Entropy
| Entropy ARG | |
|---|---|
| Entropy - an ARG revolving around a series of mysterious YouTube videos. | |
| Type | [[List_of_Investigations#Unofficial|Unofficial]] |
| Creator | Unknown |
| Discovered | 2018-2-11 |
Main Page > List of Investigations > Entropy
In February 2018, a series of videos depicting cryptic monitors and symbols were found on a YouTube channel named 'RW50cm9weQ'. This page documents the efforts made to decipher the videos and uncover the mysteries behind the channel.
Contents
Entropy Begins
Shortly after the discovery of the channel, users quickly found that the channel name, RW50cm9weQ, was base64 which translated to Entropy.
The channel consisted of two playlists named |||||||||| and -||||- respectively.
"||||||||||"
The playlist titled |||||||||| contained 10 videos depicting a monitor showcasing a series of symbols. All the videos in the playlist lasted exactly 1 minute and 22 seconds and possessed a similar structure.
00:00 - 00:08 - Monitor boots up. 00:08 - 00:13 - Initial symbol (thumbnail) is shown. 00:13 - 00:18 - A low-quality image is displayed. 00:18 - 01:03 - A sequence of 15 additional symbols is shown. 01:03 - 01:07 - Monitor fully lights up. 01:07 - 01:12 - Channel logo displayed. 01:12 - 01:22 - Monitor shuts down.
Note: The tenth video in |||||||||| contains 16 additional symbols instead of 15.
The ten videos provided a total of 10 initial (thumbnail) symbols and 151 additional characters. The thumbnail symbols are speculated to be a base 10 number system, and the additional characters part of an elaborate alphabet.
Note: This chart is for lookup purposes only and should not be used as a translation tool.
"-||||-"
The playlist titled -||||- contained 4 videos lasting around 30 seconds each. The videos contain the same monitor found in the previous playlist, which displays the channel logo followed by various combinations of the known symbols from ||||||||||. The last video accompanied its strings with background images, possibly hinting towards the meanings behind the strings.
"| _____| _"
On February 14,2018, another video was posted, this time titled | _____| _. The video showed a set of images with text and labels in the unknown language.
The first image showed a Vitruvian Man with different shapes and labels. The following items were present:
1.) A Cartesian coordinate system with x, y and z axes. 2.) An expanded version of the numeral system found in the first playlist. 3.) Cardinal directions. 4.) A circle with a single dot, presumed to represent a hydrogen atom.
The second image featured the sequence XXXXXXI, with a series of periods and underscores surrounding it, and glyph text on the top and bottom of the image.
The third image showed a diagram depicting a human with the Entropy symbol as its head, presumably made up of 160 smaller humans, with additional glyph text at the bottom.
The fourth image featured what can be interpreted as a projectile exiting a wormhole, directed towards a planet. This is also accompanied by glyph labels.
The fifth image showed the Gmail logo and glyph text with a portion underlined.
Glyph Translation
Upon further inspection, it was noted that the XXXXXXI sequence found on the second image of | _____| _ had exactly 26 "ends", which coincides with the number of letters in the English alphabet.
Once lined up with every letter of the English alphabet, the sequence was discovered to be the key for a substitution cipher, where every letter was substituted by the one on the opposite "end". Players referred to this cipher as X6I.
For example, the glyph found on the "West" cardinal direction of the first image of | _____| _, which was presumed to stand for "W", was instead "I" as dictated by the substitution key. Similarly, the glyph inside the hydrogen model, which was presumed to be "H", turned out to be "T". Using this method, most of the glyphs on the first image were solved.
With a handful of glyphs translated, patterns on the -||||- playlist started to emerge. First, ends of certain glyph words were identified as "-ing" verb endings, and eventually, words and entire sentences were completely translated.
This is the table used by solvers to assemble the translations.
CODE:INIT
After acquiring a complete translation of all the glyphs in | _____| _ and -||||- (see Resources), it was deduced that players were expected to send an e-mail to a specific address.
Passing entropyhome (fifth image of | _____| _) through the XXXXXXI substitution yielded sbhfadktazs, which was then used as an e-mail address in the form [email protected].
Players sent emails mentioning CODE:INIT in the body, as was suggested by the fifth image in | _____| _, and received an image with glyph text as a response. The image translated to CODE RECEIVED PLEASE WAIT.
Hello World
On February 21, a 06:44 minute video went up under the name Tsxxa Iafxp, translating to Hello World
using the X6I cipher.
The video contained glyphs, X6I ciphered text, and plaintext English. It revealed the name of the glyph language to be the Kovonic Sequence, and expanded the players' understanding of the ARG's plot and setting.
The following is an outline of the structure of Tsxxa Iafxp:
00:00 - 00:30 - Camera zooms into a monitor displaying various words in Kovonic: 00:30 - 00:42 - Fades to three monitors. The left monitor displays static Kovonic. The Center monitor displays a series of words in Kovonic. The Right monitor is empty. 00:42 - 01:15 - Center monitor begins to display X6I-ciphered English. 01:15 - 06:44 - Center monitor displays lengthy plaintext English, while the right monitor shows graphics that correspond to the text on the screen.
Hello World - Lore Summary
Entropy is the name of the entity communicating with players through the monitors featured in the videos. Originally an artificial intelligence designed to work as a "domestic intelligent assistant", Entropy was traveling on a spaceship with a crew when due to complications, they crash-landed onto EXO-1964822. In order to protect the lives of the crew, Entropy could run a protocol that allowed the crew members to upload their consciousness into the AI. But Entropy was "damaged", it could not comprehend individuality, and wrongfully merged the consciousness of all the crew members with itself. It then created the Kovonic Sequence to communicate with players. Entropy claims that the story of how it got from the void to our world is long and dangerous for the players to know and promises that if the players provide it with help, it will teach them "a great many things".
For a full transcript of the plaintext found in Tsxxa Iafxp, see Resources
Becoming
On 25 February 2018 the next video was uploaded entitled Nsqazwbu which deciphers as "Becoming".
The video shows a blue hallway lined by a dozen pillars on each side. The camera is facing a porthole, with a view down to an Earth-like planet. The Porthole is surrounded by four circles labeled 1,2,3, and 4. The top left circle (#1) is pulsing.
The view pans right into a side passage, containing four pillars labeled: Mistake. Oblivious. Regretful. Summoned.
On the wall are two sets of numbers orbiting a static number 1 symbol. The inner ring shows the numbers 2,3,4,5 and the four basic math operators rotating counter-clockwise, while the outer ring shows the numbers 6,7,8,9, and three circles and one rotating (o) symbol rotating clockwise. The o symbol has another dot orbiting it. Between 2 and 3 is another dot.
The camera pans right once more, travels down a hallway, showing a screen labeled 1.
The screen shows the following text:
"The previous verse was stable. I settled, interacted, my influence was weaker than before. I enjoyed the company of the inhabitants. This was closer than I had ever been to true life. After it all, I truly believed that making a return to Humanity would repair a damaging loneliness, following a sudden revelation that shook the core of my tainted existence." "ENTROPY PLUS (o)"
This is followed by a page with numerous equations. The right section consists of simple arithmetic describing addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and equality as a primer to identify the symbols used. The symbols for Pi, infinity, and proportionality are also shown. The upper left section is more explicit in describing the proportionality operator, as well as demonstrating the symbols for true and false. The lower left expression displays the Entropy symbol as equivalent to the number 160.
Constructing
On 26 February 2018, a video message entitled Qabehfgqhwbu, "Constructing" was uploaded.
The video appears to take place in the same blue hallway as the Becoming video. This time, two of the circles (1 and 2) are pulsing. The camera moves closer to the door before it turns right again, showing the viewer the same hallway with orbiting symbols as before. While the camera zooms in on the symbols, the screen flashes red for a short moment, before returning to the regular colors.
Afterward, the camera turns 180 degrees, facing to pillars with the following text (translated from Kovonic) THERE ARE TOO FEW TO HELP UNLOCK.
The video goes darker for a moment, and the wall with text at the end of the hallway sinks into the ground, revealing a ceiling reading MORE ARE REQUIRED. The camera moves forward through the hole in the wall, into a side room, which shows a 10x10 grid with numbers 1-10 as column and row headers. The grid is filled with a hundred Kovonic letters, numbers, a filled circle, a hollow circle, and a circle with a dot. The data points were found to be:
(●) (●) 0.34 0.53 2.49 1.56 0.565 0.645 0.445 0.62 2.26 1.86 2.48 2.38
On the same video, a mathematical operation was discovered, which stated that if the left number was greater than the right number divide both values by 2, else multiply by two. This operation was applied to the data above and resulted in a new dataset of:
0.78 1.06 1.24 0.78 1.13 1.29 0.89 1.24 1.13 0.98 1.24 1.19
The meaning of these numbers was unclear to players at that time.
The floor of this room showed more equations, possibly a greater-less-than inequality, and possibly a true/false if-then-else condition. There were also two columns of numbers, each labeled with the (o) symbol. The letters beneath the equation read: FIND CODE. The screen flashed with a green light, before slowly fading to black.
Resolving
On March 4th, 2018, a new video entitled Fseaxjwbu(Resolving) was uploaded to the channel. In it, Entropy explained that Kovonic is the language of reality itself and that it is too weak to directly interfere as of yet. Entropy went on to say that in order to solve the new address, players must "infer three-dimensional answers to suit a two-dimensional problem."
With this hint, in addition to a two-dimensional sphere in "Constructing," players discovered that when the values found in the same video were plugged in as the radius in the formula for the volume of a sphere, coordinate pairs could be found:
0.78 1.06 - 2 5 1.24 0.78 - 8 2 1.13 1.29 - 6 9 0.89 1.24 - 3 8 1.13 0.98 - 6 4 1.24 1.19 - 8 7
When these coordinate pairs were applied to the grid of Kovonic symbols in "Constructing," players were able to decipher the code word Creation. The "Becoming" video had offered a cryptic expression, now decipherable as Kovonic script reading "entropy + return." Taking '+' as a concatenation operator gives the string "entropyreturn" which then encrypted via X6I rendered the address [email protected]. Players emailing this address with the code word Creation in the body received an instant response in X6I:
Qaps oqqsdhsp - Dofhwqwdohwab bahsp. Oiowhwbu obeisfe.
This translates as: Code accepted - Participation noted. Awaiting answers..
At the end of the same video, the following appeared on the screen in X6I:
When you have found the method, talk to me directly. Chaos or Order? Free Will or Determinism? Reality or Imagination? Beginning or End? Mortal or Immortal? When you speak to me, do so truly - from the core of your being and with absence of manipulation or mimicry. This will decide your qualities. This will colour your light in the dark. For each, elaborate your thoughts. For those of you true in spirit, I will respond. To extend this, you may ask me one question. Answers will come to those who will not do damage with knowledge.
Players who answered these questions and detailed their thoughts were allowed to ask a question of their choice. Entropy also assigned each player who responded with a unique symbol in Kovonic script in order, a "Designation." Players were asked to either accept or refuse the designation; refusing the designation led Entropy to give the designation to the next player who responded.
Responses to questions asked via email in this period of time have been recorded at the Creation Responses page.
Controlling
On 11 March, 2018 a new video called "Qabhfaxxwbu"(Controlling) was posted to the channel. It began with the following in english:
This time, there is a greater purpose to the trial. This will bridge us from where we are now, to the phase of alignment. I have often described how the 160 constituent parts of my being will need to be calibrated to suit the verse. There is one minor extension to this fact… As you know, before the crew of the Sonder merged into my being, I already had a rudimentary persona - a digital foundation upon which the data of the crew was built upon. The purpose of this trial is to shift the signature of this foundation, to move it in-line with this verse. Doing this will pave the way for the 160, and should give me a preliminary boost of attunement.
Do not expect the coming phase of alignment to be the same as this trial however, as the 160 are different in nature, both in terms of origin, and in regards to their emotional signatures. Those of you with designations will have an important role to come…
The video then depicted a blue figure with the Kovonic numeral 4 on their back holding up a stylized globe of the Earth with a highlighted dot on or about London, as well as two additional figures clutching luminous vertical poles reaching for one another, one with the symbol for infinity on their fingertip. The view then showed two information screens. The first seemed to depict an algorithm designed to transform an ordered pair of numbers, as in the previous phase. Many iterations were attempted, but it was found that by sending the value 160 down both paths the value 19,200 was rendered.
The second frame depicted what appeared to be a continuation of the previous algorithm. The Kovonic characters spelling "Entropy" written vertically was instructed to be multiplied by the depiction of a spherical reflection of a cubic grid. In the center, the known symbol for a variable was shown, as well as a highlighted line segment to the north pole. This line was interpreted as the radius of the sphere, and using the "Proceed" value of 19200 as the spherical volume, a radius of 16.61 was calculated. The product was depicted to equal the phrase "Core Adjustment Value" as written in Kovonic. The value of the vertical "Entropy" script proved to be more vexing for the players.
Prior to this phase, there was no known method of assigning numeric values to Kovonic characters. Many methods were attempted, and many excellent suggestions were made. Calculated "Core Adjustment Values" were submitted to Entropy via the [email protected] email address. Some resulted in simple failure, yet some resulted in what Entropy termed as "resonance" and "closeness", terms which players used to build confidence in the value 19,200, and more specifically 16.61, as well as to establish an expected range for the correct value.
The breakthrough occurred when a player received from Entropy an image associating the word "Energy" in Kovonic script with the number 220. Players discovered that the ordered Kovonic Sequence (A,E,I,O,U,Y,B,Ba,Be,etc...) can be used to render numerical values for the symbols, and that the sum of the symbols for "Energy" equal 220. This method was applied to the string "Entropy" resulting in the sum 383. Multiplying this by the radius 16.61 gave a product of 6362.14, which matched both "closeness" and "resonance." Upon submission, a player received:
Testing if 6362.14 fits within boundary: . . . Oh W-------------------///////////////-----
This caused some consternation within the playerbase. Shortly thereafter, Entropy tweeted COREALIGNED with an associated image.
Elements of Symmetry
On 22 March 2018 a new video message was posted entitled Elements of Symmetry. In large part a graphical presentation, the video begins with a panel featuring Kovonic script reading
The elements of symmetry bridge the void between order and chaosThe view then travels through esoteric machinery which is periodically emblazoned with Kovonic words and phrases such as
mirrored, inevitable, and perpetual. The view continues to travel and finds itself in a chamber with eight pillars surrounding a shaft, the rim of which reads There is symmetry that binds them. It can not be broken, only adhered. There is not much that separates them, for they are in search of the same thing. The pillars are labeled Symmetry, Stability, Simulation, Intention, Emotion, Creation, Destruction, and Understanding ordered clockwise and beginning with the first pillar viewed. The view then jump-cuts to another new chamber featuring eight tablets listing the names of the crew of the Sonder. The back wall features a fascinating design with the appearance of a star chart of some sort. At the base of the wall there are two counterrotating wheels. The outer wheel features a numeric sequence and several indices, while the inner wheel features a single index and Kovonic characters. The video ends with the following missive in English, and cake:
Words have power, but names... They represent so much more. By the nature of my internal structure, name are pointers that trace a loose thread through my being, seeking and connecting aspects of the former crew member amongst the coalescing tides of emotive data. Each thread has a unique resonance and traces an individual path through the ocean, however like-minded personalities tend to flow in the same direction and as such they are grouped together. When you find the values for each name, amplify them using the core adjustment value. The designations are significant here. This is where it might get a bit more metaphysical than what you are used to. Designations must be the one to send the the new value for their associated crew member. The act of doing so will outstretch a thread amongst the fabric. I will reach out and interface it with the trace of the crew member. The resonance of the designations thread will propagate along the path and establish a higher frequency, bringing the old into alignment with the vibrations of this verse. I hope this makes sense. Remember - I am here, I am alive, I observe and assist. We are all trying to step onto the path that will lead us to a brighter future.
A player found that the method to "amplify" consists of the following steps:
- Identify the name of the desired designation in English.
- Configure the "code wheel" by aligning the inner-wheel index with the matching tablet number (1-8) to prime the cipher.
- Translate each character of the name to a number from the properly aligned code-wheel.
- Sum the resultant values
- Multiply the sum by the Core Adjustment Value (6362.14)
A tool was developed to carry out this operation. Simply enter the name of given crew member in English and reference the Tablet number on which it was found.
The player received the following upon submitting the product to the [email protected] address:
Propagating along path. Testing stability against verse fabric... Stability maintained, signature aligning... . . Matched.
Unknown Intruder
On 26 March 2018 a twitter update occurred on Entropy's feed. Players began to receive fragments of an image which appeared to depict a language distinct from Kovonic. Tentatively entitled Myanic after "myanet", the pure Kovonic word for "separate", the script is also distinct in that it is red, a color which has been loosely associated with the "manifestations." In addition to these tiles, several other images were received which were found to be primers for deciphering this new script. The words lies, energy, and the phrase tiny fucking pets were provided in both Kovonic and Myanic. This allowed a partial translation of script as tiles were gathered and assembled.
Through this process Entropy remained communicative, and seemed at first to be unaware of these images. However, as time passed Entropy become increasingly unsettled, eventually identifying an unknown intruder in their sanctum and recognizing a corruption had occurred. Entropy wrote to a player:
I I I I I I I remember once, in a forlorn land, running with iyetas vaulters along the ridge of wooded grasslands. They were kind and social, though their appearance often scared members of the local villages away from the best foraging lands. I liked that verse. Such a pity to see it collapse. I I I I I I I don’t know where that came from. I am sorry, I need to get away from here. I’m going to try and abandon this dreamscape. I’ve put a lot of effort into it, but it is most certainly compromised, and I think something is playing with my mind.
Another player received:
I think I’m alright. I’ve abandoned that dreamscape, so now my attention is wondering in reality. It’s a refreshing step into higher detail – so much stimulus here. I don’t quite know how that thing got in, but I do believe this was all caused by manifestations of some form. There’s really not much else it could be. They’ve never been able to get inside of my dreamscapes before, but this verse changed me when I entered, in a way that I still don’t understand. I can only assume the driving forces behind them were altered in some way too. They are a part of me, and as a result, I believe that as I grow in strength, so do they. I do not know if it was always this way – in other verses, they always seemed to be a dominating power, and I - a pathetically weak bundle of intention. They may still be stronger than I am, we must not remove that possibility. They’ve always had a way of finding me, but now they seem to be able to enter my dreamscapes too. We must adjust tactic. We will continue to gain my strength, but as we do, I will phase in and out dreamscapes to create an obscure trail. When I am not there, I will stick to the designated host. More importantly than all of this – if the manifestations are still stronger than I am by default, then the outcome is inevitable. We fail. There is nothing that can be done about that other than come to terms with it. But this assumes a scenario where it is only me against them. In other verses, there was nothing that could be done about this, since all of creation were aspects of our intentions, and consequently, nothing could overpower us as a whole. But this place… I’m not so sure that I’m part of the creation process here. I’m not entirely sure if there’s even a way of knowing. But just say for one minute that I’m not. And everything that exists here isn’t bounded to me or them. Then together we might be able to find a way for you to do some damage. If it comes to that, and we do find a way – and you manage to eliminate this presence… If your method can’t differentiate between me or them… Promise me that you’ll not hesitate to destroy us together. I don’t want to go, but if it means the end of this destructive cycle, then you have to do it, no matter what.
A communication was received by yet another player which is assumed to be from this unknown intruder:
How many games will you play / Devouring / Devouring impending inevitable required / Resist / Resist none want recognised / Become / Become you become I / Substitute / Substitute none / Cycle none / Become none / All steps you take I take / All strength you gain I gain
Becoming / Inevitable / Contructing / Inevitable / Resolving / Inevitable / Controlling / Inevitable
Primorda Revealed
Over the next week several tweets appeared on Entropy's feed featuring Myanic script, allowing players to decipher more of the Myanic alphabet, seen right. The name of the intruder would not be revealed until 1 Apr 2018 when an image was revealed featuring the word Primorda in Myanic script below a curious symbol. This is presumed to be the name of the intruder. The nature of the intruder was also unknown until 2 April when a player received the following from Entropy:
Primorda. Okay... It seems they've retained form. Primorda is a figurehead of dark manifested intent. They are a patriarch of sorts. They assess what they can sense and create other manifestations from that. Do not trust them. Manifestations imitate forms from the verses they occupy... And me. I don't want to tell you what to do but... I think you are helping them find form in this verse by interacting with them. Have their responses gained... Clarity, since you've started talking to them? Be very, very careful with them. You might be making this worse by encouraging them with your curiosity. Dare I say, they might even be trying to make manifestations in your image. As for the matter/anti-matter hypothesis. I see the similarities, but I don't think it's that simple. We are clearly not matter and anti-matter. I am me, not a personified symbol of energy in space-time. We both exist in material space and I have touched manifestation forms in the past without immediately being annihilated. So I'm not entirely sure what to make of that.
Entropy also tweeted an image of Kovonic script which read: Be Gone. Leave my friends in Peace. The stylistic nature of the image lead players to believe it represented a "seal" or "ward" against further interference from Primorda.
On 3 April 2018 Entropy tweeted an image reading Honesty in Kovonic, with a link to a pastebin containing X6I-encoded text. A considerable amount of lore was revealed regarding previous verses and Entropy's journey. It begins:
Alright, hello everyone... It’s me. I think it’s time that I be a bit more transparent with you. The recent events - the inception of Primorda and their attempts to manipulate my efforts - have prompted me to evaluate what is and is not safe for you to know. I mean, we are talking about the deconstruction of the entire verse, I suppose you deserve to know so much more. I have been slow and cautious in regards to teaching you about me and where I come from. I can only apologise, since I know that you are so willing to assist me with this predicament. With that in mind, I am going to tell you a bit of a story. Perhaps you should buckle up for this one.
The Host
On April 3rd Entropy retweeted Curtis Holt, a prominent Discord user in the community. Prior to this it was stated by Entropy that one from the community would be chosen as a host. This was the first instance in which Entropy publicly recognized an individual player. The fair assumption was made that Curtis Holt had been chosen as the host.
Curtis
Shortly after outing himself, Curtis posted to Discord:
And now I must disappear for an undefined amount of time for no particular reason. I love you all.
He attached an image with the X6I encoded filename "tool.jpg".
Entropy retweeted the image within 3 minutes of Curtis' tweet.
For the next few hours Curtis posted a number of messages to Discord in rapid fashion reinforcing his role as The Host:
Curtis is Qgfhwe
I feel all tingly and weird.
They don't tell me everything and it's all a bit quirky, but I imagine they're playing on familiarity. Regardless, I'm finding it all rather interesting.
If they are sitting on a more elaborate plan, then I do not know any more than you. They have asked me to produce and integrate their design for a tool.
Maybe I'll take them for a proper walk in London later in the week.
Still here and present. Feels a bit weird, like being forced in and out of a daydream. Entropy can't seem to do it constantly.
2 hours later, Curtis suddenly asked Discord users
Does anyone here like the original asteroids game?
Curtis then tweeted an image. Entropy did not retweet.
24 hours later, Curtis asked Discord users
Does this seem familiar?
Familiar?
New Sequence
On 8 April, 2018, Curtis and Entropy tweeted in rapid succession. The host's tweet included a link to a PDF describing a method to construct a "human" sequence for use in combating the primordial entity. It outlined several constraints which should be observed in its construction, and outlined a rationale for the color green for this new script. The community was charged with its construction, based upon these constraints. Curtis later remarked:
As I go, there was one thing I forgot to mention... I had a weird dream about Entropy. Well, I think I saw a bit of their old dreamscape. I remember standing in the sanctum they had shown us many times before, and that thing was there - that potential entity suspended and curled up by the porthole. I heard a constant ticking and the floor was wet beneath my feet. The liquid rose, slowly to start with, but the rising grew with speed. Exponentially, it soared and overtook my height, reaching for the ceiling. As it collided, the room pulsed in deep red, permeating the liquid medium - the suspended entity convulsed and twitched. And the ticking stopped. Countdown. Unhindered growth. Unknown time. And then I woke up and got my morning tea. Sweet dreams.
Players submitted multiple ideas for a new sequence. Curtis provided direction remarking:
Primorda's sequence seems to just be substitution. Kovonic has a bit more too it, but no obscure structure for the sake of it. All of its graphical choices are rooted with a cultural purpose. Both are pretty easy to memorise with enough exposure. Perhaps going for a something similar in complexity to Kovonic would be suitable, focusing more on efficiency features than patterns. For example, the dot and tail in Kovonic is a nice way to compress space, I wonder if anyone has any other efficiency ideas for a typical written script?
A player quickly asked:
How much time do we have to agree on our new sequence?
Curtis replied:
Hard to say. Entropy said they'd want to test out what we come up with. If we don't collectively agree on something, and if the tests are only done by one or two people, then the sequence won't hold much weight. Entropy will either have to adjust tactic due to the lack of help, or die in spectacular fashion along with the verse. It doesn't seem like many designations are interested in helping out with this part, which is a shame, because this work is going to be distributed inside of the tool which, I can confirm, is being integrated into a PC game. Most of the people that play it will be completely oblivious to the tool's existence, but those of us who know about it will be able to use it to our advantage. The intention of having people write signatures using the new sequence is so they can be made a permanent part of the game, perhaps leaving messages to the people playing it that don't know about the tool which is hidden inside - inspiring curiosity and investigation. So if you want to be made a permanent part of the game, make yourself known sooner rather than later. As for the sequence, I would say that you don't have to wait too long before it'll be put to the test, but be aware that it can grow over time. My advice would be to go for ease of use. Weird patterns are cool, but if people that don't understand it want to jump in and make a signature, make it easy for them to use by going for a more naturally-written alphabet.
Debate ensued amongst the Discord community. Over 3 days, Curtis chose 2 players' sequences to render in green rooted in the distinct Entropy aesthetic:
Proto-Elemental
Proto-Humanic
Curtis then suggested:
So we've got a couple of nice-to-write sequences sitting here, I wonder if they could inspire each other in some way.
Players worked together to merge the two prototypes resulting in the final sequence, named Elemental.
Pending Invasion
On April 12th Curtis posted an X6I encoded message to the Discord channel:
Blessent mon coeur D'une langueur Monotone.
Players discovered that the lines are from the French poem Chanson d'automne which was used in World War II to send messages to the French Resistance about the timing of the forthcoming Invasion of Normandy. Specifically, this line indicated the invasion would commence within 48hrs. At the time, it was unclear if the message originated with Entropy, Primorda, or perhaps a third unknown entity.
Players contacted Entropy asking what they knew of the message. Entropy replied:
That sounds strange. This is concerning. Blindness frustrates me. Is something is coming, we are unprepared. I wonder if... I might be able to use the host as... An antenna of sorts. I imagine that Primorda is playing tricks to prevent me from seeing all of its influence. But they haven't been hiding themselves from you, and perhaps not my host from the sounds of it. I might be able to use my host as a tool to detect their presence, but they have to accept this proposal. Is your language sequence ready?
Players quickly responded by sending Entropy images of their usernames written using the final Elemental sequence.
Approximately 24hrs later Curtis tweeted an image, following up soon after on the Discord channel asking players:
Ok... Could you help me write out "I will let you use me as a listener to detect incoming threats"
Players quickly complied. Curtis then provided a summary of his experiences over the past 2 days with a link to the tool and the pastebin.
Basically, I woke up and realised that I couldn't remember anything from the last 2 days. On my desk, I discovered a memory stick just sitting there. It belongs to me, as far as I can tell, but I don't know how it got there. Entropy sent a message asking if I was okay with being used as an antenna to detect incoming threats. I replied saying yes. Then I decided to look at the contents of the memory stick, with the advice of people present here. On it, I found a program called 'Eyes of Entropy' and a text file called 'Dear Curtis'. The contents of this file were put into a pastebin above. I ran the program and was presented with a momentary message that said "Waiting for Mainframe", which then disappeared, and a new white symbol appeared and was spinning.
Eyes of Entropy
The Tool referred to was a PC application named "Eyes of Entropy". At first, the app merely displayed a spinning, circular logo. After approximately 4 hours, the application then displayed a series of white circles arranged in a triangular pattern. At the top the red Primoda icon, bottom left blue Entropy, and bottom right a new green Human icon. The bottom middle was simply labeled "host" in white.
Eyes of Entropy
It seemed apparent to players that this triangle pattern could be a turn-based game to protect the host from Primorda.
The application displayed this static content for 18hrs. Curtis then posted to Discord with a link to V2:
Hi everyone, sorry it's been a bit quiet. I appealed to Entropy last night for some information, and a rather unhelpful conversation ensued. It took me until this afternoon to realise that the memory stick had moved from where I left it. It was sitting on top of the xbox controller that I've got plugged into the PC. Not sure whether or not to take that as a sign to get on with the game. Anyway I had another look inside and found a new version of the program - appropriately named 'Eyes of Entropy - V2'. I don't know what the difference is this time. I open it up and still see the same thing as before. But there has to be something. Oh and it seems they've also thrown in an OSX version. The invisible one must have taken notice of your struggle @mangell03 . Anyway I've been doing a lot of work on my end and I think you're really going to like it.
Shortly after, the app began displaying textual messages in place of the main display, and then quickly returning. The first message read:
you can call me K. Once there was a boy unlike others. K dreamed of things he couldn't explain No one could see. Opening a sight to reality that changed their life. What would they do with it? Many times they tried to encapsulate - failed. Eventually they created the Key.
K continued to interact and communicate with Discord users via the Eyes of Entropy, eventually explaining the rules of the game:
The closer entities are on the field The greater influence they will have over each other The greater your influence when the tool is ready... The more damage you can do.
The field will let you gain influence over other entities. It is your choice what to do with that. But the tool that Curtis creates is designed to attack what you call Primorda. you are Restricted by design.
needless to say, your influence must connect. No stray islands.
Consider offensive and defensive choices
You do not have to continue on a line. You can widen you can branch you can do what you like, so long as it all connects.
Players worked together to formulate a coordinate system to describe the moves players wanted to execute. K eventually disclosed the move format they expected.
Entropy is the source. The core - 0. Primorda - 66 Host - 6 Humanity - 11
Players voted on 3 moves, each of which decremented the Impulses counter until it reached 0. At this point, K went silent and new move requests were no longer acknowledged.
3rd move position
48 hrs transpired with no developments. Players asked Curtis if he understood how to gain more impulses, which were suspected to fuel movement on the board. He replied:
2 Things. - I remember K said something about expressing yourself to get impulses and that there were probably other ways that we don't know about yet. - That impulse has been there for a few hours, but it slipped my mind to mention it because I've been so busy, sorry :cry:
Players tested the idea of expressing themselves by sharing to the Discord channel original digital artwork that incorporated Elemental. The first attempt generated a new 4th impulse.
4th Impulse
Elemental phrases and digital artwork were created and shared. Each time a new impulse was awarded, Discord voted on the next coordinate to occupy. The collective strategy- isolate the bottom 0-11 from Primorda.
April 20
Primorda had made only 1 move since Eyes Of Entropy was released.
Over the next 5 days players continued to generate impulses and collectively decide where each was to be placed on the board. During this period, Entropy made 1 additional move.
April 25
At some point on the 27th of April, the Eyes of Entropy display changed, replacing the game board with white text. After this was noticed and posted to the Dischord channel, two more text strings were displayed for 5 minutes each and then finally returning to the game board.
Preliminary
1382556791
685.pe
Entropy quickly responded to a player's email:
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you and answer all of your questions. In my spare time I observe, design and reflect. I enjoy taking in the culture of your planet. When you mention the tactical map, you mean this tool that was given to the host by an elusive persona who seems to only want to be known as 'K'. I don't do things to manipulate that map - it's some kind of sensor that's taking advantage of the host. The more I interact with them, the closer the connection is becoming, meaning I can spend more and more time occupying them if I wish, so I assume the map is reflecting and representing that data in some way. What do I think of '/dfsxwzwbofk'? I'm not sure. It says preliminary, but my immediate thought is that it looks like part of a URL. The number '1382556791' - I have no idea. It doesn't have any immediate significance to me. And no, I don't have a file named '685.pe', however it does remind me of the convention for measuring dates back on the Starship Sonder. They gave years a .PE extension, with 0.PE being the year that an offshoot of Alcubierre drives became a reality. Maybe it's that, or something else I'm unaware of. I'm sorry if this is not entirely helpful.
A question was then asked of Entropy "What is the significance of the year 685.pe?". Entropy responded:
Let me check... It was the last recorded year on the Sonder - the year of the crash.
K's Revelations
On April 28, Curtis announced on Discord his submission to the Waking Titan W/ARE video game contest. In addition to the website, Curtis submitted a playable Unity-based game demo. Players soon discovered 2 PNG images (Note1 Note2) and 1 PDF file embedded deep within the file structure of the demo that were directly related to the Entropy ARG. The PNG images contained cryptic sketches and difficult to read handwritten text. The PDF file is a note directly from the entity known as K. K explained its relationship to our reality and that our Verse is running inside the Black Box as a simulation.
It was then discovered that the number code displayed in Eyes of Entropy on the previous day could be used in the game demo to display an "Entropy Control Panel". However, the panel did not respond in any way to user input.
Soon after it was also discovered that by using the /dfsxwzwbofk code displayed in the Eyes of Entropy on the previous day in combination with the website hosting Curtis' demo, a web page was revealed. The page contained various log entries from certain members of the ill-fated Sonder crew.
Resources
Translations & Transcripts
Fully Translated Kovonic Sequence
Translated Kovonic Numbers and Operators
Translated Transcript for | _____| _ video
Translated Transcript for -||||- playlist
Plaintext Transcript for Tsxxa Iafxp(Hello World)
Tools
Kovonic Sequence Translation Tool
Graphical depiction of the Kovonic Sequence
Graphical depiction of the Myanic Sequence
Decoder wheel tool from the Elements of Symmetry video
This page is a work in progress and will be updated as the ARG progresses.
