8
$\begingroup$

After installing the newest MMO and creating a fresh character you spawn for the first time. After a quick look at the map, you see you are at The Famous Last Words Square. You quickly realize that the ground is covered by big letters arranged in a ... square:

+-----------------------------------------------+
| P   U   N   T   ~   U   U   R   J   ~   K   G |
|   +---------------------------------------+   |
| J | N   A   A   T   V   F   V   K   J   G | T |
|   |   +-------------------------------+   |   |
| I | ~ | V   J   ~   N   A   A   W   N | K | E |
|   |   |   +-----------------------+   |   |   |
| V | I | S | C   N   F   V   W   U | J | K | E |
|   |   |   |   +---------------+   |   |   |   |
| A | J | N | K | F   V   K   S | T | I | V | E |
|   |   |   |   |   +-------+   |   |   |   |   |
| ~ | K | I | K | U | Z   Q | V | V | K | T | E |
|   |   |   |   |   +---+   |   |   |   |   |   |
| J | N | W | U | X   ~   H | ~ | N | Z | W | E |
|   |   |   |   +-----------+   |   |   |   |   |
| N | Q | T | E   I   T   U   W | I | X | V | E |
|   |   |   +-------------------+   |   |   |   |
| O | U | Z   J   G   U   O   I   Z | I | K | E |
|   |   +---------------------------+   |   |   |
| I | P   A   A   N   ~   S   V   O   I | ~ | E |
|   +-----------------------------------+   |   |
| V   A   W   T   Z   O   V   S   I   V   A | E |
+-------------------------------------------+   |
| E   E   E   E   E   E   E   E   E   E   E   E |
+-----------------------------------------------+

Not far away you see an NPC with an exclamation mark above his head, so you decide to talk to him:

Every time a hero dies a horrible death the last words he said become alive. Some of this words gathered at this place and formed the letters on the ground. However only the wisest heroes can decipher them.

There is also a legend about this square. If someone can decipher the hidden phrases the name of a creature will appear. Saying its name 3 times will make the one incredibly rich.

Decipher the hidden phrases and find out the name of the creature.

Hint:

There is more than one reason for the E's at the bottom and right side:
- they are needed to fill the square
- they are part of a "phrase"
- they show how the phrases are arranged in the square

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
6
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ I'm honestly surprised there isn't the classic "wssswwwsswsasaawsasawsdaddadsd123123123421352524351234" line uttered by many characters as they died. $\endgroup$
    – Kingrames
    Oct 12, 2015 at 18:09
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Kingrames Actually you are pretty close to one of the quotes. ;) $\endgroup$
    – Sleafar
    Oct 12, 2015 at 18:13
  • $\begingroup$ I know what I want the quote containing the E's to be... but there's only 21 E's in the grid, and my quote requires exactly 22. I must be formatting it wrong somehow, because there's no way the quote I'm thinking of isn't in there... A mystery, indeed. $\endgroup$
    – Zerris
    Nov 20, 2015 at 0:23
  • $\begingroup$ @Zerris I'm afraid you are on the wrong track. This quote could contain more or less E's without changing it significantly. Look at Kingrames comment to explain why. $\endgroup$
    – Sleafar
    Nov 20, 2015 at 6:40
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @SeraphCheng Apparently there were changes on SE which completely messed up the formatting. I'll update the question when I'm back from work. The term Last Words is explained here. The black squares separate different quotes. $\endgroup$
    – Sleafar
    Jan 6, 2016 at 7:34

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
$\begingroup$

I've been looking in the wrong directions for months! Please feel free to suggest an edit.

Starting centre at the square, moving outwards clockwise, and separating each set of words by ~ (formerly black square) leads to the phrases below.

encrypted → decrypted (using letter substitution from frequency analysis and guessing)

1. ZQH → AFK [away from keyboard]
2. XUFVKSV → COVER ME
3. WUTIEUKKCNFVWUTVNIZIOUGJZTWINSVJ → DONT WORRY IVE DONE IT A THOUSAND TIMES
4. NAAWNJIKZXIIOVS → ILL DISTRACT THEM
5. NAAPUQNKJI → ILL GO FIRST
6. NAATVFVKJGKKVTWVK → ILL NEVER SURRENDER
7. AVISVOZTWAVIONJ → LET ME HANDLE THIS
8. AVIJPUNT → LETS GO IN
9. UURJ → OOPS
10. KGTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE → RUNWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW [see Dave Andersen's comment]

As for the creature's name...

Comparing plaintext to ciphertext alphabet, a sequence of letters that looks like a name appears in the latter. Instead of KLMNOP, we get

HASTUR the Unspeakable One

I'll pass on the riches.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ W is the move forward key in a lot of popular MMO games, so the last one is run and then the action of running, but instead of actually running the player said w a lot (key repeat, they were holding it) and since they stood still, they died. $\endgroup$
    – Alexis Andersen
    Jan 6, 2016 at 20:30
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Well done! If you take a closer look at the alphabet the name of the creature should stare in your face. $\endgroup$
    – Sleafar
    Jan 6, 2016 at 20:45
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks, @DaneAndersen! Thank you, @Sleafar! Again, I've looked in the wrong place. I think I got it. $\endgroup$
    – Mythi
    Jan 6, 2016 at 20:55
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Shortly after speaking the name three times you prepare for a respawn. ;) $\endgroup$
    – Sleafar
    Jan 6, 2016 at 21:14

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.