RuneQuest : Cipher Challenge - *The Hints and Clues*
The Hint / Clue page for the RuneQuest Cipher Code Challenge... Everything
here relates in some way to the solution of the RuneQuest Cipher Challenge...
A runic mystery code / cipher challenge designed specifically for the
crypto-enthusiast who wants something more than just a random plaintext, this is
a puzzle with an enigmatic riddle -- intended to be on par with the mystery of
the Kryptos Cipher and the difficulty of the Code Book Cipher Challenge...
Welcome to Quantum Reality: Virtual worlds of imaginary particles: The dreams stuff is made of: Life, the eternal ghost in the machine...
This site is dedicated to the quest for knowledge and wisdom, through science, mathematics, philosophy, invention, and technology. May the treasures buried herein spark the fires of imagination like the twinkling jewels of celestial light crowning the midnight sky...
RuneQuest draws heavily on Kryptos as an inspiration for its structure.
There is an easy "setup code", the RunePoem, analogous to the K0 Morse
code.
The RuneStone uses the same types of encoding as Kryptos in its initial stages
(K1 & K2 , K3).
All the cryptosystems used are classical, but they are used in unusual ways. It
was designed this way to defeat standard automated solvers.
In fact, there are 3 unique crypto-systems that are used in RuneQuest.
You have to dig into the
"background" of the RunePoem to find the theme of the keywords and PT
cribs.
The RunePoem is quite easy to solve; the word structure is readily apparent and
more than enough to give the necessary clues to solve it.
The RuneStone is much more challenging, built of several pieces, and has
multiple layers.
Much like Kryptos, the keywords have some meaning other than just being
keywords.
The first layers are the "elemental" layers, AIR, FIRE, EARTH, WATER,
which are in the corners.
These are highlighted by hovering the mouse over the bolts in those corners.
There is also a "magic" spot near a significant word near the center
of the RuneStone - try the O in "ODIN".
The AIR section has been solved by a number of people. It uses double key
Vigenere, just like the 1st section of Kryptos.
The 1st PT word of the AIR section is a number, and the last PT word of the AIR
section is "MAGIC"
There is a great deal of "symmetry" to the elemental sections, both
metaphorical and literal.
The commutivity of
Vigenere encoding will play a role in these "elemental" sections.
This implies, BTW, that one of the keywords is the same for all of these
sections.
This also implies that these initial sections may be solved in any order.
However, later sections must be solved in a certain order. That is what allows
for the checkpoints.
Hence, the 1st checkpoint occurs when all of the "elemental" sections
are solved and the "gift" is revealed. The gift (X) is the
Elemental Runes!
The sections that have been solved so far are detailed (somewhat) on my CodeSystems
webpage.
The first checkpoint has been reached by Link Nabil.
Let the RunePoem be your guide for the next section.
More hints after a year or two, or if someone makes good progress...
Metaphorical and thematic hints:
RuneQuest spears are magic...
***
Music for solving RuneQuest!: (use the *'s if the buttons don't work, or if you want volume controls, etc. - page best viewed by IE)
Hidden Runes shalt thou seek and interpreted signs,
many symbols of might and power,
by the great Singer painted, by the high Powers fashioned,
graved by the Utterer of gods.
...
Runes wilt thou find and rightly read,
of wondrous weight,
of mighty magic.
...
All will prove true that thou askest of runes --
those that are come from the gods.
...
Hávamál
===============================================
One World-Tree, Four Mystic Elements, Nine Connected Realms,
Bound united and the same within a Rune-graved Stone,
Mighty are the Magicks wrought of Elder Runic lore,
Find them you will, upon the Futhark-measured field,
Guide you they will, on this quest for elemental Wisdom,
For this is your appointed task, and Norn-fated Wyrd,
To follow in the track of the All-Father, the lone Traveller,
The Seeker of Hidden Knowledge, who breathed life to mankind,
That they might find the Mead of Poetry, and sing of wondrous Beauty.
JBW
================================================
And for fun, a link to another Rune inspired individual:
Encrypt the word "RuneQuest" here successively with the same
decryption parameters of the 4 elemental sections, then click the spear to get Solution
Explanations. Use the browser's -Back- button to return if necessary
(i.e. if you go to the wrong page):
