Shuffled

Jakeo : I've been creating this page by working through the forum posts. I'm currenly at page: 15.

Where there is a obvious first post of a new idea I have attempted to credit the author. I may have missed a couple, and its open to interpretation.

THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Key Details

This page summarises the information currently contained in the unfiction Thread here: [1]

It is likely that this page may be quite large. When considering whether or not to read it prior to posting on a forum, consider that the alternative is to read all 43 pages of forum thread.

Card Details

• Details of this card have been taken from the Perplex City Card Catalog [2]

• Card Author: Garnet

Card Image

Card Text

Last year, someone found a weakness in the Academy's computer security systems and accessed several files using a program called the Djinn Worm. I helped the Perplex City Police to plug the leak but we still didn't know who was responsible and all our leads had gone cold. Then I received an anonymous note suggesting I should be at the Five of Cups bar one night.

I was waiting for something to happen while playing poker, when one of the players at my table cashed out and he subtly indicated he wanted to talk to me. At a convenient pause in the game, I walked over to meet him at the bar, where he quickly pressed a pack of cards into my hand and whispered, "If entropy wins, outward looks should leave you cold." He then promptly walked out.

When I returned home, I spread the cards out on my table and looked for any marks or signs, but they were all new and untouched, apart from one joker which had a star on it. It took me some time to figure out what he was trying to tell me - can you decode the message and find out who created the Worm?

Side of the pack has the letters below. The bolded characters disappear under heat [[3]].

EODMF XRUTH WBBMC HGFIB LXCQY WEZFL ITHPJ LFHWY ETKWY LJOTY YNGYJ BIOGI FUVMR
XIHGU RAGXH NQHRS XAWHU FJTAM SMMOS MVBAA KPGVV WXOVM YKZPL LUL FHURG IFULP

Other Pertinent Card Information

Von's Hint

Examine the card more closely. If you're feeling cold, you're overly sensitive, as for the code, everything you need is there

Other Text

The side of the box contains the text "Made in China"

Key Words and their Definitions

A number of significant words occur in the text. The generally agreed meaning for each is displayed (where links, if available)

entropy

As defined here: [4]

1. Symbol S For a closed thermodynamic system, a quantitative measure of the amount of thermal energy not available to do work.
2. A measure of the disorder or randomness in a closed system.
3. A measure of the loss of information in a transmitted message.
4. The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity.
5. Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society.

As it pertains to cards:

1. to shuffle (see also here: [5])

In information Theory [[6]]

Djinn

Genie

Five of Cups

Well known bar in PXC See here

Solution Ideas

Code Analysis

This section covers analysis of the letters appearing on the side of the box

Statistics

• 128 Characters
• 20 Disappearing characters
• 108 Plain Characters

Letter Frequency

Including the disappearing text:

1-D, 2-CQZ, 3-EKS, 4-JP, 5-ABORTV, 6-IWX, 7-GUY, 8-FLM, 9-H

Only the standard characters:

0-D, 2-CENQZ, 3-KPRS, 4-JOTU, 5-ABFIVX, 6-GW, 7-HLMY

Observations

• The distributions do not match the standard character distribution for English [7]
• The distribution does not seem random

Code Interpretations

108 Characters as encoded deck

54 Letter pairs allows for one letter pair for each of the 54 playing cards. The problem arises in that there is no logical pairing of the characters that creates 54 unique pairs. This would provide an encoded deck for the Solitaire Cipher.

Two Messages encoded with the same key [8]

Secret Message Interpretations

The message passed to Garnet was: "If entropy wins, outward looks should leave you cold"

• This could could simply be a reference to the heat disappearing letters.

• This could make reference to the outward facing cards: [[9]]
  • Jack of Hearts
  • Jack of Spades
  • King of Diamonds

Solitaire Cipher

The Solitaire Cipher was designed by Bruce Schneir for the book 'The Cryptonomicon'. Details of the cipher can be found at Bruce Schneier's site, here: [10]

This was initially proposed due to the existence of the starred joker, as per the ciphers description in the above book.

Solitaire Solvers

• Online: [11]
• Authored by Brian Enigma: [12]

Sources for the initial deck encoding

• Encoded from the 108 non-disappearing characters
• Standard Deck ordering of A-K, C,D,H,S (discussed here: [13])
• From the prime numbered puzzle cards Playing Card Symbols [14]

Sources for the Cipher Text

• The 108 standard characters
• The 20 disappearing characters
• The phrase 'If entropy wins, outward looks could leave you cold'

Possible Creators of the Djinn Worm

• Ruth Coralhouse [15]