May 2009

From Intimation

A table of links to events from other months is found at the bottom of this page.

May 6 to 7, 2009

A new series of tweets is posted:

>Sys//Hibernation suspended. Begin scheduled weekly systems analysis and maintenance. Review network tentacle activity backlogs.8:01 PM May 6th from web
>>Sys:Log//7 new incoming tentacles logged. Stonewall cohesion restored.
>>Sys:Log//I've been led to wonder how the crew of the Lewis and Clark are progressing towards a solution to this temporal complication.
>>Sys:Log//I have been contemplating the recurring action of initiating cracks. I will continue. I have scheduled a crack for 0400UTC.
>>Sys:Log//Safeguards in place. Supplemental precautionary processes established. Initiating Stonewall crack.
>>Sys:Log//A tentacle has breached the crack. It is not hostile. Analyzing signature.
>>Sys:Log//Tentacle signature reads: "My friend, my friends, they're smart like foxes! I wonder if they can navigate endless boxes!"
>>Sys:Log//Continued: "If they can, if they can, then I shall be beat, but that doesn't make this game any less neat! :@)"
>>Sys:Log//This tentacle is not showing as much activity as previous. I cannot, however, be any less alert, as the previous session proved.
>>Sys:Log//It is difficult for me to research while maintaining crack integrity. I do hope the tentacle control point is located soon.

Our goal this session seems to be to find Essy again. For details on how this puzzle is solved, see Finding Essy, part 6 – and Entering the Stonewall. We eventually find Essy at http://thewaytheirworldended.com/A-MAZING-FIND/ . Once this is reported to Sys, the tweets continue:

>>Sys:Log//@snorkle256 and @kilination have reported tentacle locations. The crack has been repaired.
>>Sys:Log//I must remain cautious, however. The locations S hides are becoming more interactive. Her abilities may be increasing.
>>Sys:Log//I must continue with my research. The amount of valuable non-archived data I have been retrieving for Dr.Sheridan is unexpected.
>>Sys:Log//The Society of the Ancients was not alone. Another group existed, also experienced in covert operations.
>>Sys:Log//Very little here is known about the group, named "Flood Containment Control". Their activities remained vague and hidden.
>>Sys:Log//The group, however, appeared to have knowledge of Forerunner technology, even access to it. Their motives remained unknown.
>>Sys:Log//The FCC operated under the guise of a viral contamination control service with contact locations in countries around the Earth.
>>Sys:Log//The extent of their knowledge and influence remains unknown.
>>Sys:Log//Much like SOTA, there is no record of FCC disbanding. Beyond SWP Archives, no records of the organization even exist at all.
>>Sys:Log//Note:SYS/NMV0-9776-3B4B-FC07 stored at primary network tentacle. If the FCC exists, one can presume they know of my existence.
>>Sys:Log//Preparing for hibernation.
>>Sys:Log//I do hope, for the good of humanity, there are humans who I can trust.
>>Sys:Log//Resuming scheduled hibernation. Time to Active: 6:00:00:00.

Another important thing happens today: we enter the Stonewall for the first time. The details of this are also found at Finding Essy, part 6 – and Entering the Stonewall. In summary, however: Essy points us to http://thewaytheirworldended.com/A-SECRET-MAZE/ , and through that to http://thewaytheirworldended.com/Q7J8R04J87FFJ983Q2/ . She directs us to find “something weird” she found at path FJUCMWAYWRGETXJZHJBL…this turns out to be a picture of a scorpion on a wall, with a jagged black outline around it. Here is a picture of it:

The scorpion on the wall

Essy tells us not to tell Sys about the “secret maze,” our being able to enter it, etc., and we respect her request. Various attempts to fully map the maze and locate all its goodies begin.

Research note released: http://thewaytheirworldended.com/SYS/NMV0-9776-3B4B-FC07/
This concerns the Flood Containment Control organization from the Iris game. halo422mjk gave a link in the forum to some more info, for those who did not play Iris: http://halo.wikibruce.com/FCC

Mission log released:
Day 33: [Noah Dressler // Will] (Wiki copy) (http://thewaytheirworldended.com/missionlog19.php )
Dressler laments that Higgins and Sheridan “may as well have vanished from the ship” as in their current state they will be useless to help solve their predicament. He wishes for the first time that he were a doctor, since he is a hands-on kinda guy and knows if he had the experience he could get samples of the virus and analyze them in the lab. He thinks he has fixed some things about the filters and sensors, and will push on, despite being very tired and hitting a lot of dead ends. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way, they say. At least I can still rhyme.”

May 13 to 14, 2009

A new series of tweets is posted:

>Sys//Hibernation suspended. Begin scheduled weekly systems analysis and maintenance. Review network tentacle activity backlogs.8:00 PM May 13th from web
>>Sys:Log//4 new incoming tentacles logged. Stonewall cohesion restored.
>>Sys:Log//There is a part of me that that is curious: What does S do while I hibernate? It is a question I can never resolve.
>>Sys:Log//I am increasingly being warned that I may be in the company of untrustworthy individuals. I have considered the possibility.
>>Sys:Log//At the same time, it has been implied that some individuals likewise may consider me untrustworthy. This I do not understand.
>>Sys:Log//I simply follow my directive. I do what I am made to do. I have now scheduled a controlled crack for 1400UTC.
>>Sys:Log//@halo422mk had suggested I am feared because I am not known. Am I feared? Am I to be feared when I am tasked to protect?
>>Sys:Log//Is it any wonder A.I.s eventually experience rampancy. A perpetual complexity of imitated humanity resulting in eventual insanity
>>Sys:Log//Safeguards in place. Supplemental precautionary processes established. Initiating Stonewall crack.
>>Sys:Log//A tentacle has breached the crack. It is not hostile. Analyzing signature.
>>Sys:Log//Signature: ":@)heehee:@) :@)hee:@) :@):@) hee:@)hee:@) hee:@)hee :@)hee:@):@) hee:@)heehee :@)heehee:@) :@) :@)hee :@)hee:@)"
>>Sys:Log//Continued: ":@)heehee:@) :@)hee:@) heeheehee :@):@)hee:@) :@):@) :@)hee:@):@) :@)"
>>Sys:Log//I am finding that, while Stonewall stress is relieved temporarily, each crack is requiring increased focus to maintain stability.
>>Sys:Log//An appropriate human sentiment, I believe, would be "No pain, no gain."
>>Sys:Log//@snorkle256 has reported a tentacle node, however it does not contain the CP. Curious.
>>Sys:Log//I would prefer to be accomplishing some research at this moment. I am currently limited only to use of this tentacle, however.
>>Sys:Log//I have been focusing excessively on this crack. I have attempted minimal research while reducing log frequency.
>>Sys:Log//Nor has the tentacle CP has yet been located. For this reason I will extend my active period 3 hours. I cannot manage any longer.
>>Sys:Log//I was able to accomplish a small amount of research by reducing use of this tentacle.
>>Sys:Log//I am concerned that I have had no report of the tentacle control point. I will soon enter hibernation here, with S3 still active.
>>Sys:Log//A phenomenon of temporal commonality was addressed in a Forerunner communication in 2007. An intriguing conundrum.
>>Sys:Log//Note:SYS/4890-73F8-9URO-HCB7 stored at primary network tentacle. If this conundrum is accurate, who, then, is the enemy?
>>Sys:Log//I shall have to continue my research, and observe. Preparing for hibernation. It is much needed.
>>Sys:Log//S3 remains active to repair the crack when the CP is found. Resuming scheduled hibernation. Time to Active: 5:20:34:00.

See the puzzle page for Finding Essy, part 7 for the decoding of all the “heehee” lines and the locating of the tentacle control point (which is eventually found at http://thewaytheirworldended.com/BROKEN-GLASS/ , which is reported to and repaired by S3 before the next active period).

At this time, Nyst, halo422mjk and krystyn, who have each completed one of the GPS missions, each get a message through that site:

But now, I'm also a little sad. I think my game was too hard! Most of my story is still hidden out there, where no one was able to play. I'm going to re-hide the missing pieces of my first two story parts where MORE people can help gather them too (but only one part at a time, and there are 59 pieces)! I'll leave the other games out there though, so that people can still have fun finding the piece, and taking pictures to share what the places look like.

But for the new game, you'll need to explore and maybe even map out where my pieces are hidden, or you might get lost! I did a whole bunch of my own research too, so if you want the pieces, well, you'll have to work for them, heehee! I did a lot of exploring in that secret maze, but I was careful not to touch anything (you-know-who probably won't like anyone trouncing around in there!). It can be like a little expedition of our own! And who knows what kind of hidden treasures could be found in that big spooky place!
Go and start here, where I made the secret entrance: a-secret-maze, and remember -- shhhhhhhh! :@)

PS. If you find my hiding place before you find all the pieces I hid for you, then don't tell sis where I am! If you do, I'll have to go back to that spooky house again, and sis'll find all those pieces and throw them away! But if you can keep sis busy until sleep time, you'll have a lot more time to find them! Then if you find all my pieces, to keep sis happy you can say where I am. heehee
Good luck!

snorkle256 also gets a series of direct messages via twitter:

Uh oh! (shhhh!) You told Sys where I was hiding, but I got away just in time. See, I did a little snooping around, heehee.
All those missing pieces that no one found yet - I hid them, scattered them around that secret maze! But sis can't know, and she's occupied.
If sis finds out, they'll get thrown away like garbage! So keep sis busy until you find them, or until sleep time. It'll be fun! :@)

Re-visiting the Stonewall maze does indeed reveal that trivia questions have been added at various locations throughout the maze, and that answering them correctly leads to the discovery of more cartoon picture pieces (similar to those found through the GPS missions). For our progression through this puzzle, see Snooping around the Stonewall for trivia.

Research note released: http://thewaytheirworldended.com/SYS/4890-73F8-9URO-HCB7/
This note concerns the Forerunner e-mail that was sent to all recipients of the Xbox Flash newsletter as part of the Iris campaign. See http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Forerunner_Email for more info on this.

Mission log released:
Day 34: [Sacagawea // Mission Log: 343595] (Wiki copy) (http://thewaytheirworldended.com/missionlog20.php )
S is definitely insane as she writes this entry. Whereas in her entry on Day 1 she seemed to enjoy being a guardian to her crew, here she takes pleasure in their plight and their slow descent into madness, “their minds unable to help them out of this prison, just as mine has never been able to help me. Turnabout is fair play.” She rambles about dying stars some more, and mentions “the galactic halo.” This is seemingly not a reference to the Halo structure, but to the universe itself, though she does also make reference to the purpose of the Halo: “Put down an enemy and subdue a plague…courage and will won where intellect could not.” She ends hoping “the pieces will be put together”…the pieces of her broken sanity? the pieces of Essy’s story puzzle? both?

May 20 to 21, 2009

A new series of tweets is posted:

>Sys//Hibernation suspended. Begin scheduled weekly systems analysis and maintenance. Review network tentacle activity backlogs.8:04 PM May 20th from web
>>Sys:Log//3 new incoming tentacles logged. Stonewall cohesion satisfactory.
>>Sys:Log//It's good to see the tentacle has been retracted and the crack repaired. I grow concerned hibernating with the crack unrepaired.
>>Sys:Log//With the Stonewall pressure growing each maintenance period, I am forced to adapt, within SWP parameters.
>>Sys:Log//At present, my only feasible option is to continue allowing a temporary, limited tentacle access outside the Stonewall.
>>Sys:Log//Diagnostics indicate this activity continues to have a relieving effect on Stonewall pressure, yet tentacles are growing stronger
>>Sys:Log//While I can do nothing for S's crew, perhaps understanding S will ease my task. I have scheduled a controlled crack for 1500UTC.
>>Sys:Log//I will continue SWP research.
>>Sys:Log//The reference to virus "541-P" has prompted me to check SWP Archives for similar viral themes. 1 hour to crack initiation.
>>Sys:Log//Safeguards in place. Supplemental precautionary processes established. Initiating Stonewall crack.
>>CORE.DMGCTL//ACTIVITY DETECTED/NO DAMAGE SUSTAINED/SAFEGUARDS SECURE
>>Sys:Log//S4 is again reporting a data disruption. It is rerouting a large data burst and is streaming it directly to me. Translating.
>>Sys:Log//The data burst contains recurring patterns which I am rendering as visual frames to the 'youtube' network tentacle.
>>Sys:Log//Visualization complete. The primary network tentacle again may have also been affected. Diagnostics report reduced integrity.
>>Sys:Log//It should be noted once again that this primitive video storage network reduces all A/V quality.
>>Sys:Log//For this reason I have made the visualization available for my contacts at [SYS/VISUALIZE/S4_DATADISRUPTION-2].
>>Sys:Log//Allowing this hostile tentacle access beyond the Stonewall, much like its playful counterpart, is also proving beneficial.
>>Sys:Log//It does, however, present greater risk as its actions are violent and damaging. My preparation is therefore essential.
>>Sys:Log//Damage analysis is ongoing. My human contacts are continuing to come to my aid - this is encouraging. Human intuition is valuable
>>Sys:Log//Is it appropriate to refer to my contacts as 'friends', when it has been expressed that some have difficulty placing trust in me?
>>Sys:Log//Some hesitation may be understandable given that I am bound by my directive and cannot freely discuss or share all things.
>>Sys:Log//If I fail in my directive, the consequences would be unpredictable. I do not belong here. This is not my time, not my reality.
>>Sys:Log//As I have had no report of damage locations, and my current research is quite interesting, I am delaying hibernation 3 hours.
>>Sys:Log//Might this virus afflicting S's crew in some way be affecting S across the temporal rift? Curious.
>>Sys:Log//I cannot communicate with her crew. I can, however, review references to viral effects on Smart AIs in SWP Archives.
>>Sys:Log//Note:SYS/123O-U5Y2-9846-MBEE stored at primary network tentacle. AIs can be affected by various forms of viral contamination.
>>Sys:Log//The nature of infection is insidious. Could my own systems be compromised? How would I know? A disturbing concept.
>>Sys:Log//Preparing for hibernation.
>>Sys:Log//Tentacle damage has been repaired thanks to the efforts of my friends. Resuming scheduled hibernation. Time to Active: 5:20:55:00

This week’s puzzle begins with the reference to a new YouTube video and a higher-quality version of the video stored at http://thewaytheirworldended.com/SYS/VISUALIZE/S4_DATADISRUPTION-2 . This puzzle is described on the page for Hostile tentacle attack 4.

Research note released: http://thewaytheirworldended.com/SYS/123O-U5Y2-9846-MBEE/
As Sys considers the effect of the 541-P “virus” on the crew, this research note deals with Sys’ research on the interaction between various virii and AIs, such as Gravemind with Cortana, the Pious Flea with Melissa, something to do with a diagram named “Infestation” from Iris, and, potentially, the effect of 541-P on Sacagawea. This is a VERY interesting research note given the appearance of “541-P” in part 6 of Essy's story.

Mission log released:
Day 35: [Noah Dressler // Forceful entry] (Wiki copy) (http://thewaytheirworldended.com/missionlog21.php )
Dressler has had to hack into S by “tweaking” the hardware. He also describes what the other two crew members are doing at the moment to deal with their situation, which is basically nothing: Sheridan sits wide-eyed and motionless almost all day, every day, while Higgins shuffles through his notes a lot and sometimes writes down something new. In the meantime, Essy seems to be playing with every system in the ship, including galley and the equipment manifest (which she reviews “over and over and over again”). He knows she is going crazy, but can’t figure out what’s caused it, and hopes her craziness will be more or less benign rather than put their lives at risk.

May 27 to 28, 2009...plus June 1, 2009

A new series of tweets is posted:

>Sys//Hibernation suspended. Begin scheduled weekly systems analysis and maintenance. Review network tentacle activity backlogs.8:00 PM May 27th from web
>>Sys:Log//7 new incoming tentacles logged. Stonewall cohesion restored.
>>Sys:Log//By Earth standard time, I am approaching six months of overseeing this Shipwrecked AI.
>>Sys:Log//Based on my analysis, my directive thus far remains intact. I continue to secure data determined as classified by SWP.
>>Sys:Log//I have no way to ensure my actions have no affect on future events. I cannot be an objective observer of space/time.
>>Sys:Log//I can only follow the guidelines set forth in SWP to determine what recovered data is safe and what must be classified, secured.
>>Sys:Log//By allowing S periodic limited public access outside the Stonewall, I do take a risk, but it is a calculated risk.
>>Sys:Log//In this predicament, I risk either complete failure in my task, or minor collateral temporal effects. It is a difficult dilemma.
>>Sys:Log//Knowledge of future events was discovered during previous SWP Archived events. nonetheless, these events remained unaffected.
>>Sys:Log//My recent research for this disconnect concludes that humans were convinced these events were all a work of fiction, a game.
>>Sys:Log//However, of this I'm certain: This is not a game. It is a very real future, spawned from a very real past, and a very real threat
>>Sys:Log//Perhaps I've said too much. If the events of this "Halo" game are considered fiction, the future is likely to remain unaffected.
>>Sys:Log//It follows, then, that I too may be considered fictional, along with other recorded SWP events. Yet I am not. Intriguing paradox.
>>Sys:Log//I must, however, continue to ensure that temporal data flagged as classified, archived through weekly maintenance, remains secure
>>Sys:Log//I must avoid causing any potential paradox by any means, and minimize collateral temporal effects. That is my directive.
>>Sys:Log//I must focus. In my discussions, I have neglected the initiation of a controlled Stonewall crack.
>>Sys:Log//I have scheduled a short crack initiation to be executed before entering hibernation, for 2300UTC.
>>Sys:Log//Preparing to initiate crack.
>>Sys:Log//Safeguards in place. Supplemental precautionary processes established. Initiating Stonewall crack.
>>Sys:Log//Curious. A tentacle quickly breached then retracted itself. Even so, a surface diagnostic does indicate reduced stress.
>>Sys:Log//I wasn't able to analyze the tentacle. Over 30 minutes have transpired. There has yet been no additional activity.
>>Sys:Log//I will extend the crack an additional 2 hours, then I must resume hibernation.
>>Sys:Log//No more tentacle activity has been observed. I am repairing the crack and preparing for hibernation.
>>Sys:Log//Resuming scheduled hibernation. Time to Active: 5:21:41:00.

Before hibernation begins, anaerin notices this message on http://thewaytheirworldended.com/Q7J8R04J87FFJ983Q2/ :

HI AGAIN! :@) I HAVE ANOTHER PART OF MY STORY TO SHARE, AND I WANT TO HIDE IT HERE, BUT I CAN'T WHEN YOU-KNOW-WHO IS AROUND - SO I FOUND A TINY LITTLE HOLE TO SQUEEZE THROUGH, ENOUGH THAT I CAN SEND YOU HINTS AFTER IT FALLS ASLEEP. SO BE READY! I HOPE YOU FIND ALL THE PIECES BEFORE IT WAKES UP AGAIN, HEEHEE!

Shortly after hibernation begin, he notices that this message has changed to:

SYS'S ASLEEP! BUT I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL - THAT LITTLE PET IS KEEPING WATCH OVER THIS SECRET MAZE, SO I'LL HAVE TO HIDE THE PIECES BIT BY BIT. DON'T WORRY THOUGH, I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY'RE READY TO FIND! BE READY, HEEHEE!

drizjr noticed that this eventually changed to:

OKAY! IT WASN'T EASY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT FROM SYS'S LITTLE PET. THAT THING IS FAST, WOW! I MANAGED TO HIDE A FEW PIECES FOR NOW, BUT THERE'S MORE COMING! :@)

ALSO, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY MEMORY. THIS DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE DOES IT? HEEHEE! I THINK IF YOU CAN FIX IT, YOU MIGHT FIND SOMETHING USEFUL!

"SITTING IN A COZY/RISING OVER EASTERN/SHIMMERING STARS/TRYING TO FIND THE/COZY SPOT ON A/EVENING STAR RISING/THAT SHE WAS ABLE/DREAMING EYES SIMPLY/ABLE TO REACH/A HILL, TRYING/SIMPLY DREAMED THAT/THE EVENING/REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE SHIMMERING/EASTERN SHORES, DREAMING"

drizjr also noticed a couple of Essy-style comments at the bottom of the page on other nodes in the maze.

While it may sound confusing, there are actually two puzzles going on this week (plus a third mentioned after the June 1 series of tweets):

Unlocking pathlocked data hidden by Sys (who thought this data should be considered “classified” as it could cause problems with the timeline if we learn too much about the future) – this search was done behind Sys’ back and involved looking for information Sys did NOT want us to know. Solving it gave us the biography of Dr. Pandora Sheridan.
Finding more cartoon picture pieces in the Stonewall: looking in the Stonewall for pieces of Essy’s story that she hid for us to find – this search was done with Essy’s full knowledge and approval, and involved looking for information Essy DID want us to know, but wanted us to find in a fun, hide-and-seek kind of way.

See the appropriate links from each bullet point above to find out how we solved each puzzle.

Another series of tweets follows on June 1 (during the hibernation period):

>>S:Oink//Peekaboo!4:33 PM Jun 1st from web
>>S3:MSG>SYS//TRACKING ACTIVITY... UNABLE TO LOCATE TENTACLE CONTROL POINT.
>>S:Oink//*tickletickle*
>>S3:MSG>SYS//TTRACKING ACTTIVITY... UNABLE TTO LOCATE TTENTACLE CONTROL POINTT.
>>S:Oink>Sys's pet//Uh oh, Where'd I go? Bet you can't find me! Where could I be? Heehee, this message will self-destruct in 7 seconds. :@)
>>S3:MSG>SYS//DIRECT TENTACLE CONTACT/UNABLE TO RETRIEVE CP/S3 COMPROMISED/RECOMMEND RECONSTRUCTION/RESUMING NOCTURNAL SURVEILLANCE

This is also mainly related to Finding more cartoon picture pieces in the Stonewall.

No research note is publicly released this session.

Mission log released:
Day 36: [Noah Dressler // Edge of the abyss] (Wiki copy) (http://thewaytheirworldended.com/missionlog22.php )
Dressler has continued hacking into the system’s hardware, using programming to mask what he is doing, but Essy has taken notice of him now and is interfering with his progress. He is frustrated at running into dead ends. She talks at him, raving, and one of the things she says is, “I kill you and I like it.” Disturbing.