Perplex City Wiki - User contributions [en]

Parcel Letter

2005-05-04T23:46:37Z

Jes5199:

A letter tucked into the [[Parcels]] delivered to people who solved the [[22.04.05 Update]] email.

==Content==

<pre>
THE PERPLEX CITY ACADEMY

Dear Friend, 28th April 2005

Thank you for your patience; our Cube retrieval project
has been a mammoth undertaking and we are grateful for
your loyalty and support. You were one of the first people
on Earth to answer my plea for help and, on behalf of the
citizens of Perplex City and our agents on Earth, Mind
Candy, I offer you our collective thanks.

For the last 15 months I have been planning a puzzle game
that, I hope, will lead you to the Receda Cube. Preparations
are not yet complete, but they are now sufficiently advanced
that I can give you this exclusive preview. Six prototype
puzzle cards are included in this parcel. You are one of the
first 333 people on Earth to see these cards; they will soon
be available from sources across your world. Hundreds of
different cards will be issued, creating a complex puzzle game.

It may strike some as perverse to create a game in such a
grave situation as this. For us in Perplex City and in the
Academy, the logic is clear. We have observed your culture
and witnessed how fast information can spread in the right
circumstances. We want as many people to be looking for the
Cube as possible; we want the news of our quest to spread
rapidly by word of mouth. A game, in your world and in ours,
gets people talking.

Through the cards, and the growing number of our websites we
will make accessible to you, you will have a window into our
world. You will learn about the people and places of Perplex
City and, most importantly, our way of thinking. We have
investigated the theft very thoroughly and have been unable to
solve the mystery. We hope that you will be able to make links
and propose solutions that we might have overlooked. It is also
our firm belief that the greatest problems are solved by new
thinking, by lateral thinking; the kind of thinking that is
engendered by a game or puzzle. Puzzles are a central part of
our culture and society. We hope that this game will be a trigger
for the people of Earth to enjoy and respect them as much as we do.
Intelligence and puzzle-solving skills are to be applauded, not
hidden away.

As a further incentive and to encourage the largest possible number
of participants, our agents on Earth, Mind Candy, are able
to offer a reward of PCL2,000,000 which is approximately
equivalent to Â£100,000, $200,000, 150,000 or ~20,000,000 to the
person who finds the Cube. Mind Candy will also be arranging the
distribution and marketing of these cards across your world. They will
be selling the cards for PCL5O, Â£2.50 or $5.00 for each pack of six.
There is yet more I have planned, but this must all wait for now.

My friend, the Cube is an irreplaceable part of our history; it
vital for us to retrieve it, and for this we need your help. This is
only the beginning of the journey we will make together. May we find
success waiting for us at the end.

Sente Kiteway

Perplex City Academy, One Taversen Square, The Old Town, Perplex City
</pre>

==Puzzles==

The letter contained withing the parcel contained at the bottom a small clue.

At the very bottom was a number followed by an equals sign and then a letter or a number.

The codes at the bottom of the letter seem to be unique. Though until all 333 are known we are unable to confirm what it says.

So far the codes and their owners that are known are:

<pre>
BigBadDaryman: 1=I
dtrains: 7=W
Stormalong: 9=I
bagsbee: 10=M
rowlock: 11=E
Russell_k: 12=T
boac: 15=E
cassandra: 18=A
SilentAvenger: 22=E
Sep7imus: 23=L
strifey: 26=A
cortana: 27=T
kidzdoc: 29=O
BC: 30=N
firefox: 31=O
yanka: 32=F
spaceXplorer: 35=E
chippy: 40=T
vibration13: 41=9
Rob_Riv: 48=T
Reason: 55=L
[Unknown]: 57=T
lotusflower: 62=E
step: 78=H
Listacorta: 88=A
Lysithea: 90=S
Sparkles: 91=T
zaeil: 92=O
Mason: 95=S
StevenapeX: 99=L
Muffin: 100=O
mafalda_quino: 102=A
number9dream: 109=O
brat-sampson: 114=U
ellipses: 118=R
theMoo: 123=A
Porka25: 126=O
MikeyJ: 127=U
Scott1234: 128=N
hakab2060: 129=G
Ebay Auction: 130=E
thrush: 132=E
DogsHead: 135=S
z0z0: 136=T
uptownishnyc: 139=E
Hamoir: 144=D
hikey: 145=O
Xara: 147=J
Buceph: 150=E
Belga: 151=M
sober: 152=Y
RobPal: 170=S
Flidget_Jerome: 176=G
chrome_halo: 177=A
Nerfball: 178=M
Kastanok: 179=E
<blank>: 185=R
KillSwitch: 187=E
Enigmaster: 188=L
D4N: 189=E
Davermouse: 193=R
impossibledave: 194=K
gjindancer: 195=E
Xanatos: 198=Y
MagicGingerHippy: 199=C
redpanda: 202=E
LouMac: 203=T
Catherwood-offline: 204=T
Mozzie: 205=E
filmguy1013: 208=E
seannyob: 209=S
Duluoz: 215=O
CreativeEmbassy: 219=Ã‰
^BonoVox^: 220=P
madam o'brien: 222=R
aab_123: 226=A
l.cpl. boudreaux: 229=E
cskane4life: 230=T
Spankit: 232=U
KSG: 233=R
WaCKo1138: 236=A
cjr22: 242=N
Der_loki: 251=R
Snowball: 252=G
karlosuk: 255=S
Falken: 256=T
Catfurnace: 259=K
[Unknown]: 262=L
Riffy: 263=M
earlgray: 266=D
Solaris: 269=T
fimacmo: 272=K
dopefiend: 273=K
JebJoya: 275=B
Lazarus: 283=D
maxim: 287=P
Salkunh: 289=N
James Lyon: 294=N
tanner: 296=U
Openfly: 300=S
Swanneh: 304=C
sequoya: 307=V
AdamF: 310=T
arieh: 312=Y
jerryt: 316=Y
sonofajoiner: 317=O
InspJJ: 321=A
bocahedron: 326=E
othuum: 328=E
MrShifty: 329=W
Wishi-san: 332=R

</pre>

Current text for this is as follows. Line breaks are every 40 characters.

To generate this text automatically from the list above, see
[http://www.jermy.net/perplexcity/parcel_letter.py parcel_letter.py]

<pre>
I_____W_IMET__E__A___EL__AT_ONOF__E____T
9______T______L_T____E_______________H__
_______A_STO__S___LO_A______O____U___R__
__A__OUNGE_E__ST__E____DO_J__EMY________
_________S_____GAME_____R_ELE___RKE__YC_
_ETTE__ES_____O____P_R___A__ET_UR__A____
_N________RG__ST__K__LM__D__T__KK_B_____
__D___P_N____N_U___S___C__V__T_Y___YO___
A____E_EW__R_
</pre>

There is also some basic analysis of the known letter weightings at [http://www.jermy.net/perplexcity/parcel_letter_analysis.py parcel_letter_analysis.py]

If you want to try to search for a word or phrase in the known text try [http://www.apejet.org/sites/args/find_it.php find_it.php] - Nogwater.

==Images==

{|
|[[Image:280405_letter.jpg|thumb|Parcel Letter]]
|}

Parcel Letter

2005-05-04T23:44:38Z

Jes5199: /* Content */

A letter tucked into the [[Parcels]] delivered to people who solved the [[22.04.05 Update]] email.

Ã‰
==Content==

<pre>
THE PERPLEX CITY ACADEMY

Dear Friend, 28th April 2005

Thank you for your patience; our Cube retrieval project
has been a mammoth undertaking and we are grateful for
your loyalty and support. You were one of the first people
on Earth to answer my plea for help and, on behalf of the
citizens of Perplex City and our agents on Earth, Mind
Candy, I offer you our collective thanks.

For the last 15 months I have been planning a puzzle game
that, I hope, will lead you to the Receda Cube. Preparations
are not yet complete, but they are now sufficiently advanced
that I can give you this exclusive preview. Six prototype
puzzle cards are included in this parcel. You are one of the
first 333 people on Earth to see these cards; they will soon
be available from sources across your world. Hundreds of
different cards will be issued, creating a complex puzzle game.

It may strike some as perverse to create a game in such a
grave situation as this. For us in Perplex City and in the
Academy, the logic is clear. We have observed your culture
and witnessed how fast information can spread in the right
circumstances. We want as many people to be looking for the
Cube as possible; we want the news of our quest to spread
rapidly by word of mouth. A game, in your world and in ours,
gets people talking.

Through the cards, and the growing number of our websites we
will make accessible to you, you will have a window into our
world. You will learn about the people and places of Perplex
City and, most importantly, our way of thinking. We have
investigated the theft very thoroughly and have been unable to
solve the mystery. We hope that you will be able to make links
and propose solutions that we might have overlooked. It is also
our firm belief that the greatest problems are solved by new
thinking, by lateral thinking; the kind of thinking that is
engendered by a game or puzzle. Puzzles are a central part of
our culture and society. We hope that this game will be a trigger
for the people of Earth to enjoy and respect them as much as we do.
Intelligence and puzzle-solving skills are to be applauded, not
hidden away.

As a further incentive and to encourage the largest possible number
of participants, our agents on Earth, Mind Candy, are able
to offer a reward of PCL2,000,000 which is approximately
equivalent to Â£100,000, $200,000, 150,000 or ~20,000,000 to the
person who finds the Cube. Mind Candy will also be arranging the
distribution and marketing of these cards across your world. They will
be selling the cards for PCL5O, Â£2.50 or $5.00 for each pack of six.
There is yet more I have planned, but this must all wait for now.

My friend, the Cube is an irreplaceable part of our history; it
vital for us to retrieve it, and for this we need your help. This is
only the beginning of the journey we will make together. May we find
success waiting for us at the end.

Sente Kiteway

Perplex City Academy, One Taversen Square, The Old Town, Perplex City
</pre>

==Puzzles==

The letter contained withing the parcel contained at the bottom a small clue.

At the very bottom was a number followed by an equals sign and then a letter or a number.

The codes at the bottom of the letter seem to be unique. Though until all 333 are known we are unable to confirm what it says.

So far the codes and their owners that are known are:

<pre>
BigBadDaryman: 1=I
dtrains: 7=W
Stormalong: 9=I
bagsbee: 10=M
rowlock: 11=E
Russell_k: 12=T
boac: 15=E
cassandra: 18=A
SilentAvenger: 22=E
Sep7imus: 23=L
strifey: 26=A
cortana: 27=T
kidzdoc: 29=O
BC: 30=N
firefox: 31=O
yanka: 32=F
spaceXplorer: 35=E
chippy: 40=T
vibration13: 41=9
Rob_Riv: 48=T
Reason: 55=L
[Unknown]: 57=T
lotusflower: 62=E
step: 78=H
Listacorta: 88=A
Lysithea: 90=S
Sparkles: 91=T
zaeil: 92=O
Mason: 95=S
StevenapeX: 99=L
Muffin: 100=O
mafalda_quino: 102=A
number9dream: 109=O
brat-sampson: 114=U
ellipses: 118=R
theMoo: 123=A
Porka25: 126=O
MikeyJ: 127=U
Scott1234: 128=N
hakab2060: 129=G
Ebay Auction: 130=E
thrush: 132=E
DogsHead: 135=S
z0z0: 136=T
uptownishnyc: 139=E
Hamoir: 144=D
hikey: 145=O
Xara: 147=J
Buceph: 150=E
Belga: 151=M
sober: 152=Y
RobPal: 170=S
Flidget_Jerome: 176=G
chrome_halo: 177=A
Nerfball: 178=M
Kastanok: 179=E
<blank>: 185=R
KillSwitch: 187=E
Enigmaster: 188=L
D4N: 189=E
Davermouse: 193=R
impossibledave: 194=K
gjindancer: 195=E
Xanatos: 198=Y
MagicGingerHippy: 199=C
redpanda: 202=E
LouMac: 203=T
Catherwood-offline: 204=T
Mozzie: 205=E
filmguy1013: 208=E
seannyob: 209=S
Duluoz: 215=O
CreativeEmbassy: 219=Ã‰
^BonoVox^: 220=P
madam o'brien: 222=R
aab_123: 226=A
l.cpl. boudreaux: 229=E
cskane4life: 230=T
Spankit: 232=U
KSG: 233=R
WaCKo1138: 236=A
cjr22: 242=N
Der_loki: 251=R
Snowball: 252=G
karlosuk: 255=S
Falken: 256=T
Catfurnace: 259=K
[Unknown]: 262=L
Riffy: 263=M
earlgray: 266=D
Solaris: 269=T
fimacmo: 272=K
dopefiend: 273=K
JebJoya: 275=B
Lazarus: 283=D
maxim: 287=P
Salkunh: 289=N
James Lyon: 294=N
tanner: 296=U
Openfly: 300=S
Swanneh: 304=C
sequoya: 307=V
AdamF: 310=T
arieh: 312=Y
jerryt: 316=Y
sonofajoiner: 317=O
InspJJ: 321=A
bocahedron: 326=E
othuum: 328=E
MrShifty: 329=W
Wishi-san: 332=R

</pre>

Current text for this is as follows. Line breaks are every 40 characters.

To generate this text automatically from the list above, see
[http://www.jermy.net/perplexcity/parcel_letter.py parcel_letter.py]

<pre>
I_____W_IMET__E__A___EL__AT_ONOF__E____T
9______T______L_T____E_______________H__
_______A_STO__S___LO_A______O____U___R__
__A__OUNGE_E__ST__E____DO_J__EMY________
_________S_____GAME_____R_ELE___RKE__YC_
_ETTE__ES_____O____P_R___A__ET_UR__A____
_N________RG__ST__K__LM__D__T__KK_B_____
__D___P_N____N_U___S___C__V__T_Y___YO___
A____E_EW__R_
</pre>

There is also some basic analysis of the known letter weightings at [http://www.jermy.net/perplexcity/parcel_letter_analysis.py parcel_letter_analysis.py]

If you want to try to search for a word or phrase in the known text try [http://www.apejet.org/sites/args/find_it.php find_it.php] - Nogwater.

==Images==

{|
|[[Image:280405_letter.jpg|thumb|Parcel Letter]]
|}

Current Puzzles

2005-05-03T16:18:17Z

Jes5199: Added a link the the Parcel Puzzle

* The [[Postcard Code]] beneath the Semacode on the [[Perplex City Postcard]]
* Possible clues in the [[Perplex City Sentinel]] [[Futures]]
* The letter contained withing the parcel contained at the bottom a small clue. [[Parcel_Letter#Puzzles|Parcel Letter Puzzle]]

Timeline:History

2005-04-25T16:50:49Z

Jes5199: Added date from today's sentinal about earth goods for sale in the city

===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]])
* 1 BC or 0 AC = 1737 - Cube discovered
* 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?).
* 175 AC = 1912 - ''"No criminal cases have been declared a mistrial in the city since 175 AC"'' ([http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcitysentinel.com/28.03.05/archives/2005/03/corolla_jurist.html ref])
* 200 AC = 1937 - The current [[Perplex City]] century. Three editors of the [[Perplexcitysentinel.com|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 [[The Receda Cube|Cube]].
* 243 AC = 1980 - Jonathan Smart becomes CEO of PCBC.
* 249 AC = 1986 - Replicas of Earth goods available for sale in Perplex City (Estimated date) ''"I shall continue to patronize Hannigan's, which has been replicating Earth goods for nearly twenty years."'' [[http://wiki.incognitus.net/mirror/ppc/www.perplexcitysentinel.com/25.04.05/letters/index.html Letter]]
* 258 AC = 1995 - Jonathan Smart joins the board of PCBC.
* 262 AC = 1999 - Armand Levi quits editing the [[Perplexcitysentinel.com|Sentinel]] and jumps into politics.
* 267 AC = 2004 - Cube stolen and [[Fran Mendling]] murdered at 42 by a neuro-supressive device.
* 268 AC (Now) = 2005 - Armand Levi is a member of the city council.

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

'''Dates in BC may be off by one year (so 179 BC may be 1559 not 1558) depending on whether there is a 0 AC or not (there is no 0 AD for example)'''

===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]