Puzzle (Language Labs)
Around Midnight on the 16th, Tachyon began emailing back from the Language Lessons account.
Contents
Formula for Solving
For the play along instructions to solving please go here: Language Lessons (A How To)
AA
Getting at the Clue
Tachyon's Profile read:
Step AA: A small taste. (see below)
NDkyZjQ5NDkyMDViMzQ1ZDIwMmEyZj MwMGQwYTU4M2EyMDQ1MzE0NjM2NDYz ODM5NDU0NDMxNDQ0NjBkMGE1OTNhMj A1NzY4NjE3NDIwNjU3NjY1NzI3OTZm NmU2NTIwNzM2ODZmNzU2YzY0MjA2NT YxNzQyMDZmNmUyMDc0Njg2NTY5NzIy MDYyNjk3Mjc0Njg2NDYxNzkyZTBkMG E=
Which translated from Base64 to:
49 2f 49 49 20 5b 34 5d 20 2a 2f 30 0d 0a 58 3a 20 45 31 46 36 46 38 39 45 44 31 44 46 0d 0a 59 3a 20 57 68 61 74 20
65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 69 72 74 68 64 61 79 2e
0d 0a
Which translated from Hex to:
I/II [4] */0 X: E1F6F89ED1DF Y: What everyone should eat on their birthday.
Making Sense of the Clue
With 4 held constant on the outside ring and the input set as E1F6F89ED1DF it was time to find out what Y was.
Tachyon updated her profile with the clue:
[ A small hint: To find the answer, all you need is 'love.' Hopefully that will 'convert' you. ]
On an episode of Lovelines, Adam Corolla says all real men should eat pie on their birthdays.
Pie can't be the key becuase not all the letters appear on the cipher ring. However, 504945, hex for pie, does appear.
Decoding
With new key, E1F6F89ED1DF decodes as "Aww..." which opens the rar file
Rar Contents
from Gemma <gemmers19@gmail.com> to Sebastian <sebastianv7@gmail.com> date February 15, 2006 10:16 PM subject Sincerest apologies
Dear Sebastian,
I want to apologize for my inappropriate remark after class today. It’s just that after spending so much time
together, I am finding it quite difficult to suppress these feelings I seem to be developing for you. Based on your
reaction, however, it appears you do not feel the same way towards me (please do let me know if I am mistaken).
I feel more than a tad embarrassed for putting my foot in it and creating such an awkward tension between us. I’ll
understand if you do not wish to continue our professional relationship as a result, but I hope that won’t be the
case.
Regardless, your friendship has meant so much to me these past few weeks and I am truly sorry for doing anything to
jeopardize that. I am more than willing to do anything within my power to put this uncomfortable moment behind us.
Your friend,
Gemma
BB
Getting at the Clue
Profile Update:
Step BB: A small victory? (see below)
NDkyZjQ5NDkyMDViNDIyZDMxNWQyMD MwMmYzMDBkMGEwZDBhNTgzYTIwMzYz ODQzNDM0NTM2MzEzMzMyMzYzMzMzMz gzNTMyNDU0MzM5MGQwYTU5M2EyMDQ5 NjYyMDQ5Mjc2ZDIwNjY2Yzc1NmU2Yj Y5NmU2NzIwNDU2ZTY3NmM2OTczNjgy YzIwNzc2NTZjNmMyMDc0Njg2NTZlMj A2MzZjNjU2MTcyNmM3OTJjMjA0OTI3 NmQyMDY0NzI2Zjc3NmU2OTZlNjcyZT BkMGEwZDBh
Base64 to Text:
49 2f 49 49 20 5b 42 2d 31 5d 20 30 2f 30 0d 0a 0d 0a 58 3a 20 36 38 43 43 45 36 31 33 32 36 33 33 38 35 32 45 43 39 0d 0a 59 3a 20 49 66 20 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 75 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 64 72 6f 77 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0d 0a 0d 0a
Hex to Text:
I/II [B-1] 0/0
X: 68CCE6132633852EC9 Y: If I'm flunking English, well then clearly, I'm drowning.
Making Sense of the Clue
Seems to be a reference to A Sure Thing
