a very large amount of encrpyted data).
* Currently trying various ways of converting number to binary (all possible methods of writing number in binary have been listed on unfiction forum by Seej) then converting that binary to morse code, i.e. 0 = dot, 1 = dash (or vice versa) and interpreting that series of dots and dashes (actually more complicated than it sounds as morse code characters don't always have the same number of dots and dashes so there's no clear way to tell when one character has ended and another has begun).
* Binary number strings from above method also all converted to ASCII but non-alphabetic characters were output.
* It's not a prime number.
* We've tried indexing in every way to every available text (ie, 31 could be 3rd sentence, 1st word; 3rd paragraph, 1st letter, etc.)
* It's not a phone number or a credit card.
* graphing it in various ways hasn't revealed anything.
* Doesn't appear to be related to a deck of cards because of repeating sequences.
* Assuming code is a series of 2 digit numbers:
**Reasons to believe this:
**#"484848" jumps out as a pattern
**#the numbers are clearly clustered and not very random
**#all 12 numbers range from 00-51
**Since numbers range 00-51 we've tried several simple translations using 2 alphabets (ex. A=00, B=01,...Z=25,A=26,...Z=51).
**#In some cases "484848" translates to "www", but the rest doesn't look like a URL (also tried tinyurl)
**#In other cases, it translates into a set of letters which can be scrambled to come up with "cube" but the rest is undecipherable. Note: letter on website refers to "XXX Cube" where XXX is blacked out. It looks like about 6 or 7 letters in length, so it could be a proper name.
* It has been suggested that the number may simply be a key for a cipher such as MD5 or RSA but there is no way to verify this until further encrypted messages are received on which the number can be used as a key. This is unlikely to happen until the game starts properly.
* Tried converting the number into different numeric strings and converting to hex, to get unicode and Adobe Postscript characters. Provided Gibberish thus far, even after ROT'ing.
* Tried converting the number to an IPv4 address a few different ways. There are probably more. ([http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8270&start=398 Link])
* Tried plotting pairs of numbers as (x,y) coordinates, i.e. the first coordinate would be (22,15). Then joined up coordinates in order plotted, but it didn't give any meaningful shape.
*If 484848 means www, no web extensions can be found through any rots, both forwards and backwards. This also indicates that even if the code is a continously changing code, it isn't a web address.
*Could be a continously changing code every pattern of letters.
*None of the below means anything to us yet:

**22 15 45 48 48 48 46 51 00 50 32 15
**221 545 484 848 465 100 503 215 = html co-ords? 221, 545, 484, 848, 465, 100, 503, 215
**2215 4548 4848 4651 0050 3215
**221545 484848 465100 503215
**22154548 48484651 00503215

*Tried converting numbers to letters in a 52-piece alphabet, and rotting the letters with code 2210, for example, 22 becomes W and is changed to ROT 2, 15 is P and is changed to ROT 2, 45 is T and is changed to ROT 1, 48 is W and isn't changed at all. No solutions.
*Tried adding each number cumulatively to the previous number/sum of numbers, then converting into letters. All ROTs produce nothing. However, only done using single digit numbers.

==Results==

None Yet...

Postcard Code

2005-02-20T19:01:56Z

Alex: /* Theories */

The code of '''221545484848465100503215''' is beneath the Semacode on the [[Perplex City Postcard]], does this mean something? This page is going to be used as a workpad for the puzzle.

==Images==

{|
|[[Image:Postcard_semacode.jpg|thumb|Postcard Semacode]]
|}

==Theories==

* We've tried using numerical translations into Kanji and Hebrew. No luck, though "2210" gives us "SEEK."
* Various ROTing, and conversion to ASCII then ROTing proved...nothing but gibberish.
* Equally, running modulus calculations on the number to bring it into number spaces for ASCII etc. AND converting to ASCII as base 10 and base 16 AND ROTing the results gives yet more gibberish.
* Ditto multiplying the number by 2210 (the number next to the semacode stamp on the card) and trying the above operations.
* Tried translating to EBCDIC: still gibberish.
* Too many digits to be an ISBN or a latitude/longitude.
* Tried mapping numbers to characters in the text of the postcard (i.e. first character in Sente's message is 00, second character is 01 etc.) trying various starting points and different combinations of including/ignoring spaces, hyphens, line-breaks etc. Results were meaningless so ROTed them but still no obvious message.
* Also tried mapping numbers to the letter on the www.perplexcity.com home page.
* Also tried mapping numbers to other various strings on the postcard as well as other sources on the www.perplexedcity.com site, with different offsets, base 9, 10, etc. For all ~5000 results see: [http://wiki.incognitus.net/files/ppc/allstrings_base10.txt Base 10] and [http://wiki.incognitus.net/files/ppc/allstrings_base9.txt Base 9]
* Shish tried converting to music using 'beep' command in Linux and Tanner tried mobile phone ringtones but no obvious answers or recognisable tunes were found. Tanner has now broken out into doing [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tanspace/ssm/perpno3.MP3 Postcard Code Remixes] as MP3s, available from his site.
* Frequency analysis of the numbers was similarly unsuccessful. Assuming the string was one-digit numbers gave far too much repetition of characters (for example the 484848 would probably be tetete or etetet) for a meaningful message. Assuming the string was 2 (or more) digit numbers prevented frequency analysis simply because there wasn't enough data to work with (frequency analysis works best over a very large amount of encrpyted data).
* Currently trying various ways of converting number to binary (all possible methods of writing number in binary have been listed on unfiction forum by Seej) then converting that binary to morse code, i.e. 0 = dot, 1 = dash (or vice versa) and interpreting that series of dots and dashes (actually more complicated than it sounds as morse code characters don't always have the same number of dots and dashes so there's no clear way to tell when one character has ended and another has begun).
* Binary number strings from above method also all converted to ASCII but non-alphabetic characters were output.
* It's not a prime number.
* We've tried indexing in every way to every available text (ie, 31 could be 3rd sentence, 1st word; 3rd paragraph, 1st letter, etc.)
* It's not a phone number or a credit card.
* graphing it in various ways hasn't revealed anything.
* Doesn't appear to be related to a deck of cards because of repeating sequences.
* Assuming code is a series of 2 digit numbers:
**Reasons to believe this:
**#"484848" jumps out as a pattern
**#the numbers are clearly clustered and not very random
**#all 12 numbers range from 00-51
**Since numbers range 00-51 we've tried several simple translations using 2 alphabets (ex. A=00, B=01,...Z=25,A=26,...Z=51).
**#In some cases "484848" translates to "www", but the rest doesn't look like a URL (also tried tinyurl)
**#In other cases, it translates into a set of letters which can be scrambled to come up with "cube" but the rest is undecipherable. Note: letter on website refers to "XXX Cube" where XXX is blacked out. It looks like about 6 or 7 letters in length, so it could be a proper name.
* It has been suggested that the number may simply be a key for a cipher such as MD5 or RSA but there is no way to verify this until further encrypted messages are received on which the number can be used as a key. This is unlikely to happen until the game starts properly.
* Tried converting the number into different numeric strings and converting to hex, to get unicode and Adobe Postscript characters. Provided Gibberish thus far, even after ROT'ing.
* Tried converting the number to an IPv4 address a few different ways. There are probably more. ([http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8270&start=398 Link])
* Tried plotting pairs of numbers as (x,y) coordinates, i.e. the first coordinate would be (22,15). Then joined up coordinates in order plotted, but it didn't give any meaningful shape.
*If 484848 means www, no web extensions can be found through any rots, both forwards and backwards. This also indicates that even if the code is a continously changing code, it isn't a web address.
*Could be a continously changing code every pattern of letters.
*None of the below means anything to us yet:

22 15 45 48 48 48 46 51 00 50 32 15
221 545 484 848 465 100 503 215 = html co-ords? 221, 545, 484, 848, 465, 100, 503, 215
2215 4548 4848 4651 0050 3215
221545 484848 465100 503215
22154548 48484651 00503215

*Tried converting numbers to letters in a 52-piece alphabet, and rotting the letters with code 2210, for example, 22 becomes W and is changed to ROT 2, 15 is P and is changed to ROT 2, 45 is T and is changed to ROT 1, 48 is W and isn't changed at all. No solutions.
*Tried adding each number cumulatively to the previous number/sum of numbers, then converting into letters. All ROTs produce nothing. However, only done using single digit numbers.

==Results==

None Yet...