In Reality:Timeline

The quest

Start of something (1)

On 2016-06-27, this reddit post appeared on /r/ARG from a user named /u/inreality_:

Hi there. I've been lurking in these parts (and /r/gamedetectives) for a while, so… well, I thought it might be fun to let you solve these puzzles I've been working on.

I don't think they're particularly difficult, but the end goal is very important to something that I've been researching. I can explain more once you get there.

Up for it? Let’s go.

WNDDNqTB

This was shortly followed by a message from @inreality#1054 on the GameDetectives Discord's #arg-general channel:

http://www.reddit.com/r/arg/comments/4q3e3l/_/
Hi there! I've been lurking for a while and I thought that you detectives could help me with something I've been researching. As such, I've constructed a series of puzzles - a test - for you to attempt.
I will explain more if you make it to the end. Start with the reddit post I've linked above.

Discord user CURIOUS CHILDREN spotted the italics in the reddit post, which spelt "pastebin", leading to the next clue.

Good work (2)

The paste was created on 2016-06-12, along with all known parts of the ARG (except the trailhead).

Well done. But that wasn't really that difficult, was it?

Let's try something harder…

Did yOUr mINd kNow THIngs WhiCh FloAt aWAy are a tONe aWAy tO An iSlAnD ThAT SeE to KinGs . tWEN Ty iS nOT good I wANt adD twOMoR shIFtS

This was eventually solved to be Morse Code, revealing this:

DPPL://PSEPPAN.YKI/EJNAWHEPU__

Solving this as a rot4 cipher led to the next clue:

http://twitter.com/inreality__

Let's get weirder (3)

The Twitter account was named Sophie and had one tweet:

Let's get weirder (3): Count them… https://t.co/ptQqmBPsJg lbzw://b.gzohv.gws/LF9O8RR.crk

Discord user Concerned Hobbit bruteforced the code as a Vigenere cipher (ultimately using the key eightynine) to reveal this:

http://i.imgur.com/EM9Q8EJ.png

Not a hard puzzle (4)

Not a hard puzzle (4)
The number you need is here already, but double it.
You are looking for another page here…

bto9rDUins0pifh.vyPweuSiGW6TvFCmKpB7P2JgSY0ssVVuCiazvg6rru
EgZg5.k90AX4nc1PCYiXoioX6L.FmhxVgaCb2IUhG0hQekPv6aQ3riJE9Q
p4MngN4ABEbIzCTDAUHqPZCCxHwjQBJstH.zjETO0Kipr9D13osnPRqICR
MgLoEvs79IvE68Qkd.uUAYs3E95ThOa0Cl88nIeACm0TqJEp7eG1PVHve4
3L3oOvxeROROGW8xE6naM1zgvDHyHarDjaUQbT59cIO7IQ91RiXwX2pSpH

The inreality Discord user gave two hints relating to this clue:

I love skipping.

(hinting that the clue was a skip cipher)

the dots are probably a part of the cipher

Two further hints were later given:

I'm afraid I have to leave for now, but I'll say that automation may not be helping you.

(warning users to solve the puzzle manually)

I checked through the puzzle and I am sorry to say that I have in fact made an error. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.
8888888887888888888898

Eventually, it was solved by Discord user carnifex to lead to the next clue:

A hard puzzle (5)

A hard puzzle (5)

Pcnna tyh tfkhawrg tnk sghaf 'dl zyg.

mhng://uomkjpce.hcg/Jhv4pxJq

The bottom URL was solved by Discord user Concerned Hobbit as a Vigenere with the key "four".

Halfway there (6)

If you thought those first five were easy, you'll like this. If you thought they were hard, scream and run.

Pf l=1 fjd x=26, poek hved yde dbywk thrllnana hhu yw tz?

/i/2AtpLwPh

Discord user offbeatwitch solved the second paragraph as a Vigenere with the key "halfwaythere":

If a=1 and z=26, what does the first paragraph add up to?

Discord users Crauss, Emoticon, Concerned Hobbit, picapi, and offbeatwitch solved the third paragraph as a Vigenere using the key "onethousandandeightyone":

/u/2NpwEiVp

You already have this answer (7)

The reddit user had one post, in /r/test, and the user's username was solved by Discord users Crauss, upsidedownportal, and Concerned Hobbit to be a Pastebin URL.

The final stretch (8)

This next clue will take you somewhere covered in… red.

WwXNbJtuitYpXSICeTgLxnaafmsV
V*m*aa**LgT*C*SXpY*iu*Jb**w*