Notes 2 · 3:52am Nov 13th, 2015
This week's entry is a bit late again, sorry, I've been looking into apartments in the area. Without further preamble, here is the second diary entry of the mare known to many as Twilight Sparkle. Decode this week's cypher here.
B bbpz gxyo uifesacil mbjm xwrmuug khl ubz gxnuym utlu ia khos gjsmbt hjb, the qcney jn dx t zbmxnguucil icfwz ty gbadh, bn’t ugxh mushnxcoa zaxlz mdlgcgcxfgn bnojfju uo fgumsnnl. C fpzs tnuyhumye u nnfjmy Ejpymym’x Ljffg, rxuon ot thbftex niy nyhhf zjw vlbwfx hl jgkjkzfwonhht, uii B apn it wuuu wfve, bm dk mbf motgy iuy jtnfh hd ljffg jgnjlzqr. Co ncnl lfmkjvn, jn dx lcncgfk np wjqw-zplbjw ueuhfgnjoh, yaivac N auwy wjxh bvgj mi bhvqrtf ncj loszvhx ig ncj vlzmofe, uox vx lodb, cfoy eyojkgjhzi bn jm xtgmjxzwtvms htky cldymff.
Ncj lnphz nmmffa wxkvcmjw niy wjmnfl kfkn pz v rhhub ot fiwy, zxiydcvqes tcihx xjmxwxnjii btm oyzixx, coo rhmuft gxwbonj bn xun qtlhy. Dy’l lpobmes dsgngxscxfe co mcfiy, xcom lcy zvhxnt wjrbhh nj f iijho sxus ncj miq. Ncj uiunjr iijho btm syhtoye vzkhlf cixmumfvybio, iwabivmgd, pbjwc rtefm hjtmvldsz u cco rhlf xdkycdogy, uou ncjg, nicn nlh’u ui jqudn nhbyowz N’f xfugnga xcom. B ytndrtnf ncj vlzmofe cumzqy muuiil ucipy mqp gzyxlt vt yalfy hjmysm gtga, bhy uxliukx t gfnzw achb. Dy’l ioy jk mbf fvwzys xdffioxn N’oy tyzs, Kuecvsm Tfhdya xsublxx jn jzm ig u ywtaph cttle ci jqwiuilx zpl ntfy lcii hz guqtk. Niuo unnt ncj wyomdyr uu ukukiychfmyms obxhus-jsx niipxthe edqhasuhx, hl siplafz iij aooxmjw uox anoy ncgqbio wvwtnt.
C nfr nicn yh cnjmjlm vjjs pbpyqjk yoxn zi lfuynga ubdx mbf ysykuplynguss hjtmvlzx B bbpz mtx ui ofdy ui fjxj jn nfyy, bhy yh lfpzfe u oyr ibmdiqjks xy hfwy xbdqx niy xwrmuug btm cydsz nsuixiisnzi. Pbjfz yay oyr htjjnvq vcus, rmbwi jjsbyt bvax nbezs mi dugqbhh Mofkzbfg, nl ooxzw viomownwucjs, py’wy wjxh iumi tn ximp vffumnga bqvd mbf lpguff ia yay pfy Htmufz yauu onjw np mofgx iymj. B bbpz ueuom atk u sykqtwfgzsm u xut yh niy itkni ncfm qf wvs nmf un fg uegdsbmulvybpf wzsmys, vpy mbbn’n shn xbvy’l conzwxmucil.
Mbf udw tlpoii mbf wdyr ct pzwr bfuqnes dbvwzye qdya gbadh, xpfh omkyf szfkm bzojk niy gfln cuoyey pz omx Lfvzqecph, vsw qf’pz mtx syktknt ia...fginugnxm pwxzkljhb yalpobmhou ncj vcus. Wd thpgvqbyt, C hjth ui nfr niuo yay guwwbw pz nutwf uii mcny vwhoox omx wjnt xxynm ot uy b vdy pusjzi. Giqiid aut vzjg codpwxx zyo, yauoeazefz, vpy xhucmj kipgn ty niy Xflnmy omtn xy omhohbo lhhf bvax mjhxj kybjkjtlfx, htlnms cjtpjft itgbazi. B bzjjyaytcuj mbbn omx gbmnnoy nubnvum xdxvbblbj fuoubjw np jpsvb b bjqx niljzzb ubz ktvscx ty mquxj-mcny, vx hhf gdlan xcom t njgz ykuwygqbhh mkjef, coo bbni zvw eytm kwxxjwofuff lzxnfum.
Nzvb bhjrtfjyn ngwmoyj mbf lzfijbldybio ia xtce ljtfm, pwxflcphvq ibbhotf cnubjl, qicxm B bbpz mtx ui nykytm vwx HPN bmhmum, zsxlhs zrbmtcjsl niuo ngwmoyj yomf-wqhqo ymzinjiix hz gimhx uox gnzbuhdsz, uox htln vhpxnumft, yay fgzwzyowz ty u tgvqectb ctnmf, qcnvb jh it puz lzxxgcfzx mbf lzxbxfhxj hz phz Ukigynxhl Bhonvbf, fvyx ig Nmtmnjhbmtg.
Tcihx, zpl omx gpgzsm, Nblv fgx J lzxbxf ci f lfjacyes-mumlxl-ubvs-gisgvq aivmz, fgx oio f lydomj vutngj, B’pf vzjg nbedsz uepvsmuhy jk mbjm vshgbfjzl vfbvabis, uii B nicip B gjacy tfti cfoy qcjsxysyy yay jhqjgnjii ty uoiomxl tjzqe co ncj ilpwzxl ig nvpbhh iij hz ubjxx lpihx, the onnga jnn xiydnmfe bblhtgcdm ot yimx dy uude dsmi ubz ktvscx ty mquxj mcny. Omx lfmpqmcoa hfzcdug mtlniinv wphqjkafhxj aut lzxnfuyy ng mjgpqmuoyjzl muuojl ig vznga bhy shn-cydsz, xfjzswcoa js xruymstf tndrnfvm vsw...fpif, yay qidsm ct ncfm C iuqj t lpih yauu mjrxnjgzx eybxn yh niy wflynyiy, the iomxl uchjl ffuyx mi b mhfef muwtkuuimd mbbn rfl iowz fmnbwcjw np fdyxlbfgd mbf Lzlbu’t gvng fjvmfks. Ubz hkstnvq bm jh dy.
B miirjw nicn yh Nblv ypi xyzpl uhi, vsw umf nmx bbx ot luz qvx mbbn D btm hidsz np vz yay phz heybhdsz cu.
Vpy uude ot mbf wmdlnbf. Dy xricwnmm tyqjkum uitfumipx ilpjzwmcfm, dsvfvxdsz vfcil hh bpzwtaf ydlan eybwxyt qvwfys ncfg cu iplan ui wj, uou ncj fitn dsmysynybhh lzfvnjii hhgfm rmxh ubz hkstnvq bm frktlye nj qtlhy vrhoonn ty gbadh. Njph wjbhh mpgcydnzi mi b gvlbwbf xzklfho, yay dltxmum bvx t nfhyjgwz nj rthjzzxm qiuo N vuo iiqr xfmxwbvf un ukikyxybiom jk fynimnxm. Ubz rhmu zmjjofho rxgpldjl usy omhmf ia yay bwoztf nihjgn xbzwx Wffzxmcb’m ctex xun gkilyi tg niy ktgcfm omtn vmzi bn.
Jn’n ytefh ntfy hyoybhh onjw np, mzjbhh un xhgf ia yayty ktgcfm...vhmobfgd, B’x hi vx yus un xtsjhb rhmu ia yayty ktgcfm ynxx jh omx fjhz ty xvnt, fgx moxpr gf, C mjfynvzw fitn jk mbfg kwxnus rjef. J’pz fvnvugqr bbx ot lnpj nzudfwonga ubz hkstnvq mi nubnvum yijkaz vzhtoty omx mulvng io gt hhgqinzky iun gxyo gjwx niui N vusy ot wybf rnmb bn omx gpgzsm. Mp ncfm’m b ncnga.
J’pz femp vzjg fpifnga ppzw mbf hjyxm J’pz rthbazi mi bwxwny ph omx jsixjlm pz ntnfcciibhh, uii mbf zmfzgfhox hz icnyhljyn wxablynga Fkpjlnscv’x xusft mbmuimd. Mbflz fky tihj bhuymjlnjhb nwybm ds mbflz, gnn tixntf esiffcdm vwxh’u ajnga ui cjej ny cjky. Ubz ukidynx hz tipqucoxdsz, hfum fl C dui yxfm, hzjwm ubmjx pfmnjem.
Jn ijxxt ncj fisy ktpyszpq oytmzq, mbf fzxl jpqzwyom pzxlym, uii t vmuip lfbnz pbhe ia axmtyg. Shlnugqr, niy htky qirjkzvf vsw ffmn uhqflaze jphdjl miumj fuhcx, fgx ubzs mbf qzfdys iij bm ubz tgy xbj “htlsczx mbf zjfe np nzwf”, mp nj xiybe. Wzm C ubdsd, qjnc yay fhzwzs tnjwxx jh ombm dltxmum, C hnzbu uxynumft gx niy “rjtefl ktgs” jh omx yrovybio. Xjs’m afn hj plphb, N’f jsyoyr jpqzwyom, vpy mbjm dx mbponfgxt ia uhhjyn bhlub jk fuhcx. Fgx J wvs’m ugzjww np vz qtce ok bbni u ntnfccii kchbo shq, ti D sxye nj kbhe u ynyzflzsm gfnctw.
Gbswj t mvlmtzuuy? Wzm C’e vz mtle jmjlmfx ot ycox v bbfmcil iios, vsw ywyi ny C ecy, yaysy’n sh qbs D’i bhgfdhm niuo tg niyh. N vivfy kbhe ipy fisy vghou ncj ilpwzxl zsih Qnhb, vpy B’g oio xnlf C ownmu bzw mi lyzu mbjm ot aysmzqy, is nj xmuz ipy hz jn zaxh jz nmx xpyn pxyq ncnl u tyxwxn. J’pz gxyo qjwdcoa js mbjm dxlof zjw mbf jvxm qfyf, fgx gim yay mcaj hz ny, D onmu wvs’m mfyh yh afn vwhoox omx nilzj-oytmzq ilpvgjf.
Niy vslqfl dx aysy ntfyxbzwx, C dui kxym co. Gnn xbzwx?
Nxcgnzbu.
The next entry, made one week from now, will use a different keyword. Here is your clue.
"I gazed equally over the fathers of the Tiber, and the sons of the Danube. I served Saint John and rode with the Turks of old. I bring war and peace, justice and vengeance. I have sent bloodstained men to eternal glory and clothed the servants of Huitzilopotchli. Long have I held dominion in the Old World, and so too in the New. What am I?"
Without any research, my only guess for this new riddle would be the Greek goddess Nike
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If it's truly out of your grasp, and you do not wish to rely on the help of others, might I recommend looking up a Vignere cipher breaker? They can usually guess the key for decryption if the ciphered message has enough cryptographic flaws, and I have made sure to flaw these messages.
I did it! I did it!
The passcode is "statue". I did this by guessing the first letter word was I, and that the last word was Twilight. After that, I guessed the second word was have and then substituted as necessary to get the code word.
The completed message is:
I have been analyzing this crystal for the better part of four months now, and while it is a fascinating piece of magic, it’s also stymieing every significant attempt at analysis. I even attempted a simple Jeweler’s Spell, meant to analyze the stone for cracks or imperfections, and I got no data back, as if the stone had eaten my spell entirely. In this respect, it is similar to cold-forged adamantium, though I have been able to analyze the surface of the crystal, and as such, have determined it is considerably more brittle.
The stone itself required the better part of a month to move, especially since discretion was needed, but mostly because it was large. It’s roughly cylindrical in shape, with six facets coming to a point near the top. The bottom point was removed before installation, obviously, which makes measuring a bit more difficult, but then, this isn’t an exact science I’m dealing with. I estimate the crystal itself stands about two meters by three meters long, and perhaps a meter high. It’s one of the larger diamonds I’ve seen, Radiant Zenith dragged it out of a dragon hoard in exchange for some kind of favor. That puts the density at approximately twenty-one thousand kilograms, or roughly one hundred and five million carats.
I say this to impress upon whoever ends up reading this the extraordinary measures I have had to take to keep it safe, and to reveal a new discovery we made while the crystal was being transported. While the new capital city, which ponies have taken to calling Starfall, is under construction, we’ve been hard at work clearing away the rubble of the old Castle that used to stand here. I have plans for a replacement a way to the north that we can use as an administrative center, but that’s not what’s interesting.
The air around the city is very heavily charged with magic, even three years after the last battle of the Rebellion, and we’ve had reports of...anomalies occurring throughout the city. By anomalies, I mean to say that the fabric of space and time around the city seems to be a bit warped. Nopony has been injured yet, thankfully, but entire rooms of the Castle that we thought gone have since reappeared, mostly heavily damaged. I hypothesize that the massive magical discharge managed to punch a hole through the fabric of space-time, as one might with a time travelling spell, but with far less predictable results.
Such anomalies include the reapparition of said rooms, occasional phantom images, which I have had to stress are NOT ghosts, energy emissions that include full-blown eruptions of force and lightning, and most unusually, the emergence of a smallish house, which in no way resembles the residence of one Professor Antiche, late of Trottingham.
Since, for the moment, Tara and I reside in a slightly-larger-than-normal house, and not a secure castle, I’ve been taking advantage of this anomalous behavior, and I think I might also have pioneered the invention of another spell in the process of taking one of those rooms, and using its spectral harmonics to fold it back into the fabric of space time. The resulting magical harmonic convergence has resulted in simultaneous states of being and not-being, depending on external stimulus and...look, the point is that I have a room that sometimes leads to the basement, and other times leads to a small laboratory that was once attached to literally the Regia’s main library. The crystal is in it.
I showed this to Tara two weeks ago, and all she had to say was that I was going to be the one cleaning it.
But back to the crystal. It exhibits several anomalous properties, including being on average eight degrees warmer than it ought to be, but the most interesting reaction comes when the crystal is exposed to large amounts of magic. Upon being subjected to a magical current, the crystal has a tendency to manifest what I can only describe as projections of memories. The most frequent memories are those of the actual moment where Celestia’s hold was broken on the ponies that used it.
It’s taken some getting used to, seeing as some of these ponies...actually, I’d go as far as saying most of these ponies died in the line of duty, and lucky me, I remember most of them pretty well. I’ve actually had to stop subjecting the crystal to magical energy because the strain on my composure has been more than I care to deal with at the moment. So that’s a thing.
I’ve also been looking over the notes I’ve managed to accrue on the process of soulbinding, and the fragments of histories regarding Equestria’s early history. There are some interesting ideas in there, but social dynamics aren’t going to help me here. The process of soulbinding, near as I can tell, needs three vessels.
It needs the more powerful vessel, the less powerful vessel, and a blank slate kind of vessel. Normally, the more powerful and less powerful ponies share magic, and then the weaker one is the one who “carries the foal to term”, so to speak. But I think, with the energy stored in this crystal, I might actually be the “weaker pony” in the equation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty powerful, but this is thousands of ponies worth of magic. And I can’t afford to be laid up with a soulbind right now, so I need to find a different method.
Maybe a surrogate? But I’d be hard pressed to find a willing pony, and even if I did, there’s no way I’d inflict that on them. I could find out more about the process from Luna, but I’m not sure I trust her to keep this to herself, or to stay out of it even if she does keep this a secret. I’ve been working on this issue for the past week, and for the life of me, I just can’t seem to get around the three-vessel problem.
The answer is here somewhere, I can feel it. But where?
Twilight
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Very well done! After the next blog post, I'll be increasing the strength of the cypher text a bit. Best brush up on your codebreaking!
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Pretty sure I read the same book you did, by Simon Singh. If memory serves me right, there's really nowhere else to go except for Enigma and RSA, right?
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God, I love Singh. Anyway, I was talking more about simple crypto tricks. Misspelling words would be one option.
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Pretty sure spelling errors would give Twilight an aneurysm. Thought about doing a mono-alphabetic cypher yet, perhaps as a warm up for a harder cypher?