The Gold-Bug

I am too shell-shocked to write anything more but...I hope Sonia will be okay.

I agree Josh.

Tell me, people kept saying that most of the ciphers had already been posted on here. For example, the one in the box with the long cipher that no one has translated yet. I can't find it though - can we point me in the right direction?

Rosco

Hi Rosco - the first part of the long cipher was posted by Hartspring on Dec 8th, and he then posted the rest on Dec 19th

What's going on? What's up with Sonia?

... yes - is it a bad thing or are we only concerned with the puzzle?!?

I am not sure how much I am allowed to say...but Sonia was carried from the building in a troubling condition after a series of thoroughly disturbing events.

I really hope for her sake that this is part of this mystery... I'm assuming you would be explicit if it was something that demanded our sympathy? In either case, what can we do to help?

Please tell us what happened to Sonia and what were the disturbing events. I last heard from her on the morning of 20 January.

I think the best thing to do is meet at the Red Death Late Night this friday and ask Sonia in person...
if she's not there we'll need a way of recognising one another.
Gold masks, maybe?

I'd love to be there but I'm not a Hunter and I've not asked be added to the guest list so does anyone know the drill/if I can come?

Also, not got any masks at all...

Sonia wrote in the puzzle forum in December that "it would appear that the 20th January is perhaps important". I hope she comes back in time for her birthday on Friday. You can email her to ask to be the guest list but she may not be able to reply.

http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=452726

Mean anything, do you think?

... apart from that 19th Jan was Poe's 199th birthday...

Hello everyone

I am fine *really* nothing to worry about. On doctor's orders I took yesterday off completely but I've been back in the thick of work today.

I've spoken to Mr Grandison about what happened (and it was better than I feared). He insists that it is important information and should be shared with everyone. It might be best for obvious reasons if we leave out the details of exactly how we gained entrance but the story is...

I led a small party of Hunters into the empty and darkened theatre on Sunday (invitation to this adventure was made to all members of the Hunters' Club as of two weekends ago... I was hinting that there were hidden benefits:).

Except it wasn't completely empty, there was a security guard (well dodged it seems) and the black cat that haunts the place. And after a while of torches, some lights and sound suddenly and weirdly came on and then when we gathered in the forest in the foyer ready to leave, someone (or something) appeared.

Now I don't have much recollection of this last bit as I stupidly fainted so I'd be really grateful if Hunters who were present could fill it in, as well as any other details of their experience (missing out youknowwhocouldlosejob).

I was rushed off in a cab and woke in outpatients. But I repeat, I am fine. Actually better than I felt last week. I hope that some of you can make it down to the Late on Friday where I will most certainly be having my birthday drink. Email me and let me know.

Yours

Sonia

Sonia,
I am so relieved to hear that you are alright.
We were all so worried after you collapsed and were rushed off.
Do you know the reason for your collapse? Hartspring and I feared that the apparition we witness was sent by Moray to harm you for leading us too close to the treasure.

I think I am correct in saying that the haunting figure who assailed us beared a striking resemblance to one Eugenie Salsafette, speaking the maniacal words of both Lady Macbeth and the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart.

Anyone else who was there remember more?

My recollections are of some ethereal singing followed by the appearance of a female apparition (whose identity, alas, I could not fathom), who went on to speak (but whether to us or to some unseen presence I could not tell) referring variously to her surprise at the quantity of blood involved in something, to a pirate's treasure, and to her desire that someone take her hand.

Hunters, are you allowed to tell us what you were looking for before the appearance of the apparition? Is there another clue that hasn't been found yet? And did you find anything?

We were basically using the opportunity to try and get to the bottom of everything - more able to roam while the Masque wasn't in progress.

We managed to discount a few things. There is nothing but some bones and a bed bed behind the boarded up door in the basement.

What is most important is that we still have two codes to crack: the sytails (is that what they're called) and the long code in the box from the library type room. Both of which have been published in other strands.

That will really help us with the final key phrase. It feels like we're SO close.

We were after the Tailor's Tape- which was found (and has been solved in the '66' forum) and then verified the other clues.

A friend of Sonia's was there with us, and sent me a text warned us to look out for a security guard- who we managed to avoid.

As has been mentioned above, the sound system started up (making things that much more creepy- we were stalking around with torches after all) and cut out again just as suddenly... then the sound of far off singing, getting louder and louder.

Then a woman (the medium) appeared on a landing- appearing possessed. She ceased singing and spoke a line of Lady Macbeth's-

"Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"

and from there rambled on for a while... eventually holding out a hand- this summoned Sonia to her, who climbed three steps and collapsed.

Phil put Sonia in a taxi and left, so charlie and me had another cup of tea and then we went home.

Mr Grandison asked me to ask if anyone remembers the actual words that this seeming apparition of Eugenie spoke? Which words of Lady Macbeth or otherwise?

My memory of what exactly happened is a bit hazy as it was all so unexpected, but I believe Eugenie also quoted Lady Macbeth saying " What's done cannot be undone".

She says this in Macbeth when "The innocent dead haunt her dreams as she walks through the castle in her sleep, washing her hands, trying to remove the stain of her inhuman acts. But no water can clear the blood from her hands; no power can free her from her guilt. “What’s done cannot be undone” (5.1.65)."

As Peter A said, she beckoned to us from the top of the stairs and then Sonia stepped forward and fainted.