Difference between revisions of "PUBG Lore"

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| imagewidth  = 400
 
| imagewidth  = 400
 
| description = https://lore.pubg.com/
 
| description = https://lore.pubg.com/
| creator    = [http://www.aliceandsmith.com/ Alice & Smith]
+
| creator    = [http://www.aliceandsmith.com/ Alice & Smith] & [https://www.pubg.com/ PUBG]
 
| type        = Official
 
| type        = Official
 
| status      = Active
 
| status      = Active
Line 12: Line 12:
 
{{ArgHeader}}
 
{{ArgHeader}}
 
{{BackToTop}}
 
{{BackToTop}}
{{ambox|type=speedy|text=<center>'''''This page contains spoilers! Proceed at your own caution.'''''</center>}}
+
{{ambox|type=notice|text=<center>'''''This page contains spoilers! Proceed at your own caution.'''''</center>}}
<br>
+
{{todo|Update with the site's return on October 21st.}}
On October 7th, the main PUBG Twitter account shared this [https://twitter.com/PUBG/status/1313736073516920832 Twitter post] with a video and the caption:
+
 
 +
On October 7th, 2020, the main Twitter account for the video game ''PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS'' [https://twitter.com/PUBG/status/1313736073516920832 shared a post] with a YouTube video link and the caption:
  
 
<code>On tonight’s episode of Mysteries Unknown we explore the dark history around a plateau in Peru with some perplexing properties.</code>
 
<code>On tonight’s episode of Mysteries Unknown we explore the dark history around a plateau in Peru with some perplexing properties.</code>
  
And with a link to [https://lore.pubg.com/ PUBG Lore] site.
+
The Tweet also included a link to a new [https://lore.pubg.com/ 'PUBG Lore'] website.
<br>
+
 
 +
==Pre-website==
 +
Before the [https://lore.pubg.com/ PUBG Lore] website opened, 9 popular PUBG influencers were sent packages containing several items, including one of nine mysterious fragments of a stone tablet, supposedly originating from Paramo, appropriately named the "Paramo stone". The other items included were a letter from one "Dr. Burton A. Northrop", the key to decipher the stone's text, and an image of the complete stone showing the layout of the fragments. Some of the fragments ended up stuck in customs, and the complete stone was never assembled. Parts of what was deciphered and the key to the mysterious text can be seen in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK14HyG-txY this YouTube video].
  
__TOC__
 
<!-- Temporary until TOC grows long enough to push -->
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
==Pre Website==
 
Before the [https://lore.pubg.com/ PUBG Lore] website opened, 9 popular PUBG influencers were sent packages containing several items including a mysterious fragment of a stone tablet that would have originated from Paramo and aptly called the Paramo Stone. The other items included were a letter from Dr. Burton A. Northrop, the key to decipher the stone, and an image of the complete stone. The stone fragments were stuck in customs for some of the Influencers and the stone was never completed. You can see parts of what was decyphered and the key to the mysterious text in this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK14HyG-txY youtube video].
 
  
 +
==October 7th==
 +
[[File:PUBG_Staging_Area.jpg|thumb|Staging area]]
 +
At first, the website showed a collection of several photos and objects, with a "Get Notified" box allowing an email address to be entered, a button to allow browser notifications, and a share button for Facebook and Twitter. This form of the website is what was later called the Staging Area. While the staging area could no longer be accessed on the main website after the full site was released on October 15th, a copy of it was later found on [https://vhs-staging.com/ a separate domain].
  
 +
After a user entered an email address, 6 objects in the background image would start glitching and become clickable. On clicking one, a very short audio-less video of a few seconds would play, and a prompt would appear to enter a passcode.
  
==October 7th==
 
The website first showed several photos and objects with a Get Notified box that allowed you to enter your email address, a notification button, and a share button. This is what was later called the Staging Area[[File:PUBG_Staging_Area.jpg|thumb|Staging Area]]. It is to note that after the website was updated, you could no longer access the staging area but it was later found on a [https://vhs-staging.com/ separate link].
 
<br>
 
After entering an email address to be notified, 6 elements in the background start glitching and was discovered to be clickable. On the click, a very quick video of a few seconds would play and you would get a prompt to enter a passcode.
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
Each element indicated a specific map in the PUBG game.
+
Each of the six objects corresponded to a specific map in the PUBG game.
  
Entering the proper map name would give you a specific sentence and the image corresponding to that map would no longer be interactable.
+
Entering the proper map name would display a specific quote from a PUBG lore video, and the image corresponding to that map would cease to be interactable.
  
Here are the passcodes and what they are attached to:
+
The passcodes and what they were attached to are as follows:
 +
* Erangel - The chess pawn - <code>Will you embrace who you are meant to be?</code> - Quote from the [https://youtu.be/H6SKmGj_-f0 Season 4 Cinematic Trailer] (2019-07-16)
 +
* Miramar - The lighter - <code>What do you know about him? What has he told you about his plans?</code> - Quote from the [https://youtu.be/9e-xLSUl6Fw Season 5 Cinematic] (2020-01-02)
 +
* Karakin - The broken figurine - <code>Every secret. I know it all.</code> - Quote from [https://youtu.be/FNnnwEKNn5c Season 6 Motion Comics – Here Comes The Bride (Issue #3)] (2020-04-02)
 +
* Vikendi - The dinosaur stickers - <code>But I found a new father. And I like his game much better.</code> - Quote from [https://youtu.be/cylLASrWu_U Mysteries Unknown - Tragedy at Dinoland] (2020-05-06)
 +
* Sanhok - The burrito - <code>Do you know how much these people pay to watch this?</code> - Quote from [https://youtu.be/-uPNQnyHlnA The Sanhok Tapes] (2020-07-20)
 +
* Paramo - The photo of the volcano - <code>But what if the good didn't have to die at all?</code> - Quote from [https://youtu.be/FVzE9zHxd74 Mysteries Unknown - Paramo] (2020-10-07)
  
* Erangel - The chest pawn - <code> Will you embrace who you are meant to be? </code><br>
+
Once all 6 passcodes were entered, a new message appeared in the background:
* Vikendi - The dinosaurs - <code> But I found a new father. And I like his game much better. </code><br>
 
* Karakin - The broken statue - <code> Every secret. I know it all. </code> <br>
 
* Miramar - The lighter - <code> What do you know about him? What has he told you about his plans? </code><br>
 
* Sanhok - The food - <code> Do you know how much these people pay to watch this? </code><br>
 
* Paramo - The volcano - <code> But what if he didn't have to die at all? </code>
 
  
Once all 6 passcode were entered, a new message appeared:<br>
+
<code>You have proven yourself. Magna Venari.</code>
<code>
 
You have proven yourself. Magna Venari. </code>
 
 
</spoiler>
 
</spoiler>
  
  
 
==October 15th==
 
==October 15th==
On October 15th, it was noticed that the website had been updated and the staging area had disappeared. The website now contained many entries, such as characters' lore, journals, and other stories. You could also notice that some of the locked entries had a corresponding date to them which was speculated to be their unlocking date. Unfortunately, nothing was discovered before the website was changed once more. We also did not find any way to access these pages once they were gone.
+
On October 15th, it was noticed that the website had been updated and the staging area had disappeared. The new version of the website contained several lore articles, such as characters' lore, journals, and other stories. One article of significant note was "The Journal of Dr. Burton Northrop", consisting of a transcript of the eponymous journal – this journal would later become of significant relevance to the ARG.
 +
 
 +
Some of the locked lore entries, seen on the main page of the website, each displayed a date upon clicking on them, speculated to be their unlocking date.
 +
 
 +
<spoiler>
 +
The following line was discovered in the website's source code, included with the other meta property tags:
 +
<pre>
 +
<meta property="Yes, you!" content="Ubj bevtvany, n Pnrfne plcure... Trg ernql sevraqf, guvf vf bayl gur ortvaavat.">
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
The text was identified as a ROT13 Caesar cypher, decoding to the following:<br>
 +
<code>How original, a Caesar cypher... Get ready friends, this is only the beginning.</code>
 +
</spoiler>
  
  
 
==October 16th==
 
==October 16th==
On October 16th, the website was put in maintenance with this message:<br>
+
On October 16th, the website was placed in an apparent maintenance mode, displaying the message:
<code>
+
<pre>
Updating Coming back online shortly...</code>
+
Updating
<br>
+
Coming back online shortly...
<br>
+
</pre>
 +
 
 +
No way was found to access the articles from the previous iteration of the website while it was in this "Updating" phase.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
A quick look in the source code revealed this line:<br>
+
The ROT13 text from the previous iteration of the site remained in the source. A new line also appeared an hour after this was found:
<code>
+
<pre>
<meta property="Yes, you!" content="Ubj bevtvany, n Pnrfne plcure... Trg ernql sevraqf, guvf vf bayl gur ortvaavat.">
+
<-- Status: 1% -->
</code>
+
</pre>
<br>
+
 
It was identified as a Caesar cypher:<br>
+
And again changed a few hours later to:
<code>
+
<pre>
How original, a Caesar cypher... Get ready friends, this is only the beginning</code>
+
<-- Status: 3.14159265359% -->
<br>
+
</pre>
<br>
+
 
A new line also appeared an hour after this was found:<br>
+
This new status number consisted of the first 11 digits of pi, although no significance to this was found in relation to the website.  
<code>
 
<-- Status: 1% --></code><br>
 
And again changed a few hours after to:<br>
 
<code>
 
<-- Status: 3.14159265359% --></code><br>
 
This new status matched the Pi number but no significance was found in relation to the website.  
 
 
</spoiler>
 
</spoiler>
  
  
 
==October 18th==
 
==October 18th==
On October 18th, the [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/weekend-event-starting-now.gif background image] for the website changed. This new image showed 1 braille code and 3 locked ones.  
+
On October 18th, the website's [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/weekend-event-starting-now.gif background image] changed. This new image showed four short braille texts, three of which were shown as 'locked'.
<br>
+
 
 
===1st Unlock===
 
===1st Unlock===
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
The source code also changed to reflect the update:<br>
+
At the same time as this update, the 'Status' comment in the source code was also updated:
<code>
+
<pre>
<-- Status: 11% --></code><br>
+
<-- Status: 11% -->
<br>
+
</pre>
The first braille code was translated to a difficulty level and a link:<br>
+
 
<code>
+
The first braille text was translated to a difficulty level and a link:
Beginner<br>
+
<pre>
OVG.YL/#5468753</code><br>
+
Beginner
<br>
+
OVG.YL/#5468753
The second braille code:<br>
+
</pre>
<code>
+
 
Medium</code><br>
+
The second, third, and fourth braille texts (the 'locked' ones) translated to only the difficulty levels:
<br>
+
* <code>Medium</code>
The third braille code:<br>
+
* <code>Hard</code>
<code>
+
* <code>GDBeginner</code> or <code>74Beginner</code>
Hard</code><br>
+
 
<br>
+
The first five letters in the 'Beginner' link used the same ROT13 cipher that had been used previously (translating to <code>BIT.LY</code>). The # indicated that the following characters were numbers and had to be removed, as was also indicated by the braille character being yellow. Thus, the decoded link was [https://bit.ly/5468753 bit.ly/5468753], which led to [https://imgur.com/a/1LLOjUM an Imgur post] consisting of an image of a journal entry and a caption. The caption below the image was as follows:
The fourth braille code is unclear compared to the others:<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
<code>
+
XxxxxxxXXxxxx did discover the method used by the Dr...
Gafeginner</code><br>
+
letting us know when skeletons expired
We are unsure if it actually what it is until it is unlocked<br>
+
XxxxxxxXXxxxx never did he have an email address
<br>
+
since 1980 did he himself rest
<br>
+
 
The start of the link used the Caesar cypher that had been seen previously in the second part, the # indicated to look for numbers and had to be removed, as was indicated by the braille character being yellow, to lead to [https://bit.ly/5468753 bit.ly/5468753] and revealed the first [https://imgur.com/a/1LLOjUM journal entry] with the following caption:<br>
+
<br>
+
</pre>
<code>
+
Notably, [http://mysecretwebmail.com mysecretwebmail.com] redirected to the PUBG lore website.
XxxxxxxXXxxxx did discover the method used by the Dr...<br>
+
 
letting us know when skeletons expired<br>
+
Combined, the journal entry and the caption pointed towards the process of radiocarbon dating, a method used to determine the age of an object containing organic material. The credited inventor of this method was chemist Willard Frank Libby, who died in 1980.
XxxxxxxXXxxxx never did he have an email address<br>
+
 
since 1980 did he himself rest<br>
+
Condensing this name to "<code>WillardFLibby</code>" would fit with the formatting used for the email address in the caption, and indeed, sending an email to <code>[email protected]</code> would result in an automated reply:
<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
+
Hi friend!
<br>
+
 
A quick read of the journal entry and of the caption below it points you toward a method used to determine the age of something, called radiocarbon dating. The credited inventor being Willard Libby (or per his full name Willard Frank Libby) who died in 1980.<br>
+
Thanks for contacting Willard Libby. Unfortunately, he died in 1980. To continue your quest for knowledge, reach out to our office directly.
<br>
+
 
WillardFLibby would fit the email nomenclature given in the caption.<br>
+
Phone: 1 346-766-2103
<br>
+
Toll-Free: US: +1 833-877-5048 | Canada: +1 833-345-0727 | UK: +44 808 169 4350 | FR: +33 805 08 08 99
<br>
+
More branch opening Soon...
After sending an email to [email protected], you would receive an automated reply:<br>
+
</pre>
<code>Hi friend!<br>
+
 
<br>
+
The quoted phone numbers, when called, all brought the caller to a menu with several options, spoken by a woman with a sourthern USA accent<!-- if anyone can place the accent more accurately, feel free to update this. i am far from an expert. -->. [https://clyp.it/5l1cf2qx?token=47a611e2397ae8304b7eb67aa324bedc This menu] is transcribed as follows:
Thanks for contacting Willard Libby. Unfortunately, he died in 1980. To continue your quest for knowledge, reach out to our office directly.<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
<br>
+
Welcome friends!
Phone: 1 346-766-2103<br>
+
Please be advised that our menu has changed, so listen carefully.
Toll-Free: US: +1 833-877-5048 | Canada: +1 833-345-0727 | UK: +44 808 169 4350 | FR: +33 805 08 08 99<br>
+
For journal entry number 1, press 1.
More branch opening Soon...<br></code>
+
For journal entry number 2, press 2.
<br>
+
For journal entry number 3, press 3.
<br>
+
For journal entry number 4, press 8.
Calling a number would bring you to a phone system with menu options:<br>
+
Yeah, I know. IT sometimes are like that.
<br>
+
</pre>
<code>
+
 
Welcome friends!<br>
+
Pressing 1 to reach [https://clyp.it/hiep4tc5?token=2181affa043a8e2506629ca3e57b47cf journal entry number 1] gave the following entry from Dr. Northrop's journal, narrated by the same voice as the menu:
Please be advised that our menu has changed so listen carefully.<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
For journal entry number 1, press 1<br>
+
June 13th, 1982
For journal entry number 2, press 2<br>
+
 
For journal entry number 3, press 3<br>
+
The proud warrior people of Paramo had no words in their language to mean “sickness” or “health.They simply lived and died. I have seen references to the same individuals over unnaturally long stretches of time – longer than any normal human lifespan. Perhaps they passed their names down to their children, generation after generation? Yet, even in the modern day local village at the base of the mountain, there is no hospital, no medic, no doctor. A strange coincidence.
For journal entry number 4, press 8<br>
+
 
Yea I Know, IT sometimes are like that.</code><br>
+
The answer to this riddle is here, somewhere, beneath my feet. We begin our first excavation in one week.
<br>
+
</pre>
Pressing 1 to reach [https://clyp.it/hiep4tc5?token=2181affa043a8e2506629ca3e57b47cf journal entry number 1] gave the following:<br>
+
 
<code>
+
Pressing 2, 3 or 8 gave the following:
June 13th, 1982<br>
+
<pre>
The proud warrior people of Paramo had no words in their language to mean sickness or health. They simply lived and died. <br>
+
This entry is not yet unlocked.
I have seen references to the same individuals over unaturally long stretches of time. Longer then any normal human life span. <br>
+
</pre>
Perhaps they passed their names down to their children. Generation after Generation. Yet even in the mordern day local village at the base of the mountain, there is no hospital, no medic, no doctor.<br>
+
 
Strange coincidence. The answer to this riddle is here somewhere, beneath my feet.<br>
+
Pressing 4, 5, 6, 7, or 9 gave the following:
We begin our first excavation in 1 week.</code><br>
+
<pre>
<br>
+
This is not a valid option, but we admire your curiosity.
Pressing 2, 3 or 8 gave the following:<br>
+
</pre>
<code>
+
 
This entry is not yet unlocked.</code><br>
+
Pressing 0 gave the following:
<br>
+
<pre>
Pressing 4, 5, 6, 7, or 9 gave the following:<br>
+
All our offices are closed right now, there's no one to talk to.
<code>
+
</pre>
This is not a valid option but we admire your curiosity</code><br>
+
 
<br>
+
Pressing * or # would just loop back the phone menu.
Pressing 0 gave the following:<br>
 
<code>
 
All our offices are closed right now, there's no one to talk to.</code><br>
 
<br>
 
Pressing * or # would just loop back the phone menu.<br>
 
 
</spoiler>
 
</spoiler>
<br>
+
 
 
===2nd Unlock===
 
===2nd Unlock===
Around an hour and a half after the first braille was available, the second unlocked with an updated [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/739174901.gif background image].<br>
+
Around an hour and a half after the first braille text was made available, the second was unlocked with an updated [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/739174901.gif background image].
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
The source code also changed and gave us a new status:<br>
+
The 'Status' comment in the source code was also updated alongside this:
<code>
+
<pre>
<-- Status: 13% - uploading new audio entry --></code><br>
+
<-- Status: 13% - uploading new audio entry -->
<br>
+
</pre>
The second braille code was now available and could be translated as follow:<br>
+
 
<code>
+
The second braille code was translated as follow:
Medium<br>
+
<pre>
OVG.YL/V6239245</code><br>
+
Medium
<br>
+
OVG.YL/V6239245
The yellow character was different this time but it was to be removed again to get [bit.ly/6239245 bit.ly/6239245] and lead to a [https://pastebin.com/aPaVC3QR pastebin]:<br>
+
</pre>
<code>
+
 
The key is constant, irrational, calculated as men breathe or as eagles sustain themselves in the wind: with ten fingers only.<br>
+
While the yellow character was different this time, it could still be removed, producing the link [https://bit.ly/6239245 bit.ly/6239245]. This led to a [https://pastebin.com/aPaVC3QR Pastebin post], transcribed as follows:
<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
Answer: bit.ly/entry_XXXXXXXXXX</code><br>
+
The key is constant, irrational, calculated as men breathe or as eagles sustain themselves in the wind: with ten fingers only.
<br>
+
<br>
+
Answer: bit.ly/entry_XXXXXXXXXX
A quick search on the first part of the riddle revealed it was a reference to Euler's number and that is represented in decimal with 2.71828...<br>
+
</pre>
The second part of the riddle refers to ten fingers only which referred the first 10 digits of the number:<br>
+
 
<code>
+
Searching up the first part of the riddle revealed it was a reference to Euler's number, represented in decimal as <code>2.71828...</code>. The second part of the riddle, referring to "ten fingers only", was taken to refer to the first 10 digits of the number. Combined with the partial 'Answer' link, this produced the link [https://bit.ly/entry_2718281828 bit.ly/entry_2718281828].
bit.ly/entry_2718281828</code><br>
+
 
<br>
+
This second bit.ly link led to Imgur for another [https://imgur.com/a/eRPElmQ journal entry], and at the same time unlocked [https://clyp.it/ys3xkm10?token=959ae8f1e7f3411a0de05bc3c4238247 journal entry number 2] in the phone menu:
This new bit.ly link brought you to imgur for another [https://imgur.com/a/eRPElmQ journal entry] and at the same time, unlocked the phone [https://clyp.it/ys3xkm10?token=959ae8f1e7f3411a0de05bc3c4238247 journal entry number 2]:<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
<code>
+
December 21st, 1983
December 21st, 1983<br>
+
 
Wheeler has been presurring me to come to a conclusion about the mass disappearance, and whether there is truly anything extraordinary about this city.<br>
+
Wheeler has been pressuring me to come to a conclusion about the mass disappearance and whether there is truly anything extraordinary about this city. He mentioned something about an advanced timetable, about how things will soon be “out of his hands.
He mentionned something about an advance time table. About how things will soon be out of his hands.<br>
+
</pre>
 +
 
 +
About 30 minutes after the second braille was solved, the 'Status' comment in the source code was once again updated:
 +
<pre>
 +
<-- Status: 26% - Entry updated -->
 +
</pre>
 
</spoiler>
 
</spoiler>
<br>
+
 
About 30 minutes after the second braille was solved, the source code was updated:<br>
 
<spoiler><code><-- Status: 26% - Entry updated --></code></spoiler><br>
 
 
===3rd Unlock===
 
===3rd Unlock===
Almost 2 hours after the second braille was solved, the third unlocked with an updated [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/909198746.gif background image][[file:PUBG_3rd_Unlock.jpg|thumb|3rd Unlock Background Image]].<br>
+
[[File:PUBG_3rd_Unlock.jpg|thumb|Third unlock background image]]
 +
[[File:PUBG_End_of_Oct_18.jpg|thumb|A screenshot of the site at the end of October 18th]]
 +
Almost 2 hours after the second braille was solved, the third was unlocked with an updated [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/909198746.gif background image].
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
The status in source code changed to update to the follow:<br>
+
The status in source code changed to update to the following:
<code> <-- Status: 61% - Status: 8 unique ID calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code><br>
+
<pre>
<br>
+
<-- Status: 61% - Status: 8 unique ID calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. -->
Something noticeable was in the second braille on the newer background is slightly different. The character in yellow was inverted to be a # instead of a V.<br>
+
</pre>
<br>
+
 
The third braille code was now available and translated to:<br>
+
Notably, the yellow character in the second braille was corrected to be a <code>#</code> instead of a <code>V</code> in the updated background.
<code>
+
 
Hard<br>
+
The third braille code translated to:
OVG.YL/#1259437<br></code>
+
<pre>
<br>
+
Hard
This third braille link followed the same principal has the other two and lead to [http://bit.ly/1259437 http://bit.ly/1259437] a [https://pastebin.com/UKf3jm3n pastebin] with the following:<br>
+
OVG.YL/#1259437
<code>
+
</pre>
Climb a tree whose roots are logs, from its single trunk to the sixth level, and count the branches along the way.<br>
+
 
<br>
+
This third braille link followed the same principal has the other two, translating to [https://bit.ly/1259437 bit.ly/1259437], which in turn led to a [https://pastebin.com/UKf3jm3n Pastebin post] with the following text:
Answer: bit.ly/entry_XXXXXXXXXX</code><br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
<br>
+
Climb a tree whose roots are logs, from its single trunk to the sixth level, and count the branches along the way.
To solve this, you had to use a binary tree with logarythm numbers as roots. It lead the players to the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32,and 64 and the solution being [bit.ly/entry_1248163264 bit.ly/entry_1248163264]. This in turn lead to Imgur for a new [https://imgur.com/a/hGD1zce journal entry] and unlocked the phone [https://clyp.it/2amqgwbx?token=98b50f070769999dfe559549d1f0195djournal entry number 3]:<br>
+
 
<code>
+
Answer: bit.ly/entry_XXXXXXXXXX
July 9th, 1983<br>
+
</pre>
Very very good news today. And unexpected. We have located a massive burial site just North of the residential area. Too busy making preparation to go into further details just yet.</code></spoiler><br>
+
 
<br>
+
The solution to this riddle involved the used of a binary tree with logarithmic roots, leading to the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. The solution was thus [https://bit.ly/entry_1248163264 bit.ly/entry_1248163264], which led to Imgur for [https://imgur.com/a/hGD1zce a new journal entry] and unlocked [https://clyp.it/2amqgwbx?token=98b50f070769999dfe559549d1f0195d journal entry number 3] in the phone menu:
The source code changed several time during the day. The 4th braille stayed locked and seemed to be based on activity for it to unlock. What follows is the progression of the source code changes:<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
<spoiler>
+
July 9th, 1983
<-- Status: 61% - Status: 8 unique ID calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --> - When the third lock opened.<br>
+
 
<-- Status: 61% - Status: 12 unique ID - 61 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --> - About an hour after the third lock opened.<br>
+
Very, very good news today. And, unexpected. We have located a massive burial site just north of the residential area. Too busy making preparations to go into further detail just yet.
<-- Status: 61% - Status: 15 unique ID - 87 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --> - About two hours after the third lock opened.<br>
+
</pre>
<-- Status: 62% - Status: 18 unique ID - 96 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --> - About three hours after the third lock opened.<br>
+
 
<-- Status: 70% - Status: 21 unique ID - 113 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --> - About six hours and a half after the third lock opened.</spoiler><br>
+
The source code changed several time during the day, though the fourth braille link remained locked. The following is the progression of the changes to the 'Status' message:
The last thing that was noticed is a slight change to the website going back to the initial maintenance message.[[File:PUBG_End_of_Oct_18.jpg|thumb|End of Oct. 18th]]<br>
+
* <code><-- Status: 61% - Status: 8 unique ID calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code> - When the third lock opened.
<br>
+
* <code><-- Status: 61% - Status: 12 unique ID - 61 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code> - About an hour after the third lock opened.
<br>
+
* <code><-- Status: 61% - Status: 15 unique ID - 87 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code> - About two hours after the third lock opened.
<br>
+
* <code><-- Status: 62% - Status: 18 unique ID - 96 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code> - About three hours after the third lock opened.
<br>
+
* <code><-- Status: 70% - Status: 21 unique ID - 113 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code> - About six hours and a half after the third lock opened.
<br>
+
 
<br>
+
The final thing that was noticed was a slight change to the website, with the maintenance message returning to its initial appearance.
 +
</spoiler>
  
 
==October 19th==
 
==October 19th==
The 4th braille did not unlock on this day, the only thing that changed was the source code status updating:<br>
+
<spoiler>
<spoiler><code><-- Status: 70.1% - Status: 27 unique ID - 137 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code></spoiler><br>
+
The status message continued to be updated:
 +
* <code><-- Status: 70.1% - Status: 27 unique ID - 137 calls received. Activity Low. More resources required for the next unlock. --></code>
 +
</spoiler>
  
 
==October 20th==
 
==October 20th==
[[file:PUBG 4th Unlock.jpg|thumb|4th Unlock]]
 
 
===4th Unlock===
 
===4th Unlock===
On October 20th, the fourth was unlocked with a new [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/09017412-A.gif background image].<br>
+
[[File:PUBG 4th Unlock.jpg|thumb|Fourth unlock]]
 +
On October 20th, the [https://d1x1dwimk2qkzk.cloudfront.net/maintenance/09017412-A.gif background image] was updated, revealing the fourth braille link.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
The status of the source code changed to:<br>
+
The status message in the source code was also changed, to:
<code><-- Status: 85% - Status: 71 unique ID - 297 calls received. --></code><br>
+
<pre>
<br>
+
<-- Status: 85% - Status: 71 unique ID - 297 calls received. -->
When calling the phone number, it had also changed. It now stated the following before the usual menu:<br>
+
</pre>
<code>Hi, please enter a unique 7 digit code to continue. Do your best to keep this code nearby, you have no idea when you're gonna need it. You can also attach it to your tail, you know; if you prefer body bag and stuff. Press pound at the end of your code.</code><br>
+
 
The fourth braille code was translated to be:<br>
+
When calling the phone number, the resulting message had also changed. It now stated the following before the usual menu:
<code>GDBeginner or 74Beginner - this was subject to debate as both GD and 74 use the same braille characters<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
OVG.YL/V9534561</code><br>
+
Hi, please enter a unique 7 digit code to continue. Do your best to keep this code nearby – You have no idea when you're gonna need it. You can also attach it to your tail, you know; if you prefer body bag and stuff. Press # at the end of your code.
<br>
+
</pre>
This fourth braille link followed the same principle has the other three and lead to [http://bit.ly/9534561 http://bit.ly/9534561] a [https://pastebin.com/DXg4Wc2Z pastebin] with the following:<br>
+
 
<code>
+
The fourth braille code was translated as:
In an anomaly of magnitude, find the frequency of these leaders: 2196<br>
+
<pre>
<br>
+
GDBeginner
Answer bit.ly/entry_XXXXXXXXXX<br>
+
OVG.YL/V9534561
<br>
+
</pre>
The solution was Benford's law and the wiki page specifically. Using the percentage associated with all 4 numbers found in the example, you were lead to [http://bit.ly/entry_1763014667 http://bit.ly/entry_1763014667] an Imgur of another [https://imgur.com/a/oOlSMAD journal entry]. No new phone entry was unlocked and no 7 digit code was found.</spoiler><br>
+
The first line could have been either <code>GDBeginner</code> or <code>74Beginner</code> - this was subject to debate as both GD and 74 use the same braille characters.
 +
 
 +
This fourth braille link, [https://bit.ly/9534561 bit.ly/9534561], led to [https://pastebin.com/DXg4Wc2Z another Pastebin post] with the following text:
 +
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
 +
In an anomaly of magnitude, find the frequency of these leaders: 2196
 +
 
 +
Answer bit.ly/entry_XXXXXXXXXX
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
The solution was Benford's law and the wiki page specifically<!-- Clarification/elaboration needed. What wiki page? How did it relate? -->. Using the percentages associated with the 4 numbers found in the example led to the solution of [https://bit.ly/entry_1763014667 bit.ly/entry_1763014667]. This redirected to an Imgur post of another [https://imgur.com/a/oOlSMAD journal entry] from Northrop's journal. No new phone entry was unlocked and no 7 digit code was found.
 +
</spoiler>
  
  
 
==Journal Entries==
 
==Journal Entries==
Here are the current Journal Entries discovered so far during this ARG. They have been put in chronological order and include their source.<br>
+
{{todo|Update (or merge into the above sections), given the fact that a transcript of the entire journal is available on the website.}}
<br>
+
This is a list of the current entries from the journal of Dr. Burton Northrop discovered as part of this ARG's second phase. They have been placed in chronological order and include their source.
Entry from [https://clyp.it/hiep4tc5?token=2181affa043a8e2506629ca3e57b47cf pressing 1] when calling. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|1st Unlock]] for details on the phone number.<br>
+
 
 +
===June 13th, 1982===
 +
Entry from [https://clyp.it/hiep4tc5?token=2181affa043a8e2506629ca3e57b47cf pressing 1] when calling the phone number. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|first unlock]] for details on the number.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
June 13th, 1982<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
The proud warrior people of Paramo had no words in their language to mean sickness or health. They simply lived and died.<br>
+
June 13th, 1982
I have seen references to the same individuals over unnaturally long stretches of time. Longer than any normal human life span.<br>
+
 
Perhaps they passed their names down to their children. Generation after Generation. Yet even in the modern-day local village at the base of the mountain, there is no hospital, no medic, no doctor.<br>
+
The proud warrior people of Paramo had no words in their language to mean “sickness” or “health.They simply lived and died. I have seen references to the same individuals over unnaturally long stretches of time – longer than any normal human lifespan. Perhaps they passed their names down to their children, generation after generation? Yet, even in the modern day local village at the base of the mountain, there is no hospital, no medic, no doctor. A strange coincidence.
Strange coincidence. The answer to this riddle is here somewhere, beneath my feet.<br>
+
 
We begin our first excavation in 1 week.<br></spoiler>
+
The answer to this riddle is here, somewhere, beneath my feet. We begin our first excavation in one week.
<br>
+
</pre>
Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/eRPElmQ milestone 2] [[file:PUBG_Milestone_2.jpg|frameless|Milestone 2]] after solving the second braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#2nd Unlock|2nd Unlock]] for details on the puzzle.<br>
+
</spoiler>
 +
 
 +
===February 14th, 1983===
 +
[[File:PUBG_Milestone_2.jpg|thumb|Milestone 2]] Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/eRPElmQ milestone 2] after solving the second braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#2nd Unlock|second unlock]] for details on the puzzle.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
February 14th, 1983<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
Third straight week of excavation in the upper residential section. There is much to decipher and translate. Ceramics, baskets, cookware. It is exhilarating, to be so close to the everyday lives of these long-departed ghosts, to imagine one’s self sipping from a carved wooden ladle, or relaxing by a mud and stone hearth. Perhaps if I could think like them I could (unreadable).<br>
+
February 14, 1983
Received a distressing letter from Evelyn today. Miranda has lost the ability to speak. Perhaps permanently. Our physician could not determine whether it is physical or psychological, but it is not uncommon when approaching the advanced stages of her condition. <br>
+
 
Is is possible I will never hear my child say “I love you” again?</spoiler><br>
+
Third straight week of excavation in the upper residential section. There is much to decipher and translate. Ceramics, baskets, cookware. It is exhilarating, to be so close to the everyday lives of these long departed ghosts, to imagine one’s self sipping from a carved wooden ladle, or relaxing by a mud and stone hearth. Perhaps if I could think like them I could [REDACTED]
<br>
+
 
Entry from [https://clyp.it/2amqgwbx?token=98b50f070769999dfe559549d1f0195d pressing 3] when calling. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|1st Unlock]] for details on the phone number.<br>
+
Received a distressing letter from Evelyn today. Miranda has lost the ability to speak. Perhaps permanently. The physician could not determine if it is physical or psychological, but it is not uncommon when approaching the advanced stages of her condition.
 +
 
 +
Is it possible I will never hear my child say “I love you” again?
 +
</pre>
 +
</spoiler>
 +
 
 +
===July 9th, 1983===
 +
Entry from [https://clyp.it/2amqgwbx?token=98b50f070769999dfe559549d1f0195d pressing 3] when calling. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|first unlock]] for details on the phone number.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
July 9th, 1983<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
Very very good news today. And unexpected. We have located a massive burial site just North of the residential area. Too busy making preparation to go into further details just yet.</spoiler><br>
+
July 9th, 1983
<br>
+
 
Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/1LLOjUM milestone 1] [[file:PUBG_Milestone_1.jpg|frameless|Milestone 1]] after solving the first braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|1st Unlock]] for details on the puzzle.<br>
+
Very, very good news today. And, unexpected. We have located a massive burial site just north of the residential area. Too busy making preparations to go into further detail just yet.
 +
</pre>
 +
</spoiler>
 +
 
 +
===July 14th, 1983===
 +
[[File:PUBG_Milestone_1.jpg|thumb|Milestone 1]] Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/1LLOjUM milestone 1] after solving the first braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|first unlock]] for details on the puzzle.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
July 14th, 1983<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
Astonishing! There are skeletons here that are, unthinkably, far older than any human being in our modern world could imagine. We have carbon dated four skeletons so far, Two of them ordinary citizens, were in their nineties when they died – a ripe old age. But the other two, the warriors… Frisell has estimated their ages to be at least one hundred and thirty and one hundred and fifty years old! Both warriors were buried with armor em – blazoned with this symbol (turn): (see the symbols in the link)<br>
+
July 14, 1983
I have SWORN Frisell to secrecy. Can’t risk this getting back to Wheeler before (unreadable).<br>
+
 
<br>
+
Astonishing! There are skeletons here that are, unthinkably, far older than any human being in our modern world could imagine. We have carbon dated four skeletons so far. Two of them, ordinary citizens, were in their nineties when they died – a ripe old age. But the other two, the warriors – Frisell has estimated their ages to be at least one hundred and thirty and one hundred and fifty years old! Both warriors were buried with armor, emblazoned with this symbol:
Symbols translation:<br>
+
 
TEMPLE SPRING</spoiler><br>
+
["TEMPLE SPRING"]
<br>
+
 
Entry from [https://clyp.it/ys3xkm10?token=959ae8f1e7f3411a0de05bc3c4238247 pressing 2] when calling. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|1st Unlock]] for details on the phone number.<br>
+
I have sworn Frisell to secrecy. Can’t risk this getting back to Wheeler before I [REDACTED].
 +
</pre>
 +
</spoiler>
 +
 
 +
===December 21st, 1983===
 +
Entry from [https://clyp.it/ys3xkm10?token=959ae8f1e7f3411a0de05bc3c4238247 pressing 2] when calling. Refer to the [[#1st Unlock|first unlock]] for details on the phone number.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
December 21st, 1983<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
Wheeler has been pressuring me to come to a conclusion about the mass disappearance, and whether there is truly anything extraordinary about this city. He mentioned something about an advanced timetable. About how things will soon be out of his hands.</spoiler><br>
+
December 21st, 1983
<br>
+
 
Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/hGD1zce milestone 3] [[file:PUBG_Milestone_3.jpg|frameless|Milestone 3]] after solving the third braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#3rd Unlock|3rd Unlock]] for details on the puzzle.<br>
+
Wheeler has been pressuring me to come to a conclusion about the mass disappearance and whether there is truly anything extraordinary about this city. He mentioned something about an advanced timetable, about how things will soon be “out of his hands.
 +
</pre>
 +
</spoiler>
 +
 
 +
===March 4th, 1984===
 +
[[File:PUBG_Milestone_3.jpg|thumb|Milestone 3]] Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/hGD1zce milestone 3] after solving the third braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#3rd Unlock|third unlock]] for details on the puzzle.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
March 4th, 1984<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
It is over. It is all over. The crew has abandoned me. Just as we have entered the final stages of our great discovery. They have all been bought out – every last one. By whom? no one will talk. Non-disclosures. I am willing to bet wheeler’s com-pany is behind this. How did he know about the artifact? And the bodies? And the well? I have kept the true meaning (Symbols scribbled over meaning, see link) of all these discoveries so close to the vest . . and still there is nothing that a corporation with unlimited funds can’t buy. No – they can’t buy me. I will stay here until I finish what I started.<br>
+
March 4, 1984
<br>
+
 
Symbols translation:<br>
+
It is over. It is all over. The crew has abandoned me. Just as we have entered the final stages of our great discovery. They have all been bought out – every last one. By whom? No one will talk. Non-disclosures. I am willing to bet Wheeler’s company is behind this. How did he know about the artifact? And the bodies? And the well? I have kept the true meaning of all these discoveries so close to the vest… and still… there is nothing that a corporation with unlimited funds can’t buy.
The symbol over willing: R<br>
+
 
The 5 symbols over true meaning: RETU? - the 5th symbol seems incomplete and doesn't correspond with the key that was given to the influencers<br>
+
No – they can’t buy me. I will stay here until I finish what I started.
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
Symbol over willing: <code>R</code><br>
 +
Symbols over true meaning: <code>RETU_</code>; The fifth symbol seems incomplete, likely intended to be <code>R</code> (the full word likely being <code>RETURN</code>)
 
</spoiler>
 
</spoiler>
Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/oOlSMAD milestone 4] [[file:PUBG Milestone 4.jpeg|frameless|Milestone 4]] after solving the fourth braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#4th Unlock|4th Unlock]] for details on the puzzle.<br>
+
 
 +
===March 5th, 1984===
 +
[[File:PUBG Milestone 4.jpeg|thumb|Milestone 4]] Entry from [https://imgur.com/a/oOlSMAD milestone 4] after solving the fourth braille puzzle. Refer to the [[#4th Unlock|fourth unlock]] for details on the puzzle.
 +
 
 
<spoiler>
 
<spoiler>
March 4th, 1984<br>
+
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
(Unreadable)<br>
+
March 5, 1984
the sky . . . goddess. . return ...will not die</spoiler><br>
+
 
 +
(Unreadable)
 +
 
 +
the sky . . . goddess. . return ...will not die
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
The version of this entry as transcribed on the website reads slightly differently:
 +
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap">
 +
March 5th, 1984
 +
 
 +
[REDACTED]…to the peak [REDACTED]…gateway to the sky [REDACTED]…goddess [REDACTED]…return [REDACTED]…will not die
 +
</pre>
 +
</spoiler>

Revision as of 03:47, 28 October 2020

PUBG Lore
Active since 2020-10-07
NewExample3.png
https://lore.pubg.com/
Type Official
Creator Alice & Smith & PUBG
Discovered 2020-10-07

Main Page > List of Investigations > PUBG Lore

On October 7th, 2020, the main Twitter account for the video game PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS shared a post with a YouTube video link and the caption:

On tonight’s episode of Mysteries Unknown we explore the dark history around a plateau in Peru with some perplexing properties.

The Tweet also included a link to a new 'PUBG Lore' website.

Pre-website

Before the PUBG Lore website opened, 9 popular PUBG influencers were sent packages containing several items, including one of nine mysterious fragments of a stone tablet, supposedly originating from Paramo, appropriately named the "Paramo stone". The other items included were a letter from one "Dr. Burton A. Northrop", the key to decipher the stone's text, and an image of the complete stone showing the layout of the fragments. Some of the fragments ended up stuck in customs, and the complete stone was never assembled. Parts of what was deciphered and the key to the mysterious text can be seen in this YouTube video.


October 7th

Staging area

At first, the website showed a collection of several photos and objects, with a "Get Notified" box allowing an email address to be entered, a button to allow browser notifications, and a share button for Facebook and Twitter. This form of the website is what was later called the Staging Area. While the staging area could no longer be accessed on the main website after the full site was released on October 15th, a copy of it was later found on a separate domain.

After a user entered an email address, 6 objects in the background image would start glitching and become clickable. On clicking one, a very short audio-less video of a few seconds would play, and a prompt would appear to enter a passcode.

SPOILER


October 15th

On October 15th, it was noticed that the website had been updated and the staging area had disappeared. The new version of the website contained several lore articles, such as characters' lore, journals, and other stories. One article of significant note was "The Journal of Dr. Burton Northrop", consisting of a transcript of the eponymous journal – this journal would later become of significant relevance to the ARG.

Some of the locked lore entries, seen on the main page of the website, each displayed a date upon clicking on them, speculated to be their unlocking date.

SPOILER


October 16th

On October 16th, the website was placed in an apparent maintenance mode, displaying the message:

Updating
Coming back online shortly...

No way was found to access the articles from the previous iteration of the website while it was in this "Updating" phase.

SPOILER


October 18th

On October 18th, the website's background image changed. This new image showed four short braille texts, three of which were shown as 'locked'.

1st Unlock

SPOILER


2nd Unlock

Around an hour and a half after the first braille text was made available, the second was unlocked with an updated background image.

SPOILER


3rd Unlock

Third unlock background image
A screenshot of the site at the end of October 18th

Almost 2 hours after the second braille was solved, the third was unlocked with an updated background image.

SPOILER


October 19th

SPOILER


October 20th

4th Unlock

Fourth unlock

On October 20th, the background image was updated, revealing the fourth braille link.

SPOILER


Journal Entries

This is a list of the current entries from the journal of Dr. Burton Northrop discovered as part of this ARG's second phase. They have been placed in chronological order and include their source.

June 13th, 1982

Entry from pressing 1 when calling the phone number. Refer to the first unlock for details on the number.

SPOILER


February 14th, 1983

Milestone 2
Entry from milestone 2 after solving the second braille puzzle. Refer to the second unlock for details on the puzzle.

SPOILER


July 9th, 1983

Entry from pressing 3 when calling. Refer to the first unlock for details on the phone number.

SPOILER


July 14th, 1983

Milestone 1
Entry from milestone 1 after solving the first braille puzzle. Refer to the first unlock for details on the puzzle.

SPOILER


December 21st, 1983

Entry from pressing 2 when calling. Refer to the first unlock for details on the phone number.

SPOILER


March 4th, 1984

Milestone 3
Entry from milestone 3 after solving the third braille puzzle. Refer to the third unlock for details on the puzzle.

SPOILER


March 5th, 1984

Milestone 4
Entry from milestone 4 after solving the fourth braille puzzle. Refer to the fourth unlock for details on the puzzle.

SPOILER