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Post by susb8383 on Mar 28, 2022 23:35:00 GMT -5
I think salted has something to do with the encryption, not part of the actual message.
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Post by mike6888 on Mar 29, 2022 0:08:45 GMT -5
The Salted__ tells you it's encrypted with OpenSSL. One of the ciphers available for OpenSSL is the "rabbit" cipher. If you use the password "hare" it'll unlock it for you. You have to be careful because there are two versions of this cipher commonly available on the internet. Only half work with this ciphertext.
The bottom right book is "the magnificent moon hare and the foul treasure" by the Sue Monroe. The 7th chapter starts on page 97. It's titled "uncle Julian's secret". I assumed this meant "julian's" is the thing to take away because "uncle secret" is anagrammed already. Anyone know how "Julian's" factors in?
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Post by stercox on Mar 29, 2022 2:09:58 GMT -5
Nice finds mike6888!! Julian is just SE of the park. The Park serves as its main campground, so that must be it
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Post by Namtabeht on Mar 29, 2022 2:30:30 GMT -5
Congratulations people, well played!
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Post by stercox on Mar 29, 2022 2:35:41 GMT -5
Domino, Just wanted to thank you for a very special day and a super fun challenge!! Unforgettable!! I loved the whimsy in your puzzle and the hare's resting spot was quite beautiful. So well done!! Thank you. Also a big shout out to my teammates, we done good! Thanks each of you for all your great efforts in making us successful!!
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Post by Domino on Mar 29, 2022 8:10:20 GMT -5
Congratulations and well done. As most now know, it took both sides of the brain to solve the harebrained scroll. Looks like it was solved with passion, teamwork, effort, and smiles. CHEERS to you all and everyone that attempted this treasure hunt. I'll coordinate with the team on getting the treasure prizes out to you and even try to get something special for each team member to commemorate this quest. Though not everything is completely covered in this solution link/image, you will see how the scroll (originally done in large scale) acts as both a source of visual information and overall a map to the treasure hare proxy location. There are some Easter Eggs that are part of the original and those will not be revealed unless someone knows or finds them and posts (future use of these techniques preserved). The most interesting things noted from what has been said on this thread so far are: 1) 850 feet was not intended as an elevation confirmer but rather the hare proxy's location from the road (steps taken) 2) I had a feeling that the NJS book would be solved (each book is a town on the "map") however, I really thought the pink/peach colored book would be solved first and, that it would be hard for the Sue Monroe Hare book to be solved (that book is part of the prize, btw). 3) if a solution's tool is able to be obtained via a "Google Guess" or other research and tools of the internet, it should never be super critical information to the solution of the overall treasure hunt and/or have other ways to obtain the same information in the hunt. In my opinion there are adventures, joys, and pains in throwing every type of cipher at a puzzle to see if anything comes out. I made sure to include one for those that love that stuff. 4) The fish could be considered a "red herring of a red herring" however, since I said there were no red herrings, it had to be a clue. I never considered it to be a tool used as a stay away/red herring simply by where it was placed on the scroll next to the hare on the trike... to mean don't go there. I had stated on my promo to treasure hunters and in a few other places that the hare image used was NOT the treasure location and included a sign to such on the actual treasure hunt fully knowing both NC locals and internet sleuths would try to identify its whereabouts which really I thought would be a waste of time if someone did that. Kudos to all that did. WRAL Gardens has a few hare structures, as some of you have found out, and is quite a beautiful place. As you will see in the solution, it had greater meaning. 5) After finished, I thought the North Carolina image stuck out like a green door on a Brownstone 6) NOT A CLUE is due to the fact that in the converted colored image (must have been a leaf) I could not adequately get that to go away or blend in better so I put those words there for all those blowing the map up to see what it revealed. www.sparkconquest.com/theharebrainedplansolution HareLocation 35°57'06.3"N 79°44'00.4"W 35.951737, -79.733430
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Post by mike6888 on Mar 29, 2022 12:58:06 GMT -5
This is one of the best examples I've seen of a hunt that forces you to really use both parts of your brain. I love that so much of this was unsolved by anyone and was still ultimately found. I also love that the winners didn't have everything that was solved. This is the first time I've seen a very compelling use of compounding, redundant evidence where not all of it is necessary. I typically only like the purely logical hunts but this one had me very drawn in and I'm completely satisfied with the solution. Big props to Domino for making me a believer!
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Post by Domino on Mar 29, 2022 13:03:37 GMT -5
This is one of the best examples I've seen of a hunt that forces you to really use both parts of your brain. I love that so much of this was unsolved by anyone and was still ultimately found. I also love that the winners didn't have everything that was solved. This is the first time I've seen a very compelling use of compounding, redundant evidence where not all of it is necessary. I typically only like the purely logical hunts but this one had me very drawn in and I'm completely satisfied with the solution. Big props to Domino for making me a believer! Wow. Thank you Mike. One of the best compliments I have ever received on a hunt. I am a "both sider" so I deal with the inner conflict of the two sides pulling and pushing against each other in my noggin all the time. And you, you solved that Rabbit Cipher with the password hare in 2.5 days (that I know of, probably faster). I can't image the tools and spreadsheets you must use. CHEERS to that! NEXT!!!! |
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Post by Domino on Apr 2, 2022 12:09:26 GMT -5
Howdy Folks. Here is the treasure prize that is going out to the winners. I am having 3 more bracelets made (so that each of the winners has a nice, unique token of the challenge) which is why there is a delay in sending it out. There is even a little "hare" hole-punch for their paper marking pleasure. Cheers! Domino  |
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Post by Jenny on Apr 2, 2022 12:50:47 GMT -5
Treasures indeed! Love the book!
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Post by stercox on Apr 2, 2022 13:37:45 GMT -5
WOW! Domino, you are awesome!! Great treasures, great memories. The team is already eagerly putting in their bids to divide up these generous spoils! Our team would like to pay your generosity forward and will be donating a $100 to the Tribute charities in honor of DOMINO, the greatest harebrained planner we know!
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