CICADA DETROIT hints

CICADA DETROIT hints

1. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/duckduck/
morse -> ascii

2. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/77-77-77-2E-63-69-63-61-64-61-64-65-74-72-6F-69-74-2E-63-6F-6D-2F-62-35/
hex -> ascii

3. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/b5/
Try highlighting the text.

4. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/1x2nxt/
yet another conversion based puzzle... nordic runes -> ascii

5. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/momanddad/
check the metadata...

6. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/mrwilson/
solve the jigsaw

7. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/canyoufindthewayout/
check the filename. What's wrong with it?

8. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/ugr3xoxo/
A1Z26, word form of a sum of digits

9. https://www.cicadadetroit.com/


hi, tysm. was wondering if you have hints for puzzle 11, the valiums riddle. thanks for your time.
Do you have anything for 10? Thanks!
Do you have extra advice for 8 lol?  I'm still stumped on it even with this hint - thanks
use the hint thats given and add a sum of specific numbers. Digits are the place the number is in like 300, the 3 is in the hundredths place. May be a specific set of numbers in certain places. Wink wink
im on this now and think ive gotten it, i will try and help without breaking the rules
Did you figure it out? I've been stuck on that one too!
Yeah this hint doesn't really help me to much. If you have figured it out would you be able to help me out.
ive got it, but to not break rules all i can say is to sum upo specific digits... maybe its all the numbers in the tenths place or maybe its something else wink wink

Thank you so much! but what an incredibly dumb answer I would have to say.
any tips?
Anyone ever figure out the Valium riddle?  I swear I've tried hundreds of answers and no clue if I am close.
After 2 months now I've only been able to get bits and peices of the first line of the riddle , the other 3 I still have to figure out I think.
I don't know which angle to take anymore.  Is it actually finding something that fits each line?  Is the odd capitalization in the riddle a clue?  Is it way simpler than I think?
for what it's worth.... I'm currently stewing over 19 part2, the ONLY puzzle I broke down and got a hint for was that damn poem. Was easy with the clue, but I honestly don't think I would have ever gotten there without it. Good luck!
That's what I was afraid of.  People have said to "keep it simple" but that the answer doesn't really make sense in the end. Best of luck on 19.2, I hope I get there!
Currently on 19 part 2 too. It's been kicking my butt for weeks.
Made it to 19.1.  Thought I had it until I didn't.  Back to the drawing board!
You've got it!
number 8 look at my comments above. number 9 is something from a holiday movie

I have been on 12 for almost 2 months. I got to 12 in 2 hours. Wtf.


    Is there a hint for 10? Im stumped


Is that the box cipher puzzle?
yes
\
That one is rough, and we really need to play fair...
Is there a hint? lol
The hint is there. :-) Lots of different cipher types out there...
Youre a goddamn genius

update: stck on 3rd part of puzzle 19 lol.
Any nudge for the valium riddle?  I feel like I'm right there, or a million miles away.
Sorry, I just saw your comment. Did you get it yet? If not, the names in the riddle mean something. Where do they meet, and what's there?
You have a hint for part 1? Im not understanding this at all. the movie the novel.... where is this "magic word"
Any hints for 11? I feel like im so close
11 is the coordinates puzzle?
yes
You are likely doing it correctly, just misreading what you see. There may be multiple characters per coordinate. Order is important.
ive mapped them out
Are you using satellite view?
Yes Ive gotten the characters
What could I be missing?
It's just putting those in order, so I'd give it a double-check and make sure you aren't skipping any.  There should be 12, but I believe it is generous with the first coordinate if you miss one there.
Im an idiot it was that simple lol I went so far and the answer was right there
I’m definitely overthinking this one
guys any hint for puzzle 12 (the riddle)
I'm stuck on that one too. They changed "place" to "bar" in the recent update and that hasn't helped as I feel I've tried every bar already. Need to step back and look at this differently I suppose.
I’m still stuck on puzzle 8
Think numeric for 8. Forget about the A1Z26 clue above.
I figured out 12. Out of respect for those who bought the hint, here is a nudge. Focus only on Line 4. If you can identify what Line 4 is telling you, the rest will come.
Still extremely confused here lol
any other hint please
Remember the theme of the game!
what do you mean(no hints sharing), i just want something to know if i am close or not
Ugh, this is hard.  You need to find where "Joe" and Jacob meet, then look around that area.  And you aren't looking for people.  But you should know where to look based on the game's theme.
Got it!!!!! Omg I knew it was that the whole time too I was just typing the wrong shit
Every time I feel like I'm close nothing works. Could you tell me if the answer is in any way related to sports? Because I'm driving myself mad and if I'm not on the right track I need to move on lol
It is not sports-related.
I am totally stuck at 11. I have no idea what to do with the characters. I cannot find an anagram nor make sense of any meaning. what am I missing?

You don't need to make anything of the characters.  If it isn't working, make sure you have all of the characters and just put them in order.
I have the pictures for this one. The only possible ambiguities are pic 1 and 2. I have tried every permutation I can think of. Nothing works. I don't understand what I could possibly be doing wrong. It's the characters in order as represented in the puzzle, right?

Stuck on 15. Slight hint for puzzle 12, you use the same tool as puzzle 11. All the lines are meaningful.
For 15, are you a music fan?
Got it.
What number are you currently on? 15,16, and 17 I got with relative ease. I'm on 18 now.
Currently overthinking 19.1 right now.
Cool. Hopefully, I will be overthinking that one soon. 18 looks easy enough, but I got nothing after staring at it for 10 minutes.
Still overthinking 18. I've gone down some serious rabbit holes.
Me right now 19.1 is like ...... I get it but i dont....
I'm so dumb. I had the wrong character at the end. Thank you
It's one of those "say what you see" puzzles.  That should get you on track.
Is that for me on 18? I feel like I have had it several times but not there yet.
May have been someone else?  Looks like a comment got deleted.
Anyone else stuck on 20?
Not there yet.  Working on 19.2 right now.
Hi, do you mind giving a few hints for the question with string of numbers of puzzle 19? I know it's a book cipher but idk how to go about finding the book.
Thanks for your time.
According to another user here, solving the riddle for 19.2 and the googling that result will get you where you need to go.  If nothing comes up with Google, re-check your riddle solution.
Thanks for your response. I apologize, I should have clarified. I'm on the third part of Puzzle 19, which is a question with a string of numbers. For the second part of puzzle 19, take a look at how they solved Cicada 3301 with the duck image. ''Woops just decoys this way. Looks like you can't guess how to get the message out.''
No worries!  Solving the "combine this stuff" riddle correctly will lead you to what you need to do with the numbers.  Make sure you google your riddle answer and it will appear.
Thanks again for your response. I have tried many different things to solve the ''combine'' riddle, with no such luck yet. Is there any way I could get a few more hints, if you don't mind? Like by combining, do I solve each part and put it together? When I combined everything together, I was just lead to random sites that had words and numbers next to them, etc. Thank you!
You need the number of the document, the stage name of the person, the model number of the item after that, the model of the item after that (without law), then the number and the two characters.  So it should look like documentnumber/modelnumbermodelnumbersingledigittwocharacters.  Then, google that.
I have tried this and I just get a bunch of nonsense... please help
You need the number of the document, the stage name of the person, the model number of the item after that, the model of the item after that (without law), then the number and the two characters.  So it should look like documentnumber/modelnumbermodelnumbersingledigittwocharacters.  Then, google that.
Thanks mate, I appreciate you. Been working on Part 1 of 20 since your comment. B)
I got thru 12-17 no problem. Now I'm looking at 18 like huh? I think I'm reading too much into it. But the obvious stuff doesn't work

18, that's the three vertical "stick" images?  I can provide a nudge if interested.
yes, please
The filename of that image should be a solid clue, unless you've seen that already.
I did see that, but I don't know what it means. I'll try again tomorrow. Thanks for your help. You should start a squash the bug discord, so the regulars here can Collab
That's actually such a good idea. Anyone here good with discord?
I am not good with discord unfortunately but will happily be a part of it!
Any nudges for the magic word?? Can't contextualize this one at all.
This one was rough. Are you a big movie fan?
still struggling with this one ... runes, numbers, and magic words? hmmm I saw a few hints on reddit someone kept saying ah... this one is a stumper for sure. The crazy part is 10% of people who've gotten here are stuck
For 19, after you've tried a guess or two, there is a clue on screen.  Google that exactly, and it'll start you on the path.
Im on 18 still

I've read the hints you gave but they aren't giving me anything yet
Ah, ok.  The name of the image should be a clue.  Find out what that is, and then the clue I led you to before might get you on the path.  And don't forget to use Google's image search.
are we talking planets or monks for trappist
Monks.  And then the "ruin" comment, and image search...
I'm simply not understanding. I researched the the first and second part but the image search is getting me nothing

Try Cistercian.
I'm done with the first part... now what the absolute fuck is going on here???? lol I have no clue the information I just got...
That part is an absolute enigma!
I see what you did there

I'm stuck on 18 for 2 days now. I have googled, lensed, looked at a bunch of silent bald men and a solar system. It is driving me nuts!
Add to that a deep dive into a pretty great thrash band. Still nada. At least I discovered 99 problems (but a Beer Ain't One)
That's a large "number" of things you've found! I don't want to say anymore as I don't want to rune, er, ruin your experience.
Not sure how I missed that before as I most definitely looked at that stuff way early. Second part was a real mystery. Thank you! Now on to 19.
Are you trying to decipher the image or are you past that part?
Search this thread for the word "ruin"  That comment might get you on track.
For those that aren't into discord, feel free to continue to comment on this thread.  I'll still be checking and will help out where I can.
Appreciate it! How's your progress coming?
Stuck on 19.2 now.  I think I know what concept I need to apply, but haven't found anything yet.
Definitely on the right track for sure
anyone else on 19.3? cannot figure out where to go from here. 19.2 is the dino pic right?
Yeah, 19.2 is the dino.  I think I'm close to 19.3. I have what I need to move on, just not sure how exactly it needs to look.
actually might also be on 19.2 still, i've uncovered a secret with the dino but don't know what to do with it
Oh really?  Now I wonder if I have what I need for 19.3, or this secret.  lol  I found the question and the series of numbers.  Is that what you found?
yes found the question and the numbers. I thought I decoded the question correctly but have no clue what to do with it and the numbers
I'm kind of in the same boat.  Do you think the answer is <something> / <the other somethings>?  If so, that first something I'm struggling with what they want.  I wonder if the numbers are for 19.3?
It doesnt let me reply below, but yes I tried a lot of variations of <something> / <other something>. Due to the "slash" part as a URL. For the <something>, google the first clue and something executive should show.
Hmmm, yeah that's what I found while Googling.  This one is rough because I don't know if the first part is wrong or the second part is wrong.  Or both for that matter.
What's your discord? I don't mind adding you on it! If you're no longer offering it, it's completely understandable. Could you maybe give hints for the question with the string of numbers for puzzle 19? I know it's a book cipher, but I'm not sure on how I can get the title from the riddle. TIA.
you have a discord?
Any nudges for 13? At least some verification that this is sorta a 2-parter? I’ve successfully decoded some plain text that seems to serve more as a checkpoint rather than answer, but have no idea where to go from there.

Edit: I’m afraid of buying the hint at this point as it may just help with what I’ve already uncovered.
Is this the one with the video?
Nope, no video on this one. Without giving away too much, it’s the one with “DER” as a prominent piece of the initial puzzle when you load into the page.
Daaang okay well time to rethink this whole thing. I might’ve found a little secret red herring then if it’s not involved with the solution, so that’s cool at least.
That's actually so cool. I'll have to go back and look at it again
Wow I just got it, that’s crazy lol
Ayy congrats!
Any hints?
For 13, write down what is odd about the top, and combine it with what is on the bottom.  You may be able to visualize what the answer could be without fully cracking the puzzle.
thats so much more confusing lol
It's no wonder why I am not one of the puzzle creators!
does it have anything to do with W?
It does!  There is NO W!  That's the first half.
Im still extremely lost

The answer is in my comment before my last one.  Starts with "now".
wooooow i am very dumb
I've tried a million things it could be with no luck. Am I just stupid?
Yes
Thanks. Just wanted to be sure.
is the number of dots a hint to how long the magic word is?
No.
the only thing i get so far is the reference.... I typed in damn near everything about it... another little pushes?
You didn't say the magic word.
I understand the reference...
Keep digging on that reference.  And while that reference is correct, where you are likely looking for the magic word is not.
is it in the clip or in the film in general?
No.
is there a better hint? lol this is mind numbing...
What other media besides a movie can that specific content be found?
a game maybe???
Not a game.  It started out in this media before it became a movie.
Ohhh I get it let me try
Nevermind i still dont get it.
The media is in physical form.  Googling with that in mind should get you there.
I know the media it derives from I just not understanding what about it pertains to the magic word... especially since that isn't apart of that original media at all. Well... at at least that specific part was done differently
Correct, in that media it wasn't quite the same scenario, but the name of the file you got from the dino is the same.
Ive tried the filename previously before i got to this point that got me nowhere lol. but I know im close as hell.
Try googling the character's last name in the original media that wrote the program, "password", and that new media type we've been chatting about.
You know what, my dumb ass just scrolled past this answer about 8 times and I even put in what came before it .... why didn't i think of putting that in first idk.  you are the best
Hey LGRW, you seem pretty cool and I'd love to be in touch with you, if you're comfortable with that. My discord is dod1170. No pressure of course. :)
I’m dying on 19. I’ve made it past the magic word and have found several layers of stuff with the Dino, but I have no clue where to go from here. I’ve read through all the comments and nothing is coming together. Any nudges?
I assume you have the text file with the riddle?  If so, you need to Google the answer to that riddle.  There is a comment above (which you may have seen) that outlines exactly what the riddle answer should look like.
is 19.2 s-hide?
If you are looking for what utility will help you, look closely at the phrase with the dino.
I think i get it.
steg... is loose?
You are looking for the name of software that will help.  It has 'stego' in the name, along with a word from that phrase.
got it thanks
this is a damn rabbit hole if i ever seen one wtf does a guitarist have to do with this madness lol
So for 19.2 i googled all the results and got certain answers.... idk what they allude to tho.... also, is the second part a book cipher?
Yes, you'll need to put all of those answers together and google that result.  And you are correct with the second part, it'll become clear when you figure out the first.  :-)
how do I know when all of the answers i got were correct? cause that sconce thing is killing me
You'll know you are right when the google result shows a very relevant link as the first search hit.
is there a number from the result i should be using?
Not sure if you saw this comment, but this outlines what you need.

You need the number of the document, the stage name of the person, the model number of the item after that, the model of the item after that (without law), then the number and the two characters.  So it should look like documentnumber/modelnumbermodelnumbersingledigittwocharacters.  Then, google that.
ohhh I got you. you can delete that if you want.
Stuck on 8 please help !!!!!!!!!
Think numeric for 8. Forget about the A1Z26 clue above.
omg...im stuck on 20...found what i believe to be a code (too much to be coincidence) but same old 404. Is this a red herring to throw me off? If so, it worked  :-/
For 20, what you found needs to be used elsewhere.  You need to use the same concept as you used for the dino.
what do you mean by that?
is it a password?
What you found in 20 (assuming it is what I think it is), is the key for another step you need to make using the same technique as the dino.
i believe I'm actually on the right track but i can't get into it for some reason
You'll need a different tool from what you used before.
for sure
are there any hints to what tool to use?
You'll need to search deep for it on the internet.
got it on to 21! lol
there's clearly a password i need to find but I'm using the same methods correct?
For 21, yes.
I have the right tools but the mystery is the password... are there hints in the link or the download? maybe even the media?
If you have the right tool, and it must be a very specific one, make sure you look at EVERYTHING given to you.
it's kinda puffy for me... i am open to checking other options tho...
Great, you are on the right track.  Now check all the places in the puzzle where you see that word, there are clues along with that word.
That's the part I am having trouble with ... You would think the places you look point you directly where to go but some seem like a red herring... like I cant get 1pass in this damned thing.
1pass...at least you can rule out 2pass and 3pass in your tool. ..
found what i was looking for thanks for your help
22.2 has me going in circles. Found my info, I get the implication of the first part of it, understand it’s relevance to the game as a whole, found one piece of misleading info but can’t find the puzzle piece that makes it all fit. Hoping I’m not in over my head.
Not sure where exactly you are, but if you discovered a code and are unsure what it is, your current URL should help.  If you know what the code refers to, then you might also know how else that code can be displayed.  Sorry if this is rather cryptic.  lol
I have a code and I believe I know what it means, tried putting it, and every alternate iteration of “it” into the URL and still 404
For 22.2, when you have the code you find initially, it'll need to be converted, then it will need to be adjusted.  And where you found the code tells you what to do.
Of course, I could be totally off the mark, but I feel it’s just this 1 part that I’m getting hung up on. I’ve tried everything I can think of.

You have three values, correct?  The URL tells you what those values represent, and the # tells you what you need to convert those values into.
Did that. But I still have   1    question. I put in my # and get 404. I have come up with a shade that matches that damn bug. Am I down a rabbit hole, or just stupid?
Did you shift your values by 1?
If you knew how many different ways I took that clue you would absolutely die laughing that someone could be that stupid. I have a knack for always making things much harder than they are intended. Thanks for saving my sanity!!
I figured that as much was the case with the name and # but thus us still pretty confusing.

It is interesting to see what comes easy to some and not to others!  I can't wait to see how dumb I am with 23.2 if I ever figure it out!  lol
Are we using a specific tool again?
No tool required for 22.
Trying for a while at 11. I've gotten some characters, but are they all supposed to be letters?

nope
LGRW did you ever get past 23…. I’ve been staring at this for a whole day and I’m gonna Scream! Lol

Yes!  lol  I stared at that stupid painting forever and it turns out the answer was right in front of me...
Hmmm…. Maybe tomorrow I’ll try again.
I'm screaming my brains out at this one. There's always an obvious but with the hints I got and where I came I don't see whats after this
If you do some research about the painting, it should lead you to the answer.
Omg…now I have to get up and keep looking…you’re killing me 🤣
I stared, and stared, tried a few things, stared and stared some more. Desperately started retrying things hoping for different results. I’ve been down several rabbit holes. Going to take some ibuprofen, get some sleep and resume staring tomorrow. HappyEaster lÖl
You've got this!  I was kicking myself afterward.
Finally! lol, NOT how I expected to solve this one.
SAME, frustrating for sure!
is it that obvious??? lol
No, but it's right there!  :-)
This is the biggest brain teaser... is it in the image?
Yes.
I still have no clue what im looking for
Maybe what was written on the piece itself?
Yeah, where was that written?
across the top barely noticeable its mad stuff...
i've tried the other thing a few different ways so idk if it's that
There is an image out there that shows exactly where it was written.  That is where you'll need to look closely.
So I usually get the first part of each puzzle and get stuck on part 2. #24 has me stumped from the get go. Usually I have a million ideas, but not today. Kinda looking forward to going back to work tomorrow to get my mind off of this!
23.1, yes.
I can give you a nudge for 24.1 if you need one.  It's probably less complicated than you think.
Yes please!
The 'rogue 14' has nothing to do with the number 14 itself.
I saw the solution to part 1 rather fast but what the heck do they want from the second part? Feel like I'm getting lost on this one... I know they don't literally want me to calculate it between those giant numbers but it's hard to see what else there is to do... Lol
Still lost on this part as well.  Thought I had it multiple times, but no.  Running out of ideas!
You've got this too!  It is truly right in front of you!
Is there something I'm supposed to just see with this?
Is this for 23.2?  Yes, but not just blind searching.  There is a clue about where to look.
Honestly unsure if I've even made it past part 1
Turns out only my personal pc can actually run the tool needed from the earlier puzzle and my work pc likes to just spit out errors.
Part 1 of 23 is the painting by the famous artist.  You need "the tool" to solve that one, and then you'll get the link to part 2.
You'll need to analyze that file with a different tool than what you have used previously.
Correct.  You'll need a different tool (not one like the tool in 19) to analyze the file in 20.1 which will get you on the right track to finding the password.
You need to "visualize" that file to find a pattern that has the same structure as one of the very first puzzles in this game.  Once you decode that pattern, you'll be on to the next step.
i feel like i've spec'd out the right tool and i'm getting something but it's just not lining up in my head
Are you getting a well-known pattern?  Like maybe one that was used at the beginning of this game?
LGRW…. Car, book bag, canoe, boat, DnD, WoW, Movie, HS sports, I’ve come across some wild sites but nothing that rings a bell.

The numbers on the screen aren't random, they resemble something.
Do I have to manipulate them with a program? I've looked at it from every direction, removed the obvious numbers, altered hue, sat, etc. I remain clueless :-(
You don't have to.  The block of numbers means something.  Pop them into an AI and it should tell you what they represent, then that is when you'll need to do some work.
Oh, hell no... I don't code, so.... looks like I know what I'll be doing on my lunch break tomorrow lol
LGRW... couldn't wait...made it to part 2. Time to sleep!
Way to go!  Now we can suffer on 24.2 together.  lol
Looks like im gonna be here a while!
I think I almost got the answer I'll keep you guys in the loop.
I have a prime migraine so am laying in a room with no lights or noises. Hoping it passes quickly.
That happened on 12 for me, I was like every time I look at this poem I get a crazy headache lol.
I've had more "this must be it" answers to this puzzle than any other.  And none of them have been "it"!
I’m going to make a 90 degree turn and start again, because I think I’ve exhausted my options on this plane.
??? Im so confused lol
Some people on the subreddit said they used python and java to solve it
I guess me and my abacus (excel) are screwed! 🤣😂😢
You can use ChatGPT and/or Deepseek along with the Sympy Live Shell website to play with the python code it creates.  Tell it to generate python code using sympy and mess around.  Make sure you tell it to print the results!
Thats what Im doing... have you gotten any results?

Was trying to look at this between patients and I'm lost...will try again when I get home (damn job is interfering with my puzzles!)
I've gotten stuff but none of it has been the answer.  I've been out of town though so I haven't had time to dig back in, should be back at it tomorrow.
I am now struggling to even come up with new ideas to try and since playing around with chatgpt I have  realized that I was naive assuming that I was dealing with single digits. Any ideas/suggestions?
It's a clever one. What *you're solving* for is what you're solving *for*. I hope that's a helpful nudge :)
Hmmm... does part 2 use the answer from part 1 in some way?  I've messed with that but maybe not enough (or too much lol).
lol...i have either fried my brain or am officially stoooopid!! Now I have to decipher the hint (head slap) LGRW, Ive tried that, too, with no luck :(


Ugh!  Yeah I wondered if we needed to use the part 1 answer since it is a prime, but nothing I tried worked either.
Lol I'll add this on to my hint. My second emphasis (*for*) isn't specific to 24.
Wow.  I got it, but it is becoming clear that I really need to step back and take a look at this entire game.  Thanks for the nudge.
Did you progress to 25?  I'm guessing I need to visit the answer to pt1 like I can on pt2, but pt1 404s
Yes, you need to enter the part 1 answer before you can get to part 2. I left a vague clue (like all of them lol) about part 1 elsewhere that might help if you haven't seen it.
Yeah first stab at 25.1 led me down some interesting roads but nothing yet.
Surely 24pt1 must be related to the missing numbers...right?
Missing?  Or different?
LGRW you went back huh? Did you have to do the ROT13 again??
No, just wasn't looking at the right spot!
Sooo.... the answer is on that puzzle?
For 24.2, what you need is not found on that page.
OK that makes sense.... For 24.1 I looked at the 14th # of every row was until I found an outlier that was wrong?
For 24.1, it's not as clean cut as that.  You are on the right track though as long as you know what that huge number represents.
I've got what the number is, and that positions 1 and 4 are different than what they should be but nothing I seem to do leads anywhere
Those aren't the only ones that are different...
So the ‘nudge’ gave me 2 more options to try (if I’m reading you correctly) but I’m still not getting it. I also considered the ‘entirety’ of the puzzle but still no luck. Please, shoot me. It would be the humane thing to do.
Man, you should just leave the game entirely.............. :-)
i think I d=got the right idea....
So I decided to not give up 'entirely' and also learned that I was on this road before...only now I know that ChatGPT lies!!! It seriously apologized to me (for real) but did not compensate my hours of torture caused by their glitch lol. Anywho...I think I may have inched forward a bit...not that this puzzle ever makes that real clear. Am now staring down an ugly row that is stirring up nightmarish memories from grad school. Am I in a rabbit hole again? I used to know how to do this but it would take some brushing up...there must be an easier answer.
Sounds like you're on track to the second destination.  There might be a wolf or a ram that could help you on your way
I know them, they are my friends but their advise doesn't help my problem. Its neverending negativity from them! I have checked everything several times, but will go back and beat my head against that wall again.... Im developing a thick skull haha
If you know what exactly 24.2 is referring to (which I did not for an eternity), AI will be able to solve that for you.  Leaving the game led me down the right path, no joke...
LGRW I think I did that part...Im looking now at a weird row that I cant solve even using my calculus and optical physics favorite website from back in the day!
Ohhhhhhhh, ok, great!  Yeah I had to break that into parts.  I used the site that ends in "lab".
Against all odds, I finally found it. Hello #25!
You are our hope and inspiration that we might still get there...go!go!go!... you can do this!
Been working on that one a little bit today.  Not sure where I need to go with that yet!
Can I ask if you have any helpful nudges for part 1? I don't even know how to get started! I only now about the bolded stuff...
I'll say that similar to 24, you may want to look for what CicadaDetroit is saying in other places besides the page you are looking at. That's how I initially made progress. Though making a bold choice will get you on the right path as well.
I’m trying to make a bold choice but I only see two options; I can’t decide if this puzzle is more of a steep climb, a holy terror, or both. I fear I may be headed down another rabbit hole.
I found pt2 rather quickly, along with some nice ladies.  Pt1 seems earlier than anything I'm seeing.

Edit: currently smacking myself for not seeing pt1 when I looked right at it half an hour ago
Haha yes the ladies were an unexpected choice to hide those with
Heading in the bold direction sent me around metro detroit many times
If I’m not from Detroit might I still figure it out?
Look for some odd letters in the first word of the instructions.  Those will lead you to a Detroit publication
I found that part (I think) but not finding anything more….edit…I think I see something to try
Once you find where part 1 (or part 2) is pointing to, it will be very obvious you are looking at the right thing.
I'm starting to wonder if pt3 is somewhere else...
I believe Im close on part 3
Im gonna cry...I have the answer but cant make it work. Maybe I should sleep.
Any nudge towards it?  I've been traveling through the past for a while now.
You are in the right place. Sometimes you CAN judge a book by it's cover :-) (and I did finally get to #26)
Oh that is infuriating.  I was going back in time and gave up before I got there.  Well done figuring that out!  To 26 we go!
Faygoman Are you moving forward? Usually what is ahead is more important than what is behind.
Not yet, didn't really work on it more last night after I commented.  I think I'm in the right spot, but I missed the birthday party.  Keep running into issues with decoding it.
Makes #1 and #2 look easy. Same spot, different day! I had a loooong list of complaints when I decoded it.
Hmm I'm still not sure how to decode 25 pt 3. I think I found which article I'm supposed to use but everything I try to decode it breaks part way. Any suggestions? Lol
So you know what you need for part 3 but just can’t make it work? Am I understanding the situation correctly?
Reread the instruction you found and consider other options besides the obvious. If you are already doing that...do it very carefully.
Consider where you found your clue, literally.
Re-read where you found your #3 clue...there is other stuff in the 'article' (or whatever you/people might want to call that passage)
3DSUM Do you understand the shape of the 'article/passage' and alternate term that could be used for same? Reread the clue and pay attention to the last part.
You could also ask Dear Abby lol she writes a famous advice 'article'...or something like that.
Read it out loud word by word.
reading earlier post...stay in your lane, you only need one.
You only need one. Or 1.  Or...
Is this related to identifying everything called out for on the list provided?  Or something after?  Still having trouble figuring out how to read the list.
Relates to what you’re looking for after you use the list to find the clue. Same material source. Do you have the 3rd clue deciphered? If you do, you will have no doubt. Might not see how to apply but will know it’s the clue. Check one by one to see if it meets the criterion given in the clue.
…..One by 1 by I
I've still been stuck on this damn list.  Every place I start or different way of interpreting the criteria breaks part way through
Have you found Clue #3? Or just the location?
It's the article about the birthday party, right?
...right?
to find what is on the list?
No!!! Go to source of #1 and #2…. Look at the covers. You should know it when you see it. (Dates are not reliable)
And there are no pretty girls on this one ;-) lol
(Crying because I wasn’t invited to the birthday party 🥳)
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
*should* is strong word with me
It will probably BUG you having to review the covers but it shouldn’t take long.
This is driving me insane.  I don't really see a strong connection between the two?
You are on 25 right? Remember The Dino park story from eons ago? It’s like that.
It would appear I have read too far into a message about it not being in the past
Where you located #1 and #2 there were many others, some looked interesting, one looked buggy.
How did you even figure out what source part 3 begins at? Lol. Not sure where to go with this rn.
See immediately above
Hm...
Okay yeah decoding this looks like a nightmare to me. Lol oml
LGRW are you making any headway on 26? Im dead in the water.
Welcome to hell
No. My first off the bat thought was something to do with being rickrolled or Rick Astley or the song or the lyrics, but who the hell knows what we would even need from that and it doesn't really seem to fit the theme.  I did notice that copying/pasting the characters into Notepad shows some extra garbage, but not sure if that is relevant yet.
You are on the right path for both things you said lol
Well that's interesting! I'll have to revisit all of that tonight!
Could use an idea or two
Have you noticed anything strange about the spacing between the words?
I did, but what i saw included "more" so I figured for 3 or 4...I haven't even gotten 1 :-/
Really? Everytime I use Chat it's wrong!! I dont really know any others but I'll look around. Have been trying to catch up on work all day, getting ready to dive back into the puzzle.
ChatGPT told me what tool to use
That bitch!! I can't even count how many times she just makes sh*t up and drives me down a wrong path. Guess Ill go back and try again. She did say one thing about remember a certain date, but when I pushed to see where it came from specifically (cuz I dont trust AI anymore), she said, you are correct, that was in error. I'll try again.
Im being sarcastic...
LOLALOUWHO Did you spend any time in Uni trying to Code?
Lotsa times with Chat...she ran around and hurt me. I switched to Gemini and got rolled lol  Now I can stew over the next part. Never gonna get that song outta my head now :-)
Think the password has something to do with zero-width characters as the URL hints at?  I missing something here.  I only saw 0w chars in the part 3 and 4 text, not part 1 and 2.  Assuming that the letters don't count as 0w and only the four or five true 0w chars do.
At some point, this might be a math problem.  U+2062 seems like a tell, but I have no idea what part it would be for!
okay, im outta work...what part are you guys on? And where did U+2062 come from?? I have an idea for that.
I found a German survey tool that seems to be helpful.  0w characters could also be called non-printable.
I'm currently looking around for a pw to use with the program from spongebob.
The pw is not related to 0w characters.  It is MUCH simpler than I had thought.
LOLALOUWHO - This is for 26.2.  True about hex, but it seems intentional to include that specific character when others are available.  Or, I'm overthinking it like every other puzzle so far.  lol
FAYGOMAN1 - Well that is interesting, and equally frustrating!  Back to the drawing board!
FAYGOMAN1 I am sooo tired of this song; will I find a pw in it or am i just punishing myself?
Recall back to spongebob and use the same settings on the tool.  You'll find a hint through the name
FAYGOMAN1 I believe I have that part it's the dang pw that's "gonna make me cry ♫ ♩ ♬"
I'm saying the hint for the pw is in the name.  Take that literally.
Caps?no?spaces?no? I even went back and redid spongebob to be sure I was doing it right and that one worked. What am I missing? (drops head in shame)
MUCH simpler is right, on to 26.3!
Not the song.  See line 22 of the original pastebin way at the top of this page.  Nothing is wrong with it.
I re-downloaded and typed it exactly with the extension, without the extension, with the underscore, without the underscore. Honestly, I haven't felt this stupid since yesterday! I'll keep trying...
It sounds like you typed it in correctly... you got 50PMax?
Finally!! Not sure why it didnt go thru the first 57 times I tried it lol. I must be tired.
Finally!  Now you have to help me on part 3
Unicode Steganograhy shows the exact hidden characters found in the part 3 text.  Might just be a matter of finding the right tool?  The math thing is way off now that I read more about this.
I've been digging down that path for a little bit.  Haven't made any progress though.  Np++ shows the characters, but all the tools I try spit out garbage.
LGRW could the X (times) thing have anything to do with #repetitions in the file ....there sure was a lot of it (especially if you watched it 8,476 times....so far ugh
I don't think so.  That character, along with a handful of others, seem to be strictly used in this unicode stego method.
Gemini supposedly decoded part 3 and found a rather discouraging message that I'm not sure what to do with, if anything.  I won't spoil it.  It also could be BSing me based on how these AI models go sometimes.  lol
Any progress made down that road?
No.  I actually got two different phrases from two different models, so I'm thinking these aren't correct.  But even if they are, I don't know what to do with them. Putting them in then URL did nothing.
Anyone else looked at a spectogram of this? I would swear I see something there, but cant seem to resolve it. Of course, at this point, my brain may be conjuring things up.
I don't think I'm really seeing anything...did you just roll me
I did not. I am not that clever.
This one is frustrating.  I feel like I know what the puzzle is pushing me towards, but I can't seem to find the right tool.
Same.  Gemini said it found "keep trying" and GPT said it found "never give up".  Does that help anyone?  None of the online decoders came up with anything like this so I'm skeptical of our AI friends.
I got nothing, but go check latest post from RG55 below.
I took a break for a day to give my brain a break and now I feel like I’ve never done a puzzle in my life
26 is impossible. I give up lol
Which part of 26 are you on?  That one was rough!
Yeah...I tried the rickroll stuff, too lol
Really clever on 26.1.  Now I can't stop watching 26.2.  lol
fairly lost
I see the spacing in pt3, but I'm not sure how to actually apply it to anything
apply it the same way as part 1.
i dont see the spacing on 3 ???
Can anyone offer any assistance for a website that they used to crack puzzle 27?

I'm still on 26, not sure if anyone else here is on 27 yet, but keep checking!  A handful of us have been moving close to the same pace.
FYI 26.4 is hard. nothing easy about that puzzle.
Any advice on 26.3? I think my brain is starting to see stuff that isn't really there. Can't imagine where to look that I haven't already tried.
I was stuck on it for 3 weeks. I kept thinking the clue was referring to what to copy and paste. It was actually referring to what to include on the decoder check boxes.
I found a few decoders with check boxes, but no useful results
same
finally found it.  the decoder has more features than one might assume.
???
Are you using the 330 decoder or a different one?
Yes!  Make sure to include them all.  Keep towards the bottom and make sure you download your output and follow the instructions.  Looks can be deceiving at first.
Ugh, that is super frustrating.  Thanks for the nudge.  Ready for more pain.  lol
?
well dang...i dont even know what a 330 decoder is
Remember that we're working with unicode steganography with zero-width characters here, lola
I think I have the right tool but it may take me a bit to figure out what I'm doing here.
Keeps coming up zero bytes on download. I'm going in circles.
What are your starting and ending character lengths?
uhhhh...i'm lost...i was using the string of u2xxx codes that I found and used before. I'm not a techy person so dont know about character lengths or if I may be way off track (hangs head in shame....again)
You should only be copying the 3 lines for part 3.  Paste directly into the decoder without changing it.
(head slap) I keep assuming these things are so much more involved and immediately complicate it the the nth degree. ty
you have to tell it to download the results or it wont reveal them.
Any nudges? I'm kinda looking at it in between patient charts....I am soooo far behind at work I have to catch up :-(
rock you is a clue.
For 26.4 or 26 in general?
for 26.4 and it has 2 parts to it.
Very much hoping I don't have to install kali for this one because that might be my end
I had a Linux VM already setup and used that.  I'm not sure there is an easy Windows way for that one, but I hope I'm wrong!
Made it to 27.  Had to install Ubuntu to run the tool
Nice!
Pt1 down.  Learning many new things here.  Pt2 isn't giving me much to start with.
Yes!  I think I have what I'm supposed to for 27.2 but it's not leading me anywhere.
Found an interesting path with some layers to it, you know, like an ogre.  But I can't seem to get to it.
Yes, I think we've found the same thing.  I suspect it is a key for something else, but I'm trying not to overthink this.
I'm completely lost as to what else this could be
We haven't used the URL for anything so I wondered if that was a passphrase or something to decode what we've found, but no luck with that path as of now.
For 27.1 or 27.2?
Ah, ok.  Are you using Linux or trying other methods?
Ok.  I'm not sure what Faygoman used, but I had the assistance of a particular feline who loved hashbrowns.
Oh, but for 27.1 you don't necessarily need Linux.  I was confusing that with 26.4.
still stuck on 24.1 completely confused :(
Do you know what those 1000 numbers are actually supposed to look like?
no clue
Try seeing if you can find small sections of the numbers some place else.
ChatGPT/Deepseek can likely help here too.
does this refer to an infinite or non repeating sequence of numbers?
I found myself going in circles trying to figure out what that number was, but I was just being irrational.
Man.... Im just lost ...

Grab a slice of pie, and spot the differences between what you see on the screen vs. what those numbers are supposed to be.  You already know how many differences you are looking for.
I got part one finally lol. Im so dumb because I believe i've led myself to that exact place before
Seems like I'm the only one ever to have gotten stuck on 16.
dont remember 16...what was it
A 5 second wave file with screechy, insectoid sounds on it. I tried playing it backwards: didn't help. Downloading it, the name of the file is Coagulation.wav.
That was a fun one in terms of getting into hidden things. I love the Audacity of CicadaDetroit.
It's almost like an audition for something.
any inspiration for 20? i found a code but it may be needed for part 2 of it

Yep, you'll need a code for the second part!
I feel better moving forward now i just need to find a tool to figure out part 1
If you found a code, then you are likely already on part 2.  :-)
the code is morse or less (lol) something i need to use after getting the right URL for part 1
If I recall correctly, it's the same URL for parts 1 and 2.
if thats the case im using the wrong code and need to find the data a different way it seems
If the code you found is sort of similar to the name of the game, you are on the right track.  Just need to use that code in a different tool.
I've search high and low for a tool but perhaps not deep enough for the right tool 🤔
"Deep" you say?  "Sounds" like you are close.
20 has been slayed. Tool version matters 😅😅😅
Well done!
i must of watched the spongebob video 100 times already

You'll need another tool for this one.  There are a few lists of tools out there, but try to find a clue in the name again.
I have slayed this one now. I had to put on my glasses to see all the characters lol
Way to go!
A bit stumped on 18 can anybody give me a nudge in the right direction
The part with the weird images/symbols?
Yep
There are two particular symbols that provide a clue of what those images represent.
you said something about leaving the game in 24.2 is part 2 related to part 1?
No.
So before you gave me the nudge I was right about 24.1 lol I was thinking I was wrong because I was looking there for the answer to part two ... so I'm just back to square 1 lol or square 1.2
If you solved 24.1, then that is where leaving the game should help with 24.2.
I think thats where I am really lost leaving the game...
The two numbers you seek are on a different page.  It is likely one of the first ones you see before playing the game.
404???? lol jk. But seriously tho 404 :(
was pt1 a red herring?
24.1 was just its own standalone puzzle.  I wish I had $ for every different thing I tried with 24.2...
but where does the answer for 24.1 go???  in my head lol??? also now that you mention leaving the game and someone else said what youre solving for.... I get it.  Those are prime numbers! Something I noticed when I started the game. But, I must being doing something wrong with these numbers lol because I did any possible equation related to the riddle that i could.
24.1 answer goes in the URL.  24.2 goes in a passcode box if I recall correctly.
It's time to pack it up

You should have a series of numbers for 24.1.  Those numbers will go in the URL.  The answer for 24.2, using those prime numbers you discovered, can be calculated with ChatGPT and should go in a passcode box.  If nothing is working, log out and log back in.  I had an issue with a puzzle where I somehow got logged out and no URL would work, not even the correct one.
this is a sick game lol. very sick.

I cant find a tool to properly solve the equation

Break it down to parts.  They are relatively simple equations made to look complex.
that middle equation is eating me alive

did you download the image?

Yeah the file name didn't ring any bells tho "trappist"
Find out what a trappist could be, then find other types that.  Sorry for the vagueness, this is a hard one to dance around (no that's not a clue lol).
Figured it out but its to fast to understand lmao
Got nothing off of it. Feeling kind of stuck again.
Have you identified what clues it is giving you?  Listen very closely to the first few things the voice says.  It was easier for me to pull the tool up and type the letters as they are given.
Just one question do I have to worry about what it says before it says All of the words (trying to general about it)

Figured it out :)
oh 22.... what direction do i move you to?
theres alot more to what you see. this one was rather easy once you find out what you're looking at... theres hint all over.
Faygoman, keep trying to access those layers for 27.2 if you are still stuck on it.  It eventually loaded today.
Brother what.  This is rigged.
Right?!  So many stupid rabbit holes I went down with that!
Unfortunately I don't have my notes with me right now for 28.
Yeah I've tried a few things but I'll have to bail here shortly until later this evening.  I don't think there are too many names of people/things so hopefully this isn't too bad (famous last words).
So far the closest connection I've found is those monks, but not really finding what satisfies the riddle.
You are on the right track.  Sort of...
I figured it would be something about the dwarf since all the other references.  But I can't find the exact answer
In the right area.  Not the dwarf, but...
Did you figure it out? I’ve been stuck here all day. I’ve learned way more about big Al than I ever wanted to know lol. Now I’m lost in space. I’ve been everywhere. Even considered mouse house stuff lol
If you are lost in space, you are probably in the right place.  Where exactly are you looking?
Was just looking at planets and orbits but not finding a tie in to the name I thought was referenced (AMT). Looked at space related tools but came up empty.
I believe the name you want to research is from puzzle 18.  Is that where you are?
Yes, from #18. Found all sorts of odd personal data and many works attributed to him. Machines, tests, desert stuff, etc. but everything yields the dreaded 404
Ahhh, you need to be searching deeper for what in puzzle 18 got you to AMT, not AMT himself.
Oh, okay! Thanks for the redirect.
Still lost...thinking must be monk related cuz ive tried every name associated with that dang e machine and, nothing! But I'm not really finding a monk connection either.
You are on the right track.  The name of the monks might also be the name of something else.
So I found the little planet but tried reg name, scientific name, things around it... nothing
Look around for what else it might be called.  Don't worry if the string looks to be 2 massive :)
Okay, I'm there, but how on earth did you happen upon that...I mean.... I even tried that hrs ago but left off the first part... don't think I would have ever gone back without a shove. Thanks!
Have some time to hunt so I'm back. I spent some time this afternoon forcing myself to understand why cats like hashbrowns and I am able to make nice hashbrowns run them through the cat and get my original ingredients out...so I know that process... did I waste my time learning that or will that help me on 26.4? And where's the best place to get ingredients?
The feline will be useful in 27.1.  26.4 uses a different tool.
Oh no! I’m  afraid I may never get there :-(
A couple of us had to use Linux to get past 26.4.
Im not well versed in computed lingo...have kali and ubuntu on VM, will those work or do I need full on linux? I mistook the rocku hint and went the wrong way, apparently. Got my hopes up...but the bug let me down.
Ubuntu will work for sure, I assume Kali will but I haven't used it.  Definitely want to rock 26.4.
If I’m not doing hashbrowns am I gonna need help from Jacks brother?
Not for 26.4.  The name of the file is your hint on what tool to use.
The distorted file?
Yep!
So, I have a list that I got from that file but I dont see how I use that without the hashbrown recipe. Is there another clue or am I supposed to find or another way to use my list? I have 'rocked' my brain looking for another app/tool that I could use, but not having any luck.
I have watched so many youtube videos that I think I am developing a slight Indian accent; Still not finding what I need :-(
Tried the steg from hideandseek and guessed every pword i could think of...nothing!

Can you remind me the context of 26.4?
If I remember correctly, this is the step I needed ubuntu for.  I knew I needed a Steg tool, but I really had to Seek for it.
Distorted wav file with a long file name asking if i like the tune also. File name also references a childhood playground game. Ive tried the steg via linux and using end of filename for pword (and everything else under the sun, with no luck) I freaking learned how to install VM, ubuntu and kali and learned how to use them... I refuse to give up now!!!
You can do it!  Once you find the tool, make sure to really rock that wordlist!
Chat said I couldn't seek a wav file??? I'll go back and look again...I have the tool installed on ubuntu already and was set to try...needed an assist on the command line so turned to AI and that's when i was told i couldnt on that file type. I swear AI hates me lol

Wav is definitely supported.  Check the github for command line examples if needed
Got it!! I have been circling the drain for hours and keep screwing myself up by trusting Chat... you'd think after 4 or 5 really bad answers I'd learn/ Thanks for the shove (You too, LGRW)
Now's the time to let that feline shine!
Glad you got it!  Keep plugging along!
LGRW- Did you figure anything out yet on 29?  Definitely not something standard.
Not yet.  And no real clue where to start.  The last six characters of the glyphs seem like something we've seen a LOT of though, but I don't know for sure if we need to have answers for each part, or just decode what we see.
I feel like I'm still missing something big.  I've been trying random solutions for hours.
I agree on the last 6 symbols being similar to a very common answer. I also found the source for the symbols, but they are generated from very random numbers in the script. Not deterministic at all.
Hmmmmm... I did find the website that finds vessels, but I don't know what from that we would need if anything.  Searching for those six obvious characters did yield some results, but what I tried in the URL didn't work so I'm not sure that is the right path.
I haven't found a website that finds vessels, but have found a couple tools that find them. Unfortunately they all say that the filetype isn't valid, and converting it to the necessary file type would destroy anything hidden. Maybe the answer to part 1 is just where the to find the vessels?
Really stuck here.  Went down a huge rabbit hole trying to get a python apps working using a stego method that refers to vessels, but never got anything.  Went as far as finding actual vessels sailing around the world with certain keywords in the vessel name, no obvious hits.  I also found that symbol source and I agree, there is likely no way to decipher symbols based on other symbols, seems random.  Stego apps that support this filetype came up empty.  So it must be easier than we think!  lol
I found a book named vessel about the current URL that i thought was 100% the right direction. I was wrong.
Interestingly I got an output result on just one tool.  I followed #4 a bit literally.  But the output doesn't appear to be anything meaningful.  Perhaps I need to visit the penguin again.
Hrm I tried a few different penguin tools to no avail.
No penguin luck, no python luck, explored details of a particular video game, no luck there either.  Back to the drawing board.
Which tool did you get something out of?  At a loss here.
Has anyone dug into who said the quote that is in the URL for 27.3, initials C.S.?  That feels like the right path, especially with what 29.3 says, but after a bit of searching nothing worked.
Yeah I thought the same and tried a lot of different things. There isn't too much in terms of possibilities with him surprisingly.
Ugh, man, it seems like it has something to do with him but like you said, not much to go on.  The dig continues.
I'm stuck at work but just had a thought....it would be SUPER if we could just IMPOSE on those signs and find a lead somewhere. Maybe?? I won't be able to try til tonite, but if anyone thinks it's worth a try, go for it.
Mashing them all together made a neat looking picture, but I don't think it will be very helpful.  Quite the frustrating puzzle.
What hidden svg?
The alien, when copy pasting the page  in rich text

Were you ever able to decode the signs? I have both lines but haven’t cracked it yet.
care to share the source of the symbols?
I searched a long time for an Alien Language and eventually found Herr Generator script
This is an interesting thought.  Based on the few reddit comments about 29 though it sounds very simple, someone calling it "laughable" after the fact.  That one lowercase letter is on the Wiki page about that entity, but I don't remember if I copied the entire thing or not.  I've been trying to think more simple about this one but I'm not getting anywhere.  And I can't help but think C.S. is involved at some point during this puzzle, but that hasn't been fruitful either.  Ugh!
I've tried everything I could think to call the Aquarius Urn (vessel), the stars that make it, their names, etc, etc...nothing. Even looked over Capricorn due to CS ....still nothing. Seems astrological to me, which fits the simple and laughable test.
I tried a lot about the only “vessel” constellation too, but got nothing.
Do we know for sure how many parts it is?
I was assuming 4 but now that you mention it, maybe not.
I thought the same for a while about the code, but I feel like we can make it deterministic in any way we want. So, I'm not sure we would be able to relate it back to the code. I also found the handful of vessels named Cicada, but couldn't make any of their designations work.

I did notice that the 'c' got added as well. 'c' is the designation for the second planet discovered in an exoplanet system. Not necessarily the second from the star.
We have 20 unique symbols I believe between all 3 strings. An overlay doesn't seem to work either.

The only thing I can think of that is sort of traceable back to the script is the position of the outer symbols and the size of the outer arc. They all iterate from 0-3. Maybe the active positions in each symbol can be decoded somehow?
So your earlier question about how many parts got me thinking, maybe the first 3 questions lead to a password to decode the file. Is it possible the symbols are a red herring? Honestly, how often have we come across an image that is NOWHERE to be found on the internet. It’s a first for me.
Not many tools support this file format that I could find.  At least on windows.
The last six symbols sure seem to spell out that bug, and that also gives us position 2.  Positions 4 and 10 are also the same.  I've tried many different phrases that fit, but nothing worked.  UNLESS, that is only for part 4 and it won't work until the first three are solved, IF they need to be solved individually!  This one is a nightmare!
You were right!
I’m comparing the signs but I’m so tired I can’t think straight lol
Gosh, the extra symbols aren't helping much :-/
i tried using hangman guessers to brute force the options for the other 10 (8) characters besides the bug, both backwards and forwards. no good results :(
They do indeed. Plug any letter you want into each symbol then run it through a substitution decoder.
Sorry to dip into your thread, but Im stuck on 27.2 with no clue (I actually got through 27.1 lol). Am I missing a clue somewhere? Thought about the crack from part 1 but that took me to a creepy webpage so thinking that's not it. Looking for words of wisdom.
27.2 should take you to a webpage if you've decoded it correctly.  I swear I tried between 45 and 50 things before I figured that one out.  Maybe you are on the right track?
….or maybe it’s not 27.2… I dunno lol. I got the first part and am working on the second decode…. How many parts are there?
27.2 uses a slightly more difficult version of a cipher that has been used multiple times in this game so far. You should be able to find a website to Dcode it. (you likely have already used this site for many different puzzles so far.)
also most of the answer for it will look like gibberish, except for the last several characters
they wouldnt send me to me to a kinda sketchy domain would they? Like a vegetable?
I'm finding this is likely where I need to be but havent found my way in yet...still plugging away.
Hello #28 :-)

I will add that it's not your standard, everyday website either...  Three parts for 27.
Search in only where you found the last clue.  Read the last part of the clue you found very carefully.  I may be 1 to say, but don't look two far into unintentional grammar.
Thank you for replying, I had gone so far out in the issue that I don't think I would have got back to the right place.

23...so much blue..so little information

You already have the right tool, just need that key to success...
Im stuck on puzzle 18, I feel like Ive decoded the first part but Im not sure what to do next
If you have solved part 1, that’s really something to Phone home about.
could the word phone possibly be a hint?
Absolutely, and you should use it (literally).
made it to 19.1, thanks for your help! but I do have one last question on this next part, I looked up online that sentence, I've read the messages above to see if anything would help, people kept talking about a dino image, now does that come after you type in the password or just on your own?
I've been following this thread for a while, but I'm stuck enough now I need to join in. I'm on 23.2, it's driving me "mad". Any nudges?
It’s right in front of you. You’ve got this!
I've tried lots of variations of the phrase, is it literally right in front me?
Look closer!
Like literally IN the painting? It is something besides what is known to be there?
In the picture, yes! Maybe search about messages in that pic.
The image is telling you exactly where to look!
I guess you HAVE to be mad to figure this out! on to 24
Is 24.1 looking for a single uninterrupted number string, or something segmented, or something different altogether?
It’s part of a well known number.
I figured that out over a slice of pie, I guess I'm not getting what they want as the url. Do we enter the url and passcode at the same time?
I don’t have my notes, seems there was a 14 reference of some sort.
Anyone conquer the symbols on 29 yet? I thought more would make it easier; wrong again.
My comment that LGRW was right hints as to what is being deciphered, knowing that helps.
Oh…I think I’ve got it. TY!
Here are my latest crazy thoughts, maybe it'll spark an idea among us unless you've already been down this road!

The planets named after the monks are in Aquarius.
Aquarius is known as the water-bearer or cup-bearer.  Is Aquarius and/or the "cup" the 'vessel'?
The symbol for Aquarius is two wavy lines.  Are these the 'lines'?
We are made of water.  The C.S. quote says we are made of star-stuff.  Compare these two?  How?
"Water" fits in the first five symbols, but I can't make anything relevant out of positions 6-10, assuming that position 10 is now 'E' because position 4 is 'E', but our friendly cicadas aren't water bugs in the literal sense so this might not track.
There are more symbols to find before you can solve it.
Where might one find these extracurricular materials?
On the main page, a Rich person could look through the text for Some Very Good information.
I'm trying to catch up here... which main page are you referring to?
with the symbols
The puzzle 29 page or the language generator page?  Or elsewhere?  Sorry, this is what I get for being out most of the weekend.  lol
LGRW, the puzzle 29 page, yes.
Actually you dont have to be rich if you have the magic look.
Extraterrestrial, did you say? Hiding in #29
All props to Hazey on 29!!
Have you been able to crack 30? I'm 6 for 7 and running out of ideas. I'm sure it's hidden somewhere but just thought I could guess my way through faster lol
No, I haven't.
Have you got the first part? (I owe you big)
go back to a very early pic on reddit or FB for part 1. i am stuck on part 2.
LGRW Puzzle 29 (wouldn't let me add into the thread...weird)
All right I've decoded the signs and it seems very similar to the 27.3 URL.  What am I missing here?
Maybe some parts have served their purpose and are no longer needed.
Hopefully one last nudge...  It seems like of the three sets of images, only the original image on puzzle 29 is different from the 27.3 URL.  Does it involve that?  This one just isn't clicking for me.
yes! /whatyousaid lol

<facepalm> I swear I put that in.  Thanks.  Sigh, off to 30.  Great job everyone!!!
Now I'm lost on 30. No clue which direction to go (literally?). I tried the Konami Code and that's my only real guess lol
Clue is on the page, unless you are past that part... if so, I'm stalled on #7 and am afraid it's a trial and error thing unless there is a hidden clue. I'm stuck at work with windows 7 so can't really do much without loading extra stuff. Gotta wait til I'm home.
i honestly bruteforced my way through the part you are on now. tried probably hundreds of words
Is there any way they would know that you did? I remember some reference to 'no brute force'???
The no brute force was in reference to the numerical passcode. I also didn’t really brute force the second part, but I did guess a lot of words
Is one more obscure than the others? I've guessed six of them but can't get the last and am not even sure of how I would ask for a hint. Is there a tool that would help with this?
I use some ai tools to recommend words based on categories I gave them. I will say that two of the words are much more commonly used as nouns than verbs.
Well, that was exhausting! Now I'm stuck in a dimly lit chamber. I may die here, lol.
I am halfway through that step. Can’t figure out how to decode the directions
I made it past part 1 but how do we decode part 2 for the words?
At the cursor
I made it to part 3.
30 or 31?  I'm not too sure where to start on 31.
Is the mole puzzle just a matter of guessing the right word or is it more obvious than that?
There is a specific phrase to say that is extremely obvious and stupid that it only accepts in one format.  Make sure to Use the tool they gave you!
Ok, that might be the dumbest one so far.  lol  Thanks for the nudge.
I was getting frustrated and tried a few ways to fight the mole before I found that
Im still on the directional puzzle from 30… I have the clue from the scrap of paper, but haven’t been able to decode it or am entering it wrong.
Not all letters are represented in the code.  Why were those chosen?
I feel like it's something obvious that I'm missing. the letters are enough for upx2 downx3 rightx1 leftx1
Yes!  So you know exactly how many directions you need to input and which ones.  Now use that and examine the code again from the beginning.
I got it somehow but still am not quite sure why lol. I also completed everything “to the minute” but my ssh client closed immediately upon finishing so I have to do it all again :(
Knowing what you now know and what the letters represent, start at the beginning of the code.
I just got to 31. Oh my.
I'm still stuck on 24.1, anyone have a nudge? I get what the number block is supposed to be, but what I'm trying to extract from that is where I'm stuck
Which one was 24
Oh it’s the numbers. Is there anything different in the block from the real one?
According to chatgpt, there are 880 differences between the same amount of digits as the number block and the real number. Am I getting anywhere there?
lol ChatGPT struggled with that one. You might want to break it into chunks and make sure you have your strings in the exact same location. There are much fewer than 880
So if I take both strings with the same amount of numbers, and compare them side by side, I'll be somewhere? ChatGPT is as lost on this one as I am.
Yeah make sure you are starting and ending the strings with the same position. The one you are given doesn’t start at the same position as the real one. Its something like 10 digits in
Okay so when I find the differences, will the URL be a number string? And do I put the URL in and the passcode at the same time?
yes the first url is a string of numbers
So enter that, and the passcode at the same time when i figure that one out, or does entering the URL take you to a different "destination"
entering the url gives you a checkpoint and sends you back to the current url to continue
Okay now I'm getting somewhere, thank you!
Is the number 14 relevant at all? I've got the differences I thought, not sure if it's a format error or if I'm way off base
Yes 14 is important for this part
I finally got it, and the pass code. I'm at the equation now, do I really need to figure it out? I've tried inputting it in several calculators and I just get errors.
Yes!  There are sites out there that can help.  Just watch your formatting as it can be tricky.
I'm going to give it a shot, math is not my strong suit, it's been 10 years since I've done these equations!
Any nudges for 31?

Just started that one.  Did you find the hidden word?  I don't know if that is relevant or just an artifact from the webpage.
Nope, not yet.
Im stll at 24.2 I got an answer to the equation but still im getting nothing. I broke it down into 3 parts and got the same answer every time. I also logged out and back in redid the puzzle like you said 404 =(
When I did this the first part had an unlucky exponent, the second; King Henry and the last took a piece of dessert and made it a positive experience. When you figure it out you will feel like a multimillionaire!
I broke that into three parts as well using an equation solver out there. Some of the formatting can be tricky on those sites, but it sounds like you are doing the right thing.
So is the answer something condensed, or is it a giant number?
Not giant.  8 digits I believe.
thats what I got. I got two different answers. The second answer only adds one single digit to the sum literally
Try breaking into 4 parts and solving, then put it all together.  The first lim, then the notation, then the 2nd lim and math that out with the notation, then the e value (remember your sign).  And make sure you use buttons for certain math functions instead of typing it out where you can.
I keep getting the same answer every way I do it... Nothing...
The first part of the equation is 8 digits, the second and third are 7 digits.  Does that line up with what you have?  Also, try spelling each number in the URL instead.  I think it flipped to the spelling after the answer was correct but maybe they changed something.
Finally cracked it... had to stop being so crazy and use a combo of different solutions i got
Still not finding a secret word. ???
There are at least two hidden phrases/equations on the page.
I found the two hidden things in the page and the source of the image, not sure how to use it all though.
Yeah, I think that is what I found too.  One word/phrase and one equation that includes that word/phrase?
The source of the image is also an artist whose name is pretty similar to the "child"
fairly sure i know what tool to use just need a pw
Are you thinking steg of some sort? Also, two secret words?


yes, but i'm not sure how to use the secret words. both of them aren't really what I would think of as being a pw
Ive got the child, where is the other?
It's nearby
LGRW, FAYGOMAN, have you found 2? I can only find one????
Do you mean the formula?
I have one that includes a name and maybe?? one that includes some letters and one word in a summation equation? I know the 'name' one is legit, but not sure the second one is what I'm supposed to be looking for.
Yeah, the "child" and then what is at the end of the formula. I can't figure out if that is a clue or just a webpage thing. Web design was never my thing.  lol
The equation one isn’t present in other similar pages, so I’m assuming it’s a clue. It seems like we should be focusing on the character that isn’t in the “child” but is “unique”. All the others are both.
And how do the bold letters factor, if at all?
I think the bold characters imply the tool to use
Ahhhh, interesting...
Stuff you might already know: The alt text of the image is the same as the word in the formula, plus the image name starts with a 'da', but I don't know what that means yet if anything.
I think my brain has fried. I know there were issues with 27 at some point. I have made my way to the websites after decoding the cypher. It makes it sound like I need to go back to something I previously used. There is a / with some text after it which is usually the new url. It doesn't work. Looking for some direction.
So you've made it to the vegetable website?
Yes I have and got the message which stated to look at something I looked at for a long time on a previous puzzle. The /followed by the text threw me off
Hmmmm, the decoded text after the / is definitely the new URL.  I think they fixed the login issue but I'd log out and log back in to be sure, then try the URL again.
I did. Every time I have to put the password in. Then I try the new url and get the 404 am I adding the -hin.... at the end. I have tried it both ways.
You've accessed the vegetable site, and then decoded that message using knowledge from a previous puzzle?  If you've done that, then the URL for the next puzzle should be clear, and there isn't an '-hin' I can recall.
No, I have not solved anything from the previous puzzle. The vegetable site at the end of the clue has a /with text. So It sounds like I need to go back and wave;) at what I downloaded from 26. I have searched that thing up and down and cant see to find anything.
There is only one vegetable site in 27.  One you access it, you should be presented with a clue in plaintext that refers to a previous puzzle, then a puzzle in gibberish that contains a slash.  What is after the slash is not another vegetable site even though it looks like it might be one.  You need to decode that block of gibberish to get the next URL.
At the end of the plain text vegetable site it say /spectrogramrevealswhatwasobscured-hinttwo. I have went back to that from puzzle 26. I have been unable to find a message in the spectogram. If that's where I should be looking.
Uhhh, guys, what am I missing here?  I don't have this in my notes anywhere.
I'm at the office, will check my notes when I get home.
LGRW, I don't think you're missing anything unless I am, too, that doesn't sound right to me.
You are working on 27? If you mean the legible sentence at the top, I think that's referring to something found in 23. The file name, not what's inside.
HAZEYJANE1 have you made any progress on 31?
Not anything more than what's been posted here already, it seems.
I didn't know Å is a little Swedish village. And has a meaning of stream. Probably doesn't figure into it, but one of the perks. I am happy to learn these things!
The vegetable site talks about layers in the puzzle. Revisiting the spectogram. Looking close because it's well hidden. Followed by /spectrogramrevealswhatwasobscured-hinttwo
That didn't happen to me when I was on 27, and I solved it.
Ananamo81 If you private message the game moderators, you can tell them word for word what you have found and they will tell you if you are down a rabbit hole. I had one puzzle a while ago that sent me on the most amazing tangent; had the word cicada in a song title and binary code in the descriptor and after checking with the mods; wasn't part of the game. That's probably your best bet, at this point. Let us know what you find out...good luck!
I don't know what the heck happened. I started 27 over. Now, I show plain text and the ciphered text. I have to figure out the key. I may have to regroup after that cluster mess.
A key? Where have you heard that before?
I had the same thing happen, and I emailed the moderator about a puzzle that had hidden text in a magazine that I found.
Got it. Thanks for the help

FAYGOMAN you still out there? Lol
I'm still diligently trying to work through 31.  But I have not made much progress yet.  I'm primarily using the bold tool and crack pipe theories to unlock it.
…just doing a well check since I hadn’t seen a post in a couple days lol
Yeah, spinning my wheels with 31 too.  You think the formula refers to only the non-bold characters?  I've tried adding and concatenating the "child" values, but nothing.  And I'm still not 100% sure what the word in the formula is referring to.
Okay, I have sifted through the code more times than is reasonable; am now trying to look in other directions. Any chance the URL tie in to a Detroit Tigers MVP could lead somewhere?
Anything is possible at this point.  The book with that title has Detroit relevance which is interesting, but I don't know how that fits with the letters.  But I don't know how the letters fit with anything else anyway!  The first four letters are also the last name of a former Tigers player, but that could be a coincidence.  Or not!  Stumped!
I’ve also played with adding the hashes into the child code (like the URL), but nothing came of it. Just babbling at this point…hoping someone says something that sparks a thought for someone else.
I PMd the mods and asked if I was down another rabbit hole in pursuing the addition equation (wondering if it was just run of the mill code). Their response (just now): Nope, not code. Just the formula to follow with what’s on the page. So.... there's that. Seems to be the direction we should be going.
We know the first character any ideas on the 3rd and the 4th??

I just don't know what to do with the word in the formula.  It matches the alt text from the image but everything I've tried has come up empty.
Since everything else seems to be numeric, what about the date painted? Or maybe we are adding the first part through a password into the second part representing the stego?

Worth trying!  Think we throw out the bold letters since they are likely hinting at the tool?  Like, does "A" refer to the top letter, "B" refers to the second, "C" to the special character?
Or….A could be the child, B binary and C something else?
I'm not following any of this! I am very lost. I did notice on the page with the image, there is the //Dot, which makes me think of a url
Where did you see this?
On the pinterest page where the "starry night" image is from
Lolalouwho, is it the coaster? I had dragged the image into google image search. The photo that came up is from pinterest, showing a hand holding a coaster with the image on it.
That actually is a website but I’m not seeing anything there that jumps out as puzzle related.
It's the same image from the puzzle, probably a cropped screencap. There is a comment about a green bug. Not sure if it helped. I don't get anything for etsy.
I deleted the comment because when I went back, it was indeed Pinterest. There is a starrynight.art site but it’s very odd and nothing jumps out. Did you see my earlier comment that I got from the moderators? This one feels like a dead end….im out of ideas :-(
Oh, sorry, I didn't know about that site, the one with the coaster image is what I meant. Sorry if I was confusing.
Quick question... 25.3 when I have found the article does what I found go into the url as I found it exactly? ? If it goes into the url at all...
Yes! If you’re talking about the numbers one.(don’t have my notes with me at the moment)
include the what I find in the sub/second portion and photo descriptions?
If you have gone down the rabbit hole I did. Thinking this is way too long. You're overthinking it. The answer is around 40 digits total. Which is made up of ALL numbers of a section.
No, reread your clue. It tells you what part is included.
Okay... I must be doing something wrong... every one, seven, 6, I, can find? right?

No, not the photo description, I was doing that! Only the same part as what you used to solve before.
okay .... Something still aint right lol
Read each word out loud…you are missing something. I had like 15 or so.
For what it's worth, Starry Night was painted in 1889; the same year VanGogh drew the 3 cicadas.
15 different sets or digits?
sets
got it. you guys make me feel like a real winner lol.
I'm so glad you got through it, that one really got to me.
Well that is an interesting find for sure.  I'll have some time later tonight to do some digging.
Wasted my day and got nowhere so I'll just bluntly put this out to the universe in case the second shift needs a rabbit hole map lol. I tried the vertical row given and did ascii+ascii+binary+cobol+angstrom(unicode)+DOMAIN (also using ascii on + signs) and came up with 40 characters reminiscent of a hash but apropos of.....nothing!! Found that Bob had 6 other "children" (none of whom have names that start with A,B or C) and a miserable life of computer math and failed marriages. As opposed to myself, who spent my Saturday chasing 'I don't even know what'. So, there's that. PS. If I am ever on Jeopardy and VanGogh is a subject, I'm gonna be rich!!
Still not wanting to give up on the hash idea due to the SHA on main page. Also, if you discount the SHA you are left with ca, which added to the image name is the better part of our bug. Should we be looking for a “ci” somewhere?
I found a painting someone made of a cicada on top of the starry nights. Don’t think it’s useful but there are so many things like this that feel like they SHOULD be important lol
Just keep throwing out what you find, something is bound to click for someone.
I do agree on the SHA
Need some bardic inspiration on 25. Or perhaps to believe I can fly??
Did you just start 25?
I've been searching around for the past 3 days on the info given
I think LGRW was trying to establish where you are on 25, which part?
Part 1. Sorry about that
There are two letters on the page that are your main hint for part 1. You can also find sort of a hint somewhere else for this one from CicadaDetroit.