Puzzle-lovers unite ... Puzzle haters ignore.

[Rystil Arden]

Oh. Okay. One of my fundamental rules of life is that we are all allowed to have our own unique opinions ... even if that makes other people wrong!

Kidding ... of course. Well, sorta at least!

EDIT: And ... yes. That was way to long to write out in a code that has already been explained here!

I think these are issues on which the two cannot ever fundamentally agree, in such a way that you may think that I had Rhaka in mind when I made the character--but I didn't!

Anyways, it only took like a minute to type

 

[Land Outcast]

I'm having so much fun here... I <3 ciphers

 

[Nonlethal Force]

The new one is much harder. I'd suggest replacing "HKDRYYSIHOCE" with "HKDRY-YSIHOCE", but that might mean that it should be "HKDRY-TNDCJXZ", depending on whether or not you re-start counting after hyphenation. (Depending on exactly how hard you wish to make it.)

I'd also mention that while the door is ancient, and no dwarf (or any other intelligent being) has been here in years, but the inscription is brand new. This implies that the message is for them, not somebody from when this area was previously occupied.

Boolean - I am glad that you are indeed seeming to dig the code stuff. That is cool. I was thinking about hyphenation ... but the thought of throwing in a long word merely to make someone have to count 11 or 12 letters is simply too much to pass up! [Only because they asked for it, not because I am a particularily mean DM]

The inscription need not be brand new. Perhaps this is an ancient battleground that the hill giants have held for ages because it is a ritualistic worship site for them. Being hill-giants, they ain't too bright ... so they never really figured out that it made sense to move or anything. They merely just keep defending it. The ancient dwarves were unable to ever truly breach the hill giant's defenses and to help the one who tried they built this tunnel. The tunnel is narrow so as to keep out giants, but just in case a giant did figure out a way to get in they put this code on the front assuming that no hill giant could figure it out. [That's not a particularily hard assumption to make].

Also, realize that I just made up this little bit of history as I typed this reply, so I am not saying this is the way that it is in actuality. I'm just saying it might be feasible to have the inscription be ancient.

I think these are issues on which the two cannot ever fundamentally agree, in such a way that you may think that I had Rhaka in mind when I made the character--but I didn't!

Okay, I ealize I am totally getting metagaming info here, but I'll admit you have my curiosity raised. And the metagaming part of me assumes that at some point we'll meet said character and at that point I'll have to beat all this metagaming stuff back down with a stick until it is no more.

And I feel the need to ask ... is it because of an alignment issue - or the more intriguing answer in a monetary outlook. Or does she merely hate badgers? But I am definately looking forward to the RP. I've not yet had to play Rhaka in conflict. Rhaka and Val almost got there, but compromise came too quickly. I'd have liked to have seen that one blow up a bit more because Val and Rhaka are from such different worlds. Of course, that last game is metagaming speech as well, I realize.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I'm having so much fun here... I <3 ciphers

Good! I love to hear people who actually enjoy puzzles of certain types. I realize not all people like puzzles and not all people like all kinds of puzzles - and I especially realize that puzzles placed in the wrong place in a campaign can be a major downer. But as a former math teacher, anyone digging ciphers is a sign of hope for the world!

Oh, and Hypersmurf - if you are still reading this and you do play the lottery tommorrow on account of your newly discovered "lucky" streak, I think I should get a 10% finder's fee and RA should be eligible for a 5% consultation fee. After all, without my easier cipher you'd have never found this gift of yours and without RA's confirmation you'd have not known it was even a gift!

 

[Rystil Arden]

Okay, I ealize I am totally getting metagaming info here, but I'll admit you have my curiosity raised. And the metagaming part of me assumes that at some point we'll meet said character and at that point I'll have to beat all this metagaming stuff back down with a stick until it is no more.

And I feel the need to ask ... is it because of an alignment issue - or the more intriguing answer in a monetary outlook. Or does she merely hate badgers? But I am definately looking forward to the RP. I've not yet had to play Rhaka in conflict. Rhaka and Val almost got there, but compromise came too quickly. I'd have liked to have seen that one blow up a bit more because Val and Rhaka are from such different worlds. Of course, that last game is metagaming speech as well, I realize.

It's not strictly either, though one of them is also true--and that is all I will say for now. I'll just add that if you want to find out, you should go find the guy you're looking for faster. My RL group had found him in about thirty minutes after starting the game

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Well ... aren't they special?!?

And .. we are trying. But over the PbP I think things naturally slow down because as time passes memories are not as sharp.

Funny thing is, I feel like there is something we are so obviously missing. Because it seems like at every turn we are within the grasp ... but we just don't put it together. And that is frustrating because I know I am playing with three top-notch players. Although sometimes I get the feeling this group is more interested in bathing that adventuring...

How are the other groups doing? Further than us? Behind?

And ... uh ... just so I'm not hijaking this thread ...

I'm having so much fun here... I <3 ciphers

Your <3 threw me for a second, but I got it. More or less I knew what it should read and I forced my mind to see it. The real question is, have you been understanding the side conversation between RA and myself? Because I'll be really impressed if you know that conversation's true context! [That's more of a mystery than a cipher for you to solve. Not a hard mystery, mind you.]

EDIT: To the readers of this thread, the next 10 posts are an unintentional hijack of this thread by myself and another poster. Should you wish to ignore th hijack, please procede to post 66 with full confidence that you don't miss anything relevant to the thread. I apologize for taking this thread away from its original purpose.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Well ... aren't they special?!?

And .. we are trying. But over the PbP I think things naturally slow down because as time passes memories are not as sharp.

Funny thing is, I feel like there is something we are so obviously missing. Because it seems like at every turn we are within the grasp ... but we just don't put it together. And that is frustrating because I know I am playing with three top-notch players. Although sometimes I get the feeling this group is more interested in bathing that adventuring...

How are the other groups doing? Further than us? Behind?

One group went to the Hedge Mage then the guards then stopped posting. Another group almost tracked the initial attack (made it to warehouses when it started raining) went to the Hedge Mage, saw the dead mouse, didn't care or look for tracks, and left to go question people. So about at the same point for the one that is still posting.

As for PbP slowing, it definitely does, but not to this extent. Admittedly, the FtF group decided to just track immediately while the trail was fresh (It was like DC 15), so you guys did a whole lot more.

Funny you should mention the 'bathing' vs 'adventuring' thing. I had another group in this same world, and they nearly got killed on the way to Thresk. When they got there, the still-conscious party members decided to use the money of the others to stay in the Royal Suite at Elenia's Blessing. After RPing all of it out while the two unconscious party members were left on the floor, the other party members bought a really awful room in a flooded seedy wharfside tavern and left the unconscious guys there just before they woke up. While the Half-Dark Fey Magician (Homebrew Class) was disgusted by the others and went off on his own, nearly getting killed by a Thuldyrian attack, the others got domestic jobs in an attempt to gather enough money to stay at the Royal Suite again Eventually, mt original Kiss of Darkness group heard about this second group's quest and completed it on the side (my Homebrew FtF games have a shared world) So you aren't the first to do this.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

... saw the dead mouse, didn't care...

Poor little mouse whose name I know not. Poor little mouse who now shares a hole with a dead one.

[I still can't believe I didn't have Rhaka offer to ask the mouse if she wanted it removed. I mean, I tried to balance legit RP with legit factfinding ... but that was clearly an oversight Rhaka should have thought of. Ah .. but then ... I suppose death is a part of nature. Even it too must be embraced.

Okay, I feel better. I didn't have Rhaka forget. She accepted the death and embraced its reality!

 

[Rystil Arden]

Poor little mouse whose name I know not. Poor little mouse who now shares a hole with a dead one.

[I still can't believe I didn't have Rhaka offer to ask the mouse if she wanted it removed. I mean, I tried to balance legit RP with legit factfinding ... but that was clearly an oversight Rhaka should have thought of. Ah .. but then ... I suppose death is a part of nature. Even it too must be embraced.

Okay, I feel better. I didn't have Rhaka forget. She accepted the death and embraced its reality!

You know the dead one's name is Snow, though

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Yeah. Now I can rest easy tonight!

[Although asomething tells me that Snow should be significant and it just isn't coming to me. This is why I feel like it should be right there and it isn't...

Oh well, that isn't frustration speaking at all, please don't take it as frustration. More likely embarassment at seeming so innept.]