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So at work, we got this new colleague.
He's only been around for a few days, and the only thing that we know about him so far is that he likes to horse around a lot.
Today all colleague of our department got an email from him with the following text: 

Qzox amuuzobmzv  

Pnfaz crnp np gv wnxpc /zzy N /mbuq unyz cm nfsncz ouu mw vmb mszx cm gv ,uoaz mf crz /zzyzfq  

N /nuu dz ,xmsnqnfe wmmq ofq qxnfyp wmx zszxvmfz /rm prm/p b,  

Pzz vmb ouu

Can you help me figure out what he wants to tell us?

Clarification:

Capitalization does not matter. For example "N" equals "n", it's just capitalized.

I used the american keyboard layout to creating this cipher (although I'm from Germany, so if you don't have one in front of you, I used the one provided by Windows and turned it into ENG(USA)).

I hope I didn't make any mistakes while typing this, since I made up the cipher myself (at least I don't know if something like this exists.. it might, I didn't double check that).

Hint:

The clue to solving this is provided in the first paragraph / introduction.

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    $\begingroup$ Is your new colleague still on his probation period? $\endgroup$
    – nl-x
    Jul 21, 2016 at 13:35
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    $\begingroup$ he is not his colleague after this e-mail. Very unprofessional. $\endgroup$
    – Marius
    Jul 21, 2016 at 13:53
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    $\begingroup$ I don't think you're dealing with a very stable employee here. He acts like he's king of the castle!! I think you should give him his final check and ask him to leave. $\endgroup$
    – corsiKa
    Jul 21, 2016 at 17:43

2 Answers 2

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The cipher appears to function as follows:

We draw the standard American Keyboard as follows, and for each letter, we go along a line as indicated (2 left, 1 up), (so that $D\to Q, M\to G$) assuming the board "wraps around" like a torus (so that $R\to X,A\to O$).enter image description here

In that case, the message decrypts as

Dear colleauges, Since this is my first week I would like to invite all of you over to my place on the weekend. I will be providing food and drinks for everyone who showv up. See you all.

Hint in the first paragraph:

"Horse around" refers to the knight-like movement. "Around" indicates the wraparound property.

There's probably a typo in "prm/s", it should be "prm/p".

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  • $\begingroup$ You got that really fast lol.. I thought I had been creative enough to make the puzzle last at least an hour or so.. Was it to easy? I'd like some feedback :) And yes, you're right, prm/s is a typo and should indeed be prm/p $\endgroup$
    – Radhato
    Jul 21, 2016 at 13:57
  • $\begingroup$ @Radhato Another typo : it should be amuuzoebzv instead of amuuzobmzv. Feedback : maybe save your hint for later next time :). Also, it's easy to guess some letters (e, l for example) and deduce the words. But still, it is a fun and good riddle! What more could we ask for :)? $\endgroup$
    – IAmInPLS
    Jul 21, 2016 at 14:13
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    $\begingroup$ @Radhato It was a nice and creative puzzle, but you gave way too many hints. It would've been better if you hadn't mentioned the keyboard issue. :-) $\endgroup$
    – Ankoganit
    Jul 21, 2016 at 14:38
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    $\begingroup$ Alright, thanks for the feedback @IAmInPLS and Ankoganit I'll try to use that for my (hopefully) upcoming puzzles ;) $\endgroup$
    – Radhato
    Jul 21, 2016 at 14:42
  • $\begingroup$ @IAmInPLS Actually, it should have been amuuzomlzp $\endgroup$
    – nl-x
    Jul 21, 2016 at 16:12
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Considering the fix that @Ankoganit already gave to change prm/s into prm/p I came to this: (first turning everything to lower cases, and then when changing, using upper cases, to not do the same letters twice.)


qzox = Dear

q = D
z = E
o = A
x = R

/EEyEfD = weekend

/ = W
y = K
f = N


EsERvmNE = everyone

s = V
v = Y
m = O

YOb = you

b = U

wOOD AND DRnNKp wOR EVERYONE = food and drinks for everyone

w = F
n = I
p = S

WOUuD uIKE cO INVIcE = would like to invite

u = L
c = T

SINaE TrIS IS gY = since this is my

a = C
r = H
g = M

,LACE = place

, = P

dE PROVIDINe = be providing

d = B
e = G

So I end up with:

DEAR COLLEAUOEY

SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST WEEK I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU OVER TO MY PLACE ON THE WEEKEND

I WILL BE PROVIDING FOOD AND DRINKS FOR EVERYONE WHO SHOWS UP

SEE YOU ALL

This indicates another mistake. amuuzobmzv should have been amuuzomlzp.

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